podcast transcript
Welcome to the Lenny and Maria Sanchez April 13th deep dive podcast show.
Okay.
Um I'm here with our expert to kind of navigate a really fascinating collection of articles for you today.
That's a lot.
Yeah. We've got kind of a wide ranging set of sources touching on everything from like the global economy shifting to some really thoughtprovoking like social trends.
Absolutely.
Um and I guess our mission today is to really try to connect the dots between these different perspectives and kind of give you a clearer picture of like what's going on.
Definitely.
Um the forces at play that are shaping our world
for sure.
So we're going to be looking at pieces from Lou Rockwell.com on economic headwinds and the BRICS nations.
Okay.
Analysis from the UN's Review on US China relations and domestic policy.
All right.
Commentary from expose.com on birth rates and child trafficking.
Oh wow.
And a pretty controversial viewpoint on euthanasia.
Interesting.
We'll also look at exercise recovery from Barl.se.
Okay. and then a different angle on recent political news from CNC news.
Sounds good.
So, let's uh let's unpack all this.
Yeah, let's dive in.
So, this first piece um is a decade of Edwins.
Okay.
Um and this is from Charles Hugh Smith on lou.com.
All right.
And he's basically painting this picture of like persistent challenges.
Yeah.
For like the next decade or two,
not just these like temporary setbacks,
right?
And one of the things that really stood out to me was just his assertion that like the fundamental relationship between these major global powers,
okay,
is just like deeply mistrustful.
Yeah.
Specifically, he talks about like the US and China, right?
You know, represented by presidents Trump and Xi.
They basically see each other as existential threats.
Yeah.
And this makes compromise like incredibly difficult on like any of the big global issues.
Yeah. I mean, if you can't trust the person you're negotiating with, it makes it really difficult.
Exactly. And what that means for, you know, everybody listening is it means a world where international cooperation is likely to be strained probably
right
and this impacts everything from like trade to geopolitical stability
absolut I mean it's all connected
right and it's not just like abstract international politics
this lack of trust
translates directly into unpredictable global trade
and like capital flows
right
so think about it
yeah
businesses can't be sure about future cost makes sense
because of potential tariffs or you know shifting political alliances. So they're going to be hesitant to invest.
Of course, who wants to take a risk when everything's so uncertain?
Exactly. And that lack of investment
ultimately affects like job creation,
right?
And just the availability of goods.
Absolutely. It's a ripple effect.
Yeah. And adding to this whole uncertainty,
okay,
is the state of the American consumer, right?
Smith makes this case that they're tapped out.
Yeah. They're stretched thin. Yeah,
for sure.
And you know, we're seeing this rise in credit card charge offs and auto loan defaults.
Yeah, that's not a good sign.
And it's not just a blip.
It's like a fundamental weakening
of consumer spending power, right?
Which has been a key driver of economic growth.
Absolutely. And if that falters, it could have serious consequences for everyone.
Right. And this connects to like the reverse wealth effect that he discusses. Okay.
It's more than just like, you know, the stock market going up and down. It's like when people see their asset values becoming volatile,
they don't feel as wealthy, right? And that encourages them to borrow and spend less.
Makes sense.
Yeah.
You know, if you don't feel as rich, you're not going to spend as much.
Exactly. And those swings in things like house prices or investment portfolios can really undermine consumer confidence.
Yeah. And that could have a huge impact on the overall economy.
Exactly. And another interesting point that Smith brings up is the constrained ability of the Federal Reserve.
Okay.
And the government to like come in and do those traditional stimulus measures,
right? They can't just print money and lower interest rates like they used to.
Exactly. He points out that those policies Yeah.
that are actually aimed at bringing manufacturing back to the US, right,
things like tariffs and reshoring
actually contribute to inflation,
right? Because it makes things more expensive to produce domestically.
Exactly. And so it's much harder for the Fed to like lower interest rates or print money.
Yeah.
Without further devaluing the currency. Right. Which ultimately hurts everyone because their money buys less.
Exactly. And similarly like the government debt
Yeah.
is already so massive.
It is
that it limits their ability to do these largecale spending programs.
So it's a tough situation with limited options.
And it's not just a domestic issue. The global inflationary picture has shifted.
Okay. How so?
Yeah. You know, for the last couple of decades, China's been this major lowcost producer, right? And that's helped keep inflation in check globally. Makes sense.
But Smith is arguing that this deflationary period is over.
So now what?
Now there are all these various factors globally that are contributing to inflationary pressures.
So basically everything's going to keep getting more expensive.
Then the era of cheap goods might be over.
