CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky is promoting a new vaccination theory based on “controversial science” that is meeting some resistance.  The CDC is now pushing a booster shot on behalf of the major pharmaceutical companies science.

(Reuters) […] U.S. officials, citing data showing waning protection against mild and moderate illness from the Pfizer-BioNTech (PFE.N), and Moderna (MRNA.O) vaccines more than six months after inoculation, on Wednesday said boosters will be made widely available starting on Sept. 20.

[…] Other experts said the U.S. plan requires thorough vetting by the FDA and a panel of outside advisers to the CDC. A meeting of those advisers to discuss boosters set for Aug. 24 is being rescheduled (more)

Walensky announced today the CDC is pushing vaccine booster shots for the most vulnerable population because the “science” indicates the effectiveness of the vaccine diminishes over time. According to Walensky this discovery represents an “increased risk of severe illness amid those who were vaccinated early.”  [Video @16:53]

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The message from one of the leading democrats in the House to stranded Americans in Afghanistan is: “you’re on your own.”   John Garamendi (CA) told CNN the U.S. military should not try to rescue stranded Americans outside the Kabul airport.  This rings a familiar Benghazi bell…

This is a remarkable statement considering Garamendi is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and one of the key people who supported, funded and authorized the current mess in Kabul. While his outlook is representative of the ideology of leftists, it is still quite alarming to see a leading U.S. political figure telling desperate Americans there will be no help coming.

Keep in mind the British forces are conducting search and rescue missions to extract their stranded citizens.  Quite a contrast. Watch this statement from John Garamendi:

This sounds like a massive hostage situation now….

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chief’s Chairman Mark Milley held a Pentagon press briefing today about the unfolding crisis in Afghanistan. [Full Presser Here] As the Taliban has taken full control over the country and capital, the U.S. presence in Kabul has been reduced to securing the airport as a temporary fortress, and telling U.S. citizens to try and get there.

When asked about the Taliban surrounding the airport, constructing checkpoints and the inability of Americans to reach safety for evacuation, Defense Secretary Austin said the military “don’t have the capability to…extend operations.”  The follow-up question was then about the U.S. essentially having to negotiate safe-passage with the Taliban… and rather than say, “Yes, that is accurate“, the question left Secretary Austin speechless.  WATCH:

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Ooof… THAT, my friends, is exactly what FUBAR looks like!

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We must be cautious in reviewing any/all media articles about the fluid situation in Afghanistan, as both Leftist and NeoCon media are framing the crisis story to fit their preferred narrative.  All DC media reporting should be viewed through the prism of cynicism and skepticism.

CNN is reporting the State Dept. Narrative that Taliban have surrounded the Kabul airport and there is no safe way for Americans to reach the evacuation point.   However, the Pentagon is reporting that the Taliban is “not interfering in their mission” to facilitate the evacuation of Americans, and  Taliban members “are not stopping U.S. citizens with American passports” from traveling to the airport.

When we review a State Department position (DoS) on anything, it should be noted that DoS personnel are, by ideological tribe, very dramatic, tender and pearl-clutching leftists in their worldview.  State Department officials are the wokeist of the international woke community. As a consequence of their alignment and role,  CNN is almost identically predisposed to the dramatic flair.

CNN takes the DoS bulletin and proclaims that Americans are trapped outside the airport by the Taliban. There is no evidence of this claim being accurate. There’s a difference between “we cannot ensure safe passage”, and “your passage is unsafe.”  Yes, things are sketchy and unstable, but there have been no reports of safety incidents with any Americans.

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The FUBAR in Afghanistan is so large in scope and failure, the Pentagon appears to be throwing the White House under the bus; and they are being considerably obtuse while doing it…. or are they?

If these reports from Daily Mail and Wall Street Journal are accurate, the Pentagon is claiming that Joint Chief’s Chairman General Mark Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Joe Biden about the pending collapse of Afghanistan if 2,500 troops were removed.   However, both Milley and Austin are on record only a few weeks before the collapse saying exactly the opposite.

(Via Wall Street Journal) –  In his Monday speech defending America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, President Biden said he would not shrink from his share of responsibility.

That would include his decision to bring home U.S. troops, which was made against the recommendations of his top military generals and many diplomats, who warned that a hasty withdrawal would undermine security in Afghanistan, several administration and defense officials said.

The president’s top generals, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley, urged Mr. Biden to keep a force of about 2,500 troops, the size he inherited, while seeking a peace agreement between warring Afghan factions, to help maintain stability. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who previously served as a military commander in the region, said a full withdrawal wouldn’t provide any insurance against instability.

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Big Apple comrades, CONGRATULATIONS, the New York City requirement to show your vaccine papers begins today. Those who violate the requirement, or those who give false papers in order to participate in polite society, will be given a $1,000 fine for the first offense; $2,000 for the second non-compliant occurrence, and all subsequent infractions will cost $5,000.

