Economy
The US Mint has reportedly suspended sales of silver numismatic products amid rapidly rising prices, pausing offerings until prices can be adjusted, as physical demand has exceeded the ability to maintain current valuations. Additionally, the 2026 Silver Eagles sold out immediately upon release, leading to a one-month delay in later shipments. The Mint described the pause as a routine pricing review due to metal cost increases, without indicating a long-term supply crisis.
Relatedly, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange has launched a 100-ounce mini silver futures contract that settles financially without physical delivery, differing from the standard 5,000-ounce contract that permits withdrawals from vaults, amid reports of concerns over limited physical supply for industrial users. Proponents claim the contract aims to broaden retail access amid rising trading volumes, though some view it as diverting focus from physical market constraints.
Meanwhile, a survey of employed Americans found that 92% have cut back on spending due to higher costs for essentials like food, housing, and health insurance, with only 17% reporting a sense of financial security. Household debt reached $18.59 trillion in late 2025, while federal debt stood at $38.4 trillion. Some analyses attribute the strains more to longstanding wage suppression from trade policies than recent inflation alone.
Lastly, a report from the Cato Institute states that most debanking incidents in the US stem from government pressure rather than banks’ own policies, classifying them into categories such as religious, political, operational, or governmental. Examples include direct interventions like letters from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation that halted certain crypto-related activities, as well as indirect influences from regulations under the Bank Secrecy Act. The report suggests reforms such as repealing certain confidentiality laws and eliminating reputational risk regulations to address these issues. The analysis attributes most closures to supervisory pressure from regulators like the FDIC, contrasting with the Trump administration’s focus on political or religious discrimination.
US Politics
Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino addressed a viral July 2025 social media post in which he described himself as “shocked to his core,” attributing it to his review of Crossfire Hurricane documents related to the 2016 Trump campaign investigation. Bongino stated that the documents revealed significant lapses in agency decision-making and oversight. He plans to elaborate on the topic during the February 2, 2026, relaunch of his show on Rumble. While some urge corroboration by declassified evidence to avoid partisan spin, others have dismissed the account as exaggerated given the Durham report’s findings of flaws without proven conspiracy.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development identified $5.8 billion in potentially improper rental assistance payments in 2024, including $4.3 billion to possibly ineligible organizations and $1.5 billion to individuals, with problems such as payments to deceased recipients and unregistered entities. Access to the Treasury’s Do Not Pay list expired from 2019 to 2025, contributing to $212 million in flagged payments during that period. While raising concerns over waste, the issues largely involve inactive registrations rather than confirmed fraud, affecting some legitimate recipients due to paperwork lapses under multiple administrations.
California’s Supreme Court has enacted Rule 9.7, which requires lawyers to affirm standards of dignity, courtesy, and integrity in all conduct, including personal and political activities, with violations potentially leading to license revocation and other penalties. Critics have raised concerns that the rule’s broad language could infringe on First Amendment rights by restricting speech, in line with wider debates over regulating offensive expressive conduct. Supporters describe it as a limited update focused on professional civility and ethical duties, without broadly limiting personal expression.
In Washington state, apartment manager Esperanza Contreras faces multiple felony charges for allegedly forging and submitting mail-in ballots on behalf of four former tenants in 2024. At least two ballots were reportedly counted before a signature discrepancy triggered an investigation. Authorities have described the case as isolated misconduct stemming from a single tip, with no broader pattern alleged in the state’s mail-in voting process.
Epstein Files
Bill and Hillary Clinton have declined to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding their connections to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, defying subpoenas and now facing contempt proceedings in Bill’s case, with similar steps anticipated for Hillary. In an eight-page letter, the Clintons described the subpoenas as invalid and stated their intent to challenge them in court, while adding attorneys such as Abbe Lowell to their legal team. They accused the probe of political motivation, noting inconsistent enforcement that allowed others to submit documents instead of testifying. The subpoenas requested information on interactions, including flights on Epstein’s jet, following the partial release of redacted Epstein files by the Trump administration’s Department of Justice.
Meanwhile, during a visit to a Ford plant in Michigan, President Trump reportedly responded to a heckler who accused him of protecting pedophiles by mouthing “F*** you” and giving him the finger. The White House confirmed the response, amid criticism over the administration’s pace in releasing Epstein documents. The heckler, a Ford worker, was suspended but expressed no regrets, with the incident tied to frustrations over the delayed file disclosures.
Privacy & Surveillance
Algorithms have reportedly enabled a form of personalized pricing in grocery shopping, where identical items such as apples are charged different prices based on customer data including location, income, and shopping habits. This approach, which sources distinguish from dynamic pricing based on supply and demand, reportedly draws on customer profiles from loyalty programs and apps to apply higher charges to shoppers estimated to have greater income while providing discounts to others.
