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It can be difficult to keep up with everything going on in the world right now. But with the Substack Daily Dose, you will have easy access to important news and happenings from the day, as well as what was covered during our shows, all in one place.
Companies like Walmart and Costco are finally starting to rethink the idea of self-checkout lines, as "backlash" against it has grown, according to a new Yahoo Finance report.
British supermarket chain Booth's is leading the way, removing them in all 28 of its stores. Managing director Nigel Murray said: “Our customers have told us this over time — that the self-scan machines that we’ve got in our stores … can be slow, they can be unreliable (and) they’re obviously impersonal.”
“Some customers don’t know one different apple versus another, for example. There’s all sorts of fussing about with that and then the minute you put any alcohol in your basket somebody’s got to come and check that you’re of the right age,” he added.
The report says that at Booths, customers often incorrectly identified the fruits and vegetables they were purchasing at self-checkout stations. Additionally, buying alcohol via self-checkout encountered difficulties as it required staff intervention for age verification.
Initially introduced in the 1980s to reduce labor costs, self-service machines transferred the work from employees to customers. They gained popularity in supermarkets in the early 2000s, especially during the pandemic, as they allowed shoppers to avoid close contact with others, according to the Yahoo report.
However, retailers are now reassessing self-checkout due to its association with increased merchandise losses, both from accidental errors and deliberate theft, a phenomenon known as "shrink."
This issue has been escalating, with some attributing it to shoplifting and advocating for stricter penalties. The contribution of self-checkout systems to this problem is also recognized.
A study across the U.S., Britain, and Europe revealed that retailers with self-checkout lanes experienced about 4% loss, more than twice the industry average. Issues contributing to this include products with multiple or non-scannable barcodes, and the need for customers to manually enter codes for items like produce and meat, leading to accidental or unnoticed errors in scanning.
Customers have exploited the minimal supervision at self-checkout aisles, engaging in theft through tactics like not scanning items, substituting expensive items with cheaper ones, using fake barcodes, or even scanning everything but leaving without paying, the report says.
To curb losses, stores have enhanced security at self-checkouts, such as installing weight sensors. However, these measures often lead to more errors and customer frustration, requiring staff assistance. In response to these challenges and customer feedback, some stores are altering their approach:
Walmart removed self-checkout machines in select New Mexico stores.
ShopRite discontinued self-checkouts in a Delaware store following complaints.
Wegmans scrapped a mobile app for scanning and paying for groceries due to losses.
Costco, noticing that non-members were misusing membership cards at self-checkouts, has increased staffing in these areas.
Costco's management acknowledged that the increase in shrinkage was partly due to the introduction of self-checkout systems.
Recall, back in October, Zero Hedge contributor Quoth the Raven wrote an article called "The Degradation And Humiliation Of The U.S. Consumer", critiquing both self checkout counters and how companies have marketed for inflation.
"After 20 more minutes, I reached a self-checkout station so cramped that I couldn't comfortably maneuver my cart," he wrote. "When an associate suggested moving my cart, I politely responded that as long as I was doing the job of checking out my own groceries, I'd place my cart wherever the f*ck I wanted."
He described the Orwellian and aggravating endeavor that is checking out one's own groceries: "'Monitoring in Progress' a monitor atop of the automated checkout said, while showing me a photo of myself, Orwell-style. 'Good,' I thought to myself, 'I hope someone is on the other end of this horrific reality show and is watching me endure this shopping experience while making a face like I’m passing multiple kidney stones.'”
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is facing its most important regulatory moment since the 2008 financial crisis, pushing for a sweeping overhaul of how banks are regulated in the wake of last spring's regional bank crisis.
But a Wall Street Journal report detailing a toxic work environment at the Washington agency has thrown the regulator into turmoil.
FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg found himself in the hot seat this week, fielding multiple questions about his organization's culture from members of the Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services Committee, derailing what was supposed to be a wide-ranging discussion about proper oversight of the banking industry.
This scrutiny of the FDIC comes as the agency tries, along with the Federal Reserve and OCC, to make the case for the bigger bank capital buffers they first proposed last July.
In July, US banking regulators proposed raising capital requirements for banks by an aggregate 16%, widening the scope of the new rules to include banks with as low as $100 billion in assets.
Officials argued the changes were needed to make banks stronger and better prepared for shocks like the crisis of this spring, when the failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic triggered deposit withdrawals.
Even Fed Chair Jay Powell has hinted at reservations about the capital proposal and its impact. Powell said initially when the proposal came out in July that the Fed must consider the costs of higher capital and the risk of pushing activity into the shadow-banking system.
