Economy
Using the 1980s method of calculating inflation (ShadowStats), the 1980’s peak in silver would be equivalent to $1,639 today, suggesting there is still room for significantly increased prices before matching the old peak. Additionally, reports cite silver supply deficits over five years, driven by industrial demand from solar, EVs, electronics, and defense, exceeding production, with physical demand now at 50% of output compared to 10% previously. Paper contracts in London and New York reportedly outstrip available metal, leading to price rebounds after sell-offs, such as last week’s drop followed by rises to $90 in the Far East and over $100 at Perth Mint. Opposing views attribute recent highs to speculation, warning of potential crashes similar to 1980.
In other news, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reportedly signaled readiness for currency interventions against a weakening yen and rising JGB yields, prompting a yen surge and speculation of U.S.-backed actions similar to the Plaza Accord. Analysts warn such moves could unwind a $2 trillion yen carry trade, potentially triggering equity corrections, VIX spikes, and recessions, as the Bank of Japan balances imported inflation curbs ahead of elections with avoiding JGB market disruptions. Some analysts foresee long-term risk asset rallies following any initial unwind.
Privacy & Surveillance
Reports indicate Palantir provides AI-driven case management systems to ICE and shares data with Israel’s IDF, including analysis of private communications between Palestinian-Americans and relatives, according to sources. Additional reported ties include Israeli firms supplying radar and surveillance to U.S. ports, joint DHS-Israel programs on drones and threat detection, and ICE using blacklists from groups like Canary Mission for arrests. Law enforcement training programs promoted by the Anti-Defamation League reportedly align tactics between ICE and IDF, such as checkpoints, detentions, and surveillance networks targeting activists. Palantir has defended its ICE contracts, with CTO Akash Jain citing voter support for deportations.
Meanwhile, Washington state lawmakers advanced House Bills 2320 and 2321, which would require 3D printers sold after July 2027 to include algorithms detecting and blocking firearm blueprints, with noncompliant manufacturers facing felony charges. The bills would also prohibit producing unregistered firearms with such tools or distributing related digital files, potentially extending to CNC machines and requiring server-based authentication that could render devices inoperable upon license expiration or policy changes. Critics warn the bills’ broad definitions could impact STEM education and open-source hardware.
US Politics
Leaked communications from networks involved in Minneapolis riots following an ICE shooting reportedly reference use of automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) systems, including Flock Safety cameras in the Twin Cities, to track federal agents. Footage reportedly shows rioters targeting vehicles identified as containing ICE personnel, with spotters feeding plates into databases, amid reports of coordination involving encrypted chats and possible local government ties.
Relatedly, President Trump has dispatched border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to oversee ICE actions and probe $20 billion in welfare fraud, following a call with Governor Tim Walz requesting cooperation on criminals. Trump linked protests and deaths to Democratic policies, amid Democratic threats to block DHS funding and warnings from lawmakers. Walz described the call as productive but demanded reduced federal presence.
In other news, a Maryland jury awarded $10 million to the family of Walmart employee Jacob Mace, who bought a shotgun and used it for suicide. The jury ruled the retailer liable despite Mace lying about its purpose as a gift and assurances to managers he was fine after suicidal messages to a coworker. Managers discussed counseling but did not alert others or blacklist him under company protocols for mental health concerns. Walmart stated management acted appropriately by offering counseling.
Energy
Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser stated oil glut forecasts are exaggerated, with global stocks below five-year averages, floating storage mostly sanctioned supplies, and spare capacity at 2.5%. OPEC anticipates balanced markets through 2027 on robust demand growth, while the IEA raised its 2026 estimate to 930,000 bpd amid petrochemical recovery. The EIA projects a 2026 surplus of 2.83 million bpd from non-OPEC growth.
