PODCAST

Alternative Visions

Progressive Radio Network

Dr. Jack Rasmus will focus on today’s continuing crisis in the U.S. and global economies.

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All Episodes

55:46

Alternative Visions- Carlson-Putin Interview

Alternative Visions ·

2024/02/09

Dr. Rasmus analyzes the Tucker Carlson-Putin Interview in detail today. What did Putin say about the war, its causes, prospects and future of NATO?

57:05

Alternative Visions- How US Media ‘Cherry-Picks’ US...

Alternative Visions ·

2024/02/07

Today’s show addresses the US media’s practice of reporting the most favorable statistics on jobs, unemployment, inflation, wages, GDP from the mountain of data provided by the US Labor and Commerce departments. Dr. Rasmus gives a deep dive into the statistical reports to show why job gains last month may not be 353,000 but much less; why Biden’s claim of 3.1m jobs created last year may be only a third of that; why inflation is higher than reported; why one US survey says unemployment rate is 3.7%

57:55

Alternative Visions- 2023 US GDP Analysis In Depth

Alternative Visions ·

2024/01/29

Today’s show is dedicated to dissecting the just released US first report on 2023 GDP by the Commerce Dept. Dr. Rasmus breaks down the various contributing elements to US GDP (Consumption, Business Investment, Government Spending, and Net Exports) to identify where the changes in GDP in 2023 were strongest and weakest. Explained as well is how the methodology for estimating inflation (GDP deflator price index) serves to low ball price changes and in turn boost the real GDP number of 2.5% for 2023

58:44

Alternative Visions- Soft Landing’ Revisited &...

Alternative Visions ·

2024/01/23

Whether ‘soft landing’ of the US economy—with inflation assumed to continue to abate and GDP to continue to grow—is in the works is the main topic of today’s show. Explained in depth is how US price index estimates are key to determine whether ‘soft landing’ will occur. Dr. Rasmus explains how the 3 US price indexes (CPI, PCE, GDP Deflator) are basically estimated, and why the lowest inflation estimator, the GDP Deflator, which is used to come up with GDP numbers, artificially boosts real GDP thus

59:17

Alternative Visions- 2023 Review + Colorado-Maine...

Alternative Visions ·

2024/01/02

Today’s show reviews the main economic & political events of 2023. Topics on the Economy include: US GDP & ‘Soft Landing’ talk; Inflation and Jobs trends; the March 2023 regional bank crisis; US Budget >$1T Deficit & $34T National Debt; the June US Debt Ceiling deal in Congress; major union strikes and contract negotiations; Chat-GPT & Artificial Intelligence; the Federal Reserve’s interest rate pause; Russian sanctions; Ukraine War funding; China’s economy and global economic

59:24

Alternative Visions- Has Union Concession Bargaining...

Alternative Visions ·

2023/12/18

Today’s show addresses two important developments of the past year. Dr. Rasmus reviews the major union contract settlements of the past year (Railroad, Teamsters, Longshore, Auto) to determine if the past 44 yrs of union concession bargaining has finally ended in major contract negotiations in the USA. Concession bargaining ‘markers’ like 2-tier wages, in benefits, hiring of temps, ending of COLAs, and other contract provisions are reviewed. Result: Latest Teamsters (UPS) and Auto Workers contracts

58:15

Alternative Visions- Why Ukraine Can’t Win the War +...

Alternative Visions ·

2023/12/14

Just released US jobs numbers for November are reviewed in first half of the show. Not much change from October, with services sector jobs still growing and goods sector jobs slightly declining. Both reflect the US economy growth/no growth condition with manufacturing & construction continuing to contract while services continue to expand. Inflation statistics reflect the same, with goods prices falling (especially gasoline & energy) while key services prices continue to rise around 5%. US

58:01

Alternative Visions- Ukraine War & Zelensky’s ‘Danny...

Alternative Visions ·

2023/12/05

Today’s shows raises the expose of Zelensky government corruption that US mainstream media has been assiduously avoiding. Actor Danny Trejo just spilled the beans on another Zelensky grift. US celebrities who have been trekking to Kiev apparently get paid $150,000 for their photo op with Zelensky, providing they kick back $50K in cash to Zelensky himself (whose wife just bought a $70m property in Cyprus). Rasmus asks if Z get the original $150k per US celebrity visit from the $1B per month the US

58:49

Alternative Visions- Soft Landing in 2024..Or Deeper...

Alternative Visions ·

2023/11/24

Today’s show discusses the growing media spin on the US economy that it’s headed for a ‘soft landing’—i.e. no recession as inflation continues to abate. Dr. Rasmus dissects the 3rd quarter US GDP numbers of 4.9% annual growth rate that is feeding the soft landing hype. The four major elements of GDP are reviewed, showing 3rd Quarter was an aberration driven by business over-expansion of inventories in expectation of a surge in consumer spending in 4th quarter that is now not appearing. What’s really

01:00:29

Alternative Visions- Why the Fed is RAISING rates,...

