investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--GOOD: Free speech org launches public push to change law protecting Big Tech censorship.

August 27 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — The conservative Media Research Center ( MRC ) is calling on concerned Americans to submit comments to the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) urging it to review a contentious portion of federal law at the heart of the battle over free speech online .
Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act immunizes websites from being held liable for the third-party content they host , such as posts or tweets by social media users .
This provision has been credited with helping the internet thrive , and in recent years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means of addressing the increasing control internet platforms exert over right-of-center content .
The MRC ’ s Free Speech Alliance ( of which LifeSiteNews is a member ) is currently working on gathering as many public comments to the FCC as possible urging the commission to review how Section 230 is currently interpreted and applied .
“ Big Tech is currently immune from lawsuits regarding censorship due to a small part of a law from the mid-1990s , ” reads the landing page where readers can submit comments .
“ Section 230 protects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their content , and censorship of that content.
” MRC calls an FCC review the “ first step in holding Big Tech accountable ” but warns , “ We ’ re not the only ones submitting comments .
Big Tech is strongly opposed to any changes to their current sweetheart deal .
Their friends on the left are leaving comments and doing everything they can to oppose a rule change.
” The effort is meant to help support an executive order President Donald Trump signed in May , aimed at tweaking how federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The order essentially directs the FCC to propose an administrative rule that would “ spell out what it means for the tech giants to carry out their takedown policies ‘ in good faith , ’ ” national security attorney Stewart Baker explained .

August 27, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The conservative Media Research Center (MRC) is calling on concerned Americans to submit comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging it to review a contentious portion of federal law at the heart of the battle over free speech online.
Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act immunizes websites from being held liable for the third-party content they host, such as posts or tweets by social media users. This provision has been credited with helping the internet thrive, and in recent years, it has been seen as a potential means of addressing the increasing control internet platforms exert over right-of-center content.
The MRC’s Free Speech Alliance (of which LifeSiteNews is a member) is currently working on gathering as many public comments to the FCC as possible urging the commission to review how Section 230 is currently interpreted and applied.
“Big Tech is currently immune from lawsuits regarding censorship due to a small part of a law from the mid-1990s,” reads the landing page where readers can submit comments. “Section 230 protects the tech giants from being sued for their content, and censorship of that content.”
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
MRC calls an FCC review the “first step in holding Big Tech accountable” but warns, “We’re not the only ones submitting comments. Big Tech is strongly opposed to any changes to their current sweetheart deal. Their friends on the left are leaving comments and doing everything they can to oppose a rule change.”
The effort is meant to help support an executive order President Donald Trump signed in May, aimed at tweaking how federal agencies interpret and enforce Section 230. The order essentially directs the FCC to propose an administrative rule that would “spell out what it means for the tech giants to carry out their takedown policies ‘in good faith,’” national security attorney Stewart Baker explained.
www.lifesitenews.com/news/free-speech-org-collecting-comments-urging-fcc-to-review-key-law-protecting-big-tech


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--CONGRESS IS NOT A GOOD STEWARD OF YOUR MONEY:

NASA just announced in a blog post that SLS will cost 30 % more .
After discussing this and other details , Lueders then rather casually let it slip that , “ NASA also aligned the development costs for the SLS and Exploration Ground Systems programs through Artemis I and established new cost commitments.
” The new development cost for SLS rocket is $ 9.1 billion , she said , and its budget for the initial ground systems to support the mission is now $ 2.4 billion .
Left unsaid : This represents a 33-percent increase for the rocket since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of program estimated development costs for the rocket , including a single test flight , would be $ 7.17 billion .
( This was detailed in a US General Accounting Office report published nearly a year ago . )
This figure represents only direct development costs .
NASA has received more than $ 20 billion from Congress since 2011 for SLS development and related activities .
At the time of the “ re-plan ” in 2017 , NASA established a “ December 2019-June 2020 ” date for the first test launch of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from earlier plans to launch it by the end of 2017 .

NASA just announced in a blog post that SLS will cost 30% more.
After discussing this and other details, Lueders then rather casually let it slip that, “NASA also aligned the development costs for the SLS and Exploration Ground Systems programs through Artemis I and established new cost commitments.” The new development cost for SLS rocket is $9.1 billion, she said, and its budget for the initial ground systems to support the mission is now $2.4 billion.
Left unsaid: This represents a 33-percent increase for the rocket since 2017, when a “re-plan” of program estimated development costs for the rocket, including a single test flight, would be $7.17 billion. (This was detailed in a US General Accounting Office report published nearly a year ago.) This figure represents only direct development costs. NASA has received more than $20 billion from Congress since 2011 for SLS development and related activities.
At the time of the “re-plan” in 2017, NASA established a “December 2019-June 2020” date for the first test launch of the SLS rocket. This was a delay from earlier plans to launch it by the end of 2017.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--ALERT: IRS Says Companies Are Responsible for Trump’s Deferred Payroll Taxes – must collect twice as

ALERT: IRS Says Companies Are Responsible for Trump’s Deferred Payroll Taxes – must collect twice as much from our paychecks early next year

The Internal Revenue Service said companies will be responsible for collecting and paying back any deferred payroll taxes under a directive by President Donald Trump aimed at helping workers while the administration and Democrats are stalemated on a stimulus deal .
The agency issued guidance Friday that implements Trump ’ s order to delay the due date for payroll taxes for millions of workers from Sept. 1 through year-end .
Come next year , the taxes will need to be paid by April 30 , unless Congress votes to forgive the liabilities , the release showed .
If lawmakers don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says employers must withhold the taxes from employees from Jan. 1 through April 30 , meaning that workers will have double the deduction taken from their paychecks next year to pay back the deferred portion .
Employers “ may make arrangements to otherwise collect the total applicable taxes from the employee , ” if necessary , the release said .
The guidance puts the responsibility on employers for ultimately paying back the levies , and that could cause many to decline putting the extra money in workers ’ paychecks — blunting any potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reap .

The Internal Revenue Service said companies will be responsible for collecting and paying back any deferred payroll taxes under a directive by President Donald Trump aimed at helping workers while the administration and Democrats are stalemated on a stimulus deal.
The agency issued guidance Friday that implements Trump’s order to delay the due date for payroll taxes for millions of workers from Sept. 1 through year-end. Come next year, the taxes will need to be paid by April 30, unless Congress votes to forgive the liabilities, the release showed.
If lawmakers don’t step up, the guidance says employers must withhold the taxes from employees from Jan. 1 through April 30, meaning that workers will have double the deduction taken from their paychecks next year to pay back the deferred portion.
Employers “may make arrangements to otherwise collect the total applicable taxes from the employee,” if necessary, the release said.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The guidance puts the responsibility on employers for ultimately paying back the levies, and that could cause many to decline putting the extra money in workers’ paychecks — blunting any potential economic or political boost Trump had hoped to reap.
www.accountingtoday.com/articles/irs-says-companies-are-responsible-for-deferred-payroll-taxes


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--Landslide: Political scientist predicts Trump will win a 362-176 Electoral College landslide in Nove

Landslide: Political scientist predicts Trump will win a 362-176 Electoral College landslide in November

President Donald Trump has a 91 per cent chance of winning the November 2020 election , according to a political @ @ @ @ @ predicted five out of six elections since 1996 .
“ The Primary Model gives Trump @ @ @ @ @ winning in November , ” Stony Brook professor Helmut Norpoth told Mediaite on Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ that his model , which he curated in 1996 , would have correctly predicted the @ @ @ @ @ 27 elections since 1912 , when primaries were introduced .

President Donald Trump has a 91 per cent chance of winning the November 2020 election, according to a political science professor who has correctly predicted five out of six elections since 1996.
“The Primary Model gives Trump a 91 percent chance of winning in November,” Stony Brook professor Helmut Norpoth told Mediaite on Tuesday.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Mr Norpoth told the outlet that his model, which he curated in 1996, would have correctly predicted the outcome for 25 of the 27 elections since 1912, when primaries were introduced.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/donald-trump-chance-winning-election-2020-joe-biden-poll-model-a9609236.html


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--Some Big Layoffs In Headlines Today

Some Big Layoffs In Headlines Today

These are just the big ones , plenty of smaller layoffs always to be had .

