Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller ordered a Pentagon-wide halt to cooperation with the transition of President-elect Biden, shocking officials across the Defense Department, senior administration officials tell Axios.
Behind the scenes: A top Biden official was unaware of the directive. Administration officials left open the possibility cooperation would resume after a holiday pause. The officials were unsure what prompted Miller's action, or whether President Trump approved.
Why it matters: Miller's move, which stunned officials throughout the Pentagon, was the biggest eruption yet of animus and mistrust toward the Biden team from the top level of the Trump administration.
What happened: Meetings between President Trump's team and the Biden team are going on throughout the government, after a delayed start as the administration dragged its feet on officially recognizing Biden as president-elect.
Then on Thursday night, Miller '-- who was appointed Nov. 9, when Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper right after the election '-- ordered officials throughout the building to cancel scheduled transition meetings.Pentagon official response: A senior Defense Department official sought to downplay the move, calling it "a simple delay of the last few scheduled meetings until after the new year."
"We had fewer than two dozen remaining meetings on the schedule today and next week," the official said, adding that "the DoD staff working the meetings were overwhelmed by the number of meetings.""These same senior leaders needed to do their day jobs and were being consumed by transition activities. ... With the holidays we are taking a knee for two weeks. We are still committed to a productive transition."
Trump Discussed Naming Campaign Lawyer as Special Counsel on Election Fraud - The New York Times
Politics | Trump Discussed Naming Campaign Lawyer as Special Counsel on Election Fraud",e+="
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",e}function getVariant(){var a=window.NYTD&&window.NYTD.Abra&&window.NYTD.Abra.getAbraSync&&window.NYTD.Abra.getAbraSync("STYLN_elections_notifications");// Only actually have control situation in prd and stgreturn["www.nytimes.com","www.stg.nytimes.com"].includes(window.location.hostname)||(a="STYLN_elections_notifications"),a||"0_control"}function reportData(){if(window.dataLayer){var a;try{a=dataLayer.find(function(a){return!!a.user}).user}catch(a){}var b={abtest:{test:"styln-elections-notifications",variant:getVariant()},module:{name:"styln-elections-notifications",label:getVariant(),region:"TOP_BANNER"},user:a};window.dataLayer.push(Object.assign({},b,{event:"ab-alloc"})),window.dataLayer.push(Object.assign({},b,{event:"ab-expose"})),window.dataLayer.push(Object.assign({},b,{event:"impression"}))}}function insertNotification(a,b){// Bail here if the user is in controlif(reportData(),"0_control"!==getVariant()){// Remove menu bar items or previous notificationvar c=document.querySelector(".nytslm_innerContainer");if(c&&1 30 * 60 * 1000) return restoreMenuIfNecessary();// Do not update DOM if the content won't changeif(currentNotificationContents!==a.text&&window.localStorage.getItem("stylnelecs")!==a.timestamp)// Do not show if user has interacted with this link// if (Cookie.get('stylnelecs') === data.timestamp) return;{expireLocalStorage("stylnelecs"),currentNotificationContents=a.text;// Construct URL for trackingvar b=a.link.split("#"),c=b[0]+"?action=click&pgtype=Article&state=default&module=styln-elections-notifications&variant=1_election_notifications®ion=TOP_BANNER&context=Menu#"+b[1],d=formatNotification(c,a.text,a.kicker,a.image);insertNotification(d,function(){var b=document.querySelector(".nytslm_notification_link");return b?void(b.onclick=function(){window.localStorage.setItem("stylnelecs",a.timestamp)}):null})}})}(function(){navigator.userAgent.includes("nytios")||navigator.userAgent.includes("nyt_android")||window.stylnelecsHasLoaded||(// setInterval(getUpdate, 5000);window.stylnelecsHasLoaded=!0)})(),function(){try{if(navigator.userAgent.includes("nytios")||navigator.userAgent.includes("nyt_android")){var a=document.getElementsByClassName("nytslm_title")[0];a.style.pointerEvents="none"}}catch(a){}}();In a meeting at the White House on Friday, the president weighed appointing Sidney Powell, who promoted conspiracy theories about rigged voting machines, to probe voter fraud.
President Trump has been in contact with Sidney Powell in recent days, despite the fact that the campaign last month sought to distance itself from her as she aired baseless claims about Dominion Voting Systems machines. Credit... Samuel Corum for The New York Times Dec. 19, 2020, 12:34 p.m. ET President Trump on Friday discussed making Sidney Powell, who as a lawyer for his campaign team unleashed a series of conspiracy theories about a Venezuelan plot to rig voting machines in the United States, a special counsel investigating voter fraud, according to two people briefed on the discussion.
It was unclear if Mr. Trump will move ahead with such a plan.
Most of his advisers opposed the idea, two of the people briefed on the discussion said, including Rudolph W. Giuliani, the president's personal lawyer, who in recent days sought to have the Department of Homeland Security join the campaign's efforts to overturn Mr. Trump's loss in the election.
Mr. Giuliani joined the discussion by phone, while Ms. Powell was at the White House for a meeting that became raucous at times, according to one of the people briefed on what took place. Other administration officials drifted in and out of the meeting, two of the people briefed said, and the White House counsel, Pat A. Cipollone, pushed back on the ideas being proposed.
Ms. Powell accused other Trump advisers of being quitters, according to the people briefed.
But the idea that Mr. Trump would try to install Ms. Powell in a position to investigate the outcome sent shock waves through the president's circle. She has repeatedly claimed there was widespread fraud, but several lawsuits she filed related to election fraud have been tossed out of court.
Mr. Trump has been in contact with Ms. Powell in recent days, despite the fact that the campaign last month sought to distance itself from her as she aired wild and baseless claims about Dominion Voting Systems machines, which were used in some states, somehow being connected to a Venezuelan plot to control the election.
Dominion officials have demanded that Ms. Powell retract her claims.
Since the election, Mr. Trump had pushed the outgoing attorney general, William P. Barr, to appoint a special counsel to look into election fraud, as well as one to investigate Hunter Biden, President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s son. Mr. Barr, people briefed on the matter, has been unwilling to do what Mr. Trump wanted.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Giuliani have been pushing for data as evidence of widespread election fraud, a claim that Mr. Barr rejected publicly weeks ago.
Part of the White House meeting on Friday night was a discussion about an executive order to take control of voting machines to examine them, according to one of the people briefed.
Mr. Giuliani has separately pressed the Department of Homeland Security to seize possession of voting machines as part of a push to overturn the results of the election, three people familiar with the discussion said. Mr. Giuliani was told the department does not have the authority to do such a thing.
Trump promises 'wild' protest in DC on Jan. 6, the day Congress to count electoral votes
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 26: President Donald Trump speaks in the Diplomatic Room of the White House on Thanksgiving on November 26, 2020 in Washington, DC. Trump had earlier made the traditional call to members of the military stationed abroad thro '...
President Trump on Saturday promised a "wild" protest in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, as he continued to deny that he lost the election.
"Statistically impossible to have lost the 2020 Election," he tweeted. "Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!"
Jan. 6 is the day Congress will meet to accept the presidential election results. President-elect Joe Biden won the election, and presidential electors cast their votes last week in the Electoral College.
But Trump and his campaign have disputed the results and launched numerous legal challenges, although nearly all of them have failed. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court shot down a Texas lawsuit trying to nullify millions of votes in key swing states.
Roughly four dozen lawsuits by the Trump campaign and allies to upend the election results over the past six weeks have been tossed out by state and federal judges.
Trump's legal team has said it intends to continue mounting legal challenges, but experts say there is little chance of success.
On Saturday, Trump linked to a report by Peter Navarro that claims without evidence that the amount of election fraud was sufficient to swing the election.
Some Trump allies have planned to call for a debate in the House when the election results are received. However, those plans were dealt a blow when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked his Republican colleagues in the Senate not to contest the election results on Jan. 6, when a joint session of Congress formally accepts the count.
McConnell's move could effectively end any hopes of a last-minute reprieve for the president. A majority of both chambers of Congress (including the Democratic-controlled House) would be needed to upend the election results.
Meanwhile, Trump has been critical of those in his party who have accepted Biden's victory.
After McConnell recognized Biden as president-elect in a Tuesday speech on the floor of the Senate, Trump responded by calling on him and other Republicans to "get tougher."
".@senatemajldr and Republican Senators have to get tougher, or you won't have a Republican Party anymore. We won the Presidential Election, by a lot. FIGHT FOR IT. Don't let them take it away!" Trump charged on Twitter.
Trump, who lost by more than 7 million votes, has also taken aim at a number of other Republicans over their stance on the election -- including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.
Fox News' Paul Steinhauser and Tyler Olson contributed to this report.
Donald J. Trump on Twitter: "He didn't win the Election. He lost all 6 Swing States, by a lot. They then dumped hundreds of thousands of votes in each one, and got caught. Now Republican politicians have to fight so that their great victory is not stole
Donald J. Trump : He didn't win the Election. He lost all 6 Swing States, by a lot. They then dumped hundreds of thousands of votes i'... https://t.co/8KE4yG70Wk
Sat Dec 19 14:41:03 +0000 2020
Save NN : @realDonaldTrump You keep repeating the same shit on a daily basis. Go find another country to grift in.
Sun Dec 20 00:44:06 +0000 2020
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China Says EU Investment Deal in Final Stage, Hails Progress - Bloomberg
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CHINA SUPPLY CHAIN - CISA Updates Alert and Releases Supplemental Guidance on Emergency Directive for SolarWinds Orion Compromise | CISA
CISA has updated AA20-352A: Advanced Persistent Threat Compromise of Government Agencies, Critical Infrastructure, and Private Sector Organizations, originally released December 17. This update states that CISA has evidence of, and is currently investigating, initial access vectors in addition to those attributed to the SolarWinds Orion supply chain compromise. This update also provides new mitigation guidance and revises the indicators of compromise table; it also includes a downloadable STIX file of the IOCs.
In addition, CISA has released supplemental guidance to Emergency Directive (ED) 21-01, providing new information on affected versions, new guidance for agencies using third-party service providers, and additional clarity on required actions.
CISA encourages users and administrators to review the following resources for additional information on the SolarWinds Orion compromise.
CISA Emergency Directive 21-01 - Supplemental Guidance v.1CISA Emergency Directive 21-01: Mitigate SolarWinds Orion Code CompromiseCISA Activity Alert AA20-352A: Advanced Persistent Threat Compromise of Government Agencies, Critical Infrastructure, and Private Sector Organizations This product is provided subject to this Notification and this Privacy & Use policy.
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IT'S WAR: Communist China successfully infiltrated vaccine giants Pfizer, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline as part of ''unrestricted warfare'' to defeat the US military and conquer North America '' NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) We now have confirmation from multiple sources that the newly-leaked database of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) loyalists includes the names and details of 123 individuals who have successfully infiltrated the vaccine industry, attaining employment at vaccine giants Pfizer, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline '-- corporations that are manufacturing coronavirus vaccines for U.S. civilian and military use.
The Epoch Times, which has strong ties to Chinese dissidents who are able to confirm such information, now reports:
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a global coalition of lawmakers, obtained the database from an unidentified Chinese dissident, then shared the material with four media organizations, according to a Dec. 12 report by British newspaper The Mail on Dec. 13, which obtained the list and reviewed it.
The Mail found that major aerospace companies Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Boeing have employed hundreds of CCP members. Additionally, Pfizer and British drugmaker AstraZeneca employed a total of 123 Party members. British automaker Jaguar Land Rover also employed CCP members.
Members of the CCP, ''swear oath to 'guard Party secrets, be loyal to the Party, work hard, fight for communism throughout my life'...and never betray the Party''' reports the UK Daily Mail.
CCP loyalists routinely steal corporate secrets and compromise the security and integrity of corporations that might compete against Chinese interests. Also according to the UK Daily Mail, ''there were more than 600 party members across 19 branches working at the British banks HSBC and Standard Chartered in 2016.''
The CCP created the coronavirus bioweapon, and we believe that the CCP used its spies to infiltrate and compromise vaccine manufacturers in order to turn coronavirus vaccines into ''second wave'' bioweapons that will injure or kill very large numbers of people who take the vaccines.
This also means that individuals who are pushing vaccine mandates are playing right into the hands of communist China '-- which has sworn to destroy the United States of America through ''unrestricted warfare'' '-- and are themselves engaged in acts of criminal treason against the United States.
How many CCP loyalists work in Big Tech?So far, only 8,192 names have been publicly released of the nearly 2 million CCP loyalists whose names are on the full list. We have not yet seen how many CCP loyalists are working with the tech giants such as Google, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. However, we already know that Facebook deliberately hired communist Chinese software experts to design its ''hate speech engineering'' algorithm that censors U.S. citizens who defend the Constitution or President Trump.
In other words, Big Tech deliberately recruits communist Chinese to build more advanced censorship algorithms to censor Americans, and then Big Tech deploys these algorithms to bury all evidence of election theft that was also carried out via China-owned Dominion Voting Systems. What we are describing here is a massive, international criminal conspiracy to overthrow the United States of America.
This is why all the CEOs of Big Tech must face arrest, prosecution and public executions if found guilty of treason.
From the UK Daily Mail:
Writing in The Mail on Sunday today, former Tory Party leader Iain Duncan Smith says: 'This investigation proves that members of the Chinese Communist Party are now spread around the globe, with members working for some of the world's most important multinational corporations, academic institutions and our own diplomatic services.
Communist China, in other words, has infiltrated Western nations, corporations and governments. The hour is already late. Communist China also owns Dominion Voting Systems and used the rigged systems to recently try to steal the U.S. election and install their puppet candidate (Joe Biden) as the U.S. President.
The entire Biden crime family is deeply compromised by communist China, and CCP loyalists have also successfully infiltrated Airbus, Boeing and Rolls-Royce.
Now the software ''glitch'' about the Boeing 737-Max makes more sense, doesn't it?
Don't forget, either, that Joe Biden held priority meetings with the very same vaccine makers who have been infiltrated by the CCP. What do you suppose they discussed?
US Army General Perna announces ''Vaccine D-Day,'' using CCP-influenced vaccines to declare, ''the beginning of the end'' for AmericaSuddenly Operation Warp Speed makes even more sense. US Army Gen. Perna and former Defense Secretary Mark Esper chose China-connected vaccine companies to supply millions of vaccine doses that would be administered to harm U.S. military personnel. As we have previously covered in daily Situation Update podcasts, one of the groups being targeted for these priority vaccines is cyber warfare soldiers.
Gen. Perna has publicly declared that vaccines will be rolled out across the military as a ''Vaccine D-Day,'' further claiming the vaccines will be ''the beginning of the end'' for America. This makes perfect sense when you consider how these black hat operators in the DoD are already aligned with China and have been exploited to distribute a dangerous, even deadly vaccines manufactured by corporations with ties to communist China. (The DoD is split. There are anti-America, pro-China ''black hat'' forces inside the DoD, but also pro-America, pro-Trump ''white hat'' forces. A civil war is under way in the Pentagon'...)
See the full announcement here:
China has long had a goal of the complete destruction of the United States of America, and the CCP can't accomplish that goal unless they can first cause widespread casualties and deaths among military personnel, after which a land invasion via Canada will be much easier to accomplish.
As bombshell documents released in the last two days have stunningly revealed, Canada's treasonous prime minister Justin Trudeau allowed Canada's military to help train communist Chinese soldiers in winter warfare tactics, all in preparation for a land invasion of the United States. This places Trudeau in the ''enemy combatant'' category, and as I will be covering in tomorrow's Situation Update, President Trump is preparing to drop huge economic and trade sanctions on Canada in response to Canada's betrayal.
See this important interview with JR Nyquist to understand China's grand plan to destroy the United States, invade North America and conquer the continent through the mass extermination of all who oppose them:
Thus, China's infiltration of the vaccine manufacturers was necessary to cause mass casualties across US troops, while Canada's prime minister would allow China to use Canada as an invasion staging area to threaten the United States from the North. With Big Tech and Big Media also completely controlled by communist China, no American would be allowed to speak about the invasion taking place, and those who posted videos or photos of the wartime invasions would, of course, be blacklisted and deplatformed.
China's ''total war'' on America is now fully revealedThe truth is now obvious: China planned a multi-faceted assault on America using rigged voting machines, toxic vaccines, land invasion plans and corporate infiltration, all while controlling tech and media in order to completely overthrow the United States of America and claim North America for the CCP.
As I have stated in today's Situation Update, we are now living in an active war zone, while China-controlled Democrat governors have taken millions of Americans prisoner, turning them into POWs in their own homes, via weaponized covid-19 lockdowns that make no scientific or medical sense whatsoever.
These are acts of war against the American people, and the Democrats are almost universally corrupted and compromised by communist China.
This is why I repeat my call to arrest, prosecute and execute all treasonous Americans who are proven to be working for communist China to undermine the United States of America.
President Trump appears to be on the verge of invoking the Insurrection Act and deploying Special Operations Forces (SOF) to carry out mass arrests of treasonous operatives across America. Military tribunals are probably not far behind, and here's what Gen. Michael Flynn said just today (via Maria Bartiromo / Fox Business):
Sidney Powell right now has four lawsuits pending at the Supreme Court'... we have conclusive evidence of foreign interference in our election'... , I think that the President of the United States has to trigger his executive order of 2018, and probably appoint a special counsel to look into all this'... because we have serious, serious foreign influence problems with this Dominion voting machine.
And Sidney Powell added to the intrigue in a recent interview with Lou Dobbs, saying:
We know that 400 million dollars of money came into Smartmatic from China only a few weeks before the election, that there are George Soros connections to the entire endeavor'... Frankly, our national security agency and defense intelligence agency need to be all over this immediately. The evidence is overwhelming and extremely troubling that this has been going on and didn't just start this year.
Listen to my Dec. 13th Situation Update for the latest bombshell news, and check the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com mid-day each day for a new update:
https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport
Report: Disney Chairman Bob Iger Interested in Becoming Biden's Ambassador to China
Bob Iger, chairman of the Walt Disney Co., has expressed interest in becoming ambassador to China under Joe Biden, reportedly making overtures to people in the president-elect's team about the plum diplomatic post.
But the possible appointment is already drawing criticism as a weak choice given Disney's history of appeasement to China's Communist dictatorship.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Bob Iger has reached out to Biden's transition team to communicate his interest in the ambassadorship, according to anonymous sources ''familiar with the matter.'' The newspaper noted that Biden gave $500,000 to the Biden Victory Fund as well as a combined $85,100 towards efforts to elect Democrats in Congress.
Former Dreamworks and Quibi boss Jeffrey Katzenberg also put in a good word for Iger, telling the Biden transition team that he would make a good ambassador to China, according to the Journal.
Presidents have traditionally rewarded big-ticket donors with ambassadorships. On top of that, Iger's long-running business relationship with Chinese president Xi Jinping could serve as a potential bonus to seal the deal.
But Bob Iger also presents major drawbacks in light of Disney's past failure to stand up to China's Communist rulers.
Iger came under fire last year for refusing to condemn China's crackdown on pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong. Under his leadership, Disney forbade ESPN journalists from addressing any discussion of the relationship between China and Hong Kong. The decision came after the controversy involving Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who tweeted support for Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.
Disney has invested heavily in China, with theme parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The studio also relies on the Chinese box office to help its blockbuster movies turn a profit. As a result, Iger has developed close ties to China's Communist Party leaders.
The Journal noted that Iger first met Xi during a trip to China during which Disney apologized for releasing the 1997 Martin Scorsese movie Kundun, a biopic of the Dalai Lama. The movie angered Chinese leaders for its negative depiction of Chairman Mao Tse-tung and for scenes showing Chinese troops slaughtering Tibetans.
Iger's tenure as Disney chairman is set to expire next year. The Hollywood executive was rumored to be mulling a presidential run during the last election cycle but he ultimately opted to stay out of the race.
Follow David Ng on Twitter @HeyItsDavidNg. Have a tip? Contact me at dng@breitbart.com
By Arnoud Boot, Peter Hoffmann, Luc Laeven, Lev Ratnovski
The financial industry is undergoing rapid technological change. Traditional banks face competition from online start-ups with no physical branches. Social media and other digital platforms are expanding into payments and credit. The increase in demand for digital services triggered by COVID-19 is turbo-charging this transformation. The confluence we are witnessing is driving fintech innovation and raises important questions. What are the transformative aspects of recent financial innovation that can uproot finance as we know it? Which new policy challenges will the transformation of finance bring?
Fintech's potential to reach out to over a billion unbanked people around the world, and the changes in the financial system structure that this can induce, can be revolutionary.
Recent IMF and ECB staff research distinguishes two areas of financial innovation. One is information: new tools to collect and analyse data on customers, for example for determining creditworthiness. Another is communication: new approaches to customer relationships and the distribution of financial products. We argue that each dimension contains some transformative components.
New types of information
The most transformative information innovation is the increase in use of new types of data coming from the digital footprint of customers' various online activities'--mainly for credit-worthiness analysis.
Credit scoring using so-called hard information (income, employment time, assets and debts) is nothing new. Typically, the more data is available, the more accurate is the assessment. But this method has two problems. First, hard information tends to be ''procyclical'': it boosts credit expansion in good times but exacerbates contraction during downturns.
The second and most complex problem is that certain kinds of people, like new entrepreneurs, innovators and many informal workers might not have enough hard data available. Even a well-paid expatriate moving to the United States can be caught in the conundrum of not getting a credit card for lack of credit record, and not having a credit record for lack of credit cards.
Fintech resolves the dilemma by tapping various nonfinancial data: the type of browser and hardware used to access the internet, the history of online searches and purchases. Recent research documents that, once powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning, these alternative data sources are often superior than traditional credit assessment methods, and can advance financial inclusion, by, for example, enabling more credit to informal workers and households and firms in rural areas.
New communication channels
Communication innovation is driven by the variety of digital platforms in social media, mobile communication, and online shopping that have penetrated much of consumers' everyday lives, thus increasing their digital footprint and the available data. Platforms like Amazon, Facebook or Alibaba incorporate more and more financial services into their ecosystems, enabling the rise of new specialized providers that compete with banks in payments, asset management, and financial information provision.
Technology again boosts an existing trend. The shift from in-person bank branch visits to remote, online communication generally improves customer convenience and makes financial intermediation more cost-efficient. It also boosts geographic competition among banks, which can now service more distant customers.
The effects of digital transformation are powerful for the financial sector, already the industry most heavily reliant on computers. That is compounded by the doubling in use of online banking having in the past two decades in the European Union's 15 largest economies. And with usage at 50 percent on average, it still has significant room to grow.
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Policy challenges
That growth potential ensures that digital innovation in information and communication is bound to deepen even further and give rise to new priorities in several policy areas. Prudential regulation faces perhaps the most substantial challenges. Regulators need to assess the operational risks of new lending technologies and business models facing their first real-life stress test during the COVID-19 downturn.
Other risks also loom large: more cybersecurity risks (financial institutions and customers using more online services creates potential new opportunities for criminals), and regulatory arbitrage (tailoring business models to reduce regulatory oversight). To address all these challenges, regulatory agencies need to ensure that their expertise matches that of the industry'--something historically difficult that may become even harder as more talent enters the financial technology sphere and the pace of innovation accelerates.
The environment for monetary policy will change too. The procyclical bias of hard information (exacerbating up- and downswings) might require central bankers to be more ''countercyclical,'' (i.e., potentially overcompensate with stimulating or cooling measures stronger than actual economic developments would warrant). New monetary policy transmission channels will need to be fully understood. And, as new players make banks less relevant for the financial system, central banks may need to adjust their monetary policy implementation toolbox, potentially allowing nonbanks access to liquidity lines and incorporating them in their operations.
Other critical areas include competition policy, to address the monopolistic tendencies of large digital platforms, related to network effects and the natural tendency to converge to a few large platforms; and data policies to ensure consumer privacy and efficient and safe collection, processing, and exchange of data.
Overall, while much of the technological progress in finance is evolutionary, its pace is accelerating fast. Fintech's potential to reach out to over a billion unbanked people around the world, and the changes in the financial system structure that this can induce, can be revolutionary.
Governments should follow and carefully support the technological transition in finance. It is important to adjust policies accordingly and stay ahead of the curve.
Arnoud Boot is professor of finance at the University of Amsterdam, Peter Hoffmann and Luc Laeven are economists with the European Central Bank, and Lev Ratnovski is an economist with the IMF (currently on leave) seconded to the European Central Bank. The blog is based on an IMF Working Paper, ''Financial Intermediation and Technology: What's Old, What's New?'' published in August 2020.
IMF researchers propose to have AI use ONLINE history to determine credit rating, in name of 'inclusion' '-- RT World News
Traditional data used for credit scoring could be replaced by AI-powered processes based on online search and purchase histories to better reach a billion-plus ''unbanked people'' globally, a group of IMF researchers has proposed.
Using non-financial data such as ''the type of browser and hardware used to access the internet," or "the history of online searches and purchases,'' which is then fed into technology powered by AI and machine learning, could ''advance financial inclusion, by, for example, enabling more credit to informal workers and households and firms in rural areas,'' write Arnoud Boot, Peter Hoffmann, Luc Laeven and Lev Ratnovski in a post on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) blog.
The authors argue these ''alternative data sources are often superior than traditional credit assessment methods,'' which tend to boost credit expansion during booms and shrink it during busts. Moreover, they say, traditional credit data is not available for ''certain kinds of people, like new entrepreneurs, innovators and many informal workers,'' and even well-off immigrants to the US.
Their AI-powered credit score based on web searches is just one of the proposals in the paper, which argues the Covid-19 pandemic is ''turbo-charging'' the technological transformation of the financial industry and looks at how the IMF can ''get ahead'' of the problems that might create.
Boot is a professor of finance at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Hoffman and Laeven are economists with the European Central Bank, where Ratnovski has been seconded from his job as an IMF economist. In other words, these are very serious finance people and their proposal isn't meant in jest. They just don't seem to be familiar with the ''when I die, delete my internet history'' meme.
a fantastic example of people who have an idea that is perhaps well intentioned but incredibly foolish and relies vaguely on the black box of Machine Learning to implement. can basically watch the car crash happen in slow motion before it starts. https://t.co/idr9AbffIp
'-- Charlie Warzel (@cwarzel) December 18, 2020Highlighted by Gizmodo on Friday, the proposal was met with alarm and derision by the US commentariat. New York Times opinion writer Charlie Warzel called it a ''a fantastic example of people who have an idea that is perhaps well intentioned but incredibly foolish'' and compared it to a slow-motion car wreck
Other responses compared the IMF proposal to a pitch for an episode of the dystopian series 'Black Mirror', and joked that perhaps people should start running searches such as ''Why am I so great with money?'' and ''I <3 the IMF.'' Then there were those who worried that letting AI make lending decisions would be '' what else? '' racist.
OMG no. It's not the black box that's the (only) problem, it's that it will just enable more pernicious forms of discrimination. BIPOC face more than enough financial discrimination as it is.
'-- Zo McLaren, PhD (@ZoeMcLaren) December 18, 2020The IMF proposal was also panned as yet another attempt to expand control by globalist institutions, along the lines of the World Economic Forum-proposed 'Great Reset' using the pandemic as a pretext.
Need more proof the overlords want to control us by all means necessary?Read the article, they even try to make it sound it's a noble endeavor: https://t.co/m0Qg9HdjSU
'-- Noor Bin Ladin (@NoorBinLadin) December 18, 2020Last month, a Deutsche Bank monthly featured a proposal by another researcher to tax people working from home in order to subsidize those who can't, as well as the infrastructure sitting unused during the pandemic. In the same publication, the same researcher also authored a proposal to reimagine Western cities by abolishing zoning regulations.
Also on rt.com Working from home? You need to be TAXED for the privilege, Deutsche Bank proposes Like this story? Share it with a friend!
Should We Use Search History for Credit Scores? IMF Says Yes
Photo: Philippe Huguen (Getty Images)With more services than ever collecting your data, it's easy to start asking why anyone should care about most of it. This is why. Because people start having ideas like this.
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In a new blog post for the International Monetary Fund, four researchers presented their findings from a working paper that examines the current relationship between finance and tech as well as its potential future. Gazing into their crystal ball, the researchers see the possibility of using the data from your browsing, search, and purchase history to create a more accurate mechanism for determining the credit rating of an individual or business. They believe that this approach could result in greater lending to borrowers who would potentially be denied by traditional financial institutions.
At its heart, the paper is trying to wrestle with the dawning notion that the institutional banking system is facing a serious threat from tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Apple. The researchers identify two key areas in which this is true: Tech companies have greater access to soft-information, and messaging platforms can take the place of the physical locations that banks rely on for meeting with customers.
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The concept of using your web history to inform credit ratings is framed around the notion that lenders rely on hard-data that might obscure the worthiness of a borrower or paint an unnecessarily dire picture during hard times. Citing soft-data points like ''the type of browser and hardware used to access the internet, the history of online searches and purchases'' that could be incorporated into evaluating a borrower, the researchers believe that when a lender has a more intimate relationship with the potential client's history, they might be more willing to cut them some slack.
''Banks tend to cushion credit terms for their long-term customers during downturns,'' the paper's authors write. This is because they have a history and relationship with the customer. Now, imagine the kind of intimate history that Facebook could have with a borrower and suddenly its digital cash initiative starts to make more sense.
But how would all this data be incorporated into credit ratings? Machine learning, of course. It's black boxes all the way down.
The researchers acknowledge that there will be privacy and policy concerns related to incorporating this kind of soft-data into credit analysis. And they do little to explain how this might work in practice. The paper isn't long, and it's worth a read just to wrap your mind around some of the notions of fintech's future and why everyone seems to want in on the payments game.
As it is, getting the really fine soft-data points would probably require companies like Facebook and Apple to loosen up their standards on linking unencrypted information with individual accounts. How they might share information would other institutions would be its own can of worms. And while the researchers sound bullish on the advantages that tech companies have over banks, they cite business-to-business lending as a game that traditional institutions continue to dominate. ''This may change, however, due to the rise of cloud computing, which may enable large technology firms to create B2B ecosystems that include large corporate customers,'' they write.
Yes, the idea of every move you make online feeding into your credit score is creepy. It may not even be possible in the near future. The IMF researchers stress that ''governments should follow and carefully support the technological transition in finance. It is important to adjust policies accordingly and stay ahead of the curve.'' When's the last time a government did any of that?
Republicans, Democrats reach compromise over Covid-19 stimulus package
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U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell walks through the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., December 16, 2020.
Erin Scott | Reuters
Senior lawmakers reached a compromise over the Federal Reserve's emergency lending powers late Saturday night, overcoming a major hurdle that prevented Congress from completing a $900 billion coronavirus relief package earlier in the week, according to multiple sources.
A last-minute roadblock emerged on Friday as Democrats accused Republicans, namely Pennsylvania's Sen. Pat Toomey, of attempting to encumber the incoming Biden administration by cutting off the Federal Reserve's emergency lending abilities created by the CARES Act meant to protect the already battered economy.
"Now that Democrats have agreed to a version of Sen. Toomey's important language, we can begin closing out the rest of the package to deliver much-needed relief to families, workers, and businesses," a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told NBC News.
Compromise language is being finalized and any open items are expected to be worked out overnight, according to two aides.
A spokesperson for Toomey called the agreement an "unqualified victory for taxpayers."
"Senate Republicans achieved all four of our objectives regarding the CARES Act Federal Reserve lending programs," Toomey spokesperson Steve Kelly said.
"This agreement rescinds more than $429 billion in unused CARES Act funds; definitively ends the CARES Act lending facilities by Dec. 31, 2020, stops these facilities from being restarted, and forbids them from being duplicated without congressional approval. This agreement will preserve Fed independence and prevent Democrats from hijacking these programs for political and social policy purposes," Kelly added.
Congressional leaders settled on a framework midweek that was expected to include a $300 federal unemployment bonus, a new round of direct payments, small business funding and money to distribute Covid-19 vaccines.
The House had already advised votes as early as 1 p.m. Sunday.
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Vaccines and such
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announces $250 million COVID vaccine commitment - ABC News
"This will be seared in the memory of this generation," Gates told ABC News.
December 10, 2020, 11:50 PM
' 8 min read
Bill Gates has warned about the need to prepare for a pandemic for years. Since the novel coronavirus swept across the country in March, the billionaire has put his money where his mouth is.
''This will be seared in the memory of this generation, hopefully enough, to invest, to be more ready next time. Hopefully to invest more in all these infectious diseases that are still a huge problem,'' Gates told ABC News.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's headquarters campus is pictured in this aerial photograph in Seattle, Aug. 21, 2012.
Watch ''The Shot: Race for the Vaccine,'' a one-hour special edition of ''20/20,'' airing Monday, Dec. 14, on ABC at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced a new $250 million commitment on Thursday, adding to the foundation's total investment to $1.75 billion into combating COVID-19 through vaccine development and distribution.
''The plan is coming together to get this vaccine out. So, you know, it's a tragedy, but there's a lot of heroes in the process of getting it to end,'' said Gates.
Gates, who had invested in the vaccine technology in 2015, emphasized the importance of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines ending this pandemic and potentially ones to come in the future.
A researcher works on a COVID-19 vaccine in a lab run by Moderna Inc, in an undated photograph.
''Well, your immune system is kind of magic. If it sees a foreign shape once, then it says, 'Wow, if I ever see that again, I am going to react very quickly,' and so that it doesn't cause a problem,'' said Gates.
''With mRNA, we actually give instructions to your cells to make them build part of the virus,'' said Gates, who said that the immune system kicks in to help inoculate against the virus.
The U.K. was the first country to authorized the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and began distributing it to first-wave participants on Dec. 8.
The U.S. is likely not far behind on authorizing emergency use and beginning to distribute a that COVID-19 vaccine. On Dec. 10, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel held a hearing on the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Alex Azar, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services secretary, offered ABC News an optimistic look the vaccine authorization process.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar speaks during a news conference at the White House, Nov. 20, 2020.
"If things are on track, the advisory committee goes well, I believe we could see FDA authorization within days," Azar told ABC News on Dec. 6.
Gates said that citizens in other countries may not be as lucky and could potentially be left behind amid the rush to manufacture, obtain and distribute the vaccines.
''Well, there are many countries that have no vaccine factories at all, and it doesn't make any sense that their citizens wouldn't get any protection,'' said Gates. ''We want to end the disease everywhere, so we're not constantly having these re-infections. And if anyone cares about equity, they should not want the vaccines only to go to the rich people or the rich countries.''
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Dec. 9 that stated the U.S. would only share its vaccine doses after "all Americans who choose to be vaccinated" are able to.
People wear protective face masks as they walk in Times Square in New York on Dec. 10, 2020.
Gates said that he was hopeful other billionaires will step up to help fill the global gaps in vaccine distribution.
''I always think we could do more, we should give more, give smarter,'' he told ABC News. ''I hope in the future people are even more generous.''
Although vaccine authorization and distribution is imminent, the U.S. saw its deadliest week since the beginning of the pandemic this week, with 15,578 deaths -- roughly the equivalent to 92 deaths every hour, ABC News reported.
In less than a week alone, the U.S. has reported 1.4 million new cases.
Gates said he hopes what the U.S. has done and learned during the coronavirus pandemic will help mitigate the next global disease outbreak.
''Well, you know, just the way people have come together on this. Science, caring about other people,'' he said. ''I'm very hopeful the way we get out of this disaster sets a model for innovation and cooperation.''
ABC News' Adam Kelsey and Adia Robinson contributed to this report.
Belgian secretary of state accidentally reveals EU vaccine prices '' POLITICO
The EU's vaccine prices were '-- for a short time and by accident '-- finally made public.
Belgium's Budget State Secretary Eva De Bleeker on Thursday tweeted a table with the price of each vaccine purchased by the EU and how much Belgium will spend in total on the vaccines, according to Belgian news site HLN. The tweet has since been deleted, but the outlet published a screenshot.
The European Commission has said it cannot disclose the prices paid for each coronavirus vaccine, citing commercial confidentiality agreements.
Civil society groups, MEPs and health advocates have been calling for months for the Commission to reveal how much the EU is paying, arguing that deals involving taxpayer funds should have greater transparency.
The Commission signed deals with six producers and completed exploratory talks with a seventh on Thursday. Countries will place their orders individually for each vaccine.
According to the screenshot published by HLN, the EU is spending between '‚¬1.78 and $18 per coronavirus vaccine. The price per dose listed for each of the six vaccines was as follows:
Oxford/AstraZeneca: '‚¬1.78Johnson & Johnson, $8.50 Sanofi/GSK: '‚¬7.56BioNTech/Pfizer: '‚¬12 CureVac: '‚¬10 Moderna: $18 Belgium will purchase more than 33 million vaccines for a total of '‚¬279 million.
De Bleeker said that publication of the price breakdown was ''a mistake on the part of the communications team,'' according to HLN.
In reaction to questions by opposition MPs about the potential consequences of the violation of confidentiality, De Bleeker said the blunder would not ''endanger anything'' concerning Belgium's access to vaccines.
According to HLN, the European Commission said: ''We will not comment on what happened in Belgium, but the prices of the vaccines are confidential.''
CORRECTION: This story has been amended to correct the spelling of Eva De Bleeker.
This article is part of POLITICO's premium policy service: Pro HealthCare. From drug pricing, EMA, vaccines, pharma and more, our specialized journalists keep you on top of the topics driving the health care policy agenda. Email [email protected] for a complimentary trial.
The wealthy scramble to get the COVID-19 vaccine - Los Angeles Times
They're offering tens of thousands of dollars in cash, making their personal assistants pester doctors every day, and asking whether a five-figure donation to a hospital would help them jump the line.
The COVID-19 vaccine is here '-- and so are the wealthy people who want it first.
''We get hundreds of calls every single day,'' said Dr. Ehsan Ali, who runs Beverly Hills Concierge Doctor. His clients, who include Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, pay between $2,000 and $10,000 a year for personalized care. ''This is the first time where I have not been able to get something for my patients.''
With the first doses in short supply, California has laid out a strict order of vaccinations based on need and risk: Healthcare workers and nursing home residents, then essential workers and those with chronic health conditions, then, finally, everyone else.
But to those with power, money and influence, rules can always be bent. California's stern messaging about serving the neediest first hasn't stopped the rich from trying to leap ahead of teachers, farmworkers and firefighters.
Dr. Jeff Toll, who has admitting privileges at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, one of the first hospitals to stock the vaccine, recalled a patient asking: ''If I donate $25,000 to Cedars, would that help me get in line?''' Toll said no.
Watchdogs have been warning that the COVID-19 vaccine's initial scarcity could create a thriving black market, particularly if well-connected people in the healthcare industry skim off a few doses here and there for friends, family or the highest bidder.
But getting earlier access to the shot may not even require much backroom deal-making. Some wealthy patients may get the shots sooner than the average person because they're members of exclusive healthcare groups that offer the kind of high-quality, primary care most Americans can't afford.
Those patients are already on waiting lists with concierge doctors who charge as much as $25,000 a year for 24-hour access to top-notch care, which includes working to get their clients vaccinated as soon as it's available.
Concierge practices are fielding frantic, repeated phone calls from well-heeled clients and their assistants. They're busy assembling lengthy patient files with medical histories and potential COVID-19 risks.
And they're snapping up expensive, ultra-low temperature freezers, which are in short supply, to store the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, which must be kept at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit.
Doctors in boutique practices say they'll adhere to public health guidelines in determining who gets priority. But being on a waiting list at a practice that has special freezers and other high-quality resources means you're already near the front of the line once the supply opens up.
Some boutique practices have already applied to California health officials for approval to store and administer the vaccine at a time when the typical primary care doctor has little idea when and how their patients will get access to the shots.
''As soon as we heard about the vaccine coming to market, we started looking for freezers,'' said Andrew Olanow, co-founder of Sollis Health, a concierge practice with clinics in New York, the Hamptons and Beverly Hills.
Six weeks ago, Sollis Health placed an order for six ultra-low temperature freezers at about $5,000 each. They're due to arrive next month.
After Sollis reserved their freezers, he said, several ''larger governmental orders'' sucked up much of the remaining supply, meaning wait times will be longer for clinics just ordering now.
Representatives for Pfizer and Moderna, whose vaccine is expected to be authorized this week, said doctors and private citizens cannot buy doses from them yet. The U.S. government is controlling the allocation of doses to all 50 states.
Until the vaccine is available to nongovernmental buyers, concierge doctors are in the unusual position of telling their demanding patients that, for now, they will just have to wait.
That hasn't stopped patients from trying.
''People are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars,'' said Toll, the doctor with admitting privileges at Cedars-Sinai. His private concierge practice in Los Angeles starts at $5,000 a year and can go as high as $25,000.
Doctors fielding these kinds of requests, he said, have to be comfortable telling rich, powerful people ''no,'' similar to when they ask for inappropriate medications. Toll tells his patients that those designated as most at-risk by public health officials should get it first.
''We're governed by the Hippocratic oath, the responsibility to provide care for the people who need it most,'' said Dr. Abe Malkin, the founder of Concierge MD LA, a house-call medical service that charges up to $750 per month. ''But at the same time, there's obviously going to be gray areas based on individual patients' needs.''
