Join Us at the 2023 World Economic Conference in Orlando, Florida!

? Dates: November 17, 18, and 19 ? Location: Orlando, Florida, USA (or tune in from home with our virtual ticket options)

Are you ready to unlock the future of economics and finance? Prepare for an unforgettable World Economic Conference experience in sunny Orlando, Florida! This premier event is your gateway to insights, networking, and valuable resources that will supercharge your understanding of the global economy.

?️ What’s Included for In-Person Attendees:

1. Event Admission: Enjoy reserved seating assigned based on the order of ticket sales, ensuring you have a prime view of every presentation.
2. Presentation Slides: Gain access to the presentation slides from all speakers, allowing you to delve deeper into the topics discussed.
3. Video Recording: Can’t make it to a session? No worries! You’ll receive access to video recordings of all conference presentations, so you can catch up at your convenience.
4. WEC Event App: Connect with the conference on a whole new level. Access presentation slides, bonus reports, recordings, and more via the official WEC Event App.
5. Bonus Conference Materials: Get a package of bonus conference-related materials, including exclusive bonus reports and videos (as provided by Martin Armstrong).
6. Morning Information Sessions: Don’t miss out on important morning information sessions, screened on-site in the meeting room on Saturday and Sunday.
7. Networking Opportunities: Exclusive access to the Event App Networking Feature allows you to connect with fellow attendees, both in-person and virtual, fostering valuable professional relationships.
8. Culinary Delights: Savor delicious breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, prepared to keep you energized throughout the day.
9. Cocktail Reception: Kick off the conference in style at our Friday evening cocktail reception. Meet and mingle with fellow attendees while enjoying refreshing drinks.
10. Swag Bag: As a token of our appreciation, each in-person attendee will receive a swag bag filled with goodies, including an Armstrong Economics notebook, pen, and an event collector’s mug!

Unable to travel? We also have two different ticket options for those wishing to attend virtually! 

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a global gathering of economic and financial minds. Secure your spot at the World Economic Conference in Orlando, Florida, and gain the knowledge, connections, and resources you need to thrive in the world of finance and economics.

Space is limited, so act now and reserve your seat! Visit our Events page to register and join us in sunny Orlando this November.

Now available at all major retailers!

The eBook will be available shortly.

The second edition of “The Plot to Seize Russia – The Untold History” is now available for purchase in paperback and hardcover on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The ebook will be available shortly.

Book description:

“Take care of Russia,” Boris Yeltsin said as he departed his presidency in August 1999. These words were directed at current Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Yeltsin specifically picked Putin as his predecessor to prevent the takeover of Russia.

So, who was Yeltsin warning against? Newly declassified documents from the Clinton Administration prove that there was a plot to rig the Russian election of 2000. These never-before-seen documents confirm numerous attempts to implement pro-Western policies using the Russian oligarchy headed by Boris Berezovsky.

On the other side were the communists who desired a return to the glory days of the Soviet Union. As one of the largest international hedge fund managers, author Martin Armstrong found himself in the middle of perhaps the greatest espionage, or attempt at a regime change for Russia, in modern history.

The Plot to Seize Russia pulls back the curtain to expose the most extraordinary attempt to seize power in modern history, but with the pen rather than armies. These declassified documents reveal a plot that has altered our thinking about the relations between the United States and Russia. The thirst for power comes seething through every line of these papers that alter our perception of reality, change the course of history, and now threaten us with World War III.

Australians could face up to 15 years imprisonment for comments deemed offensive by the government. The Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill introduced this month establishes federal offenses for “publicly promoting or inciting hatred.” Speech, writing, or “other forms of public gestures” will be monitored and controlled.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the prop “I encourage you to read the Old Testament and see what’s there and see if you outlaw that, what would occur,” he said. “I encourage you to read the Old Testament and see what’s there and see if you outlaw that, what would occur,” he said. “So we need to be careful — we consulted with faith groups, not just with the Jewish community. We want to make sure there’s the broadest possible support for this legislation but we also want to make sure that there isn’t unintended consequences of the legislation.”

“Unintended consequences” come down to losing voters, but for citizens, their freedom is at risk at every turn. The Old Testament example is quite interesting as that would chalk up Judaism and Christianity to “hate speech” for questioning the LGBTQ community.

The law will also further prevent the public from accessing firearms. Intelligence agencies will have the ability to reconsider gun licenses. “The terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds but guns in their hands. This law will deal with both, and we need to deal with both,” the prime minister said.

