Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Witkoff's Travels

 Observing Remotely,


  Gilbert Doctorow,  Transcript of interview with Press TV, Iran  04/14/2025
​ It’s impossible to say with any confidence where this is headed, but I am an optimist with respect to the initiatives of Donald Trump, because there is some deep understanding that is being achieved between the United States and Russia, to which we are not privy.
​  But there are little signs that come out, signs that I was reading with respect to Steve Witkoff’s visit to Petersburg on Friday, which was a stop on his way to those meetings in Oman that you have just described. The Russians were, as I believe, important brokers in arranging the meeting in Oman. And I believe that Witkoff stopped over to get final recommendations, advice from President Putin on how to proceed in his dealings with Iran. The Russians–
​  If that is correct, and the Russians were demonstrating to Donald Trump how useful they can be, how constructive the relations with the United States can be, if there is a return to a normal relationship between the two countries, and looking past the ongoing fighting in Ukraine...
​  The West is doing its best– Britain is the ringleader, France is the second ringleader, in trying to sabotage the peace talks by speaking of a coalition of the willing, which didn’t work very well, to have men on the ground to resist Russians in case there is a further Russian aggression, as they say, in Ukraine after a peace treaty is signed. The issue that the Russians made, Mr. Lavrov made, in Turkey this past weekend is very relevant here: that the, whatever peace is concluded, has to look after the security interests of all the parties.​ And to speak about providing security to Ukraine alone is to miss the point entirely. The Russians also need security guarantees. And therefore the outcome of these negotiations is very much dependent on how well Mr. Trump can control these European former allies of Britain and France in particular.
​  Now, what does that mean for the end of the fighting?​ It means that the Russian positions are taken in all seriousness by Washington, which will seek to accommodate Russia’s security concernsWe’ve already heard from Witkoff that essentially America agrees to Russia’s keeping the four oblasts that it now largely occupies and has annexed by, according to constitutional procedures. I’m speaking now of Donbas oblasts and what used to be called Novorossiya, which is Kherson and Zaporozhzhye. These provinces are acknowledged by the United States as being future Russian-recognized territory.​   
https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2025/04/14/transcript-of-todays-interview-with-press-tv-iran/

  Sundance, Envoy Steve Witkoff Gives Topline Review Following 5 Hour Meeting with Vladimir Putin
  Within the brief moments provided by Hannity for Witkoff to speak, the envoy of President Trump noted both Putin and Trump understand the core issues and are aligned to solve the problem despite the CIA and SSCI efforts to keep wedging them apart.  Additionally, Trump and Putin see a future where geopolitical and economic alignment can be very beneficial for both Russia and the United States; they just need to find a way to navigate the complex politics on the U.S/NATO side of the mess.
  President Putin does not want an alignment with Chinese President Xi Jinping, it’s not a natural fit for Russia to be strategically networking with China.  Put a simpler way, Putin really doesn’t like Chairman Xi because Russia values brutal honesty in relationships, not the Beijing cunningness, ulterior motives and manipulative self-interest.
  President Trump and President Putin can be natural allies.  Both leaders have the same basic national security worldview and on an economic front Putin would rather have financial ties to the West than the East.
  However, the broader CIA apparatus is not going to give up power or control to President Trump without a fight.  Recently the CIA operated rotor wing (helicopter) drones to attack Moscow in order to provoke a useful response from Putin.  Despite the efforts of Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, both the CIA and State Dept embeds are operating to maintain their control in Ukraine...
..Vladimir Putin knows President Trump is navigating some deeply complicated networks within the G7, NATO, European Union, Great Britain, CIA, U.S. Senate and beyond.
  The extent Putin is willing to go providing Trump room to negotiate these political land mines is increasingly clear within Putin’s nonresponse to the ongoing CIA provocations.
  Trump and Putin will work to box in Zelenskyy while simultaneously Trump will threaten and even bash Putin a little.  Actually, when you stop pretending this is a little fun to watch unfold.
  From the other side, Ukraine President Zelenskyy knows Putin and Trump are on the same page; however, Zelenskyy also knows the CIA and SSCI are on his side.   
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2025/04/15/envoy-steve-witkoff-gives-topline-review-following-5-hour-meeting-with-vladimir-putin/

​Spy vs. Spy:  Russia & Belarus Ready To Ramp Up Spy War Against NATO: Kremlin Intel Chief   https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-belarus-ready-ramp-spy-war-against-nato-kremlin-intel-chief

  Gilbert Doctorow,  Friedrich Merz: the most dangerous German leader since Adolf Hitler
  During his tenure in office, the mealy-mouthed and indecisive outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz took baby steps towards supplying the Zelensky regime with ever more lethal weapons systems. Yes, he yielded in giving to Kiev the celebrated Leopard tanks.  Yes, he allowed Germany to be home to the NATO coordination centers where Americans and British officers planned every move of the Ukrainian armed forces on the field of battle. But Scholz held back on his country’s prize weapon, the air-launched long-range Taurus missile.
​  The reason for Scholz’s refusal to budge on this issue was the admission of his highest officers that use of the Taurus in Ukraine would be possible only if German officers and technical personnel actually controlled the programming, thereby making Germany a co-belligerent with Ukraine, and subject to Russian retaliation.
​  Even after the United States gave permission to the United Kingdom and France to provide Ukraine with their long-range precision missiles, the Storm Shadow and Scalp respectively, Scholz held back.
​  Yesterday Friedrich Merz told reporters that he is prepared to send the Taurus to Kiev. Still more irresponsibly, Merz signaled that Ukraine would be allowed to use the Taurus to destroy the Kerch (Crimea) bridge and other targets in Russian Crimea.
​  The Russians took notice of these statements at once. They stand ready to deliver a devastating counter-blow to Germany if Merz proceeds with policies that reflect the worst of German revanchism.  What will happen after that is anyone’s guess.​   https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2025/04/15/friedrich-merz-the-most-dangerous-german-leader-since-adolf-hitler/

​  It's going for war, not social security:  Incoming chancellor warns Germans of falling income
Friedrich Merz has admitted that increased social security contributions could put pressure on net salaries​   https://www.rt.com/news/615724-merz-warns-germany-falling-income/

Staying on message, but spinning his wheels:  Trump Blames Biden, Putin, Zelenskyy For Ukraine War, Says He's Working To End It​   https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-blames-biden-putin-zelenskyy-ukraine-war-says-hes-working-end-it

​  "Dictator" refuses elections:  Zelensky's Martial Law Move STUNS Trump, Ukraine's President To Remain In Power For 3 More Months
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted bills to extend martial law and mobilisation for an additional 90 days, starting May 9. This move is seen as a strategic attempt to delay elections amid ongoing conflict. Ukrainian lawmakers are expected to approve these measures, with the extension pushing martial law and mobilisation until August 6.​   https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-blames-biden-putin-zelenskyy-ukraine-war-says-hes-working-end-it

​  Gilbert Doctorow,  The Kremlin takes note of the contradictions in Trump’s foreign policy team​  
  General Kellogg brought particular attention to himself this past weekend in interviews with British news media. He initially was quoted as calling for a settlement in Ukraine along the lines of Germany at the conclusion of WWII, namely to divide up the country. Kellogg later backtracked and said he meant creation of spheres of influence, with Russia holding onto the eastern oblasts that it now occupies and Europeans providing defense for the Western territories of Ukraine, with an independent rump Ukraine in the middle.  The acknowledgement that Russia would keep what is now theirs, of course, was an acceptable element for the Kremlin even if they completely rule out the introduction of European (NATO) forces in the Western Ukraine.
​  Meanwhile, what Steve Witkoff has been saying since his return to Washington from Oman suits the Russians very well.  Witkoff sees the war ending with Russia rightfully keeping Crimea and the four oblasts annexed in 2022:  Zaporozhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Lugansk.  In his remarks there is not a word about European peacekeepers. He has gone on to say that he is optimistic that agreement on a peace treaty is within reach. He also sees good prospects for normalization of relations with Russia and for development of large mutually attractive commercial projects.
​  It is clear that the Kremlin expects Witkoff and Trump to prevail over Kellogg and Rubio.​   https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2025/04/15/the-kremlin-takes-note-of-the-contradictions-in-trumps-foreign-policy-team/

