Here Comes the 'Next Big Thing'
Did COVID-19 come from outer space?... Doc and Matt's latest briefing... What we know and what we don't... Investor fear is sky-high... Here comes the 'next big thing'... Whitney Tilson's predictions on the November election...
At this point, folks will likely dispute COVID-19 'facts' until the next once-in-a-century pandemic hits...
Let's hope that it actually takes another 100 years – if it happens at all. We're exhausted.
But today, our work goes on...
We start with these laments because it reflects how Retirement Millionaire editor Dr. David "Doc" Eifrig and senior analyst Matt Weinschenk began their latest, unedited COVID-19 briefing.
We want to make sure you've seen the discussion, which marks the 20th briefing of Doc and Matt's free series over the past six months. They started recording from their home offices in the depths of Lockdown Nation back in March... and continued as things started to "open back up" across the U.S.
Doc and Matt have provided more level-headed analysis and research than we've seen from any mainstream program we dared to watch (even just for a few minutes to make sure the hysteria and confusion we imagined was still there).
For instance, in Doc and Matt's latest video, they touched on a critical idea... Even more than six months in, the COVID-19 pandemic offers more questions than answers.
Does the current decline in cases stem from the natural path of an infectious disease? Or is it because of folks following mask-wearing and social-distancing guidelines?
The truth is, the case can't be proven for certain either way yet. But if you look even briefly, you can find evidence out there today to confirm pretty much any theory you might have. And this, of course, is a big problem. As Doc said, tongue in cheek, during the briefing...
I'll bet you, Matt, you could find a study that shows COVID didn't come from China... but came from outer space.
And as Matt added, one of the biggest legacies of the pandemic might be its strong indictment of the Information Age. By that, he's referring to things like pre-print medical studies spreading on social media and written up elsewhere as "facts"...
The virus has done what it's done along the way, and look at how many different reactions and opinions from all corners of society we've seen. Are they all right? As Matt said...
I think this has been a real indictment of both the media and government communication. In this particular case, you used to be able to sort of retreat to the scientific studies, if you wanted some real information.
There will be a lot of lasting legacies, but I think an examination of this is going to really be one of them.
We've been writing about this virus in the Digest since January... And we've confronted conflicting reports since the very beginning. Back on January 22, when we called it the "Wuhan virus," we wrote of the initial outbreak in China...
Researchers believe the number of folks infected with the Wuhan virus could be much higher than reported.
When it comes to numbers and guidance, things haven't gotten much more definitive since then...
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") quietly posted updated guidelines on its website that acknowledged the virus could be transmitted through breathing (something Stansberry Venture Technology editor Dave Lashmet said way back in May). But then, the CDC pulled the information down this morning, noting that it was still being reviewed (and it got a call from the World Health Organization asking about the change.)
What a mess.
Doc and Matt share what they know and don't know... and also reflect on the politicization of the virus, the failure of media, and the mountains of misinformation spreading online.
So again, we urge you to check out Doc and Matt's latest video for free right here.
Doc and Matt also pointed out that a lot of investors have moved on...
A lot of folks are over COVID-19. Some have been for a while. And many have moved on to thinking about the "next big thing."
That's the presidential election.
In a way, this is good. It signals a small step in our long return toward "normal" conditions. In September of any election year, folks are wondering what will happen in November.
But we're not quite back to a pre-COVID-19 resting state yet...
Fear in the markets remains at levels traditionally thought of as extreme. For instance, investors who partake in the options market are betting on more anxiety in the months ahead... Matt shared a few charts that show traders are paying up for "protection" against volatility over the next two months.
He pointed out the extreme levels of these indicators, like the CBOE Volatility Index ("VIX") futures chart, which shows the difference between buying protection on stocks two months out and one month out. And as Matt said, compared to the last five years...
It's way out of range of anything, and you see the same thing on foreign currency bets, on credit, and on interest rates. People are worried about something coming up soon, and that thing is the election, or it's at least the time of the election.
Right now, the market is paying a lot for protection from whatever is going to happen in this election.
On that point, we don't know precisely what will happen. But we can prepare for all the possible outcomes.
