newswars--2020-04-29--Watch: Trump Hosts Roundtable With Industry Executives on Reopening America

President Trump hosts a roundtable meeting with industry leaders to work on reopening America at the White House Wednesday afternoon @ @ @ @ @ the shutdown and addressed Americans ’ “ pent up demand ” to get back to @ @ @ @ @ will host a roundtable with industry executives on Opening Up America Again at 4:00 p.m @ @ @ @ @ ’ t take a brain surgeon to understand that many things are available to humans @ @ @ @ @ .
Humans need fresh air and sunshine !

President Trump hosts a roundtable meeting with industry leaders to work on reopening America at the White House Wednesday afternoon. Trump opened by slamming the shutdown and addressed Americans’ “pent up demand” to get back to work.
Twitter mirror:
President @realDonaldTrump will host a roundtable with industry executives on Opening Up America Again at 4:00 p.m. ET! Watch live: https://t.co/EmsdctGWtd pic.twitter.com/Fdy9uo4ZdG — The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 29, 2020
It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to understand that many things are available to humans to boost their immune systems. Humans need fresh air and sunshine!


newswars--2020-04-29--FBI Docs Reveal No Collusion Between Roger Stone and Russia

The FBI has released affidavits revealing that while Stone communicated with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after Trump was elected in 2016 , there is no evidence he colluded with Assange or Russia to release Hillary Clinton manager John Podesta ’ s emails ahead of the election .
The FBI ’ s search warrant applications , showing wide-ranging surveillance against Stone , were released after a court case was brought by The Associated Press and other media organizations .
They show Stone ’ s tactics and actions leading up to Trump ’ s election victory and leading up to the Mueller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between WikiLeaks and Stone as the Podesta emails were in the process of being leaked in October 2016 .
“ Stone told Infowars that his intermediary described this release as the ‘ mother load , ’ ” the affidavit states .
But the Democrats and media were already hard at work demonizing WikiLeaks as Russian operatives in the weeks leading up the election , which Stone said he was defending Assange against .
“ Since I was all over national TV , cable and print defending WikiLeaks and assange against the claim that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false charges of sexual assault as trumped up bs you may want to rexamine the strategy of attacking me- cordially R , ” the affidavit says Stone told Assange .
The documents also showed Stone and Assange discussing possible Deep State retaliation for the WikiLeaks release as Mueller was about to be appointed as special counsel in 2017 .
Stone told Assange that “ as a journalist it doesn ’ t matter where you get information only that it is accurate and authentic , ” citing the 1971 ruling by the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Papers , classified government documents about the Vietnam War .
“ If the US government moves on you I will bring down the entire house of cards , ” Stone told Assange , according to the affidavit .
“ With the trumped-up sexual assault charges dropped I don ’ t know of any crime you need to be pardoned for — best regards .
R. ” After Mueller was appointed , Stone told Assange that the narrative he was a Russian agent was an outrage .
“ I am doing everything possible to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of government , ” Stone wrote to Assange , referring to Mueller ’ s investigation .
“ Fed treatment of you and WikiLeaks is an outrage .
Must be circumspect in this forum as experience demonstrates it is monitored.
” Stone was sentenced to 40 months in prison in February for lying to Congress and threatening a witness , and was ordered to report to prison by April 30 .
Stone issued a statement on Tuesday following the FBI release , noting it completely exonerates him of the “ Russian collusion ” crimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of him for over three years : I have no trepidation about their release as they confirm there was no illegal activity and certainly no Russian collusion by me during the 2016 Election .
There is , to this day , no evidence that I had or knew about the source or content of the Wikileaks disclosures prior to their public release .
The search warrants ordered released today by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper proves the baseless over-reach of the Mueller witch hunt and exonerate me from the crazed left-wing media charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the receipt and dissemination of stolen e-mails , false narratives that ruined my life for the last 3 years .
Nearly every day , I would turn on the news and open the papers and read that I had committed treason against our great country , that I would be charged with espionage , trafficking in stolen e-mails and other cyber-crimes .
Ultimately , despite the colonoscopy into my life , the Muller investigation could not find what the media wanted and insisted was there or that I did anything wrong in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump .
Although I was not part of his formal campaign , I worked hard-and legally-to help elect the President .
The government admitted in discovery in my trial that they relied on a redacted draft memo from Crowdstike – hardly an unbiased or credible source and the Government admitted the FBI never inspected the DNC servers .
Screenshots of a computer server are like photos of a murder weapon-they can not be examined .
The sur-reply filed by former Assistant US Attorney Jonathan Kravis claiming the Mueller investigators had additional proof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included none of the alleged proof and was a fraud upon the Court .
I was barred by Judge Jackson from proving this at trial through the production of forensic evidence and the testimony of experts such as former NSA Russia specialist and Technical Director , Bill Binney .
The much-publicized raid and exhaustive 13- hour search of my home and office yielded no evidence used against me at trial , ” Stone concluded .
“ When no evidence of Russian collusion , collaboration with Wikileaks , receipt or dissemination of stolen e-mails- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – was found , I was charged with lying to Congress even though there was no underlying crime to lie about and the Trump campaign ’ s interest in the already announced Wikileaks disclosures was a matter of public record .
Testifying voluntary I had no intent or motive to lie as the matters I am charged with lying about were already in the public domain .
Read the FBI ’ s release in full below : Tyler Nixon joins Owen to discuss the most recent legal developments to happen to Roger Stone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ correct this injustice of the law .

The FBI has released affidavits revealing that while Stone communicated with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after Trump was elected in 2016, there is no evidence he colluded with Assange or Russia to release Hillary Clinton manager John Podesta’s emails ahead of the election.
The FBI’s search warrant applications, showing wide-ranging surveillance against Stone, were released after a court case was brought by The Associated Press and other media organizations.
They show Stone’s tactics and actions leading up to Trump’s election victory and leading up to the Mueller investigation in May 2017, including communications between WikiLeaks and Stone as the Podesta emails were in the process of being leaked in October 2016.
“Stone told Infowars that his intermediary described this release as the ‘mother load,’” the affidavit states.
But the Democrats and media were already hard at work demonizing WikiLeaks as Russian operatives in the weeks leading up the election, which Stone said he was defending Assange against.
“Since I was all over national TV, cable and print defending WikiLeaks and assange against the claim that you are Russian agents and debunking the false charges of sexual assault as trumped up bs you may want to rexamine the strategy of attacking me- cordially R,” the affidavit says Stone told Assange.
The documents also showed Stone and Assange discussing possible Deep State retaliation for the WikiLeaks release as Mueller was about to be appointed as special counsel in 2017.
Stone told Assange that “as a journalist it doesn’t matter where you get information only that it is accurate and authentic,” citing the 1971 ruling by the Supreme Court over newspapers’ publishing of the Pentagon Papers, classified government documents about the Vietnam War.
“If the US government moves on you I will bring down the entire house of cards,” Stone told Assange, according to the affidavit. “With the trumped-up sexual assault charges dropped I don’t know of any crime you need to be pardoned for — best regards. R.”
After Mueller was appointed, Stone told Assange that the narrative he was a Russian agent was an outrage.
“I am doing everything possible to address the issues at the highest level of government,” Stone wrote to Assange, referring to Mueller’s investigation. “Fed treatment of you and WikiLeaks is an outrage. Must be circumspect in this forum as experience demonstrates it is monitored.”
Stone was sentenced to 40 months in prison in February for lying to Congress and threatening a witness, and was ordered to report to prison by April 30.
Stone issued a statement on Tuesday following the FBI release, noting it completely exonerates him of the “Russian collusion” crimes Democrats and the media had been alleging of him for over three years:
I have no trepidation about their release as they confirm there was no illegal activity and certainly no Russian collusion by me during the 2016 Election. There is, to this day, no evidence that I had or knew about the source or content of the Wikileaks disclosures prior to their public release. The search warrants ordered released today by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper proves the baseless over-reach of the Mueller witch hunt and exonerate me from the crazed left-wing media charges of Russian collusion, Wikileaks collaboration and the receipt and dissemination of stolen e-mails, false narratives that ruined my life for the last 3 years. Nearly every day, I would turn on the news and open the papers and read that I had committed treason against our great country, that I would be charged with espionage, trafficking in stolen e-mails and other cyber-crimes. Ultimately, despite the colonoscopy into my life, the Muller investigation could not find what the media wanted and insisted was there or that I did anything wrong in the 2016 election of my friend, President Donald Trump. Although I was not part of his formal campaign, I worked hard-and legally-to help elect the President. The government admitted in discovery in my trial that they relied on a redacted draft memo from Crowdstike – hardly an unbiased or credible source and the Government admitted the FBI never inspected the DNC servers. Screenshots of a computer server are like photos of a murder weapon-they cannot be examined. The sur-reply filed by former Assistant US Attorney Jonathan Kravis claiming the Mueller investigators had additional proof that the Russians hacked the DNC, included none of the alleged proof and was a fraud upon the Court. I was barred by Judge Jackson from proving this at trial through the production of forensic evidence and the testimony of experts such as former NSA Russia specialist and Technical Director, Bill Binney. The much-publicized raid and exhaustive 13- hour search of my home and office yielded no evidence used against me at trial,” Stone concluded. “When no evidence of Russian collusion, collaboration with Wikileaks, receipt or dissemination of stolen e-mails- including the stolen e-mails of John Podesta – was found, I was charged with lying to Congress even though there was no underlying crime to lie about and the Trump campaign’s interest in the already announced Wikileaks disclosures was a matter of public record. Testifying voluntary I had no intent or motive to lie as the matters I am charged with lying about were already in the public domain.
Read the FBI’s release in full below:
Twitter: Follow @WhiteIsTheFury
Gab: https://gab.com/WhiteIsTheFury
Minds: https://www.minds.com/whiteisthefury
Tyler Nixon joins Owen to discuss the most recent legal developments to happen to Roger Stone and what President Trump can do to correct this injustice of the law.


