Washington Downplays Poor Relations with Saudi Arabia


Armstrong Economics Blog/World Trade Re-Posted Oct 31, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

The Davos in the Desert meeting has humiliated Washington. The president himself was unable to secure a deal with Saudi Arabia, and now America’s elite are congregating in Riyadh to discuss trade. The New York Times released an article claiming that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “duped” Joe Biden into thinking that he would increase oil production. Now, the White House is claiming that Joe’s failed visit to Saudi Arabia had nothing to do with oil.

Perhaps Uncle Joe was working on his tan? White House Press Secretary Jean-Pierre said that the situation has been “mischaracterized” and said the NYT article was fake news. “Look, we’ve also been clear that, our trip, that the President’s trip to the Middle East was not about oil,” she stated. “What the President is focused on currently and today and has been for the past several months since the war started — remember, because of Russia’s war, we have seen a spike in gas prices, so as you hear us say, Russia’s tax hike, and so, we have done everything that we can and continue to do the work — the President has — to lower the prices for the American people. That’s why you have seen gas prices go down.”

Blame is on “Russia’s tax hike” and not Washington’s inability to negotiate or maintain diplomatic relations with strategic trading partners. The NYT article claims that the kingdom promised it would “accelerate an OPEC Plus production increase of 400,000 barrels per day already planned for September” followed by an additional 200,000 bpd increase from September to December. OPEC+ decreased production by 2,000,000 bpd instead.

Due to this failed arrangement, oil prices rose right before the 2022 US midterm elections. Biden released Strategic Petroleum Reserves in response to temporarily bring prices down, as he does not want America to see the repercussions of this failed deal.

Musk Begins Releasing Internal Notes from Twitter Execs Highlighting Intent to Hide True “Objectives and Key Results” During Lawsuit


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 30, 2022 | sundance

An interesting dynamic begins as Elon Musk takes ownership of Twitter promising increased transparency.  Mr. Musk tweeted out an internal message from Yoel Roth (still employed) to some unknown entity where the head of Safety and Integrity of Twitter tellingly implied the executives in charge were withholding information from Musk and lawyers during the lawsuit.

Yoel Roth is the Head of Twitter Safety and Integrity; his message on 5/17/22 reads, “But also lol if Amir continues to BS me, my escalation route is “Amir’s OKRs [Objectives and Key Results] are entirely based on fraudulent metrics and he doesn’t care and may actively be trying to hide the ball.”  “Literally doing what Elon is accusing us of doing.”  [SOURCE]

Musk forwarded the message publicly saying, “Wachtell & Twitter board deliberately hid this evidence from the court. Stay tuned, more to come …”

If the Twitter executives have left a trail of deception from opposition and the subsequent civil litigation during the takeover bid, Mr. Musk could have standing to withhold any exit compensation package, pending new civil litigation as an outcome of these discoveries.  It will be interesting to see how this proceeds.

One thing ideological leftists are known for, is making legal mistakes in their thirst to retain influence.  It would not be surprising to discover a host of internal documentation that would expose any prior deception within the Twitter company and organization.

Not a Surprise, Neighbor to Pelosi Attacker Describes a Different David DePape Than National Media


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 30, 2022 | sundance

Alternative media outlets have begun to look a little deeper behind the narrative described by media about the attacker of Paul Pelosi, David DePape.  The results do not match the media narrative.

Michael Shellenberger outlines on his substack article: […] “DePape lived with a notorious local nudist in a Berkeley home, complete with a Black Lives Matter sign in the window and an LGBT rainbow flag, emblazoned with a marijuana symbol, hanging from a tree. A closer look reveals the characteristics of a homeless encampment, or what Europeans call “an open drug scene.” In the driveway, there is a broken-down camper van. On the street is a yellow school bus, which neighbors said DePape occasionally stayed in. Both are filled with garbage typical of such structures in homeless encampments. People come and go from the house and the vehicles, neighbors say, in part to partake in the use of a potent psychedelic drug, ibogaine.

