A disturbing pattern of out-of-control kids is being overserved in several US cities. This might result from progressive leadership in City Halls failing to enforce law and order while supporting disastrous ‘defund the police’ efforts that have transformed city streets into war zones in a few short years. The latest example of this chaos comes from an inner-ring suburb of the city of St. Louis in St. Louis County, Missouri. 

Local television station KMOV released a shocking video of kids pointing guns at a smart door camera of a home on the 700 block of Vernon. The five kids were strapped with pistols and semi-automatic rifles. They were seen knocking on the door, while one said, “Open that door, man.” 

[News] ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Police said they are searching for several teens seen on video standing on the porch of a University City residence holding guns.

University City Police said they were sent the video on Thursday and determined it was taken at a residence on the 700… pic.twitter.com/e4aUfvRGdj

— PPV-TAHOE – News Journalist (@ppv_tahoe) August 6, 2023

Police said they received the video from an anonymous source. There is an open investigation into who the kids are and why they were at the home with guns. 

Last month, a gun-wielding 16yo was responsible for a deadly downtown St. Louis mass shooting in June that left one person dead and a dozen injured. 

Meanwhile, St. Louis Family Court’s Report to the Community for 2022, released in May, shows the number of felony referrals police sent to juvenile courts soared from 535 in 2021 to 878 in 2022. And that number is likely moving higher this year. 

Democratic Mayor Tishaura Jones’ move to defund the city’s police department by millions of dollars to put social justice and racial equity at the center of all public policy appears overshadowed by the continuation of violent crime. 

Jones has supported strict gun control and called on Congress to ban “weapons of war,” claiming if these guns were banned — it would result in a drop in violence. 

But — the mayor has been in damage control mode for about a month after open records request revealed private text messages showing a chat with her father in March, in which she said, “Chicago has strict gun laws as well but that doesn’t deter gun violence.”

Jones is correct. She understands gun control doesn’t work. However, public acknowledgment of this failed policy is considered taboo for Democrats. 

We must ask the tough questions: Why are these kids radicalized to violence? Is it because of violent video games, violent movies, and or music that preaches violence? Or perhaps it could be due to fatherless homes and the lack of stable households? Or what about the failed education system and faltering welfare-driven local economies that leaves kids with limited room for success? 

Whatever the reason why these kids feel the need to run around town like it’s a scene from the ‘Grand Theft Auto’ video game isn’t because of guns but instead a reflection of their environment that the Democratic party entirely controls. These kids feel limited upside in their ability to achieve the American Dream and automatically default to a life of crime — with some not expecting to live past the age of 30. 

This has to change. Democrats have spent too long ruining inner cities and keeping an entire class of people oppressed. Banning guns won’t solve the rot in inner cities — as Mayor Jones even noted, there need to be productive investments into these areas. Let’s start with real education reforms and investing in factories in inner cities. 

Under a law that took effect immediately upon its signing by Governor Tina Kotek, drivers in Oregon are finally free to pump gas into their own vehicles, rather than being forced to wait for a gas station attendant to handle it for them. That leaves New Jersey as the last state where where pumping your own gas is a crime — punishable by a fine of up to $500. 

Self-serve was outlawed in Oregon in 1951. Lawmakers said the practice was too dangerous, citing the fact that “cashiers are often unable to maintain a clear view of and give undivided attention to the dispensing of [gas] by customers.”

Leaving one’s car also supposedly exposed drivers to “the increased risk of personal injury resulting from slipping on slick surfaces” and an “increased risk of crime.” What’s more, wrote the law’s authors, “the dangers of crime and slick surfaces…are enhanced because Oregon’s weather is uniquely adverse, causing wet pavement and reduced visibility.”  

