activistpost--2020-10-01--More Than One Million New Jerseyans To Become “Food Insecure” By Year-End

The virus-induced economic downturn has triggered another kind of emergency that is unleashing food insecurity for millions of Americans .
Food banks across the country have reported skyrocketing demand this year as widespread unemployment has crushed low-income households .
According to a new report published by the Community FoodBank of New Jersey ( CFBNJ ) , titled “ COVID-19 ’ s Impact on Food Insecurity in New Jersey , ” statistical projections from Feeding America were used to anticipate more than one million New Jerseyans could suffer food insecurity this year .
CFBNJ found residents of the Mid-Atlantic state who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to surge by more than 50 % by the end of the year because of the unrelenting economic downturn .
Statewide , people who experienced food insecurity could total 1.2 million , or about 13.5 % of the state ’ s population .
CFBNJ is the state ’ s most prominent food bank , is warning about a hunger crisis forming in the state , which has surpassed the national average and neighboring states , including Pennsylvania , Delaware , and New York .
New Jersey ’ s number of food-insecure residents is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the pre-pandemic level of 774,000 food-insecure people , higher than the national average of 46 % , as well as higher than the 45 % rise for both New York and Pennsylvania .
New Jersey is projected to see a greater increase in food insecurity than the US average or neighboring states .
A disproportionate increase in food insecurity among children for the state .
Atlantic County , home to Atlantic City , a resort city on the state ’ s Atlantic coast , is top of the list for food insecurity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insecurity on a county by county basis .
The main driver behind the state ’ s hunger crisis is the collapse of the leisure and hospitality industries , resulting in widespread unemployment and economic devastation of households .
CFBNJ said today ’ s crisis far exceeds what was seen at a depth of the 2008 financial meltdown .
“ In less than a year , COVID-19 is erasing nearly a decade of advancement towards food security in New Jersey and nationwide , ” said Carlos Rodriguez , president and CEO of CFBNJ , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s clear from the data presented in this report that no part of our state will be spared from the pandemic ’ s effects on hunger .
The public , private , and nonprofit sectors must work together in response to the long-term elevated need that we ’ re going to see throughout New Jersey , ” said Rodriguez .
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By Tyler Durden
The virus-induced economic downturn has triggered another kind of emergency that is unleashing food insecurity for millions of Americans. Food banks across the country have reported skyrocketing demand this year as widespread unemployment has crushed low-income households.
According to a new report published by the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), titled “COVID-19’s Impact on Food Insecurity in New Jersey,” statistical projections from Feeding America were used to anticipate more than one million New Jerseyans could suffer food insecurity this year.
CFBNJ found residents of the Mid-Atlantic state who have limited access to food is expected to surge by more than 50% by the end of the year because of the unrelenting economic downturn. Statewide, people who experienced food insecurity could total 1.2 million, or about 13.5% of the state’s population.
CFBNJ is the state’s most prominent food bank, is warning about a hunger crisis forming in the state, which has surpassed the national average and neighboring states, including Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York.
New Jersey’s number of food-insecure residents is estimated to increase by 56%, from the pre-pandemic level of 774,000 food-insecure people, higher than the national average of 46%, as well as higher than the 45% rise for both New York and Pennsylvania.
New Jersey is projected to see a greater increase in food insecurity than the US average or neighboring states.
A disproportionate increase in food insecurity among children for the state.
Atlantic County, home to Atlantic City, a resort city on the state’s Atlantic coast, is top of the list for food insecurity.
Before and after view of food insecurity on a county by county basis.
The main driver behind the state’s hunger crisis is the collapse of the leisure and hospitality industries, resulting in widespread unemployment and economic devastation of households. CFBNJ said today’s crisis far exceeds what was seen at a depth of the 2008 financial meltdown.
“In less than a year, COVID-19 is erasing nearly a decade of advancement towards food security in New Jersey and nationwide,” said Carlos Rodriguez, president and CEO of CFBNJ, in a statement.
“It’s clear from the data presented in this report that no part of our state will be spared from the pandemic’s effects on hunger. The public, private, and nonprofit sectors must work together in response to the long-term elevated need that we’re going to see throughout New Jersey,” said Rodriguez.
Source: Zerohedge
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activistpost--2020-10-01--Ohio Hospital Offline Since Last Week due to Cyberattack — All Elective Procedures Postponed

Cyberattacks can cause drastic events no matter who or what is targeted – businesses ( see 1 , 2 ) , community governments , hospitals , medical devices , personal devices ( see 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) , security systems , utility grids ( see 1 , 2 , 3 ) , and/or utility “ Smart ” Meters .
Late last month , a cyberattack at a German hospital prevented one patient from receiving urgent care which directly contributed to his death .
An Ohio hospital was targeted last month as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital Went Offline For A Week , Surgeries Canceled , Amid Spate Of Ransomware Attacks Earlier we detailed that computer systems for Universal Health Systems ( UHS ) , a major hospital and healthcare provider with over 400 locations across the U.S. , was hit with what appears to be one of the largest medical cyberattacks in US history .
Demonstrating just how prone America ’ s vital infrastructure remains to large-scale cyber attacks which could debilitate the country ’ s response efforts in emergency situations , the spate of ransomware attacks have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care providers or health care systems so far this year , according a cybersecurity firm cited in the latest NBC report on the attacks .
The worst and most recent instance was centered on a major Cleveland area hospital , which was taken offline for a full week following an apparent cyberattack .
The damage from the hack of the Ashtabula County Medical Center ’ s systems was so bad that all elective procedures at the hospital had to be postponed , reports NBC .
The facility ’ s computer systems have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to hospital officials .
It ’ s as yet unclear when full hospital operations will be restored , though elective procedures are expected to begin again this week .
“ As a result of this incident , we have postponed all elective procedures through Wednesday , Sept. 30 , ” the medical center CEO Michael Habowski said .
“ Our emergency department remains open to life-threatening emergencies and walk-in patients , and our outpatient departments and physician offices are continuing to provide care for patients.
” Activist Post reports regularly about unsafe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our archives .
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By B.N. Frank
Cyberattacks can cause drastic events no matter who or what is targeted – businesses (see 1, 2), community governments, hospitals, medical devices, personal devices (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), security systems, utility grids (see 1, 2, 3), and/or utility “Smart” Meters.
Late last month, a cyberattack at a German hospital prevented one patient from receiving urgent care which directly contributed to his death. An Ohio hospital was targeted last month as well and is still offline.
From Zerohedge:
One Ohio Hospital Went Offline For A Week, Surgeries Canceled, Amid Spate Of Ransomware Attacks
Earlier we detailed that computer systems for Universal Health Systems (UHS), a major hospital and healthcare provider with over 400 locations across the U.S., was hit with what appears to be one of the largest medical cyberattacks in US history.
Demonstrating just how prone America’s vital infrastructure remains to large-scale cyber attacks which could debilitate the country’s response efforts in emergency situations, the spate of ransomware attacks have impacted the operations of 53 US health care providers or health care systems so far this year, according a cybersecurity firm cited in the latest NBC report on the attacks.
The worst and most recent instance was centered on a major Cleveland area hospital, which was taken offline for a full week following an apparent cyberattack. The damage from the hack of the Ashtabula County Medical Center’s systems was so bad that all elective procedures at the hospital had to be postponed, reports NBC.
The facility’s computer systems have been offline since Monday, Sept. 21, according to hospital officials. It’s as yet unclear when full hospital operations will be restored, though elective procedures are expected to begin again this week.
“As a result of this incident, we have postponed all elective procedures through Wednesday, Sept. 30,” the medical center CEO Michael Habowski said. “Our emergency department remains open to life-threatening emergencies and walk-in patients, and our outpatient departments and physician offices are continuing to provide care for patients.”


activistpost--2020-10-01--Man Facing Two Years In Prison For Leaving Negative Review At A Resort

A man who was visiting Thailand from the United States was arrested and is currently facing two years in prison for posting negative reviews of a hotel that he stayed at .
Wesley Barnes spent time at The Sea View Resort on the island of Koh Chang while he was in Thailand earlier this year and he ended up leaving some harsh reviews for the place after leaving , allegedly accusing the resort of “ modern day slavery.
” According to the resort , the conflict began when Barnes wanted to bring a bottle of his own alcohol while dining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their policy .
The incident triggered an argument , and the hotel says that Barnes “ caused a commotion ” and refused to pay a corkage fee .
Once the manager was forced to intervene , the fee was waived , but Barnes was still upset , and left a series of negative reviews for the resort .
The resort sued Mr. Barnes for defamation , and then he ended up spending two nights in prison before getting out on bail .
The anti-defamation laws in Thailand are extremely harsh , and could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison .
Mr. Barnes told the BBC that the review about modern-day slavery was never actually published because it violated TripAdvisor ’ s guidelines .
The management of the resort said that they made multiple attempts to reach out to Barnes about his review before contacting the authorities .
“ We chose to file a complaint to serve as a deterrent , as we understood he may continue to write negative reviews week after week for the foreseeable future .
Despite our multiple efforts to contact him to resolve the matter in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he chose to ignore us completely .
He only replied to us when he had been notified of our complaint by the authorities , ” the hotel said in a statement .
The hotel said that numerous guests canceled their reservations and asked about the treatment of employees after the reviews were posted .
Barnes is due back in court in early October .
John Vibes is an author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture , and focuses solutions-oriented approaches to social problems .
He is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conference and The Free Thought Project Podcast .
Read More stories by John Vibes Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
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By John Vibes
A man who was visiting Thailand from the United States was arrested and is currently facing two years in prison for posting negative reviews of a hotel that he stayed at. Wesley Barnes spent time at The Sea View Resort on the island of Koh Chang while he was in Thailand earlier this year and he ended up leaving some harsh reviews for the place after leaving, allegedly accusing the resort of “modern day slavery.”
According to the resort, the conflict began when Barnes wanted to bring a bottle of his own alcohol while dining in the restaurant, which was against their policy. The incident triggered an argument, and the hotel says that Barnes “caused a commotion” and refused to pay a corkage fee.
Once the manager was forced to intervene, the fee was waived, but Barnes was still upset, and left a series of negative reviews for the resort. The resort sued Mr. Barnes for defamation, and then he ended up spending two nights in prison before getting out on bail. The anti-defamation laws in Thailand are extremely harsh, and could lead to up to two years in prison.
Mr. Barnes told the BBC that the review about modern-day slavery was never actually published because it violated TripAdvisor’s guidelines.
The management of the resort said that they made multiple attempts to reach out to Barnes about his review before contacting the authorities.
“We chose to file a complaint to serve as a deterrent, as we understood he may continue to write negative reviews week after week for the foreseeable future. Despite our multiple efforts to contact him to resolve the matter in an amicable way for well over a month, he chose to ignore us completely. He only replied to us when he had been notified of our complaint by the authorities,” the hotel said in a statement.
The hotel said that numerous guests canceled their reservations and asked about the treatment of employees after the reviews were posted.
Barnes is due back in court in early October.
Source: Truth Theory
John Vibes is an author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture, and focuses solutions-oriented approaches to social problems. He is also a host of The Free Your Mind Conference and The Free Thought Project Podcast. Read More stories by John Vibes
IMAGE FEATURED: Frank Annotee
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activistpost--2020-10-01--Warning Issued by Health Council of the Netherlands:  Do Not Use the 26 GHz for 5G

There has been so much controversy , opposition , and international action taken AGAINST 5G deployment that it ’ s been the subject of Dilbert comic strips .
According to leaked memos at one French telecom company , employees are even asking their employer stop deployment .
The Health Council of Netherlands is now also issuing warnings .
Do Not Use the 26 GHz for 5G Health Council of the Netherlands 5G and Health Report 5G and Health Report by the Health Council of the Netherlands ( 2020 ) In 2020 the Health Council of the Netherlands released a report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against using 26 GHz frequency band for 5G , doing more research into the relationship between exposure and the incidence of cancer , reduced male fertility , poor pregnancy outcomes and birth defects .
Although they state adverse health effects for lower frequencies are not proven , they do recommend monitoring of exposure before and after .
The Summary does not state that health effects are proven , nor unproven .
This information is directly from the summary you can download here .
The committee has made four recommendations to Parliament • Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 3.5 GHz ) have already been used for telecommunications applications and Wi-Fi for years without resulting in any proven adverse health effects , the committee sees no reason to stop or restrict the use of these frequency bands .
It does however recommend that the exposure should be monitored before , during and after the rollout of the 5G systems .
This will make clear to what extent exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields changes as a result of the introduction of 5G and any long-term health risks can then be estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be used in estimating the risks .
• The committee recommends doing more research : epidemiological research into the relationship between exposure to the 5G frequencies used and the incidence of cancer , reduced male fertility , poor pregnancy outcomes and birth defects .
An ongoing international study into the use of mobile telephones , in which the Netherlands is participating , can play a role in this .
• experimental research into the health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields in the 26 GHz frequency band .
• scenario studies to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a result of wireless communications systems ( 3G , 4G and 5G ) .
• The committee recommends not using the 26 GHz frequency band for 5G for as long as the potential health risks have not been investigated .
• Finally , the committee recommends using the latest guidelines from the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection ( ICNIRP ) as the basis for exposure policy in the Netherlands .
Because it can not be excluded that exposure under the latest ICNIRP standards also has the potential to affect health , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and keeping exposures as low as reasonably achievable .
Over 500 cities in Italy have passed resolutions to halt 5G until safety research has been completed .
In the United States , Hawaii County , Farragut Tennessee and Easton Connecticut passed resolutions to halt 5G .
Entire countries like France , Switzerland , and Nigeria are having a national conversation on the safety of 5G and they are launching major investigations to research the issue of safety .
( Details HERE ) .
In the United States , several cities have voted and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rollout into neighborhoods .
Hundreds of doctors and scientists recommend a moratorium on 5G .
For example , the Pancyprian Medical Association and Cyprus National Committee on the Environment and Child Health sent a position paper on 5G is entitled “ The Risks to Public Health from the Use of the 5G Network ” to the Cyprus Parliamentary Committees on Environment and Health .
Read statements and position papers of scientific experts here .
There ARE studies that have ALREADY determined 5G is NOT safe .
That ’ s why the majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are studies that have determined that exposure to other sources of wireless radiation – 1G through 4G – is also NOT SAFE ( see 1 , 2 , 3 ) .
Since 2018 there have been reports about people and animals experiencing symptoms and illnesses after 5G was installed ( see 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) .
Last year The World Health Organization warned that high levels of Electromagnetic Fields ( aka “ Electrosmog ” ) which includes wireless radiation could lead to health issues in a significant percentage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 5G and other unsafe technology .
For more information visit our archives and the following websites .
Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
Send resources to the front lines of peace and freedom HERE !
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Parler , Flote , Minds , and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By B.N. Frank
There has been so much controversy, opposition, and international action taken AGAINST 5G deployment that it’s been the subject of Dilbert comic strips. According to leaked memos at one French telecom company, employees are even asking their employer stop deployment. The Health Council of Netherlands is now also issuing warnings.
From Environmental Health Trust:
Do Not Use the 26 GHz for 5G Health Council of the Netherlands 5G and Health Report
5G and Health Report by the Health Council of the Netherlands (2020)
In 2020 the Health Council of the Netherlands released a report on health and 5G. They recommend against using 26 GHz frequency band for 5G, doing more research into the relationship between exposure and the incidence of cancer, reduced male fertility, poor pregnancy outcomes and birth defects. Although they state adverse health effects for lower frequencies are not proven, they do recommend monitoring of exposure before and after. The Summary does not state that health effects are proven, nor unproven.
Health Council of the Netherlands
Report released on 5G and Health
This information is directly from the summary you can download here.
The committee has made four recommendations to Parliament
Because the lower frequency bands for 5G (up to 3.5 GHz) have already been used for telecommunications applications and Wi-Fi for years without resulting in any proven adverse health effects, the committee sees no reason to stop or restrict the use of these frequency bands. It does however recommend that the exposure should be monitored before, during and after the rollout of the 5G systems. This will make clear to what extent exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields changes as a result of the introduction of 5G and any long-term health risks can then be estimated better. The WHO analysis can also be used in estimating the risks.
The committee recommends doing more research: epidemiological research into the relationship between exposure to the 5G frequencies used and the incidence of cancer, reduced male fertility, poor pregnancy outcomes and birth defects. An ongoing international study into the use of mobile telephones, in which the Netherlands is participating, can play a role in this. experimental research into the health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields in the 26 GHz frequency band. scenario studies to get a picture of the exposure of individuals as a result of wireless communications systems (3G, 4G and 5G).
The committee recommends not using the 26 GHz frequency band for 5G for as long as the potential health risks have not been investigated.
Finally, the committee recommends using the latest guidelines from the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) as the basis for exposure policy in the Netherlands. Because it cannot be excluded that exposure under the latest ICNIRP standards also has the potential to affect health, the committee recommends taking a cautious approach and keeping exposures as low as reasonably achievable.