Neighbors described DePape as a homeless addict with a politics that was, until recently, left-wing, but of secondary importance to his psychotic and paranoid behavior. “What I know about the family is that they’re very radical activists,” said one of DePape’s neighbors, a woman who only gave her first name, Trish. “They seem very left. They are all about the Black Lives Matter movement. Gay pride. But they’re very detached from reality. They have called the cops on several of the neighbors, including us, claiming that we are plotting against them. It’s really weird to see that they are willing to be so aggressive toward somebody else who is also a lefty.”  (more)

In the video below a neighbor named “Trish” describes the family household where DePape lived.  WATCH:

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Sunday Talks, National Media Use Assault on Paul Pelosi to Frame the Midterm Election


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 30, 2022 | sundance

It is particularly noteworthy how the intelligence outlet media, specifically the New York Times, Washinton Post and Politico, frame reaction to the story of Paul Pelosi being attacked in San Francisco by a hammer wielding man possibly in his underwear.

Essentially, if you do not believe the original media story about how police were doing a “welfare check” at 2am on Paul Pelosi only to discover a 42-year-old man named David DePape who had recently broken into the house, arguing with Mr. Pelosi and then striking the victim in the head with a hammer while police watched, they you are a “right-wing conspiracy theorist.”

The Washington Post is aghast that people are not necessarily buying the official storyline.  Questioning some other angle may exist to the story, is tantamount to not believing in global warming, or something:

(Washington Post) […] The skepticism didn’t stay in right-wing echo chambers but seeped also into the feeds of popular online personalities, including Twitter’s new owner, Elon Musk.

“There is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye,” he wrote Sunday morning, pointing his 112 million followers to a sensationalist account of the episode published by a site known for spreading right-wing misinformation. (read more)

Every Sunday talk show led off with the story that extreme right-wing fascists were now running amuck, and only by voting for Democrats could the crisis of society falling into anarchy be avoided.

As the national media narrative is promoted, apparently hordes of homosexual nudists clad only in MAGA hats and underwear while waving claw hammers are ready to storm Washington DC if the republicans win the election.  The only thing that can stop the pending mayhem is high voter turnout by 18- to 34-year-olds who vote for Democrats.

…And this same media wonder why they are no longer considered credible.  Go figure.

Biden Solution to High Retail Food Prices, Eat Generics and Store Brands


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 28, 2022 | Sundance

CTH has covered the origin of food inflation since we first raised the alarms in the spring of 2020.  A confluence of events starting with the fracturing of the food supply chain (shutting down restaurants, hospitality venues, schools, cafeterias, etc), created the initial major problem.  Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) sold at retail stores could not keep up with demand after 50% of the food supply system was shut down.

Within the U.S. retail food supply chain (350+ million people), manufacturing CPG products relies on a system of staying one to two harvest cycles ahead of demand.  However, when restaurants and fresh food venues were closed, very quickly frozen, bulk stored and siloed U.S. food storage systems, the storage needed for CPG products, were emptied.

Long after the time when all food distribution was reopened, the shortages of CPG products continued. You saw the result with empty shelves at the supermarket.  It takes a long time (years) for those inventories to refill.

We warned of this in 2020 and then followed the predictable outcome in 2021 and 2022.

When Joe Biden then shut down the U.S. energy production system in early 2021, the massive increases in energy costs -and the shortages of natural gas- became fuel on the inflationary fire of CPG goods.  Again, in October 2021 CTH noted that retail prices were going to rise quickly, and they did.

Throughout 2022 food prices have risen dramatically as the food distribution and processing system was now under pressure from all sides.  The shortage of inputs (to refill food storage and warehousing needs) combined with the much higher costs to generate those inputs -the direct result of the exploding energy costs- created massive inflation pressure.  The pricing result we are seeing now (third wave of food inflation) is exactly what we have stated, discussed and predicted for more than two years.

While all food costs are skyrocketing, the prices for manufactured or processed food are much higher than the price increases for fresh food.

While both fresh and CPG foods have risen in price due to energy costs, the processing of food uses more energy… and that energy comes at a higher price…. so the CPG inflation is much higher than the fresh half of the supply chain.

