The Pentagon inspector general issued a report to Congress saying that the Islamic State is again growing in power in Syria and Iraq, with approximately 14,000 to 18,000 militants. The report specifically said President Donald Trump's decision to rapidly draw down troops in Syria and pull diplomatic staff from Iraq increased instability and allowed the militants to regroup. read more
it may even have been Trump who told the police about Epstein -- but for self-interested reasons. The two men had fallen out over who would buy a villa that Trump would later sell to a Russian oligarch for an immense profit. As has been widely reported, Epstein had found out that the villa was for sale at a discount and took Trump to see it for advice on how to move the swimming pool. Trump then snatched the deal out from under his nose, buying the place with money lent by Deutsche Bank. He paid $41m and sold it to the oligarch, Dmitry Rybolovlev, for $96m – a profit of $55m. read more
Senator Mitch McConnell is usually impervious to criticism, even celebrating the nasty nicknames critics bestow on him. But Mr. McConnell, the Senate majority leader, is incensed by the name "Moscow Mitch," and even more miffed that he has been called a "Russian asset" by critics who accuse him of single-handedly blocking stronger election security measures after Russia's interference in 2016. read more
Bess Levin: Rudes contended that anyone who spent a considerable amount of time with Epstein -- like, say, Trump -- more than likely knew that crimes were being committed. "If you spent this much time with him and he was so involved with these underaged girls -- who did you see him with and what was he doing and what did he tell you and what did he say to you and how could you have missed it," he said. "Maybe some were innocent -- maybe some weren't, but I think they're going to investigate everybody." read more
Internet sleuths have uncovered a 2015 video of Harvard attorney and Epstein's friend, Alan Dershowitz, who worked to get Epstein a sweetheart deal in a 2008 plea agreement, admitting to getting a massage at Epstein's mansion. read more
The yield curve doesn't look good.
The global property market seems very inflated in big centers.
The economy has had a 10 year bull run.
Add in trade wars and massive deficits with no infrastructure spending and things don't look great to me.
I think the central banks made a big mistake in propping up economies with super low interest rates. This caused a massive asset bubble and diverted capital from productive investment to rent seeking.