For many people today, practical atheism is the normal rule of life...If this attitude becomes a general existential position, then freedom no longer has any standards, then everyting is possible and permissible.
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Site: Zero Hedge(None Dare Call It) Treason Of The JudiciaryTyler Durden Thu, 05/08/2025 - 16:20
Authored by Frank Miele via RealClearWire.com,
Thursday, April 24, was a day like any other day – the sun came up, the sun went down, and Donald Trump was hit with at least three nationwide injunctions by federal district court judges.
That’s just the way it goes if you are a president who wants to take back America from the entrenched left-wing bureaucracy and restore common sense to government before it is too late.
The danger of the bureaucracy was predicted by Julien Benda in his 1927 book “The Treason of the Clerks,” which warned of the danger of the intellectual class adopting political passions that had previously been the sole domain of the masses. We see this most distinctly today in the federal bureaucracy, which I dare say has the greatest concentration of degree-holders from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia (and the like) of any sector in the nation, other than the incestuous universities themselves.
The treason that Benda described was the loss of independence of thought and dispassionate reason by intellectuals, and the accompanying subservience of intellect to political passions. During Trump’s first term, I wrote a column describing the danger that Benda had foreseen:
Benda wrote at the beginning of the age of mass communication, and yet he already saw that “political passions have attained a universality never before known. … Thanks to the progress of communication and, still more, to the group spirit, it is clear that the holders of the same political hatred now form a compact impassioned mass, every individual of which feels himself in touch with the infinite number of others, whereas a century ago such people were comparatively out of touch with each other and hated in a ‘scattered’ way” …
It seems that we are now living out Benda’s worst nightmare — an age of manipulation of the masses by those who think they know better — whether you call them the “deep state,” the “opposition party,” “the national elite,” “the entrenched bureaucracy,” or just “the establishment.”
And for the past 10 years, they have turned their hatred on Donald Trump. Without rhyme or reason, they fight him on every reform and arm themselves with invented scandal and fake news.
Now, in Trump’s second term, we see that the bureaucracy has a close ally in the judiciary – not one judge, but multitudes that aim to preserve the status quo of liberal governance. If that wasn’t clear before April 24, there was no room for doubt after the day was filled with one court ruling after another telling Trump to “stand back and stand by” rather than to exercise his lawful power as president.
Here’s what tumbled out of the judicial branch that day:
– A federal district court judge in California blocked Trump’s executive order that would have denied federal funds to so-called sanctuary cities that limit or forbid cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
– A Washington, D.C., judge blocked the Trump administration from following through on the president’s executive order requiring that voters in federal elections show proof of citizenship when registering.
– A district judge in New Hampshire blocked efforts to defund public schools that utilize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Not to be outdone, judges in Maryland and Washington, D.C., essentially issued the same order, giving added protection to one of the least popular programs ever shoved down the throat of American citizens.
At the time, those were the latest of more than a dozen nationwide injunctions issued by unelected federal judges who appeared more interested in preserving and protecting left-wing shibboleths than the Constitution.
Also in courts across the nation that week were attempts by judges to reject Trump’s authority as commander in chief to ban transgender participation in the military, to deny Trump the right to strip security clearances from law firms that he says put national security interests second to political partisanship, and stop the administration’s efforts to eliminate federal news services such as Voice of America that engage in anti-American propaganda.
Those are all in addition to the several injunctions issued relative to Trump’s promised reform of the immigration system to expedite deportation of illegal immigrants, especially those who have a criminal history or are members of international gangs.
If that seems normal, it isn’t.
There were only six nationwide injunctions during the eight years of the George W. Bush presidency, and only 12 during the Obama presidency. That increased to 14 under President Biden, which was surpassed by President Trump in the first nine weeks of his second term when 15 such injunctions were issued. Of course, Trump should be accustomed to such judicial abuse. In his first term, there were 64 injunctions against his policies, a staggering 92.2% issued by Democrat-appointed judges. Julien Benda would have clearly recognized the “political passions” that had supplanted the disinterested intellectual rigor we once expected of our judges.
Yet because of our habituated respect for the separation of powers, none dare call it the treason of the judiciary.
That of course is a reference to the 1960s tract “None Dare Call It Treason” by John A. Stormer. Stormer took on the country’s intellectual elites, blaming them for working against the interests of the nation by tolerating or quietly promoting communism. The left-wing elites of the day laughed it off as another right-wing conspiracy theory, but as time has passed it’s become clear that there was indeed a long-range effort to corrupt our institutions with Communism 101 – reducing social acceptance of religion, turning education into indoctrination, and infiltrating government with the intelligentsia that thinks American values are outdated.
Now, at long last, we can see the fruit of the corrupt tree sprouting in our court system, where judges help illegal immigrants escape through the back door of the courtroom, where other judges demand the return of deported gang members or halt the deportation of antisemitic radicals, and where every effort to put America first is ruled unconstitutional.
Fighting back against the overreach of the judiciary must be Donald Trump’s No. 1 priority as he seeks to restore sanity to the federal government. Because the most important principle of constitutional law that is being decided in the next few months is whether the president is truly the chief executive or whether he serves at the pleasure of left-wing judges who put political passion ahead of national interests.
In the ultimate irony, the case must be decided by nine men and women in black robes, the justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. The fate of the nation’s future hinges on whether they will seek justice impartially or be swayed by partisan rancor.
Unfortunately, it’s an open question.
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Site: OnePeterFive
We are still recovering from the announcement that revealed the name of the new Pope: the American Robert Francis Prevost, who has taken the name Leo XIV. From where I was positioned, although I could see the square and the balcony, I couldn’t hear the audio from the balcony very clearly. I only caught the papal name and then had to look online to find out which Cardinal had been elected.
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Site: RT - News
Bilateral talks to end the Ukraine conflict reportedly touched on resuming Russian energy exports to the bloc
Moscow and Washington have held discussions about resuming Russian natural gas exports to the EU, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing eight anonymous sources. The talks are reportedly part of broader efforts to end the Ukraine conflict.
The supply of Russian gas to the EU slowed dramatically three years ago, hit by sanctions related to the conflict and following the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines. Russia’s 40% share of European gas imports has fallen to 19%, currently consisting mainly of liquefied natural gas (LNG), with some supplies provided via the TurkStream pipeline.
According to the news agency’s sources, the discussions touched on US firms buying stakes in Russian energy giant Gazprom or in existing pipeline infrastructure in Ukraine. American companies could also serve as buyers, purchasing gas from Russia and selling it on to Europe to bypass political opposition, Reuters cited several sources as saying.
Speaking in Brussels on Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the prospect of restoring Russian gas supplies a “mistake of historic dimensions” and stressed that “we would never let it happen.”
Read more
Putin and Xi make progress on key gas pipeline – deputy PM
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has noted that Moscow is ready to negotiate restarting gas exports to the continent. “We know that some countries in Europe want to continue buying it from us,” he told Le Point in an interview last month.
Russia has been seeking to diversify its energy export markets against the backdrop of Western sanctions and flagging European demand.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak announced on Thursday that Moscow and Beijing have agreed to speed up work on the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project. The conduit will allow Russia to export up to 50 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas to China annually.
“The final negotiations... regarding economic conditions are now underway,” he said.
In addition to the Power of Siberia 2, Russia is looking into building an additional pipeline going through neighboring Kazakhstan, which combined would provide China with up to 100 bcm of gas annually.
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Site: LifeNews
On Friday (May 9) at 1:30 p.m., the Alaska Senate Labor and Commerce Committee will hear invited testimony for a bill (SB 147) that opens up the ability for pharmacists to prescribe and dispense abortion pills. Although there may be some merit to giving pharmacists greater freedom to assist patients without engaging physicians, the bill needs to clarify with certainty that doesn’t include chemical abortion medication.
CLICK HERE to send a quick email to the Committee asking them to amend SB 147 to clarify that pharmacists should not be able to prescribe and dispense abortion pills.
Senator Cathy Giessel, the bill’s sponsor, has argued that pharmacists are already prohibited from prescribing and dispensing abortion medication under current Alaska statute but that is likely incorrect. Chemical abortions are considered a prescribed medication and not a procedure. The current language of the bill is written to amend the term “patient care services” to include the “prescription or administration of a drug or device to a patient…”
See more info from a 2023 Press Release from Attorney General Treg Taylor regarding Alaska law and chemical abortions.
This bill comes on the heels of a critical study using insurance data that reveals more than 1 in 10 women who take the abortion pill experience serious complications including hemorrhaging, infection, and sepsis—a statistic significantly higher than what the FDA has disclosed to the public.
This study from the Ethics and Public Policy Center analyzed data from over 865,000 prescribed mifepristone abortions, and found that the actual complication rate stands at 10.93%, which is 22 times higher than the “less than 0.5%” figure reported in FDA-approved clinical trials.
How many women from Alaska were told mifepristone abortions were safe but ended up with serious complications? In fact, if we apply the 10.93% complication rate to Alaska’s number of women who had chemical abortions (56% of 1,222), we could estimate that 75 women had some sort of complication. That doesn’t reflect a “safe” abortion method. And in every case, an innocent, unborn Alaskan perished.
TAKING ACTION
— CLICK HERE to send a quick email to the Committee asking them to amend SB 147 to clarify that pharmacists should not be able to prescribe and dispense abortion pills.
— Click here to call your local Legislative Information Office to testify on SB 147 during the Friday, May 9, public hearing, which begins at 1:30 p.m.
LifeNews Note: A lifelong Alaskan, Jim Minnery has served as the executive director of Alaska Family Council since its inception in 2006. He is also a board member for LifeWise Academy, Anchorage.
The post Alaska Bill Would Let Pharmacists Hand Out Abortion Pills appeared first on LifeNews.com.
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Site: Zero HedgeTrump Hails U.S.-U.K. Trade Deal As "Breakthrough", Says Lower Barriers Will Unlock Transatlantic GrowthTyler Durden Thu, 05/08/2025 - 15:45
Summary...
President Trump unveiled a U.S.-U.K. trade framework he called a "breakthrough," designed to lower trade barriers and expand market access for American exports, especially in agriculture, energy, and industrial goods. While the full details remain under negotiation, the deal promises expedited customs clearance for U.S. products entering the U.K. and retains the existing 10% universal tariff rate, with carveouts for steel, aluminum, and automobiles (reduced to zero).
"It's very conclusive and we think everyone's going to be happy," President Trump told reporters, adding, "Many countries want to make a deal, and many countries are very unhappy that we happened to choose this one."
Trump continued: "The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture, dramatically increasing access for American beef, ethanol and virtually all of the products produced by our great farmers."
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters via phone that the trade deal is job-protecting and job-creating. U.K. automakers can export 100,000 vehicles to the U.S. at a 10% tariff—down from the previous 25%. Additionally, Rolls-Royce parts will enter tariff-free. A news headline is expected later this afternoon from a major British airline that has committed to a $10 billion Boeing purchase.
"This is going to boost trade between and across our countries," Starmer said.
