The real pain from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz hasn’t even hit us yet. All over the world, countries are running down their strategic energy reserves, and the last tankers that left the Persian Gulf before the war started will be arriving at their destinations this month. After that, things are going to start getting really crazy unless we get some sort of a miracle and the Strait of Hormuz is quickly reopened. The shortages that we have seen so far are nothing compared to what could be coming, and as you will see below, we are being warned that one of the largest food producing nations on the entire planet may soon be forced to ration fuel.

According to the Washington Post, less than 10 ships a day have been traveling through the Strait of Hormuz…

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained a week after the United States and Iran said they would facilitate vessel passage under a two-week ceasefire agreement. Instead, tensions have escalated. After Iran said ships must coordinate with its forces — and, in some cases, pay a toll — President Donald Trump called the demands “extortion” and announced Sunday that the United States would block ships entering or exiting Iranian ports, adding pressure to an already fragile truce.

But even as Washington seeks to squeeze Iran economically, Tehran retains a powerful advantage: geography. Over six weeks of conflict, Iran has halted virtually all traffic in the strait by laying mines, according to its military forces, and exploiting the vulnerability created by its terrain. Even under a U.S. blockade, these factors allow Iran to continue exerting influence over who crosses — and at what risk.

That risk, more than any formal closure, is what is keeping ships away. According to data from Kpler, only nine vessels have crossed the strait daily on average since the ceasefire, compared with the prewar traffic of more than 130 ships. “De facto, the ceasefire has done absolutely nothing to change the situation [in the strait]. None whatsoever,” said Lars Jensen of Vespucci Maritime, a container shipping consultancy based in Copenhagen.

Now that the U.S. Navy is conducting a blockade of Iranian ports, no vessels will be traveling to or from Iran, and the level of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will go down even more.

Both sides are expecting the other to give in.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world is really suffering.

For example, a lack of fuel has created an unprecedented crisis for the nation of Australia…

In the film Mad Max, an oil shortage leaves Australian society teetering on the brink of total collapse.

In real-life, things aren’t quite that dystopian yet Down Under. But with barely a month of stockpiled diesel left and hundreds of forecourts running dry, the anxiety is palpable.

Australia has one of the highest per-capita rates of diesel consumption in the world but it relies almost entirely on imports to meet that demand. There are two domestic refineries producing petrol but up to 90pc of that is imported, too.

If the conflict in the Middle East is resolved very soon, Australia will come through this okay.

But if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for an extended period of time, Australia will find itself in all sorts of trouble, because it only has about a month of fuel left before rationing will become necessary…

The country has 38 days’ worth of petrol left in reserve before reaching critical levels, at which point rationing would need to kick in. For diesel, it’s 31 days and for jet fuel, just 28.

For truckers and farmers in particular, the supply crunch feels near-existential.

Without enough diesel, Australia’s trucking industry will come to a standstill.

Even worse, Australia’s farmers won’t be able to plant their crops if they can’t get the fuel that they need.

And that is really bad news for the entire planet, because Australia is the world’s “fifth-largest producer of wheat and second-largest grower of barley”…

In a country that is the fifth-largest producer of wheat and second-largest grower of barley, McIntyre warns that “most farmers will need to decide before Anzac Day [April 25] whether they will plant a crop this year”.

Mathew Munro, the chief executive of the Australian Trucking Association, sounds equally alarmed. He recently described the situation for the country’s 60,000 trucking businesses as “an emergency”.

Yet again, we see another mention of wheat and barley in the news.

As I have discussed in previous articles, wheat production and barley production are both going to be way down all over the globe in 2026 because we are not getting nitrogen fertilizer from the Middle East into the hands of farmers throughout the northern hemisphere that desperately need it.

Nitrogen fertilizer is the primary reason why we were able to grow the population of the globe to 8 billion people.

And without sufficient quantities of nitrogen fertilizer each growing season, there is no possible way that we will be able to continue to feed 8 billion people.

If the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened, 6 to 9 months from now we will be facing a global shortage of food of epic proportions.

The Trump administration is convinced that a naval blockade will be so painful that it will force the Iranians to give in.

According to U.S. Central Command, during the first 24 hours “no ships made it past the U.S. blockade”…

No ships will be arriving at Iranian ports, and no ships will be leaving.

This will cut off the flow of oil revenue to the regime, and it will also cause excruciating shortages of gasoline and diesel because Iran does not possess sufficient refining capacity to produce what they need domestically…

Within 10 to 14 days, Iran won’t be able to store oil and will have permanent long term damage to oil wells for extracting oil. Oil wells perform poorly after you stop the flowing process.

Iran exports oil, but it also imports gasoline and diesel. Iran lacks the ability to refine enough of their own oil into gasoline and diesel. So very soon Iran will be running out of fuel everywhere.

Meanwhile, this naval blockade is deeply upsetting the Chinese.

Most people do not realize this, but normally over half of the energy that China uses travels through the Strait of Hormuz…

More than half of China’s energy comes through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies.

“Such actions will only intensify contradictions, exacerbate tensions, undermine the already fragile ceasefire, and further jeopardize the security of navigation through the strait,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters Tuesday of the U.S. blockade. “This is dangerous and irresponsible behavior.”

For the moment, the Chinese are fine because they were wise enough to stockpile absolutely enormous reserves.

But if we get a few months down the road and the Strait of Hormuz is still closed, the Chinese are going to start to panic.

If push comes to shove, I believe that the Chinese Navy would start escorting tankers to ports in Iran.

