News, Rumors and Opinions Saturday 4-4-2026

Freedom Fighter: XRP Connecting into all Financial Rails

4-3-2026

Freedom Fighter   @FreedomFight12

ALERT:

XRP connecting into all financial rails — cross-border payments, FOREX, and global currency flows are being modernized in real time.

This is what alignment looks like.

Ripple Treasury entering SWIFT’s certified partner ecosystem isn’t about hype — it’s about integration.

• Cross-border settlement
• Liquidity movement
• Currency interoperability

As systems evolve, this impacts ALL currencies:

• Iraqi dinar
• Vietnamese dong
• Emerging markets

Because the rails matter.

Not opinions. Not dates. Not noise.

Infrastructure.

Receipts.

RippleXcicty:  JUST IN: #Ripple Treasury Joins SWIFT Certified Partner Program.

Source(s):  • https://x.com/FreedomFight12/status/2040056998629134366

https://dinarchronicles.com/2026/04/03/freedom-fighter-xrp-connecting-into-all-financial-rails/

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Courtesy of Dinar Guru:  https://www.dinarguru.com/

Militia Man: Sudani's caretaker administration is still intact.  It's still in place.  All of these things we're seeing is obviously stressful for a lot of people.  It sounds like it's never going to happen...Markets are emotion.  No different in this investment.  No different than Gold, went from $5,000 to $4,000 or silver went from $118 to $60.  See the swings?  Markets are very fickle.  You've got to know what you own...We know what we own, especially in the Iraqi dinar.

Reset Intelligence :  Iraq declared formal neutrality this week. Opened a new oil route through Syria. Protected an American journalist kidnapped in Baghdad. Four positioning moves in four days while everyone watched Iran.

Steve: The more research you do beforehand and the more you start treating this like a real investment, that it's going to happen and it is on a specific timeline...and start preparing for the exact moment, the better off you're going to be.  Because this is going to be a very emotional moment for all of us.  We've been waiting many years.  Some of us have been waiting decades.  I've been waiting 15 years.  The more preparation you can do and the more knowledge you have and the more wisdom you gather before the revaluation happens, the more sound and wise decision you're going to be able to make once the dinar revalues. You're going to be able save a lot more money and therefor have a lot more money to invest.

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Germany’s Economy is Crashing Fast, Europe’s Biggest Nightmare Unfolding

Lena Petrova:  4-3-2026

Germany, once the powerhouse of Europe, is currently grappling with its most severe economic downturn in decades. The country has experienced consecutive contractions in 2023 and 2024, making it the only G7 nation in recession during this period. This economic crisis is not the result of a single factor, but rather a complex interplay of structural weaknesses, geopolitical tensions, and external economic pressures.

Germany’s economic crisis is a complex issue, driven by a combination of structural weaknesses, geopolitical tensions, and external economic pressures. To address these challenges, the government must adopt a comprehensive and decisive approach, enhancing competitiveness and addressing the deep-rooted structural issues facing the country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6v2uziF9Z4

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Saturday Morning 4-4-26

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

Debt Market Stress, Private Credit Cracks, and Treasury Selling Signal Deeper System Shifts

New financial fault lines are emerging beneath the surface of global markets as liquidity, debt demand, and alternative lending face rising pressure

Overview

The last 24 hours reveal a less visible—but potentially more dangerous—layer of financial stress building beneath headline geopolitical events. While energy shocks dominate attention, capital markets themselves are starting to strain, particularly in private credit, sovereign debt demand, and liquidity conditions.

These developments point to a structural shift in how money flows, risk is priced, and debt is financed globally—all core pillars of a potential global financial reset.

Key Developments

1. Private Credit Market Showing Early Signs of Crisis

A fast-growing shadow lending sector is now under pressure as investors begin pulling capital and firms move to limit withdrawals.

• Redemption caps signal tightening liquidity

• Rising risk of loan defaults and weaker returns

• Potential for a “rolling credit crisis” if conditions worsen

Why it matters: Private credit has become a major replacement for bank lending. Any disruption could tighten global financing quickly.

2. Foreign Demand for U.S. Debt Weakening

Recent activity shows foreign central banks reducing exposure to U.S. Treasuries, signaling a shift in global reserve behavior.

• Indicates diversification away from dollar-based assets

• Adds pressure to U.S. borrowing costs

• Reinforces trend toward a multi-polar currency system

Why it matters: Demand for U.S. debt is a core pillar of the current financial system. Weakening demand signals long-term structural change.

3. Treasury Market Liquidity Showing Fragility

Even the world’s most critical financial market is showing sensitivity to volatility.

• Liquidity conditions deteriorate quickly under stress

• Treasuries remain central to global collateral and pricing systems

• Elevated volatility continues into 2026 market conditions

Why it matters: When Treasury liquidity weakens, it impacts interest rates, currencies, and global stability simultaneously.

4. Geopolitical Conflict Amplifying Financial Instability

Ongoing conflict is now directly feeding into financial system stress and volatility.

• Inflation pressures remain elevated

• Borrowing costs rising globally

• Financial institutions preparing for extended instability

Why it matters: Financial stress is becoming interconnected across sectors, increasing the risk of system-wide disruption.

Why It Matters

These are not isolated issues—they are deep structural signals shaping the next phase of global finance:

• Credit creation shifting outside traditional banking

• Sovereign debt demand weakening

• Liquidity becoming more fragile

• Capital flows fragmenting globally

This suggests a transition from a centralized financial system toward a more distributed and uncertain structure.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For those watching a potential reset:

• A decline in Treasury demand could pressure the U.S. dollar long-term

• Credit stress may trigger repricing of currencies and global assets

• Alternative systems gain traction when traditional liquidity tightens

• Financial shocks historically accelerate monetary system transitions

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar 1: Debt Saturation & Sovereign Strain

With foreign buyers stepping back, governments face increasing difficulty financing debt sustainably.

• Pillar 2: Structural Shift in Credit Creation

Stress in private credit highlights the need to rethink how capital is created and distributed globally.

Closing Perspective

This is not just market volatility—it’s a shift in the plumbing of global finance.

When debt demand weakens, liquidity tightens, and credit systems strain at the same time, it signals more than a cycle—it signals transition.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Private credit stress, defaults rising, and withdrawal limits

• Central bank Treasury movemnts and global demand signals

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 A Message to Our Currency Holders

If you’ve been holding foreign currency for many years, you were not foolish.

You were not wrong to believe the global financial system would change.

What failed was not your patience — it was the information you were given.

For years, dates, rumors, and personalities replaced facts, structure, and proof. “This week” predictions created cycles of hope and disappointment that were never based on how currencies actually change.

That is not your failure.

Our mission here is different:   • No dates • No rates • No hype • No gurus

Instead, we focus on:

• Verifiable developments • Institutional evidence

• Global financial structure • Where countries actually sit in the process

Currency value changes only come after sovereignty, trade, banking, settlement systems, and fiscal coordination are in place. History and institutions confirm this sequence.

You will see silence. You will see denials. That is not delay — that is discipline.

Protect your identity. Organize your documents.    Verify everything.

Never hand your discernment to anyone who cannot show proof.

You deserve truth — not timelines.

