“Thank you for the touching and poignant reminder on Memorial Day, Matt,” writes Dennis M.

“It’s important to remember the real cost of freedom and the lives given for our country.”

Meanwhile, the Epstein saga continues to stir strong feelings: “Kash Patel and Bongino are now with the swamp,” says Joyce W. “This was a surprise to me. I believed they would clean up the corruption in the FBI. I have no respect for either of them.”

But not all readers are convinced of a cover-up. Mark F. writes, “I have a great deal of respect for both Patel and Bongino. If they say Epstein committed suicide, then I believe it. They’ve seen the files and know more than we ever will. Sometimes the simplest answer is the truth.”

Per Walmart’s role in the U.S. economy, Tom H., points out: “Walmart’s dominance has come at the expense of small-town America. Now, when prices go up, there’s nowhere else to shop. They’ve made us dependent on cheap imports, and when tariffs hit, it’s the American consumer who pays the price. Walmart should eat the cost of tariffs.”

Finally, today, Steve R. offers this perspective: “Yes, prices may go up for a while, but if tariffs mean we rebuild American manufacturing and jobs, I’m willing to pay more at Walmart today for a stronger country tomorrow. Short-term pain, long-term gain — that’s how you win back independence.”

Moving on, the Trump administration is charging full speed ahead with a plan to unlock Alaska’s vast energy potential. And it’s a move that echoes Jim Rickards’ “American birthright” thesis…

Your Rundown for Wednesday, May 12, 2025...

America’s Energy Awakening

On Monday, officials led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced a sweeping proposal to open up millions of acres in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) for oil and gas drilling, reversing the Biden-era restrictions that put more than half the reserve off-limits.

The NPR-A is no small patch of land — it’s a 23-million-acre expanse, the largest single tract of public land in the country, rich in energy resources and long viewed as a strategic asset.

For decades, Alaska’s leaders and energy industry have pushed back against what they see as federal overreach and unnecessary red tape.

Now, the Trump team is making good on its promise to “get the federal government out of your way,” as Burgum put it, and put American energy workers back on the job

President Trump aims to double the oil flowing through Alaska’s pipeline system plus advance a major liquefied natural gas project, with interest from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Many Alaskans — including Native leaders who felt sidelined under Biden — are welcoming the renewed focus on jobs and revenue.

And just days after the Alaska announcement, the White House moved to reopen Utah’s Velvet-Wood uranium mine, dormant since the 1980s.

Thanks to a “national energy emergency” order, the mine’s environmental review was approved in just 11 days — lightning speed compared to the usual process.

The goal? Boost domestic uranium production and cut reliance on foreign adversaries like Kazakhstan and Russia, all while expanding the mine’s footprint by just three acres.

The message is clear: America should use its own resources to secure prosperity and independence.

And these latest ventures are just two examples of the Trump team’s commitment to reclaiming what Jim Rickards calls America’s birthright — a $150-trillion endowment of natural resources.

Market Rundown for Wednesday, May 12, 2025

S&P 500 futures are up 0.70% to 5,985.

Oil is up a fraction of a percent to $63.40 for a barrel of WTI.

The price of gold is up 0.20% to $3,381.70 per ounce.

And Bitcoin is up 1.55% to $103,750.