Are bitcoin and crypto, followed by semiconductors and AI, proving Mark Twain right, that manias don’t repeat but they rhyme?
Recent Items
Friday, June 5, 2026
Who Needs Bitcoin & Cryptos (-50%) Amid the Semiconductor & Miracle IPO Mania?
Topics: Currencies, Dubious statistics, Economic fundamentals, Free markets and their discontents, Guest Post, Investment outlook, Regulations and regulators, Ridiculously obvious scams, Technology and innovation
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 4 Comments »
Links 6/5/2026
Topics: Links
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:57 am | 41 Comments »
Iran War: Hezbollah Rejects Israel-Favoring Ceasefire, Casting More Doubt on “Deal”: Iran Agrees to Inspection of Bushehr Plant but No Enriched Uranium Concessions; Trump Warned of Oil Cliff as Private Debt Fund Wobbles Rise
Today’s Iran war news: The US-Iran impasse is undeniable to everyone ex Team Trump as Israel balks and the oil cliff comes ever closer.
Topics: Commodities, Doomsday scenarios, Economic fundamentals, Energy markets, Investment management, Investment outlook, Media watch, Middle East, Politics, Private equity
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:54 am | 76 Comments »
“Se Vende Todo”: Javier Milei Seeks to Allow UNLIMITED Sale of Argentine Land to Foreign Investors
This may partly explain Peter Thiel’s recent decision to temporarily relocate to Argentina.
Topics: Guest Post
Posted by Nick Corbishley at 6:45 am | 3 Comments »
RFK Jr. Seeks Access to Americans’ Individually Identifiable Medical Records for Clues, Using a Bogus Autism and Vaccines Pretext
RFK Jr. wants to go fishing in medical records to substantiate debunked theories about autism and vaccines. What could go wrong?
Topics: Dubious statistics, Guest Post, Health care, Politics, Regulations and regulators, Science and the scientific method
Posted by Yves Smith at 1:56 am | 8 Comments »
Is Artificial Intelligence Social Evolution and Progress?
AI benefits are predicated on social progress. However, while societies constantly change, it is not always for the better
Topics: Coffee Break, Politics, Social policy, Social values
Posted by Curro Jimenez at 2:49 pm | 19 Comments »
Fox News Defines Most Americans as Anti-American
Fox News brands the majority of Americans as official enemies, echoing extra-legal ““domestic terrorism organizations” in Trump’s NSPM-7.
Topics: Economic fundamentals, Energy markets, Environment, Free markets and their discontents, Global warming, Guest Post, Income disparity, Legal, Media watch, Politics, Social policy, Social values, Technology and innovation
Posted by Yves Smith at 10:19 am | 34 Comments »
Links 6/4/2026
Topics: Links
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:56 am | 79 Comments »
Iran War: US Attempts Project Freedom 2.0 as Israel Continues Attacks in Lebanon Despite Alleged Ceasefire; Iran Economy Not Harmed by Sanctions, Performed on a Par to Saudis; Rice Prices Jump in Asia
Today’s Iran war update: Iran punched back harder than the US expected in the latest exchange, but Israel still refuses to stop war-making.
Topics: Commodities, Doomsday scenarios, Economic fundamentals, Energy markets, Media watch, Middle East, Politics
Posted by Yves Smith at 5:45 am | 77 Comments »
Satyajit Das: An Emerging Market Crisis in Oil-Poor Asia?
It is no secret that most countries in Asia will be hard by the energy crunch. What can they do?
Topics: China, Currencies, Doomsday scenarios, Economic fundamentals, Energy markets, Globalization, Guest Post, Macroeconomic policy, Politics
Posted by Yves Smith at 4:49 am | 2 Comments »
Europe Scrambles to Contain the Energy Shock
Europe expects annual energy price increases to hit 11% in May. What happens when the oil cliff fully kicks in?
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Economic fundamentals, Energy markets, Globalization, Guest Post
Posted by Yves Smith at 2:08 am | 44 Comments »
Coffee Break: Centrist Win in California, AIPAC Loss in New Jersey, Platner Under Seige
Centrist Dems likely won in California, Trump lost and Schumer won in Iowa and Dem hacks turn on Graham Platner.
Topics: Coffee Break
Posted by Nat Wilson Turner at 2:00 pm | 19 Comments »
How Propaganda and False Information Are Undermining Humanitarian Work
How the post-truth era makes it harder for humanitarian organizations to build trust, protect civilians, and save lives.
Topics: Globalization, Guest Post, Politics, Social policy, Social values
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 7 Comments »
Links 6/3/2026
Topics: Links
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:58 am | 36 Comments »
Iran War: Rubio Testimony Raises Questions as to Why Iran Is Bothering With Talks; Intensified Tit-for-Tat Attacks Continue; US Muscles Oman
Today’s Iran war update: The kinetic war is heating up as the US keeps demanding things of Iran that Iran has already rejected.
Topics: Agriculture, Commodities, Doomsday scenarios, Economic fundamentals, Energy markets, Investment outlook, Media watch, Middle East, Politics
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:54 am | 117 Comments »