​  EU industry bosses want Russian gas supplies restored – Reuters
​  Germany’s chemical industry is in a “severe crisis” and in dire need of a return to cheap Russian gas, Reuters reported on Monday, citing executives in the sector. French energy majors Engie and Total have also told the agency that they could see a restart of imports of  hydrocarbon from Russia.​   https://www.rt.com/news/615738-eu-energy-firms-russian-gas/

​  Gilbert Doctorow, Why did Russia attack Sumy and with what results?  
​  For their part, the Russians have put out some very specific information about what were their objectives in the latest attack on Sumy and what they actually achieved.  They tell us that they used two Iskander-M hypersonic missiles to obliterate the command staff of the Ukrainian army group called ‘Seversk’ which was holding a meeting at the time. They claim to have killed 60 soldiers and officers of the Ukrainian armed forces including a certain Colonel Yula.
​  Moreover, they point out that their missile strikes were successful in evading Ukraine’s local electronic warfare gear and Western supplied air defenses.
​  As regards possible civilian casualties, Moscow blames Kiev for continuing to violate international humanitarian law and placing military personnel and equipment in civilian properties.
​  But let us go beyond this narrow technical explanation of the attack. The proper context to understand what is going on is the following:  Sumy was the planning and staging center for the Ukrainian invasion of Russia’s Kursk oblast just across the border last August. It is still active supporting what remains of Ukrainian troops inside Kursk and it is the staging point for new attacks on the neighboring Belgorod oblast of the RF.  Moscow has set the objective of taking Sumy and the surrounding territory of Ukraine to create a buffer zone, thereby pushing back the Ukrainian armed forces beyond the range of their artillery and local drones.​   
https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2025/04/14/why-did-russia-attack-sumy-and-with-what-results/

​  Simplicius, Zelensky Charms CBS, as Trump Throws Impatient Tantrum​   
Trump erupted over the interview, calling CBS a failed station, and other predictable insults. The problem is, Trump has been floundering on his Ukraine position, digging himself a deeper hole out of desperation to save face over the failed talks with Russia. In his efforts, he has made quite a few contradictions. Sensing people’s increasing view that he has now ‘owned’ the reputationally-toxic Ukrainian conflict, Trump went on the offensive to claim it is Biden’s conflict, after all...
..Trump is getting really antsy about Russia’s steadfast adherence to its long-held principles. Lusting for the PR boost of ending a pesky war he knows nothing about, Trump is nearly begging for Russia to stop advancing and winning...
​..From this critical 18-24 cohort, despite record monetary incentives, they managed to recruit—from the entire country, no less—only 160 or so people per month. This is while Russia is recruiting over 1,000 per day total.
​  The point is that, this is a dire bellwether for the critical 18-24 cohort: it means virtually no one in that age range wants to willingly serve in the war. As a kind of trial run for a necessary future forced mobilization of this group, it shows that virtually no one from the group wants to voluntarily serve, and that forcing them to fight when the time comes will be a very messy affair.
​  That comes at a time when there are again increased reports of women being recruited into the ranks, even from prison:
​  A captured soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the 425th assault regiment "Skala" reported during interrogation about the conscription of women from prisons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They have been preparing them for a month and a half, and now there are 2-3 women in the assault unit of 8 people. The men in the Rock are about 45 years old, and the women are about 30.
​  Not to mention the first reported deaths from the new 18-24 cohort, including a 21-year old girl who was featured in a video proudly discussing her signup to the 1 million hryvnia bonus program.​..
..Read the last part again:
​  A battle between the French army and the Russian army on the eastern borders of Romania is only possible if the Russian Armed Forces capture the Odessa region and Moldova before that.
​  The opposite is true: they’re clearly there to map out routes to seize Odessa swiftly in the case Ukrainian defenses collapse and Russian troops bear down on the key city.

  ​It appears that the Russians shot down a Ukrainian F-16 at great distance.  Did Russia’s 40N6 400km Range Air Defence Missile Just Shoot Down Ukraine’s F-16 Fighter?   https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-s40n6-400km-shoot-down-f16

​  With Iran talks, Trump could achieve a triple win
Steve Witkoff met with Tehran's foreign minister directly. Already, this White House has achieved more than what Biden's did in four years.
​  Trump has repeatedly declared that his only red line is that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, but it has remained unclear whether Trump would seek to achieve that through the complete dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program a la Libya, which has been the Israeli position, or seek a verification-based solution that limits rather than eliminates the nuclear program.
​  The problem with the “Libya model,” of course, is that Iran would never accept such a capitulation, which is precisely why Israel has pushed this line. They calculate that such demands guarantee the failure of diplomacy and force Trump to shift towards military action.
​  But Witkoff never mentioned dismantlement during Saturday’s talks. The two sides discussed instead degrees of limitations to the program and the sanctions relief Trump was willing to offer in return.
​  While dismantlement sounds stronger and tougher, it is unfeasible, whereas a verification-based model not only works, Tehran has already agreed to one before and can agree to it again.​   
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/iran-talks-trump/

​  Gaza death toll since October 2023 nears 51,000 — health ministry
Over the past 24 hours, 39 people were killed and 118 others were hospitalized in the enclave, the ministry added​   
https://tass.com/world/1943319

Killing Palestinian children rises to an industrial level​   https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250414-killing-palestinian-children-rises-to-an-industrial-level/

​Caitlin Johnstone,  Saying It's Antisemitic To Oppose Genocide Is Like Saying It's Anti-Catholic To Oppose Pedophilia   https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/saying-its-antisemitic-to-oppose

Israeli army forces raid West Bank hospital, detain Palestinian​:  Several staffers also arrested during Israeli raid on Jenin hospital, witnesses say​   https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israeli-army-forces-raid-west-bank-hospital-detain-palestinian/3537911

On Palm Sunday, Israel Bombs The Only Christian Hospital In Gaza​   https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/palm-sunday-israel-bombs-only-christian-hospital-gaza

​Guns vs no-guns:  How Israeli settlers are able to seize Palestinian land with impunity in the West Bank   https://www.arabnews.com/node/2597043/middle-east

​  Israel’s escalating West Bank assault is part of a larger plan to split the territory in two
Israel is expanding its “Iron Wall” offensive in the West Bank as it approves plans to separate the northern West Bank from the south. The plan is an accelerated prelude to Israel's expected annexation of the West Bank.​   
https://mondoweiss.net/2025/04/israels-escalating-west-bank-assault-is-part-of-a-larger-plan-to-split-the-territory-in-two/

​  Over 1,500 Israeli armoured corps troops demand end to Gaza war, return of hostages
According to the daily, Maariv, the petition was signed by 1,525 members of the armoured corps, ranging from riflemen to generals.
They called on the government “to do everything possible to secure the release of the hostages – even if it comes at the cost of halting the fighting.”​   
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250414-over-1500-israeli-armoured-corps-troops-demand-end-to-gaza-war-return-of-hostages/

​  Good for Turkey, not Israel?  Saudi Arabia to 'pay off' Syria's World Bank debt: Report
Syria owes around $15 million to the World Bank and is suffering severe economic conditions due to years of war and sanctions​   
https://thecradle.co/articles/saudi-arabia-to-pay-off-syrias-world-bank-debt-report

