The Times They Are A'Changin'

Well, we were robbed of an hour of sleep last night as we sprung forward in an inane practice most people want to end. Personally, I prefer standard time (I'm a morning person), but I would settle for DST if it was made permanent. It was another busy news cycle this week. Trump makes a State of the Union address. Europe holds war councils in an effort to keep killing Ukrainians...going so far as saying they will trade the welfare of the citizens for warfare. The European elite have lost their ever loving minds. The Islamic State In Suits in Syria is slaughtering non believers. The US is evidently meeting with Hamas perhaps in an effort to make an end run around Nitwityahoo. I have no idea about about the tariffs on, tariffs off scheme. I hear some say how bad tariffs will be and others claiming they are great. There's some of both opinions below the fold along with many other stories.

The week is a bit overwhelming. Perhaps this conversation with Pepe and Nima captures some of the subtleties.

(30 min) Pepe Escobar on Putin’s Moves STUNNED Ukraine – Trump Targets the EU!

Acute Dementia: Europe Declares War On Russia All Over Again (Pepe Escobar)

Let’s start with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Road to Damascus moment: “Frankly, it’s a proxy war between nuclear powers, the United States helping Ukraine and Russia, and it needs to come to an end”. Now that’s a howler. Jeffrey Sachs to the rescue. Of course, the correct formulation would be “proxy war launched by the United States”. But still: Hallelujah! Such illumination – by proxy – from Heavens Above could never had hit the previous American Secretary of Genocide. Now cut to panic. Total European panic. Le Petit Roi, as popular in France as nighttime mosquitoes in a five-star beach resort, has declared that peace in Europe is only possible with a “tamed” Russia – and that Russia is a direct threat to France and Europe. On Ukraine, he pontificated that peace simply cannot take place under Russian terms or via the – inevitable – Ukrainian surrender.

I'll be surprised if the EU and NATO survive to the end of the decade.

Another big picture follow the money view...
Interesting conversation of geopolitics and lawfare.

(45 min) The UK and Europe on the BRINK of COLLAPSE! | Alex Krainer | Martin Armstrong | Tom Luongo

While we're following the money... London looks to be at the center.

(61 min) Alex Krainer: Economic Collapse & the End of Europe

Glenn was also on Rachel Blevins show describing the situation in Europe. A really nice clip for those who need back ground. Good job by the professor. (21 min)
EU leaders gathered in Brussels for a summit that was marked by aggressive rhetoric towards Russia, and blind support for Zelensky and his government in Kiev. But while the Bloc backed plans to increase military spending, they still remain unable to carry Ukraine in a proxy war against Russia without Washington’s support.
Glenn Diesen, a geopolitical analyst and professor at the University of South-Eastern Norway, noted that while European leaders are great at showing up for war rallies and photo-ops, they are refusing to admit any kind of defeat. And that has included attempting to sabotage Trump’s effects at peace with Russia.

Another excellent conversation...
The US Push for Peace & Europe Panics -
John Mearsheimer, Alexander Mercouris & Glenn Diesen (71 min)

Alex Christoforou had some excellent commentary this week too...
This first clip recounts Trumps Address to Congress and the nation in the first 15 min of the 36 min clip.
Trump speech. Elensky pushes Macron plan. France; take money, loan money. Lithuania bans Vance book
In this next clip Alex summarizes EU insanity. (36 min)
MACRON wants weak Russia. EU war summit. Elensky dumps Trump. Rubio, US in proxy war with Russia
The video discusses Macron's speech on Russia, EU war summit, Zelensky's stance on Trump, and Rubio's comments on proxy war. It covers European defense plans, frozen Russian assets, and Trump's approach to Ukraine and the Middle East.
KURSK defeat triggers WEST hysteria. PUTIN ceasefire terms. Tusk wants nukes. Starmer next Churchill
(45 min) The video discusses recent developments in Syria and Ukraine, including the potential fall of Kursk, Trump's statements on negotiations, Putin's ceasefire conditions, Poland's military plans, and various political reactions to the ongoing conflict.

Larry Wilkerson and Chas Freeman have a conversation about Ukraine, NATO, and Europe (60 min)

Col. Larry Wilkerson & Amb. Chas Freeman on Trump’s Plan to End the Ukraine War & NATO’s Future

The EU is desperate...

[ LIVE from Moscow ] - Judge and The INTEL Roundtable w/ Johnson & McGovern
Larry and the Judge plan to interview Lavrov. They speak with Ray about current events.

(8 min clip)

Neil expresses similar ideas...

(4 min clip) The X post continues ...
‘Under the spoken madness of boots on the ground and planes in the air in Ukraine is the economic necessity of EU stuffed shirts needing to lay down covering fire for the creation of a new scheme.
Or is that scam to keep the money trough topped up.
If more corpses have to be added to the pile already a million high then so be it.’
Utterly lacking in humanity.

