Last week eight illegal aliens — all military aged-males from Tajikistan — were arrested in three U.S. cities and accused of being members of ISIS who were planning terrorist attacks against the United States. There’s a lot to parse out in that event. Let’s start with the fact that the illegal aliens — who came through our open southern border — were vetted and admitted into the United States without further ado. According to all the media reports I can find there was no negative information about any of the eight in U.S. Border Patrol or intelligence databases. According to that Fox News report, all eight were “fully vetted” and nothing was found to indicate their ISIS affiliation. A nation that doesn’t enforce its borders is not a nation. So much for the so-called “terror watch list.” We don’t know yet what caused law enforcement to identify these men as possible terrorists and led to their arrests, but the media reports say that after they were admitted to the U.S., information was developed of “national security concerns” which were, at least in part, their affiliation with ISIS. According to the same Fox News report the ISIS Eight were caught as a result of intercepted conversations among them talking about bombs. (READ MORE from Jed Babbin: Hunter’s Laptop: The Other Story) What this incident tells us is that there is no real vetting of people coming into the U.S. illegally. If there were, the ISIS Eight wouldn’t have been admitted into the country. Thus, the “vetted” illegals are now as much danger to America as the “gotaways.” Three weeks ago, I wrote about the “gotaways” — those illegals who enter the U.S. managing to evade the Border Patrol. There have been at least two million of them since Biden became president. We know that the drug cartels are making it easy for people of all sorts — drug smugglers, terrorists, and others who mean us harm — to be smuggled into the U.S. As I wrote in that piece three weeks ago, the efficiency and the effectiveness of the cartels’ people-smuggling operations means that the FBI, Border Patrol, and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agencies lack the ability to gather the intelligence information that would ensure that people such as the ISIS Eight couldn’t get into the country. President Biden is impervious to the facts and logic of the open border crisis he created. His executive order supposedly reducing the admission of people and their asylum claims was, as Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy said of it, “a scam.” It will do nothing to control, far less reduce, the number of illegals coming across our border. It is also meaningless in controlling the number of “gotaways” who slip in. According to some estimates, Biden has made more than ninety executive orders and other policy changes to open our southern (and northern) borders to illegals. His latest executive order does nothing to stem the flow. Stemming the flow is what Texas Gov. Greg Abbot is doing. Abbot is erecting physical barriers at the border — despite Biden’s orders to not do so — and they are proving effective. The flow of illegals across the border into Texas has slowed to a trickle. We know that the ISIS Eight are only destined to be deported. What that means is that the next time they want to get in, they’ll hire the cartels to smuggle them in and they will join the millions of “gotaways” that are already here. And let’s not forget that the flow of “gotaways” appears to be steady in gaining access to the United States. What this all means is that the “gotaways” — those here and those coming in — are capable of doing our country great harm. We know that al-Qaida, Hizballah, and all the other terrorist networks have established themselves in South America (again, please re-read my column of three weeks ago) and are gradually sending their operatives into the U.S. Why shouldn’t they? Biden is making it easy for them to do so. There are myriad things we could do to better protect our country, including building Trump’s border wall, but Biden won’t do any of them. It is the biggest scandal of the Biden administration and few, if any, Republicans are even trying to do anything about it.(READ MORE: Impeach Biden?) Like the Border Patrol, ICE and the FBI are overwhelmed. There are simply too many people coming into this country from countries like Tajikistan, Iran, China, Russia, and probably North Korea for them to even be aware of the threat individuals (and groups) among them pose. The intelligence they are gathering isn’t enough to enable them to protect us. We keep hearing that Mexico wants to do more to help us protect our border but evidence of that is exceedingly hard to find. What are they doing to attack the drug cartels and make it impossible for them to smuggle the gotaways into the U.S.? Nothing, apparently. The drug cartels are rampant in Mexico, which is a failed state. If we had a different president, we could literally be attacking the cartels on their home ground. You may remember Tom Clancy’s novel, “Clear and Present Danger,” which portrayed U.S. troops going into Mexico to do just that. We are not doing anything of the sort and it’s high time we were — clandestinely or otherwise — because Mexico won’t. Biden needs to do more, a lot more, to protect us from the next big terrorist attack. But he won’t. We need a new president who understands the problem and is willing to act against it. Trump promises the biggest deportation program in our history. That would be a good step but it’s not enough. We need to shut down the cartel smuggling that brings the gotaways into our nation and protect ourselves — by closing the border to illegals — from them as well. We need Trump’s border wall, possibly on our northern border as well as the southern one. We are at risk of becoming a failed state, open to terrorism, sabotage, and other acts against us. A nation that doesn’t enforce its borders is not a nation. It’s just that simple and that complex a problem that our next president will have to deal with. If he’s reelected, Biden won’t. The post Biden’s Border Crisis Comes Home to Roost appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

My best friend introduced me to the concept of a “shower beer.” The idea is about as complex as it sounds. You drink a cold beer while taking a hot shower.  It’s a great way to pregame the party scene or to relax and think about the complexities of life. Lots of people get their best ideas in the shower. [F]ar far too many Shower-Befores just aren’t comfortable hanging out with the Shower-Afters. I generally start my day with a shower. That may not seem like a revolutionary statement, but in my wife’s family, it puts me in a very distinct community. You see, very few of the men in her family are the type who get up in the morning, take a shower, then head off to their air-conditioned white-collar job. No, the majority of the men in her family are the type who start their days climbing into a beat-up American-mad pickup truck and go to the kind of jobs that get you dirty enough that you take a shower after work. (READ MORE from Amile Wilson: A Hostage Negotiator Reveals the Flaw in Academia’s Economics) There’s an increasing cultural divide in America and which side you’re on can be shown by one simple question: Do you take a shower before going to work or after? The Shower-Afters work with their hands. Many didn’t go to college, but they know how to balance their checkbook and they know the dollar isn’t buying what it used to. The past four years have been hard on the Shower-After crowd. Whether from COVID lock downs (you can’t zoom into a factory job), runaway inflation, or just creating a regulatory maze where it literally takes a law degree to open a small business, we Shower-Befores have really screwed things up. But it’s not all bad. The Shower-Afters are the ones in high demand these days. (Tried hiring a plumber lately?) And for the first time in a century, the Shower-Afters are becoming the largest voting block of the Republican Party. This divide between the Shower-Before and the Shower-After crowds is political, cultural, educational, and financial. I admit that I’m generally a Shower-Before guy. I’ve read Mises, taught at a University and my favorite Conservative group is the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. But my dad’s side of the family were all Shower-Befores. I have a ton of respect for them and, incidentally, for my in-laws. I’m happy to talk about the deleterious economic driving forces of inflation. My father-in-law just wishes the folks in DC would “stop spending all the gattdang money so they’ll stop printing so much gattdang money.” He’s as well read as I am — as are a surprising number of Shower-Afters — he just tends to grunt the word bullshit while describing American politics and drinking a beer. I enunciate it a bit more over a scotch or a gin and tonic. But we both feel the same way. The Shower-Befores are used to being in power. They’re used to the refinements of the politico life and far far too many Shower-Befores just aren’t comfortable hanging out with the Shower-Afters. The cultural divide is too great. But that’s going to be the number one driving question of American politics over the next two decades: How will the Shower-Befores and the Shower-Afters start to work together to unravel the nightmare that the federal government has become. (READ MORE: Cuffing Season and Our Epidemic of Loneliness) When it comes to politics, Republican Shower-Befores are happy to “lose with honor.” The Shower-After crowd is pissed. And ready to start winning. This may lack the sense of dignity that so many Shower-Befores want. But you know what has dignity? Winning. Too many Shower-Befores lack respect for the Shower-Afters, and it’s wrecking our electoral politics. For the GOP to bridge this gap, the only solution is for a few more of us Shower-Befores to find the dive bar in the mountains, trade the 18-year Macallan for a pitcher of Coors and actually have a conversation with a few Shower-Afters. The post Shower Before Work or After? appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