Over 500 cities in Italy have passed resolutions to halt 5G until safety research has been completed. In the United States, Hawaii County, Farragut Tennessee and Easton Connecticut passed resolutions to halt 5G. Entire countries like France, Switzerland, and Nigeria are having a national conversation on the safety of 5G and they are launching major investigations to research the issue of safety. (Details HERE). In the United States, several cities have voted and passed policies to halt 5G or restrict the rollout into neighborhoods. Hundreds of doctors and scientists recommend a moratorium on 5G. For example, the Pancyprian Medical Association and Cyprus National Committee on the Environment and Child Health sent a position paper on 5G is entitled “The Risks to Public Health from the Use of the 5G Network” to the Cyprus Parliamentary Committees on Environment and Health. Read statements and position papers of scientific experts here.
There ARE studies that have ALREADY determined 5G is NOT safe. That’s why the majority of scientists worldwide oppose deployment. There are studies that have determined that exposure to other sources of wireless radiation – 1G through 4G – is also NOT SAFE (see 1, 2, 3).
Since 2018 there have been reports about people and animals experiencing symptoms and illnesses after 5G was installed (see 1, 2, 3, 4). Last year The World Health Organization warned that high levels of Electromagnetic Fields (aka “Electrosmog”) which includes wireless radiation could lead to health issues in a significant percentage of the population.
Activist Post reports regularly about 5G and other unsafe technology. For more information visit our archives and the following websites.
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activistpost--2020-10-01--More Than 500 JPMorgan Employees Inexplicably Got Emergency Virus Relief Funds

Three weeks ago , when we first reported that JPMorgan – the bank that this week was slammed with a record settlement of nearly $ 1 billion when it admitted it had manipulated and spoofed the gold and Treasury markets – was probing its employees ’ role in abuse of PPP funds following reports of “ instances in which Covid-relief funds were misused by customers and is probing employees ’ involvement in the potentially illegal activities ” , we said that it was about time the role of banks was put under the microscope because ” while it was easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand out hundreds of billions in grants/loans ( without which the US economy would still be in a depression ) , a key question is how and why did the private banks that were gatekeepers for all this capital , allow such abuse to take place.
” A few days later , we also found out that not only did JPM employees allegedly enable fraud by clients when obtaining PPP loans , the largest US bank also found that some of its employees themselves “ improperly applied for and received ” , i.e @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intended for legitimate U.S. businesses hurt by the pandemic .
The bank discovered the actions , which were tied to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program , “ after noticing that suspicious amounts of money had been deposited into checking accounts owned by bank employees.
” The findings prompted an unusual all-staff message from JPMorgan Tuesday which according to Bloomberg “ puzzled many across the industry for its candid admission of potentially illegal acts by some of its own while not describing what they had done.
” At the time , JPMorgan sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which senior leaders said they had seen “ instances of customers misusing Paycheck Protection Program Loans , unemployment benefits and other government programs ” and that some employees had fallen short on ethical standards , too .
JPMorgan tried to mitigate this discovery by claiming that only a handful of its employees were abusing the program .
Well , fast forward to today , when we learn that more than 500 JPMorgan employees got assistance from taxpayers aimed at helping businesses through the pandemic “ and dozens of them shouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Upon discovering that “ hundreds of employees ” – clearly not the brightest ones as they used checking accounts operated by their employer into which they deposited funds meant for struggling Americans – had received government funds in their accounts , JPMorgan “ began scrutinizing director-level employees and workers who received certain amounts.
” Of almost two dozen in that first group , the bank found that at least five – none of them director-level employees – had improperly tapped the program , one of the people said .
We say at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that more and more employees had illegally tapped the taxpayer-funded program .
Amusingly , the bank concluded that of the hundreds of deposits many were “ probably ” legitimate – providing funds , for example , to side businesses run on workers ’ own time , although how a JPM banker would have a “ side ” business that suddenly needs emergency funding is probably left best for the upcoming Congressional hearings .
JPM ’ s findings of illegal employee activity come amid a broader sweep of individual accounts that received business aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned banks to be on the lookout for suspicious deposits or activity as part of the EIDL program .
The SBA ’ s inspector general has also flagged evidence of fraud in the program , saying it identified more than $ 250 million in aid given to potentially ineligible recipients as well as $ 45.6 million in possibly duplicate payments .
A Bloomberg analysis of SBA data last month identified $ 1.3 billion in suspicious payments .
As a result , prosecutors have brought charges against more than 20 businesses for fraud under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PPP loan program , and a recent report by the House Committee on Oversight suggested that there could have been billions of dollars worth of fraud in the PPP program .
Rep. James Clyburn , a Democrat from South Carolina , called on the inspectors general of the U.S. Treasury Department and SBA to investigate the program .
“ The SBA does not comment on individual borrowers .
Evidence of waste , fraud , and abuse with any of SBA ’ s loan programs is not tolerated and should be reported .
… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and $ 525 billion to small businesses in an unprecedented amount of time , through the Paycheck Payment Program , ” the SBA said , misstating the name of the Paycheck Protection Program .
“ This is going to be the biggest fraud in government history , the magnitude of which we will not know for many years to come , ” said Vic Hartman , a former FBI agent and author of a 2019 book about fraud based on lessons from his career .
In retrospect , it ’ s most surprising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
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By Tyler Durden
Three weeks ago, when we first reported that JPMorgan – the bank that this week was slammed with a record settlement of nearly $1 billion when it admitted it had manipulated and spoofed the gold and Treasury markets – was probing its employees’ role in abuse of PPP funds following reports of “instances in which Covid-relief funds were misused by customers and is probing employees’ involvement in the potentially illegal activities”, we said that it was about time the role of banks was put under the microscope because ” while it was easy to blame the administration for rushing to hand out hundreds of billions in grants/loans (without which the US economy would still be in a depression), a key question is how and why did the private banks that were gatekeepers for all this capital, allow such abuse to take place.”
A few days later, we also found out that not only did JPM employees allegedly enable fraud by clients when obtaining PPP loans, the largest US bank also found that some of its employees themselves “improperly applied for and received”, i.e. stole, Covid-relief money that was intended for legitimate U.S. businesses hurt by the pandemic.
The bank discovered the actions, which were tied to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, “after noticing that suspicious amounts of money had been deposited into checking accounts owned by bank employees.” The findings prompted an unusual all-staff message from JPMorgan Tuesday which according to Bloomberg “puzzled many across the industry for its candid admission of potentially illegal acts by some of its own while not describing what they had done.”
At the time, JPMorgan sent a memo to its roughly 256,000 employees in which senior leaders said they had seen “instances of customers misusing Paycheck Protection Program Loans, unemployment benefits and other government programs” and that some employees had fallen short on ethical standards, too.
JPMorgan tried to mitigate this discovery by claiming that only a handful of its employees were abusing the program.
Well, fast forward to today, when we learn that more than 500 JPMorgan employees got assistance from taxpayers aimed at helping businesses through the pandemic “and dozens of them shouldn’t have”, according to Bloomberg.
The discovery that so many people at the largest and most profitable U.S. bank had tapped the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program raised suspicions inside the company and set off a hasty probe, the full extent of which hasn’t been previously reported.
Upon discovering that “hundreds of employees” – clearly not the brightest ones as they used checking accounts operated by their employer into which they deposited funds meant for struggling Americans – had received government funds in their accounts, JPMorgan “began scrutinizing director-level employees and workers who received certain amounts.” Of almost two dozen in that first group, the bank found that at least five – none of them director-level employees – had improperly tapped the program, one of the people said. We say at least because every update on this issue reveals that more and more employees had illegally tapped the taxpayer-funded program.
Amusingly, the bank concluded that of the hundreds of deposits many were “probably” legitimate – providing funds, for example, to side businesses run on workers’ own time, although how a JPM banker would have a “side” business that suddenly needs emergency funding is probably left best for the upcoming Congressional hearings.
JPM’s findings of illegal employee activity come amid a broader sweep of individual accounts that received business aid. On July 22, the SBA warned banks to be on the lookout for suspicious deposits or activity as part of the EIDL program. The SBA’s inspector general has also flagged evidence of fraud in the program, saying it identified more than $250 million in aid given to potentially ineligible recipients as well as $45.6 million in possibly duplicate payments. A Bloomberg analysis of SBA data last month identified $1.3 billion in suspicious payments.
As a result, prosecutors have brought charges against more than 20 businesses for fraud under the CARES Act, which authorized the PPP loan program, and a recent report by the House Committee on Oversight suggested that there could have been billions of dollars worth of fraud in the PPP program. Rep. James Clyburn, a Democrat from South Carolina, called on the inspectors general of the U.S. Treasury Department and SBA to investigate the program.
