The National Investor

This week, we start with a guest: Ryan Sistad, the Executive Director of Better in Our Back Yard.

Ryan and I discuss the many positive signs--including some early Executive Orders among the avalanche of those from President Trump in his first few days--of better days for America's mining, critical metals and energy industries and companies.

There's still a lot to do: and some areas that have yet to even be addressed. But at least for now, the positive tone suggests more policy support for these industries than we have seen in decades!

LEARN MORE about Better in our Back Yard:

Its web site -- https://betterinourbackyard.com/

LinkedIn (its most-used social media presence) -- https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterinourbackyard/

Our coverage of BIOBY at StrategicMPR -- https://strategicmpr.com/our-causes

The National Investor -- https://www.nationalinvestor.com/

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Following my visit with Ryan, I dive into some of the early highlights (LOTS of them!) of the first days of Trump 2.0.

As one quipped, "We've gone from Droopy the Dog to Sonic the Hedgehog." And we can expect more of this pace to pick up as a LOT of idiocy is being unraveled and some positive measures put in place by President Trump.

Yet some added reality is set to hit the Trump agenda this coming week, when the Federal Reserve does NOT lower interest rates further as it has at its previous three meetings. That will cause some fireworks politically; and likely on Wall Street as well.

I discuss the rate outlook...the dollar's correction of recent days...stocks...and gold.

I also explain anew why "the math" simply does not support the president's "demands" that interest rates and oil prices come down substantially.

I also talk about the VERY disparate tariff battles (or threats thereof) between Trump and our top three trading partners: China, Canada and Mexico. I spend the most time on Canada: from the provincial election in Ontario coming up late next month to a looming federal election likely around midyear, give or take a bit.

To get the imminent print version of "This is Still NOT Your Father's Gold Market!" make sure you are on Chris' email list!! -- Go to https://www.nationalinvestor.com/.

ALSO, be sure to scroll down on this YouTube page and check out the various precious metals-related companies (and others!) Chris presently recommends to his Members.

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In this video/audio version of one of Chris' most popular (and at times, caustic) Special Reports in recent years, he again holds forth on how investors MUST approach the precious metals sector; one that has left even more damage in investors' portfolios over the years than profits.

Once again in 2024, he begins, gold had a great year, with silver a respectably close second. Yet most investors in precious metals continued to underperform even the metals.

Going forward, Chris says, the sector--including precious metals-related equities--will have better days. BUT, he points out, investors must look at gold, silver and related investments clinically: WITHOUT preconceived notions and the veritable blind "religion" some preach, and with sound advice from legitimate experts on the space (as opposed to the carnival huckster / Pied Piper types incessantly trying to "scare" you into certain kinds of investments based on warnings of "Biden Bucks", dollar collapse and similar nonsense.)

To help that cause, Chris gives a history lesson on gold and its behavior in markets since it became a free trading asset back in 1971. During this last half century-plus, gold has had a few different "eras":

-- The initial burst higher in the 1970's thanks to the Nixon-Burns tag-team dollar debauching. This ultimately saw gold soar from $35/ounce to a brief, manic peak around $875/ounce.

-- Two decades "in the wilderness" during the 1980's-1990's, during which at times gold's price was indeed "managed" in much the same manner as the DeBeers cartel managed diamond prices.

-- The pivotal event in 1999 that changed the attitude of markets once more in favor of gold, and set the stage for the more than 10-fold price rise for the yellow metal since.

-- The fickle nature of investors to the precious metals space, an important element to understand especially when it concerns the underperformance of mining-related equities versus the metals prices themselves of recent years.

-- WHAT factors, according to Chris, will bring generalist investors back to precious metals, a la the huge moves that peaked way back in 2011 for precious metals-related equities particularly.

Chris also takes a quick lap through the main ways investors can and SHOULD invest in precious metals...and importantly gives some warnings of the kinds of SCAMS to AVOID:

-- How to buy (and not) physical gold and silver.