At that point, the Trump administration would have a major decision to make.

Let’s hope that it never comes to that.

Let’s hope that the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is resolved very rapidly.

But at this stage there is no end to this crisis in sight, and that is really bad news for the entire world.

Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.  He has also written nine other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post One Of The Largest Food Producing Nations On The Entire Planet May Soon Be Forced To Ration Fuel appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

Why A Glut Of Guns Is Your Opportunity

Right now, something rare is happening.

The kind of moment that doesn’t come with a warning… doesn’t make a lot of noise… and doesn’t stick around long enough for hesitation.

The 2026 supply glut has finally hit the ground—and if you’ve been waiting for the right time to fill the gaps in your gun safe, this is it. Rifles that were back-ordered six months deep and priced like a used tractor just a couple years ago are now sitting quietly on shelves with tags that almost look like a mistake.

And here’s the part most folks miss.

This kind of window doesn’t stay open.

The Clock Is Already Ticking

Every seasoned homesteader knows this truth deep in their bones: markets move fast, but they don’t send invitations.

One day everything’s available. The next, it’s gone—or double the price.

That’s exactly what happened during the 2022 crunch. And it’ll happen again.

But right now? The tide has rolled out. And what it’s exposing isn’t junk—it’s solid, proven, field-ready rifles at prices we haven’t seen in years.

This is the moment where quiet preparation beats loud regret.

The Rimfire That Earned Its Place: Ruger 10/22 Tactical

You can’t talk about off-grid readiness without bringing up the Ruger 10/22.

It’s not flashy. It’s not complicated. It just works—every time.

That cold hammer-forged 16-inch barrel paired with Ruger’s legendary rotary magazine gives you a platform that’s about as close to fail-proof as it gets. It feeds clean, carries easy, and doesn’t snag when you’re moving through brush or timber.

And here’s where it really shines.

You can carry 500 rounds of .22LR in your pack and barely feel the weight. That’s small game, pest control, and quiet practice all rolled into one.

Used tactical models are landing in the $220–$250 range right now.

That’s not a deal.

That’s a lifetime tool.

The Budget Bolt That Changed the Game: Savage Axis II

There was a time when the Axis was the rifle you settled for.

Not anymore.

Savage went back and fixed every complaint with the Axis II, and the result is something that punches way above its weight. The adjustable AccuTrigger breaks clean—like glass—anywhere from 2.5 to 6 pounds without touching a gunsmith.

And out in the field?

Sub-MOA accuracy right out of the box. That means tight groups under an inch at 100 yards with standard ammo.

Now sure, the stock has a little flex. And a lightweight .308 will remind you it went off.

But when pawn shops are moving scoped combos for $180–$210, you’re not buying perfection.

You’re buying capability.

The Working Man’s AR: Palmetto State Armory PA-15

There was a time the industry said you couldn’t build a reliable AR at this price point.

Palmetto State Armory proved them wrong.

Forged receivers. Carpenter 158 bolt. A gas system that runs dirty, runs hot—and keeps running anyway.

That matters when maintenance isn’t always convenient.

Even better, 5.56 ammo is everywhere. It’s the most stockpiled rifle round in the country, and magazines are cheap enough to stack deep.

Back in 2022, these were pushing $400 and hard to find.

Today? You’re looking at $280–$320.

That’s not just affordable.

That’s strategic.

European Precision Without the Premium: Tikka T3X

Pick up a Tikka T3X and the first thing you notice is the bolt.

It doesn’t grind. It doesn’t hesitate. It glides.

Like it’s riding on glass.

The cold hammer-forged barrel delivers consistent accuracy, and the trigger—adjustable from two to four pounds—has zero creep. None.

Most rifles promise 1 MOA.

This one quietly beats it.

Yes, the magazines are pricey. And yes, the recoil on a lightweight .308 has some bite.

But when used T3X Lite models are showing up at $450–$500, you’re stepping into a different class of rifle entirely.

And you’ll feel it the moment you cycle that bolt.

The Step-Up AR: Sig M400 Tread

Now if you’re ready to move beyond entry-level…

The Sig M400 Tread is where things start getting serious.

The stainless barrel resists corrosion—huge if you’re storing gear in a barn, shed, or damp space. Meanwhile, the mid-length gas system reduces wear and smooths out recoil over time.

Little details matter.

Like the ambidextrous safety right out of the box.

These used to run around $1,000.

Now they’re landing at $650–$700.

That’s a professional-grade platform stepping into reach.

The Reliable Classic: Smith & Wesson M&P-15 Sport II

Think of the Sport II like a good farm truck.

It’s not flashy.

But it starts every time.

Chrome-lined internals, properly staked gas key, and a barrel optimized for the most common 5.56 loads you’ll find anywhere. This is a rifle built to run—not to impress.

Sure, you’ll probably upgrade the handguard or add accessories later.

But the core system?

Solid.

Used models are sitting in the $320–$350 range.

And for something this dependable, that’s hard to ignore.

When You Need More Power: Aero Precision M5

Sometimes a .223 just isn’t enough.

That’s where the Aero Precision M5 steps in.

This is an AR-10 platform chambered in .308—built for reach, impact, and serious work. The monolithic-style upper keeps everything locked in tight, even when you’re running optics and gear.

It’s not light. Add a scope and a full magazine, and you’re pushing 11–12 pounds.

But this isn’t a hiking rifle.

This is a “solve the problem at distance” rifle.

Used builds in the $800–$950 range right now make it one of the most capable setups for the money.

