Crooked Bough News Round-up

— These Are The World's 10 Most Powerful Supercomputers

 

at 11/22/24 5:40pm

These Are The World's 10 Most Powerful Supercomputers According to the latest supercomputer ranking from TOP500, El Capitan is the world’s most powerful system, capable of achieving 1,742 petaflops. In this graphic, Visual Capitalist's Marcus Lu visualizes the performance and power consumption of the world’s top 10 supercomputers. Data and Key Takeaways The data we used to create this graphic is listed in the table below. Figures come from TOP500’s November 2024 ranking. This ranking highlights America’s position as a global leader in computing power. For instance, the top three supercomputers are located in the U.S., and all of them are classified as exascale systems. This is a significant change from the 2021 ranking, in which Japan’s Supercomputer Fugaku held the top spot. The winner of this year’s ranking is El Capitan, which became operational in 2024 and is the third exascale system deployed by the United States. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, El Capitan was manufactured by HP Enterprise Cray and features an unknown number of AMD Instict MI300A accelerated processing units (APUs). What’s An Exascale Computer? An exascale computer is capable of performing at least 1 exaflop (1 quintillion operations per second). Note that in this ranking, performance is measured in petaflops (1 quadrillion). 1,000 petaflops is equal to 1 exaflop. In realistic terms, exascale computers can handle massive datasets and solve problems at unprecedented speed. Use cases include: Simulating molecular interactions Predicting climate change Advancing nuclear research China’s Exascale Systems Remain a Mystery Since 2021, reports have suggested that China does indeed have its own exascale systems, but is simply withholding information about them from global rankings such as the TOP500. It’s a well known situation that China has these computers, and they have been operating for a while. They have not run the benchmarks, but [the community has] a general idea of their architectures and capabilities. - Jack Dongarra, co-founder of TOP500 China’s silence is likely related to its geopolitical strategy. Publicly announcing it has built its own exascale systems could result in further U.S. trade restrictions. Want to learn more? Check out the Technology category on Voronoi to see more data visualizations like this. Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 19:40

— Pennsylvania County Official Apologizes For Controversial Comments On Ballot-Counting

 

at 11/22/24 5:15pm

Pennsylvania County Official Apologizes For Controversial Comments On Ballot-Counting Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), The commissioner of a Pennsylvania county at the center of a weeks-long ballot-counting controversy issued an apology on Wednesday after the state’s Supreme Court ruled to block the counting efforts. Bucks County Commissioner Dianne Ellis-Marseglia speaks during a board meeting in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 20, 2024. Bucks County government At a Wednesday Bucks County Board of Elections meeting, Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia—one of two county commissioners who had voted to count undated and misdated ballots for the Nov. 5 election—issued a public apology on a comment she had made last week. Their decision had gone against a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling. Last week, Ellis-Marseglia said that “people violate laws any time they want,” drawing controversy and criticism from local Republican officials. “I think we all know that precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country and people violate laws anytime they want,” she said in last week’s hearing. “So for me, if I violate this law, it’s because I want the court to pay attention to it.” A week later, on Wednesday, the commissioner said that her comment was taken out of context. However, she also apologized, saying, “The passion in my heart got the best of me, and I apologize again for that.” “That was a hearing, and we were talking about provisional ballots. We were specifically talking about the fact that there were certain provisional ballots where a judge of elections did not sign and did not make sure that a voter signed on the outside envelope,” Ellis-Marseglia, a Democrat, said according to a video feed of the Bucks County commissioners’ meeting. Elaborating, the official said that, to her, it is “frustrating and unconscionable that we would have to take away somebody’s vote” after an employee “didn’t know what to do or forgot or made a mistake.” “That issue that I spoke on has now gone viral from my comments. It was genuinely not the best words. I would do it all again. I feel terrible about it. I should have been more clear, please, I will be more clear in the future,” she said. Her county was one of several across Pennsylvania that voted earlier this month to count the ballots. On Monday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reiterated its ruling and blocked Bucks County, a Democrat-controlled suburb of Philadelphia, from counting those votes. “This order shall be deemed authoritative and controlling in all such matters and as to all county election board members,” the court wrote. The order stemmed from a lawsuit filed by the Republican National Committee and the Pennsylvania Republican Party on Nov. 14 that sought to block officials from counting those ballots. The order has significant implications for the U.S. Senate race. The Associated Press and Decision Desk have called the race in favor of Republican candidate Dave McCormick over incumbent Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), whose votes differed by only a few thousand ballots. The state Supreme Court responded on Nov. 1 with an order that halted the appeals court decision while clarifying that its decision didn’t apply to the general election on Nov. 5. Multiple Republican groups were critical of Ellis-Marseglia’s comments, with some calling for her resignation or impeachment. The Pennridge Area GOP called for locals to sign a petition to impeach both Ellis-Marseglia and Commissioner Robert Harvie, who also voted to count the ballots, accusing them of civil rights violations, contempt of court, and negligence. Earlier this week, Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issued a statement siding with the state Supreme Court in its decision to halt ballot counting, emphasizing upholding the rule of law. “The court has now ruled on the counting of these ballots specific to the Nov. 5, 2024, election, and I expect all county election officials to adhere to this ruling and all the applicable laws governing our elections,” he said. As of Thursday morning, Casey has yet to concede to McCormick in the Senate race. Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 19:15

— US Declares Opposition Leader Who Lives In Spain As Venezuela's President-Elect

 

at 11/22/24 4:50pm

US Declares Opposition Leader Who Lives In Spain As Venezuela's President-Elect Authored by Kyle Anzalone via The Libertarian Institute, Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared on X that Edmundo González won the Venezuela presidential election several months ago. It is unclear if Washington’s position will make a difference as González lives outside Venezuela.  On Tuesday, Blinken posted, "The Venezuelan people spoke resoundingly on July 28 and made [González] the president-elect. Democracy demands respect for the will of the voters." González is currently living in Spain.  Getty Images/AFP In August, about a week after the election, Blinken made a similar statement, saying that González won the election by an "insurmountable margin." The Secretary based that conclusion on a report by the Carter Center. Blinken claimed the institution is "independent." That claim is false as the Carter Center is funded by multiple US government agencies, including the State Department. At that time, it was not clear if Blinken’s statement represented administration policy as NSC Spokesman John Kirby said the White House would withhold judgment until "the electoral authorities publish the full, detailed tabulation of votes." Additionally, a State Department spokesman said Washington was not ready to declare a winner of the Venezuelan election.  The US has attempted to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and his predecessor Hugo Chávez, several times. However, Caracas foiled Washington’s coup attempts.  During the first Donald Trump administration, Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams led a similar effort to overthrow Maduro by recognizing Juan Guaido as president. That scheme also failed. The second Trump administration may make a similar attempt at regime change in Caracas as Marco Rubio, the nominee to be Secretary of State, is a long-time supporter of overthrowing Marduo. The Venezuelan people spoke resoundingly on July 28 and made @EdmundoGU the president-elect. Democracy demands respect for the will of the voters. — Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 19, 2024 Following the July election, Rubio called for the military to overthrow the sitting president. "The military must stand up and defend the people against the regime," he posted on X.  CNN reports, "Gonzalez, who fled to Spain in September fearing for his safety, has previously said he intends to return to Venezuela in the coming weeks for the presidential inauguration set for January 10." Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 18:50

— Terrifying Infographic Shows Reach Of Russia's New Hypersonic Missile: 'London In 20 Minutes'

 

