Today we discuss three major landmines Trump must avoid if he is to be successful. Some are in his control more than others.

Another bank failed, but Trump's policy regarding foreign spending didn't. Trump started deportations of illegal immigrants but it is at the cost of a first class flight. Trump also started a trade war with Colombia over the weekend and possibly one in the Middle East. Meanwhile tipped employees look like they get to work and not pay taxes. Home insurance prices are going through the roof before the LA fire. Canada is now mulling tariffs of its own.

Trump in in office and in the money. How to make billions and get inaugurated in the same weekend coming up next...

Today we bid goodbye to Joe Biden with sprinkles. We look at how companies are reacting to government intrusion, increased petrol terrorism in Europe, and the costs of poor energy policy. We also look at the real estate market starting to price itself not just lower but lots lower, and AI continues to be batshit crazy far too often.

Today we look around at the world in which Don Trump begins his second term and our role in it.

The bond market is on fire. Commercial real estate is not. The UK needs interest rate cuts while Taiwan is struggling with an underseas cable being cut. Germany is dealing with a third year of recession with malinvestment to blame, but maybe there is someone else to blame for their woes...

Today we say good bye to one president and hello again to another.

January 1st marked the day that Russian gas stopped flowing through Ukraine and countries are now without, in January. How long before they discover that their real enemy is the US? The last survivor of the USS Utah passed away this week. Housing prices are starting to fall adding more risk to the system. State and local budgets are running out of money and being forced to lay off workers adding more risk to the system. Finally, in a New York Times op-ed the retired Lt. General Russel Honore calls out the huge conflict of interest with Elon Musk working for our government and getting loans from China. He uses Vivek Ramaswamy's own statements to prove that there is nothing rich people won't do to get an unpaid role in government.

C Thomas waxes about vicuna muffs, The Flintstones, and whether Jerome Powell had a Merry Christmas...he did not...spoiler alert...

Today we see companies running out of money and calling it quits. More zombie companies than ever exist in the Russell 2000, and Donald Trump wants to be a Native American giver with regards to Panama and their canal. Meanwhile turmoil continues to bubble as Russia had a ship sink near the Strait of Gibraltar, an Azerbaijani airline got shot down, and another cable was cut in the Baltic sea. Finally, we get confirmation of sorts of why the US wanted Russian natural gas out of Europe. So they could move right in. Well played Washington, well played.