Narativ Live with Zev Shalev

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A fresh, incisive take on today’s news from former CBS News executive producer Zev Shalev.

  • 49 minutes 46 seconds
    FiveStack Preview: Trump Throws Himself a Dictator's Birthday Military Parade Plus Tariff Meltdown, Laura Loomer, Canada's Carney

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    This week only, we're previewing FiveStack on the Narativ feed - our new hit daily show with Dean Blundell and Zev Shalev that's already attracting thousands of viewers weekly. FiveStack breaks down the top 5 stories you need to know in a tight format that's as incisive as it is provocative.

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    14 April 2025, 5:56 am
  • 57 minutes 6 seconds
    FiveStack Preview: Trump "Honored" To Have Caused Stock Market Crash; Elon Musk is Spying on Americans, Poilievre Receipts and Don JR Kremlin puppet.

    🔥 SPECIAL OFFER: Annual Subscribers Get More 🔥

    This week only, we're previewing FiveStack on the Narativ feed - our new hit daily show with Dean Blundell and Zev Shalev that's already attracting thousands of viewers weekly. FiveStack breaks down the top 5 stories you need to know in a tight format that's as incisive as it is provocative.

    SPECIAL OFFER: Get 2 MONTHS FREE with every annual subscription to Narativ.org!

    With your subscription, you'll get:

    • Incisive investigations that break news others miss
    • Daily podcasts keeping you ahead of the curve
    • Access to a growing community of informed readers
    • Content from a Top Substack Bestseller

    [SUBSCRIBE NOW AT https://www.narativ.org/TWOMONTHSPLUS → GET 14 MONTHS FOR THE PRICE OF 12]

    • Offer expires Sunday at midnight ET

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    14 April 2025, 5:42 am
  • 1 hour 56 seconds
    FiveStack Preview: Trump's 104% tariffs on Chinese exports kick in at midnight; Chinese soldiers captured in Ukraine; AP triumphs.

    🔥 SPECIAL OFFER: Annual Subscribers Get More 🔥

    This week only, we're previewing FiveStack on the Narativ feed - our new hit daily show with Dean Blundell and Zev Shalev that's already attracting thousands of viewers weekly. FiveStack breaks down the top 5 stories you need to know in a tight format that's as incisive as it is provocative.

    SPECIAL OFFER: Get 2 MONTHS FREE with every annual subscription to Narativ.org!

    With your subscription, you'll get:

    • Incisive investigations that break news others miss
    • Daily podcasts keeping you ahead of the curve
    • Access to a growing community of informed readers
    • Content from a Top Substack Bestseller

    [SUBSCRIBE NOW AT https://www.narativ.org/TWOMONTHSPLUS → GET 14 MONTHS FOR THE PRICE OF 12]

    • Offer expires Sunday at midnight ET


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    14 April 2025, 5:38 am
  • 56 minutes 44 seconds
    FiveStack Preview: 5 Craziest Facts About Trump's Tariffs

    🔥 SPECIAL OFFER: Annual Subscribers Get More 🔥

    This week only, we're previewing FiveStack on the Narativ feed - our new hit daily show with Dean Blundell and Zev Shalev that's already attracting thousands of viewers weekly. FiveStack breaks down the top 5 stories you need to know in a tight format that's as incisive as it is provocative.

    SPECIAL OFFER: Get 2 MONTHS FREE with every annual subscription to Narativ.org!

