**Explosive New Study Finds Face Masks May Increase Stillbirths, Testicular Dysfunction, Cognitive Decline -- In Kids**
Explosive New Study Finds Face Masks May Increase Stillbirths, Testicular Dysfunction, Cognitive Decline -- In Kids
_Authored by Steve Watson via Summit News (https://summit.news/2023/04/24/explosive-new-study-finds-face-masks-may-increase-stillbirths-testicular-dysfunction-cognitive-decline-in-kids/),_
**A new study by by German researchers has concluded that face masks can cause carbon dioxide poisoning when worn even for short periods and may have contributed significantly to stillbirths when worn by pregnant women, as well as testicular dysfunction and cognitive decline in children, among other destructive health issues.**
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_Getty Images / Imgorthand_ (
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As reported by the Daily Mail, the research, published in the journal Heliyon (https://www.cell.com/heliyon/pdf/S2405-8440(23)01324-5.pdf), comprises a review of 43 previously published studies on exposure to CO2, mask-wearing, and pregnancy.
> Face masks may raise risk of stillbirths, testicular dysfunction and cognitive decline due to build-up of carbon dioxide, study warns. https://t.co/baumRMLxZh (https://t.co/baumRMLxZh)
>
> — Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis (@DrLoupis) April 24, 2023 (https://twitter.com/DrLoupis/status/1650409845554569216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
The study notes that even short-term exposure to concentrations of CO2 as low as 0.3% caused brain damage, increased anxiety, and impaired memory in both pregnant rats and young mice in one study.
In another, when male mice were exposed to 2.5 percent CO2 for four hours, testicular cells and sperm were destroyed. The equivalent amount for humans would be 0.5 percent of CO2 over the same time period.
Yet another experiment discovered that stillbirth and birth defects occurred in pregnant rats that were exposed to just 3 percent CO2, which would be equal to 0.8 percent for humans.
The study also points to research that found just five minutes of mask wearing resulted in CO2 levels increasing to between 1.4 percent and 3.2 percent.
While they note that the review provides ‘circumstantial evidence’ only **, the researchers allude to a surge in stillbirths (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8741513/Stillbirths-surged-50-percent-amid-COVID-19-lockdowns.html) during the pandemic, saying that masks could have contributed.**
Swedish researchers previously found that the stillbirth rate increased from seven per 1000 births to 21 per 1000 births after the pandemic, while a leading UK hospital saw a four-fold increase in its stillbirth rate.
“ **Circumstantial evidence exists that popular mask use may be related to current observations of a significant rise of 28 percent to 33 percent in stillbirths worldwide**,” the German researchers asserted.
They also note that research indicates “reduced verbal, motor, and overall cognitive performance of two full standard deviations in scores in children born during the pandemic.”
Dr Kevin Bass, cell and molecular biology PhD, has a detailed thread on the study, which can be linked through to below:
> Before beginning, I want to point out that during the pandemic, I dismissed others' concerns about the topic and insisted on masking. I masked my children in public and I regret doing so. Anti-maskers made me angry. I was wrong. I am sorry.
>
> Now, the thread:
>
> — Kevin Bass PhD MS (@kevinnbass) April 16, 2023 (https://twitter.com/kevinnbass/status/1647529052193046528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
The findings dovetail with a report published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) that concluded “no evidence could be presented” to prove medical-grade face masks protected vulnerable people from COVID at all.
> Thanks for admitting this 3 years later after all the demeaning crap you put everybody through. pic.twitter.com/I9WGPkeHzw (https://t.co/I9WGPkeHzw)
>
> — Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) April 12, 2023 (https://twitter.com/PrisonPlanet/status/1646267705236897793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Scores of studies have come to the same conclusion (https://summit.news/2021/11/30/oxford-professor-official-data-shows-face-masks-made-no-meaningful-difference-to-infection-rates/), yet people are still wearing masks despite all of this, some schools are still forcing children to wear masks, and some airlines and travel companies are still enforcing mask wearing.
It’s been common knowledge since the very start of the pandemic that masks do practically nothing (https://summit.news/2021/07/19/government-advisor-admits-masks-are-purely-comfort-blankets-that-do-virtually-nothing/). Those who resisted, even doctors (https://summit.news/2021/12/06/doctor-banned-for-questioning-efficacy-of-masks-wins-high-c…
**Russia Attempts Turkey-Syria Normalization In Moscow Summit**
Russia Attempts Turkey-Syria Normalization In Moscow Summit
Russia is continuing efforts to stabilize Syria and push American influence in the region to the sidelines, as on Tuesday Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu hosted four-way talks which have as their goal the **normalization of ties between the Syrian and Turkish governments**. The talks involve Russia, Syria, Turkey and Iran. The end result could see **American forces squeezed out of Syria**.
"Practical steps were discussed in the field of strengthening security in the Syrian Arab Republic and normalizing Syrian-Turkish relations," the Russian Defense Ministry stated (https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/moscow-hosts-turkey-syria-rapprochement-talks-98827251). This is based on a common perspective that all parties desire win "the fight against all extremist groups in Syria."
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The Turkish defense ministry positively acknowledged the "constructive atmosphere" of the meeting in which "the issue of intensifying efforts to return Syrian refugees to their lands" was examined. All representatives **"reaffirmed their respect for Syria's territorial integrity,"** the Turkish ministry said.
For Syria, high on the agenda is precisely protection of its sovereignty and food and energy resources. Going back multiple years, the United States and its Kurdish-led proxy, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have occupied a huge chuck of oil-and-gas rich northeast Syria, as well as Tanf garrison on the Iraq-Syria border. The US has been widely accused of stealing Syrian oil, ferrying it across the Iraq border, but at the same time the Pentagon says it's there to fight ISIS.
Turkish forces have also occupied territory within the Syria's northern border, and aim to fight Syrian Kurdish groups. Crucially, **if Damascus and Ankara strike a deal, this is expected to be key in eventually squeezing out the US occupation**. This is also of course what Russia wants to see as well.
The US-backed SDF has long come under Turkish threat, a threat which would be amplified if suddenly Syria, Turkey and Russia got on the same page.
Already, US bases have come under sporadic rocket and drone attack over the past several months, which recently led to the death of an American contractor, with US troops suffering injuries (https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/pentagon-says-11-more-us-troops-syria-diagnosed-traumatic-brain-injuries).
> Defense Ministers of Russia, Iran, Syria and Turkey are meeting in Moscow to discuss strengthening of security in Syria and building close ties between Turkey and Syria.
>
> This follows the meeting by Foreign Ministers of the four countries earlier this month. pic.twitter.com/FlvS0M7Ia3 (https://t.co/FlvS0M7Ia3)
>
> — Sentletse 🇷🇺🇿🇦 (@Sentletse) April 25, 2023 (https://twitter.com/Sentletse/status/1650841317746913281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Helping the prospect of peace between Damascus and Turkey is the fact that Arab states are rushing back to Assad to reestablish ties, even Saudi Arabia. If Syria is invited back into the Arab League, which Washington vehemently opposes, this would do much in terms of diplomatic normalization with other regional nations as well, such as Turkey and Jordan.
Any diplomatic breakthrough would also be a huge reputational 'win' for Russia at a moment it remains isolated by the West due to the ongoing Ukraine war.
Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Wed, 04/26/2023 - 02:45
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-attempts-turkey-syria-normalization-moscow-summit
**EU Is In A "Warlike Mood", Warns Hungary's Foreign Minister**
EU Is In A "Warlike Mood", Warns Hungary's Foreign Minister
_Via Remix News,_ (https://rmx.news/hungary/eu-is-in-a-warlike-mood-warns-hungarys-foreign-minister/)
_Hungary is **calling for peace** even as most European nations are **pushing to escalate the war**..._
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_Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó. (MTI)_
Europe is pushing for more war and taking measures to not only accelerate arms deliveries to Ukraine but also stamp out pro-peace voices in Europe, said (https://mandiner.hu/cikk/20230424_europai_unio_kulfold_szijjarto_peter_szudan_ukrajna_haboru_beke) Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó in Luxembourg on Monday.
_**“The EU is in a warlike mood, with the vast majority of member states wanting to supply Ukraine with more weapons for more money,”**_ said Szijjártó.
_“This atmosphere of war here also implies that the pro-peace (https://rmx.news/hungary/female-presidents-of-hungary-and-slovenia-call-for-peace-in-ukraine/) advocates that continue to argue for peace continue to come under severe political and verbal attack, whether from countries present here or not,” he added._
Reporting on the Luxembourg meeting of European foreign ministers, he said that it had again started with “self-blame,” with many believing that the EU had still not done enough (https://rmx.news/european-union/eu-nations-quarrel-about-1-million-artillery-shells-promised-to-ukraine/) to support Ukraine.
Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Wed, 04/26/2023 - 02:00
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/eu-warlike-mood-warns-hungarys-foreign-minister
**Can A Woke Military Win Wars?**
Can A Woke Military Win Wars?
_Authored by Roger Kimball via The Epoch Times,_ (https://www.theepochtimes.com/can-a-woke-military-win-wars_5216005.html)
**For a couple of years now, the U.S. military has had a serious recruitment problem (https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-08-08/us-military-has-a-recruitment-and-retention-problem-here-s-how-to-fix-it).**
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That isn’t really a surprise.
**Our leaders have injected the entire menu of radical “woke” ideology into the tissues of the military establishment.**
Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, worries about “white rage (https://www.marketwatch.com/story/gen-mark-milley-i-want-to-understand-white-rage-and-im-white-11624497837)” and supports teaching critical race theory to the troops.
When Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin took office under President Joe Biden, he issued **a 60-day “stand down” (https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2021/02/03/defense-secretary-orders-60-day-stand-down-to-confront-extremism-in-the-military/) order to the entire military in pursuit of battling “extremism” and achieving “equity” in the military** (pdf (https://media.defense.gov/2022/Apr/13/2002976515/-1/-1/0/DOD-EQUITY-ACTION-PLAN.PDF)).
In March 2022, the Biden administration announced a new policy (https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2557220/dod-announces-policy-updates-for-transgender-military-service/) under which people suffering from gender dysphoria would not only be allowed to serve in the military but also would have their “gender reassignment” surgery paid for by taxpayers.
**Traditionally, conservative families, especially conservative working-class families, supplied a large percentage of military recruits.**
Those families are not thrilled by the intrusion of such politically correct sentiments into an institution hitherto marked by its commitment to traditional moral and martial values.
They aren’t interested in sending their children to be catechized by anti-American Marxists or apostles of sexual exotica.
**The Biden administration seems blissfully unaware of this reality.**
At least, I assume it’s unaware of what two retired Army generals called “a major threat to our national security (https://www.newsweek.com/will-us-military-recruitment-struggles-cripple-response-wars-1789001).”
Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain Biden’s recent executive order regarding “environmental justice (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/04/21/fact-sheet-president-biden-signs-executive-order-to-revitalize-our-nations-commitment-to-environmental-justice-for-all/).”
**According to the White House, the new order is part of the administration’s “whole-of-government effort to confront longstanding environmental injustices and inequities.”**
Of course, we live at a time when everything is potentially racist.
Secretary of Transportation Pete **Buttigieg even argued that highway designs in the United States are “racist (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/buttigieg-racist-highways-biden-infrastructure-bill-b1954051.html).”**
So it should come as no surprise that “environmental justice” is really just an aspect of “racial justice.”
> _“For far too long,” the executive order reads, “communities across our country have faced persistent environmental injustice through toxic pollution, underinvestment in infrastructure and critical services, and other disproportionate environmental harms often due to a legacy of racial discrimination including redlining.”_
And let’s not forget the other big-ticket item on the agenda of the left: “climate change.” “These communities with environmental justice concerns face even greater burdens due to climate change,” the White House stated.
**The Department of Defense has even issued an “environmental scorecard (https://ejscorecard.geoplatform.gov/scorecard/department-of-defense/)” grading itself on its progress toward fulfilling the Green Dream.**
There are bits about “Consultation and Partnership with Tribal Nations,” addressing “environmental justice concerns,” and “institutionalizing” “our country’s bedrock environmental laws.”
There was nothing about making sure that the U.S. military was an agile and lethal fighting force well-equipped with the most modern and capable weapons.
Such concerns seem to have been put on the back burner (but not, of course, a burner on a gas stove).
**Once upon a time, people joined the military to serve their country.**
**Now they’re being asked to join a therapy group to promote a progressive agenda.**
Increasingly, the answer to t…
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/can-woke-military-win-wars
**45% Of Americans Above Age 50 Play Video Games, And Feel Neglected By Industry**
45% Of Americans Above Age 50 Play Video Games, And Feel Neglected By Industry
A new study (https://www.aarp.org/research/topics/technology/info-2023/2023-gamers-50-plus.html) by AARP reveals that **45% of Americans aged 50 or older play video games at least once per month**, yet are feeling neglected by the industry.
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Those polled say gaming is 'beneficial' to their lives - helping them to have fun and relax, while staying mentally sharp. **Older gamers invest an average of 12 hours per week and $49 within a 6-month time frame** on gaming - which could lead to **$2.5 billion in biannual spending** on the habit, which includes in-game purchases, virtual items, accessories (headsets, controllers, etc.) and the gaming consoles themselves.
**Of the 45% above 50 who say they game, 45% of _that group_ says they game daily** \- with **women leading men by 52% vs. 37%**.
> _**Older adults' interest in gaming grew noticeably in 2016 and spiked during the COVID pandemic.** Today, interest remains fairly consistent; however, about one in three of adults in their 50s (30%), women (30%), and Black adults (37%) say they play more now than they did two years ago. **The average number of hours played across devices per week has increased 40% since 2019**, up from an 8.5 to 12 hours played per week, not necessarily more frequently but for longer periods of time._
>
> _Who Plays With Whom_
>
> _Solo play is most popular with 81% of those surveyed playing alone. But many remain connected: two-thirds (68%) communicate with other players through in-game chats, texts, app messaging, or by phone._
>
> _When they do play with others, 50-plus gamers’ most common play companions are children or grandchildren (20%). Other companions include adult family members (14%), in person with friends (12%), random people online (10%), siblings (5%), parents (3%), and colleagues (2%). -AARP_
When it comes to which system is most popular, **older gamers are using old _and_ new consoles**, however mobile gaming continues to dominate - with the #1 gaming device for those polled being the smartphone, which 84% of those polled said was their gaming device of choice.
**Neglect?**
According to AARP: "Our research shows, however, that almost 70% do not feel like the games are made with them in mind," said director of community and gaming, Maura White, in a statement to _Axios_, adding that **more than half of those polled say they don't feel that they're represented in games**, nor marketing, and that many games are too complicated.
"They would like the video gaming industry to create games and features designed to onboard easily, play consistently, and stay challenged," says White.
More via _AARP_ (https://www.aarp.org/research/topics/technology/info-2023/2023-gamers-50-plus.html):
Why They’re Playing
Those 50-plus engage in gaming for a range of reasons, although most involve fun, mental fitness, and well-being. The top six reasons are:
- Have fun, 86%
- Relax, 79%
- Stay mentally sharp, 78%
- To be challenged/solve problems, 74%
- Reduce stress, 71%
- Pass the time, 70%
How Devoted Are Older Gamers?
The study broke down gamers 50-plus into five segments ranging from those less passionate about gaming to those most passionate. The groups were given identities based on why they play, how often, and what they enjoy most — Dabblers, Mainstreamers, Indulgers, Enthusiasts, and Immersives.
**Dabblers**
This group represents 15% of 50-plus gamers. They are least passionate about gaming and play infrequently on their PCs or phones to pass the time or relieve boredom. Even though they enjoy puzzle, card, and tile games, they have no desire to play more often.
**Mainstreamers**
This is the largest group of 50-plus gamers, representing 35%. Mainstreamers have the highest concentration of mobile-only gamers. They may play every day, but they don’t feel very passionate about gaming. They’re in it more for the enjoyment, challenge, and mental stimulation. Wordle is very popular with this group.
**Indulgers**
This group plays daily on mobile phones and tablets for enjoyment and mental stimulation. They may have a sense of guilt about too much play time, but many find throwing in some casino games into their puzzle, card, and tile games, helps to reduce stress. This group represents 23% of 50-plus gamers.
**Enthusiasts**
These folks, representing 19% of older gamers, are passionate about gaming and like to become engrossed in energetic and active games. Action, adventure, and fantasy or role-playing games (RPG) help fill their evenings. This group looks for strong storytelling …
**Decision On Trump Indictment To Be Annouced 'In The Near Future': Fulton County DA**
Decision On Trump Indictment To Be Annouced 'In The Near Future': Fulton County DA
_Authored by Gary Bai via The Epoch Times (https://www.theepochtimes.com/decision-on-trump-indictment-to-be-annouced-in-the-near-future-fulton-county-da_5218378.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge) (emphasis ours),_
A Georgia district attorney wrote in a letter dated April 24 that **she intends to announce potential indictments resulting from a probe into former President Donald Trump and his associates for alleged interference in the 2020 election with his calls for investigations.**
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_Former President Donald Trump speaks during an event at the Mar-a-Lago Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., on April 4, 2023. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)_ (
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“ **In the near future, I will announce charging decisions resulting from the investigation my office has been conducting into possible criminal interference in the administration of Georgia’s 2020 General Election**,” Fani Willis, District Attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, wrote in a letter addressed to Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat on Monday. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported (https://www.ajc.com/politics/trump-probe-da-urges-law-enforcement-to-prep-for-indictments-this-summer/56OGCLMNOVGPXMJ6YXDPXQOSWY/) the letter.
