Oct 06

Today’s News 6th October 2024

  • As Unrest In Communist China Grows, So Does Its Aggression On The World Stage
    As Unrest In Communist China Grows, So Does Its Aggression On The World Stage

    Authored by James Gorrie via The Epoch Times,

    At this point, China’s declining economic situation is well documented. The damage is too large to cover up with propaganda, and the Chinese people know it. Even the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) 75th anniversary was austere. Negative economic factors have been building for years.

    China was already having problems in 2018 and 2019 with the Trump administration’s imposition of steep tariffs on Chinese goods. But the COVID-19 pandemic and the CCP’s extreme “zero-COVID” three-year lockdown period made China’s economic downturn much worse.

    China Is Being Tested

    As we approach the last quarter of 2024, the CCP is being tested by unprecedented domestic economic conditions. As a result, civil unrest is 18 percent higher than last year. The slowdown has many facets, of course. We’ll name just a few in this space.

    One big factor is the real estate sector, which is about 30 percent of GDP. It continues to crater, and at the time of this writing, there is no recovery in sight. Home prices and sales continue to decline. What’s more, Chinese consumers are buying less, with consumer spending making up just 38 percent of GDP. By contrast, that figure is 60–70 percent in developed countries.

    Sloth and Disillusion

    Not unexpectedly, unemployment among China’s youth (ages 16–24) had been at least 21 percent and likely higher when the CCP stopped publishing unemployment figures in June 2023. Then, in December of that year, the CCP released new statistics from a new method of measuring youth unemployment, which did not include students. That new approach dropped that figure down to 14.9 percent, but that’s still almost three times higher than China’s national rate of 5.1 percent.

    High jobless rates for young people hinder future growth potential and have added to the “lie flat” trend amongst many in China’s new generation, who have little hope of or ambition to obtain the lifestyle that their parents enjoyed.

    Sloth and disillusion are hardly the stuff that strong economies are made of. The risks and dangers of disaffected youth movements are not unknown in China. The ghost of Tianuare still haunts Chinese authorities, even though the surveillance and control that the CCP has over its people is light ahead of the Tiananmen Square era of 1989.

    Embedded Political and Industrial Policies

    Still, there are embedded economic realities that can’t easily be changed. Party doctrine dictates that China’s top economic advantage is found in its low levels of domestic consumption and high savings rate. These two factors mean domestic capital flows directly into the state-controlled banking system, which it can then allocate to specific industries. This gives the Party tremendous control over industrial policy and private capital.

    For instance, China’s economic and development structures are geared toward high levels of industrial output. That may seem fine, but because China’s political organization and industrial arrangements within the Party are focused on large production capacity and not innovation or differentiation, the outcomes are massive overproduction that is often well beyond global demand and unprofitable factories.

    Constant oversupplies, from electric vehicle batteries to electronics, result in Chinese manufacturers dumping massive amounts of cheap products into foreign markets, triggering trade friction such as tariffs and other retaliation, which also make conditions worse in China.

    In short, China’s distorted industrial policies tied to a graft-loyalty political system have made it incapable of changing without disrupting the CCP structure and the loyalties that come with it.

    No Stopping the Downward Spiral

    For these reasons and others, over the past several years, China has found itself in a downward spiral of deflation, falling domestic consumption, and declining confidence in the CCP. What’s more, there are few real options that won’t threaten the CCP’s grip over the country. It must be made clear, however, that with its surveillance capabilities, the Party can handle a loss of confidence in the eyes of the people, but it can’t survive a loss of power. The two are not the same.

    What the CCP will do is continue to support some critical areas of the economy, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and military enhancements, while letting other sectors flail without little or no bailouts. Some sectors will eventually return, but not in the near future. This is clear to many within and outside of China, as billions of dollars in investment and capital continue to exit China.

    Wolf Warrior Diplomacy Is Alive and Well

    This brings us to China’s so-called wolf warrior diplomacy approach toward other nations, which it adopted in 2019 on the cusp of the COVID-19 outbreak and global criticism of Beijing’s disastrous handling of the pandemic. China was already under economic duress due to the rising trade war with the United States. Some observers attribute this approach to personal ambition among China’s diplomatic personnel and/or an attempt to improve the perceived investment environment in China.

    Neither makes any sense when it’s understood that Xi Jinping is not allowing diplomats to make their own rules and policies, and pre-wolf warrior investment levels were high. Why would the CCP authorities imagine that increasing aggression on the global stage would make more countries want to invest there? They don’t.

    A more realistic rationale for China’s rising aggression on the world stage is that Beijing feels the need to control the narrative at home and intimidate the rest of the world. The spillover between a declining economy and rising unrest is clear. At home, the CCP needs to blame the West and other foreigners for its blatant economic failures not only for exculpatory purposes but also to whip up nationalism and justify further aggressions as economic conditions continue to deteriorate.

    Some observers have concluded that Beijing’s days of wolf warrior diplomacy are now over. Current events, however, defy such a conclusion. These include the Chinese regime’s provocative incursions with military planes and boats into or near territorial waters or air space of the United States, Taiwan, and the Philippines, border battles with India, as well as a desire to expand control of the South China Sea. On the global stage, as the return to bullets over diplomacy rises, Beijing sees an opportunity to influence and/or intimidate other nations.

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 23:20

  • Concerns Raised About Toxic Exposure In Aftermath Of Helene Floodwaters
    Concerns Raised About Toxic Exposure In Aftermath Of Helene Floodwaters

    Authored by Edward Carver via Common Dreams,

    Local officials, academic researchers, and volunteer responders have raised concerns about chemical and biological contamination brought by the floodwaters of Hurricane Helene in the southeastern U.S. last week, which potentially threaten the safety not only of drinking water but also the quality of soil—leading experts to call for tighter regulations on stored pollutants.

    Helene struck Florida as a Category 4 hurricane on September 26 and swept through a number of states in the days that followed. Most of the damage came from extreme rainfall that triggered flooding. The storm killed at least 232 people. The biological and chemical threats posed by floodwaters are typically manifold, often containing, for example, e. coli from overflowing sewage systems.

    A man jumps into an overflowing North Carolina creek in 2018, following Hurricane Florence. Getty Images

    While it’s not yet clear what bacteria or chemicals Helene’s floodwaters may have contained, the storm passed through hundreds of industrial sites with toxic pollutants, including paper mills, fertilizer factories, oil and gas storage facilities, and even a retired nuclear plant, according to three researchers at Rice University, writing in The Conversation this week.

    The researchers called for tighter regulations on the storage and release of chemical pollutants. “Hazardous releases remain largely invisible due to limited disclosure requirements and scant public information,” they wrote. “Even emergency responders often don’t know exactly which hazardous chemicals they are facing in emergency situations.”

    “We believe this limited public information on rising chemical threats from our changing climate should be front-page news every hurricane season,” they added. “Communities should be aware of the risks of hosting vulnerable industrial infrastructure, particularly as rising global temperatures increase the risk of extreme downpours and powerful hurricanes.”

    The devastation of infrastructure and the lack of drinking water in cities such Asheville, North Carolina, has rightly received national media attention following the storm. In North Carolina alone, more than 700,000 households lost power, and 170,000 still didn’t have it as of Thursday.

    Yet the National Weather Service warns that while floodwaters can create clear-cut devastation, “what you can’t see can be just as dangerous.” Helene also brought with it public health concerns that are less obvious, including to other, non-public sources of drinking water.

    Helene’s floodwaters overran many wells, rendering them unsafe to drink, at least until treatment and testing can be done. North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services advised residents not to use contaminated well water earlier this week.

    One problem following Helene is that most studies of flooding’s impact on drinking water have been done in coastal areas, and it’s not clear how they apply to the mountainous areas of North Carolina that took the worst hit from the storm.

    “We don’t have a lot of knowledge about mountain flooding, from a hydrology standpoint,” Kelsey Pieper, a professor in environmental engineering at Northeastern University, toldInside Climate News.

    “Water velocities tend to be higher in mountain floodings because it’s getting funneled into the valley, where the water is accumulating. In a coastal area, you’re going to see more water spreading out,” she said. “The flooding mechanisms are different, and we know very little.”

    Wells tested in eastern North Carolina after Hurricane Florence in 2018 showed some detections of e. coli or total fecal coliform, which were partly attributed to industrialized hog farms in the area, Inside Climate News reported.

    Crops are often rendered unsafe after flooding due to biological or chemical contamination, according to Food Safety Alliance. Natural bodies of water are also often unsafe to swim in following floods. Virginia Department of Health and other agencies warned people to avoid them after Helene.

    The period after a tropical storm brings increased risk of both biological contaminants, such as bacteria and viruses, and chemical contaminants, such as heavy metals and pesticides, according to the Duke University Superfund Research Center.

    Following Helene, a grassroots volunteer cleanup effort has sprung up in western North Carolina, but it brings risks for the volunteers because of the potential contamination.

