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The Daily Dose Recap is our way of providing to you an overview of everything that was covered during the show. Here you will have easy access to all of the news that was talked about that day.
It is highly unlikely that the United States government will be able to effectively roll out its planned central bank digital currency (CBDC) because in order to maintain it and keep it functional, there needs to be plenty of workers to maintain it ā except those workers are either too sick to continue working or are already dead due to Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccines."
The situation is tragic both for the human lives lost and for the U.S. economy, which will eventually collapse under the weight of too many broken systems and not enough employees to fix them and keep them going ā so what will become of things once that critical threshold is breached?
Portfolio manager Ed Dowd appeared on the "Health Ranger Report" this week to discuss this pertinent issue, and to reveal what he believes could end up replacing a nationalized CBDC.
Since there are so few competent and available workers to maintain a CBDC at the nationwide level, Dowd believes it entirely possible that states could end up launching their own individual currencies.
"If this gets super creepy and weird, there'll be states that break off, civil war, you know, you'll have, like ā during the Civil War, we had Confederate money ā we'll have different entities issuing their own money," Dowd explains.
"That's where we're going eventually. There are going to be black markets, barterer, work trade."
The only money that will be worth anything in the future is the kind that's backed by SOMETHING
The coming financial collapse, by the way, would not be possible to the degree that it will soon occur ā and boy is it going to be massive ā were it not for the fact that the U.S. dollar is a Federal Reserve Note issued by private bankers who pegged it to nothing.
There is quite literally no end to the amount of U.S. dollars that can be printed endlessly to fund wars and other globalist activities, which is exactly what has been happening ever since the Federal Reserve was created back in 1913.
The rate at which the dollar is being diluted into oblivion is constantly speeding up, of course, and only in the past several years has it really become apparent just how much up poop creek this country really is, financially speaking.
The Health Ranger told Dowd that he actually hopes the state of Texas, where he lives, will launch its own state-level currency to prepare for the future. He says it can be backed by oil, gold, food, whatever, and ultimately hold more value than the worthless U.S. dollar.
"I would love to see Texas issue its own currency ... if it were backed by ... anything that's real, versus this money-printing madness in D.C. and the Federal Reserve ā another trillion here, another trillion there, another $100 billion for Ukraine, but nothing for the U.S. border?"
"Any kind of honest ledger would be better than what we have right now where our purchasing power is just stolen from us every single day."
In Dowd's view, it all depends on just how "kooky and weird" things become in the coming days. With a fake puppet "president" occupying the White House and a completely divided country, there really is no telling how dire things will get.
After its large (2.3% MoM) jump in June, US factory orders were expected to see a major decline in July (down 2.5% MoM)> The decline was sizable - down 2.1% MoM - but less than expected.
That is still the biggest MoM drop since Nov '22 and left the YoY orders 0.7% lower.
Transportation was clearly a drag since Core Factory orders rose 0.8% MoM - best since January - well above expectations...
Overall Durable Goods Orders plunged 5.2% MoM (thanks to a 43.6% collapse in non-defense aircraft and parts orders), but that final print is the same as the preliminary print.
... moments ago oil exploded higher after first Saudi Arabia and moments later Russia surprised markets by announcing that the recently implemented production cuts would be extended through year-end, well beyond the 1 month that was widely expected by the market.
Just after 9am ET, Saudi Arabia said it would extend the voluntary cut of 1 million b/d of for another 3 months, from October until the end of December, well beyond the expectation of just 1 more month. Saudi press agency SPA notes that the voluntary cut decision will be reviewed monthly to consider deepening the cut or increasing production. The extension of cuts is meant to reinforce the precautionary efforts made by OPEC countries with the aim of supporting the stability of the oil market. The Saudi announcement came a shock to market as 20 of 25 traders and analysts surveyed by Bloomberg last week had predicted the additional cutback would be continued for just one additional month.
And then, literally seconds after the Saudi decision, Russian deputy PM Novak said Russia would also extend its reduction of oil exports until the end of the year, reducing its oil output by 300kb/d in voluntary cuts until December 2023.
Similar to the Saudis, Russia said that the decision to reduce oil production to be reviewed monthly to consider possibility of deepening reduction or increasing production depending on situation on the world market.
Defending the price of oil has come at a cost for the Saudis. The kingdom suffered the sharpest downgrade to economic growth projections by theĀ International Monetary FundĀ because of the sales volumes it is losing. Yet this appears to be an acceptable price for the kingdom, which may need an oil price of almost $100 a barrel to cover the ambitious spending projects ofĀ Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according toĀ Bloomberg Economics.
āThere is no sign that Saudi Arabia will shift away from its current price-over-volume strategy,ā saidĀ Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB AB. āPrice over volume is the name of the game.ā
Following this announcement Brent Novā23 lifted from USD 88.50 to above $90 for the first time in 2023, while WTI Octā23 rose from USD 85.55/bbl to USD 87.00/bbl, also the highest price of the year, and about to crush the Fed's hopes for a decline in headline inflation.
Bottom line: we now know that a year and a half later, the OPEC+/BRIC+ reaction to Biden's weaponized dollar is weaponized oil; may the least hopeless man win.
As for Biden, we wish him the best of luck refilling the SPR now that oil is about to hit $100 and rise above the price where the senile president sold most of the US strategic oil.
Gun sales across the United States reached over 1 million for 49 consecutive months, according to new data even as the Biden administration tries to crack down on firearms.
The FBI'sĀ National Instant Criminal Background Check System showed just over 2 million federal background checks occurred in August 2023. When the figure was adjusted by theĀ National Shooting Sports Foundation to more accurately reflect likely retail firearms sales, that number decreased to nearly 1.12 million checks last month, according to Guns.com.
"This has happened every month for more than four years continuously," Mark Oliva, the foundation's public affairs officer, said.Ā
"While the Biden administration proposes rules to infringe on fundamental American rights and certain governors, attorneys general and district attorneys general and district attorneys refuse to lock up criminals that prey on communities without consequence, Americans are sending a clear and unequivocal message that their personal safety, and the free exercise of their rights, is non-negotiable," Oliva also said.
President Joe Biden has urged conservative lawmakers to support what he calls his "meaningful, commonsense" restrictionsĀ on firearms purchases following several recent mass shootings.
Biden said in November that he would "try like the devil" to enact a federal assault weapons ban.
The president signed an executive order in March to support the increased use of background checks and "red flag" laws, which allow for firearms to be temporarily confiscated from people determined by officials to be a threat to others or themselves.Ā Ā
An appeals court last month dealt a blow to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' efforts to regulate pistol braces in a ruling that stated that the government's initial proposal was dramatically different from the rule that was ultimately finalized.
Image Credit: Dimitar Dilkoff - AFP via Getty Images
In a potential signal of shifting attitudes on how the war in Ukraine is covered in the legacy media, the New York TimesĀ is starting to slowly acknowledge the endemic corruption that has been a defining feature of the former Soviet state as officials have admitted that money for military contracts has āvanishedā.
Following the dismissal of Ukrainian Defence MinisterĀ Oleksii Reznikov amid a slew of corruption scandals surrounding the war effort against Russia,Ā theĀ New York Times acknowledged thatĀ theĀ āenduring challenge of corruption in Ukraineā has āemerged as a rare area of criticism of President Volodymyr Zelenskyās leadership.ā
Although Reznikov has yet to be tied with any of the corruption scandals personally, the Times went on to admit that the resignation has āelevated the issue to the highest level of Ukrainian politicsā. Unnamed Ukrainian officials even told the paper that some funds intended for military contracts āfailed to produce weaponry or ammunition and that some money has vanished,ā while claiming that the issue was merely confined to the early days of the war.
The neo-liberal outlet has previously been keen to highlight claims from the Biden administration on how the Zelensky government has been ācommitted to fighting corruption,ā citing as evidence statements from officials such as veteran Washington insider and Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, who played a pivotal role in theĀ Euromaidan revolution in Ukraine that saw the overthrow of democratically elected PresidentĀ Viktor Yanukovych in 2014.