Here's just one scenario... With mail-in voting a bigger deal than ever before, just based on the logistics alone, election results in many states aren't likely to be known for days, weeks, or longer.
If we get an undisputed "call" on a winner on Election Night, I (Corey McLaughlin) will be surprised. And the longer that uncertainty lasts, the more unrest we can imagine as the days – or even weeks – pass.
Here's what we do know...
No matter what happens, presidential elections tend to move markets... And what happens this November may be one of the most consequential results of our lifetimes.
It's time to prepare, if you haven't already. Longtime Digest readers probably already have...
Our founder Porter Stansberry and many of our editors have long shared that 2020 would be a critical year for the future of the economy – and that was even before a pandemic pressed the accelerator on that theme.
As we've mentioned, Porter predicted a lot of what's happening today in his book Battle for America. He wrote about the increased likelihood that the calls for socialist policies would strengthen... and he even mentioned the then-little-known name of Kamala Harris as our country's next potential president.
Most important, in that book, Porter also shared how you can best prepare your portfolio to survive no matter what happens.
Heading into the election, we'll be sure to share our best ideas, analysis, and research here in the Digest...
For starters, in the very short term, we encourage you to check out what Porter's good friend and Empire Financial Research founder Whitney Tilson and his team have to say...
Whitney and his colleagues Enrique Abeyta and Berna Barshay are holding a free event this Wednesday night at 8 p.m. Eastern time to discuss the coming November election and its likely effects on the stock market.
As Whitney wrote in his free daily e-letter earlier today, the three panelists plan to give their predictions for who will win between the Republican incumbent Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden. And more important, you can expect the trio to share tangible advice for how to position your portfolio to profit from the outcome.
Whitney, in particular, has picked eight stocks that will soar – if he's right on his call.
This special streaming event is completely free to attend – and Whitney's team will share a free stock idea to everyone who tunes in that they believe could double your money or more. But you must sign up in advance to secure your spot... You can do that by clicking here.
The Feds Move to Legalize Pot
Jessica Stone speaks with Cannabis Capitalist editor Tom Carroll about how cannabis investing is getting gains from federal efforts to legalize marijuana.
Click here to watch this video right now. For more free video content, subscribe to our Stansberry Research YouTube channel... and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
New 52-week highs (as of 9/18/20): Autohome (ATHM), Calibre Mining (CXB.TO), Dollar General (DG), Gravity (GRVY), Maxar Technologies (MAXR), and Belo Sun Mining (VNNHF).
A busy mailbag today, with more feedback on our philosophy about China recommendations... Vic Lederman's Masters Series essay about "China-phobia"... thoughts on COVID-19... and Dan Ferris' Friday Digest. Do you have a question or comment? As always, e-mail us at feedback@stansberryresearch.com. We love to hear from you.
"Just loved Corey's reply to Vince W. What a great reminder to all of us to calm down and be critical thinkers, not emotional responders. That just made my day, thanks Corey and all the team @ Stansberry Research for your great work." – Stansberry Alliance member Mike H.
"I want to thank you for publishing the anti-China rant from Vince W. I think it is important to let your subscribers vent their frustrations. I am going to share my own.
"I see constant comments in your editorial pages about Covid: lockdowns, working from home, and of course the coming vaccine and how to invest in it. What makes me angry is that no one ever talks about early treatment.
"I live in an area where Lyme Disease is a bigger problem than Covid. If I get a tick bite, I can make a phone call to a doctor and have a prescription ready the same day. No one knows for sure if the anti-biotic treatment works for Lyme Disease. It has no double blind studies yet it continues to be used.
"If I suspected I had Covid, I would be told to lock myself up inside until I had trouble breathing, then go to the emergency room. This makes absolutely no sense to me. Why would I wait until my lungs turn into a brick before seeking treatment? Does anybody wait for cancer to grow before treating it? There were treatments for Covid as early as February that showed some efficacy. Now there are multiple treatments. Every time you write articles on Covid you should be asking yourself why you are ignoring the therapeutic angle.
"People have died needlessly from not understanding their options and waiting too long. I think the willful suppression of cheap and readily available therapeutics will go down as the crime of the century once the smoke finally clears on this. I know most of the professional media is complicit in this crime. I hope that Stansberry Research is not part of the problem." – Paid-up subscriber Bob G.
