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Prepping often gets romanticized—think cabins in the woods, off-grid solar, hunting for your food with a bow and arrow. But for most people? Crisis is going to hit right where they live—and that’s in or near a city. And cities are a different beast altogether. Urban environments come with unique urban prepping threats—many of which […]
Spring is the season for enjoying nature with activities such as hiking and camping. Coincidentally, spring is also when wildlife resumes being more active. Bears wake up from their hibernation looking for food, snakes come out to sunbathe, and coyotes roam to find prey. While these animals usually avoid humans, sometimes their paths cross. The best way to stay safe is to understand their behavior and know how to react correctly. This guide will teach you how to prevent wildlife encounters and handle animals safely if they happen. This also shows you the right gear for protection during these chance encounters.
As animals emerge from hibernation, wildlife encounters can get dangerously real. One wrong move can turn a scenic trail into a survival test. Here’s how to stay safe when nature gets too close.
Bears don’t wake up in spring feeling refreshed—they wake up starving. After months of living off body fat, they need food fast, and they’ll head toward wherever the scent of a meal takes them. Especially when cubs are around, this is when they’re most unpredictable.
Bears are most common in forests, mountainous areas, and nearby rivers or lakes. As spring arrives, bears emerge from hibernation hungry. In North America, you’ll typically encounter black bears. Meanwhile, grizzly bears are more common in the western U.S. and parts of Canada.
The key is to stay calm and avoid triggering the bear’s natural instincts. Here’s what you should do:
Snakes aren’t aggressive—but they will defend themselves once they get sense danger. Most bites happen because people accidentally step too close. With warmer weather, they’re out of hiding, and knowing where they like to stay can help you avoid a painful encounter.
Snakes prefer sunny and warm spots like rocks, logs, and open trails. During spring, they come out of hiding to bask in the sun and regulate their body temperature. In North America, you might encounter venomous snakes such as rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths.
What You Should Not Do:
Coyotes are opportunistic animals. They’ll eat whatever they can find, whether small animals, fruit, or trash. If you’re in their territory, they won’t hesitate to test boundaries with you.
Coyotes are incredibly adaptable. They live in deserts, forests, grasslands, and even urban areas. They’re more active in spring because they have pups to feed. This makes encounters more likely in areas near food sources like trash or parks with small animals.
Wild animals aren’t out to get you, but they will defend themselves if you are in their way. Give them space, know how to respond, and keep your gear ready. A calm reaction is your best tool in any encounter. The outdoors is safest when you respect its rules.
FAQs About Wildlife Encounters
Do you remember the panic buying that we witnessed during the early days of the pandemic? It’s back, and I have a feeling that it is only going to intensify in the days ahead. As more Americans begin to realize that products made in China will soon more than double in price and that some may no longer be available at all, there will be a feverish rush to purchase Chinese-made goods. Ironically, this may actually give a short-term boost to the U.S. economy, and the economic numbers for the first half of this year may end up looking better than they otherwise would have.
Before I get too deep into this article, there are a couple of things that I want to clarify.
First of all, I do not think that the U.S. should have ever begun trading with communist China at all, because communist China has always been an incredibly evil regime.
Secondly, it was a catastrophic error for the U.S. to become so deeply dependent on imports from China. This is something that I have been writing about for years. Our stores are now teeming with products that were made in China, and thousands of our supply chains simply cannot function without equipment, parts or products that come from China.
But our leaders refused to listen to those of us that were sounding the alarm, and now we have a real mess on our hands.
Because we have become so deeply dependent on China, the trade war that has now begun is really going to hurt, and everyone should be able to see that.
On Thursday, the White House confirmed that the total tariff rate on Chinese imports has now risen to 145 percent…
The U.S. tariff rate on Chinese imports now effectively totals 145%, a White House official confirmed to CNBC.
Trump’s latest executive order hikes tariffs on Beijing to 125% from 84%.
But that comes on top of a 20% fentanyl-related tariff that Trump previously imposed on China.
One economist is warning that high tariff rates on both sides will lead to “a hard decoupling”, and he says that it would be “really hard to overstate the expected shocks this is going to have”…
“This is probably the strongest indication we’ve seen pushing towards a hard decoupling,” said Nick Marro, principal economist for Asia at the Economist Intelligence Unit, referring to an outcome where the two economies have virtually no trade or mutual investment.
“It’s really hard to overstate the expected shocks this is going to have, not just to the Chinese economy itself, but also to the entire global trading landscape,” as well as on the US, he said.
I fully agree with his assessment.
What we are witnessing is going to cause a tremendous amount of disruption.
Apparently lots of other people see things the same way, because a wave of panic buying has now started…
Across the country, people have been rushing to stores or going online to buy everything from iPhones to coffee to designer bags and jewelry in anticipation of the toll the tariffs will take on their wallets.
