Harvard Professor Says He's Rallied Nearly Enough GOP Electors To Block Trump

Harvard University law professor Larry Lessig, who has been offering free legal counsel to "faithless electors," says he has rallied nearly enough GOP electors willing to flip to block Trump

Congresswoman Says US Is Arming ISIS, Introduces Bill To Stop It

“If you or I gave money, weapons or support to al-Qaeda or ISIS, we would be thrown in jail,”

Sergei Lavrov, ‘US Protecting Al Qaeda Terrorists in Order to Use Them to Oust Assad in the Future’

by Alex Christoforou, The Duran:
Just to remind the world that he was the “hope and change” president who won a Nobel Peace Prize…with 40 days left in his term Barack Obama decided to authorise the supply of anti aircraft systems to the ‘moderate opposition’ in Syria. Simply put, Obama gave the go ahead to give a bunch of American made weapons to Al Qaeda and ISIS in Syria.
It’s Obama’s swan song farewell to the country he masterfully destroyed, and one last gift to the jihadi terrorists he swore to protect and serve.
Read More

Donald Trump’s Unhappy Fate is to Oversee a Financial Crisis Far Worse Than the Last

by Jim Rickards, DailyReckoning:
An earthquake doesn’t care if you’re progressive or populist. It destroys your house all the same. Likewise a financial crisis is indifferent to a politician’s policy mix.
Systemic crises proceed according to their own dynamic based on the array of agents in a system, and systemic scale.
The tempo of recent crises in 1994, 1998, and 2008 says a crisis is likely soon. A new global financial panic will be one legacy of the Trump administration. It won’t be Trump’s fault, merely his misfortune.
Read More

 

Deutsche Bank Advised... Poorly

If anyone is still confused why Wall Street "experts" (in addition to political polls) have zero credibility, show them this chart.

Fed Hike Sparks Biggest Selloff Since Election

The Strange Reason Why Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Was "Bounced" From The Trump Meeting

Twitter was told it was "bounced" from Wednesday's meeting between tech executives and President-elect Donald Trump in retribution for refusing during the campaign to allow an emoji version of the hashtag #CrookedHillary, according to a Politico report.

Evercore: "More Hawkish Than Expected Fed" Leaves Markets Behind The Curve: 2Y/USD Headed Higher

"Market expectations for rate hikes are still behind the Fed. With German 2yr rates -0.72% and the U.S. 2yr making very little sense at 1.2 if the Fed funds rate is going to be above 2% in 2018, upward pressure on the USD should persist."

Janet Yellen Explains How Dovish Her Rate Hike Is - Fed Press Conference Live Feed

Just as Mario Draghi exlained how his reduced bond buying was not a taper, we suspect the narrative espoused by Janet Yellen in her press conference today will be just how dovish this rate hike is.. and how the rate of normalization will be very gradual. The big question is, how will she respond to question about Trump's fiscal stimulus plan? Of course, this also may be her last flourish as Fed head, so anything goes.

VIX - From Fear Gauge To 'Fear Of Missing Out' Gauge

The last two weeks have seen some 'odd' behavior in the relationship between equity protection (VIX) and equity price markets. While VIX remains a fear indicator, Brean Capital's Peter Tchir notes that now it seems to send the best signals when it is measuring the Fear Of Missing Out.

Goldman's FOMC Postmortem: "Faster Pace Of Hikes Reflects An Economy Close To Full Employment"

With a stable long-run unemployment rate but lower unemployment rate projections in 2017 and 2019, the higher projected pace of hikes next year may reflect the committee’s assessment that the economy is close to full employment.

Stocks Slip As Yellen Says Trump Fiscal Boost "Not Needed", May Not Improve Productivity

Reading between the lines, Janet Yellen squirmed her way through question after question focused on the effect of Trump's potential fiscal stimulus plan without a definitive answer except to say that a "fiscal boost not obviously needed to get back to full employment" warning that "policymakers must take GDP-to-Debt ratio into account", and questioned whether a tax reduction plan would improve the economy or productivity at all.

Fed Revises Reverse Repo Terms: This Is How It Will Implement The Rate Hike

As expected, in addition to raising the Fed Funds rate by 25 bps, the Fed similarly noted that it would revise the mechanics behind its reverse repo operations, raising the rate it charges on reverse repos by 25 bps to 0.5%, the actual means by which the Fed will hike rates for most market participants. Here is the statement that the Fed released regarding the change in overnight reverse repos.

Dollar Spikes But Fed Hike Slams Stocks, Bonds, Gold, Crude Lower

The Dollar Index is spiking and so were US bank stocks, but the rest of the stock market is not so pleased and bonds, crude, and bullion are being sold along with them...and now banks are tumbling too...