Instacart’s 2022 acquisition of Eversight reportedly introduced AI tools for real-time pricing changes, resulting in price variations of up to 23% across customers, though the company reportedly discontinued some tests by late 2025 amid FTC scrutiny and public backlash. However, some analyses compare such practices to longstanding discounts for groups like seniors or students, noting market competition as a check on excessive hikes.
In rental markets, software like RealPage has reportedly increased rates by more than 25% by sharing data among competitors, leading to a lawsuit by the Department of Justice. The DOJ’s proposed settlement with RealPage seeks to limit software recommendations using aggregated landlord data, though some views suggest AI tools could optimize supply in tight markets if properly regulated.
Stores such as Kroger have implemented electronic shelf labels and facial recognition technology, which reportedly support such personalized pricing. The Sherman and Clayton Acts prohibit collusion, but algorithmic coordination that avoids direct human communication has reportedly complicated enforcement, with some courts dismissing cases due to insufficient evidence of collusion.
Rest in Peace, Scott Adams
Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert comic strip and a political commentator, died at age 68 after a battle with prostate cancer. His ex-wife, Shelly Miles, announced the death on his YouTube show and shared a message from Adams dated January 1, 2026, in which he stated that his body had failed before his brain. Adams had publicly disclosed an aggressive form of the disease in 2025, reportedly similar to that experienced by former President Joe Biden, and sought experimental treatment from the Trump administration in November. He appealed for access to radioligand therapy like Pluvicto, with HHS officials intervening to expedite options, though his condition progressed to hospice care. President Trump issued his condolences, and a final message from Scott Adams himself can be read here.
Sources
The Algorithm’s Apple: How Surveillance Pricing Turns Groceries into Personalized Gouging
This apple and this apple are the exact same. Except for one thing. I only paid $1.29 for this apple, but for this one, you paid nearly three times that. Not because yours is any better. It’s not organic, and I didn’t get mine on sale. These are exactly the same. But the algorithm decided that you would pay more than me.
Source | Submitted by Friedrichs_teeth
Majority of US Debanking Cases Driven by Government Pressure, Cato Report Finds
“While media and political narratives often attribute these closures to political or religious discrimination, this study finds that the majority of debanking cases stem from governmental pressure,” he said.
Dilbert Creator Scott Adams Dies at 68 After Prostate Cancer Battle
“Dilbert” creator and political commentator Scott Adams died after a battle with prostate cancer, his ex-wife announced on Tuesday on his YouTube show. He was 68.
Source | Submitted by A1Topgun
Unverified Billions: HUD Flags $5.8B in Potentially Fraudulent Rental Aid
The federal government is unable to verify that $5.8 billion in rental assistance paid to more than 204,000 recipients in 2024 was not fraudulent, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s latest annual report.
92% of Employed Americans Slash Spending as U.S. Living Standards Collapse
92% Of Employed Americans Have Cut Back On Spending As The Standard Of Living In The US Crumbles
California’s Supreme Court Imposes Orwellian Speech Controls on Lawyers
California’s far-left Supreme Court has ordered restrictions on the speech and expressive conduct of California’s lawyers “at all times,” including during their unrelated business activities, political endeavors and personal lives.
Clintons Defy Epstein Subpoena, Face Imminent Contempt Proceedings
Clintons Refuse To Testify About Jeffrey Epstein; Comer To Begin Contempt Proceedings
Trump Flips Bird at Heckler Calling Him ‘Pedophile Protector’ During Ford Plant Visit
Trump didn’t hold back when a heckler accused him of protecting pedophiles during a visit to the Ford car factory in Michigan Tuesday, firing back with an expletive and flipping him the bird.
Washington Apartment Manager Charged with Felonies for Forging and Casting Mail-In Ballots for Ex-Tenants
Oh look: The thing that never happens!
Dan Bongino Unveils Trigger for Viral ‘Shocked to My Core’ FBI Post: Crossfire Hurricane Docs
“I couldn’t believe it happened here.”
U.S. Mint Suspends Silver Sales as Prices Surge Beyond Control
The U.S. Mint has SUSPENDED ALL SALES of silver numismatic products.
CME’s New Mini Silver Contract: 100 oz of Financial Fiction
The 100 oz contract has zero silver backing it. It is all fake paper silver.
U.S. Mint Delays Silver Eagles by Month After 2026 Release Sells Out Instantly
The U.S. Mint just delayed Silver Eagles by 1 month.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: WebProNews, The Daily Economy, U.S. Department of Justice, The Guardian, American Banker, RealClearInvestigations, Coalition for a Prosperous America, CoinNews.net, CME Group, Fox News, California Lawyers Association, Tri-City Herald, Keith Olbermann, The New York Times, and Gateway Pundit.
by cmartenson 
