**Gold, Oil, & Global Currencies Entering A Watershed Moment**

Gold, Oil, & Global Currencies Entering A Watershed Moment

_Authored by Matthew Piepenburg via GoldSwitzerland.com,_ (https://goldswitzerland.com/gold-oil-global-currencies-entering-a-watershed-moment/)

Below we look at the math, history and current oil environment in the backdrop of a global debt crisis to better predict currency and gold market direction without the need of tarot cards.

**Seeing the Future: Math vs. Crystal Balls**

Those looking forward only need to look at current and backward math to make relatively clear forecasts without risking **the mug’s game** (https://goldswitzerland.com/forecasting-the-gold-price-is-a-mugs-game/) of deriving crystal ball predictions.

Not surprisingly, the theme and math of simple (as well as appalling) US debt levels makes such forward-thinking almost too simple.

**The Oil Issue: Is Anti-Shale Anti-American?**

Although not as fluent as others in the oil trade or the green politics of the extreme US left, I’ve argued in **prior reports** (https://goldswitzerland.com/golden-question-is-the-petrodollar-the-next-thing-to-break/) that the current administration’s anti-shale policies make for some good (debatable?) environmental chest-puffing while ignoring the math, history and science of sound national as well as well as global thinking.

(But then again, the entire woke fiasco of current US policy seems to be on a crusade to cancel such things as math, history and science; so, thinking contextually or globally is beyond their sound-bite-driven stump-speeches.)

Oil, however, still matters.

And when understood in the broader context of the macro-economic themes we’ve tracked for years–namely debt, currencies, inflation, gold, a cornered Fed and a **weaponized USD** (https://goldswitzerland.com/even-a-weaponized-dollar-wont-stop-golds-historical-turning-point/)–the current and future trends are already in motion.

And as for the endless debate as to global warming, butterfly-friendly energy policies and the simple reality of fossil fuels as a part of, rather than threat to, our planet, I’m certainly not here to answer or solve the same.

Certainly the Germans (and their solar powered ideas in a part of Europe with very little sun) are not getting it… In fact, they are getting much of their (nuclear) energy from France and are now forced to burn coal to get through the winter.

I am here, however, to lay down some objective facts and ask some blunt questions.

**Oil Politics**

Biden, it seems fairly clear to all, is not in charge of US policy.

That’s a scary fact. Even more scary, however, is determining who is in charge?

Again, not something I can answer.

But if he were in charge, we’d all be amused to ask how he expected Saudi Arabia to welcome him and his embarrassing pleas for Saudi production increases (to ostensibly ease inflated US fuel costs) after previously telling the world he considered Saudi Arabia a pariah state…

We all remember that embarrassing fist-pump with the Crown Prince.

?itok=S7fDPF_I (?itok=S7fDPF_I)

Meanwhile, Saudi is now spending far more time with the Chinese and Iran…

We’d also love to hear the White House explain how it expects increased US shale production to reduce energy inflation when it has been simultaneously seeking to legislate oil off the American page.

Furthermore, it would be worth reminding Americans and politicians tired of inflated fuel prices that the vast majority of those inflated pump costs are due to US taxes per gallon, not Saudi production cuts.

But I digress.

**Oil Math**

At the current levels of US oil production and exploration, the US (according to its own Dallas Fed) will have to engage in annual energy price inflation levels of 8-10% just to keep the oil industry’s lights on at a breakeven price level.

Such conservative inflation figures for oil/fuel pricing, when seen in the context of over $31T in US Federal debt, basically means that Uncle Sam’s ability to cover his ever-increasing public debt burden will weaken by at least 8-10% per year at a moment in US history where Uncle Sam needs all the help, rather than weakness, he can get.

**Fighting Inflation with Inflation, and Debt with Debt?**

Needless to say, the only “solution” to these inflated debt burdens will be the monetary mouse-clicker at the Eccles Building, whose doom-loop (yet now ossified) “solution” to addressing _inflated_ oil prices is the even more _inflationary_ policy of printing more fake money to “fakely” cure an inflation crisis.

You really can’t make this stuff up.

Fed monetary policy, ever since **patient-zero Greenspan** (https://goldswitzerland.com/patient-zero-of-the-bubble-pandemic-alan-greenspan/) sold his soul…

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/gold-oil-global-currencies-entering-watershed-moment

**These Are The Best US States For Retirement**

These Are The Best US States For Retirement

What is the most important aspect of retirement planning?

If you said finances, you’re probably right. But have you ever thought about **where** the best place is to retire? **Being strategic about location can make a big impact on your quality of life, and perhaps help your savings go just a bit further.**

To help break it down, Visual Capitalist's Marcus Lu (https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-the-best-u-s-states-for-retirement/)visualized data from personal finance platform, WalletHub (https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-states-to-retire/18592), which ranked the best U.S. states for retirement as of 2023.

?itok=q1FM2dGq (?itok=q1FM2dGq)

Data and Methodology

WalletHub ranked each state using 47 metrics across three dimensions.

- Affordability (7 metrics worth 40 points)

- Quality of Life (22 metrics worth 30 points)

- Health Care (18 metrics worth 30 points)

Here are some examples of what each dimension measures:

- Affordability: Cost of living and taxation

- Quality of Life: Quality of elder-abuse protections and crime rates

- Health Care: Number of health professionals per capita and life expectancy

_Visit the source (https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-states-to-retire/18592) for the full list of metrics._

The final scores (visualized as the bars in the infographic above) represent each state’s weighted average across all metrics. See below for more comprehensive results.

**Rank****State****Score****Affordability**

**(rank)****Quality of Life**

**(rank)****Health Care**

**(rank)**1Virginia57.61611112TFlorida57.494282TColorado57.4142754Wyoming55.659385Delaware55.5633186New Hampshire55.031577South Dakota53.6253098Minnesota53.540219Idaho53.215173110North Dakota53.022252011Utah52.720242612North Carolina52.612233513Missouri52.417283214Pennsylvania52.33631215TMontana52.124152915TSouth Carolina52.14383917Massachusetts51.9471218California51.632191019Alaska51.32636820Arizona51.118352521Wisconsin50.934141722Alabama50.71445023Ohio49.82783724Hawaii49.73829425Nebraska49.337161526Iowa48.935122427Georgia48.67404228Michigan48.029183629TMaine47.54361329TNew Mexico47.521463031Indiana47.323314032TNevada47.211424132TTennessee47.22484534TVermont47.1487634TConnecticut47.14426336Kansas46.830323337West Virginia46.43434938Oregon46.141212139Texas45.928373440Rhode Island45.039391441Arkansas44.78494442Maryland44.646201943Washington44.545132344Illinois44.342222745Louisiana43.913454746New York43.750101647Oklahoma43.619474348Mississippi40.810504849New Jersey40.249342250Kentucky38.8334146

According to this methodology, **Virginia** is currently the best state for retirement. Although the Southeastern state does not excel in any one dimension, it scores consistently well across all three to create a very balanced retirement profile.

This gives it a slight advantage over second place **Florida**, which excels in quality of life and affordability, but falls further behind in terms of health care. Third-placed **Colorado** is a mirror of Florida, offering excellent health care but a lower quality of life in comparison.

How to Interpret These Results

It’s important to remember that this ranking is purely based on data and the methodology above, and may not be tailored to your individual preferences.

For example, if you believe that health services will be very important during retirement, you may rank **Minnesota** (#1 in terms of health care) much higher than eighth place.

You may notice that prioritizing one dimension will often come at a trade-off in others. Looking at Minnesota once more, we can see that the state is also one of America’s most expensive.

_Looking to retire outside of the U.S.? Check out this graphic (https://www.visualcapitalist.com/best-countries-to-retire-in-2022/) on the top 25 countries to retire in._

Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Mon, 05/08/2023 - 05:45

https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/these-are-best-us-states-retirement

**FDA Issues Emergency Bacteria Warning For 500,000 COVID-19 Tests**

FDA Issues Emergency Bacteria Warning For 500,000 COVID-19 Tests

The FDA issued a warning to consumers on Thursday over potential bacteria contamination affecting certain Covid-19 at-home tests.

Consumers and health care workers are advised (https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/do-not-use-certain-sd-biosensor-pilot-covid-19-home-tests-fda-safety-communication) "to stop using and toss out certain lots of recalled SD Biosensor, Inc. Pilot COVID-19 At-Home Tests, distributed by Roche Diagnostics."

> Recall Notice - SD Biosensor, Inc. Requests Discontinuation of Use and Disposal of Specific Pilot™ COVID-19 At-Home Tests in the United States Due to Microbial Contamination in the Liquid Buffer Solution https://t.co/xb6GXGrOv8 (https://t.co/xb6GXGrOv8)pic.twitter.com/Ub9evKKHaJ (https://t.co/Ub9evKKHaJ)

>

> — U.S. FDA Recalls (@FDArecalls) May 5, 2023 (https://twitter.com/FDArecalls/status/1654553450326245379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

According to the FDA, the agency has "significant concerns of bacterial contamination" in the liquid solution component of the kits. "Direct contact with the contaminated liquid solution may pose safety concerns and the bacterial contamination could impact the performance of the test," said the agency, issuing a "do not use" warning to consumers.