These are just the big ones, plenty of smaller layoffs always to be had.
Accenture Layoff -25,000
gizmoposts24.com/business/accenture-to-lay-off-25000-employees-thousands-of-indians-set-to-lose-jobs-141836/
MGM Resorts Layoff -18,000
finance.yahoo.com/news/mgm-resorts-lay-off-18-150000561.html
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Coca-Cola Layoff -4,000
finance.yahoo.com/news/coca-cola-offer-early-departures-111736018.html
UMass Amherst Layoff -850
www.bostonherald.com/2020/08/27/umass-amherst-to-furlough-850-workers-permanent-layoffs-expected-amid-coronavirus-crisis/
AT


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--The Fed Just Announced a Dramatic Shift on Inflation Policy

“ There is no way the Fed pulls this off without blowing price inflation through the roof.
” – Robert Wenzel In a speech on Thursday titled New Economic Challenges and the Fed ’ s Monetary Policy Review , Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell laid out a new long-term plan for the central bank on monetary policy .
This plan included a dramatic shift in direction for inflation .
The Federal Open Market Committee ( FOMC ) explained the change in the following terms : In layman ’ s terms , the Fed now wants to maintain an average rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintained a symmetric inflation “ target ” of the same percentage .
That means in order to average out periods of time where inflation is below 2 % , the Fed will compensate by allowing inflation to run above that target for potentially long periods of time .
A CNBC article in advance of the speech noted the Fed ’ s approach “ will be the reverse of former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker ’ s rate hikes instituted to quash inflation in the 1980s.
” The same article also highlighted one possible reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run hot for periods of time : But it ’ s a particular part of Powell ’ s speech that doesn ’ t inspire much confidence that the Fed knows where it ’ s steering the ship : So it appears the Fed wants to average 2 % inflation over time , but without following specific math that achieves that result and adjusting to try and achieve that result .
It ’ s also odd that Powell and the Fed would not want to follow some sort of formula , being that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what he intends on reaching .
A “ flexible ” approach , as Powell put it , doesn ’ t seem like a focused plan for long-term policy .
We will have to wait and see how that plays out .
“ Price inflation could eventually advance well above 5 % ” Robert Wenzel presented sharp criticism of the Fed ’ s new approach saying , “ They are working with models that project a steady rise in inflation .
They have no idea , apparently , that price inflation can get way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ real ” inflation , which factors in maintenance of a basic lifestyle , is getting pretty close to “ way out of control ” now .
Wenzel thinks official price inflation could run higher than 5 % at some point .
( It ’ s rising past 1 % now . )
In a CNBC piece published before the speech , Rick Rieder , BlackRock global chief investment officer of fixed income , said , “ The Fed is not looking for spiking inflation , but some inflation in the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wage gains.
” Just because the Fed might not be looking for “ spiking ” inflation doesn ’ t mean it won ’ t happen .
By Powell ’ s own admission , it seems like a real possibility .
Don ’ t let “ inflation without a plan ” make your savings unstable Despite the potential for much higher price inflation ( no matter how high it actually goes ) , gold and silver are looking good as potential hedges against the future of “ Inflation Nation.
” So examine your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a good time to take advantage of the opportunity to diversify some of your retirement into precious metals .

From Birch Gold Group
“There is no way the Fed pulls this off without blowing price inflation through the roof.” – Robert Wenzel
In a speech on Thursday titled New Economic Challenges and the Fed’s Monetary Policy Review, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell laid out a new long-term plan for the central bank on monetary policy.
This plan included a dramatic shift in direction for inflation. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) explained the change in the following terms:
On price stability, the FOMC adjusted its strategy for achieving its longer-run inflation goal of 2 percent by noting that it “seeks to achieve inflation that averages 2 percent over time.” To this end, the revised statement states that “following periods when inflation has been running persistently below 2 percent, appropriate monetary policy will likely aim to achieve inflation moderately above 2 percent for some time.”
In layman’s terms, the Fed now wants to maintain an average rate of 2%, where it previously maintained a symmetric inflation “target” of the same percentage.
That means in order to average out periods of time where inflation is below 2%, the Fed will compensate by allowing inflation to run above that target for potentially long periods of time.
A CNBC article in advance of the speech noted the Fed’s approach “will be the reverse of former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker’s rate hikes instituted to quash inflation in the 1980s.”
The same article also highlighted one possible reason why Powell would want to let inflation run hot for periods of time:
[Low inflation] often reflects a slow-moving economy with a low standard of living. On top of that, the accompanying low interest rates give policymakers little wiggle room when crises happen and there’s a need to loosen policy.
But it’s a particular part of Powell’s speech that doesn’t inspire much confidence that the Fed knows where it’s steering the ship:
In seeking to achieve inflation that averages 2 percent over time, we are not tying ourselves to a particular mathematical formula that defines the average. Thus, our approach could be viewed as a flexible form of average inflation targeting. Our decisions about appropriate monetary policy will continue to reflect a broad array of considerations and will not be dictated by any formula.
So it appears the Fed wants to average 2% inflation over time, but without following specific math that achieves that result and adjusting to try and achieve that result.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
It’s also odd that Powell and the Fed would not want to follow some sort of formula, being that a specific average target of 2% is what he intends on reaching.
A “flexible” approach, as Powell put it, doesn’t seem like a focused plan for long-term policy. We will have to wait and see how that plays out.
“Price inflation could eventually advance well above 5%”
Robert Wenzel presented sharp criticism of the Fed’s new approach saying, “They are working with models that project a steady rise in inflation. They have no idea, apparently, that price inflation can get way out of control.”
We already know that “real” inflation, which factors in maintenance of a basic lifestyle, is getting pretty close to “way out of control” now. Wenzel thinks official price inflation could run higher than 5% at some point. (It’s rising past 1% now.)
But some economists disagree…
In a CNBC piece published before the speech, Rick Rieder, BlackRock global chief investment officer of fixed income, said, “The Fed is not looking for spiking inflation, but some inflation in the economy provides pricing power and drives both profits and wage gains.”
Just because the Fed might not be looking for “spiking” inflation doesn’t mean it won’t happen. By Powell’s own admission, it seems like a real possibility.
Don’t let “inflation without a plan” make your savings unstable
Despite the potential for much higher price inflation (no matter how high it actually goes), gold and silver are looking good as potential hedges against the future of “Inflation Nation.”
So examine your savings, and see if it’s a good time to take advantage of the opportunity to diversify some of your retirement into precious metals.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--There’s almost no chance a vaccine for COVID-19 will work at all, warns scientist

( Natural News ) The Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) is not some freak of nature virus that evolutionarily gained the ability to transfer from bats to humans all on its own .
According to Professor Giuseppe Tritto , an internationally known expert in biotechnology and nanotechnology , this only could have happened with some kind of genetic engineering .
The president of the World Academy of Biomedical Sciences and Technology ( WABT ) , which was founded as part of UNESCO back in 1997 , Tritto knows a thing or two about viruses .
And he is convinced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably engineered at the Wuhan Institute of Virology , China ’ s only level-four biosafety lab .
In his book Cina COVID 19 : La Chimera che ha cambiato il Mondo , which translates in English as China COVID 19 : The chimera that changed the world , Tritto explains why he believes the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) is behind the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) , leaving little doubt that this viral “ chimera ” was artificially created as a bioweapon .
He also traces the Wuhan lab ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , demonstrating how both countries have financially supported it in its bioengineering endeavors .
While neither American nor French virologists are necessarily responsible for the current outcome , they did play in role in getting us all here , whether they realized it or not .
Unfortunately , it does not stop at just the virus .
Those behind its continued spread and the government ’ s reaction to it have much worse plans in store for the world , mainly the extermination of humanity .
Listen below to The Health Ranger Report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine development could be what spawned COVID-19 Based on his understanding of how reverse genetics is often used to create viral strains with reduced pathogenicity for the purpose of vaccine development , Tritto says that the same process can be used to create viral strains with increased pathogenicity .
We already know from the Dr. Shi Zhengli saga that this is what the People ’ s Liberation Army ( PLA ) had been working on just prior to the release of the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) .
Dr. Shi had also sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the P4 high-containment lab where the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) is said to have “ escaped.
” In manipulating HIV genomes , Dr. Shi was able to utilize a gene insertion method known as “ reverse genetics system 2 ” to combine an ordinary coronavirus strain found in horseshoe bats with an HIV segment , making it more infectious .
Prof. Ralph S. Baric from the University of North Carolina also contributed to this research , thanks to several major financial grants he received from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run by none other than Fauci .
“ Fauci was a big proponent of ‘ gain of function ’ research , and when this was prohibited at Baric ’ s lab because it was considered to be too dangerous , the research was shifted to China , ” writes Steven Mosher for LifeSiteNews .
As for a future vaccine , there is next to no chance that any of them will work , according to Tritto .
This is largely due to the fact that the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) keeps mutating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines will not have the ability to target .
The other problem is that the CCP is currently withholding the original genetic code for the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) from the rest of the world , which means no further advancements in targeting its specific “ blueprints ” can be achieved .
“ In other words , China continues to lie , and people continue to die , ” Mosher adds , pinning the blame for this crisis directly on China .
The latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) @ @ @ @ @

