Thin ICE

John Titus and Catherine Austin Fitts host a Money & Markets episode themed “Thin ICE,” arguing that public support for an expanding surveillance/control infrastructure is weakening as the physical “hardware” of a domestic control grid becomes visible. They focus heavily on a thoroughly sourced, anonymously written ESC analysis of Jeffrey Epstein’s DOJ-released emails, presenting Epstein as an “intelligence router” and distributed “switchboard” for elite networks—moving from early Rockefeller sponsorship (including appointments to Rockefeller University, the Trilateral Commission, and CFR) to representing the Rothschilds by 2016. The discussion frames Epstein as an agent connecting multiple Rothschild branches and broader financial/governance projects, including programmable/digital currency concepts (purpose-bound money), AI classification, impact/ESG investing, and institutional staffing, with the claim that by 2019 the network’s threads were “institutionalized,” making the switchboard operator unnecessary. Fitts links this to the institutionalization of financing via FASAB 56 and to “Going Direct Reset” planning, suggesting Epstein’s removal occurred after his function was no longer needed. They also discuss alleged functions of Epstein’s sexual blackmail/abuse operation as bonding, personnel “benefits,” blackmail, and reinforcing dehumanization.

The episode then turns to political backlash over the Epstein Files, citing reporting that DOJ records include an FBI interview of a “credible victim” alleging Trump sexually assaulted her when she was 13–14, and claiming Pam Bondi lied to Congress by saying there was “no evidence” of Trump crimes related to Epstein. They highlight polling showing strong public belief that powerful elites protected Epstein and need investigation, and discuss broader distrust in the DOJ. Clips from a hearing show survivors saying they still have not met with DOJ, and Bondi not apologizing; another clip shows Bondi pivoting to stock-market records (Dow/S&P/Nasdaq) as a defense, which the hosts connect to a “red button problem” where rising portfolios buy public acquiescence.

They cover DHS/ICE actions, including administrative subpoenas to tech companies (Google, Reddit, Discord, Meta) seeking identifying data on anti-ICE or ICE-tracking accounts, and Social Security workers being told to share appointment details with ICE—described as an expansion of the security state into other agencies. They cite cases alleging ICE agents made false statements under oath after shootings and note thousands of court rulings finding unlawful detentions. They also discuss a federal judge blocking efforts to penalize Sen. Mark Kelly over speech about refusing illegal military orders, after a grand jury rejected a proposed indictment.

On economics, they discuss consumer inflation vs. price levels, argue official inflation understates lived cost increases, and highlight rising delinquency and “survival debt,” noting NFCC clients now averaging $70,000 income with $35,000 unsecured debt. They discuss healthcare costs as a major driver. On housing, they cite an article arguing the “housing market” functions as a market for financial products serving investors and keeping prices elevated, and discuss financialization. They review market charts including homebuilders vs. S&P, Palantir vs. major indexes, and central bank reserves showing gold overtaking the U.S. dollar.

In geopolitics, they examine confusing signals around Russia, Turkey, and Iran, including Turkey’s Russian-supplied S-400 systems potentially supporting U.S.-aligned actions and analysis suggesting Putin may be prioritizing sanctions relief negotiations (the “Anchorage formula”) amid internal tensions, while also considering the possibility of Russian strategic “head-fakes.” They also cover Russia–China cooperation with Iran without a mutual defense clause.

Additional stories include Gaza reporting on Israeli strikes during a “ceasefire” and Trump’s announcement of a $5B “Board of Peace” pledge, framed as a mechanism that could bypass the UN. They discuss Apple’s $2B acquisition of an Israeli “pre-speech” tech company (Quiet AI) and concerns about surveillance/targeting technology, and return to the theme of data sovereignty with Switzerland ending a Palantir contract over unacceptable sovereignty risks, highlighting extensive FOIA-based reporting.

The episode ends with follow-up on claims of buried girls near Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in New Mexico, noting a state land commissioner’s call for investigation and prior lack of action. In Solari “in-house” updates, Titus says he finished writing a new installment of “War for Bankocracy” (episode 4A), they mention an annual Equity Overview and precious-metals deep dive, share a story about alumni action stopping a school vaccine mandate via a detailed letter, highlight a “deep survival” rescue story, and announce fundraising for a Switzerland event supporting a research mirror project. They also warn about AI-generated impersonation and fabricated content used for fraud.

00:00 Welcome & Theme: “Thin Ice” and the Open-Air Prison Buildout
01:38 Epstein Returns: Introducing ESC’s Deep-Dive, Sources, and Method
05:31 Rockefeller’s “Institutional Passport”: How Epstein Got Fast-Tracked
07:52 The Intelligence Router: Mandelson, Thiel, and “I Represent the Rothschilds”
14:04 Distributed Funding & the Switchboard Model (Wexner, Leon Black, MIT)
16:40 Programmable Money Blueprint: Purpose-Bound Currency, BIS Parallels, and Projects
18:47 When the Wiring’s in the Walls: Institutionalization, FASB 56, and Epstein’s Exit
25:19 The Sex Operation’s Function: Bonding, Benefits, Blackmail, and Club Signaling
28:59 Backlash Phase: Bondi, DOJ Handling, Polls, Inflation, and the Hearing Showdown
45:21 Jordan vs. Bondi: ‘Pathetic and Weak’ Hearing Tactics
46:25 The ‘Dow at 50,000’ Red-Button Distraction (401k vs. Justice)
50:00 DHS Targets Anti‑ICE Speech: Subpoenas, Anonymity & Tech Company Compliance
53:10 Social Security + ICE: Turning Benefits Into a Control System
54:41 ICE Misconduct & DOJ Lies: False Statements, Court Deference, and Why It Matters
01:01:01 Judge Blocks Trump/Hegseth Move to Punish a Senator for Protected Speech
01:06:40 Survival Debt & Healthcare Costs: Inflation Through the Back Door
01:09:34 Housing Isn’t a Market for Homes—It’s a Market for Financial Products
01:12:25 Local Fixes: Strong Towns, Small Builders, and Financing Community Housing
01:15:02 Space/Military Turf Wars & Iran: Turkey’s S‑400s and the Russia/China Wildcards
01:18:39 Putin’s ‘Anchorage Formula’: Sanctions Pressure, Central Bank Power, and Internal Split
01:25:53 Russia–China–Iran Coordination: No Mutual Defense Clause + Ruble/Rate ‘Economic Statecraft’
01:28:24 Sanctions, Ruble Defense & Russia’s High-Rate War Economy
01:29:45 Putin, Lavrov & the ‘Head Fake’ Negotiation Theory
01:32:02 Iran Escalation Risks & Hypersonic Missile Vulnerabilities
01:33:22 Gaza ‘Board of Peace’: Ceasefire Violations and Profiteering Critique
01:35:49 Apple’s $2B ‘Silent Speech’ Buy: Surveillance, Lethal Tech & Payoff Suspicions
01:40:51 DHS Admin Subpoenas: Tech Platforms, Anti-ICE Users & the ‘For the Children’ Pretext
01:45:33 Pushback Win: Switzerland Dumps Palantir Over Data Sovereignty
01:49:39 Palantir Fallout: Lawsuit, HQ Move to Miami & Stock Underperformance
01:52:11 Epstein Zorro Ranch: New Mexico Search Push and ‘Reckoning’ Talk
01:56:51 Gold Overtakes Dollars in Reserves + Stablecoin Push to Fund Treasuries
01:57:52 Solari In-House Updates: War for Bankocracy, Projects, and Community Stories
02:09:48 AI Slop, Impersonation Scams & Integrity—Final Wrap-Up