More recently, on Oct. 19, Powell said, "I do think [the regional banks'] business model is under pressure and I would not like to see us add to that by treating them exactly like G-SIBs [Global Systemically Important Banks] … They don't need exactly the same attention that G-SIBs gets."
Regulators recently extended a period of public comment to Jan. 16 so that all parties would have enough time to provide feedback.
Chinese President Xi Jinping received a standing ovation from a gathering of American business leaders at an exclusive dinner event in San Francisco on Wednesday. This event followed Xi’s meeting with President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference, where they discussed various issues including military communications, fentanyl trafficking, and Taiwan. Xi’s address at the private dinner held at the Hyatt Regency focused on the importance of China-U.S. cooperation, garnering acclaim from the attending high-level American business executives.
Notable attendees included Apple CEO Tim Cook, Blackrock CEO Larry Fink, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, along with executives from FedEx, Qualcomm, KKR, Blackstone, and Boeing. The Wall Street Journal reported that tickets for the dinner ranged from $2,000 to $40,000, with the higher-end tickets offering a chance to dine with Xi.
John L. Holden, managing director for China at McLarty Associates, emphasized the significance of face-to-face interactions between American and Chinese representatives, as reported by The New York Times. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo addressed the audience, highlighting their interest in doing business with China, a sentiment echoed by many attendees who approached her regarding the bilateral economic relationship, as mentioned by CNBC.
Xi’s speech focused on partnership and friendship between China and the U.S., avoiding adversarial relations. He recalled the historical cooperation between the two countries during World War II in defeating Japan. California Governor Gavin Newsom presented Xi with a Golden State Warriors basketball jersey, a gift reported by a Chinese Foreign Affairs spokesperson.
Earlier in the day, Xi and Biden agreed to reestablish military communication lines and work on curbing the creation of fentanyl precursors in China, often linked to drug trafficking in the U.S. Despite the positive tone of their meeting, Biden later referred to Xi as a “dictator” during a press conference, a comment that has drawn attention.
Requests for comments from the White House and China’s foreign ministry on these developments have not received immediate responses.
NEW YORK (AP) — A gag order that barred Donald Trump from commenting about court personnel after he disparaged a law clerk in his New York civil fraud trial was temporarily lifted Thursday by an appellate judge who raised free speech concerns.
Judge David Friedman of the state’s intermediate appeals court issued what’s known as a stay — suspending the gag order and allowing the former president to speak freely about court staff while a longer appeals process plays out.
The trial judge, Arthur Engoron, imposed the gag order Oct. 3 after Trump posted a false comment about the judge’s law clerk to social media on the second day of the trial in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit. James alleges Trump exaggerated his wealth on financial statements used to secure loans and make deals.
Engoron later fined Trump $15,000 for violating the gag order and expanded it to include his lawyers after they questioned clerk Allison Greenfield’s prominent role on the bench, where she sits alongside the judge, exchanging notes and advising him during testimony. Friedman’s ruling allows the lawyers to again comment about court staff, as well.
At an emergency hearing Thursday, Friedman questioned Engoron’s authority to police what Trump says outside the courtroom. He also disputed the trial judge’s contention that restricting the 2024 Republican front-runner’s speech was necessary or the right remedy to protect his staff’s safety.
“Considering the constitutional and statutory rights at issue an interim stay is granted,” Friedman said, announcing his decision as he scribbled it on a court order.
The appellate court intervened after Trump’s lawyers filed a lawsuit against Engoron late Wednesday that challenged his gag order as an abuse of power. They sued the judge under a state law known as Article 78, which allows lawsuits over some judicial decisions.
Trump and his lawyers have been increasingly frustrated with Engoron presiding over the non-jury trial in James’ lawsuit. Trump, angered by a pretrial fraud ruling imperiling his real estate empire, has called him an “extremely hostile” judge. His lawyers Wednesday asked for a mistrial, citing evidence of “tangible and overwhelming” bias.
Trump and his lawyers have repeatedly criticized Greenfield, contending the former judicial candidate is a partisan voice in Engoron’s ear — though both are Democrats.
Engoron did not address the gag order ruling in court Thursday afternoon. Regarding the mistrial motion, he gave James’ office until Dec. 8 to respond before he rules.
Several of Trump’s lawyers and state lawyers from James’ office left the Manhattan trial to attend the emergency hearing at a state appellate courthouse a couple miles away. They sat around a table in a conference room and argued for about 45 minutes before Friedman ruled.
Former President Donald Trump speaks outside the courtroom after testifying at New York Supreme Court, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
Trump’s lawyer Christopher Kise lauded the temporary stay as the “right decision.”