by: Ethan Huff
(Natural News) The Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is not some freak of nature virus that evolutionarily gained the ability to transfer from bats to humans all on its own. According to Professor Giuseppe Tritto, an internationally known expert in biotechnology and nanotechnology, this only could have happened with some kind of genetic engineering.
The president of the World Academy of Biomedical Sciences and Technology (WABT), which was founded as part of UNESCO back in 1997, Tritto knows a thing or two about viruses. And he is convinced that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) was probably engineered at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, China’s only level-four biosafety lab.
In his book Cina COVID 19: La Chimera che ha cambiato il Mondo, which translates in English as China COVID 19: The chimera that changed the world, Tritto explains why he believes the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is behind the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), leaving little doubt that this viral “chimera” was artificially created as a bioweapon.
He also traces the Wuhan lab’s connections to France and the United States, demonstrating how both countries have financially supported it in its bioengineering endeavors. While neither American nor French virologists are necessarily responsible for the current outcome, they did play in role in getting us all here, whether they realized it or not.
Unfortunately, it does not stop at just the virus. Those behind its continued spread and the government’s reaction to it have much worse plans in store for the world, mainly the extermination of humanity. Listen below to The Health Ranger Report to learn more:
Reverse genetics in vaccine development could be what spawned COVID-19
Based on his understanding of how reverse genetics is often used to create viral strains with reduced pathogenicity for the purpose of vaccine development, Tritto says that the same process can be used to create viral strains with increased pathogenicity.
We already know from the Dr. Shi Zhengli saga that this is what the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had been working on just prior to the release of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). Dr. Shi had also sought help from the French government in building the P4 high-containment lab where the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is said to have “escaped.”
In manipulating HIV genomes, Dr. Shi was able to utilize a gene insertion method known as “reverse genetics system 2” to combine an ordinary coronavirus strain found in horseshoe bats with an HIV segment, making it more infectious.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Prof. Ralph S. Baric from the University of North Carolina also contributed to this research, thanks to several major financial grants he received from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is run by none other than Fauci.
“Fauci was a big proponent of ‘gain of function’ research, and when this was prohibited at Baric’s lab because it was considered to be too dangerous, the research was shifted to China,” writes Steven Mosher for LifeSiteNews.
As for a future vaccine, there is next to no chance that any of them will work, according to Tritto. This is largely due to the fact that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) keeps mutating into new, novel strains that strain-specific vaccines will not have the ability to target.
The other problem is that the CCP is currently withholding the original genetic code for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) from the rest of the world, which means no further advancements in targeting its specific “blueprints” can be achieved.
“In other words, China continues to lie, and people continue to die,” Mosher adds, pinning the blame for this crisis directly on China.
The latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is available at Pandemic.news.
Sources for this article include:
LifeSiteNews.com
NaturalNews.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--Magical, glowing “blue tears” in China’s seas are toxic and steadily growing every year, warn scient

Magical, glowing “blue tears” in China’s seas are toxic and steadily growing every year, warn scientists

( Natural News ) Tourists from all over China frequent the shores of Matsu Islands to see “ blue tears ” — an enchanting display of blue lights in the waters .
But as beautiful as blue tears are to behold , experts have warned that they are also toxic .
Blue tears are caused by the bloom of tiny , bioluminescent organisms called Noctiluca scintillans , a type of dinoflagellate phytoplankton that can release chemicals in the seawater and harm marine animals .
And according to a study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters , these dinoflagellates are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the researchers drew from satellite data to track the size of the bloom over time .
They analyzed almost 1,000 satellite images from 2000 to 2017 and discovered a signature unique to blue tears — that is , the wavelengths of light reflected by a particular creature but not others , functioning quite like a fingerprint .
Using the signature , the team found that the bloom of dinoflagellates is expanding farther off-shore and into deeper waters in recent years .
While blooms typically appear close to the shore , satellite images revealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farther out into the sea .
The analysis further showed that the bloom typically emerged between April and August for 18 years , which is within the summer period in China .
According to the researchers , the growth of the dinoflagellate bloom poses a major threat to marine animal health .
Blue tears can poison life forms in the sea , as well as make human beings sick .
Dinoflagellates are not toxic themselves , but when they start eating their food of choice — toxic algae — they release ammonia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
Furthermore , they take up oxygen until there ’ s none left in the surrounding waters .
“ The oxygen in the water is so low that many animals can die , ” said co-author Chanmin Hu , an oceanographer at the University of South Florida .
The cause of blue tears is undetermined , although the authors believe that a major factor in the dinoflagellate bloom is the fertilizer runoff that comes from the Yangtze River .
The river carries fertilizer waste and opens up to the East China Sea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nutrients that they need to thrive .
( Related : China faces worst flood in decades as Yangtze water levels reach record highs . )
The team added that blue tears were also smaller during the construction of the Three Gorges Dam from 2000 to 2003 .
During this period , the water flowing from the Yangtze river substantially decreased .
When the dam was completed , and the Yangtze river was flowing strongly again , the dinoflagellate bloom grew once again .
The bloom shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to illuminate the waters , just as it continues to harm marine life .
A close relative of blue tears is red tide — a term used to refer to a harmful algal bloom that occurs when colonies of algae grow out of control .
These colonies produce toxins that poison fish , shellfish , marine mammals , birds and humans .
And as its name suggests , red tide colors the water red , as well as brown and green .
Furthermore , a certain species of algae can also cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a toxin called brevetoxin is aerosolized .
When that happens , the toxin is easily blown to the beach and inhaled by humans in the area , manifesting as an asthma-like breathing difficulty .
However , not all harmful species of algae are toxic — a percentage of them can be destructive in other ways .
For example , when these non-toxic species die , oxygen levels in the waters drop due to the decomposition process .
As a result , marine animals are forced to leave the area or die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red tides is chemical runoff from farms , factories and sewage treatment plants .
Pollution.news has more on the health risks of algal blooms .

by: Virgilio Marin
(Natural News) Tourists from all over China frequent the shores of Matsu Islands to see “blue tears” — an enchanting display of blue lights in the waters. But as beautiful as blue tears are to behold, experts have warned that they are also toxic.
Blue tears are caused by the bloom of tiny, bioluminescent organisms called Noctiluca scintillans, a type of dinoflagellate phytoplankton that can release chemicals in the seawater and harm marine animals. And according to a study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, these dinoflagellates are steadily growing.
Toxic blue tears steadily glowing, growing
For the study, the researchers drew from satellite data to track the size of the bloom over time. They analyzed almost 1,000 satellite images from 2000 to 2017 and discovered a signature unique to blue tears — that is, the wavelengths of light reflected by a particular creature but not others, functioning quite like a fingerprint.
Using the signature, the team found that the bloom of dinoflagellates is expanding farther off-shore and into deeper waters in recent years. While blooms typically appear close to the shore, satellite images revealed that many of them are also located farther out into the sea. The analysis further showed that the bloom typically emerged between April and August for 18 years, which is within the summer period in China.
According to the researchers, the growth of the dinoflagellate bloom poses a major threat to marine animal health. Blue tears can poison life forms in the sea, as well as make human beings sick. Dinoflagellates are not toxic themselves, but when they start eating their food of choice — toxic algae — they release ammonia and other chemicals that poison the water around them. Furthermore, they take up oxygen until there’s none left in the surrounding waters.
“The oxygen in the water is so low that many animals can die,” said co-author Chanmin Hu, an oceanographer at the University of South Florida.
The cause of blue tears is undetermined, although the authors believe that a major factor in the dinoflagellate bloom is the fertilizer runoff that comes from the Yangtze River. The river carries fertilizer waste and opens up to the East China Sea, providing the organisms doses of the nutrients that they need to thrive. (Related: China faces worst flood in decades as Yangtze water levels reach record highs.)
The team added that blue tears were also smaller during the construction of the Three Gorges Dam from 2000 to 2003. During this period, the water flowing from the Yangtze river substantially decreased. When the dam was completed, and the Yangtze river was flowing strongly again, the dinoflagellate bloom grew once again.
The bloom shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon, said the researchers. It will continue to illuminate the waters, just as it continues to harm marine life.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Risks of red tide, a harmful algal bloom
A close relative of blue tears is red tide — a term used to refer to a harmful algal bloom that occurs when colonies of algae grow out of control. These colonies produce toxins that poison fish, shellfish, marine mammals, birds and humans. And as its name suggests, red tide colors the water red, as well as brown and green.
Furthermore, a certain species of algae can also cause respiratory problems when they get washed ashore, and a toxin called brevetoxin is aerosolized. When that happens, the toxin is easily blown to the beach and inhaled by humans in the area, manifesting as an asthma-like breathing difficulty.
However, not all harmful species of algae are toxic — a percentage of them can be destructive in other ways. For example, when these non-toxic species die, oxygen levels in the waters drop due to the decomposition process. As a result, marine animals are forced to leave the area or die.
One of the major causes of red tides is chemical runoff from farms, factories and sewage treatment plants.
Pollution.news has more on the health risks of algal blooms.
Sources include:
LiveScience.com
SciJinks.gov
Scripps.UCSD.edu


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--Fish bones dug up in Early Neolithic Jiahu site suggest carp farming dates back 8,000 years