newswars--2020-04-29--Vice Suggests Using MaxiPads, Jock Straps as Face Mask Alternatives

Are G-strings , jock straps and maxi pads as effective as N95 masks ?
This was the question Vice sought to answer with their latest report looking into the effectiveness of various makeshift face masks .
“ What might seem like a joke or a thirsty TikTok , these makeshift masks could actually offer some protection — or at least better protection than no mask at all , ” Vice writes , attempting to make CDC-recommended face masks seem not only necessary , but cool and edgy .
After reviewing several mask alternatives promoted on social media , from plastic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks , Vice asked Chief Medical Officer for Chesapeake Urology Geoffrey Sklar to rate them in terms of their effectiveness .
According to Vice , the maxipad feminine hygiene item was the most effective DIY mask : Surprisingly , the maxi pad got high marks .
The fibrous cotton had the best shot at blocking larger particles ( and some smaller ones ) from exiting the pad .
Sklar suggested using a pad with wings to cover your nose — which the average plastic water jug mask , for example , does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do-it-yourself masks are as protective as N95 masks , “ but those need to be saved for medical professionals.
” Indeed , over the past few weeks we ’ ve seen the masks used by numerous “ medical professionals ” – as props in TikTok videos .
It ’ s MASK HYSTERIA and mass hysteria !
Dictates of governors & local officials are in direct contradiction of some states ’ anti-mask laws .

Are G-strings, jock straps and maxi pads as effective as N95 masks?
This was the question Vice sought to answer with their latest report looking into the effectiveness of various makeshift face masks.
“What might seem like a joke or a thirsty TikTok, these makeshift masks could actually offer some protection — or at least better protection than no mask at all,” Vice writes, attempting to make CDC-recommended face masks seem not only necessary, but cool and edgy.
After reviewing several mask alternatives promoted on social media, from plastic water containers to Lucha Libre Mexican wrestler masks, Vice asked Chief Medical Officer for Chesapeake Urology Geoffrey Sklar to rate them in terms of their effectiveness.
According to Vice, the maxipad feminine hygiene item was the most effective DIY mask:
Surprisingly, the maxi pad got high marks. The fibrous cotton had the best shot at blocking larger particles (and some smaller ones) from exiting the pad. Sklar suggested using a pad with wings to cover your nose — which the average plastic water jug mask, for example, does not offer.
Vice concludes none of the do-it-yourself masks are as protective as N95 masks, “but those need to be saved for medical professionals.”
Indeed, over the past few weeks we’ve seen the masks used by numerous “medical professionals” – as props in TikTok videos.
“When you’re stuck working a covid tent you make the best of it” April 2020 pic.twitter.com/Qx885nyFVj — romepix.com (@romepix) April 26, 2020
It’s MASK HYSTERIA and mass hysteria! Dictates of governors & local officials are in direct contradiction of some states’ anti-mask laws.


newswars--2020-04-29--FDA Could Approve Remdesivir For Emergency Use As Soon As Tomorrow

When Dr. Fauci said the FDA and Gilead would move to “ quickly ” get remdesivir into the hands of COVID-19 patients , we didn ’ t think they ’ d move this quickly .
In a sudden break from a federal virus response that has at times been criticized for unnecessary delays – delays drive by petty political squabbles and other hangups , from the ‘ PPP ’ to the CDC ’ s badly botched testing rollout – the FDA could move to grant emergency approval to remdesivir , an antiviral initially developed to treat ebola , but was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other , medical purpose – as quickly as Wednesday aka tomorrow .
That ’ s according to the NYT , which spoke to a ‘ senior official ’ about the matter .
It has all the hallmarks of an authorized ‘ leak ’ , probably OK ’ d directly by Dr. Fauci himself ( native New Yorker that he is ) .
To be sure , there remains some dispute about the drug ’ s efficacy , as we pointed out earlier .
Despite all that , Gilead announced some positive data from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drug had met its ‘ target ’ of shortening recovery time – by Gilead is apparently enough to satisfy Dr. Fauci , who said remdesivir reminded him of the early data on studies of AZT during the AIDS outbreak .
He explained that some of the initial studies were inconclusive , even as positive results seemed to be readily apparent .
As we mentioned earlier , Dr. Fauci said the results of the study showed that the drug could “ block ” the virus .
And President Trump seemed happy enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspected him to push hydroxychloroquine until millions die from fish tank cleaner poisoning .
Dr. Fauci said the federal trial indicated that the drug remdesivir could shorten the time to recovery by about a third .
“ Although a 31 percent improvement doesn ’ t seem like a knockout 100 percent , it is a very important proof of concept because what it has proven is that a drug can block this virus , ” Dr. Fauci said .
“ This is very optimistic.
” Mr. Trump called that a good sign .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s a very positive event , ” he said .
In a statement , Gilead Sciences said it was “ aware of positive data emerging from ” the study by Dr. Fauci ’ s institute , known as NIAID .
“ We understand that the trial has met its primary endpoint and that NIAID will provide detailed information at an upcoming briefing.
” Remdesivir is not yet licensed or approved in the United States or anywhere in the world “ and has not yet been demonstrated to be safe or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” according to Gilead .
Whether the drug can reduce the mortality rate in a more “ statistically significant ” way remains unclear , as does whether the drug is strictly safe for all human patients .
Bombshell special report that details how globalists plan to destroy America .

When Dr. Fauci said the FDA and Gilead would move to “quickly” get remdesivir into the hands of COVID-19 patients, we didn’t think they’d move this quickly.
In a sudden break from a federal virus response that has at times been criticized for unnecessary delays – delays drive by petty political squabbles and other hangups, from the ‘PPP’ to the CDC’s badly botched testing rollout – the FDA could move to grant emergency approval to remdesivir, an antiviral initially developed to treat ebola, but was never approved for that, or any other, medical purpose – as quickly as Wednesday aka tomorrow.
That’s according to the NYT, which spoke to a ‘senior official’ about the matter. It has all the hallmarks of an authorized ‘leak’, probably OK’d directly by Dr. Fauci himself (native New Yorker that he is).
To be sure, there remains some dispute about the drug’s efficacy, as we pointed out earlier. Despite all that, Gilead announced some positive data from a NIAD study earlier today – that the drug had met its ‘target’ of shortening recovery time – by Gilead is apparently enough to satisfy Dr. Fauci, who said remdesivir reminded him of the early data on studies of AZT during the AIDS outbreak. He explained that some of the initial studies were inconclusive, even as positive results seemed to be readily apparent.
As we mentioned earlier, Dr. Fauci said the results of the study showed that the drug could “block” the virus. And President Trump seemed happy enough to approve, defying critics who might have inspected him to push hydroxychloroquine until millions die from fish tank cleaner poisoning.
Dr. Fauci said the federal trial indicated that the drug remdesivir could shorten the time to recovery by about a third. “Although a 31 percent improvement doesn’t seem like a knockout 100 percent, it is a very important proof of concept because what it has proven is that a drug can block this virus,” Dr. Fauci said. “This is very optimistic.”
Mr. Trump called that a good sign. “Certainly it’s a positive, it’s a very positive event,” he said.
In a statement, Gilead Sciences said it was “aware of positive data emerging from” the study by Dr. Fauci’s institute, known as NIAID. “We understand that the trial has met its primary endpoint and that NIAID will provide detailed information at an upcoming briefing.”
Remdesivir is not yet licensed or approved in the United States or anywhere in the world “and has not yet been demonstrated to be safe or effective for the treatment of Covid-19,” according to Gilead.
Whether the drug can reduce the mortality rate in a more “statistically significant” way remains unclear, as does whether the drug is strictly safe for all human patients.
Bombshell special report that details how globalists plan to destroy America.


newswars--2020-04-29--Watch: Debunking the Media Statistics that Led to America’s Shutdown

Also catch the streams at infowars.com/show and Banned.video .
Make sure to follow Owen on Tik Tok : But with @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s an acceleration of good to counter it .
Learn how to take @ @ @ @ @ Tune in !
Watch and share this bombshell broadcast as we reveal how globalists are @ @ @ @ @ usher in their decades-long agendas of total population control : Wuhan coronavirus used by elite @ @ @ @ @ this live , Wednesday broadcast of The David Knight Show , we ’ ll continue @ @ @ @ @ America as fear surrounding coronavirus is used by the establishment to tighten their chokehold on @ @ @ @ @ share this highly censored transmission to join Infowars in the fight to save free speech @