at 11/22/24 4:30pm

Terrifying Infographic Shows Reach Of Russia's New Hypersonic Missile: 'London In 20 Minutes' Update(1830ET): Soon after warning that Russia's newly deployed 'Oreshnik' nuclear capable hypersonic missile is able to reach any European capital, at a top speed of Mach 10+ —which is significantly faster than a bullet—Russian state media issued the below ominous infographic. It touts that Eastern European capitals could be hit in a matter of a few minutes, and that Berlin is reachable in only 15. It lists capitals as far away from the Kapustin Yar rocket launch complex like London and Paris as reachable by the Oreshnik in just 20 minutes. This means if proverbial all hell broke loose and WW3 came to Europe, these populations would have very little time to reach shelter. Russian media released a new graphic showing Oreshnik missile flight times to major cities in Europe pic.twitter.com/Ry7yLymK2n — Preston Stewart (@prestonstew_) November 22, 2024 On Thursday Moscow had shocked the world after six independent war heads of a new intermediate range ballistic missile were launched on the Yuzhmash missile plant in Dnipro Ukraine. Thus Putin has demonstrated that the West has crossed his 'red lines' after its long-range attack authorization granted to Kiev. According to more via a war monitoring site: Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) provided further details, stating that “Oreshnik” refers to a research project, while the operational missile system is named “Kedr.” Its known specifications include: Six warheads, each carrying six submunitions. A terminal phase speed exceeding Mach 11. If this is indeed a medium-range ballistic missile, as Putin suggests, its range could extend up to 5,500 kilometers. This would violate the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, signed by the US and the Soviet Union to eliminate such missiles. Developing Kedr would thus signify Russia’s breach of this agreement. Vladimir Putin warned back in July, "Today, the development of such systems in Russia is nearing completion. We will take mirror measures to deploy them, taking into account the actions of the United States, its satellites in Europe and in other regions of the world." * * * A day after Russia's attack on Ukraine with what were clearly big, very fast and new intermediate-range missiles, which many outlets initially reported to be an ICBM, the Kremlin is touting that it launched a cutting-edge hypersonic missile for which there is no defensive intercept capability. Russia says that Washington has now understood and been able to grasp Putin's warnings and red lines more clearly following the missile strike a Ukrainian defense industry facility in Dnepropetrovsk Thursday morning. The new hypersonic weapon, dubbed 'Oreshnik' is capable of delivering a nuclear warhead. "We have no doubt that the current administration in Washington has had the opportunity to familiarize itself with this announcement and understand it," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Putin had said the West's escalation, seen this week in authorizing Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russia with US/UK-made weapons, makes Ukraine a "global" conflict. Illustrative file image via Unsplash He strongly hinted that this global aspect to the war means attacks on Western targets can't be ruled out. The same day, the foreign ministry said a US missile base in Poland is a prime target. Peskov further called Putin's message following the hypersonic attack "comprehensive, clear and logical." The Russian leader has authorized the new missile to enter mass production. "The key message is that the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries — which produce missiles, supply them to Ukraine and subsequently take part in carrying out strikes on Russian territory — cannot go unanswered," Peskov continued. On Friday Russian state media sources have begun publishing specs for the Oreshnik missile, claiming it flies at Mach 10, and can reach 5,500km in distance, or 3,400+ miles (as a medium-range weapon). Russia's missile command has also informed Putin that the projectile is capable of reaching any European target... ❗️‘Oreshnik’ IRBM is capable of reaching any European target – Russian missile forces chief pic.twitter.com/v50HHAafIc — RT (@RT_com) November 22, 2024 "The unique feature of the Oreshnik missile system is that, firstly, it is a medium-range missile – it flies to a distance of 1,000 km to 5,500 km – and secondly, it is hypersonic, flying at a speed of Mach 10," a retired Russian Army colonel and military analyst, identified as Viktor Litovkin, told Sputnik. "The West does not have missiles that fly at such a speed or hypersonic missiles at all," he continued. "Although the US has repeatedly boasted that it has such missiles, it has never demonstrated a missile flight. They appeared to show missiles that flew at a supersonic speed of 5.5 times the speed of sound or Mach 5.5. However, hypersonic speed begins at Mach 6-7." Independent geopolitical site Moon of Alabama agrees, and calls it a huge game-changer [emphasis ZH]: Launched from Russia the missile can reach any target in Europe in less than 20 minutes. On reentry into the atmosphere the warheads of the missile reach hypersonic speeds of 3-4 kilometer per second. There is no air defense system in the world that could stop them. The surprising and successful demonstration of such an enormous capability is a wake-up call for European strategists. Lulled in by neoconservative talk of western supremacy and presumed Russian inabilities the Europeans were eager to connect their fate to a proxy war against Russia. Having been defeated in the fight for the commodities of the Donbas region they have pushed for extending the reach of their weapons into Russia. The results are now in. Europe is defenseless against new Russian weapons which can reach every political and industrial center of Europe with devastating power and with just minutes of notice. ⚡️ Statement by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin Watch herein in full (dubbed in English) pic.twitter.com/mF5SCJdlq1 — MFA Russia ?? (@mfa_russia) November 21, 2024 And Putin reminded the West yesterday: "We believe that the United States made a mistake by unilaterally destroying the INF Treaty in 2019 under a far-fetched pretext." The United States was notified shortly in advance of the launch via nuclear risk reduction channels, which underscores the seriousness of the event. The Pentagon has confirmed that the US was warned in advance about the "Oreshnik" missile attack via nuclear security channels. NOTICE: they did not warn the EU, so the pucker factor in the EU watching that ICBM launch must have been intense. Can you imagine?? pic.twitter.com/mfKfY58bn2 — Old Lion (@OldLion1965) November 21, 2024 Below is a review and paraphrasing of Putin's main points from his Thursday address and warning to the West via RT. * * * Deployment of the new Hypersonic Missile ‘Oreshnik’ Putin confirmed that Russia has used its latest hypersonic ballistic missile system, nicknamed ‘Oreshnik’ (Hazel in English), during a strike on a Ukrainian defense industry facility in Dnepropetrovsk on Thursday morning. The missile is part of Moscow’s new generation of medium-range weapons and reportedly travels at speeds of up to Mach 10 (2.5-3 kilometers per second). Putin emphasized that no existing air or missile defense systems, including those deployed by the US in Europe, are capable of intercepting the Oreshnik. “There are no means of countering such weapons today,” he said, adding that the strike successfully hit one of Ukraine’s largest Soviet-era industrial complexes producing rocket technology. The Americans are making the Ukraine conflict global Putin accused the US and NATO of deliberately escalating the crisis by providing Kiev with long-range, high-precision weapons capable of striking Russian territory. This week, Ukraine used American-made ATACMS missiles and British Storm Shadow systems to strike targets in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk Regions.  Putin said these attacks demonstrate the West’s intent to transform the Ukraine conflict into a global war. He stressed that these weapons could not be used without the direct involvement of US and NATO military specialists. “This regional conflict provoked by the West has now acquired global elements,” the president declared. US defenses helpless against Russian hypersonic weapons Putin highlighted the strategic advantage of Moscow’s new missile technology, stating that Western defense systems, including those at US bases in Europe, are powerless to intercept them. He framed the deployment of the Oreshnik system as a response to NATO’s increasingly aggressive actions, including Washington’s withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019. “Missiles like Oreshnik are our answer to NATO’s plans to deploy medium- and shorter-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific,” he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Thursday’s strike against a weapons factory in Dnepropetrovsk was an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), dubbed Oreshnik (‘Hazel’). Oreshnik flies at Mach 10 and carries multiple warheads, making it impervious to air defenses. pic.twitter.com/awK9at6lwh — RT (@RT_com) November 22, 2024 Americans destroyed the system of international security The Russian president placed blame squarely on Washington for dismantling global arms control agreements and eroding international security.  “It was not Russia but the United States that destroyed the system of international security,” Putin said, referring to the collapse of the INF Treaty and other agreements. He accused the US of clinging to its “hegemony” at the expense of global stability, stating that the Americans are “pushing the whole world toward a global conflict.” Russia’s position on the deployment of missiles Putin announced that while Russia has refrained from deploying medium- and shorter-range missiles globally, it would reassess this policy in response to US actions. He warned that future targets for Russia’s advanced systems would be chosen based on perceived threats to national security. As a “humanitarian” gesture, he stated that civilians in targeted areas would be warned in advance to evacuate. A call for Peace, and a warning to the West Despite his tough words, Putin reiterated that Russia remains open to talks, but warned of decisive retaliation against escalating aggression. “We have always preferred, and are still ready, to resolve all disputes through peaceful means,” the president said. However, he cautioned Western leaders, particularly in Washington, to take Russia’s warnings seriously. “There will always be an answer,” to attacks on Russia, he concluded. zh: ...hopefully Trump and Putin can broker peace before it's too late. Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 18:30

— Things That Are Over...

 

