70.6 F
Chicago
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
type here...
Home Blog Page 1362

“Whites Only” Town Draws Anger While “Blacks Only” Town Gets Applause

survivalnomics
-
0
“Whites Only” Town Draws Anger While “Blacks Only” Town Gets Applause

Last week, Cincinnati, OH made the national news after video footage went viral of crowds exiting a “black culture” jazz music festival.  Marauding groups of the fatigue subset (the usual suspects) attacked at least three unsuspecting white victims as they walked along the bustling business district.  One victim was an older man who was stomped and punched repeatedly into the road by multiple assailants.  Another victim was a woman who was beaten unconscious.

Why did they do it?  Because those people were convenient targets, it would seem.  Or, perhaps simply because they were the most convenient white targets.  It’s hard to say, but one can make an educated guess according to the evidence and common sense.

Most witnesses filmed the incidents or laughed.  Keep in mind that if this was a group of white attackers targeting lone black victims, the national news would be in an uproar and there would be riots in the streets.  As it stands, the Mayor of Cincinnati and the media have only briefly acknowledged the violence because it was exposed on social media.  The discussion will disappear down the rabbit hole in a week or less as with all such crimes.

As the “black fatigue” debate continues, the general consensus is that solutions are few and difficult due to Democrat leadership in most major cities and also legal structures that prevent any separation of conflicting groups based on race.  As Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert cartoon strip, famously noted after discovering a poll in which over half of all black respondents said they don’t like white people:

“Based on the way things are going, the best advice I can give to White people, is to get the Hell away from Black people. There’s no fixing this. You just have to escape.”

Apparently some white Americans took this revelation to heart.  One group called “Return To The Land” has launched an initiative in Arkansas with the goal of building a town of people limited to traditional values and European descent.  The project, operating on private club laws on a 150 acre expanse, has of course draw the ire of numerous activist groups and the leftist media.

   

The group was at least partially inspired by efforts in South Africa by Afrikaners to protect themselves from genocidal black communist movements in the region.  Some towns in South Africa have formed with exclusively white residents and farmers.  This comes after thousands of murders which they argue are race related. 

Black commentators refer to the group as “white supremacist” (they are actually separatists, not supremacists) and call for their organization to be taken down through lawsuits.

  

The obvious question needs to be asked:  Why do these critics care?  Calls for black Americans to separate and isolate from whites have been rampant the last several years and such efforts are widely applauded.  The low IQ commentators above ask what would happen if “blacks tried to do the same thing”?  If they did a modicum of research they would discover that black Americans already have, many times.  

In fact, only a few years ago the media was lavishing praise on a blacks only town called “Freedom” being established in rural Georgia.  There were no accusations of malice or racism, only rivers of fanfare.  

The double standard is clear.  Black only town = stunning and brave – White only town = evil and fascist. 

Black critics argue that the Return to the Land project is unnecessary because rural towns across America are already predominantly white.  If this is true, then why does one more white town enrage them so much?  

Maybe it’s not so much quiet separation that bothers leftists; it’s the open and loud call to separate that angers them.  It’s the lack of fear on the part of white Americans.  It’s important to understand that for decades progressives have used the power of white guilt to facilitate gains in political power and social influence.  But what happens when that guilt disappears?

Ideally, none of this would be needed and all groups within the US could unite around a shared culture of American values.  However, this is not the case.  Far-left ideology has permeated the black community and ghetto culture has made coexistence impossible in the majority of cases.  A percentage of black Americans are waking up to the problem and are trying to reverse course, but it may be too late.

In terms of legality, the Arkansas group will certainly face a multitude of challenges.  Laws regarding private clubs do allow for discrimination, but not for skin color.  Selective membership can be applied for groups that are based on a shared ancestry (an Sub-Saharan African Women’s club can legally discriminate against anyone who is not descended from Sub-Saharan Africa, for example).  This may be why Return to the Land specifies that they are looking for people of European descent (a majority percentage of European DNA).  It gives them legal latitude to block entry to certain undesirables.

How the group handles private property is another matter.  There are legal loopholes that allow for the group to congregate in the same area, as long as traditional property sales don’t involve discrimination.  Access to the property would therefore have to be tied somehow to private club laws.  Return to the Land specifically notes on their website that they do not engage in real estate sales or rentals.