Savanah Hernandez hosts this LIVE edition of War Room, weekdays 3-6 p.m. CT.
Also catch the streams at infowars.com/show and Banned.video.
Make sure to follow Owen on Tik Tok:
Alex Jones Show: Learn The Depopulation Agenda Behind Covid-19
But with every acceleration of evil, there’s an acceleration of good to counter it. Learn how to take part in the latter! Tune in!
Watch and share this bombshell broadcast as we reveal how globalists are exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to usher in their decades-long agendas of total population control:
Follow Alex Jones on Gab today!
David Knight Show: America Held Hostage – Day 44
Wuhan coronavirus used by elite to obtain more power
On this live, Wednesday broadcast of The David Knight Show, we’ll continue to document the takeover of America as fear surrounding coronavirus is used by the establishment to tighten their chokehold on the country.
Remember to share this highly censored transmission to join Infowars in the fight to save free speech.


newswars--2020-04-29--‘You misspelled censorship!’ YouTube expands ‘fact checks’ to protect Americans from coronavirus ‘mi

‘You misspelled censorship!’ YouTube expands ‘fact checks’ to protect Americans from coronavirus ‘misinformation’

YouTube will now “ fact check ” US search queries , expanding a feature tried in other countries last year in an effort to eradicate “ misinformation ” about Covid-19 – but some netizens are seeing hints of Orwell in the project .
The video-sharing giant rolled out the new feature on Tuesday , announcing that its “ fact check information panels ” will now appear on American searches , in which “ authoritative sources ” will show up below the search bar to correct claims that YouTube deems suspect .
“ We ’ re now using these panels to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that comes up quickly as part of a fast-moving news cycle , where unfounded claims and uncertainty about facts are common , ” the platform said in a statement , citing unverified claims that Covid-19 is a “ bio-weapon ” as an example .
Over a dozen “ authoritative ” third-party publishers will be in charge of judging content – including FactCheck.org , PolitiFact , the Washington Post Fact Checker , and the Dispatch , a self-described conservative outlet – and will append a “ relevant fact check article ” to the search @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed corrections will only show up “ when people search for a specific claim , ” rather than for entire topics .
Apparently sensing dystopian undertones in the initiative , some netizens were skeptical of the Google-owned monolith , warning that the new feature would be used to crush any narrative that conflicts with the company ’ s own narrow agenda .
With social media firms increasingly relying on automated systems to flag questionable content – particularly as thousands of workers are furloughed amid the coronavirus pandemic – Google itself warned in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videos ‘ erroneously ’ removed for violating policy , raising questions about who ( or what ) will manage the new fact check panels .
Others wondered just who decides what counts as an ‘ authoritative ’ source , given that “ fact checking ” has devolved into a partisan cottage industry , often putting political point-scoring ahead of the capital-T ‘ Truth ’ the fact checkers claim to uphold .
“ We need someone who is not tainted by politics to fact check the fact checkers , ” one user argued .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ US , however , with YouTube introducing the same feature in India and Brazil last year .
But the two countries ’ experience with the panels has been less than a shining success , doing little to stem near-endless complaints of “ fake news ” and disinformation propagating across the Indian and Brazilian parts of the web .
Though the initiative has been something of a flop in terms of its own stated goals , YouTube nonetheless intends to pour $ 1 million into the Google News Initiative to “ bolster fact-checking and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoping to bring similarly ineffective and potentially censorious features to millions of additional users .

YouTube will now “fact check” US search queries, expanding a feature tried in other countries last year in an effort to eradicate “misinformation” about Covid-19 – but some netizens are seeing hints of Orwell in the project.
The video-sharing giant rolled out the new feature on Tuesday, announcing that its “fact check information panels” will now appear on American searches, in which “authoritative sources” will show up below the search bar to correct claims that YouTube deems suspect.
“We’re now using these panels to help address an additional challenge: misinformation that comes up quickly as part of a fast-moving news cycle, where unfounded claims and uncertainty about facts are common,” the platform said in a statement, citing unverified claims that Covid-19 is a “bio-weapon” as an example.
Over a dozen “authoritative” third-party publishers will be in charge of judging content – including FactCheck.org, PolitiFact, the Washington Post Fact Checker, and the Dispatch, a self-described conservative outlet – and will append a “relevant fact check article” to the search panel. According to YouTube, the supposed corrections will only show up “when people search for a specific claim,” rather than for entire topics.
Apparently sensing dystopian undertones in the initiative, some netizens were skeptical of the Google-owned monolith, warning that the new feature would be used to crush any narrative that conflicts with the company’s own narrow agenda.
With social media firms increasingly relying on automated systems to flag questionable content – particularly as thousands of workers are furloughed amid the coronavirus pandemic – Google itself warned in March that users might see a spike in videos ‘erroneously’ removed for violating policy, raising questions about who (or what) will manage the new fact check panels.
Others wondered just who decides what counts as an ‘authoritative’ source, given that “fact checking” has devolved into a partisan cottage industry, often putting political point-scoring ahead of the capital-T ‘Truth’ the fact checkers claim to uphold.
“We need someone who is not tainted by politics to fact check the fact checkers,” one user argued.
The project is only new to the US, however, with YouTube introducing the same feature in India and Brazil last year. But the two countries’ experience with the panels has been less than a shining success, doing little to stem near-endless complaints of “fake news” and disinformation propagating across the Indian and Brazilian parts of the web. Though the initiative has been something of a flop in terms of its own stated goals, YouTube nonetheless intends to pour $1 million into the Google News Initiative to “bolster fact-checking and verification efforts across the world,” hoping to bring similarly ineffective and potentially censorious features to millions of additional users.


newswars--2020-04-29--US economy dives to start year amid business shutdown & worst is yet to come

US gross domestic product ( GDP ) fell 4.8 percent in the first quarter of 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic lockdown , according to data released by the Department of Commerce on Wednesday .
The decline is worse than expected by economists .
It is the first negative GDP reading since the 1.1 percent decline in the first quarter of 2014 , and the lowest level since the 8.4 percent plunge in Q4 of 2008 during the global financial crisis .
Consumer spending , nonresidential fixed investment , exports and inventories were the biggest drags on the economy .
Consumer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total GDP , plummeted 7.6 percent in the quarter as all nonessential stores were closed .
Data showed that exports fell 8.7 percent while imports sank 15.3 percent , including a 30 percent crash in services .
Goods consumption dropped 1.3 percent , while services slid over 10 percent .
Economists say the count of all goods and services produced in the country shows that even though the first quarter saw only two weeks of shutdown , the impact was pronounced and set the stage for a second-quarter picture which will be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The upshot is this was already an economic catastrophe within two weeks of the lockdowns going into effect , ” Paul Ashworth , chief US economist at Capital Economics , told CNBC .
He added : “ The second quarter will be far worse .
”

US gross domestic product (GDP) fell 4.8 percent in the first quarter of 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic lockdown, according to data released by the Department of Commerce on Wednesday.
The decline is worse than expected by economists. It is the first negative GDP reading since the 1.1 percent decline in the first quarter of 2014, and the lowest level since the 8.4 percent plunge in Q4 of 2008 during the global financial crisis.
Consumer spending, nonresidential fixed investment, exports and inventories were the biggest drags on the economy. Consumer expenditures, which comprise 67 percent of total GDP, plummeted 7.6 percent in the quarter as all nonessential stores were closed.
Data showed that exports fell 8.7 percent while imports sank 15.3 percent, including a 30 percent crash in services. Goods consumption dropped 1.3 percent, while services slid over 10 percent.
Economists say the count of all goods and services produced in the country shows that even though the first quarter saw only two weeks of shutdown, the impact was pronounced and set the stage for a second-quarter picture which will be the worst in the post-World War II era.
“The upshot is this was already an economic catastrophe within two weeks of the lockdowns going into effect,” Paul Ashworth, chief US economist at Capital Economics, told CNBC. He added: “The second quarter will be far worse.”


newswars--2020-04-29--At-Home Abortions on Rise During Coronavirus Lockdowns

At-home abortions are on the rise during nationwide coronavirus lockdowns due to an experimental program which could theoretically supplant state-level abortion laws .
The TelAbortion program has so far mailed abortion drugs to women in 13 states , and over 600 at-home abortions have already been completed since April 22 after the program experienced an 30 % upswing in interest , according to Live News , which stated that the program was FDA approved .
“ One anonymous mother told the New York Times that the abortion group provided ‘ just everything you could need .
It was so comforting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unborn baby at home , ” the outlet stated .
The program could make state-level abortion debates largely irrelevant if people can get abortion drugs sent to them discretely instead of relying on a brick-and-mortar abortion clinic operating within the confines of state law .
Case in point , the TelAbortion web site says women can qualify for the program if they “ live in a state where the project operates , or [ they ] live elsewhere but are able to have [ their ] consult and receive the package in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have completed “ all the necessary pre-abortion tests , receive the medications , and take the first abortion pill ” within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy .
Women in the program don ’ t have to go in-person to an abortion clinic for an evaluation since it ’ s all done on-line , although they still need to see a local medical facility to have the prerequisite tests ( presumably blood work and other associated exams ) done , according to the site .
Lord Christopher Monckton , who advised Margaret Thatcher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expose the evidence that Covid-19 was man-made .

