Globalism / Great Reset –
Declaration of North America (DNA)
Today, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, President Joseph R. Biden, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met in Mexico City for the 10th North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS). The leaders are determined to fortify our region’s security, prosperity, sustainability and inclusiveness through commitments across six pillars: 1) diversity, equity, and inclusion; 2) climate change and the environment; 3) competitiveness; 4) migration and development; 5) health; and 6) regional security.
OBSERVATION – Classic globalist tripe. Read the announcement at the link above. I think this is setting the framework for a North American Union that eliminates the nations and rights we currently have (or at least still on paper have). Note also how they merge with WEF goals.
Gas stoves, the saga continues . . . . . .
RedState.com notes the company involved with the ‘study’ of health issues associated with gas stoves and the associated recent democrat attacks against them has links to the WEF. According to the report -
“Regardless, it’s worth asking where this is all coming from, right? Why did Democrats all start moving in lockstep to ban gas stoves, seemingly with no prior concern at all? And sure enough, with a little digging, it’s been revealed that this isn’t just idle science taking place.”
“The company behind the study is called Rocky Mountain Institute “Carbon-Free Buildings.” That company is a partner of the World Economic Forum and has a true-believer CEO who wants to rid the world of all carbon emissions (which is impossible and would lead to mass extinction).”
OBSERVATION – Just another effort to try to force more people off forms of energy that rely on fossil fuels (i.e. natural gas).
RELATED - The Consumer Product Safety Commission on Wednesday walked back a claim made by one of its members that the Biden administration was weighing a ban on new natural gas stoves over health concerns.
The reversal follows fierce rebukes from politicians and the energy industry.
The chair of the federal agency, Biden appointee Alexander Hoehn-Saric, said previous assertions made by fellow Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. that the agency would consider a ban in the coming months was simply not true.
House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington Republican, described a ban as the “latest in a long line of power grabs by the radical left and Biden administration.”
“It is not about public safety,” she said. “It is about telling the American people the federal government knows best and will decide what kind of car they can drive, how they can heat their house, and now how they’re allowed to cook food for their families.”
OBSERVATION – Said dozens and dozens of times – its all about power.
Reagan called the nine most terrifying words in the English language: “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help you kill yourself.”
Soon after the announcement that Canada would expand its medically assisted suicide program to include those with mental illness, the popular Canadian department store chain Simons issued a new advertisement celebrating the policy. The video features a woman saying, “Last breaths are sacred; you just have to be brave enough to see it,” over a montage of her being wheeled to places of natural wonder. The department store’s logo is featured prominently at the end of the commercial.
OBSERVATION – Death is an obsession with the WEF and other globalists. It is their stated goal to substantially depopulate the planet (the now destroyed Georgia guidestones called for a global population of no more than 500 million). When 0bama care / universal health care was debated here in the US, the discussion of the death counsels was raised – how worth it was your life to be continued versus the medical resources needed. Assisted suicide at a state level has been around some blue states, but never at the brazen level now projected by Canada. Remember Canada has been the beta test country for many of the GGR’s stated plans. Remember also that our medical crisis has been manipulated by the tyrannical leftists in DC towards the goal of universal health care, bring along with it the inevitable govt directed euthanasia of the sick and elderly.
The Georgia governor and republican is scheduled to be in Davos for the WEF confab. Many are asking WHY? Perhaps a hint was seen earlier in 2022 when Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger announced that he was awarding management of Georgia’s voter registration system to a subsidiary of Salesforce.com. Marc Benioff is founder and co-chairman of Salesforce and is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum.
OBSERVATION – Once again the WEF shows that it has the power to influence and control governments. In this case, follow the money.
Wuhan virus –
Wuhan virus continues to develop new forms of the Omicron strain, which is the predominant form of the virus circulating today. Much more contagious than the original novel coronavirus found in Wuhan, China in late 2019, the omicron strain has continued to mutate; there are now more than 650 subvariants, and that doesn’t include the previous Greek-letter versions like Alpha, Gamma, Delta, and their subtypes.
Certain subvariants that are concerning are now being given names from Greek lore. The current mutation, XBB1.5, that is showing growth in the United States is being called the “Kraken” variant, after the mythological sea monster.
The Kraken variant is thought by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be the most transmissible version yet, with possible reproductive (R-Nought) numbers above 18. A disease’s R-Nought is the number of cases that will occur in a vulnerable population if an infected person is placed in the middle of it. Measles’ R-nought is about 18, which means that an infected individual will give the disease to an average of 18 susceptible people. The Kraken variant is apparently even more contagious.
https://www.doomandbloom.net/the-kraken-variant/
OBSERVATION – No evidence that this variant has gained lethality, but trend indicates it is not very lethal inspite of being highly contagious. From what I’ve read, the traditional trend (back when real science mattered) is for these viruses to increase in transmissibility and decrease in lethality – ie more hosts and not killing itself (host) off in the process.
Economy –
Even if the U.S. avoids a recession in 2023, American consumers and investors could face a grinding slowdown that likely won’t let up until 2024, according to a new outlook published by Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi.
Zandi even coined a new term to describe this kind of protracted downturn, calling it a “slowcession” in a note sent to clients and reporters on Tuesday.