If there is something that is made in China that you really need, I would get it now while you still can.
One woman that just visited her local Costco said that she has “never seen it so busy”…
Costco was a total nightmare yesterday. I’ve never seen it so busy. I walked out after seeing the lines going down each aisle with no end in sight.
Another woman that lives in New York City admitted to a reporter that her mother is literally “panicking”…
“Actually, I already have. I’ve already started stocking up. My mother has a whole stockpile, and she’s panicking. But I told her we’re going to be okay, as we live in New York City,” said Amelia Guilford, a retail worker who was visiting her mother in the city.
The price hikes that we will soon see will be quite a shock to the system, and this will particularly be true for big ticket items.
For example, it is being projected that the cost to manufacture an iPhone could go up by hundreds of dollars…
Trump’s new tariffs on Chinese goods mean the cost for Apple to manufacture an iPhone could jump from $580 to $850, according to a report from TechInsights.
In anticipation of the coming price hikes, there was a “full-blown buying spree” at Apple stores over the weekend…
Apple just faced a weekend retail frenzy more typical of iPhone launch day than early April. With the Trump administration floating a 54% tariff on Chinese-made goods including Apple’s flagship devices U.S. consumers rushed into stores, fearing sharp price hikes were imminent. According to reports from multiple locations, sales surged as worried buyers sought to lock in current prices, turning what’s usually a quiet season into a full-blown buying spree.
Many of the parts that go into our new vehicles also come from China, and it is being reported that U.S. auto sales were quite a bit higher than expected last month as people rushed to purchase new vehicles before the tariffs were implemented…
US auto sales for March came in higher than Deutsche Bank analysts expected, the bank said in a Friday report, rising from February levels. That might indicate “panic buying” as Americans sought to get ahead of the tariffs on foreign-made vehicles that took effect last week.
The analysts said they had expected higher numbers due to a pre-tariff pull-forward. But “this impact appears far greater than we anticipated,” the report read. Deutsche Bank expected auto sales to be strong through June, then weaken in the back half of the year.
Unless the U.S. and China can reach some sort of an agreement, and that appears very unlikely at this stage, our standard of living is about to change dramatically.
According to CNBC, approximately 70 percent of the goods sold on Amazon come from China…
Many sellers on Amazon count on China for manufacturing and assembly due to lower costs and established infrastructure – up to 70% of goods on Amazon come from China, according to Wedbush Securities. With nearly all imports from China being taxed a staggering 145% under the latest tariffs, Amazon sellers are having to decide whether to raise prices or absorb the vastly increased cost of importing their goods.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy on Thursday told CNBC that its vast network of third-party sellers will likely “pass the cost on” to consumers. He added that Amazon has done some “strategic forward inventory buys” and looked to renegotiate terms on some purchase orders to keep prices low.
Reuters spoke to five Amazon sellers in China. Three of them said that they would be raising prices, and two of them said that they would be leaving the U.S. market completely…
Of the five sellers who spoke to Reuters, three said they would look to raise prices for their exports to the U.S., while two planned to leave the market entirely.
Dave Fong, whose products range from schoolbags to Bluetooth speakers, said on Thursday he has raised prices in the U.S. by up to 30% and would let inventory levels fall and lower spending on Amazon advertising fees, which once took up 40% of his U.S. revenue.
“For us and anyone else, you can’t rely on the U.S. market, that’s quite clear,” Fong said. “We have to reduce investment, and put more resources into regions like Europe, Canada, Mexico and the rest of the world.”
If this trade war persists, it will be an even bigger economic shock than the pandemic was.
But to me, there is potentially an even bigger concern.
The threat of economic sanctions has always been one of the barriers that has made China think twice about invading Taiwan.
But now that our two economies are rapidly decoupling anyway, the Chinese may come to the conclusion that this is actually a perfect time to make a move on Taiwan.
This crisis with China is a far bigger deal than most people realize, and it could have some very serious unintended consequences.
Michael’s new book entitled “Why” 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 “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written eight 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 A Wave Of Panic Buying Has Suddenly Erupted At Retailers All Over America appeared first on The Economic Collapse.
If you’ve been paying attention to the headlines lately, you’ve probably heard the rumblings about new tariffs and trade tensions. And if you haven’t—you should. Because when international costs go up, it hits you right in the gear bag. Tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and inflation aren’t just talking points for economists. They’re warnings for preppers. […]
Eye contact is one of the most basic yet potent forms of human communication. It can convey interest, confidence, or curiosity—but it can also be used as a weapon.