Jimmy had a series of excellent interviews with Matt Taibbi.
Trump CRACKS DOWN On Free Speech! w/ Matt Taibbi
In what can only be described as a stunning reversal on a key political issues, Republicans have now seized the mantle of supporting free speech away from Democrats — mostly owing to Democrats’ support for efforts to counter what they call “misinformation” and “hate speech” online. But now Donald Trump appears to be willing to crack down on speech he doesn’t like as well, in particular criticisms of Israel and support for Palestinians. Jimmy and investigative journalist Matt Taibbi discuss just how much Trump’s proposed measures against protesters will undermine his free speech bona fides among the MAGA faithful. (20 min)

How Trump & Brexit Made Liberals HATE Free Speech! w/ Matt Taibbi (17 min)

How U.S. DESTROYED Russia & Putin Built It Back! w/ Matt Taibbi (7 min)

DOGE Is Making Journalism Great Again! w/ Matt Taibbi (5 min)

(2 min clip)

Are we getting close to having AI government? The question is prompted by many Dems coming out with identical videos.

(22 min) We just saw 23 Senators send out a video where each of them dramatically (well, for Senators I guess) repeat the same scripted talking points in front of a camera on cue just like actors would. They all sound like interchangeable bots with only minor deviations. The videos all looked pretty much the same — same clips, same font, same editing. And somewhere there's a director who is directing them all.

Money and Tariffs
Most of the commentators I've heard think tariffs will hurt US citizens. Others think they're great. Are they just a bullying tactic like sanctions? I guess we'll see how it plays out.

Michael Hudson has a piece on banking explaining how the cartels replaced the papacy and royalty.
Why Banking Isn’t What You Think It Is
It was the banking class that pushed parliamentary democracy (“oligarchy,” if you wish) to replace the royal kingdoms and create the modern state.
The modern state, ever since the 1800s, the 1700s was created as essentially a collection agent for the banks to make war debts, and almost all the bank loans to begin with 13th-14th-century 15th-16th-17th-century bank made war loans to the government.

Richard D. Wolff and Michael Hudson on the US Empire COLLAPSING – Europe Trapped, BRICS Emerging!
(30 min)

David Pyne was the biggest proponent of tariffs I heard from this week.
(Toward the end of the 40 min clip)
David T. Pyne: Zelenskyy, Trump & Vance Clash: What’s Next for Europe & America?

Jim Rickards: Is the Gold Gone? Did the U.S. Treasury Lease it? This Would Break the System
Gold never settles. You just roll it over and roll it over,” says Jim Rickards, New York Times best-selling author. He tells Daniela Cambone that there isn’t enough physical gold to accommodate the paper gold transactions, which can be leased to numerous parties in a chain called “sales of unallocated gold.” “I own it on paper, but there's no physical gold behind the contract,” he explains. However, he warns that if there were ever a run on the paper market, it would “break the market,” resulting in gold “quadruple almost overnight.”

What about the new US bitcoin reserve?

(90 sec)

The UK’s transfer of the proceeds from Russia’s frozen central bank funds to Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has said. On Friday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal said that Kiev had received a first tranche worth about $1 billion from the UK, secured by the proceeds from the Russian assets. He said the funds would go toward “strengthening” Ukraine’s defense and voiced hope that all frozen Russian assets would be “confiscated and transferred” to Kiev. Speaking to reporters later in the day, Volodin said Britain “will have to give back to Russia what they are now so generously giving away,” adding that Moscow has “every reason to respond in kind.”

President Trump on Saturday implored ‘All Republicans’ to vote on a 99-page spending bill that would keep the government funded through September, as a March 14 deadline approaches for the latest government shutdown threat. The bill largely maintains current spending levels, while an additional $8 billion would be included for defense programs, and $6 billion for veterans’ healthcare. Non-defense spending would drop by approximately $13 billion. Johnson is setting up the bill for a vote on Tuesday, despite a lack of buy-in from Democrats – essentially daring them to vote against it and risk a shutdown. He’s also betting that Republicans will be able to quash inner divisions over spending and force it through.

I don't see how they plan to increase the budget, cut taxes, AND balance the budget at the same time. Reminds me of this old one... Eating Rainbow Stew

I think Merle sang it in the White House for Reagan.

So the times are changing. European allies become opponents. Russia may become an ally. The economy teeters on collapse. The dems have become warmongers and pro-censorship while the repugs are free speech advocates (unless it is pro-Palestinian speech) and peaceniks. As Bobby said the parties have inverted. Speaking of Bobby, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is scheduled to meet with executives from General Mills, PepsiCo, and other food industry giants on Monday, according to a report from Politico. That may prove to be interesting.

So folks, hang on I'm sure some changes will be good and others not so much. We won't be bored and will have plenty to discuss in these changing times! Please add anything of interest in the comments below. The thread is open...