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