When someone stares at you with bad intentions, it’s often a way to assert dominance or provoke a reaction. In such scenarios, ignoring it may seem like the best route, but doing so can send unintended signals of fear or weakness.
A deliberate, controlled response can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety and projecting strength.
Contrary to instinct, the first step in handling an aggressive stare is not to look away but to acknowledge the person’s presence. This doesn’t mean initiating a confrontation. A brief look that signals awareness is often enough.
The key is to avoid a prolonged stare, which could be interpreted as a challenge. A simple nod, preferably downward, can be a subtle cue that says, “I see you,” without fanning the flames of hostility. The way you manage this moment is essential; it communicates that you’re not an easy target while avoiding escalation.
Once you’ve acknowledged the individual, the next step is to maintain awareness of their position and actions. This doesn’t mean you should keep staring at them. Instead, use your surroundings strategically.
Reflective surfaces like shop windows or car mirrors can provide glimpses of what’s happening behind you without drawing attention to yourself. Stay observant but discreet. Knowing where the person is, who they’re with, and how they’re behaving offers critical insights and can help you anticipate any sudden movements or threats.
This situational awareness should extend to their companions as well. Often, individuals who try to intimidate do so with support nearby. Look for people dressed similarly or standing in close proximity.
These visual cues may indicate group dynamics and help you prepare for any group-based escalation. However, it’s crucial not to become overly focused. Hypervigilance can not only draw attention but also compromise your composure, making you appear anxious or uncertain.
If you sense that the situation may escalate or if you’ve picked up on warning signs, it’s time to remove yourself. But leaving doesn’t mean retreating blindly. Tactical withdrawal involves walking away while keeping tabs on your environment.
Use your peripheral vision or reflective surfaces to monitor the person’s position. This allows you to move to safety without exposing your back or losing awareness of a potential threat.
This method, often referred to as situational awareness in reverse, is about staying one step ahead. Knowing if the individual is alone or accompanied, and recognizing if someone attempts to follow or cut you off, can be the difference between avoiding danger and walking into a trap. The goal isn’t to run but to relocate with awareness and purpose.
Aggressive stares often come from a place of insecurity. Individuals who feel the need to assert dominance through intimidation are typically grappling with their own fears and self-worth. By understanding this, you can better manage your response. The goal isn’t to challenge them but to project inner confidence that renders their tactics ineffective.
One powerful way to build this confidence is through self-defense training. Learning how to fight doesn’t mean you’re looking for a fight.
It means you’re preparing yourself mentally and physically so that you never have to engage in one. This preparedness gives you the psychological edge to remain calm under pressure and to make smart, controlled decisions in tense situations.
Dealing with someone who stares at you with bad intentions is a psychological and situational challenge. It demands presence of mind, self-awareness, and a calm but firm approach.
Acknowledge them without antagonizing. Stay aware of your environment and any supporting individuals. Withdraw with intelligence, not fear. And above all, cultivate confidence that doesn’t rely on confrontation but on knowing your own strength.
These small but vital strategies can help you navigate hostile encounters with grace and safety. By preparing your mind and body, you ensure that the power of a stare remains just that—a look, not a threat.
If bombs start falling on Iran’s nuclear facilities, it would instantly be the biggest news story of 2025 so far. Iranian air defenses would need to be neutralized first, and that would be quite an extensive operation all by itself. Subsequently, destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities would be extraordinarily difficult, because many of them are very deep underground. We have heard a lot about our “bunker buster” bombs, but there is a lot of debate about whether those bombs can actually destroy facilities that are buried that deep. Of course the moment the Iranians start getting bombed, they will strike back by hitting Israeli cities and U.S. bases all over the Middle East. At that point we would be at war with the Iranians, and there would be no turning back. The following are 8 signs that the bombing of Iran could be coming very soon…
#1 A second U.S. aircraft carrier is being moved within striking distance of Iran…
New satellite imagery shows the USS Carl Vinson entering the Indian Ocean via the Malacca Straits, marking a significant step in the U.S. military’s increased presence in the region.
This move comes as tensions with Iran and the Houthis in Yemen escalate, signaling the potential for a more aggressive U.S. stance in the coming days and weeks.
#2 It is being reported that 6 B-2 bombers have been deployed to the base on Diego Garcia. This represents 30 percent of our entire fleet of B-2 bombers…
In the largest single deployment of stealth bombers in U.S. history, the Pentagon has sent six B-2 “Spirit” aircraft to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
The long-range bombers, which are uniquely suited to evade Iranian air defenses and can carry America’s most potent bunker busting weapons, flew in from Missouri last week in a little noticed operation.
