Last week’s “major shift” in policy, which allowed the Biden-Harris team to green-light Ukraine’s attacks deep within Russian territory using US-made ATACMS and British-made Storm Shadow missiles, has forced Russia to lower its threshold for using nuclear weapons against Ukraine while also launching new hypersonic weapons.

On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning that Ukraine launching long-range missile strikes on Russia’s territory utilizing newly approved US and UK long-range missiles risks transforming the modern battlefield in Ukraine into a global war. 

“A regional Ukraine conflict instigated by the West has acquired elements of a global one,” Putin spelled out and noted that these missiles cannot be used without the direct operational involvement of Western military specialists.

No one genuinely anticipated that the outgoing Biden-Harris regime would escalate the war in Ukraine with Putin to the brink of a major broadening conflict. This suggests that the Biden-Harris team and the Military-Industrial Complex seek to broaden conflict before Trump takes office in late January.

Days ago, Ukraine’s former military Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny was quoted by Politico as saying: “I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely believe that the Third World War has begun.”

“Because in 2024, Ukraine is no longer facing Russia. Soldiers from North Korea are standing in front of Ukraine. Let’s be honest. Already in Ukraine, the Iranian ‘Shahedis’ are killing civilians absolutely openly, without any shame,” Zaluzhny continued, adding that North Korean and Chinese weapons are flying on the modern battlefield in Ukraine. 

With the elevated risk of the war broadening, this new round of tension in Eastern Europe draws attention to the approximate positions of US Navy and Russian Navy assets worldwide.

As of November 18, the US Naval Institute showed the approximate positions of the US Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world…

Here’s more color on US naval asset positions worldwide:

Ships Underway

In Japan

Amphibious warship USS America (LHA-6) is in port in Sasebo, Japan.

In the Pacific

Amphibious warship USS Boxer (LHD-4) departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Friday, according to ship spotters.

Boxer has elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked.

Aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) continues on its way to its new homeport of Yokosuka, Japan, as the Navy’s forward-deployed carrier assigned to US 7th Fleet.

In Eastern Atlantic

Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) is transiting en route to the Mediterranean after completing operations with allies and partners in the Norwegian Sea.

Carrier Strike Group 8

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Carrier Air Wing 1

• The “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.

• The “Pukin’ Dogs” of VFA 143 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.

• The “Sunliners” of VFA 81 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.

• The “Knighthawks” of VFA 136 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.

• The “Main Battery” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 144 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.

• The “Seahawks” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 126 – E-2D – from Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

• The “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 40 Det. – C-2A – from Naval Station Norfolk.

• The “Proud Warriors” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 72 – MH-60R – from Naval Station Norfolk.

• The “Dragonslayers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11 – MH-60S – from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.

Cruiser

USS Gettysburg (CG-64), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Destroyer Squadron 28

Destroyer Squadron 28 is based in Naval Station Norfolk, Va., and is embarked on Harry S. Truman.

• USS Stout (DDG-55), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.

The Wasp Amphibious Ready Group with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked deployed from the East Coast on June 1. The ARG consists of Wasp, USS New York (LPD-21) and USS Oak Hill (LSD-51).

The 24th MEU is composed of a command element, Battalion Landing Team 1/8, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 24 as the Logistics Combat Element.

In the Eastern Mediterranean

The Navy has two independently deployed guided-missile destroyers to the Eastern Mediterranean.

• USS Bulkeley (DDG-84), homeported at Naval Station Rota, Spain. The destroyer is in port in Souda Bay, Greece

• USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), homeported at Naval Station Rota.

In the Red Sea

Navy Quartermaster folds the national ensign aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG-67) in the Central Command area of responsibility on November 13, 2024. US Navy Photo

US ships continue to patrol the Red Sea as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, the U.S.-led multinational effort to protect merchant vessels moving through the region. Houthi forces in Yemen continue to attack merchant shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, while US naval forces in the region have continued strikes against Houthi weapons that US Central Command says are a threat to naval and merchant ships. Houthi forces say they are targeting ships with connections to the United Kingdom, the US and Israel or visit Israeli ports.

Guided-missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN-729) is operating in the Middle East. The Ohio-class submarine carries 154 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles as well as special operations forces.

As of Monday, the Navy has two independently deployed guided-missile destroyers in the Red Sea.

• USS Cole (DDG-67), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
• USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109), homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.

In the Persian Gulf

US Coast Guard Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters are forward-deployed to the region under Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA). PATFORSWA deploys Coast Guard personnel and ships with US and regional naval forces throughout the Middle East. Initially deployed in 2003 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, PATFORSWA is now a permanent presence based out of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

In the Indian Ocean

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is operating in the Indian Ocean. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered Abraham Lincoln and its attached destroyers to remain in the region as regional conflict intensified, according to a Pentagon statement.

Carrier Strike Group 3

Carrier

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), homeported at San Diego, Calif.

Carrier Air Wing 9

• The “Tophatters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.

• The “Black Aces” of VFA 41 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.

• The “Black Knights” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 – F-35C – from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.

• The “Vigilantes” of VFA 151 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.

• The “Wizards” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.

• The “Wallbangers” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 117 – E-2D – from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.

• The “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 40 Det. – C-2A – from Naval Station Norfolk.

• The “Raptors” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.

• The “Chargers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14 – MH-60S – from Naval Air Station North Island.

Cruiser

The carrier strike group did not deploy with a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser. Instead, USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG-121) assumed the cruiser role in the strike group, USNI News learned. USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) is currently operating with the strike group but is an independent deployer.

Destroyer Squadron 21

Destroyer Squadron 21 is based in San Diego and is embarked on Abraham Lincoln.

• USS O’Kane (DDG-77), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.

• USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

• USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG-121), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor.

