The west coast is shaking again.  In recent weeks we have witnessed so much seismic activity along the portion of the Pacific Ring of Fire that sits directly along the California coastline.  There had been hope that the shaking would settle down, but instead it appears to be accelerating.  As you will see below, there have been 321 earthquakes in the San Francisco area within the past 7 days.  If I was living in northern California, that would definitely get my attention.  Scientists have warned us over and over again that “the Big One” is inevitably coming, and almost every day there are more reminders of this.  In fact, San Ramon was just hit by a swarm of more than 30 earthquakes on Monday morning…

A 4.2 earthquake struck near San Ramon Monday morning, following a 3.8 quake amid a string of over 30 temblors in the area, U.S. Geological Survey said.

The 4.2 quake struck at 7:01 a.m. and followed a string of quakes that began with a 3.8 at 6:27 a.m. Dozens of earthquakes have followed.

USGS said the 4.2 quake was about 9.4 km in depth.

A magnitude 4.2 quake is quite significant.

The shaking that it caused was so extensive that people living in the heart of San Francisco actually felt “windows rattling”…

Residents in San Francisco’s Glen Park and Nopa neighborhoods reported rumbling and ‘windows rattling’ during the quake, and public transportation throughout the area was also affected by the swarm, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The moderate quake even activated the National Tsunami Warning Center, however, officials said there was no danger of a major wave hitting the Bay Area.

Of course this was not an isolated incident.

According to the USGS, this latest earthquake swarm was “a continuation” of a pattern of heightened activity that the region has been experiencing since last November…

ABC7 Eyewitness News spoke with the USGS Monday morning, and they say this is a continuation of the swarm of quakes the area has been experiencing.

On Friday, the area saw its first earthquake in several weeks, but there have been dozens of quakes since November.

Could it be possible that all of this activity is building up to some sort of a really big event?

According to the Southern California Earthquake Data Center, there have been 321 earthquakes in the San Francisco area in the last 7 days.  The following is a screenshot…

Needless to say, this isn’t normal.

The swarm of earthquakes that hit San Ramon on Monday was centered on one of the main branches of the San Andreas Fault System…

Still, Monday’s noticeable swarm broke out right on the Calaveras Fault, a main branch of the San Andreas – the monstrous 800-mile-long fault spanning from Southern California through the Bay Area and into the Pacific.

The Calaveras splits off from the main fault line near Hollister in central California and runs parallel to it through the East Bay region.

Scientists with USGS have warned that one of these faults or other major branches nearby could soon reach their anticipated breaking point and rupture right in the heart of California.

And it isn’t just northern California that has been shaking lately.

A couple of weeks ago, a magnitude 4.9 earthquake rocked Southern California…

A 4.9-magnitude earthquake and several aftershocks rattled Southern California on Monday night, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The first and largest quake happened approximately five miles northeast of Indio Hills, which is in the Palm Desert region of Riverside County, at around 5:57 p.m., the USGS reported. It occurred at a geological depth of nearly two miles. The preliminary magnitude of the earthquake was first reported as 5.1 before it was downgraded to 4.6 and then adjusted to 4.9 by USGS officials.

Scientists keep telling us that it is just a matter of time before the San Andreas Fault System “rips wide open”.

This is something that I have written about extensively over the years.

These latest quakes are a major league wake up call.

Unfortunately, most people living in California have learned to tune out such warnings.

Interestingly, the earthquake swarm that shook San Ramon on Monday morning occurred just after the Sun released “a relentless barrage of powerful solar flares”…

The sun has erupted in a relentless barrage of powerful solar flares over the past 24 hours, firing off at least 18 M-class flares and three X-class flares, including an X8.3 eruption — the strongest solar flare of 2026 so far. Solar flares are ranked by strength from A, B and C up to M and X, with each letter representing a tenfold increase in energy — meaning X-class flares are the most powerful explosions the sun can produce

The culprit is sunspot region 4366, a volatile active region that has grown rapidly in just a few days. The flurry of activity began late Feb. 1 and has continued into Feb. 2, with multiple M-class and X-class flares erupting in quick succession. The prolific region appears to be far from finished. Spaceweather.com described the region as a “solar flare factory”, warning that its rapid growth and magnetic complexity make further eruptions highly likely.

Many scientists believe that we tend to see more seismic activity when the Sun is highly active.