​  Michael Hudson,  Return of the Robber Barons,  Donald Trump’s Distorted View of America’s Tariff History
​ What Trump singles out to admire in America’s nineteenth-century industrial policy is the absence of a progressive income tax and the funding of government primarily by tariff revenue. This has given him the idea of replacing progressive income taxation falling on his own Donor Class – the One Percent that paid no income tax prior to its enactment in 1913 – with tariffs designed to fall only on consumers (that is, labor). A new Gilded Age indeed!
​  In admiring the absence of progressive income taxation in the era of his hero, William McKinley (elected president in 1896 and 1900), Trump is admiring the economic excess and inequality of the Gilded Age. That inequality was widely criticized as a distortion of economic efficiency and social progress. To counteract the corrosive and conspicuous wealth-seeking that caused the distortion, Congress passed the Sherman Anti-Trust Law in 1890, Teddy Roosevelt followed with his trust busting, and a remarkably progressive income tax was passed that fell almost entirely on rentier financial and real estate income and monopoly rents.
​  Trump thus is promoting a simplistic and outright false narrative of what made America’s nineteenth century policy of industrialization so successful. For him, what is great is the “gilded” part of the Gilded Age, not its state-led industrial and social-democratic takeoff. His panacea is for tariffs to replace income taxes, along with privatizing what remains of the government’s functions. That would give a new set of robber barons free reign to further enrich themselves by shrinking the government’s taxation and regulation of them, while reducing the budget deficit by selling off the remaining public domain, from national park lands to the post office and research labs.​   
https://www.democracycollaborative.org/whatwethink/return-of-the-robber-barons

​  Federal Judge Halts Trump Admin's Deportation Of Half A Million Biden "Parolees"​   
Judge Talwani’s order would require individual hearings for the half of a million individuals allowed into the country under this program by President Joe Biden...
..The Administration argued that it did have a “reasoned decision” to end the CHNV program and weighed the cost to the parolees. It noted that the parolees were always going to face family separation and costs since this was just a temporary, two-year program. It asserted that it did weigh alternative periods for winding down the program. While the court may disagree with its conclusions, it asserts that it has the same discretion used by President Biden in creating the program.​   
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/federal-judge-halts-trump-admins-deportation-half-million-biden-parolees

​  Economic shunning​ of "non-persons":  Deliberately Polluting the Death Master File Violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act​  
​  The Trump administration seems to be walking straight into a pair of Fair Credit Reporting Act violations by placing immigrants whom it knows to be alive on the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File. The Death Master File is a list compiled by the Social Security Administration of people Social Security believes to be dead (generally based on the filing of death benefit claims with Social Security, so it is not at all a complete list of who is actually dead). Creditors and other users of consumer reports regularly use the Death Master File, either directly or through a consumer reporting agency, as part of credit granting, employment, or insurance decisions—you don't want to be doing business with someone who is dead (and that might indicate that the living person with whom you are dealing isn't who they say they are). So, Death Master File issues end up being consumer reporting issues and fall under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, violations of which can not only create substantial private civil liability, but they can also be enjoined in a suit by a state attorney general.​   https://www.creditslips.org/creditslips/2025/04/deliberately-polluting-the-death-master-file-violates-the-fair-credit-reporting-act.html

​  Jessica Rose Ph.D. broadens her scope:  Is Blackrock an entity prioritizing metrics over people?  
What are the implications of AI's role in seeking data-driven returns?   https://jessicar.substack.com/p/is-blackrock-an-entity-prioritizing

​  Passengers Will Soon Need Real ID To Board Domestic Flights, TSA Warns​   
​  The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on April 11 said it will begin enforcing the long-delayed REAL ID rules at airports nationwide on May 7. Once the rules are fully enforced, state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards that do not meet the new standards will no longer get through the security checkpoints.​..
​..Travelers can still use documents that the TSA recognizes as acceptable alternatives to a Real ID. These include a passport or passport card, a permanent resident card, and an enhanced driver’s license issued by one of five states—Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington—as well as other federally approved forms of identification.​   https://www.zerohedge.com/political/passengers-will-soon-need-real-id-board-domestic-flights-tsa-warns

​Decorum-Mandatory:  Respect & Clarity: China Opens Door For Reengaging Trump In Trade Talks   https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/respect-clarity-china-demands-prerequisites-reengaging-trump-trade-talks

Big Win for Trump, NVIDIA to Manufacture AI Supercomputers in US​   https://mishtalk.com/economics/big-win-for-trump-nvidia-to-manufacture-ai-supercomputers-in-us/

​  But not in China?  Uncontrolled AI growth in US could doom humanity — Chinese ambassador
Zhang Hanhui stressed that China regards security as a fundamental principle of AI development, "emphasizing the priority of ethical norms and the need to keep AI under control"​   https://tass.com/world/1943151

  "Inclusiveness" must be good, right?  Chinese envoy vows efforts to develop partnership in AI with Russia
Zhang Hanhui said that China and Russia will seek to surmount obstacles by establishing cooperation, build the future on the basis of inclusiveness​   
https://tass.com/world/1943117

​  But you may want to upgrade to our proprietary version:  Chinese neural network DeepSeek to remain open-source to benefit the world — ambassador
According to Zhang Hanhui, China believes that artificial intelligence "should be a technology accessible to all, not a privilege for the few"​   https://tass.com/world/1943127

​  Study Finds COVID-19 mRNA Booster Shots Decrease Pancreatic Cancer Survival by 50%
In a cohort of 272 pancreatic cancer patients, receiving ≥3 mRNA doses increased overall death risk by 300% and induced immune dysregulation via IgG4 class switching.​   
https://www.thefocalpoints.com/p/breaking-study-finds-covid-19-mrna

​  Study Identifies 86 Serious Neuropsychiatric Safety Signals Linked to COVID-19 Vaccination
CDC/FDA safety thresholds breached for 86 adverse events including dementia, schizophrenia, suicidal and homicidal thoughts, stroke, psychosis, depression, cognitive impairment, delusions, and more.​   
https://www.thefocalpoints.com/p/breaking-study-identifies-86-serious

​  Autism Rates Reach Unprecedented Highs: 1 in 12 Boys at Age 4 in California, 1 in 31 Nationally
New CDC Data Paints a Stark Picture of America's Silent Epidemic. Let's look at the numbers​   
https://popularrationalism.substack.com/p/autism-rates-reach-unprecedented

New Studies Ignite Debate: Fluoride Linked to Autism and ADHD, Prompting Calls for Policy Reassessment​   https://basedunderground.com/2025/04/14/new-studies-ignite-debate-fluoride-linked-to-autism-and-adhd-prompting-calls-for-policy-reassessment/

​  Peter McCullough MD advocates reducing all of the nudges into Autism:  Determinants of Autism
Multifactorial Problem Amenable to Risk Factor Analysis--Dr. McCullough on Stage at Autism Summit​   https://www.thefocalpoints.com/p/determinants-of-autism

​Poop and pee get mixed with PFAS when industry dumps illegally. Don't look!  BIOSOLIDS – the dirty trick behind our commercial fertilizers   https://doortofreedom.org/biosolids-the-dirty-trick-behind-our-commercial-fertilizers/

Organic Gardener (barefoot in the kitchen, cooking up the first green beans of the season)


Monday, April 14, 2025

Declared Dead

 Living Witnesses,


  When a group of people is declared to be sub-human, non-human, or now, no-longer-living, their property and other rights are removed. We see that Palestinians are going through a Holocaust, as the Jews did in Europe, and that concentration camps recently awaited "the unvaccinated" in numerous western countries a few years ago. Enough of us stood against that publicly, many losing our jobs and or licenses, to prevent a critical mass of society from fully accepting those plans in the rush of the moment, before fears subsided.
  Now they have come for the Illegal Aliens, purportedly just the worst ones, at first, through the novel mechanism of declaring them to have died in the Social Security database, which freezes their bank accounts, credit cards, and forces their employers to comply in the only way possible, by firing the officially-deceased person, upon whom they cannot pay the employer's taxes.
  With minimal reflection you can see that this mechanism, once normalized in administrative process, can easily be applied to anybody, certainly to me, and I probably offend almost anybody from time to time... 
  How about you? Are you beyond all reproach?
Right-tyranny is bound to be better than left-tyranny, anyway ... right?