The separation, though, is not just about genetic heritage, it’s also about principles and culture.  Beyond the legal debate, it’s fair to ask if people should be free in general to choose their associations; to choose who they live close to?  Logic and reason would say “yes”.  Why is it okay for one group (black Americans) to build their own town, but not okay for another group (white Americans)? 

Why are leftists insistent on forced associations, particularly when it comes to whites? 

Because that is how they accumulate power.  The most productive group, the most wealthy group, must be forced to feed the needs of all orbiting groups.  Minority groups can be tribal but white Americans cannot, because they are the resource pillar needed for the socialist machine to function.  Separation undermines the foundations of the multicultural agenda, but also the socialist economic agenda.  The progressive structure falls apart if enough whites walk away.  It’s happening now in South Africa and the same result would be inevitable in the US. 

Tyler Durden
Mon, 07/28/2025 – 21:20

NYC Blackstone Tower Shooter ID’d As Shane Tamura

survivalnomics
-
0
NYC Blackstone Tower Shooter ID’d As Shane Tamura

Watch live feed here:

 

*  *  *

Update (2110ET): 

X account Viral News NYC has identified the shooter as 27-year-old Shane Tamura of Las Vegas. 

Here are more details from Bloomberg:

An armed shooter attacked 345 Park Ave. in Manhattan, the tower housing Blackstone Inc.’s global headquarters and the National Football League among others, killing at least five people, according to a city official.

The suspected shooter is dead, three officials said. Victims include at least one police officer. At least two other people died at the tower.

The weapon of choice: an AR-platform short-barrel rifle with a lower receiver made by Palmetto State Armory.

Fear…

Tamura is registered Non-Partisan in Nevada.

Shooter found dead on the 33rd floor.

Alleged interview of Tamura when he was a football player in high school. 

Fox News and CNN paint very different pictures of the shooter… 

No motive has been released yet. 

*  *  *

Update (2030ET): U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on X that U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, has set up a command post to assist with the shooting at 345 Park Avenue, the site of Blackstone’s headquarters. She also stated that FBI agents have arrived at the scene.

*  *  *

Update (1930ET): It is being reported that the shooter has been found dead on the 33rd floor of the building. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

*  *  *

An active shooter has been reported at 345 Park Avenue, the site of Blackstone’s headquarters as well as some offices belonging to the National Football League, an NYPD senior official told Bloomberg News.

According to a social media report, the perpetrator is a Middle Eastern man with a bulletproof vest who is “running around with an AR-15 and shooting.”

According to ABC, at least one civilian and one police officer have been shot, while Bloomberg reports that at least three people have been taken to a hospital, according to a fire department official. 

While news of the attack is still scarce, the Viral News NYC account reports that the suspect has shot himself. 

*Developing…  

Tyler Durden
Mon, 07/28/2025 – 21:10

Ron Paul Recommends ‘Nobody’ For Fed Chairman

survivalnomics
-
0
Ron Paul Recommends ‘Nobody’ For Fed Chairman

Authored by Ron Paul via The Ron Paul Institute,

President Trump has recently suggested that, unless Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell cuts interest rates, the president might revert to his The Apprentice days and tell Powell, “you’re fired.”

President Trump backtracked on firing Powell after the president’s comments caused stock markets to fall. However, it is almost certain that President Trump will not reappoint Powell when Powell’s term ends in May.

Media reports indicate the leading candidates to replace Powell include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, former Federal Reserve Board Governor Kevin Warsh, and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett.

A more interesting question than who will replace Powell is why would anyone want to, since the next Fed chairman will likely face another Fed-caused meltdown.

The national debt is over 37 trillion dollars and rising. Yet few in Congress are serious about cutting federal spending. This puts pressure on the Fed to keep interest rates low to limit the cost of ongoing debt interest payments. So, the Fed continues monetizing the debt, pumping more money into the economy, weakening the dollar’s purchasing power, and eroding the American people’s standard of living. The Federal Reserve’s low interest rate policy also distorts the market, leading to the bubble-boom-and-bust business cycle that has plagued the American economy since the last link between the dollar and gold was severed in 1971.