The Quiet Performer: Ruger Mini-14

The Mini-14 doesn’t scream for attention.

It just keeps showing up.

Its piston-driven system runs cleaner than most ARs, keeping gas and carbon out of the action. That means less maintenance and more uptime.

And then there’s the profile.

It doesn’t look tactical—which, depending on where you live, can be a real advantage.

Used prices are hovering between $410–$460.

And for a rifle that’s been around since 1973, that kind of staying power tells you something.

European Accuracy, Entry-Level Price: CZ 600 Alpha

The CZ 600 Alpha brings something rare to the table.

European-level precision… without the European price tag.

Cold hammer-forged barrel. Adjustable trigger. And a factory-backed sub-MOA guarantee that it actually delivers on.

In 6.5 Creedmoor, this thing stacks rounds tight at 100 yards with standard ammo.

And right now?

Used rifles are hitting $340–$370.

That’s not just a deal.

That’s a steal.

The Versatile Workhorse: Ruger American

If there’s one rifle that quietly reset expectations across the board…

It’s the Ruger American.

The bedding system keeps shots consistent. The adjustable trigger dials in easily. And with over 15 calibers available, it adapts to whatever job you need done.

It’s not fancy.

But it’s effective.

Used prices dipping to $210–$240 make it one of the most practical buys out there.

And sometimes, practical wins.

The Hidden Gem: Howa 1500

Here’s one a lot of folks overlook.

The Howa 1500.

Made in Japan—and that alone keeps some buyers away. But that hesitation? That’s your opportunity.

This rifle is built right.

Cold hammer-forged barrel. Solid recoil lug. A two-stage trigger that feels like something you’d normally pay extra for.

And accuracy?

Consistently better than rifles twice the price.

Used models in the $290–$330 range are showing up right now.

Quietly.

Without much attention.

Which is exactly why they don’t stay there long.

Tale Action… The Window Won’t Stay Open

That’s 11 rifles.

11 different ways to strengthen your setup without draining your reserves.

And here’s the bottom line.

The folks who come out ahead in moments like this aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets.

They’re the ones paying attention.

Because these kinds of price corrections don’t stick around. They come in quiet… sit there just long enough… and then disappear.

So take a look at what you actually need.

Handle a few. Run the numbers. Make a move.

And get it locked in before the next wave hits and everyone else realizes what you already saw.

Iran is still holding traffic through the Strait of Hormuz hostage, and the entire world is going to suffer. Before the war, commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz flowed freely, and the global economy functioned normally. But even though there is a temporary ceasefire, Iran continues to maintain a stranglehold on the waterway, and they are insisting that this will continue to be the case when a permanent deal to end the war is reached. In other words, the Iranians are making it clear that this is how things are going to operate from now on, and they know that the U.S. and Europe are not eager to do what it would take militarily to reopen the Strait. Of course even if there is a military operation to reopen the Strait, it will take an extended period of time before it is safe for commercial traffic to pass through the waterway once again. Any way that you look at it, the truth is that this is going to be a complete and utter disaster for the global economy.

The Iranians were supposed to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz as part of the ceasefire deal.

But that has not happened.

In fact, the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company has ominously declared that “the Strait of Hormuz is not open”…

The Strait of Hormuz has not opened to ship traffic after the U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, said the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., or ADNOC, on Thursday.

“This moment requires clarity,” said Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber in a social media post. “So let’s be clear: the Strait of Hormuz is not open. Access is being restricted, conditioned and controlled.”

Iran has made clear that ships must obtain its permission to pass through the strait, Al Jaber said. “That is not freedom of navigation. That is coercion,” the ADNOC chief said.

Only a handful of ships are getting through right now.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Iranians are only going to allow about a dozen ships to pass through the Strait each day…

Iran told mediators it will limit the number of ships crossing the strait to around a dozen a day, and the Iranian Navy warned ships anchored near the strait that they would need Tehran’s permission to cross.

Before the war, about 10 times as many vessels were traveling through the Strait of Hormuz on a daily basis.

The Iranians are telling us that any vessels that attempt to pass through without authorization “will be destroyed”…

On Wednesday, Iran warned that oil tankers will be destroyed if they try to travel along the strait without permission, as it seeks to retain control over the passage during the ceasefire.

A radio message was broadcast yesterday by the regime to all oil ships in the vital waterway, saying: ‘If any vessels try to transit without permission, [they] will be destroyed.’

This is going to starve the global economy of desperately needed oil, natural gas, petrochemicals and fertilizer, and Iran fully understands this.

Any ships that Iran authorizes to pass through the Strait must “sail through Iranian waters around Larak ​Island to avoid the risk of naval mines”…

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have told vessels to sail through Iranian waters around Larak ​Island to avoid the risk of naval mines in the usual lanes through the strait, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.

Vessels are to enter the strait north of Larak Island and exit just south of it until further notice in coordination with the IRGC’s navy, Tasnim quoted the IRGC as saying.

Iran has essentially admitted that they have mined the Strait of Hormuz.

Even if the war ended immediately, it would take a long time to make sure that all the mines were gone.

The Iranians are forcing commercial ships to enter their own territorial waters so that they can charge a toll of up to 2 million dollars per vessel…

Iran is charging tolls of up to $2 million per ship to pass through the strait, a maneuver dubbed the “Tehran Toll Booth” in shipping circles.

When asked about what Iran is doing, the White House said that it is “completely unacceptable”…

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the alleged closure of the strait, based on reports from Iranian state media, is “completely unacceptable.”

