Not only are blue cities allowing criminals to run rampant, but they are also denying it’s happening. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis dismissed anger over Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua taking over apartment buildings in the Denver suburb of Aurora, calling it “imagination” — despite video footage, police reports, and the city’s mayor confirming it’s happening. […] The post They Knew for Weeks That Tren de Aragua Took Over Buildings appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

We knew the Inflation Reduction Act was never about reducing inflation. The money was all geared to The Green New Deal initiatives -waste. Joe Biden admitted it today. As Ben Shapiro said in August 2022, “It’s amazing how fast the “Inflation Reduction Act” became a “Climate Law,” and now we find out that it grants unfettered […] The post Biden Admits Inflation Reduction Act Is Really Green New Deal appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

'We're happy. He's killing it'

And let the Jim Harbaugh era commence

'Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will not appear on the ballot'

Tim Walz Trolls Self

Regardless of how the Biden-Harris administration downplays and denies it, grocery prices are rising, and Americans are struggling to put food on the table. Americans are spending the highest percentage of their income on food in three decades, with no sign of slowing down. By the end of last year, the average person was spending 25% more for the same grocery store products as they were four years earlier. The trend is continuing: Groceries had already jumped 1.1% in cost on average by June of this year, and there is no end in sight. There are many reasons for this, including rising transport costs, higher minimum wage, and rising input price pressures, but there’s another factor to consider that should scare everyone who likes to eat: dynamic pricing. Kroger insists that its ESL system is lowering prices for shoppers. A recent letter from Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) to the CEO of the Kroger grocery store chain raises concerns about potential price gouging via electronic shelving labels. They claim that chains like Kroger use “Electronic Shelving Labels (ESLs), to surge grocery prices and exploit working families. Digital price tags allow corporations to engage in dynamic pricing — changing the prices of goods based on temporary factors including the time of day or the weather.” Consumer Choice Center media director Stephen Kent disagrees, saying, “Senator Elizabeth Warren has actively misled the media about Kroger's electronic price tags featured in a number of its stores. In theory, they could be used to enact dynamic pricing at the push of a button, but there is no evidence they've done this. Surge pricing is a staple of hospitality, entertainment, and transportation, and in a free market, you'd also see that in the grocery sector.” Paper labels take a long time to go through and change, but ESLs can be changed in seconds. America’s largest grocery chain, Kroger, has been utilizing this technology in some locations since 2018 and currently uses it in around 500 of its stores nationwide, and Walmart uses it at around 2,300 locations. Surge pricing is nothing new on rideshare apps and online travel booking, but bringing it to necessities and everyday activities like shopping represents a new assault on consumers whose wallets are already being drained of life. Kent disagrees, saying, “Instantaneous adjustments based on supply and demand is not malicious. If a truck hauling watermelons to a Kroger store tips over and loses that supply, why wouldn't that store then put a premium on the watermelons they have in stock? The thing about consumers is that when items are priced beyond what they're willing to pay, they don't buy it.” andresr/Getty However, it seems this ability to change prices so rapidly could lead to even greater potential danger when technology like facial recognition is implemented to gauge customer demographics and buying habits. With this, restaurants and grocery stores are trying to squeeze every last penny possible from consumers and track their every step. This isn’t speculation or a “what if.” Kroger and Walgreens have already been sued for using facial recognition technology without consent, and it's part of a broader trend. As Corey Mintz explains of food chains using AI: McDonald’s has been testing out AI since 2019, using license plates to identify repeat customers (with consent) and customize ordering suggestions at the drive-thru. More recently, Point Jupiter, a company that conducted a trial of face-recognition software within McDonald’s ordering kiosks, was able to scan users’ faces, recognizing their "gender, estimated age, and sentiment" in order to make meal recommendations. Part of the goal is to target working individuals at the time of day when they are hungriest and near a drive-thru and to track user buying habits on a more precise level when they are grocery shopping. Senator Casey’s proposed Price Gouging Prevention Act and Shrinkflation Prevention Act both propose giving the Federal Trade Commission and state AGs the power to enforce rules against this, including stopping restaurants and corporations from selling smaller amounts of food at the same price. A 2023 UCLA analysis on ESLs found that “the increase in the retailers’ profits may not be able to offset the decrease in consumer welfare, and could reduce the social welfare below the status quo” and further posits that “time-based pricing creates value for the stores (through higher prices) [but] offers no benefit to consumers.” But Kent says the concerns are overblown and politicized, claiming that “ESLs make it easier for stores to restock shelves and rearrange items, and they also make it possible to lower prices in a hurry when a sale is coming down from corporate to individual stores. There's a misplaced level of focus on higher prices when we all know that grocery stores slash prices regularly on popular items.” Select states, such as Illinois, have implemented stricter privacy laws regarding the unauthorized use of facial recognition, but surge pricing, which could quickly creep into dynamic pricing, remains very much in play. “In addition to price gouging, the EDGE Shelf helps Kroger gather and exploit sensitive consumer data,” claim Warren and Casey. “Through a partnership with Microsoft, Kroger plans to place cameras at its digital displays, which will use facial recognition tools to determine the gender and age of a customer captured on camera and present them with personalized offers and advertisements.” Kroger insists that its ESL system is lowering prices for shoppers. In a statement to Blaze News, a spokesperson for Kroger responded, “Kroger’s business model is to lower prices over time so that more customers shop with us, which leads to more revenue that we then invest in lower prices, higher wages, and an even better shopping experience.” Kroger emphasized that “everything we do is designed to support this strategy, and customers are shopping more with Kroger now than ever because we are fighting inflation and providing great value. Any test of electronic shelf tags is to lower prices more for customers where it matters most. To suggest otherwise is not true.”

