Bill is interviewed by Andrew Maguire –
Author: kbillholter
Bill is interviewed by Andrew Maguire – (Also posted under Interviews)
Bill’s Commentary:
“Ooops”
Fed minutes flag Treasury-market leverage as a risk to financial stability
Top Federal Reserve officials saw a number of vulnerabilities to the financial system worth monitoring as of last month, one of which has to do with the use of leverage in the Treasury market.
Minutes of the July 30-31 meeting of the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee, released on Wednesday, said that participants regarded such leverage as a risk. Their comments came during the part of the committee’s discussion on financial stability, in which they also considered it important to monitor any developments regarding the Treasury market’s resiliency.
Bill’s Commentary:
“…Just say no to Idiocracy!”
Summer COVID surge shows we may have to return to 2020 pandemic measures
As summer 2024 draws to a close, the U.S. finds itself once again grappling with a surge in COVID-19 infections.
This wave has taken many people by surprise, particularly as the country has largely consigned the pandemic to the past. While public life has pretty much returned to pre-pandemic norms — something almost none of us would have believed in the summer of 2020 — the virus itself has not.
Mutations of the virus continue to occur, and new variants are emerging, posing ongoing challenges to public health and safety. As we look ahead to the remainder of 2024 and into early 2025, we need to take stock of where we are, understand the factors driving this resurgence and better anticipate how the pandemic might evolve.
Bill’s Commentary:
“He did not know his $400 million would sway the election in any manner? LAUGHABLE!”
Mark Zuckerberg ripped for claiming he didn’t realize $400M in ‘Zuck Bucks’ helped sway 2020 election for Biden
He’s sorry, not sorry.
Data geek Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg claimed this week he didn’t realize $400 million he spent on “getting out the vote” in the 2020 election benefited one party over the other.
But Republican sources are skeptical that the Facebook boss was unaware his so-called “Zuck Bucks” — pledged to help finance fair local elections — were spent unevenly after being given to two known left-wing organizations.
Bill’s Commentary:
“Do you understand what this really means? Either incomes must go up close to 40%, or, housing prices must fall 33% to make the average home affordable to the average American. Which do you believe is more likely?”
Majority Of Americans Can No Longer Afford An Average House
Housing affordability in the United States has taken a sharp turn for the worse in recent years, as house prices surged to historical highs during and after the pandemic and mortgage rates have risen steeply over the past three years, as the Fed tried to rein in inflation.
It all began with a surge in demand for houses during the Covid-19 pandemic, when many Americans, flush with cash from government stimulus checks, reevaluated their living situation and sought more space amid stay-at-home orders and the sudden possibility of remote work. Further fueling demand were the historically low mortgage rates after the Fed had slashed interest rates to near zero at the onset of the pandemic.
Bill’s Commentary:
“Erik on supply and demand, free money and other scary topics.”
The latest from Erik –
Bill’s Commentary:
“We don’t need no stinkin’ economy as long as we have the Dow Jones!”
U.S. has more 401(k) millionaires than ever, report shows
The number of “401(k) millionaires” — 401(k) plan participants with balances of at least $1 million — has reached a record high, new data from Fidelity Investments shows.
As of June, there were roughly 497,000 so-called retirement-created millionaires in the U.S., according to the wealth management firm, which analyzed balances across 26,000 of its customers’ accounts. Nearly 399,000 Americans also have a least $1 million in an individual retirement account.
The key to stashing away such sums? Start early and contribute to your retirement plan consistently over many years, Fidelity said.
Bill’s Commentary:
“If we even have an election?”
Director at Big Data Poll Richard Baris explained in a post on X why Garland’s comments are so alarming.
“This is what 50% of the country heard from Garland. ‘We’re gonna steal this election and if you try to fight us, we’ll put you in prison.’ God this country is totally corrupt,” he wrote.”
