Today’s Top 5:
1.The GOP version of the “Schiff Show” in Milwaukee unzipped a lot of flies … all people can talk about is Ramaswamy … and he was attacked multiple times … by Pence, Haley and Christie … and he had comebacks and counterpunches.
Pence said, “We don’t need to bring in a rookie.” Haley attacked Ramaswamy on his lack of experience in foreign policy and Christie hit Vivek with a canned “Sounds like ChatGPT”. DeSantis did not perform as well as expected. Pence ruined his credibility by being angry and argumentative. Everyone but Ramaswamy wanted a continued war in Ukraine and Ramaswamy was the only candidate who raised his hand (high) when the panel was asked that Trump, if convicted, “Who would pardon him?” The GOP is really in shambles. All Asa Hutchinson could talk about was what he did in Arkansas.
Both Hutchinson and Christie magpied their prosecutorial experience and how they would promote federal overreach into states’ rights, despite mentioning the Constitution. The only time “Democracy” was mentioned was the constant banner displayed by Fox. All in all, Ramaswamy, DeSantis and Haley got the most applause and cheers. Ramaswamy is the only candidate that said he would go after deep state and he did take a swipe at DeSantis, referencing him as a “Super PAC puppet”.
Two different takes:
GOP Debate Livewire – Candidates Face Off in Milwaukee as Trump Sits with Tucker Carlson Instead
The 2024 GOP presidential primary is now officially underway as several candidates face off on the debate stage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but the biggest elephant is not in the room.
Former President Donald Trump, in a snub to debate network Fox News, instead sat with former Fox host Tucker Carlson for a taped interview rolled out right before the debate on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
However, several other GOP candidates–Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie–are set to appear on the stage. Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum are moderating the debate.
2.Trump Employee Admitted to Lying to Grand Jury, Special Counsel’s Team Says
So, were you lying then or are you lying now? Talk about impeachment of a witness!
An employee of former President Donald Trump changed his testimony after retaining a new lawyer and is now admitting he lied to a grand jury, special counsel Jack Smith’s team says in a new court filing.
The unidentified worker, described as “Trump Employee 4” in court filings, was being represented by Stanley Woodward. Mr. Woodward is also representing other employees of President Trump, including Walt Nauta, a co-defendant of the former president.
Prosecutors raised concerns of potential conflict of interest because they had received indications the unnamed worker would incriminate Mr. Nauta and because President Trump’s political action committee was paying for Mr. Woodward’s work. Mr. Smith’s team asked a federal judge in Washington to explore the matter.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, appointed under President Barack Obama, directed a public defender in Washington to provide advice to the employee of President Trump, according to prosecutors. The employee on July 5 informed Judge Boasberg he no longer wished to retain Mr. Woodward and would move forward while being represented by the public defender.
3.‘Wind tunnel effect’ engineered to superheat Maui fire?
YouTube comedian JP Sears, known online as AwakenWithJP, used his familiar sarcasm, acting as a news reporter, to describe various anomalies in the Maui fires that have ravaged part of the island and may have taken hundreds of lives, many of them children who were home alone when school was cancelled while their parents were at work.
Mocking the establishment line
In a clip he labeled, “What They Don’t Want You to Know About the Maui Fires,” Sears describes speculation that a “DEW was used to intentionally start the fire so that a World Economic Forum friendly climate change fighting 15-Minute City” could replace the ruins.
NOTE: Deborah Tavares, who has spoken about Directed Energy Weapons for many years, will be joining The Power Hour next Wednesday the 30th for the 2nd hour.
4.Trump Will Be Treated as a Common Prisoner: Fulton County Sheriff
The Fulton County Sheriff claimed that Donald Trump will be treated like local inmates during the booking process, with no special accommodations accorded to the former U.S. president.
“If you’re indicted, then we’re going to treat you as though you’re indicted here locally, and so we’ll consider you to do fingerprints, mugshots, etc.” said Sheriff Patrick Labatt to CNN.
Charles Rambo, a retired lieutenant of the sheriff’s office, said to the media outlet that once inside “they would be pat down, led to the booking office in the rear. From there, they probably have to have ties and shoe strings and all those types of things taken. Then, from there the persons would be fingerprinted, given a booking photo.”
Nearly one year after President Joe Biden declared the pandemic over, some colleges and work places have reinstituted mask mandates amid reports that the administration is set to roll out new COVID regulations as early as next month.
The COVID sub-variant, currently known as Eris, which has been seen in more than 50 countries including Denmark and Israel, has spurred increasing numbers of medical professionals and health activists to begin calling for a reinstatement of COVID-era restrictions, including forced face coverings.
However, the public can expect any new regulations to be met by congressional pushback. Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) told The Epoch Times that new mandates would be “simply inappropriate for any level of government.”
“The notion that certain jurisdictions and institutions would rush back into mandate mode is not going to be well received by anyone in this country,” said Mr. Kiley. “The president himself has declared an end to the national emergency. A review of the evidence around these mandates has not shown a positive health impact.”
WORLD NEWS
Private jet crashes in Russia with Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin ‘on board’
Wagner chief Prigozhin listed as a passenger on the plane that crashed in the Tver Region.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group that led a mutiny against Russia’s army in June, was on the list of passengers of a plane that has crashed in Russia.
“The plane that crashed in the Tver Region listed Yevgeny Prigozhin among its passengers, [Russia’s aviation agency] Rosaviatsia said,” TASS news agency reported on Wednesday, with RIA Novosti and Interfax issuing similar reports.
Russian military pilot reportedly defects to Ukraine with helicopter
Flight was culmination of intelligence operation, Ukrainian military sources tell newspaper, but Russian blogger claims pilot got lost
A Russian military helicopter has landed in Ukraine, reportedly after the pilot was convinced to defect in a six-month intelligence operation.
A Russian military blogger said a helicopter had crossed the border with three people on board “a couple of weeks ago”, but claimed the aircraft had lost its way.
The twin-engine Mi-8 AMTSh was on a flight between two airbases, transporting parts for Su-27 and Su-30 fighter jets, Ukrainska Pravda newspaper reported, citing defence intelligence sources.
The pilot’s family had already been moved to Ukraine as part of the defection operation and he would join them, it said. Both crew members were killed, the Russian blogger and Ukrainian reports said.
Xi Jinping Abruptly Bails on Key BRICS Speech Blaming U.S. for China’s Woeful Economy
Genocidal Chinese dictator Xi Jinping failed to show up on Tuesday night to deliver a speech at the BRICS Business Forum, sending Commerce Minister Wang Wentao to read remarks allegedly prewritten by Xi.
Xi’s absence was of particular note because he landed in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Monday to attend the BRICS summit and was expected at all the events of the three-day affair. Xi made multiple appearances in public on Tuesday without incident, alongside South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and attended the BRICS summit dinner on Tuesday night following Wang’s speech – he only skipped delivering his address to the business forum, in which he would have defended the state of the Chinese economy to attending potential investors.
Ex-Political Prisoner Flees China for Freedom on a Jet Ski
South Korea’s Coast Guard confirmed this week it had arrested a man from China attempting to enter the country on a jet ski. In remarks on Wednesday, a human rights campaigner confirmed the man in question was anti-communist dissident Kwon Pyong, who served an 18-year prison sentence in 2017 for wearing an anti-Xi Jinping shirt.
According to South Korean news outlets, the Coast Guard detailed on Tuesday a dramatic journey spanning nearly 200 miles across the Yellow Sea from Shandong province, south of Beijing, to the Korean Peninsula. The man in question navigated the journey using a compass and binoculars, as well as towing five barrels of fuel to refill when necessary at sea. He also repeatedly wore a life vest and helmet.
Germany Proceeding With Plan to Make Citizenship Easier to Encourage More Migrants
Germany plans to ease citizenship rules under legislation approved Wednesday by the Cabinet, a project that the government contends will bolster the integration of immigrants and help an economy that is struggling with a shortage of skilled workers.
The legislation passed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his ministers still requires approval from the lower house of parliament, where the socially liberal three-party coalition has a comfortable majority. It could take effect in January, depending on how quickly that happens.
The government plans to make people eligible for citizenship after five years in Germany, or three in case of “special integration accomplishments,” rather than eight or six years at present. German-born children would automatically become citizens if one parent has been a legal resident for five years, down from eight years now.
Afghani Asylum Seeker Jailed for Raping 12-Year-Old Girl in Migrant Hotel
An asylum seeker from Afghanistan has been jailed for twice raping a 12-year-old girl with learning disabilities in a migrant hotel in London.
Sakhidad Ahadi, 25, was sentenced at the Croydon Crown Court to twelve years in prison for grooming and raping a 12-year-old refugee from Albania, however, he will likely only serve eight years behind bars before being considered for parole.
During the trial, Ahadi maintained that he was also 12 years old, despite evidence that he was in fact 25 years old. His lawyers also tried to argue that due to his upbringing in rural Afghanistan, he believed his young victim was 19 as “perceiving age may not be so clear to someone who has grown up in mountainous Afghanistan.” Judge Anthony Dunne said that he found this explanation “implausible”.
Vatican Slams ‘Inhuman’ U.S. Southern Border Fence
So we can all assume that the Vatican is “in on” the globalist agenda? Let’s just send all of the immigrants to the Vatican and see how they like taking care of their “tired and their poor”!
The Vatican newspaper has slammed the U.S. for its southern border fence with a frontpage article decrying “that inhuman wire.”
The L’Osservatore Romano piece is accompanied by a large photo of a young woman and a child attempting to crawl through the midst of razor wire, presumably in an effort to enter the United States illegally.
“The suffering of the migrants who try to get through the barriers placed between Mexico and the United States,” reads the caption.
Failing Upwards: Bank Boss Ousted Over Farage Debanking Scandal Gets £2.4m Payout
Nigel Farage has slammed the “sick joke” of the “corrupt British establishment” as it is revealed a bank executive who resigned over the debanking scandal in which Mr Farage had his accounts withdrawn over his political views and personal life will now receive a considerable payout from her former employer.
A top bank boss who leaked and briefed against one of her own customers — Brexit leader Nigel Farage — in an apparent attempt to discredit his criticisms of her bank is to walk away with a bumper £2.4 million payout. Dame Alison Rose resigned her position — jumped before she was pushed, some observers caustically claimed at the time — in July after it was revealed she had spoken to the UK state broadcaster the BBC and given them inaccurate information about Mr Farage’s business with them, a serious breach of banking standards.
India staked new claim as a national superpower in space on Wednesday, landing its Chandrayaan-3 mission safely on the moon’s unexplored south pole.
The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft launched last month and touched down on the lunar surface around 8:34 a.m. ET.
The feat makes India the fourth country to land on the moon, and the first to land on one of the moon’s lunar poles. Previously, Russia (then the Soviet Union), the U.S. and China landed spacecraft successfully on the moon.
US approves new sale of military equipment to Taiwan
The State Department has approved the sale of infrared search and track systems and other equipment for US-made F-16 jet fighters to Taiwan. The proposed deal worth $500 million was greenlighted on Wednesday, as tensions continue between Washington and Beijing, which considers Taiwan its territory.
BRICS more than doubles number of members
Six more nations have been approved to join the bloc of rising world powers
Six nations will become full-fledged members of the BRICS group of nations starting January 2024, after their candidacies were approved by leaders of the current member states, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced. The expansion topped the agenda of the summit in Johannesburg this week.
Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were welcomed as new members on Thursday. The bloc currently consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Fukushima: China retaliates as Japan releases treated nuclear water
Japan has begun its controversial discharge of treated waste water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean, sparking protests in the region and retaliation from Beijing.
China is the biggest buyer of seafood from Japan, and on Thursday it said it would block all such imports.
Japan says the water is safe, and many scientists agree. The UN’s nuclear watchdog has also approved the plan.
But critics say more studies need to be done and the release should be halted.
U.S. NEWS, POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
Watch: Tucker Carlson – Ep. 19 Debate Night with Donald J Trump
Fox News ‘banned from mentioning Tucker’s show with Donald Trump’
Even as 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls battle it out on Fox News in the first presidential primary debate Wednesday evening, the network is purportedly banning its talent from mentioning Tucker Carlson’s interview with President Donald Trump that airs at the same time.
Chadwick Moore, the biographer of Carlson, tweeted: “A current Fox News employee tells me everyone on Fox, including guests, are explicitly banned from mentioning tonight’s Tucker/Trump interview, even in the context of the debate.”
Judge Allows Televising of Trump’s Arraignment in Georgia
The arraignment of former President Donald Trump in Georgia on charges of election tampering is set to be televised after a judge ruled to allow cameras into the courtroom.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAffee on Aug. 22 agreed to a request by four local television stations to bring cameras into the courtroom to record arraignments, marking the first time that one of President Trump’s criminal proceedings will be televised.
McAffee’s order allows recording of video and audio between Aug. 23 and Sept. 8, 2023, which covers the period when Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said she plans to hold the arraignments.
According to court records, President Trump has agreed to have his bond set at $200,000.
Giuliani surrenders at Fulton County Jail, judge sets bond
Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, presidential candidate, and personal attorney to former President Donald Trump, surrendered at the Fulton County Jail Wednesday on charges related to efforts to overturn Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, according to his attorney.
“I talked to the president today, I have every confidence in him. What they’re doing to him is an assault on the American constitution,” Giuliani said to a crowd of reporters after being booked. When asked if had any regrets, he confidently said he had none.
Almost All GOP Candidates Say They Would Back Trump If He’s Convicted
Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis raised their hands when asked if they would vote for former President Donald Trump were he to be convicted.
It was a notable moment during the Aug. 23 GOP presidential primary debate, moderated by Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
REPORT: Biden Admin Welds Arizona Border Wall Gates Open
A media report revealed that Biden administration officials welded border wall gates open near Lukeville, Arizona. The open gates allow migrants to freely walk through the border wall and into the Arizona desert.
Border Patrol officials admitted responsibility for a decision to weld open flood gates in sections of border wall near Lukeville, the New York Post reported. The admission reportedly came after the agency attempted to blame other federal agencies for the action that allows thousands of migrants to freely cross into what is now the nation’s busiest border sector.
Exclusive: Joe Biden’s Email Alias on Government Network Raises Suspicion
President Joe Biden’s official government email alias in 2016 raised concern among Republicans, who question why “Robert L. Peters” received an email that cc’d Hunter Biden about Ukraine.
The email to Joe Biden’s alias account contained an attachment that House investigators last Thursday requested the National Archives disclose to Congress. Investigators are also interested to know why Hunter Biden was cc’d on the email concerning Ukraine.
Court Rules for Michigan Apple Orchard That Refused Same-Sex Weddings
A federal judge ruled in favor of a Michigan apple orchard owner who was banned from participating in a farmer’s market for refusing to host same-sex weddings.
Judge Paul Maloney, for the U.S District Court for the Western District of Michigan, ruled Monday that the city of East Lansing’s actions against Country Mill Farms constituted a violation of the free exercise clause.
“The city’s decision to exclude Country Mill Farms from the 2017 East Lansing Farmer’s Market constituted a burden on plaintiffs’ religious beliefs,” Maloney wrote, The Brunswick News reported.
South Carolina Court Upholds ‘Heartbeat’ Abortion Ban
South Carolina’s highest court on Wednesday upheld a new state law banning abortion after fetal heart activity is detected, usually after about six weeks of pregnancy, months after it blocked a similar ban.
Vivek Ramaswamy Says US Government Systematically ‘Lied About 9/11’
GOP candidate claims ‘The Atlantic’ took previous quotes out of context
GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said Monday that the U.S. government has lied in its official narrative about the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and that Americans “deserve the truth.”
Mr. Ramaswamy, the 38-year-old candidate whose poll numbers have steadily increased in recent weeks, told CNN that The Atlantic misquoted him about 9/11 and said he was instead referring to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach when he mentioned the involvement of federal agents.
During a contentious exchange with CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, the businessman was asked about his comments made during an interview last month. He said he was misquoted and said he believes there was no inside job—but that Saudi Arabia was involved in the attacks, and that the U.S. government covered it up.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Peloton Stock Craters 30% as It Warns of Continued Losses and Shrinking Subscriptions
Peloton shares cratered 30 percent on Wednesday to an all-time low, with the company warning of a negative cash flow in the next two quarters. Peloton stock has dropped 95 percent from its high during the coronavirus pandemic.
The fitness-bike maker also reported a drop in paying subscribers, adding that the costs of an equipment recall have decreased its profit, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
ANOTHER ONE? American Plant Food Corporation fertilizer plant in Texas BURNS to the ground
A fertilizer plant that local media reports state is “vital to the local community” in and around Austin, Tex., has burned to the ground, making it the latest in a long line of food-related businesses that have mysteriously caught fire and collapsed into a ruinous heap over the past couple of years.
The American Plant Food Corporation in Bartlett, Tex., near Round Rock reportedly caught fire around 8:30 p.m. on August 20, which is when the Bartlett Volunteer Fire Department received a call to come put it out at 9901 North Highway 95.
According to Fire Chief Steven Wentrcek, crews arrived at the scene to find the facility “fully engulfed” in flames. The fire was so severe that the Bartlett Volunteer Fire Department sought help from numerous other departments in surrounding areas.
Firefighters initially worked to contain a six-acre grass fire that ignited as a result of the fire from the plant. Then, after that was put out, fire crews let the facility itself finish burning out overnight, after which it was finally contained.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Proposed UN Cybercrime Treaty Threatens to be an Expansive Global Surveillance Pact
This is Part V in EFF’s ongoing series about the proposed UN Cybercrime Convention. Read Part I for a quick snapshot of the ins and outs of the zero draft; Part II for a deep dive on Chapter IV dealing with domestic surveillance powers; Part III for a deep dive on Chapter V regarding international cooperation: the historical context, the zero draft’s approach, scope of cooperation, and protection of personal data, and Part IV, which deals with the criminalization of security research.
In the heart of New York City, a watershed moment for protecting users against unfettered government surveillance is unfolding at the sixth session of negotiations to formulate the UN Cybercrime Convention. Delegates from Member States have convened at UN Headquarters for talks this week and next that will shape the digital and fair trial rights of billions. EFF and our allies will be actively engaged throughout the talks, participating in lobbying efforts and delivering presentations. Despite repeated civil society objections, the zero draft of the Convention is looking less like a cybercrime treaty and more like an expansive global surveillance pact.
Over the next 10 days, more than 145 representatives of Member States of the United Nations will invest 60 hours in deliberations, aiming for consensus on most provisions. Focused parallel meetings, coined “informals,” will tackle the most contentious issues. These meetings are often closed to civil society and other multi-stakeholders, sidestepping important input from human and digital rights defenders about crucial interpretations of the draft treaty text. The outcome of these discussions could potentially shape the most controversial treaty powers and definitions, underscoring the urgency for multi-stakeholder observation. It is critical that states allow external observers to participate in these informals over the next two weeks.
HEALTH
RECALL WARNING IGNORED:
Recalled Baby Products Linked to Over 100 Deaths Still Being Sold on Facebook, Lawmakers Say
Despite high-profile recalls, baby products with design flaws linked to more than 100 infant deaths are still sold on Facebook Marketplace, a bipartisan group of four members of Congress said.
The products in question include Boppy Newborn Lounger pillow, which was recalled in 2021; and Fisher-Price’s Rock ‘n Play sleeper, which has been blamed for more than 100 baby deaths since 2009.
In an Aug. 17 letter sent to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the lawmakers wrote that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) had made repeated requests to have Boppy Newborn Lounger taken down from Marketplace, but the product remains available on the platform.
“CPSC has formally requested an average of about one thousand take down requests a month for this product,” read the letter, signed by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee; Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), the committee’s ranking member; Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.); and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.).
FDA Warns Against Eye Drops Due to Bacteria, Fungus
Tainted eye drops are back in the news, with federal regulators warning consumers not to use certain eye drops because of contamination concerns.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday advised people to avoid purchasing and immediately stop using Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution and LightEyez MSM Eye Drops—Eye Repair because the drops may be contaminated with bacteria, fungus or both.
Specific microbes isolated from FDA testing include Bacillus (a bacterium) and fungal Exophiala in the Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution.
These people are sick and twisted!
In a mind-boggling move by the American Medical Association, two bioethicists writing for their Journal of Ethics propose that uterus transplants for transwomen should be subsidized by private insurance and government providers.
As recently reported by the Daily Mail, the American Medical Association made arguments in their Journal of Ethics that biological men who have undergone transgender surgery (aka “transgender woman” or “transwomen”) should not only be able to receive uterus transplants in order to experience pregnancy, but that they are ‘plausibly justified’ in having the procedure covered by medical insurance providers.
It’s hard to keep track of all the research that has determined kids’ excessive use and exposure to screens is bad for their health. A new study making headlines right now is that screen use and exposure can cause developmental delays in kids under the age of four. A study published in June stated that excessive use of cell phones could shorten kids’ lifespans. One in April concluded it could lead to spinal problems and other risk factors (physical, physiological, psychological, and behavioral). Of course, research has also determined that exposure to blue light from screens (and other sources) is biologically harmful. Additionally, decades of research have also determined that exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) from cell phones and other wireless sources – including 5G – is biologically harmful with children being especially vulnerable to it. In fact, manufacturers are required to provide consumers with warnings about radiation exposure from cell phones and other wireless devices.
Weirdly enough, this new study with troubling results was conducted by requiring kids to wear smartwatches to monitor their behavior. Of course, smartwatches (and other wearables) expose wearers to biologically harmful radiation too!
Inactivity and screen time among children linked to heart damage by young adulthood
KUOPIO, Finland — Allowing children to consistently watch TV for extended periods can lead to heart-related issues years later, a new study warns. Researchers discovered that being inactive from childhood through young adulthood displays a link to heart damage, independent of factors like weight and blood pressure.
For every additional minute of inactivity between ages 11 and 24, there was a 0.004g/m (grams in relation to height) increase in the mass of the heart’s left ventricle by the time these children reached 17 to 24 years of age.
From childhood to young adulthood, sedentary periods increased by an average of 2.8 hours daily, or 169 minutes. At this rate, the left ventricle expanded by 0.7g/m every day. Prior research indicated that a similar growth in the left ventricle mass – specifically 1g/m – over seven years doubled the chances of heart disease, strokes, and death.
The latest study reported that 11-year-old children were inactive for about 362 minutes a day. This rose to 474 minutes by age 15 and 531 minutes by age 24.
Drinking This Daily Increases Liver Cancer Risk By 85% (Nope, Not Alcohol)
Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Increase Risk Of Liver Cancer, Study Finds
If you decide to limit your alcohol intake or quit drinking entirely, your liver is sure to send you a thank-you note. But how do other beverages impact liver health and function? A new study provides a clue: Here’s what happened when researchers investigated how sugary drinks affect the all-important detoxification organ.
Sugar-sweetened beverages harm liver health
A recent study published in Jama Network1 found that those who drank one or more sugar-sweetened beverages daily2 had an 85% higher risk of liver cancer and 68% higher risk of mortality due to chronic liver disease compared to those who had three or fewer sugar-sweetened beverages per month.
The study was done on 98,786 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 who were enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative from 1993 to 1998. During this time, the women documented how many sugar-sweetened beverages they drank daily. This did not include naturally sweet drinks like fruit juice. Researchers then followed up with participants in March 2020 to asses health changes.
During that follow-up, 207 women had developed liver cancer, and 148 had died from chronic liver disease. When researchers analyzed these results against questionnaires about diet habits, they found that women who consumed one or more servings per day of sugar-sweetened beverages had a significantly higher risk of liver cancer than those who did not.
COVID RELATED NEWS
DOJ charges 371 people, launches new COVID fraud strike forces
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Wednesday the launch of two new COVID-19 fraud strike forces, as 371 people were charged over offenses in connection to the alleged theft of more than $800 million in coronavirus aid.
Out of the 371 defendants charged with pandemic-related fraud, 119 of them either pleaded guilty or were convicted at trial, according a DOJ press release. Authorities also said that more than $57 million in court-ordered restitution was imposed, and 117 civil matters occurred during the federal sweep, with more than $10.4 million in judgments.
Federal prosecutors also worked with law enforcement authorities to secure forfeiture of more than $231.4 million, the DOJ said.