• USS Spruance (DDG-111), homeported at Naval Station San Diego.

• USS Stockdale (DDG-106), homeported at Naval Station San Diego.

In Eastern Pacific

On Monday afternoon, USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), with the Carrier Air Wing 2 embarked, departed for a deployment from California.

Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) departed to San Diego, Calif., on Monday, according to ship spotters.

Amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) departed San Diego, Calif., on Tuesday, according to ship spot

Aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) arrived in Bremerton, Wash., on Tuesday, according to ship spotters.

In the Western Atlantic

Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is underway conducting routine operations in the Western Atlantic.

Amphibious warship USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) returned to Norfolk, Va., on Friday, according to ship spotters.

Aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) returned to Norfolk, Va., on Saturday, according to ship spotters.

As for Russian naval assets, OSINT researcher Frederik Van Lokeren shared a map on X on Saturday. It highlights the locations of Russian warships across the Mediterranean (as of November 23). 

“A period of heightened activity has ended with the vessels all present in the port of Tartus. The exception being Stereguschy class corvette Merkury which was reported in the Skagerrak between Denmark an Norway. The vessel most likely departed the Mediterranean directly following her port visit at Algiers, Algeria, during the previous week. Her passage at the Strait of Gibraltar went unnoticed by OSINT sources,” he wrote on his website “Russian Navy – News and Analysis.”

President-elect Trump’s victory signals one critical mandate the American people have with Washington elites is no more wars. Yet, the outgoing administration is doing everything possible to derail Trump’s move once in the White House to end the war.

Authored by Frank Fang via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued two more executive orders targeting Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence in his state, after announcing an initial order on Nov. 18 aimed at protecting local dissidents from the Chinese regime’s harassment.

Abbott signed Executive Order No. GA-49 on Nov. 20 to safeguard critical infrastructure from cyberattacks and issued Executive Order No. GA-48 on Nov. 19 to protect Texans from the CCP’s espionage operations.

Executive Order No. GA-49 directs the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to prepare for any potential cyberattacks aimed at the state’s critical infrastructure.

Under Abbott’s order, the two agencies will create a task force to study potential vulnerabilities within government systems and critical infrastructure, run response simulations to cyberattacks, and put together a committee of state agencies to “simulate a restart of Texas’ electric grid in the event of a foreign attack,” according to a Wednesday statement.

“China has made it clear that they can—and will—target and attack America’s critical infrastructure,” Abbott said in the statement. “Texas will continue to protect our critical infrastructure to ensure the safety of Texans from potential threats by the Chinese Communist Party or any hostile foreign government.”

The order highlighted Volt Typhoon, one of China’s state-sponsored threat groups, and how it had targeted communications, energy, transportation, water, and wastewater systems in the United States and its territories.

Volt Typhoon, which was dismantled by a multi-agency operation in January, had maintained “access and footholds within some victim IT environments for at least five years,” the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said in February.

The order also cited FBI Director Christopher Wray’s warnings at the Vanderbilt Summit in Nashville in April, when he said that China “has made it clear that it considers every sector that makes our society run as fair game in its bid to dominate on the world stage.”

‘Hostile Foreign Actors’

Executive Order No. GA-48 directs all state agencies and public institutions of higher education to “harden” their systems from potential infiltration by hostile nations, including more thorough background checks on state employees and contractors who can access critical infrastructure.

Additionally, state agencies will be banned from contracting “companies owned or controlled by a foreign adversary government, and bidding companies must prove that “none of its holding companies or subsidiaries is owned by a foreign adversary government,” according to a Tuesday statement.

Faculty members of higher education institutions are banned from taking part in “any foreign recruitment program by a foreign adversary nation,” such as China’s Thousand Talents Program, according to the statement.

The Thousand Talents Program is one of many talent recruitment initiatives the Chinese regime has maintained for decades to attract overseas Chinese and foreign experts to work in China’s science and tech sectors. Through these programs, the CCP hopes to quickly turn China into an industrial and innovation powerhouse and ultimately outperform Western countries.

The FBI warns on its website that Chinese talent programs pose threats to U.S. national security and usually involve “undisclosed and illegal transfers” of U.S. intellectual property to the Chinese side.

“The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that the Chinese government has actively targeted local and state officials as part of their strategy to undermine the national security of the United States,” Abbott said in a statement.

“Hardening our state government is critical to protect Texans from hostile foreign actors who may attempt to undermine the safety and security of Texas and the nation.”

As an example of the CCP’s infiltration, Abbott’s order pointed to the recent indictment against Linda Sun, former deputy chief of staff to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. Sun was charged with spying for Beijing.

Another name mentioned in the order is Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese intelligence agent who Abbott’s office said “developed deep connections” with California’s political figures and national politicians.

‘Texas Is Leading the Charge’

On Monday, when Abbott announced Executive Order No. GA-47, the FBI’s field office in Houston took to the social media platform X to urge victims to come forward.

“The government of the [People’s] Republic of China (PRC) may be cyberstalking, physically intimidating, and harassing Chinese citizens, naturalized U.S. citizens, and families of dissidents who speak [out] against the Chinese Communist Party in Texas,” the office wrote.

Under Abbott’s order, the Texas Department of Public Safety will target and arrest any individual found to be engaging in CCP influence operations within the state.

Washington-based advocacy group Campaign for Uyghurs took to X on Monday to applaud the governor’s decision, saying that CCP continues to carry out its “nefarious practice” of transnational repression in Texas.

An example of Beijing’s transnational repression came to light in April last year, when two Chinese nationals were charged with allegedly establishing a secret police station in Manhattan in coordination with China’s Ministry of Public Security.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued a statement on Wednesday applauding Abbott’s leadership.