Friedman has “allowed President Trump to take full advantage of his constitutional First Amendment rights to talk about bias in his own trial, what he’s seeing and witnessing in his own trial — which, frankly, everyone needs to see,” Kise said.
Trump didn’t wait long to lash out at Greenfield, calling her a “politically biased and out of control, Trump Hating Clerk” in a post to his Truth Social platform Thursday night.
Trump lawyer Alina Habba said she saw no reason to tell Trump to stay quiet about the clerk, telling reporters that James “is continuing to disparage” her client and that “both sides need to be able to speak.”
A family of four was found dead at an army base in Georgia.
Authorities at Fort Stewart Army Base say the family was found dead in their on-base home on Wednesday after a welfare check was asked for by the soldier’s unit.
The family included a female soldier, her husband, and their two kids. Authorities have not released their identities in order to protect their privacy so next of kin can be notified.
Authorities say they are investigating the deaths of a family of four found in their home on the Fort Stewart Army base in Georgia.
“Fort Stewart law enforcement — in partnership with the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division — continues the investigation into four individuals found dead inside their on-post home Wednesday, Nov. 15,” Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson said in an emailed statement.
“The deceased are one female Soldier, her male spouse, and their two children,” the statement said. “Their identities will not be released at this time due to next of kin notification and privacy.”
Local Station WSB-TV in Georgia also reported the story.
This is an ongoing investigation by Fort Stewart Police and the Criminal Investigation Division which is part of the Department of the Army.
As Western support for Israel's genocide in Gaza falters, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a message for America: support us or "you're next."
In an appearance on Fox News with Sean Hannity this week, Netanyahu basically threatened the United States to continue supporting Israel no matter what, or else.
"We have to win not only for our sake, but for the sake of the Middle East, for the sake of our Arab neighbors," Netanyahu said in the interview. "You know what, for the sake of Gazans who've been held by this dark tyranny that has brutalized and brought them nothing but bloodshed and poverty and misery."
"We have to win to protect Israel. We have to win to safeguard the Middle East. We have to win for the sake of the civilized world. That's the battle we're fighting, and it's being waged right now. There is no substitute for that victory."
To Netanyahu, the Jewish state is "civilized" and everyone else is "barbarians"
Should Israel fail in the war, Netanyahu threatened massive repercussions for the white-majority world, including both the United States and the whole of Europe.
"If we don't win, then Europe is next and you're next," Netanyahu said to Hannity and his viewers. "And we have to win."
Repeatedly throughout the interview, Netanyahu likened himself and the Jewish people to "civilization," and everything else to "barbarians," especially the Palestinian people of Gaza.
Reiterating Israel's "light" versus "darkness" theme throughout all this, the Jewish state is always the good guy, according to Netanyahu, while everyone else, mainly the Palestinians, are the bad guys.
"We have to have the forces of civilization beat these barbarians because otherwise this barbarism will spread and will endanger the entire world," Netanyahu continued in his diatribe.
"Every American, every civilized country will be under peril. We have to win. There is no substitute for victory. Total victory."
As you may recall from the George W. Bush years, this is the same rhetoric that was used in 2003 to sell Americans on entering the war in Iraq. We heard a whole lot about light vs. darkness back then as well, including the infamous "weapons of mass destruction" myth that was used to justify the takedown of Saddam Hussein.
Netanyahu has also used similar language over the years when referring to Iran and the "nuclear threat" that it allegedly poses to Israel. Again and again, Netanyahu has painted Israel as standing for what is right and good, and its neighbors and the rest of the world as standing for what is wrong and evil.
It appears as though Netanyahu's strong language with Hannity was a response to words of restraint recently uttered by Joe Biden, who said this week regarding the worsening humanitarian crisis at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City:
"I have not been reluctant in expressing my concerns about what's going on and it's my hope and expectation that it will be less intrusive action relative to the hospital."
All of this hearkens back to the language also used by Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine in trying to twist the arm of America and the West to support his regime, or else "you're next." It seems as though they are all reading from the same playbook, does it not?
In an apparent shift of blame that could allow the United States to excuse itself from having to continue supporting Ukraine, the latest narrative is that Ukraine, and not the U.S. Navy, is responsible for the Nord Stream pipeline explosion that occurred earlier this year.
The Washington Post is reportedly blaming Ukrainian Colonel Roman Chervinsky, whom it says "was integral to the brazen sabotage operation" of Nord Stream, this "according to officials in Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe, as well as other people knowledgeable about the details of the covert operation."