The contamination could have come from raw materials from a supplier, according to SD Biosensor.

Specifically, the tests could be contaminated with Enterococcus, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Serratia bacterial species - the infection of which could cause illness in individuals with weakened immune systems, or those who have direct exposure to the contaminated liquid test solution via misuse, accidental spills, or “standard handling” of the product, the _Epoch Times_ (https://www.theepochtimes.com/fda-issues-emergency-warning-on-500000-covid-tests_5245940.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge) reports.

> _Aside from developing an infection, **the contaminated products may also produce “false-negative” or “false-positive” antigen test results**, the FDA said, which could lead to a variety of problems. For example, according to the FDA, a false-negative test could result in an individual seeking treatment for COVID-19._

>

> _SD Biosensor has initiated the recall for the at-home tests to certain retailers across the United States, according to the FDA announcement._

>

> _Some 500,000 tests were distributed through CVS Pharmacy as well as about 16,000 tests that were sent via Amazon. It’s not clear how many were sold to consumers, the FDA said, adding that it is “working with Roche” to determine the number. -Epoch Times_

"Importantly, none of the impacted lots were distributed through COVID.gov/tests – Free at-home COVID-19 tests or as part of other federal testing programs," said the FDA. "If you received your tests through the COVID.gov/tests distribution or as part of other federal testing programs, they are not subject to this safety communication or product recall."

**In a statement responding to the warning**, Roche said that the recalled test kits can be identified by the lot number on the outer packaging and compared to a list (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/recall-notice---sd-biosensor-inc-requests-discontinuation-of-use-and-disposal-of-specific-pilot-covid-19-at-home-tests-in-the-united-states-due-to-microbial-contamination-in-the-liquid-buffer-solution-301816494.html) of affected lot numbers.

"Dispose of the entire test kit in the household trash," reads an advisory (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/recall-notice---sd-biosensor-inc-requests-discontinuation-of-use-and-disposal-of-specific-pilot-covid-19-at-home-tests-in-the-united-states-due-to-microbial-contamination-in-the-liquid-buffer-solution-301816494.html). "Do not pour the liquid down the drain."

The statement continues to warn that "direct exposure to the liquid in the tube through misuse or spillage could potentially lead to serious illness."

"If the liquid in the tube contacts your skin and eyes, flush with large amounts of water and if irritation persists, seek medical attention,” the company added. “Individuals performing the self-test may run the risk of direct contact with the contaminated liquid in the tube."

"The liquid is contained in an individual, ready-to-use, pre-filled and sealed tube, but a user may inadvertently come in direct contact with the contaminated liquid during opening the tube or handling of the open tube or while performing the test."

Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Mon, 05/08/2023 - 05:00

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/fda-issues-emergency-bacteria-warning-500000-covid-19-tests

**Arab League Agrees To Reinstate Syria After 12 Years**

Arab League Agrees To Reinstate Syria After 12 Years

The Middle East political alignment continues its "reset" away from US influence at a rapid pace, as on Sunday _Al Jazeera_ reported the huge development that the **foreign ministers from Arab League member states have agreed to accept Syrian membership** after a suspension that's lasted 12 years.

"The ministers voted for Syria’s return into the fold at the Arab League’s headquarters in Cairo on Sunday," AJ details. "The decision was made in advance of the Arab League Summit in Saudi Arabia on May 19 and amid a flurry of regional normalization of ties with Damascus in recent weeks."

?itok=MR7gbr1o\

_Assad received a delegation of various Arab parliaments in Damascus in February, SANA/AP image._ (?itok=MR7gbr1o)

In March Saudi Arabia and Syria agreed to begin (https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/times-have-changed-syria-saudi-arabia-reopen-embassies-angering-us) the process of reopening their mutual embassies, which followed on the heels of the China-brokered Saudi-Iranian rapprochement.

One analyst was quoted in regional media at the time as saying (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/8/times-have-changed-saudi-syria-in-rapprochement-talks):

> _"The prevailing attitude can be defined as, ‘ **times have changed, the Arab Spring is history** and the region is transitioning towards a new future, with new geopolitical characteristics,'" the official, who himself recently reconciled with Damascus after defecting to the Syrian opposition in the summer of 2011, added._

The Arab League and many regional countries officially cut ties with Damascus in 2011 as the conflict there erupted. Saudi Arabia and allies like Qatar and the UAE had **helped the US spearhead regime change efforts in Damascus**. Russia and Iran came to the aid of Syria, however, in a war that took hundreds of thousands of lives and left much of the country in rubble.

President Assad survived and now these same countries are forced to 'play nice' given the centrality of Syria in the regional order. The US and Israel are worried over these developments to say the least.

> Just let go man

>

> It is 2023 https://t.co/Pi3ZXvyAlV (https://t.co/Pi3ZXvyAlV)

>

> — EHSANI22 (@EHSANI221) May 6, 2023 (https://twitter.com/EHSANI221/status/1654848869111406594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The restoration of ties between Assad and Arab powers has also been hastened due to the tragic earthquake of February 6th which rocked the region. Despite far-reaching US sanctions, countries poured in support in order to aid rescue and relief efforts of the Syrian people.

Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Mon, 05/08/2023 - 04:15

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/arab-league-agrees-reinstate-syria-after-12-years

**Germany And The EU Are Hopelessly Behind On EVs & Artificial Intelligence**

Germany And The EU Are Hopelessly Behind On EVs & Artificial Intelligence

_Authored by Mike Shedlock via MishTalk.com,_ (https://mishtalk.com/economics/germany-and-the-eu-are-hopelessly-behind-on-evs-and-artificial-intelligence)

_**The EU is hopelessly behind** the US and China on technology that will lead the future. **It will stay that way...**_

?itok=riaawPMC (?itok=riaawPMC)

_Lead image from Horizon Europe (https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-law-and-publications/publication-detail/-/publication/9570017e-cd82-11eb-ac72-01aa75ed71a1)._

**Sleepwalking Into Oblivion**

Eurointelligence has an interesting article on how Germany is Sleepwalking Into Oblivion (https://www.eurointelligence.com/).

> Current policy debates are rightly focused on the consequences of global bifurcation. But perhaps an even bigger danger for the EU is its failure to keep with the US and China on high tech. This is an area that is not on the radar screens of policy makers and the media. We noted a commentary in Germany outlining a scare scenario in which Germany would lose its leadership in the global car industry. The journalist concluded that this is possible but not likely. For us, this is the baseline scenario.

>

> And so it seems for Federico Fubini, who has taken a deep-dive into the market for electric batteries in Corriere della Sera. Fubini notes that the European trade surplus in cars derives exclusively from the shrinking segment of fuel-driven cars. They are hopeless in the fast growing electric car business. The Chinese sold almost nothing to Europeans until recently, but they have become competitive in e-cars now (despite the protectionist EU car tariff). Fubini notes that the EU runs a trade deficit in this sector. Of the ten largest manufacturers of electric batteries, which is one of the core value-added components of electric cars, six are Chinese, three are South Korean, and one is Japanese.

>

> The decline of the European car industry is a cautionary tale. It’s not just e-cars, but a whole array of 21st century technologies. Europe has no representative in the world’s top ten digital companies any longer. SAP now ranks number 11, and there is not much after that. Artificial intelligence is largely a duopoly between the US and China. The only European country with a foot in this sector is Brexit-Britain. The UK government has identified AI as the best bet for regulatory divergence from an EU that is hampered by data-protection laws with a one-sided focus on consumers.

>

> It does not matter a great deal where the electric batteries are produced, but who owns them. The European car industry is dying, while the EU keeps on congratulating itself on the successes of its science and research programme, Horizon Europe.

**Wave of the Future**

EVs are the wave of the future whether anyone likes it or not. Eventually battery technology will be good enough and costs drop enough for widespread adoption.

Regarding artificial intelligence, Microsoft invested tens of billions of dollars and Google wants to catch up.

Meanwhile, the EU wants to bust up Google and Microsoft, and has little interest in AI other than wanting to regulate it to death.

The US leads in technology because the EU would bust up any company before it got big enough to lead on anything.

**Proposed AI Pause**

In the US, Elon Musk, the WSJ, and a group of signatories seek a 6-month pause in AI Development.

On April 1, I commented On the Proposed 6 Month AI Pause? Why Not 23? Forever? Better Yet, None at All (https://mishtalk.com/economics/on-the-proposed-6-month-ai-pause-why-not-23-forever-better-yet-none-at-all)

But a pause won't happen, nor should it. Technology will not stop because some people worry that it will kill everyone.

The EU is behind with no intention of even competing. Germany still wants to protect diesel.

