WORLD NEWS
NATO Yields to Ukraine: Promises Membership ‘In the Long Term’
Ukraine’s long-standing pleas for NATO membership received an affirmative response Tuesday with the promise of it joining “in the long term” sure to infuriate Moscow.
The secretary-general of the Western military alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, stressed the immediate challenge is Ukraine remaining an independent nation free from the invading forces of neighbor Russia as he flagged the future membership.
Putin Signs Bill to Suspend Last Nuclear Arms Treaty With US
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a measure to formally suspend the last remaining nuclear arms pact with the United States amid high tensions over the war in Ukraine.
Russia will no longer take part in the New START treaty, according to the bill he signed that was published by the Kremlin. The document says that it’s up to the president to decide whether Moscow could return to the pact.
Putin had declared a week ago in his state-of-the-nation address that Moscow was suspending its participation in the 2010 New START treaty. He had charged that Russia can’t accept U.S. inspections of its nuclear sites under the pact at a time when Washington and its NATO allies have openly declared Russia’s defeat in Ukraine as their goal.
Both houses of parliament quickly ratified Putin’s bill on the pact’s suspension last week. On Tuesday, Putin signed it into law, effective immediately.
Report – China-Linked Hackers Gather More Info Than Spy Balloon: ‘They’re Everywhere’
China-linked hackers have reportedly been gathering massive amounts of information from computer networks across the globe — more than the Chinese spy balloon.
In an article published Tuesday, NBC News said:
CrowdStrike says in its annual global threat report that it observed China-linked cyberespionage groups targeting 39 industries on nearly every continent. About a quarter of the hacking was aimed at North America, while most of it targeted China’s Asian neighbors, the report found. The techniques China used have become increasingly sophisticated as cybersecurity has improved, the report found.
Crowdstrike’s head of intelligence, Adam Meyers, warned that “They’re endemic at this point — they’re everywhere.”
The news comes after the U.S. military shot down the suspected Chinese spy balloon that was floating over the country earlier this month, Breitbart News reported on February 4.
World Health Organization: A Public-Health Technocracy
Wesley J. Smith has correctly pegged the WHO as an emerging public-health Technocracy, aka Scientific Dictatorship. As a principal agency of the UN, the WHO seeks to control all public health policies and products on planet earth: a universal nanny? There is no “spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down”. This is a war against humanity and people will die.
US Committed to WHO Pandemic Accord, Ambassador Says
The lead negotiator representing the United States in discussions on a global pandemic accord said in a statement this week that the United States is committed to the accord amid debate on the draft document.
Leaders are meeting this week in Geneva as part of the fourth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Bureau (INB) to consider a “Zero Draft” (pdf) of the agreement.
The INB was set up by the World Health Assembly in December 2021 to “draft and negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument under the Constitution of the World Health Organization to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.”
The first draft was released this month and is being debated during this week’s meeting and will be continuing in April. The INB will issue a report on the development of the accord at the WHA in May with a final report expected in 2024. On the agenda this week is to decide whether the draft will be the basis of negotiations for a pandemic accord and discuss the document in-depth.
Bill Combating Beijing’s Forced Organ Harvesting Advances to House Floor
A bill aimed at combating the Chinese regime’s state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting has cleared the committee and is headed for a vote on the House floor.
H.R. 1154, also known as the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023, passed unanimously through the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Feb. 28 and is now advancing to the House floor.
The bill would require sanctions on perpetrators that bar their entry to the United States and block their financial transactions on U.S. soil. It would also require the U.S. Secretary of State to report to Congress on organ transplant abuses committed in foreign countries.
“People are finally waking up to the brutality of the CCP,” Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), the bill’s lead sponsor, said in a statement on Tuesday, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. “We in the United States—in the medical field in particular—must examine our moral complicity in this most heinous of crimes.”
Government Report: Amazon Deforestation in Brazil Skyrockets Under LulaDeforestation in the Brazilian Amazon reached its worst-ever February levels during the second month of socialist convicted felon Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s third presidential term, according to preliminary data published by Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) on Friday.
INPE’s preliminary satellite data obtained via its Real Time Deforestation Detection System (DETER) showed that, as of February 17, 209 square kilometers (80.6 square miles) of forest had been deforested, with the states of Mato Grosso and Pará the most affected.
U.S. NEWS, POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
Washington DC City Council says bill for allowing noncitizens to vote is now law: report
A Washington D.C. effort to allow non-citizens, including undocumented immigrants and foreign diplomats according to the Wall Street journal, to vote in local elections is now law.