Garland Makes An Example Of J6 Protesters To Shut Up Anyone Else Who Might Question Elections
Attorney General Merrick Garland boasted on Friday how his office has prosecuted nearly 1,500 Americans for protesting the 2020 election, warning others they may face similar lawfare should they raise any concerns about the administration of the upcoming November election.
Speaking at a press briefing, Garland essentially said the Jan. 6 prosecutions should serve to remind Americans what happens if they raise questions about an election.
Bill’s Commentary:
“Some good stuff here! I must say, whenever I used the terms Mad Max of Civil War, people called me crazy. I guess he gets to say this because he is a billionaire and I’m not? No matter, it sounds pretty correct to me.”
COUNTDOWN TO CRISIS, CATASTROPHE AND COLLAPSE
Trying to decipher the path ahead becomes more difficult by the day. We are purposefully bombarded with misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda by the ruling class, designed to distract us from their real purpose, real agenda, and real plans to imprison us in their techno-gulag, eating zee bugs in our container sized hovels, using our government issued CBDCs to subsist, unless we dared to question the approved narrative – resulting in our social credit rating dropping into the domestic terrorist zone – getting us banned and shunned from society. This is the New World Order the Davos crowd has designed and will implement as a Great Reset, if they succeed in retaining and increasing control over the U.S. and the rest of the Western World in the next six months.
Bill’s Commentary:
“If the LA Times says it’s nuts, it must be nuts!”
California lawmakers approve bill to extend home mortgage aid to undocumented immigrants
The California Assembly gave final appoval Wednesday to a bill that could help undocumented immigrants in California buy homes, despite opposition from Republicans who said it would encourage more Mexican immigrants to cross the border illegally.
Elon Musk went as far as posting on his social platform X that “half of Earth should move to California, given all the incentives to do so.”
Assembly Bill 1840, which now goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, would allow undocumented immigrants to apply alongside other qualified applicants for the California Dream for All Shared Appreciation Loans program. The program offers no-interest loans of up to $150,000 to cover down payments and fees.
Bill’s interview with Coffee and a Mike
Bill’s interview with Coffee and a Mike – (Also posted under Interviews)
Bill’s Commentary:
“The Bank of England feels the need to give this warning?”
Big UK banks need to do more to be ready for potential failure, says Bank of England
The Bank of England has told big UK banks including Barclays and Standard Chartered that they need to improve their preparations for a potential failure as it pushes banks to rapidly assess their financial position to prevent social media speculation sparking consumer panic.
The findings were part of the Bank’s second assessment of whether banks could “safely” shut down without destabilising the financial system or immediately requiring taxpayer cash.
The review – which covered Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide, NatWest Group, Santander UK, Standard Chartered and Virgin Money UK – is meant to identify any shortfalls that could lead to a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis, which forced the UK government to spend £137bn to steady the banking system.
Bill’s Commentary:
“RINOs on an acid trip?”
It’s A Bipartisan Miracle! Over 200 Bush, McCain, Romney Aides Endorse Harris
For your daily reminder that the establishment is one big club (and you ain’t in it!)…
…more than 200 former aides to George W. Bush, Sen. John McCain, and Mitt Romney have offered their full-throated support for Vice President Kamala Harris. According to The Hill, most of the group also endorsed President Biden in 2020.
Bill’s Commentary:
“This is because you are not paying enough taxes…”
No U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers Deployed in the Pacific
The U.S. Navy is facing a shortfall of deployed carriers in the Pacific as the buildup in the Middle East continues. The lack of carriers has left a critical gap in the West Pacific.
The departure of USS Abraham Lincoln coincides with the change in homeport of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) from Yokosuka, Japan to Bremerton, Washington. The Ronald Reagan‘s replacement, the USS George Washington (CVN 73) still in San Diego on a scheduled port visit.