Fed Now Expects Three Rate Hikes In 2017, Sees 1.8% Longer-Run GDP Growth

While the 25 bps rate hike was a given, the question on everyone's mind was how many rate hikes does the Fed envision for 2017. The answer, somewhat surprisingly, is three, an increase of one compared to the September meeting.

Fed Hikes Rates For First Time In 2016, Increases Pace Of Rate 'Normalization' Forecast

With 100% chance of at least a 25bps hike (and 10% chance of 50bps), this was perhaps the most 'priced in' of any Fed meeting ever, and this time the Fed did not disappoint, however where the Fed did surprise was its hawkish outlook, as it now expects 3 rate hikes in 2017 instead of 2 as of September.

The Decline & Fall Of Fed Credibility (In 1 Simple Chart)

With The Fed expected to raise interest rates in a few minutes, (and likely jawbone about how the path to normalization is now progressing well), we thought it worth a reminder that FOMC officials’ quarterly interest-rate projections have gone nowhere but down since the last time they were marked up in September 2014.

"Less Room To Run" - What Wall Street Is Paying Attention To In Today's Fed Statement

When it comes to today's Fed decision, there is little doubt: a 25 bps rate hike, the first in 2016 and only the second since the financial crisis, is now assured: all 103 Bloomberg-surveyed economists expect a 25bp increase, and the market agrees pricing in a 100% probability of a rate hike. So what does matter? Here is a selection of sellside opinions, summarizing they key things to watch for in today's FOMC statement.

A Looming Headwind For Small-Cap Stocks

Small-cap stocks are on a historic run; however, futures positioning could become a considerable headwind should the rally start to fade.

GSA Changes Tune, Says Trump Not In Violation, "Democrats Mischaracterized What GSA Said"

President-elect Trump has until inauguration day to divest himself of all ownership interest (not just management) of the Trump International Hotel in Washington D.C. or he will be in violation of his lease, according to the agency in charge of government buildings. The lease, according to a letter from four Democrats, forbids elected officials from being party to the deal or receiving any of its benefits, makng the hotel the most visible potential conflicts of interest for Trump.

JPM's Pre-FOMC Market Update: "Monetary Policy Isn’t Driving The Tape At The Moment"

"The Fed will dominate the Wed wires but monetary policy really isn’t driving the tape at the moment and that won’t change following the final FOMC decision of the year. Far more important is US politics and the specifics around Trump’s tax and regulatory plans."

Jeff Bezos Arrives At Trump Tower

While it will hardly generate as much excitement as Kanye West's unexpected arrival at the Trump Tower, moments ago Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon and the Washington Post, a man many consider Trump's nemesis based on their "colored" past and Bezos' recent statement that Trump is 'eroding our democracy aroun the edges', arrived at Trump's 5th Avenue headquarters.

Former Intelligence Officer on the Bogus Russian Hack

by Simon Black, Sovereign Man:
If there’s one thing that’s certain in the intelligence business, it’s that there’s rarely any certainty.
That’s pretty much the first thing they teach you at spy school.
Back in the early days of my intelligence career, I had one instructor who explained it in a way that I’ll never forget.
“If you present your analysis as if it’s fact, instead of conjecture, the person who’s relying on your intelligence could end up making a bad decision that gets people killed.”
Read More

Sources: SWIFT System Under Constant Cyber Attack

from TRU News:
(LONDON) Cyber attacks targeting the global bank transfer system have succeeded in stealing funds since February’s heist of $81 million from the Bangladesh central bank as hackers have become more sophisticated in their tactics, according to a SWIFT official and a previously undisclosed letter the organization sent to banks worldwide.
The messaging network in a Nov. 2 letter seen by Reuters warned banks of the escalating threat to their systems, according to the SWIFT letter.
The attacks and new hacking tactics underscore the continuing vulnerability of the SWIFT messaging network, which handles trillions of dollars in fund transfers daily.
Read More

Money Printing… And Draconian Government Actions… Will Define 2017

by Andy Hoffman, Miles Franklin:
A week ago, I wrote that 2017 would be the “year of money printing,” mere hours before the ECB “unexpectedly” extended its epically suicidal QE program through the end of next year.  Which, I might add, will cause the ECB’s balance sheet to surpass the Fed’s $4.5 trillion monstrosity by this summer, if the Fed doesn’t launch QE4 first.  To that end, for any silly geese that actually believe the ECB is “tapering” because the monthly monetization rate will be reduced in April from €80 billion to the €60 billion the program started out with, I assure you, the only reason this step is being taken is because the ECB is running out of bonds to buy.  Hence, its decision earlier this year to expand its universe of QE-qualified assets to corporate bonds, in some cases bordering on junk status.
Read More