“The Justice Department has now seized over $1.4 billion in COVID-19 relief funds that criminals had stolen and charged over 3,000 defendants with crimes in federal districts across the country,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
“This latest action, involving over 300 defendants and over $830 million in alleged COVID-19 fraud, should send a clear message: the COVID-19 public health emergency may have ended, but the Justice Department’s work to identify and prosecute those who stole pandemic relief funds is far from over.”
The department also announced the launch of two additional coronavirus fraud strike forces: one at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and one at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
The department said that the two new strike forces add to the three strikes launched last September in California, Florida and Maryland.
Biden Administration Announces Massive $5 Billion COVID-19 Funding Called “Project NextGen”
This week, InfoWars published insider information that alleges the TSA and US Border Patrol will be moving back to 2020-era COVID-19 mandates and restrictions starting in mid-September through mid-October, to include mask mandates on all flights. This is in addition to the confirmed mask-mandate reinstatement at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, GA and Lionsgate Studios in Santa Monica, CA.
That same week, WarRoom’s Natalie Winters uncovered millions of dollars in funding, awarded primarily for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, to ramp up testing and other COVID-19 related. This was just a week after the NIH appointed Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, a staunch advocate for masks, lockdowns, and vaccine mandates, as the replacement for Dr. Fauci.
To further the suggestion that another lockdown scare is in the forecast, yesterday the US Department of Health and Human Services announced funding of $1.4 billion to “support the development of a new generation of tools and technologies to protect against COVID-19 for years to come” according to a press release:
The awards announced today follow extensive coordination with industry partners and include support for clinical trials that will enable the rapid development of even more effective and longer-lasting coronavirus vaccines, a new monoclonal antibody, and transformative technologies to streamline manufacturing processes.
“Project NextGen is a key part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to keeping people safe from COVID-19 variants,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “These awards are a catalyst for the program – kickstarting efforts to more quickly develop vaccines and continue to ensure availability of effective treatments.”
Project NextGen, a $5 billion initiative led by ASPR’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in partnership with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), coordinates across the federal government and the private sector to advance innovative vaccines and therapeutics into clinical trials, regulatory review, and potential commercial availability for the American people. The project builds on a better understanding of COVID-19 – with HHS developing, using, and constantly re-evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of current vaccines and therapeutics for over three years.
CDC Says New COVID-19 Variant Could Cause Infections in Vaccinated People
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated Wednesday the new BA.2.86 COVID-19 lineage may cause infection in people who received vaccines or previously had the virus.
The CDC said it is too soon to know whether this might cause more severe illness compared with previous variants. But due to the high number of mutations detected in this lineage, there were concerns about its impact on immunity from vaccines and previous infections, the agency said.
“The large number of mutations in this variant raises concerns of greater escape from existing immunity from vaccines and previous infections compared with other recent variants,” the CDC stated in its assessment. “For example, one analysis of mutations suggests the difference may be as large as or greater than that between BA.2 and XBB.1.5, which circulated nearly a year apart.”
But it said that “virus samples are not yet broadly available for more reliable laboratory testing of antibodies, and it is too soon to know the real-world impacts on immunity.”
CANCEL CULTURE
Catholic School System Asks Students to Use Biological Pronouns and Names
A Catholic school system in Massachusetts under the Diocese of Worcester is asking students to behave in accordance with their sex, including while using pronouns and names.
“All students are expected to conduct themselves at school in a manner consistent with their biological sex,” the Diocese said in an Aug. 15 announcement. “School practice shall consider the gender of all students as being consistent with their biological sex, including, but not limited to, the following: participation in school athletics; school-sponsored dances; dress and uniform policies; the use of changing facilities, showers, locker rooms, and bathrooms; titles, names, and pronouns; and official school documents.”
Official documents, including school records, transcripts, and diplomas shall reflect the student’s biological sex as determined at the time of their birth and enrollment.
The new policy prohibits students from engaging in advocacy, celebration, or expression of same-sex attraction in ways that cause “confusion or distraction” to the function of the school like classes, events, and other activities.
It also prohibits bullying, harassment, threats, or acts of violence against students on the b
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