Seeds of Wisdom Team

Newshounds News

~~~~~~~~~~

Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts Youtube and Rumble

Newshound's News Telegram Room Link

RV Facts with Proof Links Link

RV Updates Proof links - Facts Link

Follow the Gold/Silver Rate COMEX

Follow Fast Facts

Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Website

Thank you Dinar Recaps

Iraq Economic News And Points To Ponder Saturday Morning 4-4-26

Suspension Of Passenger And Trade Traffic In "Shalamja"

Money and Business   Economy News — Baghdad   The head of the security committee in the Basra Provincial Council, Aqeel Al-Fariji, announced on Saturday a complete suspension of travel and trade operations at the Shalamcheh land border crossing, following an air strike on vital facilities on the Iranian side.

Al-Fariji said that "the movement of travelers and trade exchange operations through the Shalamcheh border crossing between Iran and Iraq have been completely disrupted, after the passport building on the Iranian side was hit by an air strike."

Al-Fariji added that "the specialized authorities are awaiting security reports to assess the situation on the ground," stressing that "if any danger continues to threaten the safety of work at the crossing, activity will not be resumed and will remain suspended until further notice."https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=67490

Iranian Parliamentarian: Imposing Fees On Ships In The Strait Of Hormuz Is Being Seriously Considered, And Hostile Countries Will Pay The Most.

Money and Business   Economy News — Follow-up   A member of the National Security Committee in the Iranian Parliament confirmed that securing the Strait of Hormuz entails costs, noting that imposing fees on passing ships is now being seriously considered, and that hostile countries should pay a higher price.

Amid the war and regional developments, the Iranian parliament is seeking to activate new tools in the fields of maritime security and economics. Among the most prominent of these measures is the proposal to impose fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway whose security has been ensured for years at Iran's expense. However, the issue of making its users bear some of the costs is now being seriously considered.

Reza Mohseni Thanavi, a member of the National Security Committee in the Iranian Parliament, told Rouydad 24 that a number of projects are being studied by the deputies within the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, most of which deal with issues related to the current situation in the country, regional developments, the repercussions of the war, and recent events.

Given its geopolitical importance and its ongoing role in international trade and maritime traffic, the Strait of Hormuz has always been of interest to regional and international naval powers. For this reason, global powers have consistently sought to consolidate their position in the Gulf by establishing military bases in or around the strait.

A member of the National Security Committee in Parliament revealed that one of the main axes of these projects is the issue of the Strait of Hormuz and imposing fees on passing ships, which was supposed to be implemented previously within a specific legal framework, but it was not activated for various reasons, while it has now been seriously included on the agenda.

Mohseni Thanavi added that there are other issues also on the table, including reconsidering some international commitments, the legal use of nuclear energy capabilities in line with the country’s needs, and reviewing regional approaches. These are files on the agenda of the National Security Committee and some other committees in Parliament.

Regarding the reasons for imposing fees on the Strait of Hormuz, he explained that a large part of the strait and its extensive coastline fall under Iran's jurisdiction, and therefore, ensuring the security of this waterway is its responsibility, which entails significant costs. He added that previously, Iran bore the costs of insuring all ships, but it has now been decided that each ship must pay a transit fee.

In response to a question about whether all countries would pay transit fees, he noted that in the absence of a comprehensive and clear law to regulate the management, monitoring and provision of services in the Strait of Hormuz, it has not yet been precisely determined which countries would be subject to these fees, but that hostile countries would bear greater costs.

In explaining the project's details, he clarified that the first phase involves Iran and Oman imposing fees to ensure safe navigation in the strait. The second phase addresses environmental pollution issues, given the potential damage to the marine environment caused by heavy ship traffic.

He pointed out that the third phase relates to maritime pilotage services, where ships will benefit from guidance services to ensure safe passage, in exchange for paying specific fees, stressing that these procedures are in place in many international straits and channels around the world.

Regarding the impact of this move on regional relations, he said that some countries in the region have shown positions that he described as harmful to the goals of the United States and Israel, and have cooperated with them in various fields, and have even put their capabilities and lands at their service.

The Iranian parliamentarian added that tensions have reached their peak at present, and that Iranian forces are protecting and managing the Strait of Hormuz with high efficiency, considering that talk about imposing fees could lead to an escalation of tensions or war does not carry much meaning, in light of the hostile parties using their full capabilities, in contrast to Iran taking appropriate measures in response.

Regarding the future of this project in the event of a ceasefire or the start of negotiations, he said that his country does not currently intend to enter into negotiations with Israel or any party seeking to repeat previous scenarios.

He concluded by emphasizing the need for a comprehensive review of regional policies, noting that if what he described as a decisive victory is achieved in this war, it will be necessary to reconsider regional issues, foreign policy, security, and even the nature of relations with neighboring countries, thus paving the way for the adoption of a new doctrine in the region. https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=67493

Turkish Exports To Iraq Declined By 17% At The Beginning Of 2026

Money and Business   Economy News — Baghdad   Recent trade data released on Saturday revealed significant shifts in trade between Iraq and Turkey during the first two months of 2026, with Turkish exports declining by 17%, amid remarkable growth in Iraqi exports to Turkey.

According to the figures, the total value of Turkish exports reached $1.4 billion, down from $1.74 billion recorded in the same period of 2025. Last February saw a sharp decline, with trade flows settling at $661 million compared to $900 million in the previous year.

Sector divergence: Fruits gain, iron loses

Despite the overall decline, certain Turkish sectors achieved a surge in their sales to the Iraqi market; exports of "fruits and nuts" jumped to $200 million, sales of "precious metals" doubled to reach $100 million, while the "clothing" sector recorded strong growth of about $98 million.

In contrast, other sectors suffered heavy losses; exports of “iron and steel” fell from $94 million to $45 million, and exports of “electrical machinery” and “plastics” declined by nearly 50%.

Recovery Of Iraqi Exports

On the opposite bank, Iraqi exports to Turkey rebounded by 41%, rising from $67 million to $95 million, driven by the "fuel" sector, which jumped to $37 million, and the "mineral raw materials" sector, which recorded $5.7 million.

Chronic Trade Deficit

For his part, economist Manar Al-Obaidi commented on these figures and percentages, saying that despite the relative improvement in Iraqi export figures, the trade balance still leans heavily in favor of Ankara, as the Iraqi trade deficit still exceeds the $1.3 billion mark.https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=67488

European Finance Ministers Are Calling For A Tax On Energy Companies' Profits Due To The Iran War.

Money and Business   Economy News — Follow-up  Five EU finance ministers, in a letter to the European Commission on Saturday, called for a tax on the windfall profits of energy companies in response to soaring fuel prices caused by the Iran war.

The finance ministers of Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Austria issued this joint appeal in a letter, in which they said, according to Reuters, that "this measure will signal that we are united and capable of taking action."

They wrote that this "will also send a clear message that those who benefit from the consequences of war must play their part in easing the burden on the general public."

Oil and gas prices have risen sharply since the start of the US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, causing a price shock similar to the energy crisis Europe experienced after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, even though EU countries now get more energy from renewable sources.

In the letter to EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, the ministers referred to a "similar emergency levy in 2022 to address rising energy prices."

They continued: "Given the current market distortions and financial constraints, the European Commission must quickly develop a similar EU-wide contribution instrument based on a solid legal foundation."

The letter did not mention any details about the level of tax on exceptional profits proposed by the ministers, or which companies would be subject to it.