Despite nine senior government officials being sacked over allegations of corruption, including purchasing military food supplies at vastly inflated prices and taking luxury vacations, the paper went on to write in January that ācorruption has otherwise not been a significant factor in the war, despite Russian propaganda claims to the contrary that are aimed at undermining his [Zelenskyās] government.ā
The proclamation from the NYĀ Times aged rather poorly. Just days later, as Breitbart News reported at the time, Transparency International gave Ukraine a score of 33 out of 100 in its annualĀ Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ranking 116th in the world and the second-lowest in all of Europe, only behind Russia.
Expressing concerns over the fate of the $113 billion in American taxpayer dollars sent to Ukraine following Russiaās invasion, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee went on to note in February that āUkrainian government officials allegedly engaged in bribery, used government vehicles for personal use, and purchased inflated food supplies for Ukrainian forces.ā
Since then, corruption scandals surrounding the war effort have continued to emerge. Last month, for example, every single head of regional recruitment offices throughout Ukraine was fired amid allegations of widespread bribery of officials from those seeking to avoid conscription into the war. Two weeks later,Ā First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotskyi and another unnamed economic minister were sacked on suspicion of misappropriating $1.68 million in government funds.
Following the ousting of Defence MinisterĀ Reznikov on Monday, the New York Times acknowledged that although there have yet to be specific allegations of corruption involving American funding, the nature of graft in the country has shifted from its traditional avenues, of exploiting state-run enterprises to a focus on war profiteering as billions pour into the country from abroad.
Speaking to the paper, the executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center in Ukraine, Daria Kaleniuk said:Ā āThe question here is, āWhere is the money?āā
āCorruption can kill,ā she added. āDepending on how effective we are in guarding the public funds, the soldier will either have a weapon or not have a weapon.ā
The TimesĀ went on to claim that there is a shifting mood within Ukraine on the issue, which the paper said was āmostly taboo throughout the first year of the war, as Ukrainians rallied around their government in a fight for national survival.ā
The corruption scandals āare nonetheless piercing the sense of unquestioning support for the government that Ukrainians had exhibited throughout the first year of Russiaās full-scale invasion,ā the NY Times continued.
The critical reporting of the issues of corruption in Ukraine from the hitherto vociferously supportive paper may signal a shift in attitude overall towards the war and perhaps the Biden administrationās strategy of dumping weapons, hardware, and money into the conflict.
The White House is currently trying to convince Congress to green-light an additional $24 billion in aid to the country, however, elections loom and more voters are now questioningĀ the extent of the stateās largess while so many problems are unresolved at home.
On Monday, Chevron resorted toĀ mediation talksĀ with the union representing its workers at the Gorgon and Wheatstone liquefied natural gas projects in Australia in the latest attempt to avert a strike. In a significant escalation overpay and working conditions, the union announced Tuesday it was planning a two-week strike starting September 14.Ā
"The Offshore Alliance is escalating protected industrial action to demonstrate that our bargaining negotiations are far from 'intractable,'" Offshore Alliance wrote in a Facebook post.Ā
The union continued, "Offshore Alliance members are yet to exercise their lawful workplace rights to take Protected Industrial Action and our bargaining claims will look more and more reasonable as Chevron's Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG exports dry up."Ā
"The Offshore Alliance Log of Claims will ultimately be claims which Chevron will agree to, but not before they lose a few $Billion - judging by the form guide," it said.Ā
The strike is expected to begin at the end of next week and come after the union initiated other industrial actions.Ā
"The new Protected Industrial Action Notice will escalate work bans and the OA will have rolling 24 x 1-hour stoppages each day for 14 days from Thursday September 14," Offshore Alliance said.Ā
Strikes at Gorgon and Wheatstone could disrupt LNG exports and jolt global natural gas markets if the walkouts are prolonged. Wood Mackenzie, a commodities research firm, estimates that Chevron operations account for about 7% of global LNG supply.Ā
Dutch bank ING Group wrote in a note to clients that the latest move by the union is an ominous sign mediation talks were not "progressing well."Ā
"This is likely to provide some support to gas prices today and comes at a time when there is ongoing maintenance work at the Norwegian gas field, Troll, which has seen flows from Norway falling," ING said.Ā
Energy analyst Saul Kavonic said potential strikes appear inevitable: "It will create inefficiencies, and the risk of supply impacts grows with time but the mediation process should resolve the issues before the strikes escalate to the point of a material supply disruption."Ā
On Tuesday morning, Chevron's Colin Parfitt, vice president of midstream, spoke with Bloomberg Television about how the producer aims "to find a solution that is a win-win-win for Chevron, our employees and the gas market."Ā
"We understand it has to be good for employees, good for us and that will be good in the energy markets," Parfitt said on the sidelines of the Gastech conference in Singapore.Ā
In another interview with Bloomberg on the sidelines of Gastech, Woodside Energy Group Ltd.'s CEO Meg O'Neill said she was sharing experiences on bargaining with unions with Chevron. Last month, Woodside made a breakthrough deal with unions to avoid strikes that would've shuttered its North West Shelf plant.Ā
Disruptions in Australia could make US LNG cargoes destined for Europe more appealing to Asia. All eyes are on potential Chevron strikes in Australia next week.Ā
The UKās second biggest city on Tuesday admitted that it cannot balance its books, blaming Conservative governments for years of under-funding.
Birmingham City Council in central England said it had issued a Section 114 Notice under the Local Government Finance Act 1988, which blocks spending on all but essential services.
Leaders of the Labour-controlled council called the move āa necessary stepā to get spending back on a stronger footing.
They said ālong-standing issuesā, including the roll-out of a new computer system, had been compounded by cuts of Ā£1 billion ($1.25 billion) by successive Conservative governments since they came to power in 2010.
āRampant inflationā, alongside increases in the cost of adult social care and reductions in business rates income had created āa perfect stormā, they added.
But Tory councillors on the council blamed Labour mismanagement of public finances.
In June, the council revealed that it has to pay up to Ā£760 million to settle historic equal pay claims.
Birmingham is home to some 1.1 million people.
Croydon Council in south London issued a Section 114 notice in November last year because of a Ā£130 million black hole in its budget.
Thurrock Council in Essex, east of London, also declared itself in financial distress in December last year.
SIGOMA, a grouping of 47 urban councils within the LGA, last week warned that one in 10 of its members were considered making the statutory admission that they have no prospect of balancing their books.
Nearly 20 percent said they could do the same in the next year.
High inflation, rising energy costs and wage demands have exacerbated government funding cuts to essential services, it said.
Councillors have to meet within 21 days of a Section 114 notice being issued and produce a budget that makes necessary cuts to reduce spending.
SIGOMA chairman Stephen Houghton said: āThe government needs to recognise the significant inflationary pressures that local authorities have had to deal with in the last 12 months.ā
He added: āThe funding system is completely broken. Councils have worked miracles for the past 13 years, but there is nothing left.ā
Image Credit: Larry Sinclair interviewed by Tucker Carlson (Video screenshot)
Tucker Carlson's highly anticipated interview with Larry Sinclair, the man purporting to be Barack Obama's homosexual lover when the former president was a state senator in Illinois in 1999, is now scheduled for broadcast Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. Eastern on X, formerly Twitter.
On Tuesday, Carlson posted numerous video clips from the discussion, as Sinclair goes into details of crack cocaine use and sexual relations with Obama.
"Pulled up in a bar, outside and there's this guy that's introduced to me as Barack Obama," Sinclair says at the outset of the preview.
"I had given Barack $250 to pay for coke, I start putting a line on a CD tray to snort. And next thing I know, he's got a little pipe and he's smoking."
Regarding the initial sexual contact with Obama, Sinclair noted, "So I just started rubbing my hand along his thigh to see where it was going, and it went the direction I had intended it to go."
