investmentwatchblog--2020-11-17--What Biden’s Victory Means For Middle East Oil

Whilst new U.S. President-elect , Joe Biden , will almost certainly focus on dealing with the tail of the COVID-19 pandemic and repairing the economic damage to the U.S. that it has wrought , when he turns his attention to fully to shaping Washington ’ s policy in the Middle East it is likely to be significantly different to his predecessor ’ s in key policy areas .
Top of the list of his considerations are likely to be what to do about Iran , in particular the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ( JCPOA ) from which the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saudi Arabia , especially its Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ( MbS ) .
For Iran , although Biden is widely expected to bring the U.S. back into the JCPOA , OilPrice.com understands from sources close to the new Administration that a number of the key members of the team that negotiated the original JCPOA deal with Iran – which included virtually all of the tougher clauses that were then dropped by former President Barack Obama in his rush to sign the deal in 2015 – will be returning to the Biden negotiating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that these clauses that were dropped by Obama were the very same clauses that were later laid out by then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after the U.S. withdrew from the deal in 2018 as being essential for any deal being made under Trump .
These original , tougher clauses are going to form the basis of the Biden Administration ’ s renegotiation of the JCPOA with Iran and , unlike last time , both France and Germany are now behind the key clause of these that is designed to check Iran ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ E.U .
formally as a whole .
The core concepts that will form the basis of the renegotiation of the JCPOA by the Biden team are , OilPrice.com exclusively reveals , as follows : 1 .
The safety and security of U.S. troops from Iran or Iran-sponsored attacks in Iraq and elsewhere ; 2 .
The safety and security of Israel ; and , 3 .
The inextricable link between Iran ’ s nuclear enrichment program and its ballistic missile program .
In this last regard , Biden ’ s team is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no room for alteration on this point – that Iran is not to build , import , maintain , hold , or test any ballistic missiles with a range of more than 2,000 kilometres .
This effectively precludes all ‘ intermediate range ’ ballistic missiles – that is , those with a range of between 3,000 and 5,500 km – including , crucially , the Hwasong-12 missiles that Iran is planning to get in from North Korea as part of the expanded military element of its 25-year deal with China , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concepts will run through each of the specific clauses with which the Biden JCPOA team will begin negotiations and these will include the following , OilPrice.com understands from people close to proceedings : 1 .
Declare to the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) a full account of the prior military dimensions of its nuclear programme and permanently and verifiably abandon such work in perpetuity ; 2 .
Stop enrichment and never pursue plutonium reprocessing , including closing its heavy water reactor ; 3 .
Provide the IAEA with unqualified access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 .
End its proliferation of ballistic missiles and halt further launching or development of nuclear-capable missile systems ; 5 .
Release all U.S. citizens as well as citizens of U.S. partners and allies ; 6 .
End support to Middle East terrorist groups , including – but not limited to – Hezbollah , Hamas , and Islamic Jihad ; 7 .
Respect the sovereignty of the Iraqi government and permit the disarming , demobilisation and reintegration of Shia militias ; 8 .
End its military support for the Houthi rebels and work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Yemen ; 10 .
Withdraw all forces under Iran ’ s command throughout the entirety of Syria ; 11 .
End support for the Taliban and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan and the region ; 11 .
End the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked Quds Force ’ s support for terrorists and militant partners around the world ; and , 12 .
End its threatening behaviour against its neighbours , including its threats to destroy Israel and its firing of missiles at Saudi Arabia and the UAE , and threats to international shipping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to senior Iranian sources close to the Petroleum Ministry spoken to exclusively by OilPrice.com last week , Tehran ’ s negotiators will start with the following conditions : 1 .
Compensation by the U.S. for the damage done by sanctions to its economy ; 2 .
Immediate access to all of Iran ’ s frozen deposits in Europe , the Far East and everywhere else ; 3 .
Guarantees that Israel does not continue to increase its intelligence and military presence in the region to threaten the security of Iran ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security interests of Iran including not discussing anything to do with the 25-year China deal .
Clearly , Mehrdad Emadi , head of the international risk analysis company , Betamatrix , in London , exclusively told OilPrice.com last week , the U.S. is unlikely to agree to any of these four conditions but will likely be willing to allow Iran not to lose face entirely in the negotiations , so will allow it the following : 1 .
Access – from non-U.S.-sanctioned suppliers – to equipment relating to civilian aircraft ; 2 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ medicines and medical equipment ; 3 .
Access – from non-U.S.-sanctioned suppliers – to technology needed to upgrade its oil and gas and petrochemicals sectors ; and 4 .
Allow U.S.-monitored access to some of its frozen deposits but subject to Iran ’ s full agreement on Financial Action Task Force conditions on transparency .
For Saudi Arabia , Biden ’ s starting point was made clear in broad terms on 2 October when he said that he would seek to : “ …reassess our relationship with the Kingdom [ of Saudi Arabia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arabia ’ s war in Yemen , and make sure America does not check its values at the door to sell arms or buy oil.
” With regard to MbS , during the same speech – which marked the second anniversary of the murder of expatriate Saudi journalist , Jamal Khashoggi , which according even to the CIA was carried out on the personal orders of the Crown Prince – Biden appeared to endorse the CIA ’ s findings .
He said : “ Two years ago , Saudi operatives , reportedly acting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mohammed bin Salman , murdered and dismembered Saudi dissident , journalist , and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi , …His offense – for which he paid with his life – was criticising the policies of his government.
” He added , in an extremely worrying twist for MbS personally : “ Today , I join many brave Saudi women and men , activists , journalists , and the international community in mourning Khashoggi ’ s death and echoing his call for people everywhere to exercise their universal rights in freedom…America ’ s commitment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a priority , even with our closest security partners.
” For MbS , these comments come at a time when his second failed oil price war in less than five years has left the ruling Saud dynasty facing the greatest existential threat to its continued rule over the country since Ibn Saud first consolidated his Arabian conquests into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 .
Not only is the Kingdom economically crippled but also its core relationship with the U.S. is at its lowest ebb since it was established in 1945 between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Saudi King at the time , Abdulaziz .
Such anger was felt in Washington that the Saudis had yet again attempted to destroy , or at least disable , the U.S. shale oil industry in March this year , that even the pro-MbS former President Donald Trump felt compelled to personally call the Crown Prince on 2 April and tell him that if he did not end the oil price war them the U.S. would withdraw its military support for Saudi Arabia .
Given these factors , MbS ’ s hold on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly with other senior Saudis jostling for position in light of King Salman ’ s extremely poor health .
Those looking to re-assert their claim to the throne – most notably Prince Mohammed bin Nayef , King Salman ’ s nephew and the former crown prince – are supported by those 500 or so highly-placed Saudis who were rounded up from 4 November 2017 and held captive in the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh as part of MbS ’ s supposed crackdown on corruption .
In reality it appeared to be more of a standard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were told to hand over around US $ 800 billion of their assets to MbS ’ s grouping or else their lives would become a lot worse very quickly .
The same tactic was used in 2020 , with the same sort of people rounded up , including again Prince Mohammed bin Nayef , plus most notably as well Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz , one of three members of the Allegiance Council ( the senior royal organisation that endorses the line of succession ) , who opposed MBS ’ s appointment as crown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nayef in 2017 .