At-home abortions are on the rise during nationwide coronavirus lockdowns due to an experimental program which could theoretically supplant state-level abortion laws.
The TelAbortion program has so far mailed abortion drugs to women in 13 states, and over 600 at-home abortions have already been completed since April 22 after the program experienced an 30% upswing in interest, according to Live News, which stated that the program was FDA approved.
“One anonymous mother told the New York Times that the abortion group provided ‘just everything you could need. It was so comforting’ to be able to abort her unborn baby at home,” the outlet stated.
The program could make state-level abortion debates largely irrelevant if people can get abortion drugs sent to them discretely instead of relying on a brick-and-mortar abortion clinic operating within the confines of state law.
Case in point, the TelAbortion web site says women can qualify for the program if they “live in a state where the project operates, or [they] live elsewhere but are able to have [their] consult and receive the package in a project state.”
Additionally, women must have completed “all the necessary pre-abortion tests, receive the medications, and take the first abortion pill” within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Women in the program don’t have to go in-person to an abortion clinic for an evaluation since it’s all done on-line, although they still need to see a local medical facility to have the prerequisite tests (presumably blood work and other associated exams) done, according to the site.
Lord Christopher Monckton, who advised Margaret Thatcher, joins The Alex Jones Show to expose the evidence that Covid-19 was man-made.


newswars--2020-04-29--Poll: Majority of Canadians Think Coronavirus Vaccine Should be Mandatory

A new poll finds that the majority of Canadians – 60 per cent – think that when a vaccine for coronavirus becomes available it should be made mandatory .
The survey , conducted by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies , found that “ 60 per cent of respondents believe people should be required to get the vaccine once it is ready.
” 40 per cent think it should be voluntary .
Leger executive vice-president Christian Bourque said he was surprised support for a mandatory vaccine wasn ’ t even higher .
“ It ’ s almost as if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu vaccine , ” Bourque told The Canadian Press .
“ I myself would have expected a higher number given the severity , given the crisis we ’ re in .
But Canadians are kind of divided on this.
” Many experts have suggested that a vaccine may not even be successful due to the nature of the coronavirus family and the fact that it can mutate .
As we highlighted yesterday , one of the faces of Canada ’ s response to the coronavirus outbreak also appears to support punishing people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s current Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam appeared in a 2010 documentary in which she asserted that vaccine refusniks should be put under constant surveillance via electronic tagging .
“ If there are people who are non-compliant , there are definitely laws and public health powers that can quarantine people in mandatory settings , ” said Tam .
“ It ’ s potential you could track people , put bracelets on their arms , have police and other set ups to ensure quarantine is undertaken , ” she added .
My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Silicon Valley behemoths who want me disappeared forever .
It is CRUCIAL that you support me .
Please sign up for the free newsletter here .
Donate to me on SubscribeStar here .
Support my sponsor – Turbo Force – a supercharged boost of clean energy without the comedown .

A new poll finds that the majority of Canadians – 60 per cent – think that when a vaccine for coronavirus becomes available it should be made mandatory.
The survey, conducted by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies, found that “60 per cent of respondents believe people should be required to get the vaccine once it is ready.”
40 per cent think it should be voluntary.
Leger executive vice-president Christian Bourque said he was surprised support for a mandatory vaccine wasn’t even higher.
“It’s almost as if it’s seen as just another flu vaccine,” Bourque told The Canadian Press. “I myself would have expected a higher number given the severity, given the crisis we’re in. But Canadians are kind of divided on this.”
Many experts have suggested that a vaccine may not even be successful due to the nature of the coronavirus family and the fact that it can mutate.
As we highlighted yesterday, one of the faces of Canada’s response to the coronavirus outbreak also appears to support punishing people who refuse to take the vaccine.
Canada’s current Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam appeared in a 2010 documentary in which she asserted that vaccine refusniks should be put under constant surveillance via electronic tagging.
“If there are people who are non-compliant, there are definitely laws and public health powers that can quarantine people in mandatory settings,” said Tam.
“It’s potential you could track people, put bracelets on their arms, have police and other set ups to ensure quarantine is undertaken,” she added.
SUBSCRIBE on YouTube:
Follow on Twitter: Follow @PrisonPlanet
———————————————————————————————————————
My voice is being silenced by free speech-hating Silicon Valley behemoths who want me disappeared forever. It is CRUCIAL that you support me.
Please sign up for the free newsletter here. Donate to me on SubscribeStar here.
Support my sponsor – Turbo Force – a supercharged boost of clean energy without the comedown.
———————————————————————————————————————


newswars--2020-04-29--Hertz Bankruptcy Imminent After Massive Layoffs, Missed Lease Payment

You can bet your devalued dollar that is the pressure from lobbyists on Capitol Hill right now as The Wall Street Journal reports that Hertz is preparing for a possible bankruptcy filing after the rental-car company failed to make lease payments to preserve cash amid the Covid-19 pandemic , according to people familiar with the matter .
If a sufficient amount of creditors don ’ t agree to waive any default by the end of the grace period , “ Hertz could be materially and negatively impacted ” the company said .
For veterans of past credit cycles , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rental car business is on its last legs , but CDS spreads this time are screaming default is imminent ( and that recovery values for any debt are extremely low ) .
Hertz has $ 17 billion worth of debt , which includes $ 3.7 billion of corporate bonds and loans and $ 13.4 billion of vehicle-backed notes .
But despite that bankruptcy risk , the stock price remains ever hopeful that is has some value ( $ 650 mm market cap ) .
After laying off 10,000 staff , as government-mandated lockdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak have hit rental-car companies hard , Hertz and its advisers are negotiating with senior lenders and certain holders of its vehicle finance subsidiary ’ s notes with the aim of temporarily reducing payments , the company said Wednesday in a securities filing .

Is an over-levered car-rental business “essential”?
You can bet your devalued dollar that is the pressure from lobbyists on Capitol Hill right now as The Wall Street Journal reports that Hertz is preparing for a possible bankruptcy filing after the rental-car company failed to make lease payments to preserve cash amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to people familiar with the matter.
If a sufficient amount of creditors don’t agree to waive any default by the end of the grace period, “Hertz could be materially and negatively impacted” the company said.
For veterans of past credit cycles, it should be no real surprise that the rental car business is on its last legs, but CDS spreads this time are screaming default is imminent (and that recovery values for any debt are extremely low).
Hertz has $17 billion worth of debt, which includes $3.7 billion of corporate bonds and loans and $13.4 billion of vehicle-backed notes. But despite that bankruptcy risk, the stock price remains ever hopeful that is has some value ($650 mm market cap).
After laying off 10,000 staff, as government-mandated lockdowns and travel restrictions related to the Covid-19 outbreak have hit rental-car companies hard, Hertz and its advisers are negotiating with senior lenders and certain holders of its vehicle finance subsidiary’s notes with the aim of temporarily reducing payments, the company said Wednesday in a securities filing.


