“Apocalypse is Unfolding”: Gold Soars as Tensions Escalate, Faith in Money Dies

“Apocalypse is Unfolding”: Gold Soars as Tensions Escalate, Faith in Money Dies

Daniela Cambone:  1-5-2026

Gold is hovering around $4,450—not just a bull market, but a symptom of a dawning realization that decades of money printing have hollowed out the dollar’s value.

People are waking up, stacking “junk silver” (pre-1965 coins) and physical metal as a form of preparation. “My number one concern about 2026 is a second wave of inflation,” says Jeffrey Tucker, Founder, Author, and President of the Brownstone Institute.

In a conversation with Daniela Cambone, Tucker warns that inflation could intensify as the U.S. approaches the 2026 midterm elections, adding pressure to the housing market and increasing economic uncertainty.

“I would not be at all surprised to see inflation of 3% or higher,” he says. Tucker also criticizes the idea of cutting interest rates at this stage, calling it “the worst possible time” and “a disastrous idea.”

He cautions that current policies risk repeating past mistakes: “My concern has been that we’re going to repeat the experience of the 1970s.”

He concludes that the deeper issue is a loss of trust in the system: “This would not be happening if people had confidence in the fiat money system — and they just don’t.”

Chapters:

00:00 Is U.S. economic growth sustainable?

 04:42 How much blame belongs to the Fed?

06:07 A return to sound money

08:08 Gold and silver outlook

 09:28 Inflation and the loss of confidence in government

14:43 A new Fed chair — what comes next?

21:04 Housing: what’s ahead?

24:07 Silver coin bags make a comeback

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BRfgbYn6lc

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Monday Afternoon 1-5-26

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

Global Markets, Geopolitics, and Commodities Lead Early 2026 Moves
Dollar strengthens, commodity prices climb, and geopolitical tensions keep markets on edge

Overview

• Global financial markets opened 2026 with cautious optimism as equities climbed and the U.S. dollar strengthened.

• Commodity prices surged, including gold, silver, copper, and platinum, as investors sought safe-haven assets.

• Trade balances shifted, with South Africa reporting its largest trade surplus in over three years.

• Geopolitical tensions continue, with global leadership signaling further action in Venezuela.

• Crypto markets saw renewed demand alongside traditional risk-on assets.

Key Developments

• Global markets rose early in the year, with Asian indexes leading gains and U.S. futures higher, suggesting continued momentum from last year’s rally.

• Gold futures climbed above $4,400, with silver and copper also posting significant gains, signaling elevated demand for hard assets as geopolitical risk persists.

• The U.S. dollar index reached a two-week high, reflecting safe-haven inflows and renewed confidence in U.S. monetary stability.

• South Africa’s trade surplus hit its highest level in 44 months, driven by reduced imports and persistent export resilience — a notable macro indicator for emerging markets.

• Bitcoin and broader cryptocurrency markets saw upticks in demand, complementing gains in traditional commodities as diversified risk positioning increased.

• Geopolitical flashpoints remain active — including looming international discussions on Venezuela’s recent leadership crisis. 

Why It Matters

The first major market moves of 2026 highlight a complex intersection of economic confidence and geopolitical risk. Stronger equities and a firmer dollar suggest investors are not abandoning risk assets, but commodity rallies and safe-haven flows illustrate that uncertainty remains baked into market pricing.

Surging metals — especially precious metals — reflect flight to security and hedge positioning as global leadership tensions and trade imbalances persist. Meanwhile, crypto demand alongside traditional assets suggests that investors are broadening their reserve and risk strategies, not merely reacting to short-term signals.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For foreign currency holders, these developments underline the ongoing importance of currency diversification and risk hedging. A stronger dollar alongside soaring commodity prices and trade imbalances points to a bifurcated landscape where reserve currencies must be balanced against real-asset exposure and alternative markets.

Rising gold and industrial metals prices often indicate inflationary pressures and geopolitical premiums, which can erode late-cycle currency values if unhedged. Elevated demand for cryptocurrencies — alongside traditional markets — signals that holders are widening their portfolio frameworks to include digital and non-sovereign reserves.

In this environment, currency holders are likely to reassess exposure to single reserve assets, weighing commodity correlations, FX stability, and geopolitical risk premiums more heavily than in prior stable cycles.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar: Multipolar Risk Pricing in Early 2026
Market movements reflect an intersection of geopolitical friction, commodity repricing, and diversified investor risk frameworks — underscoring the shift toward multipolar financial dynamics.

Pillar: Hard Assets in Reserve Strategy
Gold and industrial metals gains point to a structural hedging trend, reinforcing why traditional reserve currencies can no longer be the sole anchor in global allocation strategies.

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

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters, “Global market and economic news — January 5, 2026”  

• Business Tech Africa, “Breaking News Today — Jan 5, 2026 — Commodities, Trade, Dollar Movement” 

~~~~~~~~~~

BRICS 2026: Trade, AI, and the Quiet Shift Away From the Dollar
India’s presidency advances financial cooperation and alternative systems

Overview

• BRICS 2026 is centered on financial cooperation, technology governance, and reduced reliance on the U.S. dollar

• India assumes the BRICS presidency, promoting the theme “Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability”

• The 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled for New Delhi in August or September 2026

• Member nations are moving from planning to deployment of local currency trade and alternative payment systems

Key Developments

• India’s leadership emphasizes continuity with its G20 focus on the Global South and people-centric development

• BRICS local currency trade is expanding, reducing dependence on dollar-based settlement

• The bloc is advancing alternative payment infrastructure, including cross-border systems that bypass traditional dollar rails

• CBDC interoperability between the digital ruble, yuan, and rupee is targeted for 2026–2027

• The New Development Bank plans for one-third of its lending to be denominated in local currencies by 2026

• BRICS Pay has already significantly reduced USD usage in intra-bloc trade

• Member nations are shedding U.S. Treasuries and increasing gold accumulation, with BRICS countries now controlling a substantial share of global gold production

Why It Matters

BRICS is no longer debating alternatives—it is deploying them. The shift toward local currency settlement, digital rails, and institutional coordination marks a structural change in how trade and development finance are conducted outside Western-dominated systems.

India’s presidency signals a measured but deliberate approach: maintaining global stability while reducing exposure to dollar weaponization. The emphasis on resilience and innovation reflects lessons learned from sanctions, supply-chain shocks, and monetary tightening cycles.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For foreign currency holders, BRICS 2026 highlights an accelerating move toward currency diversification and settlement optionality. As more trade is conducted in national currencies, demand dynamics for traditional reserve currencies face gradual but persistent pressure.

The expansion of non-dollar payment systems and CBDC interoperability introduces parallel liquidity pools that reduce forced dollar usage in cross-border trade. While the dollar remains dominant, these developments add long-term valuation and reserve allocation implications for central banks and institutional holders.

Increased gold accumulation and reduced Treasury exposure further signal a shift toward hard-asset anchoring and balance-sheet insulation, reinforcing the broader move toward a multipolar monetary landscape.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar: De-Dollarization Through Infrastructure, Not Rhetoric
BRICS is advancing practical systems—payment rails, CBDCs, and development lending—that quietly reduce dollar dependence without formal replacement declarations.

Pillar: Technology Governance as Monetary Power
By shaping AI governance and digital standards, BRICS nations are asserting influence over the next phase of economic coordination, linking technology sovereignty with financial autonomy.

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

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Watcher Guru – “BRICS 2026 Theme Focuses on Trade, AI, Innovation & Less US Dollar Use”