“The SBA does not comment on individual borrowers. Evidence of waste, fraud, and abuse with any of SBA’s loan programs is not tolerated and should be reported. … The SBA successfully distributed 5.21 million loans and $525 billion to small businesses in an unprecedented amount of time, through the Paycheck Payment Program,” the SBA said, misstating the name of the Paycheck Protection Program.
“This is going to be the biggest fraud in government history, the magnitude of which we will not know for many years to come,” said Vic Hartman, a former FBI agent and author of a 2019 book about fraud based on lessons from his career.
In retrospect, it’s most surprising that only 500 JPMorgan bankers were involved.
Source: Zerohedge
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activistpost--2020-10-01--The War On Terror Gone Mad: Chicago Police Consider Expired Parking A “Public Safety Threat”

America ’ s ‘ War On Terror ’ has gone mad .
Two recent Chicago Tribune stories describe how America ’ s ‘ War on Terror ’ has been taken to an absurd level by the Mayor of Chicago , Illinois , and the Chicago Police Department .
The first article describes how the Chicago police have considered vehicles at expired parking meters to be a “ public safety threat , ” since at least April 30th .
The only ticketing that is going to be happening is if there is a car or other vehicle posing some kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ticketing should be suspended until April 30 , ” she said during a March 18 news conference .
“ So , for example , an expired meter that is otherwise legally parked and not posing a public safety threat , you should not be getting ticketed .
Over the past seven months the city of Chicago has issued more than 35,000 parking tickets .
A Chicago Police Department ( CPD ) Special Order S04-14-04 titled “ Parking and Compliance Violations ” goes into greater detail as to how the police department handles parking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expired parking meter ticket ?
And more importantly a “ public safety threat ” designation ?
A look at the City of Chicago ’ s “ Contesting Tickets “ link ” has no information about how a person can petition the city to have their name removed from the list .
But it does give residents the option to request a hearing .
It is unknown if the police department considers 35,000 Chicagoans , public safety threats or if their names and vehicle information have been entered into DHS ’ s Illinois , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there does not appear to be any way for people to have their names removed from Chicago ’ s public safety threat list .
How does a public official secretly turn parking on public streets into a criminal offense ?
Or have innocent motorists names end up in a federal database ?
The Chicago Tribune found that most of the traffic citations were “ written in Black and Latino neighborhoods and communities.
” Does DHS and law enforcement consider minorities or the BLM movement a public safety threat ?
What is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public safety threat ?
Here it is , the real reason public officials want to criminalize expired parking .
The irony is , Chicago ’ s police officers have not been hampered by expired meter parking , just the opposite .
A 2019 Chicago Sun Times article revealed that since at least 2016 , Chicago police officers have been parking illegally all across the city .
This is a perfect illustration of what is wrong with American law enforcement .
Since when does parking at an expired meter turn a person into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time law enforcement openly flouts the law ?
The Chicago Tribune summed it up nicely , Chicago Tribune reporter Rex Hupke thinks it is ridiculous to classify motorists parking at expired meters as public safety threats , and I agree .
One need look no further than pretrial risk assessments to see how illogical classifying a person as a public safety threat is .
Imagine going to court to fight your expired parking meter ticket and the prosecutor tells the judge you are a public safety threat and , therefore , should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on Cook County ’ s Public Safety Assessment .
Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what will come next ?
A long prison term in a maximum security prison is not out of the realm of possibility in America ’ s outrageous War on Terror .
How do Americans stand idly by and watch Homeland Security come up with new ways to criminalize the public for parking their car [ s ] ?
In the theatre of the absurd , Homeland Security ’ s Fusion Centers reign supreme .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace , and freedom news .
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By MassPrivateI
America’s ‘War On Terror’ has gone mad.
Two recent Chicago Tribune stories describe how America’s ‘War on Terror’ has been taken to an absurd level by the Mayor of Chicago, Illinois, and the Chicago Police Department.
The first article describes how the Chicago police have considered vehicles at expired parking meters to be a “public safety threat,” since at least April 30th.
The only ticketing that is going to be happening is if there is a car or other vehicle posing some kind of public safety threat. But the normal ticketing should be suspended until April 30,” she said during a March 18 news conference. “So, for example, an expired meter that is otherwise legally parked and not posing a public safety threat, you should not be getting ticketed.
Over the past seven months the city of Chicago has issued more than 35,000 parking tickets.
Try telling that to anyone else who got hit with one of the more than 35,000 parking tickets the city issued during the period Mayor Lori Lightfoot told the public they’d be getting a break.
A Chicago Police Department (CPD) Special Order S04-14-04 titled “Parking and Compliance Violations” goes into greater detail as to how the police department handles parking violations.
How do Chicagoans fight an expired parking meter ticket? And more importantly a “public safety threat” designation?
A look at the City of Chicago’s “Contesting Tickets “link” has no information about how a person can petition the city to have their name removed from the list. But it does give residents the option to request a hearing.
It is unknown if the police department considers 35,000 Chicagoans, public safety threats or if their names and vehicle information have been entered into DHS’s Illinois, Fusion Centers’ database.
For now, there does not appear to be any way for people to have their names removed from Chicago’s public safety threat list.
How does a public official secretly turn parking on public streets into a criminal offense? Or have innocent motorists names end up in a federal database?
Behind the scenes, the Lightfoot administration declared expired meter parking anywhere in the central business district to be a threat to public safety and directed ticketing to continue, according to documents obtained through an open records request. The public wasn’t told about that change in tactics, however.
The Chicago Tribune found that most of the traffic citations were “written in Black and Latino neighborhoods and communities.” Does DHS and law enforcement consider minorities or the BLM movement a public safety threat?
What is the excuse for turning expired parking into a public safety threat? Here it is, the real reason public officials want to criminalize expired parking.
“Access to government offices, hospitals and hotels cannot be impeded by illegal parking, including metered spaces,” states the letter signed by Jennie Huang Bennett, the city’s chief financial officer. “Police, fire and other first responders performing essential public safety functions cannot be hampered in their duties due to any type of illegal parking in these zones.”
The irony is, Chicago’s police officers have not been hampered by expired meter parking, just the opposite. A 2019 Chicago Sun Times article revealed that since at least 2016, Chicago police officers have been parking illegally all across the city.
Chicago police officers are continuing to flout the law they’re charged with enforcing — and creating a potential safety hazard — by using police placards to park illegally around City Hall and near Soldier Field and Wrigley Field.”
This is a perfect illustration of what is wrong with American law enforcement. Since when does parking at an expired meter turn a person into a public safety threat, while at the same time law enforcement openly flouts the law?
The Chicago Tribune summed it up nicely,
Lightfoot said motorists would not be ticketed for an expired meter that is otherwise legally parked and not posing a public safety threat. But thousands were ticketed. That suggests that as soon as the meter at a normal parking spot expires, the vehicle owner becomes “a public safety threat.
Chicago Tribune reporter Rex Hupke thinks it is ridiculous to classify motorists parking at expired meters as public safety threats, and I agree.
This will help as I rebrand myself one of the bad boys of Chicago journalism. Tweeting a few selfies next to my car at an expired meter should cement in the public’s mind that I’m a safety threat and not one to be trifled with.
One need look no further than pretrial risk assessments to see how illogical classifying a person as a public safety threat is. Imagine going to court to fight your expired parking meter ticket and the prosecutor tells the judge you are a public safety threat and, therefore ,should be considered a “high risk” based on Cook County’s Public Safety Assessment.
Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what will come next? A long prison term in a maximum security prison is not out of the realm of possibility in America’s outrageous War on Terror.
How do Americans stand idly by and watch Homeland Security come up with new ways to criminalize the public for parking their car[s]? In the theatre of the absurd, Homeland Security’s Fusion Centers reign supreme.
Source: MassPrivateI Blog
Image credit: Block Club Chicago
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activistpost--2020-10-01--Billionaire Seagram’s Heiress Sentenced to Over 6 Years for Role in NXIVM Sex Trafficking Ring

As TFTP has previously reported , billionaire heiress Clare Bronfman was indicted on racketeering charges in federal court in 2018 .
The indictment was connected to her involvement as Operations Director for the NXIVM sex cult which ensnared Smallville star Allison Mack as well .
Last year , prosecutors came forward saying that this billionaire heiress was protecting her fellow cronies with a massive amount of money in the form of a defense trust fund .
After a two-year long battle , Bronfman was sentenced on Wednesday to over 6 years for her role in the cult .
Brooklyn federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 81 months as he tore into her for using her money to protect sex traffickers while silencing victims and critics .
Bronfman “ used her incredible wealth and attempted to use her social status and connections not only to support Nxivm ’ s work , but also as a means of intimidating , threatening , and exacting revenge upon individuals who dared to challenge its dogma , ” he said .