Willis wrote she would announce the charging decisions between July 11 and Sept. 1.
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_Fulton County Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis in her office on Jan. 4, 2022. (Ben Gray/AP Photo)_ (
?itok=mSUaBono)Details of Investigation
Willis’s Monday announcement was the latest update in the special-purpose grand jury investigation she launched in 2021 and led thereafter.
While the grand jury proceedings had occurred behind closed doors, the probe is believed (https://www.theepochtimes.com/with-untested-cases-challenging-trump-legal-experts-weigh-in-on-his-greatest-vulnerabilities_5155299.html) to center on a 2020 phone call between Trump, Trump’s legal team, and Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his team.
“All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have because we won the state,” Trump allegedly told Raffensperger during the phone call on Jan. 2, 2021, a transcript of which was released by media organizations.
Willis characterized Trump’s wording (pdf (https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/fulton-county-special-grand-jury-subpoeanas.pdf)) during the call as evidence of “criminal disruption” of the 2020 election, and has (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20476518-fulton-da-letter-to-gov-kemp) based her case on charges around that allegation. The grand jury heard testimony from Trump’s former associates, including Rudy Giuliani (https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/17/politics/rudy-giuliani-grand-jury-georgia/index.html) and former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn (https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-georgia-atlanta-michael-flynn-united-states-government-b70496141955732d4509949d4eee8c62). Trump has denied all allegations of wrongdoing on his part.
**The grand jury was discharged in January. In early February, the Fulton County Superior Court released a portion of the jury panel’s report**, which did not include the list of names to whom indictments were recommended. Emily Kohrs, the grand jury’s foreperson, told media outlets in February that the group recommended indictments.
“The long awaited important sections of the Georgia report, which do not even mention President Trump’s name, have nothing to do with the President because President Trump did absolutely nothing wrong,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung told CNN (https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-georgia-report-release-02-16-23/h_91dcde5adc58e1ba8d901d2738127f45) in a following statement in February.
“The President participated in two perfect phone calls regarding election integrity in Georgia, which he is entitled to do—in fact, as President, it was President Trump’s Constitutional duty to ensure election safety, security, and integrity,” Cheung added.
A Feb. 10, 2021, letter (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/20476518-fulton-da-letter-to-gov-kemp) that Willis sent to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp gave hints of potential charges she may pursue, including soliciting election fraud, lying to state officials, and conspiring to interfere with the 2020 election.
Willis told the local sheriff t…
**These Are The Most Expensive Sports Team Sales In History**
These Are The Most Expensive Sports Team Sales In History
After a record-setting year in 2022, professional sports team sales are on an uptick yet again.
**The tentative $6.05 billion (https://apnews.com/article/washington-commanders-sale-snyder-3a1b853557465c5fbc9d7af9e4be0337) Washington Commanders sale, already approved by other NFL owners, will be the highest amount paid for a sports team once completed.**
This graphic from Visual Capitalist's Sam Parker (https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/ranked-most-expensive-sports-team-sales/) shows how the Commanders’ April 2023 deal measures up against the biggest sports team sales in history, using data from the Wall Street Journal (https://www.wsj.com/story/the-10-most-expensive-sports-team-sales-38c9acff) and CBS Sports (https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/bucks-co-owner-marc-lasry-completes-sale-of-stake-in-team-to-browns-owner-jimmy-haslam-per-report/).
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Washington Commanders Sale vs. Other Franchise Fortunes
Valuations have become significantly larger in the last couple of years, with the largest sales all occurring after 2010. Here are the 10 most highly-priced sales for a professional sports team franchise globally.
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The Washington Commanders sale takes the top spot at **$6.1 billion**, even though it could still be de-throned. It’s been reported that a $7 billion dollar bid (https://frontofficesports.com/where-is-brian-davis-7b-commanders-bid-coming-from/) for the team is still in play as well.
Dan Snyder, the current owner of the team, is one of the world’s richest people (https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-richest-people-in-the-world-in-2023/) in sports. He purchased the team for $800 million in 1999 and, if the $6.1 billion sale completes, will have made a cumulative return of over 650%.
Chelsea Football Club is the only non-U.S. sale on the list. The sports team was previously owned by Roman Abramovich, a Russian oligarch (https://www.visualcapitalist.com/who-are-the-russian-oligarchs/) who was subject to sanctions after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and was forced to sell the team.
Hedge fund billionaire Todd Boehly, who was part of the consortium that purchased Chelsea, is also part owner of number 10 on the list: the LA Dodgers. Boehly is said to have helped with one of the “most dramatic turnarounds in North American sports” through his purchase of the Dodgers in 2012 for **$2.0 billion**, with the team wining the MLB World Series in 2020.
Will any sale top the Washington Commanders number? NFL teams specifically are some of the world’s most valuable teams (https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/ranked-the-most-valuable-nfl-teams-in-2022/), so the sale of a team such as the Dallas Cowboys or Los Angeles Rams could be worth more.
Other competition could come from soccer teams, including Chelsea rivals Manchester United or Liverpool. Manchester United’s owners put the club up for sale (https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65249564) in 2022, hoping for a valuation of £5 billion to £6 billion ($6.2 billion to $7.5 billion).
Why Are Sports Team Sale Prices So High?
Sports teams haven’t always collected such sky-high prices like the Washington Commanders sale. In fact, sports teams used to be the investment of choice for eccentric entrepreneurs and were considered money-losing propositions.
So what’s changed? There are a number of factors driving high valuations (https://www.theringer.com/sports/2022/11/28/23472636/sports-team-franchise-valuation-sale-prices) and passionate interest from billionaires:
- **Media deals:** Digitization means sports now have a global audience, and broadcast rights have become a major driver of leagues’ revenue growth. For example, the NFL has $115 billion in long-term media rights deals with major TV networks, Amazon, and Google’s YouTube TV.
- **Industry monopoly:** There were once a handful of professional baseball leagues, but Major League Baseball earned an exemption from antitrust (pro-competition) laws in 1922. Other sports leagues have conglomerated to become the biggest and best representatives of their sport, making it nearly impossible for new entrants to compete.
- **League benefits:** Contracts negotiated at a league level are equally split between every league’s sports team. The Packers, the only NFL team with public financial statements (https://shareholder.broadridge.com/pdf/2022-packers-annual-report.pdf), earned 60% of their income from national sources in 2…
https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/these-are-most-expensive-sports-team-sales-history
**Megyn Kelly Responds To Tucker Carlson Leaving Fox News: 'Terrible Move' By Network**
Megyn Kelly Responds To Tucker Carlson Leaving Fox News: 'Terrible Move' By Network
_Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times (https://www.theepochtimes.com/megyn-kelly-responds-to-tucker-carlson-leaving-fox-news-terrible-move_5217628.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge) (emphasis ours),_
Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly reacted to Monday’s news that Tucker Carlson would be departing by saying it was a “terrible move” on the network’s part.
“ **This is a terrible move by Fox, and it’s a great thing for Tucker Carlson**,” Kelly said during an episode of her podcast on Monday.
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_Megyn Kelly speaks onstage at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit 2018 at Ritz Carlton Hotel in Laguna Niguel, California, on Oct. 2, 2018. (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Fortune)_ (
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In a news release, Fox confirmed it is parting ways with Carlson, who was its most popular cable news host and a leading conservative voice. Carlson has not issued a public comment about the matter.
“I don’t know what drove Fox News to make this decision. And it was clearly Fox News’ decision because they’re not letting him say goodbye,” Kelly said. “That’s my supposition. That’s not inside knowledge … talk about misjudging your audience yet again.”
Carlson’s last broadcast was on Friday, April 21. During the final on-air segment, Carlson told his Fox viewers that he would be back on Monday.
**Kelly added (https://twitter.com/megynkelly/status/1650524704258637825) that the news was “Good for Tucker” and that “trust me, he doesn’t need them.”**
A Fox anchor, Harris Faulkner, said Monday that the two sides had “mutually” decided to part ways. Few details about what happened have been revealed.
Fox has not issued any comment on Carlson’s leaving the channel beyond a statement stating that it wanted to “thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor.” In an article reporting on his departure, Fox News turned off its comments section.