In essence, the CPG goods carry higher farming costs plus much higher manufacturing costs.

For those who say, ‘fresh food is healthier‘, you are correct.  However, let me also remind you that we cannot feed 350 million people with fresh food alone – and simultaneously export billions of tons of bulk food products like grain, corn and soybeans.

The U.S. food distribution system needs processed food for retail restaurants, cafeteria, lunchrooms and grocery stores.  [Ex. Italian restaurants will not start making pasta sauce from tomatoes, and if they did you likely couldn’t afford to eat there.]

So here comes Joe Biden, without a clue in the world of what I just described above.  And his food inflation solution?…. well, you just have to hear it yourself to see it.  WATCH (01:35, prompted): 

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[Wall Street Journal] – […]  The personal saving rate, a measure of how much money people have left over after spending and taxes, fell to 3.1% from 3.4% in August. It is down from 7.9% a year ago as consumers tap their rainy-day funds.

U.S. credit-card balances hit $916 billion in September, returning to prepandemic levels, credit-reporting firm Equifax Inc. said. Balances are up 9% from January and about 23% higher than their pandemic low in April 2021.

A closely watched reading of underlying inflationary pressures, meanwhile, picked up last month and remained near a four-decade high. When stripped of volatile food and energy prices, the PCE price index strengthened to a 5.1% year-over-year increase—the strongest pace since March.

Friday’s report comes on the heels of other data showing consumers’ momentum weakened in the summer months. Consumer spending accounts for roughly two-thirds of total U.S. economic output. (read more)

Nancy Pelosi Husband Attacked by Unstable Berkeley Man, David DePape, a Nudist and Activist from the Castro Neighborhood


Posted originally on the conservative tree house October 28, 2022 | Sundance

In a very odd and yet scant set of details, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, was attacked shortly after 2am by a hammer wielding suspect from Berkeley named David DePape (42).

DePape has been identified as a nudist/activist from the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco. Speaker Pelosi was not home at the time; she was in Washington DC.

(San Francisco) – […] San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said Depape, 42, is now facing charges of attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary and several other additional felonies stemming from the incident after 2 a.m.

Scott said police responded to a wellbeing check and found Depape and Paul Pelosi, 82, struggling over a hammer. He said officers then witnessed Depape pull the hammer away from Pelosi and “violently assaulted” him.

Officers then immediately tackled Depape, disarmed him and took him into custody, while requesting emergency backup and rendering medical aid at the scene. The motive for the attack remains under investigation. (read more)

Police briefing below:

Joe Biden Claims Current Gas Prices Lower Than When He Took Office, States Falsely Gas Was Over $5/Gal When He Was Inaugurated


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 27, 2022 | sundance 

Will big tech and social media remove Joe Biden for violations of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation?  Considering his remarks today, they should.

Reading from a teleprompter loaded with lies about the economy, Joe Biden stunningly states that gas prices are lower today than when he took office. Further claiming that gasoline was $5/gal.  {Direct Rumble Link} Nothing about any of his economic claims is true.  WATCH (1 min):

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Allowing people to return to work after the pandemic lockdowns is not “creating jobs.”  And gasoline was not $5/gal when Joe Biden took office.

Techfiltration


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 27, 2022 | sundance 

Just a quick notice and alert to highlight some common technological ‘glitches’ and occurrences that are appearing around the internet, coincidentally timed as a result of the pending 2022 midterm election.

By now everyone is familiar with Big Tech control mechanisms like blocking, shadow banning, downgrading and throttling.

Essentially, these are methods within the technology space that are designed to influence opinion and block access to information and communication adverse to the ideology of the provider(s).

Most often we associate those terms with social media platforms; however, within the infrastructure of the internet itself the same intent is also carried in various forms you might not be familiar with.  I am seeing a lot of deployed control systems triggered recently, it is worth mentioning in case you notice something different.

Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) are increasingly directing your background internet travels and blocking you from access to content they define as against their interest.  Major players in the field of providing online access (comcast, Xfinity, AT&T, etc.) as well as regional operators also have a vested ideological stake.  If you find yourself having difficulty navigating the internet, especially during this election season, be aware the ISP provider could be in control.