Since becoming the Democratic nominee last month, Kamala Harris has been hard at work reinventing herself as a “moderate.” To distract voters from her extreme left-wing record, Harris’ campaign has been focused on constructing a popular agenda on the fly, even taking positions contrary to those she espoused previously.In fact, one might boil down the Harris campaign’s strategy to three words: “Just copy Trump.”People strongly oppose Kamala Harris’ radical cultural agenda, and these are perhaps the only toxic left-wing policies she can’t afford to disavow.This has gone beyond merely flip-flopping to avoid political liability. Harris is actively plagiarizing her opponent’s policy agenda — and in some cases doing so word for word.On crime, for example, despite previously praising “defund the police,” bailing out Black Lives Matter rioters, and supporting “police reform,” Harris now identifies as a tough-on-crime “prosecutor.”On immigration, she now professes to be a border hawk, ready to crack down on illegal border crossings and build the wall. She touts her support for a fake, “bipartisan” immigration bill that nearly all Republicans opposed as evidence that she’s somehow tougher than Trump on the border.And on the economy, Harris has leaned into the inflation issue despite her incumbency, and she has even been willing to blatantly lift some of Trump’s most popular economic policies, such as his proposal to end federal taxes on tips.Alarmingly, Harris’ blatant attempts at imitation show signs of potential success. In 2022, Democrats used the same strategy, mimicking Republican messaging on immigration, crime, and the economy in nearly every tight race. They won almost all of those races.The reality is that Harris is an unknown quantity to millions of voters, having barely made an impression in the 2020 primaries and having skipped the nomination process entirely in 2024. The left’s activist class is perfectly willing to tolerate her current reinvention, and the media is eager to amplify her newfound moderation. All of this is a means to the end of defeating Donald Trump, and they’ll accept any temporary compromise so long as they accomplish that goal.Well, almost any temporary compromise.Harris has only one radical position she hasn't tried to moderate: transgender ideology. She remains firmly aligned with the radical stance, as left-wing activists refuse to let her shift her position even one inch.The Harris-Walz ticket has staked out the most extreme position on just about every gender-related issue. Both support bills that would force men into women’s sports and girls’ locker rooms. Both are all in on sex-change procedures for minors, including with taxpayer dollars. Both continue to defend keeping pornographic material in schools.Even if she wanted to, Harris couldn’t back away from these policy commitments. Over the summer, for example, the Biden administration tried to meekly suggest that, while it supported puberty blockers and cross-sex drugs, it opposed performing sex-change surgeries on children. But even this was too much for the transgender lobby. The backlash from the far left was so intense that the administration was forced to walk the statement back within 24 hours.This is Harris and the Democrats’ Achilles’ heel. It’s the mother of all political weaknesses. It’s what should ultimately cost her the election in November.Fortunately, the Trump campaign has been ahead of the curve on these issues, highlighting the Democrats’ extremism for weeks. This is the right strategy. Republicans must continue doing everything in their power to emphasize this contrast between now and Election Day, including by running ads in swing states, like this one from the Senate Leadership Fund.This contrast is key. While these issues are great for rousing the base, they are also effective at persuading undecided voters. Americans oppose letting men compete in women’s sports by an incredible margin: 77% to 23%. They similarly oppose the idea of minors getting sex-change procedures: 68% to 31%. These are some of the biggest liabilities the left has on any issue.And we don’t just see this in polling. In focus groups my organization has conducted among swing voters, we have consistently found these to be some of the most effective issues to flip votes from Democrat to Republican. This shouldn’t come as a surprise — most voters aren’t on board with the crazy.Election Day is just two months away, but early voting begins in a matter of days. The Trump campaign, as well as House and Senate Republican campaigns, should attack Harris’ flip-flopping on every issue, but it should especially focus on the huge advantage Trump has on gender ideology. People strongly oppose Kamala Harris’ radical cultural agenda, and these are perhaps the only toxic left-wing policies she can’t afford to disavow.