The Fed’s job is also made more difficult by a reduced demand for Treasury securities among investors, causing the Fed to increase its purchases. This pumps more money into the economy, further eroding the dollar’s value.

Concerns about the national debt’s effect on monetary policy are a key factor behind the recent increase in gold prices and the interest in cryptocurrencies. The danger posed by the national debt is one reason why foreign countries are increasing their gold holdings and considering challenging the US dollar’s world reserve currency status.

Whoever succeeds Jerome Powell as Fed chairman will face a no-win choice. He could try to keep interest rates low to ensure the federal government’s interest payments remain manageable, at the cost of making it more likely the US economy will face another Federal Reserve caused meltdown.

Instead, he could try increasing rates to limit price increases thus raising the cost of managing government (and private sector) debt to unsustainable levels, throwing the economy into a severe downturn.

Congress members and President Trump are attacking Chairman Powell for spending over two billion dollars on Federal Reserve headquarters renovations.

This is a waste of taxpayer money, but it pales in comparison to the harm suffered by the American people because of the Federal Reserve’s inflationary policies.

Treasury Secretary Bessent has suggested expanding the investigation beyond the costs of renovating the Fed headquarters to examination of “the entire Federal Reserve institution” to determine if the Fed has “succeeded in its mission.”

This suggests Secretary Bessent would support passing the Audit the Fed legislation, which is a step toward returning to a constitutional and sound monetary policy.

However, anyone who understands Austrian economics knows a fiat money system managed by a secretive central bank can never succeed in creating lasting prosperity and will eventually crash the economy.

No person or persons can know the “correct” interest rates, and the Federal Reserve’s attempts to control interest rates are destructive like other central planning. The proper answer to who should be Fed chairman is…nobody.

Tyler Durden
Mon, 07/28/2025 – 20:55

Chinese Intel-Linked Bankers Reportedly Fundraised For L.A. Mayor Karen Bass 

survivalnomics
-
0
Chinese Intel-Linked Bankers Reportedly Fundraised For L.A. Mayor Karen Bass 

A Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) investigation has revealed that disgraced Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass appointed two Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-linked bankers, Dominic Ng (CEO, East West Bank) and Simon Pang (co-founder, Royal Business Bank), to her mayoral transition advisory team in 2022. The investigation found that the two bankers and their institutions funneled over $1 million to Bass’ campaign and the mayor’s nonprofit, which she advises. 

The report, titled “Karen Bass Raked In Cash From Chinese Intel-Tied Bankers Before Hiring Them,” noted that it’s unclear what roles Ng and Pang played on Bass’ mayoral transition advisory team, but what’s undeniable is that both have held positions within an influence and intelligence service of the CCP called the United Front Work Department (UFWD).

DCNF spoke with an East West Bank spokesperson who acknowledged that Ng had participated in two Chinese government organizations. 

Recall that in 2023, House Republicans requested that the FBI investigate Ng for potential Espionage Act violations. At the time, the GOP sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray stating, “The Biden administration has allowed the CCP to infiltrate the third-party sector and, consequently, political leaders who have existing relationships with these groups and are privy to U.S. intelligence.” 

Sam Cooper, a Canadian investigative reporter with The Bureau, told DCNF, “I absolutely believe that anyone holding a United Front position and then landing a spot on a mayor’s transition team is a huge red flag.” 

“In fact, they’re often placed on these teams as a reward for channeling significant donations,” Cooper explained. 

He noted, “When donors connected to United Front groups have significant wealth and show up constantly around politicians, they’re there for a reason.” 

DCNF’s June report revealed that Bass appointed the son of a Democratic fundraiser and a known CCP intelligence official to serve as the city’s liaison for Asian-American affairs and director of commission appointments.

“Los Angeles is now a wide-open city for China’s communists,” warned Gatestone Institute senior fellow Gordon Chang, adding, “Angelenos can thank the CCP sympathizer-in-chief, Karen Bass. Karen Bass resists federal agents and welcomes China’s communists. It’s very clear where her sympathies lie.”

The question is whether the CCP holds political leverage over Mayor Bass. It certainly appears that way, given her questionable policies: shielding criminal illegal aliens from federal law enforcement, supporting open borders, turning a blind eye to Marxist-linked NGO riots, standing idle as parts of Los Angeles burn, and opposing President Trump at every turn.

