🔥 TRUMP V. THE FED: CLASH OVER ECONOMIC FUTURE. The Fed minutes from January (released earlier Wednesday) highlight growing concern among officials about President Trump’s economic policies, noting they could create “significant uncertainty” for the markets.
While the central bank debates interest rate hikes to balance inflation risks, Trump’s pro-growth agenda—and potential pressure on monetary policy—has left the Fed on edge.
—> FED’S WARNING: Officials are increasingly wary of Trump’s push for looser monetary policy, stating that fiscal decisions from the administration “could amplify inflationary pressures” and disrupt financial stability.
—> WILL TRUMP FIRE POWELL? Trump says, ‘No,’ …….for now. Powell’s term ends in 2026. Markets are watching closely, as the tension between fiscal and monetary policy could reshape U.S. economic strategy for years to come.
WHY IT MATTERS: With the economy at a crossroads and the Fed signaling caution, the balance between Trump’s agenda and the Fed’s independence is more precarious than ever.
Sources: CNBC; WSJ; Reuters; Federal Reserve.
hello, future. it’s me, kev.
…and this is a dispatch from the digital frontier. It’s time to meet the future NOW — with the latest on markets, tech, and freedom. The day is 8. The year is 2025. The planet is Earth.
Wildfires are tearing apart Los Angeles — more than 1,000 homes have been destroyed — and devastating winds are unrelenting, making it more challenging for firefighters to control the blazes.
My name is Kevin Cirilli —> LinkedIn | Substack | mtf.tv.
Back to the future...
🚨 NOT GOOD: MAN STUCK SPINNING IN CIRCLES IN DRIVERLESS CAR… MISSES FLIGHT AT AIRPORT. A Scottsdale man trying to catch a flight found himself trapped in a Waymo self-driving car endlessly circling a parking lot.
"I'm getting dizzy," Mike Johns said in a now-viral video of the ordeal. The car’s system connected to Waymo support, where a rep admitted to a “routing issue.” Autonomous tech might be the future, but this ride was going nowhere fast. 🌪️✈️ Source: Fox Business.
FUTURES
📉 MARKETS SLIDE AS JOBS DATA HITS WALL STREET. U.S. stocks tumbled after strong jobs data fueled fears of more Fed rate hikes. The S&P 500 fell 1.1%, while the Nasdaq dropped 1.9% as tech giants like Nvidia and Apple took a hit. Investors are bracing for Friday's jobs report, which could determine the Fed’s next move and Wall Street’s direction.
🌐💻 AI CHIP CRACKDOWN: BIDEN VS. CHINA. President Biden is tightening restrictions on Nvidia and AMD, blocking exports of advanced AI chips to China in a final push to limit Beijing’s tech dominance, according to Bloomberg.
The move escalates the U.S.-China AI arms race, targeting the cutting-edge tech that powers AI models and military advancements. With global markets bracing for impact, this showdown could reshape the balance of innovation and influence in the tech world.
—> WHY YOU CARE: AI chips are the backbone of cutting-edge technology, from generative AI to national defense. Limiting exports could stall China's progress while reinforcing U.S. control over key innovations.
—> MEET THE FUTURE: Expect Beijing to retaliate, with ripple effects across global markets and supply chains. The AI race is no longer just about tech—it’s a battle for geopolitical supremacy.
TIKTOK ON TRIAL: SCOTUS WEIGHS BYTEDANCE SALE. The Supreme Court hears arguments Jan. 10 on forcing TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell over national security concerns. Trump wants more time to strike a deal.
—> PUBLIC SHIFTS: Support for banning TikTok dropped to 32%, down from 50% in 2023.
—> WHO’S ON TIKTOK?
1/3 of U.S. adults, including 60% under 30.
63% of teens use it, many daily.
Half of adult users get their news there.
Source: Pew Research.
CRYPTO
🌍💰🚀 BITCOIN GOES MAINSTREAM: STATES AND BANKS JUMP INTO CRYPTO. Fidelity predicts 2025 will be the year of Bitcoin’s global takeover, with nation-states and central banks diving into the crypto waters. No longer just for tech rebels, Bitcoin’s potential as a digital gold standard is forcing governments to rethink their financial playbooks.
—> WHY YOU CARE: Central banks hedging with Bitcoin could signal a shift toward decentralized financial systems, breaking the grip of traditional fiat currencies. In this sci-fi future, even governments may embrace blockchain to survive economic turbulence. Source: Coin Desk.
SPACE
🚀🌌 BILLIONAIRES BATTLE IN SPACE: BEZOS VS. MUSK HEATS UP. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is firing back at Elon Musk’s SpaceX with its first orbital rocket launch next week. Dubbed a “game-changer,” this is Bezos’ shot to dethrone Musk as the reigning king of the cosmos.
—> SCI-FI SHOWDOWN: Think Star Wars, but with reusable rockets and way more billionaires. Musk’s SpaceX has dominated with near-weekly launches and big bets on Mars, but Bezos has a bold vision of his own.
