Avsnitt
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Dear friends, As of March 1, 2025, "Narativ with Zev Shalev" video and audio podcasts now premiere exclusively at Narativ.org or at Patreon.com/narativ, and most are free with no ads. Ad-supported podcasts are posted here a week or two after their premiere. Sign up to our mailing list to receive free updates, exclusive articles, and every show as it happens, ad-free. It's the very best way to get tomorrow's news today, directly from me. Why wait for your news? Go to narativ.org and sign up today. It's free. Thank you for your support. Z
Narativ's Canada edition explores how everything from politics to sports is shifting in response to Trump - and discovers a 75% increase in Americans moving to Canada.The biggest story in North American relations isn't happening at diplomatic summits or trade negotiations. It's playing out in immigration offices, polling stations, and yes – even on the ice.
As Trump steers America away from its traditional NATO allies and toward Russia and China, Canada faces an unprecedented realignment. Our investigation reveals three key shifts:
First, the numbers. Since Trump's November victory, Canadian immigration sites saw an eight-fold surge in U.S. traffic. But unlike the empty threats that followed his 2016 win, immigration lawyers report serious inquiries from tech workers, healthcare professionals, and LGBTQ+ families. The data backs this up: there's been a 75% increase in permanent residency invitations to U.S. residents.
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Second, Canadian politics is transforming. Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney has emerged as a frontrunner for Liberal leadership, polling just three points behind the Conservatives. He's positioning himself as Canada's shield against Trump's America, and it's working – pulling 42% of previous NDP voters.
Finally, there's the symbolism. Tomorrow's US-Canada hockey championship isn't just another game. With ticket prices rivaling the Super Bowl and three fights in the first nine seconds of their last match, it's become a proxy for deeper tensions.
The implications are serious. As America shifts toward Russia and China, Canada faces critical choices about trade, security, and its role in the Western alliance. Trump's pivot isn't just redrawing diplomatic maps – it's reshaping North American society from the ground up.
Our full investigation airs tonight on Narativ.
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Dear friends, As of March 1, 2025, "Narativ with Zev Shalev" video and audio podcasts now premiere exclusively at Narativ.org or at Patreon.com/narativ, and most are free with no ads. Ad-supported podcasts are posted here a week or two after their premiere. Sign up to our mailing list to receive free updates, exclusive articles, and every show as it happens, ad-free. It's the very best way to get tomorrow's news today, directly from me. Why wait for your news? Go to narativ.org and sign up today. It's free. Thank you for your support. Z
A day that may reshape the global order began with a series of coordinated moves that culminated in Donald Trump's 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin. Here's what unfolded, and why it matters.
The Timeline
At 11:00 AM ET, Tulsi Gabbard, known for her Kremlin ties, was appointed Director of National Intelligence. At noon, America executed a prisoner swap, releasing Alexander Vinnick - a key architect of Russia's 2016 interference campaign - in exchange for former teacher Mark Fogel. Twenty-six minutes later, Trump and Putin began their first call of Trump's second term.
The Putin Call
The 90-minute conversation revealed a dramatic shift in America's position. Trump and Putin discussed what they called a "peace plan" for Ukraine - notably without Ukraine's President Zelenskyy present. The call covered Middle East peace and artificial intelligence, treating Russia as an ally rather than an adversary. It ended with mutual invitations: Trump to Moscow, Putin to Washington.
The Crypto Scheme Exposed
While diplomatic drama unfolded, new details emerged about Trump's meme coin launch. Analysis reveals:
Over 800,000 investors lost a combined $2 billion
Just 31 early trading wallets collected $680 million in profits
The Trump family netted $102 million in trading fees alone
Early traders bought at $0.23, saw the price surge to $75.60
The timing is crucial: these tokens were launched just before Trump took office. The pattern mirrors classic pump-and-dump operations that regulators have long warned about.
The Bigger Picture
Today's events represent more than isolated incidents. They reveal a systematic dismantling of American institutions and safeguards:
Disbanding of the KleptoCapture Task Force that seized Russian oligarch assets
Elimination of Foreign Interference Task Force
Shutdown of election interference monitoring units
Attacks on key intelligence agencies
The combination of diplomatic realignment and financial manipulation points to a broader strategy. As one wallet linked to the crypto scheme made $111 million in just two days, questions arise about who really profited from these coordinated moves.