The City Council passed the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act amid criticism from Republicans. Congress had a 30-day review period, during which lawmakers could have pushed to block the legislation.
The review period ended last week, the council said Monday, WAMU reported. The House pushed to block the D.C. law from taking effect but the Senate ran out of time before the review period ended.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Loses Reelection Bid
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) on Tuesday failed to secure enough votes to advance to the runoff on Tuesday, losing her bid for a second term in office, according to an Associated Press projection.
Lightfoot becomes the first Chicago mayor to lose a bid for reelection in 40 years, when former mayor Jane Byrne was ousted in 1983.
DC Officer Who Struck Protesters With Flagpole on Jan. 6 Bragged ‘That Was My Best Weapon’
A Metropolitan Police Department officer wielding a wooden flagpole like a medieval lance inside the U.S. Capitol tunnel on Jan. 6, 2021, later bragged to fellow officers that the long wooden dowel was “my best weapon,” newly released bodycam video shows.
Video recorded by Officer Michael Dowling’s bodycam shows him climbing onto a narrow ledge in the Lower West Terrace tunnel and attacking a woman in a white coat standing near the entrance.
As Dowling jabbed at the woman—including two contacts to the head—she hurried to get off the ledge and escape the tunnel.
“I’m trying!” she cried out.
Someone at the front of the tunnel shouted at her, “Get the [expletive] out of here!”
Watchdog to Probe Buttigieg’s Use of Government Aircraft
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is facing an audit by its internal watchdog following reports about Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s use of government aircraft.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) said in a memo on Monday that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), citing news reports, requested the audit to determine whether Buttigieg’s use of government aircraft “complied with all applicable federal regulations” and DOT policies and procedures.
According to the memo, the OIG will conduct its audit at DOT headquarters and other sites as needed, focusing on official trips taken since Jan. 31, 2017.
The watchdog said the audit also aims to minimize cost and improve the management and use of government aviation resources and that it will begin “shortly.”
Buttigieg, who has pushed for policies to end using the same fossil fuels used to power government jets, has faced criticism over his use of such aircraft, which, according to a 2021 report from the group Transport and Environment, are “10 times more carbon intensive than airliners on average, and 50 times more polluting than trains.”
Top Congressional investigator Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) is calling for whistleblowers to come forward after the arrest of an Israeli think-tank executive who allegedly served with Hunter Biden as an adviser to a Chinese energy company and claims to have documents detailing financial links between President Joe Biden and the company.
Gal Luft, co-director of the D.C.-based Institute for the Analysis of Global Security and specialist in energy security and U.S.-China relations, was arrested in Cyprus on an Interpol arrest warrant against him on suspicion of arms trafficking to Libya and China, according to Israeli news outlet Ynet.
Student Who Beat Unconscious Teacher For Taking His Nintendo Switch Will Be Tried as Adult
A 17-year-old student who continued to viciously beat his high school teacher after he knocked her unconscious for taking his Nintendo Switch will be tried as an adult.
Brendan Depa, 17, will be tried as an adult for the brutal beating of Joan Naydich, 57, at Palm Coast, Florida’s Mantanzas High School.
Election Reformers Get New Tool to Pressure States to Clean Up Voter Rolls
A new interactive website database is now available free to individual citizens and election reform groups across the country to help in the fight to get all states to obey a federal election law mandating regular voter roll maintenance.
The Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF), a national, non-profit, law firm dedicated to election integrity, announced the launch of the website on Feb. 27.
The data provided on the website is designed to encourage some defiant state election officials to comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA).
“We hope this interactive database will draw attention to the hundreds of thousands of errors in the voter rolls. Every error in the voter rolls is a vulnerability in our elections that can lead to fraud and abuse. Election officials must do their job and keep accurate voter rolls,” said PILF president J. Christian Adams in a press release.
According to the federal statute, state election officials must “conduct a general program that makes a reasonable effort to remove the names of ineligible voters from the official lists of eligible voters.”
Republican Rep. Introduces Bill to End FBI/ATF ‘No Knock Raids’ on Gun Owners
Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) introduced legislation Tuesday designed to end the FBI and ATF coordinating with local enforcement to carry out “no knock raids” on gun owners.
Good’s legislation, the Federal Agent Responsibility Act, was co-introduced by Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA).