I’m currently in Thailand, immersed in the rather brutal world of Muay Thai. For those unfamiliar, Muay Thai is a form of martial arts that requires discipline, endurance, and lots of ice to offset the daily bruisings. Training here with seasoned Thai fighters is an experience unlike any other. These athletes, many of whom have been practicing the sport for decades, are absolute animals. They embody a relentless work ethic that can make even the most seasoned foreign fighter feel like a novice. Beyond the usual crowds of Western tourists and expats, there has been a notable influx of visitors from the Middle East, a fact that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the locals. However, there’s much more to Thailand than its legendary martial arts tradition. The country is often seen as a paradise of sun, sea, sand, and inordinate amounts of sin. Forgive me, Father! Shoes, shirt, and self-respect optional When we hear the words “Sin City,” Las Vegas automatically springs to mind. But what about Pattaya, Thailand’s own version of Las Vegas? Less than 100 miles from Bangkok, this popular beach city takes the concept of sin to an entirely different level. In short, it has become a magnet for those seeking pleasures of a more sordid nature. While Las Vegas teases visitors with its neon-lit casinos and high-end shows, Pattaya offers something far less polished. It's a city where the temptations are brazenly out in the open, a place where anything seems possible, and often, it is. Welcome to the devil’s playground. I spent several weeks in Pattaya while continuing my Muay Thai training. The contrast between the discipline of the gym and the chaos of the streets couldn’t have been more stark. The city is overrun with delinquents, many of whom seem to represent the worst of human nature. Most of these individuals are foreigners, and the vast majority of them are from the U.S. and the U.K. It’s as if Pattaya attracts people who have given up on any semblance of order or moral restraint, choosing instead to wallow in the excesses that the city so freely offers. Beer for breakfast, legalized weed for lunch, and only God knows what for dinner. The concept of wearing a shirt in public, no matter how out of shape one may be, is much like the offenders themselves: distinctly foreign. That said, it isn’t all bad. Among the sea of lost souls, I encountered a few genuinely good people, including some elderly U.S. veterans who now make Pattaya their home. These men, who once served their country with honor, now find themselves in a city that feels worlds apart from the values they once defended. When I inquired about their presence there, even they struggled to provide a coherent answer. After some polite pressing, they spoke kindly about the affordability, the pleasant climate, and the camaraderie they’ve found amidst the city's constant chaos. Rising tensions During my time in Pattaya, I saw a side of the city that has shifted dramatically in recent years. Beyond the usual crowds of Western tourists and expats, there has been a notable influx of visitors from the Middle East, a fact that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the locals. This new wave of tourists has sparked rising tensions, and it's essential to address it without falling into oversimplified labels or accusations of prejudice. The frustration among locals is palpable, and it has little to do with race or religion. Rather, it has to do with behavior — thuggery and outright disrespect toward the people who make this country so welcoming. Although obnoxious tourists are nothing new, the issues caused by this influx of Middle Eastern visitors are not confined to Pattaya. The nation’s capital has also been feeling the effects, with reports of criminal behavior increasing in certain districts. Scam artists, often operating in sophisticated networks, have been running riot, exploiting both tourists and locals