Most of that makes us chuckle, but then again…

Asians think they can safely pump gas in a blue state… 🤦‍♂️pic.twitter.com/7Sbrnhu8r9

— Unbiased Crime Report (@UnbiasedCrime) July 28, 2023

Oregon’s self-serve prohibition started eroding a few years ago. First, the state started allowing self-serve at night in rural areas, and then allowed it 24 hours a day in eastern Oregon. The first steps toward a degree of sanity were influenced by the Covid-era labor shortages created by federal programs that paid people not to work. 

“We live in a small town in a large county and can’t find employees to pump fuel,” Steve Rogers, who lives near the Cascade Mountains, told legislators. “We are paying top dollar and also offering insurance, paid time off and retirement benefits, and still cannot fully staff.”

As with most regulations, the ones barring self-service weren’t created to protect the public, but rather to serve certain politically-influential constituencies. As Patrick Murray, the director of the Monmouth Polling Institute, explained to NBC:

“It goes back to the middle of the 20th century. There were forces involved who wanted to protect their interests in terms of the smaller gas owners against mega gas stations that were starting to be built at the time that would require self-service to be profitable.”

We wish we could report that Oregon’s simply withdrew the prohibition, leaving market forces to guide pumping decisions from here. Of course, that isn’t the case. Under the new law:

• At least half the pumps must still be reserved for full-service gas-pumping. Rightly, stations don’t have to offer self-serve. 
• Though full-service obviously costs more to deliver, stations have to charge the same price for both options.  

Union leaders howled at the prospect of Oregonians pumping their own gas, without the need for a paid attendant. Sandy Humphrey, secretary-treasurer of UFCW Local 555, told Associated Press that the move represents a “blatant cash grab for large corporations…With over 2,000 gas stations in Oregon, laying off just one employee per location represents millions of dollars a year that giant corporations are not paying in wages, benefits and public payroll taxes.”

New Jersey now stands alone in mandating universal full-service gas-pumping, with a ban that was enacted in 1949. Though calls for repeal periodically surge along with rising gas prices, there’s nothing to suggest that any change is coming in the near future. 

Authored by Chris Menahan via InformationLiberation.com,

Elon Musk put out a call on Saturday for folks to contact Twitter/X if they “were unfairly treated” by their employer “due to posting or liking something on this platform” as he will help them sue and fund their legal bills with “no limit.”

“If you were unfairly treated by your employer due to posting or liking something on this platform, we will fund your legal bill,” Musk said. “No limit. Please let us know.”

If you were unfairly treated by your employer due to posting or liking something on this platform, we will fund your legal bill.

No limit.

Please let us know.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 6, 2023

“Elon understands that nothing changes behavior in the United States faster than threat of legal action,” Austen Allred commented.

“And we won’t just sue, it will be extremely loud and we will go after the boards of directors of the companies too,” Musk responded.

And we won’t just sue, it will be extremely loud and we will go after the boards of directors of the companies too

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 6, 2023

Musk suggested he was ready to take up the case of Kara Lynne, who was reportedly fired by Limited Run Games for following Libs of TikTok and other conservatives on Twitter.

Kara, is that accurate?

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 6, 2023

The situation is slightly more complicated than the headline. But yes.

— Kara Lynne (@Kara_Creates) August 6, 2023

Great, let’s have at it!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 6, 2023

Musk also suggested he may take up the case of a radical leftist who claims he was fired for “defending Hitler.”

How about this?https://t.co/h2qYJSI2Zy

— David Josef Volodzko (@davidvolodzko) August 6, 2023

This does sound like a good case

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 6, 2023

Musk is a self-described “free speech absolutist” who has a clear disdain for cancel culture, and this latest move seems to align with his push to shift X away from content censorship, particularly relating to political and ideological views.

In December 2022, Musk tweeted that “cancel culture needs to be canceled.” Under his ownership, X has reinstated several accounts that were banned for policy violations under the previous ownership.

Many have theorized that the conservative boycott of Bud Light – one of the only successful conservative boycotts in perhaps decades – was particularly effective as a result of Musk’s takeover of Twitter and his unshackling of their previously-rigged algorithms.