By Simon Watkins
Whilst new U.S. President-elect, Joe Biden, will almost certainly focus on dealing with the tail of the COVID-19 pandemic and repairing the economic damage to the U.S. that it has wrought, when he turns his attention to fully to shaping Washington’s policy in the Middle East it is likely to be significantly different to his predecessor’s in key policy areas. Top of the list of his considerations are likely to be what to do about Iran, in particular the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) from which the U.S. unilaterally withdrew in May 2018, and Saudi Arabia, especially its Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS). For Iran, although Biden is widely expected to bring the U.S. back into the JCPOA, OilPrice.com understands from sources close to the new Administration that a number of the key members of the team that negotiated the original JCPOA deal with Iran – which included virtually all of the tougher clauses that were then dropped by former President Barack Obama in his rush to sign the deal in 2015 – will be returning to the Biden negotiating team. It is vital to note that these clauses that were dropped by Obama were the very same clauses that were later laid out by then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after the U.S. withdrew from the deal in 2018 as being essential for any deal being made under Trump. These original, tougher clauses are going to form the basis of the Biden Administration’s renegotiation of the JCPOA with Iran and, unlike last time, both France and Germany are now behind the key clause of these that is designed to check Iran’s ballistic missile program, along with the E.U. formally as a whole.
The core concepts that will form the basis of the renegotiation of the JCPOA by the Biden team are, OilPrice.com exclusively reveals, as follows: 1. The safety and security of U.S. troops from Iran or Iran-sponsored attacks in Iraq and elsewhere; 2. The safety and security of Israel; and, 3. The inextricable link between Iran’s nuclear enrichment program and its ballistic missile program. In this last regard, Biden’s team is to make it absolutely clear – and there is no room for alteration on this point – that Iran is not to build, import, maintain, hold, or test any ballistic missiles with a range of more than 2,000 kilometres. This effectively precludes all ‘intermediate range’ ballistic missiles – that is, those with a range of between 3,000 and 5,500 km – including, crucially, the Hwasong-12 missiles that Iran is planning to get in from North Korea as part of the expanded military element of its 25-year deal with China, as exclusively revealed by OilPrice.com.
These core concepts will run through each of the specific clauses with which the Biden JCPOA team will begin negotiations and these will include the following, OilPrice.com understands from people close to proceedings: 1. Declare to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) a full account of the prior military dimensions of its nuclear programme and permanently and verifiably abandon such work in perpetuity; 2. Stop enrichment and never pursue plutonium reprocessing, including closing its heavy water reactor; 3. Provide the IAEA with unqualified access to all sites throughout the entire country; 4. End its proliferation of ballistic missiles and halt further launching or development of nuclear-capable missile systems; 5. Release all U.S. citizens as well as citizens of U.S. partners and allies; 6. End support to Middle East terrorist groups, including – but not limited to – Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad; 7. Respect the sovereignty of the Iraqi government and permit the disarming, demobilisation and reintegration of Shia militias; 8. End its military support for the Houthi rebels and work towards a final peaceful, political settlement in Yemen; 10. Withdraw all forces under Iran’s command throughout the entirety of Syria; 11. End support for the Taliban and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan and the region; 11. End the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked Quds Force’s support for terrorists and militant partners around the world; and, 12. End its threatening behaviour against its neighbours, including its threats to destroy Israel and its firing of missiles at Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and threats to international shipping and destructive cyberattacks. For its part, according to senior Iranian sources close to the Petroleum Ministry spoken to exclusively by OilPrice.com last week, Tehran’s negotiators will start with the following conditions: 1. Compensation by the U.S. for the damage done by sanctions to its economy; 2. Immediate access to all of Iran’s frozen deposits in Europe, the Far East and everywhere else; 3. Guarantees that Israel does not continue to increase its intelligence and military presence in the region to threaten the security of Iran; and 4. Recognition of the national security interests of Iran including not discussing anything to do with the 25-year China deal.
Clearly, Mehrdad Emadi, head of the international risk analysis company, Betamatrix, in London, exclusively told OilPrice.com last week, the U.S. is unlikely to agree to any of these four conditions but will likely be willing to allow Iran not to lose face entirely in the negotiations, so will allow it the following: 1. Access – from non-U.S.-sanctioned suppliers – to equipment relating to civilian aircraft; 2. Access – from non-U.S.-sanctioned suppliers – to medicines and medical equipment; 3. Access – from non-U.S.-sanctioned suppliers – to technology needed to upgrade its oil and gas and petrochemicals sectors; and 4. Allow U.S.-monitored access to some of its frozen deposits but subject to Iran’s full agreement on Financial Action Task Force conditions on transparency.
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For Saudi Arabia, Biden’s starting point was made clear in broad terms on 2 October when he said that he would seek to: “…reassess our relationship with the Kingdom [of Saudi Arabia], end U..S support for Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen, and make sure America does not check its values at the door to sell arms or buy oil.” With regard to MbS, during the same speech – which marked the second anniversary of the murder of expatriate Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, which according even to the CIA was carried out on the personal orders of the Crown Prince – Biden appeared to endorse the CIA’s findings. He said: “Two years ago, Saudi operatives, reportedly acting at the direction of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, murdered and dismembered Saudi dissident, journalist, and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi,…His offense – for which he paid with his life – was criticising the policies of his government.” He added, in an extremely worrying twist for MbS personally: “Today, I join many brave Saudi women and men, activists, journalists, and the international community in mourning Khashoggi’s death and echoing his call for people everywhere to exercise their universal rights in freedom…America’s commitment to democratic values and human rights will be a priority, even with our closest security partners.”
For MbS, these comments come at a time when his second failed oil price war in less than five years has left the ruling Saud dynasty facing the greatest existential threat to its continued rule over the country since Ibn Saud first consolidated his Arabian conquests into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932. Not only is the Kingdom economically crippled but also its core relationship with the U.S. is at its lowest ebb since it was established in 1945 between then-U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Saudi King at the time, Abdulaziz. Such anger was felt in Washington that the Saudis had yet again attempted to destroy, or at least disable, the U.S. shale oil industry in March this year, that even the pro-MbS former President Donald Trump felt compelled to personally call the Crown Prince on 2 April and tell him that if he did not end the oil price war them the U.S. would withdraw its military support for Saudi Arabia.
Given these factors, MbS’s hold on power has never been more tenuous, particularly with other senior Saudis jostling for position in light of King Salman’s extremely poor health. Those looking to re-assert their claim to the throne – most notably Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, King Salman’s nephew and the former crown prince – are supported by those 500 or so highly-placed Saudis who were rounded up from 4 November 2017 and held captive in the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh as part of MbS’s supposed crackdown on corruption. In reality it appeared to be more of a standard criminal shakedown in which those being held were told to hand over around US$800 billion of their assets to MbS’s grouping or else their lives would become a lot worse very quickly. The same tactic was used in 2020, with the same sort of people rounded up, including again Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, plus most notably as well Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, one of three members of the Allegiance Council (the senior royal organisation that endorses the line of succession), who opposed MBS’s appointment as crown prince in place of his cousin bin Nayef in 2017.
By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-17--Wyoming Becomes A Haven For The Super Rich As Its Oil Industry Crumbles