Both Trump and Starmer pointed out that today is the 80th anniversary of the two countries celebrating the victory of World War II.
After Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told reporters: "We've opened up new market access—ethanol, beef, machinery, all the agricultural products they've agreed to open their markets and that will add $5 billion of opportunity to American exporters."
Here is UBS' first take on the major trade announcement:
President Trump has announced a trade agreement with the U.K., the first to be struck between the U.S. and a foreign country since tariffs were announced. Trump says the deal with the U.K. includes billions of dollars of increased market access for U.S. exports, most notably in agriculture.
The summary of the trade announcement via Bloomberg's Top Live Blog:
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Trump announces trade framework with U.K. that lowers barriers
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U.K. agrees to $10 billion Boeing procurement, Trump says
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U.K. tariffs on British steel and aluminum cut to zero,
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U.K. says China tariffs could be lowered if talks go well: Trump
In markets, the U.S. main equities jumped, with the S&P 500 up as much as 1.4%. The VIX sank to the 21-handle as Trump told reporters, "Better go by stocks now."
More market commentary from Bloomberg:
The S&P 500 is now up 1.4%. This isn't the first time we've seen an advance in equities in the wake of a Trump call to buy. Remember on April 9, the president said "THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY," in a social media post. That came hours before he put a 90-day pause on "reciprocal" tariffs for everyone except China. Equities have basically not looked back since that pause – the S&P 500 is up almost 15% since April 8.
Looking ahead, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and his Chinese counterpart will begin the first round of trade talks in Switzerland on Saturday.
Expect a lot more trade headlines over the weekend.
Btw, BTC/USD > 100K.
Rewatch Trump's trade deal announcement. The streaming of the event was filmed by Right Side Broadcasting Network.
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Update (1255ET):
Trump announced in the Oval Office that the U.S. and the U.K. have finalized a "great deal" on trade.
Highlights of Trump's announcement (courtesy of Bloomberg):
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Trump says the UK will reduce or eliminate numerous non tariff barriers that discriminated against American products
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"Today's agreement with the UK is the first in a series of agreements on trade," Trump says
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"The final details are being written up. In the coming weeks we'll have it very conclusive," Trump says
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Tade deal will lead to the creation of an aluminum and steel trading zone, and a secure pharmaceutical supply chain, Trump says
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick spoke after Trump:
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Our 10% tariffs on the UK will stay on
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Says the UK will purchase $10 billion in Boeing planes
Additional headlines from Bloomberg:
- From the UK trade deal, the U.S. will raise $6 billion in external revenue from 10% tariffs, $5 billion in new export opportunities
The UK government responds:
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US tariffs on automotives were immediately slashed from 27.5%, with steel and aluminium reduced to zero
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US trade deal gives unprecedented market access for British farmers with protections on food standards maintained
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We will also remove the tariff on ethanol coming into the UK from the us, down to zero
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We have agreed new reciprocal market access on beef, with UK farmers given a tariff free quota for 13,000 metric tonnes
Make it bigger...
.@POTUS: "I think that it's a great deal for both parties... it opens up a tremendous market for us... this is a maxed out deal that we're going to make bigger." pic.twitter.com/6zRAwZrevy
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 8, 2025* * *
Update (0859ET)
Ahead of the Trump administration's big unveiling of a U.S.-U.K. trade deal, new reporting from CNN offers a more precise picture of what to expect. Citing sources familiar with the trade deal, the report suggests the agreement will be narrow in scope, packed with forward-looking commitments, and will not roll back existing 10% universal tariffs.
Meanwhile, the Financial Times adds that the deal's key focus areas will likely include automobiles and steel—two sectors at the center of trade tensions.
US main equity indices slid a bit after the headlines hit, but overnight gains have largely been maintained amid elevated trade optimism from President Trump's series of Truth Social posts.
The official announcement is expected around 1000 A.M. ET.
* * *
Yet another signal that the trade war has hit its peak came overnight, as President Trump took to Truth Social to tease a "big news conference" Thursday morning, where he plans to unveil a "major deal." As U.S. markets began coming online, Trump continued promoting what he called "a very big and exciting day" for U.S.-U.K. trade.
Late Thursday night, the president wrote on Truth Social:
Big News Conference tomorrow morning at 10:00 A.M., The Oval Office, concerning a MAJOR TRADE DEAL WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF A BIG, AND HIGHLY RESPECTED, COUNTRY. THE FIRST OF MANY!!!
Around 0542 ET, he posted again:
This should be a very big and exciting day for the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Press Conference at The Oval Office, 10 A.M. Thank you!
Trump continued in a separate post around 0608 ET:
The agreement with the United Kingdom is a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come. Because of our long time history and allegiance together, it is a great honor to have the United Kingdom as our FIRST announcement. Many other deals, which are in serious stages of negotiation, to follow!
Then followed by:
"The Golden Age of America is coming!"
A resolution to the US-UK trade spat would be the Trump administration's first step in renegotiating trade worldwide.
Last month, the U.S. imposed a 10% tariff on most imported goods from the UK as part of the baseline tariff it imposed on all nations. On March 12, the administration also imposed a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports.
UK officials would most likely want to see the 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum completely removed. If this is part of the upcoming trade deal, the UK could then give concessions on a digital tax it levies on Silicon Valley tech giants.
Trump's series of Truth Social posts provided fresh tailwinds for equity markets overnight in Europe.
Goldman analyst Jasmin Schneider told clients:
Europe trading firmly in the green this morning (SXXP +70bps, SX5E +1.3%) on progress surrounding US-UK trade talks and some solid earnings on the tape. The big focus overnight on trade talks between the U.S. and UK: *TRUMP: TRADE DEAL ANNOUNCEMENT `THE FIRST OF MANY'. Trump is expected to announce a limited trade agreement with the UK later today (UKX +30bps), which may signal the direction of the U.S. president's global trade war. Our EU Tariffs Exposed basket (GSXETRFS +1.2%) and UK Consumption names (GSXEUKCO +1.7%) trading well with the deal likely to focus on reducing tariffs on cars and steel, and may include discussions on tech, AI, and digital trade (BBG).
Across the Atlantic, equity futures are also higher, with hopes that the US-UK trade deal will be the first of many resolutions.
Goldman analyst Rich Privorotsky's take on the developing trade situation:
Will be watching to see what the shape of the UK deal looks like as it could serve as a global template. Into the weekend the market should grow hopeful for a temperature reduction in the China/U.S. escalation. Although I'm a long term bearish on U.S./China trade relations, I'm of the opinion that U.S. corporates have a degree of urgency in reducing the 100%+ tariffs imposed (can't replace supply quickly). Think the landing zone is something back to the 30-50% mark and that will be the travel and arrive event.
Looking ahead, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and his Chinese counterpart will discuss the framework for a trade deal on Saturday in Switzerland.
"The negotiations will begin on Saturday," Bessent said in testimony before the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday.
Goldman offered some good news last week: Peak trade war.
Goldman chief economist Jan Hatzius noted earlier this week: "The mood music with China has improved, and we expect the U.S. tariff rate on China to drop from around 160% to around 60% relatively soon. (China is likely to reduce tariffs on the U.S. by a similar amount.)"
Earlier this week, attendees at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills warmed up to Trump's trade war but wanted to see near-term trade deals. KKR co-founder George Roberts told the audience: "Stay calm and carry on."
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Site: Zero HedgeRent Or Buy A Home? Californians Increasingly Have No ChoiceTyler Durden Thu, 05/08/2025 - 15:45
Authored by Kimberly Hayek via The Epoch Times,
California is home to some of the widest gaps between mortgage payments and rental costs in the nation, meaning it is increasingly harder to buy a home compared to renting one, according to analysts.
The California Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) reported on April 21 that the gap between monthly costs of buying a bottom-tier home versus renting a bottom-tier home has reached levels not seen since the mid-2000s housing bubble, with the growth attributed to higher home prices and higher mortgage rates.
“Historically, people would rent, save money, and then buy a house. But, if the rents are high and the prices of houses are even higher, then there’s really no hope,” Joel Kotkin, a fellow in urban studies at Chapman University, told The Epoch Times.
“Buying is becoming more and more difficult, unless you have inherited wealth, or if you have money from overseas.”
A study by Bankrate published on April 23 highlighted the growing affordability challenges in the state’s largest metropolitan areas, where coastal cities lead the country in cost disparities between owning and renting.
Bankrate compared average monthly rent to average monthly mortgage payments across the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, and revealed that cities in California are at the top of the list when it comes to expensive home ownership, especially when compared to rents.
San Francisco has a buy-rent gap of 190.7 percent, making it home to the largest gap nationwide. The typical monthly mortgage payment in San Francisco was around $8,882, up 4.7 percent year-over-year, while the typical rent is $3,055, down 1.7 percent year-over-year.
San Jose comes in a close second on the list, where homeowners fork over mortgage payments that are 185.6 percent higher than rent. The typical mortgage payment is $9,438, up 10.5 percent year-over-year, with rent coming in around $3,305, down 1.3 percent year-over-year.
Los Angeles and San Diego have seen a similar trend. Mortgage payments in Southern California’s largest metro areas are 88.5 percent and 79.9 percent higher than rent, respectively, landing them sixth and ninth compared to other U.S. metros included in the study.
Bankrate’s study attributes high cost gaps between renting and owning a home to skyrocketing home prices because of low housing supply, as well as high mortgage rates, which average nearly 6.90 percent for a 30-year fixed loan nationwide as of April 24.
“ If you’re in the coastal markets, you have to consider this home as a very long-run solution,” Skylar Olsen, Zillow’s chief housing economist, said in a statement. “In California, people famously leave their homes to their children. There are very long tenures in these really expensive markets for that reason.”
California Housing Costs
California homes are around twice as expensive as the typical American home, reported the California LAO, citing Zillow data. A mid-tier home in California costs around $789,000 in 2025, compared to the U.S. average of $361,000.
According to the California Association of Realtors (CAR), the median California home price in March 2025 was $884,350.
In a July 2024 report from Zillow, for 117 cities across California, a typical starter home costs $1 million or more.
Los Angeles’s median home price is just over $1 million, reports Redfin. Meanwhile, San Francisco and San Jose report higher median home prices, at more than $1.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively.
Mid-tier home monthly payments reached nearly $5,900 a month in March 2024, making for an 82 percent growth in prices since January 2020, reported the California LAO. Bottom-tier home payments reached more than $3,500 per month, representing an 87 percent increase since January 2020.
CAR reports that a mere 17 percent of households could afford a median-priced home in early 2024. California home prices are forecasted by CAR to increase 4.6 percent in 2025.
Homeownership rates have fallen in California, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, where the current home ownership rate is 55.9 percent, compared to the national average of 65.2 percent. Homeownership in the state peaked at 60.2 percent in 2006.
Meanwhile, according to the LAO, the monthly rent for a two-bedroom home in California in 2024 was $2,225 compared to the $1,400 national average.