-- Why you should avoid THE BIGGEST SCAM OUT THERE: "Gold IRA's"

--- ETFs as proxies for either gold or exploration/mining equities

-- How to research individual companies TODAY; and identify ones that GENERALIST investors will warm up to!

As always, pass along your questions and comments on this episode to chris@nationalinvestor.com

In the first long form podcast episode of 2025, Chris holds forth on the prospects of Trump 2.0 when seen through the eyes of non-partisan FACTS...and MATH.

From inflation, interest rates and DEBT...to a stock market priced for perfection (and lower inflation and rates!) ... to energy, metals and more...we look at what simple mathematics dictates for the economy, asset classes, markets and more in the near term.

Of all the intractable "math problems" facing President Trump specifically and the U.S. generally, pay especially close attention to our discussion of China and the challenges its inexorable slide into deflation represents for America in so many ways.

Tectonic Metals, Inc. (TSXV-TECT; OTCQB-TETOF), as you'll be learning, is a legitimate standout among junior gold explorers, checking pretty much ALL the boxes I as an analyst or you as an investor deem important:

* My "Jockeys" theme -- As you see below, Reda, his Co-Founder Eira Thomas and others have a solid track record of building value and monetizing it. Most notably in the same neighborhood, this included guiding the former Kaminak Gold in Yukon to a successful sale.

* Location -- It doesn't get much better than having a property--the Flat Gold Project, with numerous targets that could one day each be an independent, economic resource--in such a major gold trend as the Tintina Gold Belt. Ditto, the friendly State of Alaska.

* Potential Mine Dynamics -- As you'll learn, the attributes of a possible open pit operation at the main target (for now) Chicken Mountain, are very conducive to a low-cost, low-strip operation.

* Metal content/metallurgy -- Unlike, most notably, the huge Donlin Creek deposit to Tectonic's southwest, the target material at Chicken Mountain 1. is not refractory ore and 2. Has recently demonstrated a high recovery rate (96% in one test and 91% in another) that would come via heap leaching a mix of oxide and non-oxide ore.

* Support/Ability to Raise $ -- Well-known Crescat Capital is solidly behind Tectonic and its team and have become TECT's largest shareholders at about 20% presently.

* Native Alaskan Support and Direct, out-of-pocket investment -- Tectonic's second-largest individual shareholder is Doyon, Ltd., an Alaskan Native Regional Corporation which--Reda is both quick and proud to note--PAID for its near-10% stake in the company.

These and other attributes set Tectonic apart as something well beyond the typical speculative exploration play!

Here, I visit once again with Scott Melbye, this time in his capacity as Exec. Vice President of Uranium Energy Corp (NYSEArca-UEC.) Shares of what I've described as the best "pure play" in uranium in North America were recently up about 10-fold from their bear market low, even after the modest correction of 2024.

And 2025 is starting off on the right foot, with a big surge in the New Year's first trading day!

Scott lays out for this the game plan where UEC will be incrementally increasing its production from three "hub and spoke" operations in the U.S. Later, the world class Roughrider deposit in Saskatchewan is slated to add some 6 million pounds of annual production.

All told, as Scott recaps (and following the company's latest acquisition of this past year) UEC now is second only to Cameco in North America as to its asset base, etc.

With that "Act Two" of the uranium bull market poised to begin, we see a LOT of runway for investors still in UEC shares!

Here, I sit down for a comprehensive "long form" discussion with my long-time friend Scott Melbye, perhaps THE foremost expert in the U.S. on uranium, the nuclear energy industry more broadly and all its various moving parts and policy issues.

Besides being Exec. V.P. of Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSEArca-UEC)-- the role for which our audience knows Scott best--he is also C.E.O. of Uranium Royalty Corp. (NASD-UROY.)

Scott is also President of the Uranium Producers of America industry trade group as well; one of many reasons--on top of his resume including leading roles with Cameco, Uranium One, Kazatamprom and Uranium Participation Corp. (now, the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust.)