“Texas is leading the charge in combating the CCP with the help of Governor Abbott’s leadership,” McCaul stated. “We cannot sit idly by while China attempts to infiltrate our country and harm U.S. national security.

“These executive orders send a strong message of deterrence to the CCP: Don’t mess with Texas.”

With the changing of the guard, it’s time for long-promised accountability over the unprecedented COVID scam. Not only has Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) promised to hold feet to the fire as the head of the Senate’s government oversight panel, we may actually have a shot at a special counsel investigation and more with Trump’s incoming Attorney General pick, Pam Bondi – a loyalist who’s on record supporting the lab-leak hypothesis.

As regular readers vividly recall, ZeroHedge paid a hefty price for our early reporting on the pandemic, after we suggested that a Chinese lab playing weaponized God with bat COVID might have “something to do” with the COVID outbreak across town.

Millions in ad revenue evaporated. Corporate media (brought to you by Pfizer!) penned numerous hit-pieces, and various companies such as PayPal, Amazon and Mailchimp dropped us like a hot rock; other outlets suffered similarly. However brave reporting from journalists like Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger, Paul Thacker and Lee Fang – armed with factual evidence from Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter (now X) and various FOIA lawsuits, has provided more than just breadcrumbs.

Now, four years later, the entire charade has been exposed piece by piece.

A new must-watch documentary by two-time Peabody Award-winning and four-time Emmy nominated director Jenner Furst, a self-described progressive who has broken with the Democratic party, ties it all together.

Thank You, Dr. Fauci

In early 2020, Furst was contacted to direct a puff piece on former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) director Dr. Anthony Fauci. The project was scrapped, however three years later, Furst began investigating what actually happened and created “Thank You, Dr. Fauci” – a project which has received virtually no press coverage, and even Rotten Tomatoes critics won’t touch.

Next week, a documentary called “Thank You, Dr. Fauci is releasing and will expose everything you have ever wanted to know about the worst doctor this country has ever known.

Meta has already blocked the trailer from airing.

Make sure you share this clip and get ready for what… pic.twitter.com/OrR2IXta1i

— Joey Mannarino (@JoeyMannarinoUS) October 26, 2024

If you’re thinking ‘you had me at Fauci’ and just want to watch it, a free preview of “Thank You, Dr. Fauci”  is available, and the film can be rented directly on the film’s website, or by using Vimeo On-Demand or Gathr. People can also use Gathr to Book Private Screenings and Partner on TVOD Sales.

If you’re like Elon Musk and you believe that  ‘Prosecute / Fauci’ should be your pronouns, this is what you need to watch to understand why we should prosecute Fauci.

Heavily Censored

While it’s difficult enough to find “Thank You, Dr. Fauci” thanks to search engine shadowbans and downrankings, perhaps the most notable form of censorship is the ongoing media blackout of the film according to Furst – whose previous work has been heavily reviewed, critically acclaimed, and streamed across Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and Paramount.

But not this one.

“The media blackout of the film just proves that the real Covid story is still highly censored,” Furst told ZeroHedge, adding “Journalists still can’t cover Covid truthfully at major outlets, and the problem is way bigger than them or their editors. The most powerful lobbies on the planet, and the weight of the US government is still sitting on the free press like an 800 pound gorilla.”

Elon to the rescue?

Given the level of censorship the film has been subject to, Furst firmly believes that a massive free speech platform such X would be ideal to get the word out – if even for a couple of days.

“I feel like Elon could change this conversation overnight, the country is divided only due to the success of propaganda on the left. No democrat can sit thru this movie and see Fauci or the pandemic the same way again. That’s why MSM doesn’t want to acknowledge this,” Furst told ZeroHedge.

The documentary features notable figures at the heart of the pandemic response, including Dr. Robert Redfield – the former director of the CDC during the outbreak – who was completely shut out of Anthony Fauci’s inner circle while the NIAID boss and top virologists conspired via secret back channels to shape the narrative around COVID origins. Also featured are former State Department COVID investigator David Asher, and Richard Ebright – a Rutgers molecular biologist who’s spent years pushing back against the Fauci wagon-circling by the scientific community.

“Tony believed that the best way to prepare for the next pandemic, was to create it.” – Dr. Robert Redfield, Virologist and Former Head of the CDC.#ThankYouDrFauci is now streaming at https://t.co/WOIVYpts5Q.#FauciKnew #FauciLiedMillionsDied #WatchNow #Covid19 #documentary pic.twitter.com/ZwCWdhZir9

— Thank You Dr Fauci (@ThankYouDrFauci) November 3, 2024

COVID Origins

As the pandemic gripped headlines around the world, the scientific community positioned Fauci – and eventually the Covid vaccines themselves – against Donald Trump, who was open to both the lab-leak theory and alternative treatments such as ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.

‘Thank You, Dr. Fauci’ details the scramble at the highest levels to come up with a narrative that wouldn’t implicate Fauci – or the US Government, for funding decades of research dedicated to enhancing deadly viruses.

Fauci’s top advisors – who initially believed the virus looked manmade, crafted and promoted the narrative that COVID-19 most likely jumped from bats to humans through an intermediary species, “probably at a wet market,” Fauci repeatedly insisted.

Ex-CDC Director Throws Fauci Under the Bus

“This [COVID] virus was not of natural origin. It was an act of scientific ARROGANCE.”

The “wet market theory” that Fauci pushed hard in 2020 was, according to Dr. Redfield, a HOAX.

Redfield knows this because, in early 2020, the… pic.twitter.com/yH05CmwqsU

— Vigilant News (@VigilantNews) November 4, 2024

The lab-leak theory was condemned as a conspiracy theory by the very scientists conducting gain-of-function research, completely ignoring the fact that the virus emerged across town from an NIH-funded facility in Wuhan, China that was creating chimeric bat COVID, where several workers fell ill with a mysterious respiratory virus weeks before the disease spread like wildfire.