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    “We were supposed to get a big shipment of gloves, coveralls, masks, respirators, but we aren’t,” Rachel Bennett, a coordinating volunteer in the town of Marshall, which sits along the banks of the French Broad River, told the Citizen Times, an Asheville newspaper. “So, we’re hoping to get more. Those are the big things because we’re in cleanup right now. We need thick things.”

    “Right now, it’s boots, and it’s hard to get people to put on gloves, because when you’re in this, you’re like, ‘I’m already exposed,'” she added.

    A Marshall resident conducted a soil test this week but the results haven’t come back yet, the newspaper reported. “All of these rivers should be treated as hazmat sites,” Buncombe County spokesperson Stacey Wood said at a briefing Friday, according to a local journalist. Buncombe County encompasses Asheville and Marshall is just outside it.

    The Rice University researchers called for better preparation for future storms in the form of stronger regulation. They’ve developed a map showing the U.S. areas that are most vulnerable to chemical pollution brought on by floodwaters. One hotspot is the area of Texas and Louisiana full of petrochemical industry sites.

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 22:10

  • A Comprehensive Guide To Choosing The Right Protein Powder
    A Comprehensive Guide To Choosing The Right Protein Powder

    Authored by Jennifer Sweenie via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

    From hemp to pea to whey—protein powders are a staple for many people seeking to boost their overall protein intake and health. With the wide range of options available, each boasting unique benefits and potential drawbacks, navigating the spectrum of protein powders can be daunting. Understanding the various types is essential for making an informed choice that best aligns with your dietary and fitness goals.

    Nick Starichenko/Shutterstock

    Potential Benefits of Protein Powders

    Protein powder is a concentrated dietary supplement derived from animal or plant sources. It offers a convenient way to boost protein intake and comes in various flavors.

    Weight Management

    A protein-rich diet can help you feel full for longer, potentially aiding in weight management. A systematic review published in Nutrition Reviews in 2018 found that protein supplementation may be effective for reducing fat mass and promoting weight control without sacrificing lean muscle mass when taken with meals—as opposed to between—and in conjunction with resistance training.

    Muscle Growth and Repair

    Protein powders support muscle recovery and growth, particularly following exercise sessions. A review of 49 studies encompassing nearly 2,000 people published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2018 concluded that dietary protein supplementation “significantly enhanced” muscle strength and size during prolonged resistance exercise training in healthy adults.

    Convenience With a Nutrition Boost

    Protein powders offer a convenient and quick way to get more protein without extensive meal preparation. They’re particularly beneficial for those with higher protein needs or dietary restrictions, such as vegetarians and vegans.

    Do You Need Protein Powder?

    Consider your personal lifestyle and nutritional needs when deciding whether to incorporate a protein powder supplement into your routine.

    The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) published a review in 2017 on protein and exercise. Their position was that “while it is possible for physically active individuals to obtain their daily protein requirements through the consumption of whole foods, supplementation is a practical way of ensuring intake of adequate protein quality and quantity while minimizing caloric intake, particularly for athletes who typically complete high volumes of training.”

    Dr. Robert McLaughlin, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, told The Epoch Times, “For most people, protein powder should be used to supplement, not replace whole foods.”

    Protein supplementation is “unnecessary and potentially harmful for sedentary individuals or those with medical issues like kidney disease,” said McLaughlin, who also completed a fellowship in sports medicine. “Athletes and very active people can benefit from additional protein for muscle gain and repair.”

    “The ideal type of protein powder depends on a person’s needs and diet. The amount of powder needed varies based on activity level, health, and goals,” McLaughlin said.

    Animal vs. Plant-Based Protein Powder

    Plant-based protein contains fewer essential amino acids and has a lower digestibility than animal-based protein, making animal-based sources generally easier for the body to absorb. However, when it comes to muscle gain, the differences appear to be negligible.

    A study published in the Journal of Nutrition in 2022 comparing animal- and plant-based protein found no difference in postprandial muscle protein synthesis—the process of muscle protein being created after a meal—from the ingestion of 30 grams of milk protein compared to the equivalent amount of a blend of wheat, corn, and pea protein.

    A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Nutrients in 2021 came to a similar conclusion—the source of protein did not affect absolute lean mass or muscle strength. However, animal protein gave a more significant boost to the percentage of lean mass, particularly in people younger than 50.

    Animal-Based Protein Powder Sources

    Protein powders are available from several sources and have unique characteristics and benefits. When choosing the best protein powder for you, consider factors such as your dietary preferences, fitness goals, and any allergies or sensitivities you may have.

    Whey Protein Powder

    Derived from cheese and other dairy products, whey protein is a popular supplement containing all essential amino acids. It’s quickly absorbed and has high levels of leucine, which is shown to stimulate muscle protein synthesis.

    Casein Protein Powder

    Casein, another milk-derived protein, digests slowly, steadily releasing amino acids into the bloodstream. For this reason, some people prefer to take it before bed to support muscle growth during sleep.

    Bone Broth Protein Powder

    Bone broth protein powder is derived from liquid bone broth from chicken, beef, or fish. Bones and connective tissue are simmered to extract nutrients. The resulting broth is dehydrated into a concentrated powder. It is rich in collagen, gelatin, calcium, and various minerals.

    Collagen Powder

    Collagen protein powder is made from collagen, a protein found in the connective tissues of animals. It is the most abundant protein in the body and makes up your skin, bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Collagen is protein-rich and a high-quality source but not a complete protein. This means it does not contain all the amino acids that makeup protein.

    A study published in Nutrients in 2019 found that collagen may not be effective at altering body composition in overweight women. Collagen powder has several benefits, including supporting gut lining, skin and hair health, and liver function.

    Plant-Based Protein Powder Sources

    Plant-based protein powders offer diverse options for people seeking alternatives to animal-derived proteins, catering to various dietary preferences and nutritional needs.

    Pea Protein Powder

    Extracted from yellow peas, this plant-based protein is popular among vegans and vegetarians. A 2015 study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that pea protein is as effective as whey for increasing muscle when combined with resistance training. Research also suggests that pea protein may increase satiety by slowing digestion. Peas are also high in dietary fiber, potassium, and B-group vitamins.

    Soy Protein Powder

    Soy protein powder is made from defatted soybean flakes. Soy protein isolate generally has a higher protein content than food sources, such as soy milk. It is a good source of fiber, as well as vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc. The amino acid profile of soy protein is close to animal protein. However, the content of amino acids may vary among soy products due to different processing.

    A 2020 randomized trial published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found no difference between soy and whey protein in building lean mass and strength during strength training. The researchers noted that “slightly more” soy protein supplementation was needed to achieve the same effect as whey.

    Hemp Protein Powder

    Hemp protein is a plant-based protein powder option made from grinding hemp seeds into a fine powder and removing the oil. It contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. Hemp contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and is a good source of fiber.

    Brown Rice Protein Powder

    Extracted from brown rice, this powder contains vitamins and minerals, including iron, vitamin C, calcium, and fiber. Studies show it can be as effective as whey in improving exercise performance and body composition.

    Due to the varying benefits of plant-based proteins, there are mixed protein powder products made from a blend of plant sources that may offer a more comprehensive nutrient profile.

    Concentrates, Isolates, and Hydrolysates Explained

    The main differences between concentrates, isolates, and hydrolysates lie in their protein content and powder processing methods. Each type has its benefits, and the choice between them depends on individual dietary and fitness goals.

    “Concentrates and isolates differ in purity, while hydrolysates are pre-digested for faster absorption,” McLaughlin said.

    Concentrates

    Concentrates are up to 80 percent protein by weight. The remaining 20 percent is usually comprised of fat, lactose, minerals, and moisture. Concentrates tend to have a higher amount of lactose and, subsequently, higher sugar and carbohydrate content.

    Isolates

    Isolates are more concentrated than concentrates, with more than 90 percent protein by weight. They undergo further processing to reduce lactose and fat content, making them leaner and potentially more suitable for those with lactose sensitivity.

    Hydrolysates

    Hydrolysates also undergo additional processing, making them more readily digestible and absorbable by the body. Hydrolyzed protein powders are often more expensive than the former types.

    A meta-analysis of eight studies published in Nutrients in 2019 compared the effects of whey protein powder in concentrated, hydrolyzed, and isolated forms against a placebo. The review found no positive effect on muscle gain regardless of the type of whey protein used, its protein concentration, or the level of physical activity. However, there was a “statistically significant” reduction in fat mass for whey protein concentrate and individuals who engaged in regular physical activity. However, other research, including that done in older adults, found whey could help build muscle mass.

    A study published in 2018 in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research compared hydrolyzed chicken protein, beef protein isolate, and whey protein concentrate to a control group over eight weeks combined with resistance training. While all groups experienced increased strength, the protein-supplemented groups saw significant increases in lean mass and decreases in fat mass.

    Which Is Best for You?

    The existing data on the effects of concentrates, isolates, and hydrolysates surrounding muscle gain and fat loss is inconclusive, and more research is needed.  All three provide a quality source of protein. For most, it is a personal preference. Those sensitive to lactose (for whey varieties) or following a low-carb or low-fat diet may opt for an isolate over a concentrate. Some may choose a hydrolysate if they have any digestive issues or are concerned about nutrition timing, as it will be absorbed faster. Those with no sensitivities or dietary restrictions seeking to add protein to their diet at a lower price point may opt for a concentrate.

