Alex Starling

Political analyst offering center-right insights on policy, economics, and product reviews. Join me in exploring the issues shaping our world.

[Alex Starling @JohnnyAces3]

@elonmusk When the Tesla Cybercab rolls out, Uber/Lyft drivers should be first in line for financing. Give experienced rideshare drivers an affordable path to ownership and let us become the first generation of Cybercab operators. 🚕⚡️

[Alex Starling @JohnnyAces3]

Hey @lyft — feature request for the Lyft Driver app: please add audio ducking like Uber Driver has. When navigation gives directions, Uber automatically lowers the music so you can clearly hear the prompt, then brings the music back up. Lyft’s navigation is often too quiet.

[Alex Starling @JohnnyAces3]

@cosrev11 @CaptToblerone Bravo!

[Alex Starling @JohnnyAces3]

@KobeissiLetter Pretty sure @Apple can absorb that cost

[Thrilla the Gorilla @ThrillaRilla369]

You wake up, it’s 1995 and the past 30 years was nothing but a dream.

What’s the first thing you’re doing?

[That Martini Guy ₿ @MartiniGuyYT]

OK @GROK CHOOSE A RANDOM REPLY THAT FOLLOWS ME TO WIN $1,000 IF #BITCOIN IS ABOVE $95,000 ON FRIDAY AT 6PM GMT

[Alex Starling @JohnnyAces3]

@MartiniGuyYT @grok Let’s go!

[Alex Starling @JohnnyAces3]

@CaptToblerone @AfqCrypto This is the way

[Alex Starling @JohnnyAces3]

@BurgerKingUK 🍔🪙

[Alex Starling @JohnnyAces3]

The Department of Government Efficiency: A $1,000 Windfall for Americans?

Imagine a bold initiative from the newly proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with streamlining federal operations and cutting wasteful spending. What if this department could generate massive savings and pledge to return 20% of those savings as a one-time payout to U.S. adults? How much would DOGE need to save to make this a reality, with each eligible American receiving $1,000? Let’s crunch the numbers.

As of today, February 20, 2025, the U.S. adult population (18 and older) is approximately 262 million, according to recent estimates. For simplicity, let’s assume all 262 million adults are eligible for this hypothetical payout. To give each of them $1,000, the total amount distributed would be:

262 million people × $1,000 = $262 billion

Now, the proposal is to return 20% of the department’s total savings as this payout. If $262 billion represents 20% of the savings, we can calculate the total savings required as follows:

$262 billion ÷ 0.20 = $1.31 trillion

That’s right—the Department of Government Efficiency would need to save $1.31 trillion to make this happen. To put this in perspective, $1.31 trillion is roughly 5% of the U.S. GDP, which was around $27 trillion in 2024, and about one-third of the federal budget, which typically hovers around $4-6 trillion annually. It’s a colossal figure, requiring unprecedented cuts or efficiencies across government programs.

How could DOGE achieve such savings? It might involve slashing bureaucratic redundancies, modernizing outdated systems, or renegotiating contracts on a massive scale. For context, the federal government spent $6.1 trillion in fiscal year 2023, with significant portions allocated to healthcare, defense, and social security. Trimming $1.31 trillion—roughly 21% of that total—would demand a radical overhaul of spending priorities, likely sparking fierce debate.

While this scenario is ambitious and speculative, it underscores the potential impact of a department dedicated to efficiency. Could DOGE save $1.31 trillion and give Americans a $1,000 check? It’s a long shot, but the idea of turning government savings into direct citizen benefits keeps the conversation alive—and the math shows just how high the stakes would be.

[Raoul Pal @RaoulGMI]

Please enjoy this masterclass on liquidity with the one and only @crossbordercap.