The mainstream view on Wall Street is that as the Federal Reserve slashes interest rates to help cushion the blow for investors and consumers, the U.S. economy will likely enter a brief recession during the first half of 2023, but that it will be over long before year’s end.
Still, while Zandi believes the Fed’s most aggressive interest-rate hikes in decades will have a deleterious impact on GDP growth, he thinks a strong U.S. labor market and other factors relating to the consumer should help prevent an outright contraction in the economy.
“There is no doubt the economy will struggle in the coming year as the Fed works to rein in the high inflation, but the baseline outlook holds that the Fed will be able to accomplish this without precipitating a recession,” Zandi said in the note.
According to a set of forecasts, Zandi expects U.S. gross domestic product to grow by roughly 1% or less on a year-over-year basis during all four quarters in 2023.
OBSERVATION – New term and concept, but still doesn’t sound very good. He doesn’t define “strong labor market” and if the Fed hits its unemployment ‘goal’ of 5%+ how is that ‘strong’. Also ignores the historical role the housing market plays in helping the nation pull out of recessions – that role will be denied under prolonged high interest rates and unemployment. Doesn’t seem to factor in continuing stressors that will push to maintain inflationary trends such as agricultural related, disruptions of the oil/gas industry (minus major chaos from wars) and inflated govt spending.
Yes, I’m inclined to be more doomish on my outlook, but post wuhan and the purposeful economic implosion directed by the biden regime pushes the recession analyses – particularly those who say there will be on recesson or that it will be minor – are understating these and other factors.
Complications from extreme winter weather conditions are at least partly to blame for a feed crisis confronting California-based poultry producer Foster Farms.
The shortage of feed — which it blamed on Union Pacific rail delivery failures — imperiled both chickens and cattle, the company said in a Dec. 29 petition to the Service Transportation Board for emergency assistance.
“The point has again been reached where hundreds of thousands of dairy cattle are not being fed, and when millions of chickens will starve to death because of UP’s service failures,” Foster Farms said in the petition.
“While Foster Farms concedes that weather played a part, it also believes this failure is indicative of systemic problems within UP that will persist,” the company said in an STB filing Thursday after four of the five feed trains had arrived. Foster Farms said Union Pacific delays have affected three of its facilities in California since October.
OBSERVATION – A lot has been made out of the outrageous egg prices recently. This kalifornia component is just one. The late December arctic blast (Winter Storm Elliott) killed many chickens as well (reducing egg production).
However, UP and other rail roads have had trouble dealing with engineer shortages and back up of trains with its own cars, let alone cars belonging to other companies that they transport. I’ve noted these issues throughout 2022. Logistics supply to companies look to continue to be critical throughout 2023.
Analysts from ING Groep NV and Goldman Sachs expect a rally for oil to bring the price above $100 a barrel as Russian supply drops and China increases oil imports. American Petroleum Institute President Mike Sommers said the Biden administration’s refusal to signal support for the U.S. oil and gas sector is making it difficult for producers to access capital and increase production.(FO)
OBSERVATION – Continued forecasts of higher oil prices as we enter the summer season. These forecasts have to be caveated with no Black Swan events – such as Belarus entering the Ukraine war in a more active manner or China making starting moves to take Taiwan. Here in my corner of the Redoubt gasoline prices are starting their upward migration.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack outlined a first round of funding on a $500 million program to expand domestic fertilizer production.
OBSERVATION – Expansion of domestic fertilizer will need natural gas as well as mined minerals such as phosphorus. Both of those areas face huge hurdles in today’s biden regime environment.
Invasion of Illegals –
Mexico’s President Andrés Lopez Obrador says 40 million Mexicans are living in the United States.
“Just imagine: There are 40 million Mexicans in the United States — 40 million [including people] who were born here in Mexico, [or] who are the children of people who were born in Mexico,” President Andrés Lopez Obrador gushed at a January 10 press conference with President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Obrador’s proud Mexican-first advocacy for ethnic Mexicans — including ethnic Mexicans in the United States — is very different from the globalist, investor-first policies pushed by Trudeau and Biden.
OBSERVATION – See also Globalism / Great Reset above on the DNA statement pushing movement to a North America without borders.
Biden / Harris watch –
Aides to President Joe Biden have discovered at least one additional batch of classified documents in a location separate from the Washington, D.C., office he used after serving as vice president, NBC News reported Wednesday
CW2/Domestic violence –
The American Civil Liberties Union is calling for an overhaul of FBI rules after The Washington Times reported that agents used the CIA and National Security Agency to spy on Americans.
The ACLU urged the bureau to impose new limits on agents’ power to investigate Americans without warrants.
The FBI’s rule book, rewritten in 2021, revealed details about how the FBI tasks the CIA and NSA for help on matters including assessments, which are investigations that can involve surveillance without a court order against people not accused of a crime.
OBSERVATION – A clear case of a blind squirrel finding a nut.
POLITICAL FRONT –
President Joe Biden’s possession of classified information while he was vice president, other members of his current administration have been linked to the scandal. The classified documents were found at the Penn Biden Center, a think tank that the president started in 2018.
As reported by Fox News, 10 members of Biden’s administration were formally employed at the think tank, including current Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The list also includes Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl and White House Counselor Steven Richetti. Blinken and Richetti were managing directors at the think tank while Kahl was a consultant.
Spencer Boyer, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for NATO and Europe policy was a senior fellow at Penn Biden.