    Potential Downsides of Protein Powders

    There are some potential drawbacks to protein powders to be mindful of before adding one to your diet.

    Overconsumption Risks

    Protein powders could be too much of a good thing. Excessive protein intake can strain the kidneys and cause dehydration or digestive issues. A systematic review of 11 papers published in 2021 in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism found that prolonged, excessive whey protein supplementation, especially when combined with a sedentary lifestyle, may adversely affect kidney and liver function. Excess protein can also be converted into glucose, which is counterintuitive if the goal is weight loss.

    Quality Concerns

    Certain protein powders may contain undesirable additives, such as sugars or artificial flavors. Research also uncovered the presence of heavy metals in protein powders.

    An analysis of data reported from a U.S. Consumer Reports study and an evaluation by the Clean Label Project, published in Toxicology Reports in 2020, found that protein powder supplements may contain detectable levels of heavy metals and that plant-based protein powders tended to have a higher heavy metal burden than animal-based powders. However, the analysis ultimately concluded that using the typical serving size of protein powders as directed would not cause any adverse side effects from heavy metal exposure.

    To be sure you’re selecting a high-quality protein powder:

    • Look for powders with minimal ingredients and no artificial additives.
    • Consider organic options to minimize potential contaminants.
    • Check for NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) Certified for Sport or Informed Choice certifications.
    • Consult with a health care professional or registered dietitian for personalized recommendations.

    Nutrient Gaps

    Over-reliance on protein powders may lead to missing out on essential nutrients found in whole-food protein sources.

    Digestive Disturbances 

    Varieties of protein powders containing lactose, such as whey, can be challenging for individuals with lactose intolerance. Whey protein isolate usually contains minimal lactose, while concentrates tend to contain more. If you are sensitive to lactose, look for a label that specifies the powder is lactose-free.

    How to Use Protein Powders

    For building muscle, ISSN recommends consuming protein within two hours of a workout. For weight loss, research suggests incorporating protein throughout the day to curb appetite and increase satiety.

    “I have found whey protein isolate to be a high-quality option for many of my active patients looking to build muscle and recover from exercise,” McLaughlin said. “For those sensitive to dairy, a plant-based powder like pea protein can also work well and provide a complete amino acid profile,” he added. “Either way, I recommend choosing a powder with minimal added sugar.”

    Any type of protein powder is simple to mix into a glass of water or milk or blend into a smoothie. However, protein powders have uses beyond just the glass.

    “There are so many ways to add protein to your recipes and your plate,” Meredith Mann, founder of The Peachie Spoon, a certified holistic nutrition coach and recipe developer, told The Epoch Times in an email. “Baked goods like cookies, muffins, brownies, and baked oatmeal or n’oatmeal [grain-free porridge-like alternative] are favorites of mine,” she added.

    “A plant-based protein powder, usually from rice and pea protein, can be a great option too, especially if your dietary preference is to not eat animal products,” said Mann. However, plant-based varieties tend to have a chalky taste, rendering them not the best option for adding to baked goods, she noted, suggesting mixing a serving of the powder into plain yogurt or cottage cheese and enjoying it with a spoon or using it as a dip for fruit.

    Whatever source and form of protein you choose, quality is key when it comes to protein powders. Look for varieties with minimal ingredients.

    Mann said, “Some protein supplements can contain additives, artificial sweeteners, and added sugars, which some people may want to avoid.”

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 21:00

  • Mexico Is Still Blaming Americans For Mexico's Gang Violence
    Mexico Is Still Blaming Americans For Mexico’s Gang Violence

    Authored by Ryan McMaken via The Mises Institute,

    This week, the US Supreme court announced that it will consider throwing out the Mexican government’s suit in the case of Smith & Wesson Brands v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos. The Mexican government alleges that Smith & Wesson and wholesaler Witmer Public Safety Group Inc. are intentionally conspiring with middle-men to supply Mexican cartels with guns. 

    The Mexican plaintiffs have never actually proven any of this, of course, and this is all part of a larger effort by the Mexican regime and its apologists who have looked for a scapegoat to blame for Mexico’s runaway homicide rates over the past twenty years. In truth, the Mexican government would do well to look a bit closer to home. Mexico’s crime problems are a result of Mexico’s corrupt state, its centralized government—which is a federal government in name only—and the fact Mexico essentially outlaws gun ownership for peaceful, law-abiding citizens. 

    In the past I’ve covered in detail the ways that Mexican crime is a result of Mexican law and illegal gun running of Mexican guns in Mexico. At the core of Mexico’s failed claims is the fact that guns are far more common in the United States than in Mexico, yet crime is far, far worse in Mexico. Even along the border, American border towns have far less crime than the Mexican towns mere yards away on the other side of the border. On the American side of the border, legal guns are plentiful. On the Mexican side, the Mexican government ensures that guns are mostly in the hands of the cartels. Or, as I put it in 2018: 

    Like much of Latin America, Mexico is a country with strict gun laws, but high homicide rates.

    So how to explain the problem?

    Well, in the case of Mexico, the answer for gun control activists is to blame the United States: “one way for Mexicans to get around their country’s strict gun laws is to simply walk across the border.”

    The logic proceeds accordingly: The presence of more guns means more homicide. And, although Mexico has strict gun laws, Mexico is unfortunately located close to the United States where guns can be easily purchased. Guns are then introduced into Mexico where they drive a higher homicide rate.

    There are some problems with this logic. Even if we account for all the black-market guns in Mexico, gun totals are still much higher in the US. That is, according to the 2007 Small Arms Survey, it is estimated that there are around 15 million privately-held guns in Mexico, on the high end. Even accounting for an additional increase since 2007, we’re looking at a rate of fewer than 20 guns per 100 people in Mexico. In the United States, on the other hand, that total is around 100 guns per 100 people.

    So, if one is going to pin Mexico’s violence problem on “more guns,” they have to account for why there are more than five times as many guns in the US, with only a small fraction of the homicides.

    Moreover, the often-quoted statistic allegedly showing that as much as 70 percent, or even 90 percent, of guns seized in Mexico come from the US is not true. That statistic is based only on seized guns that are also traced by the ATF. How many of all guns seized in Mexico come from the US? According to Stratfor, “almost 90 percent of the guns seized in Mexico in 2008 were not traced back to the United States.” Nor does the Mexican government ask the ATF to trace all guns seized in Mexico.

    This is because many of those arms can be traced back to the Mexican government itself. 

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 19:50

  • Should Social Security Payments Be Taxed?
    Should Social Security Payments Be Taxed?

    Submitted by Brenton Smith,

    Back in August, former President Donald Trump issued a proclamation to voters on Truth Social, “seniors should not pay tax on social security!” 

    In layman terms, the statement from Trump implies that current retirees should get to keep more money at the expense of future retirees who would receive more painful reductions to benefits in eight years rather than nine.

    While that trade-off may or may not appeal to voters in November, the taxation of Social Security benefits needs to be discussed before voters reach the polls in the coming election.

    These rules date back 30 years, and Congress hasn’t monitored the rules as closely as it should.

    On one hand, the taxation of benefits is a vital source of revenue for Social Security. It will generate nearly $60 billion in revenue this year for Social Security, which approximates the contribution of nearly nine million workers who will never collect benefits. Moreover, that revenue is projected to double over the next 10 years.

    At the same time, we can’t justify a tax simply because the revenue is important.

    For a bit of background, the taxation of benefits was added in 1983 as a compromise to generate income that would be needed to pay benefits far in the future. The policy option accounted for about 33 percent of the total effectiveness of the legislative package, which stabilized the program’s projected finances from 2030 through 2057.

    Four decades later, the tax reaches an ever-increasing number of people for two reasons.

    • First, the threshold that triggers the levy is not adjusted for inflation, so the definition of “substantial outside income” falls in real terms every year.

    • Separately, the components of “outside income” are rising faster than inflation, particularly wages paid to people who are working during retirement.

    As a consequence of these factors, more than 50 percent of beneficiaries who file taxes pay a levy on some portion of their benefits. An average worker in the United States working 30 hours per week, would generally expose his or her benefits to a marginal tax rate of more than 40 percent.

    People wonder why the government taxes 85 percent of the check. In 1983, Congress required seniors to pay a tax on 50 percent of their benefits, but the portion was increased to 85 percent in 1993. Supporters of the change justified the increase based on research from the Social Security Administration actuarial team, which found that, even in a worst case scenario, someone collecting benefits today would make $0.85 cents of profit on every dollar received in the form of benefits.

    Unfortunately for current retirees, no one knows whether the math done in the late 1980s has worked out for them as individuals.

    At this point, the government collects an income tax from people who have to work in retirement to make ends meet at a marginal tax rate that is normally reserved for someone like Warren Buffett, when no one really knows whether the money is income or not. No one has bothered to check.

