Progressive DA Pamela Price Accused of Retaliation Against Two Employees as Recall Effort Drags On

In an extraordinary display of bravery and quick thinking‚ a video from the “We Love Animals” channel captures a heart-stopping moment where a biker chases a runaway horse galloping through traffic. The scene unfolds with the horse‚ its mane flowing majestically in the wind‚ darting dangerously among vehicles. The biker‚ witnessing this‚ springs into action‚... The post Motorcyclist chases down powerful runaway horse recklessly sprinting through traffic at full speed appeared first on Animal Channel.

U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman attacked the Hungarian government during a contentious speech at a Soros-funded university‚ just as the State Department prepares another deluge of dollars for anti-government media in Hungary.  On March 14‚ Ambassador Pressman attended an event hosted by Central European University (CEU) where he attacked the NATO ally with whom it is his job to negotiate. Soros had funneled at least $1‚058‚676‚021 to CEU’s coffers between 2016 and 2022 alone and founded the university himself. Pressman took issue with several Hungarian measures to combat foreign influence. These included Hungary’s “Defense of Sovereignty Act” and the Hungarian government’s struggle against the enormous influence of Soros’ Open Society Foundations and CEU.  During his speech‚ Pressman launched into a shameless diatribe against the Hungarian government‚ accusing the country’s officials of equating  “independence” with “opposition.” Outrageously‚ the Department of State has recently funneled money to leftist media outlets handpicked by Soros-funded organizations. “Independent media in Hungary gets labeled opposition media. Independent non-governmental organizations get labeled political partisans‚” the ambassador claimed. Pressman’s claims come against the backdrop of the Soros-funded Ökotárs Foundation and media watchdog Mérték Media Monitor preparing a second round of taxpayer-funded grants to Hungarian media outlets. This round of the infamous grant program had a Feb. 29 deadline. Like Pressman‚ these Soros-funded organizations use the phrase “independent media” to describe the leftist media outlets they choose to shower money on. While the new recipients have not been announced‚ Ökotárs Foundation and Mérték Media Monitor have a troubling record. Earlier this year‚ these same two organizations gave $320‚000 in taxpayer dollars to 15 anti-government media outlets in Hungary. At least five of these media outlets had also specifically taken money from Soros. Notably‚ the Ökotárs Foundation indicates that this will not be the final round‚ as these two organizations will be handling applications until Aug. 31.  Earlier in his speech‚ Pressman gushed over his host declaring that CEU was full of “the best and brightest students‚ studying at the preeminent university in all of Central Europe.” Pressman lamented CEU’s move from Hungary to Vienna without mentioning Soros.  “While I won’t spend much time on the saga of what the Hungarian government put this university through‚ over the objections of the previous U.S. Administration‚” Pressman said‚ neatly sidestepping the leftist billionaire founder‚ “I think it is fitting to mention because it epitomizes the sacrifice of something great in exchange for – honestly‚ it is hard for me to understand.  In exchange for political points?  For talking points?  Whatever was gained‚ it is clear that Hungary lost when it lost these promising students.” Conservatives are under attack! Contact ABC News at (818) 460-7477‚ CBS News at (212) 975-3247 and NBC News at (212) 664-6192 and demand they report on the State Department letting Soros-funded groups award taxpayer dollars abroad.

The Big Three networks have been caught playing the game they so often do: burying facts that destroy their narrative. This time‚ the evening newscasts at NBC News‚ CBS News and ABC News hid the fact that the Bureau of Labor Statistics revised the January jobs numbers far below what it had initially reported. When the original January jobs numbers were released earlier this year‚ leftist news outlets jumped up and down in support of Biden‚ even claiming that the inflation-ravaged economy was “booming.” The downward revision‚ released on March 8 with the February numbers‚ dropped the total nonfarm jobs created in January by more than 35 percent‚ from 353‚000 to 229‚000.  The March 8 release also reduced the December 2023 jobs numbers from 333‚000 to 290‚000‚ totaling a 167‚000-job overestimate for both December and January. But of course‚ this seismic overestimate didn’t fit the story that the legacy media wanted to shove in the faces of Americans struggling with high prices and debt. It’s simple: the media announces the overly high jobs numbers‚ praising Biden all the way. Yet when the revision and more context are revealed‚ the media keeps quiet in a seemingly desperate attempt to maintain the narrative. To ignore any mention of the revisions‚ ABC World News Tonight‚ in its March 8 show‚ touted the numbers in the February jobs report‚ which were lower than the original January report. On March 11‚ along with the other networks‚ ABC wasted oodles of time covering a supposedly photoshopped picture of Kate Middleton. On March 12‚ the network hoped that the Fed would cut interest rates this summer despite the increasing inflation rate. CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News also reported on completely unrelated stories. CBS Evening News celebrated Barbie dolls on their March 8 broadcast. On March 11‚ CBS Evening News ran a segment on the Oscars‚ and the next day‚ focused on the reopening of Babies’R’Us.  Meanwhile‚ NBC Nightly News covered the appearance of toy unicorns all over Providence‚ Rhode Island on March 8 and publicized a phone hotline for cool springs in California on March 13. Conservatives are under attack. Contact ABC News at 818-460-7477‚ CBS News at 212-975-3247 and NBC News at 212-664-6192 and demand they report truthfully on the condition of labor in America.

Whiskers are more than just thick pieces of hair poking out from a cat’s muzzle. These hairs are special little radars and perform numerous important functions‚ all of which help your cat live a happy and safe life. Whiskers are not meant to be combed‚ or cut off‚ but sometimes‚ a well-meaning error can be made‚ an accident or injury occurs‚ or you simply start noticing their whiskers are breaking off. Why is this happening‚ and is this normal? Whiskers breaking off is quite common and occurs due to numerous reasons‚ which we dive into below. Have a read-through to see if any of the causes fit your circumstances‚ and then you can course correct. What Are Whiskers? Whiskers are a type of hair. There are four types of hair: primary or guard hairs‚ which are long and coarse‚ secondary hairs‚ which are shorter and softer‚ eyelashes (cilia) to protect the eyes‚ and whiskers‚ known as vibrissae. Vibrissae are touch-sensitive or tactile hairs‚ and they are much thicker and longer than the rest of the cat’s coat. Vibrissae grow in specific places; namely‚ behind the carpus (wrist) and on the face. Vibrissae on the muzzle area of the face are known as whiskers. The amount of this type of hair is significantly less when compared to the other hair on the body‚ but vibrissae do follow the same phases of the hair cycle (i.e.‚ the anagen‚ catagen‚ and telogen phases). Image Credit: Jumpstory What Do Cat’s Whiskers Do? A cat’s whiskers are a vital part of feline communication. These tactile hairs are used as sensory tools and receptors. Nerve endings in the bottom of the whiskers respond to hair movement and distances of space. This skill helps cats survive. They use whiskers for balance and to judge widths‚ distance‚ and space. Can they fit through a gap they’ve spotted to escape a bullying cat‚ for example? The 4 Reasons Why Cat’s Whiskers Break Off Let’s look into the causes of whisker breakage. 1. Rough Play This is a very common cause for young and energetic cats. They love to play and can be a little too rough and tumble with themselves and others. These actions and their playful antics can lead to their whiskers becoming broken. Some sibling cats will also chew the whiskers of their littermates. As long as no other signs or issues are present‚ it is nothing to be concerned about‚ and they will grow back. Image Credit: Bondar Illia‚ Shutterstock 2. Natural Shedding In the same way the fur covering their bodies has a growth and shedding cycle‚ which each hair and hair follicle follow‚ so do the whiskers. You may find that every couple of months‚ a whisker has fallen out. This is due to their normal hair cycle‚ which is completely natural and shouldn’t be a concern but may answer your questions as to why you find their whiskers on the floor every now and then. 3. Accidents‚ Injuries‚ and Trauma Any accident‚ injury‚ or trauma can cause their whiskers to break off. If they have received a burn‚ had an incident during grooming‚ or had a fight with another cat‚ all these scenarios plus a plethora of others can cause their whiskers to break. They will grow back; however‚ other injuries and issues they may have also received at the same time will need an examination and possible treatment by your veterinarian. Image Credit: Csaba Deli‚ Shutterstock 4. Genetics Some cats are simply born with wonky whiskers‚ which may look broken‚ but be completely normal for that cat. Certain breeds also tend to have more irregular whiskers‚ such as Sphynx cats. It may look odd‚ but these cats do get around and perform the same acrobatics as any other cat‚ so don’t be too worried if you notice your cat fits into this category. Conclusion Whiskers are necessary tools for felines. These receptors allow felines to receive information‚ such as distances and widths and whether they can fit through gaps. It’s like they are another type of physical sense for cats. Although whiskers should not be trimmed and will grow back if an incident has occurred‚ always consult your vet if you are concerned or if other signs are also being presented by your kitty. Sources https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/why-do-cats-have-whiskers https://thevillagevets.com/blog/cat-whiskers/ https://www.petmd.com/care/whisker-fatigue-cats-what-it-and-how-help Featured Image Credit: Annette Meyer‚ Pixabay The post Why Are My Cats Whiskers Breaking? Vet Reviewed Info &; Facts appeared first on Pet Keen.