What's Next?
The implications of today's events will reverberate far beyond Washington. With cryptocurrency potentially becoming a cornerstone of future Treasury operations and America's traditional alliances in flux, the stakes couldn't be higher.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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Dear friends, As of March 1, 2025, "Narativ with Zev Shalev" video and audio podcasts now premiere exclusively at Narativ.org or at Patreon.com/narativ, and most are free with no ads. Ad-supported podcasts are posted here a week or two after their premiere. Sign up to our mailing list to receive free updates, exclusive articles, and every show as it happens, ad-free. It's the very best way to get tomorrow's news today, directly from me. Why wait for your news? Go to narativ.org and sign up today. It's free. Thank you for your support. Z
The revelation of the codename, which translates to “Red,” corroborates what former KGB officer Yuri Shvets first disclosed on Narativ in January 2021 about Trump’s 40-year tenure as a KGB asset.
Alnur Mussayev, a former KGB officer based in Moscow, revealed the codename “Krasnov.”
"Krasnov" (Краснов) is a relatively common Russian surname. The root "krasn" (красн-) comes from the Russian word "красный" (krasny) meaning "red." The surname Krasnov historically could have referred to someone with red hair.
If true, Mussayev’s revelations corroborate what Yuri Shvets first revealed on Narativ in January 2021. Shvets, a former chief at the KGB residency in Washington, DC, went on the record to confirm that Donald Trump was a valuable asset to Russian intelligence. The detailed claim is laid bare in Craig Unger's book, American Kompromat. Shvets and Unger joined Lincoln’s Bible and Zev Shalev on Narativ.
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Dear friends, As of March 1, 2025, "Narativ with Zev Shalev" video and audio podcasts now premiere exclusively at Narativ.org or at Patreon.com/narativ, and most are free with no ads. Ad-supported podcasts are posted here a week or two after their premiere. Sign up to our mailing list to receive free updates, exclusive articles, and every show as it happens, ad-free. It's the very best way to get tomorrow's news today, directly from me. Why wait for your news? Go to narativ.org and sign up today. It's free. Thank you for your support. Z
As 25 major cryptocurrency figures gather at the White House tomorrow for a summit on establishing an American crypto reserve, our Narativ investigation has uncovered a deeply troubling pattern: three coordinated "pump and dump" operations that have transferred billions from ordinary Americans to a select few insiders with direct ties to Donald Trump.
The December 5th Diversion
The first operation occurred on December 5th while the nation was distracted by the assassination of the UnitedHealth CEO. In this carefully orchestrated sequence, Trump appointed David Sacks as "Crypto Czar" and Paul Atkins as SEC Chair – both staunch crypto advocates. Bitcoin surged from $70,000 to $108,000 before dropping to $85,000, generating an estimated $700 million windfall for Elon Musk's companies Tesla and SpaceX, which hold substantial Bitcoin on their balance sheets.
As economist Peter Schiff noted in our exclusive interview, "If they were doing this with securities, they'd be in jail. But because these things are not securities, they just say they're collectibles. The pump and dump and insider trading or stock manipulation, none of that applies."
The Meme Coin Massacre
The second operation centered on the Trump and Melania meme coins launched just before the inauguration. Our investigation revealed that a mere 31 traders collected $675 million in profits while more than 800,000 investors lost a collective $2 billion – a staggering winner-to-loser ratio of 1:25,806. Meanwhile, the Trump family reportedly pocketed approximately $100 million in trading fees alone.
The pattern is unmistakable: a 12-hour gap between the contract creation and public announcement provided insiders ample time to accumulate tokens at pennies on the dollar before the coordinated public push drove prices up nearly 40,000%.
The Strategic Reserve Ruse
The third operation unfolded just last Sunday when Trump announced on Truth Social that "a U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserve will elevate this critical industry" and specifically mentioned three cryptocurrencies: XRP, SOL, and ADA.
