Germany ain’t what it used to be.
Re: News
1545What's going on really?
Excellent insight from Alex Krainer, of course we all say our politicians are stupid for doing what they're doing but they're not really, they're just following orders (not your orders obviously).
Alex Krainer: Rise of the Oligarchy & the Risk of Civil War
Trump aims for an orderly collapse of the dollar without getting assassinated. With Alex Krainer
Excellent insight from Alex Krainer, of course we all say our politicians are stupid for doing what they're doing but they're not really, they're just following orders (not your orders obviously).
Alex Krainer: Rise of the Oligarchy & the Risk of Civil War
Trump aims for an orderly collapse of the dollar without getting assassinated. With Alex Krainer
- Rating: 1.8%
Re: News
1546A short video below explaining the recent silver rally that the exchange (the CME) rug pulled as price hit $122 having risen from $62 over a few months
CME did not have the physical to back up all the paper contracts they had issued to traders so simply demanded a huge increase in margin needed to hold positions open which resulted in margin calls automatically closing out thousands of futures trader’s positions.
Unless you’re actually buying the underlying commodity, FX, Index or whatever, and the game looks like going against the paper market makers, then there’s always a solution (for them - not for you obviously).
EXPOSED: Why the CME Crashed Silver the Day It Hit $122 (THE SETUP)
Re: News
1547US Sec of State Marco Rubio's speech at the Munich security conference summary below (by Grok). Was as expected a major indication of current relations between the US and Europe.
After making the speech Rubio was supposed to attend a meeting on Ukraine with European officials where they were all lined up to berate him for the lack of support to Ukraine from the US in their flagging attempt to win the war with Russia but Rubio decided not to bother attending saying he had better things to do he had an overdue library book he needed to return.
He did actually get a standing ovation after his speech but then derision for not attending the follow up meeting.
Key Themes and Structure
Rubio framed the speech around historical context, critique of post-Cold War policies, and a call for transatlantic renewal under the Trump administration:
Historical Reflection: He opened by recalling the conference's origins in 1963 amid Cold War tensions (Berlin Wall, Cuban Missile Crisis) and how the U.S. and Europe united to defeat Soviet communism, leading to reunification and prosperity.
Critique of Post-1990s "Delusions": He argued that the "end of history" optimism led to misguided policies, including:
- Unfettered free trade that deindustrialized the West and outsourced supply chains.
- Over-reliance on international institutions and welfare states at the expense of defense.
- Energy policies driven by a "climate cult" that weakened competitiveness.
Mass migration threatening societal cohesion and culture.
Call for Renewal: Under President Trump, the U.S. seeks "renewal and restoration" of sovereignty, pride, and strength. He stressed preference for partnership with Europe but readiness to act alone if needed. He portrayed the U.S. and Europe as part of one Western civilization, bound by Christian faith, shared history, culture, and ancestry.
Defense of Core Values: National security is about defending a people, nation, and way of life—not abstractions. He celebrated Europe's contributions (rule of law, science, arts from Mozart to the Beatles) and urged unapologetic pride in heritage.
Specific Policy Calls:
- Reindustrialize economies and secure supply chains (e.g., critical minerals).
- Advance in new frontiers like AI, space, and competition in the Global South.
- Control borders as essential sovereignty, not xenophobia.
- Reform (not abandon) international institutions like the UN, citing failures in Gaza, Ukraine, Iran, and Venezuela where U.S. action filled gaps.
Personal and Cultural Ties: Rubio highlighted America's roots in Europe (Italian explorer Columbus, English settlers, German farmers, Spanish cowboy traditions, etc.) and shared his own family heritage (ancestors from Italy and Spain) to underscore that "our histories and our fates will always be linked." He closed by rejecting notions of transatlantic decline, calling for a bold, proud alliance to shape the future.
The speech blended tough-love criticism (e.g., on migration, energy, and complacency) with affirmations of unity ("we belong together," "America... will always be a child of Europe"). It avoided direct mentions of Russia or Ukraine in detail but referenced broader threats and U.S. leadership in crises.
After making the speech Rubio was supposed to attend a meeting on Ukraine with European officials where they were all lined up to berate him for the lack of support to Ukraine from the US in their flagging attempt to win the war with Russia but Rubio decided not to bother attending saying he had better things to do he had an overdue library book he needed to return.
He did actually get a standing ovation after his speech but then derision for not attending the follow up meeting.
Key Themes and Structure
Rubio framed the speech around historical context, critique of post-Cold War policies, and a call for transatlantic renewal under the Trump administration:
Historical Reflection: He opened by recalling the conference's origins in 1963 amid Cold War tensions (Berlin Wall, Cuban Missile Crisis) and how the U.S. and Europe united to defeat Soviet communism, leading to reunification and prosperity.
Critique of Post-1990s "Delusions": He argued that the "end of history" optimism led to misguided policies, including:
- Unfettered free trade that deindustrialized the West and outsourced supply chains.
- Over-reliance on international institutions and welfare states at the expense of defense.
- Energy policies driven by a "climate cult" that weakened competitiveness.
Mass migration threatening societal cohesion and culture.
Call for Renewal: Under President Trump, the U.S. seeks "renewal and restoration" of sovereignty, pride, and strength. He stressed preference for partnership with Europe but readiness to act alone if needed. He portrayed the U.S. and Europe as part of one Western civilization, bound by Christian faith, shared history, culture, and ancestry.
Defense of Core Values: National security is about defending a people, nation, and way of life—not abstractions. He celebrated Europe's contributions (rule of law, science, arts from Mozart to the Beatles) and urged unapologetic pride in heritage.
Specific Policy Calls:
- Reindustrialize economies and secure supply chains (e.g., critical minerals).
- Advance in new frontiers like AI, space, and competition in the Global South.
- Control borders as essential sovereignty, not xenophobia.
- Reform (not abandon) international institutions like the UN, citing failures in Gaza, Ukraine, Iran, and Venezuela where U.S. action filled gaps.
Personal and Cultural Ties: Rubio highlighted America's roots in Europe (Italian explorer Columbus, English settlers, German farmers, Spanish cowboy traditions, etc.) and shared his own family heritage (ancestors from Italy and Spain) to underscore that "our histories and our fates will always be linked." He closed by rejecting notions of transatlantic decline, calling for a bold, proud alliance to shape the future.
The speech blended tough-love criticism (e.g., on migration, energy, and complacency) with affirmations of unity ("we belong together," "America... will always be a child of Europe"). It avoided direct mentions of Russia or Ukraine in detail but referenced broader threats and U.S. leadership in crises.
Smart Stop I