Applying spot on flea preventatives is a standard monthly procedure for cat and dog parents‚ and it’s usually as simple as squeezing the medicine onto the back of your pet’s neck. That said‚ it can take a while to dry‚ and the drying time can vary from animal to animal. As a rule‚ flea treatment medicine typically dries within a few hours‚ and it’s best not to touch the area of application until it has thoroughly dried. Read on to find out why. When Can I Touch My Pet After Applying Flea Preventatives? Depending on the type of coat your pet has‚ it could take from one to several hours for the flea treatment to dry. If in doubt‚ wait until you’re sure the area is completely dry to avoid interfering with the absorption process or getting the product on your skin. If this happens‚ wash your hands thoroughly and take care not to touch your mouth or eyes. In addition‚ the PDSA recommends not bathing or grooming your pet or letting them swim for at least 24 hours after application‚ and this is also the timeframe given by the Blue Cross. On that basis‚ at least 24 hours is a good amount of time to wait before touching the area again if you can’t tell if it’s dry or not. The best thing to do is refer to the direction leaflet provided by the flea treatment brand you’re using to find out when it would be appropriate to touch the area again. If you have any doubts‚ please contact a vet for advice. Image Credit: Dmitriev Mikhail‚ Shutterstock Can My Pet Play with Other Pets While the Treatment Is Drying? No‚ this is not a good idea. Avoid letting children or other pets play or cuddle with the pet undergoing treatment while the back of the neck is drying. Again‚ at least 24 hours is a good timeline to go by for making sure the product is fully dried and absorbed‚ but this may vary by product‚ so check the directions. If another pet licks the treatment‚ it could cause toxicity—especially if a cat licks flea treatment off a dog. Similarly‚ you should never apply flea treatments formulated for dogs on cats. For reference‚ signs of flea treatment poisoning or reactions can include: Vomiting Diarrhea Incoordination Appetite loss Severe depression Drooling Foaming at the mouth Trembling Seizures Lethargy Ear twitching Hiding Itchiness Agitation If one of your pets is showing signs of flea medicine toxicity‚ please see a vet immediately. Image Credit: megaflopp‚ Shutterstock Tips for Using Flea Medicines When used as directed‚ flea and tick treatments are typically safe and very effective. Adverse effects are uncommon. Nevertheless‚ there are some safety tips to keep in mind. Here are some tips for applying flea treatments: Do Always refer to the directions inside the packet for how and where to apply the treatment. Wear gloves when applying the treatment. Only use the amount of product indicated in the directions. Wash your hands after application. Take off your pet’s collar when you apply the treatment. Keep animals away from one another while the application dries. Check the minimum age for use (some products may not be suitable for puppies‚ kittens‚ or pregnant animals). Make sure the product is suitable for your pet’s weight. Speak to your vet if you have any questions or concerns. Wash the product off with dishwashing soap and lukewarm water and call your vet immediately if your pet starts developing weird symptoms after application. Don't Don’t put flea medicines formulated for dogs on cats and vice versa. Don’t apply flea treatments on broken or irritated skin. Don’t apply more than one product unless your vet recommends it. Final Thoughts To recap‚ flea medicine can dry within an hour or two in some cases‚ but it can take a lot longer. If in doubt‚ avoid touching or grooming the area until you are sure‚ and don’t bathe your pet for at least 24 hours or however long the directions stipulate. Sources https://www.petcoach.co/question/?id=412725 https://knutsfordvetsurgery.co.uk/how-to-apply-a-spot-on-treatment-to-your-dog/ https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/how-to-handle-fleas-on-dogs https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/how-long-do-flea-and-tick-medications-take-work-dogs https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/poisoning/neurological/flea-and-tick-medicine-poisoning-cats https://www.petcoach.co/question/?id=836374 https://www.medvet.com/know-flea-product-toxicity-dogs-cats/ https://www.petmd.com/cat/parasites/evr_ct_safety_tips_for_using_flea_and_tick_product_on_cats https://dogdiscoveries.com/health/why-is-my-dog-acting-weird-after-flea-treatment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clRQBXw23gk Featured Image Credit: goodluz‚ Shutterstock The post How Long Does Flea Medicine Take to Dry? Vet Reviewed Info and Facts appeared first on Pet Keen.

