On Wednesday‚ Hunter Biden is set to be deposed in closed door testimony to Congress. If recent history is a guide‚ expect the leftist media to ignore it if there are any bombshells that hurt Team Biden.  Pretty much the only time the media talk about the Biden family scandals is if it hurts the GOP. As seen when they bragged that the February 15 arrest of an FBI informant for giving false information in the Hunter case‚ as NBC correspondent Ryan Nobles declared “dealt a blow” to all of their investigations. ABC World News Tonight anchor David Muir on the February 21 broadcast crowed: “Our Pierre Thomas tonight asks Republicans in the House‚ how do you move forward if the main informant was lying?” But as NewsBusters has been tracking‚ and New York Post columnist Miranda Devine pointed out‚ there is an “avalanche of evidence” that hasn’t been debunked.  The following are just a few of the Biden family scandal items from the last three months — leading up to the Hunter deposition — that have received no coverage on ABC‚ CBS and NBC’s evening or morning shows‚ nor their Sunday roundtable shows:    Hunter Biden’s Billionaire Pals in Russia Escape Sanctions List…AGAIN On February 23‚ the New York Post reported:  Two Russian billionaire pals of Hunter Biden were again spared from being hit by financial sanctions as President Biden announced his latest round of penalties on numerous Vladimir Putin-connected people Friday‚ the Post has learned. Though some 500 Russian oligarchs‚ companies and third-country sanctions evaders were hit‚ real estate developer Yelena Baturina and Vladimir Yevtushenkov again skated free of winding up on the list. The White House did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment and has not offered explanation in the past as the pair dodged earlier rounds of sanctions. The omissions have attracted the attention of House Republicans leading an impeachment inquiry into the president’s links to his relatives’ foreign business dealings. Baturina‚ the widow of late Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov‚ built her $1.3 billion fortune through real estate and investments and dined with Hunter Biden and then-Vice President Joe Biden at least once at DC’s Café Milano. ABC‚ CBS‚ NBC evening and morning show coverage: 0 seconds.   Jim Biden Used His Brother’s Name to Promote Americore Hospital Chain‚ That Was Accused of Medicare Fraud and Has Now Collapsed On February 18‚ Politico reported:  In 2017‚ a hospital operator set out to build a rural health care empire with the help of a Philadelphia-area consultant. The consultant‚ Jim Biden‚ had no experience running hospitals. But he did understand the federal government and had ties to labor unions. Perhaps more important‚ he was the younger brother of Joe Biden. The final years of the Obama administration had cemented the former vice president’s towering stature in the world of health care‚ where he had made the fight against cancer a top federal priority and‚ then‚ a centerpiece of his legacy-building efforts. For then 67-year-old Jim Biden‚ the third of four Biden siblings‚ his ties to his older brother made up much of his pitch as he pursued deals that could help Americore make money from drug rehab‚ lab testing and even cancer treatment. “This would be a perfect platform to expose my Brothers team to [your] protocol‚” Jim Biden wrote to the CEO of a Tampa-area company that controlled licensing rights to an experimental cancer treatment the hospital operator wanted to offer. “Could provide a great opportunity for some real exposure.” The email‚ obtained by POLITICO from a person close to the company‚ documents one of the many ways in which Jim Biden invoked his brother’s name and clout in the course of his work with Americore‚ which has since gone bankrupt‚ wreaking havoc in rural communities in the process. ABC‚ CBS‚ NBC evening and morning show coverage: 0 seconds.   Hunter’s Ex-Business Partner: Joe Biden “The Enabler” of the “Family’s Business‚” Was Sold as “The Brand”  On February 16‚ the New York Post reported:  Former Biden family associate Tony Bobulinski steadfastly accused Joe Biden of being involved in his son and brother’s foreign dealings in China in impeachment inquiry testimony that was released publicly Friday — hours after the Justice Department charged an FBI informant for allegedly falsely accusing the Bidens of taking bribes from Ukraine. “Joe Biden was more than a participant in and a beneficiary of his family’s business; he was an enabler‚ despite being buffered by a complex scheme to maintain plausible deniability‚” Bobulinski claimed about the president’s role in a business venture with Chinese state-linked CEFC China Energy. Bobulinski said in his closed-door House testimony Tuesday that Joe Biden was the “brand” hawked by his relatives and that he’s lied repeatedly about not interacting with their partners. The former Navy officer also unveiled a text message indicating that relations with CEFC began in 2015 when Joe Biden was still vice president — before it culminated in millions of dollars in transfers shortly after he left office as VP in 2017. The testimony included a screenshot of an apparent Dec. 24‚ 2015‚ text message to Bobulinski from another associate‚ James Gilliar‚ which corroborated prior testimony from Biden family partner Rob Walker that the CEFC venture began during the final stretch of the Obama-Biden administration. “There will be a deal between one of the most prominent families from US and them constructed by me‚ I think this will then be a great addition to their portfolios as it will give them a profile base in NYC then LA‚ etc‚” the alleged message from Gilliar read. “For me‚ it’s a no-brainer but culturally they are different but smart so let’s see… Any entry ticket is small for them. Easier and better demographic than Arabs who are a little anti-US after Trump.” Bobulinski also repeated his prior claim to have briefly discussed CEFC twice with Joe Biden in May 2017‚ the same month that Gilliar penciled in a 10% cut for the “big guy” — who Bobulinski says was clearly Joe Biden. ABC‚ CBS‚ NBC evening and morning show coverage: 0 seconds.   