Alternative Visions

Alternative Visions- US Wars Update #3 and Latest US Economy Reports

 In today's latest of US wars update, support for Ukraine war in Europe weakening reflected in just held EU Parliamentary elections. Pro war parties in France and Germany suffer big setbacks in the elections. In Ukraine war escalation news, France promises Mirage jets & Germany sends Patriots systems. Intense fighting in Kharkhov front coming. What is Russia's strategy? The show reveals latest details how US/NATO/EU plan to keep funding Ukraine after 2024. What's happening in Red Sea? Latest US economy news: Trump announces replacing Income tax with tariffs. Latest US Inflation report. World Bank global GDP report and latest on Argentina Milei plan

 

 

Alternative Visions- US Wars Update + US May Jobs

First half hour of show is weekly update on US wars—Ukraine, Gaza, Red Sea and Taiwan: Biden and Zelensky both signal less stringent demands as condition for negotiations. Zelensky’s doomed Switzerland conference and weird trip to Singapore and Manila. Ukraine’s growing imbalance in combat troops and weapons vs. Russia. Actual Russian strategy: n big offensive but open multiple fronts and spread out Ukraine’s depleting reserves. Natanyahu thumbs his nose at Biden over Rafah and Biden’s real strategy. Whatever happened to the Red Sea war that’s unreported in US media. Why US Marines are now on Philippine islands in sight of Taiwan and training for landings. The latest on May US jobs report. Why 4% unemployment is 7.4% and rising over past year. Why latest 272,000 jobs is distorted by govt’s Birth-Death business model. Some interesting job stats re. job market over past 12 months shows weak not strong job market: Mostly management and professional jobs created past year. 700k leave the labor force (reducing unemployment rate). 750k involuntary part time job created and 650k increase in 2^nd and 3^rd job holders = most jobs created last year were 2^nd/3^rd part time jobs + management and professional jobs.

Alternative Visions- US 3 Wars Updates & 1st Quarter 2024 US GDP Numbers Downgrade

A number of critical events occurred in the US proxy war in Ukraine during the past week: Wall St. Journal describes US/EU plan to release $260B of Russian frozen assets in EU banks to fund Ukraine in 2025; NATO and US approve Ukraine use of long range missiles to strike within Russia, signaling a strategic escalation of the war. Ukraine strikes Russian intercontinental ballistic missile warning system deep inside Russia. One step closer to US-Russia nuclear exchange. Putin-Lavrov publicly say Russia already at war with NATO. Latest on Israel attack of Rafah city; US and UK renew bombing of Yemen; US CIA & NGOs maneuvering in the Caucasus region’s 3 countries. Putin visits central asia countries & signs deal for Afghanistan to provide contract troops for Ukraine war. Second half of the show addresses just released revised US GDP for 1^st Quarter showing even slower growth at only 1.3% annual GDP growth. Consumer spending on goods, residential housing, and imports all adding to the slowdown while bus. Investment in factories and AI keeps GDP from slowing even further. Why IP category added to GDP in 2013 keeps the economy registering recession on paper GDP even if not in actual terms. Is the US economy on the way to a second post-Covid (2020-21) contraction (first double dip was in 2022)?

Alternative Visions- Europe Plan to Distribute Russia’s $300B + US Economic Update

Focus on what’s happening in Europe and Its new plan to give profits from seized $260B of Russian assets to Ukraine. Russia’s seizure of Deutschbank & Commerzbank response. US media admits NATO ‘price cap’ sanction on Russian oil sales a failure. Biden spins it as a success. Ukraine war update: Zelensky no longer president but continues in office. The real strategic objective in Russia’s new Kharkov offensive. CIA and Mossad join forces setting entire Caucasus region on political fire. Some curious facts about Iranian president’s recent death. The show concludes with broad summary of state of US economy: home sales, PMIs, & commercial real estate funds (REITs) growing crisis; Yellen/US reject idea of 2% global wealth tax on millionaires; Pentagon spending hits $884B/yr.; highest paid US CEOs rake in $4B, up from $800m.

Alternative Visions- US Economic Empire Reacts

With BRICS conferences coming this year and fundamental challenges to US economic empire coming in 2025 and after, the US empire continues to react and fight back. Today’s show reviews the hot spots: In Ukraine, Russia military advances resulting in more NATO escalation including US signaling Ukraine it’s ok to use missiles to attack inside Russia; re China, US policy expands sanctions plus reintroduces a Trump tariff strategy as US tech corps in China begin to exit; in So. America, Argentina’s IMF-Banks model of super-neolib policies devastate the economy, crash the currency 90% and raise poverty to 58% in order to pay IMF & western banks bondholders; in Europe, US multiple US policies now driving Europe to deeper economic dependency on US and US political vassalage. Meanwhile, US economy slows steadily as both housing and manufacturing continue to contract, price gouging remains chronic, real wages slowing fast, real retail sales stagnate, and banks expand debt leverage while corporate profit margins, stock prices, and buybacks accelerate.