Needless to say, the Sun has been extremely active lately.

And we are being warned that Sunspot AR4366 will soon be directly facing our planet…

It’s also possible that more eruptions are still to come. Sunspot AR4366 remains highly active and continues to rotate into an Earth-facing position, raising the chance that future eruptions could launch CMEs more directly toward our planet. NOAA forecasters say they expect more exciting space weather activity from this region in the coming days.

Sunspot AR4366 is absolutely massive, and I think that we should all be watching it very closely.

We live at a time when the giant ball of fire that we revolve around is becoming increasingly unstable.

We also live at a time when the ground under our feet is becoming increasingly unstable.

Unfortunately, I am entirely convinced that what we have experienced so far is just the tip of the iceberg.

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 321 Earthquakes Hit The San Francisco Area In 1 Week – Is The San Andreas Fault Entering A Very Dangerous New Phase? appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

Daniel Defense is known for its premier rifles and the performance they bring to the table. What some may not know, however, is that they also have a very special series of rifles. The Daniel Defense Signature Series is a one-of-a-kind rifle designed, built, and backed by the most trusted names in firearms. Daniel Defense handpicks its partners who share its passion and values to design its Signature firearm. From barrel to buttstock, to optics, lights, slings, triggers, Cerakote, and more, they dream it, and Daniel Defense builds it. The latest in this series is the Clint “Magdump” Morgan Signature Series MK18.

Clint “Magdump” Morgan Signature Series – Daniel Defense Adds a New Rifle

The Clint “Magdump” Morgan Signature Series MK18 is more than just a rifle—it’s a mission-ready platform forged through trusted collaboration between Clint Morgan, Daniel Defense, and Gun Owners of America (GOA). This signature-edition build is compact, durability-proven, and unapologetically pro-freedom, with a portion of the proceeds directly supporting Gun Owners of America (GOA) in its fight to defend the Second Amendment.

Complete Kit

This isn’t a rebadged off-the-shelf rifle. It’s a no-compromise, fully kitted system, personally spec’d by Clint Morgan—a Marine Reservist, 2A advocate, and creator of Magdump Morgan—to reflect the values he lives by: rugged reliability, performance under pressure, and unwavering commitment to liberty. Every component was chosen with purpose, every detail shaped by Clint’s hands-on experience and passion for the cause.

At its core, the rifle features a RISII MK18 upper on a DD4 lower, finished in a bold, custom Rattlecan Woodland Cerakote. It’s built to run hard and look like it means it. This rifle is a full-spectrum freedom kit—from optic to muzzle. It’s backed by Daniel Defense’s legendary build quality, guided by Clint’s warrior ethos, and tied to the mission of Gun Owners of America. Built to perform, last, and to stand for something.

Clint Magdump Morgan

Clint “Magdump” Morgan is a U.S. Marine Reservist, Second Amendment advocate, and the creator behind the Magdump Morgan brand and YouTube channel. Known for his unfiltered passion for freedom and firearms, Clint blends sharp wit with serious training, using his platform to educate, entertain, and inspire a new generation of gun owners. Whether he’s at the range or in front of the camera, Clint fights for the 2A with grit, conviction, and a mission-minded spirit.

Gun Owners of America

Gun Owners of America (GOA) is a national, grassroots nonprofit organization that has spent nearly five decades fighting to protect the Second Amendment — without compromise. Founded in 1975, GOA exists to safeguard the fundamental right of every law-abiding American to keep and bear arms, recognizing that this right is not granted by the government but guaranteed by the Constitution.

For more information, visit Daniel Defense.

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WHY OUR ARTICLES/REVIEWS DO NOT HAVE AFFILIATE LINKS

Affiliate links create a financial incentive for writers to promote certain products, which can lead to biased recommendations. This blurs the line between genuine advice and marketing, reducing trust in the content.

The post Clint “Magdump” Morgan Signature Series MK18 appeared first on Athlon Outdoors Exclusive Firearm Updates, Reviews & News.

If you’re looking for a sub‑compact carry pistol that blends reliability, performance, and modern engineering, the Rost Martin RM1S Comp is a standout choice for personal protection. Designed for those who prioritize safety, control, and everyday usability, this handgun delivers a refined balance of innovation and dependability. Rost Martin, a Dallas‑based company founded by Chris and Stefany Toomer, carries a name rooted in family legacy, honoring Stefany’s grandfather and Chris’s great‑grandmother. Their mission and heritage reflect a belief in owning Second Amendment rights with confidence, pride, and self-reliance, passing these values to the next generation.