  Social Security Overseer Refused to Help Weed Migrants Out of the System, Then Security Showed Up
Despite official action to essentially wipe migrants out of the Social Security system, a new report said one bureaucrat refused to go along.
  Greg Pearre, a manager who according to The Washington Post oversaw technology experts, was refusing to put names of migrants into what’s known as the “death master file,” which is usually used for Social Security recipients who have died.
  As a result, on Thursday, security guards arrived at Pearre’s office at Social Security Administration headquarters in Woodlawn, Maryland, and escorted him out.
  As with all Trump administration innovations, blocking access to migrants’ Social Security numbers has its critics.
  “This is an unprecedented step,” Devin O’Connor, a senior fellow at the progressive Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said in response.
“The administration seems to basically be saying they have the right to essentially declare people equivalent to dead who have not died. That’s a hard concept to believe, but it brings enormous risks and consequences,” he said.
But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said removing illegal immigrants needs to be done.   
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/04/social-security-overseer-refused-help-weed-migrants-system/

  Hey, wasn't Tulsi Gabbard put on that list last year?  US Strips Benefits From Thousands Of Criminal Aliens, Those On Terror Watchlist                            As part of the enforcement action, the Social Security Administration reclassified those individuals’ Social Security numbers into its Ineligible Master File, a restricted database that prevents improper payment of federal benefits. Formerly known as the Death Master File, the system is used to ensure that only lawfully eligible individuals can access programs such as Social Security, Medicaid, and other federally administered aid.
  Immigration parole allows certain noncitizens to temporarily enter and remain in the United States, during which they may receive work authorization and Social Security numbers if granted parole for more than one year.
  White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston said the action fulfills President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to enforce immigration laws more strictly.   
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/us-strips-benefits-thousands-criminal-aliens-those-terror-watchlist

Passengers Will Soon Need Real ID To Board Domestic Flights, TSA Warns​   https://www.zerohedge.com/political/passengers-will-soon-need-real-id-board-domestic-flights-tsa-warns

Probably just an honest mistake:  Man 'Erroneously Deported' Is Alive In El Salvador Prison   https://www.zerohedge.com/political/man-erroneously-deported-alive-el-salvador-prison-official

"I'm Not Going To Do It": El Salvador Refuses To Return Alleged MS-13 "Terrorist" To US​    https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/el-salvador-president-visit-white-house-discuss-deportation-prison-plans

  "Terrorists were in there":  Israel destroys Baptist hospital in Gaza, forcing it out of service
The hospital, located in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City, has been a vital lifeline for more than 1 million Palestinians in Gaza and North Gaza governorates, especially after the destruction of several major hospitals in the strip since October 2023.   
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250413-israel-destroys-baptist-hospital-in-gaza-forcing-it-out-of-service/

  "Ditto":  Israel just bombed the last operational hospital in northern Gaza — again
When the bombing of hospitals was still taboo in October 2023, Israel denied bombing al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. This time, Israel claims it targeted a Hamas command-and-control center at the hospital. It has not provided any evidence.   https://mondoweiss.net/2025/04/israel-just-bombed-the-last-operational-hospital-in-northern-gaza-again/

  Most older Republicans are still onboard, though:  Juan Cole: A Majority of Americans Views Israel Negatively in Wake of Gaza Genocide
The Pew Research Center reports that 53% of Americans now have a negative view of Israel, a stark deterioration from 42% in spring 2022 before the Israeli total war on Gaza.
  Moreover, in just 3 years the percentage of Americans with very negative views of Israel has nearly doubled, from 10% to 19%. That is nearly one in five Americans.   
https://scheerpost.com/2025/04/13/juan-cole-a-majority-of-americans-views-israel-negatively-in-wake-of-gaza-genocide/

  Israel is About to Empty Gaza, Chris Hedges
Israel is poised to carry out the largest campaign of ethnic cleansing since the end of World War IISince March 2, it has blocked all food and humanitarian aid into Gaza and cut off electricity, so that the last water desalination plant no longer functions. The Israeli military has seized half of the territory — Gaza is 25 miles long and four to five miles wide — and placed two-thirds of Gaza under displacement orders, rendered “no-go zones,” including the border town of Rafah, which is encircled by Israeli troops.
  On Friday Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that Israel will “intensify” the war against Hamas and use “all military and civilian pressure, including evacuation of the Gaza population south and implementing United States President [Donald] Trump’s voluntary migration plan for Gaza residents.”
  Since Israel’s unilateral ending of the ceasefire on March 18 — which was never honored by Israel — Israel has been carrying out relentless bombing and shelling against civilians, killing over 1,400 Palestinians and wounding over 3,600, according to the Palestinian health ministry. An average of one hundred children are being killed daily according to the United Nations. Israel is, at the same time, inciting tensions with Egypt to lay what I suspect will be the groundwork for a mass expulsion of Palestinians into the Egyptian Sinai.
  Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, echoing Katz, said Israel would not lift the total blockade until Hamas was “defeated” and the remaining 59 Israeli hostages were released.
  “Not even a grain of wheat will enter Gaza,” he vowed.   
https://scheerpost.com/2025/04/13/israel-is-about-to-empty-gaza/

  A petition is not actually "mutiny", is it?  Mutiny in IDF: Thousands of IDF soldiers call on government to stop fighting in Gaza
More than 8,000 IDF soldiers have written a joint letter calling on the Israeli government to release Palestinian hostages, even if it means ending the fighting in Gaza, The Jerusalem Post reports. The document was signed by both active-duty and reserve officers.   https://en.topcor.ru/58660-bunt-v-armii-oborony-izrailja-tysjachi-voennosluzhaschih-cahal-prizvali-pravitelstvo-strany-ostanovit-boevye-dejstvija-v-sektore-gaza.html

  Very slow progress. Diplomatic property is not even returned yet:  Russia & US Reveal Details Of Latest Talks In Istanbul
Moscow's newly appointed ambassador to Washington, Aleksandr Darchiev, led the Russian side, while the US side was headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Sonata Coulter.
  Darchiev was quoted in TASS after the meeting as saying that an "understanding has been reached [to pursue] further measures aimed at easing the movement of diplomats in the host country as well as related visa procedures."
  The two sides are also working on a road map to restore Russian diplomatic properties previously seized by the US, according to regional media.   https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-us-reveal-details-latest-talks-istanbul

