Certainly, it is difficult to make the demands of the Gospel understandable to secularized people. But this pastoral difficulty must not lead to compromises with the truth.
Distinction Matter - Subscribed Feeds
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Site: Catholic ConclaveThe Groër Case1998 book by Hubertus CzerninA former student is challenging the eccentric church leader's soft image. He accuses Cardinal Hans Hermann Groer of repeated sexual abuse. The Archbishop of Vienna refuses to comment.Soon after moving into the Archbishop's Palace, he told confidants: "I moved in with five suitcases. I can leave at any time with five and a half suitcases."For nine years Catholic Conclavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06227218883606585321noreply@blogger.com0
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Site: Zero HedgeAppropriations Process In Disarray As House Moves to Slash $9 Billion In Federal ProgramsTyler Durden Thu, 06/12/2025 - 11:00
The House is expected to vote Thursday on a sweeping $9 billion-plus rescissions package that would slash foreign aid and cut $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS, even as deeper dysfunction in the congressional appropriations process threatens another government shutdown this fall.
Sen John Kennedy (photo: Eric Lee / Bloomberg)
The legislation, drafted by the White House and backed by Republican leadership, is likely to pass despite resistance from some GOP moderates and unified Democratic opposition.
The vote arrives amid growing uncertainty over the fiscal year 2026 spending process. With little progress in either chamber on the 12 annual appropriations bills, lawmakers are increasingly resigned to the likelihood of another continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open past September, Punchbowl News reports.
"If I were betting man right now, given the current environment, we will appropriate money by CR for the foreseeable future," said Senator John Kennedy (R-LA), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "So if you have a chance to change from the Approps Committee to Finance, you probably ought to do it."
The House Appropriations Committee is expected to complete markup of four spending bills by Friday, all written to match the lower spending levels in former President Donald J. Trump’s budget proposal. The package includes tens of billions in cuts to domestic programs, making it a nonstarter for Democrats and the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Complicating matters further, Senate appropriators have not yet agreed on a topline number for spending. Senators Susan Collins, Republican of Maine and chair of the Appropriations Committee, and Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington and the committee’s ranking member, are not expected to reach a deal until after Republicans pass their reconciliation bill — likely no earlier than July.
“We just don’t know yet,” said Representative Tom Cole (R-OK), chair of the House Appropriations Committee. “Let’s assume we pass the ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ I don’t think we know what that does. Does that break things loose or not?”
“There’s plenty of people on our side who like a CR,” he added. “It could easily happen again. It’s bad governance.”
The so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” - a Trump-endorsed initiative - includes $175 billion for border security, $150 billion in military spending, and a two-year increase in the debt ceiling. Democrats have rejected the measure, citing deep cuts to domestic programs and the absence of accountability mechanisms on executive spending.
Some Republicans, however, suggest that Trump and his advisers may prefer the flexibility afforded by a CR - or even a government shutdown, particularly if the BBB is signed into law.
"I think there are probably some people in the administration who think quite frankly that they have more flexibility under a CR or even a shutdown," said Representative Ken Calvert (R-CA), chair of the Defense Subcommittee on House Appropriations. "I think that shocks a lot of members here."
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), warned that repeated use of CRs undermines congressional authority.
"If we do two CRs in a row, it will be a self-inflicted wound by Senate Republican appropriators and Senate Republicans to diminish not just the power of the committee but to diminish Congress’s power of the purse," he said.
Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), said the effect is to sideline legislative input on federal spending. "Any long-term CR plays into what it seems this administration would like, which is bills with no guardrails," she said.
The underlying tension is a struggle over control of federal spending between Congress and the executive branch. Democrats blame Trump and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought for flouting the 1974 Budget and Impoundment Control Act, which requires presidents to spend money as appropriated by Congress.
Republicans counter that Democrats stalled earlier efforts to reach a compromise, particularly over efforts to restrict Trump’s spending discretion. “You’re not gonna have a Republican Senate and the House limit a Republican president,” said Cole.
The political cost of such battles has already been significant. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy lost his position over a CR. Speaker Mike Johnson vowed early in his tenure to avoid repeating that path, but growing pressure within his conference suggests another short-term funding bill is increasingly likely.
Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, offered a grim assessment.
"To hell with the Congress," she said. "It’s bad for the American people. It’s bad for the American people. They’re lying about what’s in these bills. That’s the tragedy."
Meanwhile, on a lighter note, Republicans defeated Democrats 13–2 in Wednesday night’s Congressional Baseball Game - their fifth straight win. More than 31,000 tickets were sold, raising $2.8 million for charity.
Big Beautiful Bill
Meanwhile, House Republicans have successfully amended their party-line tax and spending package, eliminating policies that would have ruined the Big Beautiful Bill's ability to be passed without a simple majority, and would have been subject to Democrat filibuster.
Among the major items deleted, "$2 billion for Pentagon military intelligence programs and more than $500 million for developing missiles, as well as removing a crackdown on the “employee retention” tax credit that became a magnet for fraudsters during and after the pandemic," according to Politico.
Republicans are now hoping to rewrite some of these policies tossed by the House and fold them into the Senate's version of the package before their target passage date of July 4th.
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Site: Catholic ConclaveThe Castling of Leo XIV: Protecting Francis' Legacy and Securing the Board"Because the atmosphere in the Roman Curia and in the various dicasteries is one of latent threat: the winds of restoration are blowing strongly, and the new Pope knows it.""Pope Leo will be judged above all by the names he chooses for his trusted Curial team.""At this moment, the key figure, the bishop who can tip the gameCatholic Conclavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06227218883606585321noreply@blogger.com0
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Site: Zero HedgeEnergy Regulations Threaten Pennsylvania's Tech BoomTyler Durden Thu, 06/12/2025 - 10:40
Authored by Elizabeth Stelle via RealClearPennsylvania,
Pennsylvania is on the short list of destinations for cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). However, the commonwealth – thanks to ill-advised policies pushed by Gov. Josh Shapiro – remains ill-equipped to handle this emerging market.
On Monday, the governor announced a $20 billion investment by Amazon to develop data centers statewide. Though a laudable investment, the governor’s publicity stunt highlights a glaring issue: State policies make it extremely expensive to set up shop in Pennsylvania and tap into the state’s abundant energy resources.
And the governor’s proposals to address this issue will actually make things worse.
Shapiro’s policies to reduce the amount of reliable electricity are the most concerning.
Even without the new influx of data centers, electricity costs are rising in Pennsylvania. On June 1, utility companies increased rates statewide. These companies regularly adjust rates based on market conditions.
And those conditions aren’t great for ratepayers. In this year’s first quarter, wholesale prices in Pennsylvania were up 44%.
What are driving costs? It’s simple supply-and-demand economics. Supply continues to dwindle as regulations force reliable power plants to retire prematurely and force-feed more unreliable solar and wind energy into the state’s energy portfolio.
Meanwhile, demand – driven by AI – keeps escalating.
AI guzzles electricity. A ChatGPT query devours 10 times more electricity than a conventional Google query. To satiate AI’s growing power needs, conservative estimates suggest the United States needs at least 18 gigawatts of additional grid capacity by 2030 – roughly three times the annual consumption of New York City.
Tech companies have already begun to stake claims for increased energy capacity. Case in point: Microsoft’s recent reboot of Three Mile Island. Partnering with Constellation Energy, the tech giant will commandeer the once-shuttered nuclear power plant to power its growing AI capabilities with around-the-clock energy.