at 11/22/24 4:25pm

Things That Are Over... via Financial Preparedness substack, The re-election of Donald Trump was the largest political revolution of my lifetime. As I've listened to him and his nominees talk about their priorities and plans since the election, I have realized that his administration will bring about dramatic and fundamental changes that will have profound effects in many domains, both globally and through time. I now understand why the Left and Deep State were so obsessed with stopping him “using any means necessary” since 2016. If he can get the Senate to confirm his nominees, I predict that the following will soon be over: Perpetual War and the Military-Industrial-Complex: In 1961, outgoing president Eisenhower (no peacenik himself) warned about the MIC: “...we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions....This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience....Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications....In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” Trump will quickly bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end and prompt Iran and its proxies to go dormant. China, Russia and North Korea will behave themselves and the U.S. won't enable NATO's recent reckless military adventurism. Many American troops will come home and the U.S. will only get involved if its vital national interests are at risk. Illegal Immigration: ICE will deport many millions of illegal aliens (queue lots of sob stories by what's left of the Legacy Media), starting with known criminals. The Trump administration will immediately stop the secret flights of aliens into the U.S., defund the many NGOs that facilitated the Soft Invasion, enforce existing immigration laws, and probably complete the border wall. But I think undocumented people who have lived in the U.S. for many years and are contributing to society will be left alone. The Deep State: Since 2016, hundreds of high level government officials have abused their power in many ways to prevent the American people from having the president they voted for (also known as democracy). Most of these people are guilty of crimes. At a minimum, they will be fired and stripped of any security clearances and will have to find an honest way to make a living. Some will write books about Orange Man Bad. The Intelligence-Industrial-Complex: This is who have really run the country to an increasing degree since 1963. This is probably the greatest current threat to our (dying) republic. Since 9/11, with the collusion of Big Tech and the governments of allied countries, it has vacuumed up every possible bit of communication and information about American citizens (a flagrant violation of the Fourth Amendment) and stored it for perpetuity (for who knows what purposes in the future) at the Utah Data Center. It also sponsors coups against democratically elected foreign governments, conducts disinformation and false flag operations to sway public opinion, runs secret prisons in foreign countries where people are tortured, etc. Wresting power away from this beast will be one of Trump's greatest challenges. The Administrative State: The vast majority of federal bureaucrats serve no useful purpose, yet enjoy compensation packages and job security that far exceed what's available in the private sector. Entire departments (such as Education), bureaus, offices and commissions will be eliminated. Thousands of regulations will be repealed, rendering millions of bureaucrats suddenly redundant. Those whose jobs aren't eliminated will have to come in to the office every day after a four-year “work at home” vacation. The Democratic Party (in its current form): The party is in disarray, with no current leaders (after their failed coup, the Obamas are finished) or good potential future leaders and virtually no policy proposals that appeal to the average voter. Their platform consisted of two planks: Get Trump and Abortion on Demand. Ironically, their presidential candidate wasn't even elected in a Democratic process, and their presidential primaries have been rigged for years. As they've lost touch with Americans in Flyover Country, the party has largely become one of university-educated bicoastal elites and the lowest of Low Information Voters. After years of demanding censorship, de-monetization, de-platforming, doxing and canceling of people they disagree with, it's no surprise they show a remarkable lack of self-awareness, introspection, empathy and curiosity about the “garbage.” They will wander in the political wilderness until this changes. Congressman Seth Moulton (D, MA) bravely pointed out some of his party's insanity after the election but was quickly condemned. Ironically, he represents Salem. The Legacy Media: The sudden post-election implosion of the Legacy Media is the most stunning and far-reaching since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Since 2016, the media has become increasingly apoplectic about the “racist,” “fascist,” “existential threat to our democracy” Trump, making the case for the Thomas Matthew Crooks and Ryan Wesley Rouths of the world to save humanity from the “literal Hitler” before the world suffered the same fate. Yet their ratings tanked even as their warnings about a dictatorial Trump became more shrill and frantic. Why? Because after promoting hoaxes (such as Hunter Biden's laptop, Trump's collusion with Russia, the COVID “pandemic,” an armed insurrection on January 6, etc.) for years, they have no credibility left. Americans trust the media less than any other political or civic institution. This rotted out tree began to fall even before the election. Editors and employees at The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times freaked out when their editorial page was not allowed to endorse Kamala. Because otherwise, how would readers know that these papers supported her, right? The most stunning development was how after years of trashing Trump perhaps more than anyone else, the hosts of “Morning Joe” went to Mar-a-Lago to make up with him (he was gracious enough to meet with them). They did so for economic survival, to remain relevant, because their show is at risk of being canceled. Comcast is about to spin off MSNBC and CNBC. CNN is also on the ropes, and “The View” is planning to add another conservative commentator. Elen DeGeneres has fled the country, vowing never to return. Censorship: The publication of the Twitter Files (for which some Democrats threatened the reporter with prison) helped expose how Big Tech and the Legacy Media have colluded with the federal government in recent years to censor facts “misinformation” from the American people. Ironically, at this time in human history when it should be easier and faster than ever before to discover the truth, we have to deal with this bullshit. Tyrants have no need to censor falsehoods, which can easily be disproved. It's the truth they fear. And the way to get to the truth is for everyone to be allowed to say what they want, even though some of it will be uninformed or false. The truth will always out itself eventually. This is the essence and beauty of the Scientific Method. No one person, government, website or group of “fact checkers” could possibly know what the Truth is. So let's have an open, ongoing debate where everyone is allowed to make their case, which will allow us to avoid error and prevent tyranny. The Free Speech party won the election, and the Season of Reveal is about to ramp up. Expect the release of files related to JFK's assassination, the CIA, UFOs, Jeffrey Epstein and Diddy's parties. Lawfare: As far as I know, all of the lawfare cases against Trump are dead, though Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and Judge Juan Merchan are threatening to delay his sentencing until 2029, leaving a Sword of Damocles hanging over his head. Using the justice system to target a political opponent simultaneously (and obviously) with a number of absurd charges in politically hostile jurisdictions is profoundly un-American. It's something that a desperate tyrant in a Third World country would do. This strategy backfired on Democrats, as it made many voters even more likely to vote for Trump. Lady Justice is blindfolded for a reason. Identity Politics and DEI: (Marxist) Critical Race Theory is out and meritocracy and a colorblind society are back. Tens of millions of people (including blacks, Hispanics and women) voted for Trump not because of his race or gender but because they thought he was the best candidate. Ethnicity-based tribalism is toxic to society and inevitably leads to an outcome like what happened in Rwanda between the Hutus and the Tutsis. Now corporations and even the Pentagon are scrambling to shutter their DEI programs. Americans generally want the best; they will figure out who should do the job. Big Pharma, Big Food and Medical Tyranny: As the secretary of Health & Human Services, RFK Jr. will (hopefully) dramatically change the direction of the FDA, CDC, NIH, etc. away from processed food and pharmaceutical products towards natural (and often low-cost) food and health remedies. A ban on advertising by Pharma will hasten the demise of the Legacy Media and end their symbiotic relationship. Watch for a number of long-overdue investigative reports about the Pharma industry. Due to the obvious ineffectiveness of and many injuries and deaths due to the unproven COVID vaccines, I would imagine Americans' faith in vaccines has never been lower. They now realize that the government doesn't have all of the answers and one must remain an independent, critical thinker. ESG: I would expect that in the Trump administration, the SEC will require investment managers (including Blackrock, State Street and Vangaurd) to explain how forcing the management of publicly traded companies to pursue ESG policies fulfills their legal fiduciary duty to maximize the return of their customers. I look forward to hearing that explanation. There will be much more of a focus on profits, free cash flow and dividends, which will help boost returns and reduce risk. The Great Reset: If a major country such as the U.S. refuses to participate in Klaus Schwab's tyrannical fantasies, it more or less pulls the rug out from the whole program, because the countries that do participate won't be able to compete, and their citizens will be able to see that life is better in a freer and more decentralized country. Trumpism is a global movement, because people are sick and wary of people like Schwab, Bill Gates, George Soros and the rest of the .01% ruling elite. Closet Trump Supporters: One reason Trump's victory in 2016 was such a surprise to nearly all pollsters is because many voters were embarrassed or fearful to admit that they supported Trump. Not any more. Trump has never been more popular. MAGA hats now top Amazon's best seller list. I've seen athletes in several sports celebrate by doing a Trump dance. Part of Trump's genius (I'm sure his decades of experience in hospitality and entertainment helped with this) is that he made politics fun and funny. Americans want to laugh and be of good cheer after years of having to sit through mandatory DEI training and being told that they're inherently and irreversibly racist because of the color of their skin. The Silent Majority have spoken, and instead of being identified by their race, gender, etc. now just want to get back to being Americans. Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 18:25

— What Ceasefire? 'Heavy Clashes' In South Lebanon As Beirut Buildings Leveled

 

at 11/22/24 4:00pm

What Ceasefire? 'Heavy Clashes' In South Lebanon As Beirut Buildings Leveled Despite all the recent talk of a potential ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in the works, regional reports say that some of the fiercest ground fighting is currently taking place in southern Lebanon on Friday. Heavy Israeli aerial bombardments of the southern suburbs of Beirut have also continued with intensity. On Friday an Israeli missile completely leveled a residential multi-story in the neighborhood of Chiyah. Israel's military reportedly issued a civilian evacuation alert shortly before, and terrifying video from the scene suggests locals knew it was about to be struck. More strikes by #Israel's IDF against #Hezbollah positions today after it issued an evacuation warning in the southern suburbs of Beirut. pic.twitter.com/G9xGxisfMR — Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) November 22, 2024 In the south of Lebanon, near the border, UN peacekeeping forces say they are monitoring "heavy clashes" on Friday, saying most of the fighting is centered in the coastal town of Naqoura as well as the village of Chamaa. There are also emerging reports which say four Italian soldiers were injured after two rockets hit a UNIFIL base in Chamaa. Italy's deputy prime minister has said Hezbollah was likely behind the rocket firing: "There were believed to be two missiles, from what it appears, they are believed to have been launched by Hezbollah." Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a statement of "deep indignation and concern" over "new attacks suffered by the Italian headquarters of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon." "These attacks are unacceptable," she stated, adding that "the parties on the ground to guarantee, at all times, the safety of UNIFIL soldiers and to collaborate to quickly identify those responsible." "We are aware of heavy shelling in the vicinity of our bases," UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti has said, saying that since the incident all UN troops appear to be safe "for the moment". Up until now, the UNIFIL has claimed its command posts came under attack by Israeli forces, including IDF tanks, several times. This appears to be the first time that Hezbollah fired on UN locations. IDF forces earlier this week reached their deepest point into Lebanon since the ground invasion began, in the countryside vicinity of the port city of Tyre, which has been pummeled by airstrikes. UNIFIL base (in the background) in Chamaa, Lebanon. Wiki Commons Israel has repeatedly demanded that the UNIFIL troops withdraw - requests which have been refused. This puts the UNIFIL outposts in the direct line of fire as the war encircles their positions. "UNIFIL strongly urges combating parties to avoid fighting next to its positions. Inviolability of UN premises and personnel must be respected at all times," a Friday statement said. Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 18:00

— Colorado To Pay $1.5 Million To Christian Web Designer After Losing Supreme Court Case

 

at 11/22/24 3:40pm

Colorado To Pay $1.5 Million To Christian Web Designer After Losing Supreme Court Case Authored by Matthew Vadum via The Epoch Times, Colorado has agreed to pay $1.5 million in lawyers’ fees to a Christian website designer after she won her case over a state anti-discrimination law at the U.S. Supreme Court. The payment agreement dated Nov. 19 comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in June 2023 in favor of Lorie Smith, who said Colorado’s law requiring her to create websites to celebrate same-sex weddings infringed on her constitutional rights. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority that Colorado tried to compel “an individual to speak in ways that align with its views but defy her conscience about a matter of major significance.” “The First Amendment’s protections … belong to all, including to speakers whose motives others may find misinformed or offensive,” he wrote. Smith complained she was being singled out by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission because her religious faith does not support nontraditional marriage. Smith said she won’t promote messages that condone violence or encourage sexual immorality, abortion, or same-sex marriage. Smith took legal action when she discovered she was forbidden under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to post a statement online explaining what content she was, and was not, willing to create. After the Supreme Court reversed the ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, the case found its way back to the federal district court in Colorado. On Nov. 19, Smith and the state filed a notice of settlement in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis with the district court. The notice did not specify how much the state agreed to pay Smith, but the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which represents Smith, said the amount was more than $1.5 million to cover attorneys’ fees. “The government can’t force Americans to say things they don’t believe, and Colorado officials have paid and will continue to pay a high price when they violate this foundational freedom,” ADF CEO and President Kristen Waggoner said in a statement. “For the past 12 years, Colorado has targeted people of faith and forced them to express messages that violate their conscience and that advance the government’s preferred ideology,” she said. The Supreme Court’s ruling in the case has been cited almost 1,000 times in court opinions, legal briefs, and in legal publications, according to the law firm. Colorado lost a related case before the Supreme Court six years ago. In Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission (2018), the justices sided with Jack Phillips, a Christian baker whom a gay couple had asked to create a custom cake to celebrate their union, finding the state commission had violated his First Amendment right to free exercise of religion. Smith said she was pleased with the monetary settlement. “This is a win not just for me but for all Americans—for those who share my beliefs and for those who hold different views,” she said in a statement. “For me, it’s always about what message is requested, never the person making the request. I hope that everyone will celebrate the court’s decision upholding this right for each of us to speak freely,” she said. The Epoch Times reached out for comment to Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser but had not received a reply as of publication time. Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 17:40