( Natural News ) The ancient Chinese were engaged in aquaculture at least 4,500 years before the Egyptians , the civilization previously considered to be the first to attempt the farming of food fish , an international team of researchers and experts said recently .
The team , made up of researchers from Japan , China , Germany and the U.K. , came to the conclusion after examining artifacts and fossils gathered from a Neolithic , or Stone Age , settlement called Jiahu , in the present-day Henan Province in Central China .
The researchers found evidence that those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BC .
This discovery , the researchers said in an article published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution , pushes the genesis of aquaculture beyond 1,500 BC , the year in which the ancient Egyptians were believed to have started farming the Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) .
The researchers chose to excavate at Jiahu given its rich history as a “ metropolitan ” area , at least by Stone Age standards .
First discovered in 1962 , the ruins of Jiahu have since produced many relics signifying a complex society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wing bones of red-crowned cranes , which , according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art , are considered to be some of the earliest examples of playable musical instruments .
The site has also produced evidence of early attempts at animal husbandry , food fermentation and even the development of a written language .
( Related : Aquaculture could be the answer for sustainability of seafood supply chain , according to new study . )
For this particular study , the team of experts , which included researcher Mark Hudson of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Human History , excavated the site ’ s ancient trash heaps using a mesh sieve in order to filter out specimens of pharyngeal teeth – a specific type of bony structure found in many fish species – from the soil .
The collected pharyngeal teeth were compared to remains collected from sites from the same era in China and Japan , as well as modern-day carp sourced from a farm in Japan ’ s Matsukawa Village .
According to the researchers , the pharyngeal teeth found in the ancient trash heaps of Jiahu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lives .
Some were from sexually mature fish , while others were from much younger specimens .
This , the researchers said , is indicative of a managed system of carp aquaculture that was previously unidentified in Neolithic China .
This system involved catching large numbers of carp and other carp-like fish during the spawning season .
According to the researchers , while a large amount of the caught fish would be processed and preserved , several individual fish would be kept alive and then released into artificial ponds where they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fish in the artificial ponds would then be harvested once autumn rolled in .
Aside from the differences in the fishes ’ size , the researchers also found that 75 percent of the pharyngeal bones gathered at Jiahu belonged to the common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) , a species of medium to large-sized freshwater fish native to central Europe and several parts of Asia .
According to the experts , common carp , despite its name , is much harder to catch than another native species called the crucian carp ( Carassius @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of Jiahu developed aquaculture to make the harder-to-catch common carp much more accessible as a food source .
“ This seems to indicate a cultural preference for common carp , even though these would not have been the most abundant , ” said Tsuneo Nakajima of the Lake Biwa Museum in Japan , who led the research team .
The team ’ s findings suggest that three stages of aquaculture were developed in prehistoric East Asia .
The first stage involved fishing in the marshy areas where carp gather during spawning season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marshes would be managed by digging channels and controlling both water levels and circulation to trigger spawning in the fish .
According to the research team , by the time it reached its third stage , aquaculture became heavily dependent on constant human management such as the use of spawning beds to control the fishes ’ reproduction , as well as the construction of fish ponds or paddy fields to manage the growing spawn .
“ There has been a lot of research on domesticated plants and animals , but fish have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humans started to manage fish very early , ” Hudson said .
According to experts , the rudimentary attempts at aquaculture at Jiahu could have informed the further development of Chinese aquaculture , which peaked with the practice of Chinese Rice-Fish Culture , a farming method in which farmers stocked flooded rice fields with carp .
This practice , which was immortalized in the form of a Han Dynasty-era clay model of a rice paddy that held tiny clay fish , was dependent on the symbiotic relationship between the two organisms : when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeds and insect pests , while also providing natural fertilizer for the rice plants .
For more stories on fossils and other ancient discoveries , visit Artifacts.news .

by: Michael Alexander
(Natural News) The ancient Chinese were engaged in aquaculture at least 4,500 years before the Egyptians, the civilization previously considered to be the first to attempt the farming of food fish, an international team of researchers and experts said recently.
The team, made up of researchers from Japan, China, Germany and the U.K., came to the conclusion after examining artifacts and fossils gathered from a Neolithic, or Stone Age, settlement called Jiahu, in the present-day Henan Province in Central China.
The researchers found evidence that those who lived there were farming carp between 6,200-5700 BC. This discovery, the researchers said in an article published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, pushes the genesis of aquaculture beyond 1,500 BC, the year in which the ancient Egyptians were believed to have started farming the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).
The researchers chose to excavate at Jiahu given its rich history as a “metropolitan” area, at least by Stone Age standards.
First discovered in 1962, the ruins of Jiahu have since produced many relics signifying a complex society, such as flute fragments carved from the wing bones of red-crowned cranes, which, according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, are considered to be some of the earliest examples of playable musical instruments. The site has also produced evidence of early attempts at animal husbandry, food fermentation and even the development of a written language. (Related: Aquaculture could be the answer for sustainability of seafood supply chain, according to new study.)
For this particular study, the team of experts, which included researcher Mark Hudson of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, excavated the site’s ancient trash heaps using a mesh sieve in order to filter out specimens of pharyngeal teeth – a specific type of bony structure found in many fish species – from the soil.
The collected pharyngeal teeth were compared to remains collected from sites from the same era in China and Japan, as well as modern-day carp sourced from a farm in Japan’s Matsukawa Village.
According to the researchers, the pharyngeal teeth found in the ancient trash heaps of Jiahu belonged to fish at different points in their lives. Some were from sexually mature fish, while others were from much younger specimens.
This, the researchers said, is indicative of a managed system of carp aquaculture that was previously unidentified in Neolithic China. This system involved catching large numbers of carp and other carp-like fish during the spawning season.
According to the researchers, while a large amount of the caught fish would be processed and preserved, several individual fish would be kept alive and then released into artificial ponds where they were allowed to grow and spawn. The fish in the artificial ponds would then be harvested once autumn rolled in.
Aside from the differences in the fishes’ size, the researchers also found that 75 percent of the pharyngeal bones gathered at Jiahu belonged to the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), a species of medium to large-sized freshwater fish native to central Europe and several parts of Asia.
According to the experts, common carp, despite its name, is much harder to catch than another native species called the crucian carp (Carassius carassius). This suggested that the people of Jiahu developed aquaculture to make the harder-to-catch common carp much more accessible as a food source.
“This seems to indicate a cultural preference for common carp, even though these would not have been the most abundant,” said Tsuneo Nakajima of the Lake Biwa Museum in Japan, who led the research team.
The team’s findings suggest that three stages of aquaculture were developed in prehistoric East Asia. The first stage involved fishing in the marshy areas where carp gather during spawning season. By the second stage, these marshes would be managed by digging channels and controlling both water levels and circulation to trigger spawning in the fish.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
According to the research team, by the time it reached its third stage, aquaculture became heavily dependent on constant human management such as the use of spawning beds to control the fishes’ reproduction, as well as the construction of fish ponds or paddy fields to manage the growing spawn.
“There has been a lot of research on domesticated plants and animals, but fish have been poorly understood. This paper shows that humans started to manage fish very early,” Hudson said.
According to experts, the rudimentary attempts at aquaculture at Jiahu could have informed the further development of Chinese aquaculture, which peaked with the practice of Chinese Rice-Fish Culture, a farming method in which farmers stocked flooded rice fields with carp.
This practice, which was immortalized in the form of a Han Dynasty-era clay model of a rice paddy that held tiny clay fish, was dependent on the symbiotic relationship between the two organisms: when grown together, the carp feed on weeds and insect pests, while also providing natural fertilizer for the rice plants.
For more stories on fossils and other ancient discoveries, visit Artifacts.news.
Sources include:
ScienceDaily.com
Nature.com
FAO.org
ArsTechnica.com
BBC.co.uk
MetMuseum.org
TheHinduBusinessLine.com
ScienceDirect.com
AtlasObscura.com


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--Mayor Ted Wheeler on Twitter: “Today, I sent this letter via email to Donald Trump declining his rec

Mayor Ted Wheeler on Twitter: “Today, I sent this letter via email to Donald Trump declining his recurring offer to aid Portland by sending federal enforcement to the city.”… ANTIFA & BLM outside the Mayor’s place demanding he resign.

Antifa and BLM are flashing strobe lights into @ tedwheeler ’ s condo building in NW Portland .
They ’ @ @ @ @ @ concert on the street , blocking the road .
In the condo lobby , occupiers @ @ @ @ @ he resign .
pic.twitter.com/pdP7CUzUnf

Antifa and BLM are flashing strobe lights into @tedwheeler’s condo building in NW Portland. They’re also hosting a metal concert on the street, blocking the road. In the condo lobby, occupiers have chained themselves together demanding he resign. pic.twitter.com/pdP7CUzUnf
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 29, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--WHY PEOPLE DON’T TRUST “PUBLIC HEALTH” EXPERTS ANYMORE

And they ’ ve already set the precedent that in the event of a “ public health crisis ” they @ @ @ @ @ of your constitutional rights and assume police-state powers on an essentially permanent basis .

CNN guest Dr. Rob Davidson says that social distancing isn't as big of a concern at the March on Washington as it was last night at President Trump's speech because "this is a public health crisis they are marching against. Systemic racism has taken so many lives in this country" pic.twitter.com/OlrY3yMmin — Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 28, 2020
CNN did not identify Rob Davidson as a former Democrat candidate for Congress. Only as “emergency room physician” who is giving selective and dangerous medical advice apparently. t.co/ohtgRT7DLP pic.twitter.com/pYcWdyTnrV — Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) August 28, 2020
And they’ve already set the precedent that in the event of a “public health crisis” they can and will suspend all of your constitutional rights and assume police-state powers on an essentially permanent basis.
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h/t GR


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--Rep. Jim Banks Plan Strips Rioters of Federal Unemployment Benefits

Good .
Hit them where it hurts !
!
!
Rep. Jim Banks ( R-IN ) is introducing legislation this @ @ @ @ @ learned , to strip convicted rioters of federal unemployment benefits and have them pay the @ @ @ @ @ riots .
Banks ’ legislation , known as the Support Peaceful Protest Act , would @ @ @ @ @ violence , vandalism , or looting must pay restitution to cover the cost of federal @ @ @ @ @ riot at which they were arrested .
In addition , Banks ’ plan would mandate @ @ @ @ @ for federal unemployment benefits during the Chinese coronavirus crisis .
Some are currently receiving hundreds @ @ @ @ @ benefits .