And while such deals are great for Big Tech, Pennsylvania households and small businesses remain stuck with ever-increasing electricity bills. Even before the recent rate hike, new polling reveals 78% of Pennsylvanians report increased energy bills over the past two years.
Meanwhile, misguided lawmakers push policies that only exacerbate the problem. For example, Gov. Shapiro’s Lightning Plan – which includes a carbon-tax scheme and mandates more unreliable “green” energy – will add about $157 billion in statewide electricity costs by 2035, according to a new report by Always On Energy and the Commonwealth Foundation. These added costs will double household electricity bills.
So long as these ill-advised policies continue to throttle capacity and generation, the grid will remain a bottleneck to future innovation in Pennsylvania.
To attract new data centers, lawmakers have also flirted with an age-old yet ineffectual solution: corporate welfare. Despite the political appeal, government favors (i.e., tax incentives and subsidies) to attract new businesses often fail.
Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal Office found that the commonwealth’s tax credits netted a lousy return on investment, about 25 cents on the dollar.
Others have proven useless: The Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credit, which Shapiro wants to expand. has had no takers since its inception in 2022 – not a single dollar.
The best medicine is regulatory reform. Lawmakers should revise electricity regulations to account for reliability and consider all infrastructure costs associated with electricity generation. Also, energy markets need a more predictable permitting process for energy extraction and power plant construction.
Shapiro alluded to fast-tracking permitting for new data centers. Competing with neighbors like West Virginia, which recently passed a bill allowing “microgrid” districts for data centers with standalone power plants, could be beneficial. But there again, the track record of industry-specific reforms is spotty.
Nearly a year ago, Pennsylvania passed the Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development (SPEED) program to create an expedited permit review and approval process associated with energy production. Today, SPEED remains under development. Shapiro’s call for expedited permitting for data centers appears to be yet another half-measure that won’t accomplish much.
Pennsylvania can’t afford to stop with just one industry. Regulatory reform must be comprehensive and universal, freeing up all economic sectors from onerous red tape.
Pennsylvania, with more than 160,000 individual regulations and restrictions throttling genuine economic development, is one of the most-regulated states. Research suggests a 36% cut in regulations would yield 1% growth in Pennsylvania’s GDP, according to a report coauthored by the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Commonwealth Foundation.
Before Pennsylvania’s Wyoming Valley can become the next Silicon Valley, the commonwealth must rethink its strategy. Lawmakers must cut red tape, not blank checks to big corporations. Moreover, they must unleash affordable energy, not shackle it with climate-alarmist policies. Without genuine regulatory and energy reform, the commonwealth won’t be able to power the future and will be left in the dark.
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Site: Zero HedgePicnic Or Not, Rand Paul Reveals The One Thing That Will Secure His Vote For Trump Tax BillTyler Durden Thu, 06/12/2025 - 10:20
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) continues to be a prominent holdout against President Donald Trump’s ambitious “Big, Beautiful Bill,” drawing frustration from the White House. However, the Kentucky Republican - who was reportedly disinvited and then reinvited to the annual White House picnic - has indicated he could ultimately support the legislation if a key condition is met: removing the debt ceiling increase from the bill.
In a Tuesday interview with Charlie Kirk, Paul voiced concerns over the federal government’s reliance on omnibus spending bills or continuing resolutions, calling them a “terrible way to run government.” Paul also criticized GOP leadership in both the House and Senate for failing to deliver on promises of fiscal responsibility, accusing them of prioritizing political expediency over conservative principles that they claim to uphold.
"It's going to be an omnibus or a continuing resolution. It'll be all the bills crammed together. It's a terrible way to run government.But then we would ask them at that point, all right, you promised us you were going to do better. And once again, this isn't an accusation against the president,” Paul told Kirk. "This is an accusation against GOP leadership on both sides.I'm saying, I don't believe them or trust them. So, in three months, we'd get another bite at the apple and we'd say, all right, what have you done? And they would say, oh, we're going to do it next time. And that's what they say."
"Right now, from Speaker Johnson, we hear he's going to be conservative after the 2026 elections. The Senate has made it not just $4 trillion in borrowing, they want to do $5 trillion in borrowing, and they've explicitly told us it's to get through the 2026 elections without talking about the debt,” the senator added. All of these things were conservatives would oppose, but now they, because they support the president so much, they're willing to look the other way. I like the president. I like him personally.”
Paul then took aim at the recurring pattern of massive, last-minute spending bills that combine multiple legislative priorities into a single package. “It’s all the bills crammed together,” he said, arguing that this approach lacks transparency and accountability. He expressed frustration with Republican leaders who, he claims, repeatedly defer meaningful reforms with vague promises of action after future elections. “Right now, from Speaker Johnson, we hear he’s going to be conservative after the 2026 elections,” Paul remarked skeptically.
"I was his biggest defender against two impeachments. We'll do it again. I've supported his nominees, but I'm just not going to go against all principle to support $5 trillion in borrowing because I don't know who we would be or where we would be of a movement if nobody opposes this,” Paul said. "I've told them I will vote for the bill. Separate out the debt ceiling so I don't have to give up all of my principles and I'll vote for the bill."
Despite Paul's opposition, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) remains optimistic that Congress can pass the sweeping bill by July 4, despite ongoing challenges in the Senate. “We certainly hope, I believe, we can still meet that,” Johnson told reporters Monday. “It’s up to the Senate, the bill’s in the Senate’s hands now. But I spoke with Leader Thune as recently as last night, he’s feeling very optimistic.”
“I think it’s gonna go pretty quickly,” Trump added.
Meanwhile as noted above, Rand accused the White House of "immaturity" and "petty vindictiveness" on Wednesday after he and his family were disinvited from the annual White House picnic held with members of both parties.
"The level of immaturity is beyond words," said Paul, adding that he's "lost a lot of respect" for Trump.
"It’s just incredibly petty," he told CNN Wednesday evening. "I’m arguing from a true belief and worry that our country is mired in debt and getting worse. And they choose to react by uninviting my grandson to the picnic. I don’t know. I just think it really makes me lose a lot of respect I once had for Donald Trump."
Paul: “I like Donald Trump, but when they want to act this way, it's where they begin to lose a lot of America who just wonders, ‘Why does everything have to descend to this level?’”
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 12, 2025
Also takes a whack at Stephen Miller for “casually talking about getting rid of habeas corpus” pic.twitter.com/0ojRjYIIV9On Thursday, however, Trump posted on Truth Social: "Of course Senator Rand Paul and his beautiful wife and family are invited to the BIG White House Party tonight. He’s the toughest vote in the history of the U.S. Senate, but why wouldn’t he be?"
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Site: Catholic ConclaveThe first of many, many cases, predating the Boston cases by some seven years.The Viennese Cardinal Groër had to resign in 1995 after profil exposed him as an abuser. A dam break that shook the Catholic Church to the core. In psychology, a trigger is defined as a situation in which traumatized people feel transported back to the emotional state of that time. The result: anger and fear. Such a Catholic Conclavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06227218883606585321noreply@blogger.com0
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Site: southern orders
I have to say, that the before look isn’t that bad, especially for a high school chapel, but the after knocks our socks off, especially for a high school chapel!
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Press the title below from The Liturgical Arts Journal for the full story and more photos: -
Site: Mises InstituteTrump's now-infamous “Big, Beautiful Bill” has become the classic bait-and-switch, in which the president promises fiscal responsibility as a candidate but delivers profligacy when he reaches the White House.
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Site: Mises InstituteIt could be that deporting private sector workers isn't quite as popular as deporting violent criminals on the dole.