—> OFFICE SPACE IN SPACE: Orbital Reef, Blue Origin’s futuristic space station project, promises to be a “mixed-use business park” in low Earth orbit, complete with labs, habitats, and tourism options. It’s the real estate pitch of the century—just 200 miles above ground.
—> WHY IT MATTERS: This isn’t just about rockets—it’s about reshaping the future of space. Orbital Reef could rival Musk’s ambitions by making space accessible for research, manufacturing, and even vacations. Source: Daily Galaxy.
🌌 ☄️ ASTEROID-COMET HYBRID DISCOVERED: SCI-FI MEETS REALITY. Scientists are buzzing over 2060 Chiron, a cosmic hybrid that’s part asteroid, part comet. This space oddball orbits between Saturn and Uranus, occasionally showing off a dazzling comet-like tail.
—> WHY IT MATTERS: It’s a rare hybrid that could help decode the origins of water on Earth—and reshape our understanding of the solar system’s early days. 🚀
QUANTUM // ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
💻✨ QUANTUM COMPUTING: THE FUTURE’S NOT HERE… YET. Quantum computing stocks took a hit this week as investors tempered their expectations. Despite the hype, practical quantum applications—like cryptography and AI optimization—are still years away. More via Bloomy:
“If you kind of said 15 years for very useful quantum computers, that would probably be on the early side. If you said 30, it’s probably on the late side,” Huang said in a question-and-answer session during Nvidia’s analyst day. “If you picked 20, I think a whole bunch of us would believe it.”
—> WHY YOU CARE: The quantum revolution is coming, but don’t expect your smartphone to go quantum anytime soon. For now, it’s about building the foundation for breakthroughs that could reshape industries from finance to healthcare. 🚀🧠
🤖 AI MULTIVERSE: TRAINING ROBOTS TO PREDICT EVERY POSSIBLE FUTURE. Scientists have built a "multiverse simulation engine" to train robots and AI. This tech creates countless virtual versions of the world—like parallel realities—allowing AI to practice and learn without real-world risks.
—> WHY IT MATTERS: From self-driving cars avoiding accidents to humanoid robots perfecting complex tasks, this engine predicts all possible outcomes to make AI smarter, safer, and more reliable. It’s like giving AI a crystal ball for every decision.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS TEACHING GEN Z AI—NOT TEACHERS OR EMPLOYERS. Gen Z is shaping its understanding of AI outside traditional systems, with schools and workplaces falling far behind. Social media and online platforms have become their go-to for learning about artificial intelligence—and they’re bringing strong opinions on data ethics along for the ride.
—> KEY TAKEAWAYS:
SELF TAUGHT: Fifty-five percent of Gen Z say they learn about AI on social media — more than double the amount who listed schools (17%) and the workplace (13%), which barely contribute to AI education for Gen Z.
TRUST ISSUES:
47% of Gen Z believes AI developers should ask permission before using their personal data.
43% think AI systems are too invasive, pushing for stronger data protection.
39% have become more cautious about sharing information online due to AI.
—> MEET THE FUTURE: Gen Z’s self-taught approach to AI could reshape future education, workplace training, and even regulations. Their demand for ethical data practices might force developers to rethink how they access and use user information.
Source: CFO.
GEOPOLITICS
CHINA SILENCES ECONOMIST WHO QUESTIONED GDP. 📉 Beijing has reportedly muzzled a prominent economist who dared to doubt China’s official GDP figures. As the country faces economic slowdowns, skepticism over its data grows.
—> WHY IT MATTERS: China’s economic transparency is under scrutiny, raising questions about global markets that rely on its data. Trust issues in the world’s second-largest economy could ripple far and wide. Source: WSJ.
ONE MORE THING
🐶 🧬 WOULD YOU CLONE YOUR DOG? TEXAS MAKES IT HAPPEN. Pet cloning is booming, with Texans leading the charge in turning science fiction into a wagging, purring reality.
And it’s only legal in America… for now…
—> CLONING GOES MAINSTREAM. ViaGen Pets in Texas is at the heart of this booming business, offering cloning services that are as controversial as they are captivating.
THE PRICE OF FOREVER. $50K for a dog. $40K for a cat. Cloning your furry friend? There’s a five-month waitlist, but DNA can be stored for decades.
—> Consumer sentiments: dogs are worth $10K more than cats!!!!!!!
UK BANS, TEXAS PROFITS. Brits are shipping pet DNA stateside to skirt cloning bans, while celebs like Paris Hilton lead the charge for second chances with their pets.
Cloning is reshaping our bond with pets—and raising tough questions about ethics and the limits of science.
Sources: The Sun; Chicago Star; The Straits Times; Yahoo Finance; Associated Press; Reality Tea.
With gratitude,
Kev
ABOUT mtf.tv’s meet the future: mtf.tv’s meet the future is a cutting-edge platform focused on addressing key challenges at the intersection of national security, technology, and business. With a mission to embrace freedom to meet the future’s challenges and opportunities, mtf.tv offers forward-thinking media offerings and forums.
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