Alternative Visions - 4 Financial Bubbles Growing: Gold, Cryptos, US Stocks & AI
Today's show discusses the Four financial bubbles now growing same time: Gold prices doubled last18 months. Bitcoin up 160%+. S&P, Dow, Nasdaq stock markets up more than 50%. What's driving it? AI, US sanctions, -10% fall of the US dollar, and global economic slowdown. Show explains AI boom and stocks surge due to speculative investing in just 7 largest Tech corps. AI boom now 17X larger than 2000 Internet boom. AI responsible for 80% of stock markets surge. Tech investment 90% of 2025 first half US GDP. Take away AI and US economy, first half 2025 GDP grows only 0.1%. When will any of the four bubbles burst? Will any one take down the other three?
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59:30
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59:30
Alternative Visions- US Consumer Spending in Big Trouble as Fed Cuts Rates
Consumer spending = 2/3s US economy but now hitting a wall. After tax wages down 50% in 2025 from 2024. Botton 1/3 households income gains lowest since 2016. Top 10% households (>$250k/yr) now account for 49% of all consumer spending. Will worsen as unemployment surges, inflation resumes, and $1T in health ACA & Medicaid subsidies for 22.4m ends. Why Fed 0.25% token rate cut won't help. Show next discusses how US presidents become multimillionaires after they leave office. And why Trump & the Empire now shifting tariff and sanctions policies toward India and the BRICS. (Next week: what's the Empire's 'Clean Break' policy shift recommendations about?)
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57:56
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57:56
Alternative Visions- US Economy Flashing Red
Today's show discusses several economic reports indicating US economy is entering a period of instability. Labor Dept. reports 911,000 fewer jobs were created March 24-March 25 (before summer jobs crash) than were reported by its monthly jobs reports; Consumer prices rising again since April (especially services); US Census Bureau reports household real incomes (averages and median) have not changed since 2019 except for the wealthiest 5% households; US poverty levels back up to 2019 levels; 27 million still without any health insurance (before Trump cuts to Medicaid and ACA take effect). The show also comments on the popular uprising occurring in France (as Europe starts cutting social benefits to pay for military expansions and Ukraine). And concludes with what's behind the media hype that Russia has attacked Poland with drones.
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58:02
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58:02
Alternative Visions- August Jobs Report: US Recession 2026?
Latest jobs report shows Employment is no longer a 'lagging' indicator. Summer jobs (last 3 mos) virtually stagnant at 12k per mo. Total unemployment 8.1% officially (U-6). Inflation higher than 2.7% official number (4%) and real wages barely growing 1-1.5% when 50m part time/temp/gig workers included. Review of Europe's economy shows major Europe economies now contracting or stagnant (Germany, UK, France). Entire EU area GDP stalled at 0.1% (officially and actually contracting). Europe trade head says EU can't afford to buy $750 billion of US oil and gas per recent US-EU trade deal; US producers say can't drill that much as well. What next for Trump's US-EU trade deal? Main reason why Trump has sent US naval taskforce to Venezuela.
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57:58
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57:58
Alternative Visions- How America Spends $2 Trillion on War Every Year
US Mainstream Media and politicians keep saying US 'defense' spending annual is about $850 billion. Why that's just an initial budget proposal and just for Pentagon spending. Today's show shows what US annual actual defense (e.g. war) spending is $2 trillion a year. The show then reviews the condition of the USA and EU economies and why GDPs are much lower than reported. A quick review of emerging global conflicts is also reported in Venezuela, Armenia-Iran, India, etc.
Netherlands