Records of Biden Family Credit Cards Allegedly Paid for By China Company‚ Subpoenaed By Comer On February 15‚ the New York Post reported:  House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer issued subpoenas Thursday for records on “several” credit cards that the Chinese state-linked company CEFC China Energy allegedly provided members of President Biden’s family for personal expenses — including a card loaded with $100‚000 for a “global spending spree.” “We’re subpoenaing several credit card companies‚” Comer (R-Ky.) said in a morning interview on Fox Business. “Through the interviews and depositions we’ve conducted thus far‚ we’ve learned that there were several credit cards that were used by members of the Biden family — we believe for personal expenses — and we believe that these credit cards were being paid by CEFC or through CEFC-funded affiliates.” An Oversight Committee staff member told The Post that the subpoenas cast a wide net for records as part of the impeachment inquiry into alleged corruption during Joe Biden’s vice presidency. CEFC‚ a now-defunct reputed cog in Beijing’s “Belt and Road” foreign influence campaign‚ was one of the largest and most mysterious sources of overseas income for the first family. … First brother James Biden and first son Hunter Biden reportedly netted more than $7 million in 2017 and 2018 from CEFC for what critics call influence peddling. The first tranche of more than $1 million flowed shortly after Joe Biden met Ye and was a “thank you” for services during his vice presidency‚ Walker said. … CEFC allegedly provided James Biden and his wife‚ Sara Biden‚ with a credit card to go on a $100‚000 “global spending spree‚” according to a September 2020 report by Republican-led Senate committees. The Oversight Committee rep said the panel recently received corroborating information from witnesses. “The American people deserve transparency‚ and these subpoenas will be more evidence of the Biden family’s influence peddling around the globe‚” the committee aide said. ABC‚ CBS‚ NBC evening and morning show coverage: 0 seconds.   E-Mail Allegedly Shows Bidens Were Doing Business with Beijing-Linked Firm While Joe Was VP On February 13‚ the New York Post reported:  A newly surfaced document allegedly helps prove Hunter Biden was working with Chinese state-linked CEFC China Energy while his dad was vice president — as suspected by Republicans leading the impeachment inquiry into reputed corruption by the president. President Biden has repeatedly claimed his family never got money from China​ — despite his own alleged direct involvement in relations with two different Chinese government-backed firms‚ including CEFC. “We anticipate working together on a number of opportunities in the US and abroad‚” says the potentially damning March 22‚ 2016‚ letter addressed to CEFC Executive Director Jianjun Zang on Hunter’s letterhead about 10 months before his dad Joe left office as vice president. “I believe we have presented a collection of projects that parallel the interests of you and your team and we look forward to discussing them in detail‚” says the draft letter to Zang‚ which was distributed among Hunter and his partners Rob Walker and James Gilliar as an e-mail attachment. “As we await your next visit to the United States‚ please continue to coordinate all matters with my confidant and trusted advisor‚ James Gilliar‚” the letter says. ABC‚ CBS‚ NBC evening and morning show coverage: 0 seconds.     Joe Biden Met With the Chairman of Chinese Firm That Hunter Worked With On February 13‚ FoxNews.com reported:  President Biden met with the chairman of the Chinese energy firm Hunter Biden sought to create a joint venture with at the Four Seasons in Washington D.C. in 2017‚ a former business partner of the first son told congressional investigators. Rob Walker‚ a former business associate of Hunter Biden‚ testified at the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees earlier this month as part of the House impeachment inquiry against President Biden. Walker‚ during his closed-door transcribed interview‚ told congressional investigators that Joe Biden attended a meeting where he‚ Hunter Biden‚ their other business partners and CEFC Chairman Ye Jianming were having lunch. … Ye Jianming‚ at the time‚ was the chairman of Chinese energy company CEFC. Walker said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss “ways we could work together.” “I don’t think we had structured a deal on how to work together at this point‚” Walker said‚ noting the meeting lasted “probably an hour and a half‚” but said Biden “was not” there for the entirety of the meeting. “The former vice president was not there the entire time. He was there maybe 10 minutes‚” Walker said. “He spoke nice‚ you know‚ normal pleasantries. I think he probably did most of the talking and then left.” Walker testified that Biden addressed the entire group — which consisted of approximately 10 CEFC-linked individuals— during his visit.  Walker testified that the visit‚ and Biden’s appearance‚ “likely” took place before his Robinson Walker LLC received $3 million from State Energy HK Limited—a CEFC-linked entity. … The House Oversight Committee told Fox News Digital that it can “now confirm Joe Biden met with nearly every foreign national who funneled money to his son‚ including Russian oligarch Yelena Baturina‚ Romanian oligarch Kenes Rakishev‚ Burisma’s corporate secretary Vadym Pozharsky‚ Jonathan Li of BHR‚ and CEFC Chairman Ye Jianming.” ABC‚ CBS‚ NBC evening and morning show coverage: 0 seconds.   