What (Other) Wars Will Biden Get Us Into?
At the moment Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th US president on January 20, American military forces were deployed in more than 150 countries. In at least 14…
Defunding the Police: A Bad Catchphrase for a Good Idea
George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolis cop last May rekindled a debate over policing that’s been simmering for years. And, like everything else in our hyper-partisan society,…
The TSA’s “Mission Creep” Threatens Us All
Shortly after the January 6 attack on the nation’s capital, incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to add those protestors identified as participating…
Is it Time to Break up Big Tech?
A slugfest is underway, with Uncle Sam and the states joined in a rare show of bipartisan unity against “Big Tech.” Both political parties are eager to unleash the government’s…
The Folly of “Universal Basic Income”
Last month, Republican senator and former presidential nominee Mitt Romney unveiled a proposal he calls the “Family Security Act.” The plan seemed shocking at first, especially coming from a solidly…
How Uncle Sam Outsources Surveillance to Launder Your Data
East Germany’s Ministry for State Security, better known as the Stasi, competed with the KGB for the title of world’s most feared intelligence agency during the Cold War.
What Larry King and Prince Had in Common
Former legendary talk show host Larry King died last month at 87 years. At first glance, he might not appear to have much in common with pop star Prince, who died in 2016...
Why People Are Fleeing California (and Some Other States)
We recently discovered a study analyzing migration patterns within the United States over the course of 2020.
How Much More Debt Can We Handle?
By the time you read these words, Congress will be putting the finishing touches on President Biden’s COVID-19 relief package, with American taxpayers footing the bill to the tune of $1.9 trillion.
The Next PATRIOT Act
“A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.”
While this statement was first attributed to Stanford economist Paul Romer in 2004, politicians have long used crises to justify new laws that crush peoples’ rights.
The Case for Informed Consent in Vaccinations
We’re hesitant to wade into the already heavily debated vaccine conversation, if only because of the near-unbelievable enmity both pro-vaxxers and anti-vaxxers have for each another.
Civil Forfeiture is the Beast That Won’t Die
We’ve long criticized the barbaric (yet legal) practice of civil forfeiture, in which police or other authorized government agencies seize your property and then make you prove that the property is “innocent” to have it returned.
We’re All (Hyper) Keynesians Now
In 1971, President Richard Nixon supposedly told an ABC News reporter that he was "now a Keynesian in economics."
The Big Hack
At this point the “hack” doesn’t look like a hack as we usually think about it. The responsible parties didn’t try to damage anything, at least based on the incomplete knowledge we currently have.
Thank Congress for a New Year of Pork Barrel Spending
In this season of giving, it’s important that the holiday spirit moves us to thank Congress and the many taxpayer-funded federal agencies throughout the country for their support of so many worthy causes.
Is It Time to Buy Bitcoin?
Only a decade ago, cryptocurrencies, also known as “cryptos,” were virtually unknown. Since the invention of the first crypto (Bitcoin) in 2008, thousands more cryptos have been developed.
The Dollar Won’t Collapse in 2021 – But We Could See This Instead
Anyone over the age of 30 has likely been told by someone younger than them that, “you’re living in the past.”
Drugs Are Winning the War on (Some) Drugs
As COVID-19 spread throughout America last spring, many previously solid investments were devastated.
What Should I Do (Right Now)?
Stock prices are hitting all-time highs on a daily basis as investors rejoice at the prospect of an economic recovery in 2021.
“Minority Report” Predictive Policing Pitfalls
The year is 2054. For the first time in recorded history, Washington, D.C. is completely murder-free.
High Profile Security Breach Proves No Company Is Immune to Hackers
“Ransomware” is a class of malware that hackers use to infiltrate a victim’s computer or other online device, encrypts its files...
Is “Offshore” Another Word for Corruption?
The October 20 headline was a familiar one, at least to us here at The Nestmann Group: “Arrest warrants issued for founders of Panama Papers firm.”
Your Taxes Are Going Up (No Matter Who Wins Today)
We distribute this week’s Nestmann’s Notes as the world waits in suspense over whether America’s voters (in reality, that tiny subset of America known as the Electoral College) [...]
How Trump (or Biden) Could Steal the Election
After the 1787 Constitutional Convention had concluded in Philadelphia, 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin was reputedly asked, “Sir, what form of government have you given us?”
Could Trump Pardon Himself?
An American president’s authority to grant pardons has long been controversial. The Constitution provides the commander-in-chief with a broad reach in exercising these powers.
Yes, There Is Good News!
I’ve been called “The World’s Most Pessimistic Man” and “Mr. Worst-Case Scenario.” But I’m actually an optimist when looking at the long-term future.
Your Smartphone is Spying on You (Again)
It’s no surprise that Big Brother takes an intense interest in how we interact with our mobile devices.
More Countries Open Their Borders to Self-Sufficient Migrants
Your US passport, once a gateway to the world, is now a travel liability. As I pointed out in this article...
The World Gangs Up on the Dollar
One of our clients’ recurring concerns is the long-term viability of the US dollar as the world’s “reserve currency.” I have a simple answer for them:
The dollar is doomed.
Wondering Why Stock Prices Are Still Going Up?
Alexander Kearns’ name should be seared into your memory.