    The one thing that we do know is that the trustees of the program expect seniors to pay an extra 8 to 9 billion dollars annually in taxes based on the expiration of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act in 2026.

    So, there is a good chance that this unpopular tax will become even more unpopular.

    This tax is vital to Social Security, but no one is watching it. The levy has drifted year to year; decade to decade; generation to generation without a lot of thought about who it affects or why it is applied. The rationale in Washington is retirees should pay the tax this year because they paid it last year.

    Before anyone repeals the tax, Congress needs to figure out whether there is any profit in the money received by seniors, and then lawmakers can talk about to whom the tax might apply.

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 19:15

  • The FOIA Lady Pleads The Fifth
    The FOIA Lady Pleads The Fifth

    Authored by Maryanne Demasi via The Brownstone Institute,

    A relatively unknown public records officer at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is now at the centre of a burgeoning scandal involving Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

    The saga unfolded after subpoenaed emails belonging to David Morens, a former top advisor to Anthony Fauci, revealed that someone had taught him to game the system and avoid emails being captured by FOIA requests.

    “i learned from our foia lady here how to make emails disappear after i am foia’d but before the search starts, so i think we are all safe,” Morens wrote in a Feb 24, 2021, email.

    “Plus i deleted most of those earlier emails after sending them to gmail.”

    Morens implicated Margaret (Marg) Moore, known colloquially as “The FOIA lady” in trying to hide information from the American people, particularly that related to the origins of Covid-19, which is a felony.

    It sparked an investigation by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic to expose what Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) called a “cover-up.”

    A letter to NIH director Monica Bertagnolli in May suggested “a conspiracy at the highest levels” of these once trusted public health institutions. 

    “If what appears in these documents is true, this is an apparent attack on public trust and must be met with swift enforcement and consequences for those involved,” Wenstrup wrote.

    Wenstrup said there was evidence that a former chief of staff of Fauci’s might have used intentional misspellings — such as “Ec~Health” instead of “EcoHealth” — to prevent emails from being captured in keyword searches by FOIA officials.

    Today, Wenstrup announced a subpoena to compel Moore (The FOIA lady) to appear for a deposition on October 4, 2024, saying that she’d repeatedly resisted these efforts and delayed the Select Subcommittee’s investigation. 

    “Her alleged scheme to help NIH officials delete COVID-19 records and use their personal emails to avoid FOIA is appalling and deserves a thorough investigation,” said Wenstrup.

    “Holding Ms. Moore accountable for any role she played in undermining American trust is a step towards improving the lack of accountability and absence of transparency rapidly spreading across many agencies within our federal government,” he added.

    Moore, however, has indicated through her lawyers that she would invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

    Her lawyers wrote to Wenstrup explaining that she’d cooperated with the Select Subcommittee to find “an alternative” to sitting for an interview, including expediting her own FOIA request for her own documents.

    They also explained that Morens’ emails suggesting Moore gave tips “about avoiding FOIA,” were misleading because Morens, under oath said, “That was a joke…She didn’t give me advice about how to avoid FOIA.”

    Nonetheless, Moore’s decision to plead the Fifth has only fuelled concern over the lack of transparency and accountability of one of the nation’s top health research institutions.

    It’s not over until the FOIA lady sings!

    Further reading: The great FOIA dodge

    Republished from the author’s Substack

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 18:40

  • Visualizing US Net Immigration By President
    Visualizing US Net Immigration By President

    Ahead of the U.S. presidential election, immigration policies are top of mind for American voters. But how has immigration to the U.S. looked over the past two decades across both Republican and Democratic presidencies?

    This chart, via Visual Capitalist’s Kayla Zhu, shows net immigration figures in the U.S. from 2001 to 2024, broken down by immigrant status. Data for 2021 to 2024 are projections.

    The figures come from a report authored by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) called Demographic Outlook: 2024 to 2054 with data and projections as of January 2024.

    Methodology: How U.S. Immigrants are Categorized

    The CBO categorizes immigrants to the United States of America into three groups:

    • LPR+: Lawful permanent residents (LPRs) plus people who are eligible to apply to become LPRs on the basis of their current status, such as asylees and refugees. LPRs include those who are granted that status while within the United States as well as people who have gained admission from abroad.

    • INA nonimmigrant: Comprises temporary workers, student exchange visitors, qualifying family members, and others admitted as nonimmigrants under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)—for example, officials of foreign governments—while they remain in that status.

    • Other foreign national: People in the U.S. who are not in the first two categories and who have not subsequently become U.S. citizens or received LPR, asylee, or nonimmigrant status—such as those who entered the U.S. illegally or those who entered legally in a temporary status and then remained after that legal status expired.

    Net Immigration to the U.S. from 2001 to 2024, by President

    Below, we show net immigration figures for the U.S. from 2001 to 2024, broken down by immigrant type, along with the current U.S. president at the time.

    President Year LPR+ INA nonimmigrant Other foreign national Total
    Bush 2001 794,000 50,000 529,000 1,373,000
    Bush 2002 728,000 302,000 278,000 1,308,000
    Bush 2003 575,000 182,000 398,000 1,155,000
    Bush 2004 749,000 321,000 259,000 1,329,000
    Bush 2005 869,000 463,000 552,000 1,884,000
    Bush 2006 910,000 449,000 329,000 1,688,000
    Bush 2007 800,000 -273,000 362,000 889,000
    Bush 2008 835,000 -411,000 -250,000 174,000
    Obama 2009 832,000 529,000 -462,000 899,000
    Obama 2010 786,000 117,000 -100,000 803,000
    Obama 2011 791,000 42,000 -104,000 729,000
    Obama 2012 766,000 -125,000 13,000 654,000
    Obama 2013 748,000 -63,000 132,000 817,000
    Obama 2014 769,000 824,000 46,000 1,639,000
    Obama 2015 813,000 376,000 289,000 1,478,000
    Obama 2016 877,000 -18,000 26,000 885,000
    Trump 2017 840,000 473,000 -213,000 1,100,000
    Trump 2018 810,000 -339,000 200,000 671,000
    Trump 2019 713,000 -64,000 -234,000 415,000
    Trump 2020 537,000 58,000 213,000 808,000
    Biden 2021 551,000 20,000 600,000 1,171,000
    Biden 2022 714,000 60,000 1,900,000 2,674,000
    Biden 2023 807,000 90,000 2,400,000 3,297,000
    Biden 2024 809,000 90,000 2,400,000 3,299,000

    Overall, net immigration had the biggest increase under current U.S. President Joe Biden’s term. The CBO estimates that for 2021 to 2024 that the U.S. added over 10 million immigrants across all three categories.

    During Biden’s term, there has been a significant increase in unauthorized immigration, with border authorities encountering record numbers of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

    This surge is attributed to factors such as post-pandemic migration, economic and political instability in countries of origin, and the perception of more lenient policies, leading to over 4.4 million repatriations.

    The CBO estimates that net immigration to the U.S. was 2.6 million in 2022 and 3.3 million in both 2023 and 2024, for an estimated 9.27 million net immigrants from 2022-2024—higher than net immigration from 2010 to 2019 which saw 9.19 million immigrants enter the country.

    U.S. Immigration Under Donald Trump

    Net immigration saw its lowest levels during Trump’s presidency (3 million net immigrants during his term) as the former president enacted 472 administrative changes that impacted U.S. immigration policies.

    These include the “Remain in Mexico” policy that required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their U.S. immigration hearings, travel bans, significant reductions in refugee admissions and resettlement programs, and the implementation of Title 42 which allowed U.S. officials to turn away migrants who came to the U.S.-Mexico border on the grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

    The COVID-19 pandemic also led to a dramatic decline in net immigration to the U.S., with immigration levels dropping to record lows in 2020 due to travel restrictions, consulate closures, and visa processing suspensions, before beginning to recover in 2022.

    To learn more about migration patterns, check out this graphic that visualizes annual net migration by region, from 1950 to 2023.

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 18:05

  • What Would World War III Really Look Like? It's Already Starting…
    What Would World War III Really Look Like? It’s Already Starting…

    Authored by Brandon Smith via Alt-Market.us,

    One of the most common assumptions I come across in the survival-sphere is the idea that the next world war would automatically necessitate global nuclear conflict and a Mad Max-like outcome. In other words, a lot of people assume we aren’t in a world war until the nukes start flying and the survivors are left fighting in soda can armor over an irradiated desert. This is a dangerous misunderstanding for a lot of reasons.

    What people are overlooking is the fact that we are ALREADY in the middle of WWIII. They don’t realize it because they’ve based their entire concept of world war on Hollywood fantasy.

    There are many ways in which wars are fought. In our current situation WWIII is being waged through proxies like Ukraine and Israel (and maybe Taiwan in the near future). The war is also being fought on the global economic stage using sanctions, inflation and the dumping of the US dollar as the world reserve. To be sure, these situations can easily escalate into something bigger and that is exactly what I suspect they will do. However, planetary nuclear war is the least likely scenario.