GOP Rep Demands IRS Look Into Joe Biden’s Loan Repayments From Jim Biden On January 22‚ the New York Post reported:  Republican Rep. Dan Meuser has demanded the IRS investigate $240‚000 in loan repayments President Biden received from his brother‚ saying the committee probing the financial transactions for foreign business ties has been stonewalled by the White House. “The potential lack of formal written agreements or promissory notes raises questions about the legality and transparency of these loans‚” Meuser (Pa.) wrote in a Jan. 17 letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel. “Of particular interest is whether President Biden collected interest on these loan repayments‚ and if so‚ whether this interest was duly reported in his tax filings‚” he added. “If the payments were neither a loan repayment nor a gift‚ they were in fact ordinary income received by Joe Biden‚ Jill Biden‚ or entities connected to them.” Meuser‚ who served as Pennsylvania’s revenue secretary from 2011 to 2015‚ demanded a “thorough review” and “detailed responses” from the IRS about the payments‚ saying it was “not only a matter of tax compliance but also one of upholding the public’s confidence in the integrity of our governmental institutions.” He told The Post that the IRS investigation should be able to “determine the legitimacy of the supposed loan Joe Biden made to his family members that they now claim to be paying back.” “If the IRS cannot verify the existence of the loans‚ then Joe Biden‚ the receiver of the payments‚ is intentionally misrepresenting what the payments were for and is in violation of state and federal tax laws‚” he said. “This falsifying of records would only be done to conceal payments made indirectly to Joe Biden from foreign entities‚ including a $40‚000 payment from a Chinese Communist Party-linked company. If an average citizen had skirted tax law in this manner‚ they would be in jail.” ABC‚ CBS‚ NBC evening and morning show coverage: 0 seconds.   Art Dealer Admits Hunter Knew Names of Art Buyers‚ Despite White House Claims to Contrary On January 9‚ the New York Post reported:  Hunter Biden’s Manhattan art dealer said Tuesday that he never worked with the White House on an ethics pact to ensure buyers would remain anonymous — and added that the top purchasers were known to the first son‚ contrary to prior claims from President Biden’s aides. Georges Bergès also revealed that in addition to the lack of supposed anti-corruption safeguards he actually met and spoke on the phone with the president while repping his son‚ the House Oversight Committee said in a readout of a closed-door deposition. The art dealer testified that Hunter‚ 53‚ knew who bought about 70% of his art — including Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali‚ who obtained works by the first son before and after scoring a prestigious presidential appointment. Bergès disclosed that he personally interacted with Joe Biden on multiple occasions‚ including at a closed-to-press White House wedding for Hunter’s daughter Naomi in 2022. … Hirsh Naftali‚ who scored repeated visits to the White House during the timeframe in question‚ inked a $42‚000 sale in February 2021‚ before her appointment that July by Joe Biden to the Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad‚ and then another for $52‚000 in December 2022. Bergès also confirmed that the first son was aware that Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris‚ who met Hunter at a political fundraiser in December 2019 before bankrolling his tax payments and living expenses‚ was his top patron‚ buying $875‚000 worth of art in a January 2023 deal. “The Biden White House appears to have deceived the American people about facilitating an ethics agreement governing the sale of Hunter Biden’s art‚” Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said in a statement. “Hunter Biden’s gallerist never had any communication with the White House about such an agreement to make sure there was any sort of ethics compliance at all‚ and he provided information to the committee revealing how Hunter Biden’s amateur art career is an ethics nightmare.”  ABC‚ CBS‚ NBC evening and morning show coverage: 0 seconds.   Joe Biden Used An Alias In Emails Sent to Hunter’s Business Partners‚ Totaling 327 Times Over Nine Years On December 5‚ FoxNews.com reported:  As vice president‚ Joe Biden used email aliases and private email addresses to communicate with son Hunter Biden and Hunter’s business associates hundreds of times‚ new records released by the House Ways &; Means Committee revealed. The committee obtained metadata from IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler that reveals Joe Biden used alias email accounts 327 times during a nine-year period — 2010 to 2019 — to correspond with his son‚ Hunter‚ and one of Hunter's key business associates‚ Eric Schwerin‚ among others. The majority of the email traffic took place while Biden was vice president. The committee says 54 of the emails were “exclusively” between Joe Biden and Schwerin‚ who the committee describes as “the architect of the Biden family’s shell companies.” ABC‚ CBS‚ NBC evening and morning show coverage: 0 seconds.   Hunter’s Firm Sent Joe Biden a Recurring $1‚380 Payment Starting in 2018     On December 4‚ the New York Post reported:  President Biden received a recurring payment of $1‚380 from his son Hunter’s law firm beginning in late 2018 shortly after a bank money laundering officer warned that the same account was receiving millions of dollars in Chinese government-linked funds without “any services rendered.” A bank order shows that Owasco PC set up a “monthly” transfer to then-former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.