The Looming Shadows: AI Bubbles, Military Purges, and Epstein's Dark Legacy
Unpacking the economic red flags, media consolidations, and political upheavals shaking America's foundations in Trump's second term.
In a riveting discussion on the Five Stack podcast, Dean Blundell and Zev Shalev peel back the layers of America’s current crises—from a fragile economy propped up by Big Tech to military purges and explosive revelations from the Epstein files. As the U.S. grapples with a government shutdown and mounting uncertainties, their insights reveal a nation on the brink. Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways, sorted into domestic and international categories:
Domestic
The AI Bubble and Stock Market Illusion: Since Trump’s return to office, 80% of U.S. stock market growth has been driven by just 10 tech and AI companies, including Nvidia, Meta, and those tied to ChatGPT. These firms, deeply affiliated with Trump, are artificially sustaining the market. As Professor Scott Galloway warns in his latest book and interviews, an AI bubble burst—triggered by even one bad quarter—could collapse the entire house of cards, echoing the dot-com crash and exacerbating the ongoing jobs crisis.
Economic Red Flags: Jobs, Real Estate, and a Deepening Depression: The government shutdown has blacked out official jobs reports for two months, but private data paints a grim picture: 1.123 million jobs lost in the first 10 months of Trump’s term—the worst since the Great Depression, surpassing even COVID-era figures. Manufacturing and delivery sectors have hemorrhaged hundreds of thousands of positions, while furloughed federal workers (targeted for Democratic affiliations) add to the chaos. Coupled with a real estate market stagnation—where buyers and sellers are at their widest gap since 2008—and potential AI and housing bubbles bursting simultaneously, the U.S. risks a severe recession. The dollar’s global trust is eroding as nations diversify away from it.
Media Consolidation and Narrative Control: Larry Ellison (Oracle’s founder) now owns CBS through his son David, while controlling global video streaming. His hiring of Bari Weiss—a Substack writer with strong ties to Israeli interests and Netanyahu—as CBS editor-in-chief signals a shift toward contrarian, potentially propagandistic content. Layoffs of 100 staffers, dismantling climate teams, and pitching odd stories like Japan’s PM’s heavy metal playlist highlight this. Ellison’s push for TikTok ownership, backed by Netanyahu’s influencers, aims to consolidate media power, stifling free speech and competition in an antitrust nightmare.
Epstein Files: A Bombshell Worse Than Imagined: GOP insiders whisper that unreleased Epstein documents are “much much worse” for Trump than known, including photos, financial ties, and his role in facilitating the network alongside figures like Jess Staley, Leon Black, and Bill Gates. DOJ briefings in May warned of this, fueling the shutdown as a cover-up tactic. This espionage operation—linked to Russian and Israeli intelligence—triggered the 2008 financial crisis and involves power brokers like Ehud Barak. As survivors like Virginia Giuffre demand justice, figures like Hakeem Jeffries call it a “pedophile protection racket,” sparking potential GOP defections and a blue wave of accountability.
Military Purges Under Pete Hegseth: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ousted or sidelined over two dozen generals and admirals in nine months for ties to General Mark Milley, supporting diversity, or offering honest assessments. Heroes like Major General James Patrick Work, key in defeating ISIS, are in limbo due to political ideology. Hegseth, unqualified and despised by the military establishment, lives in a fortified “Green Zone” with a 500-person security detail. Insiders predict he won’t last until Christmas, as the Pentagon resists Trump’s whims—like unwarranted actions against Venezuela—potentially leading to unqualified loyalists taking over.
International
Assassination of Mexican Mayor Carlos Manzo: Cartel Retaliation and Ongoing Protests: Outspoken mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez of Uruapan, Michoacán, was gunned down on November 1, 2025, during Day of the Dead celebrations, shot seven times by 17-year-old Víctor Manuel Ubaldo Vidales in retaliation for capturing Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader René Belmonte (”Rino”). The hitman was killed by bodyguards; two accomplices arrested. The murder sparked violent protests, with government buildings ransacked and torched, prompting Manzo’s widow to call for peace. President Claudia Sheinbaum has pledged justice and unveiled a “plan for peace and justice” in Michoacán amid escalating cartel violence—including 1,024 intentional homicides this year—driven by extortion in avocado and lime industries. This marks the seventh municipal official killed in Mexico in 2025, the third in Michoacán.
Energy Demands of AI and Crypto: Targeting Canada and Greenland: Quantum computing, AI data centers, and crypto mining require massive energy that the U.S. can’t sustain alone. Costs are being passed to consumers, inflating power bills as companies like those in Trump’s orbit avoid accountability. This explains Trump’s aggressive stance toward Canada, rich in rare earth minerals, lithium, hydro, and natural gas—essential for batteries, EVs, and tech. Annexation threats aren’t just territorial; they’re about securing resources for an AI-dominated future. Similarly, Greenland’s invasion rhetoric ties into this energy grab, part of a broader plan with allies like Putin to carve up global hemispheres.
Canada’s Defensive Moves: Doubling the Deficit for Security: In response, Canada under Mark Carney has doubled its deficit to $78 billion, funding the “Build Canada” program—a coast-to-coast corridor for digital infrastructure, rare earth mining, and energy exports. Partnerships with the EU ensure sharing with allied nations (excluding the U.S. under Trump). Trade talks with America broke down not over ads, as Trump claimed, but over Canada’s refusal to cede rare earth rights. This positions Canada as a bulwark for democracy and a target for U.S. economic warfare, including tariffs.
Uzbekistan’s President Stuns the World by Hailing Trump as ‘President of the World’: During a summit with Central Asian leaders focused on mineral ties and economic deals, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev declared to Donald Trump, “In Uzbekistan, we call you the president of the world,” crediting him with stopping eight wars and expressing confidence in his ability to resolve global conflicts. This effusive praise, amid Trump’s push for closer resource partnerships in the region, highlights the geopolitical maneuvering as Central Asia’s “unbelievable potential” is touted for trade agreements, potentially expanding alliances like the Abraham Accords to Kazakhstan.
These interconnected threats—from economic fragility to narrative manipulation and unchecked power grabs—demand vigilance. America isn’t just facing challenges; it’s teetering on the edge of systemic collapse. Subscribe, share, and dig deeper—because in this era of consolidation, independent voices are our last line of defense.