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Site: Steyn OnlineGreetings one and all and welcome to this week's edition of Laura's Links. As usual there's plenty to talk about. I'll let you know right from the outset that there's plenty of really heartwarming stories percolating for you in the Human Grace section.
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Site: AsiaNews.itFor the Jordanian expert, the picture is 'negative' with Israel 'operating on multiple, non-bordering fronts,' perhaps soon even inside Iran. The United States orders the evacuation of its embassy in Iraq, the most exposed in the event of conflict. The IAEA approves a resolution against Iran, raising the possibility of fresh sanctions.
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Site: southern orders
I dislike using the term “reform” to describe redefining how any liturgy of the Church is celebrated because reform indicates that there was something radically wrong, even corrupt, that needed reforming. People need to be reformed if they have fallen into sin, evil and corruption. Liturgies don’t do that, if they have been approved by the highest levels of the Church, the pope and/or an ecumenical council and are followed as written.The corruption of the defined and promulgated liturgical books, by rogue bishops, priests and laity is what needs reforming. The people who do it. This means returning to the proper liturgical use of the liturgical books following their liturgical laws and rubrics. It’s that simple. Even the 1962 Roman Missal could be corrupted by unscrupulous priests and bishops. The problem is the cleric, not the book!
So, let’s talk about reforming the laity and clergy and let’s talk about refining the liturgical books even if that refinement is the Modern or Ancient Liturgical books.
Thus, in light of all the controversies surrounding the suppression of the older liturgical books after Vatican II, relaxed some years later, only to have the more authoritarian suppression occur again under Pope Francis and his TC, what can be done to achieve what Pope Benedict XVI desired for one new Roman Missal, refining both the older and newer liturgical books?
Contrary to Bishop Martin’s claim that the older Mass should not have a gravitational pull on the Modern Mass, Pope Francis approved the Ordinariate’s Divine Worship, the Missal, which does exactly that!
That Missal is a refinement of the Modern Missal, but it is the Modern Missal nonetheless. Not only does it have in it the influence of the Tridentine Mass, but it also has the influence of Anglicanism’s liturgical patrimony that is not in conflict with Catholic doctrine or liturgical spirituality.
As far as the Tridentine options go, the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar is allowed with the Order of the Tridentine Mass. The gradual is allowed. The propers, to include the Offertory Chant, missing in the Modern Missal, are all included in the Divine Worship and the Introit includes the Gloria Patri.
The TLM’s offertory Prayers are included. The triple, “Lord, I am not worthy”, is allowed. And additional genuflections, as in the TLM, are included as well.
The Pre-Lenten Season of Septuagesima is restored, as well as rogation and ember days.
My plea to Pope Leo is to allow the Tridentine elements for the Modern Missal just as Pope Francis allowed it for the Ordinariate’s Missal.
Then, if a bishop has a problem with the 1962 Roman Missal, the Modern Missal could well placate those communities who desire the older Missal but using the Modern Missal with TLM elements.
Don’t call what I recommend, though, the reform of the reform. Call it refinement in continuity!
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Site: Novus Motus LiturgicusAt the end of this month, our Holy Father Leo XIV will celebrate the feast of Ss Peter and Paul as Pope for the first time. Our readers have perhaps read that the custom will be restored by which during the celebration of Mass in St Peter’s basilica, the pope blesses the pallia which are to be given to those who have lately been made metropolitan archbishops, and personally imposes it on them. InGregory DiPippohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13295638279418781125noreply@blogger.com0
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Site: LifeNews
Support for abortion has increased among Democrats and decreased among Republicans since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, with Republicans hitting a record high of 78% identifying as pro-life, according to a Gallup analysis published June 9.
The analysis discovered that Democrats had become more supportive of abortion in the years leading up to the Dobbs decision, but support for legal abortion spiked — jumping 13 points to 82% — in 2022 shortly after the draft was leaked. In 2025, 81% of Democrats said they thought abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 83% considered themselves pro-abortion.
Among Republicans, however, support for legal abortion only rose two points to 25% after the leak, but then dropped suddenly to 16% in 2023. In 2025, only 20% said that abortion should be legal in all or most circumstances.
HELP LIFENEWS SAVE BABIES FROM ABORTION! Please help LifeNews.com with a donation!
According to Gallup, Democrats are also overwhelmingly more likely than Republicans to say that abortion is morally acceptable (78% vs 20%).
The analysis also found that women have become increasingly more likely compared with men to identify as pro-abortion, with the largest pro-abortion shifts occurring among Democratic men, Democratic women, and Independent women. The largest pro-life shift occurred among Republican men.
Gallup reported that women’s and Democrats’ increased support for abortion since Dobbs has driven up national support, with 51% of Americans considering themselves pro-abortion. National support for abortion is up from the 49% who were pro-abortion in 2021 but down slightly from the 55% recorded in 2022. Nearly half of respondents in 2025 said that abortion should be illegal or legal in just a few instances, but just slightly more respondents said that abortion should be legal in any or most circumstances.
About six in 10 women currently identify as pro-abortion, compared with roughly four in 10 men who consider themselves pro-abortion. Women are also more likely than men to say that abortion is morally acceptable (57% vs. 40%) and to say that abortion should be legal in most or all circumstances (56% vs. 41%).
LifeNews Note: Hannah Hiester writes for CatholicVote, where this column originally appeared.
The post 83% of Democrats Support Abortion as Democrat Party Fully Supports Abortions Up to Birth appeared first on LifeNews.com.
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Site: LifeNews
Not Dead Yet UK and DPAC (Disabled People Against Cuts), two of the UK’s leading disability justice campaigns, will demonstrate outside Parliament on Friday, 13 June 2025, from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, at Old Palace Yard, Westminster, to oppose the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 2024-25, commonly referred to as the Assisted Suicide Bill.
The demonstration coincides with the second part of the Bill’s Report Stage, a pivotal moment as MPs debate amendments ahead of the Third Reading on 20 June. The Bill’s momentum has faltered following withdrawals of support from major medical bodies citing insufficient safeguards, and growing concern among the public and cross-party MPs about the risks it poses, especially to disabled people. Many fear that coercion could be disguised as choice in a society where essential support services continue to be dismantled.
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Not Dead Yet UK and DPAC are leading the opposition to the Bill on behalf of disabled people across the UK. They highlight grave risks, including the likelihood of disabled people choosing to end their lives not from terminal illness but from the chronic neglect of care systems, and pressure to see themselves as burdens.
Joining them on the day will be supporters from across the disability and human rights community, including Disability Rights UK, the Together Declaration, and Families Against Involuntary Medical Euthanasia. Their message is clear: legalising assisted suicide endangers disabled lives.
“This Bill risks state-sanctioned suicide. It risks making people feel like a burden, while ignoring the social, economic, and systemic pressures that deny people the treatment and dignity they need to live,” said George Fielding, a representative of Not Dead Yet UK.
“This is not choice. This is coercion, masquerading as compassion.”
The post Disability Groups Lead Protest to Stop Dangerous UK Bill to Legalize Assisted Suicide appeared first on LifeNews.com.
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Site: Zero HedgeCore Producer Price Growth Slides To Lowest Since August As Companies Eat Tariff CostsTyler Durden Thu, 06/12/2025 - 08:45
Following another month of cooler than expected CPI, US Producer Prices followed and printed well below expectations in May (if not quite the plunge observed last month), rising only 0.1%, below the +0.2% MoM exp (but we note that just like March's 0.4% MoM decline was revised up to unchanged, so May's -0.5% drop has been also revised higher to -0.2%). Meanwhile, the headline print posted a modest increase, rising from an upward revised 2.5% in April (from 2.4%) to 2.6% in May.