There’s little more disturbing than seeing slugs slithering toward your cat’s food bowl‚ and it can leave you wondering what to do about it. Slug pellets aren’t a good idea because your cat could eat them and get very sick‚ so deterring the slugs with humane‚ non-toxic methods is the best course of action. Fortunately‚ there are plenty of things you can try‚ so let’s get stuck in. The 7 Tips to Keep Slugs Away from Cat Food 1. Feed Your Cat Indoors If your cat is fed outside‚ it might be time to reconsider bringing your cat back inside at mealtimes to keep their food and water in as hygienic a condition as possible. If this isn’t an option‚ try one of the alternatives below. 2. Elevate the Food Image Credit: Princess_Anmitsu‚ Shutterstock Elevating your cat’s food bowl is one of the simplest ways to prevent slugs from getting inside. You can use whatever you have at home to rest the bowl on or invest in an elevated food bowl. Another idea is to place the food bowl on a table and have your cat jump up to get to it. 3. Create a Barrier You can protect your cat’s food bowls by building a barrier with one of many materials to keep slugs away. One option that has been suggested is to use copper wire because this potentially gives slugs a minor shock that will send them slithering in the other direction‚ though the truth to this has been questioned. Alternatively‚ you could try clean‚ dry eggshells (residue could end up attracting the slugs) or seaweed which are also anecdotally said to repel slugs. Just make sure that whatever you use to make your barrier is not toxic to cats. 4. Feed Dry Food Image Credit: Africa Studio‚ Shutterstock Slugs are likely more attracted to wet food‚ so if you have to feed your cat outdoors‚ consider feeding a dry formula instead. This may not completely solve the problem‚ but it could help minimize the attraction for slugs. 5. Cover the Bowl Some people cover their cats’ food bowls with an item like a plant pot to keep those slimy food fiends at bay. You’ll need to remove the cover to let your cat eat later‚ though‚ so it may be best to take the food away when your cat has finished. 6. Clean the Area Thoroughly Image Credit: Oranje Travel‚ Shutterstock When your cat has finished eating‚ remove any leftover food and clean any mess that’s been left behind so slugs don’t feel tempted to keep coming back to the area. Even a few morsels could have slugs coming back for more‚ so be thorough. 7. Place Slug-Deterring Plants in the Area If your cat’s bowl is outside‚ you can try planting some potentially slug-repelling plants nearby. Options include rosemary and thyme. Just be careful not to put any cat-toxic plants close to your cat’s food in case they decide to have a nibble. Are Slugs Toxic to Cats? Image Credit: Gabriela Fink‚ Pixabay Slugs alone are not toxic to cats (though eating one might cause a tummy upset)‚ but they can be if your cat eats a slug that has consumed insecticide. This can cause toxicity‚ resulting in signs like drooling‚ vomiting‚ incoordination‚ breathing issues‚ diarrhea‚ and twitching‚ which can lead to progressive deterioration. In addition‚ in some parts of the world‚ slugs sometimes carry lungworm parasites‚ which could infect your cat. Lungworm infections can range from mild to severe‚ and kittens‚ older cats‚ and cats that are already unwell are especially vulnerable to getting a severe infection. Signs of lungworm range from no observable signs‚ to coughing and shortness of breath. Please contact a vet if you spot any of these signs‚ or have concerns that your cat may have eaten slugs‚ and potentially be infected by lungworm. Final Thoughts With a few simple changes‚ you can keep slugs away from your cat’s food bowls for good. This is important not only for preventing slugs from stealing your cat’s food or grossing out your cat by making themselves at home in the bowl but also because slugs can be harmful to cats if they’re carrying insecticides or parasites. Sources https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/home-and-environment/poisoning https://www.webmd.com/pets/cats/what-to-know-about-lungworm-in-cats https://www.untamedcatfood.com/blogs/nutrition/do-cats-eat-slugs https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/aug/08/five-steps-gardeners-take-control-of-slugs-natural-way https://petrestart.com/7-effective-ways-to-keep-slugs-away-from-cat-food/ https://www.countryliving.com/uk/homes-interiors/gardens/how-to/a609/how-to-banish-slugs-from-garden/ Featured Image Credit: Patric Froidevaux‚ Shutterstock The post How to Keep Slugs Away From Cat Food: 7 Vet Approved Tips appeared first on Pet Keen.

