Fire the Fed, Raise Tariffs, and Hope for the Best

Posted on July 18, 2025 by MN Gordon

President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent want lower interest rates so they can lower the financing costs of America’s massive debt. The net interest on the debt for fiscal year 2025 is on track to hit $1 trillion.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has resisted daily lambasting from Trump to cut rates. Powell wants to first wait and see how Trump’s tariff policies impact consumer price inflation. Moreover, with unemployment moderately low, the CPI rising at an annual rate of 2.7 percent, and the stock market at all-time highs there is no compelling reason to cut rates.

Nonetheless, Trump’s had enough of Powell’s disobedience. This week Bessent revealed that active steps are being taken to fire Powell before his term runs out next year. He will be replaced with someone who will comply with Trump’s rate cut demands.

Of course, a sensible way to lower interest rates would be to eliminate deficit spending. With a balanced budget, the Treasury would no longer have to issue new debt. It could merely finance the existing debt. Under this scenario the pool of Treasuries would no longer be expanding. Continue reading →

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How Passive Investing Is Inflating a Dangerous Bubble

Posted on July 11, 2025 by MN Gordon

Have you ever heard of Aeva Technologies?

The company is headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, in Mountain View, California. It specializes in developing LiDAR sensors for self-driving cars and robotics.

Aeva uses something called frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) technology. This can measure both distance and velocity simultaneously. It is referred to as 4D LiDAR.

We think 4D LiDAR sounds pretty neat. Speculators do too. Over the last 12 months, and even with a recent selloff, Aeva’s share price is up 1,000 percent.

The only problem is Aeva doesn’t make money. It consumes it. Last year the company reported a net loss of $152.26 million. And while Aeva’s revenue is growing, the company is expected to generate negative earnings per share for the fiscal year 2025.

Yet Avena isn’t the only money-burning machine that speculators are piling into. Since hitting a low on April 7, shares of Carvana, the used car vending machine company, are up over 133 percent. Shares of Avis Budget Group are up over 250 percent since March 13. This is a company that reported a net loss of nearly $2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024. Continue reading →

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By the Dawn’s Early Light

Posted on July 4, 2025 by MN Gordon

[Editor’s Note: This edition of the Economic Prism has been published in years past to recognize the Independence Day holiday. The themes explored within grow more relevant with each passing year. We are republishing it today with several light updates. Enjoy!]

“You’re never going to beat the big guys out there today at their own game. They will see you coming from miles away. You need to think outside the box, disregard the rules and do things unlike anyone has done them before. Let your inner child run free.”

– Steve Rocco

Star-Spangled Day

The days are long and hot in the Northern Hemisphere when real American patriots spit upon their hands and hoist the red, white, and blue. On July 4th, the free and brave, with duty and self-sacrifice, begrudgingly accept federal holiday pay to stand tall upon their own two feet. Rugged individualism and uncompromising independence are essential to their character.

With purpose and intent, they assemble as merry mobs along the shoreline to celebrate American Independence. Freedom lovers – descendants of Andrew Jackson – gather to eat hotdogs and pitch horseshoes while downing tipples of corn syrup and fermented grain. When the sun slips beyond the western horizon and the stars twinkle bright, they hoot and holler at the brilliance of fireworks and sparkling pyrotechnics. Continue reading →

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How to Make a Government Disappear Completely

Posted on June 30, 2025 by MN Gordon

Today we bring you a special treat. A guest article from Joel Bowman, founder and author of the exceptional Notes from the End of the World publication.

We’ve followed Mr. Bowman’s work for nearly 20 years as it has taken him to countless countries across the Americas, Europe, and the Middle and Far East. When he’s not traveling the world with his family, he spends part of the year in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Last year we caught up with Bowman while deep in the mountains of southern Appalachia. There he filled us in on president Javier Milei’s ongoing experiment with libertarianism in Argentina.

From cutting debt and deficits to reducing taxes and inflation by taking a chainsaw to administrative rule, Milei is delivering a prototype other countries, including the United States, can follow to extract themselves from the failings of bankrupt, and corrupt big government. It’s a story that’s both fascinating and important to individuals – like you – who care about freedom and liberty. Continue reading →

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