  THE THREE STEPS — WHICH WAY IS FORWARD, WHICH WAY IS BACKWARD IN RUSSIA’S WAR FIGHTING, PEACE NEGOTIATING STRATEGY,      John Helmer
  A well-informed source in Moscow says that Trump and his subordinates have been surprised by the Russian terms for ending the war. “The Russians have told Americans they will have Odessa and a land corridor to Moldova. They have offered ports on Dnieper River for access to the sea for the Ukrainians. There has been no demand about Nord Stream. Money is being discussed on the sidelines but not in the main talks. In the main room [in Riyadh on February 18] Lavrov and Ushakov brought no papers and asked Americans [Rubio and Waltz] to dust off the December 2021 treaty draft.     The Russian positions shocked the Americans. They were told the Ukraine will be demilitarized and its forces will be turned into paramilitary and police. The Americans were also surprised how little Russians cared about Zelensky or his British and Europeans backers. The Americans were told there will be no Ukrainian paramilitary force east of the Dnieper – only police. A new Russian demand was tabled for autonomy of  eight Ukrainian oblasts, with Kiev army forces removed. In general, the  Russians propose turning the Ukraine into a genuinely federal structure with provisions that Banderites can never take power in Kiev and that the central forces will be limited in their capabilities,  supplementing the police if and when Banderites take to the streets. The main purpose of any such force will be de-nazification and keeping it that way. There are demands also about the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.”   https://johnhelmer.net/the-three-steps-which-way-is-forward-which-way-is-backward-in-russias-war-fighting-peace-negotiating-strategy/#more-91375

  Zelensky mustn’t govern Russians he despises – Lavrov
The foreign minister stressed that nobody “would even hypothetically consider handing over those people” to the Ukrainian leader   
https://swentr.site/russia/615603-larvrov-zelensky-hates-russians/

  Very little revealed:  Kremlin reveals content of Putin’s talks with Trump envoy  The Russian president has held a marathon meeting with Steve Witkoff   
  The discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and White House special envoy Steve Witkoff on Friday involved “aspects of the settlement of the Ukraine conflict,” the Kremlin has announced, declining to provide further details.   https://swentr.site/news/615638-putin-witkoff-talks-russia/

  Gilbert Doctorow,  Witkoff Putin Talks US envoy meets Putin
  The visit on Friday of Donald Trump’s personal emissary Steve Witkoff to Petersburg for a meeting with President Putin was likely taken on short notice. It was less for purposes of continuing talks on ending the Ukraine war that it was for consultations on how to proceed Saturday in talks with the Iranian Foreign Minister in Oman which Putin had arranged. Judging by the comments from the White House today that the Iranian talks were constructive and that a further meeting is planned in one week’s time, we may conclude that Vladimir Putin has helped to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for Trump on Iran just as he did for Barack Obama in September 2013 by agreeing with Bashar Assad on the destruction of Syria’s stock of chemical weapons.   https://gilbertdoctorow.substack.com/p/news-x-world-witkoff-putin-talks

  Iran and US unveil results of nuclear talks
Both sides described the negotiations in Oman as “constructive” and have reportedly agreed to meet again for “real talks”   
https://swentr.site/news/615692-iran-us-nuclear-talks/

  Rubio and Musk back Witkoff’s peace efforts
The US Secretary of State and Tesla CEO agreed that “Steve Witkoff is busting his ass for President Trump”   
https://swentr.site/news/615691-witkoff-great-musk-rubio/

  "Our credit is good, right?"  Europe Pledges $23 Billion in Military Support for Ukraine
Germany and the UK led the way in promising to provide aid to Ukraine following the US backing away from the role under the Donald Trump administration   https://news.antiwar.com/2025/04/11/europe-pledges-23-billion-in-military-support-for-ukraine/

Ukraine to Extend Martial Law, Ending Hope for a Summer Election   https://basedunderground.com/2025/04/13/ukraine-to-extend-martial-law-ending-hope-for-a-summer-election/

  Any such foreign troops would be official targets for Russia:  Trump’s Kiev envoy clarifies proposed ‘zones of responsibility’ in Ukraine
Keith Kellogg has accused The Times of misrepresenting his words about post-ceasefire security   https://swentr.site/news/615640-kellogg-divide-ukraine-berlin/

  UK deeply involved in Ukraine conflict – The Times
Kiev allegedly refers to Britain’s military chiefs as the “brains” of the “anti-Putin” coalition, according to the exposé   
https://swentr.site/news/615649-uk-involvement-ukraine-conflict/

Top Kiev official wants women conscripted into army  Presidential aide Pavel Palisa has suggested “learning from the Israeli experience”   https://swentr.site/russia/615715-kiev-official-wants-women-in-army/

  Russia and Ukraine to hold direct talks – CNN Turk
Delegations from the two countries will meet in Türkiye to discuss security in the Black Sea, the outlet has claimed
  The meetings will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Turkish Naval Forces headquarters in Ankara, according to sources.
However, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga claimed that the reports are false and “[no talks] were planned,” according to TCH TV channel.   
https://swentr.site/russia/615707-cnn-turk-direct-talks/

​  I don't think Marine Le Pen is making mistakes: The end of La Grande illusion democratique   Will Marine Le Pen have the creativity to step out of the box and twist the lion’s tail just a bit?   https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/04/11/the-end-of-la-grande-illusion-democratique/

​  NATO needs Romania to launch WWIII – Georgescu
Calin Georgescu has claimed his opposition to the supposed plans led to his candidacy being invalidated by the “globalist mafia”​   
https://swentr.site/news/615634-ex-presidential-candidate-nato-romania-war/

​  Maybe the cutters and the throats are different people:  EU would ‘cut its own throat’ by pivoting to China – US Treasury secretary
Scott Bessent has warned the bloc against closer ties with Beijing at the expense of relations with Washington​   https://swentr.site/news/615507-eu-cut-throat-pivot-china/

Negotiating global trade restructuring: Trump Exempts Computers, Handsets, Chips From Reciprocal Tariff Blitz, Still Subject To Original 20%​   https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/trump-exempts-computers-handsets-chips-reciprocal-tariff-blitz
 
Just a "pause":  China Calls US Tariff Exemptions A "Small Step" Toward Fixing "Wrong Practice"​   https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/trump-exempts-computers-handsets-chips-reciprocal-tariff-blitz

Trump Orders Military To Seal Southern Border As US Accelerates Hemispheric Defense​   https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-orders-military-seal-southern-border-new-us-accelerates-hemispheric-defense

Minority Report: UK Government Developing 'Murder Prediction' Program​   https://www.zerohedge.com/political/minority-report-uk-government-developing-murder-prediction-program

Fauci, Birx, Walensky, and Other Top COVID Officials Face Criminal Referral Requests in Seven States for Alleged Murder and Medical Terrorism​   https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/04/fauci-birx-walensky-other-top-covid-officials-face/

​  Celia Farber,  Lots of evidence; no "interest":  Nick Bryant Acquired Jeffrey Epstein's "Little Black Book," in 2012, And Finally Found A Media Outlet To Publish It, After Three Years Of Pitches Being Scornfully Rejected By All Media He Approached
​  The Truth Barrier Sent Him A Question When Pam Bondi Staged Her Strange Influencers Op, And he Replied. Deconstructing The Distorting OPS Of "The Epstein List."​   https://celiafarber.substack.com/p/nick-bryant-acquired-jeffrey-epsteins

​  Vanessa Beeley,  ISRAEL: Girls Raped in Ritual Ceremonies Reveal the Horrors – Investigative Report by IsraelHayom
The darkest ritual abuse exists in Israel as proven by decades of child abuse, rape and pedophilia
​  Ayala: "It's always a dark place. There are between six and nine men there. Tie me to bed with my hands and feet, stand in a circle, mumble prayers or blessings, and there is the rabbi who always leads the situation and says what to do. There's a ceremony, and every one of them rapes me "
​  The names of certain Rabbis were repeated in separate cases. Complaints filed a various police stations across the country were all closed, relatively quickly. Even when suspicions were previously raised about the existence of a child abuse network in Jerusalem, police investigators were unable to follow up due to an alleged lack of evidence etc.
​  Dr. Joiana Silberg: "I had hope that in Israel there would be an understanding that this is an international phenomenon, and that there would be cooperation between entities in Israel and other countries. But when a complaint came and a case was opened in Israel - the police did not conduct the investigation as required "​   
https://beeley.substack.com/p/israel-girls-raped-in-ritual-ceremonies