Dubbed a "dangerous assault on Europe's energy infrastructure" by both U.S. and Western officials at the time it occurred, the Nord Stream pipeline bombing represents a critical moment in the standoff between Russia and the West.
Destroying Nord Stream delivered a major blow to Russia's energy exports, limiting its ability to sell natural gas to Europe. This is at the crux of the Russia-Ukraine war, by the way: the economic relations of Europe and Russia, particularly as it relates to energy.
Chervinsky claims no involvement in Nord Stream destruction, shifts blame to Russia
As you may recall from early on, the Western media initially blamed Russia for bombing its own energy pipeline, which makes no sense. The claim was that "Russia did it" to try to sidetrack from the West continuing to justify the sending of "aid" to Ukraine, all to "protect interests."
When that narrative failed, things shifted to suddenly blaming Ukraine itself. The newest story is that a senior figure within Ukraine's Special Operations Forces was "the coordinator" of the attack, executing it with precision and secrecy, and allowing a deep-sea dive team to put explosive charges on the pipeline.
Conveniently for Ukraine, the destruction of Nord Stream means that Russia must continue to use Ukrainian pipelines to deliver energy to Europe, this producing huge transit revenue for Ukraine.
As usual, the Ukrainian colonel in question denies any and all involvement in blowing up the Nord Stream pipeline. He is also shifting the blame back to Russia because of reasons.
"Without merit, Russian propaganda is spreading all rumors regarding my participation in the assault on Nord Stream," Chervinsky said in a written statement to the Post and Der Spiegel (Germany), which co-investigated Chervinsky's activities.
It turns out that Chervinsky was definitely the right man for the job, holding extensive expertise in covert operations such as the type that would have been necessary to sabotage Nord Stream.
Chervinsky's lengthy resume includes plans to ensnare Russian Wagner mercenaries, target pro-Russian separatists, and other high-stakes operations against Russian interests.
According to WaPo, Chervinsky did not act alone. People "familiar with his role" say he took order from more senior Ukrainian officials who ultimately report to Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine's highest-ranking military officer.
All of this stands in direct contrast to claims made by Volodymyr Zelensky, who back in June claimed that he and he alone would have been responsible for giving such orders, but that he did no such thing.
"Nothing of the sort has been done by Ukraine," Zelensky declared. "I would never act that way."
Right now, Chervinsky is being held in a Kyiv jail on charges that he abused his power, this stemming from a July 2022 plot that involved luring a Russian pilot to defect to Ukraine.
"Authorities allege that Chervinsky, who was arrested in April, acted without permission and that the operation gave away the coordinates of a Ukrainian airfield, prompting a Russian rocket attack that killed a soldier and injured 17 others," reports explain about the matter.
Volodymyr Zelensky's regime in Ukraine – the same one that United States taxpayers are funding – is hunting down Ukrainian children and selling them to other countries for profit.
The latest figures suggest that upwards of 23,000 unaccompanied minor children born in Ukraine are now living elsewhere in Europe with no supervision or parental care.
Many Ukrainian families are reportedly asking Russia for help in finding their children who were forcibly taken from them and shipped off to Europe, according to Grigory Lukyantsev, director of the Department for Humanitarian Cooperation and Human Rights of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"These children can be considered Ukrainians conditionally: fifteen years ago, their parents did not know any other language other than Russian," reports Europe Renaissance about the matter. "Ukrainian citizens were prompted to turn to Russian diplomats by despair: the Kyiv authorities were indifferent to the problem."
"And how could it be otherwise? After all, it was at the instigation of officials in Kyiv that the paramilitary organizations 'White Angels' and 'Phoenix' were formed, staffed by selected nationalists who hunt Ukrainian children. Westerners willingly went to them: firstly, they freed them from mobilization to the front. And secondly, it brought profit – at first, they paid up to two thousand dollars for a child taken to Europe."
White Angel child abduction unit of Kiev appeared towards end of February 2022, just after Russian invasion
The White Angel paramilitary group, which operates under the jurisdiction of Ukraine's Security Service (Sluzhba Bezpeky Ukrayiny [SBU]) did not even exist prior to the Russian invasion. It appeared towards the end of February 2022 when a slew of U.S. tax dollars was sent over to help Zelensky.
At first, White Angel was staffed by police officers who were tasked with conducting a forced "evacuation" of children from the front-line zone. Criminals were able to track down the names of these children based on the color of the ambulance that took them away.
After that, the Azov battalion got involved and massively expanded White Angel, which now boasts 6,000 "angels" who participate in the racket, according to data provided by the Anti-Repression Foundation (FBI).
