Economy –
Studies indicate that US banks hold well over a trillion dollars worth of losses. This week more banking instability will continue to hold the concern of the stocks and economy in general.
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This month, pandemic-related emergency funding from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, is ending in most states, leaving many low-income families with less to spend on food.
More than 41 million Americans receive funding for food through the federal program. For those households, it will amount to at least $95 less per month to spend on groceries. Yet for many families, the drop will be even steeper since the government assistance scales up to adjust for household size and income.
For grocers like Kroger, big-box players like Walmart and discounters like Dollar General, the drop in SNAP dollars adds to an already long list of worries about the year ahead. It’s likely to pressure a weakening part of retailers’ business: sales of discretionary merchandise, which are crucial categories for retailers, as they tend to drive higher profits.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/26/shrinking-food-stamp-benefits-retailers.html
OBSERVATION – This will have a mixed effect on the economy. Some will be hurt others will be inconvenienced. SNAP for the wuhan plandemic should have been phased out last year. In many cases, the program went to those who really didn’t need it. This is just another category of govt trying to install dependence on the system and not independence.
Invasion of Illegals –
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs intends to scrap a Border Strike Force in the state is sparking criticism from Republicans in the state — although it does have the backing of at least one Democrat. Hobbs said that she intends to reroute funding for the strike force, which was set up in 2015 by former Gov. Doug Ducey, and said the money could be used to coordinate a law enforcement response at the border.
“What our budget intends to do is to reallocate those funds where they can be most purposeful. I’ve said this before, recent reporting has indicated it’s not a force, it’s not striking at the border, and so we can repurpose those dollars to where they can be more beneficial in terms of coordinating a law enforcement response at the border,” she said during a tour of the border with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
OBSERVATION – A hard leftist, Hobbs has no plans to really do anything but dismantle the task force, paying lip service for now to border concerns.
Domestic / International Terror (modified)-
Situational awareness as Ramadan continues.
POLITICAL FRONT –
All eyes on Manhattan to see if the indictment will go forward or die a silent death.
China –
First protests in Hong Kong since the advent of wuhan occurred with strict controls over the participants who had to be identified and vetted by Chinese officials before being allowed to participate.
OBSERVATION – China’s application of the hammer of lockdowns destroyed the freedom movement in HK in 2019. In that vacuum China installed all its figure heads in govt power and moved security forces in (under the guise of the wuhan) to shut down the democracy movement.
North/South Korea –
The USS Nimitz and Carrier Strike Group Eleven are reportedly planning to arrive in the South Korea City of Busan on Monday to participate in Naval Exercises to the South of Jeju Island.
OBSERVATION - Expect more NK missile tests in protest.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT
Russian forces have initiated an offensive who’s declared goals are to reach and secure the Luhansk and Donetsk oblast borders — an objective that Russian Chief of General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov had also outlined on December 22, 2022. Troop and equipment build up is being noted
This offensive action is focused on several fronts –
1) the Svatove-Kreminna front,
2) Bahkmut region,
3) Donetsk region and
4) Zaporizhizhia Oblast around the town of Vuhledar.
Analysts are noting that the Russian offensive operations are winding down. Some offensive operation will continue to be attempted, however, a lot of assessment indicates they’ve lost the capability to sustain a credible offensive to try to capture the Donbas region having frittered away resources against Bahkmut.
Russia is also capable of launching cruise/ballistic missile attacks directed against Ukrainian infrastructure - primarily its power grid, but massively reduced inventories of such missiles means these barrages will be further apart.
While Russia has nuclear capability, the probability is low that any will be used in the near future.
********
NUCLEAR THREATS –
Russia could have its most powerful and quiet nuclear attack submarines on persistent patrols off either U.S. Coast in the next two years, the head of U.S. Northern Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.
In response to questions from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) on the threat of Chinese and Russian cruise missile submarines operating close to the U.S., NORTHCOM commander Gen. Glen VanHerck said that the deployments of the Russian Yasen-class nuclear cruise missile attack boats have been deploying more frequently.
“[The risk is] absolutely increasing. Within the last year, Russia has also placed their [Yasens] in the Pacific,” he said.
“Now not only the Atlantic, but we also have them in the Pacific and it’s just a matter of time – probably a year or two – before that’s a persistent threat, 24 hours a day. … That impact has reduced decision space for a national senior leader in a time of crisis.”
Also known by their NATO reporting name Severodvinsk class, the 13,800-ton Yasen-class attack boats are among the most capable submarines in the world. In particular, the three current boats in the class are capable of a special quiet operations mode that make them difficult to detect in the open ocean. In 2018, the lead boat in the class, Severodvinsk,evaded U.S. efforts to find it for weeks, according to press reports.