    Survival and preparedness communities have a tendency to hyper-focus on the obviously Apocalyptic. We talk a lot about EMP strikes and split-second grid down calamities. We talk about solar flares, overnight economic crashes and nuclear holocaust. I think survivalists do this because it acts as a mental exercise – A way to better clarify what the best preparedness solutions are in the majority of cases, including the worst cases.

    But as I’ve said for many years, collapse is a process, not an event.

    These things happen slowly, and then all at once. If you went back in time ten years ago and warned people that in 2024 the US would be in the middle of a stagflationary crisis with a 30%-50% average price increase on all necessities, they would probably dismiss you as a doom-monger. Well, guess what, that’s exactly what a handful of alternative economists (myself included) were doing well over a decade ago, and we were dismissed over and over again – Welcome to our world.

    The reason people refused to believe us is because the danger was not immediately obvious. The economic threat was not hitting them in their wallet yet. Stock markets seemed to be doing fine. The jobs market was still functioning somewhat normally. They could only view economic crisis through the lens of a total collapse. The idea that it would happen incrementally never crossed their minds.

    Even today there are still people who argue that everything is fine. The stock market is “fine.” The labor market is “healthy.” If you suggest all is not well, you’re a “chicken little.” This is the incredible danger of having a Hollywood fantasy idea of collapse. We may never get to 100% systemic implosion; but even a 50% collapse is still a survival situation.

    The same dynamic goes for WWIII. We must not overlook the dangers right in front of us simply because intercontinental ballistic nuclear missiles aren’t crisscrossing the sky.

    Consider the proxy battleground case for a moment.

    In October of 2023 I published an article titled ‘It’s A Trap! The Wave Of Repercussions As The Middle East Fights “The Last War.”’ In it I stated:

    “Israel is going to pound Gaza into gravel, there’s no doubt about that. A ground invasion will meet far more resistance than the Israelis seem to expect, but Israel controls the air and Gaza is a fixed target with limited territory. The problem for them is not the Palestinians, but the multiple war fronts that will open up if they do what I think they are about to do (attempted sanitization).

    Lebanon, Iran and Syria will all immediately engage and Israel will not be able to fight them all – Hell, the Israelis got their asses handed to them by Lebanon alone in 2006. This will result in inevitable demands for US/EU intervention.”

    I also warned on the potential motives behind escalation in the Middle East:

    “The timing of the conflict in Israel is incredibly beneficial to globalists, and this might explain Israel’s bizarre intel failure [October 7th]. Just as US and British leaders had prior knowledge of a potential Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 but warned no one because they WANTED to compel Americans to fight in WWII, the Palestinian incursion serves a similar purpose.”

    I my article ‘Iran vs Israel: What Happens Next Now That Shots Have Been Fired?’ published in April, I predicted:

    “A ground war between Iran and Israel is inevitable if the tit-for-tat continues, and much of it will be fought (at least in the beginning) in Lebanon and perhaps Syria. Iran has a mutual defense pact with both countries and Lebanon is generally a proxy for Iranian defense policy.

    Iran will have active troops or proxy forces in all of these regions, not to mention the Houthis in Yemen striking ships in the Red Sea. There are questions in terms of how Iraq will respond to this situation, but there’s not a lot of love between the current government and Israel or the US.”

    Not surprisingly there was a contingent of people that argued these things would “never happen” and talk of war between Iran and Israel was “doom mongering.” Those people were wrong (yet again), and I was right. Iran and Israel have now essentially declared war on each other and are exchanging missile barrages as I write this. The ground war will begin in Lebanon and expand from there.

    Just as in Ukraine, the looming danger is that war between Israel and Iran will draw in larger military powers like the US and Russia. 

    People dismiss this outcome because their modern conception of global war needs to change; this world war will not be fought exactly like those in the past.

    This time the weapons of mass destruction will be financial and resource driven instead of nuclear. If Iran moves to blockade the Strait of Hormuz (which I believe is imminent), Americans can be harmed financially through energy shortages and gas price spikes even without our soldiers deployed to fight.

    There’s also the question of our wide open borders and how many potential terrorists slipped into the US during the Biden Administration’s illegal immigration bonanza. How many attacks (or false flag attacks) are being organized right now?

    The regional conflicts could spread and go on for a decade or longer. It all adds up to a world war, but it may never be officially declared a world war. Perhaps there will be a limited nuclear event somewhere; maybe a false flag or a limited strike. But a nuclear war is not necessary to create the kind of chaos the globalists are looking for.

    People also need to understand that the powers-that-be also have a lot to risk should a war devolve into nuclear exchange. If it was really that easy for them to launch warheads, wipe out the majority of the human population and then establish a global dynasty, they would have done it a long time ago.

    Global war on such a scale is inherently unpredictable. The elites have spent trillions of dollars and the better part of the last century constructing the most complex surveillance and control grid in history. It would be foolish to turn it all to ash in the blink of an eye and I highly doubt that’s the plan. They would be putting themselves and their legacy at risk of being erased forever.

    Does this mean I will be ignoring the potential for a nuclear event? No. I will always keep it in mind and have preps ready just in case. A single nuke set off anywhere west of your home could result in radioactive fallout that would take around three to four weeks to dissipate. That said, the danger of these sceanrios might be overstated.

    Here’s an interesting fact to ponder: The US government has tested at least 1050 explosive nuclear devices over the decades. Around 216 of those were atmospheric tests that resulted in massive fallout across the country. Some people in close proximity got sick over many years from these tests, but they didn’t result in an overnight mass death event. Perhaps, at a moderate distance, these weapons are not as dangerous as we’re led to believe?

    The greater effect of nuclear weapons comes not just from the resulting damage to national infrastructure, but also mass psychological disruption. The economic system would take an immediate dive from even one strike, and it could be anywhere in the world. A single nuke in Ukraine would send shockwaves through already unstable markets.  The supply chain and food supply could be quickly disrupted.  

    If the globalists wanted to accelerate a worldwide collapse, they wouldn’t need a nuclear war, just one well placed device.

    The biggest danger from WWIII is not nuclear exchange, but the disturbing changes societies go through when conflict inspires mass fear. Totalitarianism is much easier to institute during such a war. Freedom of speech is often suppressed and criticism of the government is often criminalized. People who rebel against this are accused of “working with the enemy.” Military conscription is usually enforced and young people are sent off to die overseas over a conflagration that makes little sense.

    The economy nose dives and the supply chain tightens. Price controls and rationing are initiated. Black markets flourish but those who participate are aggressively targeted by the government. In the case of the US, armed revolution in many states is a certainty.

    Public planning should focus far more on these eventualities and less on Hollywood images of Apocalypse.

    *  *  *

    One survival food company, Prepper All-Naturals, has proactively dropped prices to allow Americans to stock up ahead of projected hikes in beef prices. Their 25-year shelf life steaks currently come at a 25% discount with promo code “invest25”.

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 17:30

  • Watch: Trump Returns To Butler With Special Guest Elon Musk
    Watch: Trump Returns To Butler With Special Guest Elon Musk

    Donald Trump is returning to Butler, Pennsylvania – where he was nearly killed on July 13, holding a high-profile rally in what the former president described as unfinished business.

    “I said that day when I was shot, I said, ‘We’re coming back. We’re going to come back.’ And I’m fulfilling a promise,” Trump told NewsNation this week. “I’m fulfilling, really, an obligation.”

    In attendance will be his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, as well as Tesla and SpaceX founder, Elon Musk. Trump is scheduled to speak at 5PM ET.

    Watch:

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    Secret Service Figures Out Sloped Roofs

    In an amazing display of agility, the US Secret Service has beefed up security – and even managed to set up shop on a sloped rooftop – which former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle assured us was the reason nobody was stationed on the roof used by shooter Thomas Crooks during the July attempt on Trump.

    According to reports, unlike July 13, the Secret Service and local law enforcement will operate as one unit through a unified command center in order to quickly communicate any threats.

    They’re also using a counter-drone system which wasn’t placed online until nearly an hour after Crooks flew one over the rally site. Law enforcement is also flying their own drones today.

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    As the Epoch Times notes further;

    At the July 13 rally, an estimated 15,000 people waited in scorching heat for hours. Trump had only spoken for a few minutes before the shots rang out, bringing the rally to an abrupt end.

    The U.S. Secret Service has faced criticism for security lapses surrounding the shooting and another gunman’s foiled plan to kill Trump as he golfed in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15. Most concerns have centered on on-site planning failures; Trump and others have praised agents for acting swiftly after threats became obvious in both instances.

    Ahead of the Oct. 5 rally, local and federal officials expressed confidence that necessary adjustments have been made to protect Trump and the public.

    James Ott, sheriff in Pennsylvania’s Blair County, about 100 miles southeast of Butler, told The Epoch Times: “After seeing what took place the last time, I would certainly think that they’re going to have a lot of provisions in place … to alleviate any type of threat like that this time.”

    Ott is among about a dozen Pennsylvania sheriffs who are expected to attend Saturday’s rally at the Butler Farm Show. He pointed out that he and his fellow sheriffs have taken a public position that, “no matter where you stand in this election … nobody should resort to violence.”