A press release, which Breitbart News possesses, made clear that Good is concerned that the ATF’s recent AR pistol stabilizer brace rule could “open the door for increased coordination between the ATF and local agents to perform no-knock warrants on law-abiding gun owners.” The Federal Agent Responsibility Act is intended to prevent such raids.
Buckhead City Bill Makes Headway in Georgia Senate
A bill has made progress in the Georgia Senate that would allow residents to vote on whether they want the wealthy Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta to deannex from the city.
The “City of Buckhead City” bill, SB 114, passed out of the Republican-controlled State and Local Governmental Operations Committee on Monday and will now advance to the full Senate for debate.
Bill sponsor Sen. Randy Robertson (R-Cataula) praised the small victory as a check on the Gold Dome’s legislators, who “too many times … forget who they work for.”
U.S. Marshals Hit with Massive Cybersecurity Attack Exposing Sensitive Data
The U.S. Marshals Service fell victim to a security breach recently, compromising sensitive information. Although private data on topics like investigations was part of the breach, officials claim no data for the witness protection program was leaked.
NBC News reports that there was a significant security breach at the United States Marshals Service (USMS) on February 17. The attack compromised sensitive data, including legal process returns, administrative data, and personally identifiable information. The breach affected a standalone USMS system and involved ransomware and data theft. The Justice Departm
Tucker Carlson Has Limited ‘Access’ to Jan. 6 Tapes, Republican Confirms
A key Republican lawmaker said Fox News’ Tucker Carlson doesn’t have unrestricted access to tens of thousands of hours of Jan. 6 Capitol footage, said a Republican lawmaker, coming after it was confirmed that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) handed the footage to him.
“It’s basically controlled access to be able to view tapes. Can’t record, can’t take anything with you,” Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), the chairman of the House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight, told The Hill Tuesday, adding that his panel is working with the House sergeant-at-arms and Capitol Police. “Then they will request any particular clips that—that they may need, and then we’ll make sure that there’s nothing sensitive, nothing classified—you know, escape routes.”
Elaborating, Loudermilk told CBS News that Carlson’s staff “may request any particular clips they may need, then we’ll make sure there’s nothing sensitive, nothing classified, including escape routes … we don’t want al-Qaeda to know certain things.”
While both McCarthy and Carlson have confirmed the move, few details about the agreement were provided. Other mainstream outlets have asked McCarthy to provide them with the footage.
Loudermilk said that those news outlets and the public would ultimately get access to the tapes. “Hopefully sooner rather than later, but I think we’re talking about weeks to months,” he told CBS.
A group of outlets—Advance Publications, ABC News, Axios, CBS News, CNN, Scripps, Gannett, the Los Angeles Times, Politico, and ProPublica—wrote a letter to McCarthy and other congressional leaders to grant access to the footage.
“Without full public access to the complete historical record, there is concern that an ideologically-based narrative of an already polarizing event will take hold in the public consciousness, with destabilizing risks to the legitimacy of Congress, the Capitol Police, and the various federal investigations and prosecutions of January 6 crimes,” attorney Charles Tobin wrote on behalf the media outlets last week.
Washington Homeowner Shoots Alleged Car Thief in Driveway
An Auburn, Washington, homeowner confronted and shot an alleged car thief in his driveway Monday morning around 6:30.
KOMO News reported that the incident occurred while the homeowner’s car was idling in the driveway, warming up.
The homeowner’s surveillance cameras showed the alleged thief getting into the car, at which point the homeowner went out to confront him, KIRO 7 noted.
The homeowner ended up shooting the suspect, who then fled the scene but was captured by police “a few blocks away.”
Auburn Police Department Public Information Officer Kolby Crossley commented on the incident, saying, “In a lot of situations when it’s cold out like this morning, we do see a ton of car thefts because of cars that are left running.”
The alleged car thief was taken to the hospital to receive treatment for his injuries.
Feds Arrest UPS Drivers on Cocaine Trafficking Charges in South Texas
At least two UPS drivers and other men face drug charges in connection with a cocaine trafficking group based in South Texas. Court documents indicate other individuals still risk arrest.
This week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the arrest of five men in connection with a multi-count indictment accusing them of drug conspiracy and possession charges. A sixth man was already in custody in connection with the case, however, the criminal indictment points to at least eight suspects allegedly in the conspiracy.
A New Texas Bill Seeks To Ban Abortion Pill Websites Statewide
A Texas Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill that would compel internet providers in the state to block websites that sell or provide information on how to obtain abortion pills.