HIV Insertions and DEFUSE

‘Thank You Dr. Fauci’ highlights a preprint study from India which found HIV-like insertions in COVID-19 which appeared manmade (and which got ZeroHedge kicked off of Twitter after Fauci’s damage control ‘conclave’ freaked out).

While the Indian preprint was retracted amid immense political pressure to push the ‘natural origin’ hypothesis and ‘conspiricize’ the lab-leak theory, a leaked proposal known as “DEFUSE” – to create an aerosolized chimeric bat COVID that could infect humans, could potentially explain what the Indian researchers observed.

While DEFUSE was ultimately rejected by DARPA, it’s entirely possible that Ecohealth Alliance – the nonprofit which received NIH contracts to conduct GoF research after the Obama admin banned it in 2014 – simply went ahead with it anyway.

Critical Questions

‘Thank You, Dr. Fauci’ raises many critical questions that will come into focus next year under the gavel of Rand Paul:

• Was the pandemic that killed millions and cost trillions of dollars the consequence of scientific arrogance and spy games?
• How did the Anthrax hoax of 2001 create unchecked power for Anthony Fauci?
• Why hasn’t Fauci ever acknowledged that hoax, which resulted in then-Vice President  Dick Cheney giving him billions to fund perhaps the most dangerous research on the planet?
• What is the real purpose of Gain-of-Function research?
• Are past outbreaks potentially scientific accidents which were covered up?
• What is Long Covid, and why are people suffering vaccine injuries with similar symptoms?
• Will a lab-generated Bird Flu be the next chapter?
• Are nameless scientists – in the US, China or elsewhere – quietly working on a new global pandemic?

Meanwhile, the intelligence community continues to cover up the origins of the pandemic, which is why widespread distribution of this work is that much more important.

SENATE LETTER TO CIA IG: We have whistleblowers and IC is covering up how the pandemic began. Investigate and report back.

CIA IG: I’m out of here. Save me, @POGOwatchdog! https://t.co/K7EbNV76Q7 https://t.co/w19TAduFXH pic.twitter.com/GzHhzkmTPH

— Paul D. Thacker (@thackerpd) November 19, 2024

Putting it all together, ​once the general public comes to understan that Covid was likely the product of US research offshored to a French-built lab in Wuhan, China, which resulted in millions of deaths and trillions in debt, not to mention runaway inflation which has crushed incumbent political powers around the globe, the charade will finally be over and the era of accountability must begin.

Again, watch ‘Thank You Dr. Fauci’ here…

Authored by Austin Alonzo via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Although President-elect Donald Trump and the Republican Party swept the 2024 general election, the cryptocurrency industry feels it is the real winner.

Powered by donations from some of the biggest figures in cryptocurrency and venture capital, three political action committees poured more than $100 million into efforts to influence the 2024 election.

“This election was a huge win for crypto,” co-founder and CEO of Coinbase Global Inc. Brian Armstrong wrote on Nov. 7 in an article on X.

Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2012, donated about $55 million to the super PAC Fairshake, according to Federal Election Commission records. Armstrong personally donated $1 million.

As Armstrong wrote, the industry had much to celebrate in early November. It saw its preferred candidates take the White House and win key seats in both houses of Congress. He declared that the 119th Congress will be the “most pro-crypto Congress ever.”

In his message, Coinbase’s leader wrote something that is usually implied but rarely said in the world of political spending, too.

“[Washington] received a clear message that being anti-crypto is a good way to end your career,” Armstrong said.

10 Cents to $89,000

Twenty years ago, few people had heard of cryptocurrency—a term used to refer to decentralized digital currencies as opposed to central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) that are controlled and backed by a government or central bank. One week after the Nov. 5 election, a Bitcoin was trading for more than $89,000. Gold, by comparison, traded for about $2,600 an ounce on the same day.

Between 2007 and 2009, a person or group known as Satoshi Nakamoto conceived of and launched Bitcoin. It was a new type of digital money secured via encryption technology. Unlike traditional currency, Bitcoin can transfer value online without a bank or a payment processor. It is not backed by any government, central bank fiat currency, or physical asset.

Bitcoin began as an obscure novelty worth less than 10 cents per token. However, its price has exploded in the last decade, creating significant public interest in the digital asset. According to the crypto website Coinranking, as of Nov. 13, Bitcoin’s market capitalization was about $1.83 trillion.

Nevertheless, public opinion polling shows that a majority of Americans are not confident in cryptocurrency as an investment. A Pew Research Center study published in October found that just 5 percent of the people it surveyed in February said they were “very” or “extremely” confident in the reliability and safety of cryptocurrency.

The same report found that 17 percent of Americans have ever invested in, traded, or used a cryptocurrency. As an investment, about 38 percent of respondents said cryptocurrency has done “worse than expected.”

Rick Claypool, the research director in the president’s office of Public Citizen, told The Epoch Times that cryptocurrency, generally, is an extremely volatile investment vehicle without any intrinsic value—one that is now very risky for the average investor.

Public Citizen, founded in 1971, is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization. In May, it published a report describing the cryptocurrency industry’s investment in politics as part of a “strategy of combating enforcement crackdowns and designing a regulatory system that meets the industry’s specifications.”

Regulators Take Aim

The growing use of cryptocurrency over the last decade, and concern about the consumer risks, has led to a rush to begin regulating the fast-growing industry.

The swift rise and fall of Sam Bankman-Fried and his cryptocurrency exchange FTX highlighted the potential for fraud in a lightly regulated sector of the economy.