And President Trump is pledging that once a permanent peace agreement is reached the Strait of Hormuz will be “OPEN & SAFE”…

There is just one huge problem.

The Iranians are insisting on control of the Strait of Hormuz as part of any peace deal.

So Trump is going to be faced with a decision.

Either he will give the Iranians what they want, or he will start the war back up again.

But let’s be wildly optimistic for a moment.

Let’s assume that the Iranians totally give in and allow commercial traffic to flow freely through the Strait of Hormuz.

Even if that were to happen, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would not return to normal levels for a very long time to come.

We know that this is true, because traffic through the Red Sea has still not returned to normal even though there has been a ceasefire with the Houthis for quite some time…

Analysts told CNBC that the Houthis in Yemen disrupting the Red Sea last year provides a reference point to how quickly traffic could recover following a potential ceasefire.

“In the Red Sea with the Houthis, the ceasefire agreement was last January and traffic has not returned,” Nikos Petrakakos, managing director at maritime investment manager Tufton, told CNBC in an interview. “As long as there’s a threat of an attack, that’s enough. You don’t actually need the attack.”

The bottom line is that the crisis in the Middle East is going to continue to massively disrupt the global economy for an extended period no matter what happens next.

The last tankers that departed prior to the war are arriving at their destinations, and we are already starting to see rationing and shortages all over the globe.

In fact, Madagascar just declared a nationwide energy emergency…

Madagascar has declared a two‑week nationwide state of energy emergency amid severe fuel shortages caused by the US and Israel’s war in Iran.

The presidency said the decision was taken following Tuesday’s cabinet meeting over fears the situation could lead to public disorder.

The “severe fuel shortages” that they are now experiencing will not be alleviated any time soon.

In Myanmar, a “rationing system for private vehicles” has just been imposed…

Amid fuel shortages, Myanmar’s military government has implemented a rationing system for private vehicles. Under the singular scheme, vehicles with even-numbered licence plates are only allowed to drive on even dates while those with odd-numbered plates can only drive on odd dates.

This is just the beginning.

Supplies of oil and natural gas are starting to get really tight in Europe, and European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has warned that what the continent is facing is “probably beyond what we can imagine at the moment”…

For the European Union, the short-term consequences of Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — steeply rising gasoline and diesel prices, and a severe jet fuel shortage putting foreign travel at risk — could be dwarfed by the long-term implications of a prolonged closure. An industrial crash, higher manufacturing prices passed on to consumers in the form of damaging inflation, fertilizer shortages and resulting spikes in food prices, and higher household utility bills all have the potential to upend European politics.

What is already being called “the biggest global energy crisis in history” could have still more drastic consequences, and the EU is particularly exposed, with most of its major economies significantly more dependent on fossil fuel imports than the UK. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde last month described the long-term effects for Europe as “probably beyond what we can imagine at the moment”.

Little wonder, then, that the EU has convened the dreaded European “working group”. EU Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said on Friday that the bloc is exploring “all possibilities” to deal with a “long-lasting” shock, in which “energy prices will be higher for a very long time.” Jørgensen mentioned fuel rationing and releasing emergency oil reserves as potential steps to mitigate the crisis; fuel rationing has already been introduced in Slovenia, while fuel restrictions have been issued at four Italian airports.

And the International Monetary Fund is publicly admitting that there will be shortages of diesel and jet fuel “for some time”…

The world will experience diesel and jet fuel shortages “for some time” because of the war in Iran, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The halting of normal flows through the Iran-controlled Strait of Hormuz – the vital oil and gas shipping route – “will for some time continue to have ripple effects”, said the organisation’s managing director Kristalina Georgieva.

She specifically mentioned shortages in refined oil products, diesel and jet fuel.

This is really happening.

Even if Iran surrenders, fully opens the Strait of Hormuz immediately and starts feverishly removing the mines, the world will still experience enormous supply disruptions throughout the remainder of 2026.

Of course the truth is that Iran does not intend to give in on anything.

The Iranians believe that they have won, and they are going to stick to the list of 10 demands that they have been relentlessly sharing with the world on social media.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration plans to stick to the list of 15 demands that it is making.

There is no way that those two lists are compatible.

So it appears that more fighting is probably inevitable, and that will just make economic conditions even worse.

Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.  He has also written nine other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post This Is Going To Be A Complete And Utter Disaster For The Global Economy appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

Why have so many scientists that were working at the top levels of the U.S. space program suddenly died? This is a story that I have been monitoring for quite some time. In some cases, these scientists are dropping dead without any explanation. In other cases, they are simply disappearing and are never heard from again. It is like something out of a really bizarre science fiction novel. If a very unusual tragedy had happened to one or two scientists, that would be easy to overlook. But now we have a list of 9 dead scientists, and people are demanding answers.

As you will see below, many of these scientists were connected in some way. In fact, as Alexis Williamson has aptly pointed out, all of them worked at highly sensitive facilities located either in California, New Mexico or Ohio…

In the geometry of American defense research, three cities form the backbone of the nation’s most classified aerospace programs: Southern California, where the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech’s infrared processing centers anchor NASA’s planetary work; Albuquerque, home to Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Labs; and Dayton, Ohio, where Wright-Patterson has for decades been the nerve center of the Air Force Research Laboratory. Since July 2024, at least nine scientists, engineers, and defense-connected personnel tied to these exact nodes have died under unexplained circumstances, disappeared without a trace, or been found murdered. Congress is alarmed. The FBI is involved. And the institutions that lost these people have, in nearly every case, said as little as possible.