Guidelines that prioritize people who work in essential industries, have underlying health conditions, or are older than 65 are massive gray areas. In California alone, nearly 12 million people '-- two-thirds of the state workforce '-- work in essential industries.
That ambiguity creates opportunities for the well-connected to argue that an underlying health condition or a C-suite level position at an essential company should push them toward the front of the line, said Glenn Ellis, a bioethicist and a visiting scholar at Tuskegee University.
''With enough money and influence, you can make a convincing argument about anything,'' Ellis said. But unlike lobbying for a better table at a restaurant or a better seat at a Broadway show, he said, taking a vaccine dose that was meant for an essential worker could cost someone their health or their life.
The pattern is familiar in a state where Hollywood stars and Silicon Valley executives are accustomed to getting their way. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who made his own blunder by dining without a mask at The French Laundry in Napa Valley, has warned that California will be ''very aggressive in making sure that those with means, those with influence, are not crowding out those that are most deserving of the vaccines.''
''Those that think they can get ahead of the line and those that think because they have resources or they have relationships that will allow them to do it ... we also will be monitoring that very, very closely,'' Newsom said.
Alison Bateman-House, an assistant professor of medical ethics at NYU, said not everyone plying their connections for a shot is doing it out of purely selfish motivation. Some people ''are not a top priority for vaccination, but have what they consider to be a pressing need,'' she said, including the families of immuno-compromised relatives who may otherwise wait months to be immunized.
''Every system has a weak link somewhere, and I'm sure someone is going to find it and someone's going to exploit it,'' Bateman-House said. ''The question is: Where's that weak link going to be, and how quickly will it be identified and stopped?''
Taryn Vian, a health sector anti-corruption expert who teaches at the University of San Francisco, said powerful people could gain early access to the vaccine not by using bribery or coercion, but through more subtle means, like making requests to similarly powerful friends.
A friend of the leader of a pharmaceutical company, medical distributor, hospital or nursing home could ask if there are any extra doses available, and the leader could ask their assistant to see if they could help. The assistant might then interpret the request as a demand to misappropriate a dose, Vian explained.
''V.I.P. treatment is very common'' in the healthcare industry, Vian said.
That's already happening in California, doctors say, particularly in the entertainment world. Celebrities and executives aren't badgering their doctors themselves but are instructing their assistants to find out how they can get better treatment.
''Their people are calling me literally every day,'' said one doctor who requested anonymity to speak frankly about their clients, many of whom work in Hollywood. ''They don't want to wait. They want to know how they can get it more quickly.''
CDC confirms COVID-19 vaccine allergic reactions, issues new guidance
LOS ANGELES - The CDC said Saturday that it learned of severe allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine, and now recommends if a person has ever had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in a COVID-19 vaccine," then they "should not get that specific vaccine."
This does not mean that everyone with bad allergies is barred from getting it.
"CDC recommends that people with a history of severe allergic reactions not related to vaccines or injectable medications'--such as allergies to food, pet, venom, environmental, or latex'--may still get vaccinated," the CDC writes on its website.
"People with a history of allergies to oral medications or a family history of severe allergic reactions, or who might have a milder [sic] allergy to vaccines (no anaphylaxis)'--may also still get vaccinated."
RELATED: Stay up to date on all coronavirus-related information
If you have had a severe allergic reaction to other vaccines, then the CDC recommends consulting your doctor about whether or not you should get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Despite the new warning, adverse reactions to the vaccine have been exceedingly rare, as there have been just six allergic reactions recorded out of 272,000 shots given.
All six of the allergic reactions occurred within the recommended observation window, which is 30 minutes for people with a history of severe allergic reactions, and 15 minutes for everyone else.
Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau, Alaska, reported this week that two employees had allergic reactions roughly 10 minutes after getting the shot.
Health care workers knew to be on the lookout for allergic reactions after the United Kingdom reported two similar cases with the Pfizer vaccine last week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Vaccine Whistleblower Brandy Vaughan Found Dead Inside Her Own Home as Police Open Investigation
Vaccine whistleblower Brandy Vaughan, a former sales executive for the pharmaceutical company Merck and the founder of learntherisk.org, a website dedicated to educating people on the risks associated with vaccines, was found dead in her home beside her nine-year-old son on December 8.
On Monday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Vaughan was a vocal activist against the hazards of vaccines who founded California nonprofit Learn the Risk. On her Facebook page, she described herself as a
''former pharmaceutical insider on a mission to create a healthier world one person at a time by educating on the real risks of pharma drugs and vaccines.''
When working in the pharma industry, Brandy sold Vioxx, a painkiller that was found to double the risk of stroke and heart attacks, according to her Learn the Risk bio.
The painkiller was eventually later taken off the market.
''From that experience, I realized that just because something is on the market doesn't mean it's safe,'' Brandy said.
''Much of what we are told by the healthcare industry just simply isn't the truth.''
She then spent eight years living in Europe where she saw how healthcare is done very differently from the US.
''Upon returning to the States with a vaccine-free son, she was bullied at a pediatrician's office when she asked questions that every parent should ask like, What are the ingredients in these vaccines?'' her bio reads.
''How come children in other countries are healthier, but receive far fewer vaccines?''
Vaughan is reported to have died of ''gallbladder complications,'' although the source of the report has not been cited, nor has it shared the specific cause of the complications (such as a gallbladder rupture).
Soon after learning of her death, a friend of Vaughn's, Erin Elizabeth, shared screenshots of a Facebook post Vaughan had written in December of 2019, in which she assured readers that she was not suicidal and did not take any drugs that would cause her to die suddenly.
''The post I wish I didn't have to write'.... But given certain tragedies over the last couple of years, I feel it's absolutely necessary to post these ten facts'... please screenshot this for the record,'' wrote Vaughan.
''I have a huge mission in this life. Even when they make it very difficult and scary, I would NEVER take my own life. Period,'' she continued.
Referring to her son, Vaughan wrote, ''Bastien means everything to me and I would NEVER leave him. Period. She added that she hadn't taken pharmaceuticals for ten years. ''In other words, I'm not on anything that could kill me unexpectedly or suddenly,'' she wrote.
''If something were to happen to me, it's foul play and you know exactly who and why '-- given my work and mission in this life,'' she continued.
Elizabeth also shared a screenshot of a text she received from Vaughan in which she expressed worry about being poisoned and apparently referenced the death of Dr. Ben Johnson, M.D., D.O., NMD in January of 2019.
''So odd! I worry sometimes about poisoning. Was Dr. Ben ever married? Lived alone? Sorry for all the questions. I'm just so upset about this, especially since he wasn't even taking on the vaccine issue but mammograms, which one would think was a 'safer' issue.''
Vaughan, who used to work as a pharmaceutical sales representative for Merck, explained how she got started as an activist exposing the dangers of vaccines and pharmaceutical industry in a video shared in 2015. She begins by revealing that she used to represent Merck's drug Vioxx.
''When it came out that Merck had falsified safety data and Vioxx actually had twice the increase in heart attacks and strokes [for] people taking it, it really made me realize that there was a lot of corruption behind the scenes and that just because a drug is on the market doesn't mean it's safe,'' Vaughan said in the video.
Part of what she discovered is that aluminum is a major adjuvant in vaccines, which was another big ''red flag'' for her. When her grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, the doctor found high levels of aluminum in her tissues. He told her that the aluminum found in traditional deodorant was linked to breast cancer.
Vaughan went on to found Learn The Risk, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, ''in response to one of the nation's first mandatory vaccination for education laws '-- SB277 in California,'' according to her website. SB277, which was signed into law in 2015, ''barred parents from citing their personal beliefs as a reason for not vaccinating their children'' for school.
It was when Vaughan returned from a rally protesting SB277 in Sacramento that she first began to experience acts of intimidation, she explained in a video shared in 2015.
She described how she came home from Sacramento to find a key to her house, which she had previously hidden in her bushes, out on her doorstep. ''That day I had my locks changed and I installed a $3,000 alarm system two days later,'' said Vaughan.
She was later informed by her alarm company that someone had set off her alarm at 3:45 in the morning and immediately disarmed it with the master code, which Vaughan said no one had but her. Whoever entered proceeded to walk down her hallway, setting off the monitor sensor, and opened and shut her dining room window before leaving the house at 3:49 a.m.
Vaughan described how only days later, she found her computer moved from its hiding place above her microwave to the middle of her kitchen floor. After leaving town for a couple of weeks, she returned with a friend to find her ladder, which she had kept in her garage, just outside a bedroom window of her house '-- the only window with the blinds kept open. A neighbor informed her that she hadn't seen the ladder there the day before.
Only days after that, she found a duck figurine on one of her outdoor tables.
''When I talked to the security experts, I said, I don't understand the duck. And then it came to me that I had been on my phone having a lot of conversations [with] people asking me, are you staying at your house? What are you going to do? And I use the term repeatedly: I'm not staying at my house. I feel like a sitting duck, because they can get in at any time.''
''So that was actually quite disturbing to come home to. It's just a clear message that, again, they are watching me.''
''It's quite scary. After all these intimidation tactics it's very hard to feel safe and secure, but I am not gonna go away '-- I mean I'm not gonna be silenced, because these are important issues, and we need to expose what's really going on behind the mandatory vaccination bills.''
''I hope that we can continue this fight. We may have lost the battle but we still have a war to win,'' Vaughan concluded.
In her 2019 Facebook post, Vaughan wrote, ''If something were to happen to me, I have arranged for a close group of my friends to start a GoFundMe to hire a team of private investigators to figure out all the details.''
''There have been many on this mission or a similar one that have been killed and it's time this b'--'--- stopped. The darkness cannot win.''
A GoFundMe page was launched following her death to go towards ''Brandy's wishes'' including legal action, a memorial/funeral and to help fund the LearnTheRisk platform.
Read the Full Article at GreatGameIndia.com.
Mysterious Death of Vaccine Safety Advocate Brandy Vaughn, + C0VlD Censorship with Dr. Scott Jensenby Ben Swann
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Unmasking Who is Behind the Plandemic and Rioting to Usher in the New World Order
Leaving a lucrative career as a nephrologist (kidney doctor), Dr. Suzanne Humphries is now free to actually help cure people.
In this autobiography she explains why good doctors are constrained within the current corrupt medical system from practicing real, ethical medicine.
One of the sane voices when it comes to examining the science behind modern-day vaccines, no pro-vaccine extremist doctors have ever dared to debate her in public.
Book '' The Vaccine Court , by Wayne Rohde '' 240 pages''The Dark Truth of America's Vaccine Injury Compensation Program''FREE Shipping Available!ORDER HERE!Published on December 18, 2020
What is the new Covid strain '' and will vaccines work against it? | Coronavirus | The Guardian
Show caption Variant VUI-202012/01 has caused a rapid rise in cases in London and south-east England Photograph: AP
CoronavirusSat 19 Dec 2020 12.37 EST
Viruses mutate all the time. Most of the new variants die out. Sometimes they spread without altering the virus's behaviour. Very occasionally, they trigger dramatic changes.
And the question now facing scientists is straightforward: does variant VUI-202012/01 fall into this last category? Does it represent an increased health risk? Or has its recent rapid spread through southern England occurred because it has arisen in people who are infecting a lot of other people, possibly because they are ignoring Covid-19 restrictions?
These key questions, debated last week after health secretary Matt Hancock revealed the existence of the new variant, were answered firmly yesterday, by the government's chief medical officer, Chris Whitty.
''As a result of the rapid spread of the new variant, preliminary modelling data and rapidly rising incidence rates in the south-east,'' he announced, ''the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) now considers that the new strain can spread more quickly. We have alerted the World Health Organization and are continuing to analyse the available data to improve our understanding.''
These analyses will involve scientists growing the new strain in laboratories, studying its antibody responses and testing its cross-reactions with Covid-19 vaccines. In addition, health officials are now carrying out random sequencing of samples from positive cases across the country in order to survey its spread through the nation and to build up regional maps of its prevalence. This will take at least two weeks.
The appearance of the new variant is alarming '' though it should be noted that there have been several previous mutations of Covid-19. Last month, the Danish government culled millions of mink after it emerged that hundreds of Covid-19 cases were associated with Sars-CoV-2 variants carried by farmed mink. And in October, analyses suggested a coronavirus variant that originated in Spanish farm workers spread rapidly through Europe and accounted for most UK cases.
Last month millions of mink were culled in Denmark after the appearance of a Sars-CoV-2 variant. Photograph: Ritzau Scanpix/Reuters In neither case was it found that these variants increased transmission of the disease. However, it is now clear that this not the case for variant VUI-202012/01. What scientists must now tackle are concerns about the impact of the new variant '' in particular whether it will lead to an increase in cases of severe Covid illness or actually result in fewer cases. The other big issue is whether the new variant will be able to bypass the protection offered by the Covid-19 vaccines now being administered across Britain.
''If the new variant was going to have a big impact on disease severity, we would have seen that by now,'' said Ewan Birney, deputy director general of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and joint director of its European Bioinformatics Institute in Cambridge.
''Hospital cases as a proportion of numbers of infections would have either rocketed or dropped dramatically. Neither has happened, so we can conclude that the impact on numbers of severe cases is likely to be modest: slightly more or slightly fewer.''
In addition, Birney said the vaccines have been tested with many variants of the virus circulating. ''So there is every reason to think that the vaccines will still work against this new strain, though obviously that needs to be tested thoroughly.''
Exactly where the variant first appeared is not known. It may simply be that Britain's extremely robust virus surveillance system spotted it before other nations did. ''However, it is just as likely that the mutations that created this variant occurred in the UK and that is why we have seen it first,'' added Birney.
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Ministry of Tuthiness
COVID-19 has had no impact on death rates in B.C. long term care homes | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
While the dozens of COVID-19 deaths in long term care homes in B.C. have been tragic, statistics from the Ministry of Health show there's been no real increase in deaths compared to other years.
For the first half of this year, until the end of June, there were 34,734 people living in publicly funded long term care beds, according to Ministry of Health statistics.
So far this year, 4,787 have died, a mortality rate of 13.78 per cent. While that's up a bit from last year (13.48 per cent) and 2018 (13.72 per cent) it's actually down from the 14.2 per cent rate in 2017.
The numbers suggest COVID-19 may have replaced other causes of death among the 166 residents who died in care facilities from the disease '-- not added.
''The populations in long term care, most of them are in the last couple of years of their lives,'' B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie told iNFOnews.ca. She said between 21 and 25 per cent of long term care beds ''turn over'' each year. Most of those are due to people dying.
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control lists 166 of B.C.'s 229 COVID-19 deaths as of Sept. 24, as being in care facilities, which includes long term care as well as acute care and independent living.
While B.C.'s efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 has no doubt kept those numbers at bay, some people are expecting that one side effect may soon enter the equation, if it hasn't already '-- restrictions on visitors to long term care residents.
Many family members from across B.C. have described dramatic weight loss because family members haven't been allowed in as essential visitors to help feed and care for the residents.
READ MORE: B.C. woman pushed to the breaking point dealing with husband's 'unacceptable' long-term care
Others have talked about the mental anguish suffered by residents who are largely confined to their rooms.
READ MORE: It's too late for this pandemic isolated long-term care patient but his wife fights on for others
But the reality is that we may never know the true impact of the unintended consequences of the COVID-19 lockdown.
''It's going to be difficult to capture, the way you've got people moving through, if someone's dying eight weeks prematurely,'' Mackenzie said. ''There are a lot of moving parts here and we're not going to be able to form, with data, the picture completely. Or, if we are able to, it's going to be looking back on it from a further distance.''
One of those leading the charge to open care homes up to more visitors is Brenda Brophy, one of the administrators of the Families for Change '' Stories from Longterm Care Facebook group that organized a rally at the provincial Legislature that drew about 75 protesters earlier this week.
She argued that the data to June 30 does not truly reflect what's happening since the deterioration of residents' health is a long, gradual process that will more likely show up in more recent data.
Her 100-year-old mother dropped from 33 kilograms in March to a bit over 29 in the first three months of the lockdown. Brophy has now taken her home to live with her.
''By the time I saw my mom on June 8, she was like a skeleton,'' Brophy said. ''I hadn't noticed that over video chats. If I had not seen her and realized, she might have been one of those statistics just from simply starving to death.''
The protesters want Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry to allow more essential visitors to help with feeding and other care along with more social visits, which are now limited to one family member per resident and can be for as little as 30 minutes once a week.
Mackenzie is conducting a survey that will try to capture an accurate picture of what is happening in care homes during the lockdown. With more than 13,000 respondents it should show any changes that death statistics alone do not reflect.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Rob Munro or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
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GC CORONER CHALLENGES STATE ON COVID DEATH NUMBERS - Grand Gazette
During the regular weekly COVID-19 update to the Grand County Board of Health/Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), Grand County Coroner Brenda Bock made a definitive statement protesting the state of Colorado's reporting of COVID-19-related deaths in Grand County.
''It's not right,'' stated Bock, ''I believe we do need to stand up, and we do need to get these numbers corrected. And that's what I'm trying to do.''
Bock earlier pointed out a discrepancy between the Grand County COVID-19 dashboard and that of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. As of Tuesday morning, Grand County's online dashboard reported a single COVID-caused death and one other death of an individual who died with COVID-19 but not because of the infectious disease. The CDPHE COVID-19 data dashboard reported five COVID-19 deaths in Grand County.
Bock, an elected official, clarified publicly that, since the beginning of the novel coronavirus pandemic, there has only been one Grand County resident to die because of COVID-19 infection. She reported an additional two individuals who have died with COVID-19 but from other causes.
Bock read a prepared letter, noting that ''The State says that Grand County has five COVID deaths. In researching the numbers, I found the state is counting two deaths that died of gunshot wounds as COVID deaths [referencing the recent murder-suicide victims from Fraser].
''When I questioned the numbers,'' the Coroner continued, ''the response I got was 'if they died in the 30 days of their positive test, they are counted as a death among a COVID case.'
''Although the decedents did test positive for COVID, that is not what they died from. The two cases were autopsied, and the cause of death was listed as 'blunt force Injuries due to a gunshot wound.' Nowhere did the pathologist say COVID was the cause of death.''I believe that this is false and very misleading,'' concluded Bock. ''If we want the public to trust and believe the information being released, we need to make sure it is accurate.
''I realize in the scope of things that Grand County's numbers are small. Although these numbers are small this 'error' creates a 40% increase in our death total. That is not an insignificant amount. How many cases like this does it take to inflate the numbers?''My job as Grand County Coroner is to make sure the information reported is correct. At this time, the Grand County dashboard does not have this listed on their site. I am working with the State to try to get these numbers removed.''
Grand County Public Health Director Brene Belew-LaDue noted that the State's reporting method is standard protocol and that all information was then reviewed by the State and the US Center for Disease Control.
''It might be the process, but it's not right,'' responded Bock, ''and I strongly stand against that. I have been talking to other Coroners throughout the state and they have been telling me that they've had motor vehicle accidents listed as COVID deaths. It's no different than my gunshot wounds being listed as COVID deaths, and it's not right.''
As the coronavirus rages across the U.S., the country has so far blunted the impact of influenza and other seasonal respiratory viruses.
U.S. laboratories are finding significantly fewer flu cases among tested patients so far this year, compared with previous flu seasons, thanks to efforts to stamp out Covid-19.
''We are seeing very low levels of influenza so far,'' said Daniel Jernigan, director of the influenza division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between mask wearing, social distancing, and measures such as bar closures, ''all of those things are impacting influenza,'' he said.
Clinical laboratories tested 22,474 patient samples, mostly nasal swabs, for influenza during the week ended Dec. 5, and only 40, or 0.2%, came back positive, according to data from the CDC. During the same period last year, more than 11% of over 41,000 samples were positive.
The number of positive flu samples at U.S. public health labs is also lower than in years past, according to the CDC data. These labs are currently processing more patient samples than in previous years because of the explosion of testing for Covid-19.
A less severe flu season is a welcome development during an out-of-control pandemic, say health authorities, who earlier in the year feared that a potentially dangerous collision between the coronavirus and the seasonal flu would overrun doctors' offices and emergency rooms. Doctors and public health officials urged Americans to get flu shots, and laboratories moved to prepare to distinguish whether feverish, coughing patients have influenza or Covid-19.
In the Southern Hemisphere, Covid-19 precautions practically wiped out the flu this year, offering hope for a lighter flu season in the U.S. and Europe. It wasn't certain whether the season in the U.S. would follow suit, but influenza's spread in the country appears to be following a similar pattern.
Flu-related hospitalizations are also down. There haven't been enough lab-confirmed hospitalizations to meet the CDC's threshold for beginning to report such data, Dr. Jernigan said. The threshold is 300 hospitalizations. Normally, the U.S. would have passed that mark by now.
''There are a lot of available databanks we have access to, and right now they're all telling us the same story,'' said Jeffrey Kahn, the chief of infectious diseases at the Dallas-based Children's Health hospital system. ''There's very little activity.''
A lower number of flu-related hospitalizations is good news for hospitals, public health authorities say, many of which are stretched with Covid-19 patients.
''If you can have increased bed capacity in your hospital because fewer people are getting sick from the flu, that helps you,'' said Imelda Dacones, president and chief executive officer of Northwest Permanente medical group. A lighter flu season also means fewer doctor's office visits, so physicians can conserve resources for more severe illnesses or other medical issues, Dr. Dacones said.
Other seasonal viruses have also taken a hit this year, public health authorities say. In September through November of 2019, Children's Health saw 892 cases of RSV, a common respiratory virus that usually infects children. During that same period in 2020, the system reported a single case.
Flu cases over the same period dropped too, from 722 cases in 2019 to four in 2020.
''That is just astonishing to me,'' Dr. Kahn added. ''The top priority right now is to get this pandemic under control. By doing that, we're also having a profound effect on some of these other viruses.'' The lower rates are another sign that Covid-19 mitigation measures are helping to beat back Covid-19 as well, Dr. Kahn says.
The flu season is still in its beginning stages and case rates could change in the coming months, health experts say, especially if people start to drop precautionary measures. Health authorities are still urging people to get flu shots this year. The last time the numbers were comparatively low at this point in the year was during the 2011-12 flu season, which had an increase in cases in late January but remained mild overall, Dr. Jernigan said.
As of early November, roughly 49% of U.S. adults had been vaccinated for the flu this year, up slightly from the 44% who got flu shots over the same period a year ago, according to the CDC.
''The best thing we can hope for is that people get vaccinated, they'll continue to adhere to mitigations requested, and therefore flu will be kept down as much as it can for the rest of the season,'' Dr. Jernigan said.
'--Anthony DeBarros contributed to this article.
Write to Brianna Abbott at brianna.abbott@wsj.com
Leah Remini Slams Tom Cruise's COVID Safety Rant, Says ''It's For Public Relations Reasons Only'
Cruise received widespread support after getting angry at people on the set of "Mission: Impossible 7" who didn't follow COVID safety guidelines
Ross A. Lincoln | December 18, 2020 @ 9:33 PM
In an open letter published Wednesday on the website The Underground Bunker, Leah Remini differed strongly with the largely positive reaction people had to Tom Cruise's recent caught-on-tape rant about COVID safety measures. Instead, the actress argued that the outburst was an example of what she claims is Cruise's ''abusive'' personality, and argued that his behavior connects back to the Church of Scientology of which she is one of the most prominent critics.
''The Church of Scientology has done more than any other religious institution in promoting COVID-19 prevention actions''throughout the U.S. and worldwide. Long before ''stay at home'' directives, the Church took aggressive actions to prevent the spread of the virus. The Church's leader acted well ahead of the curve,'' a representative of the Church of Scientology said in a statement. ''Remini is an unreliable source who attacks Scientology for publicity and money''as she herself has admitted.''
On Tuesday, audio secretly recorded on the set of the latest ''Mission: Impossible'' film, in which Cruise screamed at the London-based film crew for breaking COVID-19 protocols. In his tirade, Cruise (who also serves a producer on the film) reminds them that what they're doing on set is a model that Hollywood is looking up to '-- and that they better not screw things up. If the leak was intended to damage Cruise's public reputation, it had the opposite effect as a ton of people in and out of Hollywood agreed with him. We are, after all, in the middle of a pandemic that has killed more than 300,000 Americans.
Also Read: Tom Cruise's On-Set COVID Meltdown Wins Surprise Praise: 'THIS. IS. GODDAMN. BEAUTIFUL.'
Remini however disparaged the comments as a publicity effort, which she claimed is practice associated with Scientology. Remini said also that the rant was a reflection of what she says is her personal experience with Cruise rather than something connected to the pandemic, and reiterated a familiar list of accusations of wrongdoing against Cruise and the leadership of Scientology. Cruise and the Church have consistently denied all accusations of wrongdoing.
Representatives for Cruise did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TheWrap.
Also Read: George Clooney Says Tom Cruise Is 'Not Wrong' in COVID Rant, But He 'Wouldn't Have Done it That Big'
Read Remini's essay here.
The Washington Post on Twitter: "Every time you listen to Bing Crosby's ''White Christmas,'' about five people have died from the coronavirus between the beginning and the end of the song. https://t.co/Rpuc9mDsuz" / Twitter
The Washington Post : Every time you listen to Bing Crosby's ''White Christmas,'' about five people have died from the coronavirus between'... https://t.co/bmxtPvlhJn
Sat Dec 19 14:57:46 +0000 2020
Your Libertarian Pal : @washingtonpost Fauci says stop playing that song!
''Œ Linda Taylor ðŸŽðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸ : @washingtonpost The Austere Coronavirus
Sun Dec 20 00:27:10 +0000 2020
''Œaka: President-Elect Doctah Muad - Dib 🇺🇸 ''Œ : @washingtonpost More babies are aborted in less time.
Sun Dec 20 00:27:06 +0000 2020
ColdWarKid 🇺🇸 : @washingtonpost I take pleasure in knowing when you wake up Christmas morning and on New Year's Day, Donald Trump w'... https://t.co/VUYhcgDaDZ
Sun Dec 20 00:26:55 +0000 2020
jason miller : @washingtonpost So, eventually we are all going to die. Eventually.... of something.....
Sun Dec 20 00:26:39 +0000 2020
U.K. Imposes Harsher Lockdown on London, Citing New Version of Virus - The New York Times
The variant is up to 70 percent more transmissible than earlier versions, officials said, though some scientists are skeptical. People in southeast England, including London, were told to stay at home.
Prime Minster Boris Johnson announced a wholesale lockdown of London and southeast England on Saturday. Credit... Andrew Testa for The New York Times Dec. 19, 2020 Updated 6:53 p.m. ET LONDON '-- Alarmed by a fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson abruptly reversed course on Saturday and imposed a wholesale lockdown on London and most of England's southeast, banning Christmas-season gatherings beyond individual households.
The decision, which Mr. Johnson announced after an emergency meeting of his cabinet, came after the government got new evidence of a variant first detected several weeks ago in Southeast England, which the prime minister asserted was as much as 70 percent more transmissible than previous versions.
The new measures, which take effect on Sunday, are designed, in effect, to cut off the capital and its surrounding counties from the rest of England. They are the most severe measures the British government has taken since it imposed a lockdown on the country back in March, and reflect a fear that the new variant could supercharge the transmission of the virus as winter takes hold.
''When the virus changes its method of attack, we must change our method of defense,'' a somber Mr. Johnson said on Saturday. ''We have to act on information as we have it, because this is now spreading very fast.''
Viral mutations are not uncommon, and British officials said this variant had been detected in a handful of other countries, without naming them. But the government's medical experts expressed alarm about its apparent infectiousness, noting that it now accounts for more than 60 percent of the new infections reported in London.
Other scientists cautioned that the rapid spread of the variant did not necessarily mean that it was more transmissible, which can only be determined with certainty through laboratory experiments and other kinds of analysis. Its prevalence, they said, could be a result of other factors.
Whatever the characteristics of the mutation, it is clear that Britain faces an escalating crisis, even as it rolls out a mass vaccination program. Nationwide, the pace of new infections has nearly doubled in less than two weeks, leaping past most of western Europe, though it remains well below the per capita rate in the United States.
Image ''When the virus changes its method of attack, we must change our method of defense,'' a somber Mr. Johnson said at a Saturday afternoon news conference. Credit... Pool photo by Toby Melville Public health experts said the new variant reinforced the urgency to tighten restrictions to try to eliminate the virus altogether, since new mutations are a recurring phenomenon.
''Elimination is more and more optimal,'' said Devi Sridhar, head of the global public health program at the University of Edinburgh. ''More virus circulating means more variants and mutations.''
Mr. Johnson's abrupt reversal came after a cabinet subcommittee meeting on Friday, in which members of the government's scientific advisory panel presented evidence that new infections had nearly doubled in London in the last week, and that the new variant accounted for a majority of those cases.
The government's chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, said there was no evidence that this version of the virus was more lethal or more resistant to vaccines than others. But Dr. Vallance, a physician and medical researcher, said scientists had identified 23 changes in the new variant, an unusually large number, including several in the part of the virus that binds it to other cells. That, he said, could increase its transmissibility.
Faster transmission would mean more cases, which would lead to more hospitalizations and fatalities. The government said it had notified the World Health Organization about the prevalence of the new variant.
''This virus spreads more easily,'' Dr. Vallance said, as he flanked Mr. Johnson, ''and therefore more measures are needed to keep it under control.''
The new lockdown zone includes all of Greater London and much of the surrounding southeast of the country, a densely populated area encompassing nearly 20 million people, a third of England's population. The restrictions will remain in place for at least two weeks, and will be reviewed on Dec. 30.
Image Shopping in Oxford Circus in London last week. The new lockdown will apply to nearly 20 million people, a third of England's population. Credit... Andrew Testa for The New York Times The government told people to stay at home except for urgent travel, medical appointments and outdoor exercise. Those outside the zone were advised not to travel into it, and those inside will not be permitted to travel outside overnight. Foreign travel is strongly discouraged. Nonessential shops will close, as will gyms, cinemas, hairdressers and nail salons.
Though Mr. Johnson said only a few days ago that it would be ''inhuman'' to cancel Christmas, that will be the practical effect for much of the country. A plan to allow up to three households to meet together over the holiday will be scrapped in London and the southeast, with no mixing permitted at all.
Elsewhere, three households will be allowed to gather, but only on Christmas Day, and not for the extended five-day period once promised.
Mr. Johnson's announcement was an admission that England's existing system of restrictions, under which the country was divided into three ''tiers'' with different rules, had not been sufficient to control the spread of the virus. The newly announced lockdown will constitute a new, and tougher, fourth tier.
Mr. Johnson has the legal authority to tighten rules on his own, and there is no plan to recall Parliament. But the announcement provoked an immediate backlash from opposition leaders, and even members of his own Conservative Party.
''Millions of families across the country are going to be heartbroken by this news, having their Christmas plans ripped up,'' Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, told the BBC. ''I'm really frustrated because I raised this with the prime minister on Wednesday and he dismissed that and went on to tell people to have a 'merry little Christmas' only three days later to rip up their plans.''
Mark Harper, who chairs a group of Conservative lawmakers who have been critical of lockdown measures, said, ''These changes must also be put to a vote in the Commons at the earliest opportunity, even if that means a recall of the House.''
Image A closed cafe in central London last week, after the city entered Tier 3 restrictions. Credit... Andrew Testa for The New York Times The coronavirus has mutated many times since it first emerged in China in 2019, according to epidemiologists. On Friday, South Africa reported it had identified a variant that it said was driving a new wave of infections there. Scientists said it was different from the one identified in Britain.
Most of these variants are not significant or widespread. But as the number of people who have been infected '-- and, presumably, have developed some immunity '-- increases, the pressure on the pathogen to mutate also increases. Some of the new variants can be more transmissible or lead to more severe illness than earlier versions of the virus.
For months, Mr. Johnson has struggled to balance his response to the virus with pressure not to further damage the economy. At times, he has lagged other European leaders in imposing restrictions. At other moments, he has appeared to resist the advice of his own government's scientific advisers.
Britain reported 27,052 new cases and 534 deaths on Saturday. The country's death toll from the pandemic is the highest in Europe. Mr. Johnson pointed to the rollout of a vaccine, which Britain approved and began administering ahead of other Western countries, as a ray of hope. He said 350,000 people in the country had received a first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which is a two-shot regimen.
But as the economy has languished, lockdowns have become politically fraught. When the government placed Manchester, Liverpool and other northern cities, where the infection rates were higher, in a more restrictive tier, local officials complained that they were being unfairly targeted. Life in London, they noted, remained mostly unchanged.
Last week, amid signs that London had become a new hot spot, Mr. Johnson placed the capital and most of the southeast in Tier 3, the highest level of restrictions. But he clung to his promise of a Christmas reprieve from Dec. 23 to Dec. 27, even as he implored people to keep family gatherings brief and small.
''Have yourself a merry little Christmas,'' Mr. Johnson said last week, announcing the half measures, ''but this year alas, preferably a very little Christmas.''
With the draconian restrictions announced on Saturday, Christmas gatherings in England will become smaller still.
Benedict Carey and Matt Apuzzo contributed reporting.
Dutch government bans UK flights over new virus strain
The new strain, which is up to 70% more infectious, is causing alarm across Europe. The WHO confirmed it is in close contact with UK health officials over the variant. Follow DW for the latest COVID-19 developments.
Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, among others, will not be receiving passengers from the UK for the rest of the year
The Dutch government has put a stop to all passenger flights entering from the UK after finding a case in the Netherlands of a new coronavirus strain that has been circulating around Britain.
The ban, which starts at 6 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Sunday and lasts until at least January 1, came just hours after Britain announced a stay-at-home order for the south of England, including London, to slow the more infectious variant.
"An infectious mutation of the COVID-19 virus is circulating in the United Kingdom. It is said to spread more easily and faster and is more difficult to detect," the Dutch Health Ministry said in a statement.
The Dutch public health body, the RIVM, said it "recommends that any introduction of this virus strain from the United Kingdom be limited as much as possible by limiting and/or controlling passenger movements."
Prime Minister Mark Rutte's Cabinet said that other forms of transport were still under review.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed it is in close contact with British officials over the new variant.
"They'll continue to share info & results of their analysis & ongoing studies. We'll update Member States & public as we learn more about the characteristics of this virus variant & any implications," the WHO tweeted.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said early scientific data suggests the new coronavirus strain is up to 70% more infectious.
Asia-PacificThailand has reported its highest daily tally of coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, with 548 new infections across the country. Most of the new cases are connected with an outbreak at a wholesale seafood market on the outskirts of the capital, Bangkok.
South Korea has also reported a record daily high, with 1,097 new cases, the country's Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.
Australia is tightening its restrictions in Sydney, as of midnight on Sunday, in an effort to quell a recent cluster of cases in the country's most populous city.
Gladys Berejiklian, the premier of the state of New South Wales, told reporters that 30 more infections had been detected in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 68 since a fresh outbreak was detected three days ago. The area began a four-day lockdown on Saturday night.
AmericasThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it was paying close attention to reports of allergic reactions to the coronavirus vaccination program and made recommendations on how people with histories of allergies should proceed.
Anyone who had a severe reaction should not get the second dose, the CDC said, defining severe as needing the medication epinephrine or having to go to hospital for treatment.
Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine has become the second pharmaceutical firm to receive the US Food and Drug Administration's authorization for emergency use after BioNTech-Pfizer. The US is the world's hardest-hit nation, with more than 3,000 coronavirus deaths a day.
Canada has surpassed 500,000 cases, according to official figures, recording a 25% increase over the last two weeks.
The government of Ontario province announced this weekend an extension of lockdown measures in Toronto and much of the region until January 4.
"COVID-19 is spreading among people of all ages, with high infection rates across all age groups," Canada's chief medical officer Theresa Tam said.
jsi/nm (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)
Trump now has real reason to be worried - Alternet.org
President Donald J. Trump is joined by United States Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, Cabinet members and White House senior advisers, as he meets with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He Thursday, April 4, 2019, in the Oval Office of the White House, following continued U.S.''China trade talks. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)
I have been chronicling the atrocities of the Trump era almost daily for five years and I'm exhausted. I don't think I'm alone. One of Trump's most insidious talents is to dominate the spotlight to such an extent that you can't look away even if you want to. He's everywhere. There is just so much, more than we can fully absorb, so we just keep watching, waiting for the spectacle to end, paralyzed and psychically drained.
And now it's almost over.
Aside from some short appearances in the press room to declare himself the winner, a couple of desultory interviews with friendly cable news hosts, one low energy rally in Georgia and the extended, puerile whine of his Twitter account, Donald Trump has been blessedly out of sight for most of the past five weeks. There's been no chopper talk, no televised Cabinet meetings with sycophantic tributes to his greatness, no crude insults toward reporters, nothing.
If one didn't know better, one might assume that the president is ashamed because he lost the election and doesn't want to face the public. But that would be wrong. If there's one thing we know, it's that Donald Trump has no shame.
We don't know if Trump will fire more people, pardon himself and his family, start a war or simply continue to sit in the White House raging against his enemies and tweeting out lies about the election but the fact is that this long national acid trip is winding down at long last. Unfortunately, the hangover is going to be titanic. Unless the nation sobers up quickly and takes action, we may never recover.
The good news is that we are seeing signs of life in the U.S. Congress in this regard.
Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, gave notice this week that his committee intends to pursue the subpoena of former White House Counsel Don McGahn. You will recall that McGahn was not allowed to testify before Congress on the basis of a novel legal concept called "absolute immunity" which, if allowed to stand, would render congressional oversight practically impotent.
So while Democrats continue to pursue the subpoena as a means to push back against a legal principle that attempts to usurp their oversight powers, they will undoubtedly follow up on just what happened with all of that obstruction of justice Trump committed. They may not be able to sanction Trump for it, but they need to build the record '-- after all, this guy may try to bust his way back into power in four years.
Meanwhile, we have also learned that the Manhattan District Attorney and the New York Attorney General's cases are proceeding apace. These cases are beyond the scope of any federal pardon, as you know, so Trump may be seeing the inside of a courtroom whether he pardons himself or not.
But is any of that enough? It can't be, particularly when the New York Times and Politico reported earlier in the week something so shocking that it would be a crime not to investigate it.
Two political appointees at the CDC admitted that they had been instructed to slant pandemic advice according to guidance from people such as Ivanka Trump and Kellyanne Conway. And it's now quite clear that the administration did adopt a herd immunity strategy to deal with the pandemic and lied about it. One incompetent adviser actually wrote "we want them infected" in an email.
We knew this, sort of. Trump had been quoted early in the pandemic wondering why we didn't just let it "wash over the country" which Dr. Fauci, the head of infectious diseases at the National Institute of Health, explained would result in a horrible death toll. Still, Trump clung to that notion and ended up hiring a radiologist he first saw on Fox News, Dr. Scott Atlas, who promoted the concept. These new reports show the extent to which this policy filtered through the government and negatively affected the response. It was a conscious decision. Now over 300,000 people are dead and counting, many of whom might be alive today if Donald Trump were not the president of the United States when a pandemic hit our shores.
The Atlantic's James Fallows took a look at the problem of accountability for what's happened and I think his ideas for how to deal with it make a lot of sense. He suggests that the Biden White House steer clear of most of that work except for the important job of trying to make the executive branch work properly again. Obviously, he should remain hands-off any criminal investigations that might come through the Department of Justice, his only obligation there would be to appoint someone with credibility and integrity to handle whatever cases may already be percolating. So that leaves the Democrats, who control the congressional committees in the House, to create a Good Cop'--Bad Cop dynamic between Biden and Nadler which might just be effective if the Democrats stay strong and don't react to bad faith caterwauling from the Republicans.
Fallows also believes that Biden should appoint three commissions, which I think are vital and I really hope that someone in the administration is listening.
The first would be a commission to look at the pandemic response. This won't be the last time we face such a crisis and this one was so much worse than it should have been. The country needs to know how it happened and understand how to ensure it doesn't happen again.
The second commission Fallows recommends would look into the cases of family separation at the border, with an immediate task to find the children and then document meticulously exactly how such a program came to be implemented. As Fallows points out, this didn't happen by executive fiat. There was complicity at all levels and it has to be exposed and dealt with. This grotesque policy is right up there with the pandemic in terms of sheer cruelty.
And finally, Biden needs to appoint a commission to investigate the Trump administration's assault on democracy itself. He didn't invent it, of course, but he's taken it to a level that is in danger of permanently damaging our election system and people's faith in their democracy. And he's done so on the basis of crude lies and propaganda.
Biden doesn't have to be personally involved in any of this. He can stay above the fray and concentrate on doing the job he was hired to do. But these commissions would go a long way toward reassuring the majority of Americans who are still shell-shocked by what has happened in these four years that at least there will be a public airing and permanent record of what went wrong. Most people are hungry for the truth and while I doubt Trump's followers will want to hear it, we need the truth for the history books. At some point, their children or grandchildren may want to know what really happened.
It's hard to resist the sense that the slowly growing number of deaths in the United States each day is a tragedy of world-shaping proportions. For all of the efforts by some to diminish the death toll and to shrug at the steadily expanding saturation of American hospital beds, our country is losing an American every 33 seconds to covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus that emerged last year.