​  P​ierre Kory MD,  Expert Medical Record Reviews Of The Two Girls In Texas Who Purportedly Died of Measles
I have long reviewed medical records of patients harmed by poor medical care. Here, I present clear evidence of what actually caused the 2 girls deaths in Texas. It wasn't measles. Not by a long shot.​   https://pierrekorymedicalmusings.com/p/my-expert-review-of-the-medical-records

​  ‘Parents Have Waited for 30 Years’: NIH to Study Causes of Autism
According to The Washington Post, the NIH is still finalizing plans for the new multimillion-dollar research program. “We will leave no stone unturned in our mission to figure out what exactly is happening,” an HHS spokesperson said. HHS oversees the NIH.​   
https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/nih-study-what-causes-autism-parents-wait-30-years/

​  A Midwestern Doctor,  The Forgotten Cancer Cure Hiding in Plain Sight
How DMSO turns a common dye into a highly potent cancer treatment that's harmless to normal tissue
​  When DMSO is combined with hematoxylin (a dye widely used in pathology), it becomes a highly potent cancer treatment, both harnessing DMSO’s intrinsic anticancer properties and directly destroying cancer cells. It is also highly specific to targeting cancers while not affecting normal cells, thereby allowing it to dissolve cancers at doses that have virtually no toxicity to the patient.
​  Despite its ingredients being relatively easy to procure and producing remarkable results, this therapy (like many other alternative cancer treatments) was almost completely forgotten. Fortunately, a narrow thread of knowledge has kept this sixty-year-old discovery alive, most recently through a doctor who spent the last fifteen years refining this lost therapy and successfully treating cancer patients with it.
​  This article will discuss everything known about DMSO-hematoxylin, such as its mechanisms, which cancers it responds to (e.g., it’s very effective for leukemias along with their associated anemias and can often treat advanced cancers no other treatment works for), and with how to use it both at home and within a medical setting.​   
https://www.midwesterndoctor.com/p/the-forgotten-cancer-cure-hiding

​  FDA Fast Tracks Self-Amplifying mRNA Bird Flu Injection
BARDA- and Gates-funded experimental replicon shots move toward accelerated approval.
​  In November 2024, the FDA green-lit a Phase 1 trial for the Arcturus Therapeutics self-amplifying (replicon) H5N1 "pandemic" bird flu injection (ARCT-2304).
These experimental replicon shots are primary funded by BARDA with support from the Gates Foundation, who gave Arcturus Therapeutics a $928,563 grant in October 2024 to “improve understanding of durability of protection after administration of nucleic-acid based vaccines.”
​  Yesterday, Arcturus Therapeutics received U.S. FDA Fast Track Designation for the replicon injection ARCT-2304.
According to the FDA:
Fast track is a process designed to facilitate the development, and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need.​   
https://www.thefocalpoints.com/p/breaking-fda-fast-tracks-self-amplifying

​  Steve Kirsch,  3 studies show definitively that the influenza vaccines don't work
But the press still thinks it does. There are record flu deaths in California this year, but they never report on the vaccination status of the people who died. Why not?​   https://kirschsubstack.com/p/3-studies-show-definitively-that

​  ‘Deeply Concerning’: This Year’s Flu Shots Led to 27% Higher Risk of Flu
People who received a flu vaccine formulated for the 2024-2025 flu season had a 27% higher risk of getting the flu than those who didn’t get the vaccine, suggesting “the vaccine has not been effective in preventing influenza this season,” according to a new preprint study.​    
https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/flu-shots-27-percent-higher-risk-influenza-2024-2025-season/

​    NEW STUDY – Young Adults Likely Produce Toxic Spike Protein for at Least One Year After COVID-19 mRNA Injection
Persistent elevation of inflammatory cytokines over one year post-injection indicates ongoing immune stimulation likely driven by systemic Spike protein production.
​  Prolonged IL-6 and TNF-α elevation is linked to autoimmune conditions and post-acute inflammatory syndromes.
Persistent VEGFA suggests ongoing vascular endothelial activation and potential long-term cardiovascular effects.​   
https://www.thefocalpoints.com/p/new-study-young-adults-likely-produce

​  "On the Recommended list":   Pregnant Women Who Took Pfizer’s RSV Vaccine Were More Likely to Give Birth Prematurely
A new study published in BMJ Open reported pregnant women vaccinated with Pfizer’s Abrysvo RSV vaccine were more likely to experience preterm births. The findings confirm concerns raised during clinical trials and shared with regulators, but the FDA approved the vaccine anyway.​   
https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/pregnant-women-pfizer-rsv-vaccine-premature-birth-bmj-study/

​  A Critical Analysis of All-Cause Deaths during COVID-19 Vaccination in an Italian Province
..All the information contained in the dataset provided by Rosso et al. and used for this analysis was extracted from the Italian National Healthcare SystemThe population considered is that of residents or those domiciled in the province of Pescara on 1 January 2021, aged 10 years and older, without a positive SARS-CoV-2 swab at the date of the follow-up start.
​  Vaccination data were acquired from the official regional SARS-CoV-2 vaccination dataset, up to 31 December 2022.
The follow-up considered ranges between 1 January 2021 and 15 February 2023...
..We found all-cause death risks to be even higher for those vaccinated with one and two doses compared to the unvaccinated and that the booster doses were ineffective. We also found a slight but statistically significant loss of life expectancy for those vaccinated with 2 or 3​-4 doses.​   
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/7/1343

​Professor Ugo Bardi:  Peak Population: The Global Reversal Unfolds​:  Is an African Century Coming?   https://senecaeffect.substack.com/p/peak-and-fall-the-global-population

   A human line that did not continue.  Scientists Discovered 7,000-Year-Old Mummies in the Desert That Don’t Share DNA With Modern Humans
​  DNA analysis of the mummies, which are the remains of female herders from a time when the Sahara was more humid and known as the Green Sahara, did not show the expected Sub-Saharan genes.
​  The Takarkori individuals are most closely related to other North African peoples who diverged from Sub-Saharan populations long before.​   
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a64383417/saharan-mummies-dna/

​  (Surfer) Jessica Rose Ph.D.  On consciousness: Minds, Models, and Mysteries
Do Neuronal Microtubules Host Quantum Consciousness via Tubulin and EZ Water?​   https://jessicar.substack.com/p/on-consciousness-minds-models-and

Living Human (offering this picture of some onions that "fell over" and got harvested)


Friday, April 11, 2025

Confessions Of Empire

 Prudently Silent,


   US ‘just lost a war with Russia’ – Tucker Carlson
​  Russian officials perceive the Ukraine conflict as a NATO proxy war – a notion that some Western politicians, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, have openly agreed with.
​  In an interview with Alex Jones published on Wednesday, Carlson accused those perpetuating the hostilities of ignoring that Russia has emerged victorious.
​  ”We just lost a war with Russia,” the former Fox News host declared. “The US was running that war – the US military, the Pentagon, State Department, CIA – running the war against Russia. It was not… was never about Ukraine.”​  Carlson expressed concern that “nobody will say that out loud – that we’re overstating our power.”​ ...   
 “That’s called hubris and that’s how empires get destroyed and populations vaporized,” Carlson warned. “Maybe we should readjust our expectations a little bit.”  ​  https://swentr.site/news/615514-carlson-us-loss-russia/

​  Trump wants to divide Russia, China and Iran, to pick them off separately, especially China. They are not cooperating with him, but with each other.  What's Plan-B?.  
US Geopolitical Chess: Strategies Against China, Russia, And Iran   https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-geopolitical-chess-strategies-against-china-russia-and-iran