But while headline PPI posted a modest annual increase, core PPI continued to slide, rising just 3.0% in May, the lowest since August 2024 (below the 3.1% estimate), down from an upward revised 3.2% in May, as a result of a 0.1% monthly increase in core PPI, which also missed expectations of a 0.3% increase.
Looking at the PPI components that matter for PCE calculation, airline passenger services contracted another 1.1% m/m in May, after a 1.8% decline in April. Portfolio management contracted 1% after a 7.1% decline in April. Home health and hospice care flat, and hospital outpatient care contracted 0.3% m/m in April.
Under the hood, prices for final demand services rebounded 0.1% in May, reversing the 0.7% plunge in April which was the largest (pre-revision) decline since the index began in December 2009, driven by portfolio management services.
Taking a closer look at the components:
- The index for final demand services inched up 0.1% in May following a 0.4% decrease in April. The advance was attributable to a 0.4% rise in margins for final demand trade services. (Trade indexes measure changes in margins received by wholesalers and retailers.) In contrast, prices for final demand transportation and warehousing services declined 0.2 percent, while the index for final demand services less trade, transportation, and warehousing was unchanged.
- Product detail: Leading the increase in prices for final demand services in May, margins for machinery and vehicle wholesaling jumped 2.9 percent. The indexes for traveler accommodation services; apparel, footwear, and accessories retailing; alcohol retailing; and system software publishing also moved higher. Conversely, prices for airline passenger services fell 1.1 percent. The indexes for furniture retailing; securities brokerage, dealing, investment advice, and related services; and portfolio management also decreased.
- Product detail: Leading the increase in prices for final demand services in May, margins for machinery and vehicle wholesaling jumped 2.9 percent. The indexes for traveler accommodation services; apparel, footwear, and accessories retailing; alcohol retailing; and system software publishing also moved higher. Conversely, prices for airline passenger services fell 1.1 percent. The indexes for furniture retailing; securities brokerage, dealing, investment advice, and related services; and portfolio management also decreased.
- Prices for final demand goods rose 0.2% in May after edging up 0.1% in April. Over 80% of the May advance can be traced to the index for final demand goods less foods and energy, which climbed 0.2%. Prices for final demand foods increased 0.1%, while the index for final demand energy was unchanged.
- Product detail: Within the index for final demand goods in May, prices for tobacco products rose 0.9 percent. The indexes for gasoline, processed poultry, roasted coffee, residential natural gas, and oilseeds also increased. In contrast, prices for jet fuel declined 8.2 percent. The indexes for pork and for carbon steel scrap also fell.
Margin pressure remains on American corporations, which confirms that companies are eating tariff costs.
In other words, despite all the FUD, companies are soaking up any tariff price increases and NOT passing them on to customers.
- The index for final demand services inched up 0.1% in May following a 0.4% decrease in April. The advance was attributable to a 0.4% rise in margins for final demand trade services. (Trade indexes measure changes in margins received by wholesalers and retailers.) In contrast, prices for final demand transportation and warehousing services declined 0.2 percent, while the index for final demand services less trade, transportation, and warehousing was unchanged.
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Site: Zero HedgeHouse Strips Reconciliation-Ineligible Provisions From 'Big Beautiful Bill' In Procedural VoteTyler Durden Thu, 06/12/2025 - 08:45
The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a procedural resolution to strip provisions out of the House-passed One Big Beautiful Bill act that would make it ineligible for a filibuster-proof vote in the Senate. Why they were in there is anyone's guess.
The U.S. Capitol building in Washington on May 22, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times
The resolution passed in a 213–207 vote along party lines, which changes the vote without requiring yet another vote on the full package.
The most notable change was the removal of a planned crackdown on the "employee retention tax," which Republicans were eyeballing as a source of more than $6 billion in savings. They also scrapped $2 billion in funding for DoD intelligence programs and approximately $500 million set aside for missile development.
As The Epoch Times notes further, the changes to the mammoth tax and spending bill were included as part of a vote on another rule that would allow leadership to bring a vote on a $9.4 billion rescissions package on June 12.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) was critical of the approach, writing in a post on X that the rule “changes the text of [the One Big Beautiful Bill Act] after it already passed the House. Sneaky!”
The approach may have headed off a more intense showdown between House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who was looking to force greater changes to the bill, and members in the Republican conference, as some were dissatisfied about aspects of the original legislation passed by the House for its lack of serious cuts to spending.
The changes seek to align the bill with the rules of the reconciliation process in the Senate, where the Byrd Rule places significant limits on what can and can’t be included in a reconciliation bill. The rule was adopted in 1985 to limit the ability of either party to use reconciliation bills, which aren’t subject to a filibuster, for simple policy ends.
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth McDonough, who enforces the upper chamber’s rules, said the provisions stripped from the bill were flagged as problematic.
Had they not been nixed from the bill, it would have been declared ineligible for passage without a filibuster vote, which would have required that Republicans get Democrats’ help to pass the legislation.
Some Democrats urged Republicans ahead of the vote to use it as an opportunity to stall progress on the bill.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) acknowledged that most of the changes to the tax bill were technical corrections but he said the vote also gave Republicans who have expressed concern about the bill a chance to stop it.
“Now you have a second chance to actually stop this one big, ugly bill and the provisions you disagree with,” Jeffries said.
House Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) also urged Republicans to reject the changes in a June 10 letter.
He specifically cited prohibitions on the bill against regulation of artificial intelligence by states for ten years, provisions restricting federal judiciary contempt orders, the termination of Inflation Reduction Act energy tax credits, its impact on the national debt, and the eligibility requirements for able-bodied adults who receive Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
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Site: AsiaNews.itControversy is raging in the country over the different treatment by authorities and institutions. The authorities promise investigations and punishment for those who violate the laws. Domestic tourism is essential to sustain the economy after the Easter massacres and Covid. AsiaNews reports on local people being denied entry, especially during the high season.
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Site: AsiaNews.itTragedy in Gujarat: an Air India flight crashed in a residential area. Among the victims are several doctors from a hostel involved in the explosion of the aircraft. In addition to many Indians, there were also British, Portuguese and Canadian passengers on board.Archbishop Macwan tells AsiaNews: 'We are in shock at the news. We pray for the families of the victims and for the injured.'
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Site: LifeNews
Operation Rescue celebrates a long-overdue milestone as House Republicans recently advanced legislation to repeal the 1994 FACE Act signed by President Bill Clinton — a law that has been weaponized against peaceful pro-life citizens for decades.
Troy Newman, who participated in dozens of rescues before the FACE Act effectively squelched the early rescue movement, offers this statement:
As President of Operation Rescue, I speak not from theory, but experience. I was convicted under the FACE Act for peacefully defending life. And like tens of thousands of others, I was willing to be arrested—not for protest, but for rescuing babies sentenced to die.
In 1991, Operation Rescue helped launch the Summer of Mercy in Wichita, Kansas—a movement that mobilized tens of thousands of faithful Christians in non-violent civil disobedience. That summer, alone, saw over 2,600 arrests, and it ignited a national conscience.
HELP LIFENEWS SAVE BABIES FROM ABORTION! Please help LifeNews.com with a donation!
Across the country, our movement led to more than 75,000 arrests—all peaceful. All prayerful. All on behalf of babies scheduled to die.
This repeal is not about free speech. It is about the recognition of unborn children as human beings, and the vindication of those who risked everything to save them.