~~~~~~~~~~

🌱 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

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RV Facts with Proof Links Link

RV Updates Proof links - Facts Link

Follow the Gold/Silver Rate COMEX

Follow Fast Facts

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Thank you Dinar Recaps

Why A Desperate America May Soon Annex Its 51st State

Why A Desperate America May Soon Annex Its 51st State

Notes From The Field By James Hickman (Simon Black)  December 22, 2025

Today we’re continuing our look back at past articles that foresaw today’s headlines years in advance. Last week, we highlighted three early pieces tracing the decline of US credibility—its unsustainable debt path, the erosion of reserve currency privilege, and the rising global demand for real assets like gold.

Today we look back at this podcast I recorded on March 31, 2023. I laid out a theory that Venezuela—sitting on the world’s largest oil reserves—might one day be absorbed into the US sphere of influence, not through war, but through corporate proxies.

Drawing parallels to the East India Company and the US-backed creation of Panama, the idea was that a private entity could step in amid Venezuela’s chaos, secure its oil, and quietly serve American strategic interests.

Now, with tensions escalating, the threat of an invasion could be the method of securing this kind of control. Maduro has discussed terms for stepping down, and recently US authorities seized a Venezuelan oil tanker.

And Venezuela’s opposition leader, María Corina Machado, is now openly pitching the country’s energy sector as “a $1.7 trillion opportunity,” promising, “We will open all [oil], upstream, midstream, downstream, to all companies.”

It felt like the right time to revisit this episode.

At the center of Sovereign Man’s core ethos is the indisputable view that the United States is in decline.

 I take absolutely zero pleasure in writing that statement. But it’s incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to objectively appraise the bountiful evidence at hand and not reach the same conclusion.

 Consider the following:

 US government finances are appallingly bad. The national debt exceeds 100% of GDP, annual deficits run into the trillions of dollars with no end in sight, and major trust funds for Social Security and Medicare will soon run out of money.

 Political incompetence is mind-blowing; politicians fail to be able to even identify problems, let alone understand them, let alone reach compromises to solve them.

 Ditto for central bank incompetence. These people simply cannot understand how, by keeping interest rates at zero for nearly a decade and conjuring trillions of dollars out of thin air, they engineered record high inflation. And they also fail to understand how their actions to ‘fix’ inflation are causing widespread havoc in the economy and financial system.

 Social divisions across the country are extreme. Censorship and cancel culture prevail, and corporations now wag their fingers at their own customers to “be better”.

 The education system is in pitiful shape, with many politicians and school board officials turning classrooms into activist training camps.

 The population is terribly unhealthy. Obesity and drug addiction are epidemics. Plus there’s an obvious mental health crisis that drives far too many people to commit horrific acts of violence on innocent people, including children.

 National security is in decline. Military readiness is down, yet top officials seem more concerned about diversity and inclusion rather than the ability to prevail in war.

 The rule of law has been perverted, including for political purposes and self-aggrandizement. We just saw another example of this yesterday.

 Even the national fertility rate continues plummeting-- an indication of the rising cost of living and social apathy.

The Wall Street Journal recently published a series of polls indicating that most Americans doubt their children will have a better future; pessimism is strong.

 They also found that certain values which once defined American culture, including a sense of community, hard work, and civility, are no longer important to the majority of people.

 This is all happening at a time when adversaries are circling. And that includes China.

 Now, usually whenever I bring up China, there are always people who are quick to assert that China cannot possibly replace the US as the dominant superpower because they have just as many problems.

 And it’s true that China has a ton of problems. They have their own debt issues, financial system chaos, and economic problems. They have social challenges, a major demographic crisis, and even a serious issue with childhood obesity.

 But no civilization or empire throughout history has ever been problem-free.

Ancient Rome, even during its early republic days, had enormous problems.

 They had to deal with constant revolts, civil war, the genocidal dictatorship of Sulla, famine, war, plague, and more.

 Yet there’s an enormous difference between taking on challenges while you’re on the rise… versus succumbing to them while on the way down.

 Rome was able to deal with its challenges and continue its rise to become the dominant superpower. China may be able to do the same.

 The US finds itself in a precarious position where they have a mountain of compounding problems… and no ability to even slow them down, let alone solve them.

 I’ve written before about what I call the “Four Forces of Decline”, which I define as:

 1) Forces of History-- the inevitable, cyclical nature in the rise and fall of Empire. No empire, no civilization in human history has ever retained the top spot forever, and most tend to experience similar challenges on the way down.

 2) Forces of Society-- the vicious way in which a society eats itself from within, vanquishing the ability and inclination to solve complex problems.

 3) Forces of Economy-- the debilitating toll that enormous debts, deficits, and currency inflation take on a nation and its people.

 4) Forces of Energy-- when energy is cheap and abundant, prosperity reigns. When energy is expensive, prosperity wanes. The relationship couldn’t be more clear.

 Today’s podcast puts all of these together, with a particular focus on #4, Forces of Energy.

 Part of being the dominant superpower in our modern world means having access to abundant energy. Yet the US government has spent the last few years trying to destroy its energy (oil and gas) industry.

 They’ve been pretty successful. The President of the United States hardly misses an opportunity to bash oil companies. Politicians pass new rules and taxes to punish them. The media beats up on them. Investors have pulled funding for them.

 So it shouldn’t be a surprise that US oil production, while not in terminal decline, is failing to keep up with growing demand.

Shale oil is especially problematic given that most of the highest quality “tier 1” sites have already been drilled. Many are already in decline.

 This is a big deal. Shale oil is the reason why the US achieved near energy independence. With shale in decline, the US will be forced to import a LOT more energy (which, again, is critical for prosperity) from places where they have an increasingly adversarial relationship.

 Russian oil is obviously off the table. So is Iranian oil. Saudi Arabia is rapidly becoming cozy with China; in fact the Saudis are now publicly considering to sell their oil in Chinese currency, the renminbi.

 This is an enormous threat to the US. Saudi Arabia has been selling oil in dollars for decades; they’ve even had their currency, the riyal, pegged to the US dollar since 1986.