In my previous column, I described the socialistic character of the greens’ masterplan for American society in the name of “climate change.” In one important way, the current green iteration of socialism is like prior versions: It clearly demonstrates the incompetence of top-down economic central planning. In another way, though, it is strikingly different: There is virtually no rhetoric about uplifting the poor. Let’s examine the incompetence issue first. Consider: The poster child for green socialism’s absurdity undoubtedly is the embarrassing report that $7.5 billion of government investment has so far only produced “7 or 8” EV charging stations. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that power production from wind is declining even as subsidies to wind energy continue to rise. Late last summer, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) assessed the five greatest risks to the reliability of the USA’s electric power grid. The top-ranked risk was government energy policy, as the green fanatics insist on replacing time-tested energy sources (primarily fossil fuels) with less reliable and less affordable alternatives (i.e., solar and wind). Socialistic incompetence is obvious when some of the planners are pushing electric vehicles (EVs) that increase demand for electricity at the same time other planners are imposing green mandates that hamper the production of electricity. Even when the ill-considered detour into EVs eventually becomes a passé fad, today’s unreliable, supply-crimping electricity policies should be seen as working against a prosperous future. Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cryptocurrencies, virtual reality, and who knows what other innovations will require massive increases in production of reliable electricity, but the greens are oblivious to this reality. Did they not learn that the unprecedented economic progress of the past century-plus was a result of harnessing electricity? And let us not overlook the horrific environmental costs of green socialism. Besides being an economic boondoggle, wind energy in particular is causing an environmental catastrophe. Besides killing right whales, wind turbines kill millions of bats, birds (some endangered species) and insects every year. Yet, environmentalists, who once cheered when Uncle Sam would impose a huge fine on an oil company if a couple of dozen birds perished on their property, now call for the number of wind turbines to be massively increased. Greens, who squeal with indignation if a natural gas company lays a 36-inch pipeline anywhere, now call for 100-mile-wide swaths of natural habitat to be cleared to make room for ever-more turbines and the mind-boggling quantity of transmission lines needed to convey electricity from remote countryside to crowded cities. Plus, wind turbines collectively shed tons of microplastics annually with as-yet unknown consequences to human health through the air we breathe and the water we drink. What About the Poor? Other than some pro forma clichés from a few “climate justice” groupies about how the poor should be spared the costs of addressing climate change, we hear virtually nothing about how Team Biden’s green agenda will actually help the poor. Instead, what we have had is a barrage of green policies that mercilessly and relentlessly hammer the poor. Low-income folks have been smacked with the inflation unleashed by the Biden spending binge to wage his war against fossil fuels. In the first three years of the Biden presidency, the price of heating oil has risen over 60 percent, gasoline 37 percent, and electricity 27 percent. Not surprisingly, since energy costs are embedded in virtually every other consumer price, prices in general have risen substantially, too. The poor have been taking it on the chin. And there’s more economic pain on the way: The Biden Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been issuing regulation after regulation mandating increased energy efficiency for stoves, refrigerators, hot water heaters, freezers, dishwashers, air conditioning units, heat pumps, light bulbs, etc. Maybe the good folks at the EPA view such items as luxuries, but to the average American today, they are necessities. The EPA’s regulations will jack up the prices of these modern amenities, in some cases by hundreds or thousands of dollars — far more than any savings from (hopefully) cheaper electricity. That can’t help but hurt the poor the most. The greens warn us about the alleged danger of increased heat deaths due to global warming. Then by what logic do they pursue policies that dramatically raise the prices of electricity and of air conditioning units, which are human beings’ primary line of defense against heat?  Don’t be surprised if you start to encounter occasional heart-tugging reports about poor Americans having to choose between keeping the A/C on and eating three meals per day. Not only is green socialism aggressively and shamelessly making the poor worse off, the green central plan adds insult to injury by doling out subsidies to upper-income Americans. EVs are unaffordable to poor Americans, but Uncle Sam gives thousands in tax breaks so that richer Americans will buy them. Similarly, government subsidies incentivize well-to-do Americans to install solar panels on houses. A wealthy friend of mine in Florida received a generous tax break to put solar panels on his roof. Those tax-subsidized panels add to the value of his house. Plus, he receives a monthly payment from the electric utility company because the panels enable him to sell more electricity to the utility than the utility sells to him. Think about it: Poorer Americans are struggling to pay today’s higher electric bills, while richer Americans enjoy an additional income stream from their local power company thanks to taxpayer-funded subsidies. Biden’s green version of socialism is typical in its display of arrogant self-righteousness matched by colossal economic ignorance. Meanwhile, the green agenda is rushing our society toward a totally unnecessary economic crisis made more tragic because of an oh-so-avoidable humanitarian crisis caused by green policies unfairly crushing the poor. READ MORE from Mark W. Hendrickson: Climate Change Socialism on the Attack The US Is No Longer a Trustworthy Ally Without the Never-Trump Vote, Trump Can’t Win The post The Green Version of Socialism appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Entry into the United States by illegal aliens has been rising almost exponentially in the past decade. This has been a welcomed development by Democrats and has been opposed by some Republicans, though not all. The objections have come principally from American citizens whose views have been ignored by these elites. This has culminated in the staff of President Biden, particularly Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security (!), not only encouraging illegal entry into the country but ordering the Border Patrol not to interfere, i.e., essentially throwing the doors wide open. The Border Patrol is instead occupied with (cosmetic) paperwork. As if this was not enough, the Democratic Administration has been paying for airline passage to get more illegal immigrants into the country. But there is another reason that Democrats want illegal immigration: they want to give them voting rights so they will vote for their saviors. Once in the country, illegal aliens are given gift cards, free legal services, cellphones, healthcare, and are housed in hotels. All without their paying a dime. Los Angeles, run by Democrats, is even hiring illegal aliens to police American citizens. New York City’s Democrat government and Democratic Connecticut governor even wants illegal aliens to vote in elections. And every Democrat in the House of Representatives voted to give illegal aliens representation in Congress; Nancy Pelosi defended MS-13, blathering about “a spark of divinity.” At times, veterans have even been kicked out of housing in order to house illegal aliens. It has become obvious by now that these successive waves of mass migrations have been encouraged and well-orchestrated — by the very people paid to prevent illegal entry into the United States. To add insult to injury, all this has been done at taxpayers’ expense. Those individuals salivating over the sight of thousands of illegal aliens swarming through what used to be the country’s official border have tried to allay Americans’ anger through a wide variety of sophistries spread by the media, from “we’re a nation of immigrants” to “they’re hardworking, taxpaying immigrants” to “the border is under control” to “migrants are driving economic