— Matt Gaetz Says He's Not Returning To Congress Next Year

 

at 11/22/24 3:20pm

Matt Gaetz Says He's Not Returning To Congress Next Year Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz on Friday responded to speculation that he could return to the U.S. House after he withdrew his name from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for attorney general. Then-Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) speaks during the Turning Point Action conference in West Palm Beach, Fla., on July 15, 2023. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Gaetz on Thursday said in a social media post that he would be withdrawing his name because he does not want to become “a distraction” for the Trump transition team’s work, although he had “excellent meetings” with senators, he said. A day later, he told podcaster and conservative activist Charlie Kirk that he would not be going back to the House of Representatives. While Gaetz resigned from his current term in office, he won his reelection bid on Nov. 5, prompting speculation that he could still serve out his forthcoming term. “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch,“ Gaetz said on Friday. ”I do not intend to join the 119th Congress; there are a number of fantastic Floridians who’ve stepped up to run for my seat, people who have inspired with their heroism, with their public service.” “And I’m actually excited to see Northwest Florida go to new heights and have great representation,” he said, referring to Florida’s First Congressional District, which he had represented. Based on historical data and trends, it appears unlikely that the First District will be flipped by a Democratic candidate. Gaetz won his reelection bid by more than 30 points, and a Democrat hasn’t represented the area since 1995. “I’m going to be fighting for President Trump. I’m going to be doing whatever he asks of me, as I always have,“ he told Kirk, echoing a comment he wrote in his Thursday announcement. ”But I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress.” Other than Gaetz, Trump has tapped several other Florida politicians to serve in his Cabinet in some capacity, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as his secretary of state and Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) as his national security adviser. Hours after Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration, Trump named Republican former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, also his former personal attorney, to become the U.S. attorney general. In response, Gaetz wrote on X that Bondi is a “stellar selection” who will “bring the needed reforms” to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last week announced a special election to fill the congressional seats that will soon be vacant, later saying he would be making a decision in early January on who will serve out Rubio’s term in the Senate. There has been media-driven speculation that DeSantis, a Republican, could tap Gaetz to take Rubio’s seat, although the governor, Gaetz, and Rubio have not made any public remarks on whether that could be a possibility. “We have already received strong interest from several possible candidates, and we continue to gather names of additional candidates and conduct preliminary vetting,” DeSantis said in his statement about Rubio’s seat. “More extensive vetting and candidate interviews will be conducted over the next few weeks, with a selection likely made by the beginning of January.” Before withdrawing his name, Gaetz faced intense media and congressional scrutiny over various allegations of misconduct while he was a congressman. The House Ethics Committee announced in 2021 that he was under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and other matters. Gaetz has categorically denied the allegations, saying that the DOJ had informed him that a related investigation was closed and resulted in no criminal charges against him. Gaetz again refuted the allegations while speaking to Kirk. He decried the allegations within the House Ethics panel report as part of a “smear campaign” against him, describing the claims as “false” and “clickbaity.” “Those allegations were coming from sources that Merrick Garland’s DOJ had already deemed not credible,” he said, referring to the current attorney general. “Like if the things that the House Ethics report were true, I would be under indictment and probably in a prison cell.” Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 17:20

— RFK Jr.'s Plans For Reshaping HHS Draw Strong Reactions

 

at 11/22/24 3:00pm

RFK Jr.'s Plans For Reshaping HHS Draw Strong Reactions Authored by Jeff Louderbeck via The Epoch Times, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has vowed to “make America healthy again” through his platform as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The possibility of that happening has drawn praise from many Republican lawmakers and vaccine and food safety advocates. Multiple Democratic legislators and public health officials have criticized President-Elect Donald Trump’s nomination, calling Kennedy a “danger” to public health. Fighting chronic disease, improving children’s health, and addressing corporate influence on government agencies were vital parts of Kennedy’s campaign platform when he ran for president as a Democrat and then an independent. Kennedy suspended his presidential campaign and backed Trump in August. He previously told The Epoch Times that it was a “heart-wrenching decision” and a necessary step toward achieving his mission of saving Americans from the chronic disease epidemic. Under the “Make America Healthy Again” campaign, Kennedy aims to curtail what he calls the chronic disease epidemic by addressing the so-called “corporate capture” of federal health agencies and removing toxic chemicals from the nation’s food supply, among other objectives. Trump’s naming Kennedy as his HHS secretary has drawn strong reactions. Donna Shalala, who was HHS secretary under former President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001, said Kennedy is not qualified for the position. “The nomination of RFK Jr. for HHS by President-elect Trump is shocking. ... He is dangerous to the health and well being of every American,” Shalala wrote on X. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said on X that Kennedy would be the person to “detox the place after the Fauci era,” in reference to former NIH director Dr. Anthony Fauci. Kennedy and Paul have both been outspoken critics of Fauci’s policies related to vaccines and the public health response to COVID-19. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a medical doctor, recently told reporters that Kennedy has “championed issues like healthy foods and the need for greater transparency in our public health infrastructure.” “I look forward to learning more about his other policy positions and how they will support a conservative, pro-American agenda,” Cassidy said. Cassidy, the ranking member of the Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, is expected to chair the committee in the next Congress. Awaiting Senate Scrutiny Kennedy must receive majority support from the Senate to gain confirmation and officially take the lead of HHS, which manages 13 separate agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Kennedy will face confirmation hearings with the Senate Finance Committee, which is scheduled to be led by Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). The full Senate will vote on his nomination if he is approved by that panel. When the Senate convenes in January, Republicans will hold at least 52 seats compared to 48 by the Democrats. The number could increase to 53 if David McCormick defeats incumbent Bob Casey in Pennsylvania. That race is currently in the midst of a recount. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks behind a bulletproof glass during the Rescue the Republic rally in Washington on Sept. 29, 2024.Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times Kennedy has said that he will urge Trump on day one to declare a national emergency for chronic disease. Kennedy said he believes little will change until the influence of giant or private corporations on the FDA, the CDC, and the Department of Agriculture is addressed. At a roundtable organized by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) in September, Kennedy said these agencies “advance the mercantile and commercial interests of the pharmaceutical industry that has transformed them and the food industry into sock puppets for the industry they’re supposed to regulate.” Kennedy has vowed to dismiss the officials who lead those agencies and appoint replacements. “FDA’s war on public health is about to end,” he wrote on X on Oct. 25, adding his support for raw milk, ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, foods with healing properties, and natural remedies such as sunshine. In September, Kennedy told The Epoch Times that he would revamp the NIH to focus on the causes of autism, autoimmune diseases, and neurodevelopment diseases instead of developing drugs and serving as an incubator for pharmaceutical products. He has also vowed to lead efforts to address the issue of chemicals in ultra-processed foods. He told Fox News he would “get processed food out of school lunch immediately” and said federal food assistance such as food stamps should not go toward junk food. “These agencies, the FDA, the USDA, the CDC, all of them are controlled by giant for-profit corporations,” Kennedy said. “With President Trump’s backing, I am going to change that. We are going to staff these agencies with honest scientists and doctors free from industry funding. We will make sure that the decisions of consumers, doctors, and patients are informed by unbiased science,” he said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks to reporters at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia on Sept. 10, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times Earlier this week, Trump announced that Dr. Mehmet Oz was selected to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is managed by HHS. Kennedy is an outspoken opponent of Medicare or Medicaid covering weight-loss drugs like Ozempic or Zepbound. There has been some bipartisan support for that to happen. In September, Kennedy told a congressional roundtable that it could cost the U.S. government trillions of dollars if it supported Medicare or Medicaid paying for weight-loss drugs. “For half the price of Ozempic, we could purchase regeneratively raised, organic food for every American, three meals a day and a gym membership, for every obese American,” Kennedy said. Kennedy has also called for a review of advertising rules for pharmaceutical companies and has also urged Trump to ban pharmaceutical advertising on TV. He also believes in eliminating liability protections for drug companies. As for vaccines, he has advocated for safety and informed consent. “I’ve never been anti-vaccine. People should have choice, and that choice should be informed by the best information possible,“ he said. ”I’m going to ensure that there are science-based safety studies available and people can make their own assessments about whether a vaccine is good for them.” Is Kennedy Anti-Vaccine? Some critics opposed the nomination of Kennedy because they considered him to be anti-vaccine or anti-science. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) called Kennedy a conspiracy theorist and suggested that “he will destroy our public health infrastructure and our vaccine distribution systems.” “This is going to cost lives,” Garcia wrote. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) speaks to press members in the spin room after President Joe Biden and former President Donald J. Trump's presidential debate in Atlanta, Ga., on June 27, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times Peter G. Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said in a statement that the center “opposes this nomination and any other nominees who are a direct threat to science and evidence-based solutions.” “Nominating an anti-vaxxer like Kennedy to HHS is like putting a Flat Earther at the head of NASA,” he wrote. Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, said in a statement that Kennedy “is a clear and present danger to the nation’s health” and should not be “placed in charge of the nation’s public health agency.” Others think Kennedy has been misunderstood or misrepresented. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the first Trump administration, told NewsNation on Nov. 17 that “Kennedy is not antivaccine.” “I’m probably one of the biggest advocates for vaccines,” Redfield said, adding that vaccines are “the greatest gift of science to modern medicine.” “Kennedy is about transparency about vaccines, honest discussion about vaccines, asking for the data to show that these vaccines are safe and they’re efficacious,” Redfield said. Anna Matson served as a volunteer for Kennedy’s presidential campaign and runs a website called Kennedy Debunked. She believes that the public perception of Kennedy is “not remotely accurate” and is formed by “widespread lies and misrepresentations from mainstream media and Democratic Party organizations.” “Kennedy is not loyal to big pharma, and as an attorney who has successfully sued government agencies and big corporations like Monsanto, he knows how to address the issues he talks about. He’s a man of actions, and we need that in whoever leads the HHS,” Matson told The Epoch Times. Matson has spent the last year debunking the “myths” about Kennedy. “Anyone who calls him a conspiracy theorist and an anti-vaxxer has never taken the time to listen to him uninterrupted for more than a 30-second clip on mainstream media,” Matson said. “When people take the time to listen to him, more often than not they realize what the mainstream media and the DNC (Democratic National Committee) say about him is just not true.” Lauren Lee is a strategist for American Values 2024, a PAC aligned with Kennedy. She praised Trump’s decision to task Kennedy with heading the HHS. “It’s a huge sigh of relief for all the independents who took a chance on Trump when Kennedy backed him. Many of us were nervous. We didn’t know if Trump was going to keep his promise and stay true to his word. We now feel like our vote didn’t go to waste,” Lee told The Epoch Times, referring to Kennedy supporters who voted for Trump in the November election. Lee said if Kennedy is confirmed by the Senate, there will be “a massive change in the way that Americans eat, and the way that Americans are educated about nutrition and health.” “Hopefully, we will see a ripple down effect to the poor communities and the less fortunate who are suffering because they’re not able to get access to organic foods, or they live in a food desert,” Lee said. “And hopefully, this spurs corporations to take accountability and remove that poison out of their foods, and government incentives for companies to poison their food is removed.” Dr. James Lyons-Weiler is an advisor to Kennedy who is assisting in finding candidates to “take part in helping shape policies” for the MAHA movement. “I think that any topic in medicine that you might care to pick, manufacturers of medical products are represented [in health agencies], but consumers and the physicians are underrepresented,” Lyons-Weiler told The Epoch Times. “A shift I think we will see is a fair representation of the interests of society’s true stakeholders, the safety and efficacy of medicines, and an emphasis on informed consent.” Lyons-Weiler told The Epoch Times that so many people believe Kennedy is a risk to public health because of “mischaracterization” from the press. “He’s not anti-pharma. He’s anti-fraud. He’s not anti-vaccine. He’s anti-vaccine injury,” Lyons-Weiler said. “I believe we’re going to see the most substantial positive increase in overall health among Americans that we’ve ever seen, and we will see the end of narrative-based science. “Science will be done for the sake of knowing, so scientists will be free to be scientists. Medicine will be done for the sake of healing, so doctors will be allowed to become healers,” he said. Then Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, welcomes Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the stage at a Turning Point Action campaign rally at the Gas South Arena in Duluth, Ga., on Oct. 23, 2024. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Scott Shoemaker, the president of Health Freedom Ohio, told The Epoch Times that he is “ecstatic” that Kennedy brought the subjects of medical freedom, vaccine safety, and informed consent to a national audience in a presidential election. “I never thought I would see these become political issues that a candidate would carry and truly care about,” Shoemaker said. A father of vaccine-injured children, Shoemaker said many parents like him “have been gaslighted and made to feel like the reason for their children’s conditions are not because of vaccines.” “[Kennedy] believes in presenting fact-based science and in-depth study of vaccines and results. It’s shocking that anyone would stand up against that,” Shoemaker said. Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 17:00