European gas prices have risen by more than 70 percent since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28.

https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=67487

Rob Cunningham: How XRP Exposes the Ghost in the Machine and the World Wins

Rob Cunningham: How XRP Exposes the Ghost in the Machine and the World Wins

4-3-2026

Rob Cunningham | KUWL.show   @KuwlShow

How XRP Exposes the Ghost in the Machine & the World Wins

The system was never just slow… It was designed to profit from the delay.

Let’s ask the honest question:

If value can move instantly, transparently, and with finality…

What was the delay really for?

The “ghost” isn’t a conspiracy.

It’s structural:

• Settlement float
• Hidden spreads
• Trapped liquidity
• Asymmetric information

All invisible.
All profitable.
All normalized.

Enter XRP.

Not as rebellion.
Not as replacement.

But as revelation.

A system where:

• Value settles in seconds
• Ledgers reconcile in real time
• Counterparties meet as equals
• Truth is mathematically verifiable

No float. No shadows. No guesswork.

So what disappears?

Not banks.
Not nations.
Not markets.

Only this:

Profit without service.

This is the shift:

From “trust us” → to “verify it”
From delay-based profit → to service-based value
From opaque control → to transparent coordination

And when the ghost is exposed?

The world doesn’t collapse.

It clears.

Clarity is a Revolutionary Act.

• Individuals keep more of what they earn
• Nations transact without dependency chains
• Markets reward value, not access
• Time is no longer monetized against us

XRP doesn’t “kill” the system.

It removes what never belonged:

Distortion.

Final point:

If a system cannot survive in truth, speed, and transparency…

Was it ever built to serve you?

Source(s):  • https://x.com/KuwlShow/status/2039677233330069635

https://dinarchronicles.com/2026/04/02/rob-cunningham-how-xrp-exposes-the-ghost-in-the-machine-and-the-world-wins/

Edu Matrix: Urgent VES (Venezuela) Update

Edu Matrix: Urgent VES (Venezuela) Update

4-2-2026

In a significant geopolitical and economic development, the United States has officially lifted sanctions on Venezuela following the ousting and arrest of former President Nicolás Maduro and the establishment of a new leadership.

This move marks a major shift after years of stringent sanctions that had crippled Venezuela’s oil industry and targeted its political figures.

The lifting of these sanctions opens up new avenues for American companies to invest in Venezuela’s oil, mining, and infrastructure sectors, potentially revitalizing the country’s economy.

The implications of this decision are far-reaching. Not only will American businesses be able to legally invest in key sectors, but Venezuela will also regain access to its frozen assets and be able to restart financial transactions.

Furthermore, the country is poised to rebuild its diplomatic ties with the U.S., including the reopening of embassies. This normalization of relations is expected to bolster confidence in Venezuela’s economy and pave the way for a gradual strengthening of its currency, the bolívar.

The bolívar has been grappling with severe hyperinflation, exacerbated by a lack of foreign capital and low confidence in the currency. The lifting of sanctions is anticipated to have three key effects on Venezuela’s economy: an inflow of foreign investment and increased oil exports, restoration of confidence in the currency markets, and enhanced access to U.S. dollars for Venezuela’s central bank to manage inflation and support the bolívar. These developments could potentially stabilize the currency and stimulate economic growth.

However, the road to recovery will be long and arduous. Venezuela faces significant structural challenges, including damaged infrastructure, lingering political instability, and a history of economic mismanagement. These issues will not be resolved overnight, and the process of currency recovery is expected to be slow and challenging.

Despite these challenges, investors are being presented with an early-stage opportunity. Venezuela boasts the largest proven oil reserves globally, surpassing even Iraq.

This highlights the country’s potential economic significance and the potential for long-term growth. For investors, the key is patience and a willingness to look beyond short-term gains.

It’s crucial for potential investors to approach this opportunity with caution. The presenter cautions against speculative trading or investing in outdated versions of the bolívar, drawing a parallel with the Zimbabwean currency collapse. Instead, investors are advised to purchase the current, active currency, which may require acquiring it directly within Venezuela.

In anticipation of this new investment landscape, plans are underway to facilitate the acquisition of Venezuelan currency. The U.S. State Department has lowered its travel warnings, making visits to Venezuela more feasible. A trip to Venezuela is being planned to enable investors to acquire the currency directly.

For those considering this long-term investment opportunity, expressions of interest can be arranged for purchasing Venezuelan currency. It’s essential to view this as a patient, long-term strategy rather than a get-rich-quick scheme.

The lifting of sanctions on Venezuela and the potential for economic revival present a compelling narrative. As the country navigates this transition phase, smart investors are taking note.

 For further insights and information, watch the full video from Edu Matrix, which delves deeper into the implications of these developments and what they mean for investors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoFGCzwuRTY

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Friday Afternoon 4-3-26

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

Energy Shock, Rising Debt Costs, and Food Inflation Converge

New Data Reveals Expanding Pressure Across the Global Financial System 

Overview

• Global food prices rising again, reversing prior declines

• Oil supply fears pushing energy costs higher

• Government debt costs surging alongside yields

• Economic pressure spreading across multiple sectors simultaneously

Key Developments

1. Food prices jump as energy crisis spreads into supply chains

New data shows global food prices rose 2.4% in March, marking a second consecutive increase after months of decline.

• Sugar prices up 7%

• Vegetable oils up 5%

• Fertilizer and transport costs rising sharply

The driver:

• Energy disruption tied to ongoing conflict and shipping constraints

Energy costs are now directly feeding into global food inflation

2. Oil supply tightening raises risk of deeper shortages

Analysts warn that global oil stockpiles are falling toward critical levels:

• Inventories could drop to operational minimum levels within weeks

• Potential 14 million barrels/day supply shortfall

• Oil prices already surged above $109–$111 per barrel

Even if supply resumes, recovery could take months—not days

3. Rising yields increase pressure on government finances

Governments are beginning to feel the impact of higher borrowing costs:

• Debt servicing costs rising rapidly

• In France, monthly borrowing costs (~€300M) are now exceeding fuel tax gains

• Additional subsidies and aid increasing fiscal strain

Higher yields are canceling out revenue gains—tightening budgets globally 

4. Economic strain spreading across multiple systems at once

We are now seeing simultaneous pressure across key pillars:

• Energy → driving inflation

• Food → increasing cost of living globally

• Debt → raising systemic financial risk

This is no longer isolated volatility—it is multi-system stress

Why It Matters

• Energy shocks ripple into food, transport, and manufacturing

• Rising debt costs limit government response options

• Inflation pressures are re-accelerating globally

This combination historically signals deeper financial instability

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• Currency stability depends on energy, inflation, and debt dynamics

• Rising costs weaken purchasing power globally

• Shifts in reserve strategy may accelerate under pressure

These conditions often precede currency realignment cycles

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar 1: Energy as the Core Driver of Economic Stability

• Control of energy supply now directly impacts inflation and growth

• Energy disruptions are reshaping global financial flows

• Pillar 2: Debt System Under Increasing Strain

• Rising yields are exposing unsustainable fiscal models

• Governments face less flexibility to stabilize economies

This is where structural cracks begin to widen

Closing Perspective

What we are seeing now is a rare convergence of pressures:

• Energy shortages

• Food inflation

• Rising debt costs

Each of these alone can strain the system—together, they create compounding stress across the global economy.

This is how systemic shifts begin—not suddenly, but through accumulating pressure points.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• The Guardian — Food prices spike as energy costs surge amid conflict

• MarketWatch — Global oil stockpiles could hit critically low levels

~~~~~~~~~~

Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts Youtube and Rumble

Newshound's News Telegram Room Link

RV Facts with Proof Links Link

RV Updates Proof links - Facts Link

Follow the Gold/Silver Rate COMEX

Follow Fast Facts

Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Website

Thank you Dinar Recaps

“News Posted by Tishwash at TNT 4-3-2026

TNT:

Tishwash:  Trump condemns attacks on Kurdistan and affirms Washington's support for protecting Iraq's security.