newswars--2020-04-29--The Unseen Costs of Government-Forced Lockdowns

“ In the department of economy , an act , a habit , an institution , a law , gives birth not only to an effect , but to a series of effects .
Of these effects , the first only is immediate ; it manifests itself simultaneously with its cause—it is seen .
The others unfold in succession—they are not seen : it is well for us , if they are foreseen .
Between a good and a bad economist this constitutes the whole difference—the one takes account of the visible effect ; the other takes account both of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also of those which it is necessary to foresee.
” Have you ever witnessed the anger of the business owner , Sally B. , when her careless government reduces her revenue by 60 percent due to a lockdown ?
If you have been present at such a scene , you will most assuredly bear witness to the fact that every one of the spectators , were there even thirty of them , by common consent apparently , offered the unfortunate owner this invariable consolation : “ It is an ill wind that blows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and why should we care that businesses are being closed or struggling ?
” Now , this form of condolence contains an entire theory , which it will be well to show up in this simple case , seeing that it is precisely the same as that which , unhappily , regulates the greater part of our economic and political institutions .
Suppose the business makes just enough during this lockdown to keep the doors open and staff employed .
You would assume that little has changed , and perhaps the health , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government shutdown—I grant it ; I have not a word to say against it ; you reason justly .
Employees and customers come and go and the rest of the world praises the government for their benevolence .
All this is that which is seen .
But if , on the other hand , you come to the conclusion , as is too often the case , that no real harm or loss will come if businesses are forced to close or some happen to lose their livelihood , so that a virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may die , you will oblige me to call out , “ Stop there !
Your theory is confined to that which is seen ; it takes no account of that which is not seen.
” It is not seen that as our business owner has spent a significant part of her life savings and her time investing in her business , and now she no longer has an income or is able to reinvest profit into her business .
It is not seen that if she had not been stifled by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have replaced some broken equipment or added to her down payment for a larger home so that she could foster more children , or hired additional staff .
In short , she would have invested , spent , or employed this revenue in some way which this lockdown has prevented—in fact has eliminated as options .
Let us take a view of industry in general , as affected by this circumstance .
The government shut down businesses so that a virus might kill less people : this is that which is seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down , the commercial equipment manufacturer ( and connected industries ) would have seen an increase in revenue or more children could have been helped in foster care or an unemployed person could have had a job—that which is not seen .
And if that which is not seen is taken into consideration , it will be understood that a shutdown of “ nonessential ” businesses directly impacts the essential ones and impacts many other lives now and for years to come—with the potential that shutting them down might have had no impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all .
So then we arrive at this unexpected conclusion : “ Society as a whole loses when revenue and business are uselessly destroyed ” ; and we must assent to a maxim which will make the hair of quarantiners stand on end—to close businesses may avert a current healthcare crisis but closing businesses will create an economic crisis which we know leads to devastating effects on economic and public health .
What will you say , Mr Governor ?
What will you say , disciples of good Dr. Fauci , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if businesses are forced to remain closed and all trade unnaturally restricted , but says little related to the economic/social/health harm ?
What say you my neighbors , the Public , who praise the government shutdown for saving lives while not ever considering the logic of shutting down one business over another or that more lives may be lost to the economic crisis than the virus crisis .
Now Sally B. is not so callous as to not care about the safety and health of her neighbors and therefore demand that her revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost .
In fact it is precisely because she cares about the safety and health of her neighbors that she wants the potential health crisis to not turn into an even worse economic crisis .
The seen benefit of potential lives saved can not be correlated to the real unseen costs of lost revenues and jobs .
These unseen costs are being sacrificially thrown on the altar of Models without any direct benefit to the health or safety of the public .
I say , if one business remains open does that equate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there can be no connection made .
What if 75 percent of the businesses are closed by the state ?
Does that mean a 75 percent decrease in lives lost ?
Fifty percent ?
Five percent ?
Again , a correlation can not be made .
And further , why can a bureaucrat—in the name of public health—choose to allow the liquor stores to remain open but keep the public parks closed ?
I am sorry to disturb you with these unpopular facts , but as I continue to see the state forcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come , I beg politicians and bureaucrats to take into account that which is not seen , and place it alongside that which is seen .
And giving as much weight and importance to the lives hurt or lost to the virus to those lives hurt and lost to the shutdown and its repercussions .
The reader must take care to remember that Sally B.
’ s story is just one of many , the long-term implications of which are currently unseen and unknown .
Although currently her story is not tragic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just as tragic as a virus , as rates of suicide , domestic abuse , poverty , substance abuse , etc.
, continue to increase the longer that businesses are barred from operating .
Therefore , if you will only go to the root of all the arguments which are adduced in its favor , all you will find will be the paraphrase of this often repeated statement : “ I fear we will restore ‘ livelihood ’ at the expense of more lives lost.
” Although that fear is a legitimate one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : that more lives will be lost if businesses remain forcibly closed by the state .

“In the department of economy, an act, a habit, an institution, a law, gives birth not only to an effect, but to a series of effects. Of these effects, the first only is immediate; it manifests itself simultaneously with its cause—it is seen. The others unfold in succession—they are not seen: it is well for us, if they are foreseen. Between a good and a bad economist this constitutes the whole difference—the one takes account of the visible effect; the other takes account both of the effects which are seen, and also of those which it is necessary to foresee.”
~Bastiat
Have you ever witnessed the anger of the business owner, Sally B., when her careless government reduces her revenue by 60 percent due to a lockdown? If you have been present at such a scene, you will most assuredly bear witness to the fact that every one of the spectators, were there even thirty of them, by common consent apparently, offered the unfortunate owner this invariable consolation: “It is an ill wind that blows nobody good. Everybody must live, and why should we care that businesses are being closed or struggling?”
Now, this form of condolence contains an entire theory, which it will be well to show up in this simple case, seeing that it is precisely the same as that which, unhappily, regulates the greater part of our economic and political institutions. Suppose the business makes just enough during this lockdown to keep the doors open and staff employed. You would assume that little has changed, and perhaps the health, economic and social impact was worth the government shutdown—I grant it; I have not a word to say against it; you reason justly. Employees and customers come and go and the rest of the world praises the government for their benevolence. All this is that which is seen.
But if, on the other hand, you come to the conclusion, as is too often the case, that no real harm or loss will come if businesses are forced to close or some happen to lose their livelihood, so that a virus may circulate less and therefore fewer people may die, you will oblige me to call out, “Stop there! Your theory is confined to that which is seen; it takes no account of that which is not seen.”
It is not seen that as our business owner has spent a significant part of her life savings and her time investing in her business, and now she no longer has an income or is able to reinvest profit into her business. It is not seen that if she had not been stifled by the bureaucratic shutdown, she would, perhaps, have replaced some broken equipment or added to her down payment for a larger home so that she could foster more children, or hired additional staff. In short, she would have invested, spent, or employed this revenue in some way which this lockdown has prevented—in fact has eliminated as options.
Let us take a view of industry in general, as affected by this circumstance. The government shut down businesses so that a virus might kill less people: this is that which is seen. If businesses had not been shut down, the commercial equipment manufacturer (and connected industries) would have seen an increase in revenue or more children could have been helped in foster care or an unemployed person could have had a job—that which is not seen.
And if that which is not seen is taken into consideration, it will be understood that a shutdown of “nonessential” businesses directly impacts the essential ones and impacts many other lives now and for years to come—with the potential that shutting them down might have had no impact on the deaths from the virus at all.
So then we arrive at this unexpected conclusion: “Society as a whole loses when revenue and business are uselessly destroyed”; and we must assent to a maxim which will make the hair of quarantiners stand on end—to close businesses may avert a current healthcare crisis but closing businesses will create an economic crisis which we know leads to devastating effects on economic and public health.
What will you say, Mr Governor? What will you say, disciples of good Dr. Fauci, who has modeled how many lives might be saved if businesses are forced to remain closed and all trade unnaturally restricted, but says little related to the economic/social/health harm? What say you my neighbors, the Public, who praise the government shutdown for saving lives while not ever considering the logic of shutting down one business over another or that more lives may be lost to the economic crisis than the virus crisis.
Now Sally B. is not so callous as to not care about the safety and health of her neighbors and therefore demand that her revenue be restored at the cost of lives lost. In fact it is precisely because she cares about the safety and health of her neighbors that she wants the potential health crisis to not turn into an even worse economic crisis. The seen benefit of potential lives saved cannot be correlated to the real unseen costs of lost revenues and jobs. These unseen costs are being sacrificially thrown on the altar of Models without any direct benefit to the health or safety of the public.
I say, if one business remains open does that equate with a life lost? No, there can be no connection made. What if 75 percent of the businesses are closed by the state? Does that mean a 75 percent decrease in lives lost? Fifty percent? Five percent? Again, a correlation cannot be made. And further, why can a bureaucrat—in the name of public health—choose to allow the liquor stores to remain open but keep the public parks closed?
I am sorry to disturb you with these unpopular facts, but as I continue to see the state forcing our marketplaces to remain closed for weeks to come, I beg politicians and bureaucrats to take into account that which is not seen, and place it alongside that which is seen. And giving as much weight and importance to the lives hurt or lost to the virus to those lives hurt and lost to the shutdown and its repercussions.
The reader must take care to remember that Sally B.’s story is just one of many, the long-term implications of which are currently unseen and unknown. Although currently her story is not tragic, the compounding unseen effects might be just as tragic as a virus, as rates of suicide, domestic abuse, poverty, substance abuse, etc., continue to increase the longer that businesses are barred from operating.
Therefore, if you will only go to the root of all the arguments which are adduced in its favor, all you will find will be the paraphrase of this often repeated statement: “I fear we will restore ‘livelihood’ at the expense of more lives lost.” Although that fear is a legitimate one, there is an equally powerful fear: that more lives will be lost if businesses remain forcibly closed by the state.


newswars--2020-04-29--Senators Target America’s Meat Monopolies as Virus Threatens Shortages

Two US senators have asked the Federal Trade Commission to launch an antitrust probe into the US meatpacking industry .
As these firms struggle to maintain supply chains , calls are growing for a return to small-scale farming .
In the last couple of decades , the American meatpacking industry went through a rapid consolidation .
Four companies now handle 85 percent of all beef production in the US , and three of these firms control 63 percent of the country ’ s pork production .
The companies – Tyson Foods , Cargill , the Brazilian-owned JBS S.A. , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extensively before for underpaying farmers and workers , and for horrific animal abuse at their plants .
The coronavirus pandemic , however , has revealed a gaping vulnerability in such a consolidated system .
If any of these mega-processors are forced to shut down , the entire nation ’ s food supply is threatened .
In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) on Wednesday , Senators Josh Hawley ( R-Missouri ) and Tammy Baldwin ( D-Wisconsin ) urged the department to open an antitrust investigation into these meat monopolies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undermined the stability of America ’ s meat supply and become an issue of national security , ” the senators wrote .
“ These harms might have been mitigated if the meatpacking industry was less concentrated… [ and ] America ’ s food supplies are not in the hands of a few , mostly foreign-based firms.
” In calling for an antitrust investigation , the senators are asking the FTC to use the same legislation the Justice Department used a century ago to break up Standard Oil , which at that time controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle – including Hawley and former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren – have also called for antitrust investigations into Amazon , Google , and other Silicon Valley tech giants .
While the FTC has been asked to investigate these firms , the Department of Agriculture ’ s own regulations make it difficult for a small-scale farmer to turn a profit .
At present , meat can only be slaughtered commercially at a facility with a USDA inspector present , thanks to a 1967 Act .
Smaller facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of compliance are muscled out of business , with farmers left to accept whatever price the megacorporations pay them .
One farmers ’ advocacy organization estimated in 2016 that the 1967 legislation was responsible for the closure of more than 7,000 slaughterhouses since its passage .
The PRIME Act , a piece of legislation languishing in Congress for several years , would give states the power to set their own regulations , allowing consumers to purchase directly from local producers without the USDA ’ s involvement .
Its sponsors , Rep. Thomas Massie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( D-Maine ) , are now using the coronavirus pandemic to make another push for its passage .
The FTC has not signaled that it will heed Hawley ’ s call for an antitrust probe , and Massie ’ s bill has sat idle on Capitol Hill since 2017 .
In the near term , the Trump administration has opted to press the meatpacking industry to keep working , even as more workers fall ill from Covid-19 .
President Donald Trump announced an executive order on Tuesday to keep the plants open , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The move was swiftly condemned by labor unions for failing to care “ as much about the lives of working people as it does about meat , pork and poultry products.
” It doesn ’ t take a brain surgeon to understand that many things are available to humans to boost their immune systems .
Humans need fresh air and sunshine !