The California Housing Partnership found in 2024 that renters in Los Angeles need to make $48.04 per hour—2.9 times Los Angeles’s minimum wage—in order to afford the average rent of $2,498.
The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) reported that renters comprise a 44 percent share of households in California compared to 35 percent in the rest of the country. Save for two other states, more California renters spend over half of their income on rent than any other state.
Lack of Homeownership
Amid the rising prices, 70 percent of Californians believe children today will fare worse than their parents financially, according to a 2024 PPIC statewide survey.
The survey found 29 percent of Californians skipped meals or ate less food in order to save money within the prior year, while 17 percent used CalFresh (food stamp) benefits. Moreover, 20 percent put medical care on hold as a result of financial constraints.
According to Mark Schniepp, director of The Economic Forecast, the main issue is housing.
“But there’s not much we can do about it outside of building more of it,” Schniepp told The Epoch Times in an email. “However we are unlikely to be able to build enough, given current regulations in place and current zoning.”
“The Coastal Act, CEQA, land costs and many local regulations prevent developing housing,” he added.
Kotkin agreed state policies have contributed to a lack of affordable housing, which makes it difficult to build in places that would otherwise be cheaper.
“What essentially is approved is increasingly high density and expensive in the inner city,” Kotkin said.
The bottom line, he said, is that home ownership is an important part of preparing for retirement. If you own a house, then you can stay there once you retire, because you probably have paid it off.
“The house is an asset,” he said.
“[Owners] can borrow against it, they can sell, and then they can have a comfortable retirement.”
However, if an increasing number of people are forced to rent, “people will generally look to the state, or some other institution, to take care of them, because they have nothing of their own,” Kotkin said.
“They’re going to rent for life, which means that when they retire, they’re not going to have any assets. They’re going to be dependent on state transfer payments.”
He sees such dependency as incompatible with democracy.
“Democracy is built on the fact that there’s some degree of independence on the part of a large part of the population,” he said. “If you own a house, you have a certain degree of autonomy that maybe you can think in a different way than if you are dependent on the fact that your landlord may decide to increase the rent 50 percent.”
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Site: southern orders
Pope Leo XIV wearing his Augustinian habit as Cardinal Prevost. As I post this, I haven’t watched it all. It starts with an off the cuff question and answer session he gives at St. Jude Church in Joliet, Illinois. Then it transitions to the Mass he celebrates and it also has a homily. The question and answer session is great. You won’t scratch your head. What he says is clear. He is center progressive in a good way. His homily during the Mass is excellent! He is a good homilist!
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Site: Catholic ConclaveMy blog has carried quite a few stories over the years about the new @Pontifex @bruvvereccles @ProtecttheFaith https://t.co/RCRmsB7MJb pic.twitter.com/UB6XEIp9s9— Catholic Conclave (@cathconclave) May 8, 2025 Catholic Conclavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06227218883606585321noreply@blogger.com0
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Site: Bonfire of the Vanities - Fr. Martin Fox
If you look at the Gospels,
Jesus spent a lot of time eating with people and feeding them.
Did you ever wonder why that is?
To prepare a meal for another person,
to invite someone to a meal, and to accept that invitation,
are powerful signs of welcome and love.
And turn it around: what would it mean to say,
“NO! I will NOT eat with you!”?
So the reason there’s so much eating in the Gospels?
Because Jesus wants us to know: he likes being with us!
He wants to feed us! He loves us.
So notice what Jesus put at the center of the life of the Church:
The Holy Mass, where he gives us,
not just ordinary food, but his own, precious, Body and Blood!
The best of foods! The best of meals!
Many of us have family or friends
who belong to other Christian traditions, and for them,
Holy Communion, or the Lord’s Supper as some call it,
Is only a sign, or only a reminder.
They believe that the bread and wine never become anything else.
That’s not what we believe as Catholics, together.
However, some individual Catholics actually think that way.
They say, well, it looks like bread, it tastes like wine,
So that’s all it is, and I don’t believe there’s any miracle.
But then, there were people who met Jesus, and said,
He looks like he’s only a human being,
So I don’t believe he’s also the Lord our God!
People don’t ever say these things to me, but if they did,
here’s what I would want to say back to them:
And, 2nd graders, these questions I’m going to pose are only for reflection,
you don’t have to raise your hands!
But: I would ask people who doubt the Eucharist:
Do you believe that you need to be saved?
Do you need God to rescue you from what sin does?
Do you need God to forgive your sins and change you,
to keep you from hell and bring you to heaven?
Now, some people, if they were very candid, would admit:
No, I don’t need God to do those things.
I’m doing just fine.
And if that’s what you believe, then Jesus makes no sense.
Baptism, confession, all the sacraments make no sense.
Above all, the Mass and the Eucharist just aren’t very important.
So bread, wine, body, blood, whatever? Who cares?
On the other hand, if you look in your heart, and see:
I’m not just fine on my own. I do wrong things,
And if it weren’t for God helping me, I’d end up in a terrible state!
Then it makes all the difference whether Jesus gives you a cracker,
or he gives you his own Body, his own Blood!
His own divinity and soul and self!
If you believe this, if you believe
Jesus really is making this happen at Holy Mass –
and that is our Catholic faith –
then isn’t it obvious why we come Sunday after Sunday?
Like a lot of people, I have a pill I’m supposed to take every day.
It keeps my arteries clear. So, I take my pill.
Jesus doesn’t offer us a pill;
He offers us his very self.
Jesus says, “Eat my flesh and drink my blood.”
And he said, “whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.”
Now, in today’s Gospel, Jesus is drawing Peter especially to a meal;
But it’s not about fish and bread.
It’s about healing Peter’s earlier betrayal.
This episode on the beach is like going to confession:
Peter is forgiven and brought back into union with Jesus;
back to the union that is Holy Communion.
That’s what the Eucharist really is: not merely a ritual,
but that union with Jesus that begins in this life,
and it becomes perfect in eternity.
So why wouldn’t all Catholics want to have this Food, this Life,
as often as they could?
Today, our second graders are making their first communion.
I can see how much you have been looking forward to this day.
So have your parents, and so have I!
But I want to say something I try to say each year.
It isn’t your first communion that matters the most,
but our last communion, and all that come between.
That repetition is critical. Parents, you know this is true!
You remind your kids over and over to say “please” and “thank you.”
Having to keep reminding them drives you crazy,
but if you don’t, the habit will never take root.
So, why be surprised that Jesus knows this too?
And says, keep coming back, Sunday after Sunday?
Sad to say, lots of people make a first communion, but drift away.
So, you keep coming. Stay close to Jesus through prayer
and especially in the sacrament of confession.
And keep coming to Mass and keep receiving Jesus’ Body and Blood.
He so wants to feed us. It’s the most important thing to him.
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Site: southern orders
Please note Pope Leo XIV’s pectoral cross and how similar it is to Pope Leo XIII’s pectoral cross!
If Pope Leo XIV agrees with Pope Leo XIII about Americanism, we are in good shape in the good ole USA. I copy the following from Artificial Intelligence:In his Testem benevolentiae nostrae letter of 1899, Pope Leo XIII condemned a tendency he called "Americanism," which he perceived as a heresy rooted in certain American cultural values and practices, particularly within the Catholic Church. He expressed concerns that these values, such as individualism, liberalism, and pluralism, could undermine the Church's doctrines and authority.Here's a more detailed look at what Pope Leo XIII condemned in the letter:Concerns about Americanism:- Emphasis on personal initiative and independence:Pope Leo XIII cautioned against the idea that individuals should rely solely on their own spiritual intuition and discernment, without the guidance of the Church's teachings and authority.
- Undermining of religious vows and the value of religious orders:He criticized the tendency to disregard or devalue the importance of religious vows and the contributions of contemplative religious orders.
- Minimizing the importance of Catholic doctrine:He expressed concern that some American Catholics were minimizing the importance of Catholic doctrine and tradition, favoring personal interpretation and experience over established teachings.
- Rejection of spiritual direction:He cautioned against the idea that external spiritual direction, such as guidance from priests or spiritual directors, was no longer necessary for spiritual growth.
- Advocating for the free expression of all opinions:While advocating for free expression, Pope Leo XIII cautioned against the idea that all opinions, including those that undermine morality or faith, should be publicly aired, as some speech can be harmful.
In essence, Pope Leo XIII's condemnation of Americanism was a warning against what he perceived as a shift away from traditional Catholic teachings and practices in the United States, towards a more individualistic and liberal approach to faith. While some historians have described it as a "phantom heresy" with few actual supporters, the letter has been a subject of ongoing debate and interpretation. -
Site: Zero HedgeNeed More Proof That Polls Showing Trump Underwater Are Bogus?Tyler Durden Thu, 05/08/2025 - 15:05
Authored by Matt Margolis via PJMedia.com,
While the corporate media keeps pushing the narrative that Donald Trump’s approval ratings are sinking, we’ve seen this act before.
Remember 2024?
Pollsters swore up and down that Kamala Harris was going to win in a landslide. But anyone who scrutinized the data knew those numbers were bogus.
Now that Trump is back in office, the same game is playing out. The media’s obsession with tearing him down hasn’t faded one bit. So we’re flooded with polls from the same discredited pollsters who got 2024 so wrong — polls that claim Trump is “underwater” while simultaneously showing broad public approval of how he’s handling the issues that matter.
Case in point: even CNN’s Harry Enten was forced to admit on Wednesday that Trump’s law-and-order message is hitting home with voters in a way Joe Biden never could, and the numbers back it up.
“It speaks to one of Trump’s best issues, right? The idea of Alcatraz — you think law and order, you think Donald Trump,” Enten said, driving home a point that’s almost too obvious to require analysis.
On CNN, of all places, Enten presented data showing Trump with a positive net approval rating on crime, something that eluded Biden for his entire presidency.
“Look at that,” Enten said. “At plus two points, far better than Joe Biden who was so far underwater. My goodness, he was setting records at minus 26 points. You rarely ever see it.”
Yes, you read that correctly — while Biden sank to historic lows, Trump is now in positive territory. Not only that, but Trump’s crime approval is stronger now in his second term than it was during his first.
“We compared Donald Trump’s first term to now his second term,” Enten explained.
“We see that Donald Trump’s net approval rating on handling crime is far better now at plus two points… than back in March of 2024 in which he was underwater at minus 13 points.”
That’s a stunning 15-point improvement.
In typical fashion, Trump’s messaging — often mocked by the media as outlandish or theatrical — is connecting with voters. Enten referenced Trump’s remarks about Alcatraz, saying, “Yes, I know it’s late-night fodder for a lot of different folks, but what it actually speaks to is Donald Trump focusing the American people’s attention on an issue in which they actually do like what he’s doing.”
Even more telling? The American public’s concern about crime is decreasing under Trump’s leadership.
“It was 53% last year and look at where we are now. We’re at 47%,” Enten noted.
“It’s the first time in about five years in which the percentage of Americans who worry a great deal about crime has actually dropped under the 50% mark.”
That kind of drop isn’t just statistically significant; it’s politically potent. Enten emphasized that crime is one of just two issues where public concern declined by five points or more from 2024 to 2025, and it happened among both Democrats and Republicans.
