Alternative Visions

Alternative Visions- Fed Rate Cut + Wars Update + EU’s ‘Plan B’

Today’s show covers what’s behind Fed’s .50 pt rate cut? Powell says Fed because ‘economy is good’. More likely because US goods sector economy weak. Data shows US goods sector in recession. Fed GDP forecast for 3^rd quarter 1.7%, closer to 1^st quarter’s 1.4% not 2^nd’s 2.8%. Why massive US deficits & debt will mean big austerity spending cuts in 2025 further deepening recession. Wars update: the Mossad ‘pager’ sabotage event and almost certain war against Hezbollah in north within weeks. Netanyahu’s strategy: get US in war with Iran. Zelensky’s pending ‘victory plan’ & political maneuvering behind allowing UK missiles to attack deep into Russia. Pentagon vs Neocons & why Biden delayed decision until 9-26. The EU’s desperate ‘plan B’ to fund Ukraine. Why it won’t work any more than ‘Plan A’.

Alternative Visions- Ukraine War Escalation + 2nd Presidential Debate Analysis + Boeing Strike?

first half of today’s show discusses the ominous escalation in the Ukraine war with US/UK approval for Ukraine to use US/UK long range missiles to target deep into Russia. Putin’s ominous warning of ‘war with NATO’. What happened to Zelensky’s ‘Victory Plan’? How Ukraine has been sabotaging efforts by BRICS to arrange negotiations. What’s happening on the Kursk and Donbass fronts in Ukraine. Political instability growing within NATO ranks (Germany, France, USA). Is Biden or the neocons now running the US govt? Why 32,000 Boeing workers rejected the pattern contract proposal. My review of the recent Trump-Harris presidential debate. Why neither candidate addressed the #1 issue of the economy according to polls. What was covered and not addressed in the debate. (For detailed print analysis read my article ‘The 2^nd First Presidential Debate’ on my blog, http://jackrasmus.com (or on Counterpunch, LA Progressive, Z, or World Financial Review public blogs).

Alternative Visions- Labor Day 2024: The Condition of America’s Working Class

today’s show focuses on the condition of the US working class in terms of wages, jobs, debt, and unions as of labor day 2024 today. Citing various US government data sources, and contrary to the selective cherry picked stats that appear in the US mainstream media and cited by politicians, the picture for US workers today in terms of wages, jobs, debt and their unions show continued stagnation or decline over the past year, and especially since 2020.  Even based on US government data sources, US economic GDP since 2021 has been weak given the $10 trillion plus fiscal-monetary stimulus since 2020. Workers’ wages continue to contract in real terms given the period of inflation. The jobs created have been far less than the Biden administration has claimed. And US unions continue to tread water in terms of membership. (For a published print version of this analysis, those interested may read the same analysis at my personal blog at https://jackrasmus.com/2024/09/02/labor-day-2024-the-condition-of-the-american-working-class-today/

Alternative Visions- A Tale of Two Offensives: Is the Ukraine War Approaching Endgame?

today’s Alternative Visions show focuses in detail on the current status of the war in Ukraine in general, and specifically on the two main offensives in progress: Russia in the Donbass region and Ukraine in the Kursk region. What’s the status of forces on both sides. Why did Ukraine invade Kursk on August 6 and how is that progressing after two weeks? Did the Russians get caught off guard? Why did Russia invade Kharkov region last May and why is there a stalemate there? What’s happening in the Donbass region and why Russia is accelerating its gains there. Finally, by invading Kursk have the Ukrainians in effect decided to sacrifice the Donbass to Russia? Show concludes with a brief commentary on RFKjr’s decision to leave the US election race and endorse Trump. (Check out my blog jackasmus.com for a detailed print article, ‘A Tale of Two Offensives’ on Monday as well).

Alternative Visions- Ukraine War Update + CPI & PPI Inflation Reports

First half of show discusses Ukraine war and specifically what’s behind Ukraine’s recent invasion into Russia’s Kursk region. What’s Ukraine & Russia respectively strategies and objectives in Kursk. 3 Ukraine objectives. Russia objectives. Which side’s strategic reserves will be exhausted first? A detail discussion follows of today’s Wall St. Journal article (a CIA planted piece?) about who destroyed the Nordstream pipeline 2 yrs ago. Why the piece is part of media preparation to prepare public for removal of Zelensky after the US election. Why Ukraine negotiations are now impossible and China has ended efforts to arrange talks. Some reasons why Iran hasn’t responded to Israel yet. How Zionists in US are preparing to thwart student protests this fall. Second half of show turns to US economy and recent PPI and CPI reports last week. What’s declining in price and what’s not in July. The chronic and continuing big problem of Rents. How landlords are gaming prices as real US average weekly wages falling. What’s coming in producer prices. Continuing high level of consumer inflation for housing, food, gasoline now embedded in economy despite recent CPI reports. US Households’ record debt (mortgage, credit cards, auto, student, medical, etc.) as percent of income at 54%.