Russian Personnel Issues –-
Russia is having difficulties getting support from its population for voluntary service (conscription) into the military. In spite of Russian efforts to control the reporting from Ukraine – word of the massive causalities and poor support – have reached even into the prisons (once fertile sites to get volunteers). Russia also has had highly publicized issues in paying conscripts – many having no pay and being forced to purchase their own equipment.
Ukraine -
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures with highs now reaching the 60’s with rain/snow over most of the forecast period
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Fighting continues around Bakhmut and Avdiivka with little change in territory. Avdiivka has ordered an evacuation of all remaining civilians.
The Zaporizhizhia and Crimean fronts were relatively quiet, with mostly scattered and sporatic Russian artillery strikes.
Partisan Resistance ——
A vehicle belong to chief of occupational police in Mariupol was blown up overnight. Partisan activity has been on the increase lately in southern Ukraine.
OUTLOOK –
More of the same from past postings. It continues to appear that Russia’s offensive is running out of steam while Ukraine is ramping up preparations for its turn.
Latest Russian view of where the hammer will strike for Ukraine is Zaporizhizhia oblast, with occupation officials there making plans to evacuate sooner rather than later. This axis is also the shortest way to reach the Crimean peninsula and meet Ukraine’s stated goal of liberating that territory. Russia milbloggers are also concerned of a counteroffensive in the east that can split Russian forces in half and totally messing up what’s left of their logistics train to the occupied south.
EU is reportedly stepping up military aid to Georgia and Moldova. Georgia is expected to get €30 million worth modern trailers, trucks, heavy equipment transporters, cranes and vehicles supporting the mobility of the Georgian defense forces’ field artillery comms systems
Israel –
Israel is on the edge of the abyss this morning after hundreds of thousands of Israelis took to the streets on Sunday in protest after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed his defense minister Yoav Gallant, who had urged the government to halt a highly-contested plan to overhaul the judicial system. Israel’s permanent representative to the United Nations also resigned over the action – numerous other critical resignations in the military command and various places in govt. Nation wide strikes and shutdowns are planned for today.
US says it is “deeply concerned” over the firing of Israel Defense Minister.
RUMORS that Netanyahu is going to announce that reforms are being pulled off the table.
OBSERVATION - Even if Netanyahu pulls the reforms, it will be difficult to re-establish any kind of working relationship between his govt and many sectors – including the military. Yesterday’s protest took on components of the many ‘color’ revolutions that have either brought down govts or spun the nation into a civil war. Yesterday’s events may also push the country into another round of parliamentary voting.
All this occurs in the shadow of an increasingly aggressive Iran and its proxy terror groups in and around Israel.
The current biden regime has been hostile to Israel since 2020 and may have its fingers behind some of the organizations that organized the protest, the speed of which it was organized surprised many.
Ongoing watch to see just what Netanyahu says and if the protests will continue with the probable ultimate goal of forcing him to resign.
Israel should have provided Hunter with whores, diamonds and cash - then the 'biden administration' would be 'helpful'...
Israel should have provided Hunter with whores, diamonds and cash - then the 'biden administration' would be 'helpful'...
Economy –
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released updated food inflation forecasts, with all food expected to increase 7.5% with a window between 5.5% and 9.6%. Some foods are expected to increase more, with fats and oils at the highest with a 15.4% increase. Meanwhile, beef and pork are expected to disinflate slightly.
Biden / Harris watch –
Biden after 6 people dead in Nashville shooting of private Christian school:
“My name is Joe Biden. I’m Dr. Jill Biden’s husband. And I ate Jeni’s ice cream. Chocolate chip. I came down because I heard there was chocolate chip ice cream. I have a whole refrigerator full upstairs.”
OBSERVATION – Fox new cut to this as a pending commentary on the Tennessee shootings but didn’t cut back away soon enough before this was transmitted across the network live. This is unbelievable tone deafness regarding the attack and were a republican to do such would have generated instant calls for folks to rise up with pitchforks and torches.
CW2/Domestic violence –
The “Culture Wars” are turning hot and we better enhance our situational awareness.
I’ve warned that the leftists are looking to ramp up their violence as summer approaches. Actions over the last 24 hours point to leftists taking the talking points of the ‘influencers’ seriously.
Radical transgender groups have been calling for violence across the country for several months now, with a crescendo call the past few weeks.
The deceased mass shooter of the Christian school in Nashville has been identified as trans person Audrey E. Hale. Authorities believe the transgender shooter previously attended the Christian school Three children & three staff were murdered. The shooting comes amid a surge in far-left death threats in Tennessee over the state banning the medical transitioning of minors. and a search of the family home in Nashville revealed detailed maps and a manifesto of the attack.