Two US senators have asked the Federal Trade Commission to launch an antitrust probe into the US meatpacking industry. As these firms struggle to maintain supply chains, calls are growing for a return to small-scale farming.
In the last couple of decades, the American meatpacking industry went through a rapid consolidation. Four companies now handle 85 percent of all beef production in the US, and three of these firms control 63 percent of the country’s pork production. The companies – Tyson Foods, Cargill, the Brazilian-owned JBS S.A., and the Chinese-owned Smithfield – have been criticized extensively before for underpaying farmers and workers, and for horrific animal abuse at their plants.
The coronavirus pandemic, however, has revealed a gaping vulnerability in such a consolidated system. If any of these mega-processors are forced to shut down, the entire nation’s food supply is threatened.
In a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Wednesday, Senators Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) urged the department to open an antitrust investigation into these meat monopolies.
“This physical plant concentration… has undermined the stability of America’s meat supply and become an issue of national security,” the senators wrote. “These harms might have been mitigated if the meatpacking industry was less concentrated… [and] America’s food supplies are not in the hands of a few, mostly foreign-based firms.”
In calling for an antitrust investigation, the senators are asking the FTC to use the same legislation the Justice Department used a century ago to break up Standard Oil, which at that time controlled 88 percent of the US oil industry. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle – including Hawley and former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren – have also called for antitrust investigations into Amazon, Google, and other Silicon Valley tech giants.
While the FTC has been asked to investigate these firms, the Department of Agriculture’s own regulations make it difficult for a small-scale farmer to turn a profit. At present, meat can only be slaughtered commercially at a facility with a USDA inspector present, thanks to a 1967 Act. Smaller facilities that can’t afford the cost of compliance are muscled out of business, with farmers left to accept whatever price the megacorporations pay them. One farmers’ advocacy organization estimated in 2016 that the 1967 legislation was responsible for the closure of more than 7,000 slaughterhouses since its passage.
The PRIME Act, a piece of legislation languishing in Congress for several years, would give states the power to set their own regulations, allowing consumers to purchase directly from local producers without the USDA’s involvement. Its sponsors, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), are now using the coronavirus pandemic to make another push for its passage.
The FTC has not signaled that it will heed Hawley’s call for an antitrust probe, and Massie’s bill has sat idle on Capitol Hill since 2017. In the near term, the Trump administration has opted to press the meatpacking industry to keep working, even as more workers fall ill from Covid-19.
President Donald Trump announced an executive order on Tuesday to keep the plants open, citing them as “critical infrastructure.” The move was swiftly condemned by labor unions for failing to care “as much about the lives of working people as it does about meat, pork and poultry products.”
It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to understand that many things are available to humans to boost their immune systems. Humans need fresh air and sunshine!


newswars--2020-04-29--NYC ER Doctor: It’s Time to Reopen America

A New York City emergency room doctor who works on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic says the novel coronavirus has run its course and it ’ s time to reopen America .
In a New York Post op-ed Monday , St. Barnabas Hospital ER Dr. Daniel G. Murphy described he ’ s seen coronavirus numbers fall in the past few weeks and explained why he thinks lockdown restrictions should be eased .
“ COVID-19 has been the worst health care disaster of my 30-year career , because of its intensity , duration and potential for lasting impact , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact is what worries me the most .
And it ’ s why I now believe we should end the lockdown and rapidly get back to work.
” Murphy said through March and April critically ill patients overwhelmed the hospital ’ s facilities for weeks , with an “ unprecedented number of deaths ” witnessed by staff .
“ It is precisely what I have witnessed that now tells me that it ’ s time to ease the lockdown .
Here ’ s why , ” Murphy described .
Murphy says one reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cases have crested , crediting natural immunity rather than lockdown orders for the change .
At 1 p.m. April 7 , the COVID-19 arrivals slowed down .
It was a discrete , noticeable event .
Stretchers became available by 5 p.m. , and the number of arriving COVID-19 patients dropped below the number discharged , transferred or deceased .
This was striking , because the community I serve is poor .
Some are homeless .
Most work in “ essential , ” low-paying jobs , where distancing isn ’ t easy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , peaked and subsided .
The way this transpired tells me the ebb and flow had more to do with the natural course of the outbreak than it did with the lockdown .
Secondly , Murphy says the coronavirus lockdown has led to patients forgoing seeking treatment for non-corona related illnesses at hospitals and medical facilities .
For the last week , we averaged fewer than 100 [ ER room visits ] .
That means our patients in this diverse , low-income community are afraid to come to the ER for non-COVID care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people dying at home from illnesses that could ordinarily have been easily treated by medical professionals .
The growing numbers dying at home during this crisis must include fatal myocardial infarctions , asthma exacerbations , bacterial infections and strokes .
Moreover , Dr. Murphy says coronavirus fears have been overblown .
“ While COVID-19 is serious , fear of it is being over-amplified , ” he wrote .
“ The public needs to understand that the vast majority of infected people do quite well.
” Lastly , the Bronx ER doctor imparts he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asymptomatic variants of COVID-19 , meaning the public is developing an immunity to the virus .
As of today , over 43 percent of those tested are positive in The Bronx .
We are developing a significant degree of natural herd immunity .
Distancing works , but I am skeptical that it is playing as predominant a role as many think .
Dr. Murphy concludes while the cases of infected individuals will increase with more testing , America should not wait on those numbers to reopen the economy .
“ Testing is important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parallel to the immediate resuscitation of the economy and getting people back to work , ” the ER doctor says .
“ Standing up to this virus can ’ t be the job of essential workers only .
We ’ ve been strong , but we ’ re tired , and we need the rest of you to help us .
By getting back to work .
”

A New York City emergency room doctor who works on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic says the novel coronavirus has run its course and it’s time to reopen America.
In a New York Post op-ed Monday, St. Barnabas Hospital ER Dr. Daniel G. Murphy described he’s seen coronavirus numbers fall in the past few weeks and explained why he thinks lockdown restrictions should be eased.
“COVID-19 has been the worst health care disaster of my 30-year career, because of its intensity, duration and potential for lasting impact,” noted Dr. Murphy. “The lasting impact is what worries me the most. And it’s why I now believe we should end the lockdown and rapidly get back to work.”
Murphy said through March and April critically ill patients overwhelmed the hospital’s facilities for weeks, with an “unprecedented number of deaths” witnessed by staff.
“It is precisely what I have witnessed that now tells me that it’s time to ease the lockdown. Here’s why,” Murphy described.
Murphy says one reason is hospitalizations have dropped and the number of cases have crested, crediting natural immunity rather than lockdown orders for the change.
At 1 p.m. April 7, the COVID-19 arrivals slowed down. It was a discrete, noticeable event. Stretchers became available by 5 p.m., and the number of arriving COVID-19 patients dropped below the number discharged, transferred or deceased.
This was striking, because the community I serve is poor. Some are homeless. Most work in “essential,” low-paying jobs, where distancing isn’t easy. Nevertheless, the wave passed over us, peaked and subsided. The way this transpired tells me the ebb and flow had more to do with the natural course of the outbreak than it did with the lockdown.
Secondly, Murphy says the coronavirus lockdown has led to patients forgoing seeking treatment for non-corona related illnesses at hospitals and medical facilities.
For the last week, we averaged fewer than 100 [ER room visits]. That means our patients in this diverse, low-income community are afraid to come to the ER for non-COVID care.
It’s also led to people dying at home from illnesses that could ordinarily have been easily treated by medical professionals.
The growing numbers dying at home during this crisis must include fatal myocardial infarctions, asthma exacerbations, bacterial infections and strokes.
Moreover, Dr. Murphy says coronavirus fears have been overblown.
“While COVID-19 is serious, fear of it is being over-amplified,” he wrote. “The public needs to understand that the vast majority of infected people do quite well.”
Lastly, the Bronx ER doctor imparts he believes many people have had or spread asymptomatic variants of COVID-19, meaning the public is developing an immunity to the virus.
As of today, over 43 percent of those tested are positive in The Bronx. We are developing a significant degree of natural herd immunity. Distancing works, but I am skeptical that it is playing as predominant a role as many think.
Dr. Murphy concludes while the cases of infected individuals will increase with more testing, America should not wait on those numbers to reopen the economy.
“Testing is important work, but it should happen in parallel to the immediate resuscitation of the economy and getting people back to work,” the ER doctor says.
“Standing up to this virus can’t be the job of essential workers only. We’ve been strong, but we’re tired, and we need the rest of you to help us. By getting back to work.”
Follow the author on Gab: https://gab.ai/adansalazar
On Twitter: Follow @AdanSalazarWins
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adan.salazar.735
On Minds: https://www.minds.com/adan_infowars