As Schiff observed, "Donald Trump did not write that. I would bet almost anything that he had nothing to do with writing that post. There's no way that Donald Trump knows that ADA is the symbol for Cardano."
The post – suspicious in both its timing and content – triggered immediate price spikes in the mentioned cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin shot up to $95,000 before quickly falling as investors realized the announcement was merely promotion for the upcoming summit rather than concrete policy.
"They timed that, they shot the price up, and then they started selling," Schiff explained. "I bet they made hundreds of millions. These three coins were up 30, 40, 50% initially. Of course, it was a rug pull."
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Follow @zevshalev on X
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In part 2 of “Crypto Conspiracy,” Zev Shalev reveals how Elon Musk manufactures chaos to manipulate elections and the crypto markets. Zev tracks Bitcoin's extraordinary surge to $100,000 through a series of amplified crises in December 2024 and January 2025 and reveals a surprising pattern: Chaos - not calm - is what fuels the extraordinary surge in crypto prices.
As the US swung from crisis to crisis, major news events dominated headlines—from a CEO's assassination in Manhattan to a Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas and devastating California fires —Bitcoin's price climbed 50% in just a few weeks.
“I call it the Chaos Ladder,” Shalev says. And it’s how Donald Trump and Elon Musk are making Billions in their Crypto conspiracy.
Narativ with Zev Shalev is a testament to the power of independent journalism, made possible by the unwavering support of viewers like you. Your contributions, whether through free or paid subscriptions, enable me to continue my work. To stay updated on my investigations and access exclusive content, join the mailing list below.
Key highlights from tonight’s episode:
- A whistleblower reveals how Elon Musk directed teams of X engineers to fabricate stories and artificially amplify them.
- We explore how specific news events amplified on X caused significant crypto market spikes.
- We delve into the “Chaos Ladder” effect, which tracks the correlation between amplified crises and crypto price surges.
- We examine “Elonomics”: Musk’s unique ability to influence crypto markets through X.
- We analyze the strategic timing of Trump’s crypto-friendly appointments during peak news cycles.
Building on the revelations from Part 1 about Trump and Musk’s scheme to profit from the president’s plans to deregulate cryptocurrency, tonight’s episode delves into the mechanics of market manipulation through social media amplification and manufactured chaos.
Watch Part 2 of the Crypto Conspiracy at Narativ.org.
Part 3 will be released next week. In it, we’ll explore the implications of foreign interference in X and its potential impact on the 2024 election.
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Follow @zevshalev on X
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A highly unusual inauguration ushers in an American oligarchy. Dean Blundell and Zev Shalev delve into the intricate backstory that spans apartheid South Africa, the dawn of AI, and 'technocracy.' Air Force One landed in darkness. The inauguration was hastily moved indoors. Something very different was happening - this was an inauguration taking place in the eye of a storm.
Hours earlier, President Biden delivered his final address from the Oval Office, speaking of the Statue of Liberty's ability to withstand fierce storms. "She sways a few inches," he warned, "but she never falls into the current below." As he spoke of an emerging oligarchy threatening democracy, few knew that a different kind of storm - codenamed "Salt Typhoon" - had already reshaped America's power structure.
Behind the official explanations of weather and crowd size, a months-long Narativ investigation reveals a hidden realignment of global power. Our reporting traces a transformation that began in the uranium mines of apartheid South Africa and leads directly to America's AI future.
At its center are four men who emerged from apartheid's collapse to reshape Silicon Valley: Peter Thiel, Roelof Botha, David Sacks, and Elon Musk. Their rise parallels China's growing influence in American technology and politics, culminating in this week's unprecedented scenes: tech billionaires lined up in the front row of Trump's indoor inauguration, TikTok's CEO prominently placed, and failed negotiations with Putin suggesting a new global alignment.
The story begins with Pik Botha, South Africa's former foreign minister and grandfather of Silicon Valley kingmaker Roelof Botha. As minister of mineral and energy affairs, he oversaw the uranium program that connected Peter Thiel's father to South Africa's nuclear ambitions. Their vision of technocratic rule - where technical experts and engineers would govern society - didn't die with apartheid. It evolved.