The great outdoors and the super tax-friendly policies in Wyoming are attracting a growing number of the ultra-wealthy to the Cowboy State in search of quiet scenic retreats from the COVID pandemic in U.S. metropolitan areas .
While the super-rich flock to the multi-million mountain ranch refuges in the nation ’ s least populous state , the energy industry—which accounted for 40 percent of property taxes in the state in 2019—is going through another bust due to the oil price and demand crash in the pandemic .
Thousands of oil and gas workers have lost their jobs as oil , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have slumped this year .
The state has had to revise its projections for revenues from the industry , considering that since the pandemic , oil and gas companies have operated a low single-digit number of rigs .
For one week in late June , Wyoming didn ’ t have any operating rigs—the first time in its history since it became a state in 1890 , and the first time since the first well was drilled in 1884 .
The situation with the oil industry could become even worse if Joe Biden follows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales on federal lands , the Petroleum Association of Wyoming ( PAW ) and the American Petroleum Institute ( API ) warn .
Last year , Wyoming ranked eighth in crude oil and natural gas production in the U.S. , according to data from the Wyoming State Geological Survey .
Except for Teton and Platte counties , all other 21 counties in the state were oil and gas producers in 2019 , the Petroleum Association of Wyoming says .
Taxes and royalty payments from Wyoming ’ s oil and natural gas producers contributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local governments last year , equating to US $ 2,882 in direct payments for government services for every person living in Wyoming , the PAW said in its 2019 revenue analysis .
“ These numbers show what most of us already know – Wyoming thrives when industry succeeds , ” PAW President Pete Obermueller commented .
Last year , Wyoming ’ s oil and gas industry employed more than 19,000 people .
This year , the oil , gas , and coal industries registered 6,000 job losses as of August compared to August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Wyoming ’ s Economic Analysis Division said in its latest report .
According to Baker Hughes data , the rig count in Wyoming plunged from 25 in January to just 1 in June , and zero for one week late in that month .
The rig count had increased to 3 by early October and has held that number since then .
State tax revenues from oil and gas have also slumped with the significant decline in production .
Sales and use ( S & U ) tax collections from the mining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 2019 , falling by US $ 9.4 million , or by 71.9 percent , Wyoming ’ s Economic Analysis Division noted .
Due to the downturn in Wyoming ’ s key oil , natural gas , and coal industry , total severance tax collections in FY 2020 were the lowest recorded in 17 years , even though the material effects from COVID-19 on energy demand influenced just the last four months of FY 2020 , Wyoming State Government said in its latest Revenue Forecast last month .
While the COVID-inflicted crisis is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas industry with workers let go and many moving away , the state has become an attractive retreat from COVID for the super-rich as it doesn ’ t have a personal or corporate income tax and has one of the lowest sales tax rate in the U.S .
The ultra-rich have access to private doctors and bring their own ventilators , while Wyoming ’ s long-time residents are now starting to see a spike in coronavirus cases , Ben Kesslen of NBC News writes .
“ We only have about five people per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing the entire 130 years that we have been a state , ” Republican Wyoming Senator John Barrasso told Fox & Friends in April , when the state wasn ’ t imposing any stay-at-home orders like most other U.S. states .
The overwhelming majority of the nearly 22,500 COVID-19 cases in the state as of November 15 have been registered since October 1 , according to NBC News .
Meanwhile , even before the pandemic , Teton County in northwestern Wyoming had become the most unequal place in the U.S. , Justin Farrell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yale University in the School of the Environment , wrote in MarketWatch in April .
“ Wyoming has become a lucrative tax haven because it can afford to .
Sure , it , like many western states , has a strong cultural aversion to taxation , but its ultra-wealth-friendly tax policies also have been made possible by record windfalls from oil , gas , and coal , ” Farrell said .

By Tsvetana Paraskova
The great outdoors and the super tax-friendly policies in Wyoming are attracting a growing number of the ultra-wealthy to the Cowboy State in search of quiet scenic retreats from the COVID pandemic in U.S. metropolitan areas. While the super-rich flock to the multi-million mountain ranch refuges in the nation’s least populous state, the energy industry—which accounted for 40 percent of property taxes in the state in 2019—is going through another bust due to the oil price and demand crash in the pandemic.
Thousands of oil and gas workers have lost their jobs as oil, gas, and coal production in Wyoming have slumped this year. The state has had to revise its projections for revenues from the industry, considering that since the pandemic, oil and gas companies have operated a low single-digit number of rigs.
For one week in late June, Wyoming didn’t have any operating rigs—the first time in its history since it became a state in 1890, and the first time since the first well was drilled in 1884.
The situation with the oil industry could become even worse if Joe Biden follows through his pledge to ban new lease sales on federal lands, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming (PAW) and the American Petroleum Institute (API) warn.
Last year, Wyoming ranked eighth in crude oil and natural gas production in the U.S., according to data from the Wyoming State Geological Survey. Except for Teton and Platte counties, all other 21 counties in the state were oil and gas producers in 2019, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming says.
Taxes and royalty payments from Wyoming’s oil and natural gas producers contributed US$1.67 billion to state and local governments last year, equating to US$2,882 in direct payments for government services for every person living in Wyoming, the PAW said in its 2019 revenue analysis.
“These numbers show what most of us already know – Wyoming thrives when industry succeeds,” PAW President Pete Obermueller commented. Last year, Wyoming’s oil and gas industry employed more than 19,000 people.
This year, the oil, gas, and coal industries registered 6,000 job losses as of August compared to August 2019, or a 29.1-percent annual decline, Wyoming’s Economic Analysis Division said in its latest report.
According to Baker Hughes data, the rig count in Wyoming plunged from 25 in January to just 1 in June, and zero for one week late in that month. The rig count had increased to 3 by early October and has held that number since then.
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State tax revenues from oil and gas have also slumped with the significant decline in production. Sales and use (S&U) tax collections from the mining sector saw the largest decline compared to September 2019, falling by US$9.4 million, or by 71.9 percent, Wyoming’s Economic Analysis Division noted.
Due to the downturn in Wyoming’s key oil, natural gas, and coal industry, total severance tax collections in FY 2020 were the lowest recorded in 17 years, even though the material effects from COVID-19 on energy demand influenced just the last four months of FY 2020, Wyoming State Government said in its latest Revenue Forecast last month.
While the COVID-inflicted crisis is weighing on Wyoming’s oil and gas industry with workers let go and many moving away, the state has become an attractive retreat from COVID for the super-rich as it doesn’t have a personal or corporate income tax and has one of the lowest sales tax rate in the U.S.
The ultra-rich have access to private doctors and bring their own ventilators, while Wyoming’s long-time residents are now starting to see a spike in coronavirus cases, Ben Kesslen of NBC News writes.
“We only have about five people per square mile. We have been socially distancing the entire 130 years that we have been a state,” Republican Wyoming Senator John Barrasso told Fox & Friends in April, when the state wasn’t imposing any stay-at-home orders like most other U.S. states.
The overwhelming majority of the nearly 22,500 COVID-19 cases in the state as of November 15 have been registered since October 1, according to NBC News.
Meanwhile, even before the pandemic, Teton County in northwestern Wyoming had become the most unequal place in the U.S., Justin Farrell, an associate professor of sociology at Yale University in the School of the Environment, wrote in MarketWatch in April.
“Wyoming has become a lucrative tax haven because it can afford to. Sure, it, like many western states, has a strong cultural aversion to taxation, but its ultra-wealth-friendly tax policies also have been made possible by record windfalls from oil, gas, and coal,” Farrell said.
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-17--Scott Adams: “For many of you, your understanding of reality is about to change.”