 On Wednesday evening (April 1, 2026), the President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, received a phone call from US envoy Tom Barrack, who conveyed a message of solidarity from US President Donald Trump following the recent attacks targeting the region.

 Trump strongly condemned the drone attack that targeted President Barzani's house in Duhok, stressing Washington's full support for protecting the security and stability of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Barzani expressed his appreciation for the US positions and assistance.

The Kurdistan Region Presidency stated in a statement received by 964 Network that “His Excellency Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, received this evening (Wednesday, April 1, 2026), a telephone call from Mr. Tom Barrack, Special Envoy of US President Donald Trump to Syria and US Ambassador to Turkey.”

The statement continued, “Mr. Barak conveyed a message from President Donald Trump, in which he strongly condemned the attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region, and the drone attack that targeted the home of President Nechirvan Barzani in Duhok. President Trump expressed his solidarity with His Excellency, and his condolences to the families of the martyrs, wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded.”

He added that “in the phone call, Mr. Barack affirmed President Trump’s and the United States’ full support for protecting the security and stability of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. For his part, President Nechirvan Barzani thanked him for the call, expressing his appreciation for America’s positions and assistance to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.”

He pointed out that “the repercussions of the war formed another axis of communication in the region.  link

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Tishwash:  The World Bank expresses "deep concern" over the economic consequences of the war.

World Bank Managing Director Pascal Donohoe expressed "deep concern" about the impact of the war in the Middle East on the global economy, at a time when a number of countries were already in a difficult situation due to a series of global crises.

"We are very concerned about the consequences this will have in terms of inflation, jobs and food security, and that is why we are preparing to provide assistance" to countries that request it, Donohue told AFP.

The Washington-based organization pays particular attention to the situation in African and Asian countries, which are especially vulnerable to rising energy prices and supply shocks.

He added, "We are consulting with several governments and countries to understand their needs, and I expect we will have more information in the coming weeks."

The World Bank, in particular, will have to use its spring meetings, to be held in Washington from April 12 to 17, "to assess the scale of the potential response."

Donohue said that currently "we are seeking to identify the available funds and interventions that may be necessary to help countries deal with the short-term effects of the war in Iran."

As part of these efforts, the World Bank on Wednesday issued a joint statement with the International Monetary Fund and the International Energy Agency announcing the creation of a "coordination group to ensure the most effective response" by these institutions to the ongoing crisis.

It is an initiative that can be expanded to include other institutions with the aim of providing expertise in different fields. link

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Tishwash:  Oil companies are withdrawing from Iraq, deeming it high-risk.

 International oil companies, including BP , have begun evacuating foreign staff from their sites in Basra and Kirkuk, as security threats escalate in the country.

Politico reported on Thursday (April 2, 2026) that companies described Iraq as a "high-risk environment" due to the increasing number of rocket and drone attacks targeting vital facilities and Western interests.

The report indicated that the evacuation was part of precautionary measures to protect employees, while maintaining operational processes at a minimum through local staff.

This move comes after a series of evacuations that began in March, involving foreign employees at oil fields in southern Iraq, following drone incidents inside production sites.

Hundreds of workers from American and European companies have also gradually left their posts, amid fears that energy facilities could become direct targets in the ongoing conflict.

These developments coincide with an escalation of attacks inside Iraq, which have targeted oil fields and facilities, military sites, and diplomatic missions.

Despite continued production, the reduction in foreign presence raises concerns about declining investments and a slowdown in field development, at a time when Iraq is almost entirely dependent on oil revenues.

The Iraqi government had previously affirmed its commitment to keeping the country out of the conflict, stressing that Iraq "is not a party to the conflict" and refuses to be drawn into it.

However, developments on the ground, and the evacuation of foreign companies, reflect the magnitude of the challenge in shielding Iraq from the repercussions of regional escalation. link

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Tishwash:  A coalition of 40 countries threatens Iran with harsh sanctions if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

International pressure is mounting on Iran as some 40 countries lead a move to immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz, in a scene reflecting growing global concern over the choking of the world's most important energy artery.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper's remarks reveal a sharp tone, as she considered that Tehran is "holding the global economy hostage," at a time when Western countries are moving towards coordinating new sanctions if the shutdown continues.

The crisis is deepening as shipping traffic has plummeted by 93% since the outbreak of the war in the Middle East, according to data from Kpler. This has led to sharp increases in oil and gas prices, especially since approximately 20% of global supplies pass through the street. The limited transit figures – only about 225 tankers since the start of the conflict – demonstrate the extent of the disruption to global supply chains, with only a few ships, mostly Iranian or Asian, continuing to pass through.

International positions on how to handle the crisis are divergent. US President Donald Trump is pushing for direct intervention to protect the strait, calling on the countries that benefit from it to “seize and secure it,” while French President Emmanuel Macron warns against any military action, describing it as unrealistic and fraught with serious risks. This divergence reflects a Western division regarding the limits of possible escalation.

Regional and international actors have become involved in the crisis, with the Gulf Cooperation Council calling for a UN mandate authorizing the use of “all means” to ensure navigation, while Italy is pushing for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to avert a potential global food crisis. Meanwhile, China blames the United States and Israel, arguing that their military operations are the root cause of the disruption to shipping, further deepening the international divide over the narrative of the crisis.

Alternative economic moves, such as Iraq resorting to exporting oil via Syria, reveal the beginning of a temporary redrawing of the energy map, while Iran pledged to allow some tankers, in a move that suggests attempts to contain the escalation without making a full concession  link

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Friday Morning 4-3-26

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

Brazil Boosts Gold Reserves While Trimming Dollar Exposure

BRICS Nations Accelerate Diversification as Global Reserve Strategy Evolves

Overview

• Brazil added 42.8 tons of gold in late 2025

• Gold reserves jumped 33%, signaling strategic repositioning

• U.S. dollar share dropped to 72%, continuing a multi-year decline

• BRICS nations collectively expanding gold holdings

• Global reserve system showing early signs of diversification

Key Developments

1. Brazil significantly increases gold holdings
Brazil’s Central Bank made a decisive move by purchasing 42.8 tons of gold between September and November 2025, raising total reserves to 172.4 tons.