— Money-Market Fund Assets Tumble Most In 5 Months After Trump Win; Loan Volumes Surge

 

at 11/22/24 2:40pm

Money-Market Fund Assets Tumble Most In 5 Months After Trump Win; Loan Volumes Surge Money market funds saw the largest net outflow since June last week (-$22.2BN) as stocks soared after Trump's election win... Source: Bloomberg On the bank deposit side of the cash conundrum, total deposits fell for the second week in a row (though a very small $3.5BN SA)... Source: Bloomberg However, on a non-seasonally-adjusted basis, total deposits surged almost $60BN... Source: Bloomberg The banks continue to unwind their Fed Bank Bailout positions, with that facility down to just $21BN now... Source: Bloomberg Excluding foreign deposits, the picture for US banks was just as mixed with deposits up $46.8BN NSA and down $5.7BN SA... Source: Bloomberg On the other side of the ledger, loan volumes shot up last week (after a big decline the prior week). The post-Trump elation prompted loans to rise at the fastest pace since March 2023... Source: Bloomberg Finally, bank reserves at The Fed are on the rise again... Source: Bloomberg But to fill that gap with stocks will take a tsunami... Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 16:40

— In The Weeds Of The Swamp

 

at 11/22/24 2:20pm

In The Weeds Of The Swamp Authored by James Howard Kunstler via substack, “The National Security Divisions of the DOJ and FBI are the greatest domestic threats to the American people and the concept of Constitutional rule of law today.” - Scott Ritter Okay, you’ve had enough post-election euphoria. Time to wake TF up. Rats from inside the walls of the Deep State are trying to gnaw their way into the Trump cabinet. Ever hear of an outfit called Cipher Brief? Of course not. Cipher Brief is sort of the McKinsey of blob-world (a.k.a. the “national security” network), a combination Human Relations / Public Relations firm, totally spooked-up with former CIA officers. Quite a few of the spooks who signed the infamous letter in October 2020 that said Hunter Biden’s laptop was “Russian disinformation” are contractors there. They all knew the heinous laptop was genuine, though, and they did it anyway to queer the election for “Joe Biden.” Why? Because. . .  Trump. One Cipher Brief operative is a character named Dan Hoffman, a retired CIA “clandestine service” officer who ran the agency’s Middle East Bureau, among other things. He’s now a sometime talking head on Fox News. Hoffman has scuttled his way to the sidelines of the Trump transition team, trying to punk them on personnel. I received my own intel about Dan Hoffman and his current operations. “Hoffman talks the talk,” I’m informed. “He was involved in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. He is 100-percent Deep State. They think he is a brother-in-arms. He is not. Hoffman and the people around him are in direct contact with Tulsi Gabbard [DNI-designate] and John Ratcliffe [CIA Director-designate]. Remember, agency ops officers are trained to be all things to all people, to manipulate them, detect their vulnerabilities, and exploit them. Their game vis-a-vis Donald Trump? To kneecap his attempts to lower tensions world-wide, stop efforts to reduce and reform the intel and defense communities, push a generally Globalist policy agenda, keep the American ‘empire game’ running so they can cash out, and keep non-Beltway Americans from having any say in our foreign policy. “Hoffman is not a minor figure. He is heading up the cabal trying to co-opt Ratcliffe and Gabbard. Understand that [this group] essentially took over Agency operations during the so-called Global War on Terror [GWOT] after 9/11. Not only did these assholes lead America into the quicksand of the Middle East, they feathered their own nests and those of their buddies with hundreds of millions in ‘contracts’. . . they cooked up the Ukraine War . . . . Nobody associated with Cipher Brief should be anywhere near Ratcliffe or Gabbard, period. They should be blacklisted. They are the people who worked to take down Trump, and now they are trying to cover their tracks and sneak into the new administration.” Dan Hoffman, remember the name. And thus, the chatter this week about former Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Mike Rogers (a.k.a. Admiral Michael S. Rogers) floated as the next Director of the FBI. Oh, really? Not a joke (har har)? Mike Rogers was DNI throughout the first years (2016-17) of the FBI’s “Crossfire Hurricane” op to take down the then-new president Donald Trump using Hillary Clinton’s concocted “Steele Dossier,” known to be utter bullshit by all involved at the highest levels, but used anyway. Mike Rogers was in office when the FBI took down new National Security Advisor Mike Flynn in February, 2017, for talking to the Russian ambassador. (Since when are high US officials not allowed to speak with foreign diplomats?) By the way, Mike Rogers was endorsed for the FBI job this week by former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, one of the chief managers of the RussiaGate op, which included “Crossfire Hurricane,” and the FBI’s programmatic lying to the FISA court. RussiaGate is starting to look like ancient history to many, but it is a giant slime trail of sedition and treason involving many people who are still very much alive, and some who are still in positions of power (Christopher Wray). It is going to be re-litigated in the new administration, but many other crimes just as sinister, carried out under color-of-law by the FBI and its parent, the Department of Justice (DOJ), have followed since then. For instance: the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol instigated by “confidential human resources” (FBI plants) and actual FBI agents — labeled “the insurrection” by blob publicists. It was engineered by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, General Mark Milley, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, and others to prevent a public review of election irregularities in the joint session of Congress convened to certify the electoral vote. It succeeded splendidly, and was promptly converted into one of the worst national mind-fucks in US history. Debate over dubious vote-counts was squelched and objections were never allowed to be heard. From that sprung the “Big Lie” that anyone voicing skepticism over the 2020 election is a criminal — and thus, the two preposterous federal cases (plus the Fulton County, GA, case) cooked up against Mr. Trump three years later. There is also the matter of the pipe bomb op at the DNC and RNC headquarters blocks away from the US Capitol the same hour of the same day, 1/6/21, when, for no good reason, Vice-president-elect Kamala Harris hid-out in the DNC building. (Why would she not have been attending the joint session of Congress in the Capitol at that hour when the signal achievement of her life to-date was to be grandly announced in front of all her colleagues?) I will tell you why: because the pipe bomb was supposed to be Plan-A for disrupting the electoral vote certification — to set off wild alarms about “terrorism” and scatter the lawmakers. It just happened that the riot at the Capitol (Plan-B) successfully stole the show and Nancy Pelosi got what she said she was “waiting for” — the means to permanently knock Donald Trump off the game-board. After that, the FBI did everything possible to botch and bury the pipe bomb investigation, including failure to identify the culprit despite plenty of cell phone tracking info and other evidence. As late as last week, the FBI claimed that the phone data provided by telecom companies, which could potentially help identify the suspect who planted the pipe bombs, was corrupted or incomplete. But major cell carriers told Congress that they had provided the FBI with intact, uncorrupted phone usage data from the areas where the bombs were placed. There are also reasons to believe that the character who planted the crude, probably fake, bombs was an FBI contractor. These are the kinds of things that a new FBI Director needs to open up to good faith scrutiny. Every foul deed stuffed down the national memory hole will just further pervert and derange the nation’s tattered ethos. It must be obvious that a Mike Rogers would never allow sunlight to illuminate these matters. And now Matt Gaetz has been shoved out of the AG spot on account of a cooked-up sex scandal that the FBI investigated and tossed with no charges brought. But the RINO squad in the Senate did their assigned job blocking his path to office by sheer numbers, and that was that. No clever recess appointment moves. Despite “resigning” from his House seat, Gaetz could conceivably turn up on Jan 3 and ask to be sworn in — after all, he was reelected a few weeks ago. Or Ron DeSantis could appoint him to the Senate seat to be vacated by Marco Rubio. Meanwhile, he is replaced in the AG slot by Pam Bondi, experienced as anybody for that role, but dragging some baggage from the grotesque Trayvon Martin case in Florida when she was Attorney General there. She did happen to ably defend Mr. Trump in Impeachment No.1 among a team of other lawyers, and Mr. Trump, renowned for his loyalty, considers her “a friend.” She’ll surely pass through the gauntlet of Senate confirmation and then we’ll see if she has the fortitude to drain that precinct of the DC swamp. A lot depends on it. Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 16:20