I think that it is great that the FBI has decided to get involved.

But weren’t they supposed to get to the bottom of the Epstein scandal too?

Ultimately, it doesn’t take a genius to see that we have a pattern here.

The following partial list of victims was posted on X by RedWave Press…

—Carl Grillmair: Astrophysicist at Caltech. “He worked on a NASA-supported space telescope project and infrared systems. Now, he was shot and killed at his home just two months ago.”

—Frank Maiwald: Senior Scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. “He died nearly two years ago but his cause of death has never been made public.”

—Monica Reza: Connected to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab Project. “She went missing last summer while hiking in California.”

—William Neil McCasland: Retired Air Force General that oversaw advanced space and surveillance programs. He’s been missing since February. (Connected to Monica Reza)

—Melissa Casias: Worked at Los Alamos National Labs. “She has been missing since last summer.”

—Anthony Chavez: Connected to Los Alamos National Labs. “He disappeared during a walk.”

Overall, there are 8 prominent scientists that have either died or disappeared under mysterious circumstances during the past couple of years.

And now a ninth name has surfaced.

A research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory named Michael David Hicks suddenly died on July 30th, 2023…

Another scientist with ties to America’s space program has now joined the growing list of deaths and disappearances around the US.

Michael David Hicks, a research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), passed away on July 30, 2023 at the age of 59, but the cause of death was never made public, and no record of an autopsy being performed could be found.

Hicks, who worked at JPL from 1998 to 2022, was credited with publishing over 80 scientific papers and was part of multiple teams helping NASA understand the physical properties of comets and asteroids.

The reason why the death of Hicks is getting so much attention now is because he had direct connections to Reza, Maiwald and Grillmair…

Moreover, three of these scientists had close ties to Hicks, as all of them worked at the Jet Propulsion Lab or participated in NASA missions there. Monica Reza, JPL’s new Director of the Materials Processing Group, vanished without a trace in June 2025, just months after beginning her tenure at the NASA lab.

Two other men with deep ties to JPL died recently, including a long-time coworker of Hicks, Frank Maiwald, who died in July 2024 at age 61, with even less public acknowledgement of his untimely passing.

Meanwhile, astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, 67, was murdered on the front porch of his home on February 16, 2026. The California Institute of Technology researcher’s work was heavily supported by NASA’s JPL, and Grillmair was personally involved with major space telescope missions led by NASA.

Hicks may be the key to this whole thing.

If we can determine why he was killed, we may be able to determine why Reza, Maiwald and Grillmair were killed as well.

Clearly, something nefarious is going on.

When U.S. Representative Tim Burchett was asked about the deaths and disappearances of these scientists, he openly admitted that he believes that “there is a connection there”…

Burchett also weighed in on the alarming string of disappearances and deaths among the country’s top researchers in the field — including the mysterious disappearance of retired Air Force Gen. William McCasland in February and his former colleague, rocket scientist Monica Reza, eight months earlier.

“There are no coincidences in this town. These folks have disappeared or died mysteriously,” he said. “I think overall, I think there is a connection there. People just do not disappear … not in this day and age.”

I concur with Burchett.

There is no way that all of this is just a coincidence.

During that same interview, Burchett dropped an even bigger bombshell.

He claims that if the government released all of the information that it has about aliens, the country would “come unglued” and that all of us would be up at night worrying about “this stuff”…

“If they were to release the things that I’ve seen, you’d be up at night, worrying about, thinking about this stuff,” he ominously warned, adding he’s sat down with “just about every alphabet agency this is.”

Just two weeks ago, he recalled, he was briefed “on an issue” involving extraterrestrial life “that would have set the Earth on fire.”

“This country would have come unglued, I think, if they would have heard all that I heard. They would demand answers and they … need to. But, you know …unfortunately it just keeps getting covered up and covered up,” he said.

I would really love to see the information that he has been briefed on that is so hot that it would “set the Earth on fire”.

Burchett is not someone that tends to make extreme claims, so I do consider him to be a credible source.

Former congressman Matt Gaetz does not have the same level of credibility that Burchett has, but he has also been making some very interesting disclosures.

During a recent interview, he sensationally claimed that the U.S. has been secretly breeding aliens and humans. According to him, the goal is to create a hybrid race that “could engage in intergalactic communication”…

Former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz has claimed that the US is secretly running ‘forced breeding programs’ working to create alien-human hybrids.

The controversial conservative firebrand added that a member of the US military described this program to him in detail, saying there were six to 12 secret facilities around the country engaged in abducting humans to mate with extraterrestrials.

Gaetz said: ‘I had someone come and brief me who was in a military uniform, worked for the United States Army, that was briefing me on the locations of hybrid breeding programs where captured aliens were breeding with humans to create some hybrid race that could engage in intergalactic communication.’

That is really weird.

But apparently Gaetz is 100 percent convinced that this is true.

Of course he is not the only one that has been making such claims.

Retired Air Force Major David Grusch says that alien-human hybrids are already living on this planet and that President Trump knows all about it…

In fact, noted UFO whistleblower and retired US Air Force Major David Grusch has claimed that President Trump was ‘fully briefed’ on the existence of alien-human hybrids currently living on Earth.

Grusch, whom Gaetz also referenced during his interview last month, spent 14 years in the Air Force before becoming an intelligence officer for the National Reconnaissance Office, which builds surveillance satellites for the Pentagon.

In 2023, he testified under oath before Congress, claiming that secret government departments had been running UFO retrieval and reverse-engineering programs for decades.