    With your subscription, you'll get:

    • Incisive investigations that break news others miss
    • Daily podcasts keeping you ahead of the curve
    • Access to a growing community of informed readers
    • Content from a Top Substack Bestseller

    [SUBSCRIBE NOW AT https://www.narativ.org/TWOMONTHSPLUS → GET 14 MONTHS FOR THE PRICE OF 12]

    • Offer expires Sunday at midnight ET

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    14 April 2025, 5:32 am
  • 38 minutes 56 seconds
    Trump's Pivot To Russia Shakes Global Alliances

    Dear friends, As of March 1, 2025, "Narativ with Zev Shalev" video and audio podcasts now premiere exclusively at Narativ.org or at Patreon.com/narativ, and most are free with no ads. Ad-supported podcasts are posted here a week or two after their premiere. Sign up to our mailing list to receive free updates, exclusive articles, and every show as it happens, ad-free. It's the very best way to get tomorrow's news today, directly from me. Why wait for your news? Go to narativ.org and sign up today. It's free. Thank you for your support. Z


    Narativ's Canada edition explores how everything from politics to sports is shifting in response to Trump - and discovers a 75% increase in Americans moving to Canada.The biggest story in North American relations isn't happening at diplomatic summits or trade negotiations. It's playing out in immigration offices, polling stations, and yes – even on the ice.

    As Trump steers America away from its traditional NATO allies and toward Russia and China, Canada faces an unprecedented realignment. Our investigation reveals three key shifts:

    First, the numbers. Since Trump's November victory, Canadian immigration sites saw an eight-fold surge in U.S. traffic. But unlike the empty threats that followed his 2016 win, immigration lawyers report serious inquiries from tech workers, healthcare professionals, and LGBTQ+ families. The data backs this up: there's been a 75% increase in permanent residency invitations to U.S. residents.

    The Narativ with Zev Shalev is a viewer supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber By joining our list below.


    Second, Canadian politics is transforming. Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney has emerged as a frontrunner for Liberal leadership, polling just three points behind the Conservatives. He's positioning himself as Canada's shield against Trump's America, and it's working – pulling 42% of previous NDP voters.

    Finally, there's the symbolism. Tomorrow's US-Canada hockey championship isn't just another game. With ticket prices rivaling the Super Bowl and three fights in the first nine seconds of their last match, it's become a proxy for deeper tensions.

    The implications are serious. As America shifts toward Russia and China, Canada faces critical choices about trade, security, and its role in the Western alliance. Trump's pivot isn't just redrawing diplomatic maps – it's reshaping North American society from the ground up.

    Our full investigation airs tonight on Narativ.

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    10 March 2025, 6:10 am
  • 39 minutes 51 seconds
    Trump Surrenders To Putin: From Putin Call to Crypto Profits

    Dear friends, As of March 1, 2025, "Narativ with Zev Shalev" video and audio podcasts now premiere exclusively at Narativ.org or at Patreon.com/narativ, and most are free with no ads. Ad-supported podcasts are posted here a week or two after their premiere. Sign up to our mailing list to receive free updates, exclusive articles, and every show as it happens, ad-free. It's the very best way to get tomorrow's news today, directly from me. Why wait for your news? Go to narativ.org and sign up today. It's free. Thank you for your support. Z



    A day that may reshape the global order began with a series of coordinated moves that culminated in Donald Trump's 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin. Here's what unfolded, and why it matters.

    The Timeline

    At 11:00 AM ET, Tulsi Gabbard, known for her Kremlin ties, was appointed Director of National Intelligence. At noon, America executed a prisoner swap, releasing Alexander Vinnick - a key architect of Russia's 2016 interference campaign - in exchange for former teacher Mark Fogel. Twenty-six minutes later, Trump and Putin began their first call of Trump's second term.

    The Putin Call

    The 90-minute conversation revealed a dramatic shift in America's position. Trump and Putin discussed what they called a "peace plan" for Ukraine - notably without Ukraine's President Zelenskyy present. The call covered Middle East peace and artificial intelligence, treating Russia as an ally rather than an adversary. It ended with mutual invitations: Trump to Moscow, Putin to Washington.