That's a big deal for a lot of people.
Yeah,
for sure.
And then Smith also talks about rebuilding America's industrial base.
Okay.
And he's saying it's going to be a long and costly process.
Yeah.
And it will require substantial private capital. capital investment.
So, where's that going to come from?
Well, he argues that it's likely to be incentivized by a recession.
A recession.
Yeah. He thinks that could burst asset bubbles.
Okay.
And shift focus from speculation to long-term productive ventures.
So, he's saying a recession could actually be a good thing in the long run.
In a way, yeah, it could force people to invest in things that actually create value.
Interesting perspective.
But he's very clear that reshoring
is not a quick fix. It's like a decadesl long project
with significant costs.
So what does that mean for the average person?
It could mean higher prices for domestically produced goods.
Okay, so even if we bring manufacturing back, it won't necessarily be cheaper.
H,
that's something to think about.
All right, so let's move on to this next piece.
Okay,
this is from Philip Galdi in the Owns Review, right?
And it's titled Another Week in the Twilight Zone.
Catchy.
Yeah, he's taking kind of a cynical look at a bunch of recent political developments, right?
Um, one of the first things he highlights is this reported prohibition,
okay,
on US embassy personnel in China
having romantic or sexual relations with locals.
Oh, wow.
And this is alongside those increased tariffs that we were just talking about,
right?
And Gerald's tone kind of suggests that these measures
Yeah.
while they're framed as security precautions might actually reflect this broader atmosphere of suspicion.
Okay.
And just like deterior deteriorating relations between the two countries.
So, it's not really about security. It's more about distrust and animosity.
Right. And that could further contribute to the economic uncertainties that we were just talking about.
Yeah. It all feeds into the same cycle.
Exactly. Um and then Geraldi goes on to satirically portray this meeting,
okay,
between President Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, right?
And he's suggesting that they're reaching an agreement on the removal of Palestinians from Gaza.
Wow. That's a bold statement, even if it's satire.
It is satire, but it points to these deep divisions in the Middle East and the potential for policies that could have like significant humanitarian and geopolitical consequences.
Absolutely. And that affects everyone indirectly because it can destabilize the entire region.
Right. He also touches on Trump's apparent attempt to negotiate a new Iran nuclear deal in Qatar.
Okay.
Similar to the JCPOA that was previously abandoned,
right?
And he highlights these inherent contradictions. Okay. And the skepticism surrounding Iran's nuclear program. Yeah. I mean, there's a lot of distress there.
He even references CIA and MSAD intelligence.
So, it's a complex situation with a lot of history
and this ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East. Yeah.
Particularly with Iran,
has the potential to create further instability,
right?
And it could influence global energy markets, right?
And that directly affects everyone through energy prices,
right? Um perhaps even more concerning is Gerald's discussion of the accelerating deport ation of alleged illegal immigrants. And he even suggests that this could be extended to American citizens.
American citizens.
Yeah. Who commit grave crimes.
And who defines what a grave crime is?
Well, that's the thing. He suggests that it would be defined by the White House.
That's a bit worrying.
And he raises serious concerns about constitutional rights and the potential for suppression of disscent,
right? Because if the government can arbitrarily decide what a grave crime is,
then they can target anyone they want. Exactly. And for, you know, everyone listening, this raises questions about the scope of government power.
Yeah. And the potential for abuse,
right? And it's not just about deportation. He talks about these increased IC arrests and deportations and then also reported monitoring of foreign students social media.
So basically a climate of fear and surveillance
and that can impact academic exchange and international relations.
Absolutely. Because who's going to want to study in a country where they feel like they're constantly being watched?
And then finally, Geraldi mentions this idea
that President Trump has floated about having a military parade on his 79th birthday.
A military parade.
Yeah.
And he sarcastically suggests Okay.
that they should include past presidents with draft avoidance records.
Oh wow. He's not holding back.
And while this is obviously like a light-hearted jab, it really underscores this deep political polarization and just this like contentious nature of public discourse.
Yeah. It seems like everyone's at each other's throats these days.
And that can really contribute to social division. Absolutely.
And it makes it harder to address the challenges that we face as a society.
For sure. Because if we can't even agree on the problem, then how are we going to solve them?
Exactly. All right. So, let's move on to this next piece. Okay.
This is from l rockwell.com again, and it's titled Donald Trump is making the case for bricks.
Interesting title.
The core argument here is that Trump's own trade policies specifically the tariffs on China are actually strengthening the case for other nations to align with the bricks alliance.
So he's shooting himself in the foot.