 This concept of selling oil in US dollars is known as the petrodollar, and it’s one of the key reasons why the US dollar is the global reserve currency.

 Anyone who wants to buy oil needs to own US dollars. And that pretty much includes every country on the planet. So foreigners are forced to stockpile dollars, and by extension, US government bonds… simply because they need dollars to buy oil.

 As a result the US government is able to get away with the fiscal equivalent of murder. They can run multi-trillion dollar deficits every year. They can wage expensive wars in foreign lands. They can go into debt to pay people to stay home and NOT work…

 … and they’ve always had a bunch of suckers overseas-- foreigners who have no choice but to buy US government bonds, simply because oil is priced in US dollars.

 But what if Saudi Arabia started selling oil in renminbi?

 Most likely a LOT of foreigners would dump at least some of their dollars and start holding renminbi as part of their official reserves.

 America’s biggest privilege and benefit-- its reserve currency-- would vanish, practically overnight.

 Suddenly the US government wouldn’t be able to run multi-trillion dollar deficits. It wouldn’t be able to go into debt to pay people to stay home and NOT work.

 They’d have to be like almost every other country-- act with some fiscal responsibility.

 Think about it-- if the President of Mexico shook hands with thin air, investors would be rightfully terrified and panic-sell Mexican government bonds. If South Korea ran a multi-trillion dollar deficit, its currency would probably plummet.

Back in September we saw the British pound and UK government bonds practically collapse… and the Prime Minister of one of the world’s largest democratically elected sovereign governments was forced to resign... simply because investors didn’t like her economic revival plan.

 These issues are all linked. If the US continues to demonstrate incompetence and weakness… if they continue to subvert and destroy the energy industry… and if Saudi Arabia starts selling oil in renminbi…

 … the consequences will be life-changing.

 This is one of the biggest stories of our lives. It’s easy to miss because it’s playing out over a period of years. It gets lost in the day-to-day noise and the crisis du jour.

 But rest assured this is happening in front of our very eyes; it’s a slow motion crash that’s already started.

 The outcome isn’t inevitable yet. But nothing about these people’s actions demonstrate that they have the slightest clue what’s going on.

 Join me in today’s podcast as we dive further into this… and I outline my “51st state” theory-- a ‘solution’ that I wouldn’t be surprised to see in the near future.

 To your freedom,  James Hickman Co-Founder, Schiff Sovereign LLC

  READ MORE AND ACCESS POD CAST HERE:

https://www.schiffsovereign.com/podcast/why-a-desperate-america-may-soon-annex-its-51st-state-146633/

$9 Trillion 2026 Debt Wall Exposes US Buyer Crisis

$9 Trillion 2026 Debt Wall Exposes US Buyer Crisis

Taylor Kenny: 1-4-2025

The United States is on the cusp of a significant financial challenge: a “debt wall” that is set to mature in 2026. At that time, approximately $9 trillion, or about one-quarter of the total US debt, will need to be refinanced at much higher interest rates than when it was initially issued.

This refinancing challenge poses a substantial threat not only to the federal budget but also to the everyday American, potentially leading to higher inflation, increased taxes, and slower economic growth.

The current national debt crisis is multifaceted. The US previously issued a significant portion of its debt when interest rates were near zero, a product of the monetary policies implemented during the early stages of the CoviD-19 pandemic to stimulate the economy.

Now, as these debts mature and are refinanced at significantly higher interest rates, the cost of servicing this debt is skyrocketing. Projections indicate that rising interest costs could soon surpass spending on critical areas such as defense, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, placing an unprecedented strain on the federal budget.

The problem is further complicated by a shift in global financial dynamics. Foreign central banks, once significant buyers of US Treasury bonds, have been reducing their holdings of US assets since 2001.

 Instead, they are increasingly turning to gold as a safer asset, devoid of counterparty risk.

Geopolitical tensions, such as the freezing of Russian assets by the US, have accelerated this trend, eroding trust in the dollar’s reliability as a global reserve currency. As foreign demand for US debt wanes, the US government faces growing pressure to offer higher yields to attract investors, thereby increasing the cost of debt servicing.

The Federal Reserve is caught in a difficult position. Continuing on its path of quantitative tightening is unsustainable due to the potential for destabilizing the financial system.

On the other hand, resuming quantitative easing (or “money printing”) to avoid a financial freeze could lead to severe currency devaluation and hyperinflation. Either scenario poses significant risks to the economy and the purchasing power of ordinary Americans.

In the face of such uncertainty, safeguarding personal finances becomes paramount. Historically, tangible assets such as physical gold and silver have served as reliable hedges against currency crises and inflation.

 These assets have intrinsic value and are not subject to the counterparty risks associated with fiat currencies or bonds.

For those looking to shield their wealth from the impending economic challenges, diversifying into physical gold and silver can be a prudent strategy. Educational resources and personalized consultations can provide valuable insights into navigating these complex financial markets.

The looming debt crisis and its far-reaching implications are not just abstract economic concerns; they have real-world consequences for everyday Americans. By understanding the challenges ahead and taking proactive steps to protect your financial well-being, you can better navigate the uncertain economic landscape.

In times of economic uncertainty, knowledge is power. Stay abreast of the latest developments and consider diversifying your assets to mitigate potential risks. By doing so, you can protect your wealth and ensure a more stable financial future, regardless of the challenges that lie ahead.

https://youtu.be/cSzoB5e-eEI

“Tidbits From TNT” Monday 1-5-2026

TNT:

Tishwash:  Atrushi: The oil and gas law must be passed as soon as possible.

The second deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament, Farhad Atrushi, indicated that so far more than 40 people have nominated themselves for the position of president of the republic, but the two parties, the Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union, do not have a candidate. He stressed that in order to solve the financial problems and implement federalism, the oil and gas law must be passed as soon as possible. At the same time, regarding the parliamentary committees, he said: The committees are formed temporarily.

On Sunday, January 4, 2026, during his participation in the "Today's Talk" program on Kurdistan24, Atroushi said: In Iraq, the parliament is the center of the political process and the center for making important decisions, so maintaining the position of Deputy Speaker of Parliament for the Kurds is very important.

He added: “Today the new parliament held its first session, during which I submitted a proposal that the parliament’s presidency should have special legislative authority for the next four years, in order to have clarity in the implementation of laws and the identification of important laws. They also welcomed the proposal.” He also said: “In the next session, we will decide on the general outlines of the parliament’s policy and form a special committee.”

He continued: “The oil and gas law must be issued in order to implement fiscal federalism, because a large part of Iraq’s revenues are provided through oil and gas, and without implementing the law and the constitution, no problem will ever be solved, and the constitution must be the arbiter.”