newswars--2020-04-29--WHO Flip-Flops, Now Endorses Sweden’s No Lockdown Policy

The World Health Organization has flip-flopped on coronavirus once again after it appeared to endorse Sweden ’ s policy of not implementing a full lockdown .
Sweden chose not to enforce a full lockdown , keeping many parts of its economy open , keeping children in school and advising voluntary social distancing measures as well as encouraging vulnerable people to stay indoors .
Despite receiving a barrage of criticism , the policy appears to have worked .
Sweden has a lower per capita death toll than the UK , which enforced a full lockdown , is well on the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieved all this without wrecking its economy .
Having initially advocated against quarantines before praising China for imposing its draconian crackdown , the WHO has apparently changed its tune once again .
Dr. Mike Ryan , Executive Director of the World Health Organization ’ s Health Emergencies Programme , pointed out that Sweden ’ s healthcare system has not been overwhelmed and that their government was right to trust their people to self-regulate .
Ryan now says that Sweden ’ s approach should be a “ model ” for other countries as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are lessons to be learnt by our colleagues in Sweden , ” said Ryan .
“ The WHO initially opposed , then embraced lockdowns , and now it ’ s apparently back to opposing them again , ” reports Zero Hedge .
“ Remember the last time the WHO praised a “ model ” approach to tackling the virus ?
It was praising China ’ s strict lockdowns.
” My voice is being silenced by free speech-hating Silicon Valley behemoths who want me disappeared forever .
It is CRUCIAL that you support me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newsletter here .
Donate to me on SubscribeStar here .
Support my sponsor – Turbo Force – a supercharged boost of clean energy without the comedown .

The World Health Organization has flip-flopped on coronavirus once again after it appeared to endorse Sweden’s policy of not implementing a full lockdown.
Sweden chose not to enforce a full lockdown, keeping many parts of its economy open, keeping children in school and advising voluntary social distancing measures as well as encouraging vulnerable people to stay indoors.
Despite receiving a barrage of criticism, the policy appears to have worked. Sweden has a lower per capita death toll than the UK, which enforced a full lockdown, is well on the way to developing “herd immunity” and achieved all this without wrecking its economy.
Having initially advocated against quarantines before praising China for imposing its draconian crackdown, the WHO has apparently changed its tune once again.
Dr. Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies Programme, pointed out that Sweden’s healthcare system has not been overwhelmed and that their government was right to trust their people to self-regulate.
Ryan now says that Sweden’s approach should be a “model” for other countries as they begin to ease lockdowns.
“There are lessons to be learnt by our colleagues in Sweden,” said Ryan.
“The WHO initially opposed, then embraced lockdowns, and now it’s apparently back to opposing them again,” reports Zero Hedge. “Remember the last time the WHO praised a “model” approach to tackling the virus? It was praising China’s strict lockdowns.”
SUBSCRIBE on YouTube:
Follow on Twitter: Follow @PrisonPlanet
———————————————————————————————————————
My voice is being silenced by free speech-hating Silicon Valley behemoths who want me disappeared forever. It is CRUCIAL that you support me.
Please sign up for the free newsletter here. Donate to me on SubscribeStar here.
Support my sponsor – Turbo Force – a supercharged boost of clean energy without the comedown.
———————————————————————————————————————


newswars--2020-04-29--‘I Believe Joe Biden’: Stacey Abrams Declares Sexual Assault ‘Did Not Happen’

Failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has rejected the Me Too movement ’ s “ Believe All Women ” philosophy in support of presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden , asserting that his alleged sexual assault of former staffer Tara Reade “ did not happen.
” “ I believe that women deserve to be heard , and I believe that they need to be listened to , ” Abrams told CNN ’ s Don Lemon on Tuesday .
“ But I also believe that those allegations have to be investigated by credible sources .
The New York Times did a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the accusation was not credible.
” Except , that is a lie — the NYT did not say Reade ’ s allegation was not credible .
CNN of all networks called out Abrams and Biden ’ s campaign for twisting The Times ‘ report : It ’ s also not accurate .
Because The New York Times ’ piece that Abrams referenced with Lemon on Tuesday night — and which the Biden campaign talking points lean heavily on — does not , in fact , find that Reade ’ s accusation is either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words ) or that “ this incident did not happen ” ( Biden talking points ) .
And here ’ s what it concluded : “ No other allegation about sexual assault surfaced in the course of reporting , nor did any former Biden staff members corroborate any details of Ms. Reade ’ s allegation .
The Times found no pattern of sexual misconduct by Mr. Biden.
” That is a far different conclusion than simply listening to Abrams or reading the Biden campaign talking points would lead you to believe .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s allegations were false .
They simply did not find any former Biden staffer who confirmed the report .
“ I believe Joe Biden .
I believe that he is a person who has demonstrated that his love of family , his love of our community , has been made perfectly clear through his work as a congressional leader and as an American leader , ” Abrams continued .
The vice presidential hopeful added , “ I think that he is telling the truth and that this did not happen.
” When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ different standard ” to Biden than she did to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh when he was accused of sexual assault by Christine Blasey-Ford in 2018 , Abrams rejected the notion .
“ Not at all .
I believe then , and I believe now , that women deserve to be heard because too often they are not , and Tara Reade deserved to have her story listened to and investigated , ” Abrams said .
“ What was happening to Christine Blasey Ford was there was no investigation .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward so that no investigation was conducted.
” Notably , an FBI investigation was launched against Kavanaugh , which turned up nothing .
That ’ s because Blasey-Ford presented virtually no evidence or witnesses to corroborate her claim .
In contrast , Reade ’ s allegations are corroborated by several witnesses and pieces of evidence , including a 1993 clip from CNN ’ s Larry King Live where Reade ’ s mother called in to complain about her assault .
Owen brainstorms with callers about what could play out with Joe Biden as @ @ @ @ @

Failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has rejected the Me Too movement’s “Believe All Women” philosophy in support of presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden, asserting that his alleged sexual assault of former staffer Tara Reade “did not happen.”
“I believe that women deserve to be heard, and I believe that they need to be listened to,” Abrams told CNN’s Don Lemon on Tuesday. “But I also believe that those allegations have to be investigated by credible sources. The New York Times did a deep investigation. And they found that the accusation was not credible.”
Except, that is a lie — the NYT did not say Reade’s allegation was not credible.
CNN of all networks called out Abrams and Biden’s campaign for twisting The Times‘ report:
It’s also not accurate. Because The New York Times’ piece that Abrams referenced with Lemon on Tuesday night — and which the Biden campaign talking points lean heavily on — does not, in fact, find that Reade’s accusation is either “not credible” (Abrams’ words) or that “this incident did not happen” (Biden talking points). And here’s what it concluded: “No other allegation about sexual assault surfaced in the course of reporting, nor did any former Biden staff members corroborate any details of Ms. Reade’s allegation. The Times found no pattern of sexual misconduct by Mr. Biden.” That is a far different conclusion than simply listening to Abrams or reading the Biden campaign talking points would lead you to believe. What the Times found was not that Reade’s allegations were false. They simply did not find any former Biden staffer who confirmed the report.
“I believe Joe Biden. I believe that he is a person who has demonstrated that his love of family, his love of our community, has been made perfectly clear through his work as a congressional leader and as an American leader,” Abrams continued.
The vice presidential hopeful added, “I think that he is telling the truth and that this did not happen.”
When asked by Lemon if she was applying a “different standard” to Biden than she did to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh when he was accused of sexual assault by Christine Blasey-Ford in 2018, Abrams rejected the notion.
After the courageous and compelling testimony from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford yesterday, it is shameful that Kavanaugh’s nomination is being rushed forward. I believe women, and I believe survivors of violence always deserve to be supported and to have their voices heard. https://t.co/rtT1PQr4Zq — Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) September 28, 2018
“Not at all. I believe then, and I believe now, that women deserve to be heard because too often they are not, and Tara Reade deserved to have her story listened to and investigated,” Abrams said.
“What was happening to Christine Blasey Ford was there was no investigation. There was a rush to move the conversation forward so that no investigation was conducted.”
Notably, an FBI investigation was launched against Kavanaugh, which turned up nothing. That’s because Blasey-Ford presented virtually no evidence or witnesses to corroborate her claim.
In contrast, Reade’s allegations are corroborated by several witnesses and pieces of evidence, including a 1993 clip from CNN’s Larry King Live where Reade’s mother called in to complain about her assault.
Twitter: Follow @WhiteIsTheFury
Gab: https://gab.com/WhiteIsTheFury
Minds: https://www.minds.com/whiteisthefury
Owen brainstorms with callers about what could play out with Joe Biden as the November election approaches.