Every time you listen to Bing Crosby's ''White Christmas,'' about five people have died of the virus between the beginning and the end of the song.
What's emerged over the past three months has done so slowly. On Sept. 12, the number of new cases began to increase, rising from about 34,000 new cases a day to, at this point, more than 219,000. The number of deaths from covid-19 has similarly ballooned, rising from 728 to nearly 2,600 a day.
By now, the pattern is familiar. People feel sick and get a test. It comes back positive. Some of them end up seeking treatment at a hospital. Some of them then die. There are gaps between those events: Someone who tests positive today may not die for several weeks. But the link is clear. People contract the virus. Some of them take a turn for the worse. Some of them don't survive.
At St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, the ICU is full, the main lobby has become a makeshift covid ward, and patients spill out into the parking lot. (The Washington Post)The spread of the virus is more pervasive now than it has been at any prior point in the pandemic, but that doesn't mean it's evenly distributed. In some states, the surge in new cases hasn't necessarily overloaded hospitals. In others, like California, government data show how the increase in new cases is rapidly choking the ability of health-care systems to accommodate it.
In every state but Kentucky, more intensive care unit beds are in use than were in use three months ago.
Nationally, the picture has varied depending on the scale at which you consider it. The average number of new cases each day has been more than 200,000 for more than a week and continues to slowly climb. The number of new hospitalizations, as recorded by the COVID Tracking Project, is exceeding 4,000 each day. At some point, that hits a chokepoint: You can't keep admitting people to the hospital if there's no space to do so. But the number of hospital beds in use nationally, both regular and intensive care, continues to rise. Since Sept. 12, the number of ICU beds in use climbed from an estimated 69 percent to 79 percent.
Again, some of those hospitalizations eventually become deaths. Each of the key metrics '-- new cases, hospitalizations, new deaths '-- has followed the same curve over the past three months. The only differences are how long each surge took and how high it went.
Since the third surge in new cases began in mid-September, there's been a consistent connection between the number of hospitalizations and the number of deaths. The average number of new deaths on a day has consistently been about 1.8 percent of new cases 26 days prior and about 2.3 percent of hospitalizations 10 days earlier. There have been fluctuations, but those patterns have held '-- as they have for months.
What this means is that we have a sense of what's likely looming. If we extrapolate outward from the current figures, we see that we might expect to see an average of as many as 3,900 deaths per day by Jan. 12, using the per-case ratio '-- or, at least, continue to see about 2,600 deaths per day through the end of the month.
We can anticipate a similar death toll at least through the end of the year. By Dec. 31, the United States will be home to 340,000 fewer Americans than it would have been if covid-19 had not emerged in our country.
Bio Security State
Health insurers' debt has reached highest point in a decade
Debt issued by publicly traded health insurers has soared over the past decade as the companies have looked to the bond market to raise money for large-scale mergers and acquisitions.
Combined short and long-term debt among nine publicly traded insurers reached its highest point in at least 10 years at $115.5 billion in 2018 compared with $24.8 billion in 2009, according to a recent report by credit rating agency AM Best.
"A lot of this debt is related to the M&A wars that have been occurring over the past few years '-- sort of an arms race if you will," explained Jason Hopper, an associate director at AM Best.
He added that just two insurers '-- Cigna Corp. and UnitedHealth Group '-- account for two-thirds of the debt issued by publicly traded insurers.
Cigna raised capital by issuing bonds to buy pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts for $67 billion in 2018 while UnitedHealth closed its $4.3 billion deal with DaVita Medical Group this year and picked up PBM Catamaran in 2015. The analysis did not include the large CVS-Aetna deal.
Insurers have opted to issue bonds to fund their mergers and acquisitions instead of using equity because of the historically low interest rates, analysts said. Deep Banerjee of rating agency S&P Global added that insurance companies have also issued more debt as their business mix changes and they wade into care delivery.
"More and more of especially the larger public insurers are no longer just health insurance companies," Banerjee explained. "Part of the debt goes toward running or managing the providers that they own."
Insurers' debt-to-capital ratios have also increased, driven by the rise in debt obligations. Among the nine insurers in the AM Best analysis, the aggregate debt-to-capital ratio rose to 43% at end of 2018 from 33% in the first quarter of 2009.
While there are no hard and fast rules as to how much debt is too much, AM Best's Hopper indicated the ratings agency would put pressure on a company if its debt-to-capital ratio topped 60%, and Banerjee said he would be concerned with a ratio of over 50%. Ratings agencies may downgrade insurers with high amounts of debt, which could in turn make it harder for those companies to borrow money at the lowest rates.
But generally, the biggest publicly traded insurers are generating more earnings today and have been able to handle the debt that they've raised. Brad Ellis, a senior director at Fitch Ratings, explained that insurers are increasingly able to predict their costs and price their premiums correctly, which has helped stabilize their earnings over time. Ellis said Fitch analyzes the ability of a company to handle its debt obligations on a case by case basis.
"A company like UnitedHealth Group that has increased debt repeatedly to make acquisitions has a lot of credibility in both their willingness and ability to pay that debt down. What they say they are going to do to the public and to us, they do," Ellis said. "So when a company has been able to do that and has done it, we are much more comfortable with the company's financial leverage."
Analysts said insurers will likely continue to issue bonds to refinance older debt with higher interest rates, and companies may raise capital for small acquisitions. But beyond the already announced merger between Centene Corp. and WellCare Health plans, which would be financed by a mix of debt and equity, analysts doubted insurers will be issuing large amounts of debt to fund another mega-merger any time soon.
"It doesn't appear as though most of them are hungry to add a lot more leverage to their balance sheet," Ellis said.
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SolarWinds
US cybersecurity agency warns of 'grave' threat from hack
WASHINGTON (AP) '-- Federal authorities expressed increased alarm Thursday about an intrusion into U.S. and other computer systems around the globe that officials suspect was carried out by Russian hackers. The nation's cybersecurity agency warned of a ''grave'' risk to government and private networks.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said in its most detailed comments yet that the intrusion had compromised federal agencies as well as ''critical infrastructure'' in a sophisticated attack that was hard to detect and will be difficult to undo.
CISA did not say which agencies or infrastructure had been breached or what information taken in an attack that it previously said appeared to have begun in March.
''This threat actor has demonstrated sophistication and complex tradecraft in these intrusions,'' the agency said in its unusual alert. ''CISA expects that removing the threat actor from compromised environments will be highly complex and challenging.''
The hack, if authorities can indeed prove it was carried out by a nation such as Russia as experts believe, creates a fresh foreign policy problem for President Donald Trump in his final days in office.
Trump, whose administration has been criticized for eliminating a White House cybersecurity adviser and downplaying Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, has made no public statements about the breach.
President-elect Joe Biden said he would make cybersecurity a top priority of his administration, but that stronger defenses are not enough.
''We need to disrupt and deter our adversaries from undertaking significant cyberattacks in the first place,'' he said. ''We will do that by, among other things, imposing substantial costs on those responsible for such malicious attacks, including in coordination with our allies and partners.''
The cybersecurity agency previously said the perpetrators had used network management software from Texas-based SolarWinds t o infiltrate computer networks. Its new alert said the attackers may have used other methods, as well.
Over the weekend, amid reports that the Treasury and Commerce departments were breached, CISA directed all civilian agencies of the federal government to remove SolarWinds from their servers. The cybersecurity agencies of Britain and Ireland issued similar alerts.
A U.S. official previously told The Associated Press that Russia-based hackers were suspected, but neither CISA nor the FBI has publicly said who is believed be responsible. Asked whether Russia was behind the attack, the official said: ''We believe so. We haven't said that publicly yet because it isn't 100% confirmed.''
Another U.S. official, speaking Thursday on condition of anonymity to discuss a matter that is under investigation, said the hack was severe and extremely damaging although the administration was not yet ready to publicly blame anyone for it.
''This is looking like it's the worst hacking case in the history of America,'' the official said. ''They got into everything.''
The official said the administration is working on the assumption that most, if not all, government agencies were compromised but the extent of the damage was not yet known.
The intentions of the perpetrators appear to be espionage and gathering valuable information rather than destruction, according to security experts and former government officials . If so, they are now remarkably well situated.
Thomas Bossert, a former Trump Homeland Security adviser, said in an opinion article in The New York Times that the U.S. should now act as if the Russian government had gained control of the networks it has penetrated. ''The actual and perceived control of so many important networks could easily be used to undermine public and consumer trust in data, written communications and services,'' he wrote.''
Members of Congress said they feared that taxpayers' personal information could have been exposed because the IRS is part of Treasury, which used SolarWinds software.
Tom Kellermann, cybersecurity strategy chief of the software company VMware, said the hackers are now ''omniscient to the operations'' of federal agencies they've infiltrated ''and there is viable concern that they might leverage destructive attacks within these agencies'' in reaction to U.S. response.
CISA officials did not respond to questions and so it was unclear what it meant by a ''grave threat'' or by critical infrastructure. The Department of Homeland Security, its parent agency, defines such infrastructure as any ''vital'' assets to the U.S. or its economy, a broad category that could include power plants and financial institutions.
Among the business sectors scrambling to protect their systems and assess potential theft of information are defense contractors, technology companies and providers of telecommunications and the electric grid.
A group led by CEOs in the electric power industry said it held a ''situational awareness call'' earlier this week to help electric companies and public power utilities identify whether the compromise posed a threat to their networks.
And dozens of smaller institutions that seemed to have little data of interest to foreign spies were nonetheless forced to respond to the hack.
The Helix Water District, which provides drinking water to the suburbs of San Diego, California, said it provided a patch to its SolarWinds software after it got an advisory the IT company sent out about the hack to about 33,000 customers Sunday.
''While we do utilize SolarWinds, we are not aware of any district impacts from the security breach,'' said Michelle Curtis, a spokesperson for the water district.
_____
With contributions from Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington, Matt O'Brien in Providence, Rhode Island and Frank Bajak in Boston.
The hackers have been able to do more damage at FERC than the other agencies, and officials there have evidence of highly malicious activity, the officials said, but did not elaborate.
The officials said that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which has been helping to manage the federal response to the broad hacking campaign, indicated to FERC this week that CISA was overwhelmed and might not be able to allocate the necessary resources to respond. DOE will therefore be allocating extra resources to FERC to help investigate the hack, even though FERC is a semi-autonomous agency, the officials said.
Several top officials from CISA, including its former director Christopher Krebs, have either been pushed out by the Trump administration or resigned in recent weeks.
Federal investigators have been combing through networks in recent days to determine what hackers had been able to access and/or steal, and officials at DOE still don't know whether the attackers were able to access anything, the people said, noting that the investigation is ongoing and they may not know the full extent of the damage ''for weeks.''
Shaylyn Hynes, a DOE spokesperson, said that an ongoing investigation into the hack has found that the perpetrators did not get into critical defense systems.
"At this point, the investigation has found that the malware has been isolated to business networks only, and has not impacted the mission essential national security functions of the department, including the National Nuclear Security Administration," Hynes said in a statement. "When DOE identified vulnerable software, immediate action was taken to mitigate the risk, and all software identified as being vulnerable to this attack was disconnected from the DOE network.''
The attack on DOE is the clearest sign yet that the hackers were able to access the networks belonging to a core part of the U.S. national security enterprise. The hackers are believed to have gained access to the federal agencies' networks by compromising the software company SolarWinds, which sells IT management products to hundreds of government and private-sector clients.
DOE officials were planning on Thursday to notify the House and Senate Energy committees, House and Senate Energy and Water Development subcommittees, House and Senate Armed Services committees, and the New Mexico and Washington State delegations of the breach, the officials said.
CISA, the FBI and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence acknowledged the ''ongoing'' cybersecurity campaign in a joint statement released on Wednesday, saying that they had only become aware of the incident in recent days.
''This is a developing situation, and while we continue to work to understand the full extent of this campaign, we know this compromise has affected networks within the federal government,'' the statement read. The U.S. government has not blamed any particular actor for the hacks yet, but cybersecurity experts have said the activity bears the hallmarks of Russia's intelligence services.
NNSA is responsible for managing the nation's nuclear weapons, and while it gets the least attention, it takes up the vast majority of DOE's budget. Similarly, the Sandia and Los Alamos National Labs conduct atomic research related to both civil nuclear power and nuclear weapons. The Office of Secure Transportation is tasked with moving enriched uranium and other materials critical for maintaining the nuclear stockpile.
Hackers may have been casting too wide a net when they targeted DOE's Richland Field Office, whose primary responsibility is overseeing the cleanup of the Hanford nuclear waste site in Washington state. During World War II and the Cold War, the U.S. produced two- thirds of its plutonium there, but the site hasn't been active since 1971.
The attack on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may have been an effort to disrupt the nation's bulk electric grid. FERC doesn't directly manage any power flows, but it does store sensitive data on the grid that could be used to identify the most disruptive locations for future attacks.
Suspected Russian hack on U.S. is much worse than first feared
The scale of a sophisticated cyberattack on the U.S. government that was unearthed this week is much bigger than first anticipated.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said in a summary Thursday that the threat "poses a grave risk to the federal government."
It added that "state, local, tribal, and territorial governments as well as critical infrastructure entities and other private sector organizations" are also at risk.
CISA believes the attack began at least as early as March. Since then, multiple government agencies have reportedly been targeted by the hackers, with confirmation from the Energy and Commerce departments so far.
"This threat actor has demonstrated sophistication and complex tradecraft in these intrusions," CISA said. "Removing the threat actor from compromised environments will be highly complex and challenging."
Russia accusedCISA has not said who it thinks is the "advanced persistent threat actor" behind the "significant and ongoing" campaign, but many experts are pointing to Russia.
"The magnitude of this ongoing attack is hard to overstate," former Trump Homeland Security Advisor Thomas Bossert said in a piece for The New York Times on Thursday. "The Russians have had access to a considerable number of important and sensitive networks for six to nine months."
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the accusations, according to the Tass news agency.
"Even if it is true there have been some attacks over many months and the Americans managed to do nothing about them, possibly it is wrong to groundlessly blame Russians right away," he told Tass. "We have nothing to do with this."
The Russian Embassy in London did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.
The FBI said Wednesday it is "investigating and gathering intelligence in order to attribute, pursue, and disrupt the responsible threat actors."
At this stage, it's not clear what the hackers have done beyond accessing top-secret government networks and monitoring data.
Hackers also accessed systems at the National Nuclear Security Administration, which maintains the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, according to the Politico news site, citing officials familiar with the matter.
SolarWinds backdoorCISA said those behind the attack used network management software made by SolarWinds, a Texas-headquartered IT firm, to breach the government networks.
As many as 18,000 SolarWinds Orion customers downloaded a software update that contained a backdoor, which the hackers used to gain access to the networks.
CISA issued an "emergency directive" this week instructing federal civilian agencies to "immediately disconnect or power down affected SolarWinds Orion products from their network."
But the perpetrators may have used other means to access the networks. CISA said Thursday is investigating "evidence of additional access vectors, other than the SolarWinds Orion platform."
Microsoft customers targetedMicrosoft was hacked in connection with the attack on SolarWinds' widely used management software, Reuters reported Thursday.
Like with the cyberattack of SolarWinds, hackers infiltrated Microsoft products and then went after others, Reuters said, citing people familiar with the matter.
"We have been actively looking for indicators of this actor and can confirm that we detected malicious SolarWinds binaries in our environment, which we isolated and removed. We have not found evidence of access to production services or customer data," a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement shared with CNBC.
"Our investigations, which are ongoing, have found absolutely no indications that our systems were used to attack others," they added.
Microsoft said that more than 40 client organizations were compromised in the attack.
"While roughly 80% of these customers are located in the United States, this work so far has also identified victims in seven additional countries," Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a blog.
"This includes Canada and Mexico in North America; Belgium, Spain and the United Kingdom in Europe; and Israel and the UAE in the Middle East. It's certain that the number and location of victims will keep growing."
Smith added that "this is not espionage as usual" and "while governments have spied on each other for centuries, the recent attackers used a technique that has put at risk the technology supply chain for the broader economy."
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden pledged Thursday to make cybersecurity a key area of focus for his administration.
"A good defense isn't enough; We need to disrupt and deter our adversaries from undertaking significant cyberattacks in the first place," Biden said in a statement issued by his transition team.
"We will do that by, among other things, imposing substantial costs on those responsible for such malicious attacks, including in coordination with our allies and partners. Our adversaries should know that, as President, I will not stand idly by in the face of cyber assaults on our nation."
President Donald Trump, who has been silent about the hacking, threatened on Thursday to veto the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes money to help prevent such cyberattacks.
$286M Of SolarWinds Stock Sold Before CEO, Hack Disclosures
SolarWinds majority owners Silver Lake and Thoma Bravo sold $286 million of stock just before the company announced a new CEO and disclosed a cyberattack.
The private equity firms disposed of more than 13 million SolarWinds stock shares at $21.97 per share on Dec. 7, two days before the IT infrastructure management firm announced Pulse Secure's Sudhakar Ramakrishna as its next CEO. Four days after that, SolarWinds disclosed that it had experienced a highly sophisticated, manual supply chain attack on certain versions of its Orion network monitoring product.
SolarWinds' stock is now trading at $18.46, nearly 16 percent lower than what Silver Lake and Thoma Bravo sold their shares for. Silver Lake sold 5.8 percent of its stake in publicly held SolarWinds for $157.5 million, while Thoma Bravo also sold 5.8 percent of its somewhat smaller stake in SolarWinds for $128.3 million. The stock sales were first reported late Tuesday evening by The Washington Post.
[Related: Microsoft's Role In SolarWinds Breach Comes Under Scrutiny]
''Thoma Bravo and Silver Lake were not aware of this potential cyberattack at SolarWinds prior to entering into a private placement to a single institutional investor on 12/7,'' the companies said in a joint statement. The private equity firms didn't respond to questions from CRN about whether they knew Ramakrishna had been selected as SolarWinds' next CEO at the time they sold $286 million of stock.
Representatives from Silver Lake and Thoma Bravo make up a majority of SolarWinds' 11-member board, and owned more than three-quarters of SolarWinds' outstanding shares as of April, according to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Silver Lake is represented by Michael Bingle, Kenneth Hao and Mike Widmann, while Thoma Bravo is represented by Seth Boro, Michael Hoffman and James Lines.
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) spent $315 million to take a 5 percent stake in SolarWinds, acquiring some of the shares previously owned by Silver Lake and Thoma Bravo, SolarWinds disclosed Dec. 9 in the press release announcing Ramakrishna as CEO. SolarWinds declined to comment, while CPP Investments and the SEC didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
FireEye disclosed Dec. 8 that it was breached in a state-sponsored attack designed to gain information on some of the company's government customers. FireEye determined by Friday that some SolarWinds Orion updates had been corrupted and contacted the company shortly thereafter, The Washington Post reported, citing people familiar with the matter. SolarWinds has not said when it learned of the breach.
This was the largest sale of SolarWinds stock for Silver Lake and Thoma Bravo since the company went public in October 2018, according to The Washington Post. In all of 2019, Silver Lake sold about $140 million of SolarWinds stock while Thoma Bravo sold about $110 million of SolarWinds stock, The Post reported.
SolarWinds was founded in 1999 and conducted its first initial public offering (IPO) in May 2009, and spent nearly seven years being traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Then in February 2016, Silver Lake and Thoma Bravo took SolarWinds private following a $4.5 billion purchase of the company. SolarWinds was privately held for just 32 months before going through its second IPO in late 2018.
SolarWinds got into the solution provider business in May 2013 through its purchase of N-able to better service MSPs who support SMB clients. Then in June 2016, SolarWinds bought N-able competitor LogicNow and brought the two remote monitoring and management (RMM) rivals together under the SolarWinds MSP banner.
While hackers over the past two years have taken advantage of the tools MSPs rely on to manage customer IT systems, the tools compromised in this breach do not appear to be linked to SolarWinds' MSP business. The Orion platform supports SolarWinds' longtime IT infrastructure management business and isn't connected to the more recently assembled SolarWinds MSP business.
SolarWinds MSP said it isn't aware of any impact to its remote monitoring and management (RMM), N-Central and associated products from the attack on Orion, President John Pagliuca said in a security advisory posted Sunday evening. Pagliuca would take over as SolarWinds MSP CEO if the proposed spin-off of the business into a standalone company that has been under consideration for months happens.
As Trump remains silent, SolarWinds hack increasingly looks like act of war - Axios
A Trump administration official tells Axios that the cyberattack on the U.S. government and corporate America, apparently by Russia, is looking worse by the day '-- and secrets may still be being stolen in ways not yet discovered.
The big picture: "We still don't know the bottom of the well," the official said. Stunningly, the breach goes back to at least March, and continued all through the election. The U.S. government didn't sound the alarm until this Sunday. Damage assessment could take months.
Microsoft President Brad Smith told the N.Y. Times that at least 40 companies, government agencies and think tanks had been infiltrated.
The hack is known to have breached the departments of Defense, State, Homeland Security, Treasury, Commerce, and Energy and its National Nuclear Security Administration '-- plus the National Institutes of Health.8 countries: Microsoft, which has helped respond to the breach, said in a statement that 80% of its 40 customers known to have been targeted are in the U.S., plus others in U.K., Israel, UAE, Canada, Mexico, Belgium and Spain.In unusually vivid language for a bureaucracy, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, part of Homeland Security, said yesterday that the intruder "demonstrated sophistication and complex tradecraft."
The agency said the breach "poses a grave risk to the Federal Government and state, local, tribal, and territorial governments as well as critical infrastructure entities and other private sector organizations."If this had been a physical attack on America's secrets, we could be at war.
Imagine if during the Cold War, the Soviet Union had broken into a building in Washington and walked out with correspondence, budgets and more.Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) told Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC: "It's pretty hard to distinguish this from an act of aggression that rises to the level of an attack that qualifies as war. ... [T]his is as destructive and broad scale an engagement with our military systems, our intelligence systems as has happened in my lifetime."The gravity wasn't immediately apparent because this wasn't the "cyber Pearl Harbor" that experts have warned about: No one took out a power grid, or stole a bunch of money or destabilized the markets.
Instead, it's more like someone has been walking in and out of your house for months, and you don't really know what they took.And they may have built a secret door. "For someone to have access that long, who's this sophisticated, it's pretty likely they built other ways to get in that are hard to find," one official told me. What's next: President Trump has stayed silent on the hack, meaning that President-elect Biden's overflowing in-box now includes Russian reprisal, damage mitigation and future deterrence.
Promising to impose "substantial costs" on the perpetrator, Biden said in a statement that his administration "will make cybersecurity a top priority": "I will not stand idly by in the face of cyber assaults on our nation."
Pompeo Says Russia Was Behind Cyberattack on U.S. - The New York Times
U.S. | Pompeo Says Russia Was Behind Cyberattack on U.S.Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is the first member of the Trump administration to publicly link the Kremlin to the hacking of dozens of government and private systems.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the White House last week. In an interview on the Mark Levin Show, Mr. Pompeo called the attack a ''very significant effort.'' Credit... Oliver Contreras for The New York Times Dec. 19, 2020 Updated 8:10 a.m. ET Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday it was clear that Russia was behind the widespread hacking of government systems that officials this week called ''a grave risk'' to the United States.
Mr. Pompeo is the first member of the Trump administration to publicly link the Kremlin to the cyberattack, which used a variety of sophisticated tools to infiltrate dozens of government and private systems, including nuclear laboratories and the Pentagon, Treasury and Commerce Departments.
''I think it's the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity,'' Mr. Pompeo said in an interview on ''The Mark Levin Show.''
''This was a very significant effort,'' he said, adding that ''we're still unpacking precisely what it is.''
President Trump has yet to address the attack, which has been underway since spring and was detected by the private sector only a few weeks ago. Until Friday, Mr. Pompeo had played down the episode as one of the many daily attacks on the federal government.
But intelligence agencies have told Congress that they believe it was carried out by the S.V.R., an elite Russian intelligence agency.
As evidence of the attack's scope piled up this week, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency sent out an urgent warning on Thursday that the hackers had ''demonstrated an ability to exploit software supply chains and shown significant knowledge of Windows networks.''
The agency added that it was likely that some of the attackers' tactics, techniques and procedures had ''not yet been discovered.'' Investigators say it could take months to unravel the extent to which American networks and the technology supply chain have been compromised.
Microsoft said it had identified 40 companies, government agencies and think tanks that the hackers had infiltrated. Nearly half are private technology firms, Microsoft said, many of them cybersecurity firms, like FireEye, that are charged with securing vast sections of the public and private sector.
''There are more nongovernmental victims than there are governmental victims, with a big focus on I.T. companies, especially in the security industry,'' Brad Smith, Microsoft's president, said in an interview on Thursday.
FireEye was the first to inform the government that the hackers had infected the periodic software updates issued by a company called SolarWinds since at least March. SolarWinds makes critical network monitoring software used by the government, hundreds of Fortune 500 companies and firms that oversee critical infrastructure, including the power grid.
The national security adviser, Robert C. O'Brien, cut short a trip to the Middle East and Europe on Tuesday and returned to Washington to run crisis meetings to assess the situation. The F.B.I., the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence formed an urgent response group, the Cyber Unified Coordination Group, to coordinate the government's responses to what the agencies called a ''significant and ongoing cybersecurity campaign.''
The Russians have denied any involvement. The Russian ambassador to the United States, Anatoly I. Antonov, said Wednesday that there were ''unfounded attempts by the U.S. media to blame Russia'' for the recent cyberattacks.
According to a person briefed on the attack, the S.V.R. hackers sought to hide their tracks by using American internet addresses that allowed them to conduct attacks from computers in the very city '-- or appearing so '-- in which their victims were based. They created special bits of code intended to avoid detection by American warning systems and timed their intrusions not to raise suspicions.
The attacks, said the person briefed on the matter, shows that the weak point for the American government computer networks remains administrative systems, particularly ones that have a number of private companies working under contract.
President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. said Thursday that his administration would impose ''substantial costs'' on those responsible.
''A good defense isn't enough; we need to disrupt and deter our adversaries from undertaking significant cyberattacks in the first place,'' Mr. Biden said, adding, ''I will not stand idly by in the face of cyberassaults on our nation.''
Investigators and other officials say they believe the goal of the Russian attack was traditional espionage, the sort the National Security Agency and other agencies regularly conduct on foreign networks. But the extent and depth of the hacking raise concerns that hackers could ultimately use their access to shutter American systems, corrupt or destroy data, or take command of computer systems that run industrial processes. So far, though, there has been no evidence of that happening.
Across federal agencies, the private sector and the utility companies that oversee the power grid, forensic investigators were still trying to unravel the extent of the compromise. But security teams say the relief some felt that they did not use the compromised systems turned to panic on Thursday, as they learned other third-party applications may have been compromised.
Inside federal agencies and the private sector, investigators say they have been stymied by classifications and a siloed approach to information sharing.
''We have forgotten the lessons of 9/11,'' Mr. Smith said. ''It has not been a great week for information sharing and it turns companies like Microsoft into a sheep dog trying to get these federal agencies to come together into a single place and share what they know.''
Reporting was contributed by David E. Sanger, Nicole Perlroth, Eric Schmitt and Julian Barnes.
Donald J. Trump on Twitter: "The Cyber Hack is far greater in the Fake News Media than in actuality. I have been fully briefed and everything is well under control. Russia, Russia, Russia is the priority chant when anything happens because Lamestream is,
Donald J. Trump : The Cyber Hack is far greater in the Fake News Media than in actuality. I have been fully briefed and everything is'... https://t.co/EZtljGasQL
Sat Dec 19 16:30:11 +0000 2020
Cheryl : @realDonaldTrump Yeah, well, we know your word isn't worth anything, so pardon me for not believing you.
Sat Dec 19 21:36:37 +0000 2020
Close to 200 organizations allegedly hacked by Russia: cybersecurity firm | TheHill
Close to 200 organizations were hacked by Russia as part of the cybersecurity attack on SolarWinds, a third party software contractor, that has compromised multiple government agencies, Bloomberg News reported .
Massachusetts-based cyber security firm Recorded Future identified 198 people that were hacked by a malicious update, threat analyst Allan Lisa told the news outlet.
Three people familiar with the inquiry told Bloomberg the hack further compromised at least 200 victims by attempting to move in their computer networks or gain user credentials.
About 18,000 SolarWinds customers received the malicious update, according to Bloomberg. Of that number, more than 1,000 experienced a malicious code ping that gave hackers further access to sensitive networks.
The identities of the victims were not provided to Bloomberg, and the number is expected to grow as the the investigation continues.
The firm said in a statement to The Hill that it used open source datasets and information provided by the security researcher community to "identify a likely partial list of organizations affected by the SolarWinds backdoor."
It added that "work across the industry remains ongoing" to obtain a fuller picture.
The statement added that it's not able to determine exactly how many or which organizations were affected.
However, it said that the number of affected organizations will likely be smaller than those that installed the malicious software.
A SolarWinds spokesperson told The Hill that it "continues collaborating closely with our customers, security professionals, law enforcement and intelligence communities across the globe to determine the responsible parties for this attack and whether the attack against us and our customers was directed by a foreign government, and to gather all relevant and accurate information to assist the community."
The analysis comes as America grapples with the fallout of the hack, which some have suggested could have amounted to an act of war . The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Agency said this week that the attack posed a "grave risk" to government and private sector organizations.
Reuters first reported last Sunday that the Treasury Department and an agency in the Commerce Department were compromised as part of the breach into SolarWinds. The Washington Post later reported that Russian military intelligence unit "Cozy Bear" was allegedly behind the attack.
During an interview on "The Mark Levin Show" Friday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said "we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in the activity."
Yet President Trump downplayed the hack on Saturday, questioning whether the Russia was really behind the cyber attack, saying on Twitter that "everything is well under control."
"Russia, Russia, Russia is the priority chant when anything happens because Lamestream is, for mostly financial reasons, petrified of discussing the possibility that it may be China (it may!)," Trump tweeted.
Multiple government agencies were reported to have been compromised over the past week, including the State Department, Department of Defense and agencies within the Department of Energy .
Updated 10:53 p.m.
Drain the Swamp
Jeffrey Epstein's Alleged Pimp Jean-Luc Brunel Nabbed Boarding Flight to Africa
Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent and close ally and alleged pimp to late sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein, is in custody in Paris after attempting to board a flight to Dakar in Senegal. Paris prosecutors say he was taken into custody for rape, sexual assault against minors, sexual harassment, criminal conspiracy and trafficking in human beings, according to Le Parisien newspaper.
Brunel, who has been accused in the U.S. of rape and procuring young girls for Epstein, has not been seen since Epstein's death in a Manhattan prison in August 2019 but has been in France. Back in August, Paris Match reported that he was last seen in public in July of 2019 at a party at the Paris Country Club'--an upscale, members-only establishment outside the French capital. Brunel also reportedly planned to write a tell-all in the hopes of exonerating himself, but the project was abandoned. He and his lawyer even approached a crisis communications expert at one point, but the expert refused the contract.
Brunel's name appeared more than 15 times on flight logs for Epstein's private jet, and he visited Epstein close to 70 times when the financier was in jail in Florida for procuring an underage girl for prostitution.
In message logs from Epstein's Palm Beach home'--where Brunel was a frequent guest, according to Epstein employees'--the French agent left cryptic messages that appeared to refer to young girls. In one note, Brunel reported that he ''just did a good one'--18 years'' who told him ''I love Jeffrey.'' In another message to Epstein, Brunel stressed that ''he has a teacher for you to teach how to speak Russian ... She is 2x8 years old not blonde. Lessons are free and you can have 1st today if you call.''
''I had lost faith and I thought he's being protected and nothing is going to happen but finally he's facing charges and they are really serious charges ... I was crying but they were tears of joy. ''
'-- Thysia Huisman, a Dutch former model who accused Brunel of drugging her and raping her
In August 2019, French prosecutors launched an inquiry into Brunel, who founded Karin Models and MC2 Model Management, which led to Wednesday's arrest.
''It's incredible. I didn't expect it all,'' Thysia Huisman, a Dutch former model who accused Brunel of drugging her and raping her when she was 18, told The Daily Beast. Huisman reported Brunel to the French police in September 2019 after Epstein's arrest.
''Brunel raped me in 1991. He drugged me and raped me and I never came forward as I was ashamed,'' she said. '' After Epstein's arrest I felt I had to come forward.''
After Epstein was arrested and Brunel became a person of interest Huisman reported him even though the case was past the statute of limitations. ''But I reported it in the hopes other women would come forward, and then 11 other women came forward but they were all past the statute of limitations.''
Frustrated, Huisman then went to the French authorities earlier this year. ''I called the French police this year asking why isn't anyone working on it and why is he walking round in Paris like nothing is happening, but the police said you have to be patient we are trying to make a case that will stick,'' she said, adding that she felt Brunel was tipped off and en route to Dakar because Senegal doesn't have an extradition treaty with France.
''I had lost faith and I thought he's being protected and nothing is going to happen but finally he's facing charges and they are really serious charges,'' she said. ''I was crying but they were tears of joy. Someone has to pinch me it's really overwhelming. We have to see what happens next. If there is going to be a trial I'm going to go there 100 percent and if they require my testimony of course I will give evidence. I didn't come forward for nothing.''
Huismann's book Close Up details meeting Brunel in Paris when she was 18 and Brunel invited her to Paris. ''I met Epstein through Brunel,'' she said. ''I stayed at Brunel's place in Paris and at night there were parties with older business friends of his and young, very young models and one night he gave me a drink and said we had to celebrate the start of my career in Paris.''
Fifteen minutes later, she said she knew something was wrong. ''I started to feel really strange and woozy and nauseous and not myself and then he took me to his bedroom and I couldn't even fight him and he raped me,'' she told The Daily Beast. ''I woke up the next day and the only thing I thought of was I had to escape his house and I took the first train out of Paris to Brussels and I never came back to Paris until last year when I went back to speak to the police and they took it really seriously.''
Huismann spent four and a half hours telling Paris police what happened. ''I had to go into all the details and relive it which was really heavy,'' she said. ''For all these years I had tried to forget but in your memory you have a lot of details especially from that night.''
Lisa Bloom, who represents Epstein victims, told The Daily Beast that ''one of the seven Jeffrey Epstein sexual assault victims I represent has alleged in our litigation that Jean-Luc Brunel trafficked her to Epstein...This took place in 2009, after Epstein's criminal conviction. We are very pleased that at long last Mr. Brunel is being brought to justice.''
Brunel said through lawyer last year he would answer questions about his relationship with Epstein. His lawyers denied that he was ''on the run'' and that he denies all allegations of impropriety. The DOJ officially declined to comment on whether they were independently investigating Brunel in their ongoing probe of Epstein and his associates in the U.S.
Lawyer David Boies, whose firm has represented Epstein's victims, noted, ''Jeffrey Epstein did not act alone. Today's arrest of Jean Luc Brunel is another important step in bringing to justice the men and women who participated in Epstein's international sex trafficking ring. This could not have happened without the courage and commitment of Epstein's survivors, and the dedication of prosecutors around the world.''
Brunel has also denied any business relationship with Epstein, who was allegedly the silent ''E'' in MC2 (referring to the theory of relativity). But Brunel did admit in court documents that the rich sex offender did extend him a $1 million line of credit to invest in a new business with Elite Models, registered at the address of Epstein's investment firm in New York. The Department of Justice officially declined to comment on Brunel's arrest and its ongoing Epstein probe.
''The victims have long awaited the arrest of Jean-Luc Brunel,'' said Anne-Claire Lejeune, a lawyer representing several of Brunel's alleged victims. ''They welcome this custody with relief, and confidence in the legal consequences that will be given. Their word finally takes on a meaning.''
With reporting from Erin Zaleski, Pilar Melendez, and Spencer Ackerman.
France detains ex-associate of Jeffrey Epstein over sex crime accusations | The Times of Israel
PARIS '-- Prominent French modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, a former close associate of disgraced American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, has been detained in France on accusations of sex crimes, prosecutors said on Thursday.
Brunel was detained on Wednesday on accusations of rape, sexual assault of minors, human trafficking and being part of a criminal conspiracy, Paris prosecutors told AFP.
He was detained at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport as he was about to take a plane to Senegal, a source close to the case added.
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Epstein, who was arrested in New York in July on charges of trafficking underage girls for sex, was found hanged in his New York jail cell on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial over abuses involving girls at his Palm Beach home and on his private island in the Caribbean.
Jeffrey Epstein, March 28, 2017. (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, File)
His ownership of an apartment in an upmarket Paris district and allegations from women who say they were abused in France prompted French prosecutors to open their own criminal probe in August.
The investigation opened by France into Epstein's activities has focused on Brunel, who was accused in American court documents of rape and of procuring young girls for his friend.
''The victims have long awaited the arrest of Jean-Luc Brunel. They welcome his detention with relief and with confidence in the legal process,'' said lawyer Anne-Claire Lejeune, who represents several victims.
''This is huge news. I am crying with joy,'' said Thysia Huisman, a former Dutch model who says she was ''drugged and raped'' by Brunel at the age of 18.
The detention at the airport of Brunel ends over a year of uncertainty and mystery over his whereabouts.
A man walks his dog next to an apartment building owned by Jeffrey Epstein in the 16th district in Paris, August 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
Brunel's lawyer in October 2019 said he vehemently rejected allegations made in the press but denied his client was on the run, insisting he was available for questioning.
French police last year raided the offices of Karin Models, an agency founded by Brunel, and searched Epstein's luxury Paris home not far from the Arc de Triomphe.
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Steal the Vote
MI Sec of State Official Caught On Video Telling Volunteers To Count "Multiple Ballots with the very Same Signature" During "Audit" Of Votes In Antrim County
Constitutional Attorney Matthew DePerno is an American hero. Two weeks ago, Michigan 13th Circuit Court Judge Kevin A Elsenheimer agreed to allow Mr. DePerno's client, William Bailey, and a highly skilled team of IT experts to perform a forensic examination on 16 of the Dominion voting machines in Antrim County. On Monday, Judge Elsenheimer agreed to allow the results of the forensic examination to be released to the public. The results were damning.
THE REPORT:
After the forensic examination of 16 Dominion Voting machines in Antrim, Co., MI, Allied Security Operations Group has concluded that the Dominion Voting machines were assigned a 68.05% error rate. DePerno explained that when ballots are put through the machine, a whopping 68.05% error rate means that 68.05% of the ballots are sent for bulk adjudication, which means they collect the ballots in a folder. ''The ballots are sent somewhere where people in another location can change the vote,'' DePerno explained. The allowable election error rate established by the Federal Election Commission guidelines is 1 in 250,000 ballots or .0008%.
Based on the Allied Security Operations report, Constitutional Attorney Matthew DePerno states: ''we conclude that The Dominion Voting System should not be used in Michigan. We further conclude that the results of Antrim County should not have been certified.
The stunning report was widely criticized by the Democrat Party mainstream media and by the dishonest Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
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Following the bombshell findings by Mr. DePerno and his team of IT experts, a ''risk-limited audit'' was ordered by Sec. of State Benson. Constitutional Attorney Matt DePerno was invited to observe the ''risk-limiting audit'' of Antrim County's vote that took place yesterday in the Kearney Twp. hall in Bellaire, MI., where 6 officials from the Secretary of State continuously walked around the room observing and correcting the counters who dared to stray from their objectives.
According to Verified Voting: The risk-limiting audit process can be conducted on any set of paper ballots that has a record of the number of ballots cast, how they are stored, and how to retrieve any particular ballot (ballot manifest). For an RLA to meaningfully support confidence in the reported election outcome, the standard is higher, and requires the following:
Paper ballots preferably marked by hand and supplemented with a ballot marking device for those who need to use one.A deliberate and intentional step for a voter to check the paper ballot for accuracy before casting the ballot (voter verification).
Rigorous ballot accounting and a properly maintained chain of custody of the ballots.
If photographic evidence proves seals on the Dominion voting machines were broken on November 27, how can a ''properly maintained chain of custody of ballots'' be assured. The answer is, it can't.
Before her so-called audit was completed, Sec of State Benson explained the purpose of the ''risk limited audit'' to the media while ensuring the integrity of the elections in Michigan:
''While we know the machine tabulators functioned properly in Antrim, we are conducting this audit to assure the public of what countless officials from both parties at the federal, state and local levels have already confirmed '' that this was the most secure election in our nation's history and the certified results are an accurate reflection of the will of the voters,'' adding, ''It is time for Michigan, and the nation to once and for all dismiss the meritless disinformation campaign that seeks to undermine the integrity of our election and move forward in support of our collective democracy.''
Mr. DePerno, who acted as an observer to the ''risk-limited audit,'' doesn't agree with Ms. Benson about the integrity of Michigan's election and has provided us with video and photographic evidence to prove that he was again able to debunk her statement about the ''most secure election in our nation's history.''
The first video provided by Matthew DePerno shows a bin of ballots from Mancelona Township, Precinct #1. The bin was delivered to three of the 20 bi-partisan volunteers that included several Antrim Co. city clerks who agreed to assist with the ''risk-limited audit.''
