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The Albertsons and Kroger Merger Faces Legislative Scrutiny as European Company Ahold Assembles Competitive Bid

Last week we discussed the announcement of a $24.6 billion merger deal between Kroger and Albertsons supermarkets {Go Deep}.  The majority stockholders in both companies are institutional investment groups, Blackrock, Vanguard and Cerberus.

The merger would consolidate the second and third largest food retailers in the U.S. and would certainly dilute the competitive dynamic amid the supermarket industry.  Concern over price controls and decreased competition has now arrived on the desks of DC legislators who are reviewing the deal.

(Reuters) – […] U.S. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar and Republican Senator Mike Lee were quick to say that they would hold a hearing to discuss the merger. A European interloper could make deal plans even harder.

Frans Muller, Chief Executive of Stop & Shop owner Ahold Delhaize (AD.AS), has made no secret of his desire to consolidate U.S. grocers. The Netherlands-based firm is already the fourth largest grocery chain. If it managed to cobble together a better offer than Kroger’s bid for Albertsons, it would become the second largest supermarket. Plane spotters tracked two Albertsons jets next to Ahold Delhaize’s U.S. base in Massachusetts in early August. Ahold declined to comment.

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Tom Homan Border Speech, MAGA Rally Robstown, Texas

As a guest speaker today during the Trump MAGA rally in Robstown, Texas, former Acting Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Tom Homan, delivered a full fire speech discussing the current border crisis created by Joe Biden.  The last five seconds are epic. {Direct Rumble Link} WATCH:

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@5:00 “I’ll tell you what I told [President Trump]. He comes back, I come back, and we fix this shit”…

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President Trump MAGA Rally, Robstown Texas – 8pm ET Livestream Links

Tonight, President Donald Trump heads to Robstown, Texas, for a MAGA rally at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds.  President Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks at 7:00pm CDT / 8:00pm EDT.  Livestream Links Below:

Trump Campaign Rumble Link – RSBN Rumble Link – Alternate Rumble Link

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Neil Oliver, Every Elite Has a Plan Until They Get Punched in the Face by The People

For his monologue this week (¹sorry, no transcript), U.K pundit Neil Oliver notes the vulnerabilities of the globalist elite when the people finally reach the point of having had quite enough.

Using the famous Mike Tyson quote, “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face,” Oliver notes the scheme and grand designs of the globalists may seem omnipotent, but only so long as it takes for the angered masses to assemble in common resolve.  The elites are vulnerable despite their seemingly endless efforts to promote themselves as untouchable.  Their weakness is their limited number.

Oliver takes his position to a new level of indignation as he now describes the conniving western political class as soulless, rotten and seemingly willing to promote evil enterprise in their efforts to retain control.  Indeed, their current efforts to control the masses – through energy restrictions while they worship at the false altar of ‘climate change – they are fully exposed for their exploitative intent given the aftermath of their two years of COVID schemes, lies and visible madness.  WATCH:

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¹The transcript is normally available on GBNews. However, it is not available today.  Coincidentally, or not, the corporate Fox News YouTube site has not shared a single Tucker Carlson monologue for the last two weeks.

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October 22nd – 2022 Presidential Politics – Resistance Day 641

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the JoeBama Administration and Presidency.

“This is no small thing, to restore a republic after it has fallen into corruption. I have studied history for years and I cannot recall it ever happening. It may be that our task is impossible. Yet, if we do not try then how will we know it can’t be done? And if we do not try, it most certainly won’t be done. The Founders’ Republic, and the larger war for western civilization, will be lost.”

“But I tell you this: We will not go gently into that bloody collectivist good night. Indeed, we will make with our defiance such a sound as ALL history from that day forward will be forced to note, even if they despise us in the writing of it.”

~ Mike Vanderboegh

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

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Saturday October 22nd – Open Thread

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

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Joe Biden Struggles with 2024 Question During Live Broadcast

I’m not sure what’s more remarkable; the transparency of Joe Biden’s cognitive decline, or MSNBC broadcasting it.  Then again, this was live at around 5:30pm ET, so there wasn’t an opportunity to edit out the disturbing part.  Sundowning?