Scott recaps for us the ever-strengthening bullish case for uranium, as present and expected future demand continue to rise sharply. This, of course, as 1. the world's need for ever more electrification grows and 2. the U.S. uniquely sees burgeoning demand for data centers, Artificial Intelligence applications and more.

We discuss, also, the geostrategic considerations that are removing Russian and now "Chinese" enriched uranium from the U.S. -- and how that and more will especially be leading to great times for North American producers of the nuclear fuel: now and later.

And that for U.S. companies especially is slated to be boosted by a very favorable regulatory and policy landscape that will be fostered for a stronger U.S. nuclear energy sector by the incoming Trump Administration.

LINKS:

For Uranium Energy Corporation -- https://www.uraniumenergy.com/

Uranium Royalty Corporation -- https://www.uraniumroyalty.com/

Uranium Producers of America -- https://theupa.org/

Some of the BEST Industry info -- https://www.uraniuminsider.com/

The National Investor -- https://www.nationalinvestor.com/

Strategic Media and Public Relations -- https://strategicmpr.com/

In this discussion, Chris walks through Apollo Silver's now TWO major primary silver projects: Calico in Southeastern California and the recent option acquired on an especially compelling exploration project--Cinco de Mayo--in northern Mexico.

For starters, as you'll hear, Chris repeats one of his favorite "checklist" items in vetting any potential investment opportunity: and that is to find and bet on a proven "jockey." And there are precious few seasoned executives in the metals / minerals exploration industry like Apollo's Andy Bowering that have the track record of wealth creation multiple times and--thus--the ability to draw in major investors and investments.

And Bowering with the fairly "young" Apollo is firmly at the helm of his latest company- and wealth-building effort which--as you'll hear, if all goes according to plan--could lead to a MAJOR re-rating for shares of Apollo, which Chris presently rate as a Speculative BUY in The National Investor.

One of my newest recommendations in the pages of The National Investor is so for ALL the reasons you'll be watching in this discussion between Kelly Malcolm (recently off a several years-long and successful stint with Amex Exploration) and Yours truly.

I have visited the Walker Lane Trend in southern Nevada (one that runs along, roughly, the California/Nevada border and then some) more than once and have lately been getting a renewed appreciation (including from Malcolm!) of the potential here.

The old Borealis Mine has previously produced several hundred thousand ounces of gold but has IMMENSE upside still. Malcolm feels this, as does an all-star board he has assembled for the company, all of whom have past, major successes in the industry as well.

AND the way in which industry legend Rob McEwen obtained his stake is especially instructive on a few levels!

Borealis sports potential all along the "food chain" -- some modest recent production...headed toward expected full-time production in 2025...exploration upside (some evidenced mere days ago as you'll hear) and more.

REMINDER: Follow us, too, at

--The National Investor -- https://www.nationalinvestor.com/

-- Strategic MPR -- https://strategicmpr.com/

-- To learn more about the Coalition for a National Infrastructure Bank, visit https://www.nibcoalition.com/

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This isn't just hyperbole...listen in as I discuss the things within President Trump's power to TRULY upend the established order in "The Swamp" and be the transformative president we all hope he will be.

ON THE BUDGET: REALLY drain the Swamp...GUT the Military-Industrial Complex and evil CIA/security state with it...turn loose Elon and D.O.G.E....and run up no NEW debts to the Federal Reserve.

ON THE ECONOMY: Embrace a National Infrastructure Bank...revamped enterprise zones...and more I touch on here.

ON THE MONETARY SYSTEM: Follow the example of Andy Jackson and roust out the Den of Vipers...do an "end run" around BOTH Wall Street and the Fed...allow the former to flourish ONLY as it meets the national interest...look at a TRULY national (NOT banker, with its associated debt) currency and currency board.

FOR THE WORLD: END the for-profit American Empire that has led to nothing but grifting, death, misery and the HATRED of America in too many places...lead the way to break the shackles of debt and the predatory I.M.F. and World Bank on other nations.