Freed Assange!

After pleading guilty and being sentenced to time already served, the monumental news is that Julian Assange will return to Oz. June 25, 2024 [WEBSITE]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( Freed Assange! SEAN RING Dear Reader, At the risk of offending the many ex-military and intelligence members who read the Rude, I must say I’m pleased as punch Julian Assange will finally be going home. For those who are curious about my political leanings, I consider myself a right-libertarian. This means I support antiwar sentiments, a hard currency, and laissez-faire economics, while I oppose open borders, globalism, and money printing. Having lived in Singapore for six years, I find the Singapore governance model to my taste, although I have no plans to return there because of the inexhaustible heat. Singapore boasts a small government, minimal excess spending on defense (no military-industrial complex), and the little tax money collected is sent back to the public through education, roads, or subways. But because the United States has completely abandoned minimal government for a Leviathan-like state structure, much to the chagrin of most of the population, secrets abound. To keep those secrets from getting out, the USG co-opted the US mainstream media and many of the world’s newscasts and newspapers. Enter Julian Assange. He simply couldn’t be bought. Assange and Wikileaks released embarrassing stories, and the USG set out to get him. Wikileaks alleged the then-Secretary of State tried to whack him. Credit: [Wikileaks]( This story remains unverified. Who could believe such a thing? But let me take you back in time when reporting such things was considered a civic duty. [URGENT: Regarding Your 2024 Strategic Intelligence Membership Dues!]( Hi, I’m Matt Insley. I’m the Publisher at Paradigm Press. Just moments ago, I just got off the phone with Jim and we agreed: it’s time we start charging more money for access to his newsletter. That’s why we may implement a massive price hike for all subscribers in the coming days. But if you [click here now]( you can lock in your current subscription price at 80% off – and never have to pay the potential new price of $500. Don’t waste any time. [Just click here now to claim this special offer.]( [Click Here To Learn More]( Ben Franklin and The Free Press Benjamin Franklin, a pioneering figure in American journalism, had a profound view of the role and duties of journalism. He believed the primary purpose of the press was to inform the public, serve as a check on government, and promote civic virtue and personal responsibility. Through his own work as a printer and publisher, Franklin utilized the press as a tool for public debate and enlightenment. Franklin held that journalists had a duty to question authority, expose corruption, and foster a well-informed citizenry. He was an advocate for free speech and press freedom, famously emphasizing that freedom of the press shouldn’t be restrained, as it serves as a critical counterbalance to governmental power. Franklin's approach to journalism included a mix of serious commentary on public affairs, practical information, and humor. He understood the power of the press in shaping public opinion and often used it to support civic-minded initiatives and educational projects. In essence, Franklin saw journalism as a civic duty with significant implications for society's health and functioning. Remember those days? Perhaps not. But we’re reminded of a time when it was frowned upon for government to interfere with the press. Likewise, we should feel a little dirtier for the press to act as a public relations consultant for the government. Leave it to Michael Malice to make this point about Assange: Credit: [@Chesschick01]( What Did Assange Do? Let’s remind ourselves why the USG hates Assange and Wikileaks so much. - Collateral Murder Video (2010): This was one of the earliest and most impactful releases by WikiLeaks. The footage from a US Apache helicopter in 2007, showed the killing of several people in Baghdad, including two Reuters journalists. The video raised serious questions about the conduct of US forces in Iraq and the rules of engagement. - Afghan and Iraq War Logs (2010): WikiLeaks released nearly 400,000 military reports from the Iraq War and 90,000 from the Afghan conflict, which detailed operational events, intelligence, and reports on actions that resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians. These logs exposed the scale of the turmoil and civilian casualties in both conflicts, often contradicting official narratives. - US Diplomatic Cables (Cablegate, 2010): Over 250,000 diplomatic cables were published, revealing the inner workings of US diplomacy. The cables included frank assessments of foreign