In this week’s Um Civics, Um, Sir Episode, Emily and Samie take a wild ride and turn a bro-y “crypto or gold?” question into a sassy civics crash course. From Hamilton’s first national bank to Nixon ending the gold standard, they trace America’s messy money history—then dive into Bitcoin, scams, Trump’s flop coin, and why money is basically just trust (and BS).
💡 Takeaway: Gold, crypto, or cash—it’s all made up, but civic knowledge is real.
For your further reading and viewing pleasure...
Watch
Brush up with the Bro-ligarchy – TikTok, The Basement Yard Cast
Judgmental Video: The Day Americans were robbed of 3,600 Tons of Gold – YouTube
Documentary, Turning Point: The Vietnam War - Netflix
Read
1783 Copper Washington, UNITY STATES MS BN – Some random site
The First Bank of the United States – Federal Reserve History
The Second Bank of the United States – Federal Reserve History
Nixon and the End of the Bretton Woods Systems, 1971- 1973 – Office of the U.S. Historian
Fort Knox Bullion Depository – United States Mint
Photos and documents from Secretary Mnuchin’s Fort Knox trip released – CNN Politics
Is It Time For The U.S. To Revalue Its Gold Reserves? – Forbes
How Does Cryptocurrency Work? A Beginner's Guide - Cousera
Crypto suffers £1bn slump amid concerns digital currencies are overvalued – The Telegraph
Who Accepts Bitcoin Worldwide in 2025 – 99 Bitcoins
Listen
The Basement Yard Podcast
For Fun
Trump Coin Price
Bust of Satoshi Nakamoto in Budapest
Bitcoin Price
