finance
Money talks; reviewing the global economy, government spending, taxes, and economic policy that affect our social and political future.
No King Rallies in America.
Trump has been compared to the Dictator King of Tudor times, Henry 8th. Henry the 8th's court was full of gossip of who was in and who was out when it came to the king's favour. The king was probably mentally unstable, with fits of anger, and changing his mind or being inconsistent. People remained loyal to him out of fear, a court of yes men and women. People were afraid to tell the king the truth or the error of his ways lest they upset him. The same system seems to operate in the Court of King Donald. Trump is a self-obsessed man who wants all eyes on him, who lashes out when things don't go his way, a little like the Tudor King.
By Nicholas Bishopa day ago in The Swamp
Saudi Arabia East- West Petroline
The Middle East has long been the center of global energy politics, with its vast oil and gas reserves shaping not only regional dynamics but also the priorities of major world powers. However, in recent years, a critical question has emerged: should the world continue relying on a few strategic maritime chokepoints for energy transportation, or is it time to develop alternative routes?
By Ibrahim Shah a day ago in The Swamp
Vlad The Invader's Shadow Fleets.
Starmer has cleared the way for the Royal Navy to board Russian 'shadow fleets'. So what are shadow fleets? Shadow fleets are ships that use deception in various ways to get past ships patrolling that will interdict them, board them, and check that they are not carrying. anything that will help Putin's war with Zelenskyy. Recently, a ship from Venezuela (if I have this correct), before Maduro, was whisked from that country to the US to face trial, and reflagged itself flying the Russian colours. The fugitive ship, which had failed to collect Venezuelan oil from the under-siege Maduro regime, was hoping to race across the Atlantic and outrun its American pursuers. The ship had arranged to meet Russian ships to protect it. But the US ships caught up with it and, together with UK forces, boarded the ship.
By Nicholas Bishop4 days ago in The Swamp
Militarization, Civilian Authority, and the Challenge to Democratic Governance
In modern political systems, one of the most subtle yet profound transformations occurs when societies gradually internalize a military mindset. This shift is not always visible, nor does it happen abruptly. Instead, it unfolds quietly, as civilians begin to perceive the world through the lens of security, threat, and strategic competition. Over time, the distinction between civilian and military leadership can erode, raising critical questions about the future of democratic governance.
By Ibrahim Shah 5 days ago in The Swamp
THE SKY-PRISON COMMUTE: THE GREAT AMERICAN AIRPORT SHAKEDOWN
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — I am standing in a security line at Los Angeles International Airport, staring into the dead, glazed eyes of a man who has been screaming "LAPTOPS OUT" for six straight hours. Currently, he is a federal employee. He has a pension. He has health insurance. But if the ghouls behind Project 2025 have their way, this man is about to be "liberated". By liberated, I mean he’s about to be fired, stripped of his union card, and rehired at $18.00 an hour by a subsidiary of a private equity firm that also manages an "enhanced detention center" in the Mojave Desert, that's conveniently housing all the dangerous undocumented immigrants, and keeping "America Safe"... again.
By Meko James 7 days ago in The Swamp
The Economic Shockwaves of Middle East Conflict
Dubai has long been regarded as a global hub for gold trade and finance, but the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has begun to shake even its strongest economic pillars. With flight operations disrupted and regional instability rising, the ripple effects of war are now being felt across multiple sectors—from energy and aviation to tourism and global finance.
By Ibrahim Shah 8 days ago in The Swamp
Difficult Night for Israel: Netanyahu.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Iran's bombardment of Dimona and Arad as a "difficult night" for the Jewish state. Dimona houses Israel's nuclear programme and alleged nuclear weapon armaments. Arad, another settlement not far from Dimona, was also hit badly. Why did Iran strike Dimona in particular? Earlier on, Iran's nuclear site Natanz had been attacked by either US or Israeli munitions or both. So Iran struck back in kind at a nuclear facility in Israel. The IAEA, or the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated that there appeared to be no nuclear leakage from Natanz. And as for Dimona, the Iranian projectiles missed the nuclear site and landed around the area adjacent to the nuclear site, not direct hits. Israel never signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and is very coy about whether it has nuclear weapons or not. Therefore, the IAEA wouldn't be allowed to inspect the nuclear facilities. So, because the Iranian projectiles missed the Domina nuclear site, one would suspect there is no danger of leakage.
By Nicholas Bishop9 days ago in The Swamp
Why the United States Temporarily Eased Sanctions on Iranian Oil
In a surprising and strategically calculated move, the United States recently decided to temporarily ease sanctions on Iranian oil exports. This decision comes at a time when global energy markets are under immense pressure due to escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints for oil transportation. The move, though limited in scope and duration, reflects the complex balance between geopolitical strategy and economic necessity.
By Ibrahim Shah 10 days ago in The Swamp
Trump: Considering Occupying Kharg Island.
When Israel and the US decided on 28 February to take military action against Iran, they were in for a shock, or so it seems. The policy of decapitation of enemy leadership has always been Israel's policy. Countless leaders that Israel regards as enemies have been assassinated in this way. Whether from Mossad, the IDF, the Israeli Air Force, whatever. The US, of late, has also adopted this policy. The reasoning being that killing the leaders of an enemy organisation or country will cut off the head of the snake. The problem with that is the snake grows another head. When Israel killed Hezbollah Chief Hasan Nasrallah, yes, it shook the group to its very foundations. But the group under a new leadership is battling Israel in Lebanon now as we speak.
By Nicholas Bishop11 days ago in The Swamp
The Great Reset: The Fed to The Family
The Great Reset: From "The Fed" to "The Family" For almost a century, the U.S. Dollar has been backed by aircraft carriers and the "full faith and credit" of a government. But the Trump Crime Syndicate has realized that "full faith" is a sucker’s game. They are systematically breaking the old fiat system—the one owned by the "Globalist" banking elite—to install a privatized, tokenized, and Trump-branded global reserve currency.
By Meko James 12 days ago in The Swamp