• Gold now represents 7.19% of Brazil’s reserves

• It has become the second-largest reserve asset after the dollar

This reflects a clear shift toward hard assets amid global uncertainty

2.Dollar exposure steadily declines—but remains dominant
Despite diversification, the U.S. dollar still holds the majority share of Brazil’s reserves:

• 80.42% (2022) → 72% (2025)

• Decline has been consistent year after year

Other currencies gaining ground include:

• Euro (6.60%)

• Chinese renminbi (5.94%)

This is not a sudden exit from the dollar—but a measured rebalancing strategy

3.BRICS nations expand gold accumulation strategy
Brazil’s move aligns with a broader trend across BRICS:

• Combined BRICS gold holdings now exceed 6,000 tonnes

• Represent roughly 20–21% of global gold reserves

• Over 50% of global gold purchases (2020–2024) came from BRICS central banks

Major holders include:

• Russia (~2,300+ tonnes)

• China (~2,200+ tonnes)

• India (~880 tonnes)

Gold is increasingly being treated as a neutral reserve asset outside the dollar system

4.Diversification driven by geopolitical and economic uncertainty
Brazil’s Central Bank confirmed its strategy is based on:

• Rising geopolitical tensions

• Economic uncertainty in global markets

• Need for stronger reserve stability

It also expanded holdings in:

• Renminbi, euro, and South Korean won

This reflects a broader move toward multi-currency reserve systems

5.Future BRICS currency concepts gaining attention
BRICS nations are also exploring:

• A “Unit” settlement system

• Proposed structure: 40% gold-backed, 60% local currencies

While still in development, this signals:

• Long-term planning for alternative trade settlement systems

The shift is gradual—but increasingly coordinated

Why It Matters

• Gold accumulation signals declining trust in fiat-only reserves

• Central banks are preparing for potential currency volatility

• Diversification reduces dependence on any single currency system

This is a strategic hedge—not a sudden financial reset

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• Currency values are influenced by reserve composition shifts

• Gold-backed positioning may strengthen financial resilience

• Dollar dominance remains—but is slowly being diluted

The system is evolving, not collapsing

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar 1: Return to Hard Assets

• Gold is regaining importance as a core reserve foundation

• Central banks are hedging against fiat risk

• Pillar 2: Multi-Currency Reserve System Emerging

• Movement toward diversified currency baskets

• Reduced reliance on a single global reserve currency

This reflects a transition toward a more balanced global system

Closing Perspective

Brazil’s actions highlight a measured but meaningful shift in global finance.

The dollar remains dominant, but the steady rise of gold and alternative currencies shows that central banks are preparing for a more diversified future.

The reset, when it comes, is not sudden—it is being built step by step through policy decisions like these.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Watcher.Guru — Brazil Cuts Dollar Holdings, Adds 42 Tons of Gold as BRICS Push Grows

• Central Bank of Brazil — Annual Report on International Reserves (March 31, 2026)

~~~~~~~~~~ 

 🌱 A Message to Our Currency Holders🌱

If you’ve been holding foreign currency for many years, you were not foolish.

You were not wrong to believe the global financial system would change.

What failed was not your patience — it was the information you were given.

For years, dates, rumors, and personalities replaced facts, structure, and proof. “This week” predictions created cycles of hope and disappointment that were never based on how currencies actually change.

That is not your failure.

Our mission here is different:  • No dates • No rates • No hype • No gurus

Instead, we focus on:

• Verifiable developments • Institutional evidence

• Global financial structure • Where countries actually sit in the process

Currency value changes only come after sovereignty, trade, banking, settlement systems, and fiscal coordination are in place. History and institutions confirm this sequence.

You will see silence. You will see denials. That is not delay — that is discipline.

Protect your identity. Organize your documents.    Verify everything.

Never hand your discernment to anyone who cannot show proof.

You deserve truth — not timelines.

Seeds of Wisdom Team

Newshounds News

~~~~~~~~~~

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Newshound's News Telegram Room Link

RV Facts with Proof Links Link

RV Updates Proof links - Facts Link

Follow the Gold/Silver Rate COMEX

Follow Fast Facts

Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Website

Thank you Dinar Recaps

Iraq Economic News And Points To Ponder Friday Morning 4-3-26

Spacex Is Targeting A Valuation Exceeding $2 Trillion In Its Initial Public Offering.

Money and Business   Economy News - Follow-up   Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter, that Elon Musk's SpaceX has raised its target valuation for its initial public offering to more than $2 trillion, setting the stage for what could become the largest IPO ever.

The report stated that SpaceX and its advisors are presenting this figure to potential investors in its initial public offering.

Starbase, Texas-based SpaceX recently filed confidential filings for its initial public offering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and aims to launch its shares on the market later this year. SpaceX has not yet responded to Reuters' request for comment.

This request comes after SpaceX merged with Musk's AI startup XAI in a deal that valued the space rocket manufacturer at $1 trillion and the developer of the AI ​​chatbot, GROOC, at $250 billion.

Musk, the world's richest person, runs a huge business empire that includes electric cars at Tesla, space launch vehicles, satellite broadband internet, artificial intelligence, and social media.

https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=67444

FAO: Global Food Prices Rise In March To Highest Level Since Last December

Money and Business   Economy News - Follow-up     The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Friday that global food prices rose in March to their highest level since December, marking a second consecutive monthly increase.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks changes in a basket of globally traded food commodities, averaged 128.5 points in March, up 2.4% from its revised level in February.

In a separate report, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) slightly raised its forecast for global cereal production in 2025 to a record high of 3.036 billion tons. This would be 5.8% higher year-on-year.

https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=67451

Gold Prices Fall By More Than 3.5% After Trump's Speech

Money and Business   Economy News - Follow-up   Gold prices reversed course to fall more than 3.5% on Thursday, ending a four-day winning streak, after US President Donald Trump said the United States would continue its war with Iran in the coming weeks.

Spot gold fell 3.51% to $4,591.47 an ounce by 06:29 GMT, while U.S. gold futures dropped 3.97% to $4,622.10.

Prices rose by more than 1% to their highest level since March 19, before Trump's remarks, according to Reuters.

In a televised address to the nation, Trump said the United States would strike Iran "very hard" within the next two to three weeks and return it to the "Stone Age," adding that the United States' strategic objectives in the conflict were nearing completion.

Brent crude prices rose by more than 4%, while US 10-year Treasury yields and the dollar index rose, negatively impacting the dollar-denominated metal.

The precious metal fell 11% in March, its worst monthly loss since 2008, after the outbreak of the Iran war on February 28, which led to higher oil prices and increased inflationary pressures, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the Federal Reserve’s (the US central bank) monetary policy path.

As for other precious metals, silver fell 2.9% to $72.95 in spot trading, platinum dropped 1.8% to $1,928.26, and palladium declined 1.4% to $1,451.85.    https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=67419

The Minister of Finance has directed that the accounting and banking departments continue operating to complete the payment of employee salaries.

Money and Business   Economy News – Baghdad   Finance Minister Taif Sami directed on Wednesday that work continue in the accounting and banking departments to complete the payment of employee salaries for the month of March.

Sami told the Iraqi News Agency, as reported by "Economy News," "We have directed the continued operation of the accounting and banking departments to complete the payment of employee salaries for the month of March in the remaining spending units."   https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=67395

Oil Jumps 11% As Trump Escalates War With Iran

2026-04-03 Shafaq News   U.S. oil prices settled more than 11% higher and Brent soared nearly 8% on Thursday in volatile trading, as traders worried about prolonged disruptions to oil supply the day after President Donald Trump said the United States would continue attacks on Iran.

