Originally published at: Shanghai Crude Hits $138, Massie Moves to Impeach Hegseth, Trump Calls Butler a ‘Democrat Plot’ – Peak Prosperity
Energy
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he is open to exploring a diesel export ban after AAA’s national average exceeded $6.27 per gallon. US distillate exports averaged 1.7 million barrels daily through early September.
Saudi Arabia canceled September crude shipments to some European refiners after a drone attack shut its 7 mb/d East-West pipeline. Riyadh is increasing Hormuz transits with US Navy escort. Brent crude trades near $105, European gas prices have reached December-2022 highs, and diesel cracks are near $110.
Yuan-priced Shanghai crude futures reached a record $138.50 per barrel after the Saudi pipeline shutdown. Oman and Murban futures traded above $126.
Iran War
CBS News published photographs anonymously submitted by US service members showing damage at Prince Sultan AFB in Saudi Arabia, Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, and other Gulf bases from Iranian missile and drone strikes. Separately, a DoW Inspector General report states that Iranian strikes damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings across bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan, plus diplomatic facilities in four countries.
Meanwhile, the House voted 220-204 for the third time to end hostilities with Iran under a War Powers resolution, supported by every Democrat and now seven Republicans. The conflict, which began February 28, has lasted nearly seven months despite a 60-day limit on war powers. The vote is symbolic given the president’s veto authority, although the number of yea votes amongst Republican lawmakers has increased with each vote.
US Politics
A Massachusetts family has been fighting for custody of their daughter for nearly two years after Algonquin Regional High School began treating their 15-year-old daughter as a boy without parental notification. In December 2024, the Department of Children and Families removed the girl from the home after her parents refused to use male pronouns. Physical-abuse claims against the father were later deemed unfounded, according to court records. Despite this, DCF has restricted contact, placed the girl in a boys’ dormitory, limited access to Sunday Mass, and administered birth control and psychiatric drugs. Officials are seeking court approval for high-dose testosterone. Similar school-secrecy cases have been reported in Ludlow, Illinois, and Oregon. The DOJ has opened investigations into 36 Illinois districts. Proposed Illinois legislation would have classified refusal of gender-affirming care as child abuse. Gov. Healey’s office maintains the removal followed criminal assault charges against the parents rather than gender-related issues.
In Washington, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced privileged articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, triggering a House vote this week. The eight articles cite waging unauthorized war in Iran past the 60-day War Powers deadline, defying a House Congressional Resolution, extrajudicial killings in Caribbean boat strikes, retaliation against Sen. Mark Kelly, the detention of Nicolás Maduro, and Operation Rough Rider in Yemen. The GOP-controlled House is expected to table the measure, and critics have described the effort as an attention grab by an outgoing lawmaker.
Economy
July money-supply growth reached 8.62% year-over-year under the Rothbard-Salerno TMS measure, the fastest pace in 59 months. Q2 GDP growth was 1.5%, more than 1.2 million jobs have been lost since end-2025, and real wages have declined since March. Core PCE has remained above the Fed’s 2% target for 65 consecutive months. The Fed’s balance sheet has grown $124 billion over the past year.
In the real economy, Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos told a Goldman Sachs conference that even higher-income earners are shopping closer to home and buying less per trip. He noted national gasoline prices exceeding $4 per gallon and diesel exceeding $6. The chain’s observations align with Jefferies analyst reports on convenience-store customers.
Overseas, Japan is considering a defense spending target of 3.5% of GDP, which would double current outlays to ¥24 trillion, according to Bloomberg. The Defense Ministry has denied any specific figure. The cabinet approved cutting the consumption tax on food to 1% from 8% for two years. Ten-year JGB yields reached 3.04%, the highest since 1996, and the yen weakened to 155.24.
The Bank of England is expected to halt sales of 20- and 30-year gilts after long-dated yields reached their highest level since 1998. The move could reduce Treasury costs by £2.5 billion annually by decade’s end. Since ending reinvestment in 2022, BoE holdings have fallen over £400 billion. Investors expect QT to slow to £50 billion in the year to September 2027.
Butler Shooting
President Trump described the Butler assassination attempt as a “Democrat plot” after documents showed an anonymous donor paid to cremate shooter Thomas Crooks’ body. Records indicate Crooks ordered packages under the alias “Bob Dole.” Trump attributed missing or altered information to the FBI under Christopher Wray.
Sources
State Seizes Girl After Parents Refuse School’s Secret Gender Swap
A school started a secret social transition. The state took the girl, isolated her from her faith, and now wants to inject testosterone. That is not safeguarding. It is the state substituting itself for the family.
Source | Submitted by Mike from Jersey
Russia’s Acid Ban Risks Kazakh Uranium Output Amid Deepening Rosatom Ties
Russia has temporarily banned the export of sulphuric acid until the end of the year, to secure supply for its own industrial and fertiliser producers.
Source | Submitted by Shplad
BoE to Halt Long-Dated Gilt Sales as Yields Soar on War-Driven Selloff
The Bank of England is set to announce this week that it will stop selling long-dated government bonds which have been hit by a global selloff in debt markets.
Tucker Carlson Warns of Trump’s Record-Breaking Bomb Transfer to Israel
This appears to be the largest transfer of conventional explosive ordnance from the United States in modern history.
Leaked Photos Expose Pentagon’s Hidden Iran Base Damage
This is major damage to our bases that hasn’t been communicated to the American public,
Dollar General CEO: Even $100K Earners Now Shop Like the Poor as Fuel Tops $4
Even that middle to upper middle is acting more like a lower income shopper these days.
Massie Defies GOP to Impeach Hegseth Over War Powers Violations
By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable,
Thune Eyes Diesel Export Ban as Prices Near 2008 Shock Levels
I’m open to exploring it.
Japan’s 3.5% GDP Defense Push and Tax Cuts Send Bonds to 30-Year High
Just in case Japan’s bond yields weren’t high enough already, Bloomberg reports that Japan is considering a new mid-term defense spending target of 3.5% of GDP in line with NATO and other US allies.
Fed Fuels 59-Month High in Money Growth Despite Stagnant Economy
Given current weak economic conditions, it is surprising to see such robust growth in the money supply.
Saudi Pipeline Attack Cancels Europe Crude, Pushes Riyadh to US-Escorted Hormuz Route
Saudi Arabia had notified some European refiners that their September-loading crude cargoes would be canceled following the shutdown of its critical East-West pipeline after a drone attack.
Trump Slams FBI Over Crooks’ Secret Cremation and ‘Bob Dole’ Packages
An anonymous donor paid for his body to be cremated, according to federal documents viewed by Fox News Digital
China Crude Futures Hit Record Highs on Saudi Pipeline Shutdown
Yuan-priced crude futures in China rallied to the highest level on record, as the shutdown of an oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia hurt global supplies
House Votes Third Time to End Costly Iran War as GOP Defections Grow
For the third time, the House has voted to end the war with Iran.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: @ConsiderMeDunn, @mikeminoguema, @TRUMPGIRL_STL, @Rossy3xe, @MattReynolds615, @HindlesKitchen, and @Woodrow17165268.
We’re pulling a new cargo trailer, and have zero idea how that will impact our fuel economy. Have a 47g tank, and one 5 gallon container.