According to the NY Post , before her sentence was handed down Wednesday , nine women who were victimized by Nxivm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ dangerous megalomaniac ” and “ predator.
” The cult which Bronfman was found guilty of protecting was run by Keith Ranier who was convicted in June 2019 on charges of sex trafficking , forced labor , conspiracy , human trafficking and multiple counts of racketeering — including sexual exploitation of a child .
Even while she was on house arrest , former victims of the cult alleged that Bronfman still went after them .
“ You ’ ve been under house arrest for two years , yet you have never stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court , the Associated Press reported .
Showing her dedication to the cause of sex trafficking and slavery was a letter Bronfman wrote to the court last month in which she said NXIVM had “ greatly changed my life for the better ” and that she wouldn ’ t denounce its leader — who was convicted of sex trafficking , slavery and child sexual abuse .
For those who don ’ t recall , Bronfman is the heir to the multi-billion dollar liquor fortune of Edgar Bronfman Sr , the billionaire philanthropist who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bronfman family has very close ties to the Rothschild banking dynasty as well , with members of both families belonging to many of the same companies , including their joint financial firm , Bronfman & Rothschild .
After her arrest in 2018 , Bronfman walked free after agreeing to wear an ankle monitor and posting $ 100 million in bail—illustrating just how deep her pockets go .
Although Bronfman is not accused of sex trafficking like the group ’ s leaders Keith Raniere and Allison Mack , Frank Parlato , a former NXIVM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bronfman is among the harshest leaders in the organization .
“ She ’ s the enforcer—the brutal one .
Clare ’ s running the [ operation ] now , and she ’ s the most ruthless of them .
I ’ m issuing an absolute warning now .
Clare Bronfman is a true fanatic , and if there ’ s a Jim Jones situation , everyone will commit suicide but her.
” Parlato said after Raniere ’ s arrest .
As TFTP reported on April 27 , the majority of the funding for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million , came from the trust funds of Seagram heiresses , Sara and Clare Bronfman : Although this extremely important detail was left out of most mainstream reports , one of the main charges in the criminal indictment against Raniere and Mack was sex trafficking of children .
Though Raniere was found guilty last year , Mack is currently awaiting her fate .
Although Bronfman was not implicated in the child trafficking charges , given the judge ’ s comments on what she knew and how she supported it , it is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
As TFTP has reported many times , sex offenders and their enablers all too often escape any form of actual punishment for their crimes against countless victims .
Fortunately , in this case , it appears some justice was served .
The 41-year-old heiress was taken into custody to begin her six-year and nine-month sentence immediately after her appearance Wednesday .
Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA .
This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .
Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world .
Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project .
Follow @ MattAgorist on Twitter , Steemit , and now on Minds .
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By Matt Agorist
As TFTP has previously reported, billionaire heiress Clare Bronfman was indicted on racketeering charges in federal court in 2018. The indictment was connected to her involvement as Operations Director for the NXIVM sex cult which ensnared Smallville star Allison Mack as well. Last year, prosecutors came forward saying that this billionaire heiress was protecting her fellow cronies with a massive amount of money in the form of a defense trust fund. After a two-year long battle, Bronfman was sentenced on Wednesday to over 6 years for her role in the cult.
Brooklyn federal court Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis sentenced Bronfman to 81 months as he tore into her for using her money to protect sex traffickers while silencing victims and critics. Bronfman “used her incredible wealth and attempted to use her social status and connections not only to support Nxivm’s work, but also as a means of intimidating, threatening, and exacting revenge upon individuals who dared to challenge its dogma,” he said.
According to the NY Post, before her sentence was handed down Wednesday, nine women who were victimized by Nxivm also tore into Bronfman, calling her a “dangerous megalomaniac” and “predator.”
The cult which Bronfman was found guilty of protecting was run by Keith Ranier who was convicted in June 2019 on charges of sex trafficking, forced labor, conspiracy, human trafficking and multiple counts of racketeering — including sexual exploitation of a child.
Even while she was on house arrest, former victims of the cult alleged that Bronfman still went after them. “You’ve been under house arrest for two years, yet you have never stopped,” Barbara Bouchey tearfully told the court, the Associated Press reported.
Showing her dedication to the cause of sex trafficking and slavery was a letter Bronfman wrote to the court last month in which she said NXIVM had “greatly changed my life for the better” and that she wouldn’t denounce its leader — who was convicted of sex trafficking, slavery and child sexual abuse.
For those who don’t recall, Bronfman is the heir to the multi-billion dollar liquor fortune of Edgar Bronfman Sr, the billionaire philanthropist who was formerly head of Seagram.
The Bronfman family has very close ties to the Rothschild banking dynasty as well, with members of both families belonging to many of the same companies, including their joint financial firm, Bronfman & Rothschild.
After her arrest in 2018, Bronfman walked free after agreeing to wear an ankle monitor and posting $100 million in bail—illustrating just how deep her pockets go.
Although Bronfman is not accused of sex trafficking like the group’s leaders Keith Raniere and Allison Mack, Frank Parlato, a former NXIVM publicist-turned-whistleblower told the New York Post that Bronfman is among the harshest leaders in the organization.
“She’s the enforcer—the brutal one. Clare’s running the [operation] now, and she’s the most ruthless of them. I’m issuing an absolute warning now. Clare Bronfman is a true fanatic, and if there’s a Jim Jones situation, everyone will commit suicide but her.” Parlato said after Raniere’s arrest.
As TFTP reported on April 27, the majority of the funding for NXIVM, over a reported $150 million, came from the trust funds of Seagram heiresses, Sara and Clare Bronfman:
Their involvement with Raniere allegedly began in 2002 and has been very public and controversial, with other members of the Bronfman family distancing themselves from the sisters in the press.
Although this extremely important detail was left out of most mainstream reports, one of the main charges in the criminal indictment against Raniere and Mack was sex trafficking of children.
Though Raniere was found guilty last year, Mack is currently awaiting her fate. Although Bronfman was not implicated in the child trafficking charges, given the judge’s comments on what she knew and how she supported it, it is not far-fetched to speculate that she knew about it.
As TFTP has reported many times, sex offenders and their enablers all too often escape any form of actual punishment for their crimes against countless victims. Fortunately, in this case, it appears some justice was served. The 41-year-old heiress was taken into custody to begin her six-year and nine-month sentence immediately after her appearance Wednesday.
Source: The Free Thought Project
Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project. Follow @MattAgorist on Twitter, Steemit, and now on Minds.
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activistpost--2020-10-01--Prison Official Tells Hearing Assange To End Up At Notorious Extreme Isolation ADX Supermax

During WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange ’ s extradition hearing this week in London , a former warden at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York testified on behalf of the defense that it ’ s almost certain that should the US gain custody of Assange , he ’ ll be transferred to the federal Supermax prison in Florence , Colorado .
Describing that during his pre-trial detention in the US he would be put in isolation under ‘ Special Administrative Measures ’ ( SAMS ) as it is a national security case , the prison official Maureen Baird underscored that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go is the notorious Supermax facility , which is also known as ADX .
The testimony took up the continuing defense theme of Assange ’ s deteriorating health inside the high secure and coronavirus prone Belmarsh Prison .
When asked under what scenario Assange might end up in a less extreme prison and isolation environment , Baird described Assange would have to be “ almost dying ” .
“ From my experience of close to three decades of working in federal prisons , I would agree that long-term isolation can have serious negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health , ” Baird said .
The Supermax , ultra high secure prison has been dubbed the “ Alcatraz of the Rockies.
” Currently , the ADX facility holds some of America ’ s most notorious criminals , traitors , and terrorists .
For example , one of the 9/11 terror masterminds – Zacarias Moussaoui is being held , and other famous terrorists like the “ Shoe Bomber , ” along with Ted Kaczynski , the Unabomber , and convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev .
Also serving out a life sentence there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soviet and Russian intelligence services against the United States , Robert Hanssen , whose life was chronicled in the Hollywood film Breach .
By all accounts ADX is set up for extreme , 24/7 isolation of inmates .
Last week a psychiatrist also testified to Assange ’ s depressed and suicidal state , given the extreme pressures and conditions , likely to be amplified if the US succeeds in extraditing him .
The psychiatrist , Professor Michael Kopelman , had warned that , “ The risk of suicide arises out of clinical factors…but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or an actual extradition that would trigger the attempt , in my opinion.
” If Assange is transferred and faces a US court , he ’ s up against at least 175 years in prison for exposing US war crimes , but which Washington sees as espionage and leaking of state secrets .
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By Tyler Durden
During WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition hearing this week in London, a former warden at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York testified on behalf of the defense that it’s almost certain that should the US gain custody of Assange, he’ll be transferred to the federal Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado.