\*  \*  \*

_Please Subscribe to MishTalk Email Alerts (https://follow.it/mish-talk-global-economic-trend-analysis?action=followPub)._

Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Mon, 05/08/2023 - 03:30

https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/germany-and-eu-are-hopelessly-behind-evs-artificial-intelligence

**Growing Pushback Over BlackRock In Ukraine: "Taxpayers Pay The War Bills, Private Firms Get The Profits"**

Growing Pushback Over BlackRock In Ukraine: "Taxpayers Pay The War Bills, Private Firms Get The Profits"

Blackrock, the world’s largest manager of assets, starting in September has been sending teams of executives to Kiev to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his officials. In December BlackRock CEO Larry Fink in a phone call reached a tentative agreement with Zelensky to coordinate major reconstruction investment in the war-ravaged country.

A call readout at that time confirmed that the two would "focus in the near term on **coordinating the efforts of all potential investors and participants in the reconstruction of our country**, channelling investment into the most relevant and impactful sectors of the Ukrainian economy."

Now multiple meetings later, amid growing visibility, the initiative is being met with a degree of controversy and pushback from some sectors of the Ukrainian public as well as international commentators. This as another high-level meeting took place Friday in Kiev, which included **Blackrock's vice chairman** and member of the asset management firm’s global executive committee **Philipp Hildebrand**.

?itok=Mz5d_MG7\

_Early December video conference meeting with Larry Fink, via Ukrainian presidency's office_ (?itok=Mz5d_MG7)

Details of the reconstruction fund are being hammered out, but simultaneously attracting more scrutiny and criticism.

Bloomberg described the latest meeting as follows (https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-latest-russian-oil-refinery-071430830.html):

> _BlackRock Financial Market Advisory will provide services for the fund, according to an emailed statement from Zelenskiy’s office. The fund will seek private and public capital for projects in Ukraine after active hostilities end._

>

> _**"We can offer interesting projects for investments in energy, agriculture, logistics, infrastructure, IT and many other sectors,"** Zelenskiy said. **"We want global partners, who can provide us with large investments to come."**_

One international online financial publication took note (https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/world/story/is-ukraine-being-privatised-netizens-fume-over-president-zelenskyys-meet-with-blackrock-management-380295-2023-05-06) of a selection of the negative reactions among pundits, including social media statements which said: **"Taxpayers pay the war bills, private firms get the profits,"** and "Ukraine \[is\] being privatized and **sold off to companies like Blackrock**."

> BlackRock is now meeting with Zelensky in Ukraine. In November, the Ukrainian Economy Ministry and BlackRock signed a MOU hiring BlackRock as an advisor on Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.

>

> US taxpayers pay the war bills, private firms get the profits.

>

> pic.twitter.com/QbLqo3fDZr (https://t.co/QbLqo3fDZr)

>

> — Gabor Gurbacs (@gaborgurbacs) May 6, 2023 (https://twitter.com/gaborgurbacs/status/1654803838635765760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

RT as well as other pro-Kremlin media have leveled similar criticisms...

**"Ukraine being privatized and sold off to companies like Blackrock, while being enslaved to the IMF, the US and EU through crippling debt?"** RT's "Going Underground" show tweeted (https://twitter.com/GUnderground_TV/status/1654768677588221957?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1654768677588221957%7Ctwgr%5Ec707846663521d743d8654731dea2f519bf3d74d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businesstoday.in%2Flatest%2Fworld%2Fstory%2Fis-ukraine-being-privatised-netizens-fume-over-president-zelenskyys-meet-with-blackrock-management-380295-2023-05-06) out over the weekend.

And not long before Tucker Carlson was pushed out at Fox, he weighed in on the cozying relationship as follows...

> Tucker Carlson reacting to a video of Zelensky thanking BlackRock.

>

> Tucker has consistently covered the corruption in Ukraine.

>

> In February this year BlackRock disclosed ownership of 45.74MM shares of Fox Corporation.

>

> Now we know Tucker Carlson has been fired.

>

> Coincedence?

>

> 🤔 pic.twitter.com/iNtYKEIf5E (https://t.co/iNtYKEIf5E)

>

> — Richard (@ricwe123) May 6, 2023 (https://twitter.com/ricwe123/status/1654809389302161408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The timing of these remarks from Hillary Clinton and friends is certainly interesting...

> Hillary Clinton says that the only way to end “Putin’s aggression” is to send MORE money to Ukraine.

>

> This is right before BlackRock executives met with Zelensky.

>

> Don’t you see it yet? They’re imposing the largest transfer of wealth from the American taxpayer to their pockets. pic.twitter.com/4kITpfoNCI (https://t.co/4kITpfoNCI)

>

> — TheDeplorableVeteran🇺🇸 (@DeplorableVet84) …

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/growing-pushback-over-blackrock-ukraine-taxpayers-pay-war-bills-private-firms-get-profits

**Israeli Whistleblower With Info On Biden Corruption Disappears In Cyprus After Saying Biden Regime Wants To 'Bury Him'**

Israeli Whistleblower With Info On Biden Corruption Disappears In Cyprus After Saying Biden Regime Wants To 'Bury Him'

_Authored by Debra Heine via American Greatness (https://amgreatness.com/2023/05/05/israeli-whistleblower-with-info-on-biden-corruption-disappears-in-cyprus-after-saying-biden-regime-wants-to-bury-him/),_

An alleged Israeli whistleblower who is an expert on energy security has gone missing in Cyprus after claiming in a tweet that the Biden administration was out to “bury” him.

_?itok=YCBFdIeK (?itok=YCBFdIeK)_

**In February, Dr. Gal Luft, the founder and executive director of the Washington-based Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS), was preparing to reveal damning information about the Biden family’s international business exploits to Congress when the Biden Department of Justice had him arrested on weapon trafficking charges.**

Luft reportedly (https://freebeacon.com/biden-administration/think-tank-executive-provided-explosive-info-to-fbi-about-hunter-bidens-chinese-deals-lawyer-claims/) told the FBI in 2019 that the Bidens informed a Chinese energy executive that he was the target of a federal investigation, allowing him to flee the country before he could be arrested.

According to Luft’s lawyer, **the Justice Department is retaliating against his client “with trumped-up and false charges.”**

Luft was arrested at the Larnaca International airport on February 16, after Interpol issued an arrest warrant against him on suspicion of arms trafficking to China and Libya. According to the Cyprus Mail, (https://cyprus-mail.com/2023/04/19/israeli-weapons-trade-suspect-gone-missing-after-cyprus-arrest/) the whistleblower was boarding a plane for Israel when local authorities arrested him. Luft was also accused of lying to the FBI and violating the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA), according to his arrest warrant. He’s facing up to 96 years in prison if convicted of the charges.

**Luft, a former lieutenant colonel in the Israel Defense Forces, confirmed his arrest in a tweet two days later.**

“I’ve been arrested in Cyprus on a politically motivated extradition request by the U.S.,” he wrote on February 18. “The US, claiming I’m an arms dealer. It would be funny if it weren’t tragic. I’ve never been an arms dealer,” Luft continued. “DOJ is trying to bury me to protect Joe, Jim & Hunter Biden,” the 56-year-old added, threatening to “name names.”

> I've been arrested in Cyprus on a politically motivated extradition request by the US.

>

> The US, claiming I'm an arms dealer. It would be funny if it weren't tragic.

>

> I've never been an arms dealer.

>

> DOJ is trying to bury me to protect Joe,Jim&Hunter Biden.

>

> Shall I name names?

>

> — Gal Luft (@GalLuft) February 19, 2023 (https://twitter.com/GalLuft/status/1627163772228861952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

“ **Dr. Luft is a whistleblower**,” Luft’s American attorney Robert Henoch told the Washington Free Beacon (https://freebeacon.com/biden-administration/israeli-think-tank-executive-says-he-gave-doj-damning-information-on-biden-family-foreign-business-deals/) back in February. Henoch said prosecutors ignored Luft’s information “and are instead targeting him with trumped-up and false charges.” The attorney added: “This unfortunately appears to be part of an attempt to discredit a witness with critical information about an ongoing congressional and DOJ investigation.”

Luft disappeared some time in March after the Larnaca court ordered a conditional discharge for him. The whistleblower posted bail for €150,000 ($165,409.50) and was required to report to the Paphos central police station at regular intervals, according to _the Cyprus Mail._

Larnaca police said he failed to report to the police station on March 28, and has been missing ever since. In April, Larnaca police spokesperson Haris Hadjiyiasemi told reporters that another European and international arrest warrant had been issued against him.

According to _the Cyprus Mail,_ **“police seized €250,000 from a guarantor Luft named before the Larnaca court ordered his release.”**

Luft had reportedly (https://www.jns.org/opinion/gal-lufts-distressing-predicament/) worked with CEFC-USA—the nonprofit arm of the Chinese energy conglomerate CEFC China—between 2015 and 2018, the same period CEFC-China began its influence operations with the Biden family.

