Get Ready for Tariff War 2 or World War 3

This brief essay serves as a reminder, for the new year. As we enter 2025, both geopolitics and global economics are displaying some profound changes.  The Ukraine war, the fall of Assad’s government in Syria, and the ongoing civil wars in Burma (aka Myanmar), Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan, and Ethiopia all have the potential to spill over into wider conflicts. Ditto for potential invasions in Taiwan and South Korea. Meanwhile, the rise of the BRICS trade bloc, the out-of-control U.S. National Debt, global debt as a whole, and the run-up of precious metals prices are all evidence of deep-seated economic …


SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, a description of the most remote places in CONUS. Region-Wide Video: The Most Remote Places Left in America (Lower 48). JWR’s Comment:  It should come as no surprise to SurvivalBlog readers that six of the regions profiled in this video are geographically in The American …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — January 20, 2025

On January 20, 1954, a low of -70°F was measured at Rogers Pass, Montana. This still stands as the record low temperature in the contiguous United States. — January 20, 1981: 52 American hostages were released by the Iranian government, following 444 days of captivity, to be reunited with their families. Not coincidentally, Ronald Reagan was sworn in as President, the same day. I have a feeling that Hamas may soon be releasing its Israeli hostages, for a quite similar reason.  – JWR — The new 2005-2024 SurvivalBlog waterproof archive sticks are selling out rapidly. There are now less than …


Recipe of the Week: Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

The following recipe for Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup is from SurvivalBlog reader E.J.. Ingredients 2 Tbsp canola oil 1 onion, chopped 1⁄2 tsp salt, divided 1⁄4 tsp black pepper (more or less, to taste) 1 cup baby carrots 1 lb bone-in, skinless chicken thighs 1 1⁄2 lb skinless chicken breasts (and be ‘bone-in” type) 1 bay laurel leaf 5 cups of chicken broth (fresh, frozen, or canned) 2 Tbsp chopped dill 1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed 1 1⁄2 cup vermicelli, broken into 2-to-3-inch long pieces, cooked separately and drained. Directions In a large skillet, heat oil for 30 …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic:  A Map Showing the U.S. Homeless Population Change From 2023 to 2024. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit, based on HUD data.) The thumbnail below is click-expandable.           — Please send your graphics or graphics links to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — January 19, 2025

On January 19, 1883, the first electric lighting system employing overhead wires built by Thomas Edison, began service at Roselle, New Jersey. — January 19, 1915: Four people in Norfolk were killed in the first German Zeppelin air raid attack on the United Kingdom. — Today is the birthday of Carla Emery. (Born 1939, died October 11, 2005.)  She is well known in self-sufficiency circles as the author of The Encyclopedia of Country Living. This book was recently re-released in a 40th Anniversary edition.  Emery’s book is featured prominently in JWR’s Bookshelf Page. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: “Millions” Worth of Hunter Biden’s Art Went Up In Flames, In The L.A. Fire “Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm Is There…” News Links: Hunter Biden artworks worth ‘millions of dollars’ destroyed in LA fires. A trove of nearly 200 artworks by Hunter Biden has been destroyed. LA Fires Claim Priceless Art. Posted one year ago: Kevin Morris gave ‘massive’ financial support to Hunter Biden, raising campaign finance concerns: Comer. Another from January, 2024: Hunter Biden KNEW most of his art buyers despite White House ethics plan to keep them secret, dealer …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way. And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — January 18, 2025

On January 18, 1258 the Mongol army of 150,000, led by Hulagu Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, arrived at the walls of Baghdad. Following a 12-day siege, the city fell on February 13th. It was recorded that the majority of the city’s one million residents were massacred in less than two days. — January 18, 1923: The first radio telegraph message from the Netherlands was received successfully in the Dutch East Indies. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The …


Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day. And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister: And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the Lord …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — January 17, 2025

On January 17, 1746: In the Battle of Falkirk Muir, the Jacobites under Charles Stuart defeated Hanoverian forces. — Acting for Hawaiian sugar interests and their American allies, a committee led by Sanford Ballard Dole deposed Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani on January 17, 1893 and installed a provisional government with Dole as president. — On this day in 1994 the 6.7 magnitude Northridge Earthquake struck Los Angeles. It caused about $20 billion in damage and killed 61 people. — Today is the last day to take advantage of the introductory sale price for the new two-volume Red State Relocation Guidebook. It …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at credit cards and their proper use. (See the Credit Card Use and Credit Card Debt section.) Precious Metals: China’s central bank purchases 10 tonnes of gold in December, analysts say it’s nowhere near done buying.  JWR’s Comments:  Those are just the official numbers on Chinese gold purchases. The word in the Comex …