Describing that during his pre-trial detention in the US he would be put in isolation under ‘Special Administrative Measures’ (SAMS) as it is a national security case, the prison official Maureen Baird underscored that the “only place” he could go is the notorious Supermax facility, which is also known as ADX.
The testimony took up the continuing defense theme of Assange’s deteriorating health inside the high secure and coronavirus prone Belmarsh Prison.
When asked under what scenario Assange might end up in a less extreme prison and isolation environment, Baird described Assange would have to be “almost dying”.
“From my experience of close to three decades of working in federal prisons, I would agree that long-term isolation can have serious negative effects on an inmate’s mental health,” Baird said.
The Supermax, ultra high secure prison has been dubbed the “Alcatraz of the Rockies.”
Currently, the ADX facility holds some of America’s most notorious criminals, traitors, and terrorists. For example, one of the 9/11 terror masterminds – Zacarias Moussaoui is being held, and other famous terrorists like the “Shoe Bomber,” along with Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, and convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
Also serving out a life sentence there is former FBI agent who spied for Soviet and Russian intelligence services against the United States, Robert Hanssen, whose life was chronicled in the Hollywood film Breach.
By all accounts ADX is set up for extreme, 24/7 isolation of inmates.
Last week a psychiatrist also testified to Assange’s depressed and suicidal state, given the extreme pressures and conditions, likely to be amplified if the US succeeds in extraditing him.
The psychiatrist, Professor Michael Kopelman, had warned that, “The risk of suicide arises out of clinical factors…but it is the imminence of extradition and or an actual extradition that would trigger the attempt, in my opinion.”
Outdoor recreation cages at ADX:
If Assange is transferred and faces a US court, he’s up against at least 175 years in prison for exposing US war crimes, but which Washington sees as espionage and leaking of state secrets.
Source: Zerohedge
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activistpost--2020-10-01--Palantir Police State Wizardry Goes Public — New World Next Week

Welcome back to # NewWorldNextWeek — the video series from Corbett Report and Media Monarchy that covers some of the most important developments in open source intelligence news .
This week : Story # 1 : MI6 “ Man of Mystery ” Is “ Smoking Gun , ” As UK Complicity In Iran Coup Revealed • The Secret History Of How British Intelligence Created Amnesty International • Trump Poised To Gift Israel $ 11 Billion In Bid to Secure Another “ Peace ” Treaty Story # 2 : Silicon Valley Surveillance Corp , Palantir , To Go Public On NYSE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Documents Show How LAPD Was Trained To Use Palantir • The Secrets of Silicon Valley : What Big Tech Doesn ’ t Want You To Know • Palantir Knows Everything About You • Obama Tells ‘ The View ’ : JPMorgan Is “ One of the Best-Managed Banks ” • Metal $ Are In The Pits : Trader Blows Whistle On Gold & Silver Price Manipulation • JPMorgan Is Set to Pay $ 1 Billion in Record Spoofing Penalty Watch on Archive / BitChute / LBRY / Minds / YouTube or Download @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent and non-commercial work by visiting http : //CorbettReport.com/Support & http : //MediaMonarchy.com/Join .
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By The Corbett Report
Welcome back to #NewWorldNextWeek — the video series from Corbett Report and Media Monarchy that covers some of the most important developments in open source intelligence news. This week:
Story #1: MI6 “Man of Mystery” Is “Smoking Gun,” As UK Complicity In Iran Coup Revealed
Story #2: Silicon Valley Surveillance Corp, Palantir, To Go Public On NYSE
Story #3: JPMorgan Chase Agrees To Pay $920 Million Over Market Manipulation
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Watch on Archive / BitChute / LBRY / Minds / YouTube or Download the mp4
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Visit James Corbett at CorbettReport.com. Subscribe to his channel on YouTube and Bitchute, and support him on Patreon.
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activistpost--2020-10-01--Military Suicides Rise An Alarming 20% As Top Brass Blame COVID Stress

Military suicides are up an average of 20 % this year over the same period in 2019 , according to the Associated Press , citing military officials .
Broken down by service , suicide among active duty Army is up 30 % , from 88 last year to 114 this year , while the Army Guard is up 10 % from 78 to 86 over the same period .
While the Pentagon would not provide 2020 suicide data , Army officials cites discussions in DoD briefings – and say that while they can ’ t directly attribute the rise to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can ’ t say scientifically , but what I can say is – I can read a chart and a graph , and the numbers have gone up in behavioral health related issues , ” Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told AP .
Pointing to increases in Army suicides , murders and other violent behavior , he added , “ We can not say definitively it is because of COVID .
But there is a direct correlation from when COVID started , the numbers actually went up.
” Preliminary data for the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dip in military suicides across the active duty and reserves , compared to the same time last year .
Those early numbers , fueled by declines in Navy and Air Force deaths , gave hope to military leaders who have long struggled to cut suicide rates .
But in the spring , the numbers ticked up .
–Associated Press “ COVID adds stress , ” said Air Force chief Gen. Charles Brown in public remarks .
“ From a suicide perspective , we are on a path to be as bad as last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just an Air Force problem , this is a national problem because COVID adds some additional stressors – a fear of the unknown for certain folks.
” There were 98 suicides between active duty Air Force and reserves as of September 15 , unchanged from from last year – which was the worst in three-decades for active duty suicides across the branch .
In 2018 , the Pentagon claimed in a report that the military suicide rate was roughly equivalent to the US general population “ after adjusting for the fact that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the civilian population.
“ “ We know that the measures we took to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID could amplify some of the factors that could lead to suicide , ” said the Army ’ s director of resilience programs , James Helis – who said that virus-related isolation , combined with loss of childcare and financial disruptions is putting a strain on military families .
Meanwhile , Army leaders also pointed to stress from the United States being at war for nearly two decades – with deployments being compounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unrest and natural disasters .
According to Army veteran Sergio Alfaro who served for 4.5 years , fears associated with the virus amplified his PTSD and suicidal thoughts .
“ It ’ s definitely something that ’ s made things a bit more chaotic , trying to plan for the future , do things together , ” said the former Iraq vet who dealt with daily mortar rounds in Baghdad in 2003 .
“ It ’ s almost like adding more trash on the heap.
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By Tyler Durden
Military suicides are up an average of 20% this year over the same period in 2019, according to the Associated Press, citing military officials.
Broken down by service, suicide among active duty Army is up 30%, from 88 last year to 114 this year, while the Army Guard is up 10% from 78 to 86 over the same period.
While the Pentagon would not provide 2020 suicide data, Army officials cites discussions in DoD briefings – and say that while they can’t directly attribute the rise to COVID-19, the timing coincides.
“I can’t say scientifically, but what I can say is – I can read a chart and a graph, and the numbers have gone up in behavioral health related issues,” Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told AP.
Pointing to increases in Army suicides, murders and other violent behavior, he added, “We cannot say definitively it is because of COVID. But there is a direct correlation from when COVID started, the numbers actually went up.” Preliminary data for the first three months of 2020 show an overall dip in military suicides across the active duty and reserves, compared to the same time last year. Those early numbers, fueled by declines in Navy and Air Force deaths, gave hope to military leaders who have long struggled to cut suicide rates. But in the spring, the numbers ticked up. –Associated Press
“COVID adds stress,” said Air Force chief Gen. Charles Brown in public remarks. “From a suicide perspective, we are on a path to be as bad as last year. And that’s not just an Air Force problem, this is a national problem because COVID adds some additional stressors – a fear of the unknown for certain folks.”
There were 98 suicides between active duty Air Force and reserves as of September 15, unchanged from from last year – which was the worst in three-decades for active duty suicides across the branch. In 2018, the Pentagon claimed in a report that the military suicide rate was roughly equivalent to the US general population “after adjusting for the fact that the military is more heavily male and younger than the civilian population.“
The 2018 rate for active duty military was 24.8 per 100,000, while the overall civilian rate for that year was 14.2, but the rate for younger civilian men ranged from 22.7 to 27.7 per 100,000, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. –Associated Press
“We know that the measures we took to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID could amplify some of the factors that could lead to suicide,” said the Army’s director of resilience programs, James Helis – who said that virus-related isolation, combined with loss of childcare and financial disruptions is putting a strain on military families.
Meanwhile, Army leaders also pointed to stress from the United States being at war for nearly two decades – with deployments being compounded by the virus, along with civil unrest and natural disasters.
According to Army veteran Sergio Alfaro who served for 4.5 years, fears associated with the virus amplified his PTSD and suicidal thoughts.
“It’s definitely something that’s made things a bit more chaotic, trying to plan for the future, do things together,” said the former Iraq vet who dealt with daily mortar rounds in Baghdad in 2003. “It’s almost like adding more trash on the heap.”