RM1S Comp Features 

The RM1S Comp is built for enhanced control, featuring a comped slide and barrel to help reduce recoil and promote faster shot recovery. Deep front and rear slide serrations and fully ambidextrous controls make the platform accessible to any shooter. Its flat‑face trigger offers an ultra‑short reset for quick, consistent follow‑up shots. The optic‑ready slide supports four plate options, giving users flexibility in optics. At under 20 ounces, the RM1S Comp is lightweight, comfortable for long‑term wear, and perfect for those seeking the best subcompact for self-defense.

Rost Martin’s Commitment to California Gun Owners

Rost Martin is committed to supporting California gun owners by offering DOJ‑approved, compliant models such as the RM1C Comp and RM1S Comp. This reflects Rost Martin’s dedication to expanding access to reliable self‑defense tools and encouraging responsible firearm ownership across all regions.

RM1S Comp Bundle: Everything You Need, All in One Package

For a complete, ready‑to‑go setup, the RM1S Comp Bundle offers exceptional value. It includes four magazines, a Savior Specialist bag for organized transport, and the optic‑ready slide equipped with the Viridian RFX11 green‑dot sight. Each component complements the pistol’s performance‑driven design, making it a dependable choice for practice, competition, or home protection.

Specifications: Rost Martin RM1S Comp

The post Why the Rost Martin RM1S Comp Is the Top Choice for a Reliable Sub-Compact Carry Gun appeared first on Athlon Outdoors Exclusive Firearm Updates, Reviews & News.

Many potential handgun owners are deterred by inexperience. They suffer fear of embarrassment because they are not even sure how to load or fire the gun. Fear not my friends, because it is not as complicated as you may think. With that, here is a simple guide to teach you how to load and operate a pistol.

Loading Up

Once you’re ready and on the range, load up a magazine. The first thing we will do is look at two ways of loading and chambering a round. First, we will work a “slide closed” position.  When you are ready, hold your pistol in your dominant hand firmly and the magazine in the other. Hold the magazine firmly with your index finger touching the tip of the bullet that is on top. We do this because it is a secondary method of making sure the magazine has rounds in it. Laugh it you will, but once you get up to speed and start training, you may grab an empty mag from your pouch that you inadvertently put in there.

Now, have the gun in front of your chest at a comfortable distance (your “workspace”), and tilt the mag well towards the hand that has the magazine. Move your magazine towards the mag well of the pistol and guide it in with your index finger. Once it’s going into the mag well, move your index and firmly push the magazine into the pistol. You will feel and hear a click once the magazine is seated. Next up is to rack the slide and chamber the first round. Hold the grip with your dominant hand and cup the slide near the rear firmly. At the same time, push the grip forward and pull the slide back. Once the slide comes all the way back, release the slide and your pistol is now ready to fire.

Loading From Slide-Lock

Now we will look at loading the gun from slide-lock. This is when the slide is either manually put into lock, or locked by itself because you ended up with an empty magazine. All of the steps are going to be identical except for the final one. Here I will give you two options for getting the slide forward. Load the mag into the gun just as we previously stated. Once the mag is seated, you can do one of two things.

First, you can just rack the slide as we did above. It works on every single semi-auto pistol. Our second option is to use the slide lock lever. To close the slide this way, we simply use either thumb and depress the slide lock lever. This will release the slide and it will allow the slide to run forward and put the gun in battery. This is a faster technique but may not work if you have very small hands or a pistol with a slide lock that is very firm or placed far forward.

Basic Pistol Mechanics

Now that we have round in the gun, it’s time to do some shooting. Today we will just look at the mechanics. Later we will discuss the finer details of accuracy. A majority of modern pistols do not have an external safety on them. However, your chosen gun may indeed have one. It is purely a personal choice of which style you choose.