In March, Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison and ordered to pay $11 billion in forfeiture for what the U.S. Department of Justice called his “orchestration of multiple fraudulent schemes.” Bankman-Fried was accused of stealing more than $8 billion of his customer’s money through FTX and Alameda Research, a cryptocurrency trading firm he founded.

Bankman-Fried was initially arrested in the Bahamas and extradited to the United States, where he was charged with multiple fraud offenses, in December 2022. FTX collapsed in November 2022.

A year earlier, Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Gary Gensler asked the Senate’s Banking Housing and Urban Affairs Committee for additional resources to begin addressing regulatory concerns surrounding the cryptocurrency industry. In that testimony, he said the entire crypto asset class was “rife with fraud, scams, and abuse.”

Under Gensler, who was appointed commissioner by President Joe Biden in April 2021, the SEC views most crypto assets as securities. Since 2022, the SEC has charged multiple firms with violating federal securities law by offering and selling unregistered securities.

As recently as Oct. 9, when he appeared at a conference at the New York University School of Law, Gensler said he continues to view the crypto industry as a hotbed of “fraudsters,” “grifters,” and “scams.”

Gensler’s actions made him the crypto industry’s top political enemy, Claypool said.

Election Targets

In 2024, the industry began spending on political causes through three linked committees: Fairshake, Defend American Jobs, and Protect Progress. Claypool said while these PACs were founded and funded by crypto, none of the advertisements and political messaging they paid for said anything about cryptocurrency or a candidate’s positions on financial regulations.

Fairshake was launched in May 2023. According to federal records, within its first six months, it received donations of $1 million or more from Armstrong, Coinbase, and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz’s co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. By the end of 2023, it had raised about $85.7 million.

Representatives of Coinbase, Andreessen, and Horowitz did not respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times.

According to its latest FEC disclosure, covering its activities through Oct. 16, the PAC raised about $118.4 million and spent about $153.3 million in 2024. Its top donors were Coinbase, executives at Andreessen Horowitz, and Ripple Labs Inc.

Representatives of Ripple did not respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times.

Fairshake’s most significant independent expenditures against a single candidate, totaling more than $10 million, went toward opposing Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) in her bid to replace outgoing Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.). Porter lost in the state’s Democratic Party primary to Senator-elect Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in March.

Ahead of Porter’s primary, a new political group called the Stand With Crypto Alliance emerged. In its inaugural release, dated Feb. 7, Stand With Crypto said it planned to launch a “candidate questionnaire and voter education program” in California.

Read the rest here…

The growing presence of mysterious drone swarms at or near US military bases has become a significant cause for concern. Reports suggest these unmanned aerial systems have now been spotted over British military installations.

The Guardian reports that drone swarms have been spotted over three UK airbases: RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk between last Wednseday and Friday.  

The US 48th Fighter Wing is stationed at RAF Lakenheath. This base is home to the only F-15 wing in Europe, which includes two F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons and two F-35A Lightning II squadrons.

A spokesperson for USAF in Europe said it is unclear if the drones were “considered hostile.” The spokesperson did not say if any counter-drone technologies were used during the incident but said the USAF retains “the right to protect” installations. 

“We can confirm that small unmanned aerial systems [UASs] were spotted in the vicinity of and over RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell between 20 and 22 November. The number of UASs fluctuated and they ranged in size [and] configuration.

“The UASs were actively monitored and installation leaders determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents or critical infrastructure.

“To protect operational security, we do not discuss our specific force protection measures but retain the right to protect the installation. We continue to monitor our airspace and are working with host-nation authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities and assets,” the spokesperson said.

The UK incident came just days after a drone swarm on Tuesday in Morris County, New Jersey, caused alarm because it was down the street from the military research and manufacturing facility Picatinny Arsenal.

There have been other reports of drone swarms across some of America’s most sensitive national security sites, including Langley Air Force Base on Virginia’s shoreline late last year. 

Authored by Jeremy Portnoy via RealClearInvestigations,

Topline: Under President Joe Biden, the Department of Health and Human Services has created a “diversity, equity and inclusion” infrastructure of dizzying complexity. 

The agency’s 2025 budget request contains the word “equity” 829 times, adding onto a dollar total that is already impossible to fully tabulate.

Key facts: HHS employed at least 294 DEI staffers at a cost of $38.7 million last year, according to a new report from OpenTheBooks.com. There were 247 with salaries above $100,000.

It can be difficult to grasp just how bureaucratic HHS’ DEI system truly is. The agency-wide “Office of EEO, Diversity & Inclusion” has 92 employees. Within that are seven more DEI offices for specific health agencies like the Food and Drug Administration.

Some of the smaller offices have several more divisions. The National Institutes of Health’s “Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion” has yet another “Diversity & Inclusion Division,” a marketing team, a customer outreach team and more.

The DEI expenses do not stop there. 

The agency has $5 million budgeted for its “Office of Climate Change and Health Equity” and the “Office of Environmental Justice.” Another $5 million will go toward “diversifying the doula workforce.”

The Health Resources and Services Administration received $102 million this year for “training for diversity.” A third of it is to help universities “enhance the academic performance of minorities.”

The NIH plans to spend $241 million over nine years on its FIRST program, which pays universities to weigh a candidate’s “commitment to diversity” as equal to their academic ability when hiring scientists. 

Even the NIH’s $1.2 billion “Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies” program now has an “emphasis on diversity and inclusion in the research community,” according to its budget request.

Search all federal, state and local government salaries and vendor spending with the AI search bot, Benjamin, at OpenTheBooks.com. 

Background: DEI has also transformed HHS’ seven Offices of Minority Health, which have 207 employees earning $29.4 million in total. Add that to the $38.7 million from the general DEI staff at HHS, and pay is $68 million.

The Offices of Minority Health have existed since 1985, but once Biden took office, he directed them to focus on “addressing historical and contemporary injustices.”