Let’s not forget… Bass has a history of communist sympathizing, including publicly honoring a member of the Communist Party USA in 2017. 

Tyler Durden
Mon, 07/28/2025 – 20:30

CDC Releases Update On ‘Long COVID’ Symptoms

survivalnomics
-
0
CDC Releases Update On ‘Long COVID’ Symptoms

Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times,

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an update on July 24 urging health care providers and public health officials to raise awareness of the symptoms of “long COVID,” a condition the CDC states can last weeks, months, or even years after an infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

In the update, the agency said that public health professionals should continue to “promote awareness of Long COVID, help combat the stigma that patients with Long COVID encounter, and emphasize prevention of Long COVID,” while encouraging people to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

In another July 24 update, the federal health agency said that “symptoms that can range from mild to severe and may be similar to symptoms from other illnesses” that can “last weeks, months, or years after COVID-19 illness and can emerge, persist, resolve, and reemerge over different lengths of time.”

According to the update, symptoms include fatigue that interferes with daily life, symptoms that worsen after physical or mental effort, fever, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chest pain, coughing, and a fast-beating or pounding heart.

Some symptoms could be neurological, the CDC said. That includes “brain fog,” or difficulty in thinking and concentrating; sleeping problems; dizziness when standing up; depression or anxiety; a change in smell; or a pins-and-needles feeling.

Other symptoms can include digestive problems such as diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain, the agency adds. Joint or muscle pain, rash, and changes in the menstrual cycle are also reported symptoms of long COVID, according to the CDC.

“More than 200 Long COVID symptoms have been identified. However, fatigue, brain fog, and exhaustion (post-exertional malaise) are among the commonly reported symptoms of Long COVID,” the CDC said.

COVID-19 activity was classified as low nationwide, the agency said on July 25. Respiratory illness activity, including RSV and influenza, was also described as “very low.”

CDC wastewater activity indicates that COVID-19 is increasing in Southeast, Southern, and West Coast states as of the most recent update.

A map of wastewater levels released by the CDC last week showed that levels are “very high” in one state, Louisiana, and “high” in Florida and Hawaii.

No other states were experiencing high or very high levels.

The CDC, until recently, had recommended that all individuals aged 6 months or older receive a COVID-19 vaccine annually, regardless of prior vaccination or infection.

After orders from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the CDC recently stopped recommending COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women.

The Food and Drug Administration has limited new approvals for COVID-19 vaccines to the elderly and younger people with underlying health conditions that can increase the risk of severe COVID-19.

“Where the parent presents with a desire for their child to be vaccinated, children 6 months and older may receive COVID-19 vaccination, informed by the clinical judgment of a healthcare provider and personal preference and circumstances,” the CDC said in late May.

Tyler Durden
Mon, 07/28/2025 – 19:15

Houthis To Escalate Attacks On Ships Linked To Firms Dealing With Israel ‘Regardless Of Nationality’

survivalnomics
-
0
Houthis To Escalate Attacks On Ships Linked To Firms Dealing With Israel ‘Regardless Of Nationality’

Just last week, Prime Minister Netanyahu recalled his Israeli negotiating team from Doha – which is certainly not a first instance – as talks broke down, also after the US representative mentioned dissatisfaction with Hamas’ position.

On Sunday night, the Houthis of Yemen declared it will target merchant ships belonging to any company that does business with Israeli ports. This part is nothing new, but what is a renewed escalation is that the Houthis statement made clear this will be regardless of nationality as part of the next phase of its operations.

This Red Sea war has been going for a long time, and has featured direct ballistic missile attacks on Tel Aviv – which have been waning in the last weeks, but the resulting shipping disruptions have wreaked havoc on a vital global transit point through which an estimated $1 trillion in goods usually passes each year.

The Houthis have been boasting of the return of attacks via slick social media videos.

The Houthi statement said they had “decided to escalate their military support operations and begin implementing the fourth phase of the naval blockade” against Israel. This also as international reports have acknowledged rising famine and deaths from hunger in the Gaza Strip.