growth,” all the while avoiding the term “illegal aliens.” (READ MORE from Armando Simón: This Should Be Feminists’ Worst Nightmare) Although the overwhelming number of illegal aliens are men, the mainstream media (which nowadays has become nothing more than propaganda) focuses its attention on the very few families accompanying them. Otherwise, they deliberately ignore the crisis. It has been said by some critics, including this writer, that this situation is a de facto invasion, and there is precedent for just such a strategy. In the 1970s, Spain was in the process of negotiating leaving its colony, Spanish Sahara. Three entities coveted the territory: the indigenous population, Morocco, and Mauritania. The International Court of Justice’s Advisory opinion on Western Sahara was going to decide on who got what. Jumping the gun, the Moroccan government organized the “Green March,” wherein 350,000 Moroccans — unarmed — invaded the northern territory by simply crossing the border. And there they stayed. Essentially, the invaders relied on the humanitarian character of the Spaniards in order to take advantage of them. Compassion can be used as a weapon by governments, special interests, or individuals. Just like in the southern U.S. border. The truly bizarre aspect to the American invasion is that it is being carried out and supported by leftists within and outside the federal government, specifically by the Democrats but also with some Republicans. And it has been going on for a decade. The reason for this is just as bizarre and a bit convoluted. Bear with me. Marxism is like herpes. Once you think it is finally gone for good, it flares up again, in different manifestations. This time the manifestation is through racial Marxism, for the simple reason that claiming that American workers are exploited as a class has little resonance with U.S. voters. For a long time, race was the fundamental fissure in American politics and blacks were easily cast as the new proletariat, the ones who would be central to carrying out the glorious revolution against oppressive capitalistic whites, whose entire culture must be destroyed and replaced — “The Great Replacement.” To facilitate the forthcoming utopia and with help from large and small employers, the Left has organized, financed, and advertised,  mass migration from non-European countries. At the same time that leftists openly advocate, and implement, “The Great Replacement,” they deny there is such a thing, labeling it a conspiracy theory. Just like they deny teaching the racist Critical Race Theory (CRT) — while defending its presence. Just like they deny censorship in the media while suppressing news and views they hate. But there is another reason that Democrats want illegal immigration: they want to give them voting rights so they will vote for their saviors, the Democrats, even though they are not American citizens (yet another instance of election fraud by Democrats, who have a long, well documented history of electoral fraud). They are working towards this goal even as they deny doing so, and make elaborate justifications for it. And should the reader believe that this is another “conspiracy theory,” note that in many Democratic controlled areas voter registration forms were handed out to illegal aliens in South Carolina, House Democrats voted unanimously to give illegal aliens representation in Congress and voted unanimously to block a Republican bill making it illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, municipalities in three states and Washington D.C. already allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, and that Biden has referred to illegal aliens as “voters.” Meanwhile, the media hivemind, as represented by the Washington Post, declared voting by noncitizens was “extremely rare,” while The New York Times called it a “false narrative,” Politico declared “there is no indication it’s happening anywhere in significant numbers,”  NPR claimed it was an attempt by Republicans to “reshape election maps,” and the Associated Press simply poured scorn on the idea, but that, yes, it does happen, so what? Why not have the people of Pakistan, Honduras, and Haiti vote in American elections from the comfort of their own countries? There is one fly in the ointment regarding this grandiose plan to destroy America, the country they so passionately hate. Most blacks do not want illegal aliens entering the country, and certainly not all the perks that they are given, even as the illegal aliens demand more. I have also known many American citizens of Hispanic background that don’t want illegal immigration, and recent surveys seem to confirm this. And then, there are the criminals. A number of illegal aliens are criminals, which is to say, they have committed crimes other than entering the country illegally. Before itemizing a small fraction of these crimes, let me say that Democrats have already waved away the crimes simply by  saying that American citizens also commit crimes, so what’s the big deal? Which is supposed to be comfort to the victims of illegal immigrants. Laken Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University College of Nursing was kidnapped and killed while jogging on the University of Georgia by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela. Referring to Riley’s murder, Democratic Rep. Katie Porter shrugged it off (so much for Sisterhood). Liberals’ reaction has been that her death demonstrates “Republicans’ racism.” That there is no illegal alien crime wave, that the real problem is violence against women. That Latino students will be persecuted if this crime is spoken of publicly. President Biden was criticized for calling the murderer an “illegal alien,” so he apologized. As Lord Acton said, behind every crime there follows a sophist with a sponge. An illegal alien from Guatemala kidnapped and raped an 11 y/o child. An illegal alien from Venezuela, staying at a hotel for free shot two NYPD officers. An illegal alien from Mexico broke into a home in Michigan and sexually assaulted two women. A “newcomer” (that is the new Politically Correct name for illegal alien that you must henceforth use) from Guatemala stabbed to death a woman and her daughter. An illegal immigrant from Haiti raped a disabled 15 year-old girl. A Democrat’s politicians’ reaction to this crime was, essentially, who cares? An illegal alien from Mexico murdered a woman and dumped her body by the side of the road. In Washington state, an illegal alien from Mexico murdered a state trooper. An illegal alien from India has committed numerous crimes, albeit none as serious as the above. An illegal immigrant from Mexico kidnapped a girl and sexually assaulted her. An illegal immigrant from El Salvador killed a 2 year-old child and injured his mother as well. An illegal immigrant from Mexico killed a 10 year-old boy. An illegal immigrant from Venezuela killed an 11 year-old boy. An illegal alien from Venezuela failed in his attempt to rob a bank. Three illegal aliens from Chile were arrested on a theft crime ring. An illegal immigrant from Venezuela raped a 14 year-old girl in Virginia. Four illegal immigrants strangled a man and robbed him in Chicago. In NYC, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela shot a Brazilian tourist. In Florida, an illegal alien from Venezuela strangled a man to death. An illegal immigrant from Honduras killed two people, one of whom was found inside a burnt-down car in Tennessee. A illegal immigrant from San Salvador raped and murdered a mother of five in Maryland. And many hundreds more. In fact, the Department of Homeland Security Enforcement and Removal Operations, which arrests and removes individuals who undermine the integrity of the U.S. immigration system, reported 1,500 homicide-related arrests in 2022.  (READ MORE: The Historical Falsification of Columbus’ ‘Crimes’) Notice that you probably did not hear about these crimes from the media hivemind. That is not a coincidence, an accident, or an oversight. It was deliberate suppression. Furthermore, because Donald Trump wants to stop illegal immigration, to the media he is the real threat. Armando Simón is a retired psychologist, author of The Only Red Star I Liked was a Starfish and Orlando Stories. The post Is Illegal Immigration the ‘Great Replacement’? appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Yale history professor and author of The Global Cold War Odd Arne Westad, writing in Foreign Affairs, sees dangerous similarities between the British-German geopolitical rivalry before the First World War and today’s geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China. He notes the major “structural factors” that motivated the Anglo-German collision in 1914 — economics, geography, ideology — and sees similar structural factors at work with what he views as the impending Sino-U.S. collision in the South China Sea and western Pacific. He notes, however, that in 1914, it was the decisions of individuals, not structural factors, that ultimately determined whether war resulted between the rival antagonists. Just as today, it will be the decisions of individuals that will determine whether the United States and China go to war. And one of the great lessons of history is that expansionist communist powers cannot be appeased without dire consequences. The great British geopolitical thinker Sir Halford Mackinder believed that