By the time PayPal emerged in the late 1990s, these four men had positioned themselves at the intersection of technology and power. Documents reveal PayPal's original mission wasn't American at all - it was designed as a payment processor for Chinese companies, the first step in a decades-long partnership that would reshape global power.
Today, as Biden's warning about oligarchy echoes through empty halls, we see their technocratic vision coming full circle. From Trump's $500 billion AI initiative to China's new role as America's strategic partner, a transformation decades in the making has reached its culmination.
The question now: can democracy bend without breaking?
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When Elon Musk walked into Twitter headquarters carrying a kitchen sink, most saw an eccentric billionaire's publicity stunt. What we've uncovered is something far more calculated: the first move in what may be the largest coordinated market manipulation in history.
Our investigation reveals how a $25 billion loss at Twitter/X sets the stage for an unprecedented scheme to profit from cryptocurrency markets using presidential power itself.
The numbers tell the story:
When Bitcoin traded at $70,000 before Trump's election, Musk was already holding billions in crypto through Tesla and SpaceX. Tesla alone had 10,000 Bitcoin. SpaceX another 8,000. Then came Trump's election victory, and within a week, the price jumped $20,000.
But December 5th marked the real turning point. Trump names David Sacks - Musk's old PayPal ally - as America's first Crypto Czar. That same day, he launches World Liberty Financial, perfectly positioned to profit from his own policy announcements. Within hours, he unveils plans for a "strategic national bitcoin stockpile." By mid-December, Bitcoin hits $108,000.
The profit mechanism is breathtaking in its simplicity:
Through Tesla and SpaceX alone, Musk sees gains of over $600 million. Trump, through World Liberty Financial and his 78.75 million shares in Trump Media & Technology Group, profits from every policy announcement he makes. Each presidential declaration drives crypto prices higher, and each surge increases their personal wealth.
This isn't just market manipulation. This is using presidential power to create personal profit.
But this is just Part 1.
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European leaders are bracing for unprecedented confrontation with the US over Greenland, the Arctic, election interference, and social media moderation.
onald Trump Jr.'s surprise appearance in Greenland's capital, Nuuk, this week has sparked fresh concerns over the former president's territorial ambitions. Trump refuses to rule out military action to gain control of Greenland, prompting baffled reactions from EU leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk has doubled down on his support for Germany's AfD party. He plans to interview far-right leaders that European officials warn could violate the EU's Digital Services Act. Meta's Mark Zuckerberg has now openly aligned with Trump, declaring, "We're going to work with President Trump to push back on governments worldwide that are going after American companies."
The EU isn't standing idle. Senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis Bill Echikson reveals that European regulators are actively investigating the X platform for potential violations. However, he warns traditional fines may prove ineffective: "Tech companies have never been scared about the large fines they're forced to pay. That's just the price of doing business."
Behind these tensions lies a crucial reality: climate change is transforming Arctic trade routes, making Greenland increasingly strategic. With Russia eyeing Alaska and America's Arctic Council influence limited Trump's territorial focus takes on new significance.
Watch the full special report on Narativ for in-depth analysis and exclusive interviews.
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Musk's unprecedented reach into Congress to scrap a budget bill is America's first look at what authoritarian rule under Donald Trump and Musk will look like.
This week, Elon Musk's unprecedented intervention in America's budget process exposed what our investigations have warned about: the emergence of an unelected power center with direct ties to the Kremlin.
For months, we've documented how Vladimir Putin's influence operation successfully installed what amounts to a shadow presidency in the United States. The evidence is now impossible to ignore:
We revealed direct communications between Musk and Putin beginning in 2021, intensifying during the Twitter purchase in 2022
We exposed Musk's connections to Sergiy Kiriyenko, Putin's propaganda chief
We documented how Russian oligarch-linked venture funding helped enable the Twitter acquisition
We tracked Musk's political evolution in perfect alignment with these Kremlin contacts
We proved Musk amplified content from Russia's Social Design Agency
Shadow President
But this week's power play over the federal budget demonstrates something even more concerning: Musk now wields unprecedented control over executive policy, legislative priorities, and information flow through X/Twitter - all while maintaining his position at SpaceX and other strategic companies.
