As detailed in our fundraiser kickoff post, 2026 has dramatically diverged from the “old normal.” However, we remain committed to offering comprehensive and insightful coverage of a world unsettled by Trump and other Western leaders responding destructively to the breakdown of established norms.
We have addressed these complex issues through timely, incisive analysis of significant developments. Our in-depth coverage of the Iran War has highlighted its extensive economic and geopolitical repercussions, particularly the severe damage inflicted on the U.S. empire. Meanwhile, European leaders grasp desperately at U.S. support while seeking conflict with Russia, even though their capabilities in terms of weapons and production are diminishing as Russia moves toward a decisive victory in Ukraine. The strength of the dollar exacerbates the already severe shortages of energy, food, and essential supplies in many Asian and Global South countries, potentially leading to a yen carry trade unwind that could destabilize the overvalued U.S. stock market. The global outrage over Israel’s actions has begun to impact U.S. politicians and has resulted in some tangible, albeit insufficient, sanctions from the UK and EU.
The undeniable severity of climate change is evident, as the unusually strong El Niño has resulted in extreme heat across Europe and large parts of the U.S., causing droughts that may lead to food shortages and famine. Yet, while Trump and many world leaders appear to ignore the escalating crises, Trump’s grandiosity has only grown, evident in his erratic tweets and numerous schemes aimed at rescuing his party’s fortunes in the midterms. We will forego noting his disturbing self-dealing due to space constraints.
We also maintain a close watch on ongoing stories, such as Trump’s conflict-inducing engagements in Latin America, self-sabotaging displays of aggression against China from Canada, and various regime-change efforts. On top of that, we are monitoring the burgeoning AI bubble, the subtle but persistent dysfunction in the private credit market, stagflation, and the declining American economic security, living standards, and health. We’re also following China’s economic challenges, increasing measures for mass surveillance, and the hype surrounding cryptocurrencies. Additionally, we’ve ventured into new areas like the ultra-rich’s quest for immortality and the MAHA con, tensions within the Democratic and Republican parties, the societal and business implications of AI, Trump’s media influence through ownership changes, food security issues, and the ramifications of America’s diminished naval strength.
Our readers have shown us more appreciation than ever in their comments. For instance:
From Mike S:
The first website I visit each day is Naked Capitalism. I value the curated links and insightful analysis that deepen my understanding of global events. It’s remarkable how much content your small team produces daily!
And from Eclair:
Yves, my admiration for you knows no bounds. You immerse yourself in this toxic environment day after day, crafting concise summaries for your devoted readers.
I’m taking the day off to help my Amish friend, L, with her dry-goods deliveries… by evening, I’ll be ready to engage with the complexities of our world again.
Another accolade came from ocypode:
Thank you for the delightful piece, Conor! It’s a great reminder that limitations can inspire greater creativity.
These praises mean a great deal to us, but they are not enough! We greatly value and rely on any financial support you can offer, whether it’s in the form of tens or thousands of dollars (hint: please consider donating at our Tip Jar to help us thrive).
As Nick emphasized:
I’m proud to be part of such a talented team of writers who possess extensive knowledge across a wide range of topics, and I am grateful to be part of this vast community of readers, thinkers, and commenters that spans the globe. Viva la commentariat!
And from KLG:
As a long-time scientist and professor, I am proud to contribute insightful commentary on science and critical issues for a community dedicated to understanding our world as it truly is, rather than as our former leaders would like us to perceive it.
If you share the same pride in us, please head over to the Tip Jar and contribute via check, debit, or credit card, supporting our in-depth information coverage, candid commentary, and charming animal photos.
Your support has allowed us to grow and evolve. We anticipated that the lack of genuine reforms following the financial crisis would lead to rising inequality, contributing to instability in the political landscape. The disconnection among elites has made them oblivious to their own incompetence and the resulting loss of credibility. Their isolation encourages them to neglect pressing issues, from climate change to the fraying of the post-World War II order—accelerated by Trump—to increasing resource-driven conflicts and civil unrest.
This impactful coverage relies on the diligent efforts of our small team: our writers, Nick, Conor, and KLG, along with invaluable contributions from our Coffee Break helpers, Haig Hovaness, Nat Wilson Turner, Curro Jiminez, and the often-engaging semper loquitur with his Sunday movie features.
Now, let’s discuss how we have served the Naked Capitalism community since our last fundraiser.
What We Accomplished Last Year: Heightening Vigilance as the Situation Unfolds
Those in power seem to grasp, at least on some level, that political and economic events are spiraling beyond their control, even if they are unwilling to acknowledge the systemic ruptures driving this trend or their roles in it. It’s not just Trump and his allies who act as though loud declarations can tame reality; even EU officials, known for their histrionics, have adopted new tones. In contrast, many major Russian and Chinese figures have expressed frustration in the face of widespread ignorance. Yet, much of the press participates in the active dissemination of the Big Lie, complicating the pursuit of a realistic understanding of current events.
We are here to help you navigate this maze of misinformation, enabling you to take constructive actions—whether it’s building local networks, learning self-sufficiency skills, or advocating against data centers. Taking positive steps is more essential than ever.
This compact site continues to exceed expectations:
Providing nearly daily coverage of the Iran War. Readers have noted that our posts on the Iran war are among the best available online, effectively extracting significant insights from the confusion of official narratives and media coverage. Our engaged community has played a critical role, sharing new intelligence in comments and emails, contributing their own analyses, and testing the information we present. While we have maintained a record of early and accurate reporting, we acknowledge being premature in forecasting an energy crisis, a position shared by executives at Exxon and Chevron.