great statesmen — Bismarck was an example — possessed “an insight into the minds of other nations than his own.” Professor Westad attempts to do that in his essay, but in doing so he walks on the edge of imputing a moral equivalency between the United States and the Chinese communists. He treats China as just any other great power that wants its place in the sun but that sees the United States as trying to deprive it of its rightful status as an equal global power. There is no mention of communism as a motivating factor for China’s policies in Westad’s essay. Some of his “insights” into Chinese leaders’ minds could be written by a CCP hack at the Global Times. His understandable fear that both nuclear-armed powers are “sleepwalking” into World War III leads him to approach this new Cold War with a “moral equivalency” reminiscent of those Western observers and thinkers who viewed the United States and the Soviet Union as equally responsible for the first Cold War. (READ MORE from Francis P. Sempa: Spare Us the Advice From Down Under) That is the clear message of Westad’s essay. He is equally critical of U.S. and Chinese policies, and his essay lends a certain credibility to what he views as China’s wariness of the U.S. “hegemon.” Westad notes that after being sort of allies at the end of the first Cold War, the geopolitical dynamic in Sino-U.S. relations changed due to “China’s unrivaled economic success.” Yet, Westad acknowledges that until the presidency of Donald Trump, U.S. political and business leaders welcomed and even helped facilitate China’s rise, some acting under the belief that China had abandoned communism for state-capitalism while others acted out of pure greed. The Clinton, Bush 43, and Obama administrations all welcomed China’s “peaceful rise.” Trump changed course, veering in the direction of confrontation, which Westad criticizes. Westad contends that “China’s view of the United States began to darken” when America invaded Iraq. “[W]hat really shocked Beijing,” he writes, “was the ease with which Washington could dismiss matters of sovereignty and nonintervention, notions that were staples of the very international order the Americans had coaxed China to join.” So, according to Westad, China doubled its military budget in response to America’s behavior abroad. Westad views China’s military buildup as a reaction to U.S. hegemony rather than a normal accompaniment to Communist China’s economic rise. “[T]he timing of Beijing’s expansion,” Westad writes, “was clearly linked to its fear that the global hegemon had both the will and the capacity to contain China’s rise if it so chose.” China, like Germany in the early 1900s Westad contends, feared the U.S. just like Germany supposedly feared Great Britain. “China today,” he explains, “shows many of the same signs of hubris and fear that Germany exhibited after the 1890s.” That is what caused China to be more assertive towards its neighbors in the western Pacific and East Asia. Communism apparently had nothing to do with it. This got worse, according to Westad, when Trump became president because Trump “appealed to voters by conjuring China as a malign force on the international stage.” The use of the word “conjuring” is revealing. Conjuring means to bring something into existence. So in Westad’s view, Trump conjured the China threat and directed a military buildup “against China” and launched trade wars against China “marking a clear brake from the less hostile policies pursued by … Barack Obama.” Again, according to Westad, China responded to Washington’s “hard-line shift” by manifesting both ambition and insecurity.” And Biden made the mistake, Westad writes, of continuing some of Trump’s confrontational policies. Westad deems as “meaningless” China’s statements regarding its international ambitions. There is no mention in his essay of China’s geopolitical offensive known as the Belt and Road Initiative. We saw this throughout the first Cold War when liberal Westerners simply refused to believe that their communist adversaries meant what they said about world domination and the final victory of communism over capitalism. We should stop trade wars against China, Westad writes. China should not stand-by its “strategic partner” Russia in the Ukraine war. And tensions over Taiwan must ease. To that end, Westad recommends continued adherence to the Shanghai Communique of 1972. Washington must refrain from supporting Taiwan’s independence. Beijing should adhere to its stated goal of “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan. And there is a “desperate need” for arms control between the U.S. and China. During the first Cold War, moral equivalency Westerners were the biggest supporters of arms control in spite of Soviet cheating and a Soviet military doctrine that called for winning a possible nuclear war. Westad acknowledges that the First World War might have been avoided had Germany “not been so brazen about altering the naval balance of power.” China has done likewise in the western Pacific, but Westad treats that development as a reaction to U.S. confrontational policies instead of communist expansion. Westad near the end of his essay briefly mentions the need for believable deterrence, and recommends that the U.S. concentrate its military power in the Indo-Pacific. But a military buildup in the Indo-Pacific was the Trump administration’s policy that Westad previously described as provocative. Remember, it was Trump, according to Westad, that “conjured” the China threat. (READ MORE: Joseph Nye, Useful Idiot) One can agree with Westad that learning the lessons of history can help diplomats and leaders avoid great power wars. A U.S.-China war would indeed be catastrophic. And one of the great lessons of history is that expansionist communist powers cannot be appeased without dire consequences. The sources of China’s global ambition are to be found within the Chinese Communist Party, Mao Zedong Thought, and now Xi Jinping Thought. They include China’s goal of reversing the “century of humiliation” at the hands of Western powers. They even go back to pre-communist China’s perception of itself as the world’s “middle kingdom” to which all other countries must pay tribute. China’s geopolitical rise — which the United States aided and abetted for decades — was not a response to American hegemony. It is built into the communist world view and China’s historical DNA. Attempts at moral equivalency cannot change that reality. The post US vs. China: No Moral Equivalence appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Congressional Budget Office projections provide valuable insights into how a big chunk of your income is being spent and reveal the long-term consequences of our government’s current fiscal policies — you may endure them, and your children most certainly will. If inflation, as I fear, doesn’t go away as fast as predicted by CBO … it will slow growth, increase interest rates, and massively expand the deficit. Yet, like most other projections looking into our future, these numbers should be taken with a grain of salt. So should claims that CBO projections validate anyone’s fiscal track record. So much can and likely will happen to make projections moot and our fiscal outlook much grimmer. Unforeseen events, economic changes, and policy decisions render them less accurate over time. The CBO knows this and recently released alternative scenarios based on different sets of assumptions, and it doesn’t look good. It remains a wonder that more politicians, now given a more realistic range of possibilities, aren’t behaving like it. (READ MORE from Veronique De Rugy: Biden Points the Bill (and the Blame) Elsewhere) First, let’s recap what the situation looks like under the usual rosy growth, inflation, and interest-rate assumptions. Due to continued overspending, this year’s deficit will be at least $1.6 trillion, rising to $2.6 trillion by 2034. Debt held by the public equals roughly 99 percent of our economy (measured by gross domestic product) annually, heading to 116 perccent in 2034. The only reason these numbers won’t be as high as projected last year is that a few House Republicans fought hard to impose some spending caps during the debt-ceiling debate. The long-term outlook is even scarier, with public debt reaching 166 percent of GDP in 30 years and all federal debt reaching 180 percent. No one should be surprised. To be sure, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Great Recession made things worse, but we’ve been on this path for decades. Unfortunately, if any of the assumptions underlying these projections change again, things will get a lot worse. That’s where CBO’s alternative paths help. Policymakers and the public can better see the potential risks and opportunities associated with various fiscal policy choices, enabling them to make more informed decisions. For instance, the CBO highlights that if the labor force grows annually by just 0.1 fewer percentage points than originally projected — even if the unemployment rate stays the same — slower economic growth will lead to a deficit $142 billion larger than baseline projections between 2025 and 2034. A similarly small slowdown in the productivity rate would lead to an added deficit of $304 billion over that period. Back in 2020, the prevalent theory among those who claimed we shouldn’t worry about debt was that interest rates were remarkably