Center for European Policy Analysis Senior Fellow Olga Lautman explains why this matters: "Who is our president? Trump occasionally puts out messages on social media, but it seems Musk is driving the car."
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing a rebellion by some of his Liberal Party MPs. Zev Shalev and Dean Blundell debate Donald Trump and Elon Musk's role in the PM's troubles. In this episode of Narativ, we dive into the political upheaval in Ottawa as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership faces a critical challenge. Following the resignation of Deputy and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, some liberal MPs are calling on their leader to resign. Guest Dean Blundell, a prominent political commentator, joins from Toronto to discuss the repercussions and the underlying foreign influences impacting Canadian politics. The conversation explores the implications of Freeland's resignation, Trudeau's political strategies, and the broader international geopolitical subtext involving the United States and Russia.
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Donald Trump is Backing Putin and Selling Out Ukrainians. My guest is Volodymyr Dubovyk, a Senior Fellow at CEPA. In South Korea this week, the specter of authoritarianism briefly materialized when Prime Minister Yoon declared martial law. Although it lasted only hours, Yoon may have felt encouraged by the incoming Trump administration. While democratic forces prevailed in South Korea this time, Ukraine's situation is very different.
In Kyiv, we witnessed something previously unthinkable: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has steadfastly maintained Ukraine's right to complete territorial integrity since Russia's invasion, appeared to blink against Putin.
Zelenskyy's new apparent openness to the temporary Russian occupation of Ukrainian territory marks a dramatic shift in position—one that reveals both the mounting pressure on Ukraine's military and democracy and the growing recognition of the evaporating Western resolve.
The Trump administration is stumbling over itself in floating peace proposals that align with Russian interests, even before potentially taking office. They even dispatched their new advisor to the Kremlin, only to be dismissed by Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov.
However, this dismissal wasn't a rejection of diplomacy but a calculated message. Why rush to negotiate when military realities and global dynamics increasingly favor Russian objectives?
It seems unavoidable that we will march into 2025 in a manner reminiscent of how the world marched into Munich in 1938.
Just as Chamberlain convinced himself that sacrificing part of Czechoslovakia might satisfy Hitler's ambitions, we are watching the potential next U.S. administration craft peace proposals that would effectively validate Putin's territorial conquests.
Get used to it, folks—we're witnessing a seismic shift in the global democratic order. It’s the first time we've sacrificed the principles of territorial integrity and democratic self-determination, which are the cornerstones of the post-World War II international system. These principles are being reconsidered in real time.
So yes, elections have consequences, and these developments do not make one feel very good. However, there is a lesson in the events that just happened in South Korea: it took a unanimous vote of parliament and some street protests, but martial law only lasted six hours, and now Yoon faces impeachment.
Putin may feel emboldened by recent events and by Zelenskyy's apparent concession, but he is still facing the resolve of the Ukrainian people. When people stand up to these paper strongmen, they are often defeated. When the rule of law is maintained, strongmen will back down.
When the American people apply pressure—publicly and through the media—we too can urge Donald Trump to protect the people of Ukraine and never surrender.
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READ MORE OF OLGA LAUTMAN’S WORK AT HER SUBSTACK.
This revealing episode deconstructs the sophisticated Russian influence operation that delivered Trump's 2024 victory. While conventional wisdom suggests Harris lost due to poor messaging and economic concerns, our investigation exposes a military-grade information warfare campaign orchestrated by the Kremlin and executed through Elon Musk's media empire.
Expert guest Olga Lautman explains how Russia spent over $45 billion building an "information laundering machine" that weaponized X/Twitter and right-wing media to divide American voters systematically. The operation included a sophisticated $45 million psychological warfare campaign targeting specific demographics with contradictory messages, coordinated bomb threats in Georgia, and strategic algorithm manipulation.
Most chillingly, Putin's likely successor, Nikolai Patrushev, issued what amounts to a mafia-style threat, declaring Trump has "obligations to fulfill" after receiving Russian help. We explore what these obligations likely entail: a $2 trillion "shock therapy" economic plan designed to destabilize America, withdraw from global leadership, and enable Russian expansion.
