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Proxy War Update, Russia Targeting U.S. Military Equipment Arriving in Ukraine, Apparently with Some Success

It doesn’t sound like a very complex military strategy on the part of Russia actually.  As the U.S. weapons convoys are pushed from Western Ukraine toward Eastern Ukraine (Donbas region) the Russians identify the locations and blow them up with cruise missiles.

It remains difficult to locate solid reporting on the ongoing Ukraine conflict, but somewhere between the western media disinformation about the heroic efforts to fight back – and the Russian claims of advanced success in the region, the truth must exist.  The challenge is finding the accurate information.

According to Reuters, “Russia’s defense ministry on Saturday said it had destroyed a large stockpile of military equipment from the United States and European countries near the Bohodukhiv railway station in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. The ministry said it had hit 18 Ukrainian military facilities overnight, including three ammunition depots in Dachne, near the port city of Odesa.”  France24 seems to confirm this report.

Additionally, as to the Eastern Ukraine Alamo known as the Azovstal steel plant in the port city of Mariupol, it now appears all of the women and children (human shields) have been able to escape the facility and now the Russians will collapse the remaining Azov Battalion opposition. “Before the UN-led evacuation, about 200 civilians, including children, were estimated to still be trapped in the Soviet-era tunnels and bunkers beneath the factory, along with a group of Ukrainian soldiers making a last stand.” (link)

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Mexican President Calls Out Hypocrisy of Biden Sending $33 Billion to Ukraine While Doing Nothing to Support Central America Which Would Stop Illegal Migration

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez-Obrador (AMLO) is not wrong on this one.  AMLO is calling out Joe Biden for sending $33 billion more to Ukraine, while doing nothing financially in central America which would alleviate the migration pressure.

The article, as written, and general tone from President Lopez-Obrador, are expressed from the perspective that Biden has his foreign policy problem solving emphasis on the wrong syllable.

Put that level of subsidy into support within Central America and the migration issue would correct.  Unfortunately, as more people are becoming aware, the location of Biden’s financial emphasis is a feature of the White House plans, not a foreign policy flaw.

Ukraine is viewed as a priority because the DC politicians and corporations gain financial benefit from Ukraine spending.  If Biden were to drop $30 billion in central America, it would impede the White House agenda to keep the southern border crisis going.  The border collapse is a goal of the White House, not a mistake.

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Poll, 65 Percent of Americans See Current Inflation Problem Lasting a Year or More

Fox News conducted a poll last week [Data Here] asking about views on the economy overall.  As would be expected the majority of Americans see the economy as the #1 issue right now.

When asked for their view on how long the issue of rising prices are likely to remain a problem, 65% of the respondants said a year or more, while 29% had a more short-term view.

It is very hard to see a short-term end to inflation, accepting the status of energy prices and the looming issue of much higher food prices later this summer and fall.  In both the energy sector and the food sector the upward pressure on prices remains incredibly strong; perhaps the strongest ever predictable scenario for much higher prices yet to follow.

Fox News – […] Three-quarters say recent price increases pose a financial hardship for their family.  And increasing numbers say they are a “serious” hardship.  Higher grocery prices are a serious problem for 44%, up from 36% in February. Same story on gas prices:  44% serious hardship, up from 35%.  (more

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Fertilizer Prices Continue Rising, Increasing Fears of Global Grain Costs and Shortages

As CTH has noted since last October the rapid increases in fertilizer costs could potentially create a major issue for global food supplies later this summer.  As the farming costs continue escalating, including fertilizer and diesel fuel prices, this will eventually lead to major price increases on the harvests.   Field to fork inflation is looking increasingly severe later this year; what we have called the third wave of inflation.

Beyond prices, a primary impact in the U.S. market, concerns are now escalating about grain shortages {SEE HERE} and lower European crop yields which will lead to less food products on a global basis.   According to information shared by ZeroHedge, “We think it will take at least 2-3 years to replenish global grains stocks,” Illinois-based CF Industries Holdings Inc.’s president and chief executive officer Tony Will said in a statement in Wednesday’s earnings report.”

Axios is reporting on the continued escalation of fertilizer prices; however, they conveniently and purposefully avoid noting the origin of the problem in North America is directly the result of Joe Biden’s immediate energy policies that drove up the costs of natural gas (a critical component):

AXIOS – “Skyrocketing fertilizer costs — like those made from nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) — are driving up food prices and, worse, threatening food security around the globe.

State of play: Prices for NPK were up 125% in January from a year before, and rose another 17% from the beginning of the year to March, according to data compiled by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

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Judge Rejects Lawfare Effort to Keep Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene from Ballot

The fact this lawfare case was even brought before a court exemplifies the desperation in the Democrat party. Georgia State Administrative Law Judge Charles Beaudrot has rejected the challenge to Marjorie Taylor Greene after listening to legal arguments last week.

Washington – “ATLANTA (AP) — A judge in Georgia on Friday found that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) can run for reelection, rejecting arguments from a group of voters who had challenged her eligibility over allegations that she engaged in insurrection. But the decision will ultimately be up to Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

State Administrative Law Judge Charles Beaudrot announced his decision after a daylong hearing in April that included arguments from lawyers for the voters and for Greene, as well as extensive questioning of Greene herself. (read more)

White House Announces Karine Jean-Pierre to Replace Jen Psaki Effective May 13th, Biden Also Reinstalls Media Fixer Anita Dunn

The White House has announced {SEE HERE} that Karine Jean-Pierre will replace Jen Psaki as chief narrative engineer for the Biden regime effective May 13, 2022.  Anita Dunn will return as media fixer.