Source: Zerohedge
Image: The Free Thought Project
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activistpost--2020-10-01--Lockdown: The New Totalitarianism

Lockdown: The New Totalitarianism

Every political ideology has three elements : a vision of hell with an enemy that needs to be crushed , a vision of a more perfect world , and a plan for transitioning from one to the other .
The means of transition usually involve the takeover and deployment of society ’ s most powerful tool : the state .
For this reason , ideologies trend totalitarian .
They depend fundamentally on overriding people ’ s preferences and choices and replacing them with scripted and planned belief systems and behaviors .
An obvious case is communism .
Capitalism is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of private property is the heaven , and the means to achieve the goal is violent expropriation .
Socialism is a softer version of the same : in the Fabian tradition , you get there through piecemeal economic planning .
The ideology of racism posits something different .
The hell is ethnic integration and race mixing , the heaven is racial homogeneity , and the means of change is the marginalization or killing off of some races .
Fascism imagines global trade , individualism , and immigration to be the enemy while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means of change is a great leader .
You can observe the same about certain brands of theocratic religious traditionalism .
Each of these ideologies comes with a primary intellectual focus , a kind of story designed to occupy the mind .
Think about exploitation .
Think about inequality .
Think about race theory .
Think about national identity .
Think about salvation .
Each comes with its own language to signal one ’ s attachment to the ideology .
Most of the above ideologies are well worn .
We have plenty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observe the patterns , recognize the adherents , and refute the theories .
This year has given us a new ideology with totalitarian tendencies .
It has a vision of hell , of heaven , and a means of transition .
It has a unique language apparatus .
It has a mental focus .
It has signalling systems to reveal and recruit adherents .
That ideology is called lockdown .
We might as well add the ism to the word : lockdownism .
Its vision of hell is a society in which pathogens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society managed entirely by medical technocrats whose main job is the suppression of all disease .
The mental focus is the viruses and other bugs .
The anthropology is to regard all human beings as little more than sacks of deadly pathogens .
The people susceptible to the ideology are the people with various degrees of mysophobia , once regarded as a mental problem now elevated to the status of social awareness .
This year has been the first test of lockdownism .
It included the most intrusive , comprehensive , and near-global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recorded history .
Even in countries where the rule of law and liberties are sources of national pride , people were put under house arrest .
Their churches and businesses were closed .
The police have been unleashed to enforce it all and arrest open dissent .
The devastation compares with wartime except that it was a government-imposed war on people ’ s right to move and exchange freely .
We still can not travel .
And remarkably , after all of this , what remains missing is the empirical evidence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this shocking and unprecedented regime had any effect on controlling much less stopping the virus .
Even more remarkably , the few places that remained fully open ( South Dakota , Sweden , Tanzania , Belarus ) , points out Will Jones , “ lost no more than 0.06 % of their population to the virus , ” in contrast to high deaths lockdown New York and Britain .
Early on , most people went along , thinking that it was somehow necessary and short term .
Two weeks stretched to 30 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now we are told there will never be a time when we don ’ t practice this new public-policy faith .
It ’ s a new totalitarianism .
And with all such regimes , there is one set of rules for the rulers and another for the ruled .
The language apparatus is now incredibly familiar : curve flattening , spread slowing , social distancing , targeted layered containment , non-pharmaceutical intervention .
The enemy is the virus and anyone who isn ’ t living their life solely to avoid contamination .
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that usually means generating a paranoia of The Other : someone unlike you has the virus .
Anyone could be a super spreader and you can recognize them by their noncompliance .
If Robert Glass or Neil Ferguson deserve to be called the founders of this movement , one of its most famous practitioners is Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes for Health .
His vision of the future is positively shocking : it includes restrictions on who you can have in your home , the end of all large events , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack on pets , and the effective dismantlement of all cities .
Anthony Fauci explains : “ Living in greater harmony with nature will require changes in human behavior as well as other radical changes that may take decades to achieve : rebuilding the infrastructures of human existence , from cities to homes to workplaces , to water and sewer systems , to recreational and gatherings venues .
In such a transformation we will need to prioritize changes in those human behaviors that constitute risks for the emergence of infectious diseases .
Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , work , and in public places as well as minimizing environmental perturbations such as deforestation , intense urbanization , and intensive animal farming .
Equally important are ending global poverty , improving sanitation and hygiene , and reducing unsafe exposure to animals , so that humans and potential human pathogens have limited opportunities for contact .
It is a useful “ thought experiment ” to note that until recent decades and centuries , many deadly pandemic diseases either did not exist or were not significant problems .
Cholera , for example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the late 1700s and became pandemic only because of human crowding and international travel , which allowed new access of the bacteria in regional Asian ecosystems to the unsanitary water and sewer systems that characterized cities throughout the Western world .
This realization leads us to suspect that some , and probably very many , of the living improvements achieved over recent centuries come at a high cost that we pay in deadly disease emergencies .
Since we can not return to ancient times , can we at least use lessons from those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direction ?
These are questions to be answered by all societies and their leaders , philosophers , builders , and thinkers and those involved in appreciating and influencing the environmental determinants of human health.
” Fauci ’ s entire essay reads like an attempted lockdown manifesto , complete with the fully expected longings for the state of nature and an imagined purification of life .
Reading this utopian plan for a society without pathogens helps explain one of the strangest features of lockdownism : its puritanism .
Notice that the lockdown particularly attacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movies , sports , travel , bowling , bars , restaurants , hotels , gyms , and clubs .
Still now there are curfews in place to stop people from staying out too late — with absolutely no medical rationale .
Pets are on the list too .
If an activity is fun , it is a target .
There is a moral element here .
The thinking is that the more fun people are having , the more choices that are their own , the more disease ( sin ) spreads .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Savoranola ’ s religious ideology that led to the Bonfire of the Vanities .
What ’ s remarkable is that Fauci was ever in a position to influence policy through his closeness to power , and he did in fact have a strong influence over the White House in turning an open policy into a lockdown one .
Only once the White House caught on to his real agenda was he removed from the inner circle .
Lockdownism has all the expected elements .
It has a maniacal focus on one life concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the exclusion of every other concern .
The least of the concerns is human liberty .
The second least concern is the freedom of association .
The third least concern is property rights .
All of this must bow to the technocratic discipline of the disease mitigators .
Constitutions and limits on government do not matter .
And notice too how little medical therapeutics even figure in here .
It ’ s not about making people get better .
It ’ s about controlling the whole of life .
Note too that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade-offs or unintended consequences .
In the Covid-19 lockdowns , hospitals were emptied out due to restrictions on elective surgeries and diagnostics .
That suffering from this disastrous decision will be with us for many years .
The same is true of vaccinations for other diseases : they plummeted during the lockdowns .
In other words , the lockdowns don ’ t even achieve good health outcomes ; they do the opposite .
Early evidence points to soaring drug overdoses , depression , and suicide .
This is sheer fanaticism , a kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a one-dimensional world in which the whole of life is organized around disease avoidance .
And there is an additional presumption here that our bodies ( via the immune system ) have not evolved alongside viruses for a million years .
No recognition of that reality .
Instead the sole goal is to make “ social distancing ” the national credo .
Let us speak more plainly : what this really means is forced human separation .
It means the dismantlement of markets , cities , in-person sports events , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freely .
All this is envisioned in Fauci ’ s manifesto .
The entire argument rests on a simple error : the belief that more human contact spreads more disease and death .
In contrast , Oxford ’ s eminent epidemiologist Sunetra Gupta argues that globalism and more human contact has boosted immunities and made life vastly safer for everyone .
The lockdowners have had surprising success in convincing people of their wild views .
You only need to believe that virus avoidance is the only goal for everyone in society , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Before you know it , you have joined a new totalitarian cult .
The lockdowns are looking less like a gigantic error and more like the unfolding of a fanatical political ideology and policy experiment that attacks core postulates of civilization at their very root .
It ’ s time we take it seriously and combat it with the same fervor with which a free people resisted all the other evil ideologies that sought to strip humanity of dignity and replace freedom with the terrifying dreams of intellectuals and their government sock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Director for the American Institute for Economic Research .
He is the author of many thousands of articles in the scholarly and popular press and nine books in 5 languages , most recently Liberty or Lockdown .
He is also the editor of The Best of Mises .
He speaks widely on topics of economics , technology , social philosophy , and culture .
Jeffrey is available for speaking and interviews via his email .
Tw | FB | LinkedIn Subscribe to Activist Post for truth , peace , and freedom news .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace and freedom HERE !
Follow us on SoMee , HIVE , Parler , Flote , Minds , and Twitter .