Inside the bin, tabulated ballots were mixed in with ballots that were never tabulated, and several blank ballots were mixed in as well. Mr. DePerno referred to the bin of ballots as ''an absolute mess!'' On December 16, we reported about photographs taken at Mancelona Township's Precinct #1 on November 27, 2020, that showed both of the security seals on the Dominion Voting machine were missing.
The second video was taken at a table where ballots were being counted in Helena Twp. The volunteers can be seen questioning why there were fewer ballots in the bin than the original number that was recorded in the previous recount? Shortly after asking the question, a male SOS official approached the table with a bag marked ''spoiled ballots'' and told them to count them. ATtorney Matt DePerno witnessed the unidentified male SOS rep pulling the ''spoiled ballot bag out of the bin and delivering it to the volunteers who were ''auditing'' the ballots. DePerno also witnessed the SOS official telling them to add the ''spoiled ballots'' to the count.
The third video was taken at a table where the ballots from Central Lake Twp. were being counted. In the video, a male counter can be seen questioning ''multiple ballots with the same signature.'' According to Matthew DePerno, 138 ballots had write-in-votes where the penmanship was exactly the same.
In the video below, the SOS official can be seen demanding that the counters ignore what they believe is voter fraud and count the ballots.
''We need to do the counts because if we don't have the counts, then we can't move forward. And we understand that there is a concern with this precinct'--but this is not a time for you to be investigating right now.''
''Did you find something else?'' the male counter asks.
''No,'' she replies, adding, ''So, you need to move forward with the audit, so we can get the numbers, so we can see how many ballots are here.''
The female counter asks, ''So when we're done with the audit, there's still the opportunity to challenge the fact that we have multiple ballots with the very same signature?'' she asks.
''I don't know if 'challenge' is the right word,'' the SOS official says.
''But we're challenging'--'' the volunteer says.
The male volunteer tells the SOS, ''We'll go ahead and count the ballots moving forward, but we will separate out, and count those'-- there's going to be an asterisk, saying 'these ballots have the same signature.'''
''And again, we know that you have a concern with this precinct,'' she tells them, explaining, ''That's not your role at this very moment,'' as she continues to push for them to ignore the multiple matching signatures and only count the ballots.
''What I need you to do right now is finish the audit,'' she tells them again. Both of the volunteers explain that they are going to make a note of the ballots, to which the SOS official replies, ''Again, that is not the process.''
The SOS official implores them to continue to count the presidential ballots.
At no point does the SOS official assure them that the issue of the multiple potentially fraudulent ballots will be addressed, but instead demands that they count them as if they were all legitimate ballots.
In this video, the SOS official can be seen telling the volunteers who are objecting to adding the ballots in question to the vote total, ''This is not an investigation right now!''
On December 16, one day after Dominion Voting Systems CEO John Poulos testified in front of the MI Senate Oversight Committee, Mr. DePerno contacted us to say Poulos was incorrect in his statement that the ballots were securely stored. In fact, Mr. Derno provided us with photos showing seals were broken on one of the tabulators. DePerno explained, ''In Central Lake, the lock that protects the side data port where you can insert a thumb drive in order to perform a software upgrade, that could change the program, was missing.'' He explains, ''The missing lock gives the ability of any person, including a voter to change the Dominion Voting machine program.''Mr. DePerno explained to us that once the seals are broken, and the lock is removed, the integrity of the machines has been compromised. ''It definitely showed that someone had accessed the inside of the tabulator, and it no longer represents a secure voting platform,'' DePerno said.
The bin (or box) seen in the image below is where the ballots are stored. DePerno explained, ''If you remove the tape, it gives you the ability to separate the tabulator from the box that contains the ballots.''
The photo below shows the stack of ballots in Central Lake that were cast for Joe Biden. The ballots that are pulled forward are all ballots that the counters pulled forward after objecting to the legitimacy of the ballots.
Mr. DePerno was stunned by the number of blank ballots that were mixed in with actual ballots, saying that he believes he observed more blank ballots in the recount than there are registered voters in Antrim County.
DePerno told us, ''The guidelines from RLA were not followed. What they did yesterday was not an audit under those guidelines. It was a hand recount of the presidential race only and failed to address many of the problems with down-ballot races. Members of the public who assisted in the hand recount were not allowed to ask any questions or question any ballots. This hand recount also failed to address any of the glaring problems from the erroneous counts conducted on November 3 and November 6. Yesterday was nothing more than political theatre designed to allow the Secretary of State to again publish the same false narrative to the Michigan voters. Yesterday, when the people conducting the count dared ask questions, they were shut down.''
DePerno's forensic and photographic evidence should be enough to call the entire Michigan election into question. Will the media or the courts care, or have we now entered a period in our nation's history where we have officially become a Banana Republica after decades of Republicans ignoring the corruption of our media and our judicial system.
Dominion
Suspicious? Dominion warned memory cards might need to be prematurely removed from voting machines | Just The News
Dominion Voting Systems issued a warning to Georgia officials prior to the 2020 election that memory cards might need to be removed from vote tabulation machines prior to the end of the election to deal with a limitation in its system, according to records obtained by Just the News through an open-records request.
Officials acknowledged Thursday at least 36 memory cards had to be prematurely removed from vote tabulating machines in the Atlanta area that had reached counting limits. The cards were stored in a locked cabinet until polls closed, officials said.
Dominion, which has fiercely defended its technology since Election Day, issued the "customer advisory" on Oct. 26, according to a "bulletin" sent to county election officials from Georgia Elections Division Director Chris Harvey. The memo was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request from Just the News to Fulton County, home to Atlanta, Georgia's largest city.
"Dominion Voting released a customer advisory yesterday stating that when an ImageCast Precinct (ICP) Tabulator reaches approximately 10,000 ballots cast for a single election, a message will appear that reads, 'Maximum Ballot Capacity Reached'," Harvey wrote in the memo.
Harvey directed officials to follow one of two policies outlined by Dominion "if [they] believe that a single ICP will reach 10,000 ballots cast." One of those was a directive to "remove the original memory cards from the tabulator that has reached or is nearing maximum capacity" and install new memory cards into it.
Harvey's memo directed officials to refrain from closing the polls on the cards "until 7:00 p.m. on Election Night" and to "store the memory cards securely."
In attached instructions coming directly from Dominion, the company as part of that protocol directed workers to "remove the original memory cards and for store [sic] tabulation at the appropriate time." Those instructions do not mention anything about secure storage.
The Secretary of State's office declined to comment on the state's implementation of Dominion's memory card directives, though the office said it had gone to significant lengths to ensure the integrity of both Dominion's machines and the election in general.
An official with Dominion, meanwhile, on Thursday evening gave a statement via email through Fulton County spokeswoman Regina Waller.
"Due to the amount of races that were on the November 2020 ballot and the large number of early voting polling sites that we have in Fulton County, the Dominion ICX scanner had the memory to hold ballot images of about 5,000 ballots," the official said. "After my staff and I did the test to confirm that the max was 5,000 ballots, we consulted upper management and made the determination that we would swap out memory cards at 3,000 ballots. We swapped out memory cards 36 times during the early voting period.
"For security, each set of memory cards was placed in a secure memory card bag that was locked and sealed and then placed in a locked cabinet," the official continued. "The memory cards were locked in the cabinet until election night after the polls closed at 7pm. At this time the cabinet was unlocked, the seals were broken on each bag and each memory card was uploaded into the Election Management System for tabulation."
Waller did not immediately respond when asked who exactly had given that statement, nor why Fulton County's machines apparently only had the capability to handle half the ballot capacity as had the tabulators mentioned in Harvey's memo.
The recently revealed directive throws new light on memory card-related controversies that have arisen in Georgia since the 2020 election last month.
In Walton County, Ga., officials discovered a memory card with nearly 300 votes on it several weeks after the election.
Around the same time, officials discovered a memory card with a similar number of votes in Douglas County.
In Fayette County, authorities found a memory card with over 2,700 votes on it, while in Floyd County officials found one memory card with 2,600 votes uncounted.
This was the first year that Georgia used Dominion to implement and process its elections. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced in 2019 that the state had selected Dominion as its voting vendor. Raffensperger in that announcement described the firm as a "security-focused tech company."
In addition to the card-removal protocol, Dominion in its Oct. 26 advisory also offered election officials the opportunity to add more tabulators to their election setups rather than deploy new memory cards on original tabulators. That approach was the "preferred" option in Georgia, according to Harvey's memo.
AOC
The Establishment Strikes Back - The American Prospect
Committee assignments are one of the least eye-catching parts of politics, but they're also one of the most important ways in which actual political power is wielded. Certain committees in the House, like Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Appropriations, have outsized influence and money power. (They are often called the ''money'' committees, not just because they're where the action is but because members can earn lots of money in campaign contributions from industries with business before them.)
Deliberations over the next several days will be extremely important for progressives in the House, as they angle to lock down seats on these powerful committees for their members. To that end, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) was expected to secure a prized position on the Energy and Commerce Committee, a seat vacated by outgoing New Yorker Eliot Engel. Among other issues, the committee has jurisdiction over health care and climate change issues, a natural for a congresswoman who has championed Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.
Ocasio-Cortez was expected to cruise comfortably to the position. She was the first to raise her hand for the seat, and she won the backing of dean of the New York delegation Rep. Jerry Nadler. But last week, as Politico reported, Long Islander Kathleen Rice made an out-of-nowhere, last-second bid for the seat, interrupting the process. Rep. Rice is a backbencher from the party's right flank who, in 2018, refused to support Nancy Pelosi for Speaker. Without the support of Nadler, and with the famous opposition of Steering Committee leader Pelosi, Rice's attempt didn't seem to be serious.
More from Alexander Sammon
But in a surprise, last-second Steering Committee meeting on exclusive committee assignments Thursday, which was scheduled at 10 p.m. the night before, centrist Democrats put on a show of support for Rice and against AOC, in what looks to have been a process-defying attempt to keep AOC out of the seat. Fellow New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries came out in support of Rice, contra Nadler, as did Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Stephanie Murphy (D-FL).
Most vocal in his opposition to Ocasio-Cortez's candidacy was Texas's Henry Cuellar, the caucus's most conservative member. After Ocasio-Cortez was nominated and seconded, Cuellar opposed, commenting: ''I'm taking into account who pays their dues and who doesn't work against other members whether in primaries or in other contexts,'' according to a source with knowledge of the meeting. After Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) called for a vote on the two candidates came an unusual outcome: Rice crushed AOC 46-13.
Many of the representatives that came out most forcefully against Ocasio-Cortez have close ties to oil and gas.
A similar situation existed with the Energy and Commerce Committee seat vacated by incoming New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan. That seat was expected to go to progressive Texan Sylvia Garcia, but was contested by her moderate colleague from Texas, Lizzie Fletcher. Garcia, the other priority for progressives in Energy and Commerce, was left off the slate without even a vote. Fletcher, who has a troubling track record on unions, got endorsed by Pelosi. The Texas AFL-CIO famously came out against Fletcher's candidacy for Congress, and declined to endorse her even against a Republican incumbent.
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The result is both a resounding and surprising defeat for progressives, who just days ago had no reason to believe both Ocasio-Cortez and Garcia would be left off the committee, or even that this would be settled this week.
Many of the representatives who came out most forcefully against Ocasio-Cortez have close ties to oil and gas, especially Cuellar. But perhaps more important was Cuellar's personal opposition to AOC, as evidenced by his statement. Ocasio-Cortez backed Cuellar's primary challenger, 27-year-old progressive Jessica Cisneros, in March's primary. Cuellar won narrowly, with backing from the Koch political network and some last-minute campaigning from Speaker Pelosi herself, despite the fact that Cuellar regularly votes against the Democratic caucus and has routinely fundraised for Republicans. According to multiple people familiar with the proceedings, Ocasio-Cortez's recent interview with The Intercept, where she said Speaker Pelosi needed to go, though there was no one to replace her, loomed over the proceedings.
Rice's triumph is especially surprising, given that she is not known to be well liked within the caucus. She made powerful enemies of Pelosi and Nadler, and was shut out of a much-desired spot on the House Judiciary Committee just two years ago, because of her refusal to back Pelosi's speakership in 2018. It's unclear how her selection might influence her vote this time around. AOC, meanwhile, voted for Pelosi's speakership.
It's not the first time Ocasio-Cortez has been frozen out of Energy and Commerce. In 2018, she made a play for a vacant seat, only to be turned away on the grounds that it couldn't go to a freshman. It was given to sophomore Tom Suozzi instead.
Sylvia Garcia, meanwhile, was expected to be a priority for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, given that the seat was once held by Lujan, a Latino. But in a meeting last week, it was Cuellar who again voiced opposition, leading some to believe that the seat would not be filled by a representative from the state at all.
There are plenty of committee assignments left to be announced, and progressives did win a handful of priority appointments on the money committees. New York Rep. Ritchie Torres got a spot on Financial Services, and Adriano Espaillat made it onto Appropriations. But the treatment of AOC and Garcia looks like a shot across the bow that will have progressives on high alert. If other committee assignments go this way, it will become an open question as to whether a newly united progressive bloc will oppose Pelosi's speakership come January 3.
This story has been updated to clarify the nature of a report on fracking co-authored by Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO).
December 18, 2020
10:41 AM
WOKE
Titania McGrath on Twitter: "IMPORTANT THREAD 🧵👇 Many people scoff at my progressive ideas and predictions. But eventually, they *always* come true. So I thought I'd start compiling a list of every time I was ahead of the curve..." / Twitter
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Green New Dill
Was there ever life on Venus? | World Economic Forum
The planet Venus once likely had surface temperatures similar to present-day Earth, recent modelling has revealed. It probably also had oceans, rain, perhaps snow, maybe continents and plate tectonics. But Venus's climate was permanently altered when catastrophic volcanic eruptions released vast quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Could Venus's fate hold stark lessons for us here on Earth? We can learn a lot about climate change from Venus, our sister planet. Venus currently has a surface temperature of 450'ƒ (the temperature of an oven's self-cleaning cycle) and an atmosphere dominated by carbon dioxide (96 per cent) with a density 90 times that of Earth's.
Venus is a very strange place, totally uninhabitable, except perhaps in the clouds some 60 kilometres up where the recent discovery of phosphine may suggest floating microbial life. But the surface is totally inhospitable.
However, Venus once likely had an Earth-like climate. According to recent climate modelling, for much of its history Venus had surface temperatures similar to present day Earth. It likely also had oceans, rain, perhaps snow, maybe continents and plate tectonics, and even more speculatively, perhaps even surface life.
Less than one billion years ago, the climate dramatically changed due to a runaway greenhouse effect. It can be speculated that an intensive period of volcanism pumped enough carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to cause this great climate change event that evaporated the oceans and caused the end of the water cycle.
Evidence of change
This hypothesis from the climate modellers inspired Sara Khawja, a master's student in my group (co-supervised with geoscientist Claire Samson), to look for evidence in Venusian rocks for this proposed climatic change event.
Since the early 1990s, my Carleton University research team '-- and more recently my Siberian team at Tomsk State University '-- have been mapping and interpreting the geological and tectonic history of Earth's remarkable sister planet.
Soviet Venera and Vega missions of the 1970s and 1980s did land on Venus and take pictures and evaluated the composition of the rocks, before the landers failed due to the high temperature and pressure. However, our most comprehensive view of the surface of Venus has been provided by NASA's Magellan spacecraft in the early 1990s, which used radar to see through the dense cloud layer and produce detailed images of more than 98 per cent of Venus's surface.
Ancient rocks
Our search for geological evidence of the great climate change event led us to focus on the oldest type of rocks on Venus, called tesserae, which have a complex appearance suggestive of a long, complicated geological history. We thought that these oldest rocks had the best chance of preserving evidence of water erosion, which is a such an important process on Earth and should have occurred on Venus prior to the great climate change event.
Given poor resolution altitude data, we used an indirect technique to try to recognize ancient river valleys. We demonstrated that younger lava flows from the surrounding volcanic plains had filled valleys in the margins of tesserae.
To our astonishment these tesserae valley patterns were very similar to river flow patterns on Earth, leading to our suggestion that these tesserae valleys were formed by river erosion during a time with Earth-like climatic conditions. My Venus research groups at Carleton and Tomsk State universities are studying the post-tesserae lava flows for any geological evidence of the transition to extremely hot conditions.
A portion of Alpha Regio, a topographic upland on the surface of Venus.
Image: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA
Earth analogies
In order to understand how volcanism on Venus could produce such a change in climate, we can look to Earth history for analogues. We can find analogies in super-eruptions like the last eruption at Yellowstone that occurred 630,000 years.
But such volcanism is small compared to large igneous provinces (LIPs) that occur approximately every 20-30 million years. These eruption events can release enough carbon dioxide to cause catastrophic climate change on Earth, including mass extinctions. To give you a sense of scale, consider that the smallest LIPs produce enough magma to cover all of Canada to a depth of about 10 metres. The largest known LIP produced enough magma that would have covered an area the size of Canada to a depth of nearly eight kilometres.
The LIP analogues on Venus include individual volcanoes that are up to 500 kilometres across, extensive lava channels that reach up to 7,000 kilometres long, and there are also associated rift systems '-- where the crust is pulling apart '-- up to 10,000 kilometres long.
If LIP-style volcanism was the cause of the great climate change event on Venus, then could similar climate change happen on Earth? We can imagine a scenario many millions of years in the future when multiple LIPs randomly occurring at the same time could cause Earth to have such runaway climate change leading to conditions like present-day Venus.
License and Republishing
World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.
Written by
Richard Ernst, Scientist-in-Residence, Earth Sciences, Carleton University
This article is published in collaboration with The Conversation.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.
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Planned Harvard balloon test stirs solar geoengineering unease
An early experiment toward using sun-dimming technology to cool global warming has opponents fearing a slippery slope toward engineering the climate(Removes typo in paragraph 11)
By Alister Doyle
OSLO, Dec 18 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Harvard University scientists plan to fly a test balloon above Sweden next year to help advance research into dimming sunlight to cool the Earth, alarming environmentalists opposed to solar geoengineering.
Open-air research into spraying tiny, sun-reflecting particles into the stratosphere, to offset global warming, has been stalled for years by controversies - including that it could discourage needed cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
In a small step, the Swedish Space Corporation agreed this week to help Harvard researchers launch a balloon near the Arctic town of Kiruna next June. It would carry a gondola with 600 kg of scientific equipment 20 km (12 miles) high.
"There are very many real concerns" about the risks of climate change and solar geoengineering, said David Keith, who is involved in the project and is a professor of applied physics at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
"Understanding them requires a range of activities including experiments," said Keith, who is also a professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School.
The unmanned flight had originally been planned for the United States but was moved, partly because of U.S. restrictions caused by coronavirus.
The flight, which requires approval from a Harvard project advisory committee, will test how to manoeuvre the balloon and check communications equipment and other systems. It would not release any particles into the stratosphere.
Still, if successful, it could be a step towards an experiment, perhaps in the autumn of 2021 or spring of 2022, to release a tiny amount '' up to 2 kg - of non-toxic calcium carbonate dust into the atmosphere, Keith said.
Studying that material's effects on high-altitude sunlight could help advance understand of how solar geoengineering might work.
A SLIPPERY SLOPE?
But opponents see the Swedish balloon as a step on a slippery slope towards engineering the climate with an artificial sunshade - something with potentially large and hard-to-predict risks, such as shifts in global rain patterns.
"There is no merit in this test except to enable the next step. You can't test the trigger of a bomb and say 'This can't possibly do any harm'," said Niclas H¤llstr¶m, director of the Swedish green think-tank WhatNext?
"Swedish society is increasingly calling for real, immediate solutions to climate change," he said - such as a rapid transformation away from fossil fuels and toward a zero-carbon society.
He said the Harvard project "represents the polar opposite", as it could create the impression that continuing use of fossil fuels is possible.
Lili Fuhr, head of the international environmental policy division at the Heinrich B¶ll Foundation in Germany, also said the plan was "crossing an important political red line."
"They don't want to stop at this small experiment. The reason is to get bigger experiments," she said.
She and H¤llstr¶m said the plan would violate a global 2010 moratorium on geoengineering under the U.N. Convention on Biodiversity.
That non-binding moratorium, however, allows exemptions for small-scale scientific research studies.
Officials of the Harvard project, the Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment (SCoPEx), said they did not believe it needed any special approval from Sweden for the flight.
SCoPEx said about 300 similar stratospheric balloons were launched worldwide in 2019. Backers of SCoPEx include Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
Anni Bolenius, spokeswoman for the Swedish Space Corporation, also said "We comply with all applicable international and national legislations."
Janos Pasztor, executive director of the Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative, praised the openness of the Harvard step-by-step approach.
"Let's not exaggerate and over-react on the critical negative side," he urged, saying the Swedish test could help society debate and understand the urgency of addressing climate change.
The Carnegie project says it is impartial about the potential use of climate-altering technologies but wants to ensure robust governance.
Proponents of solar geoengineering, also known as solar radiation modification, say deployment of the technology could be a shortcut to slow a rise in global temperatures that is stoking more heatwaves, wildfires, droughts and rising sea levels as billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases build up in the atmosphere.
But opponents fear that it could undermine commitments to act under the 2015 Paris climate agreement and could have unwanted side-effects.
It would also, for instance, do nothing to slow a build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that is turning the world's oceans increasingly acidic.
Keith said that it made sense to study solar geoengineering.
"There is a long history of people doing research on things that were socially unpopular at the time that we now see as important," he said, such as birth control.
Read more:
Proposal for U.N. to study climate-cooling technologies rejected
Governments seek U.N. scrutiny of technologies to cool the climate
As climate risks rise, scientists call for rules on solar geoengineering
(Reporting by Alister Doyle ; editing by Laurie Goering : (Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters. Visit http://news.trust.org/climate)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Russia Gate
Declassified Strzok Texts: FBI Spied On Fox News, Recorded Phone Call Between Fox VP And Papadopoulos
New text messages released Thursday show FBI officials spied on a Fox News executive over the course of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation that targeted President Donald Trump as a secret Russian agent who illegally stole the election from Hillary Clinton in 2016. The FBI surveilled and recorded a phone call between former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos and an unnamed vice president at Fox News, according to a text message sent to fired former FBI official Peter Strzok just weeks before Trump was inaugurated as president in 2017.
Agents were targeting former Trump campaign foreign policy advisor George Papadopoulos, who later pleaded guilty to making false statements to FBI agents during the Russian collusion investigation. The FBI used the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA, as a legal pretext to investigate and spy on Papadopoulos, as well as former White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, and former Trump affiliate Carter Page.
''I know you're not point on this anymore, but [George Papadopoulos] got a call from the VP at Fox News yesterday, who advised that the government was conducting 'checks' on him a few months back,'' an unidentified individual whose name is redacted in the report texted to Strzok on January 12, 2017. ''I haven't listed to the exact audio, but I'm guess[ing] that's the FARA checks that we did with DOJ on our 4 main guys; especially given the article that you pushed yesterday.''
Neither the individual who sent the message to Strzok nor the Fox News executive was named in any of the text messages released on Thursday by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc. Strzok was fired from the FBI in 2018 after text messages surfaced showing that he used the Russia collusion investigations as an ''insurance policy'' to get rid of Trump in the event he became president. The FBI named its investigation of Papadopoulos ''Crossfire Typhoon.''
Because the Obama DOJ never received a warrant to spy on Papadopoulos, it is likely that the FBI used a so-called National Security Letter to spy on Papadopoulos and Fox News. By using a National Security Letter, a demand sent to telecommunications firms to provide communications information about a specific federal target, Obama's DOJ and FBI were able to avoid legal requirements to receive a court-approved warrant to secretly spy on an American citizen.
Papadopoulos did not respond to The Federalist's request for details about the phone call.
The Obama administration previously targeted former Fox News Washington Correspondent James Rosen in 2010, falsely claiming the Fox reporter was a potential terrorist co-conspirator in order to track Rosen's movements, telephone records, and personal e-mails. According to Fox News, the Obama White House even seized records containing the phone numbers of Rosen's parents over the course of the federal inquisition into Rosen. The Obama DOJ falsely accused Rosen of violating the Espionage Act, suggesting that he was a traitor to the United States in order to get access to his phone calls and e-mails.
Although members of the corporate media repeatedly claimed that Trump's criticism of journalists on Twitter constituted a violent attack on the First Amendment and the free press, no corporate media outlets have criticized the Obama administration for secretly recording phone calls with a cable news network executive without even bothering to seek a warrant.
AG Bill Barr says CIA did NOT 'spy' on Donald Trump's campaign
By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.S. Political Editor For Dailymail.com 23:21 18 Dec 2020, updated 23:32 18 Dec 2020
'The CIA stayed in its lane,' Barr said in an interviewSaid Durham probe will focus on FBI's role in crossfire hurricane probeDefended overriding prosecutors to seek lighter sentence for Roger Stone Also defends decision not to publicly reveal Hunter Biden probe Trump ousted Barr this week; his term ends before Christmas Attorney general Barr is reflecting on the calls he made that benefitted President Trump and a few that didn't in his final days in office '' as he said the CIA didn't stray beyond its international spy brief in 2016.
Barr told the Wall Street Journal he was suspicious that CIA agents '' who are barred from spying on Americans '' had spied on President Trump's campaign. The president repeatedly alleged publicly he was spied on.
But according to Barr, it didn't happen. 'The CIA stayed in its lane,' he told the Wall Street Journal in an interview.
Attorney General William Barr defended his tenure in an interview during his final days in officeBefore his controversial decision to designate U.S. attorney John Durham to probe the origins of the Russia probe, Barr concluded he didn't 'see any sign of improper CIA activity' or 'foreign government activity before July 2016,' he told the paper.
The Durham probe is focused on alleged FBI misconduct. It's work continues, and in a protected fashion thanks in part to Barr's decision to designate Durham as a special counsel '' something he did not reveal until after the election.
The probe has a narrow focus on 'the conduct of Crossfire Hurricane, the small group at the FBI that was most involved in that,' he said, in reference to the Russia probe, 'the activities of certain private actors.'
To date only one person, an FBI lawyer, has been charged, despite the president's public push for action before the election.
Democrats accuse Barr of acting like President Trump's personal lawyer Barr said the CIA 'stayed in its lane' and didn't spy on Trump. He said U.S. Attorney John Durham's probe was narrowly focused Barr said US Attorney John Durham's probe was narrowly focused Barr defended the decision to overrule career prosecutors on Roger Stone's sentencingDemocrats have accused Barr of acting like Trump's personal lawyer, and he defended a range of his decisions. On Monday, Trump announced that Barr was resigning, and the ouster followed public and private fuming by Trump about Barr.
The initial 2017 time the FBI interviewed Flynn in the Russia probe had 'no legitimate investigative basis,' said Barr. Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents during the White House talk. On Thursday, he called for Trump to impose martial law and rerun elections in states he lost - weeks after Trump gave him a presidential pardon.
Barr called the case 'entirely bogus. 'It was analogous right now to DOJ prosecuting the person Biden named as his national security adviser for communication with a foreign government.'
The person Flynn lied about communicating with was then Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak. The topic was sanctions the Obama administration imposed for election hacking. U.S. officials think Russia is behind a massive hack only discovered this week involving the Pentagon and even U.S. nuclear programs.
Barr defended his decision to overrule career prosecutors '' some of whom quit '' over prosecuting Trump associate Roger Stone. He said he didn't 'go looking' to get involved in the case, which Trump tweeted about repeatedly.
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But he bristled that special counsel Robert Mueller's prosecutors 'wanted a penalty for him that was unprecedented and outlandish.'
'I wasn't going to have the department seek such a harsh penalty,' he said. After the switch, Stone got a much lighter sentence '' and Trump ended up commuting it.
He also defended his decision not to publicly reveal a probe into Hunter Biden. Revelations that he had done so preceded coincided with his ouster.
DOJ guidelines prohibit public actions that might interfere in an election.
Barr said there are 'damn good reason for the rule.' He added: 'Think about the power it would give the federal bureaucracy. The standard for investigating someone is low. So just gin up an investigation, make it public, affect every election.'
Barr also dismissed the Mueller probe, and brushed off evidence showing Trump campaign contacts with Russians, such as a Trump tower meeting to get 'dirt' on Hillary Clinton, and Stone's claims that he had a channel of communications with WikiLeaks, which U.S. intelligence believe is a conduit for Russian intelligence.
'Of course the Russians did bad things in the election,' said Barr. 'But the idea that this was done with the collusion of the Trump campaign'--there was never any evidence. It was entirely made up,' said Barr.
Freedom of Speech!
Woke folk, beware! Freedom of speech includes the right to offend, say judges in landmark ruling | Daily Mail Online
Judges have insisted that freedom of speech includes the 'right to offend' in a landmark ruling which could help to turn the tide on 'woke' intolerance after a feminist who called a transgender woman a 'pig in a wig' and a 'man' was cleared.
Presiding over a case in the Court of Appeal, Lord Justice Bean and Mr Justice Warby said: 'Freedom only to speak inoffensively is not worth having.'
They added that 'free speech encompasses the right to offend, and indeed to abuse another'. The judgment from two senior members of the judiciary will set a precedent for future cases involving freedom of speech.
The ruling has emerged only now, but came in the successful appeal decided last week in favour of mother-of-two Kate Scottow, from Hitchin in Hertfordshire, after she had been found guilty under the 2003 Communications Act earlier in the year.
Miss Scottow told The Daily Telegraph: 'It was necessary to enshrine one of the most fundamental rights of every living being in a democratic society '' the right to freedom of speech that is now routinely attacked...' But Miss Hayden said: 'This is... a kick in the teeth to the entire LGBT community.'
The ruling has emerged only now, but came in the successful appeal decided last week in favour of mother-of-two Ms Scottow (right), from Hitchin in Hertfordshire. She was accused of describing Stephanie Hayden (pictured left), a transgender woman, as a 'pig in a wig' alongside a number of offensive and upsetting tweets
Presiding over a case in the Court of Appeal, Lord Justice Bean and Mr Justice Warby said: 'Freedom only to speak inoffensively is not worth having.' Pictured, supporters of Kate Scottow protesting outside court earlier this year
Presiding over a case in the UK's Court of Appeal, Lord Justice Bean (left) and Mr Justice Warby (right) said: 'Freedom only to speak inoffensively is not worth having.'
Ms Hayden (pictured) had insisted Ms Scottow was bound by law to refer to her as a woman. She argued that the defendant was guilty of 'harassment' and had 'misgendered' her just 'to annoy people like me'
Miss Scottow was arrested in 2018 and taken from her children and into custody after referring to trans woman Stefanie Hayden as a man, a 'racist' and a 'pig in the wig'. Miss Hayden, 47, reported the online remarks to police.
She had been arrested by three police officers in 2019 at her home in Pirton near Hitchin, Hertfordshire, in front of her daughter, 10, and son, 20 months. Boris Johnson later called it an abuse of power.
In February this year radical feminist Miss Scottow, 40, was handed a two-year conditional discharge, and ordered to pay £1,000 compensation, with district judge Margaret Dodds telling her: 'Your comments contributed nothing to a debate. We teach children to be kind to each other and not to call each other names in the playground.'
But, overturning the decision, Mr Justice Warby explained that the relevant parts of the Communications Act 'were not intended by Parliament to criminalise forms of expression, the content of which is no worse than annoying or inconvenient in nature'.
Mr Justice Warby also suggested that the prosecution had been an 'unjustified state interference with free speech'.
Lord Justice Bean said the appeal illustrated the need for decision-makers in the criminal justice system to have regard to issues of freedom of speech.
The two appeal judges, who outlined their reasoning in a written ruling published on Wednesday, said prosecutors had not obtained 'all the contextual material for the offending messages', and had presented the case in a 'somewhat disorderly way' at the trial.
Mrs Scottow's arrest came after a complaint by transgender activist Stephanie Hayden (left). Boris Johnson said at the time that sending three officers to deal with the case and holding Ms Scottow for seven hours was an 'abuse of manpower' at a time when violent crime is increasing
Female prisoner who was sexually assaulted bidding to ban trans inmates from women's jails In 2019, HMP Downview became the first UK prison to have a dedicated wing for transgender inmates. It was introduced after a trans prisoner at a different jail assaulted two other female inmates [File photo]
A female prisoner who was sexually assaulted by a trans inmate has launched a challenge against the policy of keeping such offenders in women's prisons, it emerged last month.
She was attacked by an inmate who identified as female but had not had reassignment surgery.
The trans woman had convictions for serious sexual offences.
Yet the offender was still put in a women's jail, Downview in Surrey.
A judicial review will seek to overturn government policy which allows men who have been awarded a gender recognition certificate from being housed in female prisons.
The landmark case will argue the Government is breaching equality law.
It will focus on trans women inmates who have committed sexual or violent crime.
Activist Miss Hayden, who began medically transitioning in 2007 and was given a gender recognition certificate in 2018, won a landmark case at the High Court in April last year when website Mumsnet was forced to reveal the identity of an anonymous user who had been accused of bullying her online.
In February Ms Scottow, 39, was found guilty of persistently making use of a public communications network to cause annoyance, inconvenience, and anxiety to Stephanie Hayden, 48, between September 2018 and last May.
The 'radical feminist' was accused of deliberately 'misgendering' Ms Hayden by referring to her as 'he' or 'him' during a period of 'significant online abuse'.
Throughout the trial her supporters gathered outside St Albans Magistrates' Court to protest the verdict, chanting 'pig in a wig' and 'he's a man - go on prosecute me'.
Holding banners which read 'we love free speech', the mob tied scarves in the Suffragettes' purple, green, and white to lampposts outside the courthouse.
But Ms Hayden argued the defendant was guilty of 'harassment' and had 'misgendered' her 'to annoy people like me', adding: 'It's calculated to violate my dignity as a woman.'
Trumpeting her Gender Recognition Certificate, the complainant told the court how Ms Scottow was bound by law to refer to her as a woman. Ms Scottow was handed a two-year conditional discharge, and was ordered by the court to pay £1,000 compensation within six months.
But now after a successful appeal the prosecution has been quashed.
In a separate incident Father Ted creator Graham Linehan was given a verbal harassment warning by West Yorkshire Police after Miss Hayden reported him for referring to her by previous names and pronouns on Twitter in 2018.
Police faced a backlash for phoning a 74-year-old woman to warn her that her online posts about gender identity had offended transgender people.
Former local journalist Margaret Nelson wrote in her blog that if a transgender person's body was dissected post-mortem, 'his or her sex would be obvious to a student or pathologist'.
But she was later contacted by Suffolk Police, who woke her with a morning phone call, telling her the comments had provoked complaints from members of the trans community.
OTG
Exfiltrating Data from Air-Gapped Computers via Wi-Fi Signals (Without Wi-Fi Hardware)
A security researcher has demonstrated that sensitive data could be exfiltrated from air-gapped computers via a novel technique that leverages Wi-Fi signals as a covert channel'--surprisingly, without requiring the presence of Wi-Fi hardware on the targeted systems.
Dubbed "AIR-FI," the attack hinges on deploying a specially designed malware in a compromised system that exploits "DDR SDRAM buses to generate electromagnetic emissions in the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi bands" and transmitting information atop these frequencies that can then be intercepted and decoded by nearby Wi-Fi capable devices such as smartphones, laptops, and IoT devices before sending the data to remote servers controlled by an attacker.
The findings were published today in a paper titled "AIR-FI: Generating Covert Wi-Fi Signals from Air-Gapped Computers" by Dr. Mordechai Guri, the head of R&D at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's Cyber-Security Research Center, Israel.
"The AIR-FI attack [...] does not require Wi-Fi related hardware in the air-gapped computers," Dr. Guri outlined.
"Instead, an attacker can exploit the DDR SDRAM buses to generate electromagnetic emissions in the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi bands and encode binary data on top of it."
Dr. Guri, earlier this May, also demonstrated POWER-SUPPLaY, a separate mechanism that allows the malware to exploit a computer's power supply unit (PSU) to play sounds and use it as an out-of-band, secondary speaker to leak data.
Air-gapped computers '-- machines with no network interfaces '-- are considered a necessity in environments where sensitive data is involved in an attempt to reduce the risk of data leakage.
Thus in order to carry out attacks against such systems, it is often essential that the transmitting and receiving machines be located in close physical proximity to one another and that they are infected with the appropriate malware to establish the communication link.
But AIR-FI is unique in that the method neither relies on a Wi-Fi transmitter to generate signals nor requires kernel drivers, special privileges such as root, or access to hardware resources to transmit the data.
What's more, the covert channel works even from within an isolated virtual machine and has an endless list of Wi-Fi enabled devices that can be hacked by an attacker to act as a potential receiver.
The kill chain in itself consists of an air-gapped computer onto which the malware is deployed via social engineering lures, self-propagating worms such as Agent.BTZ, tampered USB flash drives, or even with the help of malicious insiders.
It also requires infecting Wi-Fi capable devices co-located in the air-gapped network by compromising the firmware of the Wi-Fi chips to install malware capable of detecting and decoding the AIR-FI transmission and exfiltrating the data over the Internet.
With this setup in place, the malware on the target system collects the relevant data (e.g., confidential documents, credentials, encryption keys), which is then encoded and transmitted in the Wi-Fi band at 2.4 GHz frequency using the electromagnetic emissions generated from the DDR SDRAM buses used to exchange data between the CPU and the memory, thus defeating air-gap isolation.
To generate the Wi-Fi signals, the attack makes use of the data bus (or memory bus) to emit electromagnetic radiation at a frequency correlated to the DDR memory module and the memory read/write operations executed by processes currently running in the system.
AIR-FI was evaluated using four types of workstations with different RAM and hardware configurations as well as a software-defined radio (SDR) and a USB Wi-Fi network adapter that functioned as the receiver, finding that the covert channel can be effectively maintained at distances up to several meters from air-gapped computers and achieving bit rates ranging from 1 to 100 bit/sec, depending on the type and mode of receiver used.
If anything, the new research is yet another reminder that electromagnetic, acoustic, thermal, and optical components continue to be lucrative vectors to mount sophisticated exfiltration attacks against air-gapped facilities.
As a countermeasure, Dr. Guri proposes zone protections to safeguard against electromagnetic attacks, enabling intrusion detection systems to monitor and inspect for processes that perform intensive memory transfer operations, jamming the signals, and using Faraday shields to block the covert channel.
The AIR-FI malware shows "how attackers can exfiltrate data from air-gapped computers to a nearby Wi-Fi receiver via Wi-Fi signals," he added.
"Modern IT environments are equipped with many types of Wi-Fi capable devices: smartphones, laptops, IoT devices, sensors, embedded systems, and smart watches, and other wearables devices. The attacker can potentially hack such equipment to receive the AIR-FI transmissions from air-gapped computers."
BTC
Executive Order Promoting Redemption of Savings Bonds | The White House
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Purpose. Since 1935, the Department of the Treasury (Department) has issued savings bonds to the American public. Backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government, these bonds are extremely safe investments that were designed to be accessible even to inexperienced investors. Indeed, over the years, savings bonds have proved to be a popular birthday or graduation gift, helping introduce younger Americans to the rewards of investing in our country's future. Among other things, savings bonds provided the United States with a critical source of financing during World War II.
By law, savings bonds never expire, and there is no deadline for owners to redeem them. It is currently estimated that more than 75 million matured savings bonds, issued as far back as 1935, remain unredeemed. The total value of these unredeemed savings bonds is approximately $27 billion.
Above and beyond any legal requirements applicable to savings bonds, the Department should take all appropriate action to make sure that those Americans who invested in the future success of their country have the opportunity to receive the remuneration to which they are lawfully entitled. Under my Administration, the Department has already undertaken significant measures to reunite matured savings bonds with their rightful owners. For example, the Department in 2019 released an online tool known as ''Treasury Hunt'' to help individuals determine if they are the owners of matured unredeemed savings bonds. This order is the next step in ensuring that owners of matured savings bonds have a full opportunity to redeem their bonds.
Sec. 2. Updating Records. The Department shall work to digitize and make electronically searchable sufficient information to identify the registered owner of any matured unredeemed savings bond, including the name and registered address of such owner and of any registered beneficiaries. In particular, the Department shall complete its ongoing pilot project to assess the feasibility and cost of digitizing and making these records searchable and accessible, which is being carried out in conjunction with multiple vendors, before the end of calendar year 2020. If the pilot project is successful, a vendor shall be selected to begin digitizing savings bond records. When digitizing records, the Department shall, to the extent feasible, focus first on the bond-issuance years that represent the highest percentage of matured unredeemed debt.
Sec. 3. Information Accessibility. Within 30 days of beginning to receive data from the digitization of records described in section 2 of this order, the Department shall incorporate into the data accessible through Treasury Hunt information collected from the digitized records, in a secure manner and consistent with applicable law, including the Privacy Act. The Department shall work to ensure that this information can be used through Treasury Hunt to help individuals determine if they are the owners of matured unredeemed savings bonds.
Sec. 4. Customer Research. The Department shall conduct customer research to determine why individuals do not redeem savings bonds upon maturity, any barriers individuals encounter when they do attempt to redeem their bonds, and the feasibility of modifying redemption methods or developing alternative redemption methods in order to mitigate, overcome, or avoid any such barriers.