For many of you , your understanding of reality is about to change .
t.co/KKkHYogZ1E

For many of you, your understanding of reality is about to change. t.co/KKkHYogZ1E — Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) November 16, 2020
Not yet. Wait until you see what is coming. — Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) November 12, 2020
Patience. You haven't seen the good stuff yet. I have. — Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) November 12, 2020
h/t dr0id
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investmentwatchblog--2020-11-17--CNN has given up ‘any semblance of objectivity or truth’

Sky News host Rita Panahi says CNN has given up any semblance of objectivity or truth as they have shown @ @ @ @ @ blown activists ” .
It comes after multiple CNN reports suggested the violence on the @ @ @ @ @ were actually Trump supporters and that Trump celebrated them .
“ That ’ s CNN @ @ @ @ @ expect anything better from them , ” Ms Panahi told Sky News host Paul Murray @ @ @ @ @ the most putrid of networks and they have given up any semblance of objectivity or @ @ @ @ @ just full blown activists and they ’ re not beyond lying to their audience .
@

Sky News host Rita Panahi says CNN has given up any semblance of objectivity or truth as they have shown themselves to be “full blown activists”.
It comes after multiple CNN reports suggested the violence on the streets surrounding the US election were actually Trump supporters and that Trump celebrated them.
“That’s CNN and we don’t expect anything better from them,” Ms Panahi told Sky News host Paul Murray.
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“They really are the most putrid of networks and they have given up any semblance of objectivity or truth.
“They are just full blown activists and they’re not beyond lying to their audience.”
h/t RuneMistress


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-17--Experts™: Oregon governor orders a “two-week freeze” to stop the spread of Wuhan virus

Last Thursday , Oregon Governor Kate Brown tweeted that Oregon will be going under a “ two-week freeze ” to @ @ @ @ @ virus beginning November 18 .
Oregon has a population of 4.2 million .
Apparently their @ @ @ @ @ drastic that this two-week freeze is required to save lives .
Let ’ s take @ @ @ @ @ virus numbers , shall we ?
Oregon ’ s population is 4.2 million .
Their @ @ @ @ @ cases : 52,193 .
Total deaths from Wuhan virus : 753 .
You do the @ @ @ @ @ : Now is the time “ to do what you ’ re told .
”

by DCG
Last Thursday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown tweeted that Oregon will be going under a “two-week freeze” to stop the spread of Wuhan virus beginning November 18.
During the Two-Week Freeze, we all must do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. What does that mean for your family? Find out more at t.co/Xgqb3oMI5A pic.twitter.com/jeHHi3JIPQ — Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) November 14, 2020
In Oregon, you can now buy heroin, meth, & cocaine — voters just approved the ballot measure — but you can’t visit your grandma in a nursing home or go to the gym. t.co/fXNjhA5iPn — BDW (@BryanDeanWright) November 15, 2020
Oregon has a population of 4.2 million. Apparently their Wuhan virus numbers are so drastic that this two-week freeze is required to save lives. Let’s take a look at their Wuhan virus numbers, shall we?
The numbers, updated Nov. 13:
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Oregon’s population is 4.2 million. Their total cumulative postive Wuhan virus cases: 52,193. Total deaths from Wuhan virus: 753.
You do the math.
Remember, peons: Now is the time “to do what you’re told.”
Dr. Fauci: America has an “independent spirit” but now is the time “to do what you’re told” pic.twitter.com/t7uY4nHyGk — Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) November 13, 2020
DCG


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-17--This Election Has Been Bad For The Narrative:

Related : “ Why Are So Many Latinos Obsessed With Demonizing Black Lives Matter ?
It ’ s Complicated.
” “ This is an article from October 5th — at WLRN ( the Miami NPR affiliate ) — that begins ‘ Joe Biden is expected to win the Latino vote big .
But not so big in Florida.
’ With hindsight , we know that the big Latino vote win did not happen .
There was , in fact , puzzling drop in Latino voter support for Democrats .
Let ’ s mine this article for some clues about why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public radio.
” Plus : Liberals Envisioned a Multiracial Coalition .
Voters of Color Had Other Ideas .
To be fair , it was a multiracial coalition in which one race was more favored than others , which didn ’ t win points with those others .
“ Asian-American Californians opposed the affirmative action measure in large numbers .
A striking number of East and South Asian students have gained admission to elite state universities , and their families spoke to reporters of their fear that their children would suffer if merit in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
.
.
Latinos , too , appear sharply divided .
Prominent Latino nonprofit and civil rights organizations endorsed the affirmative action proposition even as all 14 of California ’ s majority-Latino counties voted it down.
” Minority “ activist ” groups have views that differ from those of actual minority voters .
But when you realize that these groups — just like gay activist groups , women ’ s activist groups , peace activist groups , etc .
— are actually just fronts for the Democratic/left apparat , it makes sense .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that their voters are catching on to the game .
TECH TYRANNY : Silencing Conservative News With A Sick New Tactic — This Is Big .
“ The call for ‘ deplatforming extremists ’ wasn ’ t about something outrageous Milo or Alex Jones had said .
It was a template for naming anyone right of Stalin as ‘ extreme ’ and sending our sites to the chopping block.
” THE GASLIGHTING CONTINUES : Sanders Claims ‘ Nobody ’ He Knows Supports Defunding Police .
That they realize they have to lie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand .
GIVE THEM TIME .
THEY ’ LL GET DUMBER : WaPo tries to use data to prove that the Republican Party is authoritarian and it ’ s the stupidest thing ever .

Another surprise: Hispanic, Democratic voters backed Trump immigration limits.
Related: “Why Are So Many Latinos Obsessed With Demonizing Black Lives Matter? It’s Complicated.” “This is an article from October 5th — at WLRN (the Miami NPR affiliate) — that begins ‘Joe Biden is expected to win the Latino vote big. But not so big in Florida.’ With hindsight, we know that the big Latino vote win did not happen. There was, in fact, puzzling drop in Latino voter support for Democrats. Let’s mine this article for some clues about why that happened. Remember, this is public radio.”
Plus: Liberals Envisioned a Multiracial Coalition. Voters of Color Had Other Ideas. To be fair, it was a multiracial coalition in which one race was more favored than others, which didn’t win points with those others. “Asian-American Californians opposed the affirmative action measure in large numbers. A striking number of East and South Asian students have gained admission to elite state universities, and their families spoke to reporters of their fear that their children would suffer if merit in college selection was given less weight. . . . Latinos, too, appear sharply divided. Prominent Latino nonprofit and civil rights organizations endorsed the affirmative action proposition even as all 14 of California’s majority-Latino counties voted it down.”
Minority “activist” groups have views that differ from those of actual minority voters. But when you realize that these groups — just like gay activist groups, women’s activist groups, peace activist groups, etc. — are actually just fronts for the Democratic/left apparat, it makes sense. They have to be concerned, though, that their voters are catching on to the game.
TECH TYRANNY: Silencing Conservative News With A Sick New Tactic — This Is Big. “The call for ‘deplatforming extremists’ wasn’t about something outrageous Milo or Alex Jones had said. It was a template for naming anyone right of Stalin as ‘extreme’ and sending our sites to the chopping block.”
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THE GASLIGHTING CONTINUES: Sanders Claims ‘Nobody’ He Knows Supports Defunding Police.
That they realize they have to lie about this tells you where we actually stand.
GIVE THEM TIME. THEY’LL GET DUMBER: WaPo tries to use data to prove that the Republican Party is authoritarian and it’s the stupidest thing ever.
h/t Glenn


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-17--What’s Coming Down is Pretty Scary | David Morgan

Renowned author and metals market & mining analyst , David Morgan , returns to Liberty and Finance / Reluctant Preppers @ @ @ @ @ perspective of the post-election plight of freedom in our country , and a seasoned look @ @ @ @ @ financial volatility will impact the lives of ordinary people .
Morgan answers several viewers ’ @ @ @ @ @ making those tough life decisions surrounding strategic relocation , and holding metals vs. starting a @ @ @ @ @ during this new land rush – while it ’ s still available .
David Morgan @ @ @ @ @ aficionado .
He is the creator of TheMorganReport.com , a monthly report that covers economic @ @ @ @ @ of the global economy , currency problems and the key reasons for investing in precious @ @ @ @ @ much-in-demand speaker all over the globe , David ’ s educational mission also makes him @ @ @ @ @ penned Get the Skinny on Silver Investing , The Silver Manifesto and , most recently @ @ @ @ @ to Make and Keep Big Money from the Coming Gold and Silver Shock .