Brent crude futures closed $7.87, or ‌7.78%, higher at $109.03 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose $11.42, or 11.41%, at $111.54 per barrel, settling at their biggest absolute price rise since 2020.

Both benchmarks remained below highs near $120 a barrel touched earlier in the conflict.

Trump said military operations would be intensified, but did not specify a timeline for ending hostilities. He gave no details on any steps that could lead to a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz

"We're going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks," Trump said. "We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong."

Iran is drafting a protocol with Oman to monitor traffic in the strait, an Iranian foreign ministry official ⁠said, after a Bloomberg report.

Iran has effectively shut down the narrow waterway through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas is shipped, in retaliation for U.S.-Israeli strikes that began on February 28. Reopening it has become a priority for governments around the world as energy prices soar.

"The real question on traders' minds is that if Iran's oil infrastructure is possibly now at risk, and with more damage in the area now very likely, even if left intact the restart of oil flows in the region (is) now looking to be delayed further," said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial.

WTI, which typically trades below Brent, was pricing nearly $3 over Brent as the U.S. contract was trading for May deliveries, while the Brent contract was trading for June deliveries. WTI's premium over the global benchmark was the highest in a year.

"Market's expectation is that if (the) Strait of Hormuz opens up in (a) couple of weeks this risk premium will immediately go down," said John Kilduff, Partner at Again Capital.

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Lorie Logan said on Thursday that a swift ‌war resolution ⁠may mean economic impact could be pretty moderate, adding that the economic outlook was uncertain due to the crisis. The United States has some buffers to impacts from the war, Logan said.

Brent crude prices could average $95 a barrel in the base case and $130 a barrel in the bull case in the second half of the year, Citi said, while oil prices could climb to between $120 and $130 a barrel in the near-term, JP Morgan said. Prices could rise above $150 if the Strait remains closed into the middle of May, JP Morgan added.

U.S. oil rigs, an indicator of future output, rose by two ⁠to 411 this week, energy services firm Baker Hughes said. An increase in prices for oil to be delivered in future months has producers considering adding more rigs, but they have cautioned that they would like to see the higher prices hold for longer to do so.

Front-month WTI traded at its largest-ever premium over the second-month and seventh-month contract on Thursday.

TALKS ON REOPENING HORMUZ

Britain is hosting a virtual ⁠meeting of around 40 countries to discuss options for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The United States is not due to attend.

OPEC+, meanwhile, is likely to weigh a further oil output increase on Sunday, sources said. This would position members to add more barrels should the Strait of Hormuz reopen but is not likely to meaningfully increase supply before then.

In Russia, Ukraine's strikes on ⁠port infrastructure, pipelines and refineries have reduced export capability by 1 million barrels per day, or a fifth of total capacity, sources say, enough to set the stage for imminent production cuts.

The head of the International Energy Agency also said that supply disruptions would start to affect Europe's economy in April, after the region had previously been shielded by cargoes contracted before the start of the war.(Reuters)  

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Oil-jumps-11-as-Trump-escalates-war-with-Iran

The Next Collapse Is Already Forming | George Gammon

The Next Collapse Is Already Forming | George Gammon

Lynette Zang:  4-3-2026

Lynette Zang is joined by George Gammon to discuss a “perfect storm” that looks eerily similar to 2008—but with even bigger risks beneath the surface.

 Private credit, hidden leverage, and a fragile system could all collide at once.

When credit stops flowing, everything changes. This is what you need to understand before it happens—and why being prepared matters now more than ever.

Chapters:

 0:00 Introduction to George Gammon & Mission

 0:29 Stagflation Fears vs What Really Matters

1:40 Why the Labor Market Is the Key Signal

2:36 Lessons from 2008: Inflation → Deflation

4:12 Oil Shock = Hidden Tax on Consumers

 5:02 Central Bank Mistakes & Rate Hikes Before Crashes

 5:58 Private Credit = The New Subprime Crisis

7:23 Red Flags: Funds Halting Withdrawals

9:00 “Toxic Assets” Being Repriced to Zero

10:00 The Ponzi Scheme Phase Explained

13:16 Liquidity Crisis & Investor Lockouts

15:45 Why Money & Credit Flow Is Everything

18:12 What Actually Caused the 2008 Collapse

20:13 Why This Time Feels Similar (But Different)

 21:31 Passive Investing & Retirement Flows Driving Markets

 24:22 Unemployment Trigger That Could Crash Markets

25:24 AI Job Losses & Economic Impact

26:35 UBI, Inflation & Government Response

29:22 Deflation vs Credit Collapse

30:47 How Private Credit Was Created After 2008

33:11 Shadow Banking & Regulatory Loopholes

35:12 Can the System Be Fixed? (Gold vs Government)

 38:28 Why Government Power Keeps Expanding

42:12 Social Movements, Money System & Control

49:09 Derivatives Risk & $7 Quadrillion Exposure

51:12 Why Crises Create Massive Dollar Demand

53:54 Currency vs Real Purchasing Power

56:21 Are We Heading Toward GFC 2.0?

58:06 How to Prepare & Find Opportunity

59:42 Final Advice: Protect Wealth & Stay Ready

1:00:42 Where to Follow George Gammon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L7IdIb1rGA

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Thursday Evening 4-2-26

Good Evening Dinar Recaps,

Oil Shock and Rising Yields Hit Global Markets: Financial System Faces Mounting Pressure

War-Driven Energy Spike and Debt Stress Collide in Today’s Markets

Overview

• Oil prices surged sharply above $110, driven by war escalation

• Global markets fell as uncertainty spreads

• U.S. Treasury yields and borrowing costs rising again

• Inflation fears intensifying across economies

Key Developments

1. Oil Prices Explode as Supply Fears Intensify
Global oil markets surged today as conflict escalation threatens supply routes:

• Oil jumped as much as 7–11% in a single move

• WTI crude surged above $111 per barrel

• Brent crude pushed near $109+ levels

The primary driver:

• Disruption risk in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil artery

Roughly 20% of global oil flows through this region—any disruption is massive

2. Global Markets Turn “Risk-Off”
Financial markets reacted quickly:

• Stocks declined across the U.S., Europe, and Asia

• South Korea markets dropped nearly 5%

• Investors moved toward safer assets like the U.S. dollar

This is classic “risk-off” behavior during systemic stress

3. Rising Yields Push Borrowing Costs Higher
Debt markets are now feeling the pressure:

• Treasury yields rising due to inflation fears

• Mortgage rates jumped to ~6.46%

• Borrowing costs increasing across the economy

War → Oil spike → Inflation → Higher yields → Economic pressure

4. Inflation Threat Returns Stronger Than Expected
The combination of oil and conflict is driving:

• Higher fuel prices globally

• Supply chain disruptions (fuel, fertilizers, shipping)

• Renewed inflation concerns for central banks

This raises the risk of stagflation (high inflation + slow growth)

5. Central Banks Trapped in a Tight Position
Global central banks are now facing:

• Limited ability to cut rates

• Need to contain inflation from energy shock

• Uncertainty around economic slowdown

Policy flexibility is shrinking at the worst possible time

Why It Matters

• Energy shocks ripple through every sector of the economy

• Rising yields increase stress on already high global debt levels

• Markets are reacting to systemic—not temporary—pressures

This is not a single event—it’s a chain reaction across systems

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• Currency values are directly impacted by energy and debt dynamics

• Short-term dollar strength may occur due to safe-haven flows

• Long-term instability increases pressure on fiat systems globally

Currency shifts often begin during periods like this

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar 1: Energy Becomes the Driver of Financial Power

• Control of oil routes now directly impacts currencies and markets

• Energy = leverage in the global system

• Pillar 2: Debt System Under Increasing Strain

• Higher yields expose unsustainable debt levels

• Governments face rising costs to finance operations

This is where financial stress begins to accelerate systemic change

Closing Perspective

Today’s developments reveal a powerful convergence:

• Energy shock

• Rising debt costs

• Market instability

These are not isolated headlines—they are signals of a system under pressure.