Last year, Missouri congressman Eric Burlison claimed that Grusch had also briefed the president on the existence of at least four alien species humans secretly know about.

How much of this is true, and how much of this is false?

I would love to know, and I am sure that you would too.

Hopefully we will start to get some answers.

In recent months, there has been so much speculation that the federal government is about to make some major revelations.

And when “Alien.gov” and “Aliens.gov” were officially registered by a U.S. government agency, that caused the rumor mill to go into overdrive…

Two newly registered federal website domains — Alien.gov and Aliens.gov — are drawing attention after records showed they were created this week by a U.S. government agency, fueling speculation as questions around UFOs and extraterrestrial life return to the spotlight.

The timing is notable: the domains surfaced weeks after President Donald Trump said he would push for the release of government files related to UFOs and extraterrestrial life, reigniting debate over what information the federal government has kept classified.

No information has been posted at either of those two domains yet.

But observers are watching them very closely.

Personally, this is a topic that I have been writing about for many years, and I am convinced that we are entering a time of great deception.

I don’t think that our government agencies will ever reveal everything that they know or the very twisted things that they have been doing in secret.

The truth is out there, but if you are expecting to get it from the feds you will be waiting for a very, very long time.

Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.  He has also written nine other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post 9 Scientists Connected To The U.S. Space Program Are Dead As Speculation Grows That The U.S. Government Is In Contact With Aliens appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

Iran is accusing Israel of attacking Hezbollah even after the ceasefire was agreed upon. Iranian media outlets have reported that Tehran was suspending tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and was considering pulling out of the deal with Washington over Israel’s actions in Lebanon.

The United States has denied that the vital waterway has been closed again. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump was aware of reports saying the strait had been closed, but said the reports “are false,” reported CBS News. 

It isn’t just Israel, either.  Iran has also accused the U.S. of violating multiple clauses of the deal framework.

Oil Price Plunge After Iran Allows Safe Passage Through Strait of Hormuz

According to a report by the Associated Press News (APNews), Israel’s attacks on Beirut resulted in the deadliest day in the country since the war began. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has insisted that an end to the war in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire deal, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump said it was not. Iran’s parliament speaker warned Thursday that continued Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon would bring “explicit costs and STRONG responses.”

Saudi Arabia’s Oil Pipeline Hit As Hegseth Declares “Overwhelming Victory” Against Iran

Talks to seek a permanent end to the war could begin in Islamabad in the coming days.

Talks to seek a permanent end to the war could begin in Islamabad in the coming days. The White House confirmed that U.S. Vice President JD Vance will lead the U.S. negotiating team.

JD Vance Warns Of “Islamist-Aligned” Western Europe

This news comes as fuel prices continue to undermine the country’s economic stability, exacerbating the affordability crisis already gripping the U.S. Relief seems to be fleeting, and the ruling class doesn’t care at all about those they rule over. They have shown this time and time again as we stand on the precipice of an economic apocalypse and third world war.

At a Glance: Salt curing meat is a preservation method that uses salt to remove moisture via osmosis, lowering water activity to prevent bacterial growth. Key steps for dry curing meat at home include a heavy salt rub, cold curing at 36°F–40°F, and air-drying until the meat loses 35% of its original weight. Whole muscles are generally safe with salt alone, but according to USDA safety standards, ground meats require nitrates to prevent botulism.

Why is Salt Curing Meat Essential for Survival?

In a long-term grid-down scenario, your freezer is a liability. Once the power fails, you have roughly 48 hours before your protein assets become a biohazard. Meat preservation without refrigeration is the only way to lock in calories for 6 to 12 months.

Supplies Needed for Salt Curing Meat

• Non-iodized salt: Coarse sea salt or Kosher salt (Avoid table salt with additives).
• Digital scale: Must be accurate to 0.1g for weight-loss tracking.
• Breathable wrap: Cheesecloth or muslin.
• Non-reactive container: Glass, food-safe plastic, or stainless steel.
• Cool environment: A space maintaining 36°F–40°F for the initial cure.

How Does Salt Curing Meat Work?

Salt curing works by dehydrating meat through osmosis to create an environment where bacteria cannot physically survive. When you pack a cut in salt, the high concentration on the outside forces moisture out of the muscle fibers while drawing salt inward. This process effectively lowers the “water activity” of the meat; since spoilage-causing microbes require a specific level of moisture to hydrate and reproduce, the “Salt-Shield” renders the protein biologically inert.

Is Salt Curing Meat Safe for Long-Term Storage?

Yes, salt curing is safe for long-term storage provided you match the curing method to the specific type of meat. For whole-muscle cuts like hams or loins, salt alone is a sufficient barrier against spoilage if you hit the 35% weight-loss target. However, safety margins change for ground meats:

• Whole Muscles: Safe to use salt alone. The dense structure of a whole muscle prevents oxygen from reaching the center, and the salt penetrates before surface bacteria can migrate inward.

• Ground/Punctured Meats: These require nitrates (Pink Salt #2). Grinding meat introduces oxygen and surface bacteria into the center of the mix, creating a high-risk environment for Clostridium botulinum (botulism) that salt alone cannot reliably neutralize.

The Golden Rule: Never attempt to cure ground or punctured meat without nitrates. For whole muscles, the “Salt-Shield” is sufficient if environmental controls are met.

What is the Best Process for Curing Meat at Home?

We utilize a 3-Layer Storage Protocol to ensure the salt penetrates the core before the surface can spoil.