The fresh statement warns the Iran-backed militants would target “all ships belonging to any company that deals with the ports of the Israeli enemy, regardless of the nationality of that company, and in any location within the reach of our armed forces.” This is regardless of any final destination, it warned.

International companies and governments must pressure Israel to stop the war in Gaza and lift its blockade on the Palestinian territory “if they want to avoid this escalation” – the statement warns further.

Escalation has indeed been on the rise, despite months ago Trump ordering the US Navy to wind down and withdraw from its war with the Houthis, while pressuring the Europeans to take a more active posture in the theatre.

Already in July the Houthis have attacked and sank two Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carriers – identified as the Magic Seas and the Eternity C. The Houthis have boasted of these assaults by issuing high-production quality films detailing the operations, which even involved boarding the vessels.

These were deadly attacks and have resulted in four crew members dead and 11 more taken captive – though thankfully 22 crew members of the Magic Seas were able to be rescued.

As for the latest round of failed negotiations hosted in Qatar, reports indicated that Hamas offered to trade 10 Israeli hostages for 200 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences.

Israel reportedly pushed for a 2-kilometer demilitarized buffer inside the Strip, while Hamas is said to have countered with one kilometer. All of this may be moot from the start, given much more land mass has already been utterly destroyed, and Israel is believed to be paving the way for eventual new settlements.

The fiery and loudly-issued new threat against Red Sea shipping:

The Israeli government has meanwhile opted for a military solution, and the complete eradication of Gaza. From the start Hamas has insisted on the removal of all Israeli military troops, which has been a non-starter for Netanyahu.

By and large, Washington has stuck by its closest Mideast ally, amid growing international criticisms linked to tens of thousands of civilian deaths, and a nightmarish humanitarian crisis. President Trump on Monday in comments from Scotland issued a rare admission that Gazans are indeed starving, and that we need to “feed the kids”.

Tyler Durden
Mon, 07/28/2025 – 18:50

Electric Utilities Will Invest More Than $1.1 Trillion By 2030 To Meet Demand Growth

survivalnomics
-
0
Electric Utilities Will Invest More Than $1.1 Trillion By 2030 To Meet Demand Growth

By Robert Walton of Utility Dive

Investor-owned U.S. electric utilities will invest more than $1.1 trillion in the 2025-2029 period, marking a rapid increase in capital expenditures as the sector rushes to meet growing power demand, according to a Wednesday report from the Edison Electric Institute.

A composite wind blade. U.S. electric utilities brought 52 GW of total new generating capacity online in 2024, 11% more than in 2023 and 48% more than in 2022, according to a July 23, 2025, report from the Edison Electric Institute

Capital expenditures from 2015 to 2024 totaled $1.3 trillion, the trade group noted.

The electric utility sector’s capital expenditures “are higher than any other sector in the U.S. economy, outpacing transportation, retail, and other capital-intensive industries,” EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney said in a statement.  “As demand for electricity continues to grow, we remain committed to making the investments needed to strengthen America’s energy security while ensuring that our customers receive reliable, affordable energy.” 

Much of the investment is going to meet rising demand from data centers. While predictions for AI-related load growth vary, EEI’s financial review cited a McKinsey study predicting data center demand will rise about 20% annually from 2023 to 2030, from 60 GW today to 170-220 GW. Depending on factors, demand could even reach 300 GW, the McKinsey analysis said.

But not all proposed data centers will ultimately be built, experts agree. A Schneider Electric 2030 AI power demand estimate put scenario ranges from 16.5 GW to 65.3 GW.

“Of course, prospects for higher demand growth come from more than AI and data centers,” EEI’s report noted. “Increased electrification of transportation, manufacturing reshoring, and strong economic development across many service territories are positive factors as well.”

“The longer-term bias for electric company growth is on the upside,” the report concluded.

Utilities are working to quickly bring new generation online, with the bulk of it being renewable. But in recent months there has been a shift towards proposing new gas capacity to power data centers.

The sector brought 52 GW of new generating capacity online in 2024, 11% more than the 46.8 GW in 2023 and 48% more than the 35 GW in 2022, according to the report.