Good. Hit them where it hurts!!!
Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) is introducing legislation this week, Breitbart News has learned, to strip convicted rioters of federal unemployment benefits and have them pay the cost of federal policing of riots.
Banks’ legislation, known as the Support Peaceful Protest Act, would ensure that rioters convicted of violence, vandalism, or looting must pay restitution to cover the cost of federal law enforcement policing of the riot at which they were arrested.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
In addition, Banks’ plan would mandate that convicted rioters become ineligible for federal unemployment benefits during the Chinese coronavirus crisis. Some are currently receiving hundreds of dollars in extra unemployment benefits.
www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/08/28/exclusive-jim-banks-plan-strips-rioters-federal-unemployment-benefits/


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--2020 Will Be a Record-Breaking Year for Debt. How Long Can This Last?

The deficit narrowed during July after months of record shortfalls in federal tax revenues .
During April , May , and June of this year deficits surges to unprecedented highs as economic activity dried up , workers were furloughed and laid off , and tax payments were deferred .
Nevertheless , according to the Treasury Department ’ s latest report on tax receipts and federal outlays , the gap between tax receipts and federal spending narrowed sizably during July .
Although outlays increased to $ 626 billion during July ( a 68 percent increase over July 2019 ) , tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During recent months , tax receipts have been anemic at best , with totals ranging from $ 173 billion to $ 249 billion since March 2020 .
July ’ s surge in revenue , however , does not indicate an improvement in the economy .
Normally , tax receipts peak in April , but due to the covid-19 panic this year , tax deadlines were deferred , and those deferred receipts began to show up in Treasury data in July .
July ’ s receipt totals reflect previous economic activity from before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity due to “ social distancing.
” In other words , it is likely that receipts will worsen significantly as we approach the end of the fiscal year , which ends on September 30 .
If so , we can expect the federal deficit to grow even more , bringing it to a new all-time high for the 2020 fiscal year .
Indeed , for this fiscal year through July , the federal deficit increased by more than 200 percent from 2019 , rising to $ 2.8 trillion .
For the same period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the deficit was $ 866 billion .
The last time the deficit even came close was when it topped $ 1.2 trillion for the same period of the 2009 fiscal year .
Poised to add more than $ 3 trillion to the national debt in 2020 , the US is borrowing more than ever , and committing to ever larger dollar amounts that must be paid on the approximately $ 25 trillion debt .
So what kinds of debt payments are we looking at ?
Even before the covid-19 crisis hit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US would pay more than $ 400 billion in 2020 ( compared to approximately $ 650 billion for the defense budget ) .
Except now the US is paying around $ 2 trillion more than was expected under last year ’ s estimates .
Moreover , the US is unlikely to be churning out any big surpluses any time soon .
It ’ s a safe bet that deficits will continue to mount , and with them will come more interest payments on the debt .
Most Americans don ’ t seem particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Pew Research Center suggests fewer than half of Americans rate the federal deficit as “ a very big problem.
” And why should they ?
Experience suggests that deficits—to use the words of former vice president Dick Cheney— “ don ’ t matter.
” After all , in recent years the Trump administration has racked up ever larger deficits , exceeding even $ 1 trillion in 2019 , and it ’ s unlikely that many Americans see any connection between deficits and economic malaise .
The problem of massive amounts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In some cases problems only become obvious when interest payments on the debt grow considerably and begin to eat up the rest of the budget .
For now , it may be that the Treasury is “ only ” paying around $ 400 billion .
But this is largely because the US pays such a low interest rate on the debt .
Indeed , the interest rates on US debt are at historic lows , with the thirty-year bond at under 1.5 percent and shorter-term bonds at even lower rates .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Congressional Budget Office expects interest rates to increase considerably in coming years .
And what if interest rates increase to even 3 percent—which would still be a very low rate historically ?
If that were to happen , total debt service paid on the debt could surge to a trillion dollars or more .
That ’ s an amount similar to the total paid out each year in Social Security right now .
If that were to happen , Congress would have to find that money somewhere .
To pay the interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds from Social Security , defense , infrastructure spending , Medicare , or somewhere else .
As government checks got smaller , the public would finally start to understand the problem with deficits .
Moreover , the more the US has to borrow money , the more it floods the marketplace with US bonds , which would tend to push up the interest rate paid .
After all , if a government ’ s going to be cranking out bonds seemingly without end , it will have to pay out more interest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bonds .
But there ’ s one big reason that even now , as the US adds another $ 3 trillion to the deficit overnight , interest rates aren ’ t going up .
That reason is the US ’ s central bank , the Federal Reserve .
Rather than face the music of paying more interest at higher rates—and cutting federal spending to do so—the central bank is helping keep interest rates low .
The Fed does this by buying up new US debt in the open market .
This helps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , keeping interest rates low .
In part , this is why the Fed ’ s balance sheet now tops $ 7 trillion .
The Fed has been buying up the US governments debts , among other assets , to so as keep interest rates low .
Of course , this doesn ’ t mean the problem is solved .
The central bank generally makes these purchases with newly created money .
That means the money supply grows , with resulting price inflation in both assets and consumer goods , all else being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downside of enormous and growing deficits is in a place many people wouldn ’ t think to look : in surging home prices , in rising food prices , and in a generally rising cost of living .
None of this is a particularly big problem for people who are already well-off or wealthy .
In fact , for those who work in the financial sector it ’ s a windfall .
But for people outside the financial sector , such as young couples looking to become first-time home buyers or single parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are less wonderful ; this relentless inflation can be a big problem indeed .
Politically , however , this scheme can be kept up for as long as the US dollar continues to be the world ’ s reserve currency .
When the dollar no longer has this advantage , the US will finally face a sovereign debt crisis .
But some observers apparently think this can still be avoided .
A recent quotation in The Hill shows the sorts of naïveté that still pervade among observers of American politics : Until the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dump the dollar as the reserve currency , or until interest rates in the US really start to climb , there will be no “ measures to bring the debt back down.
” We ’ re in a terminal debt spiral .
The only question is how long it will last until the patient succumbs.Author : Ryan McMaken ( @ ryanmcmaken ) is a senior editor at the Mises Institute .
Ryan has degrees in economics and political science from the University of Colorado and was a housing economist for the State of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commie Cowboys : The Bourgeoisie and the Nation-State in the Western Genre .