[White House Press Release] – Today, President Biden announced Karine Jean-Pierre has been promoted to be Assistant to the President and White House Press Secretary. Karine will step into the Press Secretary role replacing Jen Psaki, who will depart from the White House on May 13.

Statement from President Biden: “I am proud to announce that Karine Jean-Pierre will serve as the next White House Press Secretary.

“Karine not only brings the experience, talent and integrity needed for this difficult job, but she will continue to lead the way in communicating about the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American people. Jill and I have known and respected Karine a long time and she will be a strong voice speaking for me and this Administration. (read more)

Additionally, the White House has announced Anita Dunn will return to the JoeBama administration as senior advisor.  Dunn’s specific expertise is using pressure, blackmail and political leverage to control information distribution by media organizations.

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Labor Warning, First Quarter Productivity Drops 7.5 Percent, Largest Decrease Since 1947

CTH puts released economic data into ‘what does it mean‘ terms as a conversational priority.  The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) releases the first quarter productivity and costs report today [BLS Data Here].

Outputs, what was created, dropped 2.4 percent, yet labor hours used to create those outputs increased 5.5 percent.   This creates a productivity drop of 7.5% for the overall business.  The largest quarterly drop in productivity since 1947.

This is a warning indicator inside the economy to employees of large organizations.  CTH has been tracking productivity for quite a while, and the signs have all looked foreboding. {Go Deep}   Businesses cannot afford to keep employees on payroll if customer demand drops.

The per unit labor cost to make the products has increased 11.6%.   Wages have gone up 3.2% (pay increases) and productivity has dropped 7.5%, combined that creates the 11.6% increase in per unit cost to producers.

I have often used the example of making bread {Go Deep}.  If you are making 10 loaves of bread, there is a set amount of cost associated with each loaf created.  The total cost of each loaf is the total cost to produce the entire batch divided by ten.

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Fed Raises Interest Rates .50 Percent, The Purposeful Inflation is Expected to Continue

As expected, the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates .50%.  However, inflation is expected to remain high as prior spending debt bubble remains in place.

WASHINGTON, May 4 (Reuters) – The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark overnight interest rate by half a percentage point, the biggest jump in 22 years, and the U.S. central bank’s chief made an appeal to Americans struggling with high inflation to be patient while officials take the hard measures to bring it under control. (read more)

Within hours of the announcement, major U.S. banks including JPMorgan Chase & Co, Wells Fargo Bank and Citibank raised their prime rate to 4%, effective Thursday.

The timing of the rate increase is what was expected.  Last year’s inflation spikes started appearing in June of 2021.  By delaying the 2022 FED response until right now, the political operatives in control of U.S. monetary policy create a scenario where the Fed impact will appear to surface in June of 2022. Exactly one year from the date of the first wave of inflation from the prior COVID spend.

Year-over-year inflation will statistically begin to give the appearance of moderation, once the June (’21) to June (’22) comparison cycle arrives.  The Fed and White House will use the intentionally timed statistical outcome to claim inflation is diminishing.  It’s a political trick we expected.

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Rand Paul Questions DHS Secretary About Disinformation, Mayorkas Accidentally Gives Game Away “Should I Sit Back and Take That?”

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul questioned DHS Secretary Mayorkas about what constitutes disinformation and what will the DHS Disinformation Bureau do about it?  {Direct Rumble Link}

After multiple back and forth dodges by the DHS Secretary, at 06:40 Mayorkas slips a little and gives an example using the COVID vaccination program. After giving the example of a hypothetical claim of the vaccine containing fentanyl, Mayorkas asks “should I sit back and accept that,” meaning do nothing about it.

Right there Mayorkas gives away the intent and purpose of the Ministry of Truth.  Identify disinformation, then communicate with the networked partnership of social media companies, and then target whoever made the claim.  The government then controls the speech.  The government then becomes the arbiter of what is true and/or false.  The problem as Rand Paul is drilling down, is that ultimately government will approve speech.  WATCH:

There is no such thing as “disinformation.”  There is information the government approves of, and information that is averse to the interest of government.  That’s the bottom line and the end of this regulatory slippery slope discussion.

Example: Ask the DHS Disinformation Governance Board if a fetus is a baby human?

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George W Bush Will Campaign for GA Republican Candidate Brian Kemp, The GOP Club Have Set The Stage

It’s not that hard to see the GOPe Club moves in Georgia, you just have to shake off the ‘battered conservative syndrome‘ to accept it.

Georgia is holding an open primary, where democrats can vote for republicans and republicans can vote for democrats.

The Democrat Governor candidate is Stacy Abrams, and she is running unopposed.

The AME Church Network (think prior Mississippi strategy for Thad Cochran by  Haley Barbour and Mitch McConnell) have been activated to vote in the republican primary, so democrats in Georgia will choose the republican candidate who will run against Stacy Abrams.

Georgia Democrats will vote for incumbent republican governor Brian Kemp this month because that’s who they want on the ticket in the November general election, facing their candidate, Stacy Abrams.  Georgia is the homebase of the AME church network and their political operations.  This is part of the reason why Georgia politics is: (a) racially divisive; and (b) fraught with corruption.

As a direct result of democrats selecting the opposition, Stacy Abrams will win in November.  Open primaries are club rules used to make red states turn blue.  Allowing your opposition to choose your candidate is never smart. [Note: Texas is soon to follow if they are not careful.]

Everything at this level of electoral games is controlled by the state political clubs.   The republican club in Georgia is ideologically against MAGA more than they are against Democrats.  The GA parties control the rules and thereby the political outcomes, the voters in GA operate under the illusion of choice.  This is not uncommon.

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