The whistleblower reportedly organized conferences in the United States, Hong Kong and China and developed close personal ties with several CEFC-USA senior officials, including the chairman of CEFC, Ye Jianming and his deputy Patrick Ho. **Jianming and Ho reportedly began their …

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/israeli-whistleblower-info-biden-corruption-disappears-cyprus-after-saying-biden-regime

**Biden Admin Backs Down In Standoff With Catholic Hospital Over Chapel Candle**

Biden Admin Backs Down In Standoff With Catholic Hospital Over Chapel Candle

_Authored by Ross Muscato via The Epoch Times (https://www.theepochtimes.com/biden-admin-backs-down-in-standoff-with-catholic-hospital-over-chapel-candle_5246121.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge) (emphasis ours),_

**The Biden administration announced on May 5 that it is stepping back from a previous decision demanding that a Catholic hospital in Oklahoma remove a lit candle from its chapel**—a practice and observance sacred to Catholics—or lose its ability to accept Medicare, Medicaid, or Children’s Health (CHIP) patients.

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_A lit candle in the chapel of Saint Francis Hospital South is at the center of a matter of religious liberty. (Saint Francis Health System.)_ (?itok=mjYdoH-x)

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), had ruled in April that the candle, which has burned continuously for 15 years at Saint Francis Hospital South in Tulsa, was a safety hazard—even though a local fire marshal cleared the candle and CMS permitted other flames, including pilot lights, in the hospital.

CMS said its decision was based on the findings of an independent group, The Joint Commission, which reviews hospitals to determine if they meet the standards necessary to be accredited to receive Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP patients.

The 12th largest U.S. health care network, Saint Francis Health System is the Catholic owner and operator of Saint Francis Hospital South, eight other hospitals, and 110 clinics in Oklahoma. Saint Francis appealed the CMS decree and sought a reasonable accommodation.

CMS denied Saint Francis’ request in a letter dated April 20.

Yet, **following widespread protest**, media attention, and a pre-litigation letter (https://becketnewsite.s3.amazonaws.com/20230502214615/St-Francis-Pre-litigation-Letter.pdf) a leading religious liberty legal group, Becket Law, along with Yetter Coleman LLP, sent to CMS on behalf of Saint Francis, alleging that prohibiting the candle was a violation of the First Amendment free exercise of religion clause, **the agency said it is now open to working with Saint Francis** to find an arrangement that permits the burning candle to stay.

Lori Windham, vice president and senior counsel for Becket Law, said that CMS’ adjusting its position is a win for religious freedom.

“The decision of CMS shows that religious liberty protections extend to practicing your faith, and that includes providing health care and worship in a chapel,” Windham told The Epoch Times. “These protections apply to everyone. Today it’s a candle. Tomorrow it could be something else.

“And so, **a good decision today for Saint Francis is a good decision for religious believers across the country.**”

In a statement that CMS shared with The Epoch Times, the agency said: “CMS is aware of a safety finding involving a fire risk, made by an independent accrediting organization, issued to a hospital in Oklahoma. CMS met with the hospital and accreditation organization, and issued a waiver to allow the hospital to mitigate the potential fire risk and correct the safety finding. The hospital will work with the accrediting organization on next steps.”

Windham said Saint Francis has put up a sign to let people know there is a flame in the chapel and plans to put a rail or other barrier in place to prevent people from getting too close.

Saint Francis Health System, with its stated mission to “extend the presence and healing ministry of Christ to all who seek its services,” treats approximately 400,000 people annually and has delivered more than $650 million in free care to people in need over the past five years.

The organization employs more than 10,000 and has a volunteer force of 700.

Infringing on Religious Freedom

A lit candle in a chapel is a fundamental component of the Catholic canon law, of the rules and ways the church governs itself.

As was the case before the CMS judgment, the candle is set within two layers of glass, on a metal base with a metal top, and affixed to the wall.

When CMS said the candle had to go, it struck at the spiritual and cultural heart and foundation of the purpose of the Saint Francis Health System.

“ **We’re being asked to choose between serving those in need and worshiping God in the chapel, but they go hand in hand,**” said Barry Steichen, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Saint Francis Health System, in a May 3 statement.

“ **Our work depends upon our faith in the living God, and the sanctuary candle repres…

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/biden-admin-backs-down-standoff-catholic-hospital-over-chapel-candle

**Liberal Utopia: Two-Mile-Long Vehicle Encampment Spotted In California**

Liberal Utopia: Two-Mile-Long Vehicle Encampment Spotted In California

The growing number of homeless encampments has spread like wildfire throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. For years, lawmakers in the state have implemented progressive policies that have backfired, sparking a multitude of crises, including soaring crime (https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/doug-casey-rising-crime-legalized-shoplifting-and-other-disturbing-trends-us-cities), rising homelessness, out-of-control drug overdoses (https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/fentanyl-overdose-deaths-skyrocket-279-2016-amid-nationwide-drug-crisis), and population and business exodus.

One of the latest examples of implementing failed progressive policies is the inability to effectively address the homelessness and drug crisis on a two-mile stretch of road in Marin County, California, overrun by cars, tents, RVs, and trailers parked on the side of the road.

Just north of San Francisco along Binford Road, the Daily Mail (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12050937/Shocking-images-TWO-MILE-long-encampment-people-living-RVs-trucks-trailers.html) counted at least 135 vehicles. This is one of the largest encampment sites in the state.

Police in Marin County have found some individuals dealing fentanyl and other drugs from their vehicles or tents. In one bust, agents seized a 'ghost gun' and large amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana.

Photos taken by Daily Mail show a large number of vehicles.

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?itok=2YyUrT5q (?itok=2YyUrT5q)

?itok=OUyNxcN0 (?itok=OUyNxcN0)

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Many of the residents living in their vehicles are said to be from the surrounding area -- many of which were kicked out of their homes because the coast of shelter and food spiked in recent years.

So why do California leaders deliberately choose to leave the homeless unsheltered and allow open-air drug markets that have transformed some parts of the state, such as the 2-mile strip on Binford Road, into what appears to be a 'third world'-like country?

_Is it the mess they created is too large to solve?_

Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Sun, 05/07/2023 - 23:00

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/liberal-utopia-two-mile-long-vehicle-encampment-spotted-california

**Parody Becomes Reality: Babylon Bee Predicts Gender Bender Friendly Military Recruitment**

Parody Becomes Reality: Babylon Bee Predicts Gender Bender Friendly Military Recruitment

**A year ago, The Babylon Bee wanted to help the US military promote its new recruitment efforts** with a stunning and brave commercial advocating for more diversity and inclusion in combat.

Now, it appears that the US Navy among other branches is **taking parody and turning it into reality.**

Surely the Navy's latest drag queen digital representatives (https://www.zerohedge.com/military/us-navy-enlists-drag-queen-digital-ambassador-role-attract-more-recruits) will be enough to **secure the number of volunteers needed to shore up the military's waning numbers.**

They just needed the Bee to show them how it's done...

Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Sun, 05/07/2023 - 22:00

https://www.zerohedge.com/military/parody-becomes-real-life-babylon-bee-predicts-gender-bender-friendly-military-recruitment

**Binance Closes Withdrawals Amid Congestion On Bitcoin Network**

Binance Closes Withdrawals Amid Congestion On Bitcoin Network

_Authored by Ana Paula Pereira via CoinTelegraph,_ (https://cointelegraph.com/news/binance-closes-btc-withdrawals-amid-congestion-on-the-bitcoin-network)

**Crypto exchange Binance closed (https://twitter.com/binance/status/1655227965062672384) Bitcoin withdrawals on May 7 due to an alleged overflow of transactions on the Bitcoin network.**

?itok=PoZ77Z8U (?itok=PoZ77Z8U)

Bitcoin mempool was clogged with over 400,000 transactions waiting (https://mempool.space/) to be processed at the time of writing. The mempool is known as the "waiting area" for incoming transactions before they are verified independently by each node on the network.

?itok=NCVP8bh8 (?itok=NCVP8bh8)

_Bitcoin mempool at 16:42 UTC on May 7. Source: mempool.space_

**Binance tweeted (https://twitter.com/binance/status/1655250881997332482) that BTC withdrawals had resumed after nearly an hour of halting.** Outflows on the crypto exchange peaked on Sunday, rising (https://cryptoquant.com/asset/btc/chart/exchange-flows/exchange-outflow-total) to $187 million, according to data from CryptoQuant.

**Behind the congestion is believed to be a surge in BRC-20 transactions in the last few days due to memecoins like Pepe (PEPE).** The memecoin trading hype drove Bitcoin transaction fees to their highest point (https://cointelegraph.com/news/memecoin-hype-drives-bitcoin-transaction-fees-to-multi-year-highs) in two years. On May 3, the total amount of fees paid on the Bitcoin blockchain reached $3.5 million, jumping nearly 400% from late April, Cointelegraph reported.