“The increase from 2023 to 2024 was primarily due to additional solar and storage capacity,” EEI said. “Solar capacity installations increased 63% to 32,486 MW in 2024, the fastest annual growth since 2020.”

Energy storage additions increased 54% to 11,534 MW in 2024, EEI said. New gas capacity brought online decreased 79% to 2,428 MW in 2024, “marking natural gas’s lowest increase since 2020,” the report said. “Wind capacity additions also decreased,” from 6,343 MW in 2023 to 4,132 MW in 2024, “indicating a maturing technology after decades of rapid growth.”

Tyler Durden
Mon, 07/28/2025 – 18:25

These Companies Just Scored Robotaxi Commercial Licenses In Shanghai

survivalnomics
-
0
These Companies Just Scored Robotaxi Commercial Licenses In Shanghai

China’s Robotaxi revolution is shifting into a higher gear. In May, we highlighted a Goldman Sachs note forecasting that 500,000 autonomous robotaxis would be operating across ten major cities by 2030. New data from the bank’s analysts now show acceleration: a wave of new commercial operating licenses has been granted to Robotaxi operators.

A team of Goldman analysts led by Allen Chang and Verena Jeng wrote in a note to clients on Monday that companies including Pony AI, Baidu, WeRide, JinJiang Taxi, DaZhong Transportation, and SAIC Motor were granted Robotaxi licenses to operate intelligent connected vehicles in Shanghai. The licenses were announced during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference over the weekend. 

“In Shanghai, Robotaxi operators that have received licenses can operate fully driverless Robotaxi for public passengers and charge fares in the designated areas of Shanghai,” said the analysts. 

This development led the analysts to maintain a bullish call on the industry: “We are positive on the expanding areas of Robotaxi commercial services to support the Robotaxi industry growth, along with enhanced technology, lower BOM cost for larger scale deployment, and ecosystem expansion across Robotaxi operators, car OEMs, asset owners.” 

The key insight: Shanghai is emerging as a major hub for Robotaxi commercialization, while Chinese operators are aggressively expanding into global markets.

Highlights from the note:

Driverless Robotaxi services in Shanghai: Multiple Chinese Robotaxi operators have received new licenses during WAIC. Pony AI announced it received a permit for fully driverless commercial Robotaxi services in Shanghai Pudong New Area, and will start from Jinqiao and Huamu district first, then expand to other regions. Baidu received the driverless commercial Robotaxi services permit in Shanghai, and Baidu Apollo Go cooperates with DaZhong Transportation in Shanghai on Robotaxi operation. WeRide announced the company received a permit for driverless Robotaxi services through partnership with Chery and JinJiang Taxi in Shanghai Pudong. WeRide also showcased its new generation of Robotaxi model Chery CER, supported by WeRide One platform. SAIC IM Motor, SAIC Mobility and Johnson Taxi jointly announced the new demonstration and operation license, targeting to offer Robotaxi services between Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone and Shanghai Pudong Intl. Airport.

Read-across to China Robotaxi market: We recently raised China Robotaxi TAM and expect China’s Robotaxi market to reach US$14bn/ US$61bn in 2030E/ 2035E with fleet size at 535k/ 2.3m units in 2030E/ 2035E, supported by enhancing software/ hardware capability to improve Robotaxi’s safety and ride experience. The accelerated commercialization of the Robotaxi market in Shanghai starting from PuDong New Area, echoes our view that Tier-1 cities wiill see faster ramp up in the initial stage, considering customer acceptance, regulatory support and better operational efficiency.

Overseas market in expansion: Chinese Robotaxi vendors are also accelerating their expansion to the overseas markets, which is supporting rising Robotaxi commercialization. In July, WeRide announced it launched its Robotaxi pilot service in Saudi Arabia Riyadh post the announcement of expansion into Saudi Arabia in May 2025 with support from the Transport General Authority. Pony AI announced Robotaxi road-testing in Luxembourg in July, post receiving the scientific testing permit from Luxembourg’s Ministry of Mobility and Public Works for L4 autonomous driving in Apr this year. The initial Robotaxi testing began in the community of Lenningen of Luxembourg, then expanded to more areas.

Of the Robotaxi firms listed by the analysts, Pony AI stands out as the most interesting.