‚ with a voided check for the future president included in the documentation‚ which was released Monday by the House Oversight Committee. A source told The Post that at least three payments were made — on Sept. 17‚ Oct. 15 and Nov. 15‚ 2018 — totaling $4‚140 to the elder Biden from Owasco PC‚ according to the firm’s bank records. “President Biden and his family must be held accountable for this blatant corruption‚” Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said in a video release. “This wasn’t a payment from Hunter Biden’s personal account but an account for his corporation that received payments from China and other shady corners of the world‚” Comer said. ABC‚ CBS‚ NBC evening and morning show coverage: 0 seconds.   Stonewalling: Joe Biden Has Turned Over Only 14 of 82‚000 Requested E-Mail Pages On December 1‚ the New York Post reported:  House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer accused the White House Friday morning of obstructing an impeachment inquiry into President Biden — as the White House countered with a memo claiming it actually has shown remarkable cooperation. A source familiar with Comer’s remarks during a closed-door meeting of Republican lawmakers told The Post that he emphasized the administration’s failure to produce emails sent or received by Biden using email accounts registered under pseudonyms during his eight-year vice presidency. Comer (R-Ky.)‚ who on Friday afternoon sent a letter to first son Hunter Biden’s legal team requesting confirmation that he will appear for his scheduled deposition later this month‚ told colleagues that his panel has received just 14 out of about 82‚000 pages of Biden’s vice presidential emails known to exist. ABC‚ CBS‚ NBC evening and morning show coverage: 0 seconds.

NBC’s Seth Meyers celebrated ten years of being the host of Late Night on Monday‚ not only by wearing a suit and tie for a change‚ but also by welcoming President Joe Biden to the program‚ where the two‚ along with Meyers’s former SNL colleague Amy Poehler‚ gushed over Biden’s alleged acting skills and Dark Brandon memes. Before all that‚ Meyers criticized Sen. John Fetterman for claiming that Democrats criticizing Biden might as well put on their MAGA hats‚ “No‚ that's not how it works. Criticizing or mocking our leaders is a healthy thing in a democracy. I mean‚ Joe Biden seems to be able to take a joke. We here at Late Night make jokes about him all the time and I think if we ever invited him‚ he'd come on the show unfortunately‚ we have no way of knowing.” According to a 2023 NewsBusters study‚ Seth Meyers told over three times as many jokes about Donald Trump as Joe Biden.      Later‚ Biden would join Meyers and Poehler as the trio would recall Biden’s appearance on Poehler’s Parks and Rec‚ “How was‚ Amy‚ how was the president as a scene partner?” Poehler gushed that it was “an awesome time to go to D.C.‚ because we met with then Mr. Vice President - Mr. President Vice President‚ President.” She then hyped Biden’s acting abilities‚ “we met people from both sides of the aisle and then if you remember‚ we did that scene together and then you said to me‚ ‘How should I act?’ and I said‚ ‘Just act like what is this lady doing here?’ And you nailed it.  Switching gears‚ Meyers wondered how much joy Biden—more accurately‚ his social media team—gets out of trolling people on the internet‚ “There's something that I've been very -- it just speaks to the era we live in now. There's a Dark Brandon conspiracy meme and this is something that you seem to have a lot of fun with. You've co-opted -- you've co-opted Dark Brandon. This is a yard sign. Do you enjoy playing around with the Dark Brandon meme?”     Pulling out a pair of aviators‚ a sarcastic Biden replied‚ “No‚ I resent the hell out of it.” Continuing with that theme‚ Meyers added‚ “my favorite one recently is there are 18 percent of Americans‚ according to recent polling‚ have-- believe that you and Taylor Swift actually are working in cahoots. And after the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl‚ you posted this on social media‚ you wrote -- you wrote‚ ‘Just like we drew it up‚’ Now‚ can you -- I have you on the hot spot here. Can you confirm or deny that there is an active conspiracy between you and Miss Swift?” Biden‚ still trying to be cool‚ answered‚ “Where are you getting this information? It's classified.” After a commercial break‚ Poehler departed and Meyers asked a more serious question about the Hur Report‚ “You mentioned some classified materials‚ some documents recently leaked‚ some classified documents. And this isn't a gotcha show‚ but I do want to ask about it‚ that says you're currently 81-years old.” Biden tried to dodge the question‚ “Who the hell told you that? That’s classified‚” but Meyers persisted‚ “All jokes aside‚ according to recent polling‚ this is a real concern for American voters. How do you address that concern going forward as you come up to the 2024 election?” That allowed Biden to turn the show into Late Night DNC‚ “Well‚ a couple things. Number one‚ you gotta take a look at the other guy. He's about as old as I am‚ but he can't remember his wife's name… Look‚ I mean‚ this is a guy who wants to take us back. He wants to take us back in Roe v. Wade‚ he wants to take us back on a whole range of issues.” And now we know why Team Biden chose Late Night for his rare interview.  Here is a transcript for the February 26-taped show: NBC Late Night with Seth Meyers 2/27/2024 12:44 AM ET SETH MEYERS: No‚ that's not how it works. Criticizing or mocking our leaders is a healthy thing in a democracy. I mean‚ Joe Biden seems to be able to take a joke. We here at Late Night make jokes about him all the time and I think if we ever invited him‚ he'd come on the show unfortunately‚ we have no way of knowing.   … 1:06 AM ET MEYERS: How was‚ Amy‚ how was the president as a scene partner?  AMY POEHLER: Well‚ it was an awesome time to go to D.C.‚ because we met with then Mr. Vice President - Mr. President Vice President‚ President.  MEYERS: That is right. JOE BIDEN: Joe. Joe. POEHLER: I don’t want to get it wrong‚ but we met people from both sides of the aisle and then if you remember‚ we did that scene together and then you said to me‚ “How should I act?” and I said‚ "Just act like what is this lady doing here? And you nailed it.  MEYERS: There's something that I've been very -- it just speaks to the era we live in now. There's a Dark Brandon conspiracy meme and this is something that you seem to have a lot of fun with. You've co-opted -- you've co-opted Dark Brandon. This is a yard sign. Do you enjoy playing around with the Dark Brandon meme?  BIDEN: No‚ I resent the hell out of it. MEYERS: Now‚ my favorite one recently is there are 18 percent of Americans‚ according to recent polling‚ have-- believe that you and Taylor Swift actually are working in cahoots. And after the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl‚ you posted this on social media. you wrote -- you wrote‚ "Just like we drew it up” Now‚ can you -- I have you on the hot spot here. Can you confirm or deny that there is an active conspiracy between you and Miss Swift? BIDEN: Where are you getting this information? It's classified.  … MEYERS: You mentioned some classified materials‚ some documents recently leaked‚ some classified documents. And this isn't a gotcha show‚ but I do want to ask about it‚ that says you're currently 81-years old.  BIDEN: Who the hell told you that?  MEYERS: Yeah.  BIDEN: That's classified. MEYERS: That's classified. All jokes aside‚ according to recent polling‚ this is a real concern for American voters. How do you address that concern going forward as you come up to the 2024 election?  BIDEN: Well‚ a couple things. Number one‚ you gotta take a look at the other guy. He's about as old as I am‚ but he can't remember his wife's name. MEYERS: Yeah.  BIDEN: Number one. Number two‚ it's about how old your ideas are. Look‚ I mean‚ this is a guy who wants to take us back. He wants to take us back in Roe v. Wade‚ he wants to take us back on a whole range of issues that are 50‚ 60 years they've been solid American positions and -- and I really mean this sincerely they-- I think it's about -- about the future and everything -- every single thing we've done‚ and I think we've gotten some good things done. Everything -- and they told us we couldn't get them done because things are so divided and‚ but I think everything we've gotten done‚ he -- has friendly stated‚ he wants to do away with if he gets elected and I really think his views on where to take America are older than – anyway‚ I don't wanna get going.

We talk a lot about what to do to prepare and how to do it. The journey of being a prepper is a long and challenging one. The post What to do‚ When You Think You’re All Prepared? appeared first on Survivopedia.

Wall Street investors and economic analysts have reacted eagerly to every conceivable signal that the Federal Reserve will soon declare inflation defeated and stop tightening the money supply. The Biden administration would like to see an interest rate cut to boost the president’s flagging re-election prospects‚ even though Joe Biden and his supporters continually claim that the economy is quite peachy as is. Apparently‚ the liberal idea of perfectibility is still alive. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell‚ however‚ has been consistent in his message for months now: no change. Not now‚ and not soon. Far from the economy being overheated‚ several signs point to serious economic struggles and further contraction. The Fed argues that economic conditions are too good to merit a cut in interest rates and an end to its sales of securities‚ which tighten the money supply. The main thing we should be worried about is a resurgence of inflation‚ the Fed insists. “I don’t think it’s likely that the committee will reach a level of confidence by the time of the March meeting” to justify a relaxation of the money-tightening‚ “but that’s to be seen‚” the Wall Street Journal reported after Powell’s late-January news conference. The Fed’s latest minutes‚ released last week‚ confirm the Federal Open Market Committee does not intend to start reducing interest rates in March. In addition‚ “a few participants noted that the process of balance sheet runoff could continue for some time even after the Committee begins to reduce the target range for the federal funds rate‚” CNBC reported. Tightening spurs recession worries The Fed has been shrinking the money supply for nearly a year and a half — for the first time since 1949. There have been only four such contractions since the Fed was established in 1913‚ and all the others led to recessions. By early January‚ the Fed had already completed more than $1 trillion of monetary tightening through selling of securities‚ reducing its assets from their near-$9 trillion peak in May 2022 to $7.6 trillion today. That process will continue. In addition‚ bank reserves and overnight reverse repurchase agreements have both been declining since the middle of last year‚ signifying more money-tightening. The markets know this is destructive. The Fed’s January interest rate decision hit markets hard on the day it was announced. “Stock indexes ended lower Wednesday‚ with the S&;P 500 down 79.32 points‚ or 1.6%‚” the Wall Street Journal reported. “The index‚ which on Monday closed at an all-time high‚ registered its biggest decline since September. Yields on the 10-year Treasury note declined 0.091 percentage point to close at 3.965% after New York Community Bancorp reported a loss and slashed its dividend‚ igniting new jitters about the health of regional lenders.” The