#3 The B-2 bombers that have been deployed to Diego Garcia are being left out in the open so that the Iranians can see them…
“All the bombers, they’re not in hangers, they’re underneath satellites where they can be photographed and seen; and the idea is, do you see our sword?” retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Blaine Holt, who served as Deputy U.S. Military Representative to NATO, said in an interview with Newsmax last week. Holt also said that the B-2 deployment “gives the president a military option that he can actually use these weapons against Iran if needed.”
#4 Negotiations with Iran are scheduled to begin this weekend. The New York Times is reporting that the Iranians are expected to reject President Trump’s demands…
But Mr. Trump’s public demands — that Iran stop nuclear enrichment, hand over its large supply of enriched uranium and destroy its existing nuclear facilities — will almost surely be rejected by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, as an unacceptable humiliation and surrender. How far both sides are willing to compromise is unclear, but Mr. Trump is well known for making ultimate demands at the start and then searching for a deal.
#5 President Trump is warning that if negotiations with the Iranians do not succeed “it will be a very bad day for Iran”…
Speaking from the White House’ Oval Office last night Trump warned Iran “would be in great danger” if the projected talks were stymied. He said: “We’re having direct talks with Iran, and they’ve started. It’ll go on Saturday.
“We have a very big meeting, and we’ll see what can happen. And I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and if the talks aren’t successful, I actually think it will be a very bad day for Iran”.
#6 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is openly telling us that a military strike on Iran has almost become “inevitable”…
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that if US ‘indirect’ talks with Iran over its nuclear program fail, then a military attack becomes ‘inevitable’. He issued the warning fresh off his Monday Oval Office visit with President Trump, wherein the US leader announced for the first time that Saturday talks with the Iranians will be hosted in Oman.
Netanyahu said in the new video statement, ““We agree that Iran will not have nuclear weapons. This can be done in an agreement, but only if… they go in, blow up (Iran’s) facilities, dismantle all the equipment, under American supervision.” And he added: “If talks drag on, then the military option becomes inevitable.”
#7 Now that Trump is in the White House, the Israelis believe that now is “the optimum moment to deal with Iran”…
An Israeli diplomatic source warned it is crucial a deal be thrashed out with Iran to temper its nuclear programme.
They said: “From Israel’s perspective, with Trump in the White House, this represents the optimum moment to deal with Iran. There won’t be a better chance.
“Obtaining precise intelligence on just how far Iran’s nuclear programme has advanced has always been hard to obtain.
“But the reality is they’re much much closer than anyone can be comfortable with. And they have been for some time.”
#8 It is just an unverified rumor at this stage, but an Iraqi journalist named Bassim Alhazradji is alleging that the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel have decided to begin a bombing campaign within the next seven days…
Iraqi journalist Bassim Alhazradji has made a startling claim that the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel have reached a final agreement to launch a coordinated military strike against Iran. According to Alhazradji, the attack is expected to begin within the next seven days. While the journalist did not reveal the sources of his information, the statement has caused a ripple of speculation across regional media and political circles.
Alhazradji’s report has not been independently verified, and no official government has issued a statement confirming such a plan. However, rising tensions between Iran and the West, particularly following Tehran’s increasingly confrontational rhetoric and alleged nuclear advancements, lend a measure of plausibility to the claims. Analysts have also pointed to recent military drills conducted by the US Navy in the Persian Gulf, as well as reports of Israeli air force activity near Iranian airspace, as possible signs of an impending escalation.
Personally, I do not think that the bombing of Iran will start within the next seven days.
But if negotiations fail, it is coming soon.
Dr. Oz Hassan has told a British news source that any significant effort to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities would essentially be “the start of a major war”…
“A serious attempt to destroy Iran’s capabilities would require a large, complex military operation, involving stealth bombers, powerful bunker-busting bombs, and attacks on Iran’s air defences and military systems. This would look less like a quick raid and more like the start of a major war.”
And such an operation would also likely kill any chance of peace with the Russians.
In fact, a Russian spokesperson has said that any attempt to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities would “inevitably lead to an irreversible global catastrophe”…
Maria Zakharova, from Russia’s foreign ministry, said: “The use of military force by Iran’s opponents in the context of the settlement is illegal and unacceptable.
“Threats from outside to bomb Iran’s nuclear infrastructure facilities will inevitably lead to an irreversible global catastrophe. These threats are simply unacceptable.”
We are so close to the unthinkable.
So let us hope that the Iranians are in a mood to compromise and that the negotiations that are scheduled for this weekend go well.
Because if negotiations with Iran fail, it appears that there will be all-out war in the Middle East.
Michael’s new book entitled “Why” 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 “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written eight 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 8 Signs That The Bombing Of Iran Could Be Coming Very Soon appeared first on End Of The American Dream.