    Anthony Guglielmi, Secret Service spokesman, said Trump “is receiving heightened levels of U.S. Secret Service protection.” In a statement provided to news outlets, Guglielmi said, “Our top priority is mitigating risks to ensure his continued safety at all times.”

    Stay tuned for updates…

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 16:55

  • Netanyahu Rips France's Macron For Urging Arms Embargo On Israel: "A Disgrace"
    Netanyahu Rips France’s Macron For Urging Arms Embargo On Israel: “A Disgrace”

    On Saturday French President Emmanuel Macron called for a halt to arms shipments to Israel for use in Gaza. He told national broadcaster France Inter in an interview that finding a “political solution” to the Gaza and Lebanon conflicts must be a “priority” and that a full arms embargo would help create the conditions.

    He confirmed that France had already halted its arms deliveries to Israel. “I think we are not being heard,” Macron said, in reference to the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza. “I think it is a mistake, including for the security of Israel.”

    Image source: EFE

    On the situation in Lebanon, where a ground war has started in the south and Israeli airstrikes have become frequent over Beirut, he said: “Our priority now is to avoid escalation. The Lebanese people must not, in turn, be sacrificed. Lebanon cannot become another Gaza.”

    Israel is furious at the French leader’s remarks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called his comments urging an arms embargo a “disgrace”.

    “Today, Israel is defending itself on seven fronts against the enemies of civilization,” he responded soon on the heels of Macron’s Saturday remarks. He has previously described that these seven fronts include: Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank, Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

    “As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should be standing firmly by Israel’s side,” Netanyahu continued. “Yet President Macron and other Western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel.”

    He followed this with the words “Shame on them” – going on to describe that France is not calling out Iran for weaponizing its own proxies throughout the region. He asked whether Iran is imposing an embargo on its proxies such as the Houthis or Hezbollah. “Of course not.”

    “But countries who supposedly oppose this terror axis call for an arms embargo on Israel,” he added. “What a disgrace!” Netanyahu then pledged that Israeli will “with or without their support,” and added, “But their shame will continue long after the war is won.”

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    “Rest assured, Israel will fight until the battle is won — for our sake and for the sake of peace and security in the world,” Netanyahu concluded.

    Lebanon in particular has long held special concern for France, given it was for a time alongside Syria a colony under the French Mandate period of the early 20th century. Paris especially cultivated ties with Lebanon’s Maronite Catholic population, which was at one point almost the majority of the country.

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 15:45

  • Dubai's Emirates Airlines Bans Pagers & Walkie-Talkies For All Flights
    Dubai’s Emirates Airlines Bans Pagers & Walkie-Talkies For All Flights

    Dubai’s Emirates Airlines is the first major carrier outside of Lebanon to ban all passengers from carrying pagers and walkie-talkies on its flights, citing the dangers of last month’s exploding pagers and electronic devices attacks in Beirut.

    “All passengers traveling to, from, or via Dubai are prohibited from transporting pagers and walkie-talkies in checked or cabin baggage,” the airline has announced in a statement on its website. It said this is part of enhanced security measures which will result in the confiscation of any prohibited items by Dubai Police.

    Source: Emirates.com

    The pager and walkie-talkie attacks, widely blamed on Israeli intelligence, were the result of the devices having been intercepted and manipulated during shipping. It’s believed small bomb materials were placed inside them, and then detonated when a signal was sent simultaneously to thousands of the electronics.

    The death toll from the September 17 and 18 attacks was at least 42 killed and over 3500 injured. At least 12 civilians were killed as a result of the operation meant to disrupt Hezbollah, including children.

    One big concern in the aftermath was the possibility of booby-trapped pager and device proliferation outside the country. What if someone with one of the thousands of manipulated pagers got on a plane?

    This appears to be the fear that Emirates is addressing. Other regional carriers could follow suit. Emirates is the largest airline in the Middle East.

    It is one among many global airlines which have suspended flights in and out of Beirut, and currently flights to Iraq and Iran remain halted until Tuesday. Services to Jordan will resume on Sunday.

    Israel has continued large-scale airstrikes on Beirut, not just focusing on the southern suburbs and Hezbollah strongholds, but in the past days hitting central Beirut as well.

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    An airstrike has also this week destroyed the primary border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, at Masnaa. Displaced refugees have since been seen walking over the mountainous and rough terrain border crossing.

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 15:10

  • Study Confirms The Truth About Masks And Children
    Study Confirms The Truth About Masks And Children

    Authored by Ian Miller via The Brownstone Institute,

    It’s late 2024, and masking has managed to remain a contentious issue. Years of misinformation from supposed “experts” like Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx and organizations like the CDC have convinced millions of Very Smart People to believe that masks are an effective tool to reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses. This applies also to the flu, despite those same experts and organizations somehow neglecting to recommend masks for the decades of flu seasons pre-2020.

    Forcing anyone to mask, given the substantial and robust evidence base showing conclusively that masks don’t work, was an indefensible policy decision. But specifically forcing children to mask was decidedly much, much worse.

    And not just because it was a pointless exercise in pandemic theater, with zero evidence of efficacy.

    But because it was actively causing harm too, as a new study shows.

    New Study Confirms Harms of Masking Children

    A new study co-authored by Tracy Beth Høeg delves into the side effects of masking, a subject completely ignored by experts and politicians desperate to exert control over individual behavior.

    And in their discussion, it’s immediately obvious why their research and conclusions will be completely ignored by the mainstream media.

    “There is a lack of robust evidence of benefit from masking children to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2 or other respiratory viruses,” they explain.

    Couldn’t have said it better myself.

    The highest quality evidence available for masking children for COVID-19 or other viral respiratory infections has failed to find a beneficial impact against transmission. Mechanistic studies showing reduced viral transmission from use of face masks and respirators have not translated to real world effectiveness.

    Identified harms of masking include negative effects on communication and components of speech and language, ability to learn and comprehend, emotional and trust development, physical discomfort, and reduction in time and intensity of exercise.

    It’s a masterpiece. No notes.

    As the Cochrane Library review explained, as the data shows, as decades of accumulated evidence confirmed: Masks Don’t Work. For anyone, but especially for children, who could not wear or use masks properly, even if they were shown to have worked. Which they did not.

    Experts demanded and politicians mandated that they wear them anyway, based on speculation, hope, and mechanistic studies that were conclusively disproven. And the harms were remarkable.

    “Negative effects on communication and components of speech and language.”

    “Ability to learn and comprehend.”

    “Emotional and trust development, physical discomfort, and reduction in time and intensity of exercise.”

    Just, you know, the basic building blocks of human development that children need to grow as well-adjusted, physically and mentally healthy teenagers and adults.

    As Høeg and the other authors explain, this necessarily means that forcing children to mask fails any objective standard of harms and benefits.

    Effectiveness of child masking has not been demonstrated, while documented harms of masking in children are diverse and non-negligible and should prompt careful reflection. Recommendations for masking children fail basic harm-benefit analyses.

    Their next section is a complete dismantling of the CDC and the US public health bureaucracy, how they handled Covid, and how poor an example this sets for future pandemics.

    In many locations in North America, children as young as two years of age were required to wear face masks daily for multiple consecutive hours, both indoors and outdoors, in school and childcare settings [1], [2]. This stood in stark contrast to European countries where masking was never recommended for children under the age of six and, in many countries, never under age twelve [3]. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s child masking recommendations deviated substantially from international guidelines [3], [4], [5]. The CDC continues to recommend masks for children down to age two in certain settings [1], [6], and this is in the absence of strategies for exiting these restrictions. In the event of a future public health threat, clear and consistent communication from public health officials about the criteria that will be used to withdraw temporary public health recommendations while data are gathered could serve to ease public anxiety, lessen distrust, and facilitate a return to a more normal life wherein ineffective recommendations are promptly discarded.

    It’s a calm, thorough demolition of the incompetence and authoritarianism of the US public health establishment.

    They repeat that there is no evidence to support masking children and explain that there is no real-world evidence showing the effectiveness of child mask mandates, with zero randomized controlled trials conducted to determine whether masking kids would prevent the spread of Covid. It’s inexcusable to mandate a policy with no evidence, but even worse considering the demonstrable harms.

    “Speech, language, and learning: Humans rely on visual information provided by a speaker’s face to decode speech. Seeing mouth movements and facial gestures accelerates recognition of words and enhances speech comprehension [12], [19], [20], [21]. The integration of audio and facial information is crucial to speech perception and development. Visually impaired children often have delays in speech and language development [22], which may be due, at least in part, to reduced ability to perceive,” they write.

    Masks prevent children from learning, from seeing mouth movements to facial gestures. They fundamentally detract from a child’s ability to develop speech and language. Among many other problems covered in the full study.

    These harms were well-known before Covid. This isn’t new information, and it’s obvious common sense. So why did public health authorities ignore it, in favor of promoting evidence-free policies and mandates?

    There are few reasonable explanations: panic, fear, or incompetence. Likely some combination of all three.