Let’s start with guns without an obvious mechanical safety. These guns still have safeties, but they are built into the blade of the trigger. Get your good grip on the gun. For more details on this, visit an earlier article where we talked about it in depth. Now point the pistol at your target and move your trigger finger onto the trigger. With a smooth continuous motion, press the trigger to the rear. The gun will now fire and automatically cycle, loading another round. For guns that have a safety, we just add one small step. As you raise the pistol to your target, use your strong side thumb to press the safety down and deactivate it. Now we press the trigger in the same fashion.

How To Unload

Now we are loaded and shooting, but unfortunately, we will need to eventually unload the gun as well. To accomplish this, we bring the pistol back into our workspace and use our strong side thumb to press the magazine release. Use your support hand to catch the mag and stow it. Now we are going to use generally the same motion on the side that we used to load it. Grip it firmly and rack the slide at least three times.

You will see the cambered round eject and fall to the floor. Now pull the slide all the way to the rear and visually inspect the chamber. Make absolutely sure there is no round in the gun. Now look down the mag well to make certain there is no magazine in the gun. Once you have accomplished this, let the slide go forward. The gun is now unloaded. Just a reminder however to always treat every firearm as if it is loaded. This will help you to avoid a potentially tragic event.

If we follow a good process and focus on safety, operating a handgun is simple. Ultimately if you are uncomfortable, I encourage you to seek professional training. In time it will become second nature and you can begin to focus on the finer details of shooting.

The post Handguns 101: Loading and Operating Your Pistol appeared first on Athlon Outdoors Exclusive Firearm Updates, Reviews & News.

It appears that an apocalyptic war is about to begin in the Middle East, and yet most people living in the western world don’t seem alarmed by this at all.  But they should be, because once the missiles start flying the death and destruction that we will witness will deeply shock the entire globe.  The nuts that are running Iran fully understand that the goal this time around will be to bring their regime to an end, and they will throw everything that they have got at us in a desperate attempt to survive.  Anyone that believes that there is any limit to what they might do is not being rational.  They figure that if they are going to go down, they might as well go down swinging.

Over the past week, several nations in the region have tried to act as mediators between the U.S. and Iran…

A number of countries have been attempting in recent days to mediate between the United States and Iran, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to The Jerusalem Post.

Among the countries conveying messages are Turkey, Oman, and Qatar. The message these countries have delivered to Iran, according to one of the sources, is: “Act rationally. Give President Trump something so that war can be avoided.”

Unfortunately, all of those efforts have failed.

At this point, the Iranians would rather fight a war than agree to the deal that is being proposed by President Trump…

The foreign ministry official added that the US wants Iran to dismantle its nuclear program, limit its defense capabilities, and recognize Israel.

“This has nothing to do with a balanced agreement; it would mean Iran’s surrender,” the source told the Lebanese outlet.

The official went on to say that Iran remained open to a “balanced” agreement, but would choose armed conflict if one was not given one.

“If forced to choose between the agreement proposed by Trump and war, Iran will choose the latter, considering it less costly, because it will not surrender itself in advance.”

I don’t think that there ever was a chance for any sort of a deal.

So now war is coming, and it is being reported that President Trump wants to see “regime change” in Iran…

Two US sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters that Trump wanted to create conditions for “regime change” after a crackdown crushed a nationwide protest movement earlier this month, killing thousands of people.

To do so, he was looking at options to hit commanders and institutions that Washington holds responsible for the violence, to give protesters the confidence that they could overrun government and security buildings, they said.

One of the US sources said the options being discussed by Trump’s aides also included a much larger strike intended to have a lasting impact, possibly against the nuclear or ballistic missile programs.

There has been a lot of discussion about what type of military strikes President Trump will choose.

But in the end, it really doesn’t matter.

A former member of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council named Ali Shamkhani is warning that even a very limited attack on Iran “will be considered the start of a war”…

“A limited [U.S.] strike is an illusion. Any military action by America, of any kind and at any level, will be considered the start of a war, and the response will be immediate, comprehensive, and unprecedented, directed at the aggressor, at the heart of Tel Aviv, and at all who support the aggressor.”

The moment that Iran realizes that it is under attack, it will start responding.

A spokesperson for the Iranian army says that the response “will be delivered instantly”, and he insists that U.S. aircraft carriers have “serious vulnerabilities”…

Iran will deliver an immediate response in case of an attack by the United States, the army spokesman says, warning that US military bases in the region or an aircraft carrier could be targets.