How many products do you have in your home right now that were made in China? If you are like most Americans, that number is very high. We should have never allowed ourselves to become so dependent on cheap Chinese goods, but we did. Walmart, Target and our dollar stores are absolutely teeming with products that were manufactured in China, and now those products are about to get much more expensive. The 34 percent “retaliatory tariff” that the Trump administration recently imposed on the Chinese was on top of a 20 percent tariff that the Trump administration had already imposed on them. The White House has confirmed this. Unfortunately, the 54 percent tariff that we were potentially facing will now rise to 104 percent thanks to an additional 50 percent tariff that will go into effect on April 9th. Earlier today, President Trump posted the following on his Truth Social account…
Yesterday, China issued Retaliatory Tariffs of 34%, on top of their already record setting Tariffs, Non-Monetary Tariffs, Illegal Subsidization of companies, and massive long term Currency Manipulation, despite my warning that any country that Retaliates against the U.S. by issuing additional Tariffs, above and beyond their already existing long term Tariff abuse of our Nation, will be immediately met with new and substantially higher Tariffs, over and above those initially set. Therefore, if China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th. Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated! Negotiations with other countries, which have also requested meetings, will begin taking place immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
The math is very clear: 20 percent plus 34 percent plus 50 percent equals 104 percent.
No matter how the pundits try to spin this, the truth is that we will be paying this tariff if we continue to purchase Chinese products.
It is easy to say that we should just switch to products made in the U.S., but in thousands of cases there simply are not any similar products manufactured here.
And in thousands of other cases, products that are ultimately assembled in the U.S. depend on components that come from China.
Once again, we should have never allowed ourselves to get into this situation.
Trying to reverse course now is going to be a major league headache. I asked Google AI to tell me some of the products that we get from China, and it produced quite an extensive list…
Consumer Electronics: China is a major source for smartphones, computers, video game consoles, and other electronic devices.
Toys and Games: A significant portion of the toys, games, and sporting goods imported into the U.S. come from China.
Furniture and Bedding: China is a major source for furniture, bedding, and other home goods.
Textiles and Clothing: China is a major source for textile products and clothing.
Machinery and Electrical Equipment: China is a major source for machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers, and electrical equipment
Other Products: China also supplies the U.S. with items like lithium-ion batteries, plastics, and miscellaneous manufactured goods.
Food: While a small percentage of the U.S. food supply comes from China, it is a major supplier for specific items like apple juice, garlic, canned mandarin oranges, fish, and shrimp.
At this point, a list of things that we don’t get from China might be shorter.
I am particularly concerned about what these tariffs will do to the pharmaceutical industry, because Google AI says that the vast majority of the active ingredients in our pharmaceutical drugs are imported from China…
While it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact percentage, a significant portion of raw materials for pharmaceutical drugs in the U.S. come from China, with estimates suggesting that around 80% of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are sourced from China and other countries like India.
We are in so much trouble.
Bill Ackman is warning that unless these tariffs are rolled back we are headed into a “self-induced economic nuclear winter”…
Billionaire fund manager Bill Ackman, a staunch President Trump ally, has warned that the world is on the brink of “self-induced economic nuclear winter” as he begged the commander-in-chief to pause his sweeping tariffs.
“The President has an opportunity on Monday to call a time out and have the time to execute on fixing an unfair tariff system. Alternatively, we are heading for a self-induced, economic nuclear winter, and we should start hunkering down,” Ackman wrote in a lengthy X post Sunday night.
“May cooler heads prevail.”
Bill Ackman wouldn’t have become a billionaire if he wasn’t extremely sharp, and I agree with his assessment.
The outlook for the months ahead is extremely dismal.
In fact, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink is admitting that most CEOs that he talks to “would say we are probably in a recession right now”…
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said that the stock market could see declines deepen by another 20% amid uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s tariffs and that CEOs are telling him they think the U.S. economy is likely already in a recession.
“Most CEOs I talk to would say we are probably in a recession right now,” Fink told the Economic Club of New York on Monday. Tariffs are expected to make a wide variety of products more expensive, exacerbating inflationary pressures that have been persistent in recent months.
As I discussed on Friday, our economic momentum has been taking us in the wrong direction for a long time.
And now these tariffs are going to introduce a tremendous amount of chaos into the equation.
As a result of the tariffs that were just imposed, Volkswagen is actually “holding 37,000 cars at US ports”…
Volkswagen is holding 37,000 cars at US ports amid tariff turmoil.
Audi, the luxury arm of the world’s second largest global automaker, has confirmed it’s in a high-stakes holding pattern triggered by President Donald Trump’s 25 percent tariff on imported vehicles.
The affected cars arrived in the U.S. the same day Trump announced the sweeping levies. Now, they sit idle as VW considers its next move. Executives are thought to be hoping for either a presidential U-turn or a chance to negotiate a lower rate.
