Kontrarian Korner

Yesterday I had Robert Smallbone back on the podcast. We talked about everything going on in Europe, the recent bank circus in Paraguay, and several other topics. We also talked about the decline of the West, Bukele’s approach to politics and how we could use a couple politicians like that in the West, and why he thinks people should look for second residences and passports outside of their home c...

Yesterday I had Tim Duggan back on the podcast to talk about what’s going on the oil market, natural gas as we head into winter, and the political situation in the UK and Europe. We also talked about China’s role as a swing consumer for oil, shifting supply chains, and things changing underneath the surface of the energy markets. If you’re interested in the intersection of energy and geopolitics,...

Yesterday I had Vince Lanci back on the podcast to talk about precious metals, and the upcoming buy season as we head into the end of the year. We also talked about the midterms, different aspects of the geopolitical chaos, and the impact of private equity and hyperfinancialization of the economy. We also talked about the centralization of political power across the West, and gold returning to a m...

Yesterday I had the Colonel back on for Part 26 of the CIA Files. We discussed Richard Nixon’s background, his mafia ties, and Watergate. She also covered the beginning of the War on Drugs, influential figures around the Nixon Administration, and the different nefarious activities of organized crime in that era. We wrapped up by drawing parallels to today’s government, pattern recognition, and a l...

On Thursday I had retired Brigadier General Blaine Holt back on the podcast to talk about the state of the world. We talked about the midterms, the narrative around military bases needing to prepare for grid problems, why people need to be held accountable, and why we are at an inflection point in the economy and financial markets. He also covered some of the problems facing Idaho, the future of t...

Yesterday I had Mike Ariza back on the podcast for an update on California’s energy crisis. We talked about the refining situation in the state, other businesses that are pulling out of the state, and how the state’s energy situation feeds into the military and agricultural supply chains in several states. He also shared his thoughts on the Defense Production Act, the midterms, and why the current...

Yesterday I had the Colonel back on for Part 25 of the CIA Files. This was part two on MK Ultra, so if you want to watch part one first, feel free to go back to last week’s episode. This week we did a deep dive on the Laurel Canyon music scene, the ties from influential musicians directly to powerful government and military officials, and how you can see the roots of the culture war in the music o...

On Monday I had the Colonel back on for Part 24 of the CIA Files. This week we did the first of two parts on the MK Ultra program. We covered the different historical roots of using drugs to influence culture and the population, the ties into different industries and institutions, and the global nature of these operations. If you’re interested in the story around LSD, the program’s ties to the eug...

Yesterday I had Chris Irons ( Quoth the Raven ) on the podcast for the first time. We talked about his view of financial markets, the geopolitical situation, and the changes he sees on the horizon over the next year. He also laid out his view on the AI Capex bubble and the various funding mechanisms, what could prick the bubble, and why he expects yield curve control and inflation to be the path o...

Yesterday I had Grant Williams on the podcast for the first time. It was a great conversation on where things stand in financial markets, geopolitical changes across the West, and changes on the horizon during the Fourth Turning. We also covered the generational divide, the lack of institutional trust, and a potential shift away from public markets toward private businesses. You can find Grant on...

Yesterday I had Charles Spadille on the podcast again for a conversation on the state of men and women and how to fix it. We talked about how these issues always seem to flare up in the public consciousness ahead of political elections, the Cornell 7 coverage and how certain female behaviors have become more obvious in recent years, and why men and women are better together than they are apart. Yo...

Yesterday I had John Polomny back on the podcast to talk about where things stand in markets, current events, and the path forward for the US and the West. He laid out his thoughts on where we are in the market cycle, where he sees opportunities, and the investment bubble in technology. We also talked about some of the different societal breakdowns in the West, including sports gambling and predic...

Yesterday the Colonel was back for Part 23 of the CIA Files. We finished up talking about Operation Condor in South America in the late 60s and early 70s. This week we covered Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, and Costa Rica. She laid out the motivations of major corporations in shaping CIA involvement in different countries in that period, the Colony of Dignity, and drug trafficking and human trafficking...