Courts will look at three items to identify criminal hate speech: public incitement, superiority claims, and serious vilification. The Reasonable Person Test is the official standard courts use, which broadly allows anything to be taken out of context. In fact, Australian legislators believe that NO VICTIM IS REQUIRED! Prosecutors do not need to prove that anyone was harmed or felt intimidated. Context will be considered over intent. The government will now have full range to claim that any “reasonable person” of a certain group would feel intimidated or harassed by direct or indirect comments.

“Let me be clear – once these laws are passed, they will be the toughest hate laws Australia has ever seen,” Michelle Rowland, Attorney General, said. “They will specifically target those who seek to spread hatred and disrupt social cohesion in our community. And it will send a clear message that this conduct will not be tolerated.”

The government has full control over speech. Religious leaders, especially Christians who are unprotected, are especially vulnerable to this new law. They may quote religious scripture only for teaching or discussion, but any additional commentary or sermons could result in federal prosecution.

The Minister for Home Affairs can cancel or refuse visas to anyone deemed a “risk of harm” for promoting hate speech. Social media platforms will be scanned and monitored by the government. Anyone involved in a “hate group” will face 15 years imprisonment, and anything deemed “offensive to a reasonable person” will be considered a hate group. Will Australia ban religion next? Will political opponents be considered “hate groups?” Can people freely speak out against open borders or other policies that they disagree with?

If you say or type anything deemed offensive, the government will charge you with “racial vilification” and throw you in prison for five years. Australia showed the extent of its authoritarian brutality during the COVID crisis when it prohibited citizens and journalists alike from questioning the narrative. The government is providing itself with legal grounds to round up the disobedient who will serve as an example to others. Self-censor, obey, comply—the path toward the new world order will be treacherous.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for December 2025 has been released, and although it may appear uneventful on the surface, it confirms the broader trend. Headline CPI rose 0.3% last month and 2.7% year-over-year, matching November’s pace and forecasts. Core inflation, excluding food and energy, rose 2.6% on an annual basis. The reality is that the Federal Reserve’s 2% target has not been attainable.

Price pressures have remained persistent since 2020. The basic necessities for survival continually increase. Shelter accounts for over one-third of CPI and is up 3.2% on the yearly and 0.4% monthly. Food prices are up 0.7% monthly and 2.6% annually, with energy coming in at 0.3% and 2.3% respectively.

Every time inflation rises, the same two culprits are dragged out by the press and politicians: tariffs and the Federal Reserve. Prices rise, and immediately we are told tariffs are “taxes on consumers” or that the Fed “printed too much money.” Both explanations are simplistic, politically convenient, and fundamentally wrong.

Tariffs have not caused food and shelter to continually rise. Inflation is born on the fiscal side of government, not the monetary side. This is the critical distinction that most economists either do not understand or deliberately ignore.

The Federal Reserve does not create inflation. It creates debt instruments. When the Fed expands its balance sheet, it is not dropping money out of a helicopter into the hands of the public. The Fed is merely swapping one asset for another. Inflation emerges when the government, the largest borrower, spends beyond its productive capacity.

Printing money without spending it does nothing. Borrowing money without spending it does nothing. Inflation occurs only when government deficits are monetized through fiscal policy, where money is injected into the economy to cover political promises, wars, social programs, and bailouts. This is why inflation exploded after 2020 when governments worldwide unleashed trillions in direct spending while halting productive output to zero.

The Federal Reserve reacts to inflation, but it does not create it. Trump is wrong for demonizing Powell and attempting to pin criminal charges on him. Removing the Fed chairman will not somehow tame inflation or reduce it by a single basis point. If anything, arresting the head of the central bank would only further erode confidence. The FOMC could drop rates into the negatives but it would not erase the trillions in deficits or offset reckless spending.

? BREAKING — In Iran, massive crowds of anti-Islamist-regime, pro-@PahlaviReza protesters are taking to the streets in Tehran’s Haft-Hoz Square, chanting “Death to The Dictator,” directly targeting Khamenei and his terrorist regime. Share these videos so the world can see. pic.twitter.com/w8zcyOUu6t

— Shayan X (@ShayanX0) January 4, 2026

An estimated 12,000 people in Iran have been killed in a severe crackdown on nationwide protests, accompanied by a near-total communications blackout designed not only to suppress dissent but to conceal the truth of what is happening on the ground.

Economic exhaustion and a collapse of public trust have converged with political stagnation and foreign policy missteps to create a pressure cooker within the Islamic Republic. Analysts have noted that Iran’s 2026 may represent one of the hardest years the regime has faced, where internal pressures intersect with external constraints such as sanctions, isolation, and military attrition will cause the republic to lose control.