by Ryan McMaken of Mises Institute
The deficit narrowed during July after months of record shortfalls in federal tax revenues. During April, May, and June of this year deficits surges to unprecedented highs as economic activity dried up, workers were furloughed and laid off, and tax payments were deferred.
Nevertheless, according to the Treasury Department’s latest report on tax receipts and federal outlays, the gap between tax receipts and federal spending narrowed sizably during July. Although outlays increased to $626 billion during July (a 68 percent increase over July 2019), tax receipts surged to over $563 billion.
During recent months, tax receipts have been anemic at best, with totals ranging from $173 billion to $249 billion since March 2020. July’s surge in revenue, however, does not indicate an improvement in the economy. Normally, tax receipts peak in April, but due to the covid-19 panic this year, tax deadlines were deferred, and those deferred receipts began to show up in Treasury data in July.
Expect More Huge Growth in Deficits
July’s receipt totals reflect previous economic activity from before the mandated lockdowns and declines in economic activity due to “social distancing.” In other words, it is likely that receipts will worsen significantly as we approach the end of the fiscal year, which ends on September 30.
If so, we can expect the federal deficit to grow even more, bringing it to a new all-time high for the 2020 fiscal year.
Indeed, for this fiscal year through July, the federal deficit increased by more than 200 percent from 2019, rising to $2.8 trillion. For the same period of 2019 (October through July), the deficit was $866 billion. The last time the deficit even came close was when it topped $1.2 trillion for the same period of the 2009 fiscal year.
Trillions in New Borrowing
Poised to add more than $3 trillion to the national debt in 2020, the US is borrowing more than ever, and committing to ever larger dollar amounts that must be paid on the approximately $25 trillion debt.
So what kinds of debt payments are we looking at? Even before the covid-19 crisis hit, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the US would pay more than $400 billion in 2020 (compared to approximately $650 billion for the defense budget). Except now the US is paying around $2 trillion more than was expected under last year’s estimates.
Moreover, the US is unlikely to be churning out any big surpluses any time soon. It’s a safe bet that deficits will continue to mount, and with them will come more interest payments on the debt.
“Deficits Don’t Matter”
Most Americans don’t seem particularly concerned about this.
A recent survey from the Pew Research Center suggests fewer than half of Americans rate the federal deficit as “a very big problem.” And why should they? Experience suggests that deficits—to use the words of former vice president Dick Cheney—“don’t matter.” After all, in recent years the Trump administration has racked up ever larger deficits, exceeding even $1 trillion in 2019, and it’s unlikely that many Americans see any connection between deficits and economic malaise.
The problem of massive amounts of deficit spending is more subtle than that.
In some cases problems only become obvious when interest payments on the debt grow considerably and begin to eat up the rest of the budget.
For now, it may be that the Treasury is “only” paying around $400 billion. But this is largely because the US pays such a low interest rate on the debt. Indeed, the interest rates on US debt are at historic lows, with the thirty-year bond at under 1.5 percent and shorter-term bonds at even lower rates.
There are unusually low rates, and even the Congressional Budget Office expects interest rates to increase considerably in coming years.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
And what if interest rates increase to even 3 percent—which would still be a very low rate historically? If that were to happen, total debt service paid on the debt could surge to a trillion dollars or more. That’s an amount similar to the total paid out each year in Social Security right now. If that were to happen, Congress would have to find that money somewhere. To pay the interest, they’d have to cut funds from Social Security, defense, infrastructure spending, Medicare, or somewhere else.
As government checks got smaller, the public would finally start to understand the problem with deficits.
Turning Debt into Price Inflation
Moreover, the more the US has to borrow money, the more it floods the marketplace with US bonds, which would tend to push up the interest rate paid. After all, if a government’s going to be cranking out bonds seemingly without end, it will have to pay out more interest in order to convince investors to keep buying the bonds.
But there’s one big reason that even now, as the US adds another $3 trillion to the deficit overnight, interest rates aren’t going up.
That reason is the US’s central bank, the Federal Reserve. Rather than face the music of paying more interest at higher rates—and cutting federal spending to do so—the central bank is helping keep interest rates low.
The Fed does this by buying up new US debt in the open market. This helps keep demand for US debt instruments high, keeping interest rates low.
In part, this is why the Fed’s balance sheet now tops $7 trillion. The Fed has been buying up the US governments debts, among other assets, to so as keep interest rates low.
Of course, this doesn’t mean the problem is solved. The central bank generally makes these purchases with newly created money. That means the money supply grows, with resulting price inflation in both assets and consumer goods, all else being equal.
In other words, the downside of enormous and growing deficits is in a place many people wouldn’t think to look: in surging home prices, in rising food prices, and in a generally rising cost of living.
Making Income Inequality Worse
None of this is a particularly big problem for people who are already well-off or wealthy. In fact, for those who work in the financial sector it’s a windfall. But for people outside the financial sector, such as young couples looking to become first-time home buyers or single parents trying to make ends meet, things are less wonderful; this relentless inflation can be a big problem indeed.
Politically, however, this scheme can be kept up for as long as the US dollar continues to be the world’s reserve currency. When the dollar no longer has this advantage, the US will finally face a sovereign debt crisis.
But some observers apparently think this can still be avoided. A recent quotation in The Hill shows the sorts of naïveté that still pervade among observers of American politics:
“We have borrowed $2.8 trillion this year so far — triple what we borrowed last year,” said Maya MacGuineas, the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. “…it will need to be followed by measures to bring the debt back down once the economy has recovered,” she added.
Until the US really faces a global move to dump the dollar as the reserve currency, or until interest rates in the US really start to climb, there will be no “measures to bring the debt back down.” We’re in a terminal debt spiral. The only question is how long it will last until the patient succumbs.Author:
Contact Ryan McMaken
Ryan McMaken (@ryanmcmaken) is a senior editor at the Mises Institute. Ryan has degrees in economics and political science from the University of Colorado and was a housing economist for the State of Colorado. He is the author of Commie Cowboys: The Bourgeoisie and the Nation-State in the Western Genre.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--Speculative options trading reached the equivalent of 12% of NYSE volume last week. Like some combus

Speculative options trading reached the equivalent of 12% of NYSE volume last week. Like some combustible combo of musical chairs, Russian roulette, and five finger fillet. How many traders can dance upon the head of a pin? pic.twitter.com/nsCeyKH093 — SentimenTrader (@sentimentrader) August 29, 2020
AAPL just 2% away from surpassing the entire Russell 2000. This is absolute insanity pic.twitter.com/mblZO5TAZv — zerohedge (@zerohedge) August 28, 2020
People actually think the market cant have a 10% pullback between now and a close election? Craziness — BLACK SWAN (@RetirementRight) August 29, 2020
People say this divergence can go on for weeks. That is true but during those weeks they will have big drops followed by rallies to marginal higher highs. By the time the big sell off begins, no one will be short the market because of the whipsaws they had. That is why VIX rising pic.twitter.com/MEKcVsFn6Y — xTrends (@xtrends) August 28, 2020
People say this divergence can go on for weeks. That is true but during those weeks they will have big drops followed by rallies to marginal higher highs. By the time the big sell off begins, no one will be short the market because of the whipsaws they had. That is why VIX rising pic.twitter.com/MEKcVsFn6Y — xTrends (@xtrends) August 28, 2020
This is the greatest heist ever done to humanity They will make everyone dependent on the FED and Government What we’re seeing has never happened prior #Merica — Farris BABA (@farrisbaba) August 28, 2020
You just came back from Mars:
The just Fed printed $2.8T in 6 months.
Reduced rates to 0%.
Deficits shot up to WW2 levels.
Would you have guessed that policy makers would still be fighting DEFLATION?
⁰
None of us own enough gold.t.co/FQJDdw6aBI pic.twitter.com/dByPy8sXZ7 — Otavio (Tavi) Costa (@TaviCosta) August 29, 2020
The number of Americans who say they can’t afford enough food for themselves or their children is growing and is likely to get larger now some government benefits have expired t.co/bwd9xX2P7x — Real Time Economics (@WSJecon) August 29, 2020
A record day for Mini VIX Futures yesterday as over 100,000 contracts traded for the first time, the $VIX Index continues to rise alongside the S&P 500, the Oct/Nov $VIX futures spread widens & @RussellRhoads breaks down $VIX options trading from yesterday & today. pic.twitter.com/T0SUW2X3hK — Cboe (@CBOE) August 28, 2020
Recession probability according to prices pic.twitter.com/d9C8tgsNEF — Win Smart, CFA (@WinfieldSmart) August 27, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--Police are trying to break up the the #Berlin protest.  The protesters are refusing to move screamin

Police are trying to break up the the #Berlin protest.  The protesters are refusing to move screaming “We stay here.”

Police are trying to break up the the # Berlin protest .
The protesters are refusing to move screaming `` @ @ @ @ @ # Berlin2908 # MerkelMussWeg # Covid19pic.twitter.com/SWg2GkVQ7U

Police are trying to break up the the #Berlin protest.
The protesters are refusing to move screaming "We stay here."#Berlin2908#MerkelMussWeg #Covid19pic.twitter.com/SWg2GkVQ7U
— Ian56 (@Ian56789) August 29, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-29--Julian Assange Is IN DANGER! – Health DETERIORATING According To Partner!

Josh Sigurdson reports on recent news that Julian Assange of Wikileaks who ’ s been kept secluded in prison without @ @ @ @ @ family or lawyers in London is in a health decline according to his partner who @ @ @ @ @ see him for the first time in 6 months with his children .
According to @ @ @ @ @ s partner , she was finally able to visit the imprisoned journalist after months of @ @ @ @ @ only to find that he was looking extremely thin and frail .
He was told @ @ @ @ @ his family members or else be forced into solitary confinement .
Assange is in prison @ @ @ @ @ ’ s it .
Completely victimless unless you count the criminals he has exposed .
@ @ @ @ @ re even talking about this should be worrying for everyone .
Earlier this year , @ @ @ @ @ that Assange was being physically and mentally tortured in prison .

Josh Sigurdson reports on recent news that Julian Assange of Wikileaks who’s been kept secluded in prison without being able to contact his family or lawyers in London is in a health decline according to his partner who was finally able to go see him for the first time in 6 months with his children.
According to Stella Morris, Assange’s partner, she was finally able to visit the imprisoned journalist after months of being unable to contact him only to find that he was looking extremely thin and frail. He was told he couldn’t touch his family members or else be forced into solitary confinement.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Assange is in prison for sharing information. That’s it. Completely victimless unless you count the criminals he has exposed. The fact that we’re even talking about this should be worrying for everyone.
Earlier this year, a UN torture expert ruled that Assange was being physically and mentally tortured in prison.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-31--90% of Covid Not Carrying Enough to Infect Others

So this whole pandemic is unraveling… Up to 90 percent of people tested for COVID-19 in Massachusetts , New York @ @ @ @ @ barely any traces of the virus and it could be because today ’ s tests @ @ @ @ @ , experts say .
Health experts say PCR testing – the most widely used diagnostic @ @ @ @ @ US – are too sensitive and need to be adjusted to rule out people who @ @ @ @ @ virus in their systems because they ’ re likely not contagious .
Today the PCR @ @ @ @ @ yes or no answer if a patient is infected , doesn ’ t say how @ @ @ @ @ patient has in their body .
PCR tests analyze genetic matter from the virus in @ @ @ @ @ tests typically take 37 or 40 cycles , but experts say this is too high @ @ @ @ @ amounts of the virus that don ’ t pose a risk .