    The Crypto Scheme Exposed

    While diplomatic drama unfolded, new details emerged about Trump's meme coin launch. Analysis reveals:

    • Over 800,000 investors lost a combined $2 billion
    • Just 31 early trading wallets collected $680 million in profits
    • The Trump family netted $102 million in trading fees alone
    • Early traders bought at $0.23, saw the price surge to $75.60

    The timing is crucial: these tokens were launched just before Trump took office. The pattern mirrors classic pump-and-dump operations that regulators have long warned about.

    The Bigger Picture

    Today's events represent more than isolated incidents. They reveal a systematic dismantling of American institutions and safeguards:

    • Disbanding of the KleptoCapture Task Force that seized Russian oligarch assets
    • Elimination of Foreign Interference Task Force
    • Shutdown of election interference monitoring units
    • Attacks on key intelligence agencies

    The combination of diplomatic realignment and financial manipulation points to a broader strategy. As one wallet linked to the crypto scheme made $111 million in just two days, questions arise about who really profited from these coordinated moves.

    What's Next?

    The implications of today's events will reverberate far beyond Washington. With cryptocurrency potentially becoming a cornerstone of future Treasury operations and America's traditional alliances in flux, the stakes couldn't be higher.


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    10 March 2025, 6:09 am
  • 23 minutes 49 seconds
    Trump's KGB codename was "Krasnov" says ex-Soviet official.

    Dear friends, As of March 1, 2025, "Narativ with Zev Shalev" video and audio podcasts now premiere exclusively at Narativ.org or at Patreon.com/narativ, and most are free with no ads. Ad-supported podcasts are posted here a week or two after their premiere. Sign up to our mailing list to receive free updates, exclusive articles, and every show as it happens, ad-free. It's the very best way to get tomorrow's news today, directly from me. Why wait for your news? Go to narativ.org and sign up today. It's free. Thank you for your support. Z


    The revelation of the codename, which translates to “Red,” corroborates what former KGB officer Yuri Shvets first disclosed on Narativ in January 2021 about Trump’s 40-year tenure as a KGB asset.


    Alnur Mussayev, a former KGB officer based in Moscow, revealed the codename “Krasnov.” 



    "Krasnov" (Краснов) is a relatively common Russian surname. The root "krasn" (красн-) comes from the Russian word "красный" (krasny) meaning "red." The surname Krasnov historically could have referred to someone with red hair.


    If true, Mussayev’s revelations corroborate what Yuri Shvets first revealed on Narativ in January 2021. Shvets, a former chief at the KGB residency in Washington, DC, went on the record to confirm that Donald Trump was a valuable asset to Russian intelligence. The detailed claim is laid bare in Craig Unger's book, American Kompromat. Shvets and Unger joined Lincoln’s Bible and Zev Shalev on Narativ.

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    10 March 2025, 6:08 am
  • 35 minutes 52 seconds
    Crypto Conspiracy Part 4: Pump and Dump

    Dear friends, As of March 1, 2025, "Narativ with Zev Shalev" video and audio podcasts now premiere exclusively at Narativ.org or at Patreon.com/narativ, and most are free with no ads. Ad-supported podcasts are posted here a week or two after their premiere. Sign up to our mailing list to receive free updates, exclusive articles, and every show as it happens, ad-free. It's the very best way to get tomorrow's news today, directly from me. Why wait for your news? Go to narativ.org and sign up today. It's free. Thank you for your support. Z


    As 25 major cryptocurrency figures gather at the White House tomorrow for a summit on establishing an American crypto reserve, our Narativ investigation has uncovered a deeply troubling pattern: three coordinated "pump and dump" operations that have transferred billions from ordinary Americans to a select few insiders with direct ties to Donald Trump.

    The December 5th Diversion

    The first operation occurred on December 5th while the nation was distracted by the assassination of the UnitedHealth CEO. In this carefully orchestrated sequence, Trump appointed David Sacks as "Crypto Czar" and Paul Atkins as SEC Chair – both staunch crypto advocates. Bitcoin surged from $70,000 to $108,000 before dropping to $85,000, generating an estimated $700 million windfall for Elon Musk's companies Tesla and SpaceX, which hold substantial Bitcoin on their balance sheets.