Deputy to the U.N. Ambassador Jeffrey Prescott; Ariana Berengaut; Organization of Security and Cooperation Europe Michael Carpenter, special assistant Juan Gonzalez, speechwriter Carlyn Reichel, and former deputy secretary of state Brian McKeon.
OBSERVATION – Waiting for the FBI raids and special prosecutor to be named.
RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel is facing stiffer head winds as she tries to be reelected to that position. As a result of the debacle that was the 2022 midterms where she lead the party to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, a growing number of conservatives want to see a change in leadership.
OBSERVATION – She is deep rooted, deep state niece of turn coat Sen Romney. But the RNC’s epic failure last year may work to force her out in spite of her ties. A recent Human Events poll reports that just six percent of Republicans want Ronna McDaniel to remain RNC chair,
China –
WAR WATCH – I am still monitoring for indicators that indicated that China may initiate a more coercive plan to force Taiwan into submission with a potential start of a potential blockade of the island during the Chinese New Years timeframe. Chinese New Year celebrations begin 22 January, after which they would have 60 days until a break in seasonally rough weather conditions in the Taiwan Strait.
Indicators –
• China executed a snap military exercise on Monday that simulated kinetic strikes on Taiwanese infrastructure and what appeared to be an air/sea blockade along its southern and eastern coasts. The exercise was unexpected and only announced after commencement.
• The exercise included more than 57 tactical aircraft and four naval surface combatants.
• The exercise was run by the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command – the command that would be responsible for a military operation against Taiwan.
• China has been making massive new purchases of gold, suggesting that it is expecting western sanctions and financial disruption ahead of a move on Taiwan. NOTE - China has long been purchasing a lot of gold, also thought to be in preparation for a move to gold backed standard currency.
North/South Korea –
South Korea’s Yoon says if North Korean provocations continue, the South could deploy tactical nuclear warheads or possess its own nukes, saying, “We’ll be able to get hold of them sooner with our science and technology.”
OBSERVATION - It has long been considered that technologically advanced countries like Japan and S Korea could express run a nuclear program – all they would need is the fissile Uranium or Plutonium.
Japan –
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signed a new defense agreement on Wednesday. The agreement provides reciprocal deployment of military forces for training and operations.
OBSERVATION – Japan continues to move at maximum speed to prepare for conflict with China in both diplomatic and material arenas.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - Russia’s “three days to conquer Ukraine” war continues since fighting starting on Feb 24th.
CURRENT ASSESSMENT
Russia is currently working to (re)assemble a military force capable of resuming the offensive in the Donbas while at the same time trying to make defensive preparations for an expected Ukrainian offensive as well. Suspected goal for the start of offensive operations is latter half of January at the earliest.
At present, it is capable of very local offensive actions as in the ongoing fighting around Bakhmut and Donetsk.
Russia is also capable of launching more 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.
********
Eyebrows have been raised at the deployment of Russian Navy ships and submarines from their base at Novorossiysk, in the Black Sea, en-masse. This is highly unusual and may indicate ongoing operations. Sources seen by Naval News confirm the exodus. The group included the Project 11711 Ivan Gren class landing ship, Pyotr Morgunov, the largest amphibious ship in the Black Sea.
It also contained all three Project 636.3 Improved-Kilo class submarines which were present at the base. Analysis suggests that other warships were also sailing, leaving only a few warships and support vessels in the port. It is likely the most empty that Novorossiysk has been in many months.
The remaining explanation is that the Russian Navy assets are involved in an operation. The last time we reported an unusual spike in Russian Navy activity it preceded extensive missile strikes on Ukraine. The Improved-Kilo class submarines have been used to launch Kalibr cruise missile attacks on Ukraine.
Also seemingly associated are reports of significant Russian GPS jamming in and around the Black Sea. Several indications occurring of a possible significant escalation by Russian forces.
OBSERVATION – Most definitively an indicator of an impending Russian missile/cruise missile/drone blitz. What is curious is the deployment of their amphib landing ships. At this stage of the war it is almost inconceivable that Russia would attempt any kind of an amphib operation against Ukraine as it is armed to the teeth with modern anti-ship weapons systems that would cut the landing craft to pieces. These landing craft have been previously tasked with shuttling supplies across the Kerch Strait until the bridge is fully repaired – due sometime in the late summer.
One observation I have is that Russia could have done some modifications to permit these amphib vessels to launch Iranian drones, perhaps stealing a page out of Iran’s current naval build up that includes drone launching ships.
NUCLEAR THREATS –
The Russian invasion of Ukraine may come to a terrifying end in 2023, with Russian President Vladimir Putin likely to turn to nuclear weapons rather than have his armies be completely routed on the battlefield, retired US Army Brig.-Gen. Kevin Ryan said in a Tuesday interview with Insider.
This possibility could occur, Ryan, who also was the former US military attache to Russia, told Insider, with the goal of not only taking out Ukrainian troops but also forcing Kyiv into surrendering to avoid a nuclear holocaustscenario. Moscow could make this move if one of two things happened:
1. Ukraine’s forces are about to utterly defeat the Russian military in the field
2. Ukraine’s forces are about to finally retake the Crimean Peninsula that Moscow annexed in 2014
OBSERVATION – these points have been covered in the past few months, so there is nothing really new here. Russian nukes are a wildcard. Some analysts suggest that if putin dies with the war ongoing, his successor may be very inclined to execute this option.