Alternative Visions- Ukraine’s Counter Offensive + US Real Economy & Tech Bubble

 First half of today’s show discusses Ukraine’s offensive into Russia. What are Ukraine’s possible objectives? Initial successful tactics. Why did Russia not see it coming? Russia’s response to date and consequences for efforts to start negotiations. What’s the condition of the US real economy. Growing concern early phase of recession, as the goods sector of the economy weakens: unemployment rising, real retail sales contracting, PMI manufacturing continues 8^th month of decline, net exports deeply negative, and construction turning down again. Explanations of actual GDP, inflation, jobs data. Investors call for emergency Fed rate cuts before Sept. Why the Fed won’t. How the tech bubble and Japan’s carry trade are interrelated

Alternative Visions- War in Middle East + US Economy Flips Over

Show discusses likely major escalation of war in Middle East as Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon vow response to Israel’s assassinations. April 2024 Déjà vu but worse. US sending more aircraft carrier task force. Crisis imminent. Latest on Ukraine war as US and Russia announce sending intermediate range missiles to Poland-Belarus border. Some signs of secret discussions between US and Russia. Second half of show addresses big shift in US economy last week. Inflation no longer #1 issue. Recession now on agenda as Friday jobs report and earlier data on manufacturing, construction, and retail sales all show rapid slowing of US economy. JPM bank forecasts 50% chance recession. Fed will cut rates for certain in Sept (maybe earlier) as financial markets in US, Japan and global turn down sharply. Another ‘Black Monday’ for stocks possible next week on August 5. Iran signals attack Monday as well. Why US jobs report is far weaker than media reporting. Globally, Malaysia announces joining BRICS and more in Asia to soon follow as BRICS announce own int’l payments system.

Alternative Visions- Biden’s Withdrawal Speech; US 2nd Quarter GDP First Look; US Wars Update

Today’s show focuses on Biden’s 11 minute announcement he’s withdrawing from election 2024 and fact checks Biden’s 3 claims: 1. there’s no crisis at the US border…as 2m illegals/yr enter the USA; his claim US has not been at war anywhere during his term… vs. US forces today in Ukraine, Israel, & Yemen; and his claim the US economy is ‘best in the world’… vs. reality re. US inflation, jobs, household debt, surging US deficits-debt-interest, and actual GDP first half 2024 after statistical adjustments are removed.  Show concludes with US wars Update for Ukraine (Zelensky-Trump phone call & Beijing’s diplomacy) and Yemen (Israeli escalation) and with latest news for BRICS on eve of their forthcoming announcement of an alternative global financial structure…and what it means for US domestic economy and empire.

Alternative Visions- US Wars Update #5 + US Economy

 today’s show updates US 3 wars (Ukraine, Gaza, Taiwan) as critical strategic NATO meeting underway today. Ukraine: Orban’s meeting with Ukraine and Russia; Saudi’s leader MBS threatens Europe it will withdraw funds in EU banks if it seizes its $260B Russian assets; how falling US dollar (as BRICS implement own currency) will negatively impact US deficits, debt and real economy; NATO’s imminent ‘no fly’ zone-and what it means? Latest on Israel’s renewed bombing of northern Gaza cities as AIPAC intensifies attack on US universities. How Europe is becoming an economic dependency of USA. Second half of the show focuses on US economy: GDP, latest inflation report vs. real prices paid by consumers, ASA Report on US data reliability, why Median Annual Income for US family of four is really $96k not official $67k. Show concludes with review of growing pressures  for Biden to step down (by donors, businesses, Hollywood celebrities)as polls show Biden continuing to lose ground in key 7 swing states.

Alternative Visions- US Wars Update #4 + Tax Cuts 2025

New Ukraine war offensives (both Ukraine & Russia) coming by July 7. Putin’s visit to North Korea & Viet Nam as Russian response to US/EU bilateral defense deals with Ukraine. Are both sides lining up allies in preparation for a wider war? Similarities with summer 1914. Netanyahu out-maneuvers Biden (again). Is a larger war with Hezbollah near? US media blackout of Yemen war as Houthis winning Red Sea blockade. On he economic front: What’s happening in the US  goods sector (construction-manufacturing)? Trump focuses on more business tax cuts as centerpiece of his economic program: proposes replacing corporate income tax with tariffs as CEOs push to end all US taxation on their foreign profits and reducing current 21% corporate tax rate to 15% for all business. What’s in Trump’s 2018 Tax Cuts 2.0 for 2025? The US Supreme Court’s rules against any future Wealth Tax on billionaires, saying US Constitution allows tax only on income not wealth (even though Constitution provides for taxation “from whatever source derived”). Meanwhile, SCOTUS protects Trump 2018 tax cut for corporations’ offshore profits. (Next week: the tightly scripted and controlled ‘debate’ between Biden and Trump later this week)