* Guest: Bryan Rust, Over the past 50 years, Rust Coins has been working to educate customers about precious metals – RustCoinAndGift.com

* Honest Money Report: Gold – $2045.50 Silver – $22.95.

* The Federal Reserve, left its benchmark interest rate unchanged Wednesday at between 5.25% and 5.5%, its highest in 23 years.

* We Discuss The Economics of “Fake News”!

* Gold to hit new highs this year – Reuters – Will It Result In A “Gold Storm”?

* Dashed Hopes Over Tech Stocks Cause Markets to Tumble – Associated Press.

* Here’s How Much Cash Ron DeSantis Burned Through Against Trump Rebecca Davis O’Brien and Nicholas Nehamas.

It cost more than $160M for Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida to come in second place in a single nominating contest.. That astounding sum makes Mr. DeSantis’s failed presidential bid among the most expensive in modern Republican primary elections.

* Trump’s PACs Spent Roughly $50M on Legal Expenses in 2023 – NYT.

* Oregon leaders declared a state of emergency Wednesday to address the fentanyl crisis.

* Syphilis cases surge in the US, CDC says – NPR.

* Abrams’s Fair Fight Lays Off 75% of Staff as Debts Rise – Chris Cameron.

The cuts would decimate a high-profile liberal group that was once a fund-raising powerhouse for Democrats. Fair Fight, the liberal voting rights group founded by Stacey Abrams, is laying off most of its staff and scaling back its efforts in response to mounting debts incurred by court battles.

* Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate, has announced that he will not be former President Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate.