WORLD NEWS
Study: 57% of Argentina Living in Poverty, a 20-Year High
The Catholic University of Argentina found the poverty rate in the country to be at 57.4 percent in January, the highest rate recorded in 20 years, the financial newspaper Ámbito recently reported.
The study’s projections indicated a population of 27 million poor Argentines, of which 7 million would be classified as indigent.
The study, first published by the Argentine newspaper, found that poverty rates dramatically jumped from 49.5 in December to 57.4 in January mainly as a result of Argentina’s inflation rate and the devaluation of the Argentine peso and the subsequent spike in prices of basic items, including food, services, and other non-food goods.
The government of President Javier Milei, as part of its broad “shock therapy” plan to repair Argentina’s economy after almost two decades of socialist rule, carried out a dramatic devaluation of the peso in December to bring its official exchange value closer to that of the street market rates.
Before Milei’s inauguration, Argentina maintained an extremely convoluted multi-tier currency control and exchange system, with different and sometimes highly specific exchange rates that kept the peso artificially strong. The system led to a wide gap between “official” rates and parallel rates that existed out of the exchange control system.
“The true legacy of the caste model: 6 out of 10 Argentines are poor. The destruction of the last hundred years has no parallel in the history of the West,” Milei’s message read. “Politicians have to understand that people voted for a change and that we are going to give our lives to carry it out.”
“The president always said it was going to be hard; if one could get out of so many decades of disaster in two months, it would be easy,” he continued. “We are doing the impossible so that this transition is the least burdensome; the alternative was hyperinflation.”
The National Institute of Statistics and Census of Argentina measured January’s inflation rate at 20.6 percent, down from December’s 25.5 percent, for an accumulated total of 254.2 percent over the past year.
Zelensky: Tucker Carlson’s Putin Interview ‘Two Hours of Bullsh*t’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday on Fox News Channel’s “Special Report” that Tucker Carlson’s interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin was “two hours of bullshit.”
Host Bret Baier said, “My former colleague, Tucker Carlson, recently traveled to Moscow and sat down for an interview with Vladimir Putin. Did you happen to see that or coverage of it?”
Zelensky said, “I heard some messages in the media, and also my guys who are advisers told me. I don’t have time to hear more than two hours of bullshit about us, about the world, about the United States, about our relations and this interview with a killer. I got some briefing on what was there.”
Baier said, “One of the things he did say is that you signed a decree forbidding any negotiations with Russia and that he said Russia has never refused to negotiate.”
Zelensky said, “It’s not negotiations. Negotiations with tanks with occupation of Ukraine was destroying our people. It’s not about negotiations. That’s the first thing. Secondly, everyone knows, and everyone will tell you both Macron and Schultz they talked to Putin before the occupation and he told them that there would be no occupation, there would be no invasion. And like after that just half an hour before the invasion, he sent them a note. So he can’t be trusted. And whatever he’s promising, well, that’s nothing.”
Oil Companies Relinquish Last Pacific Coast Drilling Permits to Canada
Canadian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Wednesday that with the voluntary return of 23 permits by Chevron Canada in February, energy companies have surrendered the last of the outstanding permits for oil and gas drilling off Canada’s Pacific coast.
Canada’s provincial and federal governments imposed a moratorium on issuing any new oil and gas exploration permits off its western coastline in 1972. The stated reason was to avoid possible environmental disasters and interference with fishing operations in the area; no one was talking about “decarbonization” at the time. Permits issued before 1972 were still technically valid, but effectively impossible to use.
Canada considered lifting the ban and issuing new permits in the 1980s, but the 1989 Exxon Valdez tanker accident scuttled those plans. The energy industry’s hopes rose when a scientific review requested by the government of British Columbia in 2002 concluded there was no scientific justification for the moratorium, provided a set of recommendations for protecting fisheries, coastal residents, and the environment were followed.
A federal panel reached similar conclusions in 2004, but the moratorium remained in place, partly due to the sense that First Nations tribal groups in the coastal region were opposed to drilling.
Chevron Canada announced two weeks ago that it would not pursue development in the permitted areas. The company said it otherwise remains “committed to safely and responsibly developing Canada’s onshore and offshore oil and gas resources.”
ExxonMobil last year surrendered nine British Columbia permits it had held for more than fifty years.
U.S. NEWS, POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
Major AT&T Outage Reported Across US, Company Says Most of the Network Restored
AT&T and Cricket went down for many of its customers across the United States yesterday, the company confirmed, as numerous subscribers reported an outage.
With the network outage, customers—including Epoch Times reporters—were not able to make phone calls, send texts, or access the internet using the network.
Users of T-Mobile and Verizon, too, were reporting outages yesterday, but it appears that AT&T and Cricket, which use the same network, were suffering the most, according to DownDetector. As of Thursday at 9 a.m. ET, about 74,000 users reported AT&T outages, while more than 13,000 Cricket users reported the same, the website showed.
A few thousand T-Mobile and Verizon customers also reported outages, the website
shows. DownDetector only records self-reported service outages, so the actual number of people without service is likely much higher. It’s often used by customers who can’t access a network, service, app, or website.
In a statement to several news outlets on Thursday, AT&T confirmed the outage and urged users to use Wi-Fi calling in the meantime. “Some of our customers are experiencing wireless service interruptions this morning. We are working urgently to restore service to them,” it said in a statement.
AT&T’s outage web page included a notice that “some customers in your area are having trouble making or receiving calls. As a result, we are experiencing long hold times. We apologize for this inconvenience and we are working to resolve this issue.”
T-Mobile and Verizon said that they are not suffering outages. “We did not experience an outage,” T- Mobile told news outlets. “Our network is operating normally.”
“Down Detector is likely reflecting challenges our customers were having attempting to connect to users on other networks,” T-Mobile told Fox News.
Top Senator Issues Warning on Chinese Cyberattack Targeting Critical Infrastructure
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) warned on social media that the outage that affected AT&T on Feb. 22 could be significantly smaller than what a Chinese cyberattack could do.
For much of the morning on Feb. 22, tens of thousands of people on Downdetector and elsewhere complained their AT&T or Cricket service was out, while AT&T, which owns Cricket, confirmed the outage. By the afternoon, the company stated that about 75 percent of its service was restored.
The outage drew a response from Mr. Rubio, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, who said that while he doesn’t know what caused the outage, he does know that “it will be 100 times worse when China launches a cyber attack on America on the eve of a Taiwan invasion.”
“And it won’t be just cell service they hit, it will be your power, your water, and your bank,” he said.
A number of federal officials over the years have increasingly issued warnings about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) abilities to carry out cyberattacks targeting American infrastructure. According to a recent statement from FBI Director Christopher Wray, the CCP is currently carrying out cyberattacks against the United States and its allies.
“You might find your companies harassed and hacked, targeted by a web of corporate CCP proxies,” he said earlier this month in Germany.
CCP hackers and proxies may be “lurking in your power stations, your phone companies and other infrastructure, poised to take them down when they decide you stepped too far out of line, and that hurting your civilian population suits the CCP,” he said, according to an FBI transcript.
“China-sponsored hackers pre-positioned for potential cyberattacks against U.S. oil and natural gas companies way back in 2011, but these days, it’s reached something closer to a fever pitch,” he said. “What we’re seeing now is China’s increasing build-out of offensive weapons within our critical infrastructure, poised to attack whenever Beijing decides the time is right.”
Amid the AT&T outage, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis commented that U.S. infrastructure is vulnerable.
“Imagine if we had an EMP [electromagnetic pulse] attack. What would end up happening to this country?” he asked. “You’re so naturally reliant on having cell service. It’s a little bit jarring to think about.
“If you’re in the car, you need to figure out where you’re going to go. All this other stuff. So it’s a little bit jarring to think about the implications of something like that [if that] happened on a much grander scale.”
An EMP is “a burst of electromagnetic energy produced by a nuclear explosion in the atmosphere, considered capable of widespread damage to power lines” and other systems, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
A controversial New York City law that would have allowed 800,000 noncitizens, but legal residents, to vote in municipal elections was struck down as unconstitutional by a state appeals court Wednesday.
“We determine that this local law was enacted in violation of the New York State Constitution and Municipal Home Rule Law, and thus, must be declared null and void,” Appellate Judge Paul Wooten wrote in the 3-1 majority decision.
Wooten said the state constitution broadly refers to only citizens having the right to vote in elections, municipal as well as statewide or for state legislative offices.
“Article IX provides that the elected officials of ‘local governments’ shall be elected by ‘the people,’ which incorporates by reference the eligibility requirements for voting under article II, section 1, applying exclusively to ‘citizens,’” the judge wrote.
The decision upholds a lower court ruling issued by Staten Island Supreme Court Justice Ralph Porzio in June 2022, which Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council had appealed.
Trump Seeks Dismissal of Mar-a-Lago Case, Says Jack Smith Lacks Authority
Former President Donald Trump filed several motions to dismiss a classified documents case being pursued against him in Florida on Thursday, arguing that, amongst other things, special counsel Jack Smith “lacks the authority” to prosecute the case.
In one of four motions, attorneys for the former president contend that neither the U.S. Constitution nor Congress had officially established the special counsel’s office, rendering Mr. Smith’s appointment invalid.
Furthermore, they argue that the special counsel’s office is being funded “off the books” by the Biden administration.
The motion, which cites the Appointments Clause, argues that Attorney General Merrick Garland did not have the authority to appoint a “like-minded political ally” as special counsel “without Senate confirmation.”
“As such, Jack Smith lacks the authority to prosecute this action,” the motion reads.
President Trump’s lawyers argue that the only remedy is to dismiss the superseding indictment.
The Appointments Clause stipulates that all federal offices, except for the president’s, must be established by Congress and appointed with the advice and consent of the Senate. This is with the exception of federal offices created through the Necessary and Proper Clause, which empowers Congress to make laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the powers vested in the government.
“There is, however, no statute establishing the Office of Special Counsel,” the motion reads.
“As a result, because neither the Constitution nor Congress have created the office of the ‘Special Counsel,’ Smith’s appointment is invalid and any prosecutorial power he seeks to wield is ultra vires,” meaning beyond his authority.
In addition to arguing that Mr. Smith’s appointment was unlawful, the four motions argued that the case should be dismissed on the basis of presidential immunity, the Presidential Records Act, and unconstitutional vagueness.
Mr. Garland appointed Mr. Smith as special counsel on Nov. 18, 2022, to “prosecute federal crimes arising from the investigation” into President Trump’s handling of classified documents seized from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach.
President Trump’s attorneys argue in their Thursday filing that Mr. Smith, at best, is classified as an employee rather than an “officer” under the statutes cited by Mr. Garland in making his appointment, which they say lacks the legal foundation required by the Appointments Clause.
Attorneys for the former president argue that Mr. Smith’s office is drawing from an endless “off the books” pot of money from the Department of Justice (DOJ) instead of the ordinary budget process, in violation of the Appropriations Clause of the Constitution.
Judge Denies Trump’s Request for Stay in Fraud Judgment
New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron has denied former President Donald Trump’s request for a 30-day stay of judgment after defense attorneys protested the attorney general’s “rush” for enforcement.
“I intend to sign the proposed judgment this morning,” Justice Engoron wrote in a Feb. 22 email. The judgment has already been delivered to the county clerk, according to the docket.
Responding to a request for a stay, he added: “You have failed to explain, much less justify, any basis for a stay. I am confident that the Appellate Division will protect your appellate rights.”
On Feb. 16, Justice Engoron issued his verdict in the multimillion-dollar civil fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James against President Trump and The Trump Organization. Days later, attorney Colleen Faherty submitted a proposed judgment outlining the penalties put forth by Justice Engoron.
In response, defense attorney Clifford Robert, who represented Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., responded on behalf of all defendants arguing that it was “improper” for the prosecutors to submit a proposal for judgment without “any notice whatsoever” on the defendants’ part.
Justice Engoron responded by email on Feb. 21, asking defendants to “please let me know, by 5 p.m. today, if you object in any specific ways and how your counter-judgment would differ.”
He noted that the proposed judgment “exactly tracks” with the language of his order “except for the addition of defendants’ addresses and blanks for interest amounts.”
Mr. Robert then filed another reply letter, arguing that the attorney general’s “unseemly rush to memorialize a ‘judgment’ violates all accepted practice in New York state court.”
He asked to stay enforcement of the judgment for 30 days and argued that given that a court-appointed monitor is still in place, there should be no issue with a delay. Mr. Robert also highlighted two errors: one regarding when the interest should begin on the $1 million penalty for The Trump Organization’s former Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg, and the other concerning the business addresses of the defendants.
On Feb. 22, Andrew Amer, special counsel for the attorney general’s office, objected to the use of Florida addresses for the defendants, arguing that Trump Tower, in New York City, is where Trump Organization offices are located and business is conducted.
Mr. Amer objected to a 30-day stay on enforcement, arguing that the defendants didn’t sufficiently provide a basis for that request. He argued that the court hadn’t directed the state to confer with the defendants and there was no requirement that they do so, and he noted that the error regarding Mr. Weisselberg was inadvertent.
On top of the $355 million that President Trump will need to pay, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. have also been fined $4 million each, and Mr. Weisselberg $1 million.
Court-appointed monitor Barbara Jones will continue to monitor The Trump Organization for at least three years, and within 30 days submit her proposal for the authority she needs and recommendations for a risk compliance officer.
Additional penalties may be ordered at the recommendation of Ms. Jones and the compliance officer at a later date.
And as to New York AG Letiticia James’s idea of seizing Trump’s assets …
After Ms. James’s threat, Trump lawyer Alina Habba said that the attorney general has a “goal of tearing down The Trump Organization” and a “goal of tearing down the individuals that worked so hard, including on his campaign, his family, and the list goes on and on.”
“Her goal is frankly not going to succeed,” she said in a Fox News interview,“ adding, ”That’s all I’m willing to say.”
As the blowback continues over Democrat Mayor Eric Adams’ plan to give illegal border crossers in city shelters pre-paid debit cards, ostensibly to use to buy food, members of the city council have asked for an investigation into the scheme.
Adams proposed his new policy early in February, and insisted the program that would allow illegals to feed themselves would save the city millions of dollars in often wasted food-service costs.
The mayor estimated the pre-paid cards would cost the city $53 million, and would allow migrants to spend $35 per day, or $1,000 a month, to buy food to prepare for themselves, instead of being handed pre-made meals supplied by the city.
One part of the program that has raised eyebrows, though, is the no-bid contract that Adams doled out to launch the program.
According to WLNY-TV, Councilmember Gale Brewer blasted the mayor for the contract award, saying, “I think you should bid it out to see who would do the best job at the best cost for taxpayers.”
Brewer demanded the council launch an investigation into the mayor’s program, set to cover 500 families as a test case.
“I don’t know exactly how it’s going to work. I do see from the release it will be for diapers and baby products and food, but you have to be careful that that’s what it’s actually going to be for,” Brewer noted.
For his part, Adams said the debit card company, Mobility Capital Finance, was attractive to him because the company was minority owned.
Adams also insisted he had no personal relationship with the principles at Mobility Capital Finance, and quipped, “We don’t hang out in the Hamptons together or go to baseball games together.”
Meanwhile, reports indicate that 56 percent of New Yorkers are living near the poverty line, a segment of the population that has surged since 2021. The number of New Yorkers living in poverty increased by 500,000 from 2021 to 2022, the largest increase in poverty since the data first started being tracked 12 years ago.
Report: Attacks on Churches Increased 800% in 6 Years
Attacks on churches have increased nearly 800 percent in less than six years, indicating that “hostility against U.S. churches is not only on the rise but also accelerating,” a Family Research Council (FRC) report found.
Between 2018 and 2023, FRC identified 915 acts of hostility against churches in the United States by analyzing open-source documents, reports, and media outlets. In just the last year alone (between January and November of 2023), 436 acts of hostility against churches occurred, according to the report.
“This was more than double the number of incidents in all 12 months of 2022, which was 195. It also marked the second consecutive year that saw more than twice the number of incidents of the year before,” the report states. “There were at least 96 incidents in 2021, 55 in 2020, 83 in 2019, and 50 in 2018. Over the entire reporting period for this report, from 2018 to 2023, acts of hostility appear to have increased in frequency over time”
The report notes that the increase “could be due in part to increased public reporting on crimes against churches, resulting in more available data than in the past.”
By category, 315 attacks in 2023 were vandalisms, 75 were arson attacks or arson attempts, ten were gun-related, 20 were bomb threats, and 37 fell in the “other” category. Seventeen incidents fell into multiple categories, according to the report.
Between 2018 and 2023, there were at least 709 occurrences of vandalism, 135 arson attacks or attempts, 22 gun-related incidents, 32 bomb threats, and 61 other incidents (assault, threats, interruption of worship services, etc.). In 39 cases, multiple types of hostility occurred (e.g., vandalism and arson), the report states.
The incidents occurred in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, although states with larger populations tended to report more incidents.
According to the FRC, the motives of most of the incidents are unknown, although many attacks had political overtones and several were overtly Satanic. At least 59 of the churches in the report were repeat victims with verifiable timeframes of the incidents, according to the FRC.
“Some acts of vandalism against churches appeared to have been motivated by anger toward the targeted church. Other acts appeared to have a political motivation. Some incidents appeared to have been committed by juveniles or persons struggling with mental illness,” the report states. “Several instances of vandalism also involved theft. Many acts of vandalism against churches were under criminal investigation; a minority were under investigation as hate crimes Police were often unable to identify the vandals.
Prosecution of Far-Right but Not Antifa for Same Riots ‘Constitutionally Impermissible’: Judge
A federal judge on Feb. 21 found that the “selective prosecution” of far-right groups without charging their far-left counterparts for the same acts is “constitutionally impermissible.”
U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney therefore dismissed charges against two men from the “white nationalist” Rise Above Movement (RAM) who violently clashed with members of the far-left group Antifa at three Southern California pro-Trump events in 2017.
In his 35-page order, the judge stressed the importance of equal protection under the law. He said that although the two men may have been involved in violent acts, prosecutors were wrong to exclusively target them without also pursuing charges against Antifa members implicated in similar violent actions at political events.
Man Dies After Bite From Pet Gila Monster
A Colorado man who died after getting bitten by a Gila monster was hardly alone in having the gnarly looking lizard for a pet.
They’re legal to own in most states, easily found through breeders and at reptile shows, and widely regarded for their striking color patterns and typically easygoing personality.
But while 34-year-old Christopher Ward’s death Friday may have been the first from a Gila monster in the U.S. in almost a century, the creature’s bite is well-known to be excruciating — and venomous. For that reason, some question the wisdom of keeping the species as pets.
“It’s like getting your hand slammed, caught in a car door,” Arizona State University professor Dale DeNardo said of the lizard’s bite. “Even that initial pain is extended for an hour. Then you get the typical days of soreness, throbbing pain. It’s much worse than any bee, wasp or scorpion.”
A Gila monster enthusiast who has studied the reptiles for decades, DeNardo said even he wouldn’t want to have one in his house.
Within minutes of Ward’s pet lizard named Winston biting down on his hand without letting go, Ward was vomiting and couldn’t breathe, according to a report by the animal control officer who interviewed his girlfriend.
He was put on life support but didn’t pull through, dying less than four days after the bite.
Pharmacies nationwide face delays as health-care tech company reports cyberattack
Pharmacies across the country are reporting delays to prescription orders due to a cyberattack against one of the nation’s largest healthcare technology companies.
Change Healthcare, a company handling orders and patient payments throughout the US, first noticed the “cyber security issue” affecting its networks Wednesday morning on the East Coast.
“Change Healthcare is experiencing a network interruption related to a cyber security issue and our experts are working to address the matter. Once we became aware of the outside threat, in the interest of protecting our partners and patients, we took immediate action to disconnect our systems to prevent further impact,” Change Healthcare said in a statement.
It added, “We will provide updates as more information becomes available.”
Pharmacies across the country have put out notices that the attack on Change Healthcare is disrupting their ability to process patients’ orders.
“We are experiencing a temporary pharmacy outage at the 22nd Medical Group. We understand the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience as we work diligently to resolve the issue. Our team is working to restore complete pharmacy services as soon as possible,” reads a post from 22nd Medical Group, a medical center based around McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas.
“The estimated date for resolving this issue will be tomorrow or later. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on our progress.”
There is currently no publicly available report on the nature nor origin of the cyber security issue plaguing Change Healthcare.
“There is a nationwide outage from some of the largest prescription processors in North America,” Michigan-based Canadian Lakes Pharmacy wrote Wednesday on social media.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
U.S. Commercial Foreclosures Increase in January 2024
ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property, and real estate data, today released a special report on U.S. Commercial Foreclosures. The report reveals a significant climb in commercial foreclosures over the years, from a low of 141 in May 2020 to the current figure of 635 in January 2024. This represents a steady increase throughout the period.
ATTOM’s U.S. Commercial Foreclosure Report provides a count of the total number of commercial properties with at least one foreclosure filing entered into the ATTOM Data Warehouse during the month. ATTOM’s report incorporates documents filed in all three phases of foreclosure: Default — Notice of Default (NOD) and Lis Pendens (LIS); Auction — Notice of Trustee Sale and Notice of Foreclosure Sale (NTS and NFS); and Real Estate Owned, or REO properties (that have been foreclosed on and repurchased by a bank).
California, as a bellwether state, began the decade with 209 foreclosures in January 2014. Though it experienced a decrease in the following months, the foreclosure numbers saw fluctuations reflecting the state’s dynamic economic climate. By January 2024, California had the highest number of commercial foreclosures for the month, at 181. This was a 72 percent increase from last month and a 174 percent increase from last year.
New York, Texas, New Jersey, and Florida also showed significant variance over the decade, with each state’s unique economic composition influencing the foreclosure rates. For instance, New York had a total of 59 commercial foreclosures in January 2024, a 12 percent decrease from last month and a 12 percent decrease from a year ago. Whereas Texas saw a 17 percent increase from last month and a 143 percent increase from last year. New Jersey saw a 38 percent increase from last month and a 157 percent increase from last year. Finally, Florida saw a 18 percent increase from last month and a 42 percent increase from last year.
As California budget crisis explodes, Newsom covets doing same for U.S.
When California Gov. Gavin Newsom released his preliminary 2024-25 state budget a month ago, the Legislative Analyst’s Office estimated spending would exceed revenue by a staggering $58 billion. Now, the Analyst’s office has just updated the deficit to $73 billion.
Newsom’s state budget in January called for $291.5 billion in spending, $208.7 billion of that in the general fund and the balance in special funds and bond obligations.
For historical reference, Gov. Pat Brown submitted a record budget in 1962-63 that proposed spending $2.9 billion. That was the entire general fund. And Brown was engaged in the creation of the state’s interstate freeway system and the construction of the State Water Project, the last two substantial public works projects undertaken in the Golden State.
Today, however, the $73 billion deficit represents what the current governor would spend if he could print money. But of course, Newsom will not be able to engage in deficit spending – unless he runs for, and is elected to, the presidency of the United States.
So, what are California’s financial options? The obvious one is to raise taxes, though this week the legislative analysis left that topic alone. Instead, they suggested remedies involving accounting maneuvers such as taking money allocated for a specific purpose but not yet spent, and placing it in this fiscal 2024-25 budget to reduce the deficit. The second option suggested is to stop or reduce temporary spending. (Spending is spending, and temporary spending is not explained.)
Other suggestions from the legislative office include using emergency reserves or cost cuts in ongoing state operations. The list of possibilities for reduced funding include Medi-Cal and the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program. Some activities, notably climate control and energy, are projected to receive substantial additional tax funding next year, reflecting the priorities of both the state and federal Democrat Party leadership.
There is a pattern to this annual budget dance. The 2021-22 California state budget revenue was $221.7 billion. Its “rainy day” reserve was $81.3 billion. The next year, state revenue dropped to $206.3 billion and the reserve was reduced to $54 billion and change. The current state general fund budget has revenue pegged at $202.4 billion with a $37.8 billion reserve.
The Legislative Analyst’s report said the California economic contraction this year has produced $24 billion less revenue than expected. That reduction in tax payments is ongoing today, so the current 2023-24 budget may face its own problems.
California issues what is called the “May revise,” an update on the state’s financial condition in preparation for budget adoption by the legislature in July.
The great unknown will come in late April and May, when personal and corporate income taxes are paid. California predicted these taxes would total $51 billion.
Obviously, the California economy is in serious decline. And Gavin Newsom, who wants to be president of the United States, owns that phenomenon.
Vice Plans Hundreds of Layoffs: Trying to Sell the Business
Vice Media announced in a memo this week that it will be laying off hundreds of employees as it faces a sale.
Vice Media CEO Bruce Dixon said in the company-wide email that the decision to lay off “several hundred” staff members did not come lightly. Dixon added that fired staffers will be notified of the next steps next week.
The memo said that Refinery 29, another brand owned by Vice, “will continue to operate as a standalone diversified digital publishing business, creating engaging, social-first content.”
In May of last year, Vice had announced a plan to file for bankruptcy after being previously valued at $5 billion with deals at major companies. Two sources familiar with the situation told the New York Times last year that Vice has been looking for a buyer to potentially stave off filing for bankruptcy and that no such buyer materialized yet.
HEALTH
Pharmacies Face Delays amid Cyberattack on Prescription Processor
Pharmacies across the country are facing delays in the wake of a cyberattack against the healthcare tech giant Change Healthcare, a leading prescription processor, which said it was “experiencing a network interruption related to a cyber security issue” on Wednesday.
“Once we became aware of the outside threat, in the interest of protecting our partners and patients, we took immediate action to disconnect our systems to prevent further impact,” Change Healthcare announced.
“At this time, we believe the issue is specific to Change Healthcare and all other systems across UnitedHealth Group are operational,” the tech company added. “The disruption is expected to last at least through the day.”
Change Healthcare, one of the largest healthcare technology companies in the United States that handles orders and patient payments throughout the country, did not disclose the specific nature of the cyberattack.
Pharmacies, meanwhile, have experienced outages due to the incident, according to a report by the Huron Daily Tribune.
Scheurer Health, a healthcare provider in Michigan, for example, said it was unable to process prescriptions at any of its family pharmacy locations.
A medical group in McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas, meanwhile, said Wednesday, “We
are experiencing a temporary pharmacy outage,” adding, “We understand the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience as we work diligently to resolve the issue.”
“Our team is working to restore complete pharmacy services as soon as possible,” 22nd Medical Group added. “The estimated date for resolving this issue will be tomorrow or later. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on our progress.”
“Due to an unexpected enterprise-wide MHS GENESIS downtime, the 22d Medical Group Pharmacy cannot process new prescriptions. However, our Pharmacy remains open and will continue to dispense already-completed prescriptions,” the medical group added in a follow-up post on Thursday.
The Michigan-based Canadian Lakes Pharmacy also announced Wednesday that it “the issue that has been going on yesterday and starting today that is affecting MOST pharmacies.”
“There is a nationwide outage from some of the largest prescription processors in North America,” Canadian Lakes Pharmacy said.
“We CAN receive your RX but MOST insurance plans we cannot bill to your insurance company. If you can wait a day or so to pick up your RX that would be great,” the pharmacy added.
“Thank you for your understanding, patience and continued support,” the pharmacy concluded.
“Unfortunately this is completely out of our control and like I said affecting MOST pharmacies.”
The issue is expected to last until Friday, but at the time of publishing, Change Healthcare has not yet provided a timeline for when it will return to its original service.
Twice as Deadly? Statin Drug Crestor Associated with Over Double the Mortality Rate in ARDS Trial
When it comes to cholesterol levels and statin medications, less is not always more. Drastically low cholesterol may deprive patients of crucial biological functions during acute critical illness, while some statins like rosuvastatin appear to further endanger these already vulnerable individuals
This secondary analysis of two large acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) trials delivers an important warning: low cholesterol bears a relationship with poorer outcomes, and we must rethink blanket statin recommendations without considering individual lipid profiles.
The SAILS trial found the lowest baseline cholesterol quartile (<69mg/dL) correlated with significantly higher prevalence of shock and severity scores. Most strikingly, the 37.8% of these patients randomized to rosuvastatin (aka Crestor) died by 60 days, over twice the rate of the placebo group (OR 2.23).1
Meanwhile in HARP-2, the lowest quartile (<44mg/dL) had markedly higher illness severity. Yet among this high-risk cohort, a non-significant 31.9% mortality rate emerged for simvastatin versus 52.1% for placebo.2
How do we explain this discrepancy? Why would the same subset experience harm from rosuvastatin yet potential protection by simvastatin? The differing potencies, lipophilic properties, antimicrobial effects, and off-target interactions of these two statins may hold clues.
Regardless of the mechanism, these results underscore the risks of aggressive cholesterol reduction in those already depleted. As the authors note, cholesterol plays vital roles in ARDS through surfactant production,3 binding and neutralizing inflammatory endotoxins,4 and transporting antioxidant vitamin E into alveoli.5
Stripping away these protective functions leaves patients exceptionally vulnerable. We witness this clearly with rosuvastatin exaggerating mortality in the lowest baseline cholesterol cohort.
Yet mainstream medicine continues pushing for lower numeric targets, with implications far beyond this ARDS population. Accelerating statin use, even enshrining it in clinical guidelines, seldom accounts for the complex interindividual differences on display here.6
In fact, over 300 adverse effects have been linked to statins according to the research portal GreenMedInfo, ranging from neurodegeneration to Mitochondrial DNA damage.7 A wise clinician would weigh the evidence on both sides before intensifying cholesterol reduction attempts in already replete patients.
For too long we have conflated numerical metrics with therapeutic benefit across healthcare. But patients are more than LDL numbers. Their unique constitutions and susceptibilities, so salient during acute crises, must guide decision making above all. This study spotlights the inconsistencies and unintended consequences that emerge when we practice otherwise.
Power Mall Product of Interest: Help support your cardiovascular system with Strauss Heartdrops (3.4 fl oz)
Don’t Ignore These Sneaky Signs of Heart Disease
You may already know the telltale signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain or shortness of breath, but experts say that being aware of the little-known signs of heart disease can save your life. Some signs that you may be experiencing heart problems are more subtle, and not well-known.
- Difficulty breathing when lying down. According to AARP, this may be caused by a buildup of fluid in the lungs, which can indicate heart failure. The condition, known as orthopnea, needs medical help immediately. Snoring can also be a red flag, signaling sleep apnea which can exacerbate heart disease.
- Leg or hip pain, or both. Blockages in the leg arteries can cause pain when walking. While pain in the lower body may be caused by arthritis, injuries or simply being out of shape, it could also be a sign of circulation problems from peripheral artery disease. If large leg arteries are clogged, chances are your smaller arteries of the heart are also clogged.
- Swollen ankles. When your heart is not efficiently pumping blood, fluid can swell in both legs. Swelling can also occur when veins in the legs cannot return fluid to the heart. In cases related to heart failure, swelling usually occurs in both legs. When the swelling happens in only one leg, it may be due to a blood clot or infection. Call you doctor if the swelling is accompanied by another symptom, such as shortness of breath.
- Frequent urination at night. A weak heart pumps less blood to the kidneys, which may result in fluid buildup and swollen ankles and legs. When you go to bed, gravity drains fluid in the legs back to the heart. The kidneys then have more fluid to filter, increasing the need to pee. Waking up more than once a night to visit the bathroom may be concerning.
- Bad breath. Bad breath is caused by rampant bacteria, which can enter the bloodstream through bleeding or diseased gums. This is linked to inflammation, clogged arteries, and stroke. There is a link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease, says Florida-based periodontist David Genet.
- Extreme fatigue. Feeling tired all the time can be a symptom of heart failure, says the British Heart Foundation. If you are tired because of working long hours or staying up late, it’s probably not your heart. But if you experience extreme tiredness and your lifestyle has not changed, seek medical help.
Research shows how one food enhances the health of colon cancer survivors
Colorectal cancer remains a significant concern, impacting both men and women across the United States. As of 2023, the statistics paint a grim picture: over 153,000 adults were diagnosed with colorectal cancer. What’s particularly troubling is the concerning rise in advanced-stage colorectal cancer. Between the mid-2000s and 2019, there was a notable increase from 52% to 60%.
Recognizing the significant link between inflammation and colorectal cancer, it’s essential to address gut inflammation proactively. A healthy gut microbiome is vital for this, and recent research delved into the potential of beans as a prebiotic to support gut health. This discovery is especially meaningful for colorectal cancer survivors aiming to prevent future inflammation and polyps. The study’s results are striking and carry substantial importance for anyone worried about their cancer risk or with a family history of colorectal cancer.
How chronic inflammation fuels cancer development
Just as in any part of your body, inflammation plays a dual role in your colon. While a small amount can aid in repairing damage and combatting infections, chronic inflammation has become a common issue in our modern society, largely due to our diets.
The foods we consume are often processed and lack the necessary components to support a healthy, natural gut microbiome. Our gut bacteria, essential for stool processing and intestinal protection, thrive on prebiotic fibers found in whole plant-based sources. Research consistently shows that diets high in ultra-processed foods foster the growth of harmful bacteria in our gut.
Chronic inflammation triggered by unhealthy gut bacteria, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis wreaks havoc on our gut lining, paving the way for cancer development.
Researchers shine the spotlight on beans, revealing their role in gut health
Over the past two decades, the significance of prebiotics in maintaining gut health has gained mainstream attention. While probiotics have long been in the spotlight for fostering healthy gut bacteria, their effectiveness hinges on a crucial factor: the presence of prebiotics to nourish them adequately.
In this study, researchers zeroed in on beans, known for their rich prebiotic fiber content, to assess their impact on intestinal health and metabolic markers. To delve deeper, 55 participants underwent a comprehensive dietary assessment over four weeks before the study commenced. Initially, blood markers for colon cancer metabolites and metabolic enzymes were measured alongside stool samples to gauge gut bacteriological proliferation.
Throughout the study, participants maintained their regular diet for four weeks, after which half of them incorporated one cup of navy beans daily. Meanwhile, the other half served as the control group. After another four weeks, the groups switched roles, with the bean-intake group reverting to their previous diet while the control group commenced the daily bean regimen.
Here is how adding beans to your diet can boost metabolic health and gut microbiome
After 16 weeks, final samples were taken of both blood and stool from both groups. About 87% of the participants stayed through the whole study, and the findings were very consistent with the fact that the beans improved both metabolic health markers in the blood and beneficial bacteria in the stool.
Another similar study looked at the role of beans in the diet of colon cancer survivors and also found increased levels of beneficial bacteria and decreased levels of harmful bacteria after the weeks-long study concluded.
These results are profound because beans are a very cheap, healthy source of plant protein and prebiotic fiber. Almost every culture in the world uses beans as a staple food, but they are largely excluded from the standard American diet.
These studies indicate that adding beans to your diet can help mitigate your risk for obesity and colon cancer and improve the health of colon cancer survivors.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Technocracy’s Coup d’Etat Is Fully Underway
Looking back, we should have known something was up at the outset. There were too many anomalies. Were the people in charge really so stupid as to believe that you can make a virus go away by making everyone stay home? It’s absurd. You cannot control the microbial kingdom this way, and surely everyone with a modicum of intelligence knows this.
Another clue: there never was an exit plan. What exactly was fourteen days of frozen activity going to achieve? What was the benchmark of success? We were never told. Instead, the elites in media and government simply encouraged fear. And then met that fear with ridiculous protocols like dousing ourselves with sanitizer, masking while walking, and presuming every other person is a disease vector.
This was psychological warfare. To what end and how ambitious are these hidden plans for us?
Only four years later, we are grasping the fullness of what was going down.
For those of us schooled in the persistent incompetence of government to get anything right, much less deploy a plan with anything like precision, elaborate conspiracy theories of plots and schemes always seem implausible. We just don’t believe them.
This is why it took us so long to see the fullness of what was deployed in March 2020, a scheme that combined a plethora of seemingly disparate governmental/industrial ambitions including:
1) rollout of subscription/platform model of Pharma distribution,
2) mass censorship,
3) election management/rigging,
4) universal basic income,
5) industrial subsidies to digital platforms,
6) mass population surveillance,
7) cartelization of industry,
8) shift in income distribution and entrenchment of administrative state power,
9) crushing of ‘populist’ movements worldwide, and
10) the centralization of power generally speaking.
To top it off, all these efforts were global in scope. This whole model truly stretches the bounds of plausibility. And yet all the evidence points to exactly the above. It just goes to show that even if you don’t believe in conspiracies, conspiracies believe in you. It was a digital-age coup d’etat unlike anything humanity has ever experienced.
How long will it take us to process this reality? We seem to be only at the early stages of understanding, much less resisting.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Virtue signaling climate change activist and mega popstar Taylor Swift is taking heat once again over her use of private jets, this time after sending her private jet from Sydney, Australia, to Hawaii to pick up her boyfriend Travis Kelce to fly him back to Australia to be with her on her tour Down Under.
Swift became a target of upset Swifties and other climate alarmists for the emissions-spewing round trip from Australia to Hawaii and back again.
Swift took heat for flying from Japan to Las Vegas to attend Super Bowl 58 only to fly right back to continue her world tour concert series. But Kelce did not join her on the road right after the Super Bowl because he had obligations with his team as they celebrated their championship win.
That, though, changed on Feb. 21 when Kelce boarded a Bombardier Global 6000 jet in Hawaii to wing his way to Australia to join Swift to finish out her world tour, according to Newsweek.
The flight did not escape the attention of aviation buffs or climate change alarmists as it became the most-tracked plane in the air with more than 9,000 people tracking its journey.
X user Oli London’s post on the use of the jet quickly went viral. In his post, London noted that “The round trip will emit 3 metric tons of CO2,” and added, “The CO2 emissions equate to melting 95.4 square feet of Arctic sea ice.”
X users blasted Swift for her climate alarmism hypocrisy:
Swift has long been a target over her constant use of private planes even as she raises alarms about
climate change.
The pop phenom has not been kind to detractors. Swift even threatened to sue a Florida college student, who’s social media accounts went viral for tracking Swift’s plane usage.
Student Jack Sweeney, 21, was sent a cease-and-desist letter in December saying the singer would “have no choice but to all legal remedies” if the accused did not stop his “stalking and harassing behavior.” The 14-time Grammy award winner claimed the student’s tracking efforts caused Swift and her family “direct and irreparable harm, as well as emotional and physical distress” and had heightened the singer’s “constant state of fear for her personal safety.”
“While this may be a game to you, or an avenue that you hope will earn you wealth or fame, it is a life- or-death matter for our Client,” wrote Katie Wright Morrone, the pop icon’s attorney, of the Washington law firm Venable.
GARDENING, FARMING & HOMESTEADING
Planting a Medicinal Herb Garden
Here are some gardening ideas for inspiration if you’d like to incorporate more medicine in your rows this year:
- Allow an “island” of weeds and/or wildflowers to grow in the middle of your garden. I’ve seen designs that include a bench in the middle of this space so that you can sit and enjoy all the interesting pollinators and birds that come to visit. This type of wild space within a planned space can be a great compromise if you have a partner or a neighbor who wishes that you would keep things a bit more tidy then your wild nature may dictate. You may find it difficult to gather dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), plantain (Plantago spp.) and chickweed (Stellaria media) from the lawn if it is continually mowed and/or sprayed, but give yourself a safe space for wildness and you will find an endless wealth of goodies that pop up without any effort on your part. These spaces are also where all your beneficial bugs tend to hide, so even though they may look like a problem to the average gardener, they really are a breeding ground for chemical-free and labor-free parasite patrol.
- Design a special themed garden. A few years ago I started a moon garden. This space was meant to show off all the herbs with silver foliage, white flowers or night blooms. My favorite medicinals to include here are white sage (Salvia apiana), yucca (Yucca filamentosa) and evening primrose (Oenothera biennis). If you are looking for traditional garden shapes and forms, there are many that you can try, from key-hole to labyrinth and medicine wheels. If you are excited by essential oils, you may love an aromatherapy garden made up of all your favorite odiferous plants.
- (This is my favorite!) Pick up a book on companion planting and simply grow your medicine right next to your vegetables. I love to grow basil (Occimum basilicum) and borage (Borago officinalis) in between my tomato cages. My tomatoes benefit greatly with both pest prevention and pollinator attraction and the large plants keep the weeds down for me! Another favorite pairing is my chamomile and brassicas. I don’t ever plant a row of broccoli without their chamomile body guards standing strong against cabbage white butterfly attack. I like the books Great Garden Companions and Carrots Love Tomatoes, though there are many more out there!
2ND AMENDMENT
Constitutional Carry Passes Louisiana Senate, Heads to House
Constitutional carry legislation, Senate Bill 1, passed the Louisiana Senate on Thursday
and will now be taken up in the House. WWL reported that the Senate vote was along party lines, with 28 Republicans voting for it and ten of 11 Democrats voting against it.
The eleventh Democrat, State Sen. Jay Luneau, was not present to vote.
Breitbart News noted that Senate Bill 1 passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday on a six- to-one vote. The solitary “no” vote against constitutional carry came from State Sen. Regina Barrow (D).
Gov. Jeff Landry (R) has made it clear that he will sign Senate Bill 1 if it makes it to his desk.
There are currently 28 constitutional carry states in the Union. Those are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Gun Owners of America Launches Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit
Gun Owners of America (GOA) is holding its first annual Gun Owners Advocacy and
Leadership Summit (G.O.A.L.S.) in August in Knoxville, Tennessee.