So while Trump’s critics continue to spin, exaggerate, or dismiss his rhetoric, voters are seeing something entirely different: results.
“I think Donald Trump is gonna continue on this law and order issue,” Enten concluded, “because the bottom line is, it is working for him.”
I know reopening Alcatraz is "late night fodder" for some, but we're actually now talking about a top issue for Trump: crime.
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) May 6, 2025
Voters like what Trump's doing on crime. His net approval is +2 pts. Biden's was -26 pts!
Trump's own net approval on crime is up 15 pts from 2024! pic.twitter.com/D8aIoWeL2IJust as it was obvious during the campaign that Trump’s support far exceeded what the polls claimed, it’s clear now that his approval ratings are higher than what those same discredited pollsters were pushing last year.
The corporate media's playbook hasn't changed—but we're here to set the record straight.
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Site: LifeNews
A radical pro-abortion group that calls itself Catholic is blasting the election of new Pope Leo XIC and saying it helps the words of pro-abortion churchgoers will somehow persuade him to abandon the longstanding pro-life views of the Catholic Church.
As LifeNews has reported, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born prelate, was elected as the 267th pope on Thursday, becoming the first American to ascend to the papacy.
The announcement came as white smoke poured from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling that the 133 cardinal electors had reached a two-thirds majority in the conclave to succeed Pope Francis, who died on April 21.
Follow LifeNews.com on Instagram for pro-life pictures and videos.
Like Pope Francis, during his time in ministry within the Catholic Church, the new Pope Leo XIV condemned abortion and urged compassion and support for both unborn children as well as the elderly and disabled.
“The Church must walk with all people, especially the most vulnerable, ensuring their dignity is upheld from the womb to the end of life, as this is the heart of Christ’s mission,” he said in 2023.
But the abortion advocacy group Catholics for Choice, which has been repeatedly condemned by pro-life Catholic leaders at heretical, is not happy with the new Pope and upset hat the view of pro-abortion leftist Catholics are not represented by Catholic Cardinals.
“Catholics for Choice represents people who are understandably concerned by the church’s regressive views on gender and sexuality. Women, people who have had abortions or used contraception, and LGBTQIA+ people are underrepresented where church decisions are made — including in the conclave,” it said.
“We know Pope Leo disagrees with 9 in 10 U.S. Catholics on abortion,” it claimed, falsely alleging that 90% of Catholics support abortion.
“We are praying that he will be a pope guided by a commitment to peace, justice, and inclusion,” it said, as if killing babies somehow promotes any of those.
The group hopes that it can convince Pope Leo to abandon his Church’s pro-life doctrines.
“Catholics for Choice’s work is more important than ever. That’s why we collected stories from the faithful Pope Leo now serves, who disagree with church teaching. We will be sending them to Pope Leo in the hope he will open his heart to listen. The future of our church depends on greater inclusion and nuance on reproductive health decisions like abortion, contraception, and IVF.”
That’s never going to happen and the pro-abortion group will be disappointed again.
The post Radical Pro-Abortion Group “Catholics for Choice” Blasts New Pope Leo XIV appeared first on LifeNews.com.
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Site: Edward FeserLet us pray for our new pope, Leo XIV. His choices to take a traditional name and to appear in traditional papal garb (as Benedict XVI did and Francis did not) are small but encouraging signs of a man who subordinates himself to the papal office and understands the importance of continuity with the past.
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Site: southern orders
Long live Pope Leo XIV! The grace of the office of the Successor of Saint Peter will kick in and already has done so.God love our new pope and God bless His Holiness abundantly!
He is going to be a true pontiff, a bridge builder in the divisive times we live in the Church and all the acrimony there is and has been even on this blog.
He will be clear about the ambiguities we have lived. He will be clear about synodality that will continue but guided by canon law and never denigrating the College of Bishops by clericalizing the laity.
He has shown this already by wearing and impeccability I might add, the papal regalia of French cuffs, cuff links, Mozzetta and papal stole. I predict he will live in the Apostolic Palace and not the Vatican Motel VI.
Another powerful sign is that he read his talk from the loggia with notes! He held his notes in a very conspicuous way too! He will be measured in what he says and how he says it. There won’t be a magisterium of off-the-cuff remarks from this pope.
His papacy will not be based on footnotes.
Pope Leo XIV is a DOCTOR OF THE LAW! He has a doctorate in Canon Law. He does not disdain nor will be contravene the Canon Law of the Church!
Time will tell. But traditional Catholics must become orthodox Traditional Catholic, loving and respecting the pope, especially now with Pope Leo XIV!
LONG LIVE THE POPE! VIVA IL PAPA!
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Site: AsiaNews.itThe new pope is U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69 years old, who had previously served as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops after his time as a missionary in Peru. 'God loves everyone, help us build bridges of dialogue to be reached by His love. We want to be a synodal Church, one that walks, always seeks peace, charity, and is close, especially to those who suffer.'
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Site: Novus Motus LiturgicusToday, the Sacred College of Cardinals elected His Eminence Robert Cardinal Prevost, hitherto Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, as the 267th Pope and bishop of Rome; His Holiness has taken the name Leo XIV. He is the first American Pope, a native of Chicago, Illinois; he became a member of the Order of St Augustine in 1977, and served as the superior general from 2001-13. He then served as Gregory DiPippohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13295638279418781125noreply@blogger.com0
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Site: Zero HedgeSenator Urges DOJ To Investigate Anonymous Pizza Deliveries To JudgesTyler Durden Thu, 05/08/2025 - 14:25
Authored by Zachary Stieber via The Epoch Times,
The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee is urging federal officials to investigate pizza deliveries being made to various judges, describing them as threats.
“These deliveries are threats intended to show that those seeking to intimidate the targeted judge know the judge’s address or their family members’ addresses,” Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a May 6 letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel.
The pizzas have been sent to various judges, including Supreme Court justices, and relatives of judges, including the sister of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Some deliveries were made in the name of Daniel Anderl, the son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas. Anderl was murdered at his home in 2020 by a person posing as a deliveryman.
Salas, who is based in New Jersey, said during an April appearance on MSNBC that hundreds of pizzas have been sent to judges across the country, at times late at night.
“What does that say to those judges? It says, ‘I know where you live, I know where your kids live, and do you want to end up like Judge Salas, do you want to end up like her son?’” she said.
She said she was told the deliveries were under investigation.
“These incidents threaten not only judges and their families, but also judicial independence and the rule of law,” Durbin told Bondi and Patel.
“It is imperative that the Justice Department (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigate these anonymous or pseudonymous deliveries and that those responsible be held accountable to the full extent of the law.”
Durbin said that officials should immediately launch an investigation. He said that if they have already started probing the deliveries, he requests an update on what authorities have found.
Durbin also asked that officials provide information on any steps they’ve taken to protect the judges who have received, or whose family members have received, the pizzas.
The DOJ did not respond to a request for comment.
Bondi told reporters outside the White House in Washington on Wednesday that she was just learning about the pizza deliveries.
When asked if she had a comment on the situation, she said, “Not yet, but we will.”
Bondi and Patel later held a press event announcing the arrests of more than 200 people who allegedly targeted children for sex offenses. Neither took questions after the announcement.
* * *
New Rancher-Direct Bundle! Only 12 8 In Stock...
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Site: LifeNewsCardinal Prevost, Now Pope Leo XIV, Condemned Abortion: “God’s Mercy Calls Us to Protect Every Life”
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected by the College of Cardinals as the new Pope and head of the Catholic Church.
During his time in ministry within the Catholic Church, the new Pope Leo XIV condemned abortion and urged compassion and support for both unborn children as well as the elderly and disabled.
In an X post with a sample of pro-life comments from the new Pope over the years, Professor Charlie Camosy of the Creighton School of Medicine collected various pro-life statements and comments Cardinal Prevost made over the years.
Click here to sign up for pro-life news alerts from LifeNews.com
Here is that list:
On the Dignity of All Life (Inferred from Synodality Comments, 2023): “The Church must walk with all people, especially the most vulnerable, ensuring their dignity is upheld from the womb to the end of life, as this is the heart of Christ’s mission.”
On Pastoral Care for the Elderly (Speech to Peruvian Bishops, 2020): “Our elderly are not to be discarded but cherished as bearers of wisdom and faith, deserving the same love and protection as the youngest among us.”
On the Throwaway Culture (Homily, Chiclayo, 2019): “We cannot build a just society if we discard the weakest—whether the child in the womb or the elderly in their frailty—for they are both gifts from God.”
On Mercy and Life (Homily, Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano, 2025): “God’s mercy calls us to protect every life, especially those society overlooks—the child yet to be born and the elderly nearing their journey’s end—because each bears Christ’s face.”
On the Role of Bishops in Defending Life (Dicastery for Bishops Address, 2023): “Bishops are called to be shepherds who defend the sanctity of life, ensuring no one—neither the unborn nor the aging—is left without the Church’s love and protection.”
The post Cardinal Prevost, Now Pope Leo XIV, Condemned Abortion: “God’s Mercy Calls Us to Protect Every Life” appeared first on LifeNews.com.
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Site: Rorate CaeliLeo XIV It's too soon. On the one hand... he is a creature of the Church of Chicago and liberal Villanova University, and the very liberal Catholic Theological Union (even more liberal when he was a student there, in the feverish 1970s); he has a long life living in the Liberation Theology-filled rural expanses of Peru; on the other, he is a Doctor of Canon Law, after a period in New Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118576661605931910noreply@blogger.com
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Site: southern orders
To understand Pope Leo XIV, we need to learn more about Pope Leo XIII.As for clairvoyance, I posted below on Our Lady of Pompeii which our new pope refered to in his first talk to the Church. Pope Leo XIII also penned a prayer to St. Michael the Archangel which I wrote about St. Michael feast day today in the older Missal.
The following is copied from the Pope Leo XIII Institute:
The Legacy of Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII reigned from February 20, 1878 to July 20, 1903. To our Institute members, he is most affectionately admired for a great many reasons, perhaps most especially for his authorship of the Prayer to St. Michael, his eleven encyclicals on the Rosary, and those on Catholic social teaching.
Pope Leo XIII promoted Marian devotion — especially through recitation of the Rosary — as a powerful antidote to the devil’s attacks on the Church, the family, and society. He was well aware of the dangers posed by trends in modern thought. He foresaw many social evils that would come to pass as a result of erroneous philosophies.
He never tired of encouraging political and moral leaders to live and rule in a Christian way. As an intellectual and spiritual leader, he was able to see deeply into the reality of the world, always acutely aware of the invisible yet very real battle being waged against the soul of each person and against communities everywhere.
Pope Leo XIII’s wisdom, foresight, and his tireless work for God’s Kingdom on social, pastoral, and spiritual levels makes him an excellent namesake as our Institute strives to utilize at once sound science and accurate theology, steeped in a life of contemplative prayer, to form exorcists, priests, and deacons equipped to love and serve the most broken members of society through the healing power of Christ.