Kelly, too, was among the most popular Fox News personalities before she left the channel in 2017. **Since leaving, she has become critical of the network and hosts a popular podcast.**
After taking Fox News’ 8 p.m. ET timeslot in 2017, Carlson quickly became among the network’s most popular hosts and remained so up until the end. For the week ending April 16, “Tucker Carlson Tonight” was the most-watched cable news show, averaging 3.389 million viewers, while the next most popular show was “The Five” on Fox News, which averaged about 3 million, according to data from Nielsen.
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_Glenn Beck, a conservative media personality, in West Palm Beach, Florida on Dec. 19, 2019. (Brendon Fallon/The Epoch Times)_ (
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The timing of Carlson’s departure also appears to be unusual. The Fox News host recently landed two high-profile interviews, including one with former President Donald Trump and another with Twitter and Tesla owner Elon Musk. Nielsen ratings show that the Carlson–Trump interview last week drew 6.7 million viewers.
Despite the reasons for Carlson’s exit, it signals the biggest shock to Fox News’s lineup since former top host Bill O’Reilly was booted from the channel in 2017. His “O’Reilly Factor”—a long mainstay on cable news—was Fox News’ highest-rated program at the time.
_Read more **here...** (https://www.theepochtimes.com/megyn-kelly-responds-to-tucker-carlson-leaving-fox-news-terrible-move_5217628.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge)_
Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Tue, 04/25/2023 - 22:25
**US Waged Years-Long Shadow War Against Wagner Mercenaries In Africa**
US Waged Years-Long Shadow War Against Wagner Mercenaries In Africa
US special forces and intelligence are **running a proxy war aimed at disrupting Russia's Wagner Group mercenaries in the Middle East and North Africa**, recently unveiled Pentagon leaks show.
The Biden administration has long expressed concern over Wagner's role not just in Ukraine, where it has been spearheading efforts to gain Russian victory over Bakhmut, but especially its expanding presence in Africa as well.
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_Wagner mercenaries, via Wiki Commons_ (
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This shadow war appears to have been going for years even before the Ukraine war, with the classified documents which first showed up on Discord confirming that the US military is actively targeting Wagner fighters in secret operations.
_The Washington Post_ was the first to highlight the US intelligence related to Wagner, and reports the following (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/23/wagner-russia-africa-leaked-documents/):
> _**One document in the trove lists nearly a dozen “kinetic” and other options that could be pursued as part of “coordinated U.S. and allied disruption efforts.”** The files propose providing targeting information **to help Ukraine forces kill Wagner commanders**, and cite other allies’ willingness to take **similar lethal measures against Wagner nodes in Africa**._
But, the _Post_ underscores, these operations have done little to degrade Wagner's presence and operations. Interestingly there's even mention of a major incident in Libya:
> _And yet, there is little in the trove to suggest that the CIA, Pentagon or other agencies have caused more than minor setbacks for Wagner over a six-year stretch during which the mercenary group, controlled by Putin ally Prigozhin, gained **strategic footholds in at least eight African countries**, among 13 nations where Prigozhin has operated in some capacity, according to one document._
>
> _The only direct military strike mentioned in the files refers to **“a successful unattributed attack in Libya” that “destroyed a Wagner logistics aircraft.”** The document provides no further detail about the operation or why that single plane — part of a far larger Wagner fleet — was targeted._
It remains unclear whether the Libya operation was accomplished using US proxy forces on the ground (such as US-trained Libyan militias), or if it was a direct special forces or CIA attack. Likely it was the former scenario, given the extreme risk for American commandos in Libya.
Russian state media has meanwhile also taken note of the story, with RT writing (https://www.rt.com/news/575264-wagner-africa-kinetic-option/) this week that "A second leaks-based story published by the Post on Monday cites a document alleging that Ukraine’s military intelligence service, the GUR, and its head, Kirill Budanov, **planned an attack on Wagner officers in Mali**." Russia is alleging this shows a deliberate campaign to assassination Wagner PMC commanders.
> Wagner Group surges in Africa w/strategic footholds in +8 nations as US influence fades
>
> …moving aggressively to establish a “confederation” of anti-Western African states
>
> LEAKED INTEL: US proposed providing assistance to Ukraine & African nodes to assassinate Wagner commanders https://t.co/HyjNoWEsLG (https://t.co/HyjNoWEsLG)pic.twitter.com/mvTinVREui (https://t.co/mvTinVREui)
>
> — Prodigal (@ProdigalThe3rd) April 23, 2023 (https://twitter.com/ProdigalThe3rd/status/1650219161925058560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
The US sees Wagner in Africa as part of broader efforts to expand Russia's influence on the continent. Wagner has long been active inside Syria following President Assad inviting Russian allied forces into the conflict in 2015. Lately, the West has even blamed the unfolding Sudan crisis on Russia and its mercenaries.
Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Tue, 04/25/2023 - 22:05
https://www.zerohedge.com/military/us-waged-years-long-shadow-war-against-wagner-mercenaries-africa
**Mother Of 7 Denied Kidney Transplant For Refusing COVID Shot In Georgia**
Mother Of 7 Denied Kidney Transplant For Refusing COVID Shot In Georgia
_Authored by Steven Kovac via The Epoch Times (https://www.theepochtimes.com/mother-of-7-denied-kidney-transplant-for-refusing-covid-shot-in-georgia_5212353.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge) (emphasis ours),_
**On dialysis and potentially facing death, a 41-year-old homeschooling mother of seven young children has been rejected as a candidate for a life-saving kidney transplant by Emory Healthcare Inc. of Atlanta.**
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_A person holds a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine before it is administered in a clinical trial in Aurora, Colo., on Dec. 15, 2020. (Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)_ (
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The reason? The woman, who has already had COVID-19, **refused to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on religious and medical grounds.**
To protect her privacy, the patient will be referred to in this article as Jane Doe.
Emory Healthcare did not respond to a request for comment.
Affiliated with Emory University, Emory Healthcare is one of the leading organ transplant centers in the South.
According to Liberty Counsel (LC), a national non-profit legal organization helping Doe, she was referred to Emory by her nephrologist after suddenly coming down with end-stage kidney disease.
**The seriousness of Doe’s condition necessitates her undergoing dialysis three times a week to keep her alive.**
Following an evaluation by one of the transplant center’s nurse practitioners, Doe was initially found to be an acceptable candidate for a new kidney, even though Doe reported she had not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
**Life or Death Decision**
Doe’s hopes were soon dashed when, after another consultation with Emory staffers, a social worker informed her that she could not move forward to the transplant program’s “active waiting list” until she took the shot.
**Emory Healthcare is one of 35 percent of the nation’s transplant centers that are still requiring their patients to be vaccinated for COVID-19**, according to a Liberty Counsel analysis.
This is despite the fact that on April 11, President Joe Biden declared the national emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic officially over.
On April 17, LC sent a letter (https://lc.org/PDFs/Attachments2PRsLAs/2023/041723LtrEmoryUniversityHealthcareSystem(Final)REDACTED.pdf) to Emory Healthcare requesting that no later than April 30, Doe be granted religious and medical exemptions from its COVID-19 vaccination mandate and asked that she be reactivated and placed on the kidney transplant active waiting list.
**Religious Convictions**
The nine-page letter alleges that every available COVID-19 vaccine is associated with aborted “fetal cell lines.”
It cites evidence from the public health departments of North Dakota and Louisiana as proof.
Doe, a devout Roman Catholic, is opposed to ingesting or being injected with such vaccines based on her religious beliefs.
The Liberty Counsel also informed Emory Healthcare that there were strong medical reasons for Doe’s refusal to get the jab.
**Standing on Natural Immunity**
The demand letter stated that Doe had already recovered from a bout with COVID and that her antibody numbers were actually stronger than those found in many people who were fully vaccinated for 90 days.
_Read more **here...** (https://www.theepochtimes.com/mother-of-7-denied-kidney-transplant-for-refusing-covid-shot-in-georgia_5212353.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge)_
Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Tue, 04/25/2023 - 21:05
https://www.zerohedge.com/covid-19/mother-7-denied-kidney-transplant-refusing-covid-shot-georgia
**Is Saudi Arabia Selling Oil To China For Gold?**
Is Saudi Arabia Selling Oil To China For Gold?