Liberty and Finance, Released on 11/16/20
Renowned author and metals market & mining analyst, David Morgan, returns to Liberty and Finance / Reluctant Preppers to give us his studied perspective of the post-election plight of freedom in our country, and a seasoned look ahead to how the coming financial volatility will impact the lives of ordinary people.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Morgan answers several viewers’ questions, including strategies of making those tough life decisions surrounding strategic relocation, and holding metals vs. starting a business or buying real property during this new land rush – while it’s still available.
David Morgan is a world-renown precious metals aficionado. He is the creator of TheMorganReport.com, a monthly report that covers economic news, overall financial health of the global economy, currency problems and the key reasons for investing in precious metals. A dynamic, much-in-demand speaker all over the globe, David’s educational mission also makes him a prolific author, having penned Get the Skinny on Silver Investing, The Silver Manifesto and, most recently, Second Chance: How to Make and Keep Big Money from the Coming Gold and Silver Shock.


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-17--Lobo Tiggre: Don’t Panic, and Definitely Don’t Sell Your Gold Stocks

0:00 – Intro 0:18 – Gold under a Biden presidency 4:02 – Does COVID-19 vaccine news matter for gold ?
6:13 – Big picture drivers for gold 8:06 – Gold M & A activity during COVID-19 11:12 – Other trends for investors to consider 13:10 – The case for investing in major gold miners 15:40 – Other commodities under a Biden presidency 18:00 – There ’ s been a “ tidal shift ” in uranium 24:10 – Final advice ?
Be skeptical 26:13 – Outro This interview was filmed on November 12 , 2020 .
The gold market has had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US presidential election and coronavirus vaccine news both impacting the yellow metal ’ s price .
Lobo Tiggre , founder and editor of Independent Speculator , said that over the next two months there ’ s likely to be more turmoil — while the American election has been called by the media for Joe Biden , President Donald Trump has yet to concede .
That doesn ’ t mean Tiggre is overly worried .
While he sees “ stormy weather ” ahead , he encouraged market watchers not to panic — “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s about to come to an end before January.
” He ’ s also not concerned about what a COVID-19 vaccine could mean for gold , and said the precious metal ’ s price drop after Pfizer ’ s vaccine news last week was predictable .
Lobo Tiggre , aka Louis James , is a legendary speculator and was Doug Casey ’ s protégé at Casey Research for almost 14 years , until early 2018 .
He joined the Casey team in 2004 .
By 2007 , he was writing and making investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the International Speculator .
Now he brings his experience , his connections and his deal flow directly to you , without the barrage of marketing hype used by larger publishers .
He is now the editor of IndependentSpeculator.com .

Investing News, Released on 11/16/20 (Recorded on 11/12/20)
0:00 – Intro
0:18 – Gold under a Biden presidency
4:02 – Does COVID-19 vaccine news matter for gold?
6:13 – Big picture drivers for gold
8:06 – Gold M&A activity during COVID-19
11:12 – Other trends for investors to consider
13:10 – The case for investing in major gold miners
15:40 – Other commodities under a Biden presidency
18:00 – There’s been a “tidal shift” in uranium
24:10 – Final advice? Be skeptical
26:13 – Outro
This interview was filmed on November 12, 2020.
The gold market has had an eventful two weeks, with the US presidential election and coronavirus vaccine news both impacting the yellow metal’s price.
Lobo Tiggre, founder and editor of Independent Speculator, said that over the next two months there’s likely to be more turmoil — while the American election has been called by the media for Joe Biden, President Donald Trump has yet to concede.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
That doesn’t mean Tiggre is overly worried. While he sees “stormy weather” ahead, he encouraged market watchers not to panic — “I don’t think the world’s about to come to an end before January.”
He’s also not concerned about what a COVID-19 vaccine could mean for gold, and said the precious metal’s price drop after Pfizer’s vaccine news last week was predictable.
Lobo Tiggre, aka Louis James, is a legendary speculator and was Doug Casey’s protégé at Casey Research for almost 14 years, until early 2018. He joined the Casey team in 2004. By 2007, he was writing and making investment recommendations in Casey’s flagship newsletter, the International Speculator. Now he brings his experience, his connections and his deal flow directly to you, without the barrage of marketing hype used by larger publishers. He is now the editor of IndependentSpeculator.com.
Disclaimer: This information is only for educational purposes. Do not make any investment decisions based on the information in this article. Do you own due diligence or consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-17--WOW! This attorney makes it DEAD simple on the current state of the Mainstream Media.

The beautiful Jenna makes it dead simple .
With emojis !
twitter.com/jennaellisesq/status/1328553131005931521 ?
s=21

by DXMXD
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The beautiful Jenna makes it dead simple. With emojis! twitter.com/jennaellisesq/status/1328553131005931521?s=21


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-17--Amazon jumps into the pharmacy business with online prescription fulfillment, free delivery for Prim

Amazon jumps into the pharmacy business with online prescription fulfillment, free delivery for Prime members

Amazon is making its biggest move yet into the pharmacy space .
Amazon Pharmacy is designed to make it easy @ @ @ @ @ medicines online .
There ’ s also a savings program and free two-day shipping for @ @ @ @ @ started to disrupt other industry again .
It is good to see amazon keep doing @ @ @ @ @ stream .
Looking to see if amazon can move back to ath .

www.cnbc.com/2020/11/17/amazon-pharmacy-free-prescription-delivery-for-prime-members.html
Amazon is making its biggest move yet into the pharmacy space.
Amazon Pharmacy is designed to make it easy and convenient to order prescription medicines online.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
There’s also a savings program and free two-day shipping for Prime Members.
Finally amazon started to disrupt other industry again. It is good to see amazon keep doing this and expand the revenue stream. Looking to see if amazon can move back to ath.
h/t coolcomfort123


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-17--GA Recount Auditors Call Multiple Ballots For Joe Biden That Were Actually Marked For Donald Trump

Project Veritas was founded by James O ’ Keefe .
The mission of Project Veritas is to investigate and expose @ @ @ @ @ , waste , fraud , and other misconduct in both public and private institutions in @ @ @ @ @ ethical and transparent society .

Project Veritas, Released on 11/16/20
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Project Veritas was founded by James O’Keefe. The mission of Project Veritas is to investigate and expose corruption, dishonesty, self-dealing, waste, fraud, and other misconduct in both public and private institutions in order to achieve a more ethical and transparent society.