— McDonald's Revamps Meal Deal As QSRs Fight Over Cash-Strapped Consumers

 

at 11/22/24 1:40pm

McDonald's Revamps Meal Deal As QSRs Fight Over Cash-Strapped Consumers About six months ago, McDonald's launched a meal deal targeting working-class and middle-class customers who could no longer afford soaring Big Mac prices due to the inflation storm sparked by failed 'Bidenomics.' The meal deal ignited a value menu war with other major quick-service restaurants. Now, the burger chain is planning a complete overhaul of its value menu in early 2025. A press release from MCD on Friday morning stated the new McValue menu, consisting of $5 meal deals, will launch on January 7. The "highly anticipated new value platform" will unlock value for working poor customers nationwide by offering "current fan-favorites like the $5 Meal Deal, exclusive in-app offers, and local food and drink deals – plus, a brand new Buy One, Add One for $1 offer on popular items for breakfast, lunch and dinner," MCD explained.  Joe Erlinger, President of MCD USA, wrote in a statement, "When it comes to value, we know there's no one-size-fits-all. We've worked closely with our franchisees to create a new platform that will let our customers define value on their own terms," adding, "From deals on their personal go-to order to universal favorites like the $5 Meal Deal, we're excited to give fans more ways to save every time they visit one of our restaurants." Bloomberg noted, "McDonald's new value format will replace another platform with items sold for $1 to $3 that launched in 2018. These days, items on the lower end of the range are hard to come by, following inflation-fueled price increases."  In October, MCD Chief Executive Officer Chris Kempczinski told the audience at the Boston College Chief Executives Club that challenging macroeconomic headwinds will persist for low-income customers.  "We're starting to talk about 2025, and my message to our teams has been: 'We need to be preparing for another challenging year,'" Kempczinski told the audience, adding, "We need to be making sure that we've got a really strong value proposition in all of our markets." In markets, MCD shares have failed three times to break above $300 handle...  MCD's reintroduction of the value menu earlier this year directly responded to sluggish US sales as cash-strapped consumers dialed back on pricey Big Macs. Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 15:40

— Notre Dame Apologizes After Telling Hockey Fans Not To Wear Green, Shamrocks, 'Fighting Irish'

 

at 11/22/24 1:20pm

Notre Dame Apologizes After Telling Hockey Fans Not To Wear Green, Shamrocks, 'Fighting Irish' Authored by Jennifer Kabbany via The College Fix, Leaders of the University of Notre Dame’s hockey team have apologized for telling fans not to wear the color green, Shamrocks, the words “Fighting Irish,” and other imagery to its upcoming game abroad in Belfast, Ireland. The advice was given despite the fact that the team had made special jerseys for the game next week that have the word “Irish” literally sprawled across the chest. “Out of an abundance of caution, we posted guidelines on social media for fans wishing to express support for the team during its upcoming trip to Northern Ireland. The guidelines were not properly reviewed and should not have been posted,” reads the statement, posted Nov. 19. “Our game in Belfast is meant to bring people together and build bridges through sport, we apologize to fans and to the people of Northern Ireland for any confusion or offense.” The apology came after controversy and criticism over the advice in the now-deleted X post. Notre Dame Hockey November 6th Special ‘Irish’ jerseys released ahead of Belfast tour. November 19th Don’t wear special ‘Irish’ jerseys on Belfast tour. pic.twitter.com/CngxKuLsnJ — Darran Marshall (@DarranMarshall) November 19, 2024 BBC reports: In the original post on the Notre Dame Hockey account on X, the team offered guidelines and “a reminder to avoid our Irish symbolism, that may be deemed offensive to some, while out around town”. In an accompanying graphic, the team advised fans not to wear green clothes or anything with shamrocks, leprechauns or the Irish flag. It also said fans should not wear any clothes with the terms ‘Fighting Irish’ or ‘Irish’. …Their ice hockey team will face Boston University, Harvard and Merrimack College in the Friendship Four tournament in Belfast next week. The situation was widely mocked, including by an Outkick reporter who wrote: “If it’s such a problem, maybe don’t pick a team called the Irish who are wearing special jerseys for the tournament which say ‘IRISH’ right across the front.” Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 15:20

— Egg Prices Surge Again As Grocers Face Shortages Amid Bird Flu Outbreak

 

at 11/22/24 12:20pm

Egg Prices Surge Again As Grocers Face Shortages Amid Bird Flu Outbreak Wholesale egg prices via the Urner Barry Egg Index are nearing record highs (again) as the highly pathogenic avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, hits egg production at commercial farms.  The Washington Post reports that consumers are growing increasingly frustrated with DC-area grocery stores, where signs read: "Temporarily out of eggs." It was frustrating to shoppers at a Trader Joe's in the Union Market neighborhood of Washington, D.C., on Wednesday as they walked past an empty refrigerator case with a sign that read: "Temporarily out of eggs." One customer, Donella Brockington, worried she wouldn't have eggs to bake for Thanksgiving. "I hate going to grocery stores, so when I go and I can't get what I want, it's unpleasant," she said. Not too far away, at a Whole Foods Market in Logan Circle, only duck eggs, quail eggs and organic pasture-raised eggs were available. A sign informed shoppers that the store was limiting egg purchases to three cartons per customer. "We are currently experiencing difficulty sourcing eggs that meet our strict animal welfare standards," it said. The latest data from the US Department of Agriculture showed that US egg production in October dipped by 2.6% from one year ago and is forecasted to slide by 1% in 2024 compared to last year.  Bernt Nelson, an American Farm Bureau Federation economist, told WaPo, "Bird flu is by far the biggest factor involved with egg prices," adding, "As bird flu comes and goes, our egg prices ride the wave."  Internet searches on Google show "egg shortage" is steadily rising into the end of the year, reaching a one-year high.  Bloomberg data shows that news stories featuring "egg shortage" jumped to 56 in October, the highest number since June when the story count was 137. Previous spikes in mid-2022 and early 2023 were during the last bird flu outbreak. The last major egg disruption occurred in the second half of 2022 and early 2023, sending retail prices of a dozen eggs to nearly $5.  "This is a virus that is very wily," said Emily Metz, the chief executive and president of the American Egg Board, adding, "It affects farms regardless of production, style, shape, size, and whether it's cage-free or conventional or pasture-raised." The egg shortage is hitting grocery stores ahead of Thanksgiving, with bird flu being blamed for empty shelves. @eschulze has more. pic.twitter.com/ckYeLzCskI — Good Morning America (@GMA) November 22, 2024 Earlier this year, Dr. Robert Redfield, former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sounded the alarm about bird flu... Former CDC Director Predicts Bird Flu Virus Will Cause Next Pandemic https://t.co/ouu7izT9h8 — zerohedge (@zerohedge) June 17, 2024 Here's more coverage... Gain-of-Function May Explain Bird Flu Jump To Cows And Humans The Escalating Threat Of Avian Influenza H5N1 And The Ethical Quandary Of Gain-of-Function Research Is the next big egg shortage just around the corner?  Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 14:20