If you’re like most cat parents‚ you likely adore your cat’s whiskers. Whiskers add so much to the cuteness factor of our cats‚ and they come in such a wide variety of colors‚ shapes‚ and lengths. But what if your cat’s whiskers seem really short? Is this something that you should worry about? Here‚ we discuss everything whiskers so you can learn why your cat’s whiskers might be short‚ as well as how whiskers help cats. The 7 Reasons Cats Have Short Whiskers 1. Some Breeds Have Short Whiskers If your cat has always had short whiskers‚ it might be breed related. The Devon Rex‚ Cornish Rex. Selkirk Rex and the Sphynx are all breeds that have short or no whiskers. Their haircoats are also unique: some are wavy and curly‚ and the Sphynx is famous for being hairless. Image Credit: jojosmb‚ Shutterstock 2. Whiskers Have Been Chewed Off Sometimes‚ when kittens are playing with their littermates‚ they might have their whiskers chewed off during play. In other cases‚ mother cats have been known to chew off their kitten’s whiskers. It’s thought that they do this to keep their kittens close to them and not wander away from the nest. It can also occur between adult cats‚ which might be accidental or a potential sign of stress. 3. The Cat Is Overgrooming This can occur between two cats or a mother and her kittens. If the mother is under stress‚ she might take to overgrooming her kittens‚ and short whiskers can result. Overgrooming in general can occur because of pain‚ allergies‚ boredom‚ or stress. When a cat starts overgrooming‚ you’ll notice patches of fur missing on the coat. Image Credit: Erik Glez‚ Shutterstock 4. Someone Cut Them This can happen whether your cat is an indoor or outdoor cat. Some people in your neighborhood might find cutting a cat’s whiskers funny. Or you might want to check in with the people in your household. If someone has been cutting your cat’s whiskers‚ you need to put a stop to it. In a way‚ a cat’s whiskers are just as important as their legs! 5. It’s Due to Natural Breakage and Shedding Cat’s whiskers tend to break and shed quite naturally. Whiskers are made from keratin‚ which is what our hair is made of‚ and similarly‚ the whiskers sometimes fall out or break off. This is nothing to worry about and is perfectly normal. New whiskers will grow and take the place of any missing whiskers. They can look short compared to the other whiskers. Image Credit: tache‚ Shutterstock 6. There’s a Health Issue In addition to other worrying signs‚ short whiskers can sometimes be a sign of a health issue. Conditions and infections that affect the hair coat can result in whiskers falling out. Additionally‚ cats on chemotherapy drugs can also lose their whiskers. If your cat’s whiskers are short or they seem to be losing too many in addition to other signs of illness‚ see your vet. 7. Fighting or Trauma Sometimes‚ cats play rough or get into a full-blown fight. If you’ve ever seen cats fighting‚ you’ll notice tufts of fur flying. They’ll likely lose a few whiskers in the process. Getting too close to a candle can similarly damage a whisker or two. Why Do Cats Need Whiskers? Whiskers are far more essential to cats than many might think. Whiskers are made from keratin and are much coarser and thicker than regular hair. They can be found above the upper lip‚ above the eyes‚ near the ears‚ on the chin‚ and on the forelegs. They are more sensitive than regular hair because the follicles from which whiskers grow are packed with nerves. The whiskers can be compared to our fingers: They are just as sensitive and help cats feel their way around. Image Credit: Jumpstory Orientation Due to the nerves and blood vessels that the follicles of the whiskers are embedded in‚ they can help orient cats. They help cats tell up from down‚ which is part of what helps cats land on their feet. The whiskers/nerve endings send messages to the cat’s brain‚ informing it what each part of the body is doing. Their whiskers also help cats hunt at night and navigate through small‚ tight spaces. Conclusion For some cat breeds‚ short whiskers are perfectly normal. But if your cat has long whiskers and it seems like most of them are short‚ someone might be cutting them or there’s potentially a health problem. Cutting a cat’s whiskers doesn’t physically hurt them. However‚ whiskers should never be cut‚ as they serve important functions for a cat. A cat’s whiskers are glorious in their own way‚ so keeping them as long as they should be and ensuring that your cat is healthy is in your cat’s and your best interests. Featured Image Credit: Shvaygert Ekaterina‚ Shutterstock The post Why Are My Cat’s Whiskers So Short? 7 Vet Reviewed Reasons appeared first on Pet Keen.