“A decisive response will be delivered instantly,” army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia tells state television after the USS Abraham Lincoln deployed in the region, saying that US aircraft carriers have “serious vulnerabilities” and that numerous American bases are “within the range of our medium-range missiles.”

Another Iranian official is telling us that once Iran starts attacking an aircraft carrier, they won’t stop “until it is finished”…

I don’t know why more people aren’t taking these warnings seriously.

The Iranians have already deployed several Shahed-149 long-range drones to monitor the USS Abraham Lincoln and the destroyers that are escorting it…

Iran has deployed multiple long-range armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to monitor the U.S. Navy’s USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group operating in the Gulf of Oman, according to defense and regional intelligence assessments cited by multiple security officials.

The drones identified are Shahed-149 “Gaza” unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Tracking data indicates the aircraft are operating over international waters near Oman, at a distance of more than 700 kilometers from Iran’s southern coastline, placing them well outside Iran’s traditional coastal defense zone.

Once the shooting starts, the Iranians could easily send hundreds of armed drones at the Abraham Lincoln.

The Abraham Lincoln is equipped with sophisticated defenses, but it is simply not able to handle that many targets simultaneously.

In addition, there are unconfirmed reports which indicate that China has given extremely advanced DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missiles to Iran…

Unconfirmed intelligence reporting circulating among regional security officials and defense analysts indicates that China may have covertly transferred DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missiles to Iran, a development that, if substantiated, would represent a significant shift in the military balance of the Middle East and the northern Indian Ocean.

Neither Beijing nor Tehran has acknowledged the reports, and U.S. officials have so far declined public comment. However, multiple analysts say the possibility is being treated seriously within Western and regional defense circles due to the strategic implications of the DF-21D system and Iran’s longstanding effort to expand its anti-access capabilities.

Of course the Iranians already have Sunburn anti-ship missiles, and those are quite formidable.

But DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missiles are capable of traveling at speeds that are absolutely incredible…

Open-source defense assessments describe the DF-21D as a road-mobile medium-range ballistic missile with an estimated range of approximately 1,500 to 1,700 kilometers. The missile is believed to reach hypersonic speeds during its terminal phase, exceeding Mach 10, and is equipped with a maneuverable re-entry vehicle.

Unlike conventional ballistic missiles that follow a fixed trajectory, the DF-21D warhead can adjust its path during descent, allowing it to engage moving maritime targets. Guidance is thought to rely on a combination of inertial navigation and terminal active radar, potentially supported by off-board sensors such as satellites, maritime patrol aircraft, or unmanned systems.

Our aircraft carriers would be sitting ducks if they are within range of Chinese-made anti-ship missiles.

In addition to having the USS Abraham Lincoln positioned south of Iran, the USS Theodore Roosevelt is currently in the Red Sea, and the USS George H.W. Bush is now traveling toward the Middle East…

There is still time to pull back from the brink.

But the clock is ticking.

Just hours ago, Israeli leaders reportedly held an emergency meeting to discuss how they will handle the rapidly approaching conflict…

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was holding a security consultation in Jerusalem with top advisers and defense officials on a “classified topic,” the office of one of the attendees told The Times of Israel on Thursday, as speculation continues to swirl over whether the US will attack Iran.

According to Channel 12, the discussion was focused on Iran and the possibility of an American strike, which US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened.

Needless to say, the Israelis would love to see regime change in Iran because they consider the Iranians to be their number one enemy.

But the Israelis also realize that this war will be much deadlier than the short war that we witnessed last year…

Many are warning that we could also see terror attacks by sleeper cells that are suddenly activated in western countries.

In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see terror attacks in the continental United States.

In addition, an apocalyptic war with Iran would send the price of oil soaring.

On Thursday, it hit the highest level that we have seen in six months…

The price of oil hit a six-month high on rising concerns of a US military attack on Iran.

With tensions between Washington and Tehran mounting, Brent crude jumped 5 per cent to $71.89 a barrel.

That was the highest since the start of August and took gains since early January, when oil dipped below $60 a barrel, to 20 per cent.

If the Strait of Hormuz is closed for an extended period of time, we could easily see the price of oil double or even triple.

Needless to say, that would have very serious economic implications and there would be a lot of very unhappy people in this country.

But a spike in the price of oil will only be temporary.

The vast numbers of people that will perish during the upcoming conflict will be dead permanently.