“The race of man, after its miserable fall from God, the Creator and the Giver of heavenly gifts, ‘through the envy of the devil,’ separated into two diverse and opposite parts, of which the one steadfastly contends for truth and virtue, the other of those things which are contrary to virtue and to truth. The one is the kingdom of God on earth, namely, the true Church of Jesus Christ; and those who desire from their heart to be united with it, so as to gain salvation, must of necessity serve God and His only begotten Son with their whole mind and with an entire will. The other is the kingdom of Satan, in whose possession and control are all whosoever follow the fatal example of their leader and of our first parents, those who refuse to obey the divine and eternal law, and who have many aims of their own in contempt of God, and many aims also against God…
Let us take our helper and intercessor the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, so that she, who from the moment of her conception overcame Satan may show her power over these evil sects, in which is revived the contumacious spirit of the demon, together with his unsubdued perfidy and deceit. Let us beseech Michael, the prince of the heavenly angels, who drove out the infernal foe…”
— Pope Leo XIII, Humanum Genus, Encyclical on Freemasonry, promulgated on April 20, 1884Pope Leo XIII
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Site: non veni pacem
We need to pray. Go to Mass. By all means, go to Confession.
As I posted on Monday, you can read about the orchestrated campaign for this dude here:
https://catholicvote.org/legacy-catholic-media-promote-cardinal-same-time-coincidence-or-campaign/
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Site: La Salette Journey
See here
What's in a name?
The significance of Pope Leo XII provides us with a clue. See here.
On the Feast of the Apparition of Saint Michael:
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. .
O glorious prince St. Michael,
chief and commander of the heavenly hosts,
guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits,
servant in the house of the Divine King
and our admirable conductor,
you who shine with excellence
and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil,
who turn to you with confidence
and enable us by your gracious protection
to serve God more and more faithfully every day.
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Site: Novus Ordo Watch
HABENT PAPAM – They have a Pope (or so they think)…
‘Pope Leo XIV’
American Cardinal
Robert Francis Prevost
is New Head of Vatican II Church
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on Sep. 14, 1955, his most recent role was prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
Prevost’s ecclesiastical milestones can be found here.
Leo XIV is considered a ‘moderate reformer’ and aligns very much with the Bergoglian agenda. He was a close confidant of ‘Pope’ Francis and has been responsible for the selection of ‘Catholic bishops’ throughout the world.
MORE INFORMATION TO BE ADDED SHORTLY!… READ MORE
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Site: Novus Ordo Wire – Novus Ordo Watch
HABENT PAPAM – They have a Pope (or so they think)…
‘Pope Leo XIV’
American Cardinal
Robert Francis Prevost
is New Head of Vatican II ChurchBorn in Chicago, Illinois, on Sep. 14, 1955, his most recent role was prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
Prevost’s ecclesiastical milestones can be found here.
Leo XIV is considered a ‘moderate reformer’ and aligns very much with the Bergoglian agenda. He was a close confidant of ‘Pope’ Francis and has been responsible for the selection of ‘Catholic bishops’ throughout the world.
MORE INFORMATION TO BE ADDED SHORTLY!… READ MORE
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Site: LifeNews
In a historic moment for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born prelate, was elected as the 267th pope on Thursday, becoming the first American to ascend to the papacy.
The announcement came as white smoke poured from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling that the 133 cardinal electors had reached a two-thirds majority in the conclave to succeed Pope Francis, who died on April 21.
Prevost, 69, took the name Pope Leo XIV, honoring his roots in the Order of Saint Augustine, where he has served as a priest, missionary, and leader.
His election marks a significant shift, breaking centuries of European dominance in the papacy and reflecting the global reach of the Catholic Church, which counts nearly 40% of its 1.4 billion members in Latin America, a region Prevost knows well from his decades of service in Peru.
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Born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost’s journey to the Vatican began in the Midwest, where he was shaped by his family’s faith and the vibrant parish life of his youth. After earning a mathematics degree from Villanova University, he joined the Augustinians, later studying theology and canon law in Chicago and Rome. His missionary work in Peru, where he served as a parish pastor, seminary teacher, and bishop of Chiclayo, earned him a reputation as a pastor who “walks with the people,” a quality he emphasized in a 2023 interview with Vatican News: “We are often worried about teaching doctrine, but we risk forgetting that our first duty is to communicate the beauty and joy of knowing Jesus.”
As prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops since 2023, Prevost played a pivotal role in selecting bishops worldwide, aligning with Pope Francis’ vision of pastoral leadership over rigid doctrinal enforcement. His fluency in English, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, and Latin, along with his experience in Latin America, positioned him as a bridge between the Church’s diverse regions.
Prevost’s election has sparked joy among many American Catholics, who see it as a moment of pride and a call to deeper faith.
On issues like abortion, Prevost has not made explicit public statements, but his alignment with Pope Francis and traditional Catholic teaching suggests a firm stance against it, balanced by a pastoral approach that emphasizes mercy and forgiveness for women who have had abortions.
Prevost is who Pope Francis met with right before outspokenly pro-life Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland was removed from his duties. Strickland had called Joe Biden a “fake Catholic.”
The post Cardinal Robert Prevost Becomes First American Pope to Head Catholic Church appeared first on LifeNews.com.
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Site: PeakProsperityHas the Fed begun a program of stealth QE? Also, we discuss peak oil, CBDC opposition, economic inequality, and the need for a nuclear energy renaissance. Tune in!
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Site: Saint Louis Catholic
Pray for the Pope and the Church.
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Site: RT - News
Russia and China want to expedite work on Power of Siberia 2, Aleksandr Novak has said
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed to speed up the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project, according to Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak.
The announcement on Thursday followed high-level talks in Moscow during Xi's official visit to Russia to attend the May 9 Victory Day celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany.
The planned mega pipeline is expected to allow up to 50 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas to be delivered annually from northern Russia to China via Mongolia. The project has experienced some delays due to deliberations on pricing and route.
”There were discussions, it is indeed an important project. A certain amount of work has already been done, including the feasibility study… The leaders gave instructions to expedite the process,” Novak, who had previously served as Russia's energy minister, said.
Moscow is pursuing the project as it seeks to diversify its energy export markets amid Western sanctions and reduced European demand. For Beijing, the pipeline promises a stable energy supply to support its consumption needs.
Russia currently delivers gas to Asia’s largest economy via the Power of Siberia pipeline, which is part of a $400 billion, 30-year agreement between Gazprom and CNPC which was clinched in 2014. Deliveries started in 2019, and the conduit reached its full operational capacity in December, making Russia China’s leading supplier of natural gas.
Economic cooperation between the two nations has been steadily increasing despite unprecedented Western sanctions against Moscow. Bilateral turnover between Russia and China reached a record $245 billion in 2024.
READ MORE: Russia’s Gazprom posts $15 billion profit
Gazprom projects that gas exports will grow further thanks to soaring demand. In December, Novak announced that Russia has begun developing a new gas pipeline to China via Kazakhstan. Once all pipelines are fully operational, he noted, the volume of Russian gas supplies to the Asian powerhouse could reach nearly 100 bcm annually.
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Site: Rorate CaeliDominus conservet eum,et vivificet eum,et beatum faciat eum in terra,et non tradat eumin animam inimicorum eius.Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost, American, born in the Archdiocese of Chicago, on September 14, 1955, was elected on the 4th vote of the Conclave. His pontifical name is Leo XIV.Prevost is a former superior of the Order of Saint Augustine, and bishop in Peru (where he had lived much of New Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118576661605931910noreply@blogger.com
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Site: AsiaNews.itAs clashes between India and Pakistan intensify after the attack in Pahalgam on 22 April, military operations are increasingly seen as testing the most advanced weapons on the market. Today India struck Pakistani air defences, risking further escalation. Pakistan has promised a response 'at a time and place of its own choosing' with the risk of causing the worse confrontation between the two countries since 1971.
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Site: Zero HedgeThe Two Catalysts Driving The Next Great Monetary ResetTyler Durden Thu, 05/08/2025 - 13:05
Authored by Nick Giambruno via InternationalMan.com,
All of this points to something big on the horizon, driven by two key catalysts.
We’re entering a pivotal moment—one where the economic, monetary, and geopolitical landscape is shifting.
These changes aren’t random or isolated; they are the result of deep structural pressures that have been building for decades.
While the signs have been there for some time, recent developments make it clear that the system can no longer hold as-is. A reset is not only possible—it’s likely. And two key forces are pushing us there faster than most realize.
The first is the long-ignored, but now unavoidable, debt crisis.
The second is the Trump administration’s strong belief that an overvalued dollar has hollowed out the US economy, weakening exports, offshoring jobs, and undermining American industry.
Let’s break down these two powerful catalysts driving the next great monetary reset—starting with the one that has silently eroded America’s financial foundation for decades: the debt.
Catalyst #1: The Debt Crisis Has Arrived
The financial decline of the US government has been unfolding for decades, creating a false sense of security. Many people have grown complacent—they’ve heard warnings about the debt crisis for years, yet nothing seemed to happen.
But last year, a crucial tipping point was reached: For the first time, interest payments on the federal debt surpassed the defense budget. It’s on track to overtake Social Security, which would make it the largest single item in the federal budget.
While the US government has an unmatched ability to extend the illusion of solvency, history is clear—even the most powerful empires cannot escape financial collapse once they can no longer service their debt.
A moment of reckoning is coming—and soon.
Historian Niall Ferguson put it bluntly:
“Any great power that spends more on debt service (interest payments on the national debt) than on defense will not stay great for very long.
True of Habsburg Spain, true of ancien régime France, true of the Ottoman Empire, true of the British Empire, this law is about to be put to the test by the US beginning this very year.”
In other words, debt kills empires.
The hard truth?
Cutting spending is meaningless unless it includes chainsaw-like reductions to entitlements, national defense, and the welfare state—while also reducing the national debt to lower interest costs.
In other words, the US would need a leader willing and able to:
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Return to a limited constitutional government
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Shut down the 750 military bases abroad
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End entitlements
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Dismantle the welfare state
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Repay a large portion of the national debt
However, that’s a completely unrealistic fantasy. It would be foolish to bet on that happening.
Here’s the bottom line.
The US government cannot and will not even slow the rate of spending growth, let alone reverse it. This is a well-established trend that has been building for decades. At this point, it’s impossible to change course.
It’s like trying to stop an avalanche after it has already gained unstoppable momentum.
No matter what happens, the federal debt will not level off—it will continue expanding exponentially until it reaches a full-blown crisis. That crisis is closer than most realize.
That’s why there is an excellent chance this debt disaster will explode under Trump’s watch—though it is not entirely his fault.
Simply put, it’s game over. The federal debt charade is at the end of the line.
When governments are trapped, they reset the system.
That’s what happened in 1933 with gold confiscation, in 1971 when Nixon ended the gold standard, and at several other pivotal moments in American history. Now, history is repeating itself—and another major reset appears to be on the horizon.