leaders, candid views on international relations, and discussions about US policies abroad. This leak strained the US’s relationships with many countries. - Guantanamo Files (2011): WikiLeaks released files concerning the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, exposing the backgrounds of detainees held there, many of whom had weak connections to terrorist activities, as well as the conditions and legal justifications for their detention. - Spy Files (2011): These files showed how Western technology companies sold equipment and software to authoritarian regimes, which could use them to surveil and repress their populations. - Secret Trade Agreements (2013-2016): WikiLeaks published drafts of chapters from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA), and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), revealing negotiations and terms that were kept secret from the public and heavily criticized for favoring big corporations. These releases have sparked global debates about privacy, surveillance, the public’s right to know, government transparency, and national security. The Suspended Sentence According to [Zero Hedge]( Earlier this year, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he hoped the U.S. could find a way to conclude the case against Assange, and lawmakers there passed a motion calling for Assange to be allowed to return to his native home. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also weighed in, saying that the British courts should not extradite Assange to the U.S. In February, the United Nations special rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, said Assange shouldn’t be extradited to the U.S. to face trial, saying he suffered from “depressive disorder” and was at risk of being placed in solitary confinement. After being imprisoned in London since 2012 (partly at the Ecuadorian Embassy) - mainly to avoid being sent to the US - Assange will be sentenced to time served during a court appearance Wednesday in Saipan, in the US Northern Mariana Islands, avoiding a sentence in an American prison. I hate to be cynical, but Biden surely okayed this deal to bolster his numbers. That’s fine as long as Assange is free. Wrap Up It’s nice to write a feel-good story for the day. Assange is out, and we owe a debt to him. Thanks to him, we know the USG did some underhanded things we’d have never known about otherwise. He’s a hero in the old sense of the word. All the best, Sean Ring Editor, Rude Awakening X (formerly Twitter): [@seaniechaos]( Rate this email Like Dislike Thanks for rating this content! Looks like something went wrong. Please try to rate again. In Case You Missed It… The State of the Markets SEAN RING I thank my lucky Starlink for turning back on so I can write this piece at all. Of course, Telecom Italia installed the fiber optic cable… but on the non-residential side of the street, so the wire doesn’t quite reach my new house. So I opted for Starlink, which was taking more of a siesta than the average Italian shopkeeper. As soon as I complained, it miraculously started working. Could traders' vocal complaints lead to a potential cut by Powell in July? There are a couple of concerning signals out there, but none of the “sell right now” sort. I’ll keep watching out for those. But let’s do a premature and mini asset class report. I want to see what’s going on. Foreign Exchange (The Dollar) My good friend and Paradigm options expert Alan Knuckman thinks the dollar will weaken under a Trump 47 Administration. I agree DJT will do everything to weaken the dollar. I’m just not sure it’ll be enough. Remember, the dollar index is the dollar against other currencies like the euro, sterling, and yen. All of those currencies are a disgrace to the countries (or regions). The dollar will have a tough time falling against intentional European and Japanese currency destruction. As you can see in the chart above, the dollar has recorded higher highs and lower lows since the end of 2023. This indicates the USD rally isn’t over yet. Interest Rates (The US 10-Year) The 10-year yield tells a slightly different story. This chart looks like it’s rolling over. The highs in April 2024 failed to reach the highs of October 2023. The 50-day moving average is declining toward the 200-day moving average. This is positive for stocks, as this is the rate by which bankers discount stocks (plus other risk factors). This chart makes 3.8% look like a feasible next target. Bonds (TLT, LQD) Thanks to the 10-year falling, these charts make complete sense. My friend and Paradigm Income Guru Zach Scheidt has been talking up bonds for a while. After the huge end-of-year rally in 2023, bonds fell off a cliff until May. The last two months have been good, though, and may be poised to get