We didn’t block doors—we stood in the gap between death and life.
The FACE Act was never about safety. It was a legal bludgeon to protect abortion profits, criminalize compassion, and bury the truth.
To the children we tried to save: Your lives mattered. And this nation is finally starting, albeit slowly, to restore human rights and dignity to the children created in God’s image.
To the 75,000 rescuers: You were right. You were brave. You were ahead of your time. And this is your vindication.
We won’t stop until every abortion clinic is closed, and every baby is welcomed in love and law.
The post Repeal FACE so Pro-Life Americans Can Have a Legit First Amendment Right to Protest Abortion appeared first on LifeNews.com.
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Site: LifeNews
MPs are set to vote on Tuesday on an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, tabled by a large group of MPs from six parties, led by Dr Caroline Johnson MP, that would reinstate in-person consultations with a medical professional prior to an abortion taking place at home.
Polling published this morning shows widespread public support for the law change, with two-thirds of women supporting the reinstatement of in-person appointments. and only 4% in favour of the status quo. In contrast, only 16% of the public support current proposals that mean it would no longer be illegal for women to perform their own abortions for any reason, up to birth.
The amendment (NC106) has been signed by a cross-party group of over 30 MPs from six parties including former leader of the Conservative Party and cabinet minister Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Deputy Reform Leader Richard Tice, former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, former health minister Neil O’Brien, Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh, chairman of the Conservative 1922 Committee Bob Blackman, former Labour Opposition Whip Mary Glindon and former Health and Social Care Select Committee member, and Labour shadow minister, Rachael Maskell.
HELP LIFENEWS SAVE BABIES FROM ABORTION! Please help LifeNews.com with a donation!
This amendment would protect women by ensuring they have an in-person consultation with a medical professional before they could take abortion pills at home. This would enable an accurate assessment, in person, of any likely health risks for a woman taking abortion pills, her gestational age and the possibility of a coerced abortion.
Women would continue to be able to have a medical abortion at home, but with the vital safeguards that come with an in-person consultation.
Since March 2022, the vital importance of in-person consultations has become clear
In December of last year, Stuart Worby was jailed after inducing a woman to have an abortion against her will or knowledge, after spiking her drink with abortion pills obtained via a third party using the pills by post scheme. This tragic incident would not have been possible if in-person appointments had been required.
In June 2023, Carla Foster was found guilty of taking abortion pills prescribed by BPAS, Britain’s largest abortion provider, at 32-34 weeks gestation after admitting to lying about her gestational age and claiming to be 7 weeks pregnant. She described being traumatised by the face of her dead baby, whom she named Lily.
If Carla Foster had been given an in-person appointment at BPAS where her gestation could have been accurately determined, she would not have been able to obtain abortion pills and this tragic case would have been prevented.
The small recent increase in such prosecutions for illegal late-term abortions, ending the lives of viable babies, is a direct result of the ‘pills-by-post’ scheme that means women are able to obtain abortion pills without an in-person consultation to accurately assess their gestational age or possible health risks such as an ectopic pregnancy.
This has been acknowledged by pro-choice MPs and campaigners including Stella Creasy MP, abortion rights expert Dr Claire Pierson and major pro-choice leaning newspaper The Observer.
Clear solution to problems is reinstatement of in-person consultations, not ‘decriminalising’ abortion
Decriminalising abortion would make matters worse by making it no longer illegal for women to perform their own abortions for any reason, including sex-selective abortions, and at any point up to and during birth, thus endangering their lives and likely leading to an increase in women using abortion pills to end their pregnancies at home after the 24-week abortion time limit, up to the point of birth.
Instead, NC106 gives Parliament an opportunity to protect women and prevent these tragic cases from happening by restoring the vital safeguard of an in-person consultation with a medical professional.
Government review
A Government review published in November 2023 found the complication rate for medical abortions at 20 weeks and over is 160.33 times higher when compared to medical abortions that occurred at 2 to 9 weeks.
The complication rate for women who perform their own medical abortions outside of a clinical setting at 10 weeks or beyond in a home abortion is likely to be even higher than the rates when an abortion is happening in a clinical setting.
Such complications are far more likely without an in-person appointment where there is an opportunity to accurately assess gestation age, and would be even more likely if the current legal deterrent against late-term abortions was removed.
History of at-home abortion schemes
Telemedicine home abortions were originally introduced in March 2020 as a temporary measure during the pandemic.
In February 2022, the Government announced the scheme would end after running a consultation in which 70% of respondents called for an immediate end to at-home abortion schemes.
However, at-home abortion schemes were made permanently available via a backbench amendment moved in the House of Lords to the Health and Care Act in March 2022, which narrowly passed by just 27 votes in the Commons.
Given the major issues with at-home abortion schemes and the high-profile cases of women using the scheme to abort later in pregnancy, pro-choice MPs will be facing a big battle to prevent this amendment from passing and stop their own amendments from failing, as MPs see that the solution to the major problems with these schemes is in-person appointments, not making them worse by removing key deterrents against performing an abortion at any point right through to birth.
Dr Caroline Johnson MP said:
“Since its introduction, the safeguarding risks caused by the ‘pills by post’ scheme have been evident, with one man able to obtain pills by a third party to induce a woman to have an abortion against her will or knowledge, and other women taking the pills later in pregnancy, in some cases because they were mistaken about their gestation, putting themselves in danger”.
“Women would continue to be able to take abortion pills at home but, in line with public support, my amendment would reinstate prior in-person consultations so medical professionals are able to accurately assess a woman’s gestational age, any health risks and the risk of coercion before abortion pills can be prescribed”.
“This would protect women and prevent further cases of coerced or dangerous abortions arising as a result of the pills by post scheme”.
Right To Life UK spokesperson, Catherine Robinson, said:
“The controversial amendment that made at-home abortions permanent passed by a razor-thin margin of just 27 votes. A large number of MPs raised serious concerns about the negative impact these schemes would have on women”.
“Since then, we have seen these concerns tragically borne out. Women such as Carla Foster have performed at-home abortions well beyond the 24-week time limit, putting their health at serious risk. Had Carla Foster been given an in-person consultation, where her gestation could have been accurately determined, she would not have been able to access abortion pills, and this tragic case would have been prevented”.
“The solution is clear. We urgently need to reinstate in-person appointments. This simple safeguard would prevent women’s lives from being put at risk from self-administered late-term abortions, a danger that would be exacerbated if abortion were ‘decriminalised’ right up to birth”.
The post Measure in British Parliament Would Help Stop Dangerous Abortion Pills appeared first on LifeNews.com.
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Site: Saint Louis Catholic
3 And when he was sitting on mount Olivet, the disciples came to him privately, saying: Tell us when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the consummation of the world? 4 And Jesus answering, said to them: Take heed that no man seduce you: 5 For many will come in my name saying, I am Christ: and they will seduce many.
6 And you shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that ye be not troubled. For these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be pestilences, and famines, and earthquakes in places: 8 Now all these are the beginnings of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall put you to death: and you shall be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be scandalized: and shall betray one another: and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall seduce many. 12 And because iniquity hath abounded, the charity of many shall grow cold. 13 But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom, shall be preached in the whole world, for a testimony to all nations, and then shall the consummation come. 15 When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth let him understand.
16 Then they that are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains: 17 And he that is on the housetop, let him not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 And he that is in the field, let him not go back to take his coat. 19 And woe to them that are with child, and that give suck in those days. 20 But pray that your flight be not in the winter, or on the sabbath.