?itok=gZeaHU7f (?itok=gZeaHU7f)

_Bitcoin outflow on Binance over the past seven days. Source: CryptoQuant._

Developed after Ethereum’s ERC-20 token standard (https://cointelegraph.com/explained/erc-20-tokens-explained), **BRC-20 is an experimental token standard recently introduced that allows users to create and transfer fungible tokens on the Bitcoin blockchain.** It is currently becoming a hot spot for meme tokens.

CoinMarketCap's data shows (https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/pepe/) that PEPE's price has climbed over 263% in the last week. As of writing, however, the memecoin is down over 7% following a 30% drop on May 6 as whales profited from Binance's recent listing (https://cointelegraph.com/news/pepe-memecoin-hits-1-billion-market-cap-fueled-by-binance-listing). Crypto exchanges MEXC Global, Bitget, Gate.io, and Huobi listed PEPE trading pairs (https://cointelegraph.com/news/more-crypto-exchanges-list-pepe-following-trading-frenzy) two weeks ago, kicking off the token hype.

**Since the introduction of Dogecoin in 2013 (https://cointelegraph.com/news/from-memecoin-to-billion-dollar-player-dogecoin-breaks-1-bln), memecoins have become a major part of the cryptocurrency world,** making and ruining fortunes alike. Investopedia defines (https://www.investopedia.com/meme-coin-6750312) a memecoin as a cryptocurrency represented "with comical or animated memes, that are supported by enthusiastic online traders and followers."

Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Sun, 05/07/2023 - 21:30

https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/binance-closes-withdrawals-amid-congestion-bitcoin-network

**California Defaults On $18.6 Billion In Debt, Saddling Employers With The Expense**

California Defaults On $18.6 Billion In Debt, Saddling Employers With The Expense

California's recent decision not to pay back some $20 billion borrowed from the federal government to cover unemployment benefits during the pandemic **will fall on the shoulders of employers**, according to experts.

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_California Governor Gavin Newsom (D)_ (?itok=RBNWcSQI)

"The state should have taken care of the loans with the COVID money it received from the government in 2021," said Marc Joffe, policy analyst at the Cato Institute—a public policy think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C., in a statement to the _Epoch Times_ (https://www.theepochtimes.com/california-defaults-on-18-6-billion-debt-now-businesses-have-to-pay_5246637.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge).

In the state's proposed 2023-2024 budget, **$750 million was allocated to start paying down the loans**, until Governor Gavin Newsom nixed the provision in early January, leaving businesses in the state responsible for the loans, as mandated by federal regulations - so that the **federal unemployment tax rate of .6 percent will increase by .3% per year starting in 2023** until the loan is extinguished.

" **California is just not really an employer-friendly state**," said Joffe. "This one thing will not be a difference between a business remaining open or closing, but **it’s just another burden on top of the many burdens the state puts on employers.**"

In total, 22 states borrowed money for unemployment insurance from the federal government. All but four, California, Colorado, Connecticut, and New York, have paid back their debts **\- with California owing the most by far at $18.6 billion** as of May 2, followed by New York at $8 billion, Connecticut at $187 million and Colorado at $77 million, according to data (https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/ssa-title-xii-advance-activities/advances-to-state-unemployment-funds-social-security-act-title-xii) from the US Treasury.

More via the _Epoch Times_ (https://www.theepochtimes.com/california-defaults-on-18-6-billion-debt-now-businesses-have-to-pay_5246637.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge),

Initially, the state borrowed from its reserves to pay the benefits **, but after exhausting its coffers borrowed to cover expenses, analysts said.**

Exacerbating the situation were unprecedented levels of fraud occurring across the state, due to limited oversight and antiquated computer systems, according to Lee Ohanian, professor of economics at the University of California–Los Angeles.

**Analytics firm LexisNexis estimated the total cost of the fraud at $32.6 billion.**

Investigations have since uncovered that illegitimate unemployment benefits payments were paid to convicted felons, with one address receiving 60 separate fraudulent payments.

Fraud is a persistent issue historically with the program, and a $2 million federal grant in 2013 sought to address the issue with new computer software systems.

The upgrade successfully stopped instances of fraud, but further improvements stopped with the end of the grant in 2016, reportedly due to the agency’s reluctance to take on the annual expense for the third-party service.

“ **They were penny wise and pound foolish,**” Ohanian told The Epoch Times.

At a cost of $2 million annual investment, **the program would have cost $14 million to operate since it was terminated.**

“Sadly, this is just a trifecta of bad decisions,” Ohanian said. “The \[Employment Development Department\] made a bad decision to not renew its lease for the fraud detection software, the state government took out a loan and chose to welch on the debt—which is outrageous—and now businesses are repaying more in taxes for the incredibly unwise decisions and mistakes of the state government.”

Reports that the state is seeking forgiveness from the federal government were met with resistance by policy experts, including Ohanian.

“ **We’ve made a lot of bad decisions and we expect the rest of the country to pay for it,**” he said. “It also raises questions about the future: If the state is going to default on the $20 billion federal loans, how safe are municipal bonds from California?”

Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Sun, 05/07/2023 - 21:00

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/california-defaults-186-billion-debt-saddling-employers-expense

**Will Biden's Plan To Tax Crypto Mining Reduce Emissions? Critics Say No**

Will Biden's Plan To Tax Crypto Mining Reduce Emissions? Critics Say No

_Authored by Luke Huigsloot via Cointelegraph.com (https://cointelegraph.com/news/would-biden-s-plan-to-tax-crypto-mining-reduce-emissions-critics-say-no),_

**Cryptocurrency miners based in the United States could soon face a tax equal to 30% of the cost of electricity (https://cointelegraph.com/news/biden-budget-proposes-30-tax-on-crypto-mining-electricity-usage) they use if President Joe Biden’s proposed budget for the fiscal year 2024 is approved by Congress**, but the proposal has sparked debate about whether it would actually decrease global emissions and energy prices.

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Cryptocurrency mining is a resource-intensive process that attempts to solve increasingly complex equations in order to create new blocks which can then be validated and added to the blockchain.

This process consumes a significant amount of energy, with some estimates placing the global energy consumption of Bitcoin mining alone at around (https://ccaf.io/cbnsi/cbeci/comparisons) 0.59% of the world's energy usage, which is roughly equivalent to the energy usage of Malaysia, according (https://www.worldometers.info/energy/) to Worldometer.

Biden’s  Council of Economic Advisors (CEA), argues (https://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/written-materials/2023/05/02/cost-of-cryptomining-dame-tax/) that the tax — dubbed the Digital Asset Mining Energy (DAME) excise tax — “encourages firms to start taking better account of the harms they impose on society,” adding:

> “Estimated to raise $3.5 billion in revenue over 10 years, the primary goal of the DAME tax is to start having cryptominers pay their fair share of the costs imposed on local communities and the environment.”

**By imposing a tax on electricity usage crypto miners will have a financial incentive to reduce their energy consumption**, and with electricity generation making up such a large proportion of carbon emissions, this should theoretically reduce emissions in the U.S.

This idea is similar to the thinking behind carbon taxes, which are intended to disincentivize emitters by forcing them to pay the full social cost of their emissions after attempting to factor in costs associated with polluting.

Leakage

However, opponents of the tax argue that it will simply drive miners offshore to countries with lower tax rates and less stringent environmental regulations, where they will continue to emit large amounts of carbon dioxide. This situation is known as “carbon leakage,” whereby emissions are simply shifted from one location to another, rather than reduced overall.

As Coin Metrics co-founder Nic Carter points out, these countries may also have a much lower proportion of energy supplied by renewable sources, so emissions may even increase as crypto miners move offshore.

> Hey @hboushey46 (https://twitter.com/hboushey46?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) /CEA/White House – when you try to ban Bitcoin mining here in the U.S., this is who you directly empower. Unplug them here, plug them into the much dirtier Kazakh grid. Great policy proposal, you've really thought this one through 👍 https://t.co/M4uSSHSxqa (https://t.co/M4uSSHSxqa)

>

> — nic 🌠 carter (@nic\_\_carter) May 3, 2023 (https://twitter.com/nic__carter/status/1653760064111386626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Carter was scathing in his critique of the policy, arguing that it would decrease tax revenue contrary to what the Biden administration suggests, increase carbon emissions, and empower “geopolitical enemies.”

> Ever sat down and thought: how can I direct more money to my geopolitical enemies, lose tax revenue domestically, AND pump more CO2 into the atmosphere?

>

> Well the DAME tax does that

>

> — nic 🌠 carter (@nic\_\_carter) May 3, 2023 (https://twitter.com/nic__carter/status/1653761470692306945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

In its blog post, the CEA noted that “the potential for cryptomining to relocate abroad — such as to areas with dirtier energy production — is a concern” but suggested that other countries are also moving to restrict crypto mining, and cited nine countries that already had banned the activity.