It designs, develops, and operates Level 4 fully autonomous Robotaxis. Yet shares of the Chinese company, which trades in the U.S., have remained mostly flat this year, despite all the AI and Robotaxi hype in recent months.

Related: 

Learn about North America’s robotaxi market:

. . .

Tyler Durden
Mon, 07/28/2025 – 18:00

Is True Value In Crypto Or Gold?

survivalnomics
-
0
Is True Value In Crypto Or Gold?

Authored by Christopher Whalen via DailyReckoning.com,

With the Trump Administration headed down the road to higher inflation and the political chaos that results, it is worth asking why there are “only” $4 trillion in notional crypto tokens, this according to the Financial Times. The rise of bitcoin and other ethereal instruments evidences a strong desire on the part of many Americans to escape a sinking ship, but also confirms the love for creating new games to enable speculation. Are the crypto tokens really a way to avoid the demise of fiat dollars?

As we noted in a recent comment in The Institutional Risk Analyst, the best returns in crypto at present are found investing in the stocks of some of the enablers. The fact that these new companies may or may not be stable businesses long term does not matter in the speculative environment that currently governs Wall Street. We are particularly fascinated by the idea that a crypto firm can generate enough revenue to survive as a bank.

Robinhood Markets, for example, is up almost 500% in the past year, proving that there is a lot more leverage for investors in the facilitators of speculation in crypto and stable coins than in the tokens themselves. Crypto laden “special purpose acquisition companies” (SPACs) and various new, “Level 2” token games linked to existing crypto “markets” are the hot ticket today.

But the larger query, beyond the issues raised by bitcoin and substitutes, is the question about the nature of money. In my new book, “Inflated: Money, Debt and the American Dream,” author James Rickards notes that Americans “no longer know what money is” and have replaced “money with moneyness.” He then describes why money is one of the foundations of civilization.

“Money is not the point of civilization and it’s far from the most important feature,” Rickards argues. “Still, it’s part of the bedrock and performs crucial roles. Money is an advance on barter. Money is an alternative to violence. Money facilitates commerce and investment, and acts as a store of wealth. Money is among the institutions, along with law, religion, and the family, that enable civilizations to be civil and avoid a Hobbesian war of all against all.”

Despite the fact that President Trump wants to make America the crypto capital of the world, and even threatens to open retirement accounts to these speculative notions, the rest of the world is migrating away from dollars back to the only true form of money that is not some form of debt, namely gold.

Perhaps the most significant trend is the increasing purchases of gold by global central banks.

On July 1st, 2025, Basel III banking regulations officially reclassified physical gold as a Tier 1 asset, specifically a high-quality liquid asset (HQLA).

This means that U.S. banks can now count physical gold at 100% of its market value towards their core capital reserves.

Previously, gold was considered a Tier 3 asset, requiring banks to discount its value. But what is the proper discount rate for crypto and stable coins?

A stable coin is a ridiculously expensive prepaid gift card. A stable coin, for example, backed by fiat dollars, does not change your fundamental economic and financial risk from holding dollar assets. You basically pay for the privilege of using a stable coin. The public mania around stable coins is the latest evidence that humans are incapable of making rational decisions when they are part of a crowd. Long-term, we should view stable coins as marketing tools for large advertisers to acquire and retain customers.

A stable coin backed by yen or swiss francs, for example, is a very different proposition in terms of managing dollar risk, but such instruments also may fall afoul of state and federal securities laws. So how do individuals and countries protect themselves from the slow but inevitable decline of the dollar as the world’s primary money?

Owning gold or at least having exposure to the price of gold are perhaps the best options, The physical metal is independent of the fortunes of state put, yet as we learned in the 1930s, gold is vulnerable to confiscation.

More important to the analysis, however may be that fact that so few investors have yet to rebalance their portfolio to reflect the opportunity presented as gold resumes its role as the world’s primary reserve asset.

How much is the current allocation to gold by global investors?

“My rough guess, excluding central banks and physical gold in private hands, would be maybe 1% of portfolios globally and perhaps half of that amount for US investors,” notes Henry Smith, Director and Investment Manager, The Keep Fund Ltd. a Bahamas SMART Fund investing in the precious metals complex.