better. I’m still not a huge fan, if only because I think there are other opportunities elsewhere and I don’t think the inflation story is over by a Biden longshot. As for the LQD (liquid corporate bonds ETF), this looks like a great bet. If we break above 109, the next target is a lusty 122 – above there, then it’s an effervescent 132. Perhaps gentlemen should prefer bonds right now… Stocks (SPX, Nasdaq, Russell) Put this chart in front of your grandchild: They’d say, “Buy!” This is a gorgeous chart and a life lesson in why it pays to be optimistic. Bull markets “climb a wall of worry,” and this one just keeps climbing and climbing. Yes, NVDA is an outsized player in the index. Yes, the top 5 stocks in the SPX make up 21% of the index. Who cares? Just don’t own bad stocks. Next target: 6,000. As they say in Asia, “Same, same. But different.” A raging bull at the moment. No reason to sell. I must state, though, the last candle is known as a “gravestone doji” and may indicate a reversal. I’d take it more as a breather, for now. [Elon Musk’s Genius Plan to Save the US Dollar from Collapse?]( Elon is about to flip the switch on [his new money project…]( And it could trigger the biggest change to our financial system since the creation of the federal reserve in 1913. Could this save the US dollar from a complete collapse? [Click here to see the details because]( Elon said he could flip the switch “as early as mid 2024.” [Click Here To Learn More]( As for the Russell: This chart is a mess. I’d prefer it not to break down below 195. But it looks like it’s rolling over. If it does, that may be an earlier indicator to start selling. The Russell usually leads the other equity indexes. Let’s move on to the metals. Metals (Gold, Silver, Copper) How’s the yellow metal doing? Gold is clearly in an uptrend. And gold is, to my mind, clearly consolidating in the 2,300 - 2,425 range. This is healthy in a wild uptrend like we’ve seen. I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t get the next kick-up until another round of ridiculous fiscal stimulus is announced. And that may not be until the real estate developer-in-chief gets back behind the Resolute Desk. Still, we’re looking at 2,500 by the end of the year. As for silver: It’s more volatile lately than gold. Mr. Slammy has hit silver harder than Spanish Conquistadors. And yet, it hovers around $30. We’ll get to $35 eventually, but patience is indeed a virtue. Copper rallied to the moon for a bit, but has since come off the boil. I know The Journal and Bloomberg have printed crazy stories about copper being in demand. Yes, it’s true, but it doesn’t last forever. In fact, the next price target for copper is $2.25. Yikes! Energy (Oil, Natural Gas) With yields being down, this makes sense. Oil starts to rally. If it gets above $88, then look to $97. We’ve had higher lows, but we’ve also had lower highs. This is a triangle pattern without a current resolution. But again, with Ukraine, Palestine, and Taiwan (imminent) going on, and the Suez blocked, how can oil only be trading at $80 a barrel? It’s because the world economy is in the toilet. As for natty gas: Ok, we’re off the lows, but we’re not in the clear. Though natural gas is clean burning, the Greens still hate it. That’s why nuclear is a much better bet. My friend and Paradigm Tech Wizard [Ray Blanco made a stunning call on May 14, 2024, in a nuclear stock](. It’s been up nearly fourfold since then. Wrap Up There you have it. Stocks and bonds still look robust. Metals have cooled into consolidation patterns (gold), bounced off their 50-day moving averages (silver), and got trounced unexpectedly (copper). Oil and natural gas have rallied but are still cheap, depending on your view of the world. But it comes down to rates and the dollar. Will a dollar rally crush stocks and metals eventually? Or will rates bring down the dollar and lead to a YUGE rally? It’s unfolding before our eyes. Let’s be slow to pull the trigger. All the best, Sean Ring Editor, Rude Awakening Twitter: [@seaniechaos]( ☰ ⊗ [ARCHIVE]( [ABOUT]( [Contact Us]( © 2024 Paradigm Press, LLC. 1001 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. By submitting your email address, you consent to Paradigm Press, LLC. delivering daily email issues and advertisements. To end your Rude Awakening e-mail subscription and associated external offers sent from Rude Awakening, feel free to [click here.]( Please note: the mailbox associated with this email address is not monitored, so do not reply to this message. We welcome comments or suggestions at feedback@rudeawakening.info. This address is for feedback only. For questions about your account or to speak with customer service, [contact us here]( or call (844)-731-0984. 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