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 No Deal With Iran! An Apocalyptic “Regime Change War” Appears To Be Imminent, And Everyone Is Bracing For The Worst appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

When the economy and the financial system are both greatly shaken at the same time, the consequences can be extremely painful. Most of you still clearly remember what life was like in 2008 and 2009. It was such a dark chapter in American history. But there have been other times when we have had a financial market crash but no recession. 1987 is a perfect example of that. Of course there have also been many instances when economic conditions have been very poor but the financial markets weathered it just fine. It is actually rare for a major economic crisis and a major financial crisis to occur simultaneously like we witnessed during the Great Recession and the Great Depression. Unfortunately, it appears that this is precisely the type of scenario that we are now facing.

The other day I authored an article entitled “12 Signposts That Indicate That A Monumental Economic Meltdown Is Now Upon Us”, and it received a tremendous amount of attention. That article clearly established that a significant economic slowdown is now upon us. Since I wrote that article, more evidence that the economy is slowing down has emerged.

For example, it is being reported that Las Vegas experienced a “devastating fall of 7.5 percent” in the number of people visiting the city last year…

Las Vegas’s long‑rumored tourism collapse has erupted into full public view, with new data revealing that 2025 was the year the desert empire finally stumbled.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) confirmed that the city drew just 38.5 million visitors in 2025, a devastating fall of 7.5 percent from the previous year.

This marked the sharpest annual decline since the post‑pandemic recovery and erasing years of hard‑won momentum.

Las Vegas has always been a leading indicator for U.S. economic performance.

When the number of tourists starts to fall, an economic downturn almost always follows.

The video game industry has also fallen on very hard times.

According to one recent survey, one-third of all video game industry workers were laid off in 2025…

One-third of U.S. video game industry workers say they were laid off last year, according to a new survey conducted by the organizers behind the newly revamped Game Developers Conference (GDC).

Based on responses from more than 2,300 gaming industry professionals, with surveys “customized for each participant group, ensuring that developers, marketers, executives, investors and others answered questions most relevant to them,” the 2026 State of the Game Industry Report found that 33% of respondents in the U.S. were laid off in the past two years.

That is crazy.

I think that AI is having a bigger impact in the video game industry than most of us realized.

But of course we are seeing mass layoffs in many other industries as well.

On Thursday, Mastercard announced that it will be laying off approximately 4 percent of its entire workforce…

‌Mastercard ​has ‌completed a review ​of its ‍business that will ​impact ​about ⁠4% of its full-time employees, the payment ‌processor’s CFO, Sachin ​Mehra, said ‌on ‍Thursday.

“Based on the ⁠recent strategic review of our business, we ​expect to record a one-time restructuring charge in Q1 of approximately $200 million,” Mehra said on a call ​with analysts.

Another really big name, Home Depot, has just made a decision to give the axe to hundreds of loyal workers…

Atlanta-based Home Depot announced hundreds of layoffs Wednesday in its corporate operations.

Around 800 employees who work for the Atlanta store support center are being laid off, according to the company. Less than 150 of them work in the center and the rest work remotely.

In a statement, a Home Depot spokesperson said the company is “simplifying our corporate operations to better support our stores and our customers.”

Just like in 2008, it seems like we are being hit by one wave of layoffs after another.

Everyone thought that Dow Inc. was doing well, but they just announced that 4,500 employees will be hitting the bricks…

Chemical maker Dow Inc. is the latest company to announce substantial layoffs as it pivots to a stronger reliance on artificial intelligence and automation.

The company, on Thursday, announced it would cut 4,500 jobs as part of a streamlining operation it calls “Transform to Outperform.” The cuts will provide a $2 billion boost in near-term revenue, the company said, but will bring with them between $1.1 billion and $1.5 billion in one-time costs, including severance and other costs.

Some of the employment markets that were once the hottest are now being hit the hardest by layoffs.

In Seattle, we are being told that the “tech boom” has now turned into “tech gloom”…

A cloud hanging over Seattle is usually a good thing, if you’re here for the rain, or if you work in that aspect of the tech industry. But the cloud of economic uncertainty is a less welcome occurrence.

The tech boom is showing more signs of tech gloom this week following layoffs at some of the region’s biggest employers.