Fed did throw a bone to those hoping for lower interest rates‚ ending its guidance statement that it was more likely to raise rates than lower them. It has now adopted a neutral position that “the risks to achieving its goals of healthy labor markets and low inflation ‘are moving into better balance‚’” the Journal reported. But that was a very small bone‚ as indicated by the markets’ abrupt nosedive. Signs of trouble ahead Far from the economy being overheated‚ several signs point to serious economic struggles and imminent further contraction. U.S. job layoffs doubled in January. Food costs the average family a greater share of their income than at any time since the recession of 1990-1991. Retail sales collapsed in January. Manufacturing output decreased unexpectedly by 0.5% in that same month. Credit card debt hit another record high in the fourth quarter of 2023. Overall household debt likewise reached a record high‚ and delinquency rates increased. Home sales last year were the lowest in nearly three decades‚ and they are now down 6.2% from one year ago. Single-family housing starts fell in January. People cannot afford homes. Commercial real estate is in a historic slump. I could go on — unlike the economy itself. The Fed has supposedly been looking for signs that the economy is slowing down‚ as an indication that inflation will recede with the onset of economic pain. The signs of economic decline are plentiful‚ but the central bank’s governors somehow keep overlooking them. As a result‚ the Fed continues to claim that economic conditions are too good right now to merit a reversal of the money-tightening and that there is no need for artificial stimulation by the central bank. Well‚ yes: We never need artificial stimulation of the economy. Likewise‚ we never need artificial strangulation of the economy. The latter‚ however‚ is exactly what the Fed has been giving us for well over a year. If this ends well‚ it will be the first time that has ever happened. I would not bet on it.

The Department of Justice stated on Monday that Family Dollar Stores LLC pleaded guilty to keeping consumer products in what has been characterized as a "rodent-infested warehouse‚" according to CBS News.The statement said that the company admitted to holding medical devices‚ food‚ drugs‚ and cosmetics in filthy‚ unsanitary conditions. The statement went on to say that there were rodents in the company's distribution center in West Memphis‚ Arkansas.As a result‚ the company has agreed to pay $41.675 million‚ which the Department of Justice said was the largest monetary criminal penalty in a food safety case‚ per the report.Criminal details were unsealed in federal court on Monday‚ which said that Family Dollar has been charged with a single misdemeanor count of causing FDA-regulated products to become damaged by being held in unsanitary conditions‚ according to the New York Post.Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer said: “When consumers go to the store‚ they have the right to expect that the food and drugs on the shelves have been kept in clean‚ uncontaminated conditions."“When companies violate that trust and the laws designed to keep consumers safe‚ the public should rest assured: The Justice Department will hold those companies accountable.”Family Dollar and Dollar Tree are now required to meet strict corporate compliance and reporting requirements for the next three years.“Consumers trust that products purchased from retail stores such as Family Dollar are safe‚” U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross for the Eastern District of Arkansas said. “It is incomprehensible that Family Dollar knew about the rodent and pest issues at its distribution center in Arkansas but continued to ship products that were unsafe and insanitary.”The Arkansas warehouse continued to ship products until January 2022‚ when an FDA inspection discovered live rodents‚ dead and decaying rodents‚ and even rodent feces throughout the facility. Around 1‚300 rodents were ultimately exterminated‚ and the company launched a massive recall on products sold by 404 of its stores."When I joined Dollar Tree's board of directors in March 2022‚ I was very disappointed to learn about these unacceptable issues at one of Family Dollar's facilities‚" Dollar Tree Chairman and CEO Rick Dreiling said in a company release. "Since that time and even more directly when I assumed the role of CEO‚ we have worked diligently to help Family Dollar resolve this historical matter and significantly enhance our policies‚ procedures and physical facilities to ensure it is not repeated." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

What’s happened in New York against former President Donald Trump is a blatant violation of the Eighth Amendment‚ and Mark Levin is going to prove it. The Eighth Amendment reads: “Excessive bail shall not be required‚ nor excessive fines imposed‚ nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” In a case from 2019 between Tyson Timbs and the state of Indiana‚ the standard was set for the United States‚ as well as the state court‚ on what it can and cannot do regarding the Eighth Amendment. Timbs had pleaded guilty in Indiana State Court to dealing in a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit theft. The response was completely disproportionate to his crimes. At the time of his arrest‚ the police seized a Land Rover SUV Timbs had purchased for $42‚000 with money he received from an insurance policy when his father died. The Indiana trial court denied the state’s request to turn over his $42‚000 car‚ determining that it would be grossly disproportionate to the gravity of Timb’s offense‚ and therefore unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment’s excessive fines clause. “It was a nine to zero decision‚ not a single