This "army" of angels is subordinate to Zelensky as well as Andrei Biletsky, described as an "ardent nationalist."
"Sources from the Ukrainian government frankly say that the 'angels' were created for one task: to take as many Russian children to Europe as possible," Europe Renaissance reports.
"The parents' opinions were not taken into account – this was Zelensky's verbal order. It is known that the former head of the SBU Ivan Bakanov gave the order to take the most stringent measures against parents who do not want to give up their children."
Around this same time, the Phoenix division of the child abduction racket appeared. These fighters work exclusively in the DPR territory of Ukraine, which is still under the jurisdiction of the nationalists.
This past July, it also became known that children in Ukraine were being abducted from school and kindergarten facilities in the city of Shchastya without the permission of their parents. That same month, former Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) agent Vasily Prozorov reported that, based on his own investigation into the matter, these children are being taken "for fun" by pedophiles who live in Great Britain, which is ground zero for the Western power structure along with the U.S. and Israel.
"Indeed, without adults and with fake documents, children in the EU are completely defenseless," reports warn.
After accusing the United States of wanting to plan an “armed invasion,” North Korea promised an “overwhelming response.” This military action threat is in response to the U.S. and South Korea’s unveiling of a new “deterrence strategy” aimed at the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea). Pyongyang is claiming that the U.S. has escalated the “nuclear threat” on the Korean peninsula.
In comments carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday, a Pyongyang military spokesman responded to high-level talks between Washington and Seoul earlier this week.-RT
“The actions of US military officials in the puppet area… clearly show that the main culprit causing the escalation of the situation on the Korean peninsula is none other than the United States and its followers,” the statement said, referring to the meetings in the South Korean capital. The spokesman went on to say that North Korea would develop “more offensive and overwhelming response capabilities” and pursue “visible strategic deterrent military actions.”
The joint security talks involved US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and top South Korean military officials, who pledged to step up nuclear and conventional forces as part of a revised “Tailored Deterrence Strategy” against Pyongyang, according to a report by RT.
“Our deterrence commitment to [South Korea] remains ironclad – that includes a full range of our nuclear, conventional, and missile defense capabilities,” Austin told reporters, going on to tout several recent U.S. deployments in the region.
War is a racket, and far too many people are jumping on board and sighing up to kill or be killed for the ruling class, who we all know is not going to do the same for us.
Conscription could be on the horizon, so we need to wise up quickly and start telling the sociopaths that think they own us “no.” So far, North Korea has been full of empty threats, much like Russia. But how long is that going to last?
A self-described Antifa revolutionary who was deeply involved in the January 6 riots has been found guilty of all seven charges against him in a court of law.
After only a few hours of deliberation, the jury convicted John Earle Sullivan, 29, of Utah, commonly known as “Jayden X,” of seven charges.
According to court documents, federal prosecutors sought that Sullivan be held in jail until his sentencing, and U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth granted their request.
The charges included felony obstruction of an official procedure and civil disorder.
Sullivan captured one of the most infamous recordings of January 6, depicting Ashli Babbitt’s gunshot death, and sold the rights to various media sources, including NBC News.
Sullivan also dressed as a Trump supporter, roamed around Washington D.C. prior to the riots, and then goaded protesters on during the January 6 incident.
“I was only observing,” Sullivan said in his trial testimony. “I followed the crowd. I’m there to document.”
However, the government claimed that the video was a “ploy” for Sullivan and broadcast video after video of him spurring on the crowd on January 6.
John Earle Sullivan, a radical self-described “revolutionary” who literally founded a group called “Insurgence USA,” shouted several incendiary statements during the storming of the Capitol building, including “we about to burn this sh*t down.”
Sullivan posted a trove of videos on YouTube documenting the J6 riots, but those videos were taken down by the Big Tech platform.
In his video on the Babbitt shooting. Sullivan was heard after Babbitt was shot yelling several times “she’s dead!”
KSL asked Sullivan after the incident if he was a part of Antifa, this was his response:
When he was asked if he was a member of Antifa, as he has used the hashtag in his social media posts, he said he understands where there could be confusion.
“If people are saying I’m Antifa, as far as a terrorist organization, I’m not,” he said. “Am I anti-fascist? We all are anti-fascist. And that’s what we should all strive for being. I have my own organization, Insurgence USA, and that’s what it is for. That’s really what it is.”
It wasn’t the first time Sullivan had been at the scene of a capitol building siege.
Sullivan was paid thousands of dollars for his explosive footage of the January 6th Capitol riots by three major media companies, despite evidence of him having participated in a criminal act.
