12-23-25 Dollar Power, AI, and the New Financial Order - The Brent Johnson Inerview
The Real Investment Show Podcast
Release Date: 12/23/2025
The Real Investment Show Podcast
The Federal Reserve is entering a pivotal phase, and the decisions it makes now will define the next era of monetary policy. Lance Roberts and The Fed Guy, Joseph Wang, examine the structural forces putting the Fed at a crossroads—from rate cuts and shifting labor-market dynamics to the long-term impact of AI, tariff-driven inflation, and changes in the Fed’s balance-sheet strategy. We explore why markets appear bullish on economic growth despite weakening employment data, how tariff inflation may be a one-time impulse, and what a redesigned policy framework could look like as banks,...
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In this episode, Lance Roberts sits down with Brent Johnson, CEO of Santiago Capital, to break down what’s really happening with the U.S. dollar, the global monetary system, and why AI is accelerating a geopolitical and economic power shift. If you're looking for big-picture insights on the future of the dollar, geopolitics, AI-driven capital flows, and where long-term investing tailwinds are forming—this is a must-watch. 0:00 - INTRO 0:56 - Dollar Pessimism is Everywhere 3:32 - Why the Dollar Loses Purchasing Power: Inflation 5:08 - How Reserve Currencies Work - Why the Dollar is...
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Markets are heading into year-end with optimism still firmly embedded in prices, but the economic data are telling a more complicated story. Lance Roberts examines the growing gap between the Federal Reserve’s soft-landing narrative and what inflation, employment, consumer spending, and earnings expectations are actually signaling. While markets have stabilized following recent volatility, participation remains narrow, sentiment is elevated, and valuations appear priced for a smooth economic outcome in 2026. Lance Roberts breaks down the technical backdrop, including key support and...
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Markets are doing what they often do this time of year—attempting to stabilize and rally amid choppy trading. While some are already declaring that the Santa Claus Rally is “dead,” history suggests patience is warranted. The official Santa Rally window hasn’t even begun yet, and statistically, the odds still favor a year-end lift. Lance Roberts breaks down why recent pullbacks below key moving averages triggered algorithmic selling—and why disciplined investors avoid knee-jerk reactions. With markets rebounding above short-term technical levels and consolidating gains from earlier in...
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For decades, the 60/40 portfolio—stocks and bonds—served as the foundation of balanced investing. Lance Roberts and Michael Lebowitz examine the growing global forces reshaping markets. While Wall Street has remained fixated on AI hyperscalers, major developments abroad are increasingly driving returns and risk. 0:00 - INTRO 0:19 - Inflation Report Preview - Where's the Fed's Soft Landing? 3:05 - Markets working Through the Chop 9:56 - Top 10 Christmas Movies 13:24 - Inflation Expectations (Preview) 14:35 - The Fed Ends QT 20:35 - JP Morgan's Liquidity Crunch 22:53 - Is the Economy...
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Markets broke below both the 20- and 50-day moving averages, triggering a short-term MACD sell signal and raising concerns about near-term weakness. While technical damage should not be ignored, markets are becoming oversold on a relative strength basis, which historically increases the odds of a short-term bounce. Importantly, market bottoms tend to be brief, and prior episodes have shown that support breaks can be quickly reversed. The key issue now is not the intraday violation of moving averages, but where markets ultimately close the week. A sustained close below key support levels would...
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Today’s Q&A Wednesday is driven entirely by live YouTube chat questions, covering the market topics investors are most focused on right now. Lance Roberts & Danny Ratliff address real-time concerns around market volatility, Federal Reserve policy, interest rates, inflation, portfolio risk, asset allocation, and year-end positioning—without hype or speculation. This interactive session is designed to help investors better understand what matters, what doesn’t, and how markets typically behave during periods of uncertainty. Rather than making predictions, we focus on context,...