— MIT To Waive Tuition For New, Eligible Students

 

at 11/22/24 12:00pm

MIT To Waive Tuition For New, Eligible Students Authored by Mary Man via The Epoch Times, A Cambridge-based university has made a big decision to provide tuition-free education to approximately 80 percent of its incoming undergraduate students. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced on Wednesday that, beginning in the 2025–2026 academic year, undergraduates from families earning less than $200,000 annually with typical assets will be eligible to attend MIT tuition-free. This initiative is part of MIT’s expanded financial aid program aimed at increasing accessibility for a broader range of students, according to the university, which says the new policy will increase current aid eligibility thresholds. Additionally, families with total incomes below $100,000 with typical assets will not be expected to contribute toward their student’s MIT education, including tuition, housing, dining, fees, and an allowance for books and personal expenses. Meanwhile, students are still expected to contribute toward their own expenses through summer savings and employment during the school year. This $100,000 threshold is up from $75,000 this year, while next year’s $200,000 threshold for tuition-free attendance will increase from its current level of $140,000. School officials said these measures are designed to make an MIT education more affordable and accessible to a diverse student body. “MIT’s distinctive model of education — intense, demanding, and rooted in science and engineering — has profound practical value to our students and to society,” MIT President Sally Kornbluth said in a press release. “The cost of college is a real concern for families across the board, and we’re determined to make this transformative educational experience available to the most talented students, whatever their financial circumstances. So, to every student out there who dreams of coming to MIT: Don’t let concerns about cost stand in your way.” MIT does not require students who are on financial aid to take out loans and does not offer preferential treatment to children of alumni or donors. “We believe MIT should be the preeminent destination for the most talented students in the country interested in an education centered on science and technology, and accessible to the best students regardless of their financial circumstances,” said Stu Schmill, MIT’s dean of admissions and student financial services. “With the need-based financial aid we provide today, our education is much more affordable now than at any point in the past,” Schmill, who graduated from MIT in 1986, “even though the ‘sticker price’ of MIT is higher now than it was when I was an undergraduate.” MIT’s endowment is funded by contributions from individual alumni and supporters, according to school officials. “Today’s announcement is a powerful expression of how much our graduates value their MIT experience ... Our endowment is an inter-generational gift from past MIT students to the students of today and tomorrow.” Several prestigious American universities have recently implemented initiatives to reduce or eliminate tuition costs for a substantial portion of their undergraduate students. In 2024, Cooper Union announced that approximately 82 percent of undergraduate tuition costs would be covered by scholarships for the 2024–2025 academic year, with a goal of returning to full-tuition scholarships by the 2028–2029 academic year. In July 2024, Johns Hopkins University received a $1 billion Bloomberg Philanthropies donation to provide free tuition for medical students from families earning under $300,000 and cover living expenses for those earning under $175,000. Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 14:00

— It's All Bananas

 

at 11/22/24 11:20am

It's All Bananas By Teeuwe Mevissen, senior macro strategist at Rabobank Did we leave behind the cost of living crisis? Obviously this depends on one’ s financial situation but for some money ain’t a thang as Jermaine Dupri would say. Recently the ‘art’ concept ‘ the comedian’ was auctioned via the legendary auction house Sotheby’s. A crypto ‘investor’ is now the new and proud owner of a banana and a roll of silver coloured duct tape. The price?  $6.2 million and up from $120K in 2019. This is still peanuts compared to the Magritte that was also auctioned at the other legendary auction house Christie’s and sold at the hefty price of $121 million. More money more problems? Or more money more bananas? It’s likely bananas since it all seems bananas nowadays. Yesterday for instance, Russia rattled it’s nuclear sabre once more because it apparently thinks that it’s only Russia’s privilege to use long range weapons obtained from its pariah partners. This was after the West had to discuss bananas once more to finally decide that certain types of weapon systems could be used by Ukraine - and if so - how. Or maybe instead we should discuss how to end the war in 24 hours without addressing and more importantly solving the true underlying problem(s). Looking at bitcoin one might think that all problems have already been solved. At the moment of writing bitcoin is approaching $100.000 because of expectations of a pro-crypto administration and also indicating that there is plenty of risk appetite in various corners. Stock markets also seem to have brushed off the recent escalation regarding the war in Ukraine with a Dow Jones close to reaching a level of 44,000. But when one takes a look at  eurodollar, the exchange rate diving below a level of 1.05 seems to indicate that there is plenty of (geopolitical) risk and market participants are looking for safe havens. Weak data from Europe this morning, obviously are not helpful here. Regardless let’s discuss bananas simply because it’s all bananas. So let’s switch from bananas to economic data which in some cases is actually more related to each other than one might think. While the data calendar of yesterday did not have much to offer, today markets will be offered more insights. UK retail sales volumes fell 0.7% in October, after a revised 0.1% rise in September (down from 0.3%).  Monthly retail sales look like a seesaw, often swayed by factors like weather. Over the three months to October 2024, volumes rose 0.8% compared to the three months to July, and 2.4% year-on-year. However, they remain 1.5% below pre-pandemic levels from February 2020, highlighting the lasting impact of weak growth and inflation. Germany’s Q3 growth was revised down to 0.1% q/q from 0.2%. While this still beats the initial forecasts, the economy’s business model is faltering, and storm clouds loom for next year, particularly with Trump tariffs on the horizon. Preliminary data measuring European purchase manager indices paint a harrowing picture of sentiment in both the services as well as in the manufacturing sector. Sentiment in the French services sector dropped sharply and came in much lower than expected (45.7 vs 49 expected). Sentiment in the French manufacturing sector also disappointed coming in at 43.2 vs 44.5 expected). Both indices indicating an economic downturn.   The survey also highlighted that ‘cost pressures’ remain a concern (even in France where wage growth is considerably lower than in, for example, Germany). Operational expenses increased at the fastest rate in 3 months, albeit at a limited rate compared to the series average. Many panellists cited higher wages as the main reason for the cost increases. Output charges rose, but this was fully driven by services providers; manufacturing gave discounts to deal with competition. Germany also reported a manufacturing PMI of 43.2 vs 43 expected and sentiment in the services sector dropped to a level of 49.2 where a level of 51.7 was expected.  The survey reports uncertainty among panellists, with services providers highlighting fewer new orders from manufacturers. Falling goods production and a lack of incoming new work therefore remains a major drag on overall economic output. This indicates that Germany’s economy is still very much struggling and that a new government will have plenty of issues to deal with. Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 13:20

— Russia Provided Missiles, Oil To North Korea In Exchange For Troops: Seoul 

 

at 11/22/24 11:00am

Russia Provided Missiles, Oil To North Korea In Exchange For Troops: Seoul  South Korea has said that in return for sending thousands of troops to assist Russia in fighting Ukraine, North Korea has received missiles from Moscow, along with other defense equipment. South Korea’s national security adviser Shin Won-sik was asked by a reporter Friday what Pyongyang stands to gain from deploying an estimated 10,000 troops to Russia, to which he responded: "It is understood that North Korea has been provided with related equipment and anti-aircraft missiles to strengthen Pyongyang's weak air defense system." Central Pyongyang, via Reuters This appears based on the defense pact signed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un this summer. It requires both nations to provide military assistance to the other "without delay" if their territory comes under attack. North Korean troops are reported to already be dispatched to Kursk region to assist Russian forces in repelling the Ukrainian cross-border offensive which stretches back to early August. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has briefed lawmakers this week, describing that DPRK troops in Russia were likely attached to an airborne brigade and marine unit. Intelligence officials have further alleged that the north has transferred 3,000 containers of artillery, missiles and other arms to Moscow throughout the Ukraine conflict. Russian oil has also been transferred.  A new, Friday BBC report says both countries are also colluding to break US-led sanctions: Russia is estimated to have supplied North Korea with more than a million barrels of oil since March this year, according to satellite imagery analysis from the Open Source Centre, a non-profit research group based in the UK. The oil is payment for the weapons and troops Pyongyang has sent Moscow to fuel its war in Ukraine, leading experts and UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, have told the BBC. North Korea is barred from UN and Western sanctions from buying oil on the open market. New satellite images purport to show sanctions-busting in progress with the help of Moscow: The satellite images, shared exclusively with the BBC, show more than a dozen different North Korean oil tankers arriving at an oil terminal in Russia’s Far East a total of 43 times over the past eight months. Further pictures, taken of the ships at sea, appear to show the tankers arriving empty, and leaving almost full. BBC/Planet Labs images: The US and UK governments have meanwhile cited the North Korean troop presence in Russia and Ukraine as justification for authorizing Kiev's attacks on Russian territory using long-range missiles. Putin has in turn blamed the West and this policy in particular for turning the conflict into a "global" one. Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 13:00

— Pronoun-Wielding Jaguar Boss Goes On Damage Control After Cringeworthy Woke Ad

 

at 11/22/24 10:20am

Pronoun-Wielding Jaguar Boss Goes On Damage Control After Cringeworthy Woke Ad Jaguar Managing Director Rawdon Glover is on damage control to end the week, appearing in an interview with the Financial Times after the iconic British sports car manufacturer decided to nuke its 90-year legacy with a cringe-worthy 30-second ad published on X.  Glover said the ad's "intended message" had been lost in "a blaze of intolerance" on social media platforms and rejected the notion that the video was a "woke" statement.  "If we play in the same way that everybody else does, we'll just get drowned out. So we shouldn't turn up like an auto brand," Glover said. He continued, "We need to re-establish our brand and at a completely different price point so we need to act differently. We wanted to move away from traditional automotive stereotypes."  Glover railed against some social media users, saying he was disappointed by "the level of vile hatred and intolerance" in the comments that appeared on the video.  Apparently, Glover didn't get the memo from US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez about deleting pronouns off social media pages as the toxic wokeism tide goes out.  As for the "intended message" of the ad," it had little to do with selling cars and everything to do with pushing wokeism.  Perhaps whoever at Jaguar that crafted this disastrous media campaign, similar vibes with Bud Light's Dylan Mulvaney ad... ... would have been better suited for the now-defunct far-left Kamala Harris 2024 campaign.  Copy nothing. #Jaguar pic.twitter.com/BfVhc3l09B — Jaguar (@Jaguar) November 19, 2024 Is this Jag's new target audience? One advertising executive expressed utter shock at Jag nuking nearly a century of heritage in a 30-second ad: "You can destroy a brand in 30 seconds that took a lifetime to build."  Watching Jaguar commit brand suicide is like watching a slow train derailment. I can’t look away. I do product planning in the automotive industry. It’s my job to know drivers (not “users”) and define product strategies based on their wants and needs. I know for a fact whatever… pic.twitter.com/7RIPaWJRhU — Storm (@stormrobinson) November 21, 2024 Meanwhile, over at Aston Martin (take my money!!)...  . . .  Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 12:20

