Nothing is as ever as it seems. All of us regularly experience total information overload. Facts rush at us from every source imaginable, radio, television, social media, the government, zillions of independent sites and of course the established (mainstream) legacy media. Once upon a time in land not so far away, the MSM would actually follow leads, attempt to get to the bottom of stories by connecting the dots. And they’d do it without a hidden agenda. Not anymore!

Next, gold and silver ended the week higher with gold over $1300 per ounce and silver at $17.41. Probably higher from here, but let's save the champagne for now. 

Airbnb entrepreneurs find a way. Even though the Hotel Industry has put the government on Airbnb's case, where there's a will, there's a way. Many of NYC's Airbnb listings come from Brooklyn's Hipster class. For them free speech is evil, some free markets are good! Go figure. 

And NY's obnoxious senator Chuckie Schumer is after e-Cigs yet again. Perhaps he's in the tobacco industry's pocket. Or maybe he really does care about the children.

What's happening Wednesdays with Andrew Hoffman:

Bitcoin price, nearly an a new all-time high yesterday

Surging Bitcoin “dominance,” as altcoin market weakens

Upcoming B-Gold and SegWit 2X hard forks

More Trump Administration Failures, as Tax Reform joins Obamacare Repeal in the dustbin

Resilient gold price, amidst dollar and stock market pump, and historically weak U.S. Mint sales

Etc.

Veteran newsman Don Mazzella  sited a recent study showing that the U.S. Middle-Class Incomes have reached the highest level ever!

According to the Census Bureau, incomes of middle-class Americans rose last year to the highest level ever recorded. Poverty declined and the scars of the past decade’s Great Recession seemed to finally fade.

Median household income rose at a 3.2 percent clip based on the previous year and the second consecutive year of healthy gains, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday. What do the numbers mean? Is this a direct reflection on President Trump and his cabinet? Where does our economy currently stand?

Lynette Sang joined us for an interesting discussion of central banking and crypto/klepto-currencies. The Fed orchestrated the Crash of 1929. It was basically a wealth redistribution scheme and it worked quite well. Now we're approaching a global economic reset where the coin of the realm will be SDR's (special drawing rights) issued by the IMF. What could go wrong? They've got your back, right? Also, Lynette believes the crypto-currencies could easily be a scheme to get you to give up your paper currency. Lot's more here, so listen carefully.

Darius Norman joined us to discuss the recent massive Equifax data breach and why you need to be proactive. What's 145.5 million credit reports among friends? A disaster in the making. So look out and keep on top of your credit reports and lock them down. Darius tells you how.

Rob Long has done the impossible. BIGLY is Regnery’s fun, new book, edited by Cheers writer Rob Long, that turns the best of Trump’s infamous quotes and tweets into poetic verse! Trust me, in this vicious news cycle, you won’t want to miss this hilarious comedic break. It's funny and like all great humor, it has the seed of truth.

Danielle quotes, '"A buoyant and complacent stock market is worrying Richard H. Thaler, the University of Chicago professor who this week won the Nobel Prize in economics, “We seem to be living in the riskiest moment of our lives, and yet the stock market seems to be napping...'"

We're living through the most complacent market on record. All the bears have given up and gone home, which often happens before a correction. 

Danielle's final word of caution, "The only really bad way to be wrong is to lose a ton of money."

Joe Messina joined us today. Host of The RealSide. California has now become a sanctuary state. Isn't it wonderful? Where did this once great state go wrong? Has common sense fled the state along with Red Voters? Is there any hope that they can find their way again. Probably not in our lifetimes.

Trump’s tax plan could be a big win for retirement savers

Whatever you might think of our current president, you can’t say he doesn’t think big.

The Trump-GOP tax plan just announced has the potential to affect retirement savers in fundamental, long-term ways that could be positive for many Americans. The plan is a long way from reality and is likely to see some changes before becoming law.

For now, here’s the thumbnail version:

• Corporate taxes fall to 20% from the current 35% (and some business deductions end)

• A possible one-time lower rate on repatriated corporate income held abroad, perhaps at 10%

• A 25% rate on “pass-through businesses,” whose owners now pay higher, personal income rates

• Three tax brackets — 12%, 25% and 35% — rather than the current seven

We're in the era of the mega-hacker. Equifax, 145.5 millions records stollen, Yahoo 3 billion accounts compromised, Target, etc., etc. Where will it end. As if natural disasters aren't enough, now we're left to deal with what happens when the internet goes down, like in Puerto Rico. Is it the end of life as they know it?