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Markets briefly retested the 50-day moving average before rebounding toward break-even, remaining locked in a broader consolidation range. While sell signals are currently in place and relative strength continues to normalize, short-term weakness and choppy trading may persist. Importantly, this pullback is creating a more constructive setup as markets work off oversold conditions, potentially laying the groundwork for renewed buying interest into year-end. That said, seasonal strength is not guaranteed. December has not always delivered positive returns, and risk remains elevated as portfolio...
info_outlineThe Real Investment Show Podcast
Markets finished last week slightly lower but held critical support at the 20- and 50-day moving averages. As we enter the final two weeks of December—historically the strongest stretch of the month—investors are positioning for a potential Santa Claus Rally and looking ahead to 2026. Portfolio window dressing, year-end performance reporting, and managers chasing returns could provide an additional tailwind. Markets remain in a constructive consolidation near all-time highs, and early signs of sector rotation into utilities, real estate, and staples suggest improving market breadth....
info_outlineIn this episode, Lance Roberts sits down with Brent Johnson, CEO of Santiago Capital, to break down what’s really happening with the U.S. dollar, the global monetary system, and why AI is accelerating a geopolitical and economic power shift.
If you're looking for big-picture insights on the future of the dollar, geopolitics, AI-driven capital flows, and where long-term investing tailwinds are forming—this is a must-watch.
0:00 - INTRO
0:56 - Dollar Pessimism is Everywhere
3:32 - Why the Dollar Loses Purchasing Power: Inflation
5:08 - How Reserve Currencies Work - Why the Dollar is the Global Reserve Currency
6:30 - Why Oil is Priced in Dollars
9:07 - Reserve Currency Storage - Rule of Law & Liquidity Stability; effects of Euro Conversion on Reserves
11:10 - Ronald Regan clip, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall"
13:00 - Why the Dollar needs not be too strong or too weak (Chart - US Dollar Index)
16:00 - The Debt based monetary system
16:42 - The Carry Trade
19:59 - The Dollar Milkshake Theory -
21:00 - What a Falling Dollar would indicate
22:00 - The Impact of Where Money is Being Spent for AI Buildout - the multiplier effect; will this attract more foreign capital into the US?
25:11 - AI is transformational - Separation of East from West is happening; outcome is existential to the US
26:22 - The Office of Strategic Capital -
27:07 - The Race to Win AI - leadership in the global economy
<Money being spent on datacenter/factory buildouts>
28:53 - Two hang ups - Power generation/transmission grid
29:46 - Looking for the investing tailwinds
31:23 - The Fed's Return to QE
35:08 - Stablecoin vs Bitcoin - Digital Token, linked to a specific asset or commodity; Bitcoin which suffers from volatility
38:14 - The Genius Act - official blessing of Stablecoin; geopolitical implications
39:24 - The potential to become a new Eurodollar market - the importance of sovereignty for a nation
42:58 - Using Money as a weapon
44:46 - Stablecoin Implications for Investors - impact on Treasuries
47:14 - Currency Manipulation - China vs U.S.
50:30 - AI is overpriced - Looking ahead: short term cautious; buy the dip; Energy assets, including nuclear; critical minerals are national security implications
52:08 - Precious Metals outlook: If you own them, don't sell them;
53:40 - Opportunity in Energy Sector; Will VanLowe/Quantum - Energy Demand vs available supply imbalance
54:34 - The LNG supply gap solution
56:25 - How to Find Brent Johnson
Hosted by RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist, Lance Roberts, CIO, w Brent Johnson, CEO, Santiago Capital,
Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYUME1I-SDg&list=PLVT8LcWPeAug2oeXwuQUeSf8Hd6AFR5O9&index=4
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Our Previous show, "Bear Markets Are a Good Thing," is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdlhQgMthW4&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1
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Articles Mentioned in Today's Show:
"QE Is Coming: The 2008 Roots Of Fed Dominance"
https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/qe-is-coming-the-2008-roots-of-fed-dominance/
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