— Death Certificates Reveal FBI 'Revised' Murder Stats Still Bogus

 

at 11/22/24 10:00am

Death Certificates Reveal FBI 'Revised' Murder Stats Still Bogus Authored by James D. Agresti via Grabien News, Overview As the DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Statistics explains, “The United States uses two national data collection systems to track detailed information on homicides.” These consist of: death certificates collected by the states and compiled by the CDC. reports by local law enforcement agencies compiled by the states and aggregated by the FBI, which also generates estimates for agencies that don’t report. Death certificates have always provided broader and more accurate data than the FBI’s figures, but the gap between them has grown sharply under the Biden administration. This may indicate that local law enforcement agencies, states, and/or the FBI are undercounting murders. Furthermore, the Biden administration FBI inexplicably revised its pre-Biden murder data all the way back to 2003, elevating the counts in certain years by up to 7%. The FBI made these unprecedented alterations without so much as a footnote to inform the public. As a result of those factors and others, the gap between murders reported by the FBI and the number of homicides recorded on death certificates has grown from a low of 16 killings in 2003 to an average of 3,711 killings per year during Biden’s presidency: Again, all of the figures above are homicides recorded on death certificates that are not reported as murders by Biden’s FBI. The FBI is part of the DOJ, which is under the authority of the president. The leaders of the DOJ and FBI are both appointed by the president. Measuring Murder In addition to being the worst crime, murder is also the most measurable one. Per the World Bank, “The intentional killing of a human being by another is the ultimate crime. Its indisputable physical consequences manifested in the form of a dead body also make it the most categorical and calculable.” Still, there are challenges in measuring murder and significant differences between the two primary measures of homicide in the United States. In the words of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, death certificates provide “more accurate homicide trends at the national level than” FBI data because: the reporting of death certificates is “mandatory,” while the FBI relies on “voluntary” reports “from individual law enforcement agencies” that are “compiled monthly by state-level agencies.” death certificates include homicides that “occur in federal jurisdictions,” while the FBI rarely counts “homicides occurring in federal prisons, on military bases, and on Indian reservations.” death certificates include homicides caused by the deliberate “crashing of a motor vehicle, but this category generally accounts for less than 100 deaths per year.” On the other hand, death certificates tend to overcount murders because they include: justifiable homicides by civilians acting in self-defense, which are not murders.  some justifiable homicides by police, even though these are supposed to be coded as “legal intervention deaths,” not as homicides.  Despite those differences, a 2014 report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that “the two sources show similar trends for the rate of homicides over time at the national level,” although the count of death certificates “consistently shows a higher number and rate of homicides” at the national level than FBI data. This chart from the report illustrates the point: Biden-Era Revisions Each year in the fall, the FBI typically publishes crime data from the prior year and revises its data from one year before that. In 2020, for example, the FBI published new murder data for 2019 and revised its murder estimate for 2018 from 16,214 to 16,374, an increase of 160 murders, or 1%. To alert people to the change, the FBI added a footnote next to the year 2018 that says, “The crime figures have been adjusted.” In 2023, however, the FBI revised its murder data from every prior year back to 2003. While the changes in some years were minimal, others were substantial. For example, the FBI altered its murder estimate for 2003 from 16,528 to 17,716, an increase of 1,188, or 7%. Illuminating the rarity of those changes, the highlighted figures in the table below show all of the FBI’s revisions of murder data from 2003 to 2022 in reports published from 2004 to 2023. Note that the FBI excluded most historical data from its 2022 publication of 2021 data, which is why there are only two figures in the 2021 column: Furthermore, the scale of the changes that the FBI published in 2023 are far greater than any in the past. Yet, the FBI only included a footnote to alert people to the change for 2021 and none of the other 18 years. In 2024, the FBI made other murder revisions. Most significantly, it reduced the murder estimate for 2021 from 22,536 to 21,462, a decrease of 1,074, or 5%. Prior Administrations After discovering the Biden-era data revisions, Just Facts dug deeper by calculating the gaps between FBI murders and death certificate homicides using FBI publications issued during other presidencies.  Just Facts’ analysis revealed that the vast bulk of gap increases materialized during the Biden administration, but there were notable trends under other presidents as well. During the presidency of George W. Bush, the gap remained roughly level at around 9% except for 2001 because the FBI didn’t include the 9/11 terrorist attack killings in the count of murders. However, Biden’s FBI substantially increased murder counts in the earlier years of Bush’s term, making it seem like the gap between FBI murders and death certificate homicides increased from about 0% to 9% during his presidency: During the presidency of Barack Obama, the gap increased from 10% to 13%. Other than two years, Obama’s FBI left the Bush-era murder counts unchanged. Biden’s FBI raised the murder counts in assorted years of Obamas’ term, thus reducing the gap in certain years, but the general trend remained intact: Read the rest here... Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 12:00

— Texas' Gold-Backed Coin Aims To Help Bitcoin Adoption, Lawmaker Says

 

at 11/22/24 9:20am

Texas' Gold-Backed Coin Aims To Help Bitcoin Adoption, Lawmaker Says Authored by Helen Partz via CoinTelegraph.com, A Texas lawmaker believes the state’s proposed gold-backed digital currency could play a key role in boosting cryptocurrency adoption. Cody Harris, a Republican Party member of the Texas State House of Representatives, addressed the development of a gold-backed token in Texas at the North American Blockchain Summit on Nov. 21. In a fireside chat with Coinbase’s David Duong, Harris argued that a state-issued gold-backed token could serve as a gateway for Texans to explore digital assets like Bitcoin BTC$97,519. A “stepping stone” to Bitcoin Two Texas lawmakers, Senator Bryan Hughes and Representative Mark Dorazi, introduced two separate bills for creating a state-issued digital currency backed by gold in April 2023. Under the plan, each unit of the digital currency would represent a fraction of a troy ounce of gold held in trust. Harris said the initiative could help skeptics become more comfortable with cryptocurrency by offering a government-issued digital alternative before transitioning to decentralized assets like Bitcoin. Cody Harris (right) and Coinbase’s David Duong at the North American Blockchain Summit. Source: Cointelegraph For those who are very reluctant to enter into owning Bitcoin or exploring cryptocurrency, a state-issued coin would give them somewhat of a “comfort level” compared to tokens issued by startups, Harris said, adding: “This [state-issued digital currency backed by gold] is something safe that people can get their feet wet with. It’s more of a stepping stone to owning Bitcoin than competing with it or taking the place or something like that.” “CBDC is detrimental to the nation” While encouraging Texas’ gold-backed digital currency project, Harris spoke unfavorably of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). “I think we would all agree that a CBDC is detrimental to the nation and the state of Texas,” the lawmaker said at the fireside chat, referring to many potential threats associated with CBDCs, including surveillance and privacy concerns. Harris urged the community to make sure that the government properly addresses the goals of CBDCs before launching one. He stated: “I think it makes it easier for us who are pro-bitcoin to have conversations about why someone should change their perspective on it. If we start at a CBDC, is it the goal of some parts of the US government? So let’s lock arms together and make sure that that doesn’t happen.” Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 11:20

— NY 'Hush Money' Judge Grants Trump Request To File For Dismissal, Postpones Sentencing Indefinitely

 

at 11/22/24 9:01am

NY 'Hush Money' Judge Grants Trump Request To File For Dismissal, Postpones Sentencing Indefinitely Liberals will be tearing what's left of their hair out even more this morning as Judge Juan Merchan just granted President-elect Trump's request to file a motion to dismiss the charges in the Stormy Daniels' 'hush money' case and removed the sentencing date for the president-elect from the schedule. Libs rn: pic.twitter.com/4re8KTafVG — Cool Christian Engineer ? (@imcoolchristian) November 22, 2024 Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) is opposing that request. Instead, Bragg floated that Merchan could freeze the proceedings while Trump is in office, meaning the conviction would remain on the books but sentencing wouldn’t occur until 2029, at the earliest.  Merchan ordered Trump to file his formal motion asking for dismissal by Dec. 2 and Bragg to respond by Dec. 9.  Merchan also confirmed the stay in sentencing for Trump, which was requested by both Trump and Bragg attorneys. The sentencing was scheduled for Nov. 26, but on Friday, Merchan said that date "is adjourned." The judge will then decide how to proceed. In a letter to Merchan on Wednesday, Trump defense attorney and now-nominee for Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche demanded the case against President-elect Donald Trump be tossed.  "On November 5, 2024, the Nation’s People issued a mandate that supersedes the political motivations of DANY’s ‘People,’" Blanche wrote. "This case must be immediately dismissed."  Blanche said that "immediate dismissal of this case is mandated by the federal Constitution, the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, and the interests of justice, in order to facilitate the orderly transition of Executive power following President Trump’s overwhelming victory in the 2024 Presidential Election." Trump's imminent return to the White House has already pumped the brakes on his other criminal prosecutions. Tyler Durden Fri, 11/22/2024 - 11:01

As of 11/22/24 7:35pm. Last new 11/22/24 7:05pm.