The Trump administration has no other option—and all signs suggest they are preparing for what comes next.
Catalyst #2: A Strong Dollar Creates Economic Instability
The Trump administration sees the dollar as dangerously overvalued, blaming it for America’s worsening economic imbalances.
A strong dollar makes US exports uncompetitive, while making foreign imports relatively cheap, accelerating the offshoring of jobs and the hollowing out of American industry and manufacturing.
After the worst inflation surge in over 50 years, the idea that the dollar is “too strong” might sound absurd.
But the reality is that the dollar has soared against other fiat currencies like the euro, yen, yuan, pound, and the rest of the world’s government-issued confetti.
The Real Broad Dollar Index tracks the dollar’s value against a trade-weighted basket of currencies from 26 major US trading partners. As the chart below illustrates, the dollar has been on an upward trajectory for over a decade and now sits near an all-time high.
President Trump has consistently stressed the importance of leveling the playing field for American industry in global trade. However, a strong dollar directly undermines his goal of revitalizing US manufacturing. It makes American exports less competitive internationally and incentivizes companies to shift production overseas.
In short, the Trump administration believes the US must weaken the dollar against foreign currencies to boost American exports and bring manufacturing back to the US.
So, what can they do?
One historical precedent is the Plaza Accord of 1985.
In the early 1980s, after former Fed Chair Paul Volcker raised interest rates above 17%, the US dollar skyrocketed against foreign currencies. While this helped control inflation, it eventually hurt US exports and domestic industry.
Recognizing the problem, the Reagan administration took action. The US government convened a meeting with finance ministers from Japan, the UK, France, and Germany—its largest trading partners—at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. They agreed to a coordinated devaluation of the US dollar and committed to keeping exchange rates within a controlled range to prevent further volatility.
While a multilateral approach has worked in the past, it’s uncertain whether US trading partners will agree to the scale of devaluation Trump envisions. Trump doesn’t just want minor adjustments—he wants a permanent shift in favor of US industry.
A unilateral response may become the only option if other countries refuse to cooperate.
In my view, the notion that weakening the US dollar is a cure-all for America’s economic problems is misguided. It’s the equivalent of believing that prosperity comes from eroding the savings of everyday Americans while driving up their cost of living. It’s not just flawed—it’s ridiculous.
If the Trump administration truly wants to restore competitiveness, it must slash regulations and other burdens that make American products less attractive than their foreign counterparts.
If weakening a currency truly made a country more competitive, then Argentina and Zimbabwe would be global economic powerhouses.
Currency devaluation props up a handful of inefficient, politically connected industries and enables a reckless government to keep spending, but it does so by impoverishing everyone else in the process.
No country has ever achieved and sustained wealth solely through a weak currency. Yet, this is precisely what those in power seem to believe. And they appear to be moving toward a reset that fundamentally realigns the US economy and trade system.
The Reset Is Coming—Here’s What You Need to Know Before It Hits
Everything you’ve just read points to one conclusion: a major monetary reset is coming—and it’s accelerating fast.
What will it look like? Who wins? Who loses? And most importantly—how can you protect yourself and come out ahead?
I break it all down in an exclusive new report:
Inside, you’ll discover:
- Why the debt crisis and dollar devaluation are converging
- How gold could be used to reset the system
- What steps you can take right now to prepare and profit
Click here to download the PDF report now.
Because by the time the reset becomes obvious… it’ll be too late to react.
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Site: RT - News
B61-13 air-dropped munitions are expected to be in full production later this year
The US is planning to launch the first production of its newest thermonuclear gravity bomb variant next month, according to the country’s nuclear security agency.
The B61-13 will be a modification using B61 warheads, which hit full production in 1968, modernized with newer electronics and control features like a tail kit, effectively turning it into a guided munition. The warhead’s maximum yield is around 360 kilotons, 24 times that of the bomb dropped by the US on Hiroshima, according to Fox News.
“The NNSA anticipates achieving the first production unit for the B61 Mod 13 later this month, almost a full year ahead of schedule,” National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) acting head Teresa Robbins told Congress on Wednesday.
Full scale production is expected later in the 2025 financial year, she said.
The bomb “strengthens deterrence and assurance by providing the President with additional options against certain harder and large-area military targets,” she added.
Read more
Trump pushes for ‘total dismantlement’ of Iran’s nuclear program
In January, Washington began deploying the earlier variant of the bomb – the B61-12 – at US bases in Europe.
Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump named nuclear weapons as the greatest existential threat to mankind. In March, the US president called for nuclear powers to abandon their nuclear weapons.
“It would be great if we could all denuclearize, because the power of nuclear weapons is crazy,” he told reporters. “I would very much like to start those talks.”
Read more
West wanted Russia ‘to make mistakes’ and nuke Ukraine – Putin
During his first presidential term, Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the landmark 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, citing Russian non-compliance. Moscow has condemned the withdrawal and denied the accusations.
In 2024, after Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden allowed Ukraine to use US missiles in long-range cross-border strikes on Russia, Moscow revised its nuclear doctrine, and lowered its acceptable threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. Under the new doctrine, any attack on Russia by a non-nuclear-armed state backed by a nuclear one will be treated as a direct attack by both, allowing Moscow to retaliate with nukes.
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Site: Mises InstituteIn the world of private enterprise, business owners pay attention to costs already incurred that cannot be recovered, also known as “sunk costs.” Government officials, however, see sunk costs as an incentive to promote public projects where costs clearly outweigh benefits.
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Site: Zero HedgeReports Of Huge India-Pakistan Jet Dogfight; Blackout Across Jammu & KashmirTyler Durden Thu, 05/08/2025 - 12:52
Update(1252ET): While there's been no official confirmation, a Pakistani official has described major aerial engagements above Jamu and Kashmir Thursday. Newsweek writes based on a CNN report:
Some 125 Indian and Pakistani fighter jets battled for over an hour in one of the biggest dogfights in recent history, according to a Pakistani security source quoted by CNN.
If the numbers of aircraft were confirmed, it would make it one of the largest air battles since World War Two.
According to more of the unverified claims:
The "dog fight" between Pakistani and Indian fighter jets, which Pakistani officials say downed five Indian planes, was one of the "largest and longest in recent aviation history," a senior Pakistani security source told CNN. The Pakistani claim has not been corroborated and could not be immediately verified by Newsweek.
What is certain is that the last 24 hours have seen intense artillery fire exchanges, as well as drone strikes and intercepts, amid a ratcheting situation between the nuclear-armed rivals.
Former Indian official implies Jammu Kashmir is under attack. https://t.co/DAbUrF4HF0
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) May 8, 2025Purported video footage of Kashmir amid blackout and anti-air fire overhead...
#Confirmed
— Ashutosh Singh (@reach_ashutosh) May 8, 2025
Pakistan launched multiple rockets targeting the Stavari area and Jammu Airport. A blackout has been reported across Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army was fully prepared and had anticipated such a move. It appears Pakistan is recklessly pushing itself toward… pic.twitter.com/StLu7kVMmfChina, the US and Russia are watching closely, also given the weapons being pitted against each other:
A top Chinese-made Pakistani fighter shot down at least two Indian military aircraft on Wednesday, two US officials have told the Reuters news agency, marking a major milestone for Beijing’s advanced fighter jet.
One US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was high confidence that Pakistan had used the Chinese-made J-10 aircraft to launch air-to-air missiles against Indian fighter jets, bringing down at least two.
* * *
In the latest developments along the war-ready Indian-Pakistan border, the Pakistani military says it has downed 25 Indian drones over its territory, while India in in turn is announcing it thwarted a Pakistani drone and missile attack on its military.
The official Pakistani death toll after the Wednesday missile 'retaliatory' attacks on Punjab province and Pakistan-administered Kashmir yesterday is at least 31 killed and dozens more wounded. Heavy artillery fire across the Line of Control (LOC) has remained steady, but the kind of feared wider and out of control all-out war has yet to be sparked. Islamabad is now claiming to have killed scores of Indian troops.
Shell hits the main town of Poonch district in Indian-administered Kashmir, AFP
On the other side, the last 48 hours of hostilities has resulted in at least 13 people killed in Indian-administered Kashmir, with others wounded due to Pakistani fire.
India's 'Operation Sindor' to avenge the 26 tourists killed last month's terror attack has been called an 'act of war' by Pakistani leaders. Islamabad has denied any involvement in supporting or harboring the gunmen, amid repeat Indian accusations.
As for the newest major Indian drone attack, it mainly targeted the second-largest city of Lahore, and India's government hailed that the operation successfully took out air defense radars at several locations. However, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif rejected this, saying there was no damage, amid an ongoing fog of war where it's hard for international observers to confirm much.
But as for a much bigger claim which has yet to be confirmed or substantiated, Al Jazeera reports that "Attaullah Tarar, the Pakistani information minister, has said the country’s armed forces have killed 40 to 50 Indian soldiers in the exchanges along the Line of Control dividing Indian- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir." The assertions were made before legislators in the National Assembly.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's latest words suggest New Delhi is still seeking to prevent escalation, claiming that all our air strikes were against "carefully selected terror targets" and that Indian drones and shelling have only hit sites connected to "incidents of cross-border terror in India and terrorist infrastructure."
#BREAKING
— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) May 8, 2025
Drones shower in #Pakistan
India strikes back after Pak provokes at LoC
Pakistan targeted Indian military posts on May 7–8. 16 Indian civilians including 5 children killed in Pak shelling
India hit back, taking out Pak air defence radars near Lahore
India warns:… pic.twitter.com/MZpzbRJN0OAnd provocatively, he alleged that Pakistan has been "using religious sites as a cover to train terrorists" - which strongly suggests India's assaults on Pakistan-administered Kashmir will continue, given the presence of armed Islamist factions. Much of this was directed at rejecting Pakistan's claim that Indian air strikes have damaged the vital Neelam-Jhelum dam.
But the question of disinformation, and the motive for India's 'counterterror' strikes, have been called "domestic theater" by one regional analyst:
Yet as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors escalate hour by hour, with Pakistan accusing India of launching a wave of drones into its territory on Thursday, military and geopolitical analysts question whether India’s approach serves as a deterrent against armed groups eager to target it. They argue that New Delhi’s actions are more symbolic and aimed at addressing its domestic audience rather than tactical advancement in the so-called “fight against terror”.
"This is all a domestic theatre," said Ajai Sahni, executive director of South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), a platform that tracks and analyses armed attacks in South Asia. "The Indian strikes [in Pakistan] have no deterrent value."
A steady spread of the border conflict...
Source: @detresfa_
Markets in India and Pakistan have again closed in the red, with India's benchmark stock market indices - the Sensex and Nifty - having fallen around half a percent in trade.
Pakistan's Karachi Stock Exchange was halted Thursday, with the benchmark KSE100 index losing more than 6% in trade. Amid the deep uncertainty the Indian rupee has slipped more than a percent against the US dollar.