00:00 Introduction
02:22 Liquidity Expansion and Challenges
04:02 China and the Need for Monetization
04:39 Impact of Global Liquidity Drainage
06:17 Funding Strategies and Hidden Stimulus
07:21 Bond Market Structure and Fragility
08:24 Dependence on Hedge Funds for US Debt
09:55 Basel IV and Financial Repression
12:01 Treasury General Account (TGA) and Liquidity Injection
14:16 Duration of the Liquidity Cycle
16:25 US-China Liquidity Deal and the Dollar’s Role
18:56 Global Demand for US Treasuries
22:03 Monetary Inflation vs. High Street Inflation
24:03 Business Cycle and Liquidity Extension into 2026
27:22 Japan’s Role in US-China Financial Tensions
30:05 Europe’s Economic Challenges and Fragmentation
32:31 UK’s Debt and Potential Currency Devaluation
34:36 Central Banks Quietly Adding Liquidity
36:10 Who Will Lead the Next Liquidity Cycle?
39:58 Timing of the Next QE Announcement
42:32 Gold, Bitcoin, and Hard Assets as Inflation Hedges
45:34 Generational Wealth Transfer and Monetary Policy
49:42 The Future of Debt Refinancing and Liquidity Expansion
53:51 Closing Thoughts on Global Liquidity Trends

As ever, I hope you find this useful...

[Alex Starling @JohnnyAces3]

@CaptToblerone @Sekedaxxx @CaptToblerone you are leading us long and strong, but also fair and objective. Much has changed recently and I hear you very clearly. The charts don’t lie. Stay clear, headed and save the 25% moon bag just in case.

[Alex Starling @JohnnyAces3]

@Real_Crypto_Mil 👀

[Alex Starling @JohnnyAces3]

@oroogle @HBAR_foundation @hedera Ħ

[Alex Starling @JohnnyAces3]

“The Dollar’s Decline and the Case for Bitcoin: A Growing Trend in Portfolio Strategy” by Alex Starling https://t.co/tkRgkLlHlb

[Alex Starling @JohnnyAces3]

“A Unique Holiday Convergence: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa Align in 2024” by Alex Starling https://t.co/6x4jMFJhnI

[JORDAN @iamjordan]

Smartphones without AI are no longer smart.

Here are 10 AI Apps you need to have on your mobile.

[Alex Starling @JohnnyAces3]

@CaptToblerone LFG bro!

[Alex Starling @JohnnyAces3]

The Dollar’s Decline and the Case for Bitcoin: A Growing Trend in Portfolio Strategy

The ongoing challenges to the U.S. dollar’s dominance have sparked renewed debate about its future as the world’s reserve currency. Inflation, rising national debt, and geopolitical shifts are eroding global confidence in the dollar. Meanwhile, countries like China and Russia, along with economic blocs such as BRICS, are pushing for alternatives, exploring trade deals in other currencies and even experimenting with blockchain-based financial systems.

This environment of uncertainty has caused both institutions and individuals to seek ways to hedge against the debasement of the dollar. A growing number of financial advisors and investors are now advocating for allocating 2% of portfolios into bitcoin. Once dismissed as a speculative asset, bitcoin is increasingly viewed as “digital gold”—a decentralized store of value resistant to inflationary pressures.

Bitcoin’s appeal lies in its scarcity. Unlike fiat currencies, which can be printed at will, bitcoin’s supply is capped at 21 million coins. This feature has made it a potential safe haven asset during times of economic turbulence. Notable figures in finance, including Paul Tudor Jones and Michael Saylor, have publicly endorsed bitcoin as a hedge against the dollar’s decline, sparking wider interest in the cryptocurrency.

Critics argue that bitcoin’s volatility remains a concern, and its adoption as a mainstream asset is far from universal. However, proponents believe that even a modest allocation—such as the 2% being suggested—can act as insurance against the broader risks associated with the global monetary system.

As the U.S. dollar faces increasing headwinds, the shift toward alternative assets like bitcoin signals a changing economic paradigm. While bitcoin won’t replace traditional currencies anytime soon, its growing role in portfolio strategies highlights the growing need for stability in an uncertain world.