The Jason Stapleton Program

The Stock market gapped up to nearly 26,000 today and briefly spiked above it before retreating. As of this writing, we're resting near yesterdays close.

It's a bad sign (when the market gaps and retreats like that). It's a signal a retracement is coming.

More and more people are starting to sound warning bells about the euphoria in the market, but nobody wants to miss the upside.

If you need an example of this, you can look at bitcoin. I don't like it as an investment due to the high volatility, but my warnings of an impending disaster have been met with an explosion in the price of the aspiring currency.

If you're a fund manager, you can't afford to be out of this market even if you think the wheels are coming off because if you're early, even by a little, you'll miss earnings and your investors will bail.

It's a big problem on Wallstreet. Nobody wants to be the first one out. Everyone rides the wave until the recession hits and when the dive happens, you just hope you lose a little less than everyone else.

I've always said no one cares more about your money than you do and if you want to really control your financial destiny, you need to understand what is happening with your investments.

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We're also going to discuss the potential Trade war with China as the US seeks to impose new tariffs and quotas on Chinese imports.

There's a lot of different concerns when it comes to tariffs, but I thought I'd spend a little time discussing the issue in detail.

Jason

Sponsors for today:
Framebridge.com (Promo code: Stapleton)
Stamps.com (Promo Code: Stapleton)
BlueApron.com/stapleton

Register to attend the San Diego Libertarian Party Convention next week where I'll be keynoting. https://sdlp.org/convention

OUTRAGE! OUTRAGE!

Lots of people screaming about the president's comments over immigrants from "shithole" countries.

Truth is this entire debate is about using young as political pawns in a game to get more money and more "stuff".

Frankly, I don't have any respect for someone who would do that or the group of men providing cover for the president as he does it.

This is my first show from the new studio in LA, and I'd love to tell you it was a barn burner but there were a lot of moving pieces. All I can say is, the show is going to ROCK this year.

Finally, before I let you go I wanted to let you know that I will be the keynote speaker at the San Diego Libertarian Party Convention on January 27th. I'm going to put together a meetup for anyone who wants to attend.

Here are the details:
https://sdlp.org/convention

Until Tomorrow,

Jason

This is the last week to get a discount on my new Podcast Domination Course.

Sign up here: http://www.jasonstapleton.com/podcasting

Jason

We've talked about this before on the show, but it's been so long I thought it would be a good idea to revisit it today.

The government wants power and to have power they need control. They use central banks to control your money and if they get their way they will use those banks to prevent you from ever having the freedom to use that money without their knowledge.

A lot of people dismissed this as conspiracy theory, but like many of the conspiracies we've outlined on the show, this one isn't a theory at all. It's a fact.

But what would a cashless society mean to you, your money and your life? Would it really be all that bad? Tune in today to find out.

Jason

P.S. This is the last week to get a 50% discount on my New Podcast Domination Course. You can sign up here: http://www.jasonstapleton.com/podcasting

My new Podcasting Course is open for early enrollment! Sign up here: http://www.jasonstapleton.com/podcasting

Even Fox News is jumping on the net neutrality fear mongering. In an article from their website they claim "On Thursday, the FCC repealed Obama-era net neutrality rules, junking the long-time principle that all web traffic must be treated equally."

What do they mean "long-term principle"? The current regulation has only been in effect since 2015! And what about the claim that all web traffic must be treated equally? Why? Why can't I buy faster speeds if I want to? Why can't I save money if I don't want or need faster speeds?

And let us not forget the underlying truth about net neutrality. The regulation attempted to fix a problem that didn't exist. It was an excuse for the government to finally get it hands on one of the last "free" markets on earth. And the sad thing is, most people championed the move.

Now that it's been repealed what changes can you expect? None, absolutely nothing will change. There wasn't a problem before, and there won't be one now. What you may see are new options in internet speeds based on the needs of the consumer but you aren't going to be throttled or blocked by your ISP from seeing specific content.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Jason

Deutsche Bank just released a new report showing 40% of bitcoin trading is Japanese yen-dominated.