_By Jan Nieuwenhuijs of Gainesville Coins (https://www.gainesvillecoins.com/blog/is-saudi-arabia-selling-oil-to-china-for-gold)_
**Rumors are making rounds that Saudi Arabia is selling oil for yuan, which it converts into gold on the Shanghai International Gold Exchange (SGEI).** Such a development would make sense as large parts of the world want to de-dollarize, but the renminbi is not suitable to be used as a reserve currency. China has a closed capital account and a weak rule of law. Not using the dollar could be done by using the renminbi as a trade currency and converting yuan revenue into gold on the SGEI. If the rumor is true, Saudi Arabia is buying 1 Kg bars as there is virtually no trading in 12.5 Kg bars on the SGEI. The benefit of 1 Kg bars is that they are more fitting for fully allocated trading.
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_The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remains one of the world's leading producers of crude oil._ (
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The SGEI was set up in 2014 for foreigners to access gold trading on the Shanghai Gold Exchange Main Board in the Chinese domestic gold market and trading on the International Board in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (SFTZ). Foreigner entities can’t load-in and load-out gold into and from Main Board certified vaults, but they can load-in and load-out gold into and from International Board certified vaults (and thus import into and export from the SFTZ).
The objective of the International Board is to facilitate “offshore” gold trading in renminbi in the SFTZ, which has almost no effect on China’s current account. This is comparable to offshore gold trading in US dollars in London (offshore dollars pricing internationally traded commodities). Through the SGEI China wants to increase the role of the renminbi in the global economy.
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_Overview from a few years ago on domestic and foreign clients’ SGE(I) trading privileges (source: Spot Trading Rules of the Shanghai Gold Exchange). I can’t find an update of this overview on the SGE(I) website, but I don’t expect the essence has changed. As you can see, the SGEI is the International Board and the SGE is the Main Board. Both exchanges fall under the same umbrella._ (
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Investment possibilities for foreigners in Chinese financial assets are limited, but there are no restrictions to converting yuan into gold on the SGEI. I will write more on the mechanics of the Chinese gold market in a forthcoming article because this will be important in the coming years with respect to de-dollarization.
Last week, Christopher Wood from Jefferies mentioned in a note that the Saudis might be converting yuan into gold on the SGEI (full note available to pro subs in the usual place (https://www.dropbox.com/s/dk9s96rdembbc4s/Jefferies_G%26F_New%20world%20orders_20230406.pdf?dl=0)):
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_Source: Chris Wood from Jefferies_ (
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If Saudi Arabia would convert yuan into gold on the SGEI, I would expect them to buy large bars weighing 400 ounces (12.5 Kg). Data from the SGE and SGEI, though, reveals there has practically been no trading in 12.5 Kg bars since the SGE was erected in October 2002.
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_Weekly Shanghai Gold Exchange trading volume (12.5 Kg contracts)_ (
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In the above chart volume is shown for exchange trading of 12.5 Kg contracts. Not shown, over-the-counter (OTC) trading in the 12.5 Kg contract on the International Board was zero in the past year. OTC trading in the 12.5 kg contract on the Main Board isn’t reported, which makes me think it’s not existent. All in all, large bar trading on the SGE(I) is extremely low.
Based on 12.5 Kg contract trading volume on the SGE(I) it’s hard to prove the rumor is true, which doesn’t mean it can't be true. Saudi Arabia can also buy 1 Kg bars on the SGEI (and SGE, but it wouldn’t be able to export gold traded on the Main Board). Trading in 1 Kg contracts on the SGEI (iAu9999) and SGE (Au99.99) is not subdued. Although, there hasn’t been a significant uptick in trading of iAu9999 recently.
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/saudi-arabia-selling-oil-china-gold
**UBS Slides As Net Profit Halved, Despite Wealthy Client Inflow**
UBS Slides As Net Profit Halved, Despite Wealthy Client Inflow
UBS's Swiss-listed shares slid in early Tuesday trading after the bank posted a 52% year-on-year decrease in net profit in the first quarter. Despite the slump, the bank recorded strong customer inflows while preparing to acquire rival Credit Suisse (https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/ubs-offers-buy-credit-suisse-1bn-025-share-takeunder-cs-balks-offer). This marks the first financial results since UBS announced the takeover of Credit Suisse last month.
UBS disclosed its weakest quarterly earnings (https://www.ubs.com/global/en/media/display-page-ndp/en-20230425-1q23-quarterly-result.html) in more than three years and a dim outlook for interest income in its wealth management division. It said net profit came in at $1.03 billion for the first quarter, missing analyst expectations of around $1.75 billion for the period.
Switzerland's largest bank experienced a $665 million hit in net income due to US residential mortgage-backed securities litigation. It also said it's in talks with the US Department of Justice to settle a 2018 civil complaint.
That news overshadowed the inflow of $28 billion from high-net-worth clients during the quarter, $7 billion arriving in the ten days following the announcement of the Credit Suisse takeover in March.
Here are other highlights of the first quarter:
- _Revenues reached $8.75bln vs. 9.38bln a year ago_
- _Operating expenses were $7.2bln from $6.6bln a year ago_
- _CET 1 capital ratio, a measure of bank solvency, came in at 13.9% vs. 14.1% a year ago_
Retaining clients and assets is a major challenge for Sergio Ermotti, who returned (https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/ubs-brings-back-ex-ceo-lead-credit-suisse-takeover) as UBS CEO to oversee the historic merger. The results didn't include Credit Suisse's operations since the merger has yet to be finalized.
Credit Suisse revealed on Monday that it borrowed far more from the Federal Reserve's liquidity backstop program than previously known, with clients continuing to withdraw after the deal was announced (https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/magnitude-losses-and-outflows-alarming-credit-suisse-hemorrhages-69-billion-assets).
In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Ermotti said the inflows at UBS are "a sign of confidence of our clients." He noted that the inflows weren't just from Credit Suisse clients but also from the US.
During the banking crisis last month, UBS froze its buyback program. Ermotti said during the interview:
> _"We are reiterating our intention to have a progressive cash dividend increase every year and we definitely have an intention to resume share buybacks when its appropriate."_
UBS shares fell as much as 5% Tuesday morning.
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Here is what analysts are saying (courtesy of Bloomberg):
> _**JPMorgan (Kian Abouhossein, overweight)** says while earnings can be seen as weak, long-term view unchanged_
>
> - _Says consensus EPS could be cut 3%-5% after bank gave worse than expected NII guidance for wealth management_
> - _Notes more details on Credit Suisse merger were expected_
>
> _**KBW (Thomas Hallett, underperform)** says results were a "lackluster set," with wealth management underwhelming and also sees material downgrades to 2023 expectations following NII guidance_
>
> - _Sees consensus going down 5% as bank guided that wealth management, personal and corporate net interest income to be broadly in-line with 2022 4Q annualized_
> - _Capital below consensus_
> - _Says results disappoint, remains underperform_
>
> _**Citi (Andrew Coombs, buy)** sees earnings as uneventful, notes there could be disappointment on litigation charge, cautious outlook commentary_
>
> _**RBC (Anke Reingen, sector perform)** notes 1Q missed estimates on higher litigation provisions and also sees consensus estimates earnings cuts on the NII guidance_
Moving forward, UBS must integrate Credit Suisse, and any overlapping business units will likely result in thousands of job cuts.
Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Tue, 04/25/2023 - 07:45
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/ubs-slides-net-profit-halved-despite-wealthy-client-inflow
**Peter Schiff: A Higher Debt Ceiling Won't Solve The Problem; It Will Make The Problem Worse**
Peter Schiff: A Higher Debt Ceiling Won't Solve The Problem; It Will Make The Problem Worse
_Via SchiffGold.com,_ (https://schiffgold.com/peters-podcast/peter-schiff-a-higher-debt-ceiling-wont-solve-the-problem-it-will-make-the-problem-worse/)
In January, the US government ran up against the debt ceiling, kicking off another fake debt ceiling fight (https://schiffgold.com/commentaries/here-we-go-again-its-time-for-another-debt-ceiling-fight/). Three months later, Congress still hasn’t agreed on a plan to raise the borrowing limit. Peter Schiff talked about it in his podcast, saying the lack of a higher debt ceiling isn’t the problem; the ever-increasing spending and the debt are the problems. Refusing to raise the ceiling would provide the solution.
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In just the first six months of fiscal 2023, the Biden administration ran a $1.1 trillion budget deficit (https://schiffgold.com/commentaries/joe-biden-is-mucking-up-the-inflation-fight/). Excessive spending is pushing the government toward a crisis point when it will no longer be able to finance spending through extraordinary measures (https://schiffgold.com/exploring-finance/the-treasury-begins-extraordinary-measures-again/). But Republicans in Congress want to attach strings to the new debt ceiling. Democrats want a “clean” bill to raise the spending limit.
Peter zeroed in on **a key point in this “fight” - _everybody_ wants to raise the debt ceiling.**
> It’s not like the Republicans are saying, ‘We’re not going to raise the debt ceiling.'”