He added, "So far, more than 40 people have nominated themselves for the presidency, and we expect that number to increase tomorrow, but neither of the two main parties has yet put forward a candidate for the position." He also stressed that the Kurds must be united on the issue of the presidency and have a single position.

He went on to say: "Tomorrow we will form a committee to lay some foundations and monitor the distribution of parliamentary committees," and said: The distribution of parliamentary committees should be temporary only to carry out the work of parliament until the new government is formed. link

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

Tishwash: The second session of the Iraqi parliament has been postponed until the seventh of this month.

The second deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament, Farhad Atrushi, announced in a statement to Kurdistan24 on Saturday, January 3, 2026, that the second session of the Iraqi parliament has been postponed to January 7, 2026.

Previously, the session was scheduled to be held on Monday the 5th of the month. This date coincided with the end of the nomination period for the position of President of the Republic of Iraq.

In meetings held on December 29 and 30, 2025, the Iraqi Parliament elected its new leadership for the sixth legislative session. The process concluded with the election of Hebat al-Halbousi as Speaker of Parliament, Adnan Faihan as First Deputy Speaker, and Farhad Atrushi as Second Deputy Speaker.

According to Article 72 of the Constitution, after the election of the Iraqi Parliament's leadership, Parliament has 30 days to elect a new President of the Republic. Following his election, the new President tasks the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc, which, according to political convention, is the Shia bloc, with forming the new federal government.

This position, which according to political custom has become the prerogative of the Kurds, represents the sovereignty of the country and safeguards the constitution and the territorial integrity of Iraq. The presidential term is four years and may only be renewed once.  

This announcement was preceded by an initiative from President Masoud Barzani, in which he called on the Kurdish forces to unite and avoid fragmentation in order to guarantee the Kurds' rights to this entitlement.  link

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

Tishwash: US-based Chevron visits Sudan and plans to maximize oil revenues

Expanding refining and processing capacities

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met on Sunday (January 4, 2026) with Joe Kuo, Vice President of the American energy company Chevron. The two sides discussed steps to remove obstacles and adapt contracts to align with the government’s development goals in order to maximize oil production returns and expand refining and processing capabilities.

The Sudanese office stated in a statement, a copy of which was received by 964 Network, that “the Prime Minister received the Vice President of the American energy company Chevron, Joe Cook, and the meeting witnessed discussions on the company’s work and the opportunities for cooperation available in the oil and energy sectors with the Ministry of Oil, and ways to enhance investments and create an attractive environment.”

According to the statement, the meeting included an exchange of views on the best steps to remove obstacles and adapt contracts to align with the government's development goals in order to maximize oil production returns and expand refining and processing capacities.

According to the statement, Al-Sudani directed that discussions continue between the Ministry of Oil and the company in order to find the best investment opportunities for the national oil sector and to optimize the investment of oil wealth.  link

Mot: and YOU Thinks YOU Has Snow!!!! 

Mot: . I'm Wounded Too Tight I Thinks!!!! 

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Monday Morning 1-5-26

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

Venezuela: Law, Power, and the Price of Selective Justice

Maduro’s removal raises questions about sovereignty, precedent, and global order

Overview

• The reported capture of President Nicolás Maduro marks a dramatic escalation in U.S.–Venezuela relations

• Washington frames the action as law enforcement, while critics warn it resembles unilateral intervention

• The move reopens long-standing debates over international law, sovereignty, and selective accountability

Key Developments

• Maduro was reportedly removed from Venezuela following U.S.-led action justified by criminal indictments

• Legal experts argue the operation blurs the line between extradition, enforcement, and coercive regime change

• The situation revives regional memories of Cold War-era interventions across Latin America

• Questions are emerging over who controls Venezuela’s transition, institutions, and energy assets

• Analysts warn that leadership removal without a domestic transition framework risks prolonged instability

Why It Matters

The situation unfolding in Venezuela goes far beyond the fate of one leader. It challenges the credibility of international law itself. When legal norms appear to be applied selectively—strictly enforced against adversaries while ignored by powerful states—the rules-based system weakens. For Latin America, where external intervention has historically destabilized institutions, the precedent raises alarms about sovereignty, legitimacy, and long-term governance.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For foreign currency holders, Venezuela’s unfolding situation is a real-time stress test of sovereign risk, rule consistency, and reserve credibility. When a sitting head of state is removed through external legal action, it signals that political power can override monetary and legal norms, increasing uncertainty for any currency tied to geopolitically exposed nations.

Currency markets price trust and predictability above all else. Selective enforcement of international law undermines that trust, encouraging central banks and large holders to diversify away from currencies linked to interventionist policy. This accelerates demand for hard assets, alternative settlement mechanisms, and non-Western trade corridors, particularly among emerging markets watching the precedent closely.

Venezuela also highlights how energy assets and currency stability are increasingly intertwined. Sudden leadership change without a clear domestic transition framework raises the risk of asset seizures, contract renegotiations, and payment disruptions—factors that directly impact FX reserves, petrodollar flows, and long-term valuation models.

In short, this is not just a regional political shock. It reinforces why foreign currency holders globally are reassessing counterparty risk, legal neutrality, and the durability of the existing reserve system—key drivers behind the accelerating shift toward a multipolar monetary order.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Selective Law Undermines Global Trust

• When enforcement depends on power rather than consistency, confidence in global systems erodes, accelerating fragmentation away from Western-led frameworks.

• Pillar: Energy Security Over Governance  

• Rapid moves toward securing Venezuela’s oil assets risk prioritizing extraction over institutional rebuilding, reinforcing the global shift toward resource-driven geopolitics.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.
Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Modern Diplomacy – “Venezuela: Law, Power and the Price of Selective Justice”