Your proof of vaccination status will grant you access to indoor dining, fitness clubs and shows at indoor entertainment venues, including night clubs, concert halls, movie theaters and adult entertainment. If you wish to enter any of the following business sectors (listed below), both NYC residents and visitors will be required to show their vaccination identification or vaccine passport:

(Source)

The ministry of COVID compliance has been kind enough to provide one month of “social training” between when venues must require proof of vaccine from patrons (today) and when Comrade de Blasio has instructed the ministry to begin enforcement (mid-Sept). This grace period for social training is provided by the magnanimity of Dear Leader highlighting his compassion and understanding as these private venues get used to the system.

During this first month, the Ministry of COVID compliance will educate businesses in best practices for how to demand the vaccination papers Dear Leader de Blasio previously announced.

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The 44-year-old academic currently occupying the role of National Security Advisor to Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, informs reporters that Biden has not spoken to any world leaders since the total collapse of Afghanistan and the embarrassing mess created by Biden’s administration.

Yet again, the Potemkin village of an administration touting their international relationships is highlighted.  It’s all a farce folks; a ruse on display for the entire world to see.  Thus, the lonely picture of Joe Biden in his bunker at Camp David gets more context.

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The U.S. media cannot carry this much water….. It’s just too heavy a lift, even for them.

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The U.S. Census Department releases retail sales data today showing a strong contraction in consumer spending for July [MSM LINK].  The out-of-touch financial pundits were looking for a 0.3% decline; however, the drop was four times greater with a contraction of 1.1% in spending.

“The slide in retail sales comes after Friday’s preliminary consumer sentiment report from the University of Michigan showed one of the largest drops on record, leading some strategists and economists to warn of downside risk to the sales data.” (link)

This should not be unexpected for those who read here.  Massive price inflation on essential goods is eating up wages.  Food, fuel and energy price increases are changing consumer spending habits.  Non-essential purchases have stopped….. they haven’t slowed, they have stopped. ←Emphasize this because it is not showing up yet in the data lag.

The data reflects that auto sales were the primary contributor to the decline in spending (-4.3%).  This should make sense to people because auto purchases are the largest general consumer purchase outside of home purchasing.

When purchase decisions are made by families; and food and fuel prices are skyrocketing; replacing a vehicle is not essential.  Auto sales are a key indicator of consumer confidence and income.

Overall inflation is the primary driver.  Real wages are declining (wages – inflation), and disposable income is dropping quickly.  Americans need to start talking very deliberately about what is about to happen.  CTH predicted this and has been walking through the visible outcomes as each set of new data surfaces {SEARCH BOX}.  Nothing happening right now is unforeseen or not easily understandable.

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If you watch the official press conferences and government announcements of rules and restrictions in Australia and New Zealand, you see some of the most bizarre and dystopian reactions from the government.  It really is jaw-dropping and almost unbelievable how the citizens of the area are under the complete control of their government and ministries of health.

Today the extreme far-left New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, announces a “level four” emergency shutdown as a result of a single case of COVID being identified yesterday. A single case.

There have been numerous people discussing how global health leaders choose Australia and New Zealand as testing grounds for how much control can be put upon society and still permit those in government to retain their authority.  Previously, I dispatched those discussions, because they seemed a little, well, ‘out there’; however, I did keep watching and researching.  I no longer dismiss those claims.  Something really weird is going on down under, and it is alarming in the extreme.  First, watch the general announcement:

As a result of the renewed ‘level-four’ restrictions, the people in New Zealand are instructed to stay at home, “Do not talk to your neighbors”, wear a mask, maintain 2 meters social distance, and stay away from others if you leave your home for the three approved reasons:  Emergency food shopping, healthcare or testing.

There is something really dystopian about government officials telling citizens to remain compliant, use QR codes, activate their bluetooth tracing and stop talking to their neighbors.  There is something exponentially more alarming about citizens actually complying with these instructions.  WATCH this next video:

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The number of Americans trapped in Afghanistan is actually unknown.  According to Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby,  somewhere around 5,000 to 10,000 are known, but the number could be 20,000.  Those U.S. citizens are not at the airport in Kabul, and need to reach the airport in order to be evacuated.

Several media reports outline that the Taliban have checkpoints around the airport presumably looking for people who were aligned with the former government.  Unfortunately, given the nature of media bias and previous propaganda, it is challenging to determine the level of risk or threat to any American.  There have been no reports of Americans killed or taken hostage.  Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby outlines the current priority is to secure the airport, that’s what the additional troops are intended to do. WATCH:

…”Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to f**k things up“… ~ Barack Obama

There is no such thing as “idiot proof.”  As soon as you think you’ve developed an “idiot proof” system, you will discover Joe Biden.

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