In the U.S., natural gas and coal generation reportedly prevented grid failures in PJM and ERCOT during the recent winter storm’s peak demands from January 21-26. Gas deliveries hit records, providing 43% of PJM power and surging to five-year highs in ERCOT, with coal at 23% and 10,400 MW respectively, as wind and solar dropped to 3-4% output. Grids held amid post-2021 winterization reforms, despite historical gas curtailments.
Lastly, Karman Industries has developed a cooling system for data centers using SpaceX-derived rocket engine technology and liquid carbon dioxide refrigerant in high-speed compressors at 30,000 rpm. The system reportedly reduces cooling space by 80%, halves energy use, eliminates water consumption—unlike traditional systems using 35,000 gallons daily—and rejects heat to air or repurposes it. A team largely from SpaceX and Rocket Lab raised $20 million and plans production in Long Beach this year, as U.S. data centers are projected to use 8% of national electricity by 2030.
Health
A 48-year-old woman developed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), a rare platelet-destroying disorder, one week after a tetanus-diphtheria booster following an injury, requiring hospitalization and treatment. A Cureus study notes prior child cases and sparse adult data, urging research into adult vaccine safety testing gaps, with similar links reported for other vaccines including COVID-19 shots. Health authorities currently promote boosters per CDC guidelines to prevent tetanus.
Sources
Palantir’s Pivotal Role in the ICE-IDF Surveillance Nexus
Palantir represents but one of the many links comprising the military-industrial surveillance connections between ICE and Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Source | Submitted by 0007
Egon von Greyerz: Silver’s Surge Signals End of Paper Manipulation Amid Physical Shortage
silver transitions away from a manipulated paper-based system into a genuinely physical market, where price is ultimately set by scarcity, not leverage.
Source | Submitted by PhilH
Saudi Aramco CEO: Oil Glut Fears “Seriously Exaggerated” as Stocks Stay Low
“Oil glut predictions are seriously exaggerated,”
Source | Submitted by PhilH
Startup Harnesses SpaceX Tech for Waterless, Power-Saving Data Center Cooling
Startup Uses SpaceX Tech to Cool Data Centers With Less Power and No Water
Source | Submitted by Shplad
Plaza Accord 2.0 Looms: Japan’s Yen Rally Bid Risks Unwinding $2T Carry Trade, Crashing Global Markets
it’s also about the $2 trillion yen carry trade that’s been propping up global markets for years. And if it breaks, it threatens to plunge the global economy immediately into a recession.
Source | Submitted by Friedrichs_teeth
‘Sleep Tight, America’: NatGas and Coal Avert Grid Collapse in Historic Freeze
natural gas provided 43% of generation and coal contributed 23%, while wind and solar fell to a combined 3-4% of the total fuel mix.
Maryland Jury Slaps Walmart with $10M Verdict Over Gun Sale to Suicidal Employee
The verdict raises difficult questions over Walmart’s responsibility for the suicide of Jacob Mace, who lied to store employees, under common law torts.
Trump Hails “Very Good Call” with Walz, Sends “Tough but Fair” Homan to Minnesota
It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength,
Washington’s 3D Printer Spy Mandate: From Ownership to Permission
The structure of this law would make permanent the shift from ownership to permission, one firmware update at a time.
Minneapolis Rioters’ Suspected ALPR Access: Tracking ICE Agents in Real Time?
Could the rioters be using them, possibly in direct conjunction with local authorities?
Tetanus Booster Triggers Rare Blood Disorder in Healthy Woman, Raising Alarms Over Adult Safety Testing
a previously healthy 48-year-old woman who developed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) one week after receiving the Td shot
ShadowStats: 1980 Silver Peak Hits $1,639 Inflation-Adjusted – $115 Still a Buy
Using ShadowStats the 1980 Silver high of $50 adjusted for inflation is $1639
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: WIRED, Reclaim The Net, AP, BambroughKevin, DJRtrading, TedPillows, Bloomberg Opinion, Data Analytics, Criterion Research, PipelineFlows, GovTimWalz, The Daily Record, sjcphs, and CDC guidelines.
by rodster 