Peter ran for Senate in 2010 and a key part of his platform was to stop raising the debt ceiling.
> I didn’t want to come up with some gimmick to allow the ceiling to be raised. I wanted it to stop. I wanted to create a permanent ceiling that could never be raised.”
But Democrats (and most Republicans) claim, “We _must_ raise the debt ceiling because we pay our bills!” Peter said it’s the exact opposite.
> **We never pay our bills. If you pay your bills, you don’t have any debt. Where does the debt come from? It’s unpaid bills. We have $31.7 trillion in debt. That’s $31.7 trillion of bills that we have not paid. We didn’t pay them. We borrowed the money. And we want to keep on borrowing the money. Nobody wants to pay any of these bills.”**
This exacerbates the government spending problem. Uncle Sam never has to rein it in as long as he can keep borrowing.
> **We can keep putting all the spending on a credit card. As long as they raise the debt ceiling, we can continue to not pay our bills.”**
Of course, eventually, the borrowing and the accompanying money printing will precipitate a currency crisis.
> **It’s not about America not wanting to borrow. It’s about the rest of the world not wanting to lend because they know we’re not going to pay them back.** And one of the reasons they know that is because we’ve already told them. We are telling them that repeatedly in the debt ceiling battle.”
Meanwhile, the mainstream media spins the debt ceiling as a problem. Peter said the debt ceiling is actually the solution to the problem.
> The problem is the debt. The problem is that Congress and the president keep running up more and more debt and every time we get to the ceiling, we either raise it or suspend it. … **The problem is that we keep raising the ceiling, not that we won’t raise it. In fact, the threat is that we raise it again.”**
The mainstream, along with Democrats, also claim that if Congress doesn’t raise the debt ceiling, the US will default. Peter said that’s the dumbest thing you can say when you’re running a Ponzi scheme, which is what this is.
> We are admitting that every time we tell our creditors that if we can’t borrow more money, ‘You’re out of luck, you’re not getting paid.'”
Peter pointed out that the interest on the debt is around $600 billion. The US government collects about $4.6 trillion in tax receipts.
> We’ve got plenty of revenue to pay the interest on the national debt if we want to prioritize paying interest on the national debt. But clearly, we don’t want to do that. Not only are we not prioritizing it; we’re telling our bondholders that they’re the low man on the totem pole. We don’t talk about anything else that’s going to not get paid. Nobody is saying, ‘Well if we don’t raise the debt ceiling, we’re going to have to cut back on congressional salaries,’ or, ‘We’re going to have to fire some of our staffers.’ They don’t say, ‘Well if we don’t raise the debt ceiling, we might have to cut Social Security, and we’re going to have to cut defense.…
**This Don Lemon Interview With GOP Candidate Was The Last Straw: NYT**
This Don Lemon Interview With GOP Candidate Was The Last Straw: NYT
**The insufferable Don Lemon's long-overdue ousting from CNN (https://www.zerohedge.com/political/and-now-stunned-don-lemon-out-cnn) ultimately sprang from his discourse-stifling, race-baiting interview of GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy**, sources tell _The New York Times_ (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/business/media/don-lemon-cnn.html).
Last Wednesday, Ramaswamy appeared on "CNN This Morning," the show Lemon co-hosted with Kaitlin Collins and Poppy Harlow after his September demotion (https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/i-was-not-demoted-don-lemon-melts-down-air-after-obvious-timeslot-demotion) from prime time.
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When Ramaswamy said Lemon was doing a "disserrvice to our country by failing to recognize" the enormous progress blacks have made in securing rights since 1865 and 1964, things went downhill quickly, with **Lemon sanctimoniously telling Vivek that he wasn't authorized to talk about black history.**
You see, while Ramaswamy is a man of color, it isn't the right one. **"When you are in black skin and then you live in this country...then you can disagree with me,"**said (https://www.mediaite.com/news/infuriating-cnns-don-lemon-gets-pissed-when-gop-candidate-tries-to-splain-black-history-to-him-in-epic-smackdown/) Lemon.
Harlow sat silently, alternately watching the spectacle, looking at her phone and elsewhere. Meanwhile, **it appeared CNN producers were trying to pull Lemon back from the cliff**\-\- only to receive an on-air scolding. "Please. I cannot keep a thought if you guys are talking in my ear. So hang on one second," he said, ordering the producers to stop talking as he similarly worked to bring Ramaswamy to heel.
If he hadn't already done so, it's safe to say Lemon sealed his fate with one particular line down the stretch -- as he told Ramaswamy it was "insulting" for him to be **"sitting there, whatever ethnicity you are, ' _splaining_ to me what it's like to be black in America."**
> according to the NYT this interview that Don Lemon conducted last week with Vivek Ramaswamy played a role in his firing. Note co-host Poppy Harlow sitting silently while Lemon goes after Vivek. pic.twitter.com/Fjx5eX30wU (https://t.co/Fjx5eX30wU)
>
> — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 24, 2023 (https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1650563196795641871?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Citing anonymous sources, **the _Times_ reported that the segment "left several CNN leaders exasperated."**
**Lemon had already been on thin ice**, having been demoted from prime time to a morning slot six months ago. Even though he was in network rehabilitation mode, he continued piling on reasons for his CNN masters to eject him altogether.
In December, the crew of "CNN This Morning" reportedly witnessed **an unsettling backstage argument between Lemon and Kaitlin Collins**, one of his co-hosts. Lemon had apparently scolded her for repeatedly interrupting him.
In February, Lemon said GOP candidate Nikki Haley -- at age 51 -- "isn't in her prime, sorry... **A woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s**.” When his female co-hosts pushed back, he shut them down by declaring "I’m just saying what the facts are — Google it.” He apologized and submitted to a CNN training program.
**That reportedly prompted his female co-hosts to storm off for a "well-timed bathroom break."** Sensitive, PC types would have raised a ruckus if a host on any network said what Lemon had said about women -- the fact that it happened on CNN made it all the more noteworthy. The same can be said for his "whatever ethnicity you are" line with Ramaswamy.
It's interesting that, **between Haley and Ramaswamy, two GOP candidates played central roles in sweeping Lemon off the screen**.
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**CNN bookers had recently observed that fewer guests wanted to be interviewed by Lemon,** just as internal research documented a drop (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/business/media/don-lemon-cnn.html) in his popularity.
Barring a personality change, moving Lemon to a morning show was a terrible attempt at salvaging a lost cause. As the _Times_ (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/business/media/don-lemon-cnn.html) put it:
> "Mr. Lemon imported \[his spiky-exchange and pull-no-punches\] persona to “CNN This Morning,” but it was **an awkward fit for an hour when many viewers — m…
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/don-lemon-interview-gop-candidate-was-last-straw-nyt
**A Seized Bitcoin Stack Could Be Bulgaria's Golden Ticket**
A Seized Bitcoin Stack Could Be Bulgaria's Golden Ticket
_Authored by Ahmed Botan via BitcoinMagazine.com,_ (https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/the-future-for-bulgaria-seized-bitcoin)
**Bulgaria, a small country located in Southeast Europe, nestled between Romania and Greece, could become one of the wealthiest countries in the world.**
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**The reason for this is its possession of 213,000 bitcoin, which its authorities seized from a group they labeled as criminals in 2017.** According to the South East European Law Enforcement Center (https://www.coininsider.com/bulgarian-government-owns-3-billion-usd-bitcoin/) (SELC), the group hacked the Bulgarian customs agency’s computers and made changes to the system so that their partner companies could import goods while avoiding paying taxes on them.
Immediately following the crackdown, the bitcoin seized was worth about $500,000, however, it would now be worth closer to $6 billion dollars, as of April 2023. While the details around the BTC seizure are unclear (https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=02b41baf-5f0d-4696-a580-5aba28b2a8ca), and it is not totally clear whether the country still holds that bitcoin or what it plans to do with the stack if it does, the potential of a nation like Bulgaria holding this much BTC is worth exploring.
**As the value of bitcoin is, in the view of many, set to go up a lot higher still in the coming years, Bulgaria could stand to become very wealthy.**
THE RISING PRICE OF BULGARIA’S BITCOIN
While the future price of bitcoin is impossible to predict, **there are some prominent examples of experts explaining why they are confident Bulgaria’s bitcoin holdings will grow exponentially in value.**
Jesse Meyers (https://twitter.com/Croesus_BTC), the COO of Onramp Bitcoin who holds an MBA from Stanford University, has predicted that the bitcoin price will hit $10 million in the coming decades. (https://jessemyers.substack.com/p/bitcoins-full-potential-valuation) Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood (https://twitter.com/CathieDWood?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) has predicted bitcoin will reach $1 million by 2030 (https://milkroad.com/predictions) in a bullish scenario. Similarly, Arthur Hayes (https://twitter.com/CryptoHayes), co-founder of BitMex believes that bitcoin could hit $1 million by 2026 (https://cryptoslate.com/arthur-hayes-thinks-bitcoin-can-still-hit-1m-this-cycle/).