The Women and Child Safety Act, which was introduced late last week, would require websites such as Plan C and Aid Access be cut off. It would also allow individuals to bring civil lawsuits against the people who maintain such sites. Abortion funds and their staffers could face criminal penalties for helping someone get an abortion even if they travel out of state, as could individuals who manufacture and distribute abortion pills in Texas or who provide information on how to get the drugs.
Washington Post reporter Caroline Kitchener noted that this bill appears to be the first in the United States to go after online abortion pill providers, which are considered a crucial resource in maintaining widespread access to safe abortions.
HEALTH
FDA official behind Alzheimer’s drug scandal steps down
The Food and Drug Administration official who allegedly had an inappropriately cozy relationship with the maker of the controversial Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm, is stepping down from his role, effective immediately, according to numerous media reports.
Billy Dunn, head of the FDA’s neuroscience office, has been with the agency for around 18 years, during which he was involved in several high-profile drug approvals. But he gained notoriety in the wake of the shocking 2021 approval of Aduhelm, a drug has not been shown to be effective against Alzheimer’s and carries risks of serious brain swelling.
In 2020, the FDA’s independent advisory committee voted nearly unanimously that the agency should not approve the drug (11 of 12 committee members voted against, with one voting “uncertain”). Yet, the approval went through anyway, and Aduhelm’s maker, Biogen, went on to set the exorbitant price of $56,000 for a year’s worth of treatment. Outside researchers called the approval “disgraceful,” three advisory members resigned in protest, and Medicare Part B premiums rose by record amounts to accommodate covering the pricey drug for Alzheimer’s patients desperate for new treatments.
Subsequent media and Congressional investigations alleged that Dunn had an off-the-books meeting with Biogen’s head scientist two years prior, which kicked off an unusually close collaboration in the lead-up to the approval. For instance, a Congressional report released in December 2022 found some portions of Biogen’s documents regarding the drug were written by the FDA and that the agency worked with the company to create briefing documents together. The Congressional report concluded that the FDA failed to follow its own rules in its “atypical” interactions with Biogen and that it “inappropriately collaborated” with the company. It also called Aduhelm’s price “unjustifiably high.”
On Friday, Dunn reportedly informed leadership that he would be stepping down, according to Stat News. On Monday, Peter Stein, head of the FDA’s office of new drugs, emailed staff about the departure.
Is Aspirin the Target of a Discrediting Campaign?
For decades, a daily regimen of low-dose so-called “baby aspirin” (81milligrams), was recommended to prevent and treat heart attack, stroke and angina (chest pain) in those 50 and older
That began to change in 2014, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration started warning against the use of aspirin as a primary preventive for these conditions. In late 2021, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) also updated its guidance to formally discourage people 60 and older from using an aspirin regimen to prevent a first heart attack or stroke
Aspirin is likely the victim of an intentional pharma discrediting campaign to justify and promote the use of newer, patented and far more expensive nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and anticoagulants
Research has shown aspirin works just as well as pricier anticoagulants such as heparin and Xarelto for preventing post-operative blood clots and clots associated with bone fractures
Aspirin also increases the oxidation of glucose as fuel, and has anti-lipolytic effects, so it helps lower both the supply of dangerous omega-6 fat to your cells and the excessive oxidation of fats. Aspirin will also lower your baseline cortisol, indirectly by lowering inflammation, and directly by inhibiting the enzyme that synthesizes active cortisol from the inactive precursor cortisone
Studies Suggest Coffee Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease, but 7 Groups of People Should Avoid It
Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. People love coffee for its irresistible aroma and taste, ability to energize, and because it helps clear the mind.
Studies have shown an appropriate daily intake of caffeine can reduce the risk of senile dementia, also known as Alzheimer’s disease, while significantly lowering serious health risks such as cardiovascular diseases.
Dr. He Wenxing, a physician at the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Yingde People’s Hospital in Guangdong Province elaborates on how drinking coffee impacts the human brain and health. He specifically mentions seven groups of people who should avoid caffeine and coffee.
Caffeine’s Impact on the Human Brain
A 2016 study published in the Journals of Gerontology, tracked 6,467 women aged 65 and above for up to 10 years, investigating the relationship between caffeine intake and cognitive impairment or probable dementia.
The study findings suggested an inverse association between caffeine intake and age-related cognitive dysfunction. Older women with higher than the median caffeine intake were found to be less likely to suffer from dementia or age-related cognitive impairment.
The median level of caffeine consumption was 261 mg, equivalent to three 8-ounce cups of coffee, or six cups of black tea.