21 For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be. 22 And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh should be saved: but for the sake of the elect those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him. 24 For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect. 25 Behold I have told it to you, beforehand.
26 If therefore they shall say to you: Behold he is in the desert, go ye not out: Behold he is in the closets, believe it not. 27 For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west: so shall the coming of the Son of man be. 28 Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together. 29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be moved: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty. (Mt. 24)
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It is never a bad time to read the 24th and 25th chapters of St. Matthew’s Gospel, but they seem especially appropriate today. The riots in Los Angeles and other cities, clearly well-funded and coordinated, are ominous reminders of the appetite for evil and destruction held by so many Godless, or worse, people. On the other hand, the military mobilization for the parade announced for Saturday also triggers warnings. Existing on the internet, even for the small-fry blogger, introduces one to all of the current “rumors of wars”, so to speak.
You want the Q theory? The parade is a blind to allow the culmination of the glorious movie so-long planned out by the guardians of civilization to take down the satanic cabal of globalist pedophiles. We just have to sit back and watch. Of course, I was bid to sit and watch four years ago as the presidency was stolen by that same cabal.
So there’s that.
Naomi Wolf and Alex Jones are teaming up to predict Bolshevik revolution along with a mass-casualty event. Nice. I actually think they make a great couple.
The larger point being this: a godless society reaps what it sows. We are near the end, if one takes the proper eschatological perspective. We are two thousand years on from the Incarnation, life, passion, death, resurrection and ascension of the Messias. Our days dwindle and one day will at last be the last day. These times are bad indeed. Whether or not the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart comes first or after (and it will come), we shall see that horrible day when antichrist assumes power. It hasn’t happened yet, and that time will make this seem like Xanadu.
We have a duty: love Christ, live for Him, die for Him, believe in Him and belong to His Church. Against the forces, natural and preternatural, that assail us we do not have the strength to win. We have to ask for the strength of Christ. With it, and the help of the heavenly hosts, we cannot fail.
Stay alert always. Have humility and have confidence. Cling to Our Lady.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
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Site: PaulCraigRoberts.org
California Governor Newsom Is Aligned with the Immigrant-Invaders
The Mexican government displays a map of Mexico that includes California.
Perhaps we should give California and Arizona back to Mexico and find someone to take New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Colorado, Washington and Oregon — perhaps remnants of the Indian tribes could have their lands returned to them.
Governor Newsom’s Address to California:
https://www.unz.com/article/governor-newsoms-address-to-california/
Alternatively, we could keep the immigrant-invaders and deport the white liberals. It is the white liberals who are responsible for the problem. It was white liberals who dismantled the border and recruited a replacement population.
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Site: PaulCraigRoberts.org
California’s Crazy Governor Tried to Prevent any Restraint on the Violence and Riots
The fool wants another free romp like BLM and Antifa Enjoyed
A federal judge has denied California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request for an emergency restraining order aimed at stopping President Donald Trump and the Department of Defense from federalizing the California National Guard and deploying U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, following violent clashes between immigration officers and protesters.
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Site: PaulCraigRoberts.org
Nothing spontaneous here
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Site: PaulCraigRoberts.org
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Site: PaulCraigRoberts.org
“John Roberts Is The Face Of Leftists’ Judicial Coup” — The Federalist
https://thefederalist.com/2025/06/11/john-roberts-is-the-face-of-leftists-judicial-coup/
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Site: PaulCraigRoberts.org
The Liberal-left in control of US universities ignore the bans on DEI privileges
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rXVTB7hTO4
Karen Price, the Director of Institutional Assessment at Western Carolina University, gloated to an Accuracy in Media investigator about how DEI is being embedded throughout the system – so it can’t be legislated away – despite a Board of Governors’ ban.
Price told AIM’s hidden-camera investigator the school is “still absolutely doing” all of the DEI work, but there is no central office, figurehead, or Chief Diversity Officer, that might raise suspicions.
“Like honestly, it’s more we’re trying to embed that kind of Diversity, Equity, Inclusiveness, Inclusive Excellence, really across, like, every area should have responsibility for that,” she explained, even though there is a ban on DEI.
She even said, “I don’t even mind pissing people off” when it comes to continuing to do DEI work.
When Accuracy in Media showed up at Western Carolina University to ask the school what they thought about DEI being embedded there, they didn’t have anything to say.
You can watch the full video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rXVTB7hTO4
Price is just the latest administrator who AIM has exposed plotting ways to evade the DEI ban. AIM also outed administrators at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the University of North Carolina at Asheville for coming up with ways to bypass the ban. As a result of AIM’s investigations, both of the administrators caught on camera were fired.
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Site: PaulCraigRoberts.org
Tulsi Gabbard Director of National Intelligence Tells Us that Our Real Enemy is Nuclear Weapons
The mindless American hostility toward Russia and China and Israel’s determination to cause war between America and Iran are a direct path to human annihilation.
Common Sense
“As we stay here today closer to the brink of nuclear annihilation closer than ever before, political elite and warmongers are carelessly fomenting fear and tensions between nuclear powers… So, it’s up to us, the people, to speak up and demand an end to this madness. We must reject this path to nuclear war and work toward a world where no one has to live in fear of a nuclear holocaust.” — Tulsi Gabbard
According to latest estimates by nuclear researchers, the total number of deployable nuclear warheads in the world has increased to 9,615 from 9,583 in 2024, while the total number of nuclear warheads has risen to 12,340. As of June 2025, nine countries — Russia, the United States, China, France, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea — are known to be in possession of deployable nuclear warheads.
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Site: Catholic ConclaveAnd I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heavenEt tibi dabo claves regni caelorum. Et quodcumque ligaveris super terram, erit ligatum et in caelis : et quodcumque solveris super terram, erit solutum et in caelis. [Matthew 16:19]But Catholic Conclavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06227218883606585321noreply@blogger.com0
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Site: PaulCraigRoberts.org
President Trump Wishes He Had as much Power Over Americans as Israel has
Dr. Rupa Marya was fired by the University of Calironia, San Francisco,for speaking out against Israel’s genocide of Palestinians.
UCSF terminated Rupa Marya following a nine-month suspension from the elite medical school based on social media posts in which she criticized Israel’s genocide in Gaza and questioned how Zionist ideology affects health care outcomes. As a part of her dismissal, UCSF officials will place a letter of censure in Marya’s file for 10 years, which she said will likely damage her ability to seek future employment and continue practicing medicine.
https://israelpalestinenews.org/uc-doctor-professor-gaza-israel/
It took 78 years, but Israel stole Palestine and destroyed its people.
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Site: PaulCraigRoberts.org
The Last Days of Gaza
CHRIS HEDGES • JUNE 10, 2025
https://www.unz.com/article/the-last-days-of-gaza/
This is the end. The final blood-soaked chapter of the genocide. It will be over soon. Weeks. At most. Two million people are camped out amongst the rubble or in the open air. Dozens are killed and wounded daily from Israeli shells, missiles, drones, bombs and bullets. They lack clean water, medicine and food. They have reached a point of collapse. Sick. Injured. Terrified. Humiliated. Abandoned. Destitute. Starving. Hopeless.
In the last pages of this horror story, Israel is sadistically baiting starving Palestinians with promises of food, luring them to the narrow and congested nine-mile ribbon of land that borders Egypt. Israel and its cynically named Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), allegedly funded by Israel’s Ministry of Defense and the Mossad, is weaponizing starvation. It is enticing Palestinians to southern Gaza the way the Nazis enticed starving Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto to board trains to the death camps. The goal is not to feed the Palestinians. No one seriously argues there is enough food or aid hubs. The goal is to cram Palestinians into heavily guarded compounds and deport them.
What comes next? I long ago stopped trying to predict the future. Fate has a way of surprising us. But there will be a final humanitarian explosion in Gaza’s human slaughterhouse. We see it with the surging crowds of Palestinians fighting to get a food parcel, which has resulted in Israeli and U.S. private contractors shooting dead at least 130 and wounding over seven hundred others in the first eight days of aid distribution. We see it with Benjamin Netanyahu’s arming ISIS-linked gangs in Gaza that loot food supplies. Israel, which has eliminated hundreds of employees with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), doctors, journalists, civil servants and police in targeted assassinations, has orchestrated the implosion of civil society.
I suspect Israel will facilitate a breach in the fence along the Egyptian border. Desperate Palestinians will stampede into the Egyptian Sinai. Maybe it will end some other way. But it will end soon. There is not much more Palestinians can take.
We — full participants in this genocide — will have achieved our demented goal of emptying Gaza and expanding Greater Israel. We will bring down the curtain on the live-streamed genocide. We will have mocked the ubiquitous university programs of Holocaust studies, designed, it turns out, not to equip us to end genocides, but deify Israel as an eternal victim licensed to carry out mass slaughter. The mantra of never again is a joke. The understanding that when we have the capacity to halt genocide and we do not, we are culpable, does not apply to us. Genocide is public policy. Endorsed and sustained by our two ruling parties.
There is nothing left to say. Maybe that is the point. To render us speechless. Who does not feel paralyzed? And maybe, that too, is the point. To paralyze us. Who is not traumatized? And maybe that too was planned. Nothing we do, it seems, can halt the killing. We feel defenseless. We feel helpless. Genocide as spectacle.
I have stopped looking at the images. The rows of little shrouded bodies. The decapitated men and women. Families burned alive in their tents. The children who have lost limbs or are paralyzed. The chalky death masks of those pulled from under the rubble. The wails of grief. The emaciated faces. I can’t.
This genocide will haunt us. It will echo down history with the force of a tsunami.
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Site: PaulCraigRoberts.org
Kevin Barrett Says Our Culture and Raison d’être Have Been Stolen from Us
https://www.unz.com/kbarrett/shakespeare-antisemite-white-nationalist-conspiracy-theorist/
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Site: Rorate CaeliAfter 12 years of insults, belittling, mocking of priests by Francis -- a beautiful address by Pope Leo XIV in his meeting with the clergy of the Diocese of Rome:I want to ask for a big round of applause for all of you who are here, and for all the priests and deacons of Rome!Dear Priests and Deacons who provide your service in the diocese of Rome, dear seminarians, I greet you all with New Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118576661605931910noreply@blogger.com
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Site: Mises InstituteMises said that MES made an “epochal” contribution to economics and that it made many important theoretical innovations.
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Site: Ron Paul Institute - Featured Articles
In a Tuesday speech at Fort Bragg, President Donald Trump declared that “people that burn the American flag should go to jail for one year,” something Trump proceeded to state he is working with United States senators to bring about.
Twenty-two years ago this month, members of the United States House of Representatives were debating on the House floor whether they should approve H. J. Res. 4, a proposed constitutional amendment that would have empowered the Congress to “prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.” During the debate, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) argued that the proposed constitutional amendment, which he described as “very unnecessary and very dangerous,” should be rejected. Paul said the attempt to “force values on people” through the proposed constitutional amendment was inconsistent with respect for liberty. “Values in a free society,” Paul stated, “are done voluntarily, not through coercion and certainly not by the law.” The law, Paul further noted, is backed by guns.
After the debate on the House floor, a vote by House members approved H. J. Res. 4. The Senate, however, did not end up voting on it.
Watch Paul’s House floor speech here:
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Site: Mises InstituteInfluenced by the writings of the great Frederic Bastiat, Vilfredo Pareto promoted free markets and economic liberalism in 19th Century Europe. Pareto also made a number of important contributions to economic theory and practice.
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Site: Mises InstituteIts intent may be to sabotage whatever peace deal trump might have pursued. But US taxpayers will pay either way.
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Site: OnePeterFive
This year marks the 800th anniversary of the definitive composition of the Canticle of Brother Sun, also known as the Canticle of the Creatures or Laudes Creaturarum, by St. Francis of Assisi († 1226). This remarkable work, one of the first texts found in the anthologies when one studies Italian literature, is distinguished by its poetic beauty and its profound spiritual message…
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Site: OnePeterFive
From the Roman feast. ℣. Grant, Lord, a blessing. Benediction. May the Gospel’s holy lection Be our safety and protection. ℟. Amen. Reading 1 Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke Luke 9:1-6 At that time: Jesus called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And so on. Homily by St. Ambrose…
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Site: Mises Institute
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Site: Real Investment Advice
The May CPI report released yesterday was considered the first inflation gauge to show how tariffs are impacting prices. We would like to see a few more months of inflation reports before claiming the coast is clear, but the May CPI is encouraging. For the fourth consecutive month, the CPI was below Wall Street estimates. Monthly CPI and Core CPI rose 0.1% versus expectations of 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively. The annualized rate of inflation based on the last three months is 1.35%, well below the Fed's 2.00% target.
Interestingly, prices for new and used cars, as well as apparel, fell in May. Some forecasters thought that those goods were likely to see higher prices due to tariffs. New car prices fell by 0.3%, and apparel and used car prices declined by 0.4%. This suggests that companies are finding ways to limit the pass-through of higher costs resulting from tariffs. Might profit margins are weaker than expected in the coming earnings reports for companies in these industries?
Shelter prices remain sticky, rising 0.3% and accounting for the total increase in CPI and then some. To wit, the graph below shows that the CPI, excluding shelter prices, was slightly negative in yesterday's report, and they are running at only 1.50% year over year.
The odds of the Fed cutting are near zero percent at next week's meeting. However, with another benign inflation report in hand, traders are inching up expectations toward two cuts for the remainder of the year.
What To Watch Today
Earnings
Economy
Market Trading Update
Yesterday, we discussed that the recent rally from the lows suggests that the bull market has returned and fears of a secondary correction are likely overblown. Sentiment Trader recently discussed another indication that such is the case
"Three of the 'Big Four' indices have come storming back. The most-followed three U.S. equity indices have recovered to within 5% of their multi-year highs. This is a notable recovery from at least a -15% drawdown for the S&P 500, Dow Industrials, and Nasdaq Composite. Only the small-cap Russell 2000, with less historical data to test, is lagging."
The table below shows how the S&P 500 has performed after all three recovered to within 5% of a 3-year high after all were at least 15% below within the past 50 sessions. On average, the current drawdown was less than -4% between the three. As noted by Sentiment Trader:
"Not many times have we witnessed such a quick recovery across all three indices. However, they were good for the S&P 500 from the available history. It continued to power higher each time over the following three to six months, though it eventually succumbed to the pandemic panic in 2020."
"Even more notable than its consistency was how little risk there was within the next six months. The S&P didn't fall more than -4.4% at any point within that time frame across any of the signals (though, again, it's a tiny sample size), while its maximum gain exceeded that in every instance."
The bottom line is that while many narratives still suggest another "shoe will drop" any moment, the underlying technical recovery, breadth, and momentum indicate that it is not likely the case. As Sentiment Trader concludes:
"The fact that three of the most widely followed and benchmarked indices have already recovered most of their modest-to-serious drawdowns is also a positive sign. There haven't been many times in the past 50 years when all three major indices recovered so quickly from such heavy selling pressure, which limits us. But the times it happened, it boded well for a further recovery. It was an especially good sign for the tech-heavy Nasdaq, reinforcing some of the other studies we've published in recent weeks."