Another Billion: Ukraine Continues to Replenish Its Treasury with Income from Russian Assets Frozen in the EU​   https://en.topcor.ru/58573-ukraina-poluchila-ocherednoj-transh-obespechennyj-dohodami-ot-zamorozhennyh-sredstv-rf.html

​  Kiev targeting Russian gas supplies to southern Europe – Moscow
Ukraine has continuously violated the moratorium on strikes on energy facilities, according to the Defense Ministry
​  The Ukrainian military has launched multiple drone attacks overnight, targeting a a Russian gas pumping station which supplies fuel to southern Europe via the TurkStream pipeline, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said.​   https://swentr.site/russia/615445-turkstream-compressor-station-drones/

​  Gilbert Doctorow with  Professor Glenn Diesen: Transatlantic Ties Unraveling
The brief summary that Professor Diesen has attached to this 35-minute interview reads:
​  “The US seeks to readjust to a multipolar world, and Europe’s relevance and priority have declined. Beyond Europe’s efforts to sabotage Trump’s peace initiative in Ukraine and the tariff wars, there is a deeper contempt for Europe that is no longer concealed.”​   
https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2025/04/10/professor-glenn-diesen-transatlantic-ties-unraveling/
​  Transcript of that interview. Russia needs "reassurances", like the return of Russian diplomatic property in the US and also Russian financial property. Russia wonders if they will really have a "partner for detente", which they had in Richard Nixon, until he was deposed. Color-revolution moves against Trump and the difficulties he is having with $US and trade reset are important. Will he last after his first 100 days?  https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2025/04/11/transcript-of-interview-with-professor-glenn-diesen-10-april/

​  Trump had counted on the induction of a global-recession to cause a flight to safety in 10 year US Treasury debt, dropping the effective interest below 3%, to reduce federal interest payments, but the bond markets did the opposite a few days ago, raising the effective interest, which is over 4.5% this morning, and weakening the $US, which has now fallen below the par "100" index-rate. This changes everything​, and not in Trump's favor.​  Futures Flat, Gold Soars, Dollar Crashes After China Hikes US Tariffs To 125%​   https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/futures-flat-gold-soars-dollar-crashes-after-china-hikes-us-tariffs-125

​  House Passes GOP Budget Plan After Johnson Tames GOP Revolt
Johnson appeared alongside Senate Majority Leader John Thune to project unity, and reiterate a promise to reduce the deficit by at least $1.5 trillion in the overall package of Trump tax cuts, beefed up border security, energy policies and more.​   https://www.zerohedge.com/political/johnson-says-house-gop-have-votes-pass-budget-resolution

​  Germany’s Grand Coalition expected to be announced the day the AfD goes top of the polls
The CDU/CSU will hold the chancellorship, interior ministry, and the foreign office, while the Social Democrats will lead the finance ministry and defense​   
https://rmx.news/article/germanys-grand-coalition-expected-to-be-announced-the-day-the-afd-goes-top-of-the-polls/

​  New German Government Pledges to Clamp Down on ‘Right-Wing Extremism’​   (like AfD, and maybe you​; certainly me)
Berlin’s black and red coalition promises “zero tolerance” to “enemies of democracy,” including “right-wing extremist thoughts.”​   
https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/new-german-government-pledges-to-clampdown-on-right-wing-extremism/

AfD Tops Polls For First Time In History As Merz's Public Support For Chancellor Plummets​   https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/afd-tops-polls-first-time-history-merzs-public-support-chancellor-plummets

​  Not a mutual defense pact, but...  Russian Duma ratifies 20-year strategic pact with Iran
The vote in Moscow came days ahead of a historic summit in Oman between top US and Iranian officials​  https://thecradle.co/articles/russian-duma-ratifies-20-year-strategic-pact-with-iran

  Pepe Escobar indicates that Steve Witkoff needs to sleep on the planes when he can:  Russia–Iran–China: All for one, and one for all?
Although perhaps not yet obvious to Washington, a US war on Iran will be viewed as one against Russia and China too. Both Putin and Xi know that Trump's war is singularly directed at the transformational global 'changes they are driving together.'  
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying he would engage in indirect nuclear negotiations with Witkoff in Oman on Saturday.   https://thecradle.co/articles/russia-iran-china-all-for-one-and-one-for-all

Trump envoy in Russia for high-level talks – media,  Steve Witkoff is expected to meet with President Vladimir Putin on Friday   https://swentr.site/news/615586-witkoff-putin-meeting-axios/

Saudi Aramco discovers 14 new oil, gas fields​  https://www.arabnews.com/node/2596443/business-economy

​  Six weeks since Israel imposed total Gaza blockade, last food is running out
Israel’s blockade is starving Gaza’s population, with aid cut off and hunger now used as a weapon of war.​   
https://www.newarab.com/news/six-weeks-israel-imposed-total-gaza-blockade-last-food-running-out

Israel denies 68 per cent of UN aid access attempts into Gaza since 18 March: UN​   https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250409-israel-denies-68-per-cent-of-un-aid-access-attempts-into-gaza-since-18-march-un/

​  All the dead villagers in Vietnam became "VC".  Israel targeted my colleague in an airstrike, claiming that he was a Hamas fighter. Israel is lying.
Israel targeted my colleague, Hassan Eslayeh, claiming that he was a Hamas fighter. This isn’t the first time Israel has used this lie to justify targeting journalists, paramedics, and rescue workers.​   https://mondoweiss.net/2025/04/israel-targeted-my-colleague-in-an-airstrike-claiming-that-he-was-a-hamas-fighter-israel-is-lying/

Israel says seizing ‘large areas’ of Gaza as strike kills 23​   https://www.arabnews.com/node/2596398/middle-east

​  Israeli threatens to expel 970 pilots over Gaza war protest​   
  Israeli Air Force commanders threatened Wednesday to expel approximately 970 personnel — including pilots, officers and soldiers — if they do not withdraw their signatures from a letter demanding an end to the war in the Gaza Strip, local media reported.
​  Israeli daily Haaretz reported that “about 970 aircrew members, some in active reserve service, signed the letter opposing the war but not calling for refusal to serve.”
​  In recent days, senior Air Force leaders made personal phone calls to reservists who endorsed the message, urging them to retract their support, the outlet said. Commanders informed the reservists they face dismissal if they refuse to comply, according to Haaretz.
​  Following the threat, only 25 signatories withdrew their names, while eight others requested to add their signatures.


Most Americans Now Have Negative View Of Israel - Under-50 GOP Support Craters​   https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/most-americans-now-have-negative-view-israel-under-50-gop-support-craters

​Houthis claim 3rd MQ-9 Reaper Drone Downing in 10 days.  https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/houthis-claim-3rd-mq-9-reaper-drone-downing-ten-days

  US Central Command (CENTCOM) has launched literally hundreds of strikes in various places across Yemen over the last three weeks, especially the capital as well as the key port of Hodeidah. Al-Houthi on Thursday declared that the "US failed to prevent military operations and secure maritime navigation for the Israeli enemy."   https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/america-has-failed-secure-red-sea-navigation-houthi-leader

  Trump Suggests Israel Would 'Lead' Possible Attack On Iran
"If it requires military, we’re going to have military," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, responding to a question on whether US would attack if a nuclear deal isn't reached with the Iranians.   https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-suggests-israel-would-lead-possible-attack-iran

​  Chinese Sellers On Amazon Panic After Trump's Tariff Bazooka 
Wang Xin, head of the Shenzhen Cross-Border E-Commerce Association—which represents over 3,000 Amazon sellers—told Reuters, "This isn't just a tax issue; the entire cost structure gets completely overwhelmed," adding, "It'll be very hard for anyone to survive in the U.S. market."​   https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/chinese-sellers-amazon-panic-after-trumps-tariff-bazooka