That means nearly half of all bitcoin volume is likely coming from heavily leveraged FX trading accounts owned by financially illiterate Japanese traders looking for easy money.

That's important since heavily leveraged trading can be both a benefit and a curse. You can make a fortune in minutes, but you can also lose everything just as quickly.

I'll run you through the report and caution all of you again of the real danger in the bitcoin market.

Jason

If you listen to Donald Trump talk about the tax plan you'd think they were curing cancer on capital hill. The president claims "huge" tax cuts, "bigger than they thought" but the numbers just don't reflect it.

The highest wage earners among us are going to pay more, and your average middle-class American is only saving around 1%. It's a far cry from the president's claims.

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California is considering moving to a mileage tax rather than a gas tax as more drivers move to fuel-efficient cars and electric vehicles.

This is a very libertarian idea that says you should pay for what you use. The same principle could be applied to police and fire, but you won't hear any California politician advocating for that kind of equality.

We'll discuss the idea and how a principle of "user fees" rather than taxes could solve a lot of our problems.

Great show today Thanks for listening! Tell a friend.

Jason

Scott is by far my favorite guest. That's why he's a repeat guest on the show. Today we're going to discuss everything from Isreal to North Korea, and it's going to challenge your views and open your eyes.

I highly suggest you check out Scott's show at https://scotthorton.org/

And make sure you by his new book, available at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Fools-Errand-Time-End-Afghanistan/dp/1548650218

Jason

Yes, I know the guy is an idiot who couldn't even kill himself much less anyone else but what should concern you the most is the WHY behind the increase in homegrown terrorist violence.

It's not just here in America. These types of attacks are happening all over the world with guns, knives, cars, acid, and explosives. People willing to kill themselves and innocent people all in the name of a terror group or their god.

I was watching Fox New's coverage of the attack this morning, and it took them all of about an hour to get Lindsey Graham on the phone to suggest what we need is more war and a tougher stance on ISIS.

Does anyone really believe that anymore? Maybe those of you from Missouri. :-)

The reality is, everything we've done in the middle east has made us less safe not safer. And instead of admitting our plans haven't worked, politicians and pundits wrap themselves in the American flag and claim anyone who doesn't want a policy of scorched earth is anti-American and doesn't support our troops.

We need to wake up and realize our foreign policy is a joke and make some serious changes or we're going to see more and more attacks like this in the future.

Jason

I've got to talk about bitcoin. Over the last year or so I've been warning you that bitcoin was a massive disaster waiting to happen while at the same time promoting the idea of an independent currency that isn't susceptible to government and central bank monetary meddling.

For my honest and frank discussion of the risks involved and my warnings to novice traders and investors to proceed with caution, I have been excoriated by those who seek to promote the false narrative that the climb in bitcoin is natural and deserved.

Even yesterday I received a comment on Twitter from a listener who said the following:

"You say you disagree with inflation, quantitative easing, and fractional reserve banking. Yet you consistently mock Bitcoin. Bitcoin a free market currency outside the manipulation of banks and governments. Stop looking through the prism of a Forex trader. Ask why Bitcoin exist."

First, I don't mock bitcoin. I mock the mindless hordes who fall victim to the greed and euphoria that has plagued traders and investors for hundreds of years. The fact that this commenter can't see it or even respect the fact that I am cautious should give you some insight into just how far gone many apologists are.

Second, this listener isn't even correct. Bitcoin isn't outside the manipulation of banks and governments. It simply isn't susceptible to inflationary risks caused by central bank meddling.

Any industrialized country in the world could crush bitcoin tomorrow by taking any number of authoritarian actions. Think it can't happen? Just wait.

Most likely what they will do is regulate it out of existence. Whatever they decide to do with this new form of exchange one thing is the certain...no government is going to allow for an independent monetary system outside of their control.

Right now bitcoin is safe since it's not being used as a means of exchange as much as it is a savings mechanism.

That will end when the bottom falls out, and bitcoin has its apocalyptic moment.

I'll share some of my reasons behind why I think this will happen to bitcoin on the show today but you need to understand the risks you run when investing in cryptocurrencies. It is not a sure thing. Not by a long shot.

Jason