Mid-Air Collision
A new report finds that the pilot of the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a Bombardier passenger plane was transgender. The pilot of the Black Hawk had recently expressed concerns on social media about being discharged from the military under a Trump administration policy. While some intelligence sources are considering the possibility of deliberate action, officials have not confirmed any definitive motive. The investigation remains ongoing, and officials have urged the public to avoid speculation until more details emerge. Pilot error and mechanical failure are still both being actively investigated as potential causes of the deadly collision.
Economy
The U.S. economy’s growth in the fourth quarter of 2024 was reportedly reliant on debt, with $5.8 in debt required for every $1 of GDP increase. The GDP grew at a rate of 2.3%, which was below some expectations. The U.S. budget deficit increased by $711 billion, contributing to a record $36.218 trillion in debt by the end of 2024. This trend of debt-supported GDP growth persisted throughout the year. The reliance on debt for economic growth has prompted discussions about the sustainability of this approach. While some critics argue that this reliance on debt is unsustainable, others, including the White House, defend the spending as necessary for recovery and infrastructure investment, suggesting that the debt-to-GDP ratio remains manageable in the current economic context.
Further north, Canada’s economy is experiencing challenges, as indicated by the Bank of Canada’s recent rate cuts and asset purchases aimed at maintaining economic stability. Despite expectations that immigration would address labor shortages, unemployment continues to rise, indicating vulnerabilities in the labor market. The housing market is also under pressure, with lower borrowing costs inflating prices and making homeownership difficult for first-time buyers. Additionally, there is concern about a potential trade conflict with the United States, with proposed tariffs on Canadian exports potentially exacerbating economic challenges. However, ongoing negotiations suggest a possibility of avoiding such conflicts, and the Canadian government is actively working on economic diversification to mitigate these risks.
US Politics
Donald Trump has proposed repealing the income tax in favor of tariffs on foreign goods. This proposal, which Trump argues could increase household income and boost economic growth, would require legislative action and significant changes to federal funding mechanisms. Critics warn that such a shift could lead to inflation and trade retaliation, potentially offsetting any economic benefits.
Meanwhile, John Harold Rogers, a former Senior Adviser for the Federal Reserve, has been indicted for allegedly conspiring to steal trade secrets for China. The indictment accuses Rogers of passing sensitive financial information to Chinese operatives, which could pose a threat to U.S. national security. This case is part of ongoing concerns about economic espionage and the protection of sensitive information. Some international sources, however, question the political motivations behind the indictment, highlighting Rogers’ academic contributions in China and suggesting that the charges may be part of broader geopolitical tensions.
Geopolitics
An long-form article recently published by Julius Ruechel dives into Trump’s desire to annex Greenland and Canada, which he frames as a strategy against what he perceives as Global Socialism. Greenland, a Danish protectorate, and Canada are central to this purported strategy, reflecting tensions with NATO allies and European reliance on U.S. defense. Trump’s actions have been interpreted by some as a return to the Monroe Doctrine, focusing on preventing hostile powers from gaining influence in North America. This geopolitical maneuvering has been met with strong opposition from Denmark and concerns from European leaders, who are considering greater military autonomy in response.
Sources
Pilot of the Black Hawk helicopter, which collided with a Bombardier passenger plane over Washington, was(a) Transgender
American intelligence agencies consider the version of deliberate ramming of an airplane by helicopter as an act of demonstrative suicide.
Source | Submitted by PNWDefector
US Q4 Growth: $5.8 in Debt for Every $1 of GDP Increase
The bottom line: in Q4 it took $5.8 dollars of debt to create $1 dollar of growth, an increase from $3.5 in Q3 and from $1.5 in Q2, which is to be expected: as we revealed in the summer of 2023, US growth was one giant illusion and was entirely the result of the Biden admins’ massive debt creation spree.
Source | Submitted by PhilH
Former Federal Reserve Adviser Indicted for Alleged Economic Espionage with China
John Harold Rogers, 63, of Vienna, Virginia, a former Senior Adviser for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors (FRB), was arrested today on charges that he conspired to steal Federal Reserve trade secrets for the benefit of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Source | Submitted by Shplad
Trump’s Greenland Gambit: Annexation, Allies, and the New Great Game
Trump is signalling that the era in which its NATO allies can neglect their defense commitments is over.
Source | Submitted by richcabot
Trump Proposes Income Tax Repeal, Sparking Debate on Economic Impact and Legislative Feasibility
Trump is doubling down on repealing the entire income tax.
Source | Submitted by Chris Martenson
Canada’s Economic Alarm Bells: Rate Cuts, Immigration Myths, and Looming Trade Wars
The Bank of Canada just made a desperate move to keep the illusion of stability alive in a country that is already spiraling into economic disaster.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: ZeroHedge, The Hill, The White House, The Wall Street Journal, China Daily, The Guardian, Politico Europe, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, CBC News, Financial Post, and The Canadian Press.