    Forcing their absurd, fatalistic, hyper-safetyism on adults was and is one thing. Imposing it on children is another. And their refusal to admit they were wrong meant the growth and development of kids were most certainly harmed and stunted for years, while ensuring that there would be terrified, misinformed parents who would continue to force their kids to wear masks indefinitely.

    When you consider those consequences, rationality fades, and a disturbing likelihood of malicious intent becomes a lot more realistic.

    Republished from the author’s Substack

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 14:35

  • Did Russia Shoot Down Its Own Top-Secret Stealth Drone?
    Did Russia Shoot Down Its Own Top-Secret Stealth Drone?

    Stunning footage has been posted on X this AM of what appears to be a Russian Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik (‘Hunter’) attack drone shot down in a ‘friendly fire’ incident over the Donetsk region.

    All reports at the moment are unconfirmed, but there is a whole bunch of footage posted on X showing what appears to be a Russian fighter jet downing the friendly Okhotnik stealth drone.

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    Separate video footage shows the drone crash site. 

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    This is the first known Okhotnik stealth drone to be lost in a combat environment. There have been no official statements from Russia about the incident or who exactly shot down the drone. 

    However, one X user offered their take on the situation:

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    The aviation news website AeroTime noted earlier this year that series production of the stealth drone was slated for the second half of this year. The website also provided specs on the new drone that flies with Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet. 

    Powered by an AL-31 turbojet engine, the S-70 Okhotnik is expected to achieve speeds of up to 1,000 kilometers per hour, covering a range of 6,000 km. The Russian Defense Ministry has highlighted its advanced features, including electro-optical targeting, radio, and various reconnaissance equipment. The drone’s two internal bays can carry up to 2.8 tons of weaponry.

    It is anticipated that the S-70 Okhotnik will operate collaboratively with the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet, extending the latter’s radar field. The drone’s stealth capabilities will enable it to designate long-range targets for the leading aircraft without being easily detected.

    Considering the secrecy surrounding the stealth drone, Moscow is unlikely to ever disclose the full details of what transpired.

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 14:00

  • FEMA Issues Warning On False Helene 'Rumors', Launches Response Page
    FEMA Issues Warning On False Helene ‘Rumors’, Launches Response Page

    Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

    The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released a “rumor response” page in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which caused significant damage across western North Carolina late last month.

    An emergency crew returns from checking the mud-covered side roads near the destroyed Asheville Tunnel Rd Bridge, in Asheville, N.C., on Oct. 3, 2024. Richard Moore/The Epoch Times

    In an update on Oct. 3, FEMA responded to statements issued online about the agency’s response to the disaster, including whether it is running out of funding due to payments and efforts made to fly illegal immigrants into parts of the United States.

    “FEMA has enough money right now for immediate response and recovery needs. If you were affected by Helene, do not hesitate to apply for disaster assistance as there is a variety of help available for different needs,” the agency wrote.

    It also said that “no money is being diverted” from federal Helene disaster response efforts and that claims that “funding for FEMA disaster response was diverted to support international efforts or border related issues” are “false.”

    The agency did not provide specific examples of the online claims about its funding that it described as false.

    Earlier this week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wrote that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the Department of Homeland Security, and FEMA should “immediately stop spending money on illegal immigration resettlement and redirect those funds to areas hit by the hurricane” and “put Americans first.”

    He was responding to Mayorkas’s comments to reporters that FEMA, overseen by his agency, “does not have the funds” to make it until the end of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which is Nov. 30.

    “We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have,” Mayorkas told a press gaggle on Air Force One. “We are expecting another hurricane hitting. We do not have the funds. FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season and … what is imminent.”

    The Epoch Times contacted DHS and FEMA for comment on Friday but received no reply by publication time.

    “The Biden–Harris administration took more than a billion tax dollars that had been allocated to FEMA for disaster relief and used it to house illegal aliens,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) wrote on X. “Now, they’ve abandoned American hurricane victims in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee.”

    Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) echoed that claim, saying FEMA’s move to spend “over a billion dollars on illegals while they leave Americans stranded and without help is treasonous.”

    Another claim purportedly circulating online was that FEMA was asking for cash donations and is turning away volunteers in North Carolina. But FEMA’s website says it is false.

    “FEMA does not ask for or generally accept any cash donations or volunteers for disaster response,” the agency wrote. “We do encourage people who want to help to volunteer with or donate cash to reputable voluntary or charitable organizations. After a disaster, cash is often the best way to help as it provides the greatest flexibility for these reputable organizations working on the ground to purchase exactly what is needed.”

    The American Red Cross, meanwhile, wrote in a lengthy post on X that allegations the organization is throwing away or confiscating donated items is not true.

    “We are not confiscating, removing or discarding donated items. We focus on providing shelter, food, and relief after disasters,” the Red Cross wrote. “While we don’t accept physical donations, as managing them takes time and resources away from our mission, we work with community partners who are better equipped with these resources to handle and distribute these items. For information on where donated goods are available, please call 211.”

    It also addressed claims that the Red Cross is not available in North Carolina or is “taking over shelters.”

    “We do not forcefully take over shelters. However, we do provide management support at the request of partners,” the organization said, adding that the claims it isn’t there are “simply not true.”

    The death toll from Helene is at least 215, making it the deadliest storm to hit the United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 13:25

  • Watch: Russian Troops Start Training On Counter-FPV Kamikaze Drone Evasion Techniques
    Watch: Russian Troops Start Training On Counter-FPV Kamikaze Drone Evasion Techniques

    Long before the Russia-Ukraine war erupted in Eastern Europe, this video sent shockwaves through the intelligence world. It provided the most accurate forecast of first-person view (FPV) drones being weaponized and transformed into kamikaze swarms. 

    With that forecast becoming a stark reality for the soldiers of Ukraine and Russia, killing each other not just with bullets and missiles, war footage posted on X in recent times shows how war has quickly changed:

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    Traditional countermeasures such as drone radio signal jammers that disrupt the GPS or control signals of the drones, GPS spoofers, or high-energy lasers are too costly and not easily deployable on the modern battlefield. Perhaps the ole’ shotgun equipped with buckshot shells might do the trick, or even a shovel, as cheap counter-drone tech. 

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    On the other hand, X user Visegrád 24 posted what appears to be new footage of Russian troops conducting field training exercises to defend against FPV attacks.

    “War is changing quickly. Russian soldiers have started training on FPV drone evasion techniques,” said Visegrád 24. 

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    Here’s what X users are saying: 

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    Maybe skeet shooting is the best practice. 

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    Let’s return to the FPV drones that could be weaponized Stateside and attack soft targets. This is a massive threat given the Biden-Harris administration rolled out the red carpet to at least 1.7 million illegal aliens deemed ‘potential national security threats‘ into the country. 

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 12:50

  • Homeschooling Numbers Continue To Climb After COVID-19 Pandemic: Report
    Homeschooling Numbers Continue To Climb After COVID-19 Pandemic: Report

    Authored by Savannah Hulsey Pointer via The Epoch Times,

    New data from the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy’s homeschool research lab show that 90 percent of states reporting data saw an increase in homeschooling in the 2023–2024 school year.

    The report examined data from 21 out of 30 states that collect or report homeschool participation information. The other nine states are expected to report data in the coming months.

    The 19 states that experienced growth were Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

    Only Vermont and New Hampshire showed a decline from the previous school year in the total number of homeschooled students.

    The report identified two primary trends: sustained growth and rebounding growth. The three states with sustained growth, meaning they experienced no post-COVID-19 pandemic decline, were Louisiana, South Carolina, and South Dakota.

    The other 16 states exhibited a rebounding trend, meaning they saw a post-COVID-19 pandemic decline, followed by an increase in 2023–2024.

    “While homeschooling grew rapidly during the pandemic, most people thought that students would return to more traditional schools when the pandemic disruptions abated,” the report states.

    “Some states did show a decline, but few have returned to normal, even four years after the onset of the pandemic.”

    During the 2023–2024 school year, the number of homeschoolers in North Dakota reached an all-time high, reflecting a 24 percent increase from the previous year. Similarly, Rhode Island saw a 67 percent increase in the number of homeschoolers from the previous year. Wyoming also hit an all-time high with an 8 percent increase over the previous year.

    “The big takeaway is that this is new homeschool growth that we see in last year’s state reports,” report author Angela Watson said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times.

    “The rebound effect is really interesting and we aren’t sure of the reason—but we know it’s not because of a global pandemic.”

    Tracking accurate data on homeschoolers is challenging due to varying legislation and reporting requirements. States have different policies regarding homeschoolers; some classify them as private school students, while others do not.

    “The fact that so many states are reporting highest-ever numbers seems like a big finding as well,” Watson said,

    “and that these counts are going up while overall school enrollment and population is declining.”

    Some states, such as Texas, do not report homeschool statistics. However, other data indicate an increase in homeschool participation in the Lone Star state.

    The Texas Homeschool Coalition examined data from the U.S. Census Bureau that showed that homeschooling in Texas nearly tripled between the spring and fall of 2020, rising from 4.5 percent to 12.3 percent.