Quickly, the Center for Disease Control’s Office of Minority Health renamed itself to the Office of Health Equity and “declared racism a serious public health threat.”

Critical quote: “In medical research, lives depend on putting excellence first. The NIH distorts that value, subordinating it to political ideology and endangering those it’s supposed to serve,” National Association of Scholars fellow John Sailer wrote in the Wall Street Journal.

Summary: Political agendas from the left or the right have no place in science and medicine. 

The #WasteOfTheDay is brought to you by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com

Authored by Jason Ditz via AntiWar.com,

In a 19-3 vote with 12 abstentions, the IAEA agreed to rebuke Iran for a “lack of cooperation.” The vote was driven by the US, UK, and their allies. Russia and China both voted against the resolution, along with Burkina Faso.

The timing of the decision was particularly unfortunately, coming just days after IAEA chief Rafael Grossi’s visit to Iran, during which Iran agreed to measures designed to keep their stockpile of high-enriched uranium from growing. Iran also promised to ensure that it’s highest enrichment levels remain 60% or below, which is below the 90% level needed to make weapons.

All that raised hope among officials actually invested in the safeguard efforts. The US-led effort for censure seems, as always, to underscore that Iran cannot take any steps that would satisfy them. Angered by the IAEA rebuke, Iran is promising a response.

A joint statement by Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization and Foreign Ministry announced they will take new measures, including bringing newer, more advanced centrifuges online. Such moves would of course be reversible, if the international community became more willing to negotiate and comply with the existing P5+1 nuclear deal.

That seems unlikely in the near term. Though the P5+1 deal is nominally still in effect, the US withdrew from it in 2018, after repeated condemnations by President Trump. Since

Trump’s return to office in imminent, it seems unlikely that the administration will be any more willing to make a deal than they were the last time.

Iran is trying to assure that the new measures are only related to enrichment, which again remains well below the level of weapons-grade uranium. The statement issued also assured that Iran will continue with safeguard and technical cooperation with the IAEA, as it had previously agreed.

In the end, the IAEA censure is less about anything Iran is doing than about continuing the narrative of the “Iranian nuclear threat.”

That this is the second time this year that the IAEA has voted on such a measure despite there being no real change in Iran’s policy or action.

The deputy of the Iran’s AEO provided more details about Iran’s response to the resolution of the Board of Governors of the IAEA.

♨️ According to this report, Iran has launched a series of new and advanced centrifuges, increasing the capacity, level, and speed of enrichment. pic.twitter.com/YQCjzjEeim

— IranView 24 (@IranView24) November 22, 2024

The US intelligence community has repeatedly confirmed that Iran has not decided to make a nuclear weapon. Seemingly every Iranian earthquake leads hawks to speculate a secret detonation has taken place, however, and the fear-mongering continues.

US consumers are heading to grocery stores, butcher shops, and local farms in the coming days to gather supplies ahead of Thanksgiving dinner next Thursday. A new report finds that costs are marginally lower for the second year in a row but remain elevated since the Biden-Harris administration ignited the inflation storm.

The annual American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Thanksgiving dinner survey found that the average Thanksgiving dinner for ten people will cost about $58.08, down 5% from last year. However, this is still 19% higher than five years ago.

“While consumers are getting some much-needed relief after years of elevated retail prices, these grocery bills also reflect some hard conversations around the dinner table for farm and ranch families,” AFBF wrote in the report. 

AFBF noted:

The classic dinner’s grocery bill is a mixed bag of savings and squeezes. Seven items dropped in price this year, including turkey, sweet potatoes, frozen peas, a vegetable tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie mix, pie crusts and whole milk. However, the remaining four items –dinner rolls, fresh cranberries, whipping cream and cubed stuffing – rose in price.

Prices for ham, Russet potatoes and frozen green beans were added to the survey in 2018 to reflect more Thanksgiving favorites, with all of them showing a year-over-year reduction in price. When including the additional items, the meal cost rose to $77.34, or $7.73 per person, with more leftovers, of course. The updated Thanksgiving dinner nearly doubled the cost savings of the classic basket – an 8.7% decrease in price from 2023.

Turkey – Carving the Grocery Bill

Over the span of the AFBF Thanksgiving survey, turkey has accounted for an average of 43% of the total dinner cost. This year is right on the mark – a 16-pound turkey accounts for 44.2% of the classic 10-person feast. Given its large share of the total dinner bill, differences in the grocery bill year-over-year closely follow the change in turkey prices. This year’s 6% decrease in turkey prices is a bit of an anomaly. According to USDA’s Turkeys Raised report, farmers raised 205 million turkeys in 2024, down 6% from last year and the lowest since 1985. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is responsible for the decline in turkeys raised. Typically, fewer turkeys would mean an increase in price, but demand for turkey fell in 2024. USDA estimates per capita demand for turkey is 13.9 pounds per person, down a pound from 2023. This drop in demand has caused prices to fall.

Geographically, AFBF found that Thanksgiving dinners in the western part of the country will be the most expensive, at $67.05.

AFBF continued to point out that consumers remain frustrated with food inflation:

Even though the price tag for this year’s Thanksgiving meal is down 5%, it’s still up nearly 20% from just five years ago. Consumers are exhausted from years of inflation, and it will take more than the past two years’ improvements to ease the pain.

The modest improvements in the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner are nothing to cheer about. The multi-year inflation storm has crushed middle-class and working-poor households and even rich folks have traded down to Walmart. In other words, the standard of living imploded under Biden-Harris. 

Via TheMindUnleashed.com,

The agricultural world is witnessing a remarkable transformation, driven by groundbreaking technology. Among the most fascinating innovations is a farming robot equipped with lasers that can destroy hundreds of thousands of weeds in mere hours. This high-tech solution is not just a marvel of engineering but a timely response to persistent challenges in farming, from labor shortages to the environmental impact of chemical herbicides.