Speaking to Cointelegraph, environmental group Greenpeace USA's Bitcoin project lead Joshua Archer warned that **regulations or taxes deterring crypto mining will likely be created wherever crypto miners move to, and argued that Bitcoin should eliminate its proof-of-work consensus mechanism.**

The climate activism group has been calling for Bitcoin to transition to a proof-of-stake mechanism (https://cointelegraph.com/news/environmental-groups-want-bitcoin-to-follow-ethereum-s-example-in-moving-to-proof-of-stake) as part of its ongoing “change the cod…

https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/will-bidens-plan-tax-crypto-mining-reduce-emissions-critics-say-no

**Desperate Dems Float 14th Amendment As Debt Ceiling Override**

Desperate Dems Float 14th Amendment As Debt Ceiling Override

As yet another battle looms between Republicans and Democrats over the debt ceiling, **a new piece of potential leverage has been floated -** using the 14th Amendment as a last-ditch effort to avoid default.

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The amendment (https://ca-riverside-ttc.publicaccessnow.com/AccountSearch/AccountSummary.aspx?p=565162010&a=565162010&m=), aimed primarily at extending the Bill of Rights liberties to former slaves, **includes a section** which states that "the validity of the public debt of the United States … shall not be questioned," with the implication that it would allow President Biden to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling.

When asked on Friday during an _MSNBC_ interview whether this option is on the table, Biden didn't say no - just that we've "not gotten there yet."

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, however, **said that relying on the 14th Amendment would create a "constitutional crisis."**

"There is no way to protect our financial system in our economy, other than Congress doing its job and raising the debt ceiling and enabling us to pay our bills and we should not get to the point where we need to consider whether the President can go on issuing debt. This would be a constitutional crisis," she told _ABC_'s "This Week."

That said, she also didn't rule it out.

> Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen refuses three times to rule out Biden unilaterally "invoking the 14th Amendment" on the debt limit pic.twitter.com/rwP5shMWba (https://t.co/rwP5shMWba)

>

> — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 7, 2023 (https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1655207117014327299?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Yellen warned that if Congress doesn't act to solve the issue, "we will have an economic and financial catastrophe that will be of our own making, and there is no action that President Biden and the U.S. Treasury can take to prevent that catastrophe."

White House aides have reportedly looked into the use of the Amendment in order to avoid default, _The Hill_ (https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/3992673-14th-amendment-emerges-as-last-ditch-fix-to-ward-off-default/) reports.

Lawmakers, on the other hand, say that default can only be avoided if a deal is reached between Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). The pair are scheduled to meet on Tuesday for the first time since February in order to negotiate.

Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Sun, 05/07/2023 - 20:00

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/desperate-dems-float-14th-amendment-debt-ceiling-override

**China Wants Killer Robots To Fight The Next War**

China Wants Killer Robots To Fight The Next War

_Authored by Andrew Thornebrooke via The Epoch Times (https://www.theepochtimes.com/in-depth-china-wants-killer-robots-to-fight-the-next-war_5245985.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge) (emphasis ours),_

War grips the world and the most powerful nations on earth go to battle once more. **This time, however, it is machines that do the killing, operating free from all human oversight and accountability.**

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_A Chinese soldier salutes in front of a military drone during a parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese communist regime at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Oct. 1, 2019. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)_ (?itok=UXEZfFAR)

It’s a grim picture of future conflicts, but one that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is nevertheless working to make a reality.

The CCP is investing in artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled platforms that it hopes will one day conduct lethal missions in wartime, wholly without human input or control.

Gregory Allen, director of the Wadhwani Center for AI and Advanced Technologies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says the regime is moving well beyond any attempt to keep a human in the AI decision-making loop.

“China is pursuing development of AI-enabled lethal autonomous weapons,” Allen wrote (https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/Gregory_Allen_Testimony.pdf) in a prepared testimony for an April 13 hearing of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

“ **The best available indications … suggest that China’s strategy is ambitious, moving beyond any sort of on-the-battlefield human supervision into increasingly autonomous AI-enabled warfare**.”

Though the CCP is investing heavily in a broad array of new technologies, Allen says, AI is foremost among them. The regime’s capacity to build AI-driven machines of war is quickly reaching parity with that of the United States, and may even exceed it soon.

“U.S. leadership in the realm of military AI is not at all guaranteed,” Allen says.

“While the United States has important advantages, China may be able to quickly take the lead in government and military adoption of AI capabilities. This is an outcome that the United States should seek to prevent.”

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_A picture taken on Nov. 14, 2017, shows a Chinese-made Wing Loong II drone on display during the Dubai Airshow. (Karim Sahib/AFP via Getty Images)_ (?itok=eXG6cer8)**Autonomous AI Platforms ‘Inevitable’**

The CCP’s pursuit of AI-driven weapons and other military platforms, though not well understood by many Americans, has been ongoing for years.

Allen notes that he first realized the remarkable ambition of such goals back in 2018. At that time, he attended a conference where he transcribed a speech made by Zeng Yi, a senior executive at China’s state-owned military company Norinco.

There, Zeng described Norinco’s ambitions—and the CCP’s expectations—for future implementation of AI weapons by saying that, “In future battlegrounds, there will be no people fighting.”

“ **Zeng predicted that by 2025, lethal autonomous weapons would be commonplace**,” Allen said, adding that Zeng had described the mass adoption of autonomous AI platforms as “inevitable.”

Allen also noted that CCP censors removed Zeng’s comments and even his participation from the official readout of the conference shortly thereafter.

“ **It was not in China’s interest to have that information in the open**,” Allen said.

Not long after that, however, the CCP-affiliated military company Ziyan began exporting (https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2019/11/secdef-china-exporting-killer-robots-mideast/161100/) its Blowfish A2 and A3 drones to the Middle East. The Blowfish, a helicopter-style drone capable of autonomously engaging with targets, using machine guns and missiles, was just the first realization of the regime’s ambition to transform war from a human domain into a robotic one.

**Military Decision-Making Without Humanity**

The regime’s ambitions for AI go beyond killer robots. The CCP is also investing to develop AI capabilities related to military decision-making and command and control.

At the heart of the effort is the CCP’s goal of “intelligentization,” a transformation of warfare through the mass integration of AI, automation, and big data.

Zeng posited that …

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/china-wants-killer-robots-fight-next-war

**California Approves Reparations Recommendations, Proposing $1.2 Million Checks For Black Residents**

California Approves Reparations Recommendations, Proposing $1.2 Million Checks For Black Residents

California is grappling with many crises, including soaring crime, a growing homeless population, out-of-control drug overdoses, a giant budget shortfall, a population and business exodus, and a power grid teetering on the edge of failure. But instead of progressive lawmakers addressing these problems and making life better for the tens of millions of Americans who currently live in the state, they are focused on reparations.

On Saturday, California's nine-member Reparations Task Force approved recommendations for how state officials should compensate and apologize to Black residents for past injustices. The task force has spent the last two years deliberating on payment recommendations that will now be sent for final approval in Sacramento before a July 1 deadline.

> _"Reparations are not only morally justifiable, but they have the potential to address long-standing racial disparities and inequalities," Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said during the meeting last night in Oakland._

California task force's recommendations would mean a 71-year-old Black resident, living in the Golden State for their entire life, could receive a $1.2 million compensation check (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2023-05-02/free-state-california-reparations-panel-says-state-owes-12m-black-residents) if the recommendations are passed into law.

Several economists working with the task force have developed these reparation estimates:

> _One such estimate laid out in the report determined that to address the harms from redlining by banks, which disqualified people in Black neighborhoods from taking out mortgages and owning homes, eligible Black Californians should receive up to $148,099. That estimate is based on a figure of $3,366 for each year they lived in California from the early 1930s to the late 1970s, when federal redlining was most prevalent._

>

> _To address the impact of over-policing and mass incarceration, the report estimates, each eligible person would receive $115,260, or about $2,352 for each year of residency in California from 1971 to 2020, during the decades-long war on drugs. -The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/06/business/economy/california-reparations.html)_

The task force's recommendations didn't include the total costs of reparations which could be more than $500 billion (https://www.zerohedge.com/political/800-billion-counting-california-reparations-board-confronted-make-good-years-reparation), based on estimates from economists.

> _"The initial down payment is the beginning of a process of addressing historical injustices," the recommendations reads, "not the end of it."_

Residents at the meeting demanded $200 million in direct cash payments for each Black resident.

> New reparations proposal at the California Assembly Task Force:

>

> $200 million to every black person pic.twitter.com/nGKPr6GO4h (https://t.co/nGKPr6GO4h)

>

> — End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 7, 2023 (https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1655068481715421184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

AmericanThinker's Chris Talgo (https://www.zerohedge.com/political/california-reparations-blueprint-america) pointed out that reparation payments and other government handouts won't close the wealth gap, "it arguably will make it worse."