    The coalition also cited information gathered from the Texas Education Agency and statewide school districts indicating that more than 50,000 students migrated from public schools to homeschooling in 2022 and 2023.

    “While there is a clear growth trend in homeschooling, the reason for that growth is unknown. What is clear is that this time, the growth is not driven by a global pandemic or sudden disruptions to traditional schooling. Something else is driving this growth,” the Johns Hopkins report states.

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 12:15

  • Katrina-Like Disaster Unfolds For Biden-Harris As New Round Of Tropical Trouble Takes Aim At Florida
    Katrina-Like Disaster Unfolds For Biden-Harris As New Round Of Tropical Trouble Takes Aim At Florida

    Hurricane Helene has passed, leaving a trail of destruction across the US Southeast, and the Biden-Harris administration’s relief response with FEMA has been nothing short of a massive failure. Meanwhile, another storm is brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, which could potentially usher in another round of tropical trouble for the US East Coast next week. 

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    “Development of this system is expected, and a tropical depression or storm is likely to form later today or on Sunday while it moves slowly eastward over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico,” the National Hurricane Center wrote in a Saturday morning update, adding, “By early next week, the system is forecast to move faster eastward or northeastward across the central and eastern Gulf of Mexico where additional strengthening is likely.”

    NHC continued, “Interests on the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys, and the northwestern Bahamas should monitor the progress of this system.” 

    Formation chances are extremely high over the next 48 hours… 

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    Weather models show a consensus view of the storm’s potential track over central Florida. 

    Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters last week that FEMA “does not have the funds” to see Americans through the rest of this Atlantic hurricane season. The federal agency drained the funds on supporting millions of illegal aliens the Biden-Harris rolled out the red carpet to via open southern borders. 

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    Also, FEMA’s botched response is another shitstorm playing out for the Biden-Harris administration.

    Just yesterday…

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    “Joe Biden was at the beach when the hurricane came ashore. VP Harris was raising money w/ celebrities before staging a plane photo op. I promise you if a Republican were in the WH there would be no political restraint, just as there was none after Katrina,” CNN pundit Scott Jennings wrote on X. 

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    The Biden-Harris team of far-left radicals is overwhelmed by the growing list of disasters. Another hurricane to hit the US Southeast, or if WW3 erupted in the Middle East, would prove devastating because the people in charge are not actually leaders but, instead, Marxist propagandists. That’s why the world is on fire. That’s why FEMA drained funds for illegals and prioritized globalist policies over America First. 

    Americans are waking up in droves just weeks before the election about the Biden-Harris admin (Rich Men North Of Richmond) inability to lead a nation. 

    A Katrina-like disaster has unfolded for the Biden-Harris admin, and things could worsen if another storm strikes the US Southeast.

    Remember Obama in 2008…

    Well, the tables have flipped. Democrats are now in the hot seat. 

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    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 11:40

  • Israel Strikes Lebanon's Northernmost City For First Time Of War
    Israel Strikes Lebanon’s Northernmost City For First Time Of War

    An Israeli drone bombed a Palestinian refugee camp in the Lebanese city of Tripoli, killing a Hamas leader and three members of his family in the early hours of Saturday.

    Al-Jadeed TV channel reported that “an Israeli drone targeted a residential apartment in the vicinity of Khalil al-Rahman Mosque in the Beddawi camp in Tripoli,” killing four people and injuring others who were transported to the Hilal Hospital inside the camp.

    Tripoli, Lebanon. File image.

    Hamas issued a statement announcing the death of Qassam Brigades commander, Saeed Atallah Ali, his wife Shaima Khalil Azzam, and his two young daughters, Zainab and Fatima, who were killed as a result of the airstrike.

    The Hamas statement added that “the Qassam Brigades, in light of the ongoing and escalating massacres of the occupation in the steadfast Gaza Strip, our proud West Bank, and our camps, the fortresses of our return, pledge to our people to avenge the pure blood that was shed and is still being shed.”

    According to Al-Jadeed, the Israeli bombing was the first of its kind in northern Lebanon since the beginning of the war. Israel also struck targets in the southern suburbs of Beirut for the third night in a row.

    Lebanese News Agency reported that the Israeli warplanes launched 12 raids on the southern suburbs of Beirut at dawn on Saturday.

    Witnesses speaking with Reuters said a blast was heard and smoke seen early on Saturday in Beirut, amid evacuation warnings issued by the Israeli military for residents to evacuate several areas. The alerts warned residents to evacuate buildings in the Burj al-Barajneh neighborhood, the Choueifat district, and Haret Hreik.

    The Israeli army announced it bombed a mosque within the Martyr Salah Ghandour Hospital compound in the town of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon overnight. A statement from the hospital said that nine medical workers were injured in the strike, including many in serious condition.

    The army claimed Hezbollah had established a “command room” within the mosque “to plan and carry out acts of terror against IDF troops and the State of Israel.”

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    In Gaza, the Israeli military has regularly bombed hospitals, mosques, and schools, claiming without evidence they are being used by Hamas fighters.  Lebanon’s Health Ministry has announced that more than 2,000 people have now been killed in Israeli attacks on the country since 8 October last year, including 127 children and 261 women.

    Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 41,802 people, with the local health ministry saying the majority are women and children, and injured 96,844 since the war began on October 7 last year.

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 11:05

  • IRS Vows Tax-Enforcement Crackdown After Audit Reveals $1.4 Billion In Unpaid Taxes From Gambling Winnings
    IRS Vows Tax-Enforcement Crackdown After Audit Reveals $1.4 Billion In Unpaid Taxes From Gambling Winnings

    Authored by Tom Ozimek via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

    The IRS said it is preparing a tax-enforcement crackdown after a Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) audit revealed that more than $1.4 billion in taxes may have gone uncollected from individuals who won large sums in gambling.

    The IRS building in Washington, on June 28, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

    The report from TIGTA’s audit, released on Sept. 30, found that nearly 150,000 Americans with gambling winnings exceeding $15,000 between 2018 and 2020 failed to file tax returns, leaving potentially significant amounts of unpaid taxes.

    The watchdog’s report identified more than $13.2 billion in gambling winnings during the period in question, while estimating that the IRS “could potentially increase tax revenue by approximately $1.4 billion through addressing the 139,045 individual nonfilers with gambling winnings.”

    The audit revealed that tax enforcement on nonfilers with gambling winnings has been limited, with the TIGTA noting that 103,000 individuals from this population have not been issued notices or faced other enforcement actions to bring them into compliance. The watchdog recommended that the agency “begin appropriate enforcement actions” to collect the unpaid taxes.

    In a written response to the report, the IRS agreed with the recommendation, vowing to begin enforcement actions.

    “We agree. For tax years (TY) 2018 through 2020, the IRS will identify high-income non-filers with gambling winnings where no enforcement actions have been taken, including the top 100 non-filer cases identified by TIGTA,” wrote Lia Colbert, commissioner of the IRS’s Small Business Self-Employed Division, which oversees the agency’s collection activities and the examinations of most U.S. businesses.

    “We are committed to improving tax compliance.”

    Colbert said the IRS would begin enforcement by issuing the first return delinquency notices to select nonfilers with gambling winnings.

    However, the audit raised further concerns beyond income-tax compliance. Hundreds of W-2G forms, which are used to report gambling winnings, were filed without the required taxpayer identification numbers (TINs), making it difficult for the IRS to track the winnings and enforce tax compliance, the TIGTA found. The watchdog also pointed out that the IRS has few processes in place to identify noncompliance with excise taxes by gambling operators, particularly in the rapidly growing online sports-betting market.

    While the IRS agreed with most of the watchdog’s recommendations, it disputed the significance of the W-2G forms missing TINs, arguing that they represent a small fraction of overall reporting. In response, the TIGTA wrote that “while this population may not be large in absolute terms, we believe that the amount of backup withholding that should have been withheld is significant” and that the IRS should investigate payers who filed W-2G forms with missing TINs.

    In a separate report, also released on Sept. 30, the TIGTA found potential unpaid taxes and penalties stemming from early retirement withdrawals. The watchdog estimated that around 2.8 million taxpayers who took early retirement distributions between 2018 and 2022 might owe some $1.6 billion in additional taxes and failure-to-pay penalties.

    However, the IRS disputed these findings, stating in a written response that a “very high” percentage of these taxpayers qualify for exemptions and that the actual amount of unpaid taxes would likely be much less. The IRS also took issue with an additional $788 million in estimated unpaid taxes related to retirement withdrawals, arguing that the TIGTA’s analysis did not account for income reported on other tax forms or exemptions that applied to many of the early distributions. Still, the IRS partially agreed with the watchdog’s recommendations, including vowing to look into 54 taxpayers who did not report early retirement distributions as income on their tax returns.

    The TIGTA’s audits, which highlight gaps in compliance and enforcement, signal that more aggressive tax-collection efforts may be on the horizon, as the IRS faces pressure to reduce the “tax gap,” which is the difference between taxes owed and taxes paid.

    Tyler Durden
    Sat, 10/05/2024 – 10:30

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