It all started with COVID fascism. Now there is no way out. James Madison once warned‚ “Armies‚ and debts‚ and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few.” Well‚ the debts the U.S. government accrued while pushing COVID tyranny and the Great Reset continue to place the many under the domination of the few. Thanks to government largess‚ inflation for Main Street continues unabated while the top Wall Street companies enjoy a windfall. Meanwhile‚ Republicans refuse to fight — and‚ indeed‚ were complicit in creating the current crisis. The administration’s refrain‚ echoed by the media‚ that inflation had been defeated was not merely a lie. The opposite turned out to be true. For several months now‚ the corporate media and the Biden White House have pushed the narrative that inflation has fallen while the economy has grown at a record pace. The idea is to acclimate the public to a permanently high cost of living and to ignore the fact that our grandparents’ standard of living is now out of reach. We have never lived through such debt-driven inflation and market distortions as we have since COVID-19. This has created bewildering‚ conflicting‚ and uncanny economic data in which certain economic reports seem bullish and the stock market is at a record high‚ but most people can barely afford to live. The fact is that while the rate of inflationary growth may have slowed last year somewhat‚ prices never returned to pre-COVID levels. Inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index grew 0.3% in December followed by 3.1% in January. What looks like positive GDP growth — 3.2% in the fourth quarter alone! — is an illusion driven by sky-high government spending and consumer credit card debt. In absolute nominal dollar terms‚ that means our economy grew by $334.5 billion in the forth quarter. Yet during that same period‚ the government accrued $834.2 billion in debt — more than double our economic growth. After January’s Consumer Price Index numbers were published earlier this month‚ it’s now clear we are still running at 4.9% median inflation. Again‚ this is on top of the current price plateau built up over the past three years of historic gains. Anyone with a brain would understand that you can’t hope your way out of a debt-driven inflation as large as the COVID spending that both parties continue to preserve and even expand. This is why four years after COVID‚ 40% of business owners say they still plan to raise prices over the next three months‚ according to a survey of 10‚000 companies by the National Federation of Independent Business. Believe it or not‚ the worst is yet to come. Crushing debt service The fateful decision in 2020 to spend our way out of the COVID crisis will never correct itself without a massive downsizing of government – something Republicans won’t do. In fact‚ they are trying to undo the automatic 1% cuts slated to take effect at the end of April. Interest on the debt for the first third of fiscal year 2024 will top $357 billion — 37% higher than same time last year. The money printing needed to service the debt alone is greater than the size of the Pentagon’s budget and dwarfed only by the cost of Social Security and Health and Human Services. The Treasury is slated to issue $2 trillion in new debt this year‚ in addition to $8 trillion in rollover of existing debt at higher interest rates. In other words‚ close to one-third of our gross debt is going to be issued this year at a much higher interest rate than any time since we’ve been accruing anywhere close to $1 trillion annual deficits‚ much less $2 trillion deficits. Even if the Fed wanted to lower interest rates‚ the sheer volume of debt it will indefinitely offload onto the market will drive up yields. The Treasury Department late last month was forced to sell a record $63 billion worth of two-year notes at 4.69%. It also sold $64 billion in five-year notes at 4.3%. Both were record