How long can they possibly hold these vehicles at our ports?
Of course the U.S. auto industry is going to be hit really hard as well…
If President Trump’s trade war has a physical battleground, it is Michigan, where companies and workers are already feeling the beginning of an onslaught that could blow a hole in the state’s economy.
Nearly 20% of the economy is tied to the auto industry, which has become increasingly dependent on parts and vehicles from Canada, Mexico and China—imports Trump hit with steep tariffs in recent weeks. This trade has grown so large that Michigan ranks fifth in the nation by the size of its imports and exports, even though its total economy ranks 14th.
Even before the tariffs were announced, it was clear that a major slowdown was now upon us.
For example, the number of commercial bankruptcies in March 2025 was much higher than the number of commercial bankruptcies in March 2024…
More companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March than a year ago, indicating economic stress among U.S. businesses, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI).
“Commercial Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings increased 20 percent in March 2025, with filings climbing to 733 from the 611 filings registered in March 2024,” ABI said in an April 3 statement.
And during the first three months of this year, U.S. banks filed to close hundreds of local branches…
Banks filed nearly 400 notices for the planned closures of some of their locations across the U.S. in the first three months of the year, according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s (OCC) records.
Only some of these branches have already shut their doors. The closure of others has received approval from the OCC but has not yet been carried through by the bank, which may ultimately decide against it. Many are pending approval from the OCC, an independent federal agency which safeguards the U.S. banking system, making sure it remains accessible to underserved consumers and communities.
I have been warning that it was not going to take much to push the U.S. economy over the edge.
Unfortunately, we just got a really big shove.
We have been through so much economic pain over the past four years, and I know that a lot of people out there were quite eager for better times to arrive.
Sadly, what we are about to experience is not going to be pleasant at all.
Michael’s new book entitled “Why” 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 “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written eight 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 Are You Ready To Pay A 104% Tariff On All Products From China? appeared first on The Economic Collapse.
Anonymous security experts have urged Britons to prepare 72-hour emergency survival kits amid a “Russia energy infrastructure threat” that Moscow has denied. The “experts” claim that Russia is looking to sabotage Britain’s energy pipelines, potentially leading to significant disruptions.
The prepared kit should include water, non-perishable food, medicines, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, identity documents, and a Swiss Army knife.
“We know that the Russians are active in the North Sea and have the power to cripple our energy links. We need to become much more self-sufficient, and quickly. And households should be ready for all eventualities,” the source said.
The Daily Mail claimed that the fears about potential Russian sabotage also hinge on the fact it “was linked to a string of apparent sabotage incidents in the Baltic Sea” in recent months, but Western investigators have failed to find any proof of this being the case. Moscow has vehemently denied the speculation about its involvement, calling it “absurd.”
Putin Blames The U.S. For Nord Stream Sabotage
If Russia did decide to “sabotage” the United Kingdom’s energy infrastructure, wouldn’t they do so for longer than a three-day period? Why only 72 hours’ worth of provisions?
As the U.K. continues to pursue net-zero environmental targets, which have already led to the closure of coal-fired power stations, the country has become increasingly reliant on supplies of gas and electricity from abroad in order to “keep the lights on.”
Nearly 40 percent of the U.K.’s gas supply is imported from Norway, much of which comes through the single, 700-mile Langeled pipeline.
The protection of critical undersea infrastructure will form part of the Government’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) by former Nato secretary-general Lord Robertson this year.
It comes after Moscow was linked to a string of apparent sabotage incidents in the Baltic Sea in the past two years, affecting cable and pipeline links. Germany‘s Nord Stream gas pipelines were also sabotaged in 2022.
Separately, the Russians are also believed to have placed listening devices on offshore UK wind turbines in an attempt to track the movement of British submarines. –Daily Mail
According to a report by RT, Moscow has dismissed speculation it could sabotage Western energy infrastructure
Four months of rain is about to fall in five days in some areas in the middle of the country. We are being told that an atmospheric river will produce a “firehose of moisture” that is expected to dump 76 trillion gallons of water on the heartland of America over the next week. This is perfectly normal, or so they keep telling us. Western Kentucky, parts of Missouri, northwestern Tennessee, much of Arkansas, southern Indiana and southern Illinois are supposed to get hit the hardest. Overall, 32 million people currently live in areas where a flood watch is now in effect.
So much rainfall is coming that USA Today is joking that it may be time “to build an ark”…
Time to build an ark?
“Generational” rainfall amounts are forecast to fall across portions of the central U.S. from Wednesday to Saturday, resulting in historic and life-threatening flooding across the region, the National Weather Service in Memphis said.
Over the past couple of years, it seems like we have had “historic and life-threatening flooding” every few weeks.