Another study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2007 found that drinking coffee can reduce cognitive decline in older males.
A total of 676 healthy older men from Finland, Italy, and the Netherlands, born between 1900 and 1920, participated in the 10-year prospective group study. The study suggests that elderly men who do not drink coffee have a higher cognitive decline than coffee drinkers, with the least cognitive decline for those who drink three cups of coffee daily.
According to Dr. He, caffeine inhibits sterile inflammation responses in the brain and reduces the production and deposition of abnormal proteins that cause senile dementia. Thus, it lessens the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease.
Who Should Avoid Caffeine?
Although coffee can be beneficial, it is not suitable for everyone. Dr. He states that seven groups of people should avoid caffeine consumption.
- Children: Children are naturally full of energy and active. Caffeine is a potent nervous system stimulant that may cause insomnia and restlessness, and can affect a child’s developing neurologic and cardiovascular systems.
The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that children and adolescents should avoid caffeinated beverages, which can cause physical dependence and addiction.
- Pregnant women: Although you may be able to handle some caffeine while pregnant, your baby lacks the enzymes needed to metabolize it. One study shows that caffeine intake may be related to the increased risk of spontaneous abortion or miscarriage in non-smoking pregnant women.
Based on the most latest findings, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends limiting caffeine consumption during pregnancy to less than 200 mg per day.
Sources of caffeine include coffee, tea, chocolate, soda, and even some over-the-counter headache medications.
- People with sleep disorders: drinking coffee can easily aggravate insomnia and cause more severe sleep deprivation and significant damage to health.
Research shows that frequent caffeine intake reduces subjective sleep quality and prolongs sleep incubation; it also causes slow-wave sleep reduction, increased sleep fragmentation, and shortened sleep duration.
In addition, the timing of caffeine consumption is an important consideration for those with sleep disorders. The study found that acute caffeine intake can delay sleep initiation and reduce sleep intensity, particularly when consumed in the evening.
- People with panic and anxiety disorders: Caffeine can easily trigger sudden panic and anxiety. A meta-analysis examining the effects of caffeine on anxiety and panic attacks in patients with panic disorder (PD) found that consuming caffeine, roughly equivalent to about five cups of coffee, induces anxiety in patients with PD as well as healthy individuals, and triggers panic attacks.
- Patients with high blood pressure: Be mindful of when you consume caffeine. Avoid caffeine as soon as you wake up or right before activities that naturally increase blood pressure, such as exercise, to avoid a sudden and rapid elevation in blood pressure.
One study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that heavy coffee consumption was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular-related mortality among people with severe hypertension, but not those without hypertension or with grade 1 hypertension. In contrast, green tea consumption was not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular-related mortality across all categories of blood pressure.
- People with iron deficiency anemia: Polyphenols, phytic acid, and other ingredients in coffee can affect iron absorption. One study found that drinking coffee while eating a hamburger meal can reduce iron absorption by 39 percent, and by as much as 64 percent with a cup of tea. However, no decrease in iron absorption occurred when coffee was consumed one hour before a meal. People with iron deficiency anemia should be aware of the impact of caffeine on iron absorption.
- People with irritable bowel syndrome: Irritable bowel syndrome is a gastrointestinal dysfunction disease with intermittent abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, which caffeine can aggravate.
In summary, according to these studies, an appropriate daily intake of caffeine—the amount in about three cups of coffee—may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular diseases, while people who drink over six cups of coffee per day may increase the risk of suffering from senile dementia. Moreover, caffeine is not suitable for everyone.
People With This Bad Sleep Habit Are More Likely To Develop Heart Disease
“Get a full 8 hours of sleep!” is something most of us have heard a thousand times. But in recent years, research has emerged suggesting that maintaining a consistent bedtime and wake time is even more important than clocking a certain number of hours.
And now, a new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association linking irregular sleeping patterns to cardiovascular disease gives us another reason to focus on creating this consistency.
—> Power Mall Product of Interest: Herbal zzZs Natural Sleep Support
Looking For A Vegetable Oil Sub? This Is A Slightly Healthier Alternative
Even if you don’t consider yourself to be much of a chef, your kitchen pantry is likely stocked with multiple cooking oils for sauteing, dressing, and baking.
To help you decide if lesser-used rice bran oil is worth adding to your rotation of healthy cooking oils, we investigated the latest research and asked a rice bran expert to break down the ingredient’s benefits, downsides, environmental impact, and nutrition profile.