This doesn't mean the market will not have short-term pullbacks and consolidations. However, those consolidations and pullbacks should be used to add equity exposure to portfolios. Be patient if you are underweight equities, and pick entry points opportunistically to reverse positioning.
China Exports To The US Are Collapsing: Don't Believe The Hype
The series of graphs below, courtesy of Robin Brooks from the Brookings Institution, shows how exports from Asia to the US have transformed due to tariffs. The easy, yet wrong, takeaway is that exports from China to the US are collapsing. At the same time, they are surging in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Given that these other countries also face hefty tariffs and there hasn't been enough time for US importers to find new production facilities, what we are seeing is called transshipment. Essentially, China is shipping US-bound goods to the specified countries, removing the "made in China" label, and then exporting them to the US. Simply, China is not suffering as much as the graph suggests.
Deficits And The Tradeoffs Required To Fix Them
By falling significantly short of its intended savings goals, the DOGE program underscores the substantial challenges that hinder efforts to reduce federal spending and cut the deficit. Furthermore, its failure suggests that a more expedient way to reduce the deficit might be to increase federal revenue. Thus, we pose the simple hypothetical question: What if the government were to double taxes overnight?
While we do not support larger deficits or promote them, this article provides a better understanding of how fiscal deficits are part of a bigger picture, the tradeoff between private and public sector deficits and surpluses.
Your opinion on the fiscal deficit may change after reading this article.
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The post Inflation Remains Tame Despite Tariffs appeared first on RIA.
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Site: Catholic ConclaveInterview with Alberto Bochatey: “The great challenge is for people to accept that he is Leo XIV and not Francis II”In an exclusive interview with LA NACION, the auxiliary bishop of La Plata, who has known Robert Prevost for more than 30 years, spoke about the Supreme Pontiff's career and his relationship with his predecessor.“I went in and said, ‘Can I give you a hug?’ And now what do I call youCatholic Conclavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06227218883606585321noreply@blogger.com0
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Site: LES FEMMES - THE TRUTH
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Site: Real Investment Advice
Running a successful business takes grit, vision, and no shortage of time. Between managing operations, leading teams, and scaling growth, personal financial planning often gets pushed to the back burner. When business owners do seek help, they typically turn to their CPA for advice. And while CPAs are invaluable for accounting and tax compliance, they’re not equipped to cover every financial angle you face as a business owner.
To protect your personal wealth and ensure your financial future, you need more than a CPA—you need a financial advisor who understands your unique position. This partnership is essential for long-term planning, risk mitigation, investment growth, and wealth transfer strategies that extend well beyond taxes.
The Role of a CPA: A Vital but Limited Function
CPAs are trained to focus on compliance. Their primary role is to ensure that your business and personal taxes are filed correctly, that you’re taking advantage of available deductions, and that you remain within the bounds of federal and state regulations.
For many business owners, this work is essential. But there are gaps in the support CPAs provide:
- Short-term focus: CPAs typically focus on the previous tax year or quarter.
- Limited investment advice: Most CPAs are not licensed to provide investment recommendations.
- Estate and succession planning: This is often outside a CPA’s expertise.
- No proactive financial planning: CPAs work reactively based on data you provide, rather than proactively building your financial future.
That’s where a financial advisor steps in.
Financial Advisors: Your Long-Term Strategic Partner
Financial advisors do more than balance your books—they help you build, preserve, and transfer wealth. Their job is to take a forward-looking view of your finances and align them with your personal and professional goals. When paired with your CPA, they form a powerful team that supports both sides of your financial life.
Here’s how a financial advisor can elevate your financial planning as a business owner:
1. Strategic Financial Planning and Goal Setting
You have personal goals—early retirement, buying a vacation home, sending kids to college, or leaving a legacy. A financial advisor helps map these goals to your business income, investment portfolio, and lifestyle.
They’ll also guide you on:
- Building diversified income streams outside your business
- Balancing reinvestment in the company vs. personal savings
- Setting up tax-advantaged retirement accounts tailored for business owners (e.g., SEP IRAs, Solo 401(k)s)
2. Risk Management for Business and Personal Assets
Running a business exposes you to more risk than the average person. A financial advisor will help you manage these risks with:
- Proper insurance coverage (liability, disability, life, etc.)
- Legal structure and asset protection strategies
- Emergency fund planning for both business and household
Where your CPA might identify risk exposure on paper, your advisor helps you actively plan for and address it.
3. Investment Guidance Beyond the Business
You likely invest most of your time and money into your business, but relying solely on your company’s success can be risky. A financial advisor helps diversify your wealth through:
- Tax-efficient investment portfolios
- Alternative investments (real estate, private equity, etc.)
- Retirement income planning and drawdown strategies
Unlike a CPA, your advisor can monitor market trends, rebalance portfolios, and keep your personal wealth aligned with your long-term goals.
4. Succession and Exit Planning
Eventually, every business owner faces the question: What’s next?
Whether you plan to sell, pass the business to a family member, or transition to a leadership team, your financial advisor helps you plan for:
- Business valuation and timing your exit
- Capital gains tax strategies
- Retirement planning post-sale
- Estate planning and wealth transfer
These are complex, high-stakes decisions. A CPA may handle the numbers, but an advisor ensures you walk away with the freedom, income, and legacy you envision.
5. Coordinated Tax Strategy with Your CPA
Rather than choosing between a CPA and a financial advisor, the best results come when the two work together.
- Your CPA ensures compliance and helps you file.
- Your financial advisor strategizes how to structure your finances for tax efficiency over time.
Together, they can align business cash flow, investment strategy, and tax planning in one cohesive plan.
Why Business Owners Can’t Afford to Wait
Business owners often delay personal financial planning, thinking they’ll “get to it” once the company hits a certain milestone. But without a plan, you risk:
- Overpaying taxes year after year
- Leaving your family exposed to financial risk
- Missing critical investment opportunities
- Entering retirement without a clear income plan
Wealth doesn’t just happen—it’s built with intention, strategy, and the right team behind you.
Ready to Take Control of Your Financial Future?
RIA Advisors works with business owners just like you to build personalized financial plans that support your lifestyle, protect your wealth, and prepare you for the next chapter, whatever that looks like.
Schedule your consultation with RIA Advisors today and get the financial guidance you deserve.
FAQs
What’s the difference between a financial advisor and a CPA?
A CPA focuses on taxes and compliance, often looking backward at what’s already happened. A financial advisor takes a forward-looking approach, helping you build long-term strategies around investing, retirement, and risk management.
Why do business owners need both a CPA and a financial advisor?
Each professional offers a unique skill set. Together, they create a more comprehensive plan that addresses short-term tax needs and long-term financial goals.
Can a financial advisor help with selling my business?
Yes, a financial advisor can help you plan your business exit, manage proceeds, minimize taxes, and create a strategy for your financial life after the sale.
What kinds of investment strategies work best for business owners?
Diversified investment portfolios that include tax-efficient vehicles like IRAs, real estate, and alternative investments can help reduce dependence on your business and grow personal wealth.
When should I start financial planning as a business owner?
The earlier, the better. Even in the early stages of your business, a financial advisor can help you lay a solid foundation for future growth and security.
The post Business Owners: Why Your Personal Financial Plan Needs More Than Just a CPA appeared first on RIA.
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