Many companies are now reportedly afraid they’ll be the next “Bud Light” if they push transgenderism and other woke garbage.

In a similar vein, many colleges are now operating in fear that they’ll be sued for trying to get around the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action.

Columbia Law School: Send us a video with your application now

Conservative journalist: Tell us more about this?

Columbia: Never mind.

Violating the law, or a hint of doing so, is bad press. Supreme Court has made their lives harder. https://t.co/NPN7m28agS pic.twitter.com/CMRymJPq7y

— Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) August 1, 2023

The Wall Street Journal reported the “diversity officer” racket is rapidly contracting in part due to fears of lawsuits, which have only amplified in the wake of the ruling on affirmative action.

Moscow’s Vnukovo airport was forced to temporarily halt all flights due to a failed drone attack in the late morning hours, Russian officials said Sunday, in a rarity at a moment the Ukrainians step up efforts to strike inside the capital.

The airport is located about nine miles southwest of Moscow, and the defense ministry said the drone was inbound but was destroyed by electronic anti-air measures in the Podolsk region of the Moscow suburbs.

After a major Ukrainian drone attack on buildings in the Kremlin complex early this year, the military took steps to bolster anti-air measures and defenses in and around Moscow, including erecting Pantsir systems on tall buildings.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin wrote on Telegram: “Today at around 11:00 a.m. a drone attempted to break through to Moscow. It was destroyed on the approach by air defenses. Well done military.”

It is significant that Ukraine’s long-range drone attacks have begun to halt or hinder air traffic over Moscow, even if briefly, and it comes after Ukraine’s President Zelensky vowed “return the war” to Russian soil. The past week saw at least two attacks on Moscow City business district. 

The Associated Press notes of Sunday’s drone operation, “The attack was one of four strikes on the Russian capital in the space of a month, spotlighting Moscow’s vulnerability as Russia’s war in Ukraine drags into its second year.”

Russia had on Saturday vowed that a response is coming to these increased cross-border incidents, particularly after the late Friday sea drone attack on a Russian civilian tanker near the Kerch Strait, which Moscow condemned as a “terrorist attack”. 

“The Kyiv regime, meeting no condemnation from Western countries and international organisations, is actively applying new terrorist methods, this time in the waters of the Black Sea,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, while vowing retaliation:

“There can be no justification for such barbaric actions, they will not go unanswered and their authors and perpetrators will inevitably be punished,” she added.

This weekend has seen heavy fighting in Ukraine and extensive Russian strikes across the country, resulting in multiple casualties, including among civilians.

Meanwhile, Ukraine continues major strikes on Crimean transport infrastructure and bridges…

⚡️TASS releases images of the consequences of the strike on Chongar bridge which connects Crimea to mainland Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/WIAjdRxS4C

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) August 6, 2023

Reportedly the moment Chongar Bridge was hit. pic.twitter.com/osp1U4k18S

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) August 6, 2023

On Sunday, Ukraine’s air force said Russian forces launched 70 drones and missiles total, launched by both air and sea.

The Russians have also continued to deploy Iranian-made Shahed drones, and have even ramped up production in cooperation with Tehran at a joint facility on Russian soil.

Via SchiffGold.com,

Despite significant selling by Turkey that slowed net central bank gold buying in the second quarter, central banks added a record amount of gold to their reserves through the first half of 2023.

Net central bank gold purchases totaled 387 tons through the first half of the year, according to data compiled by the World Gold Council. That was the highest first-half total since the organization started compiling quarterly data in 2000.

Net central bank purchases were down in Q2 after setting a first-quarter record due to net sales of 132 tons between April and June. On net central banks added 102.9 tons of gold to their reserves in the second quarter.