According to police, she intentionally targeted a religious elementary school for mass murder. Hale apparently planned the attack carefully, and left behind a “manifesto.” We’ll have to wait to see if the manifesto is made public. This school was a secondary target as the first school had too much security.
This attack falls on the heels of Tennessee passing a bill outlawing gender transition ‘treatment’ of children. It also falls in line with increasing threats by transgender radicals to fight back with violence. For example, the Antifa group organizing the “Trans Day of Vengeance” outside the Supreme Court on April 1 outside the Supreme Court has locked down its Twitter account following the deadly mass shooting on a Christian school in Nashville by a trans shooter.
A popular sign/tee shirt design features the words “Trans Rights” on top, then four different style of rifles then the words “Or Else”.
Violence associated with the radical transgender activists have been noted here in my posts. To date, most violence has been directed against Feminist and anti-grooming meetings/marches. These violent transgenderists are usually flanked by supporting Antifa elements – providing muscle and helping direct violent activities.
Further violence advocated by these transgenderists include calls to arm up all across the interwebs to respond to what they call a ‘genocide’ directed against them.
The violence by the Trans activists are not limited to the US, but is a global phenomena. Just a few days ago in New Zealand, activist Posie Parker, who was attempting to give a speech in defense of traditional womanhood, was assaulted by a transmob. Similar in Britain as well.
Also within the broader framework of the left’s violent agenda are the statements by many that murder of opponents is all ok and right to do. One high visibility case was Jane Fonda’s recent appearance on “the View” where she openly and plainly advocated murder of opponents. Many, many others throughout the various social media platforms are advocating the same. One such example is a Wayne State University suspends professor for suggesting that conservatives be killed.
English Professor Steven Shaviro criticized students who shout down and intimidate conservative speakers who come to campus.
It only encourages them. He insisted it was better to kill them off. This is what young skulls full of mush are being force fed.
The shockingly sudden rise of violent transgenderism, beginning with ‘reading stories’ to children, morphing to the putrid ‘drag shows’ and now is morphing to direct violence and murder on such a short time frame – only a couple years – is concerning. The mental reasoning to commit murder and willingness of Antifa to support the cause is an uneasy indicator that they think violence will forward their cause and I expect more to come.
One last note on the shooter – MSM saying she had two AR-15 style rifles. Photos show only one AR-15 style platform. The other is a conversion where a lower from a semiautomatic handgun is attached to a rifle length upper – creating a pistol caliber rifle, in this case probably a 9mm.
**
The rise of violent transgenderism has started a split within the broader LGBT community with a move now to cut out the “T” community from the movement because it essentially by its ‘doctrine’ is counter the LGB elements and many LGB view the current trans-activism as betraying the greater community.
OBSERVATION – So not only is the left’s former golden child – radical feminism – being attacked by the new lefts transactivism, but the more recent golden child – homosexual rights are being attacked as well.
**
Monday multiple Georgia law enforcement agencies began clearing a park where left wing extremists associated with Stop Cop City have been. They have already found molotovs and nailed boards set as traps. They closed the park for this reason on Friday
OBSERVATION – I noted this closure last week. An indiscriminate threat to civilians.
IN related - The blog site for the StopCopCity Antifa terrorist network has published an ominous post with the alleged family home addresses & spouse information of the Dekalb County, Ga. judges overseeing the cases involving the Atlanta domestic terror suspects. The revenge post calls for comrades to give them a visit & pays homage to their deceased gunman, Manuel “Tort” Teran.
OBSERVATION – Same tactic as the doxing of LAPD members. They are targeting the families of law enforcement and any they see as an opposition to their cause. More of an indicator of impending directed violence.
**
Chairman of the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is demanding answers from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Daniel Werfel after the IRS deployed an unannounced visit to journalist Matt Taibbi’s home, following his testimony before the panel on the Twitter Files.
Jordan, on Monday, sent a letter to Yellen and Werfel demanding answers in regard to the timing and circumstances surrounding the raid on Taibbi’s home on March 9 — “the same day Mr. Taibbi testified before the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government about what he learned about Twitter,” The Wall Street Journal reported.
According to Jordan’s letter, Taibbi notified the congressman that the IRS instructed him to call the federal agency four days after his testimony before the government’s weaponization panel, at which point he was told that both his 2018 and 2021 tax filings were requested because of “concerns over identity theft.”
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/irs-matt-taibbi-weaponization/2023/03/27/id/1114031/
OBSERVATION – Intimidation is the order of the day by the regime towards anyone who speaks out against it. Remember, they want to add 87,000 new IRS agents – many to be assigned to swat style teams.
Domestic / International Terror (modified)-
Situational awareness as Ramadan continues.
Strategic Activity / Deployments –
According to the USNI, the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (CSG-12) recently completed its pre-deployment exercise. In early June, CSG-12 is expected to relieve the USS George H. W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (CSG-1) in the eastern Mediterranean.
OBSERVATION – The Ford will likely replace the Bush in the Med since the Bush has been on station for about a year in response to the Ukraine war. There will likely be a little overlap time as the Bush brings the Ford up to speed on the area of operations.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Speculation continues over the fate of the grand jury investigation of Trump. Will the Manhattan DA fish or cut bait?
North/South Korea –
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was photographed inspecting a range of nuclear warheads at the Nuclear Weapons Research Institute, according to state media on Tuesday, urging increased production.
OBSERVATION – Many are skeptical (including myself) that these are actual warheads given how the ‘warheads’ were stored and the lack of evidence that NK has actually managed to miniaturize the warhead design to fit these devices. Secondly, given that NK is utilizing plutonium as the fission material, protection from radioactivity in the photos is also noticeably lacking. It is impossible to verify whether they are the real deal. Until North Korea tests one of these devices, we are left guessing.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - into the second year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Feb 24th, 2022
CURRENT ASSESSMENT
Russian forces have initiated an offensive who’s declared goals are to reach and secure the Luhansk and Donetsk oblast borders — an objective that Russian Chief of General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov had also outlined on December 22, 2022. Troop and equipment build up is being noted
This offensive action is focused on several fronts –
1) the Svatove-Kreminna front,
2) Bahkmut region,
3) Donetsk region and
4) Zaporizhizhia Oblast around the town of Vuhledar.
Analysts are noting that the Russian offensive operations are winding down. Some offensive operation will continue to be attempted, however, a lot of assessment indicates they’ve lost the capability to sustain a credible offensive to try to capture the Donbas region having frittered away resources against Bahkmut.
Russia is also capable of launching cruise/ballistic missile attacks directed against Ukrainian infrastructure - primarily its power grid, but massively reduced inventories of such missiles means these barrages will be further apart.
While Russia has nuclear capability, the probability is low that any will be used in the near future.
********
NUCLEAR THREATS –
China has come out with sour statements against Russia moving tactical nukes into Belarus.
Russian Personnel Issues –-
Lieutenant General Andrii Kuzmenko has been appointed temporary acting commander of the Russian Eastern Group after Muradov was dismissed.
Ukraine -
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures with highs now reaching the 60’s with rain/snow over most of the forecast period
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Fighting continues around Bakhmut and Avdiivka with little change in territory.
Russia dug out some Iranian drones and managed to hit Kyiv and Dnipro overnight.
The Zaporizhizhia and Crimean fronts were relatively quiet, with mostly scattered and sporatic Russian artillery strikes.
Partisan Resistance ——
A vehicle belong to chief of occupational police in Mariupol was blown up overnight. Partisan activity has been on the increase lately in southern Ukraine.
OUTLOOK –
More of the same from past postings. Russia will continue to pressure around Bakhmut and Avdiivka but collapse of those defenses are not imminent.
Israel –
Israel remains on the edge of the abyss staring into the darkness.
Netanyahu yesterday - “I’m taking a time out in the legislation of the judicial reform. I decided to suspend the vote on 2nd & 3rd reading of the legislation in the current Knesset session, in order to try & reach an understanding on the legislation in the next Knesset session”
Netanyahu also said that there is an “extreme minority they is ready to tear the country to pieces and ignite a civil war”. Further called on all “demonstrators in Jerusalem, from the right and the left, to behave responsibly and not to act violently. We are brothers”
Netanyahu called on the heads of the security establishment to stop the refusals to serve due to the judicial plan
General strike in Israel called off following Netanyahu pausing the legislative reform.
Israel PM Netanyahu agrees to establish a “national guard” force that will be under the direct authority of Ben Gvir.
Pro-Government Protests in support of the Judicial Overhaul and Prime Minister Netanyahu are currently taking place in the Israeli Capital of Jerusalem. Anti – Govt protestors out now calling for a military coup against Netanyahu.
OBSERVATION - Netanyahu’s pulling the judicial reform measure has granted some space in the ongoing chaos. However, with pro-govt supporters now taking to the streets and the anti-govt protestors calling for a coup things can get spicy very quickly. Netanyahu’s approval of a “national guard” under Ben Gvir is of additional concern. Gvir is reportedly a hard right supporter and an organized ‘guard’ under his supervision dangerously splits the Israeli miliary and its loyality.
What could be more dangerous is if Iran and its proxies – Hamas and Hezbollah – were to strike during these massive protests, the ensuing chaos both among the people as well as the military would be potentially catastrophic.