EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

America is already in a depression.

Not the kind we saw in the 1930s. But something even deeper, embedded in the psyche of millions of Americans. The evidence is all around us:

It’s the real reason why support for socialism is soaring…

It’s why nearly 70% of people believe the American Dream is dead…

And it’s why from coast to coast, Americans are losing hope… their optimism and dignity drained by a despair they can’t shake.

Most people can’t see it yet. But they sense it. They feel it in their gut:

The sinking feeling that they are falling further and further behind.

I’ve pulled on this thread for over a year, and what I’ve uncovered is bigger than anything I’ve ever reported. And it’s happening much faster than anyone imagines.

In my documentary, I reveal this depression in detail.

This is not just “the way things are now.”

These are the early warning signs of a terrifying phenomenon.

Something I call The Final Displacement…

It’s the fifth displacement in human history. But I suspect it could be the last.

The dot-com collapse, global financial crisis, COVID-19 pandemic… nothing we’ve seen in our lifetime holds a candle to what’s coming next.

A turning point that the former CEO of Google says is:

“The most important thing that’s going to happen in about 500 years – maybe 1,000 years of human society – and it’s happening in our lifetime.”

In short, I believe we are about to be plunged into a period of dramatic, almost unimaginable change.

And you need to be ready, or risk being left behind.

See my full warning here.

Good investing,

Porter Stansberry

Six tankers were attacked in the Persian Gulf today.

One crew member confirmed dead, three missing.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed all six, then told the world... "expect oil at $200 per barrel."

This isn't a headline. This is a price-of-everything problem.

THE INSIDER EDGE

THE $200 BARREL

The IRGC sent explosive-laden boats into two tankers in Iraqi waters, setting both ablaze.

Four more vessels were hit in the Strait of Hormuz, including the Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree... three crew members still trapped in the engine room.

That's 16 ships attacked in two weeks. The strait has been effectively closed since February 28.

MAR 12, 12:53 PM ET: WTI crude $93.68 (+7.4%), touching $97.19 at today's high. Brent $94.64 (+2.9%). S&P futures down 0.95%. VIX 25.94 (+4.1%). United Airlines (UAL) -3.8%, American Airlines (AAL) -3.6%. Energy is the only green sector on the board.

Trump responded by ordering the release of 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve... the largest single release in American history.

Oil barely flinched.

When 20% of the world's oil supply is physically blocked by drone boats and missiles, no reserve dump fixes the math for more than a few weeks.

THE FED IS TRAPPED: They meet March 17-18. Can't cut rates into an oil-driven inflation shock. Can't hike without choking an economy already showing cracks. Market pricing: zero moves through September.

Us realizing what happens if oil prices continue to run higher

Today's gainers: Exxon (XOM) +1.8% to $154.28, Chevron (CVX) +3.3% to $198.13, Occidental (OXY) +5.8% to $58.80, Marathon Petroleum (MPC) +3.2% to $234.09. Refiners are outperforming because crack spreads (the gap between crude costs and refined product prices) widen during supply shocks.

Today's losers: Airlines are bleeding. United (UAL) -3.8% to $87.25, American (AAL) -3.6% to $10.64, Delta (DAL) -1.7% to $58.14. Fuel is their single largest cost and they can't pass it through fast enough.

The second-order play: Domestic US producers with zero Hormuz exposure are the real winners. They produce in the Permian Basin... their oil never touches the strait, but they sell at the same global price. Pure margin expansion.

IF IT ESCALATES: IRGC is threatening $200 oil. If the strait stays closed through April, gas could hit $5+/gallon nationally, CPI spikes back toward 3-4%, and the Fed is stuck in a stagflation box. Energy could run another 20-30%.

IF IT DE-ESCALATES: Iran reportedly may let India-flagged tankers through... that's the first crack. A ceasefire could unwind $20-30 from WTI in days. Energy longs get caught, airlines rip, inflation scare vanishes.

Here's the bigger picture most people are missing.

If oil stays above $90 for the next two to three months, it doesn't just show up at the gas pump. It ripples through groceries, shipping, heating bills, insurance premiums... basically everything that eats into the monthly budget of anyone trying to live on a fixed income.

And if you're retired, or planning to be soon, the question you should be asking right now isn't just "where should I invest"... it's whether the income plan you've built can actually survive a sustained energy shock like this one.

Will Your Retirement Income Last?

A clear retirement income plan starts with knowing your costs and building a portfolio that can meet them. Fisher Investments' Definitive Guide to Retirement Income helps investors with $1,000,000 or more structure a strategy built to last.

Download your free guide.

NAMES ON OUR RADAR

THE WATCHLIST

TICKER PRICE DIRECTION WHY
OXY $58.80 ▲ LONG Occidental Petroleum. Buffett owns 28%. Most oil-price-sensitive name in the S&P. Up 5.8% today on pure Permian leverage.
FANG $181.25 ▲ LONG Diamondback Energy. Pure Permian play, zero Hormuz exposure, sells at the same global price. Max oil leverage.
VLO $238.31 ▲ LONG Valero. Largest US independent refiner. Crack spreads widen in supply shocks = pure profit.
COP $120.33 ▲ LONG ConocoPhillips. Largest independent US E&P. Disciplined capital, massive domestic production base.
DAL $58.14 ▼ SHORT Delta Air Lines. Fuel = 30%+ of operating costs. Watching for further breakdown if oil stays above $90.
UAL $87.25 ▼ SHORT United Airlines. Down 3.8% today, can't pass through fuel costs fast enough. Already showing cracks.

All prices via Alpaca Markets, ~12:53 PM ET, Mar 12

This is a binary setup. A ceasefire headline could flip every one of these names overnight... longs dump, shorts rip. We're staying nimble and sizing accordingly.

ON DECK

WHAT'S AHEAD

TODAY — THU MAR 12

6 tanker attacks, $94 oil, 172M barrel SPR release. Adobe (ADBE) earnings after the bell.

FRI MAR 13

UMich Consumer Sentiment... watch for energy price shock hitting confidence.

NEXT WEEK: MAR 17-18

FOMC rate decision. The Fed is trapped. Statement language is everything.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Sixteen ships hit in two weeks. $97 crude. The largest SPR release in US history.

And the people shooting at tankers just said "expect $200."

The next 30 days could define the rest of 2026. Know your levels, watch the strait.

— The Lead Editor, Main Street Betz

DISCLAIMER

We are a bunch of apes who figured out how to use a Bloomberg Terminal and a group chat at the same time. That combination is either genius or a liability, and we honestly aren't sure which one yet.

Nothing here is financial advice. Seriously. Do your own research. Talk to an actual licensed professional before you YOLO your savings into something you read in a newsletter written by an ape in a hoodie.

Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. The market doesn't care about your feelings, your conviction, or your 'diamond hands.' It will humble you. It humbles us too. That's the game.

We may hold positions in securities mentioned. Trading and investing is risky. Trade at your own risk. Eat Cookiez responsibly.

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DISCLAIMER

This newsletter is for entertainment and educational purposes only. We are not financial advisors. We are a bunch of apes who figured out how to use a Bloomberg Terminal and a group chat at the same time.

Nothing here is financial advice. We don't know your risk tolerance, your portfolio, or how many times you've panic-sold at the bottom. Do your own research. Talk to an actual licensed professional before you YOLO your savings into anything we mention.

Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. The market doesn't care about your feelings, your conviction, or your "diamond hands." If you can't afford to lose it, don't trade it.

We may hold positions in securities mentioned. Trade at your own risk. Eat Cookiez responsibly. 🍪

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