From the Trenches World Report
Enforce our Bill of Rights
Power-grid operators across the US warn that power-generating capacity struggles to keep up with demand, a worrying sign ahead of summer where heatwaves could lead to rolling blackouts. Continue reading “Power Grid Operators Warn Of Potential Electricity Shortages Amid Transition To Clean Energy”
Responsible Statecraft – by Andrew Lautz
And if the Republicans get their way that top line may be even higher by the time Congress passes it into law.
As early as this week, lawmakers on Capitol Hill may pass a $40 billion spending bill to support the U.S. military and humanitarian response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Continue reading “Democrats want to raise Biden’s Ukraine aid to nearly $40 billion”
President Biden on Monday signed a bill into law reviving the World War II-era lend-lease program for Ukraine, paving the way for an escalation in US military aid to Kyiv. Continue reading “Biden Signs Bill Reviving World War II-Era Lend-Lease Program to Ukraine”
(Reuters) – Retail gasoline prices in the United States rose on Tuesday and hit another all-time record, surpassing one set in March, as global refineries grappled with a bottleneck that has sent prices soaring ahead of driving season.
The average cost of a retail gallon of gasoline hit $4.374 early Tuesday, according to the American Automobile Association, surpassing the former record of $4.331. Continue reading “U.S. retail gasoline prices hit new record, as refiners struggle to meet demand”
Facial recognition software company Clearview AI has agreed to stop selling access to its 20-billion-strong photo database to private US corporations and individuals, according to a Monday settlement filing, pending approval by a Chicago judge. Continue reading “Facial recognition firm reaches privacy settlement”
Senator Dick Durbin’s (D-IL) bill that threatens tens of thousands of products has officially been introduced. We need all hands on deck to oppose it.
Sen. Dick Durbin has launched his supplement attack by introducing his “Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2022” with Senator Mike Braun (R-IN). This bill threatens your ability to access the supplements you rely on to stay healthy. We need to send a strong message to Congress that this is bad for consumers, bad for health, and bad for the economy. Continue reading “New Bill Threatens Jail Time for Supplement Companies”
The number of wealthy Americans applying for citizenship or residency in foreign countries has skyrocketed over the past three years as US billionaires, tech entrepreneurs, and celebrities look to create a “plan B” for their families, multiple investment migration firms told Insider. Continue reading “Wealthy Americans are buying second passports as a ‘plan B’ for their families, citing the pandemic, climate change, and political turmoil”
Saudi Arabia cut its prices for crude oil sold in Asia and Europe for the month of June against a backdrop of waning demand driven by Covid-19 lockdowns in China. Continue reading “Oil Tumbles as Saudi Arabia Cuts Prices and China’s Lockdowns Intensify”
California Assembly Bill 1221 was amended in the Senate last week to “immediately” impose an excise tax on handguns, rifles, and ammunition, should it become law. Continue reading “CA Bill Amended to ‘Immediately’ Impose Handgun Excise Tax”
WASHINGTON — The U.S. is sending electronic jamming equipment to the front lines in Ukraine.
The Defense Department on May 6 said a $150 million security package bound for Eastern Europe includes the jamming gear, as well as 25,000 artillery rounds, radar systems, and other field equipment and spares. Continue reading “US sending Ukraine electronic jamming gear in $150M package”
U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- Olin Winchester LLC, the largest manufacturer of small-caliber ammunition for the U.S. military, today announced that the U.S. Army has awarded the company a $15 million cost-plus contract for the design of the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) ammunition manufacturing facility. Continue reading “Winchester Awarded a $15 Million NGSW Ammo Plant Contract”
Bill Gates isn’t an immunologist and he doesn’t even play one on TV.
But the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft has immersed himself in the study of the world’s problems and donated billions of dollars to tackle the scourge of malaria in Africa through his philanthropic foundation. So when he speaks, people listen, which makes what he said last week about COVID-19 interesting. Continue reading “Bill Gates: COVID ‘Disease Of Elderly,’ ‘Low Fatality Rate’ – ‘Kind Of Like The Flu’”
Washington Examiner – by Paul Bedard
In the latest sign that Iran is readying for a military clash with the United States even as it works to revive an Obama-era nuclear “deal,” experts have revealed that Tehran is hardening its “critical infrastructure” as a possible response to an attack on the U.S. electric grid. Continue reading “Iran readies for grid blackout war with US”
A massive backlog of grain shipments is piling up in Ukraine to the tune of nearly 25 million tonnes due to ‘infrastructure challenges’ and blocked ports in the Black Sea, including Mariupol, Reuters reports, citing a UN food agency official.’
Ukraine was the fourth-largest exporter of maize (corn) in the 2020/21 season, and the sixth-largest wheat exporter in the world, according to the International Grains Council. Continue reading “Ukraine Grain Strain: Almost 25 Million Tonnes Blocked From Export”
Gas prices jumped 20 cents in the last week to $4.328 a gallon on Monday according to AAA. This is less than half a cent from Joe Biden’s all-time highs in March.
According to Gas Buddy the price per gallon is back at $4.33 per gallon. Continue reading “Gas Prices Reach All-Time High on Monday — Up 20 Cents in One Week and DOUBLE the Price Since 2020 Election”
Here we go again.
Just when the world (or rather, the US) was finally coming around to the notion that the COVID pandemic might be over, the White House has offered the latest reminder that this is simply not the case. As COVID cases surge in the US, White House COVID response coordinator Ashish Jha said Sunday morning that the Biden Administration will need to authorize another $20 billion+ in COVID spending to pay for the next round of shots needed to stop another brutal winter wave later this year. Continue reading “White House Asks For Another $20 Billion In COVID Money To Stop Winter Wave”
Open the Books, December 31, 2020
TOP 10 TAKEAWAYS
1. One hundred and three federal agencies outside of the Department of Defense spent $2.7 billion on guns, ammunition, and military-style equipment between fiscal years 2006 and 2019 (inflation adjusted). Nearly $1 billion ($944.9 million) was spent between fiscal years 2015 and 2019 alone. Continue reading “The Militarization of the U.S. Executive Agencies”
Officials still cannot say exactly how many billions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program loans fraudsters made off with in the past couple of years, but they know it is a lot.
Reports and estimates vary, but multiple inspectors general have said the total value of the fraudulently obtained loans through the Paycheck Protection Program is likely to total in the billions. A total of $800 billion was earmarked for relief by the Small Business Administration during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading “COVID-19 relief fraud led to billions in taxpayer-funded Paycheck Protection Program loans lost”
Alabama-based Wayne Farms is recalling more than half a million pounds of ready-to-eat chicken that may be undercooked, the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced this weekend. Continue reading “More than half a million pounds of precooked chicken recalled”
The Biden administration announced Monday that 20 leading internet service providers have agreed to offer basic low cost plans that will be free for millions of Americans after a refund.
The 20 companies, including AT&T (T), Comcast (CMCSA), and Verizon (VZ), cover more than 80% of the U.S. population. They will immediately provide at least one plan that costs no more than $30 a month and provides download speeds of at least 100 mbps. Continue reading “White House says 20 internet companies will provide effectively free internet to millions of Americans”