low and would stay low forever. As if. These guys have since learned what many of us have known for years: that interest rates can and will go up when the situation gets bad enough. So, what happens if rates continue to rise above and beyond those CBO used in its projections? Even a minuscule 0.1-point rise above the baseline would produce an additional $324 billion on the deficit over the 2025-2034 period. The same is true with inflation, which, as every shopper can see, has yet to be defeated. If inflation, as I fear, doesn’t go away as fast as predicted by CBO — largely because debt accumulation is continuing unabated — it will slow growth, increase interest rates, and massively expand the deficit. To be precise, an increase in overall prices of just 0.1 points over the CBO baseline would result in higher interest rates and a deficit of $263 billion more than projected. Now, imagine all these variations from the current projections happening simultaneously. It’s a real possibility. The deficit hike would be enormous, which could then trigger even more inflation and higher interest rates. The question that remains is: Why aren’t politicians on both sides more worried than they seem to be? What needs to happen before they finally decide to treat our fiscal situation as a real threat? President Joe Biden doesn’t want to tackle the debt issue. In fact, he’s actively adding to the debt with student loan forgiveness, subsidies to big businesses and other nonsense. Meanwhile, some Republicans pay lip service to our financial crisis, but few are willing to tackle the real problem of entitlement spending. (READ MORE: Social Security Reform Is Coming (Really) and Will Bring Political Rewards) The time for political posturing is over. The longer we wait to address these issues, the more severe the consequences will be for future generations. It’s time for our leaders to prioritize the nation’s long-term economic health over short-term political gains and take bold steps toward fiscal responsibility. Only then can we hope to secure a stable and prosperous future for all Americans. Veronique de Rugy is the George Gibbs Chair in Political Economy and a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. To find out more about Veronique de Rugy and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM. The post Budget and Debt Scenarios: Politicians Should Care appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

by Mish Shedlock, Mish Talk: On a cost-adjusted basis, California leads the nation in percentage living in poverty. Blame the Progressive oligarchs like Governor Newsom. Warning to the World Spiked makes a strong case that a dominant class of oligarchs and woke bureaucrats has bled the Golden State dry. It’s a Warning to the World. TRUTH LIVES […]

Earlier today I brought you this report: One Of These People Is NOT Joe Biden It's not even up for debate anymore, this is not the same person. Nor is it the same person we saw earlier in the week, or last week, or the person we will see tomorrow....you get the idea. It appears very clear at this point that there are several different "versions" of Joe Biden. And no, it's not just camera angles and lighting. There are objectively, demonstrably multiple different versions of Joe Biden floating around. No, I'm not saying clones or that he was executed in GITMO in 2018.... I'm not going there. But I don't have to. I don't have to have the entire thing figured out or know exactly what is going on (actors in CIA masks seems the most plausible), all I have to do is use my eyes and my brain and it's painfully obvious these are all not the same person. But earlier today I just showed you those two pictures. Now people have sent me many more. Check out these six: Which one is the real one? pic.twitter.com/T50MA0RYZ6 — Liz Churchill (@liz_churchill10) June 16, 2024 Which is the real Joe? Is the real Joe even in that montage of 6 photos? Folks....just look at top middle and top right and that tells you all you need to know. One has a "ballsack" chin and the other has a very pronounced strong, flat chin. NOT. THE. SAME. GUY. That's really not even up for debate at this point. Or how about this one? Again look at just the chins and you see all you need to see: So many Joes pic.twitter.com/bVEP13E5Gl — Enlightenment (@neEnlightenment) June 16, 2024 Six more here: Here's a few more ....... pic.twitter.com/j10r431Bwr — Coyote Junction (@Dos_colinas) June 16, 2024 So....what's going on? I'll post my original report directly below and I give you my thoughts in there: One Of These People Is NOT Joe Biden Look folks, I don't even know what to tell you about this, so I'm just going to show you. I don't know what is actually going on with Joe Biden... I don't really buy into the whole "clones" thing... I do think there's a lot of merit to the idea that we are seeing different people in masks "play" Joe Biden (I'll explain why in a minute).... But I do know one thing for sure, and that is this is not the same person in these two photos and only one of these people is actually Joe Biden -- even accounting for aging and so forth: Where is the real Joe Biden? pic.twitter.com/qTb1KJXRoY — MAVERICK X (@MAVERIC68078049) June 16, 2024 Yes folks, that picture on the right is a real picture and they just tried to pass that off as Joe Biden. Do your eyes deceive you? Or do you trust what you see? It comes from this photo of "Joe Biden" hanging out with Barack Obama and Jimmy Kimmel: Biden Clone #18 is both the oldest & most unrealistic of all the clones. pic.twitter.com/DgYdmOcvAt — Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) June 16, 2024 Yes, they're trying to tell us that's Joe Biden. Regardless of what you think about whether it's someone in a mask or not, just ask yourself this: can you honestly say you think that looks like Joe Biden? I can't. Not even close. Pictures are worth a thousand words, just watch this for all the different "Bidens" we've seen in the past 4 years, can you really tell me this is all the same guy? What’s going on with Biden’s chin?@patrickbetdavid @VincentOshana pic.twitter.com/BIssfFbtXU — PBD Podcast (@PBDsPodcast) June 15, 2024 Or this one... Watch this short clip. Same guy in all of this? "Joe Biden" is a clone..... The real one has been gone for a while...#WeWantAnswers #Biden #BidenClone #NWO #illuminati #FakeBiden pic.twitter.com/yNj8PbWbvr — Isaac’s Army (@ReturnOfKappy) July 13, 2023 I'm not here to convince you of anything.... And I'm not here to promote "conspiracy theories". I'm not even drawing any conclusions here, I'm just asking one very simple question to everyone reading this: WHAT DO YOUR EYES SEE? Of course we just had this happen earlier this week: Can Anyone Tell Me What’s Going On With Joe Biden’s NECK Here? Some think it's Dana Carvey behind the mask: You Really Telling Me This Guy Isn’t Playing Joe Biden? Others think Jim Carrey: Is Jim Carrey Playing Joe Biden In A “Mask”? Ultimately, I don't know what's going on.... I don't think it's "clones" but I do think Masks are possible. Why? Because the CIA told us how advanced they were back in the 1990s. Did you know that? I can only imagine how much the technology has advanced in the 35+ years since then. Check this out: You Don't Have To Believe In Clones, You Just Need To See This... For nearly four years now, the world has watched as very strange things have happened to world leaders... For example, remember Germany's Angela Merkel shaking uncontrollably? Remember when Merkel was also shaking??!! Must be common among the guilty…… https://t.co/5OcckNaAVV pic.twitter.com/xL7aMA8DhJ — Fletch17 (@17ThankQ) March 28, 2024 Or how about Hillary having a similar "malfunction" and getting loaded into that van by men in black suits? Watch here: Remember when Hillary Clinton couldn't walk into this van on 9/11 pic.twitter.com/yY8q65aLug — Green Lives Matter (@Ultrafrog17) September 4, 2023 And then emerging later that day looking totally different.... That's the best part of all. Remember that? Remember when they tried to pass this off as Hillary Clinton? pic.twitter.com/6M51d3eKCz — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) June 6, 2024 Close, but yet so far away. Or how about Joe Biden? How about the fact he looks nothing like the Biden of 10 years ago? Biden is the original on the left, Biden is the double on the right. The appearance is different. The voice is very similar. They are not the same person. pic.twitter.com/7NEu6lrc70 — ?