RUMINT-
Growing rumors that a Russian 2nd mobilization is looming with as many as 500K more soldiers will be mobilized, in addition to 300K in September. It is being reported that Moscow will restrict travel for men of military age 18-45. The Russian FSB claims this is false- but in May, the Duma increased the age limit for contractual military service from 45 to 65.
NOTE – If the previous mobilization is any model, this larger one will also be a goat rope. Barely trained conscripts could see fighting in about a month, while those needed to operate armor, artillery, etc will take longer. This constrains the Russian planning.
Ukraine -
WEATHER FORECAST – Rain and snow letting up with increasing number of days that are below freezing and for much of eastern Ukraine, a multi-day episode of sub-freezing temperatures on the way.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Heavy clashes continue in Soledar as the town still refuses to fall to Russian (Wagner) forces. Russia is slowly developing pincers to the north and south of the town in an effort to cutoff Ukrainian logistic support.
Russian forces are reportedly losing ground around the key logistic hub of Kreminna in Luhansk Oblast. More intense fighting also being reported northwest of Svatove.
OUTLOOK ——
The Wagner – Russian MoD soap opera continues as Wagner forces continue to try to sieze Soledar. Heavy propaganda on both sides. It has been estimated that Wagner has lost as many as 13,000 fighters over the past couple weeks in their push to take the village. Most of these would be recently mobilized conscripts likely taken out of prisons.
The current situation has taken Wagner several months to accomplish the forward movement of the LOC about 1 km. Current efforts to surround Soledar appear be slowly bearing fruit and the village may not last under Ukraine control for much longer.
The capture of Soledar would not add that much to the situation in the Donbas or the goal of capturing Bakhmut. Russian (Wagner) forces will be thoroughly bleed out an unable to exploit the success as it would face more Ukrainian defenses in depth.
New Russian changes in command of the Russia forces in Ukraine has a lot of eyebrows raised as well. General ‘Armageddon” replaced after only three months and relegated to a deputy. Watching to see how this will play out. Surovikin was reportedly able to work with Wagner Group leadership. General Gerasimov OTOH has been at war with Wagner group leaders over his poor execution of the war from the kremlin.
Belarus -
Russian Ground Forces commander Salyukov visited Belarus to inspect ‘combat readiness’, the Belarusian defence ministry says - Reuters.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is going to Minsk on January 19. It’s reported that he will take part in the joint board of the MFAs of Belarus and Russia. The last time Lavrov was in Minsk on December 19, when Putin also arrived in Belarus.
OBSERVATION – Many are watching closely for signs that Belarus will join the Ukraine war or if Russia will launch on its own. From the political/military standpoint, Russia is giving a lot of attention on the readiness of Belarus as well as its efforts to integrate both forces together. As mentioned before, this could be a psyop effort to cause Ukraine to maintain forces in the north and not have them available to counter any Russian offensive.
Attack indicators seen in the lead up to Feb 2022’s start of the war are not overwhelmingly present, the progressive build up of Russian forces and even some armor/tanks is gaining more attention.
ASSESSMENT – The possibility of either a Russian/Belarus or a straight Russian attack southward out of Belarus is moving higher, though still considered by many to be unlikely. Current actions are indicative of a build up that would be necessary for any kind of a round two coming out of Belarus. The pressing question is does the Belarus president have the political will to risk a coup and order Belarus military forces to cross the border with its Russian counterparts?
Running short on time today, so a little shorter than usual.
Globalism / Great Reset -
(FO) In its 2023 Global Risks Report, the World Economic Forum (WEF) uses the word “polycrisis” to describe the array of threats and risks facing the world in 2023. “This is the year of the polycrisis, where risks are more interdependent and reciprocally damaging than ever,”
The WEF sees inflation, natural disasters, geoeconomic confrontation, climate change, and the “erosion of social cohesion and societal polarization” (leading to state collapse) as the world’s top five threats over the next two years, especially as the world decouples into eastern and western spheres of influences.
The key takeaways from the five areas of this report –
1. Inflation and the Cost of Living Crisis: Disruptions to food and energy markets will drive political and social unrest.
2. Natural Disasters: Natural disasters are expected to become more severe and frequent, putting stress on governments and increasing environmental and social risks.
3. Geoeconomic Confrontation: Conflict between nations over economic matters and “the weaponization of economic policy,” such as sanctions, export controls, and trade wars, “risk widespread spillovers” in the global economy. This will push nations to become more self-sufficient and less interconnected, accelerating deglobalization and further fracturing.
4. Climate Change: The top climate change risks, according to the WEF, center on the failure to mitigate climate change and the failure to adapt to it.
5. Societal Polarization: Social disintegration is a rising risk due to many factors, including the four mentioned above. The report talks about a values gap and inequality as being the two leading factors currently polarizing populations.
6. Societal Polarization: Polarization and social disintegration leading to violent social movements and state collapse.
OBSERVATION - Report is rather gloomy and is interesting as such. The GGR/WEF folks look to this level of social/economic upheaval to usher in its “Great Reset” agenda and world governance. Many of these issues appear to be driven behind the scenes by the WEF and affiliated govts and agencies. They are creating the problem in order to drive the world into accepting their “solution”.
