Originally published at: China Dominates Minerals, US Faces Economic Recession – Peak Prosperity
Energy
China continues to lead in the global production and refining of critical minerals, essential for technologies driving the green transition. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), China processes around two-thirds of the world’s critical minerals, including over half of the world’s aluminum, lithium, and cobalt, and nearly all of the rare earth metals and natural graphite. However, other nations like the United States and Australia have increased their production of rare earths since 2010, with Myanmar and Thailand also expanding their mining activities.
Geopolitics
In a recent interview on “Judging Freedom,” Lieutenant Colonel Tony Shaffer discussed an alleged assassination attempt on former President Trump and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Shaffer suggested that the attempt involved a broader conspiracy within law enforcement, with the Biden administration allegedly prepared to leverage the incident for political gain. He also commented on the economic resilience of Russia despite sanctions, citing World Bank reports of significant growth. Shaffer criticized Western leaders for their expectations of a Ukrainian victory and noted ongoing negotiations. He also mentioned potential conflicts involving Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran, predicting Russian support for Iran and a more active role for Turkey.
US Politics
Mettias Desmet provides his opinion on propaganda during this presidential election cycle. According to him, the current state of the U.S. presidential election has been marked by significant media coverage shifts. Initially, the media supported Biden, but after the first debate, it was reported that Trump had a strong chance of winning. This led to a shift where the media turned against Biden, exposing his weaknesses. An attempted assassination on Trump by an individual reportedly linked to Antifa was lightly covered by the media, reportedly increasing Trump’s popularity. Subsequently, Biden dropped out of the race, and the media quickly shifted support to Kamala Harris. The article criticizes the reduction of complex events to conspiracy theories and emphasizes the importance of recognizing humanity in others, even within totalitarian systems.
Economy
The U.S. economy and labor market are showing signs of stress, with rising jobless claims and poor PMI results indicating a potential recession. Despite the Federal Reserve’s recent decision not to cut rates, market dynamics suggest the Fed is losing control of the narrative. Historical patterns show that initial stages of rising unemployment are gradual, often leading policymakers to believe in a resilient economy. However, this is typically followed by a sharp increase in unemployment, marking the onset of a recession. Recent trends mirror these patterns, with the unemployment rate rising over the past 14 months. Market behavior, including movements in forward interest rates and treasury yields, indicates expectations of multiple rate cuts in the near future, signaling the Fed’s recognition of economic decline.
Sources
China Dominates Critical Minerals Market Amid Rising Global Competition
China accounts for around two-thirds of the world’s processing/refining capacity for critical minerals.
Source | Submitted by AaronMcKeon
Former CIA Officer Claims Conspiracy Behind Attempted Trump Assassination
The kid was a patsy. The kid has been lied about and his history manipulated.
Source | Submitted by Johny49
Midnight Strikes: Unemployment Patterns Signal Looming Recession
The clock in the economy and the labor market seems to have finally struck midnight.
Source | Submitted by rhollenb
The Crumbling Facade: How the Propaganda Model is Failing in the 2024 US Presidential Election
The propaganda model is beginning to fail.
Source | Submitted by AaronMcKeon