Turkey was the biggest gold buyer in the first quarter but turned to selling in March. In a three-month span, Turkey reduced its gold holdings by 160 tons. According to the World Gold Council, this was a response to local market dynamics and didn’t likely reflect a change in the Turkish central bank’s long-term gold strategy.

Gold was sold into Turkey’s domestic market to satisfy very strong bar, coin and jewelry demand following a temporary partial ban on gold bullion imports.”

Significantly, Turkey resumed purchasing gold in June, adding 11.4 tons to its reserves.

There were other sellers in the second quarter. Kazakhstan reduced its gold holdings by 38 tons, and Uzbekistan sold 19 tons of gold. These two banks were the biggest sellers of gold during the first quarter of this year.  It is not uncommon for banks that buy from domestic production – such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan – to switch between buying and selling.

Russia, Cambodia and Germany reported slight declines in their reserves in Q2, likely due to coin minting.

Nine central banks were net gold purchasers during the first half of 2023

The People’s Bank of China was the biggest gold buyer in H1, adding 103 tons of gold to its official holding. Its purchases in the second quarter extended its buying streak to eight straight months.

Since recommencing reports of purchases in November 2022, the Peoples Bank of China has increased its official gold holdings to 2,113 tons. Gold accounts for 4% of China’s total reserves.

The Chinese central bank accumulated 1,448 tons of gold between 2002 and 2019, and then suddenly went silent until it resumed reporting in November 2022. Many speculate that the Chinese continued to add gold to its holdings off the books during those silent years.

There has always been speculation that China holds far more gold than it officially reveals. As Jim Rickards pointed out on Mises Daily back in 2015, many people speculate that China keeps several thousand tons of gold “off the books” in a separate entity called the State Administration for Foreign Exchange (SAFE).

Last year, there were large unreported increases in central bank gold holdings.  Central banks that often fail to report purchases include China and Russia. Many analysts believe China is the mystery buyer stockpiling gold to minimize exposure to the dollar.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore ranked as the second largest buyer during H1, adding 73 tons of gold it its hoard.

Poland also added a significant amount of gold to its reserves after resuming purchases in April. Polish gold holding rose by 48 tons through the first half of ’23.

In the fall of 2021, Bank of Poland President Adam Glapiński said the central bank planned to add 100 tons of gold to its reserves in 2022. It’s unclear why the bank didn’t follow through. The recent purchases could signal the beginning of another round of buying to reach that 100-ton goal.

Six other countries added gold to their holdings in H1.

• India  — 10 tons

• Czech Republic — 8 tons

• The Philippines — 4 tons

• Iraq — 2 tons

• The ECB — 2 tons

• Qatar — 2 tons

According to the World Gold Council, “Selling activity in Q2 has done little to dent the underlying positive trend in central bank gold demand.”

According to the 2023 Central Bank Gold Reserve Survey recently released by the World Gold Council, 24% of central banks plan to add more gold to their reserves in the next 12 months. Seventy-one percent of central banks surveyed believe the overall level of global reserves will increase in the next 12 months. That was a 10-point increase over last year.

On Sunday morning, Elon Musk wrote on “X” — formerly known as Twitter — that he will be fighting his arch-nemesis Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, in a mixed martial arts cage match. 

pic.twitter.com/60j3qE5S8R

— MAIN (@maincommunity) August 6, 2023

“Zuck v Musk fight will be live-streamed on 𝕏,” Musk tweeted. He said, “All proceeds will go to charity for veterans.”

Zuck v Musk fight will be live-streamed on 𝕏.

All proceeds will go to charity for veterans.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 6, 2023

Earlier this morning, Musk said he was “lifting weights throughout the day, preparing for the fight.” He added his days are busy, so he trains at work. 

Am lifting weights throughout the day, preparing for the fight.

Don’t have time to work out, so I just bring them to work.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 6, 2023

One Twitter user asked the billionaire: “Elon, what is the point of the fight? Is it to motivate you to work out?” 

He responded, “It’s a civilized form of war. Men love war.”