Talgo explained:

> _Consider. Since the start of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "war on poverty," the federal government has spent $22 trillion on various wealth redistribution programs. Yet, over that span, the rate of poverty remains unchanged._

>

> _Perhaps this is because giving some people other people's money is an incentive for the former to remain indolent. In other words, government checks breed dependence on government._

>

> _On the other hand, if California lawmakers were actually interested in addressing the plight of many of the Black residents who live in the Golden State, they ought to take a forward-looking approach that would include an increased police presence, a tough on crime approach, lower taxes, fewer regulations, and commonsense policies that would make energy affordable and abundant._

>

> _And, if these same lawmakers were really audacious and genuinely wanted to throw a wrench into the cycle of poverty that has entrapped so many Black Californians, they would do everything in their power to ensure that universal school choice was the norm in the Golden State. It also would help if these so-called leaders addressed the elephant in the room: the breakdown of the Black family, which is arguably the biggest driver of poverty and so many other societal problems._

He continued:

> _However, these are difficult conversations for leftist lawmakers, who always view more government wealth redistribution as the answer to everything. It is much easier for politicians to propose a super…

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/california-approves-reparations-recommendations-proposing-12-million-checks-black

**Biden Admin 'Building Lawful Pathways' For Immigrants After Title 42 Ends: Mayorkas**

Biden Admin 'Building Lawful Pathways' For Immigrants After Title 42 Ends: Mayorkas

_Authored by Mimi Nguyen Ly via The Epoch Times (https://www.theepochtimes.com/biden-admin-building-lawful-pathways-for-immigrants-after-title-42-ends-mayorkas_5246880.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge) (emphasis ours),_

**As the end of Title 42 nears, the Biden administration is encouraging immigrants to take up more legal pathways to enter the country, or face new and expedited deportation processes.**

?itok=ImaAFik6\

_Department of Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas (2nd-L) speaks at a press conference in Brownsville, Texas, on May 5, 2023. (Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images)_ (?itok=ImaAFik6)

Such deportation processes are set to come with the implementation of a new rule the administration is set to finalize soon. The rule would deny asylum to many immigrants who are caught crossing the southern border illegally.

The new regulation “provides that individuals who do not access our lawful pathways will be presumed ineligible for asylum and will have a higher burden of proof, to overcome that assumption of ineligibility,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said at a press conference on Friday.

**The move is part of the Biden administration’s plan to curb an anticipated rise in illegal immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border starting May 11, when Title 42 will be lifted.** The date also marks the end of the U.S. COVID-19 public health emergency.

Title 42, part of the Public Health Service Act of 1944, was implemented under the Trump administration in March 2020. It allows for blocking asylum claims and swift expulsion of most unauthorized border crossers under the grounds of keeping contagious diseases out of the United States.

Under Title 42, border agents were able to rapidly send back many illegal immigrants to Mexico, which helped stem the spread of COVID-19 in crowded detention settings.

When Title 42 is lifted, all illegal immigrants will be processed under the Title 8 immigration law.

From Title 42 to Title 8

**“In a post-Title 42 environment, we will be using our expedited removal authorities under Title 8 of the United States Code. That allows us to remove individuals very quickly,” Mayorkas said on Friday.**

The U.S. State Department and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a fact sheet last week the country will double or triple the number of deportation flights to some countries and aim to process migrants crossing the border illegally “in a matter of days (https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-and-secretary-of-homeland-security-alejandro-mayorkas-at-a-joint-press-availability/).”

Title 8 is a federal law that allows expulsions if illegal immigrants don’t qualify for asylum. The process to remove an illegal immigrant under Title 8 currently takes longer compared to Title 42.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), a Democrat, recently told (https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-end-of-title-42-could-be-the-beginning-of-an-illegal-immigration-surge_5238342.html) The Epoch Times that under Title 42, illegal immigrants “can come right back” to the United States, because “there are no repercussions” after they are expelled.

But “ **Under Title 8, there are some teeth, which means if someone is deported, there will be a five-year, 10-year, 15-year, 20-year ban or more, which means they cannot come back into the country**,” he said.

Separately, the Mexican government will step up border security in southern Mexico as part of an agreement reached this week, Mayorkas said. Mexico’s Defense Ministry said it did not have information on the matter.

Also ahead of Title 42’s end, the Biden administration is expanding access to CBP One (https://www.theepochtimes.com/new-biden-administration-immigration-program-adds-loopholes-for-title-42-order_4983441.html), an app that allows migrants to schedule an appointment to approach a border port of entry. Beginning May 12, roughly 1,000 appointments will be available each day, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

_Read more **here...** (https://www.theepochtimes.com/biden-admin-building-lawful-pathways-for-immigrants-after-title-42-ends-mayorkas_5246880.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge)_

Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Sun, 05/07/2023 - 18:30

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/biden-admin-building-lawful-pathways-immigrants-after-title-42-ends-mayorkas

**Mayhem Unfolds In Oakland As Soros-Backed DA Fails To Enforce Law And Order**

Mayhem Unfolds In Oakland As Soros-Backed DA Fails To Enforce Law And Order

The Oakland Police Department is investigating a violent and chaotic "sideshow" that ended up with a mob torching a car and someone plowing another vehicle into it.

A video posted on Twitter shows the scary scene unfolding late Friday night near the intersection of Oak Street and 10th near the Oakland Museum of California.

> Wild Video from Oakland California sideshow street Takeover last night

>

> (@ppv\_tahoe (https://twitter.com/ppv_tahoe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)) Video footage was filmed on the 100 block of 10th street overnight.#oakland (https://twitter.com/hashtag/oakland?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)#sideshow (https://twitter.com/hashtag/sideshow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)#california (https://twitter.com/hashtag/california?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

>

> 📸 \_okpatrick pic.twitter.com/Nc6laXxTEB (https://t.co/Nc6laXxTEB)

>

> — PPV-TAHOE - News Journalist (@ppv\_tahoe) May 6, 2023 (https://twitter.com/ppv_tahoe/status/1654983449701220352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

In a series of tweets, journalist Michael Shellenberger (https://twitter.com/shellenberger/status/1654879141987258369) said the proliferation of dangerous sideshows results from "a progressive D.A. who has stopped enforcing many laws."

> Oakland voters felt law enforcement was too strict and so last fall elected a progressive D.A. who has stopped enforcing many laws. The result is lawlessness, “sideshows,” and assaults carried out with impunity. pic.twitter.com/xf6xWc6EPD (https://t.co/xf6xWc6EPD)

>

> — Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) May 6, 2023 (https://twitter.com/shellenberger/status/1654871304737275904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Shellenberger said police are powerless to stop "criminal sideshows because @MayorShengThao & DA Pamela Price refuse to prosecute "nonviolent crimes"".

> In this video you can see Oakland police casually filming the mayhem, which went on for hours. They aren’t to blame. Police are helpless to stop the criminal sideshows because @MayorShengThao (https://twitter.com/MayorShengThao?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) & DA Pamela Price refuse to prosecute “nonviolent crimes”pic.twitter.com/iPu9zhD0IY (https://t.co/iPu9zhD0IY)

>

> — Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) May 6, 2023 (https://twitter.com/shellenberger/status/1654878532814913538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

He pointed out District Attorney Pamela Price is Soros-backed.

> “So far, the Soros PAC has spent more than $559,000 to help \[Oakland DA\] Price” who “said she was drawn into the race by what she sees as the ‘absolutely outrageous’ over-prosecution of young blacks” pic.twitter.com/FmvuxkMPFw (https://t.co/FmvuxkMPFw)

>

> — Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) May 6, 2023 (https://twitter.com/shellenberger/status/1654879141987258369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Another sideshow was down the street from Mark Zuckerberg's mansion in San Fransico.

> This sideshow occurred a few blocks from where Mark Zuckerberg lives in SFpic.twitter.com/Z68xazMGjg (https://t.co/Z68xazMGjg)

>

> — Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) May 6, 2023 (https://twitter.com/shellenberger/status/1654879647178555392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Lawlessness is spreading like cancer throughout the progressive-run Bay Area.

> Here’s another one, also from last night, in a different Oakland neighborhood @MayorShengThao (https://twitter.com/MayorShengThao?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)pic.twitter.com/xc8l1Lkfd3 (https://t.co/xc8l1Lkfd3)

>

> — Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) May 6, 2023 (https://twitter.com/shellenberger/status/1654880256434790406?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

These shocking scenes stem from progressive city leadership's inability to maintain law and order. Similar occurrences have recently been observed in cities like Baltimore and Chicago, where groups of young people wreak havoc on city streets (https://www.zerohedge.com/political/baltimore-mayor-calls-citywide-curfew-after-all-hell-breaks-out). As they say... stay out of the cities.