Wuhan virus –
Pfizer was required by the U.S. and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct multiple studies on its vaccine after the FDA approved the shot in August 2021 because regulators determined that without the studies, there would not be sufficient data to assess the “known serious risks of myocarditis and pericarditis,” or heart inflammation and a related condition.
Regulators were also concerned about the potential risk of subclinical myocarditis, or heart inflammation without typical symptoms.
The FDA told Pfizer to carry out six studies, with various deadlines for completion and reporting final results to the agency. The first final deadline arrived on Dec. 31, 2022.
Pfizer was required to submit a report on the study, which was to assess the incidence of subclinical myocarditis following administration of a third dose of Pfizer’s vaccine, or a booster shot, in people aged 16 to 30.
It’s unclear whether Pfizer met the deadline. The company and the FDA did not respond to requests for comment, and neither have issued any information about the study or its results since the deadline passed.
The FDA added a warning about myocarditis following Pfizer and Moderna vaccination to patient and health care provider fact sheets in June 2021. Both vaccines utilize messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. Prospective vaccine recipients were told the risk of myocarditis was increased after vaccination, particularly after the second dose of the two-dose primary series.
OBSERVATION – Pfizer committed fraud and both they and the FDA know it. Seems FDA positioning itself to pin blame on Pfizer, knowing the swamp will protect it’s corrupted basis for approval.
Economy –
Led by lower energy costs, acceleration in U.S. inflation eased in December for the sixth consecutive month. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose at an annualized rate of 6.5% in December, down from 7.1% in November and well below the 9.1% peak in June.
OBSERVATION – Inflation isn’t dead by a long shot. Prices outside of energy have continued under strong inflationary rates - Core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, rose 0.3 percent for the month. Core prices were up 5.7 percent compared with a year ago.
And the relief from energy costs are only expected to be short lived as gasoline prices are expected to rebound to $4+ range by early summer.
As the US edges closer to a potential crisis on the debt ceiling, various elements are coming up with plans to circumvent any delay in the rise. Some conservatives are wanting to play hardball with concessions while the banking sector is warning of economic catastrophe for debt default. IMHO, the US has few options anymore given the uncontrolled spending and current economic shakiness and impending recession. Raising the ceiling is a damned if you do, damned if you don’t scenario that plays right into the lefts hands either way.
Sky high electrical and natural gas prices are beginning to cause steel and aluminum plants to slow down and in some ways, shut down. This in turn is affecting the economy with layoffs and more supply shortages with higher prices. Decisions to shut down operations are of last resort, since shut down procedures are long and tedious and restarting takes another six to nine months. For this reason, owners don’t halt operations unless they’ve exhausted all other options.
OBSERVATION – Growing up, the Pacific NW had a bunch of Aluminum smelting plants because of the abundant supply of cheep electricity from hydro and coal plants. Over the years as population has grown and electrical supply has dropped these plants have largely shut down and disappeared. Now that business has been transferred to China – and we all know how that has been going.
Invasion of Illegals –
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending temporary amnesty status to thousands of Somali nationals living in the United States who would otherwise be eligible for deportation.
On Thursday, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that the Biden administration is extending and redesignating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, which will allow more than 2,600 Somali nationals to remain living and working in the U.S.
OBSERVATION - They have not been the best model ‘citizens’ in Minnesota
Biden / Harris watch –
Peter Doocy on new batch of classified documents found in Biden’s garage: “Classified material next to your Corvette! What were you thinking?”
Biden responds: “My Corvette is in a locked garage, OK? So it’s not like they’re sitting out on the street”
Doocy: “So, the material was in a locked garage?”
“Yes,” said Biden, “as well as my Corvette.
“But as I said earlier this week, people know I take classified documents and classified material seriously,” Biden said.
Now a third discovery has been announced. The finding came at Biden’s personal residence in Wilmington, Delaware, and follows two other classified batches from his vice presidential days that were flagged last year, Attorney General Merrick Garland revealed Thursday.
...
So far, there have been at least three distinct classified document discoveries. The first came on Nov. 2 of last year, while a Biden lawyer was clearing out a closet in the president’s old office space at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, a foreign policy-focused think tank. Biden “periodically used this space from mid-2017 until the start of the 2020 campaign,” according to White House counsel Richard Sauber.
OBSERVATION - As noted under politics, this could be the start of a move to keep biden off the 2024 ticket.
But we can rest assured that biden takes security of his Corvette more seriously than the boxes of highly classified document in his possession.
Anyone notice that harris has dropped off the radar for the past several months – perhaps in part is her continued demonstrated incompetence on full display at a recent press conference where she tossed some whopper word salads –
Kamala: “It is the Caribbean nations, island nations in the Western hemisphere. That is where the Caribbean is. We are also in the Western Hemisphere. They are our neighbors.”
Harris: “I think of this moment as a moment that is about great momentum, inspired by, yes, optimism… but also inspired by also our collective ability to see what can be unburdened by what has been.”
Harris: “Always think about complex issues through the frame of a Venn diagram.”
CW2/Domestic violence –
The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation based on the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) complaint against Granbury Independent School District (GISD) and Superintendent Jeremy Glenn which centers on the removal of controversial books as well as related comments made by Glenn.
