Store Closings In The United States Are On Pace To Set A New Record High In 2025
August 9th, 2025Via: Economic Collapse Blog:
So far this year, the total amount of retail space that has been permanently closed has surpassed 120 million square feet. We have never seen anything like this before. Store closings spiked during the early days of the pandemic, but in 2025 stores are being permanently shuttered at an even faster pace. In fact, during the first six months of this year 5,822 store closures were recorded.
Trump Secretly Authorized Military Force Against Latin American Drug Cartels
August 8th, 2025Via: New York Post:
President Trump has secretly authorized the military to use force against Latin American drug cartels classified as foreign terrorist organizations, The Post has learned.
The move is the most aggressive action Trump has yet taken against gangs trafficking drugs like fentanyl across the US-Mexico border, the activities of which were previously the purview of federal law enforcement.
The order, first reported Friday by the New York Times, gives US forces official permission to engage cartels on land and sea.
Deep Underground Military Bases (D.U.M.Bs.) – UFO Legacy Programs
August 8th, 2025Via: UAP Gerb:
Technical Difficulties? A Few Parts of the Constitution Just Got Deleted
August 8th, 2025Via: Truthstream Media:
RFK, Jr.: BARDA Is Terminating 22 mRNA Vaccine Development Investments
August 6th, 2025I need to count something as good news, once in a while, even though it doesn’t amount to much.
We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted. BARDA is terminating 22 mRNA vaccine development investments because the data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu. We’re shifting that funding toward… pic.twitter.com/GPKbuU7ywN
— Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) August 5, 2025
“Providing ChatGPT to the Entire U.S. Federal Workforce” for $1 for a Year
August 6th, 2025Try to imagine the insights into U.S. Government operations that OpenAI will gain from doing this…
Also, by interacting with these systems, I wonder if the workers will inadvertently be training AI agents that will replace them?
Before you cheer for fewer government workers, consider that fact that AI hallucinations are getting worse, not better:
AI hallucinations are getting worse
AI hallucinates more frequently as it gets more advanced
If the job requires a great deal of precision, or has serious implications in the event of an employee caused error, getting AI to do those tasks will definitely cause problems. Expect results that range between Idiocracy and Wargames, minus the happy ending.
Via: OpenAI:
Today, OpenAI for Government? is announcing a new partnership with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to launch a transformative initiative. For the next year, ChatGPT Enterprise will be available to the entire federal executive branch workforce at essentially no cost. Participating U.S. federal agencies will be able to use our leading frontier models through ChatGPT Enterprise, for the nominal cost of $1 per agency for the next year.
New Zealand to Charge Drivers of All Vehicles by Distance Driven
August 6th, 2025They are not saying precisely how this will be enforced, but my guess is that some sort of black box with GPS tracking will be required to be added to most vehicles.
Via: Radio New Zealand:
“We’re not going to shift millions of drivers from a simple system at the pump to queues at retailers. So, instead of expanding a clunky government system, we will reform the rules to allow the market to deliver innovative, user-friendly services for drivers.”
Bishop said a handful of E-RUC companies already did this for about half of the country’s heavy vehicle fleet and there were several companies, both domestic and international, with technology that could make complying with RUC cheaper and easier.
…
Bishop promised the changes would support “a more user-friendly, technology-enabled RUC system” with multiple retail options available to motorists.
“Eventually, paying for RUC should be like paying a power bill online, or a Netflix subscription. Simple and easy,” he said.
“I expect to pass legislation in 2026, followed by an updated Code of Practice for RUC providers. We will also engage with the market in 2026 to assess technological solutions and delivery timelines. In parallel, NZTA and Police will upgrade their systems to support enforcement in a digital environment.“
“Leaked FBI Document Reveals Jeffrey Epstein’s Secret History as an FBI Informant”
August 5th, 2025Keep in mind that whatever is released on Epstein will be a limited hangout.
Via: Radar Online:
Jeffrey Epstein was secretly working with the U.S. government, according to bombshell documents obtained by RadarOnline.com.
The late tycoon and pedophile, who died in jail in 2019 aged 66 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, was “more than just protected – he was a puppet, informant and spy for the FBI,” added an intelligence agency source.
A 2008 internal file obtained through a successful Freedom of Information Act lawsuit show Epstein was operating as an FBI informant prior to his now-infamous 2007 sweetheart plea deal.
“Epstein has also provided information to the FBI as agreed upon,” a special agent whose name was redacted write on an internal cable dated Sept. 9, 2008, marked “ROUTINE.”
It added: “Case agent advised that no federal prosecution will occur in this matter as long as Epstein continues to uphold his agreement with the State of Florida.”
That bargain – struck with the Department of Justice when Epstein was facing potential federal charges for trafficking minors across state lines – allowed him to plead guilty to reduced state-level charges in Florida, serving just 13 months in jail, much of it under work release.
The agreement was infamous not only for its leniency — but also for granting immunity to Epstein’s alleged co-conspirators and for being concluded before all of his victims had even been interviewed or his electronics seized by authorities.
At the heart of the deal was Alex Acosta, then US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Acosta, now 56, would later resign as Donald Trump’s Labor Secretary after scrutiny of his role in the Epstein case intensified.
Acosta claimed he had been told to back off Epstein. He said: “I was told Epstein ‘belonged to intelligence’ and to leave it alone.”
NASA to Announce Expedited Plans “To Build a Nuclear Reactor on the Moon”
August 5th, 2025[???]
Via: Politico:
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will announce expedited plans this week to build a nuclear reactor on the moon, the first major action by the former Fox News host as the interim NASA administrator.
NASA has discussed building a reactor on the lunar surface, but this would set a more definitive timeline — according to documents obtained by POLITICO — and come just as the agency faces a massive budget cut. The move also underscores how Duffy, who faced pushback from lawmakers about handling two jobs, wants to play a role in NASA policymaking.
“It is about winning the second space race,” said a NASA senior official, granted anonymity to discuss the documents ahead of their wider release.
“New Definition of Death” So We Can Harvest More Organs
August 5th, 2025Via: Off-Guardian:
The justification is simple: we need more donor organs, and there aren’t enough people suffering either brain death or circulatory death. Therefore, we must broaden our definition of death to include people who are comatose for a long time.
People who are comatose aren’t really alive, after all. It’s the higher functions that really define life.