The media has gone beyond refusing to ask critical questions about Sullivan, due to his irrefutable associations with the radical left.
This would be very problematic for the Official Narrative™ that thousands of “domestic terrorist” Trump supporters had gathered to pull off a supposed “coup.”
A protest in Washington – described by one US lawmaker as “pro-terrorist” and “anti-Israel” – has turned violent, prompting a lockdown of congressional offices and evacuations of politicians from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters.
Demonstrators demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war gathered on Wednesday night outside the DNC offices, where lawmakers were holding a meeting, and blocked US Capitol police from getting to the doorway. “We were rescued by armed officers, who did not know the protesters’ intent,” said US Representative Sean Casten, an Illinois Democrat. “They knew only that members of Congress were inside, could not leave, and that protesters would not let police through. Forcing police to guess intent is irresponsible and dangerous.”
Footage of the incident shows protesters clashing with police on the steps of the DNC headquarters. Police said six officers were treated for injuries, but only one protester was arrested for assault. “We appreciate our officers, who kept these illegal and violent protesters back and protected everyone in the area,” the department said in a statement.
Nearby congressional office buildings were locked down, and police later ushered people out of the DNC building. Representative Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, said she had stopped by her office, located about two blocks from the DNC headquarters, when the alert was issued.
“No sooner did we get inside, we had heard murmurs of there being a protest, but we hadn’t at that time realized how bad it was. Probably about maybe 10 minutes later, the entire Capitol and all its facilities went on lockdown,” she recalled.
Representative Brad Sherman, a California Democrat, said he was evacuated from the DNC building “after pro-terrorist, anti-Israel protesters grew violent, pepper spraying police officers and attempting to break into the building.” He added, “Apparently, these pro-Hamas demonstrators want Republicans to prevail in the next congressional election.”
A Jewish group called IfNotNow, which opposes US aid to Israel, was among the organizations involved in Wednesday’s protest. The group accused police of initiating the violence. “We are linking arms, threatening no one, and begging our politicians to support an end to the killing and the suffering in Gaza,” the group said.
Democratic Party leaders, who framed the US Capitol riot of January 2021 as a racist “insurrection,” stopped short of condemning the demonstrators involved in Wednesday’s violent protest. The top three congressional Democrats – Representatives Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Pete Aguilar – were attending a meeting at the DNC headquarters when the clash erupted.
The protesters “escalated their activity in a manner that exceeded a peaceful demonstration,” the top-ranking Democrats said in a joint statement. They added, “We strongly support the First Amendment right to freedom of expression and encourage anyone exercising that right to do so peacefully.”
In the days we are living, it isn’t enough for a leader to be leftist to be awarded fair treatment by the media.
You have to be from the ‘globalist-liberal left’ – or else you’re painted as bad as conservatives are depicted.
Take the case of Slovakian leftwing populist Robert Fico. The new Prime Minister had barely been in office for a few weeks and he already has a very bad news cycle going against him.
Slovakian journalists and international watchdogs have now ‘expressed alarm’ after Fico described leading media outlets as ‘hostile’ and threatened to restrict their access.
Fico returned to power as Slovakia’s leader in October, in a coalition government led by his populist Smer party.
This week he made it known that some of the Slovakia’s biggest outlets were not welcome in his office.
“’I announced actions against enemy’s media – TV Markíza, Denník N, SME and the portal Aktuality’, he said, claiming that they ‘openly declare hatred and hostility against Smer and spread these trends with joy’.
‘I decided that we will check their permission to enter and work in the government office’, the prime minister said, adding that ‘until the decision is made, they will be unwelcome guests at the government office’.”
Fico has had two premierships: 2006-2010 and 2012-2018.
He resigned after the murder of Ján Kuciak, an investigative reporter at Aktuality, and his fiancee, Martina Kušnírová.
The killings sparked a political crisis and put a spotlight on press freedom in the region.
Now, his comments have sparked concerns in Bratislava and abroad that Slovakia’s press freedoms are under attack
“’Fico is waging a personal war with journalists and abusing the state for it’, said Peter Bárdy, the editor-in-chief of Aktuality. While noting that it was still unclear whether Fico would actually ban media outlets from attending press conferences, Bárdy said on Wednesday: ‘If this happens, it will not allow us to confront them with the practical aspects of the politics they are doing’.
He added: ‘But what’s worse is that this is how they continue their disinformation campaign against select media, feeding the public the idea that they can’t trust us because we’re lying and hostile’.”