So this whole pandemic is unraveling…
From DailyMail Online
Up to 90 percent of people tested for COVID-19 in Massachusetts, New York and Nevada in July carried barely any traces of the virus and it could be because today’s tests are ‘too sensitive’, experts say.
Health experts say PCR testing – the most widely used diagnostic test for COVID-19 in the US – are too sensitive and need to be adjusted to rule out people who have insignificant amounts of the virus in their systems because they’re likely not contagious.
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Today the PCR test, which provides a yes or no answer if a patient is infected, doesn’t say how much of the virus a patient has in their body.
PCR tests analyze genetic matter from the virus in cycles and today’s tests typically take 37 or 40 cycles, but experts say this is too high because it detects very small amounts of the virus that don’t pose a risk.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8679307/Experts-say-USs-coronavirus-positivity-rate-high-tests-sensitive.html


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-31--Tennesseans begin receiving $900 LWA unemployment payment

NASHVILLE , Tenn. ( WTVF ) — Federal unemployment money from President Donald Trump ’ s executive action is now being shared across the state .
If you haven ’ t checked your bank account yet , it may be time to do so .
As we expected , Tennessee was one of the first states to begin processing the Lost Wages Assistance grant .
So if you ’ ve been waiting for the money to arrive , Friday may just be that day .
Many across the state have already begun to see the $ 900 in either their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The $ 900 is made up of three payments of $ 300 each week , retroactive to August 1 .
To be eligible you must have lost your job because of COVID-19 and you ’ ve already been eligible for at least $ 100 in unemployment benefits per week .
Yesterday FEMA approved two more states !
FEMA has now officially approved thirty-seven states to receive LWA .
Another state sending out payments retroactively for a total of six states now sending out LWA payments .
Two more states announced they may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LWA so now we have five states that could potentially be paying $ 400 per week .
And there are now two states so far that are now receiving 4 weeks of benefits from FEMA .
Exciting news that FEMA has more money to provide for LWA than expected and to states now are receiving four weeks ’ worth of payments .
At this point in time this isn ’ t for all states as FEMA originally guaranteed only three weeks of payments but FEMA some of the earlier states may receive this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two states are Arizona and Montana .
The now six states distributing LWA payments now include : Arizona , Texas , Louisiana Missouri , Tennessee , and Montana .
It is looking likely that most states will be sending out LWA payments in September .
California , New Mexico , and Utah payments will go out likely the first week of September .
Other states like Maryland and Colorado it ’ ll be late to mid to late September .
Distribution time depends on your state .
After your state applies and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state must distribute the funds and some states are saying this might take a while for their systems to implement .
Several states are already distributing funds while some other states that have been approved are saying they might not be able to distribute until as late as September or even October .
States that have either been silent or just simply have not managed to see any info on include Washington DC , North Dakota , Nebraska .
The states that have officially applied and are awaiting approval or have announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida , Hawaii , Illinois , Minnesota , Nevada , New Jersey , South Carolina , and Wisconsin .
The states that have officially announced they will be contributing an additional $ 100 per week to the LWA program so their unemployed receive $ 400 per week while the rest of the state will only receive $ 300 per week include Kentucky , West Virginia , Vermont , Kansas and Montana .
When you receive it , it will be retroactively back dated to August 1st according to the memorandum which is when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but claimants from some states are saying they are receiving it from the 8th .
For states approved FEMA , who is providing the funding , guarantees three weeks of benefits at $ 300 per week .
However exciting news from FEMA , that some of the first states may be receiving more than three weeks .
According to the executive memorandum if you collect $ 100 or more from your unemployment benefits you will receive this boost if you make less than $ 100 per week you are not eligible .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only a temporary form of aid and we need congress to step in and provide something more inclusive like we saw with FPUC .
South Dakota is the only state that has officially declined .
Now for the new states approved by FEMA .
www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/lost-… .
The 26 states in order by most recently approved : Aug 28 , 2020 : Wyoming , Oregon Aug 27 , 2020 : West Virginia Aug 26 , 2020 : Ohio , Virginia , Aug 25 , 2020 : Maine , Arkansas Aug 24 , 2020 : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hampshire Aug 23 , 2020 : New York , Alaska , Georgia Aug 22 , 2020 : Vermont , Mississippi , Tennessee , Rhode Island Aug 21 , 2020 : Massachusetts , Alabama , California , Indiana , North Carolina August 21 , 2020 : Texas August 21 , 2020 : Kentucky August 21 , 2020 : Michigan August 19 , 2020 : Maryland August 19 , 2020 : Idaho August 18 , 2020 : Oklahoma August 18 , 2020 : Montana August 16 , 2020 : Colorado , Missouri and Utah August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Louisiana , and New Mexico

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Federal unemployment money from President Donald Trump’s executive action is now being shared across the state. If you haven’t checked your bank account yet, it may be time to do so. As we expected, Tennessee was one of the first states to begin processing the Lost Wages Assistance grant. So if you’ve been waiting for the money to arrive, Friday may just be that day. Many across the state have already begun to see the $900 in either their bank accounts or their Way2Go cards. The $900 is made up of three payments of $300 each week, retroactive to August 1. To be eligible you must have lost your job because of COVID-19 and you’ve already been eligible for at least $100 in unemployment benefits per week.
www.newschannel5.com/rebound/tennesseans-begin-receiving-900-lwa-unemployment-payment
Yesterday FEMA approved two more states! FEMA has now officially approved thirty-seven states to receive LWA. Another state sending out payments retroactively for a total of six states now sending out LWA payments. Two more states announced they may be providing an extra $100 to the LWA so now we have five states that could potentially be paying $400 per week. And there are now two states so far that are now receiving 4 weeks of benefits from FEMA.
Exciting news that FEMA has more money to provide for LWA than expected and to states now are receiving four weeks’ worth of payments. At this point in time this isn’t for all states as FEMA originally guaranteed only three weeks of payments but FEMA some of the earlier states may receive this additional funding. Right now, those two states are Arizona and Montana.
The now six states distributing LWA payments now include: Arizona, Texas, Louisiana Missouri, Tennessee, and Montana. It is looking likely that most states will be sending out LWA payments in September. California, New Mexico, and Utah payments will go out likely the first week of September. Other states like Maryland and Colorado it’ll be late to mid to late September.
Distribution time depends on your state. After your state applies and is approved FEMA can provide funding however then the state must distribute the funds and some states are saying this might take a while for their systems to implement. Several states are already distributing funds while some other states that have been approved are saying they might not be able to distribute until as late as September or even October.
States that have either been silent or just simply have not managed to see any info on include Washington DC, North Dakota, Nebraska.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
The states that have officially applied and are awaiting approval or have announced they will be applying include Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.
The states that have officially announced they will be contributing an additional $100 per week to the LWA program so their unemployed receive $400 per week while the rest of the state will only receive $300 per week include Kentucky, West Virginia, Vermont, Kansas and Montana.
When you receive it, it will be retroactively back dated to August 1st according to the memorandum which is when FPUC the $600 weekly boost expired but claimants from some states are saying they are receiving it from the 8th. For states approved FEMA, who is providing the funding, guarantees three weeks of benefits at $300 per week. However exciting news from FEMA, that some of the first states may be receiving more than three weeks.
According to the executive memorandum if you collect $100 or more from your unemployment benefits you will receive this boost if you make less than $100 per week you are not eligible. This serves as a reminder that this is only a temporary form of aid and we need congress to step in and provide something more inclusive like we saw with FPUC.
South Dakota is the only state that has officially declined.
Now for the new states approved by FEMA. www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/lost-…. The 26 states in order by most recently approved:
Aug 28, 2020: Wyoming, Oregon
Aug 27, 2020: West Virginia
Aug 26, 2020: Ohio, Virginia,
Aug 25, 2020: Maine, Arkansas
Aug 24, 2020: Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Washington, New Hampshire
Aug 23, 2020: New York, Alaska, Georgia
Aug 22, 2020: Vermont, Mississippi, Tennessee, Rhode Island
Aug 21, 2020: Massachusetts, Alabama, California, Indiana, North Carolina
August 21, 2020: Texas
August 21, 2020: Kentucky
August 21, 2020: Michigan
August 19, 2020: Maryland
August 19, 2020: Idaho
August 18, 2020: Oklahoma
August 18, 2020: Montana
August 16, 2020: Colorado, Missouri and Utah
August 15, 2020: Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, and New Mexico


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-31--LIFE IN THE BLUE ZONES: Mayor Bill De Blasio Plans 22,000 Layoffs, As People Flee New York City In D

LIFE IN THE BLUE ZONES: Mayor Bill De Blasio Plans 22,000 Layoffs, As People Flee New York City In Droves.