Broadening our scope as political and economic tensions escalate. Concerns are rising that the U.S.’s aggressive efforts to maintain its hegemony could lead to World War III, a global depression, and food scarcity. The stakes are high, driving an increase in propaganda, especially from the U.S. (looking at you, CENTCOM). With more nations either in conflict or preparing for one, Haig Hovaness’s Armed Madhouse feature has become increasingly vital.
We have expanded our geopolitical focus as these events increasingly affect us all, evident through escalating energy costs and rising domestic dissent regarding prioritizing military expenditure over social welfare. Conor has examined deceptive behaviors, such as misinformation campaigns targeting China and Russia, as well as pushes for accelerationism, while Nick delved into the EU’s deterioration, citizens’ growing discontent with the union, U.S./Israel meddling in elections, and enhanced surveillance measures.
Conducting original reporting and providing vital insights on news stories. Much of Haig’s content features original reporting, covering a range of topics from the ineffectiveness of our Navy to the impact of emerging technologies on warfare. Conor’s periodic examination of the EU’s energy situation includes analysis of energy data from the Commission, and we keep track of the ongoing Kentucky Retirement Systems hedge fund scandal.
Increasing our daily Links to over 70 entries. We committed to raising this number to around 65, which means even more informational resource sharing!
Expanding the depth of domestic coverage amid Trump’s counter-revolution. Nat Wilson Turner has earned reader praise for successfully filling Lambert’s shoes by discussing various topics, such as the rise of Mamdani and the Democratic Party’s struggles against socialists and opponents of Zionism.
KLG has offered insightful commentary on U.S. politics, exploring class dynamics often with a Southern perspective. Conor has penned reflective pieces, for example, contemplating Memorial Day and the military’s role in supporting America’s transnational elite, alongside critiques targeting Democrats. Nick expressed concerns about tech mogul Larry Ellison’s vision for a future dominated by surveillance and integrated information, supposedly for our benefit.
Maintaining a vigilant focus on our historical beats, especially in finance and economics. These overarching economic questions encompass critiques of Social Security, SNAP benefits, Medicare and Medicaid, the impact of Trump’s tariffs, declines in managerial competence, and digital currency trends. We address inflation now seen as stagflation, challenges to the dollar, the AI bubble, private equity exploitation, and the ongoing Kentucky Retirement Systems pension litigation.
Expanding the Sunday Movie feature with exciting new additions. We have diversified our offerings, including music videos, archival footage, and niche sports events.
Maintaining bi-monthly newsletter frequency. With the rapid news pace, increased frequency feels appropriate. Special thanks to our organizer, katiebird!
Continuing to feature top-notch writers. We have secured exclusive access to pieces from Michael Hudson, along with contributions from Satyajit Das, Rob Urie, Albert, Vladislav Sotirovic, and Seb Canderie, as well as independent writers like Thomas Neuburger, Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Rajiv Sethi, Richard Murphy, Andrew Korybko, Tom Valovic, and our exciting new contributor, Joseph Busby. They appreciate the intense interaction, thoughtful readership, and insightful comments from you, our dedicated audience!
Fostering a vibrant commentariat. Naked Capitalism thrives on its community of commenters, which relies not only on your ongoing engagement but also on our exceptional moderation team. Hats off to katiebird and semper loquitur!
We challenge you to find another publisher that achieves so much with so little.
How This Fundraiser Works
Please consider donating whatever you can. Whether it’s $5, $50, or $5,000, every contribution is valuable. If you’re only able to give a small amount, please do so, and if you’re fortunate enough to offer more, we welcome your generosity.
If you’re in a good financial position, we hope you will extend that good fortune to support not just our cause but also to assist members of the community who wish to contribute but find themselves financially constrained at this time. Can you dig a little deeper to help those loyal readers who can’t participate in this fundraiser?
Everything you do—reading, commenting, donating, and sharing information—is vital to sustaining our community. You can make a difference right now by following this link to donate.
Our initial kickoff post outlines an overview of our intended goals. Throughout the fundraiser, we’ll be highlighting specific priorities your donations will support and updating you on our progress toward achieving these financial objectives.
We wish to express our sincere gratitude to our dedicated monthly subscribers. Their consistent contributions help cover essential costs, like the basic salaries for our longstanding contributors.
The first milestone is securing funding for our digital infrastructure.
This behind-the-scenes work may not be glamorous, but imagine what happens when your water is turned off or your electricity fails! This foundational support is crucial for our site, so please assist us in keeping it robust.
Additionally, as many of you know, our tech expert Dave has been working diligently to prevent AI scrapers from rendering our site unmanageable, making this goal even more critical. We are raising our budget to $27,000, an increase from its levels over the past two years. Once we reach this target, we’ll inform you of our next objective.
How to Contribute
There are various ways to donate, all of which you can find on our Tip Jar page.
Checks are welcomed! To donate by check (which saves us from PayPal/processing fees), please make it payable to “Aurora Advisors Incorporated” and send it to:
Aurora Advisors Incorporated
PO Box 110105
Brooklyn NY 11211-0105
Please also email yves@nakedcapitalism.com with the subject line “Check is in the mail” (and include only the donation amount in the message) so we can track your contribution as part of our total.
The donation page also explains how to arrange for Wise for those who prefer to avoid PayPal.
Thank you once again for your interest and generous support!