By combining artificial intelligence with precision laser technology, companies like Carbon Robotics are reshaping the way farmers tackle one of agriculture’s most labor-intensive tasks. These futuristic machines offer a glimpse into the potential of sustainable farming, where innovation meets efficiency, paving the way for a healthier and more productive future for agriculture.

The Weed Problem in Agriculture

Weeds have been a persistent challenge for farmers, creating a constant battle for resources in the field. These invasive plants not only compete with crops for vital sunlight, nutrients, and water but also provide a safe haven for pests that can wreak havoc on harvests. The presence of weeds significantly reduces crop yields and quality, making effective weed management essential for agricultural success. For centuries, farmers have relied on labor-intensive methods and chemical herbicides to combat this problem, but these approaches are not without their flaws.

The use of chemical herbicides, while convenient and effective in the short term, poses serious environmental concerns. These chemicals can seep into water supplies, harming aquatic ecosystems and affecting soil health. Over time, their overuse may lead to the development of herbicide-resistant weeds, further complicating the issue. Meanwhile, manual weeding, though free of chemical drawbacks, is both backbreaking and time-consuming. The agriculture industry’s labor shortages have made this method increasingly impractical, leaving farmers with few viable options.

The urgency for a sustainable, efficient solution to weed control cannot be overstated. Modern farming demands innovation that not only solves immediate issues but also protects the environment for future generations. This is where technological advancements, such as farming robots equipped with cutting-edge weed management systems, come into play. By addressing the limitations of traditional methods, these innovations offer a promising alternative to tackle one of agriculture’s oldest dilemmas.

The Rise of Farming Robots

In the face of persistent agricultural challenges, technology has emerged as a transformative force, with farming robots leading the way. Carbon Robotics’ Autonomous Weeder is a standout example of how innovation can revolutionize agriculture. This remarkable machine is designed to address the dual problems of labor shortages and environmental damage caused by conventional weed management practices. By combining artificial intelligence with advanced laser technology, the Autonomous Weeder delivers an unprecedented level of precision and efficiency.

 

 

 

 

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The robot operates with minimal human intervention, scanning rows of crops using 12 high-resolution cameras that detect weeds in real time. Its onboard AI system processes this information, distinguishing weeds from crops with incredible accuracy. Once a weed is identified, carbon dioxide lasers target and destroy it instantly, leaving the surrounding soil undisturbed. This approach eliminates the need for chemical herbicides, reducing environmental harm while preserving soil health. It also alleviates the physical burden of manual weeding, offering farmers a more efficient alternative.

Beyond its functional benefits, the introduction of robots like the Autonomous Weeder marks a significant shift in the agricultural sector. These machines demonstrate the potential of integrating AI into farming practices, enabling farmers to achieve more with fewer resources. As the capabilities of such robots continue to expand, they are not only solving immediate issues but also setting the stage for a future defined by sustainable and technologically advanced agriculture.

The Evolution of LaserWeeder

Building on the success of the Autonomous Weeder, Carbon Robotics has introduced a new, more powerful iteration of its technology: the LaserWeeder. This latest innovation reflects the company’s commitment to continually improving its products to meet farmers’ needs. Unlike its predecessor, the LaserWeeder is not autonomous; it is designed as a pull-behind implement that attaches to a tractor. While this adjustment requires a driver, it allows for greater flexibility and compatibility with various farming operations.

The LaserWeeder is equipped with three times the lasers of the original model, enabling it to kill up to 200,000 weeds per hour. This incredible efficiency makes it one of the most effective weed management tools available. In just one hour, the LaserWeeder can cover two acres of farmland, a feat that would take human laborers days to achieve. Its precision targeting ensures that only weeds are eliminated, leaving crops unharmed and the soil intact. This targeted approach not only boosts productivity but also supports healthier, more sustainable farming practices.

By adapting its design while retaining the core laserweeding technology, Carbon Robotics has ensured that the LaserWeeder meets the practical needs of modern farmers. The machine’s performance and ease of use make it an invaluable addition to farm operations, especially for larger-scale growers. As this technology becomes more widely adopted, it is poised to redefine weed management and set new standards for agricultural efficiency.

Real-World Impact on Farmers

For many farmers, the introduction of the LaserWeeder has been nothing short of transformative. This technology addresses one of the most labor-intensive tasks on the farm, dramatically reducing the time and effort required to manage weeds. By automating this critical process, the LaserWeeder not only frees up labor for other essential tasks but also provides a level of consistency that is difficult to achieve manually. Farmers who have incorporated the machine into their operations report noticeable improvements in both productivity and crop health.

The environmental benefits of the LaserWeeder are equally significant. By eliminating the need for herbicides, it helps maintain healthier soil and reduces the risk of water contamination. This shift toward chemical-free farming practices aligns with the growing demand for sustainable agriculture, offering farmers an opportunity to meet consumer expectations while improving their bottom line. Additionally, the LaserWeeder’s precision ensures that crops are not damaged during the weeding process, further enhancing yield quality and quantity.

Economically, the LaserWeeder is a sound investment. While the initial cost may seem substantial, its ability to cut weeding expenses by up to 80% means that the machine pays for itself within two to three years. This rapid return on investment, combined with its labor-saving capabilities, makes it a practical choice for farms of all sizes. As more farmers experience its benefits firsthand, the LaserWeeder is solidifying its place as a vital tool for modern agriculture.

