America’s Just 12.3% of the Problem

Last week, the total debt in the U.S. topped $37 trillion.

Of course, that debt doesn’t include what’s owed on transfer programs – think Social Security and Medicare. The real numbers without the accounting gimmickry are far worse.

But the U.S. isn’t alone. Surging debt levels are a global issue. Total world debt has topped $300 trillion:

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Total debt has been soaring at an unsustainable rate for nearly 30 years.

That makes America’s debt look piddling by comparison – a mere 12.3% of the total. It’s a global crisis waiting to happen.

But that’s not the issue as the Senate debates the “big, beautiful bill” ahead of the 4th of July holiday weekend.

After a spike during the pandemic, U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio is still over 120% – and climbing again.

Historically, no country that crossed the 130% debt-to-GDP ratio has been able to survive long enough to “grow its way out” of a debt crisis.

Therein lies the tension. The Trump Reset formula requires an extension of his first-term tax cuts, low and fair tariffs… and low interest rates.

It’s a tall order. And why he’s pushing to get economic growth on the table before the mid-term elections in November 2026. (To understand it all, we’ve prepared this research: Trump’s Great Reset).

~ Addison

The Next 9/11 Won’t Come from a Plane…

America is facing its greatest war threat in more than 80-years. But the next 9/11 won’t come from a plane. It’ll come from something that could wipe the entire continental U.S off the map. That’s why President Trump is secretly fast-tracking this top-secret $2.5 trillion defense initiative. It will make America untouchable. And could create generational wealth for early investors. Click here now to find out how.

P.S.: High debt is a feature of “fiat” money systems. Money printing leads to higher inflation and more money printing. Which, in turn, creates more inflation.

You get the idea. It’s a doom loop.

As you know, that’s why we like gold. Gold holds its intrinsic value in the face of inflation. You can read our report on gold’s historic rise here.

That said, with the stock market back to all-time highs and many headline fears disappearing, gold is likely to take a breather this summer… and give you a chance to buy in at a discount. Keep an eye out.

As always, your reader feedback is welcome: feedback@greyswanfraternity.com (We read all emails. Thanks in advance for your contribution.)

Last week, the total debt in the U.S. topped $37 trillion.

Of course, that debt doesn’t include what’s owed on transfer programs – think Social Security and Medicare. The real numbers without the accounting gimmickry are far worse.

But the U.S. isn’t alone. Surging debt levels are a global issue. Total world debt has topped $300 trillion:

Turn Your Images On

Total debt has been soaring at an unsustainable rate for nearly 30 years.

That makes America’s debt look piddling by comparison – a mere 12.3% of the total. It’s a global crisis waiting to happen.

But that’s not the issue as the Senate debates the “big, beautiful bill” ahead of the 4th of July holiday weekend.

After a spike during the pandemic, U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio is still over 120% – and climbing again.

Historically, no country that crossed the 130% debt-to-GDP ratio has been able to survive long enough to “grow its way out” of a debt crisis.

Therein lies the tension. The Trump Reset formula requires an extension of his first-term tax cuts, low and fair tariffs… and low interest rates.

~ Addison

The Next 9/11 Won’t Come from a Plane…

P.S.: High debt is a feature of “fiat” money systems. Money printing leads to higher inflation and more money printing. Which, in turn, creates more inflation.

You get the idea. It’s a doom loop.

As you know, that’s why we like gold. Gold holds its intrinsic value in the face of inflation. You can read our report on gold’s historic rise here.

As always, your reader feedback is welcome: feedback@greyswanfraternity.com (We read all emails. Thanks in advance for your contribution.)

Today’s Washington isn’t governed so much as stage-managed.

Politicians don’t solve problems; they perform them.

The current fixation is affordability — a word that will be repeated ad nauseam from now through the 2026 midterms, until it becomes as meaningless as “bipartisan.”

The script hasn’t changed in decades: promise relief, pass a law that raises costs, blame capitalism, hold hearings, fundraise, repeat.

Yes, Nvidia’s profits are up 500%, and its share price followed suit — a rare case where the story actually matches the math. But that’s the exception, not the rule.

Beneath the headlines, we’re starting to see the kind of financial gymnastics — circular lending, balance-sheet origami, and creative “partnerships” — that usually signal the boom is running out of breath.

If history rhymes, it looks like we’re closing in on the tail end of a mania.

As interest rates fell, investors swarmed into real estate, lured by yields and the illusion that home prices never fell. Wall Street’s private-label securitizers were soon packaging everything from pristine mortgages to what were effectively loans scribbled on napkins, thus turning them into bonds that glowed like gold — until you looked too closely.

For their part, the regulators and ratings agencies conveniently looked away and allowed the bubble to grow. Fannie Mae watched the frenzy from the sidelines at first.

The company’s mandate — written in law — was not to chase profits but to promote affordable housing. That is to say, to make sure that teachers, nurses, and other first-time buyers could own their own homes and unlock the American Dream.

But as Wall Street flooded the market with high-risk mortgage products, political pressure mounted. Congress demanded that Fannie “do its part” for low and moderate-income families.

SoftBank offloaded its entire $5.83 billion Nvidia stake to bankroll an even bigger gamble: tens of billions in OpenAI.

Son insists this is his next Vision Fund moment.

OpenAI’s swelling valuation doubled SoftBank’s profit last quarter. He may have sold the pickaxe factory, but he’s betting the mine still goes deeper.