• Reuters – “Analysis: Venezuela crisis revives debate over U.S. intervention and international law”

~~~~~~~~~~

China Intensifies Cyberattacks on Taiwan
Hybrid warfare escalates as digital pressure targets critical systems

Overview

• Chinese cyberattacks on Taiwan surged in 2025, averaging 2.63 million incidents per day, according to Taiwan’s National Security Bureau

• The attacks reflect a 6% increase year-over-year and are more than double 2023 levels

• Critical infrastructure sectors — including hospitals, emergency services, banks, energy grids, and telecommunications — were repeatedly targeted

• Cyber activity often coincided with Chinese military drills, signaling coordinated pressure tactics

Key Developments

• Taiwan’s National Security Bureau reports persistent, high-volume cyber intrusions across government and civilian networks

• Healthcare systems and emergency services were targeted, raising public safety and confidence concerns

• Banking, energy, and telecommunications networks faced repeated disruption attempts

• Science parks and semiconductor firms were singled out, heightening global supply-chain risk

• Taipei characterizes the campaign as “hybrid warfare”, combining cyber operations, military pressure, and disinformation

Why It Matters

The escalation underscores how cyberwarfare has become a frontline instrument in cross-strait tensions. By targeting essential services and daily life, Beijing signals its ability to disrupt Taiwan without conventional conflict, testing resilience while maintaining strategic ambiguity.

Taiwan’s role as a cornerstone of global semiconductor supply chains means the consequences extend far beyond the region. Even limited disruption introduces systemic risk to technology markets, defense systems, and global economic stability, particularly amid intensifying U.S.–China rivalry.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For foreign currency holders, sustained cyber pressure on Taiwan represents a non-kinetic threat to monetary stability. Attacks on banks, payment systems, energy grids, and telecommunications undermine confidence in settlement continuity, trade execution, and reserve reliability.

Taiwan anchors high-value global manufacturing and trade flows, many settled in major reserve currencies. Persistent cyber risk forces markets to price in transaction delays, data integrity concerns, and operational disruptions, which can ripple through FX markets and reserve allocation strategies.

More broadly, this escalation reinforces why central banks, sovereign funds, and institutional holders are reassessing currency concentration and counterparty exposure. As cyberwarfare becomes normalized, currencies linked to digitally intensive economies face new vulnerability premiums, accelerating diversification toward hard assets, regional settlement systems, and alternative payment rails.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Cyber Pressure as Financial Leverage

• The use of cyberattacks to disrupt infrastructure highlights how digital warfare is now a tool of economic and financial coercion, influencing markets without open conflict.

• Pillar: Supply Chains as Strategic Battlegrounds

• Targeting Taiwan’s technology ecosystem reinforces the shift toward securitizing trade, restructuring supply chains, and reducing single-point dependencies in the global system.

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

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Modern Diplomacy – “China Intensifies Cyberattacks on Taiwan”

• Reuters – “Taiwan says Chinese cyberattacks surge alongside military pressure”

~~~~~~~~~~

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

Paul Gold Eagle: The Door is Opening for NESARA-GESARA

Paul Gold Eagle: The Door is Opening for NESARA-GESARA

1-4-2025

Paul White Gold Eagle @PaulGoldEagle

NESARA • GESARA — GET READY. IT’S HERE.

This is not another promise pushed into the future. It’s a transition point. A moment humanity has been pushed toward through pressure, exposure, and exhaustion of the old systems. What was built on debt, secrecy, and control has reached its limit.

NESARA and GESARA represent the correction, not chaos, but balance restored after decades of imbalance.

For years, people felt something was wrong even if they couldn’t name it. Work without freedom. Money without value. Rules without justice. That discomfort was awareness growing.

Now the structures that depended on silence are cracking, and new frameworks are quietly moving into place.

NESARA and GESARA are not about instant miracles or overnight noise. They are about ending financial slavery, restoring fair exchange, and returning dignity to everyday life.

Debt forgiveness, transparency, and asset-backed value are not rewards, they are necessities for a system that actually serves people instead of trapping them.

This is why resistance has been loud. This is why confusion has been constant. Old power never leaves politely. But delay does not mean denial. It means preparation. And preparation is nearly complete.

Getting ready now is not about panic buying or chasing rumors. It’s about mindset. About responsibility. About understanding that freedom comes with accountability. A reset without integrity solves nothing.

Stay calm. Stay grounded. Stay discerning.
What’s arriving doesn’t need belief to function, it needs people ready to live differently.

NESARA • GESARA
The door is opening.

Source(s):  https://x.com/PaulGoldEagle/status/2007650107853041854

https://dinarchronicles.com/2026/01/03/paul-gold-eagle-the-door-is-opening-for-nesara-gesara/

UBS Shocking Warning, European Bank on the Verge of Collapse

UBS Shocking Warning, European Bank on the Verge of Collapse

Steven Van Metre:   1-4-2025Top of Form

A recent analysis by UBS has sent shockwaves through the financial world, revealing that Deutsche Bank, one of the globe’s largest banks, has a staggering 30% of its portfolio tied to high-risk, unregulated private credit loans.

This is a far cry from the 8% average seen in Europe’s other major banks, and it’s a red flag that can’t be ignored. As we edge closer to a potential global financial crisis, it’s essential to understand the warning signs and take proactive steps to protect and grow your wealth.

The situation is dire. A global manufacturing slowdown, unseen since the 2008 financial crisis, is wreaking havoc on key economies, including France, Germany, the UK, Canada, and the US.

As manufacturing demand contracts, companies are left with rising inventories financed by private credit, leading to increasing delinquencies. This, in turn, forces banks to tighten lending standards, creating a vicious cycle of defaults, layoffs, and economic downturn.

Deutsche Bank’s exposure to private credit loans is a ticking time bomb. With over 30% of its portfolio at risk, the bank’s fragility could have far-reaching consequences for the global economy. If Deutsche Bank were to fail, it could trigger a catastrophic collapse of the financial system, echoing the 2008 crisis.

While the impending crisis is unsettling, it also presents opportunities for savvy investors. Diversification is key.

It’s time to rethink your portfolio and shift away from tech and cyclical stocks into more defensive sectors like utilities and healthcare. These industries tend to be more resilient during economic downturns, providing a safer haven for your investments.

For high-risk tolerant investors, tactical short positions in big tech could be profitable as the AI bubble bursts. However, it’s crucial to exercise caution and avoid jumping into gold or silver prematurely.

 A more prudent approach would be to hold a significant portion of your portfolio in cash or liquid instruments like short-term treasuries, monitoring interest rate trends as rates are expected to fall amid the credit bust.

To navigate this treacherous landscape, you’ll need a reliable trading system that can capitalize on market moves before machine-driven buying or selling occurs. A well-designed trading system can provide you with daily optimized trade alerts, risk management tools, and market insights to make informed decisions.

The writing is on the wall: a global financial crisis is on the horizon, triggered by the fragility of some of the world’s largest banks, particularly Deutsche Bank.

While the situation is dire, it’s not without opportunities. By diversifying your portfolio, staying informed, and leveraging the right tools, you can weather the storm and come out stronger on the other side.

https://youtu.be/DE-9T7MvjHM

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Sunday Afternoon 1-4-26

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

Markets Send Mixed Signals as 2026 Opens With Thin Liquidity

Equity optimism masks structural fragility beneath the surface

Overview

• Global equity markets opened 2026 with modest gains

• Precious metals and commodities continued to outperform

• Liquidity remains thin following year-end positioning

• Valuations remain elevated despite macro uncertainty

• Risk buffers across markets are increasingly compressed

Key Developments

• Major stock indices posted early gains, extending momentum from late 2025

• Precious metals advanced simultaneously, signaling hedging demand alongside equity exposure

• Trading volumes remain light, amplifying volatility risk

• Investors remain positioned for soft-landing scenarios, leaving limited margin for disappointment

• Geopolitical and fiscal risks remain underpriced relative to historical cycles

Why It Matters

Markets are not signaling stress through falling prices — they are signaling stress through divergence. When equities rise while metals strengthen and liquidity thins, it suggests confidence is conditional, not secure.