When energy, debt, and markets move together, structural change often follows.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters — Oil surges and global markets fall amid Iran war escalation

• Reuters — U.S. mortgage rates rise as Treasury yields climb on war-driven inflation fears

~~~~~~~~~~

Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts Youtube and Rumble

Newshound's News Telegram Room Link

RV Facts with Proof Links Link

RV Updates Proof links - Facts Link

Follow the Gold/Silver Rate COMEX

Follow Fast Facts

Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Website

Thank you Dinar Recaps

Phone Service for 94,000 Dead People, and Other Things Congress Won't Cut

Phone Service for 94,000 Dead People, and Other Things Congress Won't Cut

Notes From the Field By James Hickman (Simon Black)  April 1, 2026

Earlier this year, the House DOGE Subcommittee pulled spending records from the Department of Transportation and discovered that the agency had spent $55 million on office furniture over the past few years.  That’s about $1,000 per employee, which might not sound so crazy, until you realize that this was during a period when only 9% of DOT employees were actually showing up to the office.

But the furniture budget of the Department of Justice was even worse— $408 million on furniture in four years, with an average attendance rate of just 35%.

DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) dropped $250,000 on a single "refresh" of Herman Miller chairs. My only hope is this was part of developing some new revolutionary bulletproof chair cushion.

All told, federal agencies have spent $4.6 billion on furniture since 2021 — much of it for offices that have sat empty while employees work from home on Zoom.

If this were an isolated case of waste, you might write it off as bad management at a couple of agencies.

But it is not.

In February, the Government Accountability Office calculated the final cost of the Employee Retention Credit— a COVID-era program that ended in 2021. Total payout: $283 billion.

But 83% of that money ($235 billion) was paid out YEARS after the pandemic ended; the fraud mills kept filing bogus claims, and the IRS just kept writing checks.

Also in February, the FCC's inspector general discovered that Lifeline phone providers in California had been billing the government to provide phone and internet service to 94,000 dead people— $3.8 million worth of calls that were never made, to phones that were never used, for people who were no longer alive.

The examples never stop.

Senator Joni Ernst recently uncovered Pentagon-funded research projects that included studies on octopus hypnosis, monkey mind-reading, snail mucus, and elephant seal sleeping habits, all funded through a contracting loophole called "Other Transaction Agreements".

These OTAs allow agencies to spend money without competitive bidding, standard oversight, or public disclosure of costs.

How much did each project cost? That's the beauty of the system — the government doesn't have to tell you. But the GAO found that $77.5 billion flowed through these agreements between 2021 and 2025 without proper public accounting.

The National Science Foundation spent $14.6 million teaching monkeys to play a video game inspired by The Price Is Right. USAID spent $20 million producing Sesame Street in Iraq and $69,000 on dance classes in Wuhan, China.

And every single year, the federal government makes hundreds of billions of dollars in improper payments— money sent to the wrong person, in the wrong amount, or for the wrong reason.

Last year's total: $186 billion. That includes payments to deceased individuals, ineligible recipients, and programs that can't even verify whether the money should have gone out at all.

Since 2003, the cumulative total has reached $2.8 trillion, i.e. a full 7% of the national debt that simply would not exist if the government was minimally competent.

The Pentagon, meanwhile, has failed its own audit for eight consecutive years. Auditors could not verify more than 60% of the department's $4.65 trillion in assets.

Congress's response? Hand the Pentagon its first-ever trillion-dollar budget. They cannot account for the money they already receive, so why not give them even more?!?

Then there's the end-of-year ritual. Under "use it or lose it" rules, agencies that don't exhaust their budgets risk getting less money next year.

So in the final five days of fiscal year 2025, the War Department spent $50.1 billion in grants and contracts, including $6.9 million on lobster tail, $2 million on Alaskan king crab, $15 million on ribeye steak, $225 million on furniture, including a $98,329 Steinway grand piano for a general’s home.

Makes sense. Perhaps a stirring rendition of “Great Balls of Fire” is just what we need to defeat Iran.

For context, only nine countries on Earth spend more $50 billion on their entire annual defense budget. The Pentagon spent that in five days.

None of this is secret. DOGE found it. Inspectors General found it. The GAO found it. Senators publish it in annual reports that make headlines for about a day.

And then nothing changes.  Congress doesn't cut a dime.

They act like it is simply impossible, that children would be starving in the streets, national security would be at risk, and farms would lay fallow, that we would all burst into flames if they cut the budget.

This might be one of the most effective lies ever perpetrated on a population— that we simply cannot, must not cut a dime in spending, for the consequences would be catastrophic.

The federal government spent $7 trillion in fiscal year 2025. $2 trillion of that was borrowed. $1.2 trillion was spent on interest to service the $39 trillion national debt.

And over the next decade, the CBO expects Congress to add another $23.1 trillion to the debt. It will almost certainly be much more.

This is arguably the single greatest threat to America. Not China, not hysteria over AI, not any of the foreign adversaries that dominate the headlines— but the slow, compounding, mathematically inevitable consequences of a government that cannot stop spending money it doesn't have.

And the most infuriating part is that it should be so easy to cut the most obvious, most indefensible waste. The $600 billion in outright fraud Secretary of Treasury Bessent estimates in the budget every single year. The $200+ billion in improper payments. The $100+ billion in legal graft that flows to political allies.

 That alone would cut nearly half the deficit, without even touching the furniture for empty offices or octopus hypnosis experiments.

But if Congress is unwilling to even lift a finger for such obvious absurdity, what are the odds they'll tackle Social Security’s impending insolvency, just six years away? Or give foreign countries the confidence to keep investing in US government bonds? Or behave in a way to keep inflation in check?

Seems pretty low to us. Which is why it makes so much sense to have a Plan B. 

To your freedom,

James Hickman
Co-Founder, Schiff Sovereign LLC

 PS- If you're worried about what this all means for your savings, your retirement, and the purchasing power of the dollar — we built Plan B Confidential for exactly that.

It's our flagship research service covering second citizenships, foreign residency, international banking, tax strategies, and boots-on-the-ground intelligence from 120+ countries.

Everything you need to make sure your family's future doesn't depend on Congress suddenly discovering fiscal discipline.

https://www.schiffsovereign.com/trends/phone-service-for-94000-dead-people-and-other-things-congress-wont-cut-154926/?inf_contact_key=3329ffb7eb228b5fb4537dac41fa99eedf50326a1e561daba0ba774a8ec98964

Some “Iraq News” Posted by Clare at KTFA 4-2-2026

KTFA:

Clare:  Economist: Iraq urgently needs to form a government and approve the 2026 budget to secure salaries.

 4/2/2026  Information/Baghdad...

Economic expert Nabil Al-Marsoumi emphasized on Thursday the need for Iraq to form a new government with full powers to address the country's economic situation, noting the necessity of preparing the 2026 budget to cover salaries and services.

Al-Marsoumi stated in a post on social media, which was monitored by the Information Agency, that “despite Iraq continuing to export oil through the Strait of Hormuz until March 8th, oil revenues did not exceed $1.9 billion, equivalent to approximately 2.5 trillion dinars. This means that Iraq needs to secure an additional 5 trillion dinars just to pay salaries for the fifth month.”

He stressed "the necessity of expediting the formation of a fully empowered Iraqi government and preparing the 2026 budget to provide the government with the legal basis for internal and external borrowing, discounting transfers at the Central Bank of Iraq, and taking other measures to meet the basic needs of the Iraqi people, especially those related to salaries, social welfare, and essential services such as water, electricity, and others."   LINK