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-17--VIRUSECRECY: British Medical Journal slams UK Covid19 ‘corrupt’ censors

Last Friday ( which was the 13th , by the way ) , the British Medical Journal published an OpEd from Executive Editor Kamran Abbasi .
Headed Covid19 : politicisation , “ corruption ” and suppression of science , to call it a scathing view of Britain ’ s Covid “ policy ” does it no justice at all .
It is a demolition of greedy corporatocracy killing the infrastructure of public health provision in the UK .
The piece ’ s subhead – ‘ When good science is suppressed by the medical-political complex , people die ’ – is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The BMJ is a weekly peer-reviewed medical trade journal , published by the British Medical Association , but with complete editorial freedom from it .
Founded in 1840 , it is hugely influential around the world , and recognised by medical workers at all levels as a definitive voice in British healthcare .
I am devoting most of this morning ’ s post to a reproduction of the article in full , as it gives the lie once and for all to the familiar totalitarian media spin determined to frame all citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as some sort of hairy Quaker cult .
I don ’ t agree with everything in this article , but such is normal in a civilised culture : apart from highlighting certain passages in red , what you read below is precisely what Dr Abbasi published three days ago .
Politicians and governments are suppressing science .
They do so in the public interest , they say , to accelerate availability of diagnostics and treatments .
They do so to support innovation , to bring products to market at unprecedented speed .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the greatest deceptions are founded in a grain of truth .
But the underlying behaviour is troubling .
Science is being suppressed for political and financial gain .
Covid-19 has unleashed state corruption on a grand scale , and it is harmful to public health .
Politicians and industry are responsible for this opportunistic embezzlement .
So too are scientists and health experts .
The pandemic has revealed how the medical-political complex can be manipulated in an emergency—a time when it is even more important to safeguard science .
The UK ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of suppression of science or scientists .
First , the membership , research , and deliberations of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies ( SAGE ) were initially secret until a press leak forced transparency .
The leak revealed inappropriate involvement of government advisers in SAGE , while exposing under-representation from public health , clinical care , women , and ethnic minorities .
Indeed , the government was also recently ordered to release a 2016 report on deficiencies in pandemic preparedness , Operation Cygnus , following a verdict from the Information Commissioner ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health England report on covid-19 and inequalities .
The report ’ s publication was delayed by England ’ s Department of Health ; a section on ethnic minorities was initially withheld and then , following a public outcry , was published as part of a follow-up report .
Authors from Public Health England were instructed not to talk to the media .
Third , on 15 October , the editor of the Lancet complained that an author of a research paper , a UK government scientist , was blocked by the government from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult political landscape.
” Now , a new example concerns the controversy over point-of-care antibody testing for covid-19 .
The prime minister ’ s Operation Moonshot depends on immediate and wide availability of accurate rapid diagnostic tests.It also depends on the questionable logic of mass screening—currently being trialled in Liverpool with a suboptimal PCR test .
The incident relates to research published this week by The BMJ , which finds that the government procured an antibody test that in real world tests falls well short of performance claims made by its manufacturers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions sensibly pushed to publish their study findings before the government committed to buying a million of these tests but were blocked by the health department and the prime minister ’ s office .
Why was it important to procure this product without due scrutiny ?
Prior publication of research on a preprint server or a government website is compatible with The BMJ ’ s publication policy .
As if to prove a point , Public Health England then unsuccessfully attempted to block The BMJ ’ s press release about the research paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science , but that is a misleading oversimplification .
Science is rarely absolute .
It rarely applies to every setting or every population .
It doesn ’ t make sense to slavishly follow science or evidence .
A better approach is for politicians , the publicly appointed decision makers , to be informed and guided by science when they decide policy for their public .
But even that approach retains public and professional trust only if science is available for scrutiny and free of political interference , and if the system is transparent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Suppression of science and scientists is not new or a peculiarly British phenomenon .
In the US , President Trump ’ s government manipulated the Food and Drug Administration to hastily approve unproved drugs such as hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir .
* Globally , people , policies , and procurement are being corrupted by political and commercial agendas .
The UK ’ s pandemic response relies too heavily on scientists and other government appointees with worrying competing interests , including shareholdings in companies that manufacture covid-19 diagnostic tests , treatments , and vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or cherry pick science—another form of misuse—and indulge in anti-competitive practices that favour their own products and those of friends and associates .
How might science be safeguarded in these exceptional times ?
The first step is full disclosure of competing interests from government , politicians , scientific advisers , and appointees , such as the heads of test and trace , diagnostic test procurement , and vaccine delivery .
The next step is full transparency about decision making systems , processes , and knowing who is accountable for what .
Once transparency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals employed by government should ideally only work in areas unrelated to their competing interests .
Expertise is possible without competing interests .
If such a strict rule becomes impractical , minimum good practice is that people with competing interests must not be involved in decisions on products and policies in which they have a financial interest .
Governments and industry must also stop announcing critical science policy by press release .
Such ill judged moves leave science , the media , and stock markets vulnerable to manipulation .
Clear , open , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for policy , procurements , and wonder drugs is a fundamental requirement .
The stakes are high for politicians , scientific advisers , and government appointees .
Their careers and bank balances may hinge on the decisions that they make .
But they have a higher responsibility and duty to the public .
Science is a public good .
It doesn ’ t need to be followed blindly , but it does need to be fairly considered .
Importantly , suppressing science , whether by delaying publication , cherry picking favourable research , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to public health , causing deaths by exposing people to unsafe or ineffective interventions and preventing them from benefiting from better ones .
When entangled with commercial decisions it is also maladministration of taxpayers ’ money .
Politicisation of science was enthusiastically deployed by some of history ’ s worst autocrats and dictators , and it is now regrettably commonplace in democracies .
The medical-political complex tends towards suppression of science to aggrandise and enrich those in power .
And , as the powerful become more successful , richer , and further intoxicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science are suppressed .
When good science is suppressed , people die .
*Editor ’ s note : I think Dr Abbasi is misinformed when he accuses the Trump régime of trying to ‘ rush through ’ approval of HCQ .
It was far more a case of of Dr Fauci trying to suppress the results of three very favourable studies in the US , France and China in relation to this management drug .
Abbasi ’ s major observations are , based on my experience , absolutely justified .
The Times at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boris Johnson ‘ prefers to be inclusive ’ in his decision making .
This is complete rot : Johnson is a deviously corrupt and secretive operator who has kept everyone but a small , unrepresentative and morally compromised kitchen Cabinet in the dark about interest conflicts , research results , trials and accountability .
It is this conduct that led The Slog to coin the term ‘ Virusecrecy ’ .
Some media have carried the BMJ piece .
Most haven ’ t .
Rightly , Dr Abbasi has restricted his excoriation to ethical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to these broader questions posed here last week :