    As economist Peter Schiff noted in our exclusive interview, "If they were doing this with securities, they'd be in jail. But because these things are not securities, they just say they're collectibles. The pump and dump and insider trading or stock manipulation, none of that applies."

    The Meme Coin Massacre

    The second operation centered on the Trump and Melania meme coins launched just before the inauguration. Our investigation revealed that a mere 31 traders collected $675 million in profits while more than 800,000 investors lost a collective $2 billion – a staggering winner-to-loser ratio of 1:25,806. Meanwhile, the Trump family reportedly pocketed approximately $100 million in trading fees alone.

    The pattern is unmistakable: a 12-hour gap between the contract creation and public announcement provided insiders ample time to accumulate tokens at pennies on the dollar before the coordinated public push drove prices up nearly 40,000%.

    The Strategic Reserve Ruse

    The third operation unfolded just last Sunday when Trump announced on Truth Social that "a U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserve will elevate this critical industry" and specifically mentioned three cryptocurrencies: XRP, SOL, and ADA.

    As Schiff observed, "Donald Trump did not write that. I would bet almost anything that he had nothing to do with writing that post. There's no way that Donald Trump knows that ADA is the symbol for Cardano."

    The post – suspicious in both its timing and content – triggered immediate price spikes in the mentioned cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin shot up to $95,000 before quickly falling as investors realized the announcement was merely promotion for the upcoming summit rather than concrete policy.

    "They timed that, they shot the price up, and then they started selling," Schiff explained. "I bet they made hundreds of millions. These three coins were up 30, 40, 50% initially. Of course, it was a rug pull."

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    10 March 2025, 6:08 am
  • 28 minutes 12 seconds
    Crypto Conspiracy, Part 2: Chaos is a Ladder

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    Follow @zevshalev on X

    ______________________________________________________________________

    In part 2 of “Crypto Conspiracy,” Zev Shalev reveals how Elon Musk manufactures chaos to manipulate elections and the crypto markets. Zev tracks Bitcoin's extraordinary surge to $100,000 through a series of amplified crises in December 2024 and January 2025 and reveals a surprising pattern: Chaos - not calm - is what fuels the extraordinary surge in crypto prices. 

    As the US swung from crisis to crisis, major news events dominated headlines—from a CEO's assassination in Manhattan to a Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas and devastating California fires —Bitcoin's price climbed 50% in just a few weeks.

    “I call it the Chaos Ladder,” Shalev says. And it’s how Donald Trump and Elon Musk are making Billions in their Crypto conspiracy.

    Narativ with Zev Shalev is a testament to the power of independent journalism, made possible by the unwavering support of viewers like you. Your contributions, whether through free or paid subscriptions, enable me to continue my work. To stay updated on my investigations and access exclusive content, join the mailing list below.


    Key highlights from tonight’s episode:

    - A whistleblower reveals how Elon Musk directed teams of X engineers to fabricate stories and artificially amplify them.

    - We explore how specific news events amplified on X caused significant crypto market spikes.

    - We delve into the “Chaos Ladder” effect, which tracks the correlation between amplified crises and crypto price surges.

    - We examine “Elonomics”: Musk’s unique ability to influence crypto markets through X.

    - We analyze the strategic timing of Trump’s crypto-friendly appointments during peak news cycles.

    Building on the revelations from Part 1 about Trump and Musk’s scheme to profit from the president’s plans to deregulate cryptocurrency, tonight’s episode delves into the mechanics of market manipulation through social media amplification and manufactured chaos.

    Watch Part 2 of the Crypto Conspiracy at Narativ.org.

    Part 3 will be released next week. In it, we’ll explore the implications of foreign interference in X and its potential impact on the 2024 election.