Corey McLaughlin comment: Thanks, Bob, for sharing your concerns. We're happy to give a forum for vents of all kinds.
We hit on this point today when talking about Doc and Matt's latest video... They completely agree that truly understanding what options are out there for treatment – and prevention – of COVID-19 would do us all a lot of good. Unfortunately, there's so much misinformation out there today... and even worse, it spreads quickly, creating confusion for everyone who simply believes what they hear and doesn't do their own research.
We'll continue to deliver the best, well-researched information in our newsletters and on other content platforms. We don't have to go far to find some...
On the specific point you raise about "cheap and readily available therapeutics," our colleague Amanda Cuocci shared just yesterday in a new video how vitamin D could help combat COVID-19. Watch that video for free right here.
"Vic, Well said about China-phobia! However, when it comes to investment decisions, I voted for my pocket book and put politics aside. And I invested as recommended by Steve.
"Guess what? I made tons of money so far and am looking forward to an even better return for my investment as the Yuan appreciates relative to the USD. And it is happening!" – Paid-up subscriber Vince C.
"Personally, I believe you have oversimplified the matter.
"In that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) controls all facets [of] Chinese business and uses it as a weapon, divesting from the Chinese markets makes sense. The CCP is the target ... and for good reason. Cutting into their arsenal when their objective is to control the US and thereby control the world, is not unreasonable.
"Technically you are correct, tactically you are missing the mark.
"After the CCP is removed we can always come back to China, the question is at what point in the process... The CCP has to go, we can't afford to be wrong tactically.
"Listen to Mike Pompeo, he is the point man and knows what he is talking about. Don't fight the movement correcting the problem." – Paid-up subscriber Paul C.
"The progress in China is not really political and the comparison to [the] US is obvious. The Chinese advancement is a direct result of their educational system. They use the education system to teach knowledge that will lead to research, development and contribution to society with respect for the system, the government and the process of contribution.
"The universities in [the] USA should be punished by government, but not for investing in Chinese business. They should be punished for their failure to educate! The failure to teach students how to think and not WHAT TO THINK! In the USA university if the coursework is too hard for a student the answer is to push the professor to be more forgiving in the grading or for the student to take an easier program even if it is a dead end! In China if the program is too hard for the student they are steered to another education track that will still train the student to be productive. US students are taught DISRESPECT! Disrespect systems, disrespect law, disrespect history, country, and each other!
"We all should pause and today think about Ruth Bader Ginsberg! She may not have agreed with you or you with her, but you were NEVER disrespected for your beliefs or your person! To RBG knowledge of history and heritage was something to be proud of and to be sought!
"Educating on history, discipline and respect are not the case in America and the root cause is the failure of education! Spend a day and read (yes READ not watch) the book Little Soldiers by Lenora Chu. See the difference in setting standards, in enforcing discipline and teaching RESPECT.
"Take a walk in Ginza Tokyo and count the Japanese flags visible on the street poles. Go to a Baseball game in Seoul or Japan or a basketball game in China or a soccer game anywhere and see the pre-game ritual. Then go to a lame game in any sport in the USA... Is this surreal?" – Paid-up subscriber James S.
"Dan, I have been an Alliance member for a number of years and one of your subscribers before that. I just want to thank you for your cool-headedness during this difficult time in our country. You and your teammates have made a very positive impact on me and my family's portfolio. Your common sense and well-resourced knowledge is greatly appreciated.
"So sorry for your recent loss, mothers are our greatest champions. All my best to you and your family!" – Stansberry Alliance member Herrick J.
"Dan, By far the best, wittiest and poignant piece you have written to date. Keep up the great work and may God's grace be with you at the passing of your mom." – Paid-up subscriber K.M.
"Dan... re your comments on the election... I have long thought that voting really accomplishes nothing. If it did, they wouldn't let us do it. Just another way to keep the sheeple in line and reasonably quiet.
"Good Digest this week (well, they all are ... but this one really caught my attention). Thanks for all your good work. Stay safe (and inside). It's crazy out there." – Paid-up subscriber Dave P.
All the best,
Corey McLaughlin Baltimore, Maryland September 21, 2020