Yeah. In a way he's pushing these countries away from the US and towards this alternative economic block.
And what does that mean for the average person?
It could mean a shift in the global economic landscape with the rise of a powerful block that challenges the US dollar.
Right. So a move away from the US dominated financial system.
Exactly. And the author of this article
Yeah. high Trump's boastful comments,
okay,
about countries supposedly pleading for tariff deals,
right? He loves to talk about how everyone's begging him for deals.
The author calls this damn stupid and says it's likely to alienate trading partners.
Yeah. I mean, if you're constantly bragging about how much power you have over other countries, it's not going to make them want to work with you.
Exactly. And this kind of rhetoric could push these nations further towards bricks.
Makes sense. They're going to look for alternatives if they feel like they're being bullied.
Right. And then the article acknowledged is that China's exports to the US have declined slightly.
Okay.
But it emphasizes that the US still relies heavily on China
for what?
For a ton of stuff.
Okay.
Consumer electronics, machinery, furniture, toys, medical supplies.
So basically everything.
Yeah. And the tariffs on these goods ultimately mean higher prices for American consumers.
Right. So everyone's paying more for the same stuff.
And the piece also points out that China is likely to find alternative markets for US goods such as soy. beans
through existing deals that bypass the US dollar like the one with Brazil.
So, the tariffs aren't really working as intended.
Right. They're not hurting China as much as they're hurting American producers,
and that could lead to higher prices and shortages for consumers.
Exactly. And the author doubts Trump's belief that he can bully China into submission.
Right.
And that Russia will abandon its alliance with China.
Okay. Because of these tariffs.
So, what does he think will happen instead?
He argues that these policies are more likely to strengthe the Russia China relationship
makes sense. They have a common enemy now
and accelerate the growth and influence of the BRICS nations.
So it's having the opposite effect of what Trump intended.
Yeah. Instead of isolating China, he's actually pushing them closer to Russia and other countries
and creating a more multipolar world.
Exactly. With different economic and political power centers,
which could lead to new trade relationships and geopolitical considerations.
All right, so let's shift gears a bit.
Okay.
And look at this article from expos.com. All right.
It's titled ecozelots are not having children.
Interesting title. What's that about?
It discusses this trend among some environmentally focused individuals and couples.
Okay.
Who are choosing not to have children
because of the environment.
Yeah. They're concerned about the carbon emissions associated with raising a child.
So, it's like a form of environmental activism, right? They see having fewer children as a way to reduce their impact on the planet.
Wow. That's a pretty big decision to make.
And it represents a sign significant shift in personal values.
Absolutely. It's a whole new way of thinking about family and responsibility
and for society as a whole. Yeah.
It points to a potential future where climate change directly influences demographic trends.
That's a big deal.
And the article highlights that UK cities, okay,
with strong green political representation
are experiencing significant declines in fertility rates.
So, it's not just a fringe idea. It's actually happening
and they're falling below replacement levels.
Wow. So the population is actually shrinking in these areas
and they mentioned this project called motherhood in a climate crisis at the University of Bristol and it suggests this direct link between environmental concerns and reproductive choices.
So people are actively choosing not to have children because of climate change.
And the author of the article offers this pretty stark interpretation. He suggests that this trend might lead to the extinction of ecosal.
Extinction. That's a strong word. Yeah, he's saying that they're reducing their own gene pool.
So, he's not very sympathetic to their cause.
And this perspective, while controversial, highlights the potential long-term consequences of these deeply held ideologies
on society as a whole.
Right.
Interesting.
Okay. So, staying with expose.com, we have another article. All right. Um, this one features Father James Olman. Okay.
And he's discussing this deep crisis.
A crisis.
Yeah. Within the Catholic Church and American society, focusing on the issue of child sex trafficking.
Oh wow, that's a heavy topic.
Yeah. And he cites Laura Logan's investigation in Mexico.
Okay.
Where gang members allegedly stated that their motivation is to serve Satan.
Serve Satan.
Yeah. By harming children.
That's a disturbing thought.
It is a deeply troubling account.
Yeah.
And it underscores the horrific nature of these crimes.
Sure.
And just the depravity of the perpetrators.
Absolutely.
And for you know everyone listening It's a stark reminder that this evil exists.
He does.
And the importance of vigilance and action,
right? We can't just ignore it.
To protect vulnerable individuals.
Absolutely.
And Fraud Tolman's message is very clear.
Oh, it is.
It's a call to action.
For Christians, okay,
to speak out against this evil.
So, he's urging people to take a stand.