It’s a civilized form of war. Men love war.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 6, 2023

On Friday, Musk was curling a 45-pound dumbbell in a live-stream video on X to test the platform’s new feature. He said: “This is me curling a 45 so there you go.”

https://t.co/4YeQWPz1Xw

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 4, 2023

Musk first proposed a “cage match” fight with Zuckerberg, who is trained in jiujitsu, on June 20. 

Zuckerberg responded shortly after with, “Send me the location.” 

Musk then responded: “Vegas Octagon.” 

pic.twitter.com/YGQKuI0RCc

— Mahmoud🔶foqha  (@mahmoudfoqha9) August 6, 2023

There has yet to be a time and place confirmed for the cage fight between the two social media billionaires. 

Authored by Samantha Flom via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has deployed 109 Iowa National Guard troops to the U.S.–Mexico border to assist Texas in stemming the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States.

The operation, the Republican governor said on Aug. 2, will be paid for with funds allocated to the state under the American Rescue Plan Act, also known as the COVID-19 stimulus package, which she said offers flexibility in how the funds are spent.

“The Biden administration has failed to respond to the crisis at the border and, in doing so, has failed the American people—Iowans included,” Ms. Reynolds said in a statement.

“They have created one of the most significant national security and humanitarian crises of our generation and are blatantly ignoring the impact it’s having on our states, cities, and our people.

“Since the administration refuses to invest in securing the border and protecting its citizens, Texas has asked other states to help, and Iowa is ready and willing to assist.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), another vocal critic of the Biden administration, launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021 amid the mounting flood of illegal immigrants and drugs across the border into his state.

Since then, other Republican governors have sent troops to help hold the line.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol has encountered nearly 6 million illegal immigrants at the southern border since President Joe Biden took office—a fact that Ms. Reynolds attributes to his policies.

“On his first day in office, President Biden reversed commonsense policies that protected the U.S. southern border and American citizens,” she noted.

“Since that time, our country has experienced a historic rise in illegal immigrants and illicit drugs entering our country.

“Two years later, every state is a border state and Iowa’s unique location at the intersection of two major interstates makes it a target for human traffickers and drug cartels.”

According to the governor’s office, the National Guard soldiers began their journey south on Aug. 2. Their deployment will last through Sept. 1, during which time they will aim to deter illegal border crossings and prevent the trafficking of illegal substances through Texas.

On Aug. 31, the troops will be joined by a group of Iowa State Patrol officers from the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

That deployment, ending on Oct. 2, will support Texas State Troopers with criminal interdiction, crime prevention, traffic enforcement, and law enforcement assistance.

Operation Lone Star

According to Mr. Abbott’s office, Operation Lone Star has led to more than 397,900 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 31,800 criminal arrests at the border.

Additionally, Texas law enforcement has seized more than 422 million lethal doses of fentanyl in the operation.

Yet even so, the crisis continues.

Following the end of Title 42 expulsions in May, Mr. Abbott called upon his fellow governors for help addressing the anticipated influx of illegal border-crossers.

“The flood of illegal border activity invited by the Biden administration flows directly across the southern border into Texas communities, but this crisis does not stop in our state.

“In the federal government’s absence, we, as governors, must band together to combat President Biden’s ongoing border crisis and ensure the safety and security that all Americans deserve,” he wrote in a May 16 letter to all of the nation’s governors.

“Join us in the mission to defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity and send all available law enforcement personnel and resources to the Texas-Mexico border to serve alongside our thousands of Texas National Guard soldiers and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers,” he entreated.

In response, Ms. Reynolds led 23 other Republican governors in pledging their support for Texas’s efforts.

“The federal government’s response handling the expiration of Title 42 has represented a complete failure of the Biden administration,” they said in a statement.

“While the federal government has abdicated its duties, Republican governors stand ready to protect the U.S.–Mexico border and keep families safe.”