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Site: Zero HedgeGOP Fiscal Hawks Dig In, Insist Megabill 'Must Not Add To The Deficit' To Avoid $50 Trillion Debt By 2035Tyler Durden Thu, 05/08/2025 - 12:45
A bloc of 32 House Republicans is pressuring their party’s leadership to uphold strict fiscal constraints as Congress moves to draft the sweeping legislative package underpinning former President Donald J. Trump’s domestic agenda.
In a letter sent Wednesday to Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the lawmakers, led by Representative Lloyd Smucker of Pennsylvania, vice chair of the House Budget Committee, demanded that any reconciliation bill adhere to the House’s budget resolution and “must not add to the deficit.”
The group includes several members of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee and a number of conservatives aligned with the House Freedom Caucus, including its chairman, Representative Andy Harris of Maryland.
Their insistence arrives at a critical moment, as Republicans rush to finalize the multi-committee legislative package set to cement Trump’s priorities on taxes, border security, and energy. The Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means Committees are all expected to begin marking up portions of the package next week.
At the heart of the fiscal standoff is a demand that any proposed tax cuts - set at a maximum of $4.5 trillion under the budget resolution - be reduced if Republicans fail to meet a $2 trillion spending cut benchmark. Smucker’s amendment to the resolution requires that any shortfall in spending cuts be matched with proportional reductions in tax relief. A $1 trillion gap, for example, would mean no more than $3.5 trillion in tax cuts.
That formula has inflamed tensions within the GOP’s ranks, particularly among members of the Ways and Means Committee. Its chair, Representative Jason Smith of Missouri, has said as much as $5.5 trillion in tax cuts is needed to realize Trump’s vision, including making the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent. Yet some of the most vocal calls to scale back that figure are now coming from within his own committee.
"Under the House’s framework, the reconciliation bill must not add to the deficit," wrote the lawmakers, Politico reports. The letter continues;
"A $2 trillion reduction in spending may sound substantial. However, it equals only 2.3 percent of projected federal outlays over the next decade and only reduces the rate of growth in spending. Even with those savings, annual spending is expected to grow from $7 trillion to $10 trillion over the next 10 years, and debt will exceed $50 trillion by 2035."
The fiscal constraints are also complicating other politically sensitive elements of the package. Republicans on the Agriculture Committee are sparring over how far to cut food assistance programs, while members of Energy and Commerce are debating the scope of Medicaid reductions. Hard-right conservatives are urging aggressive cuts to achieve budgetary goals, while moderates—particularly from swing districts—warn that such moves could endanger benefits for millions.
Blue-state Republicans, many of whom also serve on Ways and Means, remain embroiled in a separate but related battle over the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, pushing for income caps or broader eligibility thresholds.
That said, according to Punchbowl News, the SALT Republicans 'have more leverage than you think.'
Let’s put this plainly: A handful of SALT members are willing to tank the reconciliation package and President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda if they don’t get a SALT deal they like.
“It is a hill I am willing to stake my entire congressional career on,” Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) said. LaLota said he’d be “pressing the red no button” if the SALT cap isn’t high enough.
Here’s Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), who represents a swing district and is eyeing a gubernatorial run:
Remember: This entire reconciliation package is a snake pit for moderate House Republicans. Some have privately argued to us that they’d be better off voting against it because of the cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and social programs. But SALT is also an acute and immediate problem that Republicans are nowhere close to solving.
Meanwhile, Smucker’s coalition has injected another hurdle into an already fraught process. “The House budget resolution assumes that enacting President Trump’s agenda, including extending the 2017 tax cuts, will generate $2.5 trillion in additional revenue through economic growth,” the group wrote. “This means that all additional tax cuts or increases in spending above this level must be offset.”
With competing priorities and a tight self-imposed timeline, Republican leaders face growing pressure to reconcile ideological divides within their conference. Whether they can thread the fiscal needle without splintering the party remains to be seen.
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Site: AsiaNews.itMeeting with Bill Gates, President Prabowo Subianto expressed gratitude for the aid, which the foundation began to give in 2009. The Indonesia leader also pledged to award the US philanthropist Indonesia's highest national honour. In addition to health, the money has been used in agriculture and technology. Indonesia's PT Bio Farma produces up to two billion doses of vaccine every year, distributed in over 40 countries benefitting more than 900 million people.
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Site: RT - News
Joseph Nye introduced the term ‘soft power’ in international relations
US political scientist Joseph Nye, who co-authored the international relations theory of neoliberalism together with Robert Keohane and coined the term “soft power,” has died at the age of 88, according to Harvard University.
During his six decades as a Harvard professor, Nye helped develop the John F. Kennedy School of Government (HKS), where he served as dean from 1995 to 2004. The faculty’s graduates include many prominent US politicians.
In a statement on Wednesday announcing his passing, HKS said that Nye’s “ideas on the nature of power in international relations influenced generations of policymakers, academics, and students and made him one of the world’s most celebrated political thinkers.”
The scholar “developed the concepts of soft power, smart power, and neoliberalism,” the statement read.
Nye introduced the theory of “soft power” in the early 1990s to describe the ability of countries to get what they wanted from other nations “through attraction, rather than coercion or payment.” He later came up with the concept of “smart power,” stressing the effectiveness of combining hard and soft power into a single foreign policy strategy. The term was frequently mentioned by the administrations of US presidents Bill Clinton (1993-2001) and Barack Obama (2009-2017).
Read more
Russia issues list of ‘destructive neoliberal’ countries
President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) put Nye in charge of his administration’s nuclear non-proliferation efforts. Under Clinton, he chaired the National Intelligence Council and served as assistant secretary of defense.
Former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Nye as “a friend and mentor to so many, including me” in a post on X. “Few contributed as much to our intellectual capital, our understanding of the world and America’s place in it,” he wrote.
Nye had recently been increasingly critical of US President Donald Trump, accusing him of neglecting soft power and “bullying” other countries, including America’s allies. “Extreme narcissists such as Trump are not true realists, and American soft power will have a hard time during the next four years,” he wrote in an article for the Financial Times in March.
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Site: southern orders
PRIOR TO THE WHITE SMOKE, AND I MEAN JUST PRIOR, I TOOK THE PHOTO FROM MY TV SET OF THE BABY SEAGULL BY THE PAPAL SMOKE STACK! YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS STUFF UP! WE HAVE A BABY POPE NOW! PRAISE GOD AND LONG LIVE THE POPE!
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Site: RT - News
Chicago-born prelate Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen on the second day of conclave
History was made in Rome on Thursday, with Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old native of Chicago, elected as pope – the first American ever to fill the role.
Taking the name Leo XIV, Prevost emerged on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet tens of thousands gathered in the Vatican. “Peace be with you all,” he said, offering “the first greetings of the resurrected Christ” and urging that his message of peace “enter our hearts and our families.”
Prevost, a former missionary in Latin America, spent a decade serving in Trujillo, Peru before becoming bishop of Chiclayo. Elevated to cardinal in 2023 by the late Pope Francis, he was also appointed head of the powerful Congregation for Bishops, the Vatican body responsible for appointing most of the world’s bishops – a role that put him on many shortlists for the papacy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations to Pope Leo XIV following his election on Friday evening. In his message, Putin stressed the importance of continued cooperation between Russia and the Vatican. “I wish Your Holiness success in fulfilling the high mission entrusted to you, as well as good health and well-being,” the message reads.
Read more
Trump responds to AI pope image criticism
Prevost succeeds Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88, just one day after presiding over Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, Francis was the first Jesuit and first Latin American pope.
This week’s conclave saw 133 cardinal electors convene, with at least 89 votes needed to secure victory. Leo XIV was elected on the conclave’s second day, continuing a modern trend: Francis was elected after five rounds of voting, while Benedict XVI required four.
A senior cardinal confirmed the news from the loggia of St. Peter’s with the traditional “Habemus papam!” before Leo XIV stepped forward to meet the world.
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Site: Novus Ordo Watch
Conclave ends as Vatican II Sect chooses new ‘Pope’…
WHITE SMOKE!
Waiting for Announcement of ‘New Pope’…
VATICAN NEWS LIVESTREAM
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Site: Novus Ordo Wire – Novus Ordo Watch
Conclave ends as Vatican II Sect chooses new ‘Pope’…
WHITE SMOKE!
Waiting for Announcement of ‘New Pope’…VATICAN NEWS LIVESTREAM
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Site: RT - News
The Ukrainian parliament has ratified the minerals deal between Washington and Kiev, the US president has confirmed
US President Donald Trump has announced that he plans to talk with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky in the near future. He has also confirmed that a minerals agreement between Washington and Kiev had been ratified by the Ukrainian parliament.
“We just concluded the rare earth deal with Ukraine,” Trump told journalists in the White House on Thursday. “We appreciate that and I’ll be speaking with [Zelensky] in a little while,” he stated, without providing any further details about the date or the format for the upcoming talks.
The two last met at the Vatican in late April on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral. At that time, Zelensky allegedly tried to use the brief conversation to persuade Trump not to give up on his efforts to settle the conflict between Moscow and Kiev, according to The Economist.
Trump’s statement follows the Ukrainian parliament’s ratification of the comprehensive bilateral minerals agreement with the US. The deal was agreed upon last week after months of difficult negotiations. It envisages Washington and Kiev establishing a joint investment fund as well as giving the US preferential access to its partner’s natural resources.
Read more
Zelensky testing US patience – jailed MP
The security guarantees which Zelensky’s government had long been demanding from the US were not part of the agreement, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal.
On Thursday, Trump hailed the ratification by saying “we appreciate that.” According to the president, the US now has “access to a massive amount of very, very high-quality rare earths.”
In February, Reuters cited estimates from two Ukrainian think tanks stating that about 40% of the country’s metal resources are now under Russian control.
According to the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD), between 50% and 100% of the lithium, tantalum, cesium, and strontium deposits claimed by Ukraine are located in territory currently controlled by Russia.
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Site: Rorate CaeliA new Pope has been elected after the 4th Vote (3rd of the day): The See is no longer vacant.We will soon learn his name when the Cardinal Protodeacon announces him from the Loggia of St. Peter's Basilica.New Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118576661605931910noreply@blogger.com
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Site: LifeNews
From 2019-23, the Government gifted €37,711,250 of Irish taxpayers’ money to the pro-abortion UN Population Fund (UNFPA). The staggering sum was confirmed in a reply to a Parliamentary Question submitted by Cork North Central, Independent Ireland TD, Deputy Ken O’Flynn.
Commenting on this latest disclosure, Eilís Mulroy of the Pro Life Campaign said:
“The decision of the Government to donate almost €38,000,000 of Irish taxpayers’ money over a four year period to such a controversial and ideological focussed group is extremely troubling. For years, the UNFPA has been a leading player in the promotion of abortion internationally, particularly in developing countries. For the Government to give such a staggering sum of money to the group without any public debate beforehand, makes the decision all the more disgraceful.
“The fact that the UNFPA distributes portions of the money it receives to areas other than abortion, may serve as a diversion, but it’s certainly not a defence. Terms like “sexual and reproductive health” widely used by groups like the UNFPA is a very familiar and accepted codeword for abortion.