Eliminating citizens’ ability to communicate is the first course of action for a crumbling government. The regime shut down the internet and blocked all communication channels to prevent the people from communicating, but the public refuses to be silenced.

The value of the Iranian rial collapsed to historic lows, reaching 1.45 million rials per USD as of late December 2025. The currency has lost 40% of its value since the most recent clash with Israel. Inflation in Iran surged to 42.2%, with the public unable to purchase food or necessities. The regime attempted to introduce a “new rial” where one equals 100 old rials, but it simply does not matter as the people have lost all confidence in government. The currency is worthless in their eyes. President Pezeshkian attempted to offer citizens the equivalent of $7 USD per month, but they waited too long to calm the masses with cash. The people now demand a complete regime change. Longstanding mismanagement, chronic deficits, and archaic behavior caused the nation to dwindle into financial ruin. No one is benefiting from the current leadership, and the people have nothing left to lose.

The USA is seizing the opportunity. President Donald Trump took to social media to urge Iranians to “KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS,” promising that “HELP IS ON ITS WAY.” Neocon Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, warned that the regime could survive the protests. The computer model accurately noted that a new conflict would be underway around the second week of January. What is happening in Iran right now is not a spontaneous uprising. It is a late-stage confidence failure.

European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius believes a unified European army should replace American troops amid geopolitical tensions. “How will we replace the 100,000-strong American regular military forces that form the backbone of military power in Europe?” he asked, later answering his own question by proposing the creation of a permanent continent-wide joint armed force.

Kubilius believes there must be a European Security Council, a centralized control hub. “The European Security Council could consist of key permanent members, as well as several members on a rotational basis—around 10 to 12 in total—whose task would be to discuss the most important defense issues,” he emphasized, adding that the United Kingdom may be barred from entering due to Brexit.

The idea that the European Union now seriously considers replacing American troops with a European army is the culmination of decades of shifting global power, economic cycles, and the EU’s structural failure to sustain its own sovereignty. NATO became permanent precisely because European nations could not muster the political will and economic unity to defend themselves independently. It is easy to talk about replacing 100,000 U.S. troops with a European force when Europe has yet to solve its own sovereign debt problems and cannot even harmonize a defense budget.

“Would the United States be militarily stronger if they would have 50 armies on the States level instead of a single federal army, 50 state defence policies and defence budgets on the states level, instead of a single federal defence policy and budget? Kubilius questioned. The United States is a unified nation (for now); the European Union model expects each member to abandon its national identity, which is simply not possible.

Defense policy would require a unanimous agreement among all member states. Yet each member state faces distinct security threats shaped by trade and geography. Spain will not have the same concerns as Poland, for example, as you cannot broadly paint Europe with one brush. It has become increasingly apparent that each policy issued from Brussels benefits some members while disadvantaging others. Trade, war, and migration — every nation faces unique challenges that cannot be solved by broad solutions. Each nation can only survive if it maintains its structural and economic integrity, which is why I have warned that the very design of the euro was flawed from the beginning. It is extremely unlikely that 27 independent nations could continually agree on ever-changing policies in the event of war. A centralized authority would need to assume control of the proposed army, make decisions unilaterally, and trust that soldiers would collectively follow orders.

The European Union coerces members into prioritizing European interests. The union was destined to fail, and these overhauls will only spur the cycle in motion—Europe is in the process of separating.

The proposed billionaire tax has caussed $1 trillion in potential tax revenue to flee California. The billionaire tax would require California residents worth over $1 billion to pay a one-time 5% fee on all assets, including unrealized gains.

Google co-founder Larry Page fled the state and took his $276 billion net worth with him. Page moved his family office, Koop LLC, from California to Delaware and began purchasing property in Florida at the end of 2025. Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, worth around $245 billion, sold his home in San Francisco in favor of Hawaii. Venture capitalist Peter Thiel cut ties with California, taking his $26 billion and counting, opting to relocate in Miami. Craft Ventures co-founder David Sacks fled California and opened an office in Austin, Texas. Sacks wrote on social media that “Miami will replace NYC as the finance capital and Austin will replace SF (San Francisco) as the tech capital.”

Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya believes California has lost $1 trillion in billionaire wealth because 50% of billionaire-driven potential tax revenue has left the state. Even if the bill does not pass, the fact that it was proposed and highly considered has unsettled capital and smart money will not remain where it is not welcome.

