The Julia La Roche Show

Jim Bianco, president of Bianco Research, dives into America's K-shaped economy and its sustainability issues. He reveals how the top 10% drives half of retail sales, highlighting growing income disparity. Bianco argues that U.S. debt has become a national security concern and discusses the need for strategic policy shifts. He also touches on the bond market, predicting attractive returns and lower volatility, while suggesting that investment strategies may pivot away from stocks. His insights on tariffs and geopolitical currents add further intrigue.

Lynette Zang, financial analyst and economist, explains why the US dollar is at the end of its life cycle, with only 3 cents of purchasing power remaining from the original dollar. She details how currency collapses follow predictable patterns, with the current system having effectively died in 2008. Zang calculates gold's fundamental value at over $40,000 per ounce based on global debt divided by available gold, and predicts a hyperinflationary depression as the transition mechanism to a new monetary system. She outlines her eight-part preparation strategy focusing on food, water, energy, security, barterability, wealth preservation, community, and shelter, while advocating for sound money with convertible gold backing to force fiscal responsibility. Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Monetary Metals. https://monetary-metals.com/julia Links: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLynetteZanghttps://x.com/TheLynetteZang0:00 Introduction of Lynette Zang 1:22 Big picture view on currency life cycles 3:44 Analysis of pattern recognition in markets 5:55 Discussion of dollar's end game scenario 8:43 Four key functions of money and fiat failures 10:02 Explanation of negative interest rates11:32 Inflation impact and purchasing power decline 13:56 Gold vs dollar performance since 1913 15:10 Economic outlook and debt sustainability 17:24 Compounding interest and credit exhaustion 20:09 Gold-backed currency and fiscal responsibility 21:25 Gold price behavior and performance analysis 23:51 Gold valuation methodology 26:34 Gold revaluation and confidence loss 28:29 Personal asset allocation strategy 30:32 CBDCs and currency transition tactics 34:13 Monetary reset discussion37:04 Hyperinflationary depression outlook 40:19 Preparedness strategies and food security 43:49 Detailed home preparedness approach 48:46 Economic outlook beyond recession 51:06 Eight critical preparation categories 52:57 Central bank gold buying motivations 54:42 Gold standard and sound money advocacy 57:39 Perception management and paradigm shifts 1:01:12 Closing thoughts and contact information

Chris Whalen, chairman of Whalen Global Advisors and author of The Institutional Risk Analyst blog, returns to The Julia La Roche Show for episode 240 to discuss markets and the state of the economy. Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Monetary Metals. https://monetary-metals.com/julia Whalen explains why market euphoria has faded under Trump's "shock and awe" strategy. Banks face a $3 trillion mortgage securities problem yielding under 3% against 3% funding costs. He notes the FDIC has stopped reporting troubled bank asset totals after 35 years, suggesting numerous insolvent institutions need resolution. Despite these issues, Whalen doesn't forecast a recession, seeing continued growth with isolated credit problems. In commercial real estate, he describes a "silent recession" where banks avoid taking properties, while for residential real estate he predicts price softening, then a rate-cut mini-boom before a major 2028 correction. Whalen also calls Fannie & Freddie stocks a "pump and dump" trade, states gold is "the only form of money that's not debt," and dismisses crypto as "nothing."Links:    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/rcwhalen    Website: https://www.rcwhalen.com/    The Institutional Risk Analyst: https://www.theinstitutionalriskanalyst.com/   Inflated book (2nd edition): https://www.amazon.com/Inflated-Money-Debt-American-Dream/dp/139428571XStanley Middleman book: https://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Around-Corners-Achieving-Business/dp/B0D5PTSJVC/  0:00 Intro and welcome back Chris Whalen 1:06 Big picture market overview and Trump policy impact 2:49 Stock market as political proxy and market conditions 4:46 Fed policy outlook and potential rate cuts 6:09 Banking sector challenges and mark-to-market issues 8:07 Silicon Valley Bank anniversary and bank issues 11:10 Economic assessment and credit conditions 13:52 Commercial real estate challenges 16:11 Discussion of tariffs and Trump's structural changes 20:13 Debt, government spending, and economic growth 22:18 Investment approach and AI skepticism 24:36 Gold vs cryptocurrency perspective 25:58 Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac 27:29 Housing market conditions and affordability 29:50 Closing thoughts and where to find his work

Michael Howell, CEO of CrossBorder Capital and author of "Capital Wars: The Rise Of Global Liquidity," dissects the current liquidity landscape. He warns of an impending 'air pocket' as hidden stimulus fades, emphasizing the risks from the U.S. Treasury's bill-heavy financing strategy. Howell also discusses the potential for Trump to revalue U.S. gold reserves for a massive fiscal boost, while advocating for caution among investors as 2025 approaches. He suggests a pivot to real assets like gold amid these economic uncertainties.

Jeff Snider, host of Eurodollar University, is an expert on the global monetary system. In this engaging discussion, he argues that the U.S. never truly emerged from the 2020 recession, citing misleading indicators fueled by government interventions. Snider highlights a staggering 5 million job deficit and warns of risks arising from China's banking system. He dissects the disconnect between stock market optimism and weak bond signals, and emphasizes the overlooked complexities of the Eurodollar system affecting global economies.

Larry McDonald, founder of The Bear Traps Report and bestselling author, shares his insights on the economy and markets. He discusses the engineered economic slowdown as the government confronts inflation and massive debt. McDonald highlights how the top 10% of consumers drive 60% of spending and suggests that hard assets like copper may outperform tech stocks during stagflation. He explains the concept of 'financial repression' and its role in managing the staggering $37 trillion debt burden.

Dr. Judy Shelton, a senior fellow at the Independent Institute and author of "Good as Gold," discusses the urgent need for U.S. monetary reform. She critiques the Federal Reserve's practices, including paying banks not to lend and the troubling implications of a 2% inflation target that undermines savings. Shelton advocates for auditing the Fed and restoring accountability. She also explores the historical context of the gold standard and proposes gold-linked bonds as a pathway to sound money, emphasizing its importance for economic liberty.

Bob Elliott, cofounder and CEO of Unlimited, shares insights on the economic landscape and investment outlook. He warns of a potential growth disappointment in 2025, driven by shifting Fed policies and rising tariffs. Elliott highlights the contrast between high growth expectations in the stock market and the low confidence levels among professional investors. The conversation also covers the implications of partisan perspectives on market sentiment and the growing demand for gold as a safe haven amid economic uncertainty.

Danielle DiMartino Booth, CEO of QI Research and author of "Fed Up," dives into pressing economic issues. She discusses signs of disinflation, including falling rents and rising job cuts, suggesting more Fed rate cuts might be on the horizon. DiMartino Booth raises alarms about student loan delinquencies impacting credit, and the shifting dynamics in the housing market favoring buyers. The conversation also touches on the emergence of a 'white collar recession' and the urgent need for affordable housing to support changing demographics.

Bill Fleckenstein, founder and president of Fleckenstein Capital, shares his market insights with a focus on 2025. He discusses the 'elephant in the room'—the impact of passive investing—and addresses the unexpected strength of gold amid economic uncertainty. Fleckenstein warns about government waste and explores the complexities of U.S. debt, urging caution for young investors. He further critiques the illusion of gold revaluation as a solution to national debt, highlighting the need for informed investment strategies in today's climate.