Originally published at: Trump Holds off on Iran Strike, Silver Surpasses Nvidia, UK/Germany Increase Free Speech Crackdown – Peak Prosperity
Geopolitics
Reports indicate that President Donald Trump canceled a scheduled U.S. strike on Iran at the last moment. Iranian airspace subsequently reopened, and U.S. assets at Al Udeid Air Base shifted to standby status shortly before the planned action. Advisers reportedly could not confirm that the strike would topple the regime or adequately counter expected retaliation, consistent with Trump’s reported preference for actions with clear outcomes. Some analyses have questioned the specifics of the reported near-strike, citing a lack of independent corroboration from major outlets.
More than two dozen tankers under international sanctions have reflagged to Russia since early December to avoid U.S. seizures, based on maritime intelligence data. This increase came after the U.S. seized the tanker Skipper near Venezuela and involved vessels previously registered under other flags, raising the total to 26 Russian-flagged tankers from six in November. Following the seizure of the Russian-flagged Bella 1 over reported links to Hezbollah, some operators reportedly see the Russian flag as providing geopolitical safeguards. Analysts have observed that this reflagging pattern in the “dark fleet” carrying Russian, Iranian, and Venezuelan oil may heighten international tensions, with 13 percent of such tankers now under the Russian flag. However, experts warn that this tactic could escalate into broader state-backed challenges, potentially prompting stronger international enforcement responses.
Economy
Silver’s market capitalization stood at $4.822 trillion on January 13, 2026, exceeding Nvidia’s $4.502 trillion and ranking it as the second-most valuable asset globally after gold at $32.036 trillion. Spot silver prices reached $86 per ounce on Comex and hit records on MCX, indicating continued price gains for the precious metal. Mainstream outlets suggest the rise is driven by industrial demand in sectors like solar and electric vehicles, though analysts caution about ongoing volatility in commodity markets, although Chris suggests it may be driven by underlying systemic risks within the global financial system.
Germany reported 17,604 corporate bankruptcies in 2025, the highest number in 20 years, with an average of 48 insolvencies per day that exceeded the 2009 financial crisis levels. December alone recorded 1,519 filings, 75 percent above pre-pandemic norms, affecting industries including hospitality, construction, and real estate amid rising interest rates. Bankruptcies among large firms with over 10 million euros in annual sales increased by 25 percent, tripling from 2021 figures. Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the automotive sector as facing severe pressures from Chinese competition, while experts predict more insolvencies in 2026. Despite the surge, Germany’s GDP grew by 0.2 percent in 2025, narrowly avoiding a recession, with some analysts noting potential stabilization in certain sectors.
European Politics
The UK denied entry to Dutch commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek following her online comments criticizing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s immigration policies, stating that her visit would not serve the public interest and offering no appeal option. Vlaardingerbroek, who has advocated for remigration policies to maintain national identity, claimed this reflected hypocrisy in handling migrant-related crimes versus speech restrictions. At the same time, the government permitted entry for Egyptian activist Abdallah el-Fattah, despite reports of his past anti-white statements, violent rhetoric, Holocaust denial, and calls for attacks. Channel migrant crossings persisted into 2026, with over 41,000 arrivals in 2025 accommodated at public expense, as Labour’s repatriation program encounters setbacks. UK officials have described such entry denials as necessary measures for national security and public order.
Germany has increased actions against online expression, including police searches of residences for posts considered insulting to officials, such as a fine issued to a man for calling a politician a “pimmel”. Chancellor Friedrich Merz reportedly submitted nearly 5,000 complaints against critics, resulting in questioning by authorities. A Vanderbilt University study indicated that 99.7 percent of removed Facebook comments and 98.9 percent of deleted YouTube videos were legally protected, often consisting of opinions about political figures. Funding for organizations monitoring online content has grown fivefold since 2020, supporting 330 groups, while phrases like “from the river to the sea” are subject to prohibitions. Legal actions have included prosecutions for responses to immigrant-related crimes, such as the imprisonment of a woman for private messages about a rapist, amid reported declining public trust in government. Government spokespeople maintain that these efforts target illegal hate speech and disinformation to safeguard democratic processes.
US Politics
Democrats, including Senators Ron Wyden, Ben Ray Luján, and Ed Markey, called on Apple and Google to remove X from their app stores, citing the platform’s AI chatbot Grok for producing images of women and minors in bikinis. Their letter referenced alleged breaches of app store rules on offensive or exploitative content, similar to prior removals such as the ICEBlock app amid political scrutiny. Although generative AI tools on other platforms can create comparable synthetic images, the request focuses solely on X, occurring alongside discussions on content moderation and First Amendment concerns for its 557 million users.
Trump stated he plans to halt federal funding to states with sanctuary cities effective February 1, 2026, describing them as locations that shield criminals and foster crime. In a speech at the Detroit Economic Club, he referenced previous attempts blocked by courts in 2017 but partially upheld in 2020 for specific grants. A recent federal court decision allows tying funds, such as the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, to immigration enforcement cooperation, leading to recommendations that states abandon sanctuary policies. The policy may encounter legal challenges, as prior similar efforts were blocked by federal courts.