Provide , Protect and Profit from what ’ s coming !
Get a free issue of Counter Markets today .

By Jeffrey A. Tucker
Every political ideology has three elements: a vision of hell with an enemy that needs to be crushed, a vision of a more perfect world, and a plan for transitioning from one to the other. The means of transition usually involve the takeover and deployment of society’s most powerful tool: the state. For this reason, ideologies trend totalitarian. They depend fundamentally on overriding people’s preferences and choices and replacing them with scripted and planned belief systems and behaviors.
An obvious case is communism. Capitalism is the enemy, while worker control and the end of private property is the heaven, and the means to achieve the goal is violent expropriation. Socialism is a softer version of the same: in the Fabian tradition, you get there through piecemeal economic planning.
The ideology of racism posits something different. The hell is ethnic integration and race mixing, the heaven is racial homogeneity, and the means of change is the marginalization or killing off of some races. Fascism imagines global trade, individualism, and immigration to be the enemy while a mighty nationalism is heaven: the means of change is a great leader. You can observe the same about certain brands of theocratic religious traditionalism.
Each of these ideologies comes with a primary intellectual focus, a kind of story designed to occupy the mind. Think about exploitation. Think about inequality. Think about race theory. Think about national identity. Think about salvation. Each comes with its own language to signal one’s attachment to the ideology.
Most of the above ideologies are well worn. We have plenty of experience to draw on from history to observe the patterns, recognize the adherents, and refute the theories.
This year has given us a new ideology with totalitarian tendencies. It has a vision of hell, of heaven, and a means of transition. It has a unique language apparatus. It has a mental focus. It has signalling systems to reveal and recruit adherents.
That ideology is called lockdown. We might as well add the ism to the word: lockdownism.
Its vision of hell is a society in which pathogens run freely. Its heaven is a society managed entirely by medical technocrats whose main job is the suppression of all disease. The mental focus is the viruses and other bugs. The anthropology is to regard all human beings as little more than sacks of deadly pathogens. The people susceptible to the ideology are the people with various degrees of mysophobia, once regarded as a mental problem now elevated to the status of social awareness.
This year has been the first test of lockdownism. It included the most intrusive, comprehensive, and near-global controls of human beings and their movements in recorded history. Even in countries where the rule of law and liberties are sources of national pride, people were put under house arrest. Their churches and businesses were closed. The police have been unleashed to enforce it all and arrest open dissent. The devastation compares with wartime except that it was a government-imposed war on people’s right to move and exchange freely. We still cannot travel.
And remarkably, after all of this, what remains missing is the empirical evidence, from anywhere in the world, that this shocking and unprecedented regime had any effect on controlling much less stopping the virus. Even more remarkably, the few places that remained fully open (South Dakota, Sweden, Tanzania, Belarus), points out Will Jones, “lost no more than 0.06% of their population to the virus,” in contrast to high deaths lockdown New York and Britain.
Early on, most people went along, thinking that it was somehow necessary and short term. Two weeks stretched to 30 days which stretched to 7 months, and now we are told there will never be a time when we don’t practice this new public-policy faith. It’s a new totalitarianism. And with all such regimes, there is one set of rules for the rulers and another for the ruled.
The language apparatus is now incredibly familiar: curve flattening, spread slowing, social distancing, targeted layered containment, non-pharmaceutical intervention. The enemy is the virus and anyone who isn’t living their life solely to avoid contamination. Because you can’t see the virus, that usually means generating a paranoia of The Other: someone unlike you has the virus. Anyone could be a super spreader and you can recognize them by their noncompliance.
If Robert Glass or Neil Ferguson deserve to be called the founders of this movement, one of its most famous practitioners is Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes for Health. His vision of the future is positively shocking: it includes restrictions on who you can have in your home, the end of all large events, the end of travel, perhaps an attack on pets, and the effective dismantlement of all cities. Anthony Fauci explains:
“Living in greater harmony with nature will require changes in human behavior as well as other radical changes that may take decades to achieve: rebuilding the infrastructures of human existence, from cities to homes to workplaces, to water and sewer systems, to recreational and gatherings venues. In such a transformation we will need to prioritize changes in those human behaviors that constitute risks for the emergence of infectious diseases. Chief among them are reducing crowding at home, work, and in public places as well as minimizing environmental perturbations such as deforestation, intense urbanization, and intensive animal farming. Equally important are ending global poverty, improving sanitation and hygiene, and reducing unsafe exposure to animals, so that humans and potential human pathogens have limited opportunities for contact. It is a useful “thought experiment” to note that until recent decades and centuries, many deadly pandemic diseases either did not exist or were not significant problems. Cholera, for example, was not known in the West until the late 1700s and became pandemic only because of human crowding and international travel, which allowed new access of the bacteria in regional Asian ecosystems to the unsanitary water and sewer systems that characterized cities throughout the Western world. This realization leads us to suspect that some, and probably very many, of the living improvements achieved over recent centuries come at a high cost that we pay in deadly disease emergencies. Since we cannot return to ancient times, can we at least use lessons from those times to bend modernity in a safer direction? These are questions to be answered by all societies and their leaders, philosophers, builders, and thinkers and those involved in appreciating and influencing the environmental determinants of human health.”
Fauci’s entire essay reads like an attempted lockdown manifesto, complete with the fully expected longings for the state of nature and an imagined purification of life. Reading this utopian plan for a society without pathogens helps explain one of the strangest features of lockdownism: its puritanism. Notice that the lockdown particularly attacked anything that resembles fun: Broadway, movies, sports, travel, bowling, bars, restaurants, hotels, gyms, and clubs. Still now there are curfews in place to stop people from staying out too late — with absolutely no medical rationale. Pets are on the list too.
If an activity is fun, it is a target.
There is a moral element here. The thinking is that the more fun people are having, the more choices that are their own, the more disease (sin) spreads. It’s a medicalized version of Savoranola’s religious ideology that led to the Bonfire of the Vanities.
What’s remarkable is that Fauci was ever in a position to influence policy through his closeness to power, and he did in fact have a strong influence over the White House in turning an open policy into a lockdown one. Only once the White House caught on to his real agenda was he removed from the inner circle.
Lockdownism has all the expected elements. It has a maniacal focus on one life concern – the presence of pathogens – to the exclusion of every other concern. The least of the concerns is human liberty. The second least concern is the freedom of association. The third least concern is property rights. All of this must bow to the technocratic discipline of the disease mitigators. Constitutions and limits on government do not matter. And notice too how little medical therapeutics even figure in here. It’s not about making people get better. It’s about controlling the whole of life.
Note too that there is not the slightest concern here for trade-offs or unintended consequences. In the Covid-19 lockdowns, hospitals were emptied out due to restrictions on elective surgeries and diagnostics. That suffering from this disastrous decision will be with us for many years. The same is true of vaccinations for other diseases: they plummeted during the lockdowns. In other words, the lockdowns don’t even achieve good health outcomes; they do the opposite. Early evidence points to soaring drug overdoses, depression, and suicide.
This is sheer fanaticism, a kind of insanity wrought by a wild vision of a one-dimensional world in which the whole of life is organized around disease avoidance. And there is an additional presumption here that our bodies (via the immune system) have not evolved alongside viruses for a million years. No recognition of that reality. Instead the sole goal is to make “social distancing” the national credo. Let us speak more plainly: what this really means is forced human separation. It means the dismantlement of markets, cities, in-person sports events, and the end of your right to move around freely.
All this is envisioned in Fauci’s manifesto. The entire argument rests on a simple error: the belief that more human contact spreads more disease and death. In contrast, Oxford’s eminent epidemiologist Sunetra Gupta argues that globalism and more human contact has boosted immunities and made life vastly safer for everyone.
The lockdowners have had surprising success in convincing people of their wild views. You only need to believe that virus avoidance is the only goal for everyone in society, and then spin out the implications from there. Before you know it, you have joined a new totalitarian cult.
The lockdowns are looking less like a gigantic error and more like the unfolding of a fanatical political ideology and policy experiment that attacks core postulates of civilization at their very root. It’s time we take it seriously and combat it with the same fervor with which a free people resisted all the other evil ideologies that sought to strip humanity of dignity and replace freedom with the terrifying dreams of intellectuals and their government sock puppets.
Source: AIER.org
Jeffrey A. Tucker is Editorial Director for the American Institute for Economic Research. He is the author of many thousands of articles in the scholarly and popular press and nine books in 5 languages, most recently Liberty or Lockdown. He is also the editor of The Best of Mises. He speaks widely on topics of economics, technology, social philosophy, and culture. Jeffrey is available for speaking and interviews via his email. Tw | FB | LinkedIn
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