As highlighted in our fundraiser kickoff post, 2025 has proven to be exceptionally demanding. However, we have risen to the occasion, delivering even more comprehensive and insightful coverage of a world unsettled by Trump, its inherent contradictions, and various crises. We achieved this remarkable feat while transitioning our team, welcoming talented new writers such as Haig Hovaness, Nat Wilson Turner, Curro Jiminez, and semper loquitur, along with new weekly contributions from KLG following Lambert’s retirement.
To meet these challenges, we provided sharp, forward-thinking analysis on significant developments, cutting through the chaos of Trump 2.0 to reveal the financial implications of a crisis reminiscent of Russia in the 1990s—an environment ripe for plutocratic exploitation. Key topics included the escalating conflict in Ukraine and the bewildering strategies of European leaders; Israel’s callous and destructive actions; Trump’s bizarre provocations involving various nations; ongoing tensions with China; and rampant regime change efforts across multiple regions. Additionally, we examined the rising AI bubble, persistent stagflation, and a decline in American economic security, all while the UK and EU desperately cling to outdated political and economic systems. China faces its own economic challenges, while private equity firms search for new opportunities amid waning performance in crypto markets.
If you share our pride in this work, please consider visiting the Tip Jar to contribute via check, debit, or credit card. Your support sustains our mission of providing invaluable information curation, sharp commentary, witty observations, and delightful animal photos.
We have received even more positive feedback from our readers this year than in the past. Here are some notable examples:
From XXYY:
Yves, thank you for your dedication to this crucial and rapidly evolving issue. The media landscape is saturated with subpar coverage, which often does more harm than good. Your efforts in bringing valuable insights to light are remarkable.
Your ability to integrate discussions on war into a financial blog illustrates the flexibility and resilience we admire in nonprofit journalism, particularly in Naked Capitalism.
From Otto:
I rely on NC as a refuge from the noise produced by once-trusted sources that I have grown to dislike. No other news platform offers such diverse and informed commentary from its readers, effectively making the Commentariat an essential contributor to the site.
From Rivegauche:
18 years filled with indispensable news and analysis!
This affirmation is incredibly meaningful to our team. However, to be candid, we also greatly appreciate any financial support you can offer, whether it’s a small or large contribution (hint: please consider visiting our donation page today to keep us strong and vital).
Your support has been crucial to our development. We anticipated that the absence of significant reforms following the financial crisis, much like the ripples from a stone thrown into a pond, would lead to pronounced political repercussions. These minimal adjustments maintained existing power structures while exacerbating inequality and hindering economic mobility. Consequently, the result was an increasing disconnection among elites, with rising resentment from those marginalized and denied security. This environment has intensified the delusions of competency among the powerful, causing them to overlook pressing issues like climate change and the deterioration of the post-World War II order, further fueled by Trump’s actions. Unfortunately, there is scant evidence of a younger generation prepared to challenge or replace these entrenched figures.
The depth of our coverage is thanks to a dedicated team: our site writers—Nick, Conor, and KLG—alongside our new Coffee Break contributors, Haig Hovaness, Nat Wilson Turner, Curro Jiminez, and semper loquitur providing a mental health break on Sundays. We also depend on regular collaborators like Michael Hudson, Satyajit Das, Rob Urie, albrt, George Georgiou, Vladislav Sotirovic, Hubert Horan, along with independent writers who contribute from their own platforms, such as Thomas Neuburger, Rajiv Sethi, Andrew Korybko, Tom Valovic, and Jared Holst. The growing interest from writers who wish to contribute to Naked Capitalism stems from the engagement with our insightful and well-informed Commentariat.
Now, let’s review how we have served the Naked Capitalism community since our last fundraiser.
What We Accomplished Last Year: Navigating the Polycrisis
In the Trump 2.0 era, unprecedented recklessness and the fracturing of institutions have become alarming daily occurrences. The overwhelming number of events and narratives can be numbing—an intentional tactic to hinder mass movements and discourage individual engagement.
Our mission is to help you maintain clarity amid this chaotic information landscape so that you can take meaningful personal or community actions. Even seemingly small steps, such as supporting BDS or planting a vegetable garden, carry significant weight in today’s climate.