RELATED: Cross-dressing Book for Pre-K Students Crossed the Line
ACLU alleges GISD exhibited anti-LGBT discrimination and violated Title IX, the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discrimination, but reinterpreted by the Biden administration to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
OBSERVATION – A different kind of incident for the CW2 topic, but I see this as just one of the many stressors that are increasing the cultural split in his country that may well end up in a violent split of the country. Here the biden regime is trying to force by ‘law’ radical LGBT agenda on the children.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Attorney General Merrick Garland has just announced that he is appointing a special counsel to investigate whether Biden mishandled classified information during his time in private life. The DoJ named Robert Hur, a partner at Gibson Dunn, as the special prosecutor.
OBSERVATION – Some are wondering if this is the next step in preventing a second biden run for the presidency, given how the MSM is largely not providing cover for him on this scandal.
RELATED - Robert Hur is the man who served as the DOJ point man to Robert Mueller’s special counsel investigation looking into Donald Trump’s alleged side hustle as a Russian secret agent — Double 45.
He is the same guy who vetted retired British spy Christopher Steele, a disgraced (sensing a pattern here?) spy who was fired by the FBI (and then used on the QT by his cutout Bruce Ohr) and hired actual Russian spies on behalf of Hillary Clinton’s campaign to make up information on Trump.
Strategic Activity / Deployments –
Pending further confirmation but reports that a large number of U.S. army tanks and military vehicles began arriving at the Dutch port of Vlissingen on Wednesday (January 11), ahead of their transport to Poland and Lithuania later this year as part of moves to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank. The equipment includes large numbers of M-1 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, of Fort Hood, Texas. Dutch armed forces are helping with marine security and guarding the port area where the vehicles will be housed before they continue East.
OBSERVATION – I’ve not seen any announcements of this level of deployment, though could have been overwhelmed by other news.
China –
WAR WATCH – I am still monitoring for indicators that indicated that China may initiate a more coercive plan to force Taiwan into submission with a potential start of a potential blockade of the island during the Chinese New Years timeframe. Chinese New Year celebrations begin 22 January, after which they would have 60 days until a break in seasonally rough weather conditions in the Taiwan Strait.
China’s exports reportedly shrank by 9.9% year-on-year in December, following an 8.7% contraction in November. “The outlook for exports remains weak, given the combination of slowing global growth and ongoing consumer shift from goods towards services.
OBSERVATION – This is reflected globally via supply shortages and the drive to relocate production to other nations or back to the home countries. This is going to make China’s global plans a lot harder to follow through on.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - Russia’s “three days to conquer Ukraine” war continues since fighting starting on Feb 24th.
CURRENT ASSESSMENT
Russia is currently working to (re)assemble a military force capable of resuming the offensive in the Donbas while at the same time trying to make defensive preparations for an expected Ukrainian offensive as well. Suspected goal for the start of offensive operations is latter half of January at the earliest.
At present, it is capable of very local offensive actions as in the ongoing fighting around Bakhmut and Donetsk.
Russia is also capable of launching more 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.
********
Ukraine -
WEATHER FORECAST – Rain and snow letting up with increasing number of days that are below freezing and for much of eastern Ukraine, a multi-day episode of sub-freezing temperatures on the way.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Russian Ministry of Defense claimed full control over Soledar since last night, however there are unconfirmed reports of a Ukraine counter attack on going. Information has been mixed, but it is likely Russia has made more gains in the town.
Continued Russian attacks against Bahkmut and outskirts of Donetsk. Most of the Russian artillery strikes were reported along the line from Svatove south to the Donetsk region. Widely scattered elsewhere.
OUTLOOK ——
I expect that barring a surprise, Russia will start consolidating Soledar and try to pivot for an encirclement of Ukrainian forces in nearby Bakhmut. The key issue is does Russia have the forces left to exploit this in any meaningful manner. They have put tremendous residual resources in this fight that will be necessary if Ukraine kicks off a winter offensive.
NATO said Friday that it would deploy its fleet of E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System surveillance aircraft (AWACS) to Romania in order to perform reconnaissance of Russian military movements in Ukraine. The aircraft will reportedly operate out of a military airbase near the capital of Bucharest.
OBSERVATION – Monitor any potential Russian winter offensive
Iran –
There were no reported protests in Iran for the second consecutive day on January 12, 2023.
OBSERVATION – I noted a few posts ago that the protests are shifting to an underground movement in the face of ever violent govt suppression.
Running short on time today, so a little shorter than usual.
Globalism / Great Reset -
(FO) In its 2023 Global Risks Report, the World Economic Forum (WEF) uses the word “polycrisis” to describe the array of threats and risks facing the world in 2023. “This is the year of the polycrisis, where risks are more interdependent and reciprocally damaging than ever,”
The WEF sees inflation, natural disasters, geoeconomic confrontation, climate change, and the “erosion of social cohesion and societal polarization” (leading to state collapse) as the world’s top five threats over the next two years, especially as the world decouples into eastern and western spheres of influences.
The key takeaways from the five areas of this report –
1. Inflation and the Cost of Living Crisis: Disruptions to food and energy markets will drive political and social unrest.
2. Natural Disasters: Natural disasters are expected to become more severe and frequent, putting stress on governments and increasing environmental and social risks.