“In your grandfather’s day, a trust portfolio would be 10% minimum in gold. We’re headed back there. That means we’re headed to five digit gold and three digit silver.”

Other mainstream analysts agree with Smyth’s prognostication.

“Earlier this year, we examined the structural shift in gold’s demand and geopolitically influenced pricing drivers fueling its rebasing higher, ultimately posing the question if $4,000/oz is in the cards,” said Natasha Kaneva, head of Global Commodities Strategy at J.P. Morgan, in a June 2025 research note.

“To answer the question — yes, we think it is, particularly now with recession probabilities and ongoing trade and tariff risks. We remain deeply convinced of a continued structural bull case for gold and raise our price targets accordingly,” Kaneva added.

The reason JPMorgan is right and, indeed still too cautious on their gold outlook is that the usage of gold as a reserve asset, legal tender in contracts and collateral for financial transactions is growing, yet this is a gradual process. The narrowing of the market for US Treasury collateral as central banks reduce their purchases in favor of gold is still not top of mind – yet – for US investors, but higher interest rates for LT Treasury paper will end that lethargy.

One of the chief reasons to be bullish on gold and negative on the dollar is that there is so little deliverable gold available. A lack of deliverable gold supply can create upward pressure on prices, but other factors like demand fluctuations, market sentiment, and the role of gold as a financial asset significantly influence its short-term price. Even with limited physical supply, demand and overall market conditions can moderate price increases.

“De-dollarization — a theme among foreign reserve managers and investment institutions who are typically slow to act — is a misnomer as it’s highly unlikely anyone is seriously considering of fully divesting themselves of US assets, argues Simon White of Bloomberg. “But the evolution of events this year has led many foreign investors to consider reducing their exposure to the US which had already grown imprudently large. This will take time to show up in the data.”

*  *  *

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ZeroHedge.

Tyler Durden
Mon, 07/28/2025 – 17:40

Trump On Gaza: “We Have To Get The Kids Fed”

survivalnomics
-
0
Trump On Gaza: “We Have To Get The Kids Fed”

President Donald Trump while speaking from Scotland in the context of his bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued rare acknowledgement of the severe hunger and malnutrition crisis which has gripped Gaza.

The president said he has been in current contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on getting humanitarian aid into Gaza. He said: “We have to get the kids fed.“

Via Reuters

He also stated the escalating humanitarian situation in the enclave is “terrible” – amid reports is Israeli media that Gaza hospitals have disclosed 14 cases of death by starvation and malnutrition in the last 24 hours alone, including two children. There have been dozens of daily reported deaths from hunger this month.

Trump further touted that Washington sent $60 million dedicated to food aid just last week, but there has been immense controversy over how this gets distributed on the ground, amid ongoing accusations that the Israeli military frequently fires on Palestinians seeking aid access.

“We only hope the food goes to the people that need it,” said Trump. At one point, he even said the US needs a “thank you” for its humanitarian efforts.

“We’re gonna be getting some good, strong food. We can save a lot of people. Those kids – that’s real starvation. I see it. You can’t fake that.”

“We’re gonna be even more involved. We did some airlifts, airdrops. And the people are running for it. And, the PM is gonna help us, they’re very effective with that.”

“It’s not very hard to do.”

There was also this comment which constitutes a break with Netanyahu’s assessment:

“Based on television, I would say not particularly because those children look very hungry,” Trump said when asked if he agreed with Netanyahu. Later he said, “There is real starvation in Gaza — you can’t fake that.”

Currently, the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) oversees aid distribution in Gaza, and assists in security for the various distribution centers. Very controversially, the organization contracts with American security personnel.

The UN and other international groups have accused Tel Aviv and Washington of sidelining organizations with more experience. Critics say this has resulted in shooting deaths as sites become overwhelmed with starving masses of people.

Britain alongside regional partners is said to be organizing more airdrops over Gaza – another deeply controversial policy given that in the past some civilians have died as a result of the airdrops crushing their homes and tents. Also, past airdrops in the sea have resulted in drownings amid desperate attempts to access the aid.

Tyler Durden
Mon, 07/28/2025 – 15:05

1...1,3611,3621,363...4,547Page 1,362 of 4,547

About Us

Popular Category

Editor Picks