This petite platform continues to deliver substantial impact:
Introducing our Coffee Break feature with new writers who have expanded our coverage both in scope and depth. Haig Hovaness’ Armed Madhouse explores the intricacies of the military-industrial complex, revealing both its influence and limitations. Nat Wilson Turner breaks new ground by examining the intersection of technology, media, culture, and electoral politics. Curro Jiminez delves into the underlying theories and philosophies that shape current events, uncovering real stories behind the propaganda. KLG offers weekly insights on medicine, science, and significant developments in class warfare, alongside in-depth analyses twice a month.
The quality of these contributions affirms Naked Capitalism’s unique position as a platform that consistently delivers think-tank level analysis while remaining timely in its news coverage, all with a small team of writers and no dedicated researchers.
Providing an ever-broader perspective on escalating political and economic conflicts. This focus has grown increasingly vital, as the U.S.’s overzealous attempts to maintain hegemony often backfire, heightening the risks of regional conflicts—benefiting only U.S. arms merchants.
Our geopolitical reporting has expanded consistently, allowing us to accurately inform you of developments that impact us all, mainly through the lens of policy shaped by increased militarization. For example, Conor has provided insightful analysis on the shifting dynamics between Armenia and Azerbaijan concerning the Zangezur Corridor, even before Trump attempted to intervene with his TRIPP proposal. He’s also addressed the strategic significance of South Africa in naval trade, kept up with the evolving relations between Turkey and Israel, and tracked the U.S.’s port takeover initiatives.
Nick has documented the growing tensions between the U.S., Mexico, and Venezuela, while spotlighting Spain and Colombia’s opposition to the Gaza situation, the extension of U.S. digital surveillance into Latin America, and China’s stance on the Monroe Doctrine’s resurgence. His work includes cautionary pieces about the implications of the upcoming digital Euro and Swiss cantons moving towards the right to offline existence.
As the U.S. continues to wield its diminishing military clout and the EU tries to enhance its own forces, Haig Hovaness has closely examined the ongoing military-industrial grift, addressing essential elements of the Ukraine crisis and the waning U.S. dominance through considerations of drone warfare and advancements in Chinese military technology.
Yves has vigilantly provided regular updates regarding Israel’s economy and its aggressive actions, the situation in Ukraine, and the improbability of reaching a diplomatic resolution, along with the troubling states of China and the EU’s economies.
In addition to geographic and event-focused reports, we have persistently highlighted the shifting global order as the U.S. struggles to maintain its veneer of dominance amid a series of brazen military and economic confrontations. This includes the potential for renewed hostilities between Israel and Iran, the ramifications of the Pakistan-Saudi mutual defense agreement, and India’s cautious pivot towards Russia and China, as well as movements in Japan, South Korea, and Canada away from U.S. influence. The evolving landscape regarding non-U.S. allies developing non-dollar payment systems and reducing trade with the U.S., and the future of BRICS and its ambitions, are also pivotal themes in our coverage.
Enhancing our domestic political coverage during the Trump counter-revolution. Nat Wilson Turner has significantly enriched our analysis of U.S. politics, especially regarding media manipulation and the emergence of influencers seeking to navigate our increasingly fractured political environment. His work highlights key figures, such as Rahm’s brother, Ari Emanuel’s involvement across both parties; the breakdown of traditional political alliances, particularly with Gaza as a core issue; critiques of Abundance proponents linked to major LLM agendas; and the connections among AI, media sycophants, military-industrial influence, and perpetual war.
Prior to Nat joining us, Conor illustrated the consistent agenda under Trump, pointing out that the Democrat Abundance initiative represents a neo-neoliberal stance, affirming that resistance to Trump is often a matter of branding rather than substance. The ICE phenomenon represents an assault on the working class, revealing who is being targeted and the bipartisan support behind these initiatives. He was also early to highlight the criminalization of homelessness as a bipartisan distraction from broader structural economic issues.
Nick has cautioned against tech mogul Larry Ellison’s vision for comprehensive surveillance and total information integration under the guise of the public good.
KLG has explored the eugenic undercurrents in MAHA, the fixation of the wealthy on immortality, and Trump’s efforts to dismantle U.S. scientific institutions, all intertwined with class struggle and community erosion.
Yves has scrutinized various new Trump initiatives, from his crypto-related ventures and cuts to Medicare and Medicaid to his attacks on universities and scientific institutions, and from RFK Jr.’s dubious MAHA schemes to his challenges against free speech and the Federal Reserve.
Maintaining vigilance on our historical topics, particularly finance and economics. Key economic concerns encompass the tension between the Green New Deal and resource scarcity, managerial incompetence, deindustrialization, demographic challenges, issues surrounding digital currencies and identities, and the varying approaches to combat the war on cash amid rising power outages. Added to this mix are concerns over inflation (now stagflation), challenges to the dollar, the AI bubble, unstable banks, private equity’s grinding efforts, and the ongoing Kentucky Retirement Systems pension litigation.
Welcoming top-tier writers to contribute. We have secured fresh insights from noteworthy figures such as Michael Hudson, Satyajit Das, Rob Urie, albrt, Hubert Horan, and former central banker George Georgiou. Additionally, contributors like Thomas Neuburger, Rajiv Sethi, and Andrew Korybko bring their own perspectives here, enriching our dialogue and benefiting from our engaged readership.
Increasing our daily Links. Given the overwhelming volume of contentious news under the Trump administration, we’ve expanded our daily Links from 55 to 65 and even 70. This represents a notable increase in our daily endeavor!
Conducting original reporting, adding critical context to news stories. For instance, Nat’s reflections on the influencer fallout related to the Charlie Kirk incident reveal the intricate dynamics within right-wing factions, particularly among younger constituents, which differ significantly from traditional conservative perspectives. Curro also filed an on-ground report from BRICS 2025 in Brazil.
Enhancing our newsletter frequency from monthly to bi-monthly. With the relentless pace of current events, bi-monthly updates feel more fitting. Special thanks to our dedicated major domo katiebird!
Promoting an exceptional comment community. Naked Capitalism thrives due to its engaged readership, bolstered by your commitment to meaningful discussion and our stellar moderation team. A round of applause for katiebird and semper loquitur!
We invite you to find another publisher that achieves so much with so few resources.
How This Fundraiser Operates
Please contribute as generously as you can. Every dollar counts, whether it’s $5, $50, or $5,000. If your budget is tight, a smaller donation is just as valuable. If you are doing well, please consider giving more.
If you find yourself financially comfortable, we urge you to include us in your good fortune—not only for ourselves but also for those in our community who have expressed a desire to help, despite their current constraints. Can you dig a little deeper to assist those unable to participate in this fundraiser?
Your engagement—reading, commenting, donating, and sharing information—is vital to our community’s success. You can contribute right now by following this link to make a donation.
Our accompanying kickoff post offers an overview of our aspirations for this initiative. Throughout the fundraiser, we will outline specific goals that your donations will support, keeping you updated on our progress toward each financial milestone.
We are especially thankful for our loyal monthly subscribers. Their regular contributions help cover fundamental expenses like base writer compensation for our established features.
The first goal is securing funding for essential digital infrastructure.
This foundational work isn’t glamorous, but consider what happens if your water is turned off or your electricity fails! It’s crucial for the stability of our site, so please help us maintain this infrastructure. Thanks to the magic of our tech expert Dave, we’re keeping this initial target at last year’s level of $25,000. Once we reach this amount, we will inform you of our next financial target.
How to Donate
You can donate through various channels, all of which are detailed on our Tip Jar page.
We particularly appreciate checks! If you’d like to donate via check (which saves us processing fees), please make it payable to “Aurora Advisors Incorporated” and mail it to:
Aurora Advisors Incorporated
PO Box 110105
Brooklyn NY 11211-0105
In the same vein, please send an email to yves@nakedcapitalism.com with the subject line “Check is in the mail” (and include the amount in the message) so we can account for your contribution when tallying total donations.
The donation page offers guidance on setting up contributions via Wise for those averse to PayPal.
Thank you again for your keen interest and generous support!
