Political Machinations: The 2026 Midterms May Be A.I.-Manipulated

The recent Democratic Party mayoral primary election of Zohran Mamdani in New York City does not bode well. It illustrates that the Hard Left Democrats now have a stranglehold on New York City politics. I suspect the same for all of the East and West Coast Blue States, as well as Illinois. I heard it suggested on talk radio that artificial intelligence (A.I.) was used to exert influence on the New York mayoral primary via concerted social media bot traffic. This may have swayed “on the fence” voters toward Mamdani. I’m curious to see if this manipulation can be documented.  …


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, six months into Donald Trump’s second term in office, a special look at Trumponomics 2.0. Precious Metals: Rep. Massie Introduces Bill to Audit U.S. Gold Reserves. o  o  o Gold Price Forecast June 2025: What’s Driving Gold Prices Right Now?  JWR’s Comments:  In the past week, gold rose 3% and silver was up about 10%, in …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“When Freedom from her mountain-height Unfurled her standard to the air, She tore the azure robe of night, And set the stars of glory there. She mingled with its gorgeous dyes The milky baldric of the skies, And striped its pure, celestial white With streakings of the morning light. Flag of the free heart’s hope and home! By angel hands to valour given! Thy stars have lit the welkin dome, And all thy hues were born in heaven. Forever float that standard sheet! Where breathes the foe but falls before us, With Freedom’s soil beneath our feet, And Freedom’s banner …


Preparedness Notes for Thursday — July 3, 2025

On July 3, 1250, Louis IX of France was captured by Baibars’ Mamluk army at the Battle of Fariskur while he was in Egypt conducting the Seventh Crusade. He later has to ransom himself. — On July 3, 1890, the Idaho Territory became the 43rd state in the Union. — The “Big Beautiful” Budget Reconciliation Bill failed several key votes in the House of Representatives yesterday and last night. That means that the bill is now being reopened to amendments!  So, Rep. Clyde’s amendment may be offered again, with the SHORT Act removing SBRs and SBSes from the NFA, as …


Preparing To Go To Gunsite – Part 3, by N.C.

(Continued from Part 2. This concludes the article.) Flashlight I bought this from Gunsite’s pro shop where they have a couple of options. I bought their bottom of the line (but still expensive to me) Fenix PD36R V2.0 Rechargeable Flashlight for about $100. I agonized a bit over this decision, I did not normatively carry a flashlight and I was not planning to begin carrying one. When I started researching I found that Flashlight guys are like Watch guys, they speak their own language and very quickly start spending huge amounts of money for the model that’s “just right” for …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, we ponder severe solar storms and impending demographic doom. The Unseen Fury of Solar Storms SurvivalBlog staffer Tom Christianson suggested this recent article: The Unseen Fury Of Solar …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — July 2, 2025

After a stab in the back to gun owners by the RINOs of the U.S. Senate, the Budget Reconciliation Bill is now back in the House of Representatives. Please repeatedly contact your U.S. congressmember by phone and e-mail and demand that they vote for Rep. Andrew Clyde’s new (July 1st) House Amendment restoring the full versions of the Hearing Protection Act and the SHORT Act to the bill. We are now within inches of getting this important legislation passed. It will only take about five more House member votes to get this passed!!!  Please phone the Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121. …


Preparing To Go To Gunsite – Part 2, by N.C.

(Continued from Part 1.) Physical Requirements Can you stand for six hours a day in the sun and weather? Be brutally honest with yourself here. I saw one gentleman who came who could not. I felt so bad for him. To have spent all the money and time and be unable to actually complete the training would be heartbreaking. On the other hand there were absolutely people north of 60 completing the course. You don’t need to be able to run a marathon but you do need to be able to stand in the sun for several hours. Bear in …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Reader Hollyberry wrote us last month: “Not much excitement goes on in rural Maine, which is why we live here. Back in April this year, while reading the local paper, it ran a story on a local soldier that had died in WWII. The young man, US. Army Private Willard D. Merrill, …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Napoleon’s troops fought in bright fields, where every helmet caught some gleams of glory; but the British soldier conquered under the cool shade of aristocracy. No honours awaited his daring, no despatch gave his name to the applauses of his countrymen; his life of danger and hardship was uncheered by hope, his death unnoticed.” – General William Francis Patrick Napier (1785-1860), in Peninsular War (1810). Vol. ii. Book xi. Chap. iii.


Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — July 1, 2025

On July 1, 1836, US President Andrew Jackson announced to Congress a bequest by James Smithson of 100,000 gold sovereigns to found the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. — On July 1st, 1997, the crown colony of Hong Kong officially reverted to Chinese sovereignty, ending 156 years of British rule. There have been sporadic protests by locals, ever since then. — July 1st, 1535, Sir Thomas More went on trial for treason for refusing to accept King Henry VIII as head of the Church of England. — And on July 1st, 1863 is the anniversary of the beginning of the Civil …


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, news about another bison death at Yellowstone. (See the Montana section.) Idaho Suspected gunman found dead after fatal shooting of Idaho firefighters. o  o  o “Truth and Reconciliation” Conference being held to voice concerns on Victor Perez shooting. o  o  o Firefighters battle blazes near …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — June 30, 2025

An Important Note: Please repeatedly contact your state’s two U.S. Senators by phone and e-mail and demand that they overrule the unelected Senate Parliamentarian’s recent bogus ruling that the Hearing Protection Act and the SHORT Act did not qualify as “tax measures” under the Byrd Rule. Clearly, the National Firearms Act of 1934 IS INDEED part of the Federal tax code, and any modification to NFA-’34 is indeed “tax-related.”  Tell your Senators:  Vote NO on the entire bill, unless the Hearing Protection Act and the SHORT Act are fully restored! If they can overrule the Senate Parliamentarian on Senator Dan …