During a live MSNBC interview broadcast today, Joe Biden was asked about his decision to run for reelection in 2024.  When a short follow-up question is asked, things got weird and uncomfortable.  WATCH:

BIDEN: “It’s my intention to run again.”

MSNBC: “Dr. Biden is for it?”

BIDEN: crickets

MSNBC: (Uncomfortable) “Mr. President?”

BIDEN: (Confused) “Dr. Biden thinks that uh, my wife thinks that uh, that I uh, that, that we’re, that we’re doing something very important.”

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Twitter Stuff, Reports of Anticipated Turnover of Employees, Combined with Reports of Treasury Dept Considering CFIUS Review

Whenever we begin to evaluate how the U.S. government may respond to Elon Musk buying out Twitter and changing the dynamic behind Jack’s Magic Coffee Shop, it is always worth remembering a key point.  Elon Musk is not in an adversarial relationship with the U.S. government.  Indeed, almost every Musk venture is tied into the matrix of multiple government institutions.

That said, only Elon Musk knows the full intent of his objective to utilize Twitter and his larger aspirations to open information systems to all people (Iran example).

Having listened to a lot of Musk’s explanations for his endeavors, I’ve yet to nail down how his statements mesh with the public-private partnership that forms the baseline of revenue for his various engagements.

The Washington Post is reporting that Musk may RIF (reduction in force) to 75% of Twitter employees.  “Elon Musk told prospective investors in his deal to buy the company that he planned to get rid of nearly 75 percent of Twitter’s 7,500 workers, whittling the company down to a skeleton staff of just over 2,000.” {link}

(WaPo) […] On Thursday evening, Twitter’s top lawyer Sean Edgett sent out a note to all employees saying the company did not have any confirmation from Musk about his plans. Twitter’s own, smaller-scale “cost savings discussions” were put on hold once the merger agreement was signed, Edgett said, according to an email viewed by The Post.

In internal Slack groups, Twitter employees reacted to the news with anger and resignation, supporting each other and making jokes about the turmoil of the past few months, according to people familiar with the conversations.

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Insufferable J6 Committee Files Political Subpoena for President Trump Testimony as a Midterm Loss Election Shield and Insurance Policy

Yesterday, Politico noted President Trump had enlisted the law firm of Harmeet Dhillon as a proactive measure against a J6 subpoena. “Former President Donald Trump has hired a firm to engage with the Jan. 6 select committee on its forthcoming subpoena of him, POLITICO has learned.” {link} Less than a day later the J6 committee issues the formal subpoena.

Once again, the corrupt DC institutional system, and specific media participation, are identified by the leaks and recipients. The injustice system, DOJ/FBI always use the New York Times and Politico as their advanced public relations firms. The insufferable J6 subpoena details can be FOUND HERE.

WASHINGTON DC, J6 Committee – “Pursuant to a unanimous vote of the Select Committee, Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Vice Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY) today announced that the Select Committee has issued a subpoena to former President Donald Trump for testimony under oath and records relevant to the Select Committee’s investigation into the attack on the January 6th on the United States Capitol and its causes.

In a letter to Mr. Trump, Chairman Thompson and Vice Chair Cheney underscored his central role in a deliberate, orchestrated effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and block the transfer of presidential power, a matter central to the committee’s investigation as it reviews the facts and considers recommendations to prevent a recurrence of the violence of January 6th.” {link}

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Steve Bannon Sentenced to Four Months Jail Term for Contempt of Congress for Defying J6 Subpoena, Sentence Deferred Pending Appeal

Earlier today Steve Bannon was sentenced to four months in jail for refusing to appear and be questioned by the congressional J6 committee.  However, Judge Carl Nichols has temporarily deferred the sentence pending an appeal by Bannon which will likely go into next year.

More than half the country holds contempt for congress, and the targeting of Bannon is transparently political. A defiant Steve Bannon spoke outside the courthouse after his sentence was delivered.  WATCH (prompted):

WASHINGTON DC – A federal judge has sentenced longtime Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon to four months in jail for defying a subpoena from lawmakers investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob. He will also be required to pay a $6,500 fine if his convictions stand.

U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, said Bannon inappropriately defied the House’s select committee on a matter of significant national interest, and even after roadblocks to his testimony had been removed.

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