Silver Manipulation In Detail

by Turd Ferguson, TF Metals Report:
Nick Laird and his service, GoldCharts ‘R’ Us, has long been an ally in the battle against Bank precious metals manipulation. In light if the recent revelations from Deutschebank, Nick has compiled some of the data into charts that you simply MUST take the time to review.
Nick’s tremendous service can be found at his website: http://www.goldchartsrus.com He has a subscription component that helps him to pay the bills but he also churns out free information and charts on a regular basis. It is his latest public post that caught our attention when we found it linked to the GATA website earlier today.
Read More

More Proof Globalists Pushing America Towards Civil War To Complete Their Long-Held Plans Of Overthrowing Country

by Stefan Stanford, All News Pipleine:
Long Ago We Were Warned We’d Leap At The Chance Of Participating In Our Own Destruction
“The bourgeoisie will have to be put to sleep. So we shall begin by launching the most spectacular peace movement on record…The capitalist countries, stupid and decadent, will rejoice to cooperate in their own destruction. We will offer the Christian world unheard of peace overtures, and these nations will leap at the chance to be our friends; they will willingly cooperate in their own destruction. Then, when their guard is down, and they have gone to sleep, we will smash them with our clenched fist.” Dmitri Manuilsky
Back on September 25th of 2009, the American Thinker published a story called “The Perestroika Deception” in which they warned us that while the ‘cold war’ had long been over, Communist plans to undermine American society had proceeded for years virtually undetected and unhindered. Recent events they reported had only aided that process with President Obama’s aggressive drive toward Socialism fitting neatly into decades of Communist strategy. As Susan Duclos reported on ANP back on November 27th, 45 goals had been set for America that had actually been entered into Congressional Record all the way back on January 10th of 1963.
Read More

House Passes Bill to”Microchip Citizens with Mental Disabilities”… And Then Those Who Speak Out

by Whitney Webb, via SHTF Plan:
Though the bill only targets those with conditions such as Alzheimers and autism, critics say the bill’s passage will open a “pandora’s box” of invasive government surveillance.
Six years ago, NBC Nightly News boldly predicted that all Americans would be fitted with RFID microchips by the year 2017. Though at the time, NBC’s prediction seemed far-fetched, the House recently passed a bill that would bring a micro-chipped populace closer to reality before year’s end. Last Thursday, the House passed HR 4919, also known as Kevin and Avonte’s Law, which would allow the US attorney general to award grants to law enforcement for the creation and operation of “locative tracking technology programs.”
Read More

It’s Beginning to Smell a Lot Like Totalitarianism, and I Don’t Mean Russia

by F. William Engdahl, New Eastern Outlook:
If we smell precisely the stench of the totality of steps taken in NATO countries in recent months, especially in the United States and the European Union, we can smell the stench of totalitarian rule or some would call it, fascism, being quietly imposed on our basic human freedoms. Some recent examples give pause for reflection as to where we are allowing our world to drift.
Let’s begin with a most ominous, bizarre, Jesuitical interview that the Roman Catholic Pope Francis gave to a Belgian paper December 7, comparing what he calls defamatory news to what he called the “sickness of coprophagia.” He stated:
QUESTION – A final question, Holy Father, regarding the media: a consideration regarding the means of communication…
Read More

You Decide...

The 3 Stage Plot to Assassinate Trump: Thirty Three Days to Armageddon

by Dave Hodges, The Common Sense Show:
I have delayed writing this article for the past four days. It is not that I don’t believe in the analysis that I am going to offer in this article, I wholeheartedly do. My hesitation stems from the fact that if the globalists are successful in pulling off the following plot, America is headed for the darkest days in her history. This will mark the end of America and for most us, our lives will be turned upside down.
What am I talking about? I am referring to a progressive three-part plan that will culminate in the failure for Trump to take office and it will mark the end of the populist movement designed to “Make America Great Again”.
Read More

Money Under Fire

by Chris Martenson, Peak Prosperity:
oday we welcome a cohort of new readers visiting PeakProsperity.com for the first time. This article is to give them our best grounding in the massive wealth transfer underway.
Our hope is that our longtime readers will likely benefit from a revisitation of the fundamentals, as well.
One serious predicament we face is that the current leaders in the halls of monetary and political power do not appear to understand the dimensions of our situation. The mind-boggling part about it is that the situation is easy to understand.
Our collective predicament is simply this: Nothing can grow forever.
Read More

/