Answering the Call

The latest deployment marks the third time since 2020 that Ms. Reynolds has sent troops to the border, but she isn’t the only Republican governor to do so this week.

On July 31, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced his intention to send 60 National Guard personnel to Texas.

Those troops also deployed on Aug. 2 and will assist with observation and reporting along the border for about a month.

“This mission is critical to the security of Nebraska as well as other states,” Mr. Pillen said in a statement.

“We need to maintain the safety of our citizenry and stem the ongoing influx of illegal drugs, weapons, and criminals into our borders.”

The governor added that federal funds would cover the cost of the deployment.

Other states that have recently dispatched troops to the border include Florida, Virginia, and South Carolina, among others.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has rejected criticism of his handling of the border, maintaining that the Biden administration’s policies are “working.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Authored by Dave DeCamp via AntiWar.com,

The International Monetary Fund has said it expects the Russian economy to grow by 1.5% this year despite the US-led Western sanctions campaign against the country, which President Biden once vowed would “turn the ruble into rubble.”

The Russian economy shrank by 2.1% last year, but it has bounced back as Russia is adjusting to the sanctions. The Wall Street Journal this week called the economic war a “stalemate,” comparing it to the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine.

The report said the sanctions initially made it harder for Russia to acquire microchips and other technical components, but Moscow then found sanctions loopholes through neighboring countries. Russia has also had no problems selling its oil as its found new markets in India and elsewhere in Asia.

The Journal cited analysts who said the sanctions will hurt Russia in the long term, but Moscow continues to forge stronger ties and significantly increase trade with China.

An alternative to the US-dominated global financial system is slowly being formed by Russia, China, and other countries targeted with US sanctions.

The US has successfully crushed the economies of smaller countries with sanctions, but the sanctions on Russia were the harshest imposed on such a large economy.

[ZH: Russia’s unemployment rate is now lower than Bidenomics has achieved…]

US sanctions on smaller nations are losing some of their power as China and Russia offer alternative markets.

For example, Iranian oil sales in 2022 exceeded those in 2016 before the US withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on the country. Most of the new Iranian oil sales have been to China.

* * *

As this trend continues, people will start asking the hard questions…

There you go: WSJ admits sanctions failed to significantly dent Russia’s economy.

Give it a few more months and they’ll admit that not only they failed but were counterproductive: damaging Europe’s economy more than Russia’s. Or was that the objective? 🤔https://t.co/UCT6Pk83DO

— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) August 4, 2023

Authored by Amaka Nwaokocha via CoinTelegraph.com,

Elon Musk addressed the issue of scam tokens falsely claiming connections to the social media platform…

Elon Musk has stated that his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has no plans to launch crypto tokens in response to a post regarding questionable X and Twitter-based digital currencies on Saturday, Aug. 5.

In response to a post by DogeDesigner, Musk addressed the issue of scam tokens like X (X) and TwitterDAO (TWITTER) falsely claiming connections to the social media platform.

DogeDesigner had cautioned the crypto community about being cautious with articles related to scam tokens and clarified that neither Musk nor X had ever launched a crypto token. In his reply, Musk asserted, “And we never will.“

Previously, Musk had dropped hints about integrating cryptocurrency as a payment option on X. Traders were left wondering whether he would introduce a particular crypto token or stick with his favorite – Dogecoin.

And we never will

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 5, 2023

However, with the appointment of Linda Yaccarino as the new CEO, some doubts arose regarding the likelihood of a DOGE integration. Still, recent comments from Musk have revived optimistic sentiments among Dogecoin investors.

Musk recently announced his ambitious vision of transforming Twitter into an all-encompassing platform known as X, the so-called “everything app,“ officially rebranding Twitter to X in July.

Following Musk’s confirmation that he has no intention of launching a crypto token, the price of Dogecoin experienced an increase of over 5% in a matter of hours, according to CoinMarketCap.