Rice bran oil is derived from rice bran, a waste product in the rice industry. While not as common in the U.S., rice bran is a popular frying and baking oil in many Asian countries, thanks to its subtle nutty flavor and high smoke point.
Health benefits of rice bran oil.
1.It may improve heart health in moderation.
2.It contains beneficial antioxidants.
3.It may improve skin health.
4.It’s allergy-friendly.
Here are the potential drawbacks of rice bran oil.
1.It contains saturated fat.
2.Its production may cause environmental harm.
3.Rice may contain arsenic.
So, is rice bran oil good or bad?
As with other plant oils, rice bran oil is generally safe to consume in moderation in the occasional stir-fry, and thanks to its unsaturated fat content and antioxidants, it may offer some health benefits.
That said, rice bran oil does contain saturated fat and has a higher amount of omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids, which may increase LDL cholesterol and potentially promote inflammation, respectively.
Plus, the cooking oil may contain traces of heavy metals and have a significant environmental impact throughout its production process.
You’ll want to be particularly mindful of some processed foods that contain rice bran oil, as these items may also contain high amounts of sodium and sugar, which are known to have negative health impacts. Rice bran oil is also used for frying, which isn’t such a healthy food preparation either.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Consumer Confidence Unexpectedly Falls as Hope Crashes
Consumer confidence took a turn for the worse in February with a sharp rise in pessimism about economic conditions in the months ahead.
The Conference Board said its index of consumer sentiment fell to 102.9 in February from a downwardly revised January reading of 106.0, Economists had forecast an increase to 108.5 after the initial January reading of 107.1.
South Carolina’s Wilson reintroduces national law ensuring the right to work
Congressman Joe Wilson, R-S.C., took a step toward ending automatic union membership Monday.
Wilson, who represents Aiken and Barnwell counties and most of the Columbia suburbs, held a news conference Monday afternoon to announce he had reintroduced the Right to Work Act which would erase automatic dues clauses from federal law.
Wilson said every American and their employer should have the power to negotiate the terms of their employment.
“No American should be forced to pay union dues or ‘fees’ just to get or keep a job,” Wilson said.
He said South Carolina is a right-to-work state, and it has seen tremendous economic growth by expanding economic freedom for businesses.
“We must continue to work towards promoting job creation and ending automatic unionism for the American people,” Wilson said. “Eighty percent of people in our country support putting an end to dues as a condition of employment.”
Mark Mix, National Right to Work Committee president, said at the news conference Wilson’s bill was bold and would extend right to work protection to every American.
“The National Right to Work Act ensures that union dues are voluntary, not forced,” Mix said. “We are extremely pleased that Congressman Wilson is introducing this legislation, which represents an important step toward ending forced union dues in America.”
A companion bill was introduced by U.S. Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky.
House Votes to Block Biden Administration’s ESG Investment Rule
The House on Feb. 28 passed a resolution by a vote of 216-204 disapproving of a Department of Labor (DOL) rule allowing retirement plan managers to take environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into account when making investment decisions.
The investment plan for retirement funds that collectively invest $12 trillion on behalf of 152 million Americans has been criticized by Republican lawmakers who claim the DOL regulation “politicizes” investing by allowing fund managers to pursue liberal causes.
The measure is now headed to the Senate, where Republicans hope to gather enough support to pass it as early as Wednesday. If the law gets put to President Joe Biden’s desk, the White House has warned that he would veto it.
Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) submitted the bipartisan resolution of disapproval last month. The legislation has the support of all Republican senators, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), and more than 100 groups.
Barr said on the House floor that since Biden took office his administration has “waged a war on American energy production.”
He said that ESG funds carry higher fees and are less diversified than non-ESG funds. “Twenty-one percent of investors don’t even know what ESG stands for,” Barr said.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
SpaceX launches new Starlink ‘V2 Mini’ satellites into orbit
SpaceX launched 21 upgraded “V2 Mini” Starlink Internet satellites from Florida’s Cape Canaveral on Monday, to boost capacity for the global broadband network.
SpaceX announced “Liftoff!” in a tweet at 6:16 p.m. EST, showing the Falcon 9 rocket lift off from pad 40 against the sunset. The launch was delayed earlier Monday to allow radiation levels to drop following a solar storm.