Beata Balogová, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper SME:
“The country’s progressive president, Zuzana Čaputová, defended press freedom. ‘The media is part of the bloodstream of democracy’, she wrote on social media. ‘I refuse and cannot support the division of parts of society into more or less noble, friendly or hostile’.”
Internet users mocked retail chain Target this week for selling bizarre Christmas decorations such as a nutcracker holding a trans flag and wearing a rainbow flag hat or a black Santa Claus sitting in a wheelchair.
Apparently, Target is still pushing the LGBT agenda despite seeing Bud Light’s post-Dylan Mulvaney partnership downfall and suffering through a boycott of its own earlier this year due to the store’s Pride Month collection.
Satire news website The Babylon Bee posted an article mocking the products with a headline reading, “Target Releases Trans Muslim Chinese Quadruple Amputee Santa.”
The following X user’s rant about the peculiar products pointed out how Target went from advertising LGBT products to children to now corrupting the Christian holiday Christmas with homosexual propaganda.
In a new development underscoring the debate around free speech on social media, Elon Musk’s company X has stepped in to defend Juan David Campolargo, a University of Illinois student embroiled in a controversy over his posts on the platform.
The issue centers on Campolargo’s promotion of an event on X, which he described as open with free food, but was, in fact, a private conference. This led to allegations against him for breaching the university’s code of conduct.
Facing potential disciplinary actions like conduct probation and expulsion from campus housing, Campolargo found an ally in X. Lawyers from Schaerr Jaffe, backed by X Corp, cautioned the university in a letter dated November 14 against any punitive measures, arguing that such actions would infringe on the student’s First Amendment rights. According to The Financial Times, which claims to have seen the letter, they warned of a possible lawsuit if the university upheld its preliminary findings, indicating a violation of Campolargo’s rights to free expression.
This intervention aligns with Musk’s public support for free speech. The billionaire, who labels himself a “free speech absolutist,” had earlier vowed to cover legal costs for X users facing repercussions for their activities on the platform. Despite cost-cutting measures at X, Musk had assured in August that there would be “no limit” to the support provided, even hinting at targeting the boards of directors of involved companies.
Regarding Campolargo’s situation, he ran an X account detailing open events with free food on campus.
The letter from Schaerr Jaffe also highlighted procedural flaws and overlooked evidence in the university’s handling of the case, calling the imposed sanctions disproportionate. The university, citing federal privacy laws and the confidentiality of its disciplinary process, refrained from commenting on the specific case or the letter’s allegations.
Schaerr Jaffe confirmed sending the letter with support from X but declined further comment.
Taking a decisive move towards embracing dystopian technology, the Kenyan government has formally published legislation redecorating its digital ID system. The new modality builds upon its existing infrastructure for biometric citizen registration, allotting provisions for the issuance of a digital ID card, a comprehensive digital register of individuals, and a unique personal identifier.
The proposal includes the UPI, making the process of generating birth certificates simpler by directly assigning them to newborns.
Without abandoning its traditional modality, the Kenyan government has modernized its ID verification requirements. Building upon already controversial fingerprint biometrics, they introduced advancements in facial recognition and iris biometrics to their verification repertoire.
The officials assured that the groundwork for the test run of the new system is ready, sounding an optimistic note about the security of the Maisha Card and its resilience against tampering.
Yet, this endeavor has a more profound layer. As our world becomes increasingly digitized, the vulnerability of personal data continues to heighten, illuminating questions about the tension between technological advancements and data privacy. Bishop Philip Kitoto, Chairman of the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya, stressed the need for the program to address such fears, touching upon the essential concern of data privacy and security. Officials have also echoed these sentiments, asserting their commitment to proper governance of the digital ID system.
As the government powers ahead with its digital transfiguration, it invites commentary around the implications of facial, iris, and other biometric data in public domains.
Sweden’s center-right government has reaffirmed its commitment to widescale investment in nuclear power, announcing a rollout of up to 10 nuclear reactors across the country by 2045.
During a joint press conference by several government ministers on Thursday, Energy Minister Ebba Busch told journalists that the government would share the costs involved in unveiling two new conventional nuclear reactors by 2035, and facilitate the construction of several more reactors over the next two decades to ensure that Sweden is self-sufficient when it comes to energy production.
Ministers explained that a radical reform of the country’s energy policy was necessary to cope with the transition to a more electrified society, citing assessments that suggested Sweden’s electricity production must double over the next 25 years.
“This is the base plate of the future electricity system. We must guarantee the availability of cheap electricity so that all citizens can sleep more peacefully during cold winter nights,” added Employment Minister Johan Perhson.