This pattern historically appears during late-cycle and transition periods, where optimism persists until an external catalyst forces repricing across assets.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• Thin liquidity magnifies FX volatility

• Risk-on positioning can reverse quickly

• Capital flows become disorderly during sentiment shifts

• Currencies price disappointment faster than equities

For currency holders, divergence across asset classes is a warning that stability is fragile, not durable.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Asset Divergence Signals Transition Phases
  Confidence splits before systems reorganize.

• Pillar: Liquidity Is the Silent Risk
  When buffers vanish, repricing accelerates.

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

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Investing.com – “Stocks make upbeat start to 2026 as metals extend rally”

• Reuters – “Global markets open year cautiously amid thin trading”

~~~~~~~~~~

Khamenei Stands Firm as Protests Simmer and U.S. Issues Threats

Currency collapse and external pressure test Iran’s political and monetary resilience

Overview

• Iran is facing renewed nationwide unrest driven by inflation and currency collapse

• Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected compromise and called for firm control

• The Iranian rial’s sharp decline has intensified public anger

• U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of possible action

• Iranian authorities are struggling to contain unrest without escalating instability

Key Developments

• Protests erupted after the rial plunged, compounding inflation pressures already fueled by sanctions

• Rights groups report more than 10 deaths and widespread arrests during demonstrations

• Khamenei publicly dismissed engagement with protesters, labeling them “rioters” and calling for firm control

• Security forces used tear gas and crowd control measures, particularly in western Iranian cities

• President Trump stated the U.S. was “locked and loaded,” escalating external pressure without specifying action

• Iranian officials acknowledged economic grievances, even as state media blamed unrest on outside infiltration

Why It Matters

Iran’s unrest represents more than social discontent — it is a monetary legitimacy crisis. The collapse of the rial has exposed the limits of Iran’s economic resilience under sanctions, while leadership rigidity narrows policy options.

When governments respond to currency-driven protests with force rather than reform, confidence erodes faster than inflation statistics suggest. External threats amplify the pressure, raising the risk of escalation both domestically and regionally.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• Currency collapse accelerates political instability

• Sanctions magnify inflation and settlement risk

• State credibility weakens when monetary tools fail

• FX volatility rises sharply during legitimacy crises

For currency holders, Iran illustrates how monetary failure precedes political fracture, even when regimes remain formally intact.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Currency Credibility Equals Political Stability
  When money fails, authority is challenged.

• Pillar: Sanctions Compress Policy Space
  External pressure accelerates internal fracture points.

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

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Modern Diplomacy – “Khamenei Stands Firm as Protests Simmer and U.S. Issues Threats”

• Reuters – “Iran faces renewed protests as currency slide deepens under sanctions pressure”

~~~~~~~~~~

Strategic Metals Beyond Gold Signal Structural Repricing Ahead

Copper and industrial metals reflect real-economy reset pressures

Overview

• Industrial metals are strengthening alongside precious metals

• Copper demand is rising due to electrification and AI infrastructure

• Supply constraints are colliding with long-term structural demand

• Metals tied to the real economy are being repriced

• Commodity markets are signaling more than speculative interest

Key Developments

• Copper prices remain elevated, supported by demand from EVs, renewable energy, and data centers

• Supply growth lags demand, due to underinvestment, permitting delays, and geopolitical risk

• Mining output constraints persist, limiting near-term production increases

• Investors increasingly view copper and strategic metals as infrastructure assets, not cyclical trades

• Other industrial metals are showing correlated strength, reinforcing the structural trend

Why It Matters

Unlike gold, which reflects confidence and monetary risk, industrial metals reflect the real economy. Sustained strength in copper and related metals suggests that the global system is repricing physical infrastructure needs, not just financial hedges.

This points to a reset dynamic driven by energy transition, digitization, and supply fragmentation, where physical inputs regain pricing power.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• Resource-linked currencies gain relative strength

• Import-dependent economies face cost pressure

• Trade balances shift with metal access

• FX markets price real-economy constraints early

For currency holders, industrial metal trends offer insight into which currencies are structurally supported versus exposed.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: Real Assets Anchor the Next System
  Infrastructure demand reshapes monetary relationships.

• Pillar: Supply Constraints Drive Repricing Cycles
  Physical scarcity matters more than financial abundance.

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

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Seeking Alpha – “What’s the Best Metals Play Besides Gold and Silver?”

• Reuters – “Copper demand surges as energy transition accelerates”

~~~~~~~~~~

BRICS Gold-Backed Currency Unit Faces Structural Hurdles Ahead of Global Launch

Ambitious de-dollarization plan collides with coordination and credibility limits

Overview

• BRICS’ proposed gold-backed Unit faces mounting implementation challenges

• Member nations remain divided on structure, purpose, and timing

• Technical infrastructure and verification remain unproven

• Economic divergence inside BRICS complicates monetary unity

• Full rollout before 2030 appears increasingly unlikely

Key Developments

• Member disagreement persists
  Russia signaled in late 2024 that it was not abandoning the dollar, reversing earlier momentum. India has opposed a shared currency outright, citing trade retaliation risks. China has not publicly committed, despite holding the bloc’s largest gold reserves. Brazil expressed early enthusiasm but offered limited concrete support.

• Pilot credibility questions remain
  A limited BRICS Unit pilot launched in October 2025 with just 100 Units issued. Documentation gaps, incomplete technical specifications, and lack of confirmation from major BRICS central banks have raised concerns over operational readiness.

• Gold logistics are unresolved
  Backing the Unit with more than 6,000 metric tons of gold would require massive secure storage, verification, and auditing systems. Estimated annual maintenance costs approach $1 billion — yet no unified framework has been publicly disclosed.

• Divergent economic models complicate coordination
  BRICS members operate under vastly different systems: China’s capital controls, India’s democratic market structure, Russia’s sanction-constrained economy, Brazil’s currency volatility, and South Africa’s structural unemployment all limit policy alignment.

Why It Matters

The BRICS Unit highlights a critical truth of the global reset: alternative monetary systems are harder to implement than to announce. While dissatisfaction with dollar dominance is real, building a trusted, scalable replacement requires coordination, transparency, and political alignment that BRICS has not yet achieved.

This does not invalidate de-dollarization — but it shows that fragmentation will likely advance through trade settlement, bilateral currency use, and payment rails before any shared reserve instrument emerges.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• Announcements ≠ implementation: Markets price execution, not intent

• Gold backing requires trust, verification, and access

• Fragmented blocs create uneven FX repricing

• De-dollarization will be gradual, not sudden

For currency holders, the BRICS Unit is a long-term signal, not a near-term switch.

Implications for the Global Reset

• Pillar: De-Dollarization Is Incremental, Not Binary
  The dollar weakens through alternatives, not replacements.

• Pillar: Trust Infrastructure Matters More Than Reserves
  Gold alone does not create credibility.

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

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Watcher.Guru – “BRICS Gold-Backed Currency Unit Faces Challenges Before Global Launch”

• Reuters – “BRICS debate common currency as members clash over dollar alternatives”

~~~~~~~~~~

🌱 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

News, Rumors and Opinions Sunday 1-4-2025

Note: All intel should be considered as "Rumors" until we receive official announcements ...and “Rates and Dates” could change anytime until we get to the banks/redemption centers.