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    16 February 2025, 6:09 pm
  • 45 minutes 45 seconds
    Rise Of The Oligarchy

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    ______________________________________________________________________


    A highly unusual inauguration ushers in an American oligarchy. Dean Blundell and Zev Shalev delve into the intricate backstory that spans apartheid South Africa, the dawn of AI, and 'technocracy.' Air Force One landed in darkness. The inauguration was hastily moved indoors. Something very different was happening - this was an inauguration taking place in the eye of a storm.

    Hours earlier, President Biden delivered his final address from the Oval Office, speaking of the Statue of Liberty's ability to withstand fierce storms. "She sways a few inches," he warned, "but she never falls into the current below." As he spoke of an emerging oligarchy threatening democracy, few knew that a different kind of storm - codenamed "Salt Typhoon" - had already reshaped America's power structure.

    Behind the official explanations of weather and crowd size, a months-long Narativ investigation reveals a hidden realignment of global power. Our reporting traces a transformation that began in the uranium mines of apartheid South Africa and leads directly to America's AI future.

    At its center are four men who emerged from apartheid's collapse to reshape Silicon Valley: Peter Thiel, Roelof Botha, David Sacks, and Elon Musk. Their rise parallels China's growing influence in American technology and politics, culminating in this week's unprecedented scenes: tech billionaires lined up in the front row of Trump's indoor inauguration, TikTok's CEO prominently placed, and failed negotiations with Putin suggesting a new global alignment.

    The story begins with Pik Botha, South Africa's former foreign minister and grandfather of Silicon Valley kingmaker Roelof Botha. As minister of mineral and energy affairs, he oversaw the uranium program that connected Peter Thiel's father to South Africa's nuclear ambitions. Their vision of technocratic rule - where technical experts and engineers would govern society - didn't die with apartheid. It evolved.

    By the time PayPal emerged in the late 1990s, these four men had positioned themselves at the intersection of technology and power. Documents reveal PayPal's original mission wasn't American at all - it was designed as a payment processor for Chinese companies, the first step in a decades-long partnership that would reshape global power.

    Today, as Biden's warning about oligarchy echoes through empty halls, we see their technocratic vision coming full circle. From Trump's $500 billion AI initiative to China's new role as America's strategic partner, a transformation decades in the making has reached its culmination.

    The question now: can democracy bend without breaking?

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    16 February 2025, 6:08 pm
  • 24 minutes 20 seconds
    Crypto Conspiracy

    When Elon Musk walked into Twitter headquarters carrying a kitchen sink, most saw an eccentric billionaire's publicity stunt. What we've uncovered is something far more calculated: the first move in what may be the largest coordinated market manipulation in history.

    Our investigation reveals how a $25 billion loss at Twitter/X sets the stage for an unprecedented scheme to profit from cryptocurrency markets using presidential power itself.

    The numbers tell the story: 

    When Bitcoin traded at $70,000 before Trump's election, Musk was already holding billions in crypto through Tesla and SpaceX. Tesla alone had 10,000 Bitcoin. SpaceX another 8,000. Then came Trump's election victory, and within a week, the price jumped $20,000.

    But December 5th marked the real turning point. Trump names David Sacks - Musk's old PayPal ally - as America's first Crypto Czar. That same day, he launches World Liberty Financial, perfectly positioned to profit from his own policy announcements. Within hours, he unveils plans for a "strategic national bitcoin stockpile." By mid-December, Bitcoin hits $108,000.

    The profit mechanism is breathtaking in its simplicity: 

    Through Tesla and SpaceX alone, Musk sees gains of over $600 million. Trump, through World Liberty Financial and his 78.75 million shares in Trump Media & Technology Group, profits from every policy announcement he makes. Each presidential declaration drives crypto prices higher, and each surge increases their personal wealth.

    This isn't just market manipulation. This is using presidential power to create personal profit.

    But this is just Part 1.


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    3 February 2025, 8:33 pm
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