by John Ward
Last Friday (which was the 13th, by the way), the British Medical Journal published an OpEd from Executive Editor Kamran Abbasi. Headed Covid19: politicisation , “corruption” and suppression of science, to call it a scathing view of Britain’s Covid “policy” does it no justice at all. It is a demolition of greedy corporatocracy killing the infrastructure of public health provision in the UK.
The piece’s subhead – ‘When good science is suppressed by the medical-political complex, people die’ – is an excellent intro to the main content.
The BMJ is a weekly peer-reviewed medical trade journal, published by the British Medical Association, but with complete editorial freedom from it. Founded in 1840, it is hugely influential around the world, and recognised by medical workers at all levels as a definitive voice in British healthcare.
I am devoting most of this morning’s post to a reproduction of the article in full, as it gives the lie once and for all to the familiar totalitarian media spin determined to frame all citizens suspicious of Big Pharma’s power as some sort of hairy Quaker cult.
I don’t agree with everything in this article, but such is normal in a civilised culture: apart from highlighting certain passages in red, what you read below is precisely what Dr Abbasi published three days ago.
Politicians and governments are suppressing science. They do so in the public interest, they say, to accelerate availability of diagnostics and treatments. They do so to support innovation, to bring products to market at unprecedented speed. Both of these reasons are partly plausible; the greatest deceptions are founded in a grain of truth. But the underlying behaviour is troubling.
Science is being suppressed for political and financial gain. Covid-19 has unleashed state corruption on a grand scale, and it is harmful to public health. Politicians and industry are responsible for this opportunistic embezzlement. So too are scientists and health experts. The pandemic has revealed how the medical-political complex can be manipulated in an emergency—a time when it is even more important to safeguard science.
The UK’s pandemic response provides at least four examples of suppression of science or scientists. First, the membership, research, and deliberations of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) were initially secret until a press leak forced transparency. The leak revealed inappropriate involvement of government advisers in SAGE, while exposing under-representation from public health, clinical care, women, and ethnic minorities. Indeed, the government was also recently ordered to release a 2016 report on deficiencies in pandemic preparedness, Operation Cygnus, following a verdict from the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Next, a Public Health England report on covid-19 and inequalities. The report’s publication was delayed by England’s Department of Health; a section on ethnic minorities was initially withheld and then, following a public outcry, was published as part of a follow-up report. Authors from Public Health England were instructed not to talk to the media. Third, on 15 October, the editor of the Lancet complained that an author of a research paper, a UK government scientist, was blocked by the government from speaking to media because of a “difficult political landscape.”
Now, a new example concerns the controversy over point-of-care antibody testing for covid-19. The prime minister’s Operation Moonshot depends on immediate and wide availability of accurate rapid diagnostic tests.It also depends on the questionable logic of mass screening—currently being trialled in Liverpool with a suboptimal PCR test.
The incident relates to research published this week by The BMJ, which finds that the government procured an antibody test that in real world tests falls well short of performance claims made by its manufacturers. Researchers from Public Health England and collaborating institutions sensibly pushed to publish their study findings before the government committed to buying a million of these tests but were blocked by the health department and the prime minister’s office. Why was it important to procure this product without due scrutiny? Prior publication of research on a preprint server or a government website is compatible with The BMJ’s publication policy. As if to prove a point, Public Health England then unsuccessfully attempted to block The BMJ’s press release about the research paper.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Politicians often claim to follow the science, but that is a misleading oversimplification. Science is rarely absolute. It rarely applies to every setting or every population. It doesn’t make sense to slavishly follow science or evidence. A better approach is for politicians, the publicly appointed decision makers, to be informed and guided by science when they decide policy for their public. But even that approach retains public and professional trust only if science is available for scrutiny and free of political interference, and if the system is transparent and not compromised by conflicts of interest.
Suppression of science and scientists is not new or a peculiarly British phenomenon. In the US, President Trump’s government manipulated the Food and Drug Administration to hastily approve unproved drugs such as hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir.* Globally, people, policies, and procurement are being corrupted by political and commercial agendas.
The UK’s pandemic response relies too heavily on scientists and other government appointees with worrying competing interests, including shareholdings in companies that manufacture covid-19 diagnostic tests, treatments, and vaccines. Government appointees are able to ignore or cherry pick science—another form of misuse—and indulge in anti-competitive practices that favour their own products and those of friends and associates.
How might science be safeguarded in these exceptional times? The first step is full disclosure of competing interests from government, politicians, scientific advisers, and appointees, such as the heads of test and trace, diagnostic test procurement, and vaccine delivery. The next step is full transparency about decision making systems, processes, and knowing who is accountable for what.
Once transparency and accountability are established as norms, individuals employed by government should ideally only work in areas unrelated to their competing interests. Expertise is possible without competing interests. If such a strict rule becomes impractical, minimum good practice is that people with competing interests must not be involved in decisions on products and policies in which they have a financial interest.
Governments and industry must also stop announcing critical science policy by press release. Such ill judged moves leave science, the media, and stock markets vulnerable to manipulation. Clear, open, and advance publication of the scientific basis for policy, procurements, and wonder drugs is a fundamental requirement.
The stakes are high for politicians, scientific advisers, and government appointees. Their careers and bank balances may hinge on the decisions that they make. But they have a higher responsibility and duty to the public. Science is a public good. It doesn’t need to be followed blindly, but it does need to be fairly considered. Importantly, suppressing science, whether by delaying publication, cherry picking favourable research, or gagging scientists, is a danger to public health, causing deaths by exposing people to unsafe or ineffective interventions and preventing them from benefiting from better ones. When entangled with commercial decisions it is also maladministration of taxpayers’ money.
Politicisation of science was enthusiastically deployed by some of history’s worst autocrats and dictators, and it is now regrettably commonplace in democracies. The medical-political complex tends towards suppression of science to aggrandise and enrich those in power. And, as the powerful become more successful, richer, and further intoxicated with power, the inconvenient truths of science are suppressed. When good science is suppressed, people die.
*Editor’s note: I think Dr Abbasi is misinformed when he accuses the Trump régime of trying to ‘rush through’ approval of HCQ. It was far more a case of of Dr Fauci trying to suppress the results of three very favourable studies in the US, France and China in relation to this management drug.
Abbasi’s major observations are, based on my experience, absolutely justified. The Times at the weekend tried to tell us that Boris Johnson ‘prefers to be inclusive’ in his decision making. This is complete rot: Johnson is a deviously corrupt and secretive operator who has kept everyone but a small, unrepresentative and morally compromised kitchen Cabinet in the dark about interest conflicts, research results, trials and accountability. It is this conduct that led The Slog to coin the term ‘Virusecrecy’.
Some media have carried the BMJ piece. Most haven’t. Rightly, Dr Abbasi has restricted his excoriation to ethical medical issues. I still await answers to these broader questions posed here last week:


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-17--6 Things That Show China’s Organ Harvesting Is Real

China has been harvesting organs from prisoners of conscience , like Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghurs for years .
It @ @ @ @ @ humanity that should change US China relations forever .
But sadly , media silence has @ @ @ @ @ carrying on forced organ harvesting for years .
But thanks to the work of researchers @ @ @ @ @ Kilgour , and David Matas , as well as the China Tribunal led by Sir @ @ @ @ @ in China is being brought to light .
This twisted aspect of the China economy @ @ @ @

China has been harvesting organs from prisoners of conscience, like Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghurs for years. It’s a crime against humanity that should change US China relations forever. But sadly, media silence has helped the Chinese Communist Party carrying on forced organ harvesting for years. But thanks to the work of researchers like Ethan Gutmann, David Kilgour, and David Matas, as well as the China Tribunal led by Sir Geoffrey Nice, organ harvesting in China is being brought to light. This twisted aspect of the China economy must be stopped.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-17--Senator Kamala Harris illegally sharing intelligence briefings with private citizen Mr. Joe Biden.

# BREAKING : President-elect Joe Biden says he 's getting intel through Vice President-elect Kamala Harris : `` The good @ @ @ @ @ still on the Intelligence Committee so she gets the intelligence briefings . ''
pic.twitter.com/3ZWccUFKLN

#BREAKING: President-elect Joe Biden says he's getting intel through Vice President-elect Kamala Harris: "The good news is my colleague is still on the Intelligence Committee so she gets the intelligence briefings." pic.twitter.com/3ZWccUFKLN
— The Hill (@thehill) November 16, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-11-17--A Major Oil Rally Could Be On The Horizon