Most recently, the former CTO of Coinbase, Balji Srinivasan (https://twitter.com/balajis), has predicted that bitcoin would hit $1 million by June 15, 2023 (https://cointelegraph.com/news/former-coinbase-cto-makes-2m-bet-on-bitcoin-s-performance), wagering $2 million to that effect.
While most people don't believe that the bitcoin price can reach $1 million by then, anything is possible. For example, if there was an extended banking crisis and hyperinflation of the U.S. dollar, as predicted by Srinivasan, who knows how valuable Bulgaria’s bitcoin stack will become?
For instance, shortly after Srinivasan’s bet (although this was certainly unrelated), **several nations, including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Kenya and more began moving away from using the U.S. dollar in their trades (https://www.newsafrica.net/article/is-it-time-for-africa-to-ditch-the-us-dollar-in-international-trade-deals),** With the Kenyan president warning citizens to get rid of their dollar holdings (https://winepressnews.com/2023/03/28/kenya-president-tells-citizens-to-get-rid-of-holdings-of-us-dollar-as-nations-dump-the-dollar-and-begin-to-embrace-petroyuan/).
The United States government has measures in place to prevent further bank runs, like the Federal Reserve's $25 billion bank-term funding program (https://news.research.stlouisfed.org/2023/03/fred-adds-bank-term-funding-program-data/#:~:text=This%20program%20was%20launched%20on,in%20connection%20to%20this%20program.) (BTFP) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC’s) openness to cover all deposits.
I think, if the FDIC decides to insure all deposits, that will be enough to deter true bank runs, but it’s clear that the U.S. dollar is not as strong as it used to be. And that opens the door for a decentralized, global monetary unit like bitcoin to rise.
**As a result, if Bulgaria holds onto its BTC stash, it could amass more value relative to the holdings of other countries around the world and become one of the world’s richest.**
SO, WHAT WILL BULGARIA DO WITH ITS BITCOIN?
Bulgaria could use future bitcoin gains to invest in its economy, but it will have to pay off national debts first. As of 2022, Bulgaria’s national government debt reached $20 billion (https://www.ceicda…
https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/seized-bitcoin-stack-could-be-bulgarias-golden-ticket
**Families Of Jailed Chinese Human Rights Leaders Press Biden For Meetings**
Families Of Jailed Chinese Human Rights Leaders Press Biden For Meetings
_Authored by Susan Crabtree via RealClear Wire (https://www.realclearwire.com/articles/2023/04/21/families_of_jailed_chinese_human_rights_leaders_press_biden_for_meetings__149137.html),_
During meetings with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev or other top Soviet Union officials, **President Reagan often pulled out a card from his pocket and recited the names of the country’s jailed dissidents** and pressed for their freedom.
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The practice became such an annoyance to Soviet officials, human rights activists recall, that they often complained to Secretary of State George Schultz that Reagan’s constant focus on their government’s human rights abuses were impeding other areas where the two countries could make diplomatic progress.
Bob Fu, a prominent religious freedom activist and China critic who immigrated to the United States from China in 1996, said several Reagan aides told him about those tense exchanges as a testament to the power of directly challenging authoritarian regimes’ human rights abuses to spur international condemnation.
“ **I hope our president and vice president, whatever party is in the White House, would do the same as Reagan when they are meeting with China virtually or in person**,” Fu told a House Foreign Affairs Committee subcommittee hearing on Thursday. “That way \[Chinese officials\] can be reminded that this is serious, this is important.”
Sadly, Fu said, neither the current administration or any other since Reagan have prioritized and elevated human rights abuses in such a powerful way. Instead, when it comes to China, most of Washington has spent three decades pointedly looking the other way.
In late May of 1994, President Clinton abandoned a central foreign policy principle of his administration, announcing that he had decided to “de-link” China’s privileged trading status from its human rights record.
While Clinton acknowledged that China continued to commit serious human rights abuses, he said that broader American interests justify the policy reversal.
The pivot set the U.S. and other Western countries on a more conciliatory path with China. **It also paved the way for China’s entry into the World Trade Organization**, and in 2000, the U.S. granting Beijing permanent normal trade relations status, a legal designation allowing free trade between the two countries.
At the time, expanding U.S. business ties to China was a bipartisan cause. Led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, it allowed American companies to move their manufacturing operations to China to take advantage of its cheaper labor and production facilities.
“The premise of this policy was that if the West opened our markets to China, that the Chinese economy and society would liberalize and that \[Chinese Communist Party\] leaders would come to see the world as the way of the West, valuing democracy, rule of law and critically human rights,” said Andrew Bremberg, who previously served as President Trump’s representative of the United States to the Office of the United Nations and is now the president of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. “We were wrong.”
Instead, Fu told the panel, the Communist Party has increasingly asserted far more control, and Chinese citizens are now experiencing the worst period of persecution since Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution.
Over the last few years, the U.S. has acknowledged China’s genocide against the Uyghur Muslims, and has condemned President Xi Jinping’s tightening of CCP control in Hong Kong and his war on religion and dissent of any type.
Human rights advocates are now urging the U.S. government to more aggressively confront China about the startling scale of its human rights abuses and the arbitrary imprisonment of dissidents.
On Thursday, Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican and longtime human rights champion, urged President Biden to meet with Geng He and Sophie Luo, the wives of two prominent human rights defenders detained by China. The pair provided emotional testimony before a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee that morning about their husbands’ confrontations with the CCP and their detainments and disappearances
Smith also called on China to disclose the location and legal status of some Chinese human rights attorneys who either represented religious minorities and other dissidents or led pro-democracy movements in China and have since disappeared.
The two women testified that the Obama and Biden White Houses have not reached out to them about the plight of their husbands despite many attempts over several years.
“ **That has to change**,” Smith said, pledging t…
**A BBC Instruction Manual For Kids To Propagandize Their Parents**
A BBC Instruction Manual For Kids To Propagandize Their Parents
_Authored by Rajan Laad via AmericanThinker.com,_ (https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2023/04/a_bbc_instruction_manual_for_kids_to_propagandize_their_parents.html)
The day before yesterday, the BBC carried a piece titled _**“Earth Day: How to talk to your parents about climate change.”**_
The article begins addressing their target underaged readers: (https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-65339214)
> You want to go vegan to help the planet, but you're not paying for the shopping. You think trains are better than planes, but your dad books the summer holiday.
>
> Young people are some of the world's most powerful climate leaders and want rapid action to tackle the problem.
>
> Big changes are difficult, especially when they involve other people. Where do you begin? For this year's Earth Day, we spoke to people who have successfully had tricky climate chats at home. Here are their top tips:
**The piece is broken into three sections targeting what they imply are evils of our times.**
The first section focuses on _**“How to talk about going meat-free.”**_
The section begins by claiming that "eating less meat is one of the best ways to reduce our impact on the planet, say scientists."
The piece introduces us to 17-year-old Ilse who has dyed her hair bright red, and her parents, Antonia and Sally.
The BBC claims that the family ate meat twice or even thrice a day, but when Ilse was 13, _**she "decided to do more about climate change and read that cutting out meat was a good start."**_
Sally and Antonia were understandably skeptical about the plan initially. They were concerned about not getting enough protein and the fact that Ilse was too young to make that decision.
But they still complied with Ilse’s wishes and began with a one-day-a-week trial, they proceeded to scale up, and after a year, went totally meat-free.
Sally says that seeing the emotional impact of the topic on her daughter helped to persuade her it was the right thing for her family.
**The BBC reveals that Ilse is part of ‘Teach the Parent’, a U.K.-based campaign that "encourages these conversations between generations."**
The group was started by young people “frustrated with the lack of international climate action and their feelings of powerlessness.”
Ilse advises her fellow youths that even if the first conversation with adults goes badly, they should keep trying. "Big lifestyle changes take time. If you bring it up every so often, it shapes people's attitudes in the long term."
**The next section targeting traveling begins as follows:**
> _“How we travel is a major source of carbon emissions, but switching from driving or flying can potentially limit family holidays and cost more._
The piece introduces us to Phoebe L Hanson, a 21-year-old student who persuaded her family to holiday in the U.K. instead of flying abroad.
**Much like Ilse, the BBC treats Phoebe as an expert.**
Phoebe recommends using fear tactics and emotional blackmail.