ℝℙ_???????? ? President of the (@AllianceXrp) October 23, 2020 Or for that matter, why do there seem to be 3-4 different versions of Biden out there today that all look a bit different from each other? The new #clones will look older & have more moles/wrinkles. You'll see the difference. #SleepyJoe is being groomed to be the front runner but there are difficulties because a clone can mimic information & answer some questions, but isn't prepared for long intense communication. pic.twitter.com/0PXhxCksnZ — Kab (@Kabamur_Taygeta) August 9, 2019 Strange right? Ok, so what's going on then? The most common answers are Clones, Body Doubles, Executed at Gitmo, Actors in Masks. I think the whole "executed at Gitmo" now a clone stuff is nonsense. I have never promoted that. Until I see real evidence of that, I think that's just wacky. But I don't think it's wacky to say something is going on. Our eyes do not deceive us. So....what is it? As much as I think there is zero evidence for Gitmo/Clones, I think there is a TON of evidence for actors in masks....and I want to show it to you. You see, that's what we do here. We don't publish nonsense gibberish with no evidence, but we also don't shy away from stories that are outside the so-called "Mainstream" because that's often where you find the truth. So that said, please allow me to show you that mask technology is not only real, it's also so advanced you probably have no idea what they are capable of. Check this out: Former CIA Chief of Disguise -- "I Briefed Bush Sr. In A Mask And He Couldn't Tell!" Never in my life did I think the word "Mask" would come to play such an important and prolific role on the world stage. For 2 years we were forced to wear COVID masks... But there's also another kind of Mask that has rose to fame. One that I think will soon get a WHOLE lot more attention. The Costume Mask. I've often said on this website that I don't subscribe to the theory that Joe Biden is dead and has been replaced by clones. Sorry, not going there. But are there "multiple" Joe Biden's being played by Actors in Masks? That is NOT an unreasonable thing to believe. That's not just my opinion, that is former CIA "Chief of Disguise" telling you that Mask technology has become SO GOOD that she briefed President Bush (41) face to face (so to speak) while wearing a Mask and he couldn't tell! Understand that Bush Sr. was back in the 1990s. If the CIA had human Mask technology so good in the 1990s that it could fool the President when face-to-face with him, what do you think we have now? I'll show you some stunning videos below, but first here is more detail from ChatGPT about CIA Former Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez and her role in creating the most lifelike human masks in history: Jonna Mendez served as the Chief of Disguise at the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Office of Technical Service in the late 20th century. She, along with her late husband Antonio Mendez, another notable figure in the world of espionage, played an instrumental role in developing innovative disguise technologies and methodologies that substantially improved the operations of field agents. Jonna's stint in the CIA culminated in the development of groundbreaking disguise technologies, including highly advanced masks that were capable of transforming the appearance of operatives. These masks and disguises were crucial for clandestine operations, providing agents with the means to blend in, avoid detection, and accomplish their missions undetected. Background Before delving into the intricacies of Mendez's work with masks, it is vital to understand her professional background. Mendez joined the CIA in the late 1960s. Over the years, she held multiple positions, evolving her skill set and adapting to the changing needs of intelligence operations. She held a critical role in crafting and providing innovative tools, gadgets, and disguises to field operatives, thereby enhancing their operational capabilities. Evolution of Disguise Technologies Mendez was instrumental in the evolution of disguise technologies at the CIA during the Cold War. Initially, the art of disguise was rudimentary, relying on wigs, makeup, and changes in clothing. However, the pressing need for more advanced technologies led to the inception of transformative masks that could alter an agent's identity in minutes. Mendez, leveraging her ingenuity and technical know-how, began exploring latex and other materials to construct lifelike masks capable of fooling even the most vigilant observers. These masks would meticulously replicate facial features, textures, and coloration, allowing agents to impersonate different individuals, irrespective of age, race, or gender. The Mastery of Masks The development and utilization of masks under Mendez’s leadership were paramount in ensuring the safety and success of agents in hostile territories. These masks were not mere accessories; they were intricate creations, designed with impeccable attention to detail, taking into account the individual attributes of the wearer and the person they were impersonating. Mendez’s masks allowed agents to assume new identities seamlessly, altering their appearance so drastically that they could operate in close proximity to people who were familiar with the individual being impersonated, without arousing suspicion. It was the culmination of meticulous craftsmanship, technical innovation, and a deep understanding of human perception. Technological Advancements The technological advancements in mask-making during Mendez’s era were revolutionary. The use of advanced materials and technologies facilitated the creation of masks that were not only visually convincing but were also comfortable and breathable, enabling agents to wear them for extended periods. These masks were complemented with elaborate costumes, altered voice modulations, and behavioral training to ensure that the disguise was holistic and unpenetrable. The advanced masks developed under Mendez's supervision were fitted with realistic hair, precise skin tones, and textures, and could even mimic wrinkles, scars, and other distinctive facial features. The precision and realism of these disguises were unprecedented and marked a significant leap in the art of disguise in espionage. High-Stake Operations Mendez’s innovations were particularly critical in high-stakes, sensitive operations where the margin for error was non-existent. The masks and disguise technologies she developed allowed agents to infiltrate hostile environments, gather crucial intelligence, exfiltrate assets, and conduct surveillance without compromising their true identities. These disguises were also integral in deception operations, enabling agents to manipulate adversaries’ perceptions and actions. The ability to assume multiple identities and operate covertly provided a strategic advantage in the convoluted geopolitical landscape of the Cold War era. Legacy and Contributions Jonna Mendez's work has left an indelible mark on the intelligence community. The advancements in disguise technology initiated by her have been integral in reshaping espionage tactics and methodologies. The masks and disguises developed under her watch were not just tools of deception; they were lifelines for operatives working in the shadows, ensuring their safety and the success of their missions. Moreover, Mendez has shared her knowledge and experiences through lectures, writings, and advisory roles, offering insights into the clandestine world of espionage and the significance of disguise in intelligence operations. Her revelations have not only enriched public knowledge about the workings of the intelligence community but have also highlighted the importance of innovation and technical acumen in the field of espionage. Modern Developments While the exact advancements in disguise technology post-Mendez's tenure remain classified, it can be inferred that the field has continued to evolve, integrating newer technologies and materials. The rapid progress in prosthetics, synthetic materials, digital technology, and biometrics may have led to the development of more advanced and sophisticated disguise techniques. Such advancements likely address the challenges posed by modern security measures and surveillance technologies. Conclusion Jonna Mendez’s tenure as the Chief of Disguise at the CIA marked a revolutionary period in the field of disguise technology. Her pioneering work in developing advanced, realistic masks significantly enhanced the capabilities of field agents, allowing them to assume new identities and perform covert operations with unprecedented efficacy. Mendez’s intricate masks and disguises were pivotal in several high-stake missions during the Cold War, providing agents with the means to infiltrate, exfiltrate, and gather crucial intelligence without compromising their safety. Her contributions to the intelligence community extend beyond her innovations, as she continues to educate the public about the role and significance of disguise in espionage. The advancements initiated by Mendez have paved the way for newer innovations, adapting to the evolving landscape of modern espionage and the challenges posed by sophisticated security and surveillance systems. Jonna Mendez’s legacy is a testament to the amalgamation of artistry, technical prowess, and strategic thinking in the service of national security, highlighting the relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation in the clandestine world of intelligence operations. Watch this, it's incredible.... Part 1: Former CIA "Chief of Disguise" reveals how far Mask technology has come..... pic.twitter.com/aZJtgOPYnU — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) September 24, 2023 And Part 2: CIA Masks -- Part 2 pic.twitter.com/VhIKKN37Bc — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) September 24, 2023 Backups here: pic.twitter.com/kbWST0y3Oi — $8bluecheckmark (@eightdollarchek) September 21, 2023 And here: https://twitter.com/Conspiracy6174/status/1645449850824306691 More here from her TedX talk: And here from Valuetainment: And here: And from our friend Derek Johnson, Rattletrap: Sweeeeeeet… look what’s advertising on Instagram Getting people ready for the big reveal party? #JoeAintJoe pic.twitter.com/1DDMIlRCFB — Derek Johnson (@rattletrap1776) September 23, 2023 Keep reading below and you'll see even ESPN has technology so advanced no one could recognize Eli Manning playing football in a mask.... Wow! NEW VIDEO: Fake Joe Biden Mask Exposed? I've got a brand new video to share with you from our old friend Chris Yoon. You might remember we used to cover his videos a lot. He stopped posting for a bit but big thanks to a reader who sent me this latest link of his newest video. I think it's going to blow your mind, especially around the 8:00 minute mark. But please watch the whole thing before you comment. I'm not going to tell you for sure I know there is a man in a mask playing Joe Biden, but I am saying that every day that goes by that becomes MORE likely, not LESS likely. Especially when you see something like this. Just....wow. Also, if you think this is far-fetched, please watch the NEXT video I'll put below this one, showing how ESPN already did the same thing with Eli Manning. And that was on a football field with running, tackling and massive sweating. And it fooled everyone. If they can do that in football, how much easier would it be with "Sleepy Joe"? And hey, is this why he is so rarely seen in public and always has to "call a lid"? Is the mast hard to wear for long periods of time? Does it take a lot of time and effort to put on each day? So many questions. For now, I leave it in your hands to watch this and let me know what you think. Current Joe Biden: real or fake? Watch this and then decide: Backup here on Rumble if needed: Now as promised, I bring you one more video. If you think any of that is far-fetched, then you probably haven't seen what ESPN already did. This is wild. Keep reading... Don't Believe Biden Is An Actor Wearing a Mask? Then You Have To See This... Ok look, I'll say right off the bat I don' know for sure what's going on with Biden. And I'm not one of these people who thinks he was executed at GITMO 5 years ago and is now replaced by a clone. Not going there. But...being played by an actor? Or by multiple actors? Not far-fetched if you ask me. Especially considering how different he often looks. More on that farther down in this article. But right now I want to show you something that will probably blow your mind if you didn't realize just how good they've gotten with fake face masks. No, I don't mean COVID face masks. I mean, an entirely fake face put on somebody. I saw this clip on ESPN recently of Eli Manning (who is 41) who went "undercover" to Penn State to try and walk on as a college freshman. You know, about 18 years old. And guess what? After the fake face was put on, nobody recognized him! And here's the other part...they did a full day of football tryouts....running around, sweating, moving, hitting, the full deal.  And the fake face stayed on. So is it really that hard to believe Joe Biden is being played by an actor made to "look" like Joe Biden? Think about how often they never let him leave his basement, now why would they want to keep him out of public view so much? First, because he's a walking gaffe machine. But second, you probably wouldn't want to have to put on the fake Biden face too often, would you? I bet not. So keep him out of public view as much as possible before you have to run out the actor? I don't folks, I'm not 100% convinced either way, but here's what I do know after watching this ESPN bit: they have the technology and it's not even that hard. Go ahead and watch this, it's pretty incredible. Watch till the end when he rips the fake face off in front of the whole team and they are stunned. Enjoy: Here's some more footage: And since we're on the topic, here is Julie Green saying "Biden will soon be unmasked". Hmmmm..... Watch here on Rumble: Now let's take a minute to explore all the different "Bidens" and how they all look so wildly different. FAKE ACTOR? Can You Spot The Real Joe Biden? Is this the same man in all 4 photos? Let's dig in to a very serious question, shall we? What is going on with Joe Biden? That's a very open-ended question that could take hours to unpack, but let's just talk about his looks and mannerisms. Is this the same guy from a few years ago? I wonder. And so do many of you because I get your emails and videos. On that note, a big "thank you" very much to my friend Mark who sent me this video. It's a comparison of Joe Biden in 2006 vs. now. The differences are stunning! Of course you have the shocking mental decline but you also have a man who sounds a lot more like a Republican back in 2006. Watch this and then keep reading for a deep dive into just how many different "Bidens" there seem to be! Is this the same man? Even Sean Hannity is talking about it! But first, watch this from Rumble: Now let's dig in deeper... I'm not making any conclusions here, I'm simply reporting. I report, you decide. Anyone else think Joe Biden looks a little...."different"....than he used to? Of course we all look different as we continue to age. Reminds me of one of my favorite Mitch Hedberg jokes: But let's get serious for a moment. Because seriously, Joe Biden does NOT look much like the guy from 10-15 years ago. My friend Daniel just posted this video and I had to share it with you: https://twitter.com/dnajlion7/status/1377340773763411968 If you're having trouble seeing that, you can watch it here on Rumble: Wanna take it one more level deeper? Many people are saying the last photo in that video sure does look like Jim Carey pretending to be Joe Biden. What do you think: But it's not just "conspiracy theorists" on the Internet asking questions. Sean Hannity is even starting to question it. Watch this recent segment where he asks "What happened to Joe?" Are there two Joes? Watch Sean here on Rumble: What do you think? Leave a comment below. Want to dive in even deeper? Let's look at an even older clip of Joe Biden and you tell me if this is the same guy currently pretending to be President..... Watch: "How are you gonna keep it from us being able to be in a position where you can manipulate the machines, manipulate the records?... I think we should pass a federal law mandating that the same machines with paper trails be mandatory for every federal election" -Joe Biden, 2007 pic.twitter.com/0fWOVRHXFX — Fleccas (@fleccas) December 15, 2020 And since Twitter will no doubt be taking that post down very soon, don't worry I saved a backup! From Rumble: Beyond the incredible admission, people are rightly pointing out that the Biden of today does not look or sound much like the Biden of 13 years ago. Take a look for yourself: https://twitter.com/Hobocrow1/status/1338960601066872832 And here: Not the same guy!! pic.twitter.com/cy1fQC7nyR — Koen (@Koen_84) December 15, 2020 What do you think? They sure do look different to me! And while we're on the topic of Biden's admissions (perhaps from a guilty soul?) let's revisit this: BIDEN ADMITS TO VOTER FRAUD! @JoeBiden brags about having the “most extensive VOTER FRAUD organization” in history WATCH pic.twitter.com/ft7u07kUX0 — Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) October 24, 2020 Even a liar tells the truth sometimes! Mostly when his cognitive ability has declined so much he can no longer keep all the lies straight. What do YOU think? Zoom in: From Fake Biden we move to Fake Whitehouse? Biden Caught AGAIN Posting From Fake Oval Office Set! Is He Not In The White House? It happened again folks. Joe Biden posting videos and messages from an obviously FAKE White House set. We've covered this before here: https://wltreport.com/2021/12/24/biden-caught-again-using-a-fake-white-house-set/ And here: https://wltreport.com/2021/10/07/biden-mocked-for-using-fake-white-house-set-with-fake-windows-rose-garden/ But it just happened again and it's getting REALLY weird. This all begs the simple question: if you have access to the REAL White House, why do you need to create a Fake set somewhere else? But let's back up a minute and address the so-called "Fact Checkers". Or as I like to call them, the Ministry of Propaganda. Because they don't truly "fact check" jack shit. Their sole job is to try and sway a story and confuse the public from what is obvious truth. Exhibit A? We'll let's go right to a "Fact Check" on the whole Fake White House story from back in October when this first broke. Back in October, WeLoveTrump was one of the first in the Media to jump on the story of the Fake White House set. Before it was common news, we posted here at WeLoveTrump that the window behind Joe Biden looked very odd...almost cartoonish in coloration. Very shortly after that post it was being widely reported that it was indeed a Fake Set of the White House. In fact, here is one of the photos which was a total BOMBSHELL when it was first released.  It very clearly shows the Fake Set: Nothing is real with these people, it’s all smoke and mirrors. But we’re supposed to entrust them with all of our personal health decisions? pic.twitter.com/9N5FPYm7pI — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 29, 2021 And this: If you go to Facebook to this very day, this is what you see when you load that photo. "MISSING CONTEXT". Hilarious folks.... It's a picture and we can all determine the context with our own two eyes! But the Ministry of Propaganda has to TELL YOU what you can think... They have to TELL YOU what your eyes are seeing... So sad. Here's another one: Oh what do you know...more "Missing Context". Friends, let me key you in on a little truth... I'll translate this for you from Facebook-speak to Plain-English Truth. Ready? Missing Context = this is actually 100% true and even we can't BS enough to label it false so we're going to find some minor detail or idea we make up and claim that due to something that has 0.01% impact on the story it is "Missing Context". Hope that helps. But it's not just FakeBook and their propaganda... Let's now go to Reuters who published this "fact check" back in October: Any rational human-being reading that report would conclude it must be fake news! See (says Normie Poindexter)....See!  