Doug Casey

On the July 3 observed July 4 holiday, Matt and Doug compare America’s 1976 Bicentennial mood with today, citing major shifts in demographics, a larger population, widening class divides, the decline of manufacturing, and especially computerization and heavy screen time, alongside reduced patriotism and optimism and more political polarization. They discuss changing race relations and immigration, then pivot to subscriber Q&A about Crisis Investing after Lau Veges’ departure, risks of foreign bank accounts amid potential capital controls, gold-backed “goldbacks,” whether a US government could compel the Sprott Uranium Trust to sell uranium, possible investment opportunities in a collapsing Cuba, views on the death penalty and abortion, where “renaissance men” are most common, why countries splitting can be beneficial, concerns about Javier Milei’s pro-Israel actions and immigration stance, and why they won’t track panelists’ personal trades from their experts roundtables.

International Man: Private equity firms used to be associated with big corporate deals, but now they’re buying up plumbing companies, HVAC businesses, roofers, dental practices, veterinary clinics, car washes, and other small, boring, cash-flowing businesses all over the US. What do you make of this trend? Doug Casey: It’s not a sign of healthy capital allocation. Brokers […]

International Man: What makes uranium attractive as a speculation? Doug Casey: First of all, consider simple physical reality. Uranium is the cleanest, cheapest, and safest form of mass power generation. I understand that most people will be shocked to hear that, so let me explain. It’s the cleanest. Unlike coal—which generates millions of tons of […]

Matt and Doug discuss a proposed Trump “$1 gold coin,” calling it inappropriate for a sitting president and a sign of “end-stage empire,” comparing it to Rome’s shift to leaders’ faces on coinage. They also cover a plan to sell early access to Trump’s Truth Social posts for $100,000/month amid allegations of stock front-running, plus a $500,000-entry private D.C. club tied to Trump’s son as legalized influence peddling. The conversation shifts to escalating U.S.-Iran conflict risks, possible boots-on-the-ground odds, Israel’s role, parallels to Iraq/WMD claims, and the financial strain of missile-heavy warfare. They argue oil and gold should rise, criticize claims about U.S. gold reserves, note European sentiment turning against the U.S., discuss surveillance “Flock” cameras, disappointment over lack of major prosecutions, market confusion, and potential opportunities in undervalued oil and dividend-paying gold stocks.

International Man: The government is now offering “Trump Accounts” for children, with a $1,000 federal contribution for eligible kids born from 2025 through 2028. Why do you think the government wants this money held in an IRA-style structure instead of simply giving families direct ownership and control? Doug Casey: My understanding is that once the money goes […]

Matt and Doug react to headlines including Trump’s threat to revoke ABC/NBC broadcast licenses, arguing the FCC and licensing are fundamentally problematic and that Trump is using state power against perceived enemies. They criticize a proposal to penalize Canada for wildfire smoke and discuss Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Brazil, including Brazil’s Pix payments system, as economically destructive and alienating allies. Doug describes personal fallout from China’s retaliatory tariffs hitting his geoduck clam investment, eliminating dividends and forcing layoffs. They discuss declining U.S. passport standing and the burden of U.S. taxation on citizens abroad, labor-force concerns (105 million not working; most net new jobs since COVID going to foreign-born), DEI hiring effects, and Trump’s SAVE Act provisions (ID, proof of citizenship, no mail-in ballots) and low passage odds. The conversation ends with bearish market views, SpaceX’s post-IPO drop, high margin debt, concerns about AI/data-center overinvestment, Chinese open models, and a preference for underowned resource stocks.

International Man: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently declared that all US gold is “present and accounted for” and said the country’s stockpile is now worth more than $1 trillion at current market prices. What’s your take on this? Doug Casey: How does he know it’s “present and accounted for”? There hasn’t been an audit for many decades. […]

International Man: Across the United States, we are seeing more surveillance infrastructure—Flock license-plate cameras, facial-recognition systems, massive data centers, and proposals for digital ID. Do you see these as separate developments, or as parts of a broader system being built? Doug Casey: It’s a sea change in the way society is structured. And not just in the […]

International Man: The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was created after the 1970s oil shocks to protect the country from severe supply disruptions. Since the war with Iran began earlier this year, Washington has been tapping it again. Is this exactly what the reserve was designed for—or is it being used to suppress oil prices and postpone the […]

International Man: Markets are supposed to reflect economic reality. But when central banks suppress interest rates, governments debase currencies, and major powers manipulate oil prices for political purposes, can any market still be considered honest? Doug Casey: Almost all markets are distorted in some way by government intervention. Interest rates are the price of money itself. They’re […]