And he criticizes Catholic bishops, okay,
who he believes are not adequately addressing
or are even complicit in in these crimes.
So he's calling out the church itself.
Yeah. And this underscores the internal struggles within institutions, right,
to confront these really difficult issues.
For sure. It's not easy to admit that something like this is happening within your own ranks.
And for faithful Catholics,
this message is a direct appeal to take responsibility
and demand accountability.
So it's a wakeup call for the church to take action.
Okay. So the next article from expose-w.com,
all right,
references this 1981 interview
with Jacques Atali and it's about euthanasia.
Euthania.
Yeah. Okay.
And the article clarifies a more accurate translation of Adelie's comments.
Okay.
Stating that he viewed euthanasia as potentially becoming an essential instrument.
An essential instrument. Yeah,
that's a strong phrase
in future societies. Okay.
Not necessarily for population reduction, okay,
but within the context of managing societal costs,
associated with an aging population.
So he's talking about the economic burden of an aging population,
right? He argued that once individuals pass a certain age,
where their economic productivity declines, okay,
and health care costs rise,
yeah,
society might shift its focus from simply extending life,
okay,
to optimizing life within a defined span.
So basically deciding when it's no longer worth it to keep people alive.
It's a deeply controversial viewpoint.
It is,
and it raises these fundamental ethical questions about the value of human life,
the different stages Right. And the role of economic considerations in end of life decisions.
Yeah. And it's a slippery slope.
And this could have profound implications for health care policies and individual autonomy.
Absolutely. It's a debate that we need to have as a society.
Okay. So now let's turn to Bartal.
Right.
And this article titled spinach will halt exercise recovery.
Spinach will halt exercise recovery.
Yeah. It's a pretty counterintuitive argument.
It is. What's he saying?
He's challenging the common belief in the benefits of antioxidants.
Okay. for exercise recovery.
So, he's saying antioxidants are bad.
He's arguing that inflammation is actually a necessary part of the healing process.
Okay.
And that consuming antioxidant rich foods like spinach
might actually hinder this process.
So, he's saying spinach is bad for you after a workout
in a way. Yeah. He thinks it might interfere with your body's natural ability to recover.
That's interesting. I've always heard that spinach is good for you.
And he discusses this study, okay, where participants who consumed spinach should lower more levels of certain inflammation markers
after exercise.
And he interprets this not as a sign of better recovery, okay?
But as a suppression of the body's natural healing mechanisms,
he's saying that inflammation is actually a good thing in this context.
Right. It's a sign that your body is trying to repair itself.
And he thinks that spinach is blocking that process.
Yeah. And he further contends that spinach
being high in oxalates and other plant defense chemicals,
can be toxic.
Toxic and burden the liver.
Wow. I never thought of spinach as being toxic.
And this could potentially interfere with recovery rather than aiding it.
So, he's really challenging the conventional wisdom about spinach.
Yeah. And he also claims that plant-based antioxidants, okay, are different from those that are beneficial to humans.
And he suggests that humans primarily obtain necessary antioxidants from animal sources.
So, he's advocating for a more meat-based diet.
And he dismisses the exercise performed in the study as two too insignificant to draw meaningful conclusions about recovery.
So he's basically saying that the whole study is flawed.
This viewpoint is a pretty significant departure from mainstream nutritional advice.
It is
and it suggests a fundamentally different approach to diet and exercise recovery.
So what are we supposed to eat after a workout?
Well, according to this author, probably not spinach.
Okay.
All right. So let's go back to the UNS review. All right.
And this article by Mike Whitney.
Okay.
It's titled Trump ed the tariffs hoax to decouple with China.
So he's saying the tariffs were never really about trade.
That's his argument. Yeah.
Interesting.
He's saying that Trump's tariffs on China were not genuinely about trade deficits. Okay. Or re-industrialization, but rather a strategic maneuver
to do what?
To decouple the US economy from China.
And what does that mean?
It means reducing economic interdependence.
Okay.
And essentially trying to weaken China's growing global influence. So, it's a geopolitical strategy disguised as an economic policy.
And Whitney highlights the fact that Trump eased tariffs on 90 other countries
while increasing them on China.
Exactly. And he sees that as evidence that China was the primary target.
It does seem a bit suspicious.
And he views China's rapid economic growth.
Yeah.
As the core reason for this targeting.
Makes sense. China's been growing at an incredible pace.
And he suggests that the US can't compete with China's state-led economic model. So it's a clash of ideologies as well.
And he even goes so far as to call the tariffs a form of economic terrorism
to maintain US hijgemony.
So he's painting a pretty dark picture of US intentions.