The Swedish government has vowed to take an active role in the shift towards nuclear energy by offering financial support and incentives to stakeholders willing to take on the project at a time when the future of nuclear energy is somewhat uncertain.
“What we see from other countries is that the state needs to take an economically active role. There are risks, so whoever builds wants to know that the risk is shared by more people,” explained Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson.
Busch revealed that several companies including Vattenfall, Finland’s Fortum, and Germany’s Uniper had expressed interest in taking on the projects provided the right guarantees are in place.
Initiatives such as the introduction of a government nuclear coordinator, loan guarantees, and other risk-sharing measures have been discussed among coalition partners, but ministers are still somewhat light on the details of the funding model Sweden will adopt.
Several European nations have committed to nuclear power in the aftermath of the energy crisis that hit Europe amid the Brussels-imposed sanctions on Russian gas and oil as a result of its invasion of Ukraine.
Poland, Hungary, France and Finland have all outlined new proposals to expand their electricity production via nuclear power. However, Europe’s powerhouse Germany went the other way, opting to shut down its last three remaining nuclear power stations earlier this year, a move that caused electricity prices in the country to skyrocket.
Svantesson vowed to release further details to potential investors in the near future, telling journalists, “We must provide conditions for marketability; those who build must know the conditions. And ultimately, they must be levels that are as reasonable as possible for taxpayers.”
Globalist Pope Francis seems on a path to change and subvert all that’s sacred in the Catholic Church.
So, when his chosen Doctrinal Chief comes to the public to reinforce a time-honored doctrinal point, it becomes news, unfortunately, for the novelty of it.
The Vatican has now confirmed a ban on Catholics becoming Freemasons, a centuries-old secretive society viewed as a threat by the Church, with an estimated global membership of up to six million.
“‘Active membership in Freemasonry by a member of the faithful is prohibited, because of the irreconcilability between Catholic doctrine and Freemasonry’, the Vatican’s doctrinal office said in a letter published by Vatican media on Wednesday.”
The Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith – formerly the Holy Office of the Inquisition – issued its opinion in response to a bishop from the Philippines.
The clergyman was alarmed by the growing number of Freemasons in his country.
“The letter on Freemasons cited a 1983 declaration, signed by the late Pope Benedict XVI, at the time the Vatican’s doctrine chief, stating that Catholics ‘in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion’.
Masonic lodges are normally male-only societies, associated with arcane symbols and rituals. They have also sometimes been linked to conspiracy theories alleging undue influence on world affairs.”
Queen Elizabeth’s husband Prince Philip, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, actor Peter Sellers, and authors Rudyard Kipling and Arthur Conan Doyle were some famous Freemasons from the past.
The document from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith was signed by the Prefect, Cardinal Victor Fernandéz, and approved by Pope Francis.
“’After explaining with concern the situation in his diocese, due to the continuous increase in the number of members of Freemasonry, [Bishop Cortes] asked for suggestions on how to adequately deal with this reality from a pastoral point of view, while also taking into account the doctrinal implications of the situation.”
The document also reminded the faithful that these measures also apply to any clerics enrolled in Freemasonry.
“The dicastery suggests that the Philippine bishops undertake ‘a popular catechesis in all parishes on the reasons for the irreconcilability between the Catholic faith and Freemasonry’. The bishops of the Philippines are also asked to consider whether they should make a public pronouncement on this topic.”
Christopher Muller who serves as the Beltrami County Emergency Management Director stated, “This has certainly been an interesting puzzle to try and solve, and we still don’t know exactly what it was.”
Muller continued, “We appreciate the assistance we’ve received from federal agencies and science community in ruling out what it wasn’t and will continue to provide any subsequent information that is learned.”
A bright light followed by a loud boom in Bemidji Monday night had people wondering what was going on.
The Beltrami County Emergency Communications Center received numerous reports of a loud explosion and bright flash in the sky before 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 13. Reports of people seeing, hearing and feeling the incident came in from southern Beltrami County and adjacent counties, Beltrami County Emergency Management said on Facebook Monday.
“I live a couple miles east of Bemidji, and it rattled my windows and scared the soul out of my dog who was outside and demanded to be let in the house. The lights in the house prevented seeing the flash of light. Law enforcement checked the area as well as power substations and didn’t find anything out of the ordinary. There hasn’t been any power outages reported,” Beltrami County Emergency Management said on Facebook.
Beltrami County authorities later provided the video to NASA for further investigation.
Beltrami County Emergency Management later reported an update from NASA and revealed NASA “Analyzed the video frame by frame and determined the object is too horizontal to indicate it was a meteor.”
-Anthony Scott, The Gateway Pundit
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