This is normal.
And the fact that four months of rain is about to fall in just five days is normal too…
According to AccuWeather, up to four months’ worth of rain will fall in five days along portions of a 1,000-mile-long swath from Texas to Ohio.
“People who have lived in a community their entire lives may see water rapidly rising and flooding areas they have never seen flood before,” AccuWeather chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. “Do not assume that if you have not seen flooding in an area before, that it will not occur this time.”
Nothing to see here.
Move along.
Once upon a time we would have gotten worked up over something like this, but for the past two years the United States has been averaging a “billion dollar disaster” about once every two weeks.
So it is extremely normal that we are about to witness a rainfall event that “has a return interval of anywhere from 25 to 100 years”…
“The forecast heavy rainfall in this event has a return interval of anywhere from 25 to 100 years. In other words, a heavy rainfall event of this magnitude falling within 4 days is an event that happens once in a generation to once in a lifetime,” said the weather service office in Newark, Arkansas. “Historic rainfall totals and impacts are possible.”
Oh, and all of this rainfall is going to produce horrific flooding.
An Accuweather spokesperson actually told Newsweek “that floods like this have a 0.1 percent chance of happening in any given year”.
That is so incredibly normal.
This storm is also expected to spawn a bunch of tornadoes. In fact, quite a few tornado watches have already been issued…
Tornado watches were active Wednesday across multiple states, including Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois, according to the National Weather Service. By the afternoon, severe weather was being felt across the middle of the country, with hundreds of flight delays, tens of thousands of power outages and crews examining damage from possible tornadoes.
Of course it was just less than a month ago that a “mega storm” suddenly spawned more than 70 tornadoes in that same part of the country…
This newest tornado threat comes less than three weeks after a ‘mega storm’ ripped through this same part of the US in March.
Over 40 people died due to the extreme weather event, which dropped more than 70 tornadoes on communities throughout the South and Midwest.
Exceptionally normal.
After all, they call it “tornado alley” for a reason, right?
Generational storms, epic tornado outbreaks and historic flooding events are all a normal part of life in America now. So the storm that we are about to witness is no big deal…
“Should the amount of rain occur that we anticipate over the middle of the nation, it would exceed the 500 to 1,000-year average,” Clark said, “Truly, the potential is there for a historic flash flooding event.”
People living along or traveling on roads near small streams in hilly terrain should be especially vigilant for rapidly rising water that can sweep vehicles and homes away.
Interestingly, Greece was also just hit by historic flooding. in their case, the floodwaters were so powerful that they literally “swept vehicles away”…
Several Greek holiday islands have been devastated by floods after severe rainstorms turned roads into raging rivers and swept vehicles away.
Two of Greece’s most popular tourist destinations, Paros and Mykonos, have been left submerged in murky waters after what has been described as ‘biblical disaster’ rainfall lashed through the islands on Monday.
Dark skies loomed overhead and heavy rain quickly turned the streets into torrents, with footage showing cars being swept away in the deluge.
So normal.
We are also being told that it is completely normal that the core of our planet is now “rotating in reverse”…
Buried more than 3,000 miles beneath our feet, Earth’s solid inner core was once thought to be unchanging—locked in place at the heart of the planet. But new research has revealed something much more dynamic. According to a recent study published in Nature Geoscience, Earth’s inner core has not only slowed down, it now appears to be rotating in reverse compared to the planet’s surface.
Scientists are telling us that this must be part of a long-term cycle, because there is no way that this is not normal.
Elsewhere, other scientists have discovered that the continent of North America is literally “dripping” down into the Earth’s mantle…
An ancient slab of Earth’s crust buried deep beneath the Midwest is sucking huge swatches of present-day’s North American crust down into the mantle, researchers say.
The slab’s pull has created giant “drips” that hang from the underside of the continent down to about 400 miles (640 kilometers) deep inside the mantle, according to a new study. These drips are located beneath an area spanning from Michigan to Nebraska and Alabama, but their presence appears to be impacting the entire continent.
The dripping area looks like a large funnel, with rocks from across North America being pulled toward it horizontally before getting sucked down. As a result, large parts of North America are losing material from the underside of their crust, the researchers said.
Wow, I had no idea that large portions of North America were being sucked down into the Earth’s mantle.
I can’t even think of anything more normal than that.
I wonder how that will affect the deep geological scar that currently exists directly under the New Madrid Seismic Zone.
Perhaps someone should look into that.
Meanwhile, the rest of us will just continue to pretend that everything is going to be just fine.
Michael’s new book entitled “Why” 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 “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written eight 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 76 Trillion Gallons Of Water Is Expected To Fall On The U.S. During Yet Another “Once In A Generation” Storm. This Is Perfectly Normal. appeared first on End Of The American Dream.