New York City may lay off tens of thousands of municipal workers .
Even with this massive downsizing , it won ’ t be enough to stem the financial hemorrhaging plaguing the city .
The Wall Street Journal reported that roughly 22,000 government workers need to be let go to close a $ 9 billion deficit that continues to grow .
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said about the dire situation , “ Here is a way to think about it—for every hundred million dollars in city budget—that ’ s about 2,200 city employees , on average.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1 billion dollar gap would mean laying off 22,000 city employees , which is a staggering number.
” New York has about 330,000 municipal workers .
For several months , New York City held the unwanted title of America ’ s epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic .
Similar to other large cities , businesses were ordered to close and residents told to stay indoors .
New York heavily relies upon its bustling commerce , entertainment and social activities to draw in and keep people .
Without restaurants , concerts , museums , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the other boroughs ( New York City comprises of five boroughs ) , the city has quickly changed .
Residents have fled the city .
As people ceased commuting into New York , worked remotely , businesses shut their doors and social activities have halted , revenues to companies have plummeted .
As businesses of all sizes saw their profits evaporate , the city government received significantly less in tax collection .

via forbes:
New York City may lay off tens of thousands of municipal workers. Even with this massive downsizing, it won’t be enough to stem the financial hemorrhaging plaguing the city.
The Wall Street Journal reported that roughly 22,000 government workers need to be let go to close a $9 billion deficit that continues to grow.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said about the dire situation, “Here is a way to think about it—for every hundred million dollars in city budget—that’s about 2,200 city employees, on average.” He added, “To close a $1 billion dollar gap would mean laying off 22,000 city employees, which is a staggering number.” New York has about 330,000 municipal workers.
For several months, New York City held the unwanted title of America’s epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic. Similar to other large cities, businesses were ordered to close and residents told to stay indoors.
New York heavily relies upon its bustling commerce, entertainment and social activities to draw in and keep people. Without restaurants, concerts, museums, sporting events and people commuting into Manhattan from the other boroughs (New York City comprises of five boroughs), the city has quickly changed. Residents have fled the city.
As people ceased commuting into New York, worked remotely, businesses shut their doors and social activities have halted, revenues to companies have plummeted. As businesses of all sizes saw their profits evaporate, the city government received significantly less in tax collection.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-31--Peter Schiff: Inflation will destroy the dollar and the economy

• Fed changes the rules for inflation target calculations .
• Prices go up when people aren ’ t working @ @ @ @ @ class will be impoverished Into lower class .
• What Trump Steaks may teach us @ @ @ @ @ Peter Schiff is an internationally recognized economist specializing in the foreign equity , currency and @ @ @ @ @ made his name as President and Chief Global Strategist of Euro Pacific Capital .
He @ @ @ @ @ economic and investment conferences , and is quoted often in the print media , including @ @ @ @ @ and .
His broadcast credits include regular guest appearances on CNBC , Fox Business , @ @ @ @ @ Fox News Channel , as well as hosting his own weekly radio show , Wall @ @ @ @ @ s also the author of the bestselling books : Crash Proof 2.0 , The Little @ @ @ @ @ Bear Markets : , and The Real Crash : America ’ s Coming Bankruptcy – @ @ @ @ @ Your Country .

YouTube/PeterSchiff, Released on 8/28/20
Topics:
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
Fed changes the rules for inflation target calculations.
Markets react to Powell’s announcement.
Prices go up when people aren’t working.
Majority of middle class will be impoverished Into lower class.
Gold’s resistance has become support.
What Trump Steaks may teach us about the Trump Economy.
Peter Schiff is an internationally recognized economist specializing in the foreign equity, currency and gold markets. Mr. Schiff made his name as President and Chief Global Strategist of Euro Pacific Capital. He frequently delivers lectures at major economic and investment conferences, and is quoted often in the print media, including the Wall Street Journal , New York Times , Barron’s , BusinessWeek , Time and Fortune . His broadcast credits include regular guest appearances on CNBC, Fox Business, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News Channel, as well as hosting his own weekly radio show, Wall Street Unspun. He’s also the author of the bestselling books: Crash Proof 2.0, The Little Book of Bull Moves in Bear Markets:, and The Real Crash: America’s Coming Bankruptcy – How to Save Yourself and Your Country.


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-31--List of DAs who have received Soros donations.

A Soros PAC spent $ 750k supporting a State Attorney candidate that lost the Dem nomination in Broward this month @

by Smubbs
Definitely not a complete list.
We are primarily funded by readers. Please subscribe and donate to support us!
A Soros PAC spent $750k supporting a State Attorney candidate that lost the Dem nomination in Broward this month.
www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-ne-broward-sao-pac-money-20200814-phgj6qytuzevhmths3w2drsul4-story.html


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-31--People have gathered near the State House in Boston to protest the mandatory flu shot for all studen

HAPPENING NOW : People have gathered near the State House in Boston to protest the mandatory flu shot for all @ @ @ @ @ child care to college .
pic.twitter.com/Jg6uHrx9kf

HAPPENING NOW: People have gathered near the State House in Boston to protest the mandatory flu shot for all students in Massachusetts, from child care to college. pic.twitter.com/Jg6uHrx9kf
— TheSharpEdge (@TheSharpEdge1) August 30, 2020


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-31--What’s this? A poll actually shows Donald Trump in the lead?

Democracy Institute shows Trump up nationally and in battlegrounds The poll was run by the Democracy Institute in concert with the Sunday Express .
Donald Trump is on course to win the US presidential election with a three-point lead over Joe Biden , a shock poll suggests .
In the latest monthly Democracy Institute ( DI ) /Sunday Express poll , President Trump has 48 per cent of the popular support over the former vice president ’ s 45 per cent .
In the key swing states the gap is even bigger , with 49 per cent for Trump to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President a seven-point lead .
The DI polls have consistently shown more positive results for the President than other surveys .
While most suggest a Democrat lead , the monthly DI polls have been more favourable to Trump .
DI showed him ahead last month and even further ahead now .
It carried out its poll by contacting a weighted sample of 1,500 people and playing them a series of recorded questions .
They answered via their telephone keypads .
Polling by the institute has previously accurately predicted both the 2016 US election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the Democracy Institute , said : “ In any political campaign , there ’ s a moment that tells you which way the electoral wind is blowing .
That moment arrived on Wednesday .
Joe Biden restated his support for peaceful protests but , crucially , condemned the violence that has come to dominate the months- long nationwide protest movement .
When a candidate changes his tune three quarters of the way through a race , it is not because he knows he holds a winning hand .
He does so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his feet .
”

by Jock_Sniffer
Democracy Institute shows Trump up nationally and in battlegrounds
Enthusiasm gap is huge.
Very supportive
Trump 82%
Biden 40%
The poll was run by the Democracy Institute in concert with the Sunday Express.
www.express.co.uk/news/world/1329181/us-election-2020-donald-trump-joe-biden
Donald Trump is on course to win the US presidential election with a three-point lead over Joe Biden, a shock poll suggests. In the latest monthly Democracy Institute (DI)/Sunday Express poll, President Trump has 48 per cent of the popular support over the former vice president’s 45 per cent. In the key swing states the gap is even bigger, with 49 per cent for Trump to 42 per cent for Biden giving the President a seven-point lead. The DI polls have consistently shown more positive results for the President than other surveys. While most suggest a Democrat lead, the monthly DI polls have been more favourable to Trump.
DI showed him ahead last month and even further ahead now. It carried out its poll by contacting a weighted sample of 1,500 people and playing them a series of recorded questions. They answered via their telephone keypads. Polling by the institute has previously accurately predicted both the 2016 US election result and Brexit.
Patrick Basham, director of the Democracy Institute, said: “In any political campaign, there’s a moment that tells you which way the electoral wind is blowing. That moment arrived on Wednesday. Joe Biden restated his support for peaceful protests but, crucially, condemned the violence that has come to dominate the months- long nationwide protest movement. When a candidate changes his tune three quarters of the way through a race, it is not because he knows he holds a winning hand. He does so because the electoral ground is shifting beneath his feet.”


investmentwatchblog--2020-08-31--JOSEPH CAMPBELL: Why polling failure is often journalistic failure.

For confirmation , we need to look no further than 2016 , when polls misfired in key states such as Michigan , Wisconsin and Pennsylvania .
Narrow wins there propelled Trump to an unexpected Electoral College victory , despite his losing the national popular vote .
State polls were important to the forecast models of , among others , HuffPost , which declared just before the election that Clinton ’ s probability of victory was 98.2 percent , that she would “ fairly easily hold onto Michigan , Wisconsin and Pennsylvania , ” and that Trump had “ essentially no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a brave and revealing mea culpa two days after the election , HuffPost ’ s polling director , Natalie Jackson , wrote : “ The problem was that I placed way too much faith in polls .
I assumed they would be right .
… I kept looking at the consistency of the polls .
They wavered in the exact margins , sure , but always showed Clinton winning in the key states that she needed to win .
I saw no reason to question that the polls would be accurate overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the numbers — as anyone who trusts their work does .
That ’ s left me eating some crow .
”

via thehill:
For confirmation, we need to look no further than 2016, when polls misfired in key states such as Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Narrow wins there propelled Trump to an unexpected Electoral College victory, despite his losing the national popular vote.
State polls were important to the forecast models of, among others, HuffPost, which declared just before the election that Clinton’s probability of victory was 98.2 percent, that she would “fairly easily hold onto Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania,” and that Trump had “essentially no path to an Electoral College victory.”
In a brave and revealing mea culpa two days after the election, HuffPost’s polling director, Natalie Jackson, wrote: “The problem was that I placed way too much faith in polls. I assumed they would be right. … I kept looking at the consistency of the polls. They wavered in the exact margins, sure, but always showed Clinton winning in the key states that she needed to win. I saw no reason to question that the polls would be accurate overall. So I defended and stood by the numbers — as anyone who trusts their work does. That’s left me eating some crow.”