California heavily relies on top-earners to cover budget deficits. Last January, the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) found that California is facing “double-digit operating deficits in the years to come” as a result of reckless government spending. For the 2025-26 period, the LOA believes the state may have a balanced budget, but calls Newsom’s spending and policies highly unpredictable.

GOVERNMENT SPENDING is to blame for the budget failures. Every analysis says the same thing. The LAO suggests: “Legislature would need to address in the coming years, for example, by reducing spending, increasing taxes, shifting costs, or using more reserves. The magnitude of these deficits also indicates that, without other changes to spending or revenues, the state does not have capacity for new commitments.”

California was banking on billionaires to cover 90% of the state’s health care costs. The 2025-26 budget allocated $188.1 billion in total ($42.1 billion General Fund) to Medi-Cal, representing a steep $4.5 billion General Fund increase from the previous year. Medi-Cal is expected to expand to $222.4 billion in FY2026-27. Administration costs alone account for nearly 17% of health spending, with costs increasing by 23% in 2023 alone. The state was expecting the billionaires’ tax to cover $22.5 billion in annual healthcare program costs. The funds have left the state and will not return.

The state was also planning to redirect $2.5 billion from billionaires’ annual contributions to food and education assistance programs. Governments will never understand that they cannot rob Peter to pay Paul without repercussions. Again, the proposal alone was enough to uproot capital, businesses, jobs, development, and innovation.

Russia is slinking back into its old Soviet Union methods of spying on citizens. Beginning on January 1, 2026, internet providers in Russia are now required to store all text, audio, and video messages for three years. The Center for Countering Disinformation has access to every Russian’s digital footprint.

Per usual, authorities claim the measure is to protect against fraud. The true motive is control, instant punishment, and the notion that citizens will begin to self-censor their private correspondence to avoid criticizing the Kremlin.

The Roskomnadzor (the federal communications regulator) has the authority to disconnect the Russian internet segment (Runet) from external sources at whim. Regulators may block or permanently ban individual websites or services if they believe they are a threat to national security. Telecom operators must issue commands and control network traffic in accordance with the Roskomnadzor. The Russian internet will be completely isolated from the global network.

Fines and penalties have been inconsequential despite increasing severity. As of September 1, 2025, Russians face a 5,000 ruble fine for “intentionally searching extremist materials.” This was significant as it was the first time Russia punished citizens for viewing prohibited online content.

Over one million websites have been analyzed for pretrial blocking by Roskomnadzor and the Prosecutor General’s Office. Over 150 media organizations are currently blocked in Russia. The government has repeatedly shut down the internet on a regional basis throughout the Ukraine war, with authorities claiming the blackouts are needed to support drone warfare.

Social media channels such as Twitter/X, Reddit, META/Facebook, LinkedIn, SnapChat, and Discord are inaccessible. YouTube and TikTok may be used on a limited basis. Russians are forbidden to view BBC News, Deutsche Welle, Le Monde, Der Spiegel, and other news outlets. VPNs are illegal, although widely used, and Russia ranked #1 in the top internet outages in 2025.

Russia ranked first worldwide in total internet disruptions in 2025, according to Top10VPN’s Cost of Internet Shutdowns report. Analysts recorded 37,166 hours of outages, citing their scale and technical complexity. pic.twitter.com/amRIN2yAke

— SOTA English (@sotavisioneng) January 12, 2026

Russians all know that Big Brother is monitoring them online and tapping their phones. People in former communist nations do not trust the government. They’ve been taught throughout the generations to keep a guard up. Unlike those in the West, the Russians and Chinese understand that the mainstream media is merely a propaganda tool. The information displayed on your TV screen or the front page of the newspaper has been pre-approved by the government; otherwise, it would not be permitted to air. I can proudly say that this website is one of them, and we are permitted to operate in both Russia and China.

The Kremlin and every other government authority has unlimited access to text messages and online searches. You can delete your texts and clear your search history, but government can still see your complete digital footprint. Governments sued internet and phone providers years ago to ensure they had full backdoor access to every outlet. Social media outlets were compromised, and those who failed to comply like TikTok were either banned or sold out. Digital privacy is not a protected right. Modern civilization depends on the internet for communication and information, making it a prime target for government surveillance. We will see governments continually restrict internet access in the years ahead as each nation aims to create a digital firewall to protect its citizens from sharing information, or worse, collaborating against the regimes controlling them.