1. The Clean Prep: Trim excess fat (fat does not cure well and can go rancid) and weigh the meat.
2. The Salt-Box Rub: Cover the meat entirely in salt. Use the 1/3 Rule: Ensure the salt layer is at least one-third the thickness of the meat itself.
3. The Cold Cure: Store the meat at 36°F–40°F (2°C–4°C). Flip the meat daily and pour off accumulated liquid.
4. The Rinse and Wrap: Once firm (approx. 1 day per pound), rinse off excess salt and wrap in cheesecloth.
5. The Long Hang: Hang in a dark area with gentle airflow (55°F / 70% humidity) until it hits the target weight.

Once the “Rinse and Wrap” phase is complete, you need a reliable way to hang weight. These stainless steel S-hooks are non-reactive (crucial when dealing with salt) and can support heavy whole-muscle hams for the 6 to 12 months required for total shelf stability.

Last update on 2026-04-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How Can You Tell if Cured Meat Has Gone Bad?

Do not rely on the “smell test.” By the time you smell rot, the toxins are already present. You must use the Go/No-Go Weight Gate.

Warning: If the outside felt like leather but the inside was a grey, stinking mush. This is “Case Hardening.” It happens when the outside dries too fast, trapping moisture inside and allowing anaerobic bacteria to bloom. If your meat hits the weight goal too quickly (under 14 days for a large cut), you likely have a hollow, rotten center.

The 35% Math Box

Use this formula to determine when your meat is shelf-stable:

• Example: You start with a 5lb (2268g) pork loin.

• The Calculation: $2268 times 0.65 = 1474.2$

• The Goal: Your meat is not safe to eat until the scale reads 1474g or less.

A standard kitchen scale that rounds to the nearest ounce is useless here. You need a high-precision digital scale to ensure the weight loss is tracked to the gram. Here’s what I use:

Last update on 2026-04-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I use table salt for curing meat?

A: No. Iodized table salt contains anti-caking agents and iodine that create a bitter, metallic taste and can interfere with the chemical process. Use coarse sea salt or Kosher salt.

Q: What is the best temperature for salt curing?

A: The “Cold Cure” phase must be between 36°F and 40°F. If it is too cold (freezing), the salt won’t penetrate. If it is too warm (above 45°F), the meat will spoil before the salt can shield it.

Q: How do I prevent case hardening?

A: Maintain humidity between 60% and 75%. If your environment is too dry (like a modern frost-free fridge), the surface will seal. If this happens, vacuum seal the meat for 7 days to “equalize” the moisture, then resume hanging.

 

POLL: Salt curing meat at home. Essential survival skill or food poisoning waiting to happen?

It is difficult to believe the pace at which global events are now moving. Apocalyptic threats are being thrown around recklessly and severe damage is being done to the global economic system every single day. A lot of people still seem to think that economic conditions will snap back to normal once the war ends, and that is because they don’t understand the level of destruction that has already taken place. Even if the war ends tomorrow and commercial traffic starts flowing freely through the Strait of Hormuz once again, the world won’t be getting nearly as much energy from the Middle East because dozens of oil and natural gas facilities have either been damaged or destroyed. That means that widespread rationing and global energy shortages are baked in no matter what happens next.

According to the executive director of the IEA, 75 energy sites in the Persian Gulf region have been attacked, and approximately a third of those sites have experienced severe damage…

International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol was interviewed by the French newspaper Le Figaro earlier on Tuesday and warned that the Gulf energy shock “is more severe than those of 1973, 1979, and 2022 combined” because it is affecting oil, gas, food, fertilizers, petrochemicals, helium, and global trade all at once.

Birol said in the interview that more than 75 energy sites across the Gulf region have been attacked, with about a third severely damaged, suggesting tens of billions of dollars in repairs and a prolonged disruption of some energy flows, further tightening global supplies and compounding the disruption at the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint.

It is going to take years to rebuild the damage that has already been done by this war.

So what will things look like if this war stretches on for many more months?

Tankers that traveled through the Strait of Hormuz before the war began have still been arriving at their destinations.

But this month that is going to stop happening, and Birol is warning that we are entering a “black April”…

These countries are producing just over half of pre-war levels. As for natural gas, exports have stopped entirely. March was already difficult, but April will be worse. If the Strait remains closed throughout April, we will lose twice as much crude and refined products as in March. We are entering a “black April.” In the Northern Hemisphere, April usually marks spring—but now it may feel like the beginning of winter.

Even in a wildly optimistic scenario in which the war ends immediately, conditions will continue to deteriorate for quite some time to come.

Right now, Asia is being hit harder than anywhere else, because they are the most dependent on Middle East energy…

In South Korea, the president urged citizens to take shorter showers to save energy. Butter chicken has disappeared from some restaurant menus in India because it needs to simmer for a long time, which is a challenge when there’s a shortage of cooking gas. In the Philippines, the government asked officials to reduce electricity usage by taking the stairs instead of elevators.

We haven’t seen anything like this in decades.

Bangladesh is already experiencing widespread fuel shortages, and we are witnessing fights, robberies and panic-buying at gas stations all over the country…

In Bangladesh, the fuel shortages and panic have resulted in a spike in robberies, as people raid gas stations and fuel trucks in order to stockpile supplies.

Mohammad Najmul Haque, president of the Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners Association, told the Washington Post that attacks are reported every day across the roughly 3,000 fuel stations in the country. The appearance of huge lines of people panic-buying fuel has contributed to a cycle of fear, leading others to do the same. Some gas station managers have been beaten—or even killed—Haque and Bangladeshi officials reported, over the fuel shortages.