Spring is the perfect time to sharpen your survival skills. Why? The weather is mild, which makes outdoor practice more comfortable and more enjoyable. Plus, the longer days also give you more time to train. Meanwhile, nature’s fresh resources provide plenty of opportunities to test your abilities. If you want to build self-reliance, now is the time to get started. Here are five survival skills that will help you thrive in the wild.
The world is waking up from winter’s grip, but so are its dangers: wild weather, unpredictable terrain, and unexpected situations. That’s why you need these five survival skills locked in before spring gets into full swing. Let’s get into what you need to know before the season shifts.
Fire is one of the most important survival tools. It provides warmth, cooks food, and helps purify water. In an emergency, you can even use it as a lifesaving signal for rescue. However, starting a fire in the wild isn’t as easy as striking a match. Wind, damp wood, and unexpected weather conditions can make it difficult. That’s why regular practice is essential to master this survival skill.
Start by experimenting with different fire-starting methods. Try a ferro rod, flint, steel or bow drill to see which works best in your environment. Additionally, dry tinder is a key fire-starting factor so practice gathering birch bark, pine needles, or dry grass. If the ground is wet, look for dry twigs on trees instead of picking up wood from the forest floor.
Once you master the basics, challenge yourself to make fire under tougher conditions. Try lighting one after rain or in strong winds and practice using only one match. If you can start a fire in bad weather, you can do it when the real emergency situation happens.
While GPS is convenient, it also poses major risks. Devices break, batteries die, and signals fail. Without a backup plan to get directions, you could find yourself stranded. That’s why learning traditional navigation skills is a must.
Start with a map and compass. You can also study topographic maps to understand elevation, landmarks, and water sources. Moreover, practice setting a bearing and following it in the woods. If you get off course, use backtracking techniques to find your way back.
When a compass or GPS fails, natural navigation becomes a necessary survival skill. Observing the sun’s movement helps since it rises in the east and sets in the west. At night, finding the North Star is a great guide because it stays fixed while other stars shift. During the day, moss growth can indicate direction, as the plant often appears more on the north side of trees in damp forests. However, it’s not always reliable since sunlight, moisture, and tree type affect its growth.
Spring is the best season to study animal tracks as wildlife tends to be more active and leave clear signs behind. Learning how to read these signs improves awareness and helps you locate food and avoid danger.
Start by looking for fresh mud, sand, or soft dirt tracks. Then study the shape, size, and depth of each print. Different animals leave unique tracks, so use a guide to identify them. Also, note their movement patterns. A straight path often means an animal is traveling while zig-zag patterns suggest it’s searching for food.
Besides footprints, pay attention to other signs. Broken branches, fur on tree bark, and disturbed soil serve as clues. Scat (animal droppings) can also reveal the animal’s diet and recent activity. If you follow these signs carefully, you can determine an animal’s size, direction, and behavior.
Knots are essential for survival. They help secure shelters, set traps, and fasten gear. Without strong knots, your setup may fail when it matters most.
Start with three essential knots. The bowline creates a secure loop that won’t slip. The clove hitch is useful for attaching ropes to trees or poles. The trucker’s hitch lets you tighten a rope with ease.
Once you master knot-tying, keep increasing the difficulty. Try tying them one-handed or in the dark. Test their strength by putting weight on them. Remember, a well-tied knot should hold firm under stress. If it slips, retie it until secure. The goal is to make knot-tying second nature, so you’ll be ready out there in the wild.
Knowing how to find food in the wild is a great survival skill. Spring brings new plant growth, making it the best time to learn. However, eating the wrong plant can be dangerous, that’s why we need to identify them properly.
Start with easy-to-recognize plants like dandelions, wild onions, and chickweed. Learn which parts are edible and how to prepare them. Some plants can be eaten raw, while others need cooking to remove toxins.
Always verify plants before eating them, as some toxic plants look similar to safe ones. For example, poison hemlock resembles wild carrots but has purple blotches on its stem and an unpleasant smell. Use a field guide or a foraging app to confirm identification.
To build confidence, practice foraging in your area. Identify a few safe plants and learn how to prepare them. The more you know, the safer you’ll be if you ever need to rely on wild food.
Spring offers the best conditions for survival training. The weather is mild, the days are longer, and nature is full of resources. Practicing fire-starting, navigation, tracking, knot-tying, and foraging will prepare you for any outdoor challenge.
The key to success is consistent practice. Push yourself by testing these five survival skills in different environments and weather conditions. When real survival situations arise, you’ll be ready!
Nature won’t wait—get these five survival skills under your belt now! Which skill do you practice most in spring? Share your thoughts in the comments!
