John Rubino #1357

In this episode of Coffee and a Mic, host Mike welcomes back financial analyst John Rubino to discuss a volatile global landscape marked by escalating tensions in the Middle East, supply chain disruptions, and looming financial crises. Rubino expresses deep concern over the U.S. military strategy in the region, warning that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and threats of ground operations could trigger a global food and energy crisis, reminiscent of the 1970s oil shocks. He argues that the current economic fragility—exacerbated by massive debt, a bloated private credit market, and the collapse of the shadow banking system—leaves the world unprepared for another crisis. With interest rates already near their limits, the U.S. lacks the tools to combat inflation as it did in the 1980s, raising the specter of a 'crack-up boom' and a potential monetary reset. Rubino advocates for a gold-backed dollar as the least bad solution, while also highlighting the rise of gold-backed stablecoins as a more resilient alternative to fiat-backed ones. He warns that the private credit sector, now showing signs of stress with 'gated' funds and investor withdrawals, could trigger a domino effect across financial markets. Meanwhile, AI presents a dual threat: either a massive stock market crash if it fails to deliver, or a deep depression if it succeeds and displaces millions of workers. Rubino concludes with a call to action—investing in tangible assets like gold, silver, copper, uranium, and rare earth elements—while emphasizing that practical skills and self-reliance (prepping) are now more valuable than ever.