Carlson asked: "Even though you had sex with him twice, you did cocaine wth him, watched him smoke crack twice, you had no idea who he was?"
"I had no idea who he was," responded Sinclair.
Carlson wondered: "Is it your sense that that's who Obama is, just transactional or that he's bisexual, or like, what is that?"
Sinclair explained: "It definitely wasn't Barack's first time, and I would almost be willing to bet you it wasn't his last."
Regarding most of the national media's suppression of Sinclair's allegations during Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, Carlson said: "The guy's running for president and credible information comes out that he's smoking crack having sex with dudes. That seems like a story."
Sinclair answered: "Well, it would be a story if the media really cared about telling people the truth."
As WND reported last Wednesday, during an appearance on "The Adam Carolla Show," Carlson briefly teased the interview with Sinclair.
"In 2008, it became really clear that Barack Obama had been having sex with men and smoking crack," Carlson began.
"A guy came forward, Larry Sinclair, and said 'I'll sign an affidavit' and he did, 'I'll do a lie detector' and he did," Carlson added. "'I smoked crack with Barack Obama and had sex with him.' Well, that was obviously true."
"Nobody reported it not because they were squeamish about sex or drugs but because the Obama campaign said anyone who reports on this gets no access to the Obama campaign," he said. "So, they didn't report on it."
"That's just one small example, but that happens all the time with lots of different issues."
When Carolla asked if Carlson believed the allegations actually transpired, Tucker responded: "The Larry Sinclair story? That definitely happened. Oh, for sure. I talked to Larry Sinclair about it. Definitely it happened."
"Larry Sinclair has been in and out of prison 40 years ago, he's got a criminal record by definition and he's poor, he's got a disordered life, he's missing a tooth.
"I think he has a record of deception but this story, if you listen to it in detail, is clearly true."
Carlson added: "It's not going to change the world that Barack Obama likes dudes, I think this was well-known."
"The amount of lying in the media about it was unbelievable.
"This happens all the time up and down government."
In a 2018 commentary by WND columnist Jack Cashill, the author of "Unmasking Obama," Cashill recounted the sordid details between Sinclair and Obama:
As the story goes, and he told it very convincingly, Sinclair came to Chicago in November 1999 to attend his godson's graduation.
He asked his limo driver, name provided, if he could recommend someone with whom he could "socialize" while in Chicago.
The driver recommended Obama by name. When Obama showed up, he introduced himself as "Barack Obama."
Together they smoked crack and Sinclair performed fellatio on Obama. The next day Obama showed up at Sinclair's hotel, and they repeated the ritual.
Sinclair first became aware of Obama's political career when he gave his keynote speech at the Democratic Convention in 2004. Sinclair was living in Mexico at the time.
In September 2007, according to Sinclair, he contacted the Obama campaign with the request that Obama tell the truth about his use of drugs.
At the time, Obama, then a candidate for president, was telling the media he did not use drugs after college.
Some time later Sinclair received a call from a "Mr. Young" who allegedly worked with the Obama campaign. Young wanted to know if Sinclair had told his story of sex and drugs to anyone in the media.
The nature of the call surprised Sinclair in that he had not mentioned the sex part of his get-together with Obama.
In a second contact that October, Young claimed he was "personally involved" with Obama and wanted to make sure Sinclair had not talked to the media.
In a third contact in early December, according to Sinclair, Young confessed that he was just milking Sinclair for details about his rendezvous with Obama and that Obama had no plan to correct the record on his drug use.
On Dec. 24, 2007, Chicago's ABC station reported that the choir director at Rev. Jeremiah Wright's Trinity United Church of Christ, Donald Young, was found shot to death.
Sinclair believed that this was the same "Mr. Young" who contacted him. As WND reported in 2012, Young was openly gay, and many in the Trinity United community, including Young's mother, believe Young was murdered to protect Obama's reputation.
Of course, none of this interested either the mainstream media or the respectable conservative media.
Earlier in August, WND reported on Barack's brother Malik Obama's assertion that Barack is homosexual.
"This guy must be gay," he tweeted, referring to Barack's public support for keeping pornographic books in libraries.
It also emerged that Barack Obama wrote in a letter to his ex-girlfriend, saying over 40 years ago that he "make[s] love to men daily, but in the imagination," according to the New York Post.
"In regard to homosexuality, I must say that I believe this is an attempt to remove oneself from the present, a refusal perhaps to perpetuate the endless farce of earthly life," Obama wrote to Alex McNear, according to the Post. "You see, I make love to men daily, but in the imagination."
"My mind is androgynous to a great extent and I hope to make it more so until I can think in terms of people, not women as opposed to men. But, in returning to the body, I see that I have been made a man, and physically in life, I choose to accept that contingency," Barack's letter says.
Malik Obama was apparently bolstered by the revelation, as he retweeted the article with the caption, "Interesting."
Mitch McConnellās doctors insist heās just fine, and didnāt have some sort of medical episodeĀ when he completely froze up for theĀ second time in four weeksĀ while giving a press conference.
According to McConnellās doctor, Brian P. Monahan, McConnell underwent ābrain MRI imaging, EEG study and consultations with several neurologists for a comprehensive neurology assessment,ā he concluded that āThere is no evidence that you have a seizure disorder or that you experienced a stroke, TIA or movement disorder such as Parkinsonās disease.ā
CNNĀ reports thatĀ four neurologistsĀ signed off on McConnell after his second freezing episode.
So, McConnell was just being unprofessional and is otherwise on his A-game, and this isnāt a desperate attempt to cling to the ring of power like Gollum?
An elementary school in Maryland has reinstated mask requirements for students. Clay Travis broke the news with a post showing the letter from the Rosemary Hills Elementary School in Silver Spring, a wealthy DC suburb.Ā
"A DC area elementary school ā Montgomery County, Maryland ā is reinstating a mask mandate ā N95ās ā for third graders over a few kids testing positive for covid," Travis said. "Hereās the letter. Theyāre coming with masks for your kids again. Get ready. Read this insanity."
The letter addresses parents of students in one specific classroom, and tell parents that it "is to inform you that 3 or more individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in [redacted] class in the past 10 days. We are taking the following steps to keep our school environment as safe as possible for in-person teaching and learning."
The school told The Post Millennial that they send "test kits to classroom teachers and then teachers send it out to all students." The tests, a representative said, get sent home "regardless" of if they have been asked for my parents. However, testing is not mandatory, nor is reporting, the representative said.
"We have lots of students who get sick and if parents want to know if their kids get sick from flu, or Covid, they have the test," the representative said. Rosemary Hills School emphasized that "testing is not mandatory, but all parents should report it."
The letter that was sent home to parents by principal Rebecca Irwin Kennedy continued that "to prevent further transmission" in that classroom:
"Additional KN95 masks have been distributed and students and staff in identified classes or activities will be required to mask while in school for the next 10 days, except while eating or drinking. Masks will become options again following the 10-day period.
"At-home rapid test kids will be sent home and made available for students," Kennedy states, giving the guidance from the CDC that testing should be done "5 days after an exposure (starting day 6)" or at such time as symptoms occur.
"We will continue to reinforce good hand washing and follow cleaning and disinfection procedures."
It is not clear if the students who tested positive also had symptoms, or were sick.
"Thank you for supporting us in taking these steps to ensure staff and students remain healthy for in-person learning," the letter said, asĀ Kennedy encouraged families with sick children to keep them home from school.
Mandatory masking, which many educators and parents said resulted in substantial learning loss, was prevalent during the pandemic. Schools implemented a hodge-podge of Covid-inspired restrictions, many of which appeared nonsensical. In New York, students who were exposed to Covid were not permitted back at school for weeks, while in other parts of the country, the pandemic was essentially ignored.