As Germany prepares for potential war and Russia eyes further territorial gains, we examine how America faces its greatest crisis since the Civil War. This wasn't just election interference—it was a carefully orchestrated operation to capture American democracy itself. With expert insight from Lautman, we discuss what to expect in the coming months and how Americans can resist as their country faces unprecedented challenges.
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"To achieve success in the election, Donald Trump relied on certain forces to which he has corresponding obligations. And as a responsible person, he will be obliged to fulfill them."
These chilling words, delivered by Nikolai Patrushev—Putin's likely successor and former head of the FSB—confirm what our three-year investigation has uncovered: a sophisticated Russian influence operation with Elon Musk at its center, designed to deliver both the presidency and America's future to Vladimir Putin.The Web of Influence
Our investigation reveals three interconnected operations:
The Platform Play: Musk's $44 billion acquisition of Twitter (now X) wasn't just a business deal—it was a strategic takeover of America's digital town square. By 2024, algorithm changes amplified extremist content while Russian propaganda flowed freely.
The Money Trail: Russian oligarch families facilitated the X purchase, creating a direct line between the Kremlin and America's most influential social platform.
The Policy Puppet: Musk's daily presence at Mar-a-Lago isn't coincidental. He's orchestrating a $2 trillion "shock therapy" economic plan that economists warn could devastate the American economy—exactly as similar measures did in Argentina.
Eight years ago, I wrote "The Russia House," detailing Russian influence in Trump's first administration. Many called it impossible. Now, Putin's top security official openly declares that the President-elect has "obligations that must be fulfilled."
This isn't just another story about Russian interference. It's about the systematic dismantling of American democracy through economic warfare, information manipulation, and direct control of government operations.
When I wrote The Russia House eight years ago, it was a warning. Tonight's story is different. This isn't about what might happen—it's about what is happening right now, in plain sight, and what will happen if these plans are allowed to proceed.
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The Trump Campaign attracted some Black, Hispanic, and Jewish voters, says Carl Allen, author of "The Polls Weren't Wrong."
Trump's path to victory in 2024 wasn't through his base alone—it was through precision targeting of key demographic groups that traditionally lean Democratic. The margins were razor-thin, but the strategy was effective.
The Math
Trump started with his rock-solid 47-48% base. They needed new voters outside of their base. They targeted demographics in traditional democratic demos.
- Young Black men: Support doubled from 15% to 30%
- Hispanic men: Achieved majority support
- Jewish voters: Showed increased support amid Gaza conflict
"Trump didn't overwhelmingly win these groups," Allen explains. "He squeezed an extra 2-3% here and there. But 2% of a small group, plus 2% of another small group—it adds up."
The Perception Game
Perhaps most striking was how Trump won the economic narrative. Despite often vague policy proposals ("concepts of a plan," as Allen puts it), Trump successfully conveyed a simple message: he's better for jobs and wallets.
"We're reaching this point where perception outweighs policy," Allen notes. "The perception of a candidate's position is far more important than their actual policies."
The Democratic Dilemma
The interview reveals a sobering reality: Democratic policies on abortion, minimum wage, and economics poll well individually. Yet the party struggled to translate this into electoral victory.
In Wisconsin and Michigan, the final margins tell the story:
- Trump: ~49.5%
- Harris: Just under 49%
Pennsylvania saw Trump just over 50%, Harris at 48.5%.
Looking Forward
The data suggests this wasn't just an Electoral College victory—Trump appears positioned to win the popular vote for the first time since 2004. It's a watershed moment that demands Democratic soul-searching about messaging and voter outreach.
As Allen observes: "Traditional media is fading in importance... authentically reaching people, that's where podcasts have an advantage over things like commercials and mainstream cable news appearances."
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What began as a day marked by Russian interference - from FBI warnings about Russian-originated bomb threats at polling stations to debunked deep-fake videos - ended with an electoral outcome that seemed to follow a Russian-crafted narrative.