alike. These scams range from simple cons to highly organized operations that leave many victims financially devastated. It’s worth emphasizing that on the whole, you’d be hard-pressed to find kinder or more accommodating people than the Thai. They embody a grace and warmth that’s rare in such a tourist-heavy country. But even the most patient individuals have their limits. I personally witnessed how some of these newer visitors treated the locals — hotel staff, gym instructors, taxi drivers, and waitresses — with blatant disrespect. At times, it bordered on open contempt, as though the basic decency expected in any social interaction no longer applied. For a country that prides itself on hospitality, such behavior is deeply unsettling, and the resentment among locals is beginning to simmer. You can sense it in the conversations among the Thai people — who, despite their calm demeanor, are growing increasingly fed up with the lack of courtesy and respect shown by certain foreign visitors. The contrast is sharp; while Thai culture places a strong emphasis on respect, politeness, and humility, the actions of some of these recent arrivals seem to openly defy those values. The gravity of the situation becomes even more apparent when you consider the fact that these are people who have seen it all. In a place like Pattaya, where spring break seems to be happening every single day of the year, the boundaries of acceptable behavior are constantly pushed. In many ways, the locals have become desensitized to the usual transgressions that might shock elsewhere. They’ve witnessed or heard about every conceivable excess — drunken brawls, public indecency, streaking septuagenarians. Yet the fact that many of them are now genuinely up in arms over the behavior of this recent influx of visitors is telling. They are also growing tired of the “Sin City” label. There were actual protests in the streets just two months ago, with many residents voicing their frustration over Pattaya’s international reputation as a hub of iniquity. This local pushback reveals a desire for change, a demand for the city to be seen as more than just the home of hedonism. However, Pattaya is undeniably the mecca for those seeking the darker side. It’s a destination for men attracted to the city’s infamous ladyboy culture — though, personally, most definitely not my cup of tea. For those inclined, Pattaya offers an abundance of nightlife catering to every taste imaginable, from go-go bars to the infamous Walking Street, where ladies and men who want to be ladies eye every foreigner with an intensity that's nothing short of theatrical. Final thoughts Of course, Pattaya isn't all bad. In fact, it has its own unique charm. The beaches, for instance, remain one of its redeeming features. While not the pristine, postcard-perfect stretches of sand found in other parts of Thailand, Pattaya Beach and nearby Jomtien Beach still offer stunning views and warm waters. And most importantly, they offer a place to escape from the thousands of ladyboys who patrol the streets with a militaristic precision. There's certainly a quieter side of Pattaya that doesn’t get nearly as much attention. Hidden within the city are pockets of authentic Thai culture — the temples, markets, and the local street food scene that thrives away from the tourist spots. Places like the Sanctuary of Truth, a massive wooden structure filled with exquisite carvings, stand as reminders of the city’s deeper cultural heritage. The city is, on the whole, a mixed bag. Much like Amsterdam and Prague, it’s full of indecency, but it also offers more, shall we say, respectable options, if you know where to look. It’s this juxtaposition — between vice and virtue — that makes Pattaya so fascinating yet frustrating for those who call it home. The locals want to reclaim their city from the stereotypes, but given Pattaya’s entrenched reputation, that’s easier said than done.