The Atlantic, among many other publications, issued calls to stop the madness and let children learn without having their faces covered. "Districts should rethink imposing on millions of children an intervention that provides little discernible benefit," they wrote.Ā
As the school year gets underway, along with the election season, calls from the Biden administration to reengage in testing, masking, and a whole new round of vaccinations has begun again. Reports of people testing positive for Covid, again, are taking up space on news outlets and many parents are concerned that the same policies that destroyed two years of their children's education will be implemented again.
Enrique Tarrio, known for his former role as chairman of the Proud Boys, has been sentenced to 22 yearsĀ in prison over charges of seditious conspiracy in connection to the riot at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. This is now the longest sentence handed down to any January 6 defendant.
Prosecutors had sought to have Tarrio sentenced to 33 yearsĀ in federal prison.Ā Tarrio'sĀ co-defendants Zachary Rehl, Joe Biggs, andĀ Ethan Nordean, all of whom were Proud Boys affiliates, all received anywhere between 15-18 years in prison.
Tarrio was not present at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. As was noted by American journalist Julie Kelly, he had been detained the day prior after an alleged burning of a BLM banner took place in December 2020.Ā
Thus far, aroundĀ 1,100 individuals have been charged over alleged crimes related to theĀ Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and over 300 have been sentenced to serve time behind bars. New arrests are still ongoing, over two years after that fateful day.Ā
The sentence Tarrio received is the longest related to Jan. 6 that has been doled out thus far. Prosecutors on the case argued in favor of Tarrio receiving aĀ terrorism sentencing enhancement, to which the judge agreed. The judge had done the same to Tarrio's co-defendants.Ā
Tarrioās lawyer, Sabino Jauregui, pointed out that Tarrio "comes from a country where there are no rights," and said that "He was trying to protect this country, as misguided as he was."
āI am not a political zealot,ā Tarrio reportedly said during the trial. āWhen I get back home, I want nothing to do with politics, groups, activism or rallies.ā
Image Credit: Former White House Chief of Staff during the Trump administration Mark Meadows speaks during a forum titled House Rules and Process Changes for the 118th Congress at FreedomWorks headquarters in Washington on Nov. 14, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
All 19 defendants in Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willisās 2020 election probe have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and waived their formal arraignments.
Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows was among the final defendants to enter a plea on Sept. 5, alongside former Trump attorney John Eastman and former Coffee County election official Misty Hampton.
Former Coffee County GOP Chair Cathy Latham entered her plea on Sept. 4, while former Georgia GOP Chair David Shafer and Georgia State Sen. Shawn Still entered theirs on Sept. 3. Former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clarkās plea was submitted on Sept. 1.
In total, 41 charges have been filed against the defendants, including violation of Georgiaās Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer, impersonating a public officer, and forgery, among others.
The Aug. 14 indictment alleges that President Donald Trump and the other co-defendants engaged in a conspiracy to āunlawfully change the outcomeā of Georgiaās 2020 presidential election.
President Trump pleaded not guiltyĀ on Aug. 31 to the 13 charges he is facing.
Removal Decision Pending
Mr. Meadows, who was charged with violating the stateās RICO Act and soliciting violation of oath by a public officer, is one of a handful of defendants seeking to have their cases removed to federal court.
According to the 98-page indictment, the former White House officialās role in the alleged racketeering conspiracy was coordinating and attending meetings to strategize ways to disrupt and delay the counting of the electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021.
The document also claims that he pressured an investigator in the Georgia secretary of stateās office to speed up the Fulton County signature verification process and that he participated in a phone call in which President Trump urged Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to āfindā evidence of determinative voter fraud in the election.
In filing the notice of removal, Mr. Meadowsās legal team noted that the actions he had been indicted for were performed in his capacity as a federal official. As such, they argued that the case should either be dismissed or tried in a federal court.
U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones of the Northern District of Georgia held a hearing on the matter on Aug. 28, during which he heard several hours of testimony from Mr. Meadows, Mr. Raffensperger, and other witnesses.
After the hearing, the Obama-appointed judge ordered the defense and prosecution to brief him on whether he could hear the case in federal court if it was determined that āat least one (but not all) of the overt actsā of which Mr. Meadows stands accused had occurred āunder the color ofā his office.
Prosecutors responded that such a finding would not be sufficient to authorize removal because Mr. Meadowsās prosecution was not due to any singular āovert actā but rather because he āknowingly and willfully entered into an agreement to violate the Georgia RICO Act.ā
āThe defendant is charged in Count 1 with agreeing to join a conspiracy that planned to overturn the lawful results of an election in Georgia,ā prosecutors wrote in an Aug. 31 filing (pdf). āA scenario where at least one, but not all, of the overt acts attributed to the defendant in Count 1 of the Indictment occurred under color of office ā¦ would not demonstrate that his agreement to join in the RICO conspiracy described in Count 1 was an act āfor or related toā his duties as Chief of Staff.ā
But Mr. Meadowsā attorneys noted that, under the Federal Officer Removal Statute, civil lawsuits or criminal prosecutions against or directed to federal officers may be removed to the appropriate U.S. district court āfor or relating to any act under color of [federal] office.ā
Trump Moves to Sever Case
After entering his not-guilty plea last week, President Trump sought to sever his case from the other defendants, given the different timelines being requested.
Ms. Willis had initially proposed March 4, 2024āthe day before Super Tuesdayāas the trial start date for all defendants. But as the former president is also a current presidential candidate, he objected to that date.
Fellow defendant Kenneth Chesebro also objected, demanding a speedy trial, so Judge Scott McAfee approved a Nov. 3 trial date for Mr. Chesebro only.
As other defendants are expected to follow suit, Ms. Willis alternatively proposed Oct. 23. But President Trumpās lead counsel said that date was too soon for him to adequately prepare for trial.
āRespectfully, requiring less than two months preparation time to defend a 98-page indictment, charging 19 defendants, with 41 various charges including a RICO conspiracy charge with 161 Overt Acts, Solicitation of Violation of Oath by Public Officer, False Statements and Writings, Forgery, Influencing Witnesses, Computer Crimes, Conspiracy to Defraud the State, and other offenses would violate President Trumpās federal and state constitutional rights to a fair trial and due process of law,ā wrote Steven Sadow, President Trumpās attorney, in a court filing.
The attorney joined President Trumpās team on Aug. 24, just hours before the former presidentās Fulton County arrest.
The new date would also conflict with Mr. Sadowās schedule, as he is to appear in court for another case in Florida set to begin on Sept. 26.
President Trumpās team is hoping for a later trial date, after the 2024 election.
Matthew Vadum, Catherine Yang, and Reuters contributed to this report.
Prime Minister Narendra Modiās government has replaced the name India with a Sanskrit word in dinner invitations sent to guests attending this weekās Group of 20 (G20) summit, triggering speculation that the name of the country will be officially changed.
Droupadi Murmu is referred to as āPresident of Bharatā instead of āPresident of Indiaā in the invitation sent to G20 attendees on Tuesday.
India is hosting the annual G20 summit in New Delhi on Saturday and Sunday. Many world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, will attend.
The nation of more than 1.4 billion people is officially known by two names, India and Bharat, but the former is most commonly used, both domestically and internationally. Hindustan is another word for the nation and is often used in literature and other forms of popular culture.
Bharat is an ancient Sanskrit word that many historians believe dates back to early Hindu texts. The word is also used as a Hindi option for India.
Officials of Modiās right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) back the change in nomenclature. They argue that the name India was introduced by British colonials and is a āsymbol of slaveryā. The British ruled India for about 200 years until the country gained independence in 1947.
The BJP has long tried to erase names related to Indiaās Mughal and colonial past. The government has been accused of pursuing a nationalist agenda aimed at forming an ethnic Hindu state out of a constitutionally secular India.
In 2015, New Delhiās famous Aurangzeb Road, named after a Mughal king, was changed to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road after protests from Modiās party leaders.
Last year, the government also renamed a colonial-era avenue in the heart of New Delhi that is used for ceremonial military parades.