numbers‚ and both were “tails.” When the yield is higher than expected‚ it’s called a tail‚ and when it’s lower‚ it’s called a “stop-through.” We are now experiencing a pattern in which for the first time the government is having trouble finding investors and must offer higher yields on enormous sums of money. The problem will only worsen in the coming months. An artificial economic boom The old measures of GDP growth are practically irrelevant because it's being propped up by the very factor — government debt — that is dragging down 95% of the country to benefit a handful of companies. This has created an economy so distorted that any growth we see is built on a few companies well connected to government. Just to illustrate how out of touch the stock market is with Main Street‚ market cap-to-GDP now stands at a whopping 181.4%. We have a concentrated market in which the S&;P 500 is 120% higher than its low in 2020 but the Russell 2000‚ an index that tracks small-cap companies‚ is down 27% since its recent peak. But even the S&;P’s endless bull run is a mirage. The top 10% of stocks now reflect 75% of the entire market‚ and the top seven corporations are up 1‚700% since 2015. The “stock market” has become so concentrated that a handful of companies can post massive gains that do not reflect the world around them. Even the Nasdaq‚ which is full of large tech companies and recently hit a record high‚ is a fake representation of the high-tech market because it is dominated by just four companies. It turns out that 95% of the $1.6 trillion in market capitalization added to the Nasdaq year-to-date comes from Nvidia‚ Meta‚ Microsoft‚ and Amazon. Thus‚ it’s easy to see how we can experience a bull market and “economic growth” while 90% of the economy‚ including many large companies‚ is contracting. To further drive home this dichotomy‚ Home Depot‚ the nation’s largest home improvement store and a Fortune 500 company‚ just posted negative 3.5% in sales for the fourth quarter of 2023. That is the fifth consecutive quarter with negative sales. It’s reflective of how consumers are struggling‚ especially homeowners. Joe Biden can brag all he wants about a record stock market and greater than 3% GDP growth. But the rest of us are living essentially in a recession burdened by a record-high cost of living. Indefinite stagflation for Main Street Thanks to the Federal Reserve keeping rates artificially low for so many years‚ then suddenly raising rates in a doomed effort to combat COVID-driven inflation‚ the United States is experiencing an inventory shortage in housing. This government-contrived shortage is fueling a generational crisis that is placing homeownership out of reach for most young adults. As of December‚ only about 1 million housing units were available‚ down 50% since 2020 and the lowest level on record. Although prices are down slightly from their peak last year‚ prices were at a record high for the month of January‚ with the median sales price for homes hovering around $420‚700 and the average price topping $534‚000. As a result‚ most first-time buyers are priced out of the market‚ as the scarce supply is gobbled up by institutional investors and cash buyers. Recently‚ mortgage rates have come down a bit‚ but commensurate with the decline in rates is the rise in prices‚ with the Case-Shiller Index increasing 5.5% nationally December. We are now seeing a recoupling of mortgage rates and home prices‚ as is usually the case‚ but that recoupling is impelled from a record-high baseline after prices rose despite higher rates. That’s partly why rents remain so high. Rent has increased in the CPI month over month by at least 0.4% for 29 consecutive months. It’s the same story with food‚ transportation‚ car loans‚ and car insurance.In short‚ the administration’s refrain‚ echoed by the media‚ that inflation was defeated was not merely a lie. The opposite turned out to be true. Consumers are tapped out. Credit card debt is at an all-time high of $1.13 trillion‚ with an average balance of $6‚360‚ also a record. Americans spent 11.3% of their disposable income on food in 2022‚ the highest share since 1991. How can they afford anything else if food‚ cars‚ and shelter costs so much? The frightening answer is‚ of course‚ personal debt‚ which reflects (and is induced by) the governmental debt. According to a new analysis by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau‚ the average interest rate on credit card balance paid by consumers in 2023 was 22.8%‚ the highest level since the Federal Reserve began tracking the data. What will happen when the tab comes due on the inflation-driven spending that consumers placed on their credit cards the past two years? Unlike the U.S. Treasury‚ consumers can’t service the debt by selling fiat currency. Brace for impact This is why outside the doomsday consumer and governmental spending fueling GDP — along with the largest handful of companies prospering — America is really suffering from stagflation: a contracting economy coupled with rising inflation. It’s also why the Consumer Confidence Index plummeted in February and the numbers for the previous few months‚ which originally signaled optimism reflected in the GDP data‚ were all revised downward. It was the largest cumulative downward revision in history. Any good news late last year was a mirage. Further reflective of an anemic economy‚ preliminary January data shows U.S. durable goods orders contracted 6.1% month over month‚ the steepest decline since the lockdowns in April 2020. Orders have declined for three out of the past four months and are ameliorated only slightly by an increase in government defense contracts. In short‚ there are signs that many consumers are finally hitting the wall in terms of cash and credit. Once the credit runs out‚ then the de facto recession most people are facing now will turn into a recession de jure that even government data can’t hide it.

A reporter told Juwan Howard during a Wednesday night news conference — when Howard was still head basketball coach for the University of Michigan — that "white media" put him on the "hot seat" amid a disappointing season. The Wolverines had just lost that night to Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament‚ and Howard indeed was fired Friday in the wake of an 8-24 record‚ which ESPN called "one of its worst seasons in 60 years." But it sure seemed like Charles Hallman — a staff writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder — had other things on his mind at the news conference. Hallman — whose X bio indicates he's a "longtime Black journalist who works hard at what I do" — opened with the following to Howard: "Coach ... first of all‚ we’re praying for you that your health will improve." Howard had heart surgery in September. "Thank you‚ brother‚" Howard replied. "I appreciate that‚ man." With that‚ Hallman continued with what sounded much more like a racially charged statement than a question. "There’s three black coaches in this conference‚ and throughout the season each one of you has been put on a hot seat by the white media. I’m hoping that you survive this because we know black coaches sometimes don’t‚" Hallman said. "But can you speak on just the fact that the three of you are doing the job that you’ve been hired to do‚ representing as coaches? There was black kids in the stands today that got to see you coach and will see the other two black coaches during this tournament. Can you just speak on that?" — (@) — (@) Howard didn't seem to directly address Hallman's racially charged words but others sure did: "What a sad world we live in‚" another commenter said. "Pathetic." "This crap is getting really old‚" another user stated. "It’s a tiresome act." "Poor Juwan can't catch a break‚ this racist country is really holding him down‚" another commenter quipped. "'White media...'. Buddy you went 8-24. The excuses people use today for poor performance is embarrassing‚" another user observed. "His black boss hired him and fired him‚" another commenter noted. "This [is] really nothing to fuss about." But at least one X user backed Hallman's words: "Don’t have to like the question but it was asked. Coach Howard has had a bad season... historically bad at that. I do appreciate the media being called exactly what they are. They’re not the Black media‚ so they’re definitely the white media." Anything else? ESPN‚ citing sources‚ said UM still owes Howard $3 million. More from the sports network: Howard was suspended for five games in February 2022 for hitting Wisconsin assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft in the face after a game. During the postgame handshake line after Wisconsin's 77-63 win‚ Howard and Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard exchanged words before being surrounded by players and coaches. In the ensuing scrum‚ Krabbenhoft exchanged words with Howard and then Howard reached out and struck Krabbenhoft's face. — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!