Energy
U.S. grid operators are requiring data center developers to include on-site power generation or face potential shutdowns, due to increased demand from AI and cloud computing. In areas managed by PJM Interconnection and ERCOT, proposed connections have surpassed available capacity, prompting suggestions for developers to provide their own generation or accept disconnections during peak periods to avoid blackouts. Developers have cited obstacles such as air quality rules affecting diesel backups and the requirement for reliable power in fields like finance and healthcare. A Goldman Sachs estimate projects that data center expansion could increase U.S. electricity demand by 1.2 percentage points annually through 2030, which may challenge infrastructure absent additional investments. PJM has warned that this growth could lead to higher electricity rates for consumers, while companies like Microsoft have announced plans to invest in clean energy and grid upgrades to offset demand impacts in surrounding areas.
Health
Freedom of Information Act documents from the Department of Energy detail classified assessments of COVID-19 PCR test primers by national security laboratories, including Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos. These primers, used to identify viral genetic material, received intelligence reviews, with results withheld under national security exemptions. An independent analysis claims the CDC’s forward primer aligns with certain human genome sequences, which could amplify non-viral material and lead to false positives counted as cases. PCR test developer Kary Mullis stated that the test’s high sensitivity might detect genetic fragments without indicating active infection, though such results informed pandemic measures without public mention of these limitations. Despite this, health authorities maintain that PCR tests are highly accurate for detecting viral genetic material when properly calibrated and used alongside clinical symptoms.
A review of aluminum in vaccines has identified a dependence on studies funded by industry, which reportedly lack clinical data on doses administered to infants via injection. The 2011 Mitkus paper, prepared during discussions on vaccine ingredients, used modeling based on limited data from one volunteer’s small intravenous injection of a different aluminum form than those in vaccine adjuvants. Infants may receive up to 1,320 micrograms at eight weeks, which exceeds FDA intravenous aluminum limits by more than 50 times. Those limits were established after 1970s dialysis incidents associated with neurotoxicity from the metal. No established safe level exists for intramuscular aluminum injection, and regulators have not funded trials evaluating complete vaccine schedules. However, CDC reviews and large-scale studies, including analyses of over one million children, have found no links between aluminum-containing vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Sources
Data Centers’ Power Dilemma: Bring Your Own Generation or Face Grid Shutdowns
The fight between data centers and grid operators shows that power supply is the critical bottleneck in the AI and data center boom.
Source | Submitted by CampfireDave
Sanctioned Tankers Surge Under Russian Flag to Dodge US Seizures
More than two dozen sanctioned tankers have switched to a Russian flag since the start of December as a means of avoiding seizure by U.S. forces
Source | Submitted by jhughes1973
The Aluminum-Funded Mirage: Exposing Flaws in Vaccine Safety Data
The study propping up the safety of aluminium in the entire vaccine schedule, was funded by the Aluminium Association in Washington and the Aluminium Institute in London.
Source | Submitted by richcabot
Germany’s Bankruptcies Hit 20-Year High in 2025 Amid Deepening Economic Crisis
In 2025, Germany Saw Bankruptcies Hit 20-Year High
Democrats Demand Apple and Google Ban X Over Grok’s Bikini Image Scandal
“Apple and Google must remove these apps from the app stores until X’s policy violations are addressed.”
UK Bans Starmer Critic While Welcoming Migrants and Extremists
UK BANS Dutch Commentator For Criticizing Starmer While Welcoming Illegal Migrant Hordes
Silver Overtakes Nvidia to Become World’s Second-Most Valuable Asset
Silver has overtaken American chip giant Nvidia in terms of market capitalisation to become the world’s second-most valued asset after gold.
Source | Submitted by Barry Silverthorn
Germany’s War on Free Speech: Muzzles for the Masses
In reality, Germans have freedom of speech except for ideas that politicians and government contractors and nonprofit activists don’t like.
Trump to Halt Federal Funding for States Harboring Sanctuary Cities
“Starting Feb. 1, we’re not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities, because they do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens”
U.S. Intel Classified COVID PCR Test Scrutiny: FOIA Docs Expose Hidden Doubts on Primer Reliability
U.S. federal intelligence agencies classified and redacted the results of an internal review of COVID-19 PCR test primers, even as those tests were used to define “cases,” drive emergency policy, and justify unprecedented social and economic controls.
Trump Halts US Strike on Iran in Dramatic Last-Minute Reversal
Trump has told advisers he will only authorize action that delivers a decisive blow to the Iranian regime.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Wall Street Journal, WIRED, Bloomberg, CDC reviews and Gavi report, Cleveland Clinic, Deutsche Welle, Morningstar, Reuters, NBC News, The Independent, and German Foreign Office.