Modiās government says the name changes are an effort to reclaim Indiaās Hindu past.
āAnother blow to slavery mentality,ā the top elected official of Uttarakhand state, Pushkar Singh Dhami, said on X. Dhami, a BJP leader, shared the G20 dinner invitation in his post.
Indiaās opposition parties, however, criticized the governmentās move.
āRashtrapati Bhawan [Presidentās House] has sent out an invite for a G20 dinner on Sept 9th in the name of āPresident of Bharatā instead of the usual āPresident of Indiaā,ā Jairam Ramesh, leader of the main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, wrote on Tuesday on X, formerly known as Twitter.
āNow, Article 1 in the Constitution can read: āBharat, that was India, shall be a Union of States.ā But now even this āUnion of Statesā is under assault,ā he added.
Congress legislator Shashi Tharoor said Indians should ācontinue to use both words rather than relinquish our claim to a name redolent of history, a name that is recognized around the worldā.
āWhile there is no constitutional objection to calling India āBharatā, which is one of the countryās two official names, I hope the government will not be so foolish as to completely dispense with āIndiaā, which has incalculable brand value built up over centuries,ā he posted on X.
BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda slammed the Congress party.
āWhy does the Congress have so much objection to every subject related to the honour and pride of the country?ā he posted on X. āIt is clear that Congress neither respects the country, nor the Constitution, nor the constitutional institutions.ā
Disputes over āIndiaā vs āBharatā have gained ground since opposition parties in July announced a new alliance ā called the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, or INDIA ā to unseat Modi and defeat his party in of national elections in 2024.
Since then, some officials in Modiās party have demanded that the country be called Bharat instead of India.
Many Indian media outlets, citing sources, on Tuesday reported that the government might bring a resolution to that effect during a special parliament session this month.
However, the government has not revealed the agenda for the session to be held September 18-22.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is planning to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin this month to discuss the possibility of providing Moscow with weapons to support its ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a U.S.
The meeting between Kim and Putin is expected to take place in Russia, although the exact location has not been confirmed. The New York Times first reported Kim Jong Unās travel plans.
This potential meeting comes as the White House announced that arms negotiations between Russia and North Korea are āactively advancing.ā National Security Council spokesman John Kirby revealed that Russiaās defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, recently traveled to North Korea to discuss the purchase of artillery ammunition. Following this visit, Putin and Kim exchanged letters, pledging to increase bilateral cooperation.
U.S. intelligence suggests that after Shoiguās visit to North Korea, another group of Russian officials journeyed to Pyongyang for further discussions regarding a potential arms deal between the two nations.
John Kirby issued a statement urging North Korea to cease its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by the public commitments it has made not to provide or sell arms to Russia. He warned that the U.S. is prepared to take direct action, including the imposition of sanctions, against individuals and entities involved in facilitating weapons supply between Russia and North Korea.
The potential arms deal could involve āsignificant quantities and multiple typesā of munitions from North Korea, which Russia intends to use in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Kirby underscored that any such weapons agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang would contravene several United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Kirby emphasized the U.S.ās commitment to identifying, exposing, and countering Russian attempts to acquire military equipment from North Korea or any other state willing to support the war in Ukraine.
Adrienne Watson, National Security Council spokesperson, revealed that the U.S. has information suggesting that Kim Jong Un expects these discussions to continue, including the possibility of leader-level diplomatic engagement in Russia.
This warning about Pyongyang potentially providing weapons to Russia comes nearly a year after U.S. officials cautioned that the Russian Ministry of Defense was in the process of purchasing rockets and artillery shells from North Korea for the war in Ukraine.
Traditionally, BRICS policy makers turn their attention to African issues every five years, when the summit is held in South Africa. Last monthās gathering was no exception, and compared to the previous years, was even grander in scale. For the first time ever, invitations were sent out to all the leaders of the continent, and almost everyoneĀ responded. The event in Johannesburg was attended by the leaders of 19 African countries, ten were represented by vice-presidents and prime ministers, and ten others by ministers of foreign affairs, ministers of economy, and ministers of finance.
The summit became a turning point for the BRICS, given it was most likely the last meeting of the associationās five founders in the traditional format. On January 1, 2024, six more states will join as full members: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Argentina, and Iran.
As a result, the worldās fastest-growing continent, Africa, will be represented in BRICS not just by one, but by three countries. The invitation to Egypt āĀ and particularly Ethiopia ācame as a surprise to most observers, but we may confidently assert that the development of Africa and the work of BRICS on the continent will become an essential and permanent part of the groupingās agenda.Ā
In this regard, Russia has a particular responsibility as the host of the next summit, which will be held in Kazan in the summer of 2024.
Africa for BRICS and BRICS for Africa
The expansion of BRICS into Ethiopia and Egypt means that the summits will be held in Africa more often, and the organizationās activities will expand on the continent.
Several initiatives in the fields of logistics, energy, and finance have already been announced under the auspices of BRICS. All of them are different in scale and have varied in terms of success. Many affect the interests of Africa, but so far, no project has been implemented outside of South Africa. The BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) could play an important role in financing these schemes. The physical presence of BRICS in Africa is currently limited to the NDBās Africa Regional Centre, but it too finances projects only in South Africa.
Since 2016, the NDB has supported 14 projects in South Africa aimed at developing transport infrastructure, water supply systems, and the energy sector, as well as projects dealing with environmental protection and recovery from COVID-19. The only one outside its territory ā the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, Phase II ā also concerns South Africa, since it deals with supplying it with water. Most programs are implemented through the provision of loans that cover the entire cost or up to half of the cost of the project. Some projects also attract funding from the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
Obviously, the activities of the National Development Bank require geographical diversification and more consistent profiling.
The parties agreed that specific criteria for obtaining the status of aĀ āBRICS partner countryā will be developed by the next summit. Many African countries may be interested in obtaining this status if it comes with practical advantages such as access to financing, assistance in the field of food security, the digitalization of public administration, the BRICS energy platform, and others. In other words, the status of aĀ āBRICS partner countryā will allow projects to be implemented under the auspices of the organization. Each state concerned will receive new development opportunities and will commit to ensuring the necessary conditions for implementing such projects.
Who was invited
According to South African Minister of Foreign Affairs Naledi Pandor, 23 countrieshave applied to join, including the following African states: Egypt, Ethiopia, Senegal, Nigeria, Algeria, and Morocco. However, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry denied South Africaās statement and Rabatās officials did not take part in the events of the summit. One of the reasons for this was the presence of representatives from Western Sahara ā a disputed territory.
Ethiopia and Egypt, as well as South Africa, are long-standing and reliable partners of Moscow. However, these countries have difficult relations with each other. This primarily concerns the long-standing conflict over the GERD dam, which Ethiopia is building on its section of the Nile and which Egypt considers a threat to its water supply. The BRICS platform may allow both to negotiate on an international level without interference from the West. It will also help the countries find common ground in the field of economics without escalating the political side of the issue. Meanwhile, for BRICS this will be a good opportunity to work out mechanisms for establishing economic ties between the participants even as they face various disagreements.
By the start of the summit, Egypt had already become a shareholder of the BRICS New Development Bank, even as the country remains one of the most heavily indebted on the African continent. Cairoās volume of external debt amounts to $163 billion, and the Egyptian pound is steadily depreciating. Because of this, using alternative currencies for trade and especially imports is a priority for the country. Russia is the most important supplier of grain to Egypt. Converting trade into rubles, yuan, pounds, and now UAE dirhams will be an important task in the coming years.