The U.S. Navy’s other Pacific-based carriers are in port or in their maintenance availability period. Out of six carriers in the Pacific, the USS Carl Vinson recently participated in RIMPAC 2024, the USS Nimitz recently completed a six month planned incremental availability period for maintenance, the USS Ronald Reagan recently completed a homeport shift to Naval Base Kitsap, and the USS George Washington will remain in San Diego until the crew and equipment swap from USS Ronald Reagan is complete.
Bill’s Commentary:
“An angry but spot on Erik!”
The latest from Erik –
Bill’s Commentary:
“Type in to your browser antifa.com and see what comes up? Gotta tell you, it is the WTF of my day…”
Bill’s Commentary:
“And the consumer is still strong… yet they need 50% discounts to be attracted?”
RV Downturn Turns Apocalyptic With Largest Dealership Offering 55% Discounts
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has been a serial bubble blower, only to later deflate bubbles through interest rate hikes and restrictive monetary policies. In this note, we’ll examine the recreational vehicle industry’s boom and bust and the current multi-year downturn.
In early 2020, a combination of factors sparked the RV boom, including Fed Powell’s reduction of interest rates to the zero lower bound and Democratic cities that imposed tyrannical government-enforced lockdowns that caused folks to flee to rural America. To some extent, Starlink space internet made remote working from RVs possible in some of the most remote areas in the nation. However, as soon as Powell began to hike rates in response to inflationary forces in early 2022, the boom turned into a bust as the affordability of these homes on wheels collapsed.
The latest from USA Watchdog –
A Period of Great Uncertainty – Martin Armstrong
Almost everything you see and hear with the Lying Legacy Media and the government is a lie. Just this past week, the Biden Administration backtracked about employment as it was widely reported, “US economy added 818,000 fewer jobs than first reported in year that ended in March.” A huge miss or a huge lie–take your pick. Other big lies we have been told in recent years: “Trump is colluding with Russia,” “Hunter Biden’s laptop is Russian disinformation,
and the “CV19 vax injections are “safe and effective.” That is just scratching the surface of the lies we are told on a daily basis. The lies, which people realize are becoming preposterous, are adding to the public’s lack of confidence in everything, including the economy. Martin Armstrong says, “We are in a period of great uncertainty. . .. When people are uncertain, they don’t spend. They save. That’s what happens in a depression and a recession. . .. So, if you have no confidence in the future because of all this crazy stuff going on, what do you do? You don’t borrow, and you pull back and say let me see what is going to happen.”
Bill’s Commentary:
“Pastor Stanley checks in on shipping and supply chains. I would add, the real shut off will be once the dollar is no longer accepted by our trading partners.”
Shipping Container and Ocean Delivery Crisis on Our Doorstep-This Means Hyperinflation and Sharply Increased Lack of Availability of Imported Goods
Just last week Liz Ann Saunders, Chief Investment Strategist at Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. reported the following on LinkedIn:
…’Per data from National Retail Federation and Hacket Associates, U.S. container imports through major ports will reach 24.9 million measured in 20-foot equivalent units … up 12% from last year and close to 2021/2022 levels’…
Sounds like a positive economic indicator…on the surface…Time to dig a little deeper…
…’CONTAINER RATES spiked months ago as shipping firms had to redirect traffic around the Horn of Africa due to MidE (Mid-East) situation. Costs passed on to consumers (who else). Inflationary. ‘…(Brian Byrne-Investment Committee Member at Assembler Growth Capital, LLC)
Bill’s Commentary:
“This is very scary!”
Durov detained in France over his refusal to ‘censor truth,’ Tucker Carlson believes
NEW YORK, August 25. /TASS/. Telegram founder Pavel Durov was detained in France because of his refusal to “censor the truth” by the order of governments and intelligence agencies, US journalist Tucker Carlson believes.
Bill’s Commentary:
“45 seconds of sanity!”
Bill’s Commentary:
“The devils are back? I didn’t know they ever left as NOTHING has changed since 2008 except the problems got even larger…!”