Cell phone communication networks also have the ability to control data transmitted through their systems.  Text messages containing links to unapproved or dissident websites can be blocked by code and algorithms assigned to monitor traffic.   Phone browsers and portable internet hot spots may also be controlled by the provider.  You may not be aware, but your agreement with your cell phone provider gives them the ability to filter data on your device according to their individual standard.

Again, just be aware.

Browsers are also major players in the field of filtering information and controlling user behavior.  It could be as subtle as an image or link not appearing for you, or it could be total blocking of traffic to website destinations they have defined as adverse to their interests.   Large activist organizations provide lists of websites and content to feed into the filtration system.   Just be aware your browser may indeed be controlling your content and as a result controlling your perspective.

The obvious issues with internet search engines (google, duck-duck etc.) are well documented, however increasingly Apps and authorized software additions to your devices come with mechanisms to control what information may be visible to you.   This is where the terms “disinformation”, “misinformation” and “malinformation” become useful tools to justify the interception and blocking of your activity.

Sometimes the network may provide a warning or pop-up in their effort to stop you from reaching the information they want to control, but increasingly it just happens in the background, and you have no idea.   This is one of the unspoken benefits in the “cookie” system.  In addition to providing direct advertising experiences based on your browsing history, you as a user, may be identified as a dissident voice and assigned a label within the same cookie identification process.

Most people who use the internet have no idea a unique label has been assigned to them in the virtual space. Those labels can be grouped together and contained within the control systems of cyberspace.

Increasingly the techfiltration process has become a Staziesque public-private partnership.   You can well imagine what happens when the people in control of technological systems have an ideological mission to shape public opinion, simultaneous with the government people who define dis-mis-and malinformation delivering requests from the FBI and DHS to the technological partners who control the techfiltration process.

The bottom line, just be aware that information you may choose to access, research or share, is heavily controlled by the providers you select to facilitate your online information and communication networks.  You are likely right now blocked from accessing information and have no idea it’s happening.

If you cannot reach a website, see an image, view a page, or navigate a system, it’s likely not anything you are doing wrong; most often it’s the result of a tech control system designed to keep you away from the data.  Additionally, valid information like emails or text messages are increasingly identified as spam or blocked completely by the email or cell phone service you have subscribed to.

All of this is just an fyi, because I happen to notice these types of curious conversations taking place with increased frequency right now.  Lots of people are wondering why they cannot access or see things.  These are likely not ‘glitches.’

All the best,

Comrade & Dissident, Sundance

Whistleblower Releases Internal FBI Guidance Document Highlighting Disinformation as an Election Crime


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 27, 2022 | sundance

The dissidents at Project Veritas have received leaked whistleblower information from the FBI highlighting a guidance document that puts “disinformation” into the category of an “election crime.” [Source Article Here]   According to the internal guidance, sharing “false or inaccurate information intended to mislead others” may lead the FBI to charge people with election crimes.

[WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oct. 27, 2022] Project Veritas published a newly leaked document today provided by an FBI whistleblower.

The document details how the Bureau will tackle what they consider to be “election crimes.”

It lists “misinformation” as a potential election crime, describing it as “false or misleading information spread mistakenly or unintentionally.”

The document also lists “disinformation” as a potential election crime, describing it as “false or inaccurate information intended to mislead others.”

It continues, “Disinformation campaigns on social media are used to deliberately confuse, trick, or upset the public.”

These categories could raise questions about who gets to determine what is “misinformation” and/or “disinformation.” (read more)

Now you know why I continue to say there is no such thing as “disinformation”, “misinformation” or “malinformation”, there is only information.  Once we allow a superseding system within government to start defining ‘information’, we open ourselves to control over thoughts and speech.

Comrades, you were not born with a brain that requires you to believe everything you read or see.  You were born with a brain allowing you to absorb information and make independent decisions as to the validity of it, truthfulness or lies.  Do not abdicate your thinking of responsibility for discernment to anyone – especially the government.

P