Follow LifeNews.com on Instagram for pro-life pictures and videos.
“Funding given to groups like the UNFPA is not legitimate foreign aid. Rather, it’s an ideological abuse of Irish taxpayers’ money, done in our name but without our consent. The sheer amount of taxpayers’ money being spent by the Government in recent years on contentious issues like supporting the promotion and provision of abortion worldwide is astounding. There are countless more worthy causes, at home or abroad, to which this money could be diverted.
“In addition to the latest revelations regarding funding to the UNFPA, it also emerged recently that since 2022 Ireland donated €2,300,000 to International Planned Parenthood Foundation (IPPF), the world’s largest abortion provider.
“When you add the over €50m spent by the Government on abortion provision in Ireland over the past six years (calculated from replies to other Parliamentary Questions) to the latest sums revealed in the reply to Deputy Flynn’s PQ, close to €100m has been earmarked for abortion over that period of time. When you consider that the Government has refused to explicitly earmark a single cent during the same time period to facilitate the promotion of alternatives to abortion, it tells a very sad story indeed. Given the latest revelations, there’s going to have to be more accountability for what’s happening and more openness to discussing how taxpayers’ money is being spent. This is something we are going to pursue with vigour in the coming weeks. It is time for public resources to be deployed to life-saving projects, not life-ending ones.”
In response to the reply he received to his parliamentary question, Deputy Ken O’Flynn said: “This extortionate use of Irish taxpayers’ money is not just wasteful but is funding an entity with controversial aims (implicitly supporting abortion liberalisation) that many Irish people will find profoundly disagreeable.”
The post Ireland Gives €38 Million in Taxpayer Dollars to Pro-Abortion UNFPA appeared first on LifeNews.com.
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Site: Mises InstituteThe Fed is now hemmed in by a rising risk of stagflation. It doesn‘t know where the economy is headed, or is unwilling to take a position. At this point, “hope for the best” is Fed policy.
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Site: AsiaNews.itMany Filipinos in the crowd are waiting for the smoke that will announce the end of the conclave. Many hope for Tagle, but 'let the Holy Spirit do its work.' An Asian pope would represent great hope for the continent. Indian nuns pray for peace with Pakistan, like Pope Francis did.
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Site: Zero HedgeMarkets Soar As Trump Says "Better Go Buy Stocks Now"Tyler Durden Thu, 05/08/2025 - 11:50
While commenting to reporters after signing the first (of many) trade deal with the UK, President Trump told Americans that they "better go out and buy stocks now" as he looks forward to signing his "big beautiful bill."
REAL BREAKING NEWS!!!!
— JORDAN (@Bombj123) May 8, 2025
Trump says “time to buy a lot of stock” because when his tax cut bill passes it’s going to make America powerful again pic.twitter.com/AvJytH5GKAAnd they did...
This comment followed his now ubiquitous shot across The Fed's bow:
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*TRUMP: FED'S POWELL IS ALWAYS LATE
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*TRUMP: EVERYONE IS CUTTING BUT THE FED
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*TRUMP: IF POWELL WOULD LOWER RATES, IT WOULD BE LIKE JET FUEL
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*TRUMP: US DOING WELL EVEN WITHOUT FED CUT
The Nasdaq has joined the S&P 500 and has now erased all of the post-Liberation Day losses.
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Site: Zero HedgeTrump Admin Invokes State Secrets Privilege In Abrego Garcia's CaseTyler Durden Thu, 05/08/2025 - 11:40
Authored by Sam Dorman via The Epoch Times,
President Donald Trump’s administration has invoked the state secrets privilege as a federal court probes for information surrounding Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation to El Salvador.
U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis revealed the invocation on May 7 in an order requesting briefing from the administration. “The Court requires formal briefing of the Defendants’ invocations of privilege, principally the state secrets and deliberative process privileges,” she said in an order. Her order referenced a court document not publicly available.
The state secrets privilege generally allows the executive branch to protect sensitive national security information from being disclosed in civil suits. The Justice Department invoked it in March in a similar case that more broadly challenged the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport individuals to El Salvador.
In that case, the administration said it had deported individuals as part of three flights in March—one of which was carrying Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran illegal immigrant and suspected member of MS-13, a criminal gang designated as a terrorist organization.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg held a hearing on the same day as Xinis’s order and requested information on how the administration and El Salvador were handling deportees.
Both he and Xinis have indicated they could hold the administration in contempt for not following court orders. Questions have abounded in recent weeks as to the deportees’ status and how much control the administration had over individuals already removed to El Salvador.
The administration has provided some information through updates to judges, including declarations from government officials.
For example, State Department official Michael Kozak told Xinis on April 21 that the Salvadoran government had informed an ambassador that Abrego Garcia was being held at a penitentiary facility in Santa Ana.
“The Salvadoran government responded on April 21 that Mr. Abrego García is being held at the Centro Industrial penitentiary facility in Santa Ana, ‘in good conditions and in an excellent state of health,’” Kozak said.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele notably told reporters during a meeting with Trump in the Oval Office last month that he couldn’t return Abrego Garcia if the United States didn’t want him. According to an interview published by El Grand Continent on May 6, Salvadoran Vice President Félix Ulloa said his country was providing a “service” to the United States.
“So we don’t see this as an issue of international law or international conflict insofar as what we’re doing is providing a service,” he said.
“The status of the detainees or the people who come here isn’t assessed by El Salvador; it’s assessed by the state that requests the service.”
He also said, “We’re providing what we might call prison accommodation. It’s like if a person comes to El Salvador for medical treatment; we have medical tourism for people who come here for dental treatment.”
During Boasberg’s hearing, Department of Justice attorney Abhishek Kambli argued that the administration couldn’t return those deported if El Salvador refused a request to do so. The administration has similarly told Xinis that its hands were tied in returning Abrego Garcia after she issued an order requiring the government to “facilitate” his return to the United States.
After a Supreme Court ruling allowing Xinis to require facilitation, she set up a process of discovery whereby attorneys could probe the administration for whether it followed her order.
Her most recent order scheduled a hearing for May 16 to discuss the publicly unavailable document that she referenced in revealing the administration’s invocation of the state secrets privilege. She’s also weighing a request by multiple news organizations to intervene and unseal court records.
During his May 7 hearing, Boasberg seemed skeptical in response to Kambli’s comments before the court and asked him about various statements members of the administration had made. More specifically, he asked about Trump stating he could secure the return of Abrego Garcia by picking up the phone. He seemed to be referring to an interview with ABC wherein Trump said he “could” get Abrego Garcia back.
The administration, however, has said that Abrego Garcia was a member of the MS-13 gang and would be re-deported if he entered the country again. Abrego Garcia’s attorneys have denied this claim, while Xinis has cast doubt on the evidence behind it.
Kambli suggested to Boasberg on May 7 that Trump was referring to the influence he could have on the Salvadoran government—something he distinguished from the idea that the United States had constructive custody.
The cases have raised multiple legal questions, including about the nature of due process for illegal immigrant deportees and when a president can invoke the Alien Enemies Act.
So far, multiple federal judges have said they thought Trump misapplied the law, specifically doubting that Tren de Aragua’s activity could be considered a foreign invasion under the Act.
The Supreme Court declined on April 7 to rule on that question.
Boasberg, however, indicated on May 7 that he was inclined to agree with the other judges, asking Kambli whether the government’s position was that all those federal judges were wrong.
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Site: LifeNews
A 38-year-old woman was urgently transferred to the hospital after undergoing a dilation and curettage (D&C) abortion at the Planned Parenthood in Omaha, Nebraska, on February 3, 2025. According to 911 records secured by Operation Rescue, the woman was experiencing “heavier bleeding.”
The 911 dispatcher, seeking to assess the urgency of the situation, asked the caller whether the bleeding was “pouring” or “squirting”—terms used to determine the potential for life-threatening hemorrhage. The clinic employee hesitated and then chuckled, saying she wasn’t “all the way down that end” to observe the bleeding directly. Such a careless attitude raises questions about the clinic’s response and protocols during a medical crisis. The injured woman’s current condition is unknown, whether she survived or recovered.
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A D&C is a surgical abortion procedure typically used in the first and second trimesters of gestation. Although it is generally advocated by abortion defenders as “safe,” complications can and do occur. These complications include uterine perforation, infection, and hemorrhage—any of which can become life-threatening if not addressed quickly and appropriately. In some cases, Planned Parenthood has failed miserably in this, delaying emergency care in dire situations, like in the recent death of Alexis “Lexi” Arguello.
“Incidents like these underscore the urgent need for stronger oversight and public accountability for abortion clinics. When a woman walks into a clinic expecting so-called ‘healthcare’ and ends up in the back of an ambulance, it’s time for people to see the truth–abortion is not safe,” says Sarah Neely, Chief Operating Officer for Operation Rescue.
No Surprise With Nurses Quitting
A recent investigative article from Flatwater Free Press exposes even more dangerous dysfunction at Planned Parenthood Omaha, which reportedly has only done three abortion procedures since mid-March. Sabrina Stratman, a former nurse at Planned Parenthood, opened up about being pressured to break protocol and assist with surgical abortions despite being the only nurse available. According to Stratman, two nurses must be present. When she expressed concerns to management, Stratman said they went unheard and that the clinic manager “used [Stratman’s] passion for abortion access as leverage.”
According to Flatwater, Stratman quit in March and the last nurse specifically trained to assist with abortion procedures followed shortly after.. Other current and former Planned Parenthood employees complained to the Flatwater about insufficient training, problems “beyond burnout,” and a dismissive attitude among executives whenever regular staff have voiced concerns.
“It’s no surprise a woman was injured at this Planned Parenthood,” says Neely. “This kind of chaos among employees and Planned Parenthood’s out-of-touch executives is rampant across the organization right now, and it creates a very dangerous situation for women already seeking a very dangerous procedure.
“We are thankful there has been an obvious plummet in abortion availability in the state; it means more lives of women and their children in the womb might be saved. We pray Nebraska officials step in and take it even further. This crumbling clinic poses a clear threat to patient safety – it can’t even keep nurses. Nebraska should not hesitate to shut it down.”
LifeNews Note: This article was originally published by Operation Rescue, a leading pro-life, Christian activist organization dedicated to exposing abortion abuses, demanding enforcement, saving innocent lives, and building an abortion-free America. The author, Ricardo Pinedo, writes for Operation Rescue.
The post Planned Parenthood Employee Laughs During 911 Call as Woman Bleeds From Botched Abortion appeared first on LifeNews.com.
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Site: Rorate CaeliHabemus Papam? Maybe?by Aurelio PorfiriRome, May 8, 2025Many people and seasoned Vatican watchers around the Vatican have the impression that today might be the day the new Pope is elected.I’ve spoken with individuals who have been following Vatican affairs for decades, and they say it would be surprising if no Pope were elected today. Everyone is waiting for the moment when Cardinal Dominique New Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118576661605931910noreply@blogger.com
Shell hits the main town of Poonch district in Indian-administered Kashmir, AFP
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