All the Devils from 2008 Are Back at the Megabanks: Leverage, Off-Balance-Sheet Debt, Over $192 Trillion in Derivatives, Shaky Capital Levels
As indicated on the above graph, as of December 31, 2023, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., Citigroup’s Citibank and Bank of America held a staggering total of $168.26 trillion in derivatives out of a total of $192.46 trillion at all federally-insured U.S. banks, savings associations and trust companies. That’s just four banks holding 87 percent of all derivatives at all 4,587 federally-insured financial institutions in the U.S. that existed as of December 31, 2023.
You might be asking yourself the very valid question as to why the Dodd-Frank financial reform legislation of 2010, that followed the Wall Street financial quake of 2008, didn’t correct the derivatives gambling that played a central role in crashing the U.S. financial system. For why the threat of derivatives never actually went away, see our report: Meet the Two Congressmen Who Facilitated Today’s Derivatives Nightmare at Wall Street’s Mega Banks.
Bill’s Commentary:
“Argentina is sending gold reserves to London? Are they crazy? Didn’t they consult with Venezuela before making their decision? Lastly, can you say ...”AND IT’S GONE!”?“
Argentinian Gold Reserves Arrive In London
In June the UK received a gold shipment worth $150 million dollars from Argentina. Most likely, the gold was sent by the central bank of Argentina (BCRA) to be used as collateral in the London Bullion Market.
Newspaper El País reported on July 28, 2024, that part of the official gold reserves of Argentina were transferred abroad. After rumors spread regarding the whereabouts of the Argentinian gold, Minister of Economy Luis Caputo acknowledged that gold was indeed shipped overseas. “If you have [the gold] outside the country, you can get returns,” he shared in an interview with an Argentine TV channel. According to El País President Milei hinted that the gold can be used as collateral to take out a bridge loan, which is essentially a swap.
Bill’s Commentary:
“Always an intellectually stimulating interview with Francis Hunt”
Bill is interviewed by The Market Sniper –
Bill’s Commentary:
“Always an intellectually stimulating interview with Francis Hunt”
Bill is interviewed by The Market Sniper – (Also posted under Interviews)
Bill’s Commentary:
“No worries here, this is to accommodate the females (which they cannot describe anyway) that identify as males that day and use the men’s bathroom…”
Duke University has tampon dispensers in men’s bathrooms
At least two buildings on the campus of Duke University in North Carolina have tampon dispensers in men’s restrooms, as seen from photos obtained by Campus Reform.
The dispensers are found in restrooms in the Bryan Center, which is the school’s performing arts theater, and the Brodhead Center, which is one of the university’s event spaces.
In a “Universal Menstrual Hygiene Product Access” proposal from the 2016 Duke Student Government, students urged that “[m]enstrual hygiene products should be provided for all menstruating individuals in all academic, residential, and student center buildings.”
Bill’s Commentary:
“While on the verge of WWIII …”
Navy Could Sideline 17 Support Ships Due to Manpower Issues
Military Sealift Command has drafted a plan to remove the crews from 17 Navy support ships due to a lack of qualified mariners to operate the vessels across the Navy, USNI News learned.
The MSC “force generation reset” identified two Lewis and Clark replenishment ships, one fleet oiler, a dozen Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transports (EPF) and two forward-deployed Navy expeditionary sea bases that would enter an “extended maintenance” period and have their crews retasked to other ships in the fleet, three people familiar with the plan told USNI News Thursday.
Based on the crew requirements on the platforms, sideling all the ships could reduce the civilian mariner demand for MSC by as many as 700 billets.
Bill’s Commentary:
“J Johnson checks in with us”
Since June 28th, the US Dollar has dropped from 105.80 to today’s low of 100.545. That’s a 5.255 point drop or just over 5%.
Since May 30th to today, Silver’s Overall Open Interest has dropped from 187,868 to today’s count at 146,017, A 41,851 count drop or just over 25%.
Probably nothing, Maybe JJ
BillHolter.com 