Nine minutes later, SpaceX followed with a tweet announcing Falcon’s first stage had landed on the drone ship, called A Shortfall of Gravitas, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Future Shock: AI Advances Are Trending Toward Vertical Acceleration
Regardless of obvious flaws and errors, ChatGPT is projected to have one billion users before the end of 2023, making it the most transformative and rapidly utilized technology in history. What this will do to global civilization is still unknown but it is certain that “artificial thoughts” are not human thoughts until humans blindly accept them as such. What thoughts?
SURVEILLANCE STATE
Biden Administration ‘Worried’ 2008 Warrantless Wiretap Spy Law Will Lapse
The Biden administration is reportedly worried a 2008 spy law permitting warrantless wiretaps will not be renewed by Congress, as lawmakers on both the left and right have expressed privacy concerns.
With the law set to expire at the end of 2023, the administration “is so worried” about renewing the legislation that “it has begun the push to lobby for reauthorization 10 months before the law sunsets,” the Washington Post reported.
White House Orders TikTok Purge From Government Devices
The White House on Monday ordered the removal of the Chinese-owned TikTok app from all government devices and systems within 30 days in a bid to keep U.S. data safe.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) said on Twitter that the Biden administration “has made advancing our nation’s cybersecurity a top priority.”
“Today, OMB is releasing guidance on implementation of the ‘No TikTok on Government Devices Act,’ requiring agencies to cease using the app except in select circumstances,” the agency wrote.
OMB Director Shalanda Young issued the guidance to all federal agencies requiring them to prohibit internet traffic from reaching the Chinese-owned company as part of the purge.
An OMB memo states that agencies must address any use of TikTok by IT vendors through contracts within 90 days. Further, they must include a new prohibition on TikTok in all new solicitations within 120 days.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
EPA to Move East Palestine Chemical Waste to Another State
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb criticized a plan from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to move waste from the derailed train site in East Palestine, Ohio, to a landfill in Indiana.
Officials from the EPA told media outlets Monday that contaminated waste the derailment will be taken to an incinerator in Grafton, Ohio, and a landfill in Roachdale, Indiana. Both locations are hundreds of miles away from East Palestine.
The EPA now is getting close to having enough certified facilities to take all of the waste from the site of the Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine, Debra Shore, a regional administrator with the agency, told The Associated Press. Some of the remaining liquid waste is going to a facility in Vickery, Ohio, for disposal in an underground injection well. Norfolk Southern is also shipping solid waste to an incinerator in East Liverpool, Ohio, officials also said.
On Tuesday, Holcomb said that the material would have to be transported across the entirety of his state. The EPA, he claimed, has not spoken with him about the plan.
“After learning third-hand that materials may be transported to our state yesterday, I directed my environmental director to reach out to the agency,” Holcomb said in a release. “The materials should go to the nearest facilities, not moved from the far eastern side of Ohio to the far western side of Indiana. I have made a request to speak to the administrator to discuss this matter. I want to know exactly what precautions will be taken in the transport and disposition of the materials.”
What would be carried to the Indiana site is not clear. Norfolk Southern told the EPA in a letter earlier this month that vinyl chloride, ethylhexyl acrylate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, and other chemicals were being carried by the train.
Train Carrying Propane Derails in Florida’s Manatee County
A train carrying propane tankers was involved in a derailment on Tuesday near the Sarasota-Manatee County line, according to local officials.
Five train cars loaded with sheet rock and one tanker loaded with 30,000 gallons of propane ended up on their sides due to the derailment. Additionally, a second propane tanker derailed but remained upright.
Geoengineering: Dim The Sun To Fight Global Warming
The United Nations says, solar geoengineering “is the only known approach that could be used to cool the Earth within a few years.” Since climate alarmists have virtually shut down coal, oil and natural gas, replacing it with solar and wind generated energy, shutting down the sun somehow makes sense to these mad scientists. In fact, it would doom the entire planet.
Testing has already been accomplished with extensive chemtrails periodically sprayed across the United States and over a period of years. ⁃
Nolte: ABC News Admits Electric Vehicles Are a ‘Logistical Nightmare’
Even far-left ABC News admits that electric vehicle owners face a “logistical nightmare” when it comes to everyday use, not to mention long drives.
A piece written by Morgan Korn tries to make it sound as though His Fraudulency Joe Biden is some sort of savior with his goal of “installing 500,000 new chargers across the U.S. and dramatically boosting EV sales by 2030,” but that’s not going to solve a lot of the problems. In fact, while critical of the current situation for electric vehicles, this article fails to mention all the “logistical nightmares” electric vehicle owners face.