3. Geoeconomic Confrontation: Conflict between nations over economic matters and “the weaponization of economic policy,” such as sanctions, export controls, and trade wars, “risk widespread spillovers” in the global economy. This will push nations to become more self-sufficient and less interconnected, accelerating deglobalization and further fracturing.
4. Climate Change: The top climate change risks, according to the WEF, center on the failure to mitigate climate change and the failure to adapt to it.
5. Societal Polarization: Social disintegration is a rising risk due to many factors, including the four mentioned above. The report talks about a values gap and inequality as being the two leading factors currently polarizing populations.
6. Societal Polarization: Polarization and social disintegration leading to violent social movements and state collapse.
OBSERVATION - Report is rather gloomy and is interesting as such. The GGR/WEF folks look to this level of social/economic upheaval to usher in its “Great Reset” agenda and world governance. Many of these issues appear to be driven behind the scenes by the WEF and affiliated govts and agencies. They are creating the problem in order to drive the world into accepting their “solution”.
Wuhan virus –
Pfizer was required by the U.S. and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct multiple studies on its vaccine after the FDA approved the shot in August 2021 because regulators determined that without the studies, there would not be sufficient data to assess the “known serious risks of myocarditis and pericarditis,” or heart inflammation and a related condition.
Regulators were also concerned about the potential risk of subclinical myocarditis, or heart inflammation without typical symptoms.
The FDA told Pfizer to carry out six studies, with various deadlines for completion and reporting final results to the agency. The first final deadline arrived on Dec. 31, 2022.
Pfizer was required to submit a report on the study, which was to assess the incidence of subclinical myocarditis following administration of a third dose of Pfizer’s vaccine, or a booster shot, in people aged 16 to 30.
It’s unclear whether Pfizer met the deadline. The company and the FDA did not respond to requests for comment, and neither have issued any information about the study or its results since the deadline passed.
The FDA added a warning about myocarditis following Pfizer and Moderna vaccination to patient and health care provider fact sheets in June 2021. Both vaccines utilize messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. Prospective vaccine recipients were told the risk of myocarditis was increased after vaccination, particularly after the second dose of the two-dose primary series.
OBSERVATION – Pfizer committed fraud and both they and the FDA know it. Seems FDA positioning itself to pin blame on Pfizer, knowing the swamp will protect it’s corrupted basis for approval.
Economy –
Led by lower energy costs, acceleration in U.S. inflation eased in December for the sixth consecutive month. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose at an annualized rate of 6.5% in December, down from 7.1% in November and well below the 9.1% peak in June.
OBSERVATION – Inflation isn’t dead by a long shot. Prices outside of energy have continued under strong inflationary rates - Core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, rose 0.3 percent for the month. Core prices were up 5.7 percent compared with a year ago.
And the relief from energy costs are only expected to be short lived as gasoline prices are expected to rebound to $4+ range by early summer.
As the US edges closer to a potential crisis on the debt ceiling, various elements are coming up with plans to circumvent any delay in the rise. Some conservatives are wanting to play hardball with concessions while the banking sector is warning of economic catastrophe for debt default. IMHO, the US has few options anymore given the uncontrolled spending and current economic shakiness and impending recession. Raising the ceiling is a damned if you do, damned if you don’t scenario that plays right into the lefts hands either way.
Sky high electrical and natural gas prices are beginning to cause steel and aluminum plants to slow down and in some ways, shut down. This in turn is affecting the economy with layoffs and more supply shortages with higher prices. Decisions to shut down operations are of last resort, since shut down procedures are long and tedious and restarting takes another six to nine months. For this reason, owners don’t halt operations unless they’ve exhausted all other options.
OBSERVATION – Growing up, the Pacific NW had a bunch of Aluminum smelting plants because of the abundant supply of cheep electricity from hydro and coal plants. Over the years as population has grown and electrical supply has dropped these plants have largely shut down and disappeared. Now that business has been transferred to China – and we all know how that has been going.
Invasion of Illegals –
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending temporary amnesty status to thousands of Somali nationals living in the United States who would otherwise be eligible for deportation.
On Thursday, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that the Biden administration is extending and redesignating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, which will allow more than 2,600 Somali nationals to remain living and working in the U.S.
OBSERVATION - They have not been the best model ‘citizens’ in Minnesota
Biden / Harris watch –
Peter Doocy on new batch of classified documents found in Biden’s garage: “Classified material next to your Corvette! What were you thinking?”
Biden responds: “My Corvette is in a locked garage, OK? So it’s not like they’re sitting out on the street”
Doocy: “So, the material was in a locked garage?”
“Yes,” said Biden, “as well as my Corvette.
“But as I said earlier this week, people know I take classified documents and classified material seriously,” Biden said.
Now a third discovery has been announced. The finding came at Biden’s personal residence in Wilmington, Delaware, and follows two other classified batches from his vice presidential days that were flagged last year, Attorney General Merrick Garland revealed Thursday.
...
So far, there have been at least three distinct classified document discoveries. The first came on Nov. 2 of last year, while a Biden lawyer was clearing out a closet in the president’s old office space at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, a foreign policy-focused think tank. Biden “periodically used this space from mid-2017 until the start of the 2020 campaign,” according to White House counsel Richard Sauber.
OBSERVATION - As noted under politics, this could be the start of a move to keep biden off the 2024 ticket.