Yesterday I had E.M. Burlingame back on the podcast to talk about his new project, The Forge Accelerator . He has built a custom AI model and his goal is to help men improve their ability to think for themselves. We talked about the importance of critical thinking, why it isn’t taught in the education system, and the importance of being grounded in reality. If you’re interested in hearing why crit...

Yesterday the Colonel was back for Part 22 of the CIA Files. This week we were setting the stage for Operation Condor in South America. She talked about the different operations in Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, and the Dominican Republic, and the activities of the CIA in the late 60s and early 70s, and how it ties in with different business interests. We also talked a bit about how the operations in Sout...

Yesterday I had Mark Mitchell of The Honest Poll back on the podcast to discuss the upcoming midterms, current events, and the ongoing civil war inside the conservative establishment. He laid out his polls and research on what he expects for the midterms, and why it won’t be pretty for Republicans, along with his thoughts on institutional decay, the generational divide when it comes to politics an...

On Friday I had Dr. Jeremy Heffner and E.M. Burlingame on the podcast for another great conversation. It was the perfect follow up to our first conversation, and we got into the broken medical and insurance world, the different medications like birth control and SSRIs that have had a dramatic impact on men and women over the last several decades, and other philosophical questions that the West wil...

Yesterday I had Ronald Dodson back on the podcast to talk about current events, the conservative movement, and the setup for the midterms. We covered everything from the potential for a blue versus red Caesar, the shift to a multipolar world order, and why we could be in the early stages of World War III. If you’re interested in geopolitics or the state of the American right, you will enjoy this o...

Yesterday I had Mike Green on the podcast for the first time. We talked about how passive investing has changed financial markets, specifically how these changes have started to play a bigger role in bond markets. He also laid out how 3x levered ETFs and other forms of leverage (Situational Awareness) have exaggerated moves in financial markets. From there we detoured into wealth concentration, th...

Yesterday the Colonel was back for Part 21 of the CIA Files. We got to the second half of talking about the attack on the USS Liberty, specifically what happened after the attack. She explained why it was obviously intentional and how the cover-up went to the highest levels of the government, and why they still won’t open up the files. We also added some additional color on the attack itself, but...

Yesterday I had LTC Steven Murray on the podcast for the first time. We talked about current events in the Middle East and how it ties in with diesel and jet fuel, the American Empire’s focus on the Western Hemisphere, the pros and cons of AI, and where we are in the Fourth Turning. We bounced around on a bunch of topics, but if you want current events with a couple of rabbit holes, you will enjoy...

Yesterday the Colonel was back on for Part 20 of the CIA Files. This week we covered the USS Liberty and some of the lesser known details around the event. The Colonel laid out some of the different connections and information technology of the era, the different actors involved in the attack, and the US response that goes straight to the highest levels of the government at the time. Next week we...

On Thursday I had Dexter White back on the podcast. We talked about recent developments in the AI space and his view on regulation and the tech leaders driving the bus on AI. We also covered how Effective Altruism skews the worldview of some of these tech leaders, and some of the economic distortions that come from our parasitic financial system. He also talked briefly about the recent Fed decisio...

Yesterday Will Tanner of The American Tribune was back on the podcast. We talked about Noblesse Oblige again, and how it ties in with immigration and economic policy. He also laid out his reasons to be optimistic on the future of the US and potential changes on the horizon for different sectors of the economy. This was a fun conversation on a mix of recent events and big picture topics, and anyone...

Yesterday the Colonel was back on for Part 19 of the CIA Files. This was a great follow up to the JFK episode, but we talked about the cultural influence operations of the CIA in the 1960s and 1970s. Their operations ranged all the way from media, academia, religious missionaries, feminism and Gloria Steinem, to Hollywood, music, and drug operations of the cultural revolution. You can connect the...