Alternative Visions- Ukraine War Update + US CEO Pay & Other Reports

 In critical week of the Ukraine war, NATO beginning to panic & threaten escalation: Macron, Cameron & Jeffries talk of NATO troops in Ukraine. Russia reacts announcing tactical nuke exercises and call in UK and French ambassadors. Assassination attempt on Zelensky foiled. Ukraine begins drafting prisoners. Russia Kharkov offensive begins early on May 10. Blinken-Yellen visit and threaten China. Importance of coming BRICS conference in June. Today’s show then turns to US domestic issues and discusses new Report of 11.4% rise in 2023 CEO pay  to record median $23.7 million ( with stock awards up 20%). Shareholders returns also up 13.8% in 2023. All CEO & shareholder data =>3 times current  inflation or wages. Trend to continue as Corp buybacks in 2024 to exceed $700B for Fortune 500(+ another $500B for dividends.  Meanwhile, interest charges on student debt to rise to 6.5%-7.5% and Social Security Fund Trustees warn of inadequate funds for retirees coming

Alternative Visions- Review of Global Economy Events

Today’s show reviews major developments in various global economies: In USA, the Fed’s latest decision to keep interest rates at current levels + its decision to start buying back US Treasuries (QE by another name perhaps?). Why the liquidity injection? Answer: growing concerns about US banks in 2025? Next, is China growing again or not? The idiocy of US policy toward China as Blinken and Yellen attack it economically but request it intervene on behalf of US with Russia and Ukraine. What’s happening in Europe with France announcing it will send troops to Ukraine as EU (and UK) economy stagnates. ECB chair, La Garde, worries about seizing $260B Russian assets. How this may lead to de-dollarization and de-euroization. What’s happening in Argentina as its peso is devalued by 50%. A deeper look at Office Commercial Real Estate in the USA, US Govt Debt, and US Treasury’s record level of current bond buying.

Alternative Visions- US GDP 1st Quarter 2024 + Why Mainstream Economists’ Forecasts Consistently Fail

 The first pass for US GDP for 1^st Quarter 2024 was released last week. Today’s show dissects the areas generating growth vs. those slowing US economy. Takeaways from the data are discussed: Contracting now are consumer spending on goods, business private inventories and a big contraction in net exports. Only consumer spending on services continue to drive GDP as government spending slows but remains positive. The show explains why the 1.6% GDP rise in Jan-March was actually lower, once the adjustment for prices is more accurately estimated. Why and how the US low-balls inflation and thereby boosts real GDP. Real growth in US economy was therefore flat. The show then discusses why mainstream economists consistently get their forecasts of the economy wrong—prices, jobs, and GDP—because their forecast models contain multiple assumptions that are simply incorrect.

Alternative Visions- USA’s Failing Russian Sanctions Regime: Russia vs. Germany

today’s show focuses on the theme of the impact of Russian sanctions since the start of the Ukraine war. How the sanctions have failed to impact Russia’s economy while simultaneously helping to wreck Europe’s, and especially the core German economy of the EU. A review of the relative economic data. Also discussed, are the pending US House vote tomorrow likely to pass another $100B in war aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, which will include reportedly US approval to distribute the $300B in seized Russian assets ($240B in Europe banks). This is how the US plans to continue financial support for Ukraine war in 2025, after the $61B ‘bridge’ fund in the US House bill. The show also addresses how US economic policies (of which sanctions are just a part) have undermined Germany’s economy and are making Europe increasingly dependent on the US. Discussion of the latest developments in the Israel-Iran and Ukraine wars concludes the show.

Alternative Visions- US Inflation, the Fed, and Ukraine-Israel Wars Update

Today’s show covers the key events, economic & political, of the past week: US latest inflation numbers and trends, why Fed rate cuts are off the table, instability in regional banks and commercial real estate continue, Chase CEO Jamie Dimon’s remarks on rate hikes at 8% and ‘soft landing’ scenario, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in China. In Politics, whether war between Israel-USA with Iran is imminent, latest developments on French & NATO troops in Ukraine, the coming Russian big offensive in Kharkov, Russia’s talk of ‘unconditional surrender’ and Ukraine’s desperate manpower shortage and its new draft law.