justice agreed with the state prosecutors and the state government‚ not one. The majority opinion had seven bipartisan justices. There were two concurring opinions‚ but they all agreed that it violated the Eighth Amendment‚” Levin explains. The Supreme Court ruled that these fines undermine other liberties and can be “used to retaliate against or chill the speech of political enemies.” “In other words‚ that case that was brought against Donald Trump should never have been brought. There shouldn’t even have been a sentencing hearing‚ there shouldn’t have been fines‚ there shouldn’t have been anything‚” Levin remarks. “This case against Donald Trump is a greater‚ more grave violation than anything we’ve ever seen under the excessive fines part of the Eighth Amendment‚ and much worse than the Timbs' case‚” he adds. Want more from Mark Levin?To enjoy more of "the Great One" — Mark Levin as you've never seen him before — subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

Alert: This article contains spoilers for the 2024 movie "Argylle."With the likes of "X-Men: First Class‚" "Kick-Ass‚" and the "Kingsman" series‚ director Matthew Vaughn has established himself as a trusted source of stylishly retro‚ over-the-top action movies. Fans expect Vaughn to depart from cookie-cutter formula while still delivering the requisite thrills. The divided reaction to his latest foray into the "spy-fi" genre suggests he may have strayed too far. Anyone expecting "Argylle" to be the film that finally gives Henry Cavill his due will be disappointed. "Argylle" follows acclaimed spy novelist Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard)‚ who‚ hot off the heels of releasing her latest “Argylle” novel‚ is struggling to find the story for the next installment. Writer's block becomes the least of her worries when she’s pursued by a shady real-life spy group called Division‚ which has noticed that Elly has perfectly predicted its criminal plots in her books. To the rescue is Aiden Wilde (Sam Rockwell)‚ a witty CIA spy tasked with protecting her. Rockwell and Howard have good chemistry together‚ just as the marketing promises. But "Argylle" short-changes us with the shockingly meager screen time it gives to Henry Cavill as the titular character. While Hollywood often struggles with how to use Cavill (see his recent unceremonious ouster as Superman)‚ his excellent performances in "Mission: Impossible‚" "Enola Holmes‚" and multiple Guy Ritchie films have made him a fan favorite. Anyone expecting "Argylle" to be the film that finally gives the talented performer his due will be disappointed. That said‚ the action sequences are wildly entertaining‚ set to either fist-pumping throwback jams or sensual love ballads to varying degrees of cringe and cool‚ including the original song “Electric Energy.” Where "Argylle" stumbles are its twists: There are just too many of them. The film’s pivotal reveal is that Elly Conway has been basing Argylle's adventures on the repressed memories of her own spy career‚ under her real name Rachel Kylle (R. Kylle). Her writer's block stems from the fact that her latest "story" is playing out in real time. This twist alone makes for a compelling story‚ but its impact is bogged down by several more “gotcha” moments that feel like jokes with little relevance to the plot. The result is an adrenaline rush of action and spectacle that often verges on the cartoonish. Still‚ trying a little too hard is preferable to the usual playing it safe‚ and "Argylle" is immense fun despite its flaws. The pressures of blockbuster moviemaking can often neutralize the qualities that make a director unique. For better or worse‚ Matthew Vaughn has held on to his signature style‚ and it's on full display in "Argylle."

A deranged anti-Semite from El Salvador dragged her son into Joel Osteen's Houston-area megachurch on Feb. 11 and began shooting wildly. Genesse Moreno's attempted massacre was swiftly thwarted by a 28-year-old off-duty Houston Police Department officer and a 38-year-old Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission officer. The Houston Police Department released footage of the incident Monday‚ showing Genesse Moreno's incursion into Lakewood Church and her confrontation with the heroes therein. Surveillance footage outside the church shows Genesse Moreno — who sometimes called herself Jeffrey Escalante — pull her 7-year-old son Samuel out of a white SUV‚ then march over to an entrance just ahead of the church's 2 p.m. Spanish-language service‚ dressed in a trench coat and carrying a backpack. Another view shows multiple people peaceably mingling in a hallway on the west side of the church scatter in response to the crackle of gunfire. While churchgoers and others run for cover‚ HPD Officer Christopher Moreno rushes toward the commotion. The shooter‚ who can be seen from another vantage ignoring the pleas and outstretched arms of her son‚ fires at Officer Moreno‚ prompting him to respond in kind‚ then take cover inside a doorway off the hallway. Genesse Moreno continues marching forward with rifle in hand‚ passing the officer — who has been on the force since January 2023. According to HPD Assistant Chief Keith Seafous‚ the shooter attempted to enter the sanctuary‚ but the entrance doors were fortunately locked. Footage shows TABC Officer Adrian Herrera‚ working security for the church at the time‚ approach the shooter from the rear with his handgun drawn and at least three other individuals in tow. Genesse Moreno can be observed taking notice of the armed presence behind her and opening fire‚ nearly striking Herrera. After Herrera answered back with his duty weapon‚ Moreno began to rifle through her backpack on the ground. The Houston Chronicle indicated that at the time‚ she had sprayed substances on the floor‚ which Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña later determined were not hazardous. Officer Moreno's bodycam footage captures the shooter announcing‚ "There's a bomb in this bag. Stop shooting." Security pleads with the shooter to drop her weapon‚ but she refuses‚ yelling‚ "The bomb is gonna go off." The shooter reiterates‚ saying‚ "I will blow up the whole f***ing place." — (@) While Genesse Moreno appeared to be preparing the next phase of her attack‚ Herrera continued his advance‚ ultimately dropping the shooter with a decisive shot. After floundering on the ground for a moment near her supposed explosive device‚ Moreno stiffened. In the exchange‚ 7-year-old Samuel was shot in the head. HPD Officer Garcia‚ whose body camera captured some of the chaos surrounding the incident‚ can be seen running up to the wounded child and praying over his body. "Father God‚ please bring him close to you‚" says Garcia. "Please bring him close to you." On her way over to the gun battle‚ Garcia had similarly prayed‚ "Father God‚ just be with us. Forgive us our sins." Uncertain whether the shooter had a bomb‚ the officers dragged the shooter's child to safety‚ then cautiously approached. Walli Carranza‚ the boy's grandmother‚ indicated over the weekend that Samuel was recently removed from a ventilator and is now breathing on his own but nevertheless remains in critical condition. Tom George Thomas‚ the 57-year-old volunteer at the church who caught a bullet to the hip during the incident‚ was released from a hospital in stable condition the day after the shooting. Blaze News previously noted that Genesse Moreno had multiple run-ins with the law prior to shooting up Lakewood Church. She was slapped with charges for drug possession‚ assault‚ illegal possession of a weapon‚ resisting arrest‚ and forgery. Houston Homicide Commander Christopher Hassig indicated that the gender-bending shooter was also temporarily detained in 2016 over mental health concerns and had a history of mental illness. According to Genesse Moreno's former mother-in-law‚ Rabbi Walli Carranza‚ the shooter was a schizophrenic who had been diagnosed with Munchausen by proxy. Moreno allegedly harmed her child more than once and had been the subject of multiple child protective services investigations. Genesse Moreno had also at one time lost custody of her child but apparently regained it in 2022. Police indicated early in their investigation that they had discovered some of the shooter's "anti-Semitic writings." Her neighbors spoke of repeated threats‚ Nazi salutes‚ and in one instance‚ the shooter painting a swastika on a nearby resident's fence. Carranza told the New York Times that Genesse Moreno was a practicing Muslim who frequently targeted her Jewish in-laws with "very anti-Semitic" rants that "were very profane and ... horrible." Police have not yet confirmed a motive for the attack. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has ruled that a lawsuit against ABC will go to trial after the network was accused of wrongfully dismissing two TV crew members who requested a COVID-19 vaccine exemption on religious grounds.The father-son duo of James Wahl and Timothy Wahl sued ABC in 2021 after they were fired despite both having worked on the network's daytime serial "General Hospital" for more than a decade each. They ran the construction shop and special effects department for the show‚ which has been on the air for over 60 years. The crew members asked for an exemption for the COVID-19 vaccination — which ABC had mandated — based on religious grounds‚ but the network fired them just one week after their request.According to their original complaint‚ ABC "denied almost all such requests during 2021" and "gave no reason for its decision" while questioning the pair's sincerity in their religious belief. "These actions were unlawful. ABC does not have the authority to force a medical treatment on its employees against their will‚" the complaint read.Judge Stephen I. Goorvitch denied ABC's motion to dismiss the suit‚ however‚ and said that "the jury‚ not the judge‚ must resolve whether Plaintiffs [the Wahls] had genuine religious beliefs."The judge also questioned whether the Disney-owned network could have "reasonably accommodated [the Wahls] without posing an undue hardship‚" Variety reported.In addition‚ Judge Goorvitch noted that despite ABC claiming it would have been unsafe for the unvaccinated crew members to work on the show‚ they would not be around other people for very long and were also put through routine testing."Defendant argues that Plaintiffs could not have been accommodated because they could not maintain a distance of six feet from others. Interpreting the record in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs‚ however‚ they were only in close proximity to others for between 30 seconds to several minutes while Plaintiffs were masked and testing regularly and the people with whom they had contact were vaccinated."The judge pointed to the fact that the defendant's own evidence suggested that the company felt the vaccines were highly effective‚ which raised the question as to whether or not the Wahls actually posed a risk to fellow employees.ABC argued that the "highly contagious Delta variant of the virus was prevalent" at the time and thus a risk still existed.The legal complaint stated that ABC/Disney had "ignored" previously upheld "policies and procedures" surrounding religious beliefs that the compoany said once went to great lengths to accommodate people's beliefs and medical conditions.The Superior Court judge set the trial date for March 11‚ 2024. The case could set a landmark precedent if the Wahls are found to have been wrongfully dismissed.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

After he killed Riley‚ Ibarra allegedly brought her body to a secluded area.