Within BRICS, Ethiopia will represent the African continent in a no less major way than South Africa. Ethiopia is a founding country of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and home to the headquarters of the African Union. Moreover, Addis Ababa is widely considered the diplomatic capital of Africa. However, just like in the case of Egypt, the problem of external debt ($28 billion, with a significant part owed to China) has significantly impeded the countryās development in recent years. Ethiopiaās debt restructuring process has now started and new BRICS partners, such as the UAE, will be able to participate in this process not only on a bilateral basis, but also by means of the NDB and other institutions which will be created in the future.Ā
The Algerian government has also applied to join BRICS and become a shareholder of the NDB, offering an initial contribution of $ 1.5 billion. In July of this year, Algerian President Abdelmadjid TebbouneĀ visitedĀ Russia and China, and the Algerian side āinformed, again, the Chinese side of the steps it has taken to apply for Algeria's membership of the BRICSāĀ and China āwelcomed Algeriaās positive willingness to join this group and affirmed supporting its efforts to achieve this objective.āĀ However, Algeria did not receive an invitation.
If a change in government sees Argentina withdraw its candidacy, Russia could theoretically resume negotiations with others. Algeria ā a long-standing and loyal friend āĀ could become an ideal representative of the Francophone world in BRICS, as long as the window of opportunity remains open. This may be possible since the document defining the participation criteria and the procedure for accepting new members has not yet been publicly disclosed.
Russia for BRICS and BRICS for Russia
An important part of the preparations for the BRICS summit in South Africa were negotiations held at the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, which took place in July. The goal to promote a deeper BRICS-Africa partnership, for example, wasĀ sealedĀ there. Russia, which will host the 2024 BRICS event, intends to promote the expansion of economic cooperation tools and to establish a structure for relations between members, as well as with Africa.
For Moscow, it is particularly important that de-dollarization has become a systemically important BRICS initiative ā and not only in matters of trade, but also investment, banking, and international reserves.Ā BRICS countries are already doing a lot in this respect, including accumulating physical gold reserves and reserves in each other's currencies, and connecting to systems for the transfer of financial messages. However, there is still a lot to be done.
According to the summitās final declaration, finance ministers and the directors of central banks were given the task of optimizing trade in national currencies, and the like, which should strengthen the role of BRICS financial institutions. This will help African countries overcome dependence on Western-dominated internationallenders ā the successors of the Bretton Woods system ā and will provide tools for dealing with energy poverty and ensuring food security.
The need to create sustainable food supply chains was also stated. This vital both for Africa and for exporters, represented within BRICS primarily by Russia.
The expansion in Africa largely depends on Moscow. The NDB has refused to finance projects in Russia due to sanctions. This means that those funds may now be sent to Africa ā especially since Egypt has become one of the bankās shareholders, and Ethiopia will likely have a similar opportunity soon. However, first of all, the interests and recommendations of Russia as a shareholder must be taken into account.Ā
Today, Russia's priorities within BRICS are concrete projects such as the International NorthāSouth Transport Corridor and the general development of logistics and other transport corridors. There are also plans to create a trust fund to support BRICS research infrastructure.
The Ukrainian military used cluster munitions to shell the city of Izyum and caused civilian deaths, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday. The attack happened months before the US provided Kiev with additional cluster shells, overruling the objections of many NATO members.
āWe figured this out after the Russians left and our investigators went there to look into the war crimes and atrocities that were committed ā and they saw remnants of cluster munitions everywhere,ā HRWās Mary Wareham told RIA Novosti. āAfter finding out the direction from which the fire came, they established that they had been used by Ukrainian forces.ā
The 110-page Cluster Munition Monitor 2022 report, published by HRW this week, lists deployments of such weapons by both sides in the conflict. It notes that the group had first reported on the attack on Izyum in July, but that the Ukrainian Defense Ministry officially denied ever using such munitions in or around the settlement.
The city commands a key strategic position in Kharkov Region and was held by Russian forces between May 2022 and late September, when they withdrew due to a Ukrainian attack further north. In addition to the attacks documented by HRW investigators, the Ukrainian military had used cluster munitions against the area throughout 2022, the report noted, citing the UNās Independent Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.
Wareham pointed out that HRW had detailed testimonies about civilians who were killed or wounded by cluster bombs.
A HRW report from January also included information about the Ukrainian use of cluster munitions, as well as the targeting of Izyum by āButterflyāanti-personnel mines, which killed 11 civilians and wounded around 50, including five children. HRW said that the Russian military informed the civilians about the danger of the mines, citing testimonials from around 100 local residents.
āCluster munitions are abhorrent weapons that are globally banned because they cause both immediate and long-term civilian harm and suffering,āĀ Wareham said while announcingĀ the annual report. āItās unconscionable that civilians are still dying from cluster munition attacks 15 years after these weapons were outlawed.ā
Over the years, the HRW has released a number of reports about the use of cluster munitions in the Ukrainian conflict, stating that both sides were using them. The organization noted, however, that its ability to gather evidence of Ukrainian attacks is hampered because it cannot safely access Russian-controlled territories.
Ukraine, Russia, and the US are not party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), which has sought to ban this type of ordnance, citing its toll on civilians. Earlier this year, Washington rejected objections from several NATO allies who are party to the CMM and sent Kiev 155mm artillery shells loaded with dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM).Ā
Some US outlets have reported that the Pentagon receives detailed reports from Ukraine about when and where its DPICM ordnance is used. Russia has documented multiple instances of their use against civilians in Donetsk.
Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X, formerly Twitter, said the site is considering suing the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) over accusations of anti-Semitism, which he blames for falling revenue.
Musk late Monday accused the US-based Jewish organization of making unfounded complaints against him and X that have scared away advertisers.
āTo clear our platformās name on the matter of anti-Semitism, it looks like we have no choice but to file a defamation lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation Leagueā¦ oh the irony!ā Musk wrote on X on Monday.
āBased on what weāve heard from advertisers, ADL seems to be responsible for most of our revenue loss,ā he wrote, adding that the group āwould potentially be on the hook for destroying half the value of the company, so roughly $22 billion.ā
āAdvertisers avoid controversy, so all that is needed for ADL to crush our US & European ad revenue is to make unfounded accusations,ā he wrote in a long thread that started with a clarification that he favors free speech but is āagainst anti-Semitism of any kind.ā
In an email to AFP, the ADL declined to comment on Muskās legal threats but responded to the āBanTheADLā hashtag that has been trending on the website.
Musk, who bought Twitter last year and rebranded it as X, has come under fire for liking posts with the hashtag.
āADL is unsurprised yet undeterred that antisemites, white supremacists, conspiracy theorists and other trolls have launched a coordinated attack on our organization,ā the email said.
āThis type of thing is nothing new,ā the ADL said, adding that the campaign came after the group participated in a civil rights march marking the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther Kingās āI have a dreamā speech.
The ADL has for years accused the social media site of amplifying anti-Semitic hate speech and recently met with top executives at X.
In a 2016 report, the group said anti-Semitic attacks against journalists had exploded on Twitter, āthanks to the rhetoric in the 2016 presidential campaign.ā
It accused the social network of failing to control its ātrolling problem.ā
Billionaire Musk has also previously been accused of fueling anti-Semitic tropes, including attacks against Jewish philanthropist George Soros.
According to the ADL and the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), problematic and racist speech has sharply risen on X since Musk completed his $44 billion takeover in October.
Since then, the Tesla boss has fired thousands of the platformās employees, cut content moderation and reinstated former president Donald Trumpās account.
Last month, Musk sued the CCDH, accusing it of a smear campaign that damaged the social networkās relationship with advertisers.
As Hurricane Idalia wreaked havoc in Florida this week, residents faced an unexpected danger: floodwaters causing electric vehicles to burst into flames. Two incidents involving submerged Teslas prompted firefighters in Palm Harbor, Florida, to issue a warning, emphasizing that rechargeable car batteries could ignite if exposed to saltwater churned up by the storm.
The Palm Harbor Fire Rescue department took to Facebook with a crucial message: āIf you own a hybrid or electric vehicle that has come into contact with saltwater due to recent flooding within the last 24 hours, it is crucial to relocate the vehicle from your garage without delay. Saltwater exposure can trigger combustion in lithium-ion batteries. If possible, transfer your vehicle to higher ground.ā
This warning extends beyond electric cars to include electric golf carts, scooters, and bicycles, as all of them may contain lithium-ion batteries that can spark a fire when wet. Salt residue left behind after water exposure can create ābridgesā between the batteryās cells, potentially leading to electrical connections that spark a fire.
Lithium-ion battery packs consist of numerous cells inside a compartment and contain a flammable liquid electrolyte. Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids have significantly more cells than e-bikes, making higher-energy batteries with more cells more prone to failure.
In one instance in Florida, firefighters were towing a submerged Tesla when it suddenly caught fire in Pinellas County. According to Palm Harbor Fire Rescue training chief Jason Haynes, combustion can happen well after the vehicle has been exposed to saltwater. He stressed the importance of moving potentially damaged vehicles out of garages and away from structures.
Tesla itself warns car owners about the risks of vehicle submersion and advises against driving a car that has been flooded. Instead, they recommend treating the vehicle as if it has been in an accident and contacting your insurance company. Teslaās guidance includes safely towing or moving the vehicle at least 50 feet from structures or other combustible materials.
Itās essential to note that fires related to wet lithium-ion batteries may not occur immediately after exposure. Patrick Olsen, a spokesperson for Carfax, pointed out that these fires can ignite days to weeks later, underscoring the importance of having a vehicle inspected by a professional if it has taken on water.
Andrew Klock, head of electric vehicle training for firefighters at the National Fire Protection Association, emphasized that electric vehicles are not inherently more dangerous than gas-powered vehicles. However, proper knowledge and training are essential for everyone, from drivers to emergency responders, when dealing with flooding incidents.
United Airlines grounded all of its flights across the United States on Tuesday.
United requested the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issue a ground stop order on all of its aircraft, the FAA tweeted. Flights will be able to land, but none will take off until the order is lifted, according to the airlineās tweet.
The order is likely to cause massive delays across the country. United Airlines is one of the largest domestic air carriers in the United States.
āWe are experiencing a systemwide technology issue and are holding all aircraft at their departure airports. Flights that are already airborne are continuing to their destination as planned,ā United tweeted.ā We will share more information as it becomes available. Thank you for your patience as we work on a resolution to get you on your way as soon as possible.ā
The FAA and United did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
UPDATE: United flights have resumed Tuesday afternoon, according to the airline.
Image Credit: A podium with the logo for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the Tom Harkin Global Communications Center in Atlanta on Oct. 5, 2014. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a recent national health alert warning doctors and health care workers to be aware of infections from a flesh-eating bacteria,Ā VibrioĀ vulnificus,Ā that has been found in multiple states this year.
The agency noted that an estimated 80,000 Vibrio bacteria illnesses each year are reported in the United States, including Vibrio parahaemolyticus and VibrioĀ alginolyticus. However, the deadliest one appears to be Vibrio vulnificus, which officials say can sometimes cause death within one or two days, although the CDC noted that only about 150 to 200 such infections are reported to the federal agency every year.
āPeople who are at increased risk for V. vulnificus infection should exercise caution when engaging in coastal water activities,ā the CDC said on Sept. 1. āPrompt treatment is crucial to reduce mortality from severe V. vulnificus infection.ā
WhileĀ infections from the bacteria tend to be reported in the Gulf Coast, the CDC noted that infections have risen about eightfold between 1988 and 2018 in the eastern United States.
Vibrio bacteria generally live in salt water or brackish coastal waters, which is when sea water meets with fresh water. People can become infected after exposure to the organism, such as through an open wound, a cut, or a bite that has been in contact with infected water, undercooked or raw shellfish, or directly eating shellfish.
āV. vulnificus wound infections have a short incubation period [the time between infection and when symptoms first show] and are characterized by necrotizing [tissue killing] skin and soft tissue infection,ā the CDC also said. In some cases, people may also develop bleeding blisters. If left untreated, infection can spread throughout the body and cause blood poisoning.
The CDC recommends that people stay away from brackish or salt water if they have an open wound and should leave the water immediately if they receive a cut while swimming. It noted that wounds should be treated with a waterproof bandage and washed with soap and clean water.
āInitiate Treatment Promptlyā
It also said that individuals who believe they have an infection after swimming should get treatment quickly, as they will have a better chance of survival. The bacteria also has developed some resistance to antibiotics, while 50 percent of infections donāt respond to treatment, other officials have said.
āInitiate treatment promptly. Early antibiotic therapy and early surgical intervention improve survival,ā the CDC said. āDo not wait for consultation with an infectious disease specialist or laboratory confirmation of V. vulnificus infection to initiate treatment.ā
For doctors and health care workers, the CDC advised them to āconsider V. vulnificus as a possible cause of infection in wounds that were exposed to coastal waters, especially in patients at higher risk for Vibrio infection, including those with underlying health conditions such as liver disease (including alcohol-associated liver cirrhosis), diabetes, and immunocompromising conditions.ā
āAsk the patient or family about relevant exposures, including whether they entered coastal water with an open wound; acquired a scratch or a cut while in coastal water; or had open-wound contact with raw or undercooked seafood,ā it advised.
The federal health agency also warned against eating raw oysters and other shellfish, saying that they should be thoroughly cooked before consumption. People should also wash their hands with soap and water after handling them.
This summer, health officials in New York, Connecticut, and North Carolina reported multiple fatal or severeĀ V. vulnificus infections, while most infections this year have occurred in Florida. At least five have died in those three states, officials have said.
āV. vulnificus wound infections have a short incubation period and are characterized by necrotizing skin and soft tissue infection,ā it also said. Many people who contract the bacteria ārequire intensive care or limb amputations,ā with some infections leading toĀ necrotizing fasciitis, where the flesh around an infection dies and has given rise to the bacteriaās āflesh-eatingā moniker.
āShouldnāt Be Taken Lightlyā
The CDC notice also advised local officials to tell tourists and residents about the risk ofĀ V. vulnificus, including putting up signs on coastal areas and beaches. Hurricanes tend to bring considerable ocean storm surge onto land, which then mixes with rainwater or other freshwater.
There have been concerns that Hurricane Idalia, which hit northwestern Florida last month, will bring a rise in Vibrio infections because it can be present in floodwaters. State officials in Florida have issued warnings about the pathogen.
The potentially deadly bacteria āshouldnāt be taken lightly,ā Florida Health Department press secretary Jae Williams told media outlets over the weekend. āIt needs to be treated with proper respectāthe same way we respect alligators and rattlesnakes.ā
After Hurricane Ian slammed Floridaās Gulf Coast last year, officials reported that 38 people were infected withĀ V. vulnificus.Ā At least 11 people died, and one person had their leg amputated, officials said.
Another widespread claim about the "safety" and "effectiveness" of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccines" has been proven false.
Researchers out of Italy and United Kingdom found that, contrary to government claims, the spike proteins from Fauci Flu shots persist in recipients' arms for at least six months post-injection.
Up until now, the official story is that the spike proteins in covid jabs are "harmless" and stay in the arm for no longer than just a couple of days. We are told that, at most, the body will only continue to manufacture spike proteins for a very short time, assuming a person got the mRNA variety.
We now know that the body of a fully jabbed person continues to produce spike proteins indefinitely. Researchers confirmed this, even excluding the possibility of cross-contamination or infection with some wild-circulating strain of COVID.
To conduct their research, scientists used a sensitive test based on mass-spectrometry that was tuned to look specifically for an amino acid sequence that only exists in the jab-induced spike protein.
On his website, Igor Chudov explains how the mRNA jab types are genetically programmed to produce spike proteins, the part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that allows COVID to enter human cells.
"During the penetration process, called 'fusion,' the viral spike protein changes shape, becoming a spear of sorts, penetrating the cell surface," he writes.
Early on, we were promised that jab manufacturers Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna had programmed their respective shots to stop producing spike proteins after a certain point. It turns out this was false information based on false claims.