​  Fishing and fabricating:  Biden White House secured Trump’s phone for FBI in Jan. 6 probe: new emails from Grassley, Johnson
The new whistleblower emails also show that a future member of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team and an anti-Trump FBI agent were closely involved in the origins of the FBI probe.​   
https://justthenews.com/government/congress/biden-white-house-secured-trumps-phone-fbi-jan-6-probe-new-emails-grassley

Upcoming Book Poised to Expose FBI’s Hidden Role in OKC Bombing on 30th Anniversary, Reveal Prison Murder Cover-Up, Says Victim’s Brother​   https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/04/upcoming-book-poised-expose-fbis-hidden-role-okc/

US Spy Chief Gabbard Starts Task Force To Investigate Intelligence Community
Tulsi Gabbard said she is setting up a task force to cut costs and root out what she said is “weaponization” of the government.​   https://www.zerohedge.com/political/us-spy-chief-gabbard-starts-task-force-investigate-intelligence-community

Attorney Ty Clevenger Files to Hold FBI in Contempt of Court for Systematically Not Providing Records About Seth Rich​   https://joehoft.com/boom-attorney-ty-clevenger-files-to-hold-fbi-in-contempt-of-court-for-systematically-not-providing-records-about-seth-rich/

  FBI and ATF directorships are both full time jobs.  ​Kash Patel Quietly Removed as Acting ATF Director After Ghosting Gig
He has been replaced by Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll after he reportedly did not show face in an ATF facility for weeks.​   https://www.thedailybeast.com/kash-patel-reportedly-removed-as-acting-atf-director-after-ghosting-gig/

  Tulsi Gabbard Drops Two Huge Bombshells
National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard made a startling revelation during an open cabinet meeting Wednesday, announcing that she has evidence that electronic voting machines have been tampered with to manipulate the results of past US elections.
  “I’ve got a long list of things that we’re investigating. We have the best going after this, election integrity being one of them,” Gabbard stated.
“We have evidence of how these electronic voting systems have been vulnerable to hackers for a very long time,” she continued.​..
​..Gabbard also announced that she is about to make public a huge amount of information relating to the assassinations of RFK, and MLK Jr.​   https://modernity.news/2025/04/11/tulsi-gabbard-drops-two-huge-bombshells/

​Meryl Nass MD advocates hand-counting paper ballots: Maybe this will help get 7 Senate Dems to vote in favor of honest elections   https://merylnass.substack.com/p/maybe-this-will-help-get-7-senate

  Dr. Nass:  SAVE Act requiring proof of citizenship to vote, passed House today
Polls show 84% of Americans support this bill. But will it get sufficient Senate support?​   
https://merylnass.substack.com/p/save-act-requiring-proof-of-citizenship

​That would include vaccinations, but does not cover medical personnel:  Idaho Governor Signs Bill Banning Businesses, Schools From Requiring Medical Procedures   https://www.zerohedge.com/political/idaho-governor-signs-bill-banning-businesses-schools-requiring-medical-procedures

  Peter McCullough MD,  At Least 15 Syrian Children Died in 2014 Measles Immunization Campaign
Vaccine Catastrophe Serves as Reminder that MMR Vaccine Administration Has Rare Fatal Risks​   https://www.thefocalpoints.com/p/at-least-15-syrian-children-died

​  Jessica Rose Ph.D.  A speculative prediction as to why Marks was afraid to let Secretary Kennedy access the VAERS data
​  So I predict, just for fun and entertainment of course, that when the VAERS books become transparent, and some brilliant data scientists analyze it, many more connections between [age of] injection [and racial disparity links] and adverse event onset (including autism) are going to be discovered. The thing that boils my blood on hiding data in general, and the VAERS in particular, is that this data is meant to serve as a safety signal warning system FOR THE PUBLIC. It is public data - every single VAERS entry represents a person’s documented experience with an adverse event in the context of a biological (vaccine). And contrary to Peter Marks’ concerns, there is no incentive in a boring old data analyst to make things up or to hide things. If patterns emerge, then patterns emerge. We don’t make up stories, and are not incentivized by profit. Most of us are just nerds who love truth. Emergent patterns from data are like beautiful truth.​   https://jessicar.substack.com/p/a-speculative-prediction-as-to-why

​  BREAKING - CDC Vaccine Safety Director May Have Destroyed Records, Says Sen. Ron Johnson
Dr. Shimabukuro implicated in concealing an 82% miscarriage rate among COVID-19 vaccinated pregnant women
 in NEJM study — records reportedly “remain lost.”​   
https://www.thefocalpoints.com/p/breaking-cdc-vaccine-safety-director

​  Celia Farber,  RFK Jr. Says Cause Of Autism Will Be Known By September—Announces Massive Coordination Between Hundreds Of International Scientists, Says Rate Went From 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 31 In His Lifetime
​  President Trump Backs Him, Says Cause Likely Something "Artificial," Mentions Shots, And Vows: "There Will Be No Bigger News Conference" When Truth Is Announced​   
https://celiafarber.substack.com/p/rfk-jr-says-cause-of-autism-will

​  Meryl Nass MD on the undead WHO Pandemic Treaty:  Quick update on the Pandemic Treaty negotiations: far from agreement.
The International Negotiating Body meets this week for the final time to craft a document the members can live with.​   https://merylnass.substack.com/p/quick-update-on-the-pandemic-treaty

​  Thanks "Germ". Her COVID-vaccination status is not specified:  'My long Covid turned out to be terminal cancer'
  A former triathlete whose terminal cancer was initially mistaken for long Covid has been given months to live.
Olivia Knowles, from Blackpool, noticed something "wasn't quite correct" in August 2023 while competing in the Half Ironman World Championship in Lahti, Finland.​   
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cde2ln71dwyo

  ​NOT a measles death:  8-Year-Old in West Texas Died From Hospital-acquired Pneumonia, Medical Records Show
Doctors who reviewed 8-year-old Daisy Hildebrand’s medical records disputed the Texas health authorities’ statement that she died from “measles pulmonary failure.” They said medical records show she died from acute respiratory distress “secondary to hospital-acquired pneumonia,” which she likely developed during a previous hospital stay.​   https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/8-year-old-west-texas-death-hospital-acquired-pneumonia/

​Robert Malone MD points out another categorization-error:  Another Texas Child Dies after Recovering from Measles   https://brownstone.org/articles/another-texas-child-dies-after-recovering-from-measles/

  Meryl Nass MD,  European measles 2024: 127,350 cases, 38 deaths
The most cases in 27 years. The death rates are comparable to what was seen in the US 75 years ago.​   https://merylnass.substack.com/p/european-measles-2024-127350-cases

​Dr. Nass:  Doctors are still being paid based on how many shots they give children.  Here is one current Blue Cross example   https://merylnass.substack.com/p/doctors-are-still-being-paid-based

  This is what the mRNA shots cause to happen in a percentage of recipients.  9 Million U.S. Children May Be Producing Toxic Spike Protein in Vital Organs Due to CDC Guidance   https://www.thefocalpoints.com/p/9-million-us-children-may-be-producing

Physicist Josh Mitteldorf:  Magnetic Pole Shift is Happening (part 1)   Some existential threats get more media attention than others   https://mitteldorf.substack.com/p/magnetic-pole-shift-is-happening-84d

Magnetic Pole Shift is Happening (part 2)​   Magnetic fields, cosmic rays, and climate​   https://mitteldorf.substack.com/p/magnetic-pole-shift-is-happening

​Under 4 minutes:  The Sun Can Super Flare (Confirmed)   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRcP8JI8rq4

Foreseeing More Work (pictured doing what I'll need to do again tomorrow)