Things will soon get even worse in nations all over Asia because the tankers are going to stop arriving this month.

Of course Europe is going to experience a tremendous amount of pain too.

Already, approximately 18 percent of all gas stations in France are “facing fuel supply shortages”…

Around 18% of French petrol stations are currently ​facing fuel supply shortages, the government said on Tuesday, while rising prices at the pump prompted some drivers in western France to block a road in a sign of rumbling discontent.

As the US-Israeli-led war ​on Iran ‌enters its sixth week, a supply crunch on oil deliveries has ⁠led to a surge in crude and fuel prices in many parts of the world.

Here in the United States, we don’t have to worry about any gasoline shortages at this stage.

But in many areas of the nation gasoline sure is getting quite expensive…

For Connie Lear, driving even her hybrid car is a luxury she can rarely afford.

Lear lives in the rural town of June Lake, California, a picturesque community of 300 people near Yosemite National Park and the Nevada state line.

June Lake is part of Mono County, which has the highest average gas price in the United States.

“My husband and I were watching the news this morning, and it came on about $4 gas and I said, ‘Well, where are you? Ours is $7.50!’” she said, citing the price at the only gas station in her town. The Mono County average was $6.72 as of Monday, according to AAA.

What are people going to do if the price of gasoline hits 10 dollars a gallon?

Of course if this war persists we could eventually be dealing with shortages too.

In fact, one industry insider is telling us that is exactly what is going to happen if “we continue on the path we are on now”…

“The longer this goes on, the scarier it is. Today we might not have a shortfall, but eventually we will,” said Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates.

“If we continue on the path we are on now, we will run out of fuel,” he warned.

It appears that supplies of jet fuel are even tighter.

Thousands of flights are being canceled all over the world, and four airports in Italy just started “imposing restrictions on refueling due to a shortage of jet fuel”…

Europe’s airports have begun imposing restrictions on refueling due to a shortage of jet fuel, and airlines have preemptively canceled flights.

In Italy, four airports in Bologna, Milan, Treviso and Venice placed some restrictions on jet fuel through Thursday, according to an official notice, which says that “due to limited fuel availability from Air BP Italia, refueling services for operators contractually linked to Air BP Italia may be subject to restrictions.”

As I stated yesterday, if you need to fly somewhere you should do it as soon as possible.

Supplies of jet fuel are only going to get tighter from here.

The same thing can be said about petrochemicals.

I wish that this was not true, but without sufficient supplies of petrochemicals the global economy will not be able to function.

So the fact that major petrochemical facilities in the Middle East are being destroyed should deeply alarm all of us.

In Iran, two facilities that account for over 85 percent of Iranian petrochemical exports have been destroyed…

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the operation, stating that the strike on Assaluyeh marks the second major petrochemical complex targeted by Israel in Iran. He said that the two facilities together account for more than 85 percent of Iran’s petrochemical exports and are now no longer operational following the attacks.

Iranian media, including Fars News Agency and Mehr News Agency, reported multiple explosions in the South Pars Special Economic Energy Zone in Assaluyeh following the strikes. The reports indicated that the operation involved U.S. and Israeli fighter jets and that several key installations were hit, including the Jam and Damavand petrochemical plants.

In response, the Iranians hit the fourth biggest petrochemical manufacturer on the entire planet…

Iranian ballistic missiles struck Al-Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia

The target was the Middle East’s largest petrochemical company, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), the fourth largest petrochemical manufacturer in the world after DuPont, BASF and Sinopec

If you do not understand how things are made, you may not think that this is that big of a deal.

But the truth is that almost everything that you buy either contains petrochemicals or is wrapped in packaging that is made from petrochemicals.

Goldman Sachs is warning that the petrochemical supply shock is “transmitting faster and at a greater magnitude than we had anticipated”…

Goldman analysts, led by Georgina Fraser, warned clients on Monday that the petrochemical shock is worsening across Asia, with textile and packaging plants emerging as the first major downstream casualties.

“The supply shock is transmitting faster and at a greater magnitude than we had anticipated,” Fraser emphasized in the note.

She said the supply shock is moving beyond higher energy prices into production cuts, margin compression, and early demand destruction, adding that “signals are materializing fastest, with textiles and packaging among the first downstream sectors affected.”

This is not a hypothetical scenario that may or may not happen someday.

This is an unprecedented global nightmare that is happening right now.

If you are a regular reader, you already know that I am extremely concerned about the worldwide shortage of fertilizer that has now erupted…

About a third of all fertilizer shipped globally goes through the Strait of Hormuz because Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iran are big global producers. Some plants in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan have stopped fertilizer production entirely because of a shortage of natural gas.

We can’t get the fertilizer that is trapped in the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.

And we can’t get fertilizer plants all over the globe the natural gas from the Middle East that they need to operate.

Spring is planting season all over the northern hemisphere, and if nitrogen fertilizer is not applied within a certain window of time it won’t work.

Global food production is going to be way down in 2026.

The number of people facing acute hunger around the world was already at a record high before the war started, and now we are facing a scenario in which we could see widespread famine in many areas of the planet.

Even if the war ends tomorrow, it is going to take many years for the global economy to recover.

So what kind of crisis are we talking about if this war keeps raging for a long time to come?

Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.  He has also written nine other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post Widespread Rationing And Global Energy Shortages Are Baked In No Matter When The War Ends Now appeared first on The Economic Collapse.