RV Excerpts from the Restored Republic via a GCR Update as of Sun. 4 Jan. 2026

Compiled Sun. 4 Jan. 2026 12:01 am EST by Judy Byington

Judy Note: The fiat US Dollar was collapsing, while the World’s Central Banks were failing. As of this weekend Bank of America systems have gone offline nationwide. Millions of customers were reporting zero balances, frozen accounts, and inaccessible funds. “The day the Banks die, your fake debts die with them” said Dr. Charlie Ward.

That was because the greatest wealth transfer in human history was now fully underway as Trump activated the Quantum Financial System worldwide. Payouts in over 200 nations had (allegedly) followed the historic launch on New Year’s Day.

Prosperity Funds were(allegedly)  releasing to the people—ushering in an era of universal financial freedom and humanitarian projects that will rebuild our world.

Redemption centers reported that Tier 4B notifications have(allegedly)  begun, with appointments scheduling for currency exchanges and Zim bond redemptions at unprecedented 1:1 rates.

Debt forgiveness protocols under NESARA/GESARA were (allegedly) being implemented, wiping clean mortgages, credit cards, and student loans for millions as the old fiat system collapses forever.

Judy Note: As I understand it, all bank accounts worldwide have been mirrored from the old SWIFT Central Bank System and onto the new Quantum Financial System. Bank customers should not experience a loss of funds in the transfer process to the new System, although there may be a few days during the Ten Days of Darkness where banks are closed and ATMs don’t work, so it is advised to have cash on hand.

I am not aware of how they are calling in people to exchange their foreign currencies and redeem Zim Bonds. I, personally, have not been contacted. I only know that since the new Global Financial System(allegedly)  activated on Thurs. 1 Jan. 2025, some have (allegedly) exchanged with banks and Redemption Centers, but were on strict NDAs not to talk about it.

It is my understanding that you can obtain a higher exchange rate (including the Dinar Contract Rate) at a official Redemption Center than you can at a bank. You can only (allegedly) redeem Zim Bonds at a Redemption Center.

It is also my understanding that no one could spend their exchange monies until the full Tier4b (Us, the Internet Group who hold foreign currency and Zim Bonds) have been contacted to make appointments and the general public was made aware of the new system.

What We Think We Know as of Sun. 4 Jan. 2026:

Sat. 3 Jan. 2026: Banks are failing. America First Bank is freezing customer accounts. $21 Trillion dollars is missing from the U.S. government. That is $65,000 per person—as much as the national debt! That means the Fed and their member banks have been transacting government money outside the law.

Global Financial Crisis:

Sat. 3 Jan. 2025 Financial Coup d’Etat: History of the Missing Money. $21 Trillion dollars is missing from the U.S. government. That is $65,000 per person—as much as the national debt!

What’s  going on? Where is the money? How could this happen? How much has really gone missing?

What would happen if a corporation failed to pass  an audit like this? Or a taxpayer? This means the Fed and their member banks are transacting government money outside the law.

 So are the corporate contractors that run the payment systems. So are the Wall Street firms who are selling government securities without full disclosure.

Would your banks continue to handle your bank account if you behaved like this? Would your investors continue to buy your securities if you behaved like this? Would your accountant be silent?

Read full post here:  https://dinarchronicles.com/2026/01/04/restored-republic-via-a-gcr-update-as-of-january-4-2026/

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

Mnt Goat  Folks this is finally all coming together for Iraq; however, my contact warned me that there is still the new prime minister to be announced and government formed...the new speaker of parliament was sworn in and now he has to swear in the new members of parliament...Will they make it to the target of early January for an RV?...when Iraq really, really wants things to move along it does. I also firmly believe that they will need to pass the Oil and Gas law in the new parliament...I do not believe this will stop the reinstatement but would help to have it done. 

Jeff  Iraq is extremely close to getting back on the world stage because they're now being declared as an international sovereign state by the UN.

Frank26   The CBI is in charge of the monetary reform.  Not the GOI, not the US Treasury, not the IMF, only the CBI, not Alaq, the governor.  The BOD, board of directors of the CBI, they're the ones that are in charge.  They're the one that determine when they're going to release the new exchange rate.  They said, and we have the articles, that on December 31st 1310 was going to expire...What happened?  What happened IMO is this is what we call a warding off speculation...Alaq...why would you lie like that?  ...They're warding off speculation.  They's why there is no solution to what you're seeing.

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

The K-Shaped Economy: Just One Shock From Collapse

Lynette Zang:  1-3-2025

The K-shaped economy is not a recovery — it’s a fragile system held together by the top 10% while the middle class collapses underneath.

Consumer spending, confidence, and stability are all deteriorating at the same time. History shows when confidence breaks, inflation accelerates and systems fail fast.

This isn’t a recession cycle — it’s a structural breakdown. Understanding this now gives you a chance to prepare before the next shock hits.

Chapters:

00:00 — The K-Shaped (Jenga) Economy Explained

01:27 — Why the Middle Class Is Being Destroyed

02:34 — Inflation Masks a Fragile Economic Reality

03:40 — Money Printing, Asset Bubbles, and False Wealth

 04:35 — Market Wobbles, Recession, and the Confidence Trap

 06:12 — Rising Costs Crush Consumers and Retail Spending

 08:01 — Hyperinflation, Social Breakdown, and Sound Money Solutions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvtHKfD-sJg

“Tidbits From TNT” Sunday 1-4-2026

TNT:

Tishwash:  The House of Representatives publishes the agenda for its second session and moves towards voting on its internal regulations. 

The media department of the Iraqi parliament published today, Saturday, the agenda for the second session of the sixth electoral cycle, for the first legislative year, first chapter.

The department stated that the session is scheduled to be held next Monday, January 5, 2026, at 10:00 AM, indicating that the agenda is limited to three main items.

She added that the first paragraph includes voting on the internal regulations of the House of Representatives, while the second paragraph stipulates the formation of a committee that will select members of parliamentary committees in accordance with the provisions of the internal regulations, and the third paragraph is to be dedicated to conducting general discussions.