The Future of Sustainable Farming

The LaserWeeder is just one example of how technology is reshaping the agricultural landscape. Its success signals a broader shift toward more sustainable and efficient farming practices. By reducing reliance on chemical herbicides and manual labor, machines like the LaserWeeder are not only addressing immediate challenges but also paving the way for long-term solutions. The environmental benefits of laser technology, such as reduced soil contamination and healthier ecosystems, cannot be overstated.

 

 

 

 

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As innovation continues, the potential applications of laser-equipped robots in agriculture are vast. Future iterations could handle a variety of tasks, from planting and fertilizing to harvesting, creating an integrated system that maximizes efficiency and minimizes waste. These advancements could also help address global food security challenges by enabling farmers to produce more with fewer resources. The combination of AI, robotics, and precision technology holds the promise of revolutionizing the industry, making it more resilient in the face of climate change and population growth.

Ultimately, the integration of laser technology into farming represents a hopeful vision for the future. By embracing these advancements, farmers can tackle long-standing challenges while contributing to a more sustainable and productive agricultural system. As tools like the LaserWeeder gain traction, they are not just changing how farms operate—they are redefining what is possible in agriculture.

Transforming the Role of Farmers

The rise of laser-equipped robots is not just changing how weeds are managed—it’s transforming the very role of farmers. Traditionally, farmers have had to spend countless hours manually overseeing labor-intensive tasks like weeding, often diverting their attention from other crucial aspects of their operations. With the LaserWeeder and similar technologies, much of this burden is lifted, allowing farmers to focus on higher-level planning and crop optimization.

These machines are empowering farmers to adopt precision agriculture, a method that uses data and technology to make farming more efficient and sustainable. By automating repetitive tasks, robots enable farmers to analyze crop health, soil quality, and weather patterns in real time, helping them make informed decisions that maximize yield and conserve resources. The time saved by automating weeding can now be invested in improving the overall health of the farm, ensuring long-term success.

Moreover, the integration of advanced tools like the LaserWeeder is making farming more appealing to younger generations. With agriculture becoming more tech-driven, it opens doors for a new wave of tech-savvy individuals who are eager to bring innovation to the industry. This blend of tradition and technology is redefining what it means to be a farmer, ensuring that agriculture remains a vital and dynamic field in the modern world.

A Farming Revolution with Lasers

The introduction of laser-equipped farming robots like the LaserWeeder is reshaping agriculture in ways once thought impossible. By combining advanced technology with practical farming needs, these machines address age-old challenges with a level of precision and efficiency that is hard to match. They eliminate weeds without harming the environment, reduce dependency on manual labor, and make farms more sustainable and productive.

More than just tools, these robots symbolize a shift toward innovation-driven agriculture. They allow farmers to embrace environmentally conscious practices without sacrificing productivity. With benefits ranging from healthier soil to significant cost savings, the LaserWeeder represents a win for both farmers and the planet. Its rapid adoption by farmers across the industry underscores its value as a game-changing solution.

As this technology evolves, it has the potential to go beyond weeding, shaping the future of farming for generations to come. From addressing global food demands to fostering a greener planet, laser-equipped robots are setting a new standard in agriculture. This is just the beginning of a farming revolution, where cutting-edge technology meets the age-old art of cultivation.

Authored by George Citroner via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Scientists have uncovered a new chemical compound lurking in U.S. drinking water, potentially exposing one in five Americans to an unidentified health risk.

Researchers at the University of Arkansas have identified chloronitramide anion, a previously unknown byproduct of water disinfection that could have implications for public health, according to a new study published Thursday in Science.

Toxicity Still Unknown

The newly identified compound, chloronitramide anion (chemically expressed as Cl–N–NO2−), is an end product of inorganic chloramine decomposition. ​While its toxicity remains unknown, researchers are concerned about its prevalence and similarity to other toxic compounds, necessitating further study to assess its public health risk, the researchers wrote.

Chloramines, chemical compounds containing chlorine and ammonia used to kill bacteria, viruses, and other organisms that can cause illness, have been used by water utilities since the 1930s. Over 20 percent of Americans consume drinking water treated with chloramines, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Challenges in Identification

While researchers have been aware of the compound for decades, its identification posed significant challenges, according to Julian Fairey, an associate professor of civil engineering at the University of Arkansas and first co-author of the paper detailing this discovery.

“It’s a very stable chemical with a low molecular weight,” Fairey said in a press statement. “It’s a very difficult chemical to find. The hardest part was identifying it and proving it was the structure we were saying it was.”

The identification of chloronitramide anion involved synthesizing the compound in Fairey’s lab. Samples of the synthesized compound were then analyzed.

Potential Health Risks Yet to Be Investigated

As with any newly discovered compound, questions arise regarding the potential health risks associated with chloronitramide anion, as it has not yet been evaluated in toxicity studies.

The study authors emphasized that this newly discovered substance “is a potential human health concern and is therefore an immediate candidate for quantitation in source waters, finished drinking waters, and wastewater effluents.” They also wrote that these findings warrant an assessment of chloronitramide anion’s carcinogenicity and reproductive and developmental toxicities.

“It’s well recognized that when we disinfect drinking water, there is some toxicity that’s created,” Fairey, who studies the chemistry of drinking water disinfectants, said in the press release. “Chronic toxicity, really.”

Possible Link to Cancer

A certain percentage of people may develop cancer from drinking water over several decades, according to Fairey. “But we haven’t identified what chemicals are driving that toxicity. A major goal of our work is to identify these chemicals and the reaction pathways through which they form.”

Identifying chloronitramide anion is a step toward understanding these complex chemical processes. While it remains to be seen whether this compound will be linked to any cancers or other adverse health risks, future research by academics and regulatory agencies, including the EPA, will assess its implications.

“Even if it is not toxic,” Fairey said, “finding it can help us understand the pathways for how other compounds are formed, including toxins.” Knowledge of a compound’s origins can lead to its control, he noted.