This year has been a true rollercoaster ride for the U.S. stock market , but it is increasingly looking to end on a high note .
The S & P 500 has climbed nearly 11 % in the first two weeks of November as the world moves closer to vanquishing one of mankind ’ s biggest threats in modern history .
Oil is anything but dead .
And here are two reasons to stick with oil : # 1 Vaccine optimism will keep driving things forward Barely a week after pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and BionTech gave the world hope of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inc. ( NASDAQ : MRNA ) has unveiled a potentially better cure .
Moderna has reported that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate , mRNA-1273 , has demonstrated efficacy rates of 94.5 % in early tests and remains stable at 2° to 8°C ( 36° to 46°F ) , or roughly the same operating temperature of a standard home or medical refrigerator , for at least a month .
In contrast , Pfizer ’ s vaccine needs a much cooler temperature of -94 degrees Fahrenheit ( -70° C ) and up to -109 degrees Fahrenheit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viable , which could pose a major challenge in some locations .
Not surprisingly , the energy sector—one of the hardest hit by the pandemic—has been on a tear since the Pfizer vaccine hit news feeds , jumping 23.4 % over the past week alone .
The oil and gas industry has been deeply out of favor over the past few years , and trying to call a bottom on the bear market might be a fool ’ s errand .
However , the latest developments offer hope to the incurable optimists that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rearview mirror for the industry .
More vaccines in the pipeline Other than his never-ending tweetstorm , Trump has mainly kept a low public profile after losing to Biden in one of America ’ s most divisive elections in modern history .
But a few days ago , he came out and publicly accused Pfizer of delaying its Covid-19 vaccine ostensibly in a bid to ruin his chances at re-election.Related : 25 Energy Stocks To Buy Or Sell After The Election Well , guess what , it appears several other pharmaceutical companies are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own—maybe even better—vaccines .
CureVac ‘ s ( NASDAQ : CVAC ) says its CVnCoV vaccine is stable for three months at +5 Celsius , or the standard refrigerator temperature .
The vaccine remains stable for up to ready-to-use room temperature for 24 hours .
Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline ‘ s have announced that their two-dose recombinant protein vaccine can be stored between 2°C- 8°C .
Johnson & Johnson also has a Covid-19 vaccine in the pipeline , which , if successful , could be stable at refrigerated temperatures of 2°C – 8°C @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to two years at -20 °C .
In short , there seems to be no shortage of Covid-19 vaccine candidates that are potentially even more stable than the Pfizer/BionTech vaccine .
That ’ s music to the ears of the oil and gas market , coming after a second wave of Covid-19 infections effectively killed the oil rebound .
Better still , the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines could go into mainstream distribution in a matter of weeks .
Indeed , broad vaccine access is expected by mid-2021 .
That might be just in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projections , which have called for the oil market to bounce back next year at a historically quick pace .
According to the July report , OPEC sees oil demand spiking ~25 % to 29.8 million barrels per day in 2021 , slightly above levels recorded in 2019 .
Obviously , a lot of that will hinge on OPEC ’ s ability to maintain production discipline , but so far , the coalition has remained committed after the harsh lessons of the past few months.Related : Oil Majors Aren ’ t Worried About @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solid recovery in oil demand might take months , even in the event of a successful vaccine .
The IEA has predicted a recovery in oil demand of 5.8 million barrels per day in 2021 , only ~300,000 barrels per day higher than its forecast a month ago after Pfizer announced its vaccine .
No matter how massive the hydrogen hype is , or how much money is being poured into this as the answer to our clean energy future , it ’ s still not a near-term solution .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas will suddenly disappear because of renewable energy progress .
This is all longer term , even if the media makes it seem like it ’ s going to happen tomorrow .
It ’ s been clearly established that natural gas will be the bridge to a clean energy transition , especially since electricity will likely end up being one of our most important energy sources , and natural gas is at least cleaner-burning than oil .
For the near to medium-term , it ’ s only the COVID demand culling that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the positive vaccine news will likely continue to drive forward momentum .
And in the meantime , if oil demand starts to slow compared to pre-COVID rates as we bolster renewables , natural gas demand should emerge stronger still .

By Alex Kimani
This year has been a true rollercoaster ride for the U.S. stock market, but it is increasingly looking to end on a high note.
The S&P 500 has climbed nearly 11% in the first two weeks of November as the world moves closer to vanquishing one of mankind’s biggest threats in modern history.
Oil is anything but dead.
And here are two reasons to stick with oil:
#1 Vaccine optimism will keep driving things forward Barely a week after pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and BionTech gave the world hope of an effective Covid-19 vaccine, peer Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) has unveiled a potentially better cure.
Moderna has reported that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273, has demonstrated efficacy rates of 94.5% in early tests and remains stable at 2° to 8°C (36° to 46°F), or roughly the same operating temperature of a standard home or medical refrigerator, for at least a month. In contrast, Pfizer’s vaccine needs a much cooler temperature of -94 degrees Fahrenheit (-70° C) and up to -109 degrees Fahrenheit for shipment for the vaccine to remain viable, which could pose a major challenge in some locations.
Not surprisingly, the energy sector—one of the hardest hit by the pandemic—has been on a tear since the Pfizer vaccine hit news feeds, jumping 23.4% over the past week alone.
The oil and gas industry has been deeply out of favor over the past few years, and trying to call a bottom on the bear market might be a fool’s errand. However, the latest developments offer hope to the incurable optimists that the worst might finally be in the rearview mirror for the industry.
Source: CNN Money
More vaccines in the pipeline
Other than his never-ending tweetstorm, Trump has mainly kept a low public profile after losing to Biden in one of America’s most divisive elections in modern history. But a few days ago, he came out and publicly accused Pfizer of delaying its Covid-19 vaccine ostensibly in a bid to ruin his chances at re-election.Related: 25 Energy Stocks To Buy Or Sell After The Election
Well, guess what, it appears several other pharmaceutical companies are guilty of the same curious timing of their own—maybe even better—vaccines.
CureVac‘s (NASDAQ:CVAC) says its CVnCoV vaccine is stable for three months at +5 Celsius, or the standard refrigerator temperature. The vaccine remains stable for up to ready-to-use room temperature for 24 hours.
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Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline‘s have announced that their two-dose recombinant protein vaccine can be stored between 2°C- 8°C.
Johnson & Johnson also has a Covid-19 vaccine in the pipeline, which, if successful, could be stable at refrigerated temperatures of 2°C – 8°C for at least three months and up to two years at -20 °C.
In short, there seems to be no shortage of Covid-19 vaccine candidates that are potentially even more stable than the Pfizer/BionTech vaccine.
Brighter outlook
That’s music to the ears of the oil and gas market, coming after a second wave of Covid-19 infections effectively killed the oil rebound.
Better still, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines could go into mainstream distribution in a matter of weeks. Indeed, broad vaccine access is expected by mid-2021.
That might be just in time to validate OPEC’s latest projections, which have called for the oil market to bounce back next year at a historically quick pace. According to the July report, OPEC sees oil demand spiking ~25% to 29.8 million barrels per day in 2021, slightly above levels recorded in 2019.
Obviously, a lot of that will hinge on OPEC’s ability to maintain production discipline, but so far, the coalition has remained committed after the harsh lessons of the past few months.Related: Oil Majors Aren’t Worried About A Biden Presidency
That said, a solid recovery in oil demand might take months, even in the event of a successful vaccine. The IEA has predicted a recovery in oil demand of 5.8 million barrels per day in 2021, only ~300,000 barrels per day higher than its forecast a month ago after Pfizer announced its vaccine.
#2 Our Energy Transition Won’t Happen Without Oil & Gas
No matter how massive the hydrogen hype is, or how much money is being poured into this as the answer to our clean energy future, it’s still not a near-term solution.
It’s science fiction to imagine that oil and gas will suddenly disappear because of renewable energy progress. This is all longer term, even if the media makes it seem like it’s going to happen tomorrow.
It’s been clearly established that natural gas will be the bridge to a clean energy transition, especially since electricity will likely end up being one of our most important energy sources, and natural gas is at least cleaner-burning than oil.
For the near to medium-term, it’s only the COVID demand culling that’s really trouncing oil, and all the positive vaccine news will likely continue to drive forward momentum. And in the meantime, if oil demand starts to slow compared to pre-COVID rates as we bolster renewables, natural gas demand should emerge stronger still.
By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com