And the article quotes Treasury Secretary Bessant. Okay.
Making these seemingly boastful remarks about goating China.
Going them into what?
Into a bad position presumably.
And how does Whitney interpret that?
He contrasts what he sees as China's strengths.
Okay.
Intelligence, hard work, good governance, and reinvestment. Mhm.
with a US in decline.
So he's saying that China is winning because of its own merits
and the US is resorting to these desperate measures
out of fear and weakness.
And Whitney defines decoupling
as reducing economic interdependence with China,
right,
which could potentially lead to isolation and even regime change.
Regime change.
Yeah.
Wow. That's a pretty extreme outcome.
And he quotes economist Larry Summers.
Okay.
Arguing that the US actually benefits from the current trade relationship
where China sells inexpensive goods in exchange for US dollars.
Right? And this highlights the debate among economists about the wisdom and potential consequences of decoupling
because some argue that it could harm the US economy
by increasing prices for consumers.
Right. Because if we're not buying cheap goods from China, then everything will be more expensive.
Exactly. And finally, Whitney points to polls.
Okay.
Showing that a majority of Americans actually oppose these increased tariffs on China
because they're worried about the negative impact on their own wallets. So even if decoupling is the goal,
it might not have widespread domestic support
which could make it difficult to implement in the long term.
Okay. So our penultimate source, right,
is another piece from Lou Rockwell.com.
Okay.
This time by Doug Casey.
It's titled Trump's tariffs and the coming economic fallout.
Sounds ominous.
And Casey offers a very critical view of Trump's tariffs.
Okay.
He dismisses any positive framing as intellectually dishonest. Wow, he's not mincing words.
And he argues that tariffs are fundamentally taxes,
okay,
paid by importers,
which inevitably lead to higher prices for consumers.
So, everyone's paying more for the same stuff
and potentially cause shortages,
right? Because if it's more expensive to import goods, then there will be less of them available.
And while he doesn't see tariffs as directly causing inflation,
okay,
he believes they will reduce overall global production,
right? Because it disrupts supply chains and makes everything less efficient.
And he thinks they could worsen the US government's deficit problem.
So, it's a lose-lose situation.
And Casey questions this idea that tariffs will magically force investment in the US. He points out that the US was prosperous before 1971 without such measures.
So, he's saying it's not a necessary condition for economic growth.
And he uses this simple example of tariffs on Cadillacs,
the black eye.
Yeah. Okay.
And Guatemalan bananas,
right,
to illustrate how these trade barriers harm producers and consumers. countries involved. So, it's not just about protecting American jobs, it's about hurting everyone.
And while Casey acknowledges that tariffs might have some limited effect against very small economies,
he believes they're unlikely to be effective against major producers like China,
right? Because China has a lot more leverage in the global economy.
And he suggests that Trump might be operating under this mercantalist ideology.
Mercantalist.
Yeah.
Okay.
Mistakenly believing that he can force the world into a trade deficit with the US. So he's saying that Trump has a sawed understanding of how international trade works.
And Casey warns that Trump's tariffs, much like the Smoot Holly tariffs of the 1930s, are likely to exacerbate a declining global economy.
So he's saying we're headed for another recession.
And he strongly refutes this idea, okay, that a weak dollar is a path to prosperity,
right? Because a weak dollar means your money buys less.
Exactly.
So how does he think we should revive American industry? He argues that the real solution Yeah. lies in radically reducing the size and scope of government, cutting taxes and spending and ending government borrowing.
So basically less government intervention in the economy.
Exactly.
Interesting.
And he expresses a pessimistic outlook for the stock market.
He thinks that Trump's policies are creating uncertainty and chaos.
Right.
Okay. So our final source today is from CNC News.
Okay.
And it focuses on the declassification of Crossfire. hurricane documents,
crossfire hurricane.
Yeah. And some immigration policy changes.
Okay.
The article highlights Cash Patel's disclosures to Congress,
right?
And presents these purported text messages from Peter Stros expressing anti-Trump and anti-Russia sentiments.
So, it's suggesting that there was bias within the FBI.
And the author suggests that the deep state
that deep state,
yeah, might be protecting individuals involved.
Okay.
To avoid exposing broader systemic iss isues.
So, they're trying to cover their tracks.
The article also praises the White House's decision to cancel social security numbers.
For who?
For migrants in the Deathm
It's a database of deceased individuals.
Okay.
And they're using it to encourage self-deportation
by denying them benefits,
right? And they're also repurposing the file, okay,
to identify and restrict benefits to those deemed to be criminals or security risks.