> _**“Say something like, ‘I’m really scared about my future, these are the reasons I want to do something.”**_
Present a solution, not just a problem, Phoebe explains. "Give them options for something fun or exciting."
She also says one answer to concerns about money is to discuss what type of world parents want children to inherit.
**Finally, the piece focuses on “how to talk about being waste-free.”**
We are introduced to young Becky Little who convinced her parents Rob and Ellen to reduce food waste and think more carefully about what they buy.
Becky has the following advice:
> _"Be well-informed about the things you want your family to start changing so they can see you care and have done some research."_
>
> _"Explain why it will make their lives easier or cheaper."_
>
> _"Make connections with things they care about.”_
The BBC reveals that Becky's family likes to "volunteer so they made meals using leftover food to donate to people in their local community."
> _"It's important to not go into it expecting them to change their whole lives. Small things can make a difference," Becky explains._
**The condescending, sanctimonious, and insolent attitude of these petulant children and their assumption of superiority over the very adults who brought them into this world is revolving.**
What is astounding is that neither the author nor anyone at the BBC's editorial team seems to grasp how ludicrous they appear carrying claims and 'advise' from pompous, arrogant, and self-righteous amateurs.
**This piece is totally, utterly, and completely preposterous, it reads like a parody piece, yet the publishers seem totally unaware of it.**
Most families happily change their habits when they become parents. Parents refrain from foul language, lying, and demonstration of anger before their children. Most parents conce…
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/bbc-instruction-manual-kids-propagandize-their-parents
**DVD & Blu-Ray Are Quickly Spinning Out Of Fashion**
DVD & Blu-Ray Are Quickly Spinning Out Of Fashion
After a couple of years of peaceful coexistence, it’s becoming more and more clear these days that video streaming services will eventually upend DVDs and Blu-rays, or at least force them into a niche existence.
As Statista's Felix Richter notes, (https://www.statista.com/chart/29778/usage-of-dvd-and-blu-ray/) while physical formats were vastly superior in terms of sound and image quality in the early days of streaming, **4K streaming with Dolby Atmos sound is no longer a problem thanks to high-bandwidth broadband and mobile connections.**
Moreover, streaming services like Netflix, Disney+ (https://www.statista.com/topics/6410/disney-plus/) or Apple TV+ offer access to **vast libraries of content at the touch of a button.** And thanks to smart TVs and streaming devices, it's easier than ever to watch your favorite content on the big screen as well. While there will always be collectors who prefer physical media or people in rural areas with bad internet connections, it's clear that the convenience and flexibility of streaming has made it the preferred method of watching video content for most people.
(https://www.statista.com/chart/29778/usage-of-dvd-and-blu-ray/)
_You will find more infographics at Statista (https://www.statista.com/chartoftheday/)_
According to findings from Statista Consumer Insights (https://www.statista.com/global-consumer-survey/surveys#overview), **DVD and Blu-ray are quickly spinning out of fashion across the globe,** with the share of respondents who watched video from a physical format declining, sometimes significantly, in all major markets.
Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Tue, 04/25/2023 - 04:15
https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/dvd-blu-ray-are-quickly-spinning-out-fashion
**Europe's Elites Are Coming Round To Victor Orbán's Way Of Thinking**
Europe's Elites Are Coming Round To Victor Orbán's Way Of Thinking
_Via Remix News, (https://rmx.news/hungary/europes-elite-is-coming-round-to-viktor-orbans-way-of-thinking/)_
**_Europe is changing its tune: Now the much-maligned fence on Hungary’s border is becoming an example for all..._**
Long-term forecasts have been expecting strong winds in Europe for months, and the persistent northerly flow that has long affected the continent has been slowly replaced by southerly and easterly currents, with occasional, yet powerful, westerly gusts. This is expected to continue until the European Parliament elections in the middle of next year and the subsequent power negotiations.
The change in wind direction has just been confirmed by the “chief meteorologist,” Manfred Weber (https://rmx.news/poland/16-member-states-demand-eu-fund-border-fence-construction/), leader of the European People’s Party parliamentary group. The German politician, who has a keen sense of the current changes, recently said:
> _**“If there is no other way to stop illegal immigration, we must be prepared to build fences.”**_
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**This was not always the case, as eight years ago he took a stand in the name of the “Willkommenskultur (https://rmx.news/germany/germany-buckles-under-pressure-of-mass-immigration-as-housing-and-rental-prices-soar/)” promulgated by Angela Merkel** and was so anti-borders that he even invoked “Mutti” (Merkel’s German nickname of “mother”) and directly addressed Donald Trump in a Twitter post in 2017 when he said, “We don’t build walls, we want to build bridges.”
Weber, however, was disappointed with “Mutti” because, despite being the People’s Party’s top candidate in the last European Parliament elections, he was not able to run because Viktor Orbán and Emmanuel Macron, who he often criticized, found someone else better suited to lead the European Commission.
Although the then-crowned Ursula von der Leyen has since been a disappointment, and corruption cases have not been far from her mind, the procedure of four years ago could be instructive for her: **She came in first place as an almost unknown running against Weber, who had seemed to be the sure winner**. He was lobbying this week for the European People’s Party coalition to include him as its top candidate next year, but it is not enough for him to be acceptable at home because Europe seems to have had enough of Germany dictating the agenda. Meloni’s Italy has already made it clear that it wants to limit migration, and French President Emmanuel Macron has been even more spectacular in his opposition to the German line in recent weeks.
Sometimes critical of the Hungarian prime minister himself, **Macron has realized that he has nothing to lose, as the French constitution says he cannot be president for a third time** and so far he is only remembered for his yellow vest and pension reform protests (https://rmx.news/france/macron-admits-pension-reform-undemocratic-but-says-he-will-implement-it-anyway-despite-mass-protests/), which are hardly a great mark in terms of his place in European history.
In a bid to project a more positive image, he **struck an unusually friendly tone with China and then said that Europe should look after its own interests** and its leaders should work to create autonomy. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was the loudest in her protestations; she did not recognize the shifting winds and said there was no place for such dissent in the EU. Macron, however, is not to be so easily swayed and is now going further, joining forces with the Chinese to bring the parties stuck in the quagmire of the Russia-Ukraine war to the negotiating table this year, according to Bloomberg.
_**All this in a single week**_:
- _Border **fences**,_
- _the protection of European interests and_ _a **ceasefire** to prevent the war from escalating are no longer the devil’s work,_
- _and after Meloni, Weber, and Macron have now **backed Viktor Orbán.**_
**If this continues, by next May, the mainstream will be behind the Hungarian prime minister, who had previously been dismissed by Europe’s elite as anti-human, authoritarian and pro-Putin.**
Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Tue, 04/25/2023 - 03:30
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/europes-elites-are-coming-round-victor-orbans-way-thinking
**Soaring Cost Of English Breakfast Shell-Shocks Consumers**
Soaring Cost Of English Breakfast Shell-Shocks Consumers
In March, UK inflation continued to hover in the double-digit range as households grappled with the persistently high cost of living. Among the various expenses challenging British consumers' wallets, the price of an English breakfast has notably soared.
Economic data from the Office for National Statistics showed the consumer price index last month rose by an annual 10.1%, above a consensus forecast of 9.8%. This is a slight dip from 10.4% in February and still at four-decade highs.
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Diving deeper into the report, we find the ingredient costs to make a traditional English breakfast are up a whopping 23% in March from last year. This is the most significant increase since Bloomberg created the Breakfast Index, which tracks prices of sausage, bacon, eggs, bread, butter, tomatoes, mushrooms, milk, tea, and coffee last June.
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The Breakfast Index provides insight into shoppers' hardships at the grocery store.
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_Source: Bloomberg_ (
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"Overall prices are still increasing at their highest level for over a decade, as manufacturers continue to pass on their costs through the supply chain to end customers," said Lisa Hooker, the industry leader for consumer markets at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
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_Source: Bloomberg_ (
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There is good news for consumers. Monthly changes some components in the Breakfast Index are decelerating.
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_Source: Bloomberg_ (
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"With food price inflation likely to slow in the coming months as we enter the UK growing season, we expect wider inflation will continue to ease," said Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium.
Meanwhile, the former chief economist of the Bank of England, Andy Haldane, who left the Bank in 2021 to lead the Royal Society of Arts think tank, forecasted that inflation would fall rapidly in the coming months.
The bad news is that persistently high food inflation might cause further labor actions by unions (https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/tragic-thursday-rail-strike-hits-uk-disruptions-widespread) in the UK and other European countries throughout the summer.
Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Tue, 04/25/2023 - 02:45
https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/cost-english-breakfast-shell-shocks-consumers