But we can rest assured that biden takes security of his Corvette more seriously than the boxes of highly classified document in his possession.
Anyone notice that harris has dropped off the radar for the past several months – perhaps in part is her continued demonstrated incompetence on full display at a recent press conference where she tossed some whopper word salads –
Kamala: “It is the Caribbean nations, island nations in the Western hemisphere. That is where the Caribbean is. We are also in the Western Hemisphere. They are our neighbors.”
Harris: “I think of this moment as a moment that is about great momentum, inspired by, yes, optimism… but also inspired by also our collective ability to see what can be unburdened by what has been.”
Harris: “Always think about complex issues through the frame of a Venn diagram.”
CW2/Domestic violence –
The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation based on the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) complaint against Granbury Independent School District (GISD) and Superintendent Jeremy Glenn which centers on the removal of controversial books as well as related comments made by Glenn.
RELATED: Cross-dressing Book for Pre-K Students Crossed the Line
ACLU alleges GISD exhibited anti-LGBT discrimination and violated Title IX, the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discrimination, but reinterpreted by the Biden administration to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
OBSERVATION – A different kind of incident for the CW2 topic, but I see this as just one of the many stressors that are increasing the cultural split in his country that may well end up in a violent split of the country. Here the biden regime is trying to force by ‘law’ radical LGBT agenda on the children.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Attorney General Merrick Garland has just announced that he is appointing a special counsel to investigate whether Biden mishandled classified information during his time in private life. The DoJ named Robert Hur, a partner at Gibson Dunn, as the special prosecutor.
OBSERVATION – Some are wondering if this is the next step in preventing a second biden run for the presidency, given how the MSM is largely not providing cover for him on this scandal.
RELATED - Robert Hur is the man who served as the DOJ point man to Robert Mueller’s special counsel investigation looking into Donald Trump’s alleged side hustle as a Russian secret agent — Double 45.
He is the same guy who vetted retired British spy Christopher Steele, a disgraced (sensing a pattern here?) spy who was fired by the FBI (and then used on the QT by his cutout Bruce Ohr) and hired actual Russian spies on behalf of Hillary Clinton’s campaign to make up information on Trump.
Strategic Activity / Deployments –
Pending further confirmation but reports that a large number of U.S. army tanks and military vehicles began arriving at the Dutch port of Vlissingen on Wednesday (January 11), ahead of their transport to Poland and Lithuania later this year as part of moves to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank. The equipment includes large numbers of M-1 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, of Fort Hood, Texas. Dutch armed forces are helping with marine security and guarding the port area where the vehicles will be housed before they continue East.
OBSERVATION – I’ve not seen any announcements of this level of deployment, though could have been overwhelmed by other news.
China –
WAR WATCH – I am still monitoring for indicators that indicated that China may initiate a more coercive plan to force Taiwan into submission with a potential start of a potential blockade of the island during the Chinese New Years timeframe. Chinese New Year celebrations begin 22 January, after which they would have 60 days until a break in seasonally rough weather conditions in the Taiwan Strait.
China’s exports reportedly shrank by 9.9% year-on-year in December, following an 8.7% contraction in November. “The outlook for exports remains weak, given the combination of slowing global growth and ongoing consumer shift from goods towards services.
OBSERVATION – This is reflected globally via supply shortages and the drive to relocate production to other nations or back to the home countries. This is going to make China’s global plans a lot harder to follow through on.
Russia -
WAR WATCH - Russia’s “three days to conquer Ukraine” war continues since fighting starting on Feb 24th.
CURRENT ASSESSMENT
Russia is currently working to (re)assemble a military force capable of resuming the offensive in the Donbas while at the same time trying to make defensive preparations for an expected Ukrainian offensive as well. Suspected goal for the start of offensive operations is latter half of January at the earliest.
At present, it is capable of very local offensive actions as in the ongoing fighting around Bakhmut and Donetsk.
Russia is also capable of launching more 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.
********
Ukraine -
WEATHER FORECAST – Rain and snow letting up with increasing number of days that are below freezing and for much of eastern Ukraine, a multi-day episode of sub-freezing temperatures on the way.
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
Russian Ministry of Defense claimed full control over Soledar since last night, however there are unconfirmed reports of a Ukraine counter attack on going. Information has been mixed, but it is likely Russia has made more gains in the town.
Continued Russian attacks against Bahkmut and outskirts of Donetsk. Most of the Russian artillery strikes were reported along the line from Svatove south to the Donetsk region. Widely scattered elsewhere.
OUTLOOK ——
I expect that barring a surprise, Russia will start consolidating Soledar and try to pivot for an encirclement of Ukrainian forces in nearby Bakhmut. The key issue is does Russia have the forces left to exploit this in any meaningful manner. They have put tremendous residual resources in this fight that will be necessary if Ukraine kicks off a winter offensive.
NATO said Friday that it would deploy its fleet of E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System surveillance aircraft (AWACS) to Romania in order to perform reconnaissance of Russian military movements in Ukraine. The aircraft will reportedly operate out of a military airbase near the capital of Bucharest.
OBSERVATION – Monitor any potential Russian winter offensive
Iran –
There were no reported protests in Iran for the second consecutive day on January 12, 2023.
OBSERVATION – I noted a few posts ago that the protests are shifting to an underground movement in the face of ever violent govt suppression.