Today's show discusses what's behind the announcement that Trump and Putin will meet next friday in Alaska. Will it mean the beginning of the end of the Ukraine War? Why not. Why Trump sent his envoy, Witkoff, to Moscow to meet with Putin for 3 hrs last week. What will Zelensky, the Europeans and US neocons—all who want war to continue—will now do. Also discussed: Trump's phony corporate & foreign govt announcements they'll invest trillions in US economy + Israel's announcement it will occupy all of GAZA + US raises bounty on head of Maduro, Venezuela'ls president Maduro to $50 million. (for print version analysis of the Trump-Putin meeting read my article of same title on my blog, http://jackrasmus.com) 

 Today's show dives into Trump's latest multi-country tariff war. What's the latest for August, a critical month. Latest Japan & EU deals as 'templates'.  Trump's phony announcement of both countries to invest $17 trillion in USA. Political tariffs attack on India, Brazil and BRICS. Russia 100%. Trump's retreat on China. What's up with Mexico & Canada? Key dates of August 8, 12.  Second half of show discusses latest US GDP numbers for April-June. Why US growth is NOT 3% but closer to 1% and the US economy is sliding toward stagnation or even recession. Why Trump's Big Bill on Taxes and Tariffs are a drag on US economic growth.

Today's show discusses recent 'flash points' of the past week in US and geopolitical developments. Trump's tariffs policy revenue and political objectives. Why DNI director Tulsi Gabbard resurrected the Russiagate affair and targeted Obama. Why German Chancellor Merz is now Europe's biggest war hawk. Why Israel and Turkey are facing off over who runs Damascus. How Zelensky is maneuvering with the west to stay in office and continue the war. Why Trump's foreign policy shifts are really about restoring the American military and the Empire. Why the 2020s are not the 1980s.

Today's show discusses Trump's just passed $5 trillion tax cut. The four big lies about the Trump cuts are debunked: why the cuts won't 'pay for themselves'; why the total is at least $5 trillion+ and not the official $3 trillion estimate reported by the media; why the cuts won't add 1-2% to GDP or raise wages and create jobs as the govt claims; and why they'll result in deficits and debt over the coming decade far more than the $3.3 trillion the Trump administration and mainstream media are telling us. The show summarizes the $22 trillion taxes cut from 2001 to 2025 by presidents Bush, Obama, Biden and Trump, and how that's resulted in US budget deficits now averaging $2 trillion a year, a $38 trillion US national debt, and interest payments of more than $1 trillion/yr paid to wealthy US and foreign bondholders of that debt. Why Trump's tax cuts represent a continuation of Neoliberal fiscal policy on steroids. (For a published article on this subject, go to Jack Rasmus's blog at http://jackrasmus.com or to Counterpunch, LA Progressive or Z blogs).

 Today's show picks up the discussion of last week on 'How US Goes to War' and comments on the Trump bombing of Iran last Friday. (For a print analysis of the bombing event read my recently published article, 'Trump's Forever War' on my blog, http://jackrasmus.com or on Counterpunch, LA Progressive, Z network and other sites). Today's show discusses Trump's tax bill, its real dimensions and why it will accelerate deficits, debt, and the fiscal crisis of the US imperial state, followed by what's behind Trump's bombing of Iran and why that war has just begun. The show concludes with further sharing of themes and analysis in my forthcoming book, 'Twilight of American Imperialism', Clarity Press, out later this year.

As Trump prepares the USA to directly attack Iran on behalf of Israel, it is clear he's repeating a pattern of past US decisions to go to war in recent decades. Today's show is based on my recent published article by the same title, available on my blog, http://jackrasmus.com and elsewhere in Counterpunch, LA Progressive, etc. How AMerica goes to war is about planning months before pulling the trigger; lining up political support and military assets, engaging in negotiations as a tactic to lull the opposition into thinking a deal is possible when it isn't, creating an excuse and even false flag event to precipitate and justify the attack, and once the attack has occurred pursuing the real objective of regime change. The show reviews US war events from Vietnam to the Iraq wars, the small  attacks in the '80s and '90s on Grenada, Panama, Serbia, what happened in Ukraine, and the preparations for war with Iran by the US and Trump on behalf of Israel. Why Trump won't attack this weekend as originally planned and says two more weeks. Consequences if US bombing fails and regime change, the real goal, is not achieved.

 Today's show focuses on yesterday's Israel attack on Iran. Four key points about the escalation: 1) Netanyahu scuttles US-Iran negotiations 2) attack was not just to destroy Iranian nuclear weapons development but to decapitate Iran govt and military, create instability and possible regime change 3) Planning has occurred for months with US assistance and US knew of, and likely assisted, Israel in the attack 4) US neocons, with Trump support, continue to run US middle east policy.  What will Iran do next? What about Iran-Russia mutual defense agreement recently signed? What will be the response of China? Other BRICS? Regional arab states? More to come. Report on recent EU new secondary sanctions on countries buying Russia oil and EU price-cap sanction lowered to $35/barrel. Why it didn't work at $60 and won't again

Today's show is dedicated to discussing the state of the US empire today. Contrary to some on the left, it is not about to collapse. But it is in a state of intensifying decline. Today's show reviews these two themes and considers the evidence for collapse vs. decline. A brief history how empires extract wealth from their dependencies (plunder, occupation, colonialism, unequal trade, financial imperialism, etc.) is discussed. A review of US institutions of Empire and how the US practices imperial dominance follows. Examples of institutional decline and failing practices are discussed: the US $, SWIFT payments system, IMF, World Bank, fiscal crisis of US empire and economy (deficits, debt, global dollar recycling, etc), contradictions in US monetary policies (why low interest rates don't stimulate growth and high rates don't dampen inflation), decline of US soft power, rise of the BRICS and global South, and chronic slow growth of US economy since 2008 as well as US political, social and ideological indicators of decline. (Discussion is based on Dr. Rasmus's forthcoming new book, 'Twilight of American Imperialism', the introductory chapter of which will be posted on his blog, http://jackrasmus.com on June 1, 2025) 

Mainstream media isn't addressing the potential negative impacts on GDP and growth from Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' cutting taxes and spending by trillions of dollars. After reviewing in detail the various provisions of the US House of Representatives final bill, likely changed little by the Senate, today's show explains how the short term impacts of the spending cuts on GDP in 2nd half this year  will likely more than offset the longer term effects of the tax cuts. Review of consumer spending, business investment, govt spending, and net exports impacts on GDP due to the tax and spending provisions of the bill.

 Today's show discusses further details on Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' tax proposals. Why target total cost was reduced by Congress from $4.5T to $3.8T. Impacts on wealthies1% and,1% and median income households. Backtracking on 'working class' cuts (tips, overtime, social security income & no tax hikes on carried interest and stock buybacks or corporate tax cut rates, as the tax package begins to look more and more favoring capital incomes and businesses.  Update on Ukraine war negotiations follows. Why Putin won't meet with Trump soon & Russia warns Ukraine if no settlement it will take a 5th province and maybe more. Russia new offensive coming soon. No real negotiations until fall 2025.