Tyler Durden (https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden)Sun, 05/07/2023 - 18:00

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/mayhem-unfolds-oakland-soros-backed-da-fails-enforce-law-and-order

**Downtown San Francisco Becomes A Ghost Town As Major Retailers Flee**

Downtown San Francisco Becomes A Ghost Town As Major Retailers Flee

_Authored by Mike Shedlock via MishTalk.com,_ (https://mishtalk.com/economics/downtown-san-francisco-becomes-a-ghost-town-as-major-retailers-flee)

_**Retailers abandon downtown San Francisco in droves. Nordstrom is the latest, signaling  the death of the area...**_

?itok=w1OdoAOK (?itok=w1OdoAOK)

That image from the Tweet below is from April 29. **Since then, there have been more closures...**

> Some of the biggest merchants in the world and beloved small businesses alike have shuttered in downtown San Francisco. This map details the economic devastation that has left the city with widespread empty storefronts. https://t.co/rF4ZaKTeYy (https://t.co/rF4ZaKTeYy)

>

> — San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) April 29, 2023 (https://twitter.com/sfchronicle/status/1652315132607774721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Nordstrom closes two stores and Saks Off 5th says goodbye as well.

> Nordstrom will close two downtown locations, while Saks Off 5th is closing on Market Street, the latest retailers to shutter stores in San Francisco. https://t.co/YiS616e4Ke (https://t.co/YiS616e4Ke)

>

> — San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) May 3, 2023 (https://twitter.com/sfchronicle/status/1653601789218902016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

**Walgreens and Whole Foods Leave**

> Walgreens announces another store closure in San Francisco.

>

> Walgreens has closed 22 locations in the area. Walgreens attributed the latest closing to “multiple factors, including retail theft.” Mayor Breed attributes the closings to the fact that Walgreens’ stores are not… pic.twitter.com/tk8Nlo3WHR (https://t.co/tk8Nlo3WHR)

>

> — Greg Gallagher (@obrienroad) May 2, 2023 (https://twitter.com/obrienroad/status/1653368205895770113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

**San Francisco’s Dying Downtown**

The San Francisco Standard says Nordstrom’s Exit From San Francisco Calls Downtown Mall’s Future Into Question (https://sfstandard.com/business/nordstroms-exit-from-san-francisco-calls-downtown-malls-future-into-question/)

> The Nordstrom at Westfield will close at the end of August, the company confirmed on Tuesday. The retailer’s exit will leave a gaping vacancy that could be very difficult to fill: the store sprawls across 312,000 square feet and five floors. A Nordstrom Rack across the street is also slated to close in July.

>

> Less than a month ago, a nearby Whole Foods abruptly shuttered, citing employee safety concerns. The Whole Foods had made regular emergency calls since it opened in March 2022 for a mix of medical crises, assaults and other incidents; in September of last year, a man fatally overdosed in a bathroom at the grocery store.

>

> Last week, a Walgreens store next to Westfield mall was the scene of a fatal shooting after a private security guard allegedly shot a shoplifter.

>

> So far this year, police have responded to 74 reports of petty thefts, 54 fights and 30 grand thefts in the area.

**Call Out the Guard**

Zerohedge comments Gov. Newsom Activates National Guard And Highway Patrol To Combat San Francisco's Drug Crisis (https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/gov-newsom-activates-national-guard-and-highway-patrol-combat-san-franciscos-drug-crisis)

> Gov. Gavin Newsom has called up the California Highway Patrol and the California National Guard to combat San Francisco's out-of-control open-air drug market as parts of the progressive-run city descend into chaos.

>

> According to ABC7 News, CHP officers will be deployed across Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods, while guardsmen will run intelligence analysis operations behind the scenes. The governor brought the two agencies together as the drug-related deaths in the city jumped 41% in the first quarter.

**San Francisco Ghost Town**

> It’s been completely surreal watching a major city like San Francisco become a ghost town in real time. Tons of restaurant and business closures. Way less commuters. Empty buildings everywhere. All the tech companies bounced and people got priced out. Just a hollow city now. https://t.co/au71WnD45U (https://t.co/au71WnD45U)

>

> — Brian Altano 🍕 (@agentbizzle) May 3, 2023 (https://twitter.com/agentbizzle/status/1653785091532034050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

"It’s been completely surreal watching a major city like San Francisco become a ghost town in real time. Tons of restaurant and business closures. Way less commuters. Empty buildings everywhere. All the tech companies bounced and people got priced out. Just a hollow city now."

**Q&A on the Exodus**

> and why don't people want to live there?

>

> A. Crime

>

> B. Poop

>

> C. Homelessness

>

> D. Cost

>

> E. Woke policies including lack of police

>

> F. All of the above an…

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/downtown-san-francisco-becomes-ghost-town-major-retailers-flee

**Fox Sends Cease-And-Desist Letter To Media Matters Over Leaked Tucker Tapes**

Fox Sends Cease-And-Desist Letter To Media Matters Over Leaked Tucker Tapes

Fox Corporation, parent company of _Fox News_, **has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Media Matters** over a series of leaked tapes featuring former _Fox_ anchor Tucker Carlson.

?itok=MMdbO5Sa (?itok=MMdbO5Sa)

"That unaired footage is Fox’s confidential intellectual property; **Fox did not consent to its distribution or publication; and Fox does not consent to its further distribution or publication**," wrote Fox's law firm, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, in a May 5 letter to MMFA. "This proprietary material was given to you without Fox’s authorization. Fox demands that Media Matters cease and desist from distribution, publication, and misuse of Fox’s misappropriated proprietary footage, which you are now on notice was unlawfully obtained. We reserve all rights and remedies."

In one clip, Carlson **made a sex joke with Piers Morgan** (gasp!).

"If we're going to talk about sex, I'd love to hit some of the fine points of technique, but, you know, but it's your show. It's totally up to you," says Carlson, to which Morgan replies without skipping a beat: "We can certainly talk about your sexual technique, especially after your tanning testicles last week," referring to a joke Carlson made about a reported decline in testosterone levels.

"Not mine," Carlson replies, adding "We'll speak in more general terms, but I've got something to add."

> 1\. Prepping for an interview with Piers Morgan, Carlson tells the host, "If we're going to talk about sex, I'd love to hit some of the fine points of technique"

>

> Morgan replies, "We can certainly talk about your sexual technique, especially after your tanning testicles last week" pic.twitter.com/q41FGWujn8 (https://t.co/q41FGWujn8)

>

> — Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) May 2, 2023 (https://twitter.com/MattGertz/status/1653410201616146432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

In another, Carlson calls a Dominion Voting Systems lawyer a "slimy motherfucker."

> We've got a new FoxLeak.

>

> In this behind-the-scenes video, Tucker Carlson talks about how he was "triggered" by Dominion's lawyer, who he calls a "slimy motherfucker," during his deposition. https://t.co/B8hZtOkfBX (https://t.co/B8hZtOkfBX)pic.twitter.com/tPIzgGzFAw (https://t.co/tPIzgGzFAw)

>

> — Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) May 3, 2023 (https://twitter.com/MattGertz/status/1653751874879737857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

And in yet another clip (which _Fox_ may have hated the most), Carlson slams _Fox Nation_ \- saying "Nobody watches Fox Nation because the site sucks. So I’d really just like to dump the whole thing on YouTube."

> FOXLEAKS: Tucker Carlson slammed Fox Nation in behind-the-scenes video https://t.co/XhQlKQVHJ1 (https://t.co/XhQlKQVHJ1)pic.twitter.com/mKqJBuWzCw (https://t.co/mKqJBuWzCw)

>

> — Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) May 1, 2023 (https://twitter.com/MattGertz/status/1653048571321565185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

MMFA CEO Angelo Carusone told the _Epoch Times_ in response: "Reporting on newsworthy leaked material is a cornerstone of journalism. For Fox to argue otherwise is absurd and further dispels any pretense that they’re a news operation."

"Perhaps if I tell them that the footage came from a combination of WikiLeaks and Hunter Biden’s laptop, it will alleviate their concerns."

More via the _Epoch Times (https://www.theepochtimes.com/fox-sends-cease-and-desist-letter-to-media-matters-over-publicizing-leaked-tucker-carlson-footage_5245168.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge),_

Journalist Megyn Kelly, a former primetime Fox News anchor, blamed (https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2023/05/02/megyn_kelly_rips_fox_news_leaked_tucker_carlson_videos_make_him_look_better_not_worse.html) her previous employer for leaking the footage, specifically.

“Ask yourself about my theory that this is Fox News doing it to him, that it’s Irina Briganti, who sat there calling through his commercial downtime to look for anything,” said Kelly, referring to Fox News’ senior executive vice president of corporate communications.

“If this is all you got, you lost your fastball. I can’t wait for the tape that absolutely sinks him because this is absurd,” she continued. “So far you made Fox Nation look bad. You’ve made Tucker look good on his ripping on Media Matters for America. And you’ve made Tucker look good because he’s obviously a funny guy who mocks his enemies and makes \[it\] clear that he understands you might be taping him!”

Bill O’Reilly, who preceded Carlson in Fox News’ 8 p.m. ET weeknight slot, said (https://www.newsnationnow.com/entertainment-news/media/bill-oreilly-tucker-carlson-fox-news-firing-leaked-texts/) on Ne…

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/fox-sends-cease-and-desist-letter-media-matters-over-leaked-tucker-tapes