It’s time for our fundraising campaign! If you’re a fan of Naked Capitalism and plan to contribute, kick off this effort with a strong start. Head directly to the Tip Jar and consider making a generous donation!
Throughout the past year, we’ve received an unprecedented amount of positive feedback from our readers. Here are a few examples:
From Seneca:
The work done by Naked Capitalism is truly commendable. It’s almost incredible how valuable it is. I need to step up and make a contribution soon. Special thanks to all the commentators as well.
From David Pearl:
I began following your blog shortly after it launched. Back then, I was employed at the Federal Housing Finance Agency, having previously worked in mortgage finance since the mid-80s. When you started addressing the forthcoming Financial Crisis around 2006, you highlighted issues I was raising at FHFA. Naked Capitalism is a treasure. I rely on your links as much as I do on New York Times headlines, which often trigger my eye-rolls. Thank you for your thorough coverage of the Ukraine and Iran conflicts.
From Goingnowhereslowly:
Yves and team, thank you immensely for your outstanding and challenging work! I can’t imagine my life without you and this community.
Readers have also expressed appreciation for our expanded scope of coverage due to the contributions of Haig Hovaness, Nat Turner Wilson, Curro Jimenez, and semperloquitur, alongside our mainstays Nick Corbishley, Conor Fitzgerald, and KLG. Here are further comments:
From dandyandy:
Fantastic work, Nat! Naked Capitalism’s stature has significantly increased. What was once my little secret for insight is now appreciated by many intelligent and honest individuals. Thank you, Yves, and your amazing team!
From Es s Ce Tera:
A comprehensive exploration of yet another unexpected consequence. Thank you, Curro!
From Traveller:
Thank you for leading such a wonderful project. You’ve introduced me to impactful films I might have missed, enriching both the site and my week. All the extras are just the icing on the cake. Thank you, Col. Loquitur.
While we deeply value your kind words and feedback, we truly rely on your financial support. Please visit the Tip Jar to find out how to contribute via credit or debit card, check, or PayPal. Every donation, whether small or substantial, is essential in sustaining our commitment to deliver vital information and differentiate the signal from the noise.
As our team expands, our coverage broadens, but it also increases our financial obligations. Now is the perfect moment to enhance our efforts on behalf of this community. Once again, the Tip Jar is waiting for your support.
At this time, we reflect on the past year and the potential challenges ahead. We see the early stages of breakdown, where events like global warming are breaking through previous limitations. A year ago, it would have seemed far-fetched to speculate about Trump potentially declaring martial law to disrupt the midterms or even unleashing nuclear weapons. The AI bubbles have become riskier as large tech companies enter into costly contracts without guaranteed profits while facing competitive Chinese alternatives. Thankfully, rising public opposition may impede some climate change effects and data center constructions that impact water supplies.
The US has also engaged in self-sabotage in its dealings with Iran. Despite initial confidence among Biden Administration officials and their European counterparts before the Ukraine conflict, they were unprepared for the resilience of Russia’s military, opting for attrition tactics when confronted with their sanctions. Meanwhile, Europe is grappling with how to effectively engage Russia with limited capabilities, as the endgame in Ukraine approaches, marked by blockades and assaults on critical infrastructure.
This overcommitment in Project Ukraine has drained vital resources, revealing how the US military has become undermined and slow to adapt to modern warfare needs, such as cost-effective drone and missile strategies. Trump’s actions have further spotlighted the weakened state of US forces.
And that’s not to mention the repercussions of Iran leveraging its strategic abilities, including disrupting the Strait of Hormuz and intensifying its campaign against Saudi oil exports, subsequently driving inflation through rising food and energy prices. The combination of agricultural supply issues and a significant El Niño event in 2027 threatens potential food shortages and even famine.
Across the globe, many have watched in disbelief as Israel escalates its aggression in Gaza, further extending its brutality to southern Lebanon and the West Bank. While sanctions on settler trade initiated by the UK are a step in the right direction, they arrive too late.
These and other ongoing situations, including Trump’s corrupt behavior and the rise of authoritarianism in the UK and Europe, would have once seemed alarmist predictions. Now, they are indicative of systemic breakdowns: the erosion of the rule of law, normative ethics, and effective governance as institutions struggle to adapt to mounting pressures.
We forecasted such a scenario in the finance and economic realm following the financial crisis. As noted in ECONNED:
Paradigm breakdown refers to the failure of core elements in the existing system, a reality that many remain unprepared for, as the previous system seemed viable for so long. Authorities habitually patch up the current framework rather than undertake necessary reforms. Resolution of major financial issues requires time, careful planning, and political sensitivity, meaning the status quo will remain susceptible to repeated failures.
A similar yet more intricate narrative exists regarding the disintegration of the post-World War II Western geopolitical order. Incremental erosion of pro-safety practices—from social protections to a preference for diplomatic solutions—has generated vulnerabilities in organizations and systems now under strain.
We believe our focus on promoting critical thinking has never been more essential. Just as we warned of potential crises leading up to the financial collapse, many have credited our Covid reporting with saving lives by helping individuals take preemptive measures. The interaction of various ruptures—encompassing resources like power, water, food, and financial stability—will complicate the search for clarity even further.
Access to the best information and analysis enhances the likelihood of making informed decisions to mitigate risks. However, this has become increasingly challenging due to the diminishing quality of mainstream reporting influenced by corporate and governmental interests. The relationship between major media outlets and the government, especially on global matters, has traditionally been cozy, but not nearly to the extent of exposing significant malfeasance as done in previous eras.
This lack of journalistic pushback has fostered an informational decline, characterized by numerous false claims from officials. Disinformation, particularly if disseminated quickly after a breaking story, tends to stick in the public’s psyche. Unfortunately, even supposedly credible experts often perpetuate these inaccuracies, making it even more difficult to discern the truth in important events.
However, our ability to provide timely and well-informed insights owes much to the diligent contributions of our vigilant readers and expert commentators. Many external writers like Michael Hudson, Satyajit Das, Rob Urie, albrt, and Tom Neuburger have expressed appreciation for our readers’ thoughtful and constructive feedback on their writings, even when critical. The high standards set by our community, through sharp reasoning and keen observations, elevate our collective discourse.
This past year has reinforced Naked Capitalism’s unique position as a source of in-depth, think-tank caliber analysis, delivered on a news-cycle basis. Our commitment to high-quality geopolitical and economic coverage rests on the dedication of our continually improving team, known for their experience, insights, and disciplinary rigor. Each writer delivers their best effort with consistency.
Yet, despite these high standards, we genuinely rely on your support to keep Naked Capitalism robust and effective. Please visit the Tip Jar and contribute generously.
Some highlights from this year include:
Conor Gallagher’s exploration of how US monopoly capitalism has impacted global markets through various examples, illustrating how US oligarchs have undermined their own positions along with responses to crises in capital accumulation and the “Ukrainization” of Europe.
Nick Corbishley’s analysis of US and Israeli electoral interference worldwide, age verification as a pretext for digital IDs, and the Trump Administration’s assaults on Latin American sovereignty.
KLG tackled the intersection of science, medicine, politics, and class conflict, discussing monumental challenges like infinite growth obsession, the rise of quackery, food politics, and the decline of medical education in the US.
Nat Turner Wilson linked Trump’s corruption to violence, media manipulation, and the ongoing chaos from the Iran War and the AI hype bubble.
Haig Hovaness delved into drone warfare, naval power limitations, and the implications of Starlink technology.
Curro Jimenez emphasized the US elites’ obsession with winning, linked the ongoing migrant surge to far-right psyops, and discussed Palantir’s influence in restructuring societal classes to maintain US dominance.
semper loquitur’s Sunday morning movie features have expanded from foreign films to include classics, horror, and musical delights for the Naked Capitalism audience.
And I continued providing updates on the Iran conflict, scrutinizing AI, the status of the dollar and bond markets, and Trump’s attempts to wield military and ICE power for personal ends.
We aim for even greater accomplishments. Imagine the impact we could create with more significant financial backing!
Your support is crucial. Whether it’s $5, $50, or $5,000, every contribution matters. Please donate through our Tip Jar. Even a modest donation will help us meet our fundraising targets. If possible, contribute generously, especially on behalf of loyal readers who wish to support us even more.
If financial assistance isn’t feasible at the moment, you can still make a difference! We increasingly rely on our community to spread the word about Naked Capitalism. Share articles, links, and Coffee Breaks with friends, family, and colleagues who might be intrigued. Promote our posts on social media platforms and encourage discussions around our content. Every effort counts!
In our related kickoff post, we outline how your donations will be allocated and inform you of our fundraising milestones. Our first objective is to raise $27,000 for essential digital infrastructure and necessary tools to combat issues like AI bot scraping, which, if left unaddressed, could seriously affect site performance. While this may not seem thrilling, think of it as essential maintenance. After all, you notice when the plumbing isn’t working! Our tech guru, Dave, deserves a round of applause for keeping everything flowing smoothly. From jo6pac:
I want to express my gratitude to Dave in NC IT for resolving my problem that prevented me from reading NC. It turned out to be an issue with my computer, not with NC.
We prefer receiving checks! No processing fees involved, although we appreciate your understanding with USPS delays.
Please make checks payable to “Aurora Advisors Incorporated” and send them to:
Aurora Advisors Incorporated
PO Box 110105
Brooklyn NY 11211-0105
Kindly inform us if you’ve sent a check, so we can include your contribution in our fundraising tally. Please send an email with the subject line “Check is in the mail” and the donation amount to yves-at-nakedcapitalism-dot-com. The alternative with the lowest fees is using a debit card via our processor, Clover.
You can also donate using the Tip Jar for credit card or PayPal contributions. Importantly, both options accept regular credit or debit cards. If you prefer using Wise, please email yves-at-nakedcapitalism-dot-com with “Wise” in the subject for instructions.
Lastly, please note that, regrettably, we cannot thank donors individually due to limited capacity. To maintain our posting frequency, we must prioritize generating quality content that you value. Your understanding is appreciated.
As we move forward, we hope for your continued support—big or small. Your involvement has enabled us to build a thriving community, and with your help, we aspire to enhance it even further in the coming year.