G.O.A.L.S. is expected to draw tens of thousands of attendees. It will kick off on August 16, 2024, with an industry expo for retailers and manufacturers, as well as others in the firearms industry.
Gun Owners of America indicated that G.O.A.L.S. “will feature speeches from leaders in the gun rights movement, educational panels, meet and greet sessions, and musical performances from major artists,” according to an emailed statement.
Gun Owners of America Executive Director Erich Pratt commented on the summit, noting that the November elections loom heavily in the minds of the pro-Second Amendment community:
With gun owners, manufacturers, and dealers facing ever-growing pressure and outright hostility from so many anti-gun forces today, this election is, without a doubt, going to be the most critical in history for Second Amendment rights. With that in mind, our goal is to make this the premiere event, bringing together Second Amendment enthusiasts and advocates as we prepare for the political fight of our lives this November. I can’t wait to reveal more details as we lock in speakers and other guests of honor.
“Our greater GOA community is battle-tested and laser-focused on our no-compromise mission, and attendees can expect to leave G.O.A.L.S. energized and ready to make an impact on the serious challenges facing our Second Amendment,” Gun Owners of America’s Kailey Nieman added. “This conference will be a major springboard for our organization and the greater community as we head into November.”
CANCEL CULTURE
Beyoncé Becomes First Black Woman to Claim Top Spot on Billboard’s Country Music Chart
Beyoncé made history once again: The superstar singer has become the first black woman to top Billboard’s country music chart.
The Grammy winner achieved the feat after her new single “Texas Hold ‘Em” reached No. 1 on the country airplay chart this week. She dropped the song on Feb. 11 — during the Super Bowl — along with her other single “16 Carriages,” which debuted at No. 9 on the same chart.
Both songs are expected to be featured on Beyoncé’s upcoming, country-themed album, which is referred to as “act ii,” on March 29. It’s a follow-up offering to her 2022 album “Renaissance,” which is frequently referred to as “Act I: Renaissance.”
Beyoncé announced the full-length new album after a Verizon commercial she starred in aired during the Super Bowl this month.
Beyoncé is also the first woman to claim the top spot on the Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts since both began in 1958, according to Billboard.
The only other acts who have topped both include Justin Bieber, Billy Ray Cyrus and Ray Charles.
Country Radio Station Refuses to Play Beyonce’s Song
An Oklahoma radio station being called racist for not playing Beyonce’s new country songs is part of a big misunderstanding, the station told Newsweek.
Broadcasting South Central Oklahoma Radio (S.C.O.R.E.) Enterprises, based in Ada, Oklahoma, consists of five stations including the country-centric FM station 100.1 KYKC.
They were bombarded with calls, emails and texts this week after social media users on X, formerly Twitter, claimed the station was “racist” for not playing two new songs from the music superstar’s newest country album: “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.”
X users posted emails they received from the station after requesting Beyonce’s newest tracks, one to which a S.C.O.R.E. employee replied: “Hi, we do not play Beyonce on KYKC as we are a country music station. Thank you.”
Another email from the station, in response to complaints, stated that Beyonce’s songs will be played on country radio when they chart higher.
While KYKC has not yet played the two aforementioned songs, it plans to add them to the rotation. Stone said that their Top 40 station has already played the songs a few times and will continue to do so over time.
“[The social media attacks] launched so fast and caught us off guard,” Stone said. “We just haven’t added it [to KYKC] because it’s quite new.
“It’s not that we have something against the songs or anything against Beyonce. We’re kind of shocked of how everything broke out here a couple hours ago.”
Texas High School Legally Enforced Hairstyle Rule With Black Student, Judge Rules
A Texas school district that punished a black high school student for refusing to change his hairstyle did not violate a new state law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination, a judge ruled on Thursday.
Darryl George, 18, is a junior and has not attended his regular classes since Aug. 31 because his high school in Barbers Hill ISD says his hair violates the district’s dress code policy.
The Houston-area school district filed a lawsuit arguing that Mr. George’s hair exceeds the length permitted for boys. Mr. George has locs tied and twisted on top of his head, but the district says his hair would fall below his shirt collar, earlobes, or eyebrows when let down.
The district said other students with locs have complied with its hair length policy.
State District Judge Chap Cain III ruled in favor of the district, saying its ongoing punishment of Mr. George over the length of his hair is legal and does not violate the CROWN Act.
The CROWN Act, which took effect in September, prohibits schools and employers from adopting policies that discriminate against a hair texture or protective hairstyle commonly or historically associated with race. Protective hairstyle is a term used to include Afros, braids, locs, and twists. (pdf)
Mr. George has spent most of his school year serving in-school suspension at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu or spent time at an off-site disciplinary program.
“We appreciate the court giving clarity to the meaning of the CROWN Act,” said Sara Leon, an attorney for the school district.
The district offered no witnesses to testify before the ruling, instead only submitting evidence that included an affidavit from the district’s superintendent defending the dress code policy.
Dozens showed up at the courthouse to support Mr. George and his mother, Darresha George, for the one-day trial in Anahuac.
ICYMI
Former Bills Punter Matt Araiza Signs with Chiefs After Rape Accuser Drops Lawsuit
The “Punt God” is on his way back to the NFL.
Matt Araiza, the former Bills punter who Buffalo cut after a 17-year-old California girl accused him of rape in 2021, has been signed by the Kansas City Chiefs after the charges were dropped, according to his agent Joe Linta.
Araiza’s accuser, identified only as Jane Doe, dropped the former Bill from her lawsuit in 2022. Araiza, who had filed a defamation suit against her, dropped his suit in the summer of 2023.
Araiza will have big shoes to fill. Not only is he joining the defending Super Bowl champs, but he will also be vying to replace Kansas City’s All-Pro punter Tommy Townsend, who is set to hit free agency.
A sixth-round selection of the Bills in the 2022 NFL Draft, Araiza never got to play a down in Buffalo before rape allegations derailed his career. Now, the promising punter who earned the name “Punt God” during a stellar career at San Diego State University will have a chance to make his name known once again. This time, strictly for football.
More Stories
Today’s News: May 01, 2024
Today’s News: April 30, 2024
Today’s News: April 29, 2024