"The only modification that both Pfizer and Moderna did was to 'prefusion stabilize' the vaccine-encoded spike protein to prevent it from changing its shape and be more stable in the human body," Chudov explains.
Just to be sure that their findings were correct, the research team also performed the same tests on a control group of people who never got jabbed for COVID. This only further proved that those who got the jab are now walking spike protein factories.
"It turns out that only the people in the vaccinated subgroup were found to carry vaccine-derived spike protein," Chudov says, noting that the identifying spike fragment was found in 50 percent of the fully vaccinated biological samples analyzed.
"What is worse, vaccine spike protein was found as late as six months after the last dose!"
Does mRNA from COVID jabs get integrated or re-transcribed in human cells?
It is important to note that the study was designed to only look as far out as six months for spike fragments. Had it been designed to look even further, chances are the study would have found that spike proteins continue to form inside the bodies of the fully vaccinated for years, if not forever.
Because the shots were rushed out at warp speed ā though many now believe that these shots were developed possibly decades ago, and were only made to look like they were rushed to market once COVID arrived ā there was not enough safety testing.
As to why spike proteins continue to be produced indefinitely in the fully vaccinated, the researchers presented three speculative theories:
1) That mRNA from the shots may get integrated or re-transcribed in some cells
2) That pseudo-uridines at a particular sequence position induce the formation of a spike protein that is always constitutively active
3) That the mRNA-containing nanoparticle is picked up by bacteria normally present at the basal level in blood
The researchers believe that Option 2 is highly unlikely, and this writer's opinion based on everything that has come out since the onset of COVID is that Option 1 is highly likely to play a major, if not the dominant, role in endless spike protein production.
Option 1, by the way, is also known as reverse transcription. It means that vaccine mRNA makes itself a part of the human DNA genome, effectively turning a person into a genetically modified organism (GMO).
The HIV virus, by the way, which is believed to cause AIDS, also reverse transcribes and integrates itself into human DNA. Once this occurs, a person's body endlessly produces copies of HIV, hence why there is no cure for HIV, only suppression with drugs.
"Similarly, human cells with COVID vaccine genetic code reverse-transcribed into them may also endlessly produce the spike protein for the affected individuals' lives," Chudov says.
All of this may also explain IgG4 immune tolerance, which lowers a person's immune response to everything, making him more susceptible to every disease that comes along, just like what happens to a person with HIV or AIDS.
"The Brogna et al. study that we are discussing shows us the mechanism of why immune tolerance to spike protein develops," Chudov concludes.
"The reason is that spike protein, produced without end, looks like an 'environmental irritant' to the vaccinated organism instead of being seen as a dangerous intruder."
In light of the growing number of allegations of negative side effects, President Donald Trump is requesting that pharmaceutical firms āimmediatelyā provide their safety data for Covid mRNA injections.
In an interview with Tudor Dixon, a conservative political pundit and previous candidate for governor of Michigan, Trump made the decision.
In response to growing worries about unfavorable incidents connected to Covid injections, the 45th president spoke out.
Dixon informed Trump of the difficulties Americans had to deal with as a result of lockdowns, governmental closures, and requirements for masks and vaccines since the pandemicās start.
When he returns to the White House, she questioned Trump about his views on possible Covid-related limitations in the future.
āWe had a booming economy with you before Covid,ā Dixon said to Trump.
āCovid stole so much from us.
āWe lost our loved ones.
āWe suffered major learning loss.
āOur kids really suffered mental health strain,ā she noted.
āCosts have gone through the roof.
āAnd now weāre hearing that Kentucky is shutting down two school systems because of Covid again.
āSo people are panicked that these shutdowns are going to return.
āWhat happens in a Trump administration when Covid comes back?ā Dixon asked.
In response, Trump made it clear that his administration would not be implementing shutdowns.
He also expressed skepticism toward the notion that the reemerging āhealth crisisā in the run-up to the 2024 election is solely due to Covid.
āWell, we donāt do shutdowns, for one thing, and it sounds to me like if somethingās coming back, they blame everything,ā Trump said.
āThey say itās Covid because they love using the word Covid.
āIf you have a flu season, they call it Covid.
āWe had that then too, by the way. You had a lot of flu.
āYou had a lot of this, and they like to say everythingās Covid.
āBut letās see what happens. I mean, there could be something happening,ā Trump added.
Trump then continued by blasting Bidenās handling of the virus.
āI always said Biden did a lousy job with Covid, and he did do a lousy job,ā Trump said.
āWe handed him over a great situation, and a lot of stupid decisions were made, especially with the spending of money and what they were doing.ā
Tudor Dixon shifted the conversation towards Bidenās announcement toĀ fund a new vaccine.
As Slay NewsĀ reported, Biden recently revealed that heās requested funding for the new shots and claims that āeverybodyā will be injected with the new vaccine.
āJoe Biden just announced that heās going to be funding a new vaccine,ā said Dixon.
āHe wants everyone to get this vaccine.
āAnd weāre hearing about a lot of complaints from vaccine injured, to say a lot. Itās like an understatement.
āNumerous pharmaceutical companies have refused to release their data on vaccine side effects.
āBut weāve seen cases of myocarditis, blood clots, andĀ heart attacks.
āTheyāre all increasing. The research has never been released.ā
āSo will you demand that the vaccine companies, that the pharmaceutical companies release their vaccine data to the public so that we can see what theyāre actually seeing about the side effects of this vaccine?ā Dixon asked.
In response to Dixonās concerns, Trump demanded complete transparency from Big Pharma.
He vowed that we are all in this fight together.
āWell, they should do that,ā said Trump.
āWeāre all in this together, and they should be doing that.
āAnd frankly, anything new, and I hadnāt heard what he [Biden] said yet, but anything new has got to be looked at very carefully.
āBut they should be doing that if they have facts.
āI mean, the facts are public.
āThey shouldĀ be made public immediately,ā Trump asserted.
āPeople should understand that, and they should know what research is showing and what fact-finding.ā
Trump added, āDonāt forget, when we started, nobody ever had any idea, even the word pandemic.
āIt was 100 years ago -1917- that was the last time.
āAnd it was a horrible thing.
āOne hundred million people perhaps died, but nobody thought that could happen again.
āIt seemed like an ancient kind of thing ā the plague.
āThey talked about the plague, but we had our own plague.
āIt was called Covid. It was called the China Virus.ā
āWhat that Wuhan lab and what came out of there, because it came out of the Wuhan lab,ā Trump continued.
āAnd what that did to the world was unbelievable.
āSixty trillion in damages, so many dead people, millions and millions of people all over the world.
āWhat happened there was just horrible,ā said Trump.
PREP shields Big Pharma from liability for vaccine injuries until December 2024.
āPresident Biden, just a couple of days ago, said he is going to release a new vaccine that works.
āThose are his exact words; āthat works.ā
āI donāt know if thatās to indicate that he thinks the last vaccine didnāt work.
āBut the pharmaceutical companies have been protected by the PREP Act and that protects them until, I think, itās December ā24 when that sun sets.ā
Dixon then asked Trump if the mRNA shot makers should be held accountable for vaccine injuries after that date.
āSo once that sun sets, and then they can be held liable for any type of vaccine injuries, will you tell these companies that they must be honest about what has happened with this vaccine?ā she asked.
āAnd do you believe that we should be starting a new vaccine at this point?ā
Trump emphasized that these companies must be held accountable.
āThey have to be honest with the numbers, the facts, and they have an obligation to be honest,ā he said.
āAnd if they are going to hold back, that means theyāre holding back something thatās not good.ā
In closing, Tudor Dixon noted the publicās strong desire for Trump to continue advocating for people who are skeptical of vaccines and those who are vaccine-injured.
āMr. President, Iām telling you, there are people out there that are desperate to have you stand for them in that case,ā said Dixon.
āWell, weāll stand for them in many waysā¦,ā Trump vowed.