newswars--2020-04-29--More Countries Moving to Dethrone Dollar

Last year , we reported extensively on a push toward de-dollarization by countries like Russia and China and their desire to undermine the ability of the US to weaponize the dollar as a foreign policy tool .
Europe was even starting to push to dethrone the dollar as the reserve currency .
With the Federal Reserve running the dollar printing press at full speed and the US government expanding the national debt into the stratosphere , there are renewed calls for a currency to replace the dollar as the world reserve .
This week , Shanghai Gold Exchange ( SGE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new super-sovereign currency to replace the greenback .
“ Concern has mounted among some market participants over the dollar-denominated system as the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates to near-zero and embarked on unlimited quantitative easing to contain the economic damage of the coronavirus pandemic.
” Wang said that the Fed ’ s monetary policy in response to COVID-19 would eventually tank the dollar even though the current crisis has triggered a scramble for greenbacks .
“ When the Fed turns on the liquidity tap , the US dollar will , in theory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Peter Schiff has been predicting that the dollar is going to tank for quite some time .
It ’ s a matter of when , not if .
As the coronavirus crisis began to unfold and the Fed fired up the printing press , Peter said that with the central bank and government response to the coronavirus , hyperinflation has gone from being the worst-case scenario to the most likely scenario .
Peter has also said he thinks people will eventually start dumping dollars .
“ Nobody can hold dollars .
Nobody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is now like a game of musical chairs where nobody wants to get caught with dollars when the music stops playing.
” Wang not only expressed concern about the long-term stability of the dollar ; he also echoed an oft-repeated criticism of the US controlling the reserve currency .
America uses the privilege as a foreign policy tool .
For instance , in 2014 and 2015 , the blocked several Russian banks from SWIFT as relations between the two countries deteriorated .
Last fall , the US threatened to lock China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t follow UN sanctions on North Korea .
Wang said this needs to end .
“ It is a weapon for the US , but a source of insecurity for other countries .
The currency the world ultimately chooses for global trade must not be one that gives someone privilege , while exposing others to insecurity.
” A gold standard that prevented central banks from manipulating the money supply would be ideal .
Peter has said that the US went off the gold standard in 1971 , but he thinks the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
“ The days where the dollar is the reserve currency are numbered and we ’ re going back to basics .
You know , everything old is new again .
Gold was money in the past and it will be money again in the future.
” Regardless of what form it takes , it seems likely that efforts to push the dollar off its perch will only increase .
The powers that be in America should be concerned about their currencies future as the world reserve .
And Americans should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their dollars .
Bombshell special report that details how globalists plan to destroy America .

Last year, we reported extensively on a push toward de-dollarization by countries like Russia and China and their desire to undermine the ability of the US to weaponize the dollar as a foreign policy tool.
Europe was even starting to push to dethrone the dollar as the reserve currency.
With the Federal Reserve running the dollar printing press at full speed and the US government expanding the national debt into the stratosphere, there are renewed calls for a currency to replace the dollar as the world reserve.
This week, Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE) President Wang Zhenying called for a new super-sovereign currency to replace the greenback.
Reuters reports:
“Concern has mounted among some market participants over the dollar-denominated system as the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates to near-zero and embarked on unlimited quantitative easing to contain the economic damage of the coronavirus pandemic.”
Wang said that the Fed’s monetary policy in response to COVID-19 would eventually tank the dollar even though the current crisis has triggered a scramble for greenbacks.
“When the Fed turns on the liquidity tap, the US dollar will, in theory, be in a long-term depreciatory trend.”
Peter Schiff has been predicting that the dollar is going to tank for quite some time. It’s a matter of when, not if. As the coronavirus crisis began to unfold and the Fed fired up the printing press, Peter said that with the central bank and government response to the coronavirus, hyperinflation has gone from being the worst-case scenario to the most likely scenario.
Peter has also said he thinks people will eventually start dumping dollars.
“Nobody can hold dollars. Nobody can hold any bonds denominated in dollars. This is now like a game of musical chairs where nobody wants to get caught with dollars when the music stops playing.”
Wang not only expressed concern about the long-term stability of the dollar; he also echoed an oft-repeated criticism of the US controlling the reserve currency. America uses the privilege as a foreign policy tool. For instance, in 2014 and 2015, the blocked several Russian banks from SWIFT as relations between the two countries deteriorated. Last fall, the US threatened to lock China out of the dollar system if it didn’t follow UN sanctions on North Korea. Wang said this needs to end.
“It is a weapon for the US, but a source of insecurity for other countries. The currency the world ultimately chooses for global trade must not be one that gives someone privilege, while exposing others to insecurity.”
A gold standard that prevented central banks from manipulating the money supply would be ideal. Peter has said that the US went off the gold standard in 1971, but he thinks the world is going to go back on it.
“The days where the dollar is the reserve currency are numbered and we’re going back to basics. You know, everything old is new again. Gold was money in the past and it will be money again in the future.”
Regardless of what form it takes, it seems likely that efforts to push the dollar off its perch will only increase. The powers that be in America should be concerned about their currencies future as the world reserve. And Americans should be concerned about the future purchasing power of their dollars.
Bombshell special report that details how globalists plan to destroy America.


newswars--2020-04-29--Tucker Carlson Warns America Becoming Like China Amid COVID-19

Fox News ’ Tucker Carlson slammed Big Tech for censoring a viral video of two California doctors questioning the science behind the state ’ s “ stay-at-home ” order .
YouTube claims the video violated their guidelines , but Carlson compares the anti-free speech move to something that would happen if a doctor in China were to speak out against the state .
America is becoming more like communist China every day and it ’ s being done on purpose .
CARLSON : Big companies partnering with the government to spy on you without your knowledge .
Americans locked in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church , placated with sedatives like beer and weed .
Anyone who speaks up is silenced .
Political demonstrations are illegal .
Organizers are arrested .
Only opinions approved by unelected leaders are allowed on information platforms .
Sound familiar ?
It sounds a lot like China .
Of all the many ironies of this moment , so many of them bitter , the hardest to swallow is this : as we fight this virus , we are becoming far more like the country that spawned it .
We ’ re becoming more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It tells you everything that our professional class enthusiastically welcomes this .
Over the weekend , The Atlantic magazine published an article by two academics calling for an end to freedom of speech in America .
Their model for an idea system : the totalitarian government of China .
Quote : “ In the debate over freedom versus control of the Internet , China was largely correct , and the U.S. was wrong.
” End quote .
Read the whole thing .
You should .
It ’ s the future .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the show .
But just one more .
Quote : “ Significant monitoring and speech control are inevitable components of a mature and flourishing internet , and governments must play a large role in these practices to ensure that the internet is compatible with a society ’ s norms and values.
” End quote .
Norms and values ?
Whose ?
Our leaders ’ norms and values , of course .
But mostly their interests .
Those in power are the ones the our professional class seeks to protect , not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public .
It only threatens the powerful .
It endangers their control .
It hinders their ability to dictate election results , to loot the economy , to make policies based on whim for their own gain .
No wonder our leaders have done such a poor job protecting us from China .
They ’ re on the same team .

Fox News’ Tucker Carlson slammed Big Tech for censoring a viral video of two California doctors questioning the science behind the state’s “stay-at-home” order.
YouTube claims the video violated their guidelines, but Carlson compares the anti-free speech move to something that would happen if a doctor in China were to speak out against the state.
America is becoming more like communist China every day and it’s being done on purpose.
Video Transcript:
CARLSON: Big companies partnering with the government to spy on you without your knowledge. Americans locked in their homes, banned from going to church, placated with sedatives like beer and weed. Anyone who speaks up is silenced. Political demonstrations are illegal. Organizers are arrested. Only opinions approved by unelected leaders are allowed on information platforms. Sound familiar? It sounds a lot like China. Of all the many ironies of this moment, so many of them bitter, the hardest to swallow is this: as we fight this virus, we are becoming far more like the country that spawned it. We’re becoming more like China. It’s horrifying.
It tells you everything that our professional class enthusiastically welcomes this. Over the weekend, The Atlantic magazine published an article by two academics calling for an end to freedom of speech in America. Their model for an idea system: the totalitarian government of China. Quote: “In the debate over freedom versus control of the Internet, China was largely correct, and the U.S. was wrong.” End quote. Read the whole thing. You should. It’s the future. We could quote from it for the rest of the show. But just one more. Quote: “Significant monitoring and speech control are inevitable components of a mature and flourishing internet, and governments must play a large role in these practices to ensure that the internet is compatible with a society’s norms and values.” End quote.
Norms and values? Whose? Our leaders’ norms and values, of course. But mostly their interests. Those in power are the ones the our professional class seeks to protect, not the country. Freedom of conscience never endangers the public. It only threatens the powerful. It endangers their control. It hinders their ability to dictate election results, to loot the economy, to make policies based on whim for their own gain. No wonder our leaders have done such a poor job protecting us from China. They’re on the same team.