Dennis Tubbergen hosts Charles Hugh Smith, a renowned writer and economic analyst, on RLA Radio. Smith shares his journey from working in construction to becoming a prominent voice on economic issues through his blog and Substack following. The discussion centers on economic headwinds, including geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China, the unpredictability of global trade, and the American consumer's debt burden. Smith highlights the impact of demographics on economic growth, noting that changing patterns in household formation and spending could affect risk assets like stocks and real estate. He also discusses the reverse wealth effect, where declining asset values lead to reduced consumer spending, particularly among the top 10% of wealth holders. Smith questions whether the Federal Reserve can effectively counteract potential deflationary trends without triggering inflation, given the end of deflationary forces from China and the constraints of high national debt. The conversation concludes with Smith's cautious outlook on the U.S. economy, suggesting that painful adjustments may be necessary in the decade ahead.

Charles Hugh Smith is the author of the oftwominds.com blog, #7 in CNBC's top alternative financial sites, and 18 books on our economy and society, including "A Radically Beneficial World: Automation, Technology and Creating Jobs for All," "Global Crisis, National Renewal: A (Revolutionary) Grand Strategy for the United States," "Burnout: Reckoning and Renewal" and "Self-Reliance in the 21st Century." His work is published on a number of popular financial websites, including Zero Hedge, Financial Sense, and Seeking Alpha, and has been featured on numerous podcasts.

To learn more about our guest, Charles Hugh Smith, visit OfTwoMinds.com or CharlesHughSmith.blogspot.com.