I told you it was fake news that Biden was on a fake White House set! Except....keep reading. Let's just skip down to the END of the article where they admit (1) he WAS in fact on a film set, and (2) it wasn't in the White House at all, it was in the Eisenhower Building! Look: Compare that first section with the last section... Even within their own article they are caught lying! And yet these bastards hold themselves out as Fact-Checkers. GIVE ME A BREAK! I've had massive dumps in a toilet that hold more truth that your garbage fact checks. But I digress... Let's get back to the story and advance the ball because the Fake Set was just used again! Here is the new photo released by the White House which they claim is a photo of his call with Ukrainian President Zelensky: I spoke with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to discuss our coordinated diplomatic efforts and reaffirm our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will respond decisively — along with our Allies and partners — if Russia further invades Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/hRaUIxyxCd — President Biden (@POTUS) January 28, 2022 Yes, note that is the official Twitter account. Notice anything weird? It's those weird cartoonish colorized windows again! And what do we see outside them? TREES WITH LEAVES! Of course, I don't need to tell you that it's winter in D.C. and no trees have green leaves on them right now. But just in case, here are two photos from live feeds of the White House taken today and yesterday: Right, no leaves. Winter time. Why in the world would you need to build a FAKE OVAL OFFICE set? The obvious answer is because you don't have access to the genuine article. Make of that what you will. Follow up question: why do they KEEP doing it? My theory is when they did it the first time, they never thought they would get caught. We were one of the first to notice and start asking questions, so we take pride in being on the front end of this story. After they were caught, I think they had two choices:  (1) lie about it and claim it didn't happen, or (2) embrace it and keep doing it and pretend like it was intentional. They clearly went with Choice #2. Even Newsweek was brought in to carry water for the second option. Check out this load of propaganda they published trying to explain why they just HAD to create a Fake Oval Office: Why was a fake Oval Office built? The event space is being used for White House events that are being broadcast. The area is bigger than the actual Oval Office, and provides an area for journalists. Martha Kumar, director of the White House Transition Project explained that this room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building is being used more regularly due to it being more accessible. Previously, the room known as Room 450 was used for such media events. "You have to slug your way up flights of stairs because the small elevators would hold only a limited number of people," Kimar explained to the Washington Examiner. "That means you often had to walk. White House staff, as well as presidents, would have to make their way there, too, though they had the luxury of an elevator. With its easy access, the South Court site was welcomed by all." While former White House events director Josh King explained that the use of the new area is down to "PoliOptics." "Every week in Washington has an element of theater and stagecraft, one side or another working to take full advantage of visual storytelling," King told the newspaper. "Presidents can fly on Air Force One across the country—or even around the world—for a photo worthy to print on the top of the fold of U.S. newspapers." King said that the South Court Auditorium is usually a "generic, stadium-style meeting room with four or five rows of seats; space in the back of the room for cameras sitting on tripods; a small buffer area in front of the stage for still photographers to capture the key moment; and handy backstage doors for easy ingress and egress by the principals." LOL, ok thanks Newsweek. Got it...they just had to create a Fake Set because the other one had too many stairs! How long did it take to come up with that line of BS and how many people sat around a table spitballing ideas until you decided that was the best one to run with? Maybe I'm being too tough. Maybe it's true! I'll turn it over to you....what do YOU think? WATCH: A Glimpse Into Biden's Fake White House Set Why does he even have this thing? Many theories abound, but there can only really be a handful of logical reasons why someone would need a fake staged set to mimic the real thing... Stephen Miller claims that it is a set built around the use of a teleprompter. I too think that it has something to do with Biden's reported cognitive decline, but I am not sure if the teleprompter is the exact reason. Let's take a look, and let us know what you think the deal is behind this creepy staged set: I’m never speechless but this is insane! Can you imagine if Trump had a little stage set built for him to mimic the White House?President Trump worked in the real White House took hard questions & didn’t use sticky notes! Shame on the media for keeping it silent. @Thatdoll86 pic.twitter.com/NyHL3vOSIk — Sara (@skb_sara) April 1, 2022 The reason Biden uses this bizarre virtual set for televised meetings—and not an actual room like East Room, Cabinet, Oval, Roosevelt, Sit Room, etc.—is because it allows him to read a script directly from a face-on monitor (& w/out teleprompter glass that can be seen on camera). https://t.co/Uc4Ly9kL7T — Stephen Miller (@StephenM) October 6, 2021 The New York Post comments: Twitter erupted after Biden was spotted sitting in front of the digital projection window on Wednesday as he held a meeting with business leaders and CEOs on the need to raise the debt ceiling. Some ridiculed Biden for using a “literal game show set” as president, while others accused him of deliberately trying to deceive Americans into thinking he was in the White House.   Biden, 79, uses 'cheat sheets' to answer press questions on his 'unscripted' call for Putin to be ousted in Russia No one has yet provided a good explanation as to why the Biden administration has a stage set of the White House in a studio across the street from the real WH — Gordon (@StopTheCoup2020) March 29, 2022 https://twitter.com/DBark46107258/status/1509627433296674832 Fox News states: The video set, which was constructed across from the White House in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, is used by Biden for video conferences and events broadcast online. Featuring professional monitors and lighting.

Billionaire Bill Gates said during an interview over the weekend that he believes that support for nuclear power is high in both of America’s major political parties. Gates made the remarks during a Sunday CBS News interview with Margaret Brennan on “Face the Nation” when asked about a a new nuclear power plant that is now being built in Wyoming. He said that he wants the U.S. to build dozens of new nuclear power plants and that it should try to get more than 100 built. Addressing the possibility of nuclear power plant melting down, Gates said: “A problem when you shut a rector down it still has heat. That’s why Chernobyl was a problem and Fukushima. Our design, that goes away because since we use this sodium to cool everything, it can absorb all that heat. And so those accidents were both first in generation, second generation reactors. The third generation reactors dealt with that with a lot of complexity. So, those reactors are quite safe, but the cost overruns meant that the electricity will be very, very expensive. We solved the safety problem with a much simpler approach, but we have to start from scratch.” He said that he was “quite confident” that there will be support for continuing to expand America’s arsenal of nuclear power plants regardless of who wins the election this fall. “I meet with lots of Republicans. I meet with lots of Democrats,” he said. “I’d say that the support for nuclear power is very impressive in both parties. The reasons they support nuclear power may not be identical. The Republicans may emphasize the security issues, you know, energy security, exporting these power things to the entire world. The Democrats value those things but they also value that it’s a clean source of energy.” “You really don’t want the nuclear reactors around the world made by your adversaries because it’s economically a huge job creator and because the materials involved in these reactors possibly could be diverted,” he later added. “You want your eye on, you know, making sure that it’s not feeding into some military-related activity. And so the U.S. leadership in this space has a lot of strategic benefits.” WATCH: