Mike Norman Economics

The universal view that rates are negative for the economy and stocks will be tested.

"Breach of contract." Like sanctions aren't that and worse? Crunch time. Russia hits a nerve.OilpriceEU Leaders Scoff At Putin's Rubles-For-Gas DemandRadio Free Europe/Radio Libertyhttps://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/EU-Leaders-Scoff-At-Putins-Rubles-For-Gas-Demand.htmlsee alsoTASS (Russian state media)IEA chief sees demand for gas payments in rubles as ‘security threat’https://tass.com/world/1427111Rockets that were to launch EU satellites will be used for partner countries -...

Do they realize that raising rates will leave them with no money to remit to the Treasury or even operate?

This was posed in the links part 1 this am, but it deserves it's own post. Naked CapitalismRussia Counter-Sanctions “Unfriendly Nations” by Requiring Gas Payments in Roubles; Dallas Fed Predicts 2022 Global Recession if Russian Energy Supply Remains RestrictedYves Smith

Violating the "sanctity of property" that underlies Western bourgeois liberalism that underlies "capitalism" is a good idea?  David C. Henderson thinks not.Not to mention expropriation (stealing?) of Afghanistan's reserves.US coming across as rogue?Responsible StatecraftWhy this economic war on Russia breaks all rules of the gameDavid C. Hendersonhttps://responsiblestatecraft.org/2022/03/23/why-this-economic-war-on-russia-breaks-all-rules-of-the-game/

Is the US doing with neo-Nazism in Ukraine what it did with Islamic militancy in Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries?This is a good historical backgrounder. It is painted with a very broad brush, of necessity owing to the constraint of a blog post. So while some may quibble with some of the assertions, overall it paints an accurate picture in my estimation, not being a historian but someone familiar with the history. In fact, in my view, it is worse in some ways than Pepe paints...

NewsweekWatch: Madeleine Albright Saying [500,000] Iraqi Kids' Deaths 'Worth It' ResurfacesJon JacksonA Son of the New American RevolutionDreizin Report–Poland prepares to intervene, Ukraine slides into dictatorship, GOP loses it over the war, Battle of the Fakes, & Other Pearls and NuggetsLarry C. Johnson | CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm with expertise combating terrorism and investigating money laundering, formerly Deputy Director...

I have been taking it easy for the past week, courtesy of dealing with a mild COVID-19 case. (It largely felt like a cold. However, some symptoms persist, and so I prefer to rest and let them clear.) During my down time, the Treasury market (along with other govvie markets) have been crushed. Fed policymakers have signalled that they want to ramp up the pace of hikes — which surprised me....Bond EconomicsFed Flattens The CurveBrian Romanchuk

What many don't see to realize, although the president and Pentagon seem to, is that Russia views the US/NATO as an existential threat, and Russian nuclear doctrine is to use nuclear weapons to counter an existential threat, all the way to MAD. Given the infowar and psyops involved, which have amped emotion over fact, nuclear winter is closer now that it's ever been, especially given the potential for accident or miscalculation. Even if you don't read Caitlin as a rule, this is an important...

AntiWarWill Humans Be the Next ‘Freedom Fries’Ray McGovern, co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, and retired 27-year career CIA whose tasks included preparing and briefing The President’s Daily Brief and leading the Soviet Foreign Policy Branch^https://raymcgovern.com/2022/03/23/will-humans-be-the-next-freedom-fries/Moon of AlabamaMore Sanctions On Russia Will Destroy...