Our show began confidently at 9:30 PM ET, with Dean Blundell and Spencer “Spenny” Rice joining me to witness what we expected to be a historic victory for Kamala Harris. The mood was light, even celebratory. "Dancing in the streets by 11:30," we predicted.
But as the night progressed, the numbers shifted dramatically. One by one, the critical swing states fell: Michigan (+90,820 for Trump), Wisconsin (a razor-thin +29,797), Pennsylvania (+153,204), and Georgia (+117,384).
By the time foreign policy expert Rick Petrie joined our panel, what had started as a celebration had transformed into growing concern about the integrity of what we were witnessing.
By morning, what seemed impossible at 9:30 PM had become reality - Donald Trump had secured victory in nearly every battleground state, with margins that defied both polling and campaign internal numbers.
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This week, Elon Musk confirmed his support for implementing $2 trillion in federal budget cuts, which he describes as necessary "shock therapy" for the U.S. economy. Musk laid out his vision at Donald Trump's Madison Square Garden rally, stating, "Your money is being wasted. We'll get the government off your back and out of your pocketbook".
When asked directly about the economic impact of these cuts, Musk responded, "Sounds about right," to the prediction of severe market disruption and economic contraction. The proposed $2 trillion reduction represents nearly one-third of the current $6.13 trillion federal budget.
Trump has indicated that he would appoint Musk to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to implement these cuts. The Wall Street Journal reported that throughout this period, Musk maintained regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his first deputy, Sergei Kerienko, since late 2022.
The economic model for these cuts appears to mirror the "shock therapy" policies implemented in Argentina under Javier Milei, which has led to:
- Inflation at 230%
- Unemployment rising from 12% to 18%
- Poverty increasing from 42% to 53%
Musk has become Trump's most prominent financial backer through his America PAC, contributing $118 million of his own money. This level of financial support, combined with his proposed role overseeing budget cuts, would give him unprecedented influence over both fiscal policy and public discourse through his ownership of X/Twitter.
The proposed cuts would require significant reductions to core government services, including Medicare and Social Security, and eliminating multiple federal agencies. While critics argue this would cause severe economic disruption, Musk maintains these measures are necessary for long-term prosperity.
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Dean Blundell joins Zev Shalev for the third installment of Narativ Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has a list of members of Parliament who are either actively engaged with or at high risk of foreign interference, putting Parliament Hill in crisis. The bombshell disclosure came at Canada's Foreign Interference Inquiry, during which Trudeau expressed frustration at Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre's continued refusal to receive top-secret security briefings about the threat.
I have the names of a number of parliamentarians, former parliamentarians, and/or candidates in the Conservative Party of Canada, who are engaged or at high risk of, or for whom there is clear intelligence around foreign interference,"
PM Justin Trudeau under oath.
The Prime Minister emphasized that his government has directed CSIS to inform the Conservative Party leader about these security risks, but Poilievre's refusal to receive classified briefings means "nobody in his party, nobody in a position of power knows the names of these individuals and can take appropriate action."
Indian Government's Deep Infiltration Exposed
The revelations come amid mounting evidence of Indian government interference in Canadian politics. The RCMP has uncovered evidence linking Indian government agents to a campaign of violence, including homicides, coercion, and extortion on Canadian soil.
In a dramatic development, Trudeau confirmed he confronted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about these allegations during what he described as a "very uncomfortable" conversation at the G20 summit. The Prime Minister disclosed that Indian diplomats and consular officials in Canada had allegedly leveraged their positions to engage in clandestine intelligence-gathering activities.
Conservative Party Operative Under Investigation
Adding to the growing scandal, recent reports indicate that Arpan Khanna, who served as Pierre Poilievre's Ontario co-chair during his successful leadership campaign, is under investigation by CSIS for potentially receiving support from the Indian government.
Khanna's nomination in the Oxford riding has come under particular scrutiny. Two senior riding officials resigned in protest, claiming the party leadership "hijacked" the process to favor Khanna.