Just this month, Amazon and Meta are among the big names that have slashed jobs in the Emerald City…

• Amazon is laying off another 16,000 corporate employees, bringing the total to 30,000 since October. The company is also shuttering all of its Fresh and Go grocery stores.
• Meta is cutting hundreds of workers in its Reality Labs division, with roots in the region.
• Expedia Group is slashing more than 160 jobs at its Seattle HQ.

For those that want even more examples of the mass layoffs that have been happening all over America, I would recommend checking out my previous articles.

As economic conditions continue to deteriorate, chaos is erupting in the financial system.

Japanese bond yields have been going nuts, currency rates have been flying all over the place, cryptocurrencies crashed again today, and the price of silver and the price of gold have both been absolutely skyrocketing.

Statistically, the probability of what we have witnessed in the financial markets during the month of January is very close to zero.  To illustrate this, I would like to share an extended excerpt from a social media post that a user known as “NoLimit” recently published on his X account…

The probability of what is happening is near zero.

Three 6-sigma events occurred in one week.

– Bonds
– Silver
– Gold

We are currently living through a statistical impossibility.

Let me explain:

Last Tuesday, Japanese 30-year debt recorded what’s called a “6-sigma” session.

2 days ago, silver did even better: it was at 5-sigma on the rally, then reached 6-sigma on the drop. IN A SINGLE SESSION.

Gold right now? It’s up 23% in less than a month. We’re getting very close to a 6-sigma event.

That’s three 6-sigma events in ONE WEEK.

To explain quickly: in finance, we measure price moves around an average using the standard deviation, which we call sigma.

1-sigma: mundane
2-sigma: common
3-sigma: becomes rare
4-sigma: exceptional
5-sigma: extremely rare
6-sigma: supposed to occur once in 500 million

Here are the 6-sigma-type episodes we saw previously:

– The october 1987 crash, 22% drop in 1 session
– March 2020 covid crash
– The swiss franc’s surge in january 2015
– WTI oil turning negative in april 2020

But we’ve never had 3 events occur in one week.

Do you see the point?

A 6-sigma event is almost NEVER triggered by a simple macro headline.

It almost always comes from the market’s structure: leverage, positions that are too concentrated, margin calls, collateral problems, and forced selling or buying.

That’s important to understand because we’re talking about internal strains in the system’s mechanics.

As you know, the Japanese bond market sits at the heart of the global financial system, and I won’t go back over the whole topic, but a 6-sigma move in a market that enormous doesn’t go unnoticed.

Seeing a 6-sigma move in silver a few days later gives one a lot to think about.

And now gold?? That’s absolutely insane.

Why are we seeing extreme statistical events, only days apart, in such different markets?

When a pillar of global funding becomes unstable, leverage tends to contract, and two things happen at the same time: forced selling in certain assets and forced buying of protection in others.

Historically, precious metals are often among the beneficiaries.

Many of my readers are loving the fact that gold and silver prices have risen at an exponential rate.

JPMorgan is even suggesting that the price of gold could eventually hit $8,000.

But meanwhile the U.S. dollar and other fiat currencies are dying and investors are losing faith in the entire system.

At this stage, Peter Schiff is warning that we are headed for a global nightmare “that will make the 2008 financial crisis look like a Sunday school picnic”…

As gold prices keep rising, American economist Peter Schiff says investors should view the rally as more than a hedge — calling it a warning that inflation is speeding up, the U.S. dollar is losing global trust and a major economic reckoning may be near.

“Gold and silver are warning about a bigger crisis that’s gonna hit either later this year or maybe next year. We are headed for a U.S. dollar crisis and a sovereign debt crisis,” Schiff said Tuesday afternoon on “The Claman Countdown.”

“Central banks are buying gold to back up their currencies. They’re getting rid of dollars. They are getting rid of Treasuries,” he continued. “We are headed for [an] economic crisis, again, that will make the 2008 financial crisis look like a Sunday school picnic.”

The warning signs are all around us.

The last time we were forced to endure a major economic crisis and a major financial crisis at the same time was during the Great Recession.

Now it is happening again, and many prominent voices believe that the pain that we will soon experience will be off the charts.

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 Just Like We Witnessed During The Great Recession And The Great Depression, Economic Activity Is Slowing Down All Around Us As Chaos Breaks Out In The Financial Markets appeared first on The Economic Collapse.