Alternative Visions ·

2023/11/03

The Fed this past week held off raising interest rates once again. Or did it? Dr. Rasmus explains why the Fed may have paused raising short term rates but it is simultaneously raising long term Fed interest rates (10,30 Treasury bonds). Rasmus explains how the Fed is flooding markets with excess Treasury sales in order to raise funds to cover the US $2T budget deficit, an act driving up long term US Treasury rates. Fed chair Powell faces growing contradictions in monetary policy: higher short term

59:09

Alternative Visions- War and US GDP

Alternative Visions ·

2023/10/30

The just released preliminary estimates for US third quarter 2023 GDP, showing how the estimated 4.9% annual rate of US growth is actually much lower than reported. Rasmus explains how GDP in 2013 was redefined, boosting its number by more than $500B a year. Also how US low balls the inflation adjustment to GDP to get a higher number. Prospects for GDP in coming 4th and 1st Quarter 2024 are forecast at less than 1% a quarter—as both consumer spending and business investment ‘core’ of GDP slow

58:13

Alternative Visions- Most Dangerous Time in Decades

Alternative Visions ·

2023/10/16

The title for today’s show is a direct quote this past week from Chase Bank CEO, Jamie Dimon. It reflects the growing concern being expressed widely about the global and US economy and geopolitical conditions. In another quote the giant shadow bank, Blackrock, told its customers “get into cash”. After a brief update on the UAW strike, today’s show reviews the University of Michigan’s consumer survey, showing household sentiment in the USA is plummeting, perhaps signaling the consumer’s propping up

58:35

Alternative Visions- President Jimmy Carter’s True...

Alternative Visions ·

2023/10/02

Latest developments as of 9-30 in the auto workers, writers & actors strikes. Former president Jimmy Carter turns 99 this weekend. No doubt US corporate media has prepared puff piece obituaries, hailing Carter as the most humane and moral president ever. The show today provides the facts and a different picture, however: What were Carter’s real legacies? How Carter paved the way for USA’s disastrous 20 yr middle east wars (2001-21), launched the 4 decades war on unions that inaugurated

59:25

Alternative Visions- Ukraine: Political Fallout from...

Alternative Visions ·

2023/09/25

As Ukraine’s Failed Offensive becomes increasingly obvious, political repercussions are being felt in the US, Ukraine and Europe. Half of UN delegates refuse to show up for Zelensky’s speech; 32 House Reps and 6 Republican Senators go on record they won’t support more Ukraine war aid; Zelensky feuds with Poland over grain shipments & Poland’s president says Poland won’t send more weapons to Ukraine; Zelensky gives interview to Economist magazine threatening Europe with angry Ukrainian refugees;

58:33

Alternative Visions- UAW Strike + Latest Inflation...

Alternative Visions ·

2023/09/18

most of today’s show is dedicated to understanding the UAW strike that began at midnight last night. What are the union’s demands and the Big 3 auto corporations offers. Rasmus explains how the companies are flush with cash, with $250B profits, tax cuts, $80B paid out in shareholders buybacks and dividends, tens of billions $ direct subsidies by Biden to build their EV plants, and 40% raises for CEOs. What happened in 2019 UAW negotiations and why autoworkers’ real earnings have fallen by 19.1%

58:35

Alternative Visions- How Reliable is US Economic Data?

Alternative Visions ·

2023/09/11

Dr. Rasmus comments on a Wall St. Journal report of Sept. 8 admitting that revisions to US data and reports are showing bigger swings in corrections and occurring more often. The show addresses his oft-stated view that the Covid recession fundamentally impacted labor, product and financial markets in ways that US data and statistical reports have not caught up to yet, thus the more frequent and greater revisions to the data. Rasmus explains how JOLT stats (job openings to unemployment ratio),

56:20

Alternative Visions - How Biden and Mainstream Media...

Alternative Visions ·

2023/09/06

Today’s show main theme discusses how the Biden administration and mainstream media are spinning the latest jobs and inflation reports. The official ‘messaging’ by politicians and media alike is that both jobs and inflation are steadily-if slowly-improving. The messaging: the August jobs ‘cooled’ to 187,000; inflation moderated to 3% down from last year’s 9% peak, and wages are rising. Speaking around the country, Biden claims that jobs, inflation, and rising wages show ‘Bidenomics’ is working. But

56:41

Alternative Visions- Jackson Hole: Why the Fed Must...

Alternative Visions ·

2023/08/28

The show begins with an analysis of the past week of the death of Wagner mercenary forces leader, Prigozhin. The show then moves to the main topic: the forces driving the Fed to continue to raise interest rates; for certain this September but possibly even after. At minimum, US rates will remain high for some time. Chronic high services inflation plus emerging new forces globally that keep pressure on chronic inflation and Fed need to raise rates. Rasmus adds that record Fed Treasury sales will add

57:51

Alternative Visions- Inflation Reduction Act One Year...

Alternative Visions ·

2023/08/21

Dr. Rasmus debunks Biden’s and other Dem party notables’ ( HRC, Reich, Krugman)celebration of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on its one year anniversary. Why the IRA has had no impact on inflation but is best understood as part of the 2022 trifecta of Biden bills (including Chips Act & Infrastructure Act) that together provided $1.65T in direct subsidies and tax cuts to US corporations. Rasmus next explains the current structure of inflation, now rising again with services inflation (80% of

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