The Iraqi parliament held its first session of its new term on December 29, during which it voted to elect Hebat al-Halbousi as Speaker of the House, Adnan Faihan as First Deputy Speaker, and Farhad al-Atroushi as Second Deputy Speaker.  link

Tishwash:  Foreign Ministry: Iraq has taken over all sites of the UN mission "UNAMI".

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday the handover of all UNAMI sites across the country, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2732 (2024) mandating the termination of the mission's mandate.

In a statement received by the Video News Agency, the Ministry said, "In line with the government's decision to end the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), and pursuant to Security Council Resolution 2732 (2024)

Mandating the termination of the mission by December 31, 2025, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Head of the Committee for the Handover of UNAMI Sites throughout the Country, Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr Al-Uloom, and the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Claudio Cordone, signed the handover report for the UN Integrated Compound in Baghdad."

She added that "the signing ceremony included a tour of the complex and its facilities, during which Ambassador Bahr Al-Uloom commended the efforts exerted by UNAMI over the past two decades and the level of cooperation and fruitful partnership with Iraq, which has actively contributed to supporting stability and development in various sectors, particularly consolidating democracy and promoting human rights, women's rights, and social justice."

According to the statement, Ambassador Bahr Al-Uloom also recalled "the sacrifices of UNAMI, especially the mission members who lost their lives while performing their duties in 2003, most notably the first head of the mission, the late Sergio Vieira de Mello," expressing "Iraq's gratitude and appreciation to all the Special Representatives of the Secretary-General who have led the mission, up to the current Special Representative, Ambassador Mohammed Al-Hassan."

Both sides affirmed that "the conclusion of UNAMI's work does not represent the end of cooperation between Iraq and the United Nations, but rather the beginning of a new phase of development partnership, led by the UN Country Team, in line with national priorities and building upon the successes achieved."   link

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

Tishwash:  The Iraqi government allocates "high" capital to the newly revamped Rafidain Bank. 

On Saturday, Mazhar Mohammed Saleh, the financial advisor to the outgoing Prime Minister, revealed that the new Rafidain Bank will have highly efficient capital, with the possibility of bringing in an international strategic banking partner.

Mazhar told Shafaq News Agency that "the study prepared by one of the major financial companies specializing in banking and financial reform does not go for the option of privatizing Rafidain Bank before starting its structural reform through institutional specialization."

He explained that "this study proposes redefining Rafidain Bank as the sovereign bank of the government, so that its role is limited to managing government financial operations, primarily managing the unified treasury account, and its operational link with more than a thousand government disbursement and spending units."

Saleh also pointed out that “this sovereign bank is entrusted with an organic link to the center of finance and policy in the financial authority, in order to ensure the organization of state finances through precise coordination between revenues and expenditures, and linking this to the cash budget (the government’s cash flow budget), with the aim of achieving the highest levels of efficiency in financial management, discipline, governance, and transparency.”

The government financial advisor added that "the study proposes the establishment of another bank called (Al-Rafidain - One), which operates as a mixed public-private joint-stock company, and follows the principles of the modern banking market."

“This bank is supposed to have highly efficient capital and operate in accordance with Basel (3) regulations, which will enhance the strength of the banking system and deepen the national banking market,” according to Saleh.

He pointed out that “this bank’s business model is based on high compliance levels and low risks, and its main activity is to grant bank credit to natural and legal persons, in accordance with the latest modern banking practices, while employing advanced financial information technology (FinTech) in a way that achieves digital financial inclusion, and contributes to integrating the national banking market and transforming it into a unified and effective force.”

Saleh concluded by saying that “Rafidain Bank – One undertakes the practice of financing foreign trade, with the possibility of bringing in an international strategic banking partner, which will raise its operational and technical capabilities, and gradually elevate it to the ranks of regional banks with high credit ratings, and make it a real lever for modernizing the Iraqi banking sector and supporting sustainable economic development.”

In 2021, the Iraqi Ministry of Finance approved a package of reform measures related to the restructuring of Al-Rafidain Bank, in accordance with the "White Paper" on economic reform in the country.

At the end of 2024, Ernst & Young, a professional services firm, confirmed that the restructuring of Rafidain Bank had reached 74%. Firas Kilani, an expert on the restructuring project from the British company, said that "the bank's restructuring project has progressed very significantly since it began in September 2024."

At the beginning of 2025, outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced that the project to restructure Rafidain Bank had reached its final stages.

Rafidain Bank was established under Law No. (33) of 1941 and commenced its operations on 5/19/1941 with a paid-up capital of (50) fifty thousand dinars. The bank currently has (164) branches inside Iraq in addition to (7) branches abroad, namely: Cairo, Beirut, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Sana’a, Amman, Jabal Amman.

Despite the Iraqi government's attempts to improve the performance of Rafidain Bank and restructure it, the bank's branch in Abu Dhabi committed financial and administrative violations, in addition to monitoring indicators of mismanagement that prompted the UAE Central Bank to impose "large financial" fines on the branch, amid warnings that these measures may end with the complete closure of the branch, according to informed sources who spoke to Shafaq News Agency at the end of 2025.

The Yemeni Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Muammar Al-Iryani, announced at the beginning of October 2025 the closure of the Iraqi state-owned Rafidain Bank branches in Sana'a.

Al-Iryani said in a post on the “X” website that “the decision by the Iraqi Rafidain Bank to close its branch in Sana’a and end its financial and banking activity is a step in the right direction, and a direct result of international efforts aimed at drying up the sources of funding for the Houthi group.”

He pointed out that this measure "reflects a positive response to governmental warnings and American and international pressure, and sends a clear message to the rest of the regional and international financial institutions, about the need to review their activities, and to ensure that they do not fall into the circle of exploitation or employment to serve the agendas of the Iranian regime and its terrorist arms in the region."

Al-Iryani stressed that "the Houthis have turned the financial and banking institutions operating in the areas under their control into tools for plundering the money of Yemenis and financing their cross-border terrorist activities."

Last August, US Congressman Joe Wilson accused the state-owned Rafidain Bank of conducting financial transactions with the Houthi group in Yemen, threatening to cut off US funding to Iraq as a result.

Wilson wrote in a post on the “X-formerly Twitter” platform that “the Iraqi state-owned Rafidain Bank is conducting financial transactions on behalf of the Houthis, a terrorist organization,” adding, “We have a name for these countries: state sponsors of terrorism.”

He added, "I will work to cut off funding to Iraq during the next appropriations bill" in the US budget. Wilson also urged the US Treasury Department to "sanction" Rafidain Bank.  link

Mot: The New Year Already!- at Me Gym!!!! 

Mot: Where to Begin!!!! - siigghhhhhh!!!!