About Dean Blundell
Dean Blundell, a legendary figure in Canadian broadcasting who hosted the boundary-pushing morning show on Toronto's 102.1 The Edge (2001-2014) and later Fan 590, has transformed from self-described "shock jock" to one of Canada's most important investigative voices through his Dean Blundell Show podcast and Crier Media empire. Under the Crier Media banner, which operates dozens of podcasts and works with a collective of reporters, journalists, and lawyers while maintaining complete independence by refusing government funding, Blundell has emerged as a leading investigator of foreign interference in Canadian politics, breaking significant stories about threats to democracy that mainstream media outlets often hesitate to cover, including early reporting on Pierre Poilievre's refusal to obtain national security clearance and exposing connections between Canadian conservative movements and international actors.
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Our latest analysis projects Kamala Harris as the probable winner of the 2024 election, with a likely path to 292 electoral votes. Election expert Carl Allen's independent forecast supports this projection, rating Harris as the more likely winner. His models even show a possible more decisive outcome, in which Democrats could sweep all swing states.
Probable Path to Victory:
The most likely scenario shows Harris securing traditional blue-wall states (Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania) while adding North Carolina, creating multiple viable paths to victory even if she loses one blue-wall state. This probable path puts Harris at 292 electoral votes compared to Trums’s forecast, showing potential for an even stronger Democratic performance.
Michigan Michigan appears the most volatile of the blue wall states, with both campaigns wrestling over significant voter shifts. Despite Republicans registering more new voters than expected and potential losses of 50,000-150,000 traditionally Democratic voters over Gaza, Allen's polling average still shows Harris maintaining a likely lead at 48.5% to Trump's 48%. The GOP's strategic pivot to early voting could prove decisive. While they celebrate narrower Democratic early voting margins, Allen warns they may be "cannibalizing" their crucial Election Day turnout.
Wisconsin In Allen's analysis, Wisconsin emerges as the most vulnerable blue-wall state, with a lower concentration of urban Democratic voters than Pennsylvania and Michigan. While Harris currently leads in Wisconsin, Allen rates it as the most likely blue-wall state to flip red—a scenario that would cost Democrats 10 electoral votes but likely wouldn't be fatal to Harris's chances if she secures other swing states.
North CarolinaNorth Carolina has become the Democrats' probable safety net, consistently showing Harris at 49% to Trump's 47% across multiple polls. The state's shifting media landscape and the toxic effect of Republican gubernatorial candidate Robinson's scandals have created likely Democratic strength. Trump's hasty addition of an unplanned North Carolina rally signals Republican anxiety about a state that could provide Harris with probable electoral insurance if any blue wall state falters.
Likely GOP Vulnerability Republicans' strategic shift to early voting will probably backfire by reducing their traditional Election Day advantage. With 19 million votes already cast and Democrats building strong early voting margins, the GOP faces a changed electoral landscape that likely complicates their path to victory. Despite prediction markets favoring Trump, Allen sees no data supporting him as even a probable favorite, suggesting market manipulation may be at play.
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The secretive Catholic organization Opus Dei has emerged as a powerful force in American conservative politics, wielding outsized influence on key issues like abortion, the Supreme Court, and threats to democracy. In a revealing interview, investigative journalist Gareth Gore, author of the new book "Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church," exposes Opus Dei's hidden networks and agenda.
Key revelations:
Opus Dei operates as a shadowy intelligence network within the Catholic Church, gathering information on members and strategically placing allies in positions of power.
The group has deep ties to conservative politics in the U.S., with close connections to figures like Leonard Leo, Bill Barr, JD Vance and others shaping the Supreme Court and Republican policy.
Opus Dei recruits aggressively, often targeting minors as young as 12-13 years old using cult-like tactics.
A Spanish bank hijacked by Opus Dei funneled billions of dollars into the organization's global expansion, including major initiatives in Washington D.C.
The group is currently facing human trafficking charges in Argentina for exploiting young women as unpaid domestic servants.
Gore argues Opus Dei represents a serious threat to democracy, pushing an authoritarian agenda cloaked in religious language. As America approaches a pivotal election, understanding Opus Dei's influence and tactics is crucial for voters concerned about the future of democratic institutions.
This eye-opening conversation sheds light on one of the most secretive and influential organizations operating in American politics today. Gore's meticulously researched book "Opus" is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the hidden forces shaping our political landscape.
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