GARDENING, FARMING & HOMESTEADING
U.S. Beef Cattle Has Lowest Inventory Since 1962
The beef cattle inventory in the United States is at its lowest point since 1962, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The USDA’s biannual cattle report showed that, as of Jan. 1, 2023, there is a 89.3 million head inventory — which is three percent lower than the total from a year ago and the lowest since 2015. Of that number, 38.3 million cows and heifers have calved.
Additionally, there are 28.9 million beef cows, which are those explicitly bred for slaughter and meat sales, as of the start of this year — which is down nearly four percent from last year and the lowest the agency has recorded since 1962.
Video: Seed Saving for Preservation and Resilience
Gardening in line with nature’s own practices provides a more resilient garden, as well as variety and chances for profit. Amyrose Foll of Virginia Free Farm walks you through her garden, describing how plants commonly seen as weeds can have unique benefits as wild edibles. From making teas out of chickweed to growing gladiolas for edible flowers and to attract pollinators, Amyrose’s approach to seeds and the plants they become is to not waste what the land provides. By shifting away from one set idea of what plants belong in a garden, Amyrose reveals how tree saplings can be repotted and sold to make some extra money as well as how an interplanted garden’s polyculture can safeguard your harvest against pestilence, virus, and bugs.
This series tracks the unique and culturally-rich journeys of heritage seeds that have been preserved with care for generations by families across the country. Each installment features fascinating and inspiring stories about specific varieties woven with the distinct characteristics of their lineage. You’ll also discover tips and advice for saving your own seeds. Why save seeds? Our friends at Seed Savers Exchange do a great job of explaining, but it goes beyond saving money and producing incredible tasty vegetables. Saving seeds preserve genetic diversity and build communities. Please join us as we explore history!
COVID RELATED NEWS
28 More Ways to Have a Heart Attack, According to ‘Science’
An urgent and immediate response to assess whether COVID-19 shots — of which more than 12.7 billion doses have been given — are causing heart damage and related deaths should be conducted
Instead, a propaganda campaign appears to be underway to blame the surplus heart attacks on other factors
Investigative journalist Corey Lynn compiled 28 media examples pinning heart attacks on unscientific causes that don’t explain the sudden increase in heart problems that have occurred since COVID-19 shots were mass administered
If you listen to these experts, if it’s hot or cold, you’re young or old, you garden or shower, or you’re happy or stressed, you’re at risk
- “The so-called ‘experts’ and their friends in the media are covering up adverse events and deaths caused by the Covid injections,” according to Lynn
Health and Autonomy in the 21st Century
The U.S. government is planning to launch an “overwhelming” COVID-19 vaccine campaign come November 2020, and many have suggested that mandatory vaccination of the entire global population will likely be necessary to get COVID-19 under control
It’s still unclear exactly when a vaccine will be available, but it could be as early as October, or as late as January 2021. Only half of Americans say they actually want the COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available; 27% say they will “definitely” refuse and another 12% say they will “probably” refuse it
Yale University is studying the effectiveness of various messages about vaccinating against COVID-19 to ensure maximum vaccine uptake
The primary outcome measure is willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Secondary outcome measures include the participants’ confidence in the vaccine, their willingness to persuade others to get vaccinated, their fear of those who have not been vaccinated and the level of social judgment of those who choose not to vaccinate
The Fifth International Public Conference on Vaccination: “Protecting Health & Autonomy in the 21st Century” will be held online October 16 to 18, 2020
Former Mets Pitching Prospect Matt Pobereyko Dies Suddenly of Heart Attack at 31
Minor League baseball player and one-time Mets pitching prospect Matt Pobereyko died suddenly of a heart attack on Friday. He was only 31.
GOOD NEWS
Fractured Nevada Democrat Party in Disarray After 2 Years of Infighting Under Progressive Leadership
The Nevada State Democratic Party (NSDP) is in turmoil two years after Democrat Socialist-backed officials were elected to top positions within the party.
In 2021, a band of far-left officials endorsed by the Democrat Socialist of America Las Vegas chapter seized major leadership positions in the NSDP, as the Las Vegas Sun reported at the time. Judith Whitmer, who was a delegate for Bernie Sanders’ second failed presidential campaign in 2020, took the top spot as the party’s chair in March 2021.
ICYMI
Nolte: Alec Baldwin Sued by 3 ‘Rust’ Crew Members for PTSD
Three crew members from the ill-fated Western Rust have filed suit against Alec Baldwin, claiming they suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety due to the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
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