President Trump’s announcement that he wants to push the U.S. defense budget to $1.5 trillion in 2027 is being framed as a necessary response to “very troubled and dangerous times” and a way to build what he calls a “Dream Military.” He claims that tariff revenues generated by his trade policies can help fund the increase and even allow for debt reduction while maintaining economic growth. There is a reason that Washington wants to increase its budget drastically, and the timing aligns perfectly with our computer model.

The proposal represents a roughly 50% increase from the $901 billion defense budget approved for 2026. The massive increase in funding represents a country preparing for a major geopolitical event. America stands alone. It can no longer trust the neocons in NATO, besides, America was the one primarily funding the organization. All of America’s allies are on the fence in terms of continued support, with the majority showing intense disapproval for recent military ventures.

Europe’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war cannot be ignored. Protests have erupted in France and Germany to declare that the people do not wish to die for Ukraine, but they have no say. The EU is run by neocons who are eagerly awaiting their turn to enter the conflict directly. China, the Middle East, South America, and Europe—conflicts are emerging in every corner of the globe, and unsurprisingly, America has been at the forefront.

An additional $500 million ensures the United States retains its reputation for having the most advanced military in the world, one would hope, but China has been rapidly advancing its military capabilities in preparation for a grand-scale conflict. Russia has been testing nuclear missiles, some powerful enough to create toxic radioactive tsunami waves that can wipe cities off the map.

We are approaching a critical turning point in the Economic Confidence Model. Confidence will continue to decline as war nears, and capital will continue to seek refuge in private assets. When confidence declines, politicians turn to external enemies to justify internal failures. War becomes a tool to distract from fiscal mismanagement and to consolidate power. The 2026 panic cycle aligns with a historic pattern in which sovereign debt crises and geopolitical conflict converge. This is not the beginning of war; it is the escalation phase.

COMMENT:

We had a similar referendum past November initiated by the young extreme leftists for a 50% (!) inheritance tax for wealthy above $50m – despite the fact that we pay already a wealth tax every year!

Well Swiss people realised that the billionaires have feets and can walk away similar to what you write in the California case:

Some 84.1% of Swiss voters said no to the civic duty proposal, while 78.3% rejected the inheritance tax initiative.

REPLY:

Switzerland became wealthy precisely because it respected property rights, capital mobility, and legal stability. The moment you threaten those pillars, the entire foundation collapses. The nation caved to the European Union in 2015 and abolished banking secrecy, the primary reason that people chose to keep capital in Switzerland. Switzerland abandoned its neutrality stance on war for the European Union, but internally, politicians are looking to shake down citizens for money as their own policies have caused capital to flee.

In November, radical leftist groups pushed not one but two initiatives that reflected the same ideological fantasy now sweeping California, New York, and Brussels. One proposal demanded a 50% inheritance tax on fortunes above CHF 50 million, while Switzerland already imposes a wealth tax every single year. The other initiative framed redistribution as a so-called “civic duty,” attempting to dress up confiscation as morality. More than 84% of Swiss voters rejected the civic duty proposal, and over 78% rejected the inheritance tax.

Wealth taxes merely shrink the tax base, reduce reinvestment, and push entrepreneurs offshore. Inheritance taxes punish saving or building something intended to last beyond a lifetime. Switzerland currently has a decentralized inheritance tax system that attracts the wealthy. The nation has already lost its destination for capital by handing over all banking information to centralized governments. Adolf Hitler deemed it illegal for Germans to store money outside the country, leading the way to Swiss banking. Decades later, centralized governments deem it illegal to store money anywhere that they cannot track and tax it. Christine Lagarde began the SWIFT confiscation when she was the head of the IMF. Lagarde threatened all tax havens to turn over accounts or be removed from SWIFT.  Not even Hitler violated the sovereignty of Switzerland where those in government today are far more ruthless and threaten other nations with ultimatums.

Why would the government be entitled to half of someone’s fortune? The government collects its share when you earn your wealth. They tax the assets you hold, tax capital once realized, levy your property annually, and then, even in death, the government demands more. Family businesses cannot operate long-term under these conditions, and to the government’s advantage, families cannot grow in power. Inheritance taxes are not designed to fund the government; rather, they are intended to prevent intergenerational wealth transfer and keep citizens dependent on the state.

Switzerland has begun phasing in the global minimum tax rate of 15% for multinational enterprises with revenues exceeding 750 million euros. A vote will be held this year to determine whether married couples should be taxed independently. VAT tax will be expanded to online digital services such as streaming platforms. Governments are assessing every possible angle to steal from citizens. The world will witness higher tax rates and excessive authoritarian controls on capital as we move toward the end of the current cycle.