************

Clare: Masour Barzani and the Prime Minister of Qatar call on Baghdad to impose its control over "outlaw groups".

4/2/2026  Kurdistan – One News

 On Thursday, April 2, 2026, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, discussed in a telephone call with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the overall situation in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq and the region.

During the call, both sides expressed their condemnation of the terrorist attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region and Qatar, stressing their deep concern about the escalating war and tensions in the region, and emphasizing the importance of preserving the foundations of peace, security and stability.

Both sides agreed that militias and outlaw groups pose a real threat and danger, and stressed the need for the Iraqi government to impose its control over them.

For his part, the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability, noting the need to take these threats and risks into account.

In a related context, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani reiterated the Kurdistan Region’s solidarity with the Qatari people, and both sides agreed on the need to maintain communication and continue coordination to overcome current challenges and obstacles.  LINK

************

Clare: Baghdad responds to Washington's security warnings: These are isolated incidents, and we are not a party to the conflict.

4/2/2026

The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded on Thursday evening to the security warnings issued by the US Embassy, ​​stating that the violations that are occurring are individual attempts, and that Iraq is not a party to the conflict. 

The ministry said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that "we have followed the statement issued by the US Embassy regarding potential security concerns, and we affirm our clear and unwavering commitment to keeping Iraq out of the circle of conflict in the region. Iraq is not a party to this conflict and does not wish to be part of it, despite being one of the countries most affected by its security, economic and political repercussions."

The ministry continued: “Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the Iraqi government affirms that some entities or individuals may attempt, contrary to the state’s directives, to take unilateral actions or exploit their positions or job titles to carry out actions that do not represent official policy.”

She pointed out that "such individual actions or actions by limited groups are illegal and do not in any way reflect the role of the Iraqi government or its institutions." 

She explained that “the occurrence of cases of abuse of power by individuals in various countries around the world does not justify issuing collective judgments or holding governments or any institution responsible for individual actions, as the government’s position on these actions is evident from its strict practical and public stances against these actions, and from its characterization of them, which calls for surprise at this position.”

She explained that "what further complicates the situation is that this conflict is taking place amid a clear decline in adherence to the legal and humanitarian standards that govern armed conflicts according to international law and international humanitarian law, making it an open war whose scope is expanding and whose repercussions are becoming more complex." 

She noted that "this has practically affected countries that are not party to it, including Iraq, which poses additional challenges to the Iraqi government in its efforts to contain the repercussions and prevent the conflict from spreading into Iraq."

She indicated that "the Iraqi government affirmed that, at this exceptional political, economic and military stage, and with the constraints imposed by the caretaker government, it is making every effort to prevent any escalation, strengthen security measures, protect diplomatic missions, foreign interests and citizens, and maintain internal stability. It also continues to take the necessary steps to ensure that Iraqi territory is not used as a launching pad for any hostile acts."

The US embassy in Baghdad had warned earlier on Thursday of the possibility of attacks by "Iranian-backed militias" in the center of the capital within 24 to 48 hours, urging US citizens to leave Iraq "immediately".

The embassy said in a security alert, published on its official social media account, that the Iraqi government “has not been able to prevent terrorist attacks” that occur within or originate from Iraqi territory, noting that some members of those groups may carry identification documents claiming they are employees of the Iraqi government.  LINK

************

Clare: An American institute: The Trump administration does not support the Sudanese president, and his continued rule will make him an adversary of Washington.

3/29/2026

The middle East Institute concluded that outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is no longer the preferred candidate of the United States because he is "doubling down on his bets" on Iran and has not curbed the militias, at a time when the balance seems to be tipping in Washington's favor in its current battle.

After the American Institute spoke in a report translated by Shafaq News Agency, about the existence of two rounds of voting in Iraqi democracy, the first of which is when Iraqis vote for candidates in parliamentary elections, which does not produce a candidate or party that obtains a majority of votes.

The second involves numerous backroom deals after the final election results are announced, where those who received a fair number of votes try to gain the support of key stakeholders, including the leaders of major parties, and also try to gain the support of the United States and Iran.

The American report indicated that al-Sudani is strongly seeking to win a second term as he has much to boast about, as infrastructure has been developed since he took office and Iraq has been in a state of relative peace, although there have been many dark clouds during his term, including the “wiretapping scandal” that almost cost him his position.

He went on to say that it appeared that many other parties, including Iran, had concluded that it was better to have a "weak" prime minister than to have a new one while allegations of corruption were being raised, and many critics pointed to his brother Abbas Shia al-Sudani, who was believed to be acting as his unofficial agent.

The report noted that al-Sudani is trying hard to establish himself as a key and permanent power broker, as is the case with Nouri al-Maliki and Hadi al-Amiri, as his pictures appear in public places much more than they did during al-Maliki’s era. The report says that many Iraqis fear that al-Sudani’s second term could “whitewash” the mistakes of the first term and allow him to consolidate himself at the expense of democracy.

The report argued that, given the escalating war between the United States and Iran, it is not easy to be prime minister in Iraq. However, with the military balance tilting in favor of the United States, the respect that Iraqi politicians should show to Iran diminishes, but al-Sudani did not grasp the message.

The report went on to explain that Sudan is doubling down on its bets on Iran, even though any Iraqi leader who puts his country first should stay away from the conflict, recalling the March 24 decision which declared that Iranian-backed militias have the right to respond to any attacks targeting them, noting that the decision comes at a time when Kataib Hezbollah is launching drones and missiles at American targets inside Iraq.

He pointed out that the Sudanese may be "afraid" of Iran, and that his position may encourage further Iranian violations of Iraqi sovereignty and endanger Americans.

He added that US President Donald Trump, envoy Steve Wittkopf, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio should make it clear that al-Sudani will not receive US support for a second term, and that Washington will consider him an adversary if he does not step down.

The report concluded by saying that, given the possibility of Sudani’s departure and the escalating crisis in the Middle East, Iraq would need a prime minister to guide his country through the turmoil without dragging it into conflict, whereas Sudani could no longer do so.

The report noted the presence of technocratic figures waiting on the sidelines, as well as senior figures from previous Iraqi administrations whose credentials are not based on empty promises but on action.

The report concluded that Washington now realizes that al-Sudani is no longer necessary, and has a preferred candidate to succeed him.   LINK