Sec. 5. Collaboration with States. The Department shall engage with States and State associations to obtain additional data and information to help the Department identify owners of unredeemed bonds, to learn best practices employed by the States regarding the redemption of mature bonds, and to encourage the States to add direct links to Treasury Hunt to States' unclaimed property websites or other appropriate State publications or information portals.
Sec. 6. Public Reporting. Within 6 months of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Treasury shall publish a report on actions and initiatives undertaken by the Department to implement this order.
Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,December 18, 2020.
Space Force
Pence announces that Space Force personnel will be called guardians - CNNPolitics
(CNN) Vice President Mike Pence announced Friday that members of the Space Force military service will be called guardians.
"We just returned from the Oval Office and so it is my honor, on behalf of the President of the United States, to announce that henceforth, the men and women of the United States Space Force will be known as guardians," Pence said at an event celebrating the Space Force's first year.
The move marks another foundational element of the Space Force, as it was designated last December, making it the newest military service and the first new service since the US Air Force came into being in 1947. The Space Force was partly established to address concerns about threats to US satellites, which are critical to military operations and commercial business.
The Space Force tweeted Friday that the name announcement came "after a yearlong process that produced hundreds of submissions and research involving space professionals and members of the general public."
"Guardians is a name with a long history in space operations, tracing back to the original command motto of Air Force Space Command in 1983, 'Guardians of the High Frontier,'" the service continued, adding that "the name Guardians connects our proud heritage and culture to the important mission we execute 24/7, protecting the people and interest of the U.S. and its allies."
Pence opened his remarks on Friday by bringing greetings from President Donald Trump, calling him the "founder of the United States Space Force" who has "been an enthusiast" of the service since he conceived of the idea.
Trump had no other events on his schedule that conflicted with this event taking place on White House grounds, so it's not clear why he didn't attend, though the public schedule doesn't include all of the President's activities. The White House did not respond to CNN's inquiry as to why Trump didn't participate in the event.
The vice president said the Space Force has grown stronger by the day since it was founded, and praised Chief of Space Operations Gen. Jay Raymond for his work leading the service. Pence also noted that Col. Mike Hopkins, currently aboard the International Space Station, transferred from the Air Force to the Space Force earlier on Friday.
The term "guardians" isn't the only Space Force reveal that the vice president has made in recent days. Pence also announced earlier this month that Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Patrick Air Force Base will be renamed Space Force stations.
"Today we make history, with the first two installations in the history of the United States Space force to bear the name of this new branch of the service," Pence said at Cape Canaveral at the time.
The two bases will now be referred to as Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Patrick Space Force Base.
CNN's Jim Acosta, Ashley Strickland and Allie Malloy contributed to this report.
UPDATE: CBS4 Mountain Newsroom reporter Jamie Leary interviewed Grand County Coroner Brenda Bock following the publication of this story. To read that full story, click here.
GRAND COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) '' The Grand County coroner is calling attention to the way the state health department is classifying some deaths. The coroner, Brenda Bock, says two of their five deaths related to COVID-19 were people who died of gunshot wounds.
(credit: UCHealth)
Bock says because they tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 30 days, they were classified as ''deaths among cases.''
''It's absurd that they would even put that on there,'' she said. ''Would you want to go to a county that has really high death numbers? Would you want to go visit that county because they are contagious. You know I might get it, and I could die if all of a sudden one county has a high death count. We don't have it, and we don't need those numbers inflated.''
The state health department says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires them to report people who've died with COVID-19 in their systems because it's crucial for public health surveillance.
Colorado provides death data related to COVID-19 in two ways:
Deaths due to COVID-19:This is based on CDC coding of death certificates where COVID-19 is listed as the cause of death or a significant condition contributing to death.Deaths among COVID-19 cases:This reflects people who died with COVID-19, but COVID-19 may not have been the cause of death listed on the death certificate.CDPHE explains that they are required to report deaths among COVID-19 cases to the CDC.
''This information is required by the CDC and is crucial for public health surveillance, as it provides more information about disease transmission and can help identify risk factors among all deaths across populations,'' stated CDPHE on its Frequently Asked Questions page.
Danielle Chavira Comments (15)
VIDEO - (1813) BREAKING NEWS TODAY: THIS IS TRAGEDY - YouTube
VIDEO-Canada Proud on Twitter: "Did you ever think you would see this happening in Canada? ðŸ¤--🇨ðŸ‡... https://t.co/s4Pc03Fvs4" / Twitter
Canada Proud : Did you ever think you would see this happening in Canada? ðŸ¤--🇨ðŸ‡... https://t.co/s4Pc03Fvs4
Sat Dec 19 17:13:12 +0000 2020
Jason Martin : @WeAreCanProud @MarcPatrone Because it's a pandemic and there are rules. I don't feel at all bad for some idiot tha'... https://t.co/JzXieuSgU2
Sun Dec 20 13:27:24 +0000 2020
Susanne K. Guenther : @WeAreCanProud When will our #Canadian #Police begin using Deescalation tactics? This authoritarian shouting only makes things worse.
Sun Dec 20 13:00:51 +0000 2020
Ave Ventum : @WeAreCanProud Things are serious. Police violence with soaked minds of hatred all around the world. The values '‹'‹o'... https://t.co/c8rMWnocEi
Sun Dec 20 12:27:41 +0000 2020
Roy Oakes : @WeAreCanProud Stop with the false narrative there is enough of this bad journalism going on as it is. The guy refu'... https://t.co/Ne3JehvAbZ
Sun Dec 20 12:15:43 +0000 2020
Andrew Allan : @WeAreCanProud @drbairdonline Welcome to your new normal, nazis out in force to "keep you safe". Subhumans.
Sun Dec 20 12:03:07 +0000 2020
PaulF : @WeAreCanProud This is the future of Canada under the rule of Justin Trudeau. It is absolutely disgusting to watch'... https://t.co/Bw2HO9zgKf
Sun Dec 20 11:57:44 +0000 2020
Harleylady : @WeAreCanProud ACAB we live in a CPP POLICE STATE in 🇨ðŸ‡...
Sun Dec 20 11:54:20 +0000 2020
hassan : @WeAreCanProud This is expected when feminists become police officers
Sun Dec 20 11:31:32 +0000 2020
MiLiTiKiLaLa : @WeAreCanProud On the ground..... Got to degrade you and feel powerful...Perverse
Sun Dec 20 09:31:19 +0000 2020
MiLiTiKiLaLa : @WeAreCanProud GO SAVE YOUR FRIEND
Sun Dec 20 09:29:10 +0000 2020
celticwicca : @WeAreCanProud All cops worldwide have turned into narzis.
Sun Dec 20 09:22:16 +0000 2020
Dr Chancer : @WeAreCanProud Why was he stood talking to the dogs?..... He could just skated away!
Sun Dec 20 09:05:44 +0000 2020
VIDEO-General sorry for 'miscommunication' over vaccine shipments
The Army general in charge of getting COVID-19 vaccines across the United States apologized on Saturday for ''miscommunication'' with states over the number of doses to be delivered in the early stages of distribution.
''I failed. I'm adjusting. I am fixing and we will move forward from there,'' Gen. Gustave Perna told reporters in a telephone briefing.
Perna's remarks came a day after a second vaccine was added in the fight against COVID-19, which has killed more than 312,000 people in the U.S. Governors in more than a dozen states have said the federal government has told them that next week's shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be less than originally projected.
Perna acknowledged the criticism and accepted blame.
''I want to take personal responsibility for the miscommunication,'' he said. ''I know that's not done much these days. But I am responsible. ... This is a Herculean effort and we are not perfect.''
The general said he made mistakes by citing numbers of doses that he believed would be ready.
''I am the one who approved forecast sheets. I'm the one who approved allocations,'' Perna said. ''There is no problem with the process. There is no problem with the Pfizer vaccine. There is no problem with the Moderna vaccine.''
There's a distinction between manufactured vaccine and doses that are ready to be released. The finished product must undergo ''rigorous quality control and sterility tests,'' which can take up to a month, the Department of Health and Human Services said.
The Food and Drug Administration then must receive a certificate of analysis 48 hours before the manufacturer ships a batch, the government said.
Perna said the government now is on track to get approximately 20 million doses to states by the first week of January, a combination of the newly approved Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Perna said 2.9 million Pfizer-BioNTech doses have been delivered to states so far.
In Michigan, where the Pfizer vaccine is produced, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday accused the White House of ''slow-walking the process.'' Michigan is due 60,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in its second allotment, down from an anticipated 84,825.
''We have Michigan hospitals and nursing homes ready to administer this vaccine,'' she said.
VIDEO-Lockdowns Intentionally Reducing Population & Crushing Economy | Armstrong Economics
Dr. David Nabarro has been vocal about the dangers of lockdowns as people have been dying of heart attacks, cancer, and other issues because they have been denied healthcare all because of COVID. On the other hand, he has been clearly under pressure to rephrase his warnings.
Nabarro has qualified his statements insisting he does not advocate the opposite. He did not recant what he said but qualified that he is not advocating the abandonment of all measures.
It was Bill Gates calling for a national lockdown in the United States, which would have devasted the entire economy and seems to be his goal. His investments were all directed at ''GREEN,'' which even included the end of meat production because they claim cattle is the #2 cause of CO2 and global warming.
Look at Bill Gates and how he is always erratically waving his hands. This clip is taken from Psychology Today. When someone is constantly waving their hands erratically in this manner, it is typically a sign of dishonesty in business and in law.
Gates has been an advocate of reducing the world population. He has been obsessed with this idea which was instilled in him by his father. It is interesting how it is the inequality of wealth that Klaus Schwab and his World Economic Forum insistence must come to an end, but not for him and his buddies.
Schwab insisted he is working with Gates, yet this is hypocritical of his argument that we must give up our wealth and own nothing'' but they need their wealth to keep the sheep in pens.
I find it terribly offensive that BigTech, CNN, Washington Post, New York Times, and others are all pushing this Great Reset, which is looking more and more like a deliberate effort to reduce the population and ushering in Communism 3.0. This is a blend of feudalism where the super-rich become our overlords and the 1% and small businesses are to be the modern-day eradicated bourgeoisie. It is no longer the 1% '-- it is the 0.005% we should worry about!
VIDEO-Heated Oval Office meeting included talk of special counsel, martial law as Trump advisers clash - CNNPolitics
(CNN) President Donald Trump convened a heated meeting in the Oval Office on Friday, including lawyer Sidney Powell and her client, former national security adviser Michael Flynn, two people familiar with the matter said, describing a session that began as an impromptu gathering but devolved and eventually broke out into screaming matches at certain points as some of Trump's aides pushed back on Powell and Flynn's more outrageous suggestions about overturning the election.
Flynn had suggested earlier this week that Trump could invoke martial law as part of his efforts to overturn the election that he lost to President-elect Joe Biden -- an idea that arose again during the meeting in the Oval Office, one of the people said. It wasn't clear whether Trump endorsed the idea, but others in the room forcefully pushed back and shot it down.
The meeting was first reported by the New York Times.
White House aides who participated in the meeting, including White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and counsel Pat Cipollone, also pushed back intensely on the suggestion of naming Powell as a special counsel to investigate voter fraud allegations Trump's own administration has dismissed (or, as seems more feasible, hiring her in the administration for some kind of investigatory role). Powell has focused her conspiracies on voting machines and has floated the notion of having a special counsel inspect the machines for flaws.
Another idea floated in the meeting was an executive order that would permit the government to access voting machines to inspect them.
One person described the meeting as "ugly" as Powell and Flynn accused others of abandoning the President as he works to overturn the results of the election.
"It was heated -- people were really fighting it out in the Oval, really forceful about it," one of the sources said.
One of the sources described an escalating sense of concern among Trump's aides, even those who have weathered his previous controversies, about what steps he might take next as his term comes to an end.
Shortly after that meeting, Trump's campaign staff received a memo from the campaign legal team on Saturday instructing them to preserve all documents related to Dominion Voting Systems and Powell in anticipation of potential litigation by the company against the pro-Trump attorney.
The memo, viewed by CNN, references a letter Dominion sent to Powell this week demanding she publicly retract her accusations and instructs campaign staff not to alter, destroy or discard records that could be relevant.
A serious internal divide has formed within Trump's campaign following the election with tensions at their highest between the campaign's general counsel, Matt Morgan, who sent the memo Saturday, and Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Though the campaign once distanced itself from Powell, Trump has been urging other people to fight like she has, according to multiple people familiar with his remarks. He has asked for more people making her arguments, which are often baseless and filled with conspiracy theories, on television.
This story has been updated with additional reporting.
Kaitlan Collins contributed to this report.
VIDEO-Suburban Hospital Temporarily Pauses Vaccinations 'Out of Abundance of Caution' Following Adverse Reactions '' NBC Chicago
A suburban hospital temporarily suspended coronavirus vaccinations Friday after four team members experienced adverse reactions.
Since Thursday, Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville said four people who received the COVID-19 vaccine experienced tingling and elevated heartrate shortly after the injection.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we are temporarily pausing vaccinations at Condell, which will allow us time to better understand what may have caused these reactions," the health center said in a statement.
Advocate Aurora Health reminded that the four people who experienced the adverse reactions account for fewer than 0.15% of the approximately 3,000 individuals who have so far received vaccinations throughout their health system.
The health center said as of Friday, three team members are at home and "doing well," while one person is receiving additional treatment.
"Reactions are an expected side effect of vaccination. We are encouraged by our team members who are eager to get the vaccine to help protect themselves and others and bring an end to this pandemic," Advocate Aurora Health said.
Advocate Aurora Health has eight other vaccination locations in Illinois and three in Wisconsin, all of which are continuing vaccinations as planned.
VIDEO-Suburban Hospital Temporarily Pauses Vaccinations 'Out of Abundance of Caution' Following Adverse Reactions '' NBC Chicago
A suburban hospital temporarily suspended coronavirus vaccinations Friday after four team members experienced adverse reactions.
Since Thursday, Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville said four people who received the COVID-19 vaccine experienced tingling and elevated heartrate shortly after the injection.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we are temporarily pausing vaccinations at Condell, which will allow us time to better understand what may have caused these reactions," the health center said in a statement.
Advocate Aurora Health reminded that the four people who experienced the adverse reactions account for fewer than 0.15% of the approximately 3,000 individuals who have so far received vaccinations throughout their health system.
The health center said as of Friday, three team members are at home and "doing well," while one person is receiving additional treatment.
"Reactions are an expected side effect of vaccination. We are encouraged by our team members who are eager to get the vaccine to help protect themselves and others and bring an end to this pandemic," Advocate Aurora Health said.
Advocate Aurora Health has eight other vaccination locations in Illinois and three in Wisconsin, all of which are continuing vaccinations as planned.
VIDEO-Cardinal Burke: Forces of the 'Great Reset' have used COVID to advance 'evil agenda' - YouTube
(CNN) President-elect Joe Biden's transition team said Friday that they did not agree to a two-week break in critical transfer-of-power discussions with Pentagon officials, despite an assertion from the acting Defense Secretary that both sides had agreed to take such a "holiday pause."
"There was no mutually agreed upon holiday break," Yohannes Abraham, executive director of the Biden transition, told reporters Friday. "In fact, we think it's important that briefings and other engagements continue during this period, as there's no time to spare."
Tensions between the Pentagon and the Biden transition spilled into public view once again on Friday after the acting Secretary of Defense, Christopher Miller, said the incoming Biden team had agreed to a two-week holiday break in previously scheduled transition talks at the Pentagon.
Miller's announcement also acknowledged that the Pentagon had postponed a series of meetings with the Biden transition team that had been scheduled for Friday, saying that those meetings would be rescheduled after the supposed holiday break.
'Agreed upon'A Department of Defense spokesperson said that the Pentagon was "working to reschedule approximately 20 interviews with 40 officials until after January 1."
A US defense official said that there were fewer planned meetings over the next two weeks, saying that there had only been six briefings scheduled for next week.
The Biden team learned of the delay on Thursday, Abraham said in a briefing call with reporters, where he urged Pentagon officials to resume the meetings and information-sharing critical to national security and continuity of government.
"In terms of when meetings will resume, meetings and requests for information, which are substantively interchangeable, it's our hope and expectation that that will happen immediately," Abraham said.
Defense officials told CNN that the Pentagon is trying to reschedule the meetings after "an agreed-upon two-week break between the two transition teams," but officials on the Biden transition team said they had believed the Pentagon briefings would resume soon, after being stopped without much explanation at some point Thursday.
In a statement Friday, Miller denied a report that the Pentagon was canceling or declining meetings with Biden's transition team.
Earlier this month, defense officials disputed reports, including from CNN, that the department was placing unnecessary hurdles on coordinating meetings between the President-elect's team and the Defense Department, blaming the Biden transition team for not adhering to the agreed upon process for scheduling meetings.
Miller said in his statement that, "after the mutually-agreed upon holiday pause, which begins tomorrow, we will continue with the transition and rescheduled meetings from today."
Officials with the Biden transition team said they had believed the meetings would resume sometime soon after Thursday's cessation and were unaware Friday morning that the day's meetings had been canceled.
Defense officials said the cancellation, first reported by Axios, was due in part to prioritizing work related to planning for the possibility of a government shutdown at midnight. One of the officials said that the Pentagon's response to the coronavirus pandemic and the recent cyber attacks on the US government also prompted the postponement.
The officials said meetings should resume, but that might not happen until after the holidays.
In his statement, Miller said that he remains committed to a "full and transparent transition."
VIDEO-KT McFarland Explains Why the Intelligence Report on the Election Is Being Delayed
Yesterday the Office of the Director of National Intelligence announced a report about foreign interference in the 2020 election will be delayed. Reportedly, there is a dispute about how much influence China had in the outcome.
"to submit the IC's classified assessment on foreign threats to the 2020 U.S. elections. The IC has received relevant reporting since the election and a number of agencies have not finished coordinating on the product." (2/3)
'-- Office of the DNI (@ODNIgov) December 16, 2020"The DNI is committed to providing this report to our customers expeditiously.'' (3/3)
'-- Office of the DNI (@ODNIgov) December 16, 2020During an interview with Fox News Wednesday night, former White House Deputy National Security Advisor KT McFarland gave her assessment about why the report is being delayed.
"That's [the delay] pretty significant. What that means is there's not uniform agreement within the intelligence community about whether there was or wasn't Chinese influence and how much there was or wasn't. I think you've got to assume that at least one part of our intelligence community thinks that there was major interference which is why there's debate over this," McFarland said. "Now, I suspect that when the report comes out, you know they always want to make these things sound like everybody agrees, well chances are not everybody does agree on this and what kind of influence and what kind of interruption it was. Was it something to do with cyber attacks? Was it something to do with the balloting? Was it something to do with influence peddling? Was it something to do with bots and kind of stirring the pot? All those things are a range of issues and I'm assuming these reason this is delayed because there's probably something pretty explosive in there."
The report must be eventually published by law and is expected before January 20, 2021.
VIDEO-The French Laundry got more than $2.4M in PPP funding; 17x more than average Bay Area restaurants - ABC7 San Francisco
Governor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco Mayor London Breed were notoriously spotted dining during a COVID-19 surge, reportedly received millions in PPP funding.
Yountville's highly acclaimed French Laundry received multiple loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, totaling more than $2.4 million, according to an ABC7 analysis of newly-released data from the Small Business Administration.
The French Laundry received two loans that were both approved on April 30, 2020. According to the SBA, the first loan was for more than $2.2 million to retain 163 employees. The second loan was for $194,656 to retain five employees.
RELATED: Companies founded by Newsom collectively get nearly $3 million in PPP loans, data showsABC7's analysis found the company received 17 times more than what the average Bay Area restaurant received.
"That's a lot of money. But, what can I do about it?" said Dennis Berkowitz, former owner of San Mateo restaurant Vault 164.
Berkowitz struggled to get around $318,000 to retain roughly 50 employees. The loan amount wasn't enough to sustain his business, and he was forced to sell the restaurant in July.
"I've had a 40-year run in the restaurant business, so I consider myself fortunate," he said. "I really feel bad for the next generation of restaurateurs because they're screwed."
VIDEO: Small business owners react after companies founded by Gov. Newsom receive nearly $3M in PPP loansThe I-Team analyzed thousands of California loans released by the SBA that show wealthier, big businesses are often getting access to loans before small mom and pop owners. Out of all the approved loans in California, 91 percent of larger restaurants with 300 or more employees got their loan approved in April versus only 52 percent of smaller restaurants with 100 or fewer employees.
At the French Laundry, you can reserve an exclusive outdoor culinary dining experience starting at $450 per person or a White Truffle and Caviar dinner for $1,200 per person, according to reservation services online.
The company's website states the 1,600 square foot building is owned by celebrity chef Thomas Keller. Keller approached 60 investors to launch the restaurant back in 1994.
App users: For a better experience, click here to view the graph in a new window.
ABC7 reached out to the French Laundry multiple times for comment and to confirm how many employees the company was able to keep on payroll for each loan. We have yet to hear back.
French Laundry is one of at least seven Bay Area restaurants with two or three Michelin stars that also received PPP loans, according to the SBA. The list of the other six restaurants include: Saison, Acquerello, Benu, Atelier, and Californios Restaurant Group.
RELATED: SF mayor attended French Laundry birthday dinner 1 day after Gov. NewsomVal Cantu of Californios received around a $214,597 to retain 10 to 14 people.
"We're still trying to figure out how to spend it correctly," said Cantu. "Which has and continues to be cloudy."
Cantu told ABC7 the confusion stems from how frequent the SBA's rules were changing during the beginning of the process.
"Whether the PPP will be forgivable...we'll see, I'm not sure if it will be," he said.
Cantu admitted the restaurant benefited from having an accountant to help with the loan application.
"It was definitely a scary process," he said.
RELATED: Gov. Newsom says he shouldn't have attended birthday party at French Laundry amid COVID-19 surgeTheresa Pasion, owner of the Mission's La Palma, agreed. Although, like other family-owned small businesses, she didn't have in-house financial help.
"It was very intimidating, the application process," she said. "As soon as you look at it, you have questions. Anything you fill out wrong you are liable for."
Laurie Aaronson is a financial consultant serving hundreds of restaurants across the Bay Area. For the past seven months, she has focused on helping her clients qualify for PPP funding.
Laurie: "Clearly those who had established banking relationships with banks that chose to participate at least in the early stages...those who had access to financial advisors, accountants, and attorneys to make sense of the application received the loans."
Stephanie: "From your perspective, what needs to change to make access to funding more equitable?"
Laurie: "I think the Fintech companies are going to be key, because I think they leveled the playing field a lot in the late stages in the last round of PPP."
Fintech companies, or in other words, online banking companies, helped bridge the gap when bigger banks couldn't process a high volume of loans.
Kabbage is one example. More than 90 percent of the company's applicants have 10 or fewer employees. The company has been touted for prioritizing community banks serving small businesses in non-urban areas. For example, their average loan size was around $28,000 - nearly four times less than the national average PPP loan size of $107,000.
"In the late stages in the second round of PPP many banks just shut their doors, Fintech companies stepped in and provided a lot of those loans," said Aaronson.
See all Bay Area companies that received loans in the table below:
App users: For a better experience, click here to view the graph in a new window.Copyright (C) 2020 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
VIDEO-The Cyberpandemic has Begun: SolarWinds + FireEye - Anything can happen now - YouTube
Rumble '-- December 10, 2020 BC Update: According to Bonnie Henry, only 2 people out of 587 (that is all BC Covid deaths) have died of Covid OUTSIDE of Long Term Care Homes. 2! And for this, we are shutting down our economy. It is far past time, that reporters start asking Dr. Henry some serious, hard questions, instead of fawning over her shoes or her outfits. Media, DO YOUR JOB!
... and disable advertisements! No kidding :)
VIDEO-China's 'fun' with trade sanctions is 'biting them where it hurts' - YouTube
The president-elect said he will be able to look past personal attacks on his son while in officePresident-elect Joe Biden defended his son Hunter Biden amid an ongoing investigation into the younger Biden's taxes.
During an interview with Stephen Colbert airing Thursday night, Biden sat alongside his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, and expressed "confidence" in his son.
"I think it's kind of foul play, but look, it is what it is and he's a grown man, he is the smartest man I know '' I mean from a pure intellectual capacity '' and as long as he's good, we're good," Joe Biden said.
The Biden transition team clarified that Biden was not referring to the investigation as "foul play," but rather to Republicans who have used Hunter Biden's business dealings to go after him personally for months.
When Colbert asked how he would handle attacks from Republicans, Biden said he would be willing to work with critics because it's what's best for the country.
HUNTER BIDEN'S FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS REPEATEDLY FLAGGED AS POTENTIAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, SENATE PROBE FOUND
The Delaware U.S. Attorney is investigating Hunter Biden's taxes '' a probe that has been ongoing since 2018 but was only recently publicly disclosed.
Hunter Biden has a complex network of international business dealings.
His involvement with Ukranian energy company Burisma in 2014 has come under intense scrutiny, and was a repeated target of President Trump during his campaign for the 2020 presidency.
The younger Biden was paid $50,000 per month to serve on the board of Burisma, sparking concerns about the perceptions of a conflict of interest given the fact that his father was involved in U.S. policy toward Ukraine.
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Hunter Biden also has connections to Chinese and Russian nationals that have raised eyebrows.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., told Fox News on Thursday that he believed Joe Biden would not interfere in the Hunter Biden investigation when he assumes the White House in January, because he "believes in the rule of law."
VIDEO-DNI Ratcliffe Refuses to Sign Off on Elections Report Until Intel Officials Include Damning info on China's Attempts to Influence Election -- Deep State Hiding the Facts
Newsmax correspondent Emerald Robinson on Thursday reported Ratcliffe is refusing to sign off on the report until the intel officials include the damning information on China and its attempt to influence the 2020 election.
Emerald Robinson, ''We've heard from sources that there is raw intelligence that is pretty damning and much more expansive on the efforts of China implemented in order to counter a possibility that there would be a Trump second term'... The fact that Ratcliffe is waiting for that to be included is that there is a portion of the intelligence community that is refusing to sign off or to conduct a detrimental assessment of China and its efforts.
VIDEO-Lauren Windsor on Twitter: "BREAKING: Defying McConnell, Sen-elect Tuberville suggests he will challenge Electoral College, while stumping in Georgia https://t.co/1z5wJ2ajVP" / Twitter
Lauren Windsor : BREAKING: Defying McConnell, Sen-elect Tuberville suggests he will challenge Electoral College, while stumping in G'... https://t.co/KeEcFOot5e
Thu Dec 17 14:38:39 +0000 2020
jay sea : @lawindsor is this the night of the living dead ..?
Thu Dec 17 21:34:28 +0000 2020
President-elect Christian : @lawindsor Patriot !!!!!!!
Thu Dec 17 21:33:37 +0000 2020
Crimson witch : @lawindsor Then he doesn't get seated, if he believes election was rigged.
Thu Dec 17 21:33:33 +0000 2020
Rhea Sulzycki : @lawindsor This is the dumb jock. Right?
Thu Dec 17 21:33:32 +0000 2020
Dean Johns : @lawindsor Does he even know the Electoral College is?
Thu Dec 17 21:33:26 +0000 2020
SI Chi : @lawindsor @meiselasb Idiot
Thu Dec 17 21:32:43 +0000 2020
Jeb : @lawindsor This from the idiot who can't name the 3 branches of government accurately.
Thu Dec 17 21:32:40 +0000 2020
Barbara Jones : @lawindsor Wouldn't this turn over his election? How can it be rigged for one election but not another?
Donmarse 🎧 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺 : @lawindsor I know that House and Senate have to agree but is there anyway for Pence to throw a wrench into the process?
Thu Dec 17 21:27:21 +0000 2020
Susan Brown : @lawindsor HOW on earth did this fucker get elected?
Thu Dec 17 21:27:07 +0000 2020
DoodleMom FLIP GEORGIA SENATE BLUE : @lawindsor The guy who couldn't name the three branches of government.
Thu Dec 17 21:25:22 +0000 2020
Jeff Milam : @lawindsor He needs to go back to football. He's way out of his league ðŸ
Thu Dec 17 21:25:18 +0000 2020
Mag : @lawindsor Good!!
Thu Dec 17 21:24:59 +0000 2020
Dr. A Roberts,Ph.D. : @lawindsor Dear Georgia, you can make this guy irrelevant by voting for Warnock and Ossoff!
Thu Dec 17 21:24:30 +0000 2020
Robert : @lawindsor He's not too bright that one
Thu Dec 17 21:24:28 +0000 2020
LJJ : @lawindsor He was a crappy coach too!!
Thu Dec 17 21:23:48 +0000 2020
NotesInTheMargin 🇺🇸 : @lawindsor Anyone have a Bingo card on how quickly this guy starts amassing ethics violations?
Thu Dec 17 21:23:28 +0000 2020
N. Gauthier : @lawindsor Can people in Alabama explain why they voted out the guy who prosecuted KKK members for a dumbass who ha'... https://t.co/276tgLOQRP
Thu Dec 17 21:23:28 +0000 2020
RyNo : @lawindsor Then we must look into his own election results... only thing that seems fair.
Thu Dec 17 21:22:36 +0000 2020
Todd Cunningham : @lawindsor Alabama Sen. Tommy Tubberville deciding to buck the Electoral College vote is not Phi Beta Kappa. Somebo'... https://t.co/d2ya7dJDiX
Get out of London people. Adam Curry jobs he divorce December 20 2020 this is your award winning combination media assassination Episode 105 This is no agenda. canceling Father Christmas and broadcasting live from opportunity's own 33 here in the frontier of Austin, Texas capital of the drone star states. In the morning, everybody. I'm Adam Curry, from Northern Silicon Valley, we've decided to call everything a pod and Justin Guevara.
0:34
This will not stand please, then swept under, you're on the wrong side of history. I am on the wrong side of history. And the more I bitched about it, the more people throw it in my face.
0:47
And just say, hey, how was your pod? Just you're reminding me of the era when they started complaining about mp3 ease. Exactly. These are bad don't use them. It's horrible for the music industry. Every kid in the world went but that sounds like you know what they were before that. Do you remember when mp3 first came out? And we of course we're probably already Boomer ish. When that happened, this was around 90. I mean, when it really became popular, I would say just the end of the 90s when the replays I first discovered them when they first became popular because I had a friend who was doing my web work. Your was your web.
1:29
Web web. He he was a DJ Mm hmm. And all the DJs were into you know the this because they needed to do the drumsticks they needed the tracks. Yeah. And so he turned me on to the whole thing it was at the time I think it was around 94 key It was a phenomenon only amongst certain college kids. Right The ones who had pipe and had Napster
1:57
no beef, this is pre Napster. Okay, but not much before Napster because Napster came along around 9999. Yeah.
2:06
Napster is late. I mean, this was early, but it was nobody knew anything about it. It was just a underground underground thing until the RA. Ra came out and bitch about some little device that one of the companies brought out right. Oh, there was the reo. Probably. It might have been the real Yeah. Well, my point was going to be Do you recall? How do you and I certainly would listen to an mp3 and go How can you listen to this crap? It's horribly compressed. It doesn't sound good at all. You remember that?
2:39
You know, I was on the I never. I always.
2:44
I always downloaded 192 or higher. So they sounded pretty decent. Yeah, and I wasn't of the of the ilk that bitched and moaned and complained, there are people who want to take it to that extreme. There were people who said the same thing about CDs.
3:01
There were people who said it was too good, and that you needed that vinyl compression that comes with another group. But I was
3:09
I was in that group.
3:12
There was a large group of people that said the original CDs did not have the tonal components that they were looking for. And it turned out that there was actually some truth to that.
3:25
They changed the DAC and a lot of the CD players. Yeah, that's true. I remember that. I just recall, like saying, Wow, in fact, it didn't bother me. But I always thought to myself, okay, this really opens up possibilities, because we had no bandwidth at the time. The whole problem, we didn't have disk drives big enough to hold lossless audio formats. It wasn't convenient. And I just remember to myself thinking self, people will put up with a lot. So you can you could serve up all kinds of crap quality eventually, I think your brain just fills in the missing bits. We've probably become trained to expand the actual quality of an mp3 into something that sounds better to you ever. Did you ever listen to a record by Gary us bonds? Yeah, sure. Well, I mean, if you could put up with that.
4:16
We used to listen to radio nordsee International on medium waves.
4:23
And we thought it was great. You haven't lived until you've heard till you've heard the the who on 538 kilo cycles.
4:33
So the people are people will put up with a lot and that's apparent in the United Kingdom. Christmas is canceled in the UK.
4:43
We cannot continue with Christmas.
4:48
We cannot continue it was all over the news. The US media love talking about this story. In the United Kingdom. A new variant of the Coronavirus is spreading rapidly and today
5:00
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new restrictions for areas in Britain southeast, including London. He urged all residents to stay home for the upcoming Christmas holiday. It is with a very heavy heart. I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned. The variant has turned up in several other countries and mutations are not unusual. British officials say this variant does not appear to be deadlier, but it does spread more rapidly. Man I'm gonna call some major shifts on this. This makes no sense.
5:34
This new variant we touched on it briefly on Thursday. But come on. There's been talk of different strains for months. It's never an issue. Nothing's happened. And nothing to see here. Don't look at it. Now we got to cancel Christmas. Oh, yeah. Because of this string, man. And they they brought this out at five o'clock in the afternoon with the deadline by midnight, people went crazy trying to get up north anywhere anywhere out of the out of the central, central east part of the country to just avoid being locked in your home. Get out of London, PayPal. And here's the crazy thing the Netherlands just announced I'm sure other EU EU member states will follow. They're stopping all flights from and to the United Kingdom.
6:23
Besides this being one of the last economic hopeful little jobs, they could keep open and regular. Because all the UK companies have headquarters have EU headquarters in Amsterdam. And of course, you know, when there's intellectual property rights involved, there's no taxation in the Netherlands. So that's why there's a lot of travel back and forth. Now that had to stop just shut it down. Shut it down for five weeks. However, you can still take the ferry. How does that work?
6:55
So only the ferry is better because you get to be in close quarters with more people who are playing longer time who are throwing up around you that doesn't seem like that, like anything contagious, could fly around. So I was thinking what what is going on? And then it hit me that it's very possible that this is to cover up for the Brexit deadline deadline, which clearly is going to be missed.
7:25
What do you think? Interesting.
7:28
I like that theory. Because if there was no Corona it would be had do Brexit if he had locked down because you know, this is more important people are dying by the variant by the variant to the variant of 70% more infected.
7:44
Now, it may have something to do with the current state of the EU or the progress of the great reset in general.
7:54
China, this is from December 17 said talks with the European Union on the bilateral investment deal are in the final stages citing progress between negotiators they push for an agreement before a year end deadline so this is I it's unclear I mean bilateral investment for sure the EU is going to be taking Chinese money that that that's what that sounds like to me. I don't know what they're going to do in return. But I'm thinking the EU, the EU would have a better position if they could somehow bring the UK in on the deal and that's why it's all not final yet and we're getting close final stages. Don't you think that those two could be connected? Possibly.
8:37
Well, any of this stuff could be connected but I think the I think the Brexit issue has got definitely has something to do with this.
8:46
Yeah, that people would be losing their mind if if there was no Coronavirus and, and the Brexit, which is I think it's the 23rd it has to be done. Yes, yeah. It's just no way I don't say it's not that we're not we're surprised we're befuddled. We're like stunned. Um,
9:05
well, I think a lot of people would be they don't hear this kind of talk too often. You only hear that on the best podcast in the universe.
9:15
So let's update everybody on the vaccine. It's been a it's been a very interesting rollout with nurses fainting of fake needles being used and admitted, the fainting nurse was a classic and now so they have an explanation for this.
9:32
She's apparently the fainting nurse, the one who you put front and center in front of the press. To receive the first injection in your hospital or in your state. I can't recall exactly what it was. You're going to put her who were now reading suffers from a medical condition that she faints when she feels pain
9:58
well, or at the drop
10:00
Have a hat? Is that is, is that? Does that make any sense?
10:06
Yeah, it makes sense if you're a bonehead AI is just crazy.
10:14
Okay, so so what's happening now is we have a lot of different powers at play and I'm not sure if we can we're going to try and figure them out.
10:24
So first of all, any negative story about the pharmaceutical industry on television always has to be analyzed because this is the main bread and butter of the media is the pharma advertisers. So what I'm seeing mainly and maybe you see more of the network stuff what I'm seeing mainly is local stories that you know, gain a lot of traction because it's something happening like that with a nurse but then you see that the the national m five m making a big deal of this. No, they tend to do the
10:58
yak, yak yak, a bad thing happened. But a lot of good things happens of style, which means that they keep the bad thing in there because they're still not getting enough money.
11:09
Still shilling? Well, we have to figure out who the winners is, who's going to be the clear winner who's going to get enough negative press we already have Madonna coming in with a with a advantage advantage. No freezing necessary.
11:24
Well, then there you got the Johnson and Johnson one coming up the rear Yes. Is that how it's administered, and enemy and we do have some official notifications. Fauci
11:37
had to come out and talk about people with allergic reactions, because there's just too many local stories bubbling to the top and people are all over this. People want to feel that this vaccine is safe. And just like not understanding how many people die on a daily basis in the world or in your country in the United States. They don't really know that a percentage of vaccine takers get sick, some die, bad stuff happens. But now they everybody expects a 100% science based thing that works and doesn't kill you.
12:15
Well, of course they did. But the and even with the with the knowledge, we've even heard from several producers that I think it's the propylene glycol, that is in the, in the vaccine that people can have a severe reaction to that.
12:31
And so Fauci had to, had to come up with some new messaging. If you have a history of a severe allergic reaction, you should either not take this vaccine, or if you do take it, take it in the context of a place where if you do develop an allergic reaction, it could be readily and effectively treated. This also comes after two medical workers in Alaska suffered reactions to the same vaccine, one of them had a serious allergic reaction. Now that's why the FDA is revising its allergic reaction guidelines to essentially do what exactly what Dr. Fauci said, if you get this vaccine, if you're either concerned about an allergic reaction, or you have had one in the past, they want to make sure that you're close enough to emergency treatment centers, just in case I didn't quite understand the the tag on that report, is she saying, If you suffer from allergic reactions, you should follow the new guidance and probably not get it. Or she's saying make sure you get it in a hospital. So when you get an anaphylaxis shock, like an epi pen, you didn't quite understand because this is a great way out.
13:42
This is a great way out of this thing I needed I have an exemption. I'm allergic,
13:48
didn't go to a hospital where they have an epi pen at the ready.
13:53
Exactly what I think they're doing. And even in the Scandinavia, they've kind of figured out that even if you get the vaccine, life really isn't going back to normal. They haven't yet been able to show whether it prevents infection. So even if somebody gets vaccinated, they may they may have an asymptomatic infection. So they could still be infectious to others we're still going to learn and it may be that that not is not the case, but currently we don't have that evidence. So even when somebody is vaccinated, they need to protect themselves and others from from spreading the infection. I don't understand I thought how vaccines work. Let's just pretend this is a regular vaccine.
14:38
I mean, do the measles or mumps. If you catch the mumps, can you if you've if you've been vaccinated with an MMR, can you still catch in transmitted but not get sick from it?
14:52
This is what you can cure. So you're so so if if it's one person
15:00
In school has the mumps then you really need to quarantine the whole school just like COVID.
15:06
You know, you take the make the kids stay at home. I know. But like in all diseases, including COVID that's the way it should be done. Right. That's my point. Thank you. It makes no sense what they're doing. No, none of it makes any sense that idea of quarantining Healthy People stupid. Everybody, you know, comments on this? It's like some grand experiment. I don't know what who's behind it, but it seems like the Chinese are.
15:31
What you caught me. You caught me off guard.
15:36
Darrell, finally, Fletcher did some stuff for us. Here we go.
15:46
Why His voice is just funny. And we have this one guy.
15:50
I can't help I think China is is funnier.
15:57
I'm sticking with that one. Yeah, it's both good. But the first one is funny. It is funny. I yeah, the China's.
16:05
Okay, so now we move to communication that is ramping up because it's Christmas time we got kids who are very confused. And hair Dr. Fauci decides to go speak to the children on Sesame Street. And he does this somehow with things that was CNN. And it's I don't know if it was just a patch in or if they just edited this stuff. And it was, the whole thing is bizarre. What is this man doing talking to children? But here we go with the first the first segment
16:43
available for kids? What do you think we'll be able to take the vaccine?
16:49
Well, what about that, Dr. Fauci kids in the vaccine?
16:53
Well, it's been an important tradition to preserve the safety of children. We're very concerned that we want to make sure we emphasize the safety of vaccines. So when you get a new vaccine, you generally want to show the safety and the efficacy in an adult population. Once you do, then you start doing trials, maybe a couple of months later in the children so that you can quickly as possible, get them the vaccines. So the reason why you're not hearing about vaccinating children right now, is because we want to wait a month or two. We're looking at January, we're going to start some trials and children. Let's start with children. He says it almost with evil Glee, I don't know maybe I'm just hearing the into his voice. But we're gonna start some trials with children.
17:49
We're looking at January, we're gonna start some trials and children. Start with children who are a bit older and work our way down. Yeah. So that hopefully within a few months, we'll be able to tell children what I know, we'll be able to say the vaccine is safe and effective in you, and we're anxious to get you vaccinated. So just hang in there a couple of more months, and we'll be in good shape. I don't think any kid watching that feels good about what he just said. So Sanjay Gupta to the rescue. What does every child want to know? The only when it comes to vaccines kids only want to know one thing. Will it hurt? That's all you want to know. How did Santa get the vaccine? And is it safe for him to go in the house? Well, sand has to be both
18:37
me and Corona Coronavirus a season, but if he can go to anyone's house or near his house I'm playing the wrong one dammit Sanjay you actually got
18:49
that that's my that's my final clip. That's my kicker and I'm giving it away.
18:55
Hop editing that editing that part out. I set this up so well. Dammit. Alright, back to Sanjay Gupta doesn't hurt Sanjay, you actually got the first of your two vaccines. It's a two dose vaccine. Is that an Elmo band aid? It is. I love it. It's a yes Elmo band aid. And I have my little Elmo doll even because, you know, sometimes you need just a little bit of help to get through these things. But you know, it's just as Dr. Fauci said, I honestly speaking, it really didn't hurt a bit. In fact, when I was getting the shot, I didn't actually even realize the shot was already completed. I was sort of waiting for it. And then they said, You're already done. Just being honest here. So if you're worried about the pinch at all, the doctor Fauci is talking about it. It's It's really pretty minor. Just being honest here. Mm. Unlike everything else you talk about. All right, yeah, I already gave it away. But let's give Fauci one more, try one more, try to talk to the kids. See if he's got some humanity in him. How did Santa get the vaccine? And is it safe
20:00
For them to go in the house. Well sand has to be bold. And there isn't me and Coronavirus a season, but if he can go to anyone's house or near his reindeer, well, I have to say I took care of that for you because I was worried that you'd all be upset. So what I did a little while ago, I took a trip up there to the North Pole. I went there and I vaccinated Santa Claus myself. I measured his level of immunity and he is good to go. He can come down the chimney, he can leave the presence he can leave and you have nothing to worry about. Santa Claus is good to go.
20:41
Hold on a second. Yes, yes. Kidding not vaccinate Mrs. Claus. She doesn't count he's a massage uninstalls great Corona is this true from the elves did nothing about the
20:57
shot Yeah, to everyone gets two shots. Hell yeah. I'm gonna go back and give him the second shot later. He doesn't explain any of this very well. How about the reindeer
21:08
Well, they're they're not just they're not minx not gonna get it. They're locked down exempt
21:17
Santa Claus is good to go. It's not a possible and to show I so maybe I like that one. Yeah. Oh, you're my shows while you're sure. While we're testing testing testing.
21:31
How about dead bodies? Oh my Hold on a second. How could I have missed dead bodies? Oh, there it is. Dead bodies. We expect to have more dead bodies Who?
21:43
Ah. I mean, it's not quite as uplifting as Santa Claus is good to go.
21:50
Criteria What else you got? doses?
21:56
Where are our doses is that Whitmer?
22:00
Yeah, she she already bitching about that? Do you have a full clip of her bitching? She doesn't have her I don't have a full table just her What do you got? a? Alba here's one go under. Oh, hold on. Go under this more ISIS. We will go under? no nonsense to muffled
22:20
How about Irishness and you came packed? I've been suppressing my Irishness for a long time. I don't think anything cuts as mixed as Santas. Good to go. Yeah, you know, I'm afraid because I thought dead bodies would cover it. But to Santa things. Well, but wait, but wait, here's an idea. I mean, we can always try this. Santa Claus is good to go. We expect to have more dead bodies neck.
22:45
What do you think about that combo? I like it. I like what we do combos are usually winners. One more time. Santa Claus is good to go. We expect to have more dead bodies. Yeah, I think i think that's that's the winning combo. Okay, well, we're going we're going with that.
23:03
So I have I have I have the right network run down there networks, of course spent whatever, whatever time they could. Well, they spent it to see the shows those shows are 20 minutes long. They probably spent 15 minutes on the vaccine part of it. Yeah. But I have some clips here from NBC. So we show that went okay. And of course they have the I have three clips. But then there's a WTF part of one of them, which we'll get to but let's go with COVID two vaccines now. Good part one. Good evening, everyone. The FDA has just authorized emergency use event second COVID vaccine learners putting millions more vaccine doses into the supply chain beginning in just a few days. It comes amid concerns over whether operation warp speed has been slowing with worrisome status a lock
23:54
blended supply chain become part of the general public's lexicon ah there's a reason for that. I found a story about this Hold on.
24:09
This is why we'll probably get to it later. But so just remind me the sissa
24:15
the Center for you know the that new thing Trump put in place the cybersecurity infrastructure security agency updates alert and releases supplemental guidance on emergency directive for solar winds Orion compromised and in there they speak specifically currently investigating initial access vectors in addition to those attributed to the solar winds Ryan's supply chain compromise
24:41
so you have a supply chain, which means it's connected to China to manufacturing so it's somehow supply chain is coming into
24:52
into the as you said the lexicon does it means China Yeah, supply chain equals China. Okay go with worries.
25:00
Some states aren't getting the allotments they were counting on the administration tonight projecting confidence in its distribution plans and the vaccines themselves. Tom Costello has late details. Today a dramatic move from the Trump administration to boost public confidence in a COVID vaccine. Vice President Pence his wife Karen Pence, and the Surgeon General on camera receiving the Pfizer vaccination history will record that this week
25:27
was the beginning of the end of the coronavirus pandemic. President Elect on Dr. Biden should receive their vaccinations next week since President Trump recently recovered from COVID. The White House says he will get the shot when his medical team recommends it. But tonight at least 27 states are expressing frustration claiming the administration is cutting their promised Pfizer vaccine allotments for next week by up to 40%. Where are our doses?
25:53
Oh, man,
25:56
she has t Ws. familiar with this new illness known as Trump withdrawal syndrome.
26:05
They don't, they don't they don't know who to pitch at. So they gotta just where's our doses?
26:13
You know, did you get the stories locally because I didn't cover it on the on the networks, but all the local stations covered it. Which is that apparently those vials that are supposed to be you know, read, rejiggered to make two doses. Yeah, actually contained three doses. No, I hadn't heard this. Ah, I'm sorry. I don't have any clips of it. But they made a big fuss about it. And so they're telling it Well, yeah, three Yeah, there's enough in there. You could make three doses if you wanted to. And we can be Yeah, they're fine. They're fine. You can make three
26:47
stuff Hold on a second. So So what's in there is intended to be two doses but they can squeeze three out of it. Is that the idea? Because I know they have to dilute it like I can't just two things that are not answered completely to my satisfaction one
27:07
is it just because they overfilled to be on the safe side?
27:12
Better safe than sorry I think it is. I think they just did
27:16
what happened to science? Exactly what this is what I'm getting? It's like what is this all about? I thought you guys were science science science science. And meanwhile he's just thrown in a random amount of goo and
27:31
you mix it when you get when you get it mixed it two to three cans of water to one can have orange juice. me Come on.
27:41
We topped it off for your boys no worries in case you spills.
27:47
Yeah, case of spillage. You imagine
27:51
on TV all you see is white laboratories and and complete you know hazmat suits in the lab working away. Meanwhile, a some extra
28:04
extra we got some over here you got some guys that DTC shaking like a son of a bitches stuff splashing all over.
28:12
So hold on a second. I think we have exclusive audio from inside the lab. Oh my gosh. Can you see that juice? There it is
28:23
filled with it.
28:26
So okay, well, let's go on to clip. This particular
28:30
report. I'm angry because this virus is raging on in this country. We're certainly frustrated that we won't be receiving the amount that we expected in the first wave. At first, the Trump administration suggested Pfizer shipments were delayed but Pfizer responded no shipments containing the vaccine are on hold or delayed. We have millions more doses sitting in our warehouse. But as of now, we have not received any shipment instructions for additional doses. The government insists it's shipping what's available will work to clarify any misunderstanding they've got.
29:04
But it's really just a miscommunication between the governor's health experts say this is no time for miscommunication. We should not have doses sitting around waiting for instructions. More than 200,000 Americans are getting infected every day. Three 4000 Americans are dying every day. We've got to get these vaccines out.
29:23
This week, nearly 3 million Pfizer doses shipped another 2 million should ship next week plus 5.9 million doses of the new modern vaccine, more than doubling the vaccine doses available. The likely was the shots in the arm by the very early part of next week. I would hope Monday or Tuesday. Also tonight a third person on Alaska has suffered a serious allergic reaction to the Pfizer vaccine treated in the ER and released as millions report. No serious side effects. bluster. Oh, there's your toss away us millions. Millions say no side effects really be they do a poll of millions of people.
30:00
They got all the detail such poll. Now, of course, there was something in that clip that I have a tie in clip for. I wasn't quite sure what it was about, but I liked it because it was kind of a rare apology from a government official. There was some communication problems between the the federal government and the states. And and this I think might be where supply chain comes from as well. And general Poorna, who is in charge of operation warp speed.
30:28
Can we say? Is this general pirna retarded?
30:33
Is that what are at means behind his name? I'm not sure.
30:38
You ask of yours. Listen to I am General pirna. Oh, no, we are going to get the vaccines out as fast as we can just get would not be good in a combat situation, I can assure you. Well, he would if all the guy's got Come on, man. Let's move out. If all of his if all his boys went down in combat, he would probably sound like this. Now this week, many have heard concerns about allegations of vaccine doses being cut. I want to assure everybody, and I want to take personal responsibility for the miscommunication. I know that's not done much these days, but I am responsible. And I take responsibility for the miscommunication. Because this is a Herculean effort, and we are not perfect. The key is to be transparent and openly communicate at all levels step by step. To that end, we are in constant dialogue with both industry partners to ensure doses are available. But here's the key. The doses must be releasable in accordance with the FDA. We have developed a cadence that we are briefing the public health officials we started last night we're briefing it again today and I will personally brief Governor's on Monday. I failed. I am adjusting I am fixing and we will move forward from there I failed. It was my fault. Have you ever heard a general say I have failed? I think I've ever heard though that's why I asked the initial question because yeah, this guy's very strange cat is a strange character. Well, if you look at it I'm almost convinced he's not really a generous just some guy presented himself Okay, General let's go let's get to work. Well, he's a supply chain general. That is that is exact. That's why he was coaching defense Supply Center. He did his all the
32:39
support battalions. So he's like radar from mash only a different version of it. It was it was I got the I got the boxes with the VAC kings boss.
32:51
I gave guidance. I am the one that approved the forecast sheets. I am the one that approved the allocations, right there is no problem with the process. There is no problem with the Pfizer vaccine. There is no problem with the modern a vaccine. Right. It was a planning error. And I am responsible. Wow, man, that guy got butt slammed by somebody.
33:20
I guess. Yeah, I guess so. That is quite. You got
33:27
that's a minute and a half of real. grovelling grovelling
33:34
for falling on the sword. Well, something happened. man he got he got a reckoning with. All right, I'm sorry to have interrupted your clips. And that's okay. It was a good interruption. Let's go with part three of the NBC.
33:48
And listen carefully. It is part of the segment here this it's odd. All right, Tom. Thank you. And while it'll be months before most people are vaccinated the here and now this pandemic continues to close in on us another Daily Record for infections and no available ICU beds and the densest part of California. That means listen to this at least more than 27 million people don't have access to an ICU bed if needed. And now the rush for Christmas testing is on but Gal elmiger has more pain.
34:21
This is what it looks like when hospitals reach a breaking point.
34:27
Tonight Central California joining the southern end of the state in crisis. No open ICU beds for a region home to more than 27 million people.
34:40
Wait a minute. I heard two different numbers there. I think No, no.
34:45
You heard the same number. But
34:49
I was listening to this I want to play this clip. This is the part I'm focusing in on this is the two vaccines WTF clip this is a six second sub, the thing that got my attention
35:00
Pet means listen to this, it means more than 27 million people don't have access to an ICU bed if needed.
35:09
Wow. Sure we've taken it to the next level from the idea overdose percentage this up, it's up 500%. That's the same isn't just another version of the you've reversed it. Yeah, a million people have said they had no problems with the vaccine.
35:27
So they're reversing everything. This is where instead of saying, Oh, my God, go ahead. So instead of saying that, you know, there's X number of beds available or not available, you say, you take too large, the entire population of 27 million that live in Southern California. And you and you make the claim that none of them none of these 27 million people will have even one ICU bed. Wow.
35:59
That's incredible.
36:02
I was taken aback. So okay, so there's two things we've noticed so far. And we're only 36 minutes into this episode. The first thing was, instead of saying a couple people had allergic reactions, say, over a million and a half people have had no allergic reactions.
36:22
And this reminds me of a documentary I was doing once I think in
36:29
Nevada.
36:32
I don't remember where it was, but I remember was a motel and I was with the crew were staying at the motel. And I remember seeing signs at the front of the motel. No train noise at all.
36:45
You see that sign, you know, this is gonna be train noise. And now we have this reverse of 27 million people will not be able to get an ICU bed. This is reverse speech work tenant is real.
37:00
It's unbelievable to me, because the media could take the same kind of logic and downplay this entire COVID problem. If they did if they use that same trick the other way, about COVID itself.
37:16
Yeah, and other words, we don't have 250,000 dead or 260 versus a 250,000. debt. We have over 300 million people that aren't dead.
37:29
Oh, man, good news people. Over 350 million Americans have survived COVID are not dead.
37:39
They could do that. But they won't. They did just the opposite.
37:44
We need to be doing this kind of stuff.
37:47
Yeah, that's what we should be doing. 1,400,970 people have not donated for this show. How does that sound? Yes, exactly. That's it. I kind of like it. Where'd it go?
38:06
darling, darling, do that. Anyway, darling. I have been nice to you for six years. I think it works for everything. Yeah.
38:18
We have we have stumbled upon something. This is a very good trick that I'm going to give you a clip of the day for that because that with the analysis that went with it.
38:28
Thank you. That was well deserved. Now I had a California lockdown clip. But it had different numbers, which is why I was kind of focused on that's what you're thinking. Yeah, that's what happened with you. That was just those numbers. 27 millions just Southern California. That right Central Valley. Yeah. Listen to this clip with you in California because these restrictions are some of the toughest in the nation because of this surge. And it looks like they're gonna last through the holiday season. What can you tell us about how things are on the ground where you are? choosey it is definitely a very grim moment, but also one full of determinations. 33 million Californians are now under some sort of stay at home order. 33 million popping up everywhere. Again.
39:10
Yeah, this is 30 to 33,000 floating around. It's more than 33 million people in California, isn't it? I
39:18
thought it was 40 I don't know what the number is. I could look it up.
39:25
I'd be 40
39:31
anyway, continue. Oh, oh, well, I think you were you were doing I was like I was gonna look it up but I'm not gonna look it up just okay.
39:39
Well, I have a couple other COVID things. Yes, sure. I believe I'm gonna I'm gonna throw one in here. Just to remind everybody.
39:48
We have the World Health Organization, Dr. Novato and just he's been reiterating and he's been interviewed about it that they don't think lockdown should happen.
40:00
at all at all at all This is everyone taking it upon himself. They're actually supporting the advice of their leaders at the World Health Organization, it's baffling to change the game. We in the World Health Organization do not advocate lockdowns as a primary means of control of this virus, we may well have a doubling of world poverty. by next year, we may we'll have at least a doubling of child malnutrition because children are not getting meals at school and their parents in poor families are not able to afford it. This is a terrible, ghastly global catastrophe actually. And so we really do appeal to all world leaders. Start using lockdown as your primary control method, develop better systems for doing it, work together and learn from each other. But remember, lockdowns just have one consequence that you must never ever belittle. And that is making poor people an awful lot poorer. Why is that not being played incessantly on the news? This needs to stop.
41:06
I agree with you on 100%. But you have to remember I and I, I don't have clips. I don't have any proof at the moment. I'm going to do a little research. But if I'm not mistaken, because when the COVID thing began in China locked down Wu Han. And the World Health Department thought this was a good thing. And I think it's the World Health Department that borders the idea organization.
41:29
I see I keep saying department. Sounds good. I like it though. Because eventually that's held that's what it will be the military will be the world military department. They won't be
41:38
the World Health Organization. I believe it's the one who promoted this at the very beginning when they were controlled by China and Trump got all bent out of shape and took their money away. Yeah, no, China with the China was welding people in their homes. There was a welding
41:56
shoot at them.
41:58
And they sprayed stuff all over Remember that? No one ever told us? That was stuff they sprayed them like bugs? like bugs, man? No, I know. I know.
42:12
So here's the here's one more thing that's going on that and I'm remiss because I can just go down the street, get in my car, get my camera and I can go take pictures. Cuz this is bull crap. Yeah, I'm sure there's a place for to where they were just a photo op for all these all these networks of the long lines waiting for testing.
42:35
And so let me play this. This is a good example of it. They're trying to scare the public again. g COVID. Testing wait times clip. I'm Vicki Wynn just days before the holidays tonight long lines for COVID test in California. NBC News producers from coast to coast found wait times varied widely today. It is a very long line. at public testing sites tests are free in Florida.
43:01
Wait, but in LA?
43:04
No, wait at this new jersey urgent care. Just come on. But in Dallas, minimum three hours right now? Yeah, well, it varies. I mean, this is why I think everyone is found everyone who I spoken to had to have a test whether it's Tiffany in the net, or Christina had to get a COVID test in Rotterdam. And my sister in law, Tony had to get one. And some places are completely packed. And then you find out that, you know, five minutes away around the corner, there's nothing.
43:38
I'm not sure how that happens. But people seem to congregate. I think it's what you and I discuss people see a line and go Oh, good. Good.
43:49
Good.
43:51
Yeah.
43:53
Yeah, just hang up a velvet rope and the sheep will come.
43:58
Is that the most? I can't look anywhere. I don't care. Look at Google Maps. passes the testing line.
44:06
What do you think of this? I find this the case in airports. Do they have multiple TSA lines?
44:11
Yes. I see that all the time. Well, there's one empty over there. Oh, I think it'll go stand in the line.
44:20
Believe me, like my lawn guy is my line guy. Yeah, this new guy. Yours is pretty good. He reminds me of somebody.
44:30
Somebody else does. Somebody we know maybe who knows.
44:34
Maybe actually not a very set actual person, actual person we know. So there is still a lot of confusion and somebody leaking through to the local channels in general. corner in Colorado in Grand county has been raising concerns about how hospitals and doctors are codifying these people who have died as COVID deaths. The coroner
45:00
One of Colorado's mountain communities is not happy with the way the state is classifying cases of some people who have died there. Our mount newsroom reporter Jamie O'Leary live in Grand County. Jamie, this dispute involves COVID related deaths. It does. And it's common for the state to collect death data before death certificates are finalized, because it's faster that way that can take up to weeks so epidemiologists can get a faster, clearer picture of how COVID is impacting the population that includes researching data where COVID played an indirect result on the death. But sometimes in some few cases, it doesn't make sense to connect COVID, for instance, of fatal car crash. In this case, the grand county coroner says clearly it was gunshot wounds.
45:44
It was a longer report in the corner wasn't very dynamic. But she said, like this is crazy. It's like I get people who died of car crashes and gunshot in the next show. Yeah, for the next show. I have this same exact report. Yeah.
45:59
from Washington State. I love what he says. Clearly, it's gunshot wounds. Hmm.
46:06
In Washington State, I could try find this article and read it a little bit of it by just piece it. The guy in Washington State went through all the death certificates. And not only found most of them were bogus, the COVID reports because the guy, you know, came in or they even took him in Washington state they even took if you had COVID, you had COVID
46:27
months ago, and you got over COVID. And you're now free of COVID. You're still going to die. COVID COVID? Yeah.
46:36
So is there a way what part of middle school or high school education?
46:45
Do you need to be able to understand large numbers and statistics and put them into context with other numbers? nowadays? Yeah. They don't teach it. Well, what what should we bring back? I'm looking for a solution, because this is this statistics would be good. Oh, that's an actual class statistics. What is in college? And I think in junior college, so it could be in high school? Why not? I mean, this is a great class for kids to learn. Yeah. And understand numbers. does this fit in STEM? Because stem is sucking dams. stem is not doing a good job. If, if this is the kind of people we're pushing out.
47:31
Well, stem is bullcrap. It's like Girls Who Code that's made a difference.
47:39
All right, more numbers in British Columbia, they just tell it straight to your face. They don't lie about it. And you're just supposed to sit there and go, Oh my God. It's so horrible. And most tragic days we have had yet where we've had an additional 28 people die from COVID-19 being the total number of people who've died in British Columbia to 587. And all but two of these people are elders and seniors who were in long term care homes, in various places across BC. Yeah. Oh, but to
48:15
all but two. And if you look at the death numbers, in general, for nursing homes, in the same period of the year, year over year, it's surprisingly equal not in New York, that was very different. But it's surprisingly equal to what we're seeing now.
48:35
So Alright, statistics, but for sure, everybody should at least get that book how to lie with statistics because Bill Gates recommends it. He read it, it's right there in the shot. He's just people need to know how many people die a year from automobile accidents. 40,000 How many people die from smoking or lay it around? 35 that day was down actually went down a little bit. How about smoking related cancers? 400,000 I don't know. Yeah, that's got to be close to that. But it's 8000 a day. Correct. I don't know anything about smoking? No, no, no, no, just the total total Delhi 8000 a day people dying constantly. Yeah, the fuckers that just don't stop dying. I'm dying. The media is beating up on each other. It's pretty much a fox news at the front battling MSNBC and CNN and everybody laughs at news makin news maximum one American news, which is updated with news z and cheddar. What? What is the target order? What is the target audience for cheddar isn't millennials who have Robin Hood apps and are trading a lot of people in Wisconsin? Really? What is it?
49:47
Okay, now they do like financial news.
49:51
chatter that does regular news. They do a lot of financial news during the day.
49:57
Well, it's a kind of a cheesy network. Let's face it.
50:00
Okay, thank you. We're done with those now. So here is CNN, Brianna Keller with their own little mashup. You don't see it often, where she messes up all the nut jobs who are also crazy about COVID over there on Fox. Let's check out the experts that fox looks to for discussions about Coronavirus.
50:21
I went through the CDC data cuz I kept hearing about new infections. But I was like, Well, why aren't they talking about this? Oh, because the number is almost nothing. Why not name the vaccine the Trump that, you know, make it like you have you gotten your Trump? Yes. lockdowns in mandatory mass mandates are probably slowing the onset of herd immunity. Somebody's deliberate Yeah, just just
50:45
somebody deliberately spreading some things he does not does not make sense. Okay. The fact of the matter is, we have people dying wait 45,000 people a year die from automobile accidents. 480,000 from cigarettes 360,000 a year from swimming pools, but we don't shut the country down for that the pandemic is not spiraling out of control as they projected nightly. It is the worst pandemic since 1980. Losing one life is way too many. The situation is getting better, not worse. You can take your mask mandate and shove it right up your ass
51:20
about how you can you can damage yourself by wearing a mask because you're breathing back, you know, potentially micro. You know, this is why you won't wear a mask to look funny. We now know thanks to widespread blood testing the virus isn't that deadly? The thing in New York was you have very low income people in very tight quarters that are touching a lot of handles and doorknobs.
51:47
Speaking of doorknobs, that is exactly what he and his pals are on the doors that swing open every day to an alternate reality known as planet Fox. Oh
52:00
my goodness. Yeah. throwing down the gauntlet. I'll say it's not like Fox isn't blasting CNN, whatever happened to the Veritas? Where's their? Where's their dynamite blowout cnn conference calls they've been monitoring for six months. I've only seen one or two little, little bits like oh, gee, they're manipulating the news.
52:25
And while we're on it, where is it actually that bad? Where's the Thanksgiving surge? Where's all the dead bodies from the Thanksgiving surge? What happened to that? They talked it up. It's gone. Talking about it. It says what's reasonable the keys now? Only incoming only in California. Got this is I'm gonna just say it again. California has been locked down more than any other not, I think pretty much more than any other state. It's been masked, mandated more near the state right now they've closed San Francisco. And if you come from out of the San Francisco Bay Area into San Francisco, you have to quarantine for 14 days, or they will jail you.
53:05
Wow. So we have all these things in place. But yet our numbers are the highest. How does that work? What do you think is going on?
53:15
Is bullcrap is what's going on? I know it's bullcrap. But why we don't have that our governor said, Well, I'm not shutting down your Governor's Republican governors democrat who's now they're thinking about, in fact, they're going out of their way. And I may attach a copy of this petition to the next newsletter, or I just posted on on some social trying to recall him now. Yeah, we've been following that. Here. Here. A lot of people are very excited about that. Well, you know, we've done it before in California, we recall the Gray Davis. For less damaged in the nuisance Dan Gray Davis was responsible for putting up not only putting up with it, but convincing us that the rolling blackouts created by Enron I might ask the smartest guys in the room go watch that documentary if you want to hear the recordings of them doing it. Anyway, the Enron people created these rolling blackouts and convinced dumb Californians that oh, this is the way it's going to have to be for the rest of our lives. Because there's so much pressure on the on the grid that we can't keep the power on any more. There's too many people. And so great Davis bought into this and he was telling everyone Oh, this is just the way it's gonna be. It's the way it's gonna be a rolling blackouts. It's just the way it's gonna be. And so they recall them and kicked him out.
54:42
Newsome up for the same thing.
54:45
Yeah, this is a long process or does it go pretty fast? No, it's very quick actually wants to get the number of signatures. Now the thing about new sim is I do some and I follow each other on the
54:58
Well, of course, you do your
55:00
Aren't you a Rhodes Scholar as well? No, I don't. I've never been in the highway department. So while you're filled with it today, aren't you? I've got it. I've got a million of them prejudging people. So I pointed out to him that you know, when he started allowing these pg&e blackouts for the fire because pg&e guy, he did right. Right, right. Right. And they started doing blackouts in the Event Hubs all through California, because of the fires all over the fire danger. Got to cut the power. I said, you know, this would have just got great Davis in trouble. I think he's very worried. He got really worried sick days gonna get kicked, kicked out. It's humiliating. There goes his presidency. Yeah, well, you know, just speaking of power outages, how about this? How about watch this transition? China is in trouble with their power. Well, the fun China seems to be having banning Australian exports or applying those ridiculously high tariffs on our produce. Looks like it's biting them where it hurts. While 70 caring about $1 billion worth of Australia's high grade call anchored off the Chinese coast. Here's what has happened to the power supply. Massive electricity shortages are worsening by the day in China, forcing 10s of millions 10s of millions of residents in large cities to ration heat in the industrial harbored Gigi Yang, the 57 million residents, they have been told not to use heating during this very cold winter, until the temperature falls below three degrees Celsius. How's that for internal torture, some of the 67 million people in Hunan have been forced to climb 20 flights of stairs to get to their apartments because the lifts don't work. So no lifts for the elderly. China has brought this upon itself. We supply almost 60% of China's thermal coal imports for power stations. It's all well and good to close their borders, well call at watch our industries bleed and have some fun. But what a foolish own god This has turned out to be. He can't show you population, how mature and developed you become by freezing some of them to death, which will be the outcome of their ban on our thermal call die.
57:24
Yeah, most of the housing in China if you go there, and
57:29
in any of the big cities, it's all these skinny vertical buildings. They're all 20 storeys high, at least. Yeah, and there's tons of this 1000s and 1000s and 1000s of if you can't take an elevator to those upper floors, or even to the 10th floor for that matter, right. This is not a good situation for the public.
57:52
Well away killing off the old folks. Yes, yeah. Well, good on Australia. whatever they're doing, I'm all forum to this story is not being covered at all now. And Fox and that's a you know, that is I'm pretty sure that was a Sky News in Australia. That's Murdoch property. They've chosen the anti China stance, that's what Tucker Carlson is doing. You can see it all he's doing is is bringing it all around to China, China, China, China, it's not talking about much else. And that's a fine stance because I think it's a winning one, because it's using something other than politics. And well, you know, now I'm not too sure if Laurene Powell Jobs is trying to run some interference on the shitstorm she stirred up about swalwell with the axios report of him sleep potentially sleeping allegedly with Fang Fang. Fang Fang, thanks. So now there's a follow up report. Then it just gets better. Shawn Wilson saw some of Christine foggs tactics firsthand, especially at one event he remembers vividly. Notice the music The music is already meant to put you in a mood of this is just a throwaway story. Doom deep Do you expect the Mac versus PC guy to come out? You know, Doom? Doom deep. So how do you feel about the story already, Shawn Wilson saw some of Christine foggs tactics firsthand. Especially at one event, he remembers vividly a soiree for the local Democratic Party. I think this was probably perhaps the third or fourth interaction in which I've had with her. And she just seemed to gravitate to people. The interactions that she had with my boss, Scott Haggerty, it was a little awkward. We're all sitting around the table and when she was done chatting at one table, she came directly to our table and sat really, really close like whispered a few times in his ear. And after when we talked, he had spoken to me about the conversation and like she was wondering if there's a way she can help out or if she can do something for us.
1:00:00
Like in the office or she was trying to finagle her way into like our circle and try to you know, try to try to do something. And what did your boss Scott say about the meeting? Yeah, it says he had bad breath
1:00:20
that's the kicker if I ever heard one so I don't know do you think they're trying to make soften this up a little bit now that he's for real up for removal from the Intelligence Committee?
1:00:34
Well, uh,
1:00:36
I don't think it's going to be successful because there's the powers that are trying to get him off the Intelligence Committee and it is kind of sketchy how he got on in the first place because there's some Republican once said
1:00:48
in one of the reports I've seen it's not something a freshman said freshman congressman does go right onto the Intelligence Committee is rare. It says she was he was put on there by Feinstein. And it doesn't make any sense because it takes years to get on that committee. And so it's a plum job. Maybe before he was banging into Fang Fang. He was banging the Nancy Nance
1:01:11
she put him up I can make that work.
1:01:14
Thanks. Thanks for appreciating the efforts via
1:01:17
E for effort. Okay, well, thank you. I'll take a little ding on F four f d for doing what I just gave myself.
1:01:25
Well, Annie Yeah, so this was swallows gotta go. I mean, this guy's a man he's just a screw up anyway, but they're not letting me make the point they make By the way, these Chinese the Chinese that the Fang Fang types? Yeah, they took him out. They apparently take your right from the bottom he was put into city government, huh? regional governments. They all they just say find some dummy. This you have to be as a dupe or a real sucker to fall for this because you know, you get so much wire this was the Chinese government helping me become city council member.
1:02:05
what's
1:02:07
what's slide over there I go stand with all those people. Yeah, same guy. So so so they do that they really get you in 100%. And so at that point, you have to just assume the person is useless to as an American.
1:02:23
Well, this I think this is how it works in general. So swalwell came up by you know, through the ranks and he got helped and he had attention etc. Who knows where Fang Fang comes from maybe Pelosi center in herself. I don't know. But Chuck Schumer is fair haired boy was anthony wiener Councilman shacked up with Jon Stewart a hobo good that's
1:02:47
just different. A lot different. It's a guy by the Chinese. I'm saying different people got to them at the bottom, but it's still getting to these to these people. Yeah, perverts.
1:03:00
Yes, pervert league.
1:03:05
CCP stands for something in that world, I'm sure.
1:03:09
Okay, so I think that Chinese communist perverts
1:03:15
will bring this back around to China. I just like to give you the it is a multi minute report from CNN. But it covers everything we would potentially need to cover regarding the President's potential bid to usurp the crowning of mo Jaiden as the president and kingmaker of the United States. As we can discuss after or if you want, we can interrupt during the report. But everything is in here. We are learning a heated Oval Office meeting Friday where Trump allies floated ideas of ways to overturn the election. I want to go straight to CNN, Jeremy diamond. Jeremy, Just when we thought we couldn't hear anything crazier. What are we learning about this meeting?
1:04:00
Just so you know, it's crazy, whatever. It's just crazy. That leading by itself has set you up? Well, it's very clear that as President Trump continues to refuse to accept that he lost this presidential elections, the President Elect Joe Biden, the President is also still consulting aides and allies for more ways that he could possibly move to continue to contest this election or at least undermine the legitimacy of joe biden's election as the 46th President of the United States. We're told that on Friday, the President met with Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser who was pardoned by the president, despite having pled guilty to counts of lying to the FBI and his attorney Sidney Powell, who has been trafficking these deranged conspiracy theories about the 2020 election that have been roundly and thoroughly debunked. The President nonetheless during this meeting, apparently was talking about potentially that's just not true what he's saying there roundly and thoroughly been debunked, but okay, aiming Sidney Powell as a special counsel within the government to an
1:05:00
Investigate voter fraud and the 2020 election, despite a total lack of evidence of any widespread voter fraud in this election, and I think he did it.
1:05:09
That can be secret. Right. That doesn't have to be disclosed if if a special prosecutor is appointed or does it? I have no idea. I think it doesn't have to be.
1:05:21
I would find that peculiar. Well, it is the requirement is definitely that it has to be someone outside of government.
1:05:29
I have a feeling somehow he's finagle that I'm not sure. And it's it's crazy. Of course, that's just crazy. Everything's been debunked about that woman to investigate voter fraud in the 2020 election, despite a total lack of evidence of any widespread voter fraud. Oh, there we go. total lack of evidence of any widespread voter fraud. Thanks, CNN in this election. And he also discussed apparently this idea that Michael Flynn has brought up recently about using martial law to rerun the 2020 presidential election. I want you to listen to this crackpot ideas brought up by Michael Flynn recently.
1:06:08
She says you understand what happens like my head whips around what someone calling me crackpot ideas, rerun the 2020 presidential election, I want you to listen to this crackpot idea brought up by Michael Flynn recently on another network. And then we'll talk about the within the swing states, if he wanted to. He could take military capabilities. And you can place them in those states and basically rerun an election in each of those states. I mean, it's not impressive that I mean, it's people out there talking about martial law, it's like it's something that we've never done, we've done, martial law has been instituted 6464 times. Now, it is not clear at all that that idea is being seriously considered. But he did come up in this meeting in the Oval Office. We should also note that the military has made very clear that's interesting how he positions that you know, this is all based upon source on named hearsay. But this came up this did come up in the Oval Office, something that we've never done, we've done martial law has been instituted 6464 times. Now, it is not clear at all that that idea is being seriously considered but he did come up in this meeting in the Oval Office. We should also note that the military has made very clear that they would never be involved in any efforts as it relates to overturning the results of the election or determining who the next President will be. That is a job for the voters and for the electors who have already chosen Joe Biden as the next president of the United States. And we should also point out that many of these ideas being floated by Sidney Powell and Michael Flynn, while they were enticing to the President, they apparently drew a significant backlash from some of the President's advisors, including the White House Counsel Pat cipollone, and the White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows. In fact, sources are telling us that the meeting devolved into a screaming match, at times a one source calling it quote, ugly as a Flynn and Powell accused the President's advisors and not pushing hard enough to overturn the results of the 2020 election. What is clear beyond is that this effort is continuing. And A source told me earlier this week that the President has even floated with some advisors staying at the White House past inauguration day before being talked down from that lead. He was on the ledge, the President is engaging with some of these very dangerous and concerning ideas. The question is how far he will continue to take it. And we will have to wait and see on that one. I think
1:08:29
amazingly enough, the guy covered it all. Everything. That's it was actually a damn good report considering how lopsided it was. But it had a lot in there. And I thought that was quite interesting. So when you get stuff like that, and I'm just gonna give you is that guy? I don't Oh, I could figure it out at the beginning. I don't know. Nevermind. We sound like, it sounds like a weekend guy even though he's a pretty good
1:08:53
guy. He's got potential.
1:08:57
He follow orders. Great.
1:08:59
So this is the general thinking is that we're still awaiting this report. The big reports, where's the report? Everybody? We don't have the report yet. Now listen to this. I think this is Martha
1:09:14
on Fox News. And she's asking Katie McFarland, who was she was an assistant or Deputy National Security Adviser in the past. And she's asked about well, why is this report that by executive order had to be delivered on the 18th 45 days after the election about the 2020 election? This is the big 2018 Executive Order. It's been delayed. What is going on what is happening? And Katie McFarland fails a little bit in the messaging. So luckily, Martha picks it up for her. Remember, it's Fox. Katie, I know you were listening to that conversation about election interference. I'm just curious what your thoughts are on the delay of that report tonight. how meaningful is that? Oh, that's pretty simple.
1:10:00
Again, what that means is there's not a uniform agreement within the intelligence community about whether there was or wasn't Chinese influence and how much there was or wasn't. I think you've got to assume that at least one part of our intelligence community thinks that there was major interference, which is why there's a debate over this now, I suspect that when the report comes out, you know, they always want to make these things sound like everybody agrees. Well, chances are not everybody does agree on this and what kind of influence and what kind of interruption was it? Was it something to do with cyber attacks? Was it something to do with you know, the balloting? Was it something to do with influence peddling? Was it something to do with like bots and and kind of stirring the pot? All those things were a range of issues, and I'm assuming that the reason this is delayed is because there probably is something pretty explosive in there. Yeah. It's, it feels like every day there is another story about an investigation or an infiltration by China and two different
1:10:58
you know, I don't think it's gonna surprise anybody if we learned that there was more there than than we originally saw. Yeah. So
1:11:08
how are you doing? What are you drinking? I'm going to lay white why this report doesn't come out. Wait, is that a Pabst Blue Ribbon?
1:11:17
Oh, here we go.
1:11:19
He's gonna do it, everybody. Yeah, he's, you know, you know, he's gonna do it. Go for it.
1:11:30
So
1:11:35
okay, good.
1:11:37
So the reason is report hasn't come at it. There's a logical reason they will come is razor reason. Okay.
1:11:46
It's because the guys the acting director of the cybersecurity and infrastructure security agencies, he got fired. Who's Brandon Wales, who took over from Chris crabs. Oh, the new guy. Yeah.
1:11:59
He doesn't want to get fired.
1:12:03
So he's just gonna delay the report. Yep. Oh, okay. All right, because Chris crabs came out right after the election said that we did. It looks like we found nothing looks like there was a legitimate election fired on Twitter. on the spot on November 17. Yeah. fired on Twitter by Trump and everybody now knows all. Anything, you're going to do this? No, we'll just put it off. I want to do the report on the 20th. I'm gonna put it up because they'll fire me on the 21st. I won't get my pension. I won't be in office long enough. Wait a minute, but couldn't the boat guidance convince you to do that and probably the promise of hiring you right back. I mean, that's where
1:12:44
you should shut up. And you just wait until the whole thing's over. And then you try to just stay in this office Spoken like a true air pollution inspector who knows how it works and knows how it works. Okay, so interestingly, the only person in the current administration pushing back on this being China
1:13:05
is pump pail, and pump Hey, Oh, is it okay? No, you see is somewhere Of course, I would like to know what this is all about? Well, as as I what I believe. Okay.
1:13:19
I think the CIA has a clip I was playing the clip.
1:13:24
I'm trying to do a sequence here. But what clip Do you want me to play? pompeyo says Russia did it. Oh, good. I'm glad you have that one. Okay, here we go. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Russia for the widespread cyber attack on federal agencies and US companies in a radio interview late yesterday. Speaking on the Mark Levin show, pompeyo said the government is still working through the breach, but that it was, quote pretty clearly a Russian intrusion. pompeyo is the first Trump administration official to publicly link the ongoing hack to Russia. US officials believe between March and June 18,000 organizations were compromised after using a popular network management software that was infected with malicious code. Russia denies being behind the attack.
1:14:09
Okay, so we'll go back to the premise from the last show when this came out. When it really we notice it really isn't being discussed in the manner to which it should be if it is true, or we're hearing about the severity of the attack. This was friendly fire. This was CIA. This was you know, I personally, I think this was on schedule. It doesn't matter who would be president who was coming in or who was going out. This is the big mother lode. This is what was promised to us about six months ago. And the promise came from Klaus Schwab, we all know
1:14:44
to pay insufficient attention to their frightening scenario of a comprehensive cyber attack, which would bring to a complete halt to see power supplies
1:15:00
Line transportations, hospital services, our society as a whole. The COVID-19 cases would be seen as disrespect as a small disturbance in comparison
1:15:16
to a major cyber attack, to use the COVID-19 pises as a timely opportunity to reflect on the lessons the cybersecurity community can draw, and improve our preparedness for potential cyber now, the potential cyber pandemic, it's not like he didn't tell us that we're gonna do this.
1:15:45
It's not the Russians, the Russians are
1:15:50
the Russians are much better. And they will make it look like everybody else did it. I don't think it's the Chinese either.
1:15:57
This is on schedule, and something bad's gonna happen. And Trump will get blamed because he fired the CES guy. Yeah, well, you don't think that's possible to us again? No, I don't think I think you I think you can interpret it differently. I think I can say because of what that guy said, this was a an involuntary audit. You set up shop in this using this other system and creating a virus that is just an undetectable it's a kind of a penetration test, apparently, but I'm sorry, said that, okay. But you create an undetectable, Trojan and you're the CIA, and you go in to audit the major systems to see what's in there. That might be a threat to the country.
1:16:44
Hmm. So it was like a penetration test. Yeah, well beyond a bit beyond a penetration test. We failed, but we fail legal one for sure. But at the same time, hmm. It would do the trick. Well, what was great is that I'm just saying the reason why By the way, it could be the NSA to for all we know is one, two or combined effort between two or three agencies. Yeah, but fire I lost their two lost their tools. The CIA lost their tools. always handy. Oh, they got we don't really know that. That could have all been a red herring for our lien. Really? No. Well, I mean, if we really knew anything, we wouldn't have to do this show now would we? Just Well, I know we wouldn't be in would be we'd sleep in. So the only reason I'm connecting it to the CIA is because of the Russia accusation from the good CIA man Pompei. Oh, I know. There you go. I agree that to put but by throwing out another version of a red herring, Russia, Russia, Russia, Russia, which everybody seems to lap up like lap dogs. It would be a good distraction. I agree. Do lap dogs actually lap? Yeah, they do. No, I don't think so.
1:17:57
A lap dog sits on your lap. Oh, a lap dog sits on your left. Okay. Well, like a laughing lap dog.
1:18:04
So here's Pompei. Oh speaking at Georgia Tech railing on China because that he continues to do look at them. They know that left leaning college campuses are rife with anti Americanism, and present easy targets for their anti American messaging. It's why they planted Confucius institutes on our campuses. And under President Trump, our State Department has made very clear these Confucius institutes are literally up to no good. Many have gone away. Many campuses have seen that and they've chosen to close down these institutes. But right here in Georgia, Westland college still has one in Macon. Look, it's why there are groups on campuses called Chinese students scholars Association here to their directed and almost always funded by the Chinese embassy or a local Chinese Consulate. Its purpose to keep tabs on students and to press pole pro Beijing causes that you would think and freedom loving places like Georgia Tech and institutions and scholars all across the world administrators school school faculty would be more up in arms about the Chinese Communist Party's outright theft and flagrant violation of freedoms that I've described. But we see it too seldom. Well, why? Why do schools censor themselves? They often do it out of fear of offending China. Indeed, I must tell you that MIT was an interest in having me to their campus to give this exact set of remarks.
1:19:31
President Raphael rife implied that my arguments might insult
1:19:35
their ethnic Chinese students and professors.
1:19:38
But of course, nothing could be further from the truth. Those are the very people that this set of remarks is intended to protect, to protect their freedoms. Oh, where we heard that before to protect their freedoms.
1:19:54
Intelligence work takes place within a strong legal framework. We also
1:20:00
rights under the rule of law and are accountable for it. In some countries, secret intelligence is used to control people in our lives. It only exists to protect their freedoms, protect their freedoms, protect their freedoms, protect their freedoms, to protect their freedoms. Mm hmm. Say no more. It's code.
1:20:25
It's code. We hear you, Tom peyo. message received sir red dash alpha message in two parts. Now, back to a few interesting little tidbits. As I the way the tidbit in there that I thought was interesting was the MIT refused, refused. Good carry of defense. Yeah, he's the State Department. The Secretary of State of the United States of America refused at MIT to let him speak on campus. Yep. Well, who what country is MIT located in the country of Massachusetts?
1:21:02
Which, which we're going to secede soon? You know, this is this is absolutely shameful, shameful. Yeah. That that MIT would not allow the Secretary of State of the United States of America to speak on its campus. You know, they up to Yeah.
1:21:20
Yeah. Hey, funders take another look at them.
1:21:25
So cnn continuing so we're, we're fox is all about China, China, China. CNN is ramping up with the with T Ws Trump withdrawal syndrome. And since the President obviously is going to implement martial law, and will have the military on his side, too, because they both the President and the military have sworn a singular oath to uphold and defend the Constitution to step into the cities. Yeah, they just might have to do that.
1:22:00
For sure, if they don't do it this time around, it probably won't happen in our lifetime. So I wouldn't mind seeing it just from an excitement spectator point of view. And as a journalist, but broth brought on William Cohen, former Secretary of Defense at one of my favorite Secretaries of Defense, for he is the one who spoke openly about the earthquake machines that are deployed by countries all around the world, and I believe spurred us on to use said technologies as well. And here he is talking about the briefings. Oh, my. All of a sudden there was confusion.
1:22:38
The Pentagon was refusing to give Trent security briefings to the transition team of both Jaiden apparent and the Pentagon says no, no, no, we just took one day off. We had two weeks coming off for the holiday. The transition team says something different. So William Cohen came on to clear this up with brawls since the election, Mr. Secretary of President Trump has actually been purging various leadership over the Pentagon, including the Defense Secretary himself. He's been installing a bunch of loyalists. This week, President Trump placed his former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski on a pentagon military advisory board. Do you believe this is appropriate? I think this is a signal to the American people just think, what would have happened had Donald Trump been reelected? What what? What just think? What can you think if he had been reelected? What is the what is the signal? I mean, would he have been lining people up and shooting him in the back of the head fairly yes into into a ditch. This is something he has wanted to do from day one. He's been inhibited somewhat from doing these things because of the fear of reelection. But if he would have been reelected, this is just a sample of what he's doing purging the various agencies of the expertise. Oh, I see. This is what he would categorize as draining the swamp. This is categorized on CNN as the expertise Let's listen to this expertise. Shall we have the real intelligence operatives, etc, and putting his loyal who soon? These are people who pay fealty, yes, to force them, he wants them to just simply kiss the ring. And that's just an example. But now on a substantive basis, it doesn't change much. The advisory boards don't have real power in the sense they can make decision.
1:24:29
They can help a secretary of defense make more wiser decisions because they comprise a group of people who are out in the world, either in academia or in the business world, or who are defense experts like security experts like Henry Kissinger, Albright.
1:24:49
There's no corpse experts, the experts and it's really sort of an obscene gesture to the Biden supporters.
1:25:00
Yeah, all right. I'll take him off the air if you can't handle it dad guy he was. Did you notice he was hyperventilating? Yes. Because I think he's upset. He's upset. This is T. Lewandowski was on some meaningless advisory board. He said so himself and he took off and because that's what they were on. Albright and Kissinger, they were on the same advisory boards. Oh, they got to cut their monthly salaries down by a grand or so. Yeah, no, I think they do better than that. Thanks, Joe, for being on advisory board, Kissinger. I think he just does it for leverage. I think they do better than that. I really do.
1:25:38
Okay, just a few more. And this is one other data point that people are looking at, like, oh, because things are happening. We haven't seen the president in five days after all, so something must be up. I have a clip for you. Okay, what do you have?
1:25:57
President Am I a Woo. Tonight President Trump out of sight for five straight days while COVID death spiked, Congress struggled to reach a relief bill and admitted suspected Russian cybersecurity attack President Trump. What is he doing today? Is he helping respond to the pandemic? Is he helping us pass a bipartisan relief bill? Is he helping us respond to this Russian attack in a setting not to have the White House aggressively speaking out? And robbing? What is he talking? Easy? Everybody a Mitt Romney? romney? I was running for president if you can remember. What is he doing?
1:26:40
Biden's old guy?
1:26:42
Hey, Joe, thanks for letting me use your boys because this sounds good man house aggressively speaking out. And protesting and and taking a punitive action is really pretty, quite extraordinary. The President's public comments interview that aired Sunday where he repeated baseless claims of voter fraud and we're going to continue to go forward. While there's been a parade of administration officials before the camera This week, the President has had no public events on his schedule, instead tweeting more than 80 times since Monday.
1:27:16
There's a lot of work that goes on that isn't necessarily public. But he is he is hard at work. NBC News presidential historian Michael Beschloss. What message does it send to the American public to not hear from the President during a pivotal week? If you do not have the president responding to crises and explaining what he's going to do about them? It makes people extremely anxious and nervous. President Trump did speak with French President McCrone Thursday, tested positive for covid wishing him a speedy recovery. Lester. All right, Kristin, thanks. Wow. Hold on.
1:27:52
What the hell is a or an NBC presidential historian?
1:28:00
Yeah, that guy that brought him on? He was the NBC. Yeah. What was the presidential historian? What was the guy's name? I know he was just doing something ended the clip there. But the point is, is that what is the network doing with a presidential historian? I'm the presidential historian Really? What college you teach it? Oh, no, I met NBC.
1:28:22
Let's see Michael Beschloss. Was that the guy? Yeah, maybe? Yes, he is. Uh, I believe that his his, his gig? I'm not sure. I don't know if that gig is. This sounds like a cushy one. Let's do No kidding. And well, he's so he's a presidential historian. And he works for NBC. So it's not like NBC created this gig and then gave it to this guy is one of his. They said they specifically cited him as the za, NBC presidential historian for 500,000 a year. You bet. Yeah, call me. Whatever the hell you want. The guy gets the miracle. I'll be
1:29:09
I'll be the NBC presidential vj boo boo boo boo boo boo. All right.
1:29:17
Then, we have Senator elect Tuberville. Mitch Tuberville farm Tuberville. This is one of those new guys. Tuberville tubers you another one of those guys that goes on zoom.
1:29:32
This is not he this is a this is a thing he did. Tommy Tuberville holy crap. What a great name. Tommy
1:29:44
Tommy Tuberville. He is Alabama. Ah, there you go. Tommy's in Alabama. I think this is Tommy. I think it's Tommy. Well Tommy I was speaking doing here. Tommy was speaking to everybody. And here's what he had to say. It was written by someone who's
1:30:00
Current staffer, right? This is about what happened behind closed doors at the Supreme Court when Texas filed their lawsuit. No one has any leaked audio, but this is people familiar with what was said for one of the Supreme Court justices. And this is described describe the report to you that I read and you can make up to what you will.
1:30:24
He said that justice as they always do, went into a closed room to discuss, you know, cases they're taking their debate. There's no phones, no computers, no nothing, no one else's in the room, except for the nine justices. It's typically very civil. They usually don't hear any sound news. They just debate what they're doing. But a Texas case we brought up, he said he heard screaming through the walls. as Justice Roberts and the other liberal justices, were insisting that this case not be taken up. And the reason the words that refer to the wall, when Justice Thomas and Justice Alito, for citing bush versus Gore, from john roberts were, I don't give a about that case. I don't want to hear about it. At that time, we didn't have riots. So what he was saying was that he was afraid of what would happen
1:31:29
if they did the right thing.
1:31:32
And I'm sorry, but that is moral cowardice.
1:31:37
And we in the SRC, I'm an SRC member, we put those words in very specifically, because the charge of the Supreme Court is to ultimately be our final arbitrator, our final line of defense for right and wrong.
1:31:57
And they did not do their duty.
1:32:00
So I think we should leave these words in because I want to send a strong message to them. Thank you.
1:32:08
Yeah. seitan words. Yeah, but a hot Yeah, of course. It's hearsay it has that ever happened where they were someone overheard something going on behind closed doors and deliberation at the Supreme Court. I find this hard to believe
1:32:26
it's a good story, though. That's a great story. It's totally believable.
1:32:31
It is believable. I dive right in. Alright, I'm gonna actually Yeah, I do it too. I'm trying to fix that. I have to Okay, I'm gonna give you a choice here. Would you rather hear Patrick Byrne about the SAT the China's assassin mace? Or would you rather hear Cardinal Burke? About the great reset? I this is a this is a tough choice. Why? I'll tell you my answer. Okay. I want to hear both. Okay. We'll start off with Patrick Byrne. He is the CEO was the CEO of overstock.com. was by his own account. This is different. This is new from the last time you played him. Yeah, this is uh, this is he's been on a lot of different shows. Not anything mainstream. So he's done several Newsmax, but he goes on. It's not even getting on Fox Business anymore.
1:33:30
And he's actually he's come out and he's talked about, you know, the bribery they did with Hillary Clinton. And he's, he's opened up more about that. And it was for 18 million. And you know, he's,
1:33:45
he's just out there talking more data control, kind of, but this is him on the Chinese assassin. People should be aware that for over a decade, there's been references in Chinese national security literature, to incoming what they call assassins mace shacho Jin
1:34:06
Jin refers to a ancient war between two kingdoms and one kingdom. Instead of having to go to war the king gets the right assassin in the right place and with one stroke of a club eliminates his opponent and so the kingdom takes over the other without having to fight a war for about a decade. Our national security folks have been wondering what why are the Chinese referring to a coming assassins mace a one stroke way of taking out the United States and they've been wondering, is this going to be is that their new aircraft carrier or the new stealth missile that the ballistic missile or the hypersonic that our guys have been wondering for a decade What is this coming? one stroke, assassins mace? I think we're now experiencing the assassins mace. It's a way of taking us out without fighting which is of course the best. The best way this election interference has the face so last time I was on Newsmax a couple weeks ago.
1:35:00
It's still sir two or three weeks ago, it sounded crazy to me. I was still trying to convince people there's been election, massive industrial scale election fraud. It this point of people are living under a rock. They know that we don't have to argue. I'll leave it to others like Sydney to argue and explain what's going on. But the truth is
1:35:19
certainly Venezuela and Cuba, but also the trail goes back to Iran, Pakistani intelligence and China. And their fingerprints are over this including that smartmatic gets funded Chinese money comes into smartmatic Venezuela and then it bounces to smartmatic Panama and we've already discovered a bunch of this stuff. We're way ahead what's coming up in the press now is the stuff we kind of figured out three weeks ago so Chinese fingerprints are indeed on smartmatic in this and it looks to me like they organized a there one there assassins maze turns out not to be a missile it turns out to be destroy our election system to take us down. Yep, that's where I think he messes it up. I think he's got that part wrong. I looked into this assassins mace and it goes back for 1012 years that they're talking about the assassins mace we're gonna we're gonna do it. I think that's what the Coronavirus was. That's more likely that that's the their assassins mace. And just everything flowed down from that.
1:36:23
Have you ever heard of this term assassins may now is all news to me.
1:36:27
All right, winding up my coverage unless you have anything else with with the good Cardinal Burke, who I would say is the Republican Party representative of the church does that fair to say?
1:36:40
I can't he's kind of like
1:36:43
the conservative guy.
1:36:46
I yeah, I guess I thought you would know it sounds he sounds so familiar. Cardinal Burke, right. He's a little Burke. I think it sounds familiar because we talk about Burke's, the woman the virus woman for so long.
1:37:02
That's Burks.
1:37:04
That's with an eye our x Burke's Cardinal Burke. Cardinal Burke sees it sees the problem, and two minutes of him explaining what it is we come to Our Lady of Guadalupe on her feast day with troubled and heavy hearts. Our nation is going through a crisis which threatens its very future as free and democratic. The worldwide spread of Marxist materialism, which has already brought destruction and death to the lives of so many in which as threaten the foundations of our nation for decades, and now seems to seize the governing power over our nation
1:37:48
to attain economic gains. We as a nation have permitted ourselves to become dependent upon the Chinese Communist Party and idi ology totally opposed to the Christian foundations, upon which families and our nation remains safe and prosper. I speak of the United States of America. but evidently, many other nations are in the throes of a similar, most alarming crisis.
1:38:24
Then there is the mysterious Wu Han virus about whose nature and prevention, the mass media daily give us conflicting information. What is clear, however, is that it has been used by certain forces inimical to families and to the freedom of nations to advance their evil agenda. These forces tell us that we are now the subjects of the so called great reset the new normal, which is dictated to us by their manipulation of citizens and nations through ignorance and fear. Now, we are supposed to find in a disease and disease prevention, the way to understand and direct our lives rather than in God in His plan for our salvation.
1:39:26
Here's a tip for our current president.
1:39:30
Ever all that fake news yelling in China, China, the cardinal pretty much said the same thing you've been saying. But when he when he just does it calmly and puts it all together in two minutes, you understand the sitch
1:39:46
and no one's triggered, no one's flipping out in the church. He said it all Wu Han virus, China.
1:39:55
No virk for president
1:39:59
and stuff
1:40:00
This is a good style I like it yeah you kind of like it you know go to church What do you know I don't go I don't go to church on site. What do you mean? We are in church? This is our church of get Monet says that when you're yelling and screaming and drama.
1:40:16
With that, I'd like to thank you for your courage and say in the morning to you, the man who put the C in.
1:40:23
JOHN c. devorah. Well, in the morning to you, Mr. Adam, Korea. In the morning all ships and sea boots on the ground in the air subs in the water and all the names of the Knights out there. What was that Yelp you made? What happened? I just about to sneeze and i i staved it off but rigorous
1:40:44
you went Oh.
1:40:47
In the morning to the trolls and the troll room everybody there Raise your hands. Let's see what we got. We got Well, I didn't get a count What the hell is going on?
1:40:58
Oh, they took away my power somebody count the trolls. I don't know how many trolls there are. I've been I've been been deep. Oh my god. JOHN, my secret command.
1:41:12
You had a secret command? Well, it's admin command you can issue that that tells you how many trolls are in there. And it's it's not working. Oh, 6 million. No. It's
1:41:25
Doug. Okay, Doug was able to do it 1958
1:41:30
Nick, the rats like it's over curry.
1:41:36
Alright, everybody, thank you for being in over the place Hey, have the trolls are in the troll room, you can find it at no agenda. stream.com This is one of my pushes for the features of podcasting 2.0 that every app gives you access to a troll room for every podcast you listen to. It's such a great idea. The what has been going on here for over 10 years while you're in there, which is where you can troll obviously. But you can also listen to every single one of the shows from get donation on the 24 hour 724 seven live stream, ask for an invite to no agenda social.com which is our algo free social network. It's federated. So you can cross all over the globe. This is not some small little thing. There's lots of people who were on it you'd be amazed and because of the signal to noise ratio, it is incredibly nice and powerful just to have a discourse of some I mean yeah, discourse and even works for you. I've seen you threaten people with with a block button a lot.
1:42:39
But no you threaten us. That'll get you blocked
1:42:44
do I do this? Yeah. Oh, okay. Never alright.
1:42:49
That's no agenda social.com and
1:42:52
we'd like to thank Tom toenail who brought us the artwork for Episode Number 1304 1304 we titled that the 10 days of darkness only five more to go
1:43:06
and this was based upon our outstanding business strategy of recommending that businesses put up a pole a stripper pole have some Go Go dancers in order to remain open which is the law if you have a strip club Yeah, if you get strippers you can stay open but if you get just good you know what kind of things that close any you can't sit down at a restaurant at least in most places in Texas you can write
1:43:33
but in was from California to San Diego I think had it
1:43:39
Yeah, now everyone is using this rule to open up the restaurants and so this was a stripper on a pole the pole was a kind of a one of those wooden prickers that you put in your sandwich and it was indeed stuck into the sandwich and lo and behold I tweeted this picture yesterday and if you saw it and maybe we have no agenda social
1:43:57
Tina and I went to this little place in East Austin called more and then the menu had a go go girl right on the front. Almost the same one knock
1:44:11
this out. Yeah. very sketchy restaurant
1:44:15
is a very nice restaurant actually strip for brunch was the name of it.
1:44:21
Yeah, yeah. telling you man, you can stay in California as long as you want. I'm happy to be here.
1:44:29
Well, you definitely ways that you have the better situation with the restaurants are trying to put everybody out of business here. Now we needed to discuss something about this. French Laundry. No, no, no, that's allowed French Laundry is allowed. We had to discuss something about the artwork if I recall.
1:44:50
Ah, we have we had a we had different Darren O'Neil had a version of he had a stripper. Yeah, the stripper just wasn't I mean
1:45:00
Come on is this just nailed it with the with the sandwich?
1:45:05
I don't remember what the controversy was weak. I know that wasn't our first pick distribuir on the sandwich.
1:45:15
It's not something you wake up and think. Hey, stripper on a sandwich.
1:45:20
Oh, yes. You want to make sense. You want to talk about people using hypodermic needles. Oh, yeah. Hyper. Oh, yeah. I said, Well, I've mentioned this before I mentioned on the show. I don't think anything should be art for the show. That is cringy
1:45:36
defiance or anything a good friend. No, cringe Enos and so that means ugly images, you know, Soros as a set as a Sith or stuff like that.
1:45:50
Satan do these things that make you anything makes your her
1:45:56
and that includes a syringe in the arm. It's just not gonna get picked. I mean, I'm just not gonna. And there's too much of it. There's a bunch of it here. You won't have it. You won't allow it. Well, I mean, I didn't he literally Yes, I won't allow it personally. And we both have one veto on each other's pics. Yeah. And I'm just telling you that you're. You're dying on that hill, huh? That's your pic.
1:46:19
needles, needle needles.
1:46:24
I'm already seeing that. Well, here's what here's the one. Here's the one. This was the one by tanta Neal of the hand holding a syringe in the hands all blistered and vieta I think was a black lives matter or anarchy hand. Yeah, that's what you do. You deconstructed it. I just said I don't care what it is. It's not what we're going to use for show art because it's gruesome.
1:46:49
Thank you want to see what we're talking about. And in fact, a lot of this art shows up in our chapters, which is a podcast in 2.0 feature. Go find all of the new apps that do this new podcast apps.com I'm gonna keep plugging this man. We're leading the charge.
1:47:07
And I can already see something that we will not choose. today. I know which one you're gonna say to Comic Strip blogger. Yeah, he's always got a but he's putting bugs on his cover. But now he has he has a mask mandate notice shoved up somebody. But yeah, cuz that was a clip he played.
1:47:26
Oh. And this is just not this is this is not going to win. He just does it as a joke. He's got this stock light that he just finds many use. But I know I got a button around here somewhere. All right, no agenda, our generator.com Thank you very much tungsten nail. We appreciate the love and work that all of our artists put into it. Of course, we criticize because that's why they do it, that they either want to win or be told why they didn't win. And that is a service. It's nice to tell somebody why they didn't win. Yeah. Well, it's not as happy but it's nice.
1:48:04
It's part of the jack welch School of Management, I would say it's jack welch. You're fired. And here's why.
1:48:12
Here's why. Well, we have a few people that aren't fired and want to thank them for doing contributing to the show, starting with
1:48:20
Andy cracchiolo have the date of the cracks of the cracks, Phoenix, Phoenix 166666 lots of six is nice.
1:48:32
I recently donated he writes the first time and the amount of 133333 as a thank you for enjoyment in information and great analysis of the slave world at large. I was fairly nervous
1:48:45
upon my last donation completely forgot what I wanted at the roundtable. So with this donation I wanted to ask for extra mead for all my fellow barons and baronesses unless it was plenty of meat unless plenty of blue and hookers for all.
1:49:00
Of course, what do you think you are man? Isn't that Dave Rubin show
1:49:07
my previous knighthood as Knight of the cracks. I asked to be upgraded to Baron crack you should meet up with comic strip blogger
1:49:17
to rule over the lands of all Arizona and as a bonus I would like to ask you to rule over Cabo San Lucas Mexico as if it is as it is a badass place to visit and vacation. Alright, Cabo Cabo, baby. Today I'm donating 166666 need a penny from you to finish parenthood plus it would screw up all the sixes Okay, there it is.
1:49:43
And he threw it down twice as well as I'm I'm on my way to Grand Duke. I decided to donate that much as we entered the realm of the beast, and she Camila is about to take office. Tell me I'm wrong. She looks like a black tranny with bad
1:50:00
had surgery. Oh man, come on now I just read this stuff. I mean, what can I do? There is no doubt that Bo giant is not going to make it to inauguration and if he does you will be tossed within six months by the devil himself. Dear god what a lesson for all the little girls out there that that would hard work and fucking and sucking your way to the top with no moral compass or personal convictions Can you can make it Yay.
1:50:26
Jesus help us all he is he is going. Going straight away for 166666 I'll read anything. That's right. Not fiver. Anyways, keep rocking love the art from you all and your other execs one last thing I'm sure you both aware. Your tastes are almost spot on.
1:50:48
spot on all the different subject matters you guys cover other than John's take on Sidney Powell. She's a true American hero. Yes. Okay, we'll see. Read it all true American hero. Yeah, she worked. She was the Enron one of the Enron lawyer. Oh, really? Oh, that's incorrect. She was she true American here? I don't care what Well, then, obviously, you clearly don't care about it. I'm just trying to get to the note. No, you're editorializing.
1:51:17
Well, he called me out.
1:51:20
You were just open the rules of engagement. Anyway, she is a true American here on a patriot. How dare you call her otherwise 100,000 indictments coming Trump forever? Oh, wait, no, john is right. We're left with Biden. What does he use the EFF now with Biden he's the great reset fuck cheese. I like jobs Carmen makes a neat a lot of luck starting I like the fact that he says big donations and so we don't have a lot of notes to read. Yeah, hello sorry I'm just not trying to be insulting. I like jobs current mixing a lot of luck starting up a new Real Estate Investment Company.
1:52:00
So vj choice
1:52:03
Okay, here we go. jobs jobs jobs
1:52:09
you've got karma
1:52:12
Okay, sorry kids for the for the profanities. Kevin saw why he was in the apparently the military's got an A p o box $1,000 gentlemen the dollar amount contains more graduate gratitude than anything I might write
1:52:32
douche me and night me sir Kevin of the irrigated rice fields book to meet the members get mo nation when the European lockdowns lead up. Oh man to be any right after Brexit.
1:52:45
You've been Thank you very much. And I'll see you at the roundtable we have extra mean today Kevin so you'll enjoy extra extra extra extra me Yeah.
1:52:57
Anonymous in the schoolcraft Michigan five a 58909 relocation Merry Christmas you guys life changing love it. Yeah. Love you all. Believe it or not. We believe that that's the kind of Thank you anonymous. Thank you, john pass surfacey
1:53:15
and I'm pretty sure he set it up Snowden told me how to pronounce that. 46666 Lutz Florida he needs a D noshing.
1:53:25
You've been reduced and you're on some list for the birthday you're on the list. Thank you sir.of the pairs in parallel Texas 333 33 jingles my millennials karma sir data the parents here thank you for the analysis of late stay safe john ITM karma for my millennials
1:53:47
you've got karma.
1:53:53
Chris Carmel by the sea in Walnut Creek, which is not in Carmel 333 dot 33. Thank you for your courage. No, no, no, no, you got to start. He's he opened your eyes. I'm sorry. Reason. Hey, guys, thank you for your courage and Merry Christmas to you and yours all the best in the new year. Thanks for all the excellent media deconstruction over the past year the show just keeps getting better. The COVID coverage in particular has been excellent an anecdote to the fear porn being peddled by the M five m Keep Calm and take your d3 citizen correct please add the love of my life and soulmate Dame Kristen to the birthday list you will be celebrating her 29th on Christmas Eve Oh nice. Love you bird. No jingles no karma. Okay, birds love you to bird. Bird. bird bird. bird bird bird bird bird bird birds the word Michael Connie in Mansfield Texas 333 dot 33 I guy hi guys is different a little bit. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year anyways,
1:55:01
I would like go
1:55:04
is the grown that makes it work I would like to go karma and that's true for my friend Ron and his family are having a difficult time this holiday season thanks Mike wood this donation have reached knighthood accounting below I shot my name sir render and Astra hot wings and Gene cream ale for the roundtable and he appear I think he's on the list. Yes, he is. He is absolutely I even ordered his his hot wings and Gene cream ale so we're good to go and here's your request next.
1:55:35
You've got
1:55:37
Armand my
1:55:41
keys are loose again. Yeah. 33 keys coming back for more I can't take it as special and dear john anatomy closes my most recent donation that the nation has been security, my place at the roundtable my since my first donation. I've had many na family join our little line family here in SAR, loosen sons and I'm more than grateful. They say you don't become a man until you lose your father. This year I lost my father and became a man. This prompted me to do the right thing and support the show with my three teas. I wanted to honor my family by thinking critically during the right and doing the right thing by helping others and to support worthy causes. I could not think of a more noble and worthy cause in the no agenda show. No we have a creed in our family we live by we live to honor those that have come before us and to prepare the way for those yet to come. I'm donating to make sure the magnificent show continues so those who find it in the future will also be urged to seek their own knighthood. I would like to be known as Keith saarloos. That night and buckets of Santa Ynez Valley requests are loose and sons wine and Santa Maria tri tip at the table karma rain stick much needed in the valley john should have also received the wine as promised. No
1:57:02
there's a package getting going on I didn't get a lot of steak karma rainstick I don't feel comfortable doing a rain stick right now. No we're not doing that. I don't feel very comfortable getting at this it's very easy as much needed. But I mean you got to be on fire or dying of thirst because the rain stick is powerful stuff and this is we can get swirl up all kinds of stuff right off the go the Gulf Coast. It doesn't seem like there's enough demand too much snow in Boston.
1:57:31
Yeah, think about that.
1:57:34
Exactly.
1:57:37
But other than that,
1:57:39
give us some karma. Yeah, of course we have some karma
1:57:43
you've got
1:57:47
to go there.
1:57:51
Okay. Andrew Galway.
1:57:54
Hi guys.
1:57:58
Hey, guys. See this is the we get this to go on for months. Yeah, that any ways and I'm sure pod
1:58:08
No, no, I'll take a Hey girl and the more you wait, the more likely it is to come in. You shouldn't have said anything about this. Any pods?
1:58:17
Any pod? Any pods and I just combine it all you got three in one go any pods?
1:58:24
How about hey pods. I was getting a lot of 30 threes popping up. But it lately there's been far too many to ignore. The final sign was a credit card balance at 3338 yesterday morning I paid off the balance and donated appreciate YouTube and all you do good I get a health coming from my friend. She's been stuck at home stuck at home from work for a temporary damn near a year due to an injury and it's been very rough recovery. So trying to get back on her feet and it's not good. I think I got some good side money coming my way. So a dealer's choice jobs karma as well. If you could thank for your courage. Absolutely. And thank you for your courage jobs, jobs, jobs and jobs. That's
1:59:10
karma. I like I like the hate pods with a Z because we're like pod fathers, you know, hey, pods. I'm okay with that. Let's do d z pod See? Hey, pods.
1:59:23
Okay, let's see if it comes in. Baron etla booty a in Hesperia, California 250 bucks. It becomes associated executive producer but now he's pronouncing it differently. Yeah, pronunciation love booty a boogie Boogie boo.
1:59:38
Keep up the good work. Thank you, Baron.
1:59:42
Emily, ah in Richmond, Virginia. 250
1:59:46
ITM john, and Anna is my first donation so you can you can grant me a D Do you bet.
1:59:53
You've been reduced. I've been fortunate enough to remain employed during the round.
2:00:00
And this donation is a portion of the profit sharing bonus I received from my company I figured what a better way to use make use of the extra cash than donating to the best podcast in the universe. I was hitting the mouth back in March during Adams first Rogan appearance call it fate coincidence What have you but no agenda came into my life at exactly the right time is been just what I needed to stay sane and protect my amygdala from the BS known as Coronavirus, the M five AMS shenanigans and much more that's for jingles. Can I get a fucked up EU respect and a terrier karma from all my it's a French Bulldog carrier car for all my fellow no agenda slaves you bet you can.
2:00:44
making donations.
2:01:00
Oops.
2:01:04
Sorry about that.
2:01:07
There we go.
2:01:15
Karma got golden terrier and everything and he got it all. Jake lawns Long's next from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 246 80.
2:01:25
And he says, jingles China's as whole. Don't just leave me camela built back better. folmer we need help selling selling Carmen job karma smokin hot lady and I are in the process of escape from fi fil LA.
2:01:42
I own an audio company with bars and events as customers so I basically don't own a company. And I'm looking for one of those job things. Keep it together shop bras anticipating a housing bubble considering there's truly no reason to live in a liberal city unless you've like feeling awkward around your hypocritical liberal friends. No restaurants, no nightlife just litter. Later.
2:02:08
point I should say this is a Berkeley horrible talk about litter. Thankfully, we have our escape plan based on the state shaped like a middle finger. No service dot OTG no service OTG and there is a brain train town nearby so we all holler. Listen to that horn. Every time it goes by. We've decided to re read books before bedtime. together right now we are reading a brave new world.
2:02:35
Brave New World orders guy that's pretty funny. That's a funny idea. Maybe there is a book called a brave new world order. Anyway, anyways, is creepy. How accurate is the current life much more than the COVID-19 84 book? Thanks for all you do, Jake. All right Jake. This quite a lot you asked for but we got it lined up China is
2:02:57
beyond your freedom.
2:03:16
Karma.
2:03:20
Sir rotor head from anthem Arizona comes in at 245 bucks and he says this donation is in honor of my smokin hot girlfriend Eric is 45th trip around the sun. By the way, you might want to make a note on there. It's on the 20th on the 20th. Okay, I believe it's on the 20th Happy Birthday love and j j. k. So rotor had actually sent a note in that matches it.
2:03:44
Well, no, he doesn't say this. Yeah, no. Yeah, I forgot to mention my birthdays. girlfriend's birthday is on the 20th. Okay, that's what he forgot.
2:03:53
He wants that on there, I guess. Oh, click on this one. Yeah, it's on the list. It's back office has done a good job.
2:04:02
All right. Craig Connick Jr. Was there no karma or anything? That's it. Just know that says, All right, good. Happy birthday. Yep. It's on there. Craig Connick Jr. and Phil Connecticut. No note who maybe wants to be anonymous. I don't know. To 4471 No, nothing under this subject line donation. And nothing that I could find that Nick on it. So
2:04:28
for him, that's not the note that we have one scanned PDF is that from him?
2:04:35
Well, maybe it is not. You mentioned because I say that because it is in gray. So maybe there's a note I got all kinds of stuff here. I got it. I got it. I got it. Good. Good catch. Good catch. Thank you very much. Oh, there it is. He's got a squirrel with a nut. That's a really nice car got squirrels in his squirrel card he's got squirrels
2:04:56
mixed into my nuts are frozen. Yes, it does say that my nuts are frozen.
2:05:00
Blind blinded by the sun attempting to board the mass pike. I had a near miss with another motorist A moment later, I noticed their friend of the pod bumper sticker. By the way, he did send a copy of the print friend of the pod. It says French almost ran off the road. I will put it in the next brother it said friend of the pod. Yeah, bumper sticker that says friend of the pod. This is very bad.
2:05:26
It's too late. You're on the wrong side of history. You stop saying that. Because if anyone's on the wrong side of history is you.
2:05:35
You have a lot more history a lot more history is you're on the wrong side of it. Yeah, yeah. I am happy over here.
2:05:46
Okay.
2:05:48
The bumper sticker I let out I Ugh, and rolled my eyes. The sticker started to upset my stomach so that he's on the right side of history here. So I managed to pass the cars only to have them follow me. Another 60 some miles almost to my house. I kept looking in the rearview mirror thinking they're coming after my sanity and I have to donate for your protection. I like your logic. Yeah, I want to wish you both a happy festivus and thank you for being so damn consistent every week. Can I get a relationship karma as I'm getting back back out there. Woot.
2:06:31
Okay, audios Craig. Yeah, absolutely. And you ended squirrel inside the card
2:06:38
is holding his nuts in a very funny spot and
2:06:41
you're crashing crashing the karma man.
2:06:46
Karma
2:06:49
got karma?
2:06:52
squirrel there. The squirrels needed
2:06:57
ng ng or Inc the young in Amsterdam. How to 3333 dear Johnny, are you read this as a Dutch as a Dutch? That's that's not a thing. Dear Adam and Sean. I'm a millennial. She's a woman by the way, so you might want to be nice. I am immediately in a falsetto and make it work.
2:07:24
I'm a millennial so I'll do my best to keep this short. About a year ago my smoking halt boyfriend beater donated on my behalf and I'd like to return the favor. She's turning 5350 t
2:07:37
I can't do this. I got to read a noise too long. He's turning 53 on December 21. If it makes sense. I don't want to do this. He says okay, it's okay I just wondering if you could take direction I can't. He's a knight already called so sir Pete sir Pete of the high power of vanilla hammerheads. But hey, there's no such thing as donating too many dollars to no agenda. I love your show to bits even though it gets me in a lot of troubles as my friends think I am a coder. Oh, not techie.
2:08:08
There's a term for you. You want to try it was a mean? It means Corona nutjob
2:08:14
buzzing conspiracy theory theorist.
2:08:20
techie. So Corona. feki. Say with me now.
2:08:26
Corona? hecky. techie? techie?
2:08:30
techie. Second, you got the Seki
2:08:34
Atari? I'm hearing hecky. No.
2:08:38
Like, like,
2:08:40
yes. hecky like Hebrew.
2:08:43
Now you're talking. You deserve a french fries with mayonnaise for that one. At least me and my boyfriend are on the same page. And I want to thank you for keeping us sane during the panic pandemic. I also want to apologize for calling your show lame. As my smokin hot boyfriend pointed out in his note last year. Yes, we remember this. You seem to have been saved in that the opposite is true. You guys keep me well informed and sometimes you even help me sleep with your soothing voices. Hello, Corona. feki. Please keep up the amazing work and to my smokin hot Bay. Happy birthday. I love you to the moon and back. All the best from Amsterdam. As for jingles? Can I please get a full Donald Trump don't just don't trust China resist we much and Trump's screaming jobs, jobs jobs for everybody who needs it? So yes, I've got the full
2:09:38
one. She wasn't there. And we got to resist. We got to resist and that was the last thing she wanted jobs, job jobs. That'll be a TPP we got it all for you right here. Donald Trump don't trust China China is resist. We must. We must and we will much about that. The Commission
2:10:00
jobs jobs, jobs, jobs.
2:10:04
Jobs. Karma.
2:10:10
JOHN dilly dally on in College Station Texas
2:10:16
$200 and i'm pronouncing it in the Georges way de Leon De Leon. He didn't I can't find a note from him. Could be deal Delhi on them. It should be Delhi on but they see everything to Leon on the south. He did write a note before though I'm just going to read it. Dear Adam, I'm a minority educated in the public school system with a large percentage of minorities and I was taught in elementary and middle school that all the democrats became republicans and vice versa, was the big switch. I'm currently 33. So
2:10:51
a PhD actually, that was he should call himself Dr. Dr. Hare doctor, like Dr. Jill and Dr. Bill Nye got a clip on that. Oh, very clearly. Yeah, he was on today with Jillian bill. We're on Gillian Gill, Jill and Bo. just chillin Bo. Yeah, they're on Kobe IV of course. You know, a little known secret in the morning. First thing I do is I look at the clips you sent and I just look at the titles. I don't listen to him like okay, skip, skip. skip ahead. John's got it covered. That's part of the magical process. Such secret. Anyways, College Station, Texas. 200 bucks. Thank you. Darrell flack and cross fork, Pennsylvania. This is the last donor today $200. And he supposedly sent a note. We using it but I didn't get it.
2:11:43
So should I put it in the jail flag now in there somewhere? I don't know. I didn't see it. I have not seen I looked up. I looked up anything from Darryl flack. I looked up his email address, which is listed here. And I also looked under the subject line donation, which is what I recommend. And I couldn't find anything. So Darryl, let us know what you want us to do. But for now, no jingles? No karma. That's $200 from you. And that concludes our list of Executive Associate executive producers for show 1305 Yes. And thank you so much for supporting, we always ask for the three T's time talent treasure. Special shout out to Neil who has done some great clippings work for me, I can always count on at least four clips from him for every show. But also, so many of you doing other things because you're all producers, you are truly producing this program. No, wait, we couldn't even hire one person. And that would be the whole budget, it just goes away. So you guys are doing the work and a heck of a job you're doing. And of course, we need the financial support. And these people, these producers receive the title of executive producer or associate executive producer of Episode 1305 of the no agenda show also known as the best podcast in the universe. And as we get closer to the
2:13:03
first deadline, which would be January 5, and then towards the 20th. We will be here working throughout the holidays to deconstruct everything if you'd like to support us for the show coming up on Thursday. Well just go to this handy website address boomerang.org slash and a damn thank you for your time, talent and treasure. It's all the counts, even the value for value model. Our formula is this. We go out. We hit people in the mouth.
2:13:46
But I do have some miscellaneous clips. I'd like to get out of the way including the cole bear interview with
2:13:52
Joe and Jill. Now Jill has to accompany him all the time, I presume is his handler.
2:13:59
Yeah.
2:14:00
Okay. It's kind of sad to be there because everybody else should have their wife with them when you can make mistake. She stops me you see him do it. Or her do it? She said no, no, no, you can't. No, no. Really how she looks him in the eye is what I look at. It gives him the look, she gives him a massive look continuously simmer down by the way, so I got three clips. But the one clip is just cold bear because I never knew what cold Barris was. That was a comedy post that there was a host interviewer he was at one point he was and then he became well now Is he here he finally tells us what his job is.
2:14:40
is Stephen Colbert says what his job is sorry. Here we go. You are about to be the most powerful person in the world and my job to talk about what's going on in the world.
2:14:54
Well, let's remember. He left Comedy Central
2:15:00
Went to do his talk show on CBS massive failure. It was it was failing, fail, fail fail until he discovered yelling about Trump.
2:15:13
And that turned everything around for him.
2:15:19
Well, I don't know how he's gonna maintain.
2:15:22
Well as he's Yeah, it's gonna be interesting because he's just a kiss. He's a lousy interviewer here. He's a kiss ass. It's pathetic how bad it is. But I tried to keep some of that out of here. Let's listen to this is one of the things he delves into, which is calling Joe Biden, Dr. Jill.
2:15:44
Now, in your own memoir, the role I have always felt most at home in is Dr. Biden. Now some people have recently taken upon themselves to question that title of yours. Do you have any reaction to those people? Yeah, that was such a surprise. It caught me by surprise as well. I did not see that one coming. No, no.
2:16:03
And you know,
2:16:06
that I think that, you know, he called me kiddo. And one of the things I'm most proud of is, is my doctorate. I mean, I work so hard for it. And and my, you know, Joe came when I defended my thesis and
2:16:21
but, you know, I got to hand her doctorate on the stage, University of Delaware, to master's degree, she kept going to school all the time while teaching at night. And then what happens is, I said, Joe, why don't you get a doctor to make some real money? She gets the doctor gets a $2,000 raise.
2:16:38
But look at all the people who came out in support of me. I, I mean, I am so grateful. And I was, you know, I was just overwhelmed by how gracious people were to think it might be a little bit of a compliment that people are trying to think of something to criticize you about.
2:16:56
Okay, I'll take it that no, what about you as a husband? Who loves this person? Did you ever you know, want to like get out of like the pool chain and go full corn pop on these people?
2:17:06
answer is no, no, no, no.
2:17:13
The answer is no, Joe. No, Joe, the answer is no. Look at me. Look at me, Joe. The answer isn't.
2:17:23
Well, so as you recall that I think we can probably document this and I might do that if I have because we got the database of clips. Joe Biden's foundation store for running for president seems to be always shifting a little bit. It all his story shift the shift, you know, like he gets a ward a mouse here, but it was there and he just doesn't remember anything. But his foundation story. Now the reason he ran for president is got some little, it's got some embellishments. Wasn't it wasn't his whole foundation was Charlottesville? Yep. It's still Charlottesville, kind of. But the foundation story I remember is the following. And you tell me if you remember anything different. He was watching TV. And then he watched saw Charlottesville and then he saw the president save good people on fine people on both sides. And he knew he had to run for president right? Yes. Is that is that in addition, I've heard that his son on his deathbed said you've got to run pops.
2:18:25
Right. But that was that before Charlottesville? Yes, that was before Charlottesville, but that well, we have a new twist what
2:18:34
will never be the same. Here we go. I was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania had ms to the University of Delaware. And it wasn't until those folks came out of the fields down in Charlottesville that I realized something had happened. And and what happened was quickly our granddaughters asked for a meeting they came to see us and Branson said you got to run pop. Oh, I do remember that. He did. He did say that. But he said parents know the grandchildren. Yeah, he said it differently. Hold on. Let me wonder if I have and when he was he a professor I this is news to me.
2:19:12
No, he was a professor, what I remember. Let me just hear that again. In the beginning. I was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania had ms to the University of Delaware. He had an Institute at the University of Delaware.
2:19:24
Is that true? I don't know. I never heard this before. This is all new to me. Is Joe Biden troll room? Is Joe bright Joe bryden. is Joe bribe him? Is he a professor? And did he have an institute that he ran?
2:19:40
Because that's that's crazy. And no one even questions that Thank you. I appreciate that Professor.
2:19:47
Worst cold there again.
2:19:49
And it wasn't until those folks came out of the fields down in Charlottesville that I realized something had happened and and what happened was quickly our granddaughters asked for a meeting.
2:20:00
To see US and China said you got to run pop. I've been looking for the clip. What I remember is Biden said that he called everyone to a meeting.
2:20:11
Because you know he needed buy in from the family.
2:20:17
Yeah.
2:20:19
Little, I remember it. But now No, no, no, he was he was they came over and told me had to run this. This is from 2015. Was this faster? All right, Kristin, thank you. Let's bring in our political director, the moderator of Meet the Press. Chuck Todd. Chuck, let's start with brand new poll numbers you're releasing tonight about the statement? No, that's not it.
2:20:42
I'm so sure. Okay, we'll find it.
2:20:45
grandkids maybe grandkids? No. What is this? This is interesting.
2:20:52
Man.
2:20:55
Physical metal, metal skin.
2:20:59
Line Dog Face.
2:21:04
The jingle archive.
2:21:06
That's a great. Anyway, the rest of this thing was not it was uneventful. I thought there was nothing to it except for that particular screwy commentary about of being a professor and running an institute the Joe Biden Institute. Yeah, not heard any of this. This is very interesting. The other big news that I got some clips from
2:21:29
is the fact that Shields and Brooks on the PBS NewsHour it folded. What it's closed. It's over. It's done with the last episode was this last Friday. And I picked up some clips I picked up three clips from it. One is
2:21:45
his end of Shields and Brooks. This is Judy going on and on and on with with an assertion that is just baffling to me. This is brookston shields. Yeah, yeah. And of Shields and Brooks. Oh, I'm sorry. Okay, so I just I by by poorly organized. Yeah. And with that it's time for the final Friday night analysis of Shields and Brooks. Why is she talking like this and making it sound like it's just a throwaway thing because it's Friday night is shield Zimbra. And with that it's time for the final Friday night analysis of Shields and Brooks. That is syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist, David Brooks. And before I go any further, I want to make it clear, Mark will continue to be a part of the news our family as an occasional contributor, we're going to have him back when there's a major political event or anything else that he wants to weigh in on cm again, they couldn't get out of his contract, so they have to pay him off and they didn't they'll give him a special or something. He'll do something one little one little hit. They're paying out the contract with this. That's what that means. But Mark, before I let you and David speak, I want to say what an utter joy it has been for me to work with you over the years to be the beneficiary along with our audience of your wisdom, your brilliant insights. And as we heard in that video, your humor Wow, an institution what humor?
2:23:15
Forget that guy is never been funny. Correct. And after having sitting through sat through clips of these jokes that you've brought to the table for at least a decade, I can say zero humor factor. And good job, john. One down one to go. When is it Amy's time up? I can't wait. What are you gonna do with your time?
2:23:39
Brooks and shields now they're gone? What are you gonna do now you have 50% of your clip time left. There are other targets coming? I think you should go straight for Sidney Paul, go for it. No, she's not that. Yeah. I kind of like her.
2:23:56
She does this one Sunday under the name shields. And so she she throws it to him. And he makes a comment to me Does this short clip too. And I have to ask about this comment. But just listen to this. It's been it's been 33 wonderful years. It's been a great privilege. And it's been just enormous fun. You shouldn't admit that. But that's what it's been
2:24:18
33 has been enormous fun. Mm hmm. I should not admit that. Why Why shouldn't he admit that? Because Because it secretly was a comedy show. Don't you understand?
2:24:32
You know what it is? It was enormous fine, which you should have in your job. You should have fun on your job. There's nothing wrong with that. I should not admit that. This is a liberal guilt thing. Ah, because he's a serious journalist and can have fun or is it? Or is this a liberal guilt thing in general where just having fun is no good because it's the as in liberal cities, they're taking away all the fun, the fun of dining out the fun of Christmas.
2:25:00
Yeah, they just hate fun. They hate fun. So he's saying I should admit I had fun. Now Meanwhile, of course, she says he had a great sense of humor. Well, you have a great sense of humor, which we'd never witnessed. You think you'd have some fun, but he had fun, but he is afraid to admit it. Oh, my God Almighty. Bright. Wow. I thought that was pathetic, by the way. So let's go to the last one. This is Brittany gonna go off to BS and find Brooks. Yeah, I got it. And now this is Brooks who's got something wrong with him. I think this may be the reason they're canceling this. I have noticed over the last actually since COVID. began. He cries a lot now. He just drops into sobbing. I wonder when do we have a previous clip of him crying? Wow, there's yet there may be if you look up Brooks and finds the word sobbing because he's crying about one thing or another. He's crying about somebody losing the election. He's crying about the COVID deaths. He's crying a lot. Now he's crying. You'll hear it in his voice about about shields quit quitting. He parently call him Sam quit and I've had it. Or they told me I'm done. Which may be what he called and said, Yeah, I can understand. I'm sick. I'm sick of you. Here we go is sick. You pretend to be something you're not. And we're not funny.
2:26:20
Everyone knows the same Mark. Mark is Mark, when he called to tell me the news a couple of weeks ago. Okay, that's passive aggressive right there. And I said it like that. That's passive aggressive. Mark is Mark everyone knows. Mark is Mark. In other words, he's an asshole. I can't hear differently. Everyone knows the same Mark. Mark is Mark. When he called to tell me the news a couple of weeks ago, I told him the blunt truth. Mark is the best colleague I've ever had at any level of journalism or in any line of work. I've never been around somebody who generates just so much warmth to treats everybody with so much respect. I figured we haven't talked about this mark. But I figured your parents loved you Really? Well. When you were a kid, and you've been sharing it with the rest of us in the year since? Oh, oh. So sad that that's what we'll be like when we finally break up.
2:27:14
The same thing, when I call you and I said it's over, and you're gonna say, Drew, you're gonna cry. You're gonna cry at it with you. You're gonna say no, when well curries curry, we all know him. Had it with him. Loser.
2:27:32
Yeah, probably. Probably.
2:27:36
Probably. Thank you.
2:27:40
Hey, observation.
2:27:42
So when it when a door closes, another door opens. Oh, okay. Yeah. I think Tim Poole that now. No one can be Joe Rogan. But I think on the outside of the Spotify, Spotify, Spotify, on the Spotify walled garden. I think Tim Poole is the new Joe Rogan. He's getting good guests. He's got things happening with him.
2:28:05
I thought Rubin was the guy who got the good guests. Now pool is getting him and pool goes every day. He doesn't care. He's not He's nuts. He's just going every single view do every day and I give road Rogan credit for this. I give anybody who does daily shows credit a lot of credit for sure. Because that's work.
2:28:25
Yeah, I think Joe does about four his four interviews a week. But pool is and it's and and also I see the keeper. The keepers checking out the pool. Pool boy I never heard of this guy of guess you do is with the with the beanie on his head. We bitched about him forever in the beginning.
2:28:46
Oh, the guy with the beanie. Yes, the guy with the beanie. He's more than just the guy. He's got quite a story. He was a skateboarder. And he kind of found his own way and he started doing shows and I have respect for what he does. out to check him out before seriously. It's hard Well, it's hard to show no proof.
2:29:10
Get on his show. What do you what do you what do you want your dog? Please? Yeah, what's what's this? This is how I am
2:29:16
ns devore ak, and I'm tired of that.
2:29:21
Like doing these shows I do. You got to again you got the angle. I got no angle. I got no book. I got nothing going on. I got I got my sight.
2:29:31
Which is that? I think it's etsy.com slash shop slash devore x shop. Shop. Shop. Good. It's the vortex shopper papa.
2:29:45
Yeah, I got it. Right. I haven't I haven't hooked up.
2:29:50
podcasting. 2.0 Yeah, there's more announcements coming soon. You watch. Big stuff happening. Big stuff. I have a doctor a little
2:30:00
Elizabeth mumper
2:30:02
who was talking now this clip, what she was talking about this related to the vaccine,
2:30:10
but it's more relevant to the no agenda Gizmo nation producers than anything. Now the amygdala is a part of our brain that is ruled by fear and emotion is considered the reptilian part of the brain this very primitive response. So instant access to bad news 24. Seven can have the effect of making us live in fear. neuroscience long ago has shown that when we are fearful, our ability to make rational decisions is compromised. We have trouble processing nuanced information, we are more likely to follow others blindly than to assess the data and make decisions for ourselves and our families. And this is the core This is what we do. We read you the scary headlines and we make you laugh about it because of how ridiculous they are. And it reprograms the reptilian part of your brain. It keeps it from getting swollen and screwing you over and this is the reason that you played this clip. If I may be so blunt, it's because we've got some producer or I don't know if he's donated, who rants honest Oh, you guys are full of crap. magdala should be swollen up. And because it's the emotional brain which needs improvement in all humans. And you guys are lying. lying, lying.
2:31:40
That was note number two. thank you note number three because it's been it's been it's been quite a while but he's been yelling at us for this. I don't remember note number three, you know, just came in recently. You nailed it. That's opening the show. That whole thing right there. That's it. I you lying. He's lying. He was lying. He was lying. Oh, Jaden is lying. Oh, well, these things that they're calling glitches. Oops, that was the wrong one. This is this is Bo Jaiden lying, creating more jobs. We know how to do this. The wama Biden administration reduced the auto industry. And she actually rescued the automobile industry.
2:32:24
We reduce the auto industry Yeah. Bo Jo vo vo Jaiden Yes, you did. Yes. You did my friend. Fantastic. A little 11 second clip or get out of the way. Okay. Because you know, the DS networks have to brainwash the public and bullcrap. Sure. And, and we've been kind of talking about the PCR tests for a while since you first came on guy or been on it for months now. Yeah, months and months and months, months and months.
2:32:55
So let's just see what the what the litany on the test types is litany on test on litany on test tie from NBC. So which tests should you get depends on how much time you have PCR tests are the most accurate results can take days, rapid test will give you a result within minutes, but they may not be as accurate.
2:33:15
And it's interesting that I'm getting or the number one emailed article is is an analysis from the World Health Organization. The Zero Hedge did, which I'm pretty sure we did on Thursday on this very show, I read from the actual memo from the World Health Organization that said you got to take your your your account down. And be careful that you follow the instructions properly. And it's it's it's amusing on one hand, but on the other hand, sometimes a little irritating, that people will send me this article who clearly didn't listen to the show.
2:33:53
And I and that's weird.
2:33:56
It happens a lot more never happens. Or what's happening with more frequency is people sending us clips, they circle around. It's like the simulation is run out of ideas. So hey, oh, listen to what happened during the swine flu in 1976, which I think you've done and then I did it again later months later, thinking that it hadn't been done.
2:34:19
Yeah, I believe so. It's it's just it the simulation repeats everything repeats they're not a material they got they don't have good writers. This is the problem with everything. That's what the game does gaming guys, whoever created that now, they do have some because here's a little offshoot of,
2:34:38
of the simulation that we are clearly living in. Now everyone gets a different version of the simulation, you get dimension a or dimension B. And I think we're firmly planted in a but sometimes we slip over we can see be and and this is Scott lobato. This is a new character in The Matrix.
2:35:00
He is a he's kind of like a got a call Saul type lawyer on Staten Island.
2:35:07
And this is still regarding the pub house, the public house. I think it stands or cans or Dan's.
2:35:16
Were across the street from this place which has been locked down in a
2:35:21
in a kind of COVID zone. You know, there's a big box store, we can just go buy whatever you want, and people are protesting. They're not having it anymore. And the lawyers that coming out, you make it something what happened today, your story broke down this afternoon. Hundreds and hundreds of people. Hey, okay. Yeah, this guy called me trying to sell me stocks the other day,
2:35:43
online at the Staten Island mall, buying candles that are 50% off at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Okay. And these people are saying that this small business, this guy map, or all the other businesses in this little town, these little restaurants can have 15 people in there to have a burger in the fear. It's disgusting. Okay. And that's why Scott, that's why had you on the Staten Island pub that was closed down by the sheriff. Does it get any better than these two talking? No, I can't listen to this. This is really good. You You see that as a complete inequity. You see the sheriff's shoving it down as really taking a position against small business as opposed to the big box companies. Why do you think this is happening in America?
2:36:30
Look, are any winning gun look? Okay, what did he say to us? Everybody knows, he said, Do not congregate in your homes. That is the most dangerous place to spread the virus. Where do these people that want to go out on a Saturday night for a 30 minute beer, they're not they can't go anywhere where they where they go, and they can't go to Max, they're going home. We all see it online people posting their parties. They're having 10 2030 people, no regulations. So it's asked backwards, excuse me. And it just doesn't make sense. It is not fair to have a business across the street open a big box store and this mom and pop Look, this guy, man, and half the businesses is going down. So they reached out now Scott, we want to go down with guns blazing. What are we gonna do? So I came up with this autonomous zone concept. And they are breaking that they're doing their own rules.
2:37:24
And that's what the that's what the demand is with the small businesses in this in this island.
2:37:31
The governor should be petrified, okay, because everybody in the city is now catching on. Okay, it's not about that. We don't believe in the virus. It's about being fat.
2:37:42
Yeah, it's humorous, of course. But God bless a man and yes, this is what you have to do is insane what's happening and there's no recommendation from the World Health Organization. There's no science on it. If you've willy nilly split Staten Island into it has the appearance of being political. It's scummy and it should stop and I say that as a former New Yorker and judge Jeanine had her own recommendation bomb them, bomb them. bomb them again.
2:38:18
Imagine all this evil who could do that and Oh Yeah, that'd be fine.
2:38:29
And we do have a few people to thank for show 1305 starting with sir per Blam Earl of Georgia and Sugar Hill. Yo yo $60.16 says Merry Christmas.
2:38:44
He's been listening to show for eight years. Wow.
2:38:47
Merry Christmas to you gay. I gotta I gotta spit take out of him apparently. Oh, you can read about it. No tow You can't leave me hanging like that. What was the spit tape? I can't watch when I said sit on my lap little boy.
2:39:03
Okay, I see why was not done with a gay affectation. I will say it was no that is very manly, dirty old man. Yeah, very manly. Very different. Very different. Lauren Matthew in Pembroke, Massachusetts. $143
2:39:19
also got a birthday for Lauren. I think she is newbie and doesn't realize that these notes aren't read. Oh, but she does measure her husband's turning 43 on December 20. Okay.
2:39:33
He's very hard to shop for. So she thinks that $143 donation on his behalf.
2:39:40
If she can keep it a secret would be an intangible gift. And he needs a deduction so we got
2:39:48
you've been doing tangible gifts.
2:39:53
He had a good wife there Peter. Yeah. Michelle small 123 58 sir slam Bob rolling. Nice.
2:40:00
The Guadalupe River Trail in San Jose, California. And there is a Guadalupe B River Trail. We don't pronounce the E. Guadalupe
2:40:11
in San Jose is pronounced Guadalupe. Yeah, but that's because you're loopy in California in Texas is Guadalupe we're not in decent San Jose. Oh, that is quad loopy.
2:40:24
Thank you.
2:40:26
Thank you for this moment. I'm sorry.
2:40:29
It Anyway, thank you for your courage.
2:40:32
It could be Guadalupe to I don't know. I don't live in San Jose. Aaron. I know most of the California pronunciations, but I could be wrong about this. Aaron Farrell in so they're starting to change the pronunciation. Well, of course everything has to change. It's the new normal.
2:40:48
A lot of ours being grilled. And it's San Jose. Aaron farella forelle in Wadsworth, Illinois. $111.11. Gavin haberfield. In Mitchum, Victoria, Australia $100. A Jared Smith 100. And he's got a happy birthday for his beautiful wife Shelly.
2:41:12
She's a new listener after eight years of me hitting her in the mouth. Wow, that took a long time. Yeah, too long it did the COVID helped a lot. COVID helped the show. Larry blow the Blade Runner leidner in Parts Unknown.
2:41:32
He loves the facts as told by Adam, Baron Mark Tanner in Whittier, California at 118. Now he sends me Mahara hold on hold on. He must have sent a note Firstly, as we read.
2:41:44
Bad news here. Bad news from Mark.
2:41:48
Do you have Mark's wife duck? I don't have it in front of me. I just remember it. Mark's wife died. Fortunately, Beverly kind of out of the blue. And so he's going to have to hold because now it's an issue with everything of course and so he will be we will not be hearing from him for a while although I'm sure he'll still be listening to the show. So Best wishes to me and give him and the whole family some karma.
2:42:15
You've got karma.
2:42:19
And apparently, this is horrible. On the last show, we made a mistake we said a producer had written in his mom and written in that he had died but it was the other way around.
2:42:33
Maybe maybe we just not do death notices on the show. We try not to but they come in and we kind of have some obligation to the community colleges. Mara angles mon in Heron. viene tyronne Fein
2:42:49
vein Corona. hecke 6660. Amanda West in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 5555. Have you got the birthday list? Yeah.
2:43:03
What does she do? What does she have very long note for some reason? Yeah. Well, I used to, as I don't know if she knows if she a newbie, maybe. I would hope because. No de douche. This is no
2:43:17
long notes from David Golding is just a birthday. Oh, yes. For Adam on the birthday list for Adam. Adam West. I got it. Yeah. David Golding and Elgin Uk 5515 got a very long note. Well, stars must be aligning is today marks my first anniversary as a no agenda donor. Well, if it's so so he's donated before that's really good. And we appreciate it. And we have your birthday wish on the list on the list. Dean Roker in East Grinstead, UK, uk uk double nickels on the dime, sir Matthew drop Co. in Delaware, Ohio. 3510. He's the one with the had the gallbladder Oh, yes. Really? Yes. He says a surgery karma works so to the robots.
2:44:05
So Isn't he I guess he's wandering around now. Good. Nicholas brown stead of Chicago. 5510. Barry Boniface
2:44:15
in Newport News, Virginia. 5433. Another birthday. A lot of birthdays today. Jason Babcock Babcock in Henderson, Nevada. 5551 50 Robin O'Donnell, in South embiggen, Abington Township, Pennsylvania.
2:44:34
Just another birthday, Jason Babcock is late tribute to Eddie and his 50th birthday, which is the 17th not on the list. Yet it's not I'm talking about I went back to
2:44:50
I went back to Babcock. Oh, yeah. No, I know, but Babcock is not highlighted on my list here. Okay, keep going. I'll check. Yeah.
2:45:00
Robert O'Donnell's on the list in South Barrington township is 5150 Chris kimmich insat her brother, Sachi, Texas 5033, there's a Texas town Sachi. Sachi saw Shay, but guess what? It's awfully
2:45:18
sachet Texas Shas just say, Thomas
2:45:24
sh
2:45:26
it's not gonna be anything that you think it is. I'm sure. Sage probably worse he he. The following people are $50 donors name and location. It's kind of a shortlist of second list here. Shawnee, Oklahoma Thomas toilet, Adrian molar and tuscadero sir dick bangs of DC in Washington now this isn't a great upgrade for him. He said he tallied up his previous donation he's now advised by count level you'll be via count dirty dick bangs big sales karma for my year and please, if you're willing to make an exception Thanks for everything fellas. The world is losing his mind around me with mass hysteria. I'm able to keep the bunk sigh the bank side which is plural for bangs, the banks I bubble safe, sane and reasonable. might seem like you guys are just doing your job and what you like to do but honestly your value is
2:46:18
quantifiable as I am able to better raise my three boys. Thanks to you all. Thank you, sir. Karma coming up for us. Yeah, good for us. Yeah, yeah, yes. Yay, us.
2:46:31
Cameron Hurd needs a D do Xing. He's in $50 territory.
2:46:39
And he wants to say that Jason k m six. blank blank blank is a douchebag. Yeah. Okay.
2:46:49
threes, 7370. threes and nice in a very ham spirit.
2:46:57
I picked a good guy just read them. Yeah. Ian Ian
2:47:02
Wilson in Ontario, Canada. 50. Sir. Andrew in Greensboro, North Carolina. Robert case in mill spring, North Carolina. Baronet, amen. Amen. Fist bump in Montgomery, Texas. Janice Oliver in Edmonds, Washington and surgery winging Roth in Saugus, California and leads to Daniel Galloway in Marietta, Georgia. That's our group of producers for show 1305 and Ian Wilson asked for this credit to be given to his brother Charles Wilson and give him a dee doo
2:47:40
dee doo. We both been listening since Adams first JRE appearance you guys was in one just for our Migdal a maintenance I couldn't let Charles roll into 2020 as a douche 2021 as a douchebag. Well, that's the kind of brother everybody needs. And thank you to all of these producers who put the show together from the T part that treasure part but time and talent is also appreciated. And for all of you came in under $50 plenty of you on the subscriptions. These are very important if you have time to sign up for a weekly or monthly or show donation. These do provide a base when things get slow and it's really appreciated. And obviously everything else is under 50 not mentioned for reasons of anonymity in addition to that, and please remember us for the next show, it'll be up on Thursday. For support go to devora.org slash and and the karma that
2:48:35
you've got.
2:48:38
Karma
2:48:48
Thursday's list was long today's is great. Jason Babcock turned 50 on the 17th john Pacific he celebrates as does sir who picks soccer who says Happy Birthday to Sir Daniel turned 39 yesterday. Barry butterface 54 today sir road ahead says Happy Birthday to a smokin hot girlfriend Erica. She turns 45 today math yeah Lauren Matthew Happy Birthday to her husband Peter 43 years for him. David Goldberg turns 39 tomorrow Jared Smith says Happy Birthday to his beautiful wife Shelly wine. winky winky one wine key blankie Shelly celebrating tomorrow Andy Young Happy Birthday to her boyfriend Peter Serpico. 53 years old tomorrow. Anthony Anselmo celebrating tomorrow as is Robert Oh Donald gummy nerds will become 33 million years old on December 22. Amanda West says Happy Birthday to Adam he celebrates on the 22nd as well as does Sir Christopher Andrew says Happy Birthday to Jay Roos Mama jeyes 30 on Christmas Eve and finally, happy birthday to a soul mate named Kristen, who also be 29 on Christmas Eve December 24. Happy Birthday for everybody here the best podcast of the year.
2:50:00
Reverse
2:50:02
wireless
2:50:12
got a couple title changes we just heard of DC VA he's a veteran but now today becomes dirty dick bangs of DC and we thank him for his additional support to the best podcast and universe and Andy crack cholo Night of the cracks becomes fair and crack and why wouldn't you want to be that? Thank you again for supporting the no agenda show in the amount of an additional $1,000 it is highly appreciated. It keeps the time the talent and the treasure in nice balance. And we do have three nights to handle today so I did bring Yeah, here you go. Okay, got it.
2:50:52
Up on the podium please Kevin.
2:50:55
Michael Conti and
2:50:57
all of you today joined
2:51:01
of the no agenda knights and dames with the round table and you're good to go. So I'm very proud to pronounce the Kp as sir Kevin of the irrigated rice fields render at night and Baucus of the Santa Ynez Valley gentlemen for you, we've got hookers and blow we got rent boys and Chardonnay. We have hot wings and Gene cream Ale saarloos and sons wine and Santa Maria. We also have some extra meat along with your ginger ale and dribble navigation sock a and well breast milk and pablum. But yes, we do have the extra meat for the mutton and meat at the table as requested. And if you gentlemen could head over to no agenda nation.com slash rings at your leisure. We will make sure that you get your night ring, your ceiling wax and your official certificate of authenticity out to you as soon as possible. Thank you for supporting the best podcast in the universe. Let's see where are we here?
2:52:03
Bro.
2:52:11
Top Notch production here on the
2:52:13
show
2:52:15
is with the lockdowns we have modified no agenda meetups to no agenda protest because those are legal. Those are our exceptions. You can reach the website which has a calendar based deal at no agenda meetups calm or if you prefer no agenda, protest calm and hang out with some of your fellow producers of the show on Christmas Eve. The Xmas tangerine chugging protest the tuva
2:52:45
Ah, this is in Lithuania. If you happen to be an expat stuck in Lithuania and do not want to spend your Christmas Eve alone I propose a protest together with the rest of the no agenda global slave community by eating tangerines and shout Tina together. Whatever that is. It doesn't sound good. David is organizing that and it might be fun, isn't it? Well, then we looked that up last time it was head cheese or something, wasn't it? Well, you said it was head cheese. It looks like hedges aspic.
2:53:14
Okay. Well, it isn't like aspek I don't know what I don't like the sound of the name. I don't even know what it is. I don't want to ask pick anywhere near me. Okay, then after Christmas on the 27th. That's the Sunday show day the very fine people meet up in Charlottesville, Virginia, three o'clock at the Trump winery. It's outdoor with heaters and wine. But you must RSVP. And Mike is organizing that then rounding out the year December 30. There'll be a jitsi virtual, the 31st New Year's Eve small amygdala bash 719 to Colorado, and then we're willing to January and oh my goodness, it's going to be a full on 2021. Here's an example of some fine folks who put together a meet up in Quebec City. This is the report from their meetup. In the morning, john adams, this is Pablo here, and we're gathered together for our convexity Carol and trawl meeting. And we've had an increase of 50% in attendance. So very happy I'll pass the mic in the morning Adam and john. This is sir effigy we're sitting comfortably around a fire COVID free and wishing you guys a good show and a good holiday and get some Bitcoin douchebag Thomas here. That's it. No agenda meetups. It's like a body. It's like a body
2:54:35
they've got that part right guy. Oh, see the no agenda meetup. Hey guys, this is sir sable voc over a brewery x for the no agenda meetup slash protest. And we got a few people here. Hello is
2:54:51
Matt from Orange County and I'm glad to join the protest. Hi, it's Rebecca from LA. Good to be here. Hi, everybody. This is Leo Bravo from the no agenda.
2:55:00
Meet up. I'm glad everybody made it today. Okay, guys, this is a Slick Rick having a good time here at brewery x. Hey, john. He's tough clicking your pan, please.
2:55:10
This is Aaron line in the morning. Hey, Top of the morning boots on the neck. Whatever that is. This is sables, Squire douchebag. Dave, he hit me in the mouth couple years ago, and now I'm here with him at the douchebag meeting. And that's our report. We'll see. All right, very good. I'm noticing this a lot of similar characters at these meetups, if you notice that
2:55:35
now that you mentioned it, yes. I think he's very I'm gonna sort I'm gonna start codifying this and then document balls would be I think one of the goofballs is always
2:55:46
there's always a woman who will talk about being human resource carrier or vessel.
2:55:54
Tight it is the homeschoolers, I love the homeschoolers.
2:55:59
And a lot of amygdala talk, it's basics. It's back to basics. It's pure, no agenda, principles, and we're very proud of it. And we want to see as much of that as possible because it seems to bring a lot of benefit. If you've been locked down if you've been deprived and who hasn't in the past year. This is a great way to go hang out with some people you don't have to worry you can let your filters down. It's going to be fine. It's a beautiful thing it's a no agenda meetup go to no agenda meetups calm if you need to turn that into a protest just go to no agenda protest calm and if you can't find a protest near you will just start one no agenda meetups calm. Sometimes you
2:56:58
Yeah, that'd be like a pot, like a biggest pot.
2:57:03
Well, well, well, I have so many longer into show mixes because people are ramping up for the holidays. So I'm going to
2:57:11
see our Thursday show that will be the Christmas Eves show, correct? Yes, indeedy. Okay, so I'm gonna have a couple of
2:57:24
longer end of show mixes for that show. It'd be good.
2:57:29
Make sure I have stuff submit two clips for today's finish. Okay. All right. I have yes I do. I have one I'd like things to be a good wrap up.
2:57:40
It's not not humor, so it's better to have that before the last clip and have people feel good about themselves leaving this program. This is gonna be a better wrap up the new one I think might be a good wrap up. No, I want you to play your wrap up after that. I want you to wrap up I just have Okay, I got one. Are you gonna play yours now? Yeah, I just have a clip. Well, let me Oh, it's not a wrap up. You wrap it up. Okay, well, let me play pre wrap up before you play your clip. Okay, pre rappers is the Coca Cola retires brands news story, which I thought was fascinating. Coca Cola is cutting 2200 jobs around the world 1200 of them in the US as part of a broader restructuring plan for the Atlanta based company that cuts represent about 12% of its us workforce. Coca Cola made the announcement Thursday after a decline in sales this year as restaurants, sporting venues and movie theaters shut down during the covid 19 pandemic. In October the company announced it would retire 200 brands or this portfolio. several brands were already discontinued this year including Odwalla Zico, coconut water and tab soda.
2:58:51
Yeah, it's a bunch of loser drinks who drinks tab of
2:58:57
comedians might now hasten point loser drinks. It's so it's beside the point. The point is why do you buy Odwalla? It wasn't dairy Was it a Coca Cola company? They bought them and now they're shuttering them to this a small juice company was not that small. Just taking them off the market. They were just shutting them down. Take them off tomorrow. They get no the Coca Cola may be shuttering Dasani.
2:59:26
To Sunny Sunny is nothing more than bottled water tap water. Its water. Yeah. How can you not make money on bottled tap water with a distribution that you have thinks the fancy bottle that's that's the problem they need. They're making money but they want a pass bottle like everybody else's water. I think it's more expensive to manufacture. Oh, oh, well, you're asking.
2:59:51
You're asking that kind of a sound. Oh, I think it's irresponsible corporate irresponsibility.
3:00:00
Be busted up and figure out what to shut down. Loser brands come up as them. I'm surprised because I thought that the only thing they would ever wind up selling in the end would be water. So maybe they just Well, they just parent it down.
3:00:16
Maybe. All right, I'm shaving my head. No, go ahead. I don't even want to play mine. I'll play mine on the next show. I want to I want you to Yeah, please wrap it up, wrap it around. It is a long clip. And I just thought this was like, got no media coverage. Vice Presidential Candidate no media coverage whatsoever. I
3:00:37
should have been this, you know about this, right? Yeah, of course I do. I have some inside info.
3:00:44
Oh, okay. Well, let's play this is Sarah Palin coming on the air on the on the webs on the interwebs inner tubes to express her desire to have Julian Assange. Pardon. And I'm all with her. Hey, this is Sarah Palin up in Alaska. Hi, guys. Hi, guy. And I am the first one to admit when I make a mistake. I admit that I made a mistake some years ago, not supporting Julian Assange, thinking that he was a bad guy that he leaked material that perhaps he shouldn't. And I've learned a lot since then. And I think Julian did the right thing. And Julian did us all a favor in America did the world of favor by fighting for what he believed was right. And ultimately, he's been proven to be right. He deserves a pardon.
3:01:42
He deserves all of us to understand more about what he has done in the name of real journalism. And that's getting to the bottom of issues that the public really needs to hear about and benefit from. Yeah, some years ago, I publicly spoke out against Julian and I made a mistake. I like to say I've learned a lot since then, he, I know that it's coming down to the wire and whether he's going to be pardoned or not. I want more Americans to speak out on his behalf and to understand what it is that he has done and what has been done to him as he was working on the people's behalf, to allow information to get to us so that we could make up our minds about different issues about different people. He did the right thing. I support him. And I hope that more and more people especially as it comes down to the wire will speak up in support of pardoning, Julian. God bless him. Yeah, great end of show, clip. This is something's up. First of all, he's getting apart. And this is well known throughout the military community. Everyone's talking about it. He's getting a pardon. But this push from Sarah Palin is new Glenn Greenwald is he wrote a very, very long sub stackers
3:03:12
about what Thomas Greenwald is he needs an editor or he'll Yeah, so this is it could be a couple of things. One is
3:03:23
the outcomes razors sincerely these people believe he should be pardoned and are coming out with you know, about a month to go before the president won't have that power or may or may continue to have the power you never know. He has. He has the power he has. He has the he has the power now but he won't after inauguration if he's not inaugurated.
3:03:44
Sarah so it could just be that this is what they think why Sarah Palin comes out now I she does nothing by coincidence and by chance
3:03:54
it may be that there's something big still coming
3:03:58
people want to get on the right side of Julian Assange that crossed my mind
3:04:04
but everything I've heard is he's getting it but why these white people are popping up now and and making this their their cause celeb is baffling to me. What do you think?
3:04:17
Well, a couple of things come to my one getting a pardon for what? he's in jail right now for like a contempt of court or something like that. In the UK. He there's been no charges from the United States filed against him. So what it would be as a green card via pre pardon. Yes, that's exactly what it would be a pre printing that they were planning on doing something.
3:04:40
Even though they won't admit it to anyone. No, we're not doing anything. The second thing that always brings Kevin comes to mind is the fact that he's not even an American. And we I bring this up and you always counter it every time. But it's still to me as an Australian citizen doing it but amounts to a modern newspaper releasing documents. I'm
3:05:00
Never counter you are not going to counter me by saying that well Yeah, but you can you can indict or do all these things to a non American some guys that never doesn't even come into the country under some circumstance. I mean, they did the same thing with Noriega, they go down there and kidnap him from his house and throw them in or Florida prison. I mean, kind of rights do you have to do though? foam finger number one, baby?
3:05:24
Yeah, well, there is that element. Uh, I don't have any other much. Other thoughts on I believe he should be pardoned. I don't know whether he's going to get part or not. And what irks me the most is he should have been pardoned on day one when Trump got in office, or at least within a year or two. Well, because Trump himself said, Oh, if it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't have been elected president. Because he revealed the Clinton emails and some other things that were necessary to get him over the top and then he This is the thanks he gets.
3:05:55
I don't I mean, your original point is good. Is what is he being pardoned for?
3:06:02
There's I don't think any have charges been filed? Actually, I think there was some short No, I don't think so. I have a feeling assume that when they let him out in England, he's just gonna be extradited for some charges or show up at the last minute. This is bad. This is he's been railroaded. Let's put it mildly. Mm hmm.
3:06:23
Well, no he was charged. WikiLeaks. Charge and superseding indictment. New allegations assert Assange conspired with anonymous affiliated hackers among others. So that's the Justice Department. Ah, how about this? Assange has something
3:06:41
Assange has something
3:06:44
and people want to get him here and get it out or something? Why else the thing is the fees nothing he can't have anything new. I don't think he might have a secret Bitcoin I don't know.
3:06:59
He's got a Bitcoin or Bitcoin. We will dive into it. Yeah, we don't know. But one of our producers minds you never know these things can be real crazy. Mr. Miyagi is wild ride coming up with a beautiful end of show clip along with Jesse Coyne. Nelson, Tom starkweather. Professor JJ, we're moving you to Thursday. It's it'll work for Christmas. I really appreciate what everyone is doing. That grumpy old Ben's coming up next to no agenda. stream.com you can check them out. I think they're live today. I'm not sure could be pre recorded. And I am coming to you from opportunity's own 33 here in the
3:07:39
frontier of Texas, Austin, Texas capital the drone Star State FEMA Region number six on the governmental maps if you're looking forward in the morning, everybody. I'm Adam Curry, and I'm from Northern Silicon Valley, which remains the pothole capital of the United States. i'm john C. Dvorak. We return on Thursday, Christmas Eve at night before Christmas and all through the house Nutter freak and we're working. We are working.
3:08:06
Please remember us at the vortec.org slash na for your treasure, your time and talents are welcomed as well. until Thursday, Adios.
3:08:28
Smaller Christmas is going to be a safer Christmas and a shorter Christmas is a safer Christmas. This is our COVID Christmas
3:08:39
in Paris, Christmas nice. And the nightly curfew
3:08:44
to horrible thing to think that we will be here as the World Health Organization saying to people don't hug each other.
3:08:52
But this year, if you love your family, if you really care about your family, we won't have these get togethers or we're going to do is I will guarantee you that grandpa or grandma won't be here for Christmas. This is our COVID Christmas. It's beginning to look like COVID Christmas.
3:09:12
Everyone everywhere you go. Take a look at the big box stores. Opening one small for restaurants and bars are told no. It's beginning to look like COVID charisma.
3:09:32
low noise to stay and Oh.
3:09:37
But the genius sight to see is the media will be broadcasting the
3:09:48
slaves that are mutinous are in that shooter the wishes of Tony and Bill. They will use science to ensure compliance to all of our veins of infield and they'll take it live on TV
3:10:00
Just to prove that it won't kill, it's beginning to look like COVID.
3:10:09
Everywhere you go, empty chairs at empty tables, people who just weren't able to wear a mask, wherever they did go, it's beginning to look like COVID. Christmas.
3:10:29
Soon freedom pass will stop.
3:10:33
But the thing that will make you free is the mRNA vaccines plugged into?
3:10:43
Well, none of the vaccines at this point appear like they'll work with a single dose, you know, that the the side effects were not super severe that it's it didn't cause permanent health problems. Are these vaccine safe? Yeah, but some of that is is not dramatic, where, you know, it's just, you know, super painful, but it's beginning to look like
3:11:10
freedom pass.
3:11:16
Sing, then I'll make you free. Is that mRNA vaccine?
3:11:24
plugs into?
3:11:33
It's COVID. Chris.
3:11:46
You can't sugarcoat it anymore. It's all about human life. Yeah.
3:11:55
China, China is
3:11:59
China, China is
3:12:02
China,
3:12:04
the United States, the United States. China is
3:12:10
China versus the United States. The United States, the United States, the United States, the United States.
3:12:18
Why would I be talking about Winnie the Pooh so much? Winnie the Pooh is constantly being banned in China. And that's because the leader Xi Jinping is very sensitive. And he doesn't like the fact that people compare him to Winnie the Pooh.
3:12:34
China, Walker Christmas, the United States, the United States,
3:12:42
China versus the United States, the United States, the United States, the United States, the United States.
3:12:51
China, China is as
3:12:54
trust
3:13:10
this is a big day, this is a very exciting day, something that is an actionable intervention that will get us out of the extraordinary to see that there's an hand on the horizon, something that's gonna allow us to return back to normal. It's just It's wonderful. It's a it's emotional, extraordinary scientific advances. It did not compromise safety. Nor did it compromise scientific integrity. It's called Operation warp speed means big and it means fast. And Vice President Mike Pence rolling up his sleeve or is this something the government is trying to put over on us? Is this something that companies want to take advantage of? The foremost concern is about the side effects people like Omen want to know the speedy process didn't come at the cost of safety we're not sure you know if it's gonna be like fever or like, you know, pain and whatnot.
3:14:15
mopho vorab.org. Slash and a Santa Claus is good to go. We expect to have more dead bodies.
