Beltway Insider: Biden/Mid-East Agenda, Inflation, Abe Funeral, COVID/Vaccine Totals, Uvalde Tape, 988, Ivana Trump

President Biden met this week with leaders of Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to discuss the global economy, rising gas prices, Covid, Ukraine, and food insecurities in North Africa.

The President's job approval rating, according to the website fivethirtyeight.com, for the period ending July 17, 2022 increased by 0.1% to 38.5% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness decreased by 0.7% to 55.7% of those polled who disapprove of his effectiveness. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated weekly.


Beltway Insider: Biden/Abortion, Shinzo Abe, COVID/Vaccine Totals, Uvalde Funds Stalled, James Caan


Biden's Middle East Agenda – Israel-Palestine

President Biden visited the Middle East this week, beginning with a visit to Israel where he was awarded the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor, given by Israeli President Isaac Herzog who mentioned Biden's longtime commitment to Israel and its people.

Biden also met with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the State of Palestine, restoring the U.S. commitment to a two-state solution. The president also urged the Palestine leader to find a peaceful solution to its differences with their Israeli neighbors and pledged $500million in aid. A recent phone call, the first contact in more than five years, has strengthened Biden's position on the possibility of peace between the two nation-states.

"The last administration walked away from the two-state solution in any serious contemplation or consideration.  It walked away from the Palestinians, cutting off all funding to them, which we have restored.  It basically walked away from diplomatic ties with the Palestinians, which the President has obviously restored, and you saw that at the highest level with his meeting with Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas] today," said White House National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan.

Biden Meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud to discuss OPEC

President Biden met with members on the Saudi Crown Prince cabinet as well as the GCC, the Gulf (Persian Gulf region) Cooperation Council and determined multiple points of action moving forward as the United States works to reinforce strategic ties between the two nations and the GCC+3.

"While in Saudi Arabia, President Biden also met for a summit in Jeddah with the GCC +3. Topics for discussion will likely include the war in Yemen, Iran's regional and nuclear activities, the thawing in ties between Israel and Arab states, and ways to increase regional security and economic cooperation. Biden is likely to use this opportunity to encourage the GCC to increase its oil production given surging prices due to the war in Ukraine," reported JustSecurity.com.

These areas include ensuring that Iran never gains nuclear capabilities, and the region leaders affirmed support that the Arab Gulf region remain free from all weapons of mass destruction, and for confronting terrorism and all activities that threatens security and stability.

Additional points included addressing the global economic recovery efforts, the war in Ukraine, remaining committed to human rights and relief needs of nations within the region. A further guarantee by the Gulf corporation Council included a $10 billion USD commitment to food security challenges regionally and internationally which was matched by a $1billion commitment by the U.S for the program, "Roadmap for Global Food Security."

OPEC and Gasoline Prices

OPEC, the Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries, agreed to increase output for July and August recognizing ongoing efforts of OPEC+ towards stabilizing the global oil market in the interests of consumers, producers, and supporting economic growth.

"Saudi Aramco, the kingdom's state-owned oil behemoth, took 100% control of the sprawling Port Arthur refinery in Texas on Monday, completing a deal that was first announced last year. Port Arthur is considered the crown jewel of the US refinery system. The Gulf Coast facility can process 600,000 barrels of oil per day, making it the largest refinery in North America," reported CNN.

What this will mean for American's who consumer nearly 370million gallons of gasoline per day, is yet to be known.

Human Rights and The Khashoggi Murder

Former Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi embassy in Istanbul, Turkey, in October 2018, under the pretext of securing papers so he could marry his longtime finance, Hatice Cengiz. He disappeared.

The worldwide outcry over his death, and the belief the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, had arranged the assassination of the Khashoggi's continual criticism of the Saudi royal, resulted in multi-nation investigation which included the CIA who concluded Khashoggi was lured into the embassy, detained, suffocated, and dismembered. His body has never been found.

"The fiancée of journalist Jamal Khashoggi said on Wednesday that the political legitimacy Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives during visits to other countries does not change the fact that he is a "murderer," reported Reuters.


Money News: Inflation Has Hit - Should You Hold onto the Cash or Splurge


Inflation Hits 41-year Record

While prices at the gasoline pump have steadily fallen over the past thirty days, inflation continues to provide ample sticker shock for consumers across the board in areas that deeply effect marginalized populations including housing, and medical care.

Record high rent in larger metropolitan areas such as New York City, where a one-bedroom unit has eclipsed $5000.00 per month, is forcing many professionals to rethink the plan to move to or return to the Big Apple.

"There was not a drop of good news in this report," said Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute. "I had an emotional reaction to this report, and I was trying to think about the last time I had an emotional reaction to an economic data release, and I think you have to go to back to the financial crisis. Dismay. Frustration," reported The Washington Post.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Funeral

The two-day funeral service for Japan's longest serving Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe was held this week. Mourners, some fifteen rows deep, lined the route his hearse would be traveling.

"Outside the prime minister's office, as the funeral cortege approached, a hush fell across the crowds and all you could hear was the news helicopters circling above. Mourners bowed to Mrs Abe, sitting in the front of the hearse, holding her husband's funeral tablet. People began to sob loudly. Then some shouted out. "Abe-San, thank you so much,"' reported the BBC.

Abe was assassinated, while campaigning at a political rally supporting the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), in Nara, Japan, on Friday, July 8, 2022. He was 67.

"Tomohiko Taniguchi, a former special adviser to Abe, said the former prime minister was "one of the most transformative leaders" of Japan and described his killing as the equivalent to the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy," CNN reported.

Vaccine Totals

Bloomberg.com has built a vaccine tracker which can be seen here. "In the US, 599 million doses have been given so far. During the last week, shots were administered at an average rate of 87,743 doses a day," Bloomberg.com reported.

Coronavirus Totals

Mandates have been altered or lifted in most urban areas with limited exceptions, and the population is encouraged to maintain personal protective practices. Masks are optional and tolerated. Vaccines and boosters are still considered the most effective agents against contracting the Coronavirus.

For the one-week period ending July 17, 2022, coronavirus cases globally increased by 6,944,384 new confirmed cases, bringing the total of confirmed cases worldwide to 561,696,318 people with a total worldwide death toll of 6,364,285 deaths, and a 7-day death rate increase of 17,372. (Data from The New York Times).

COVID U.S. Totals

Infections rates in the United States are also on the rise. For the seven-day period ending July 17, 2022, the total confirmed cases rose to 89,319,731 people with new confirmed cases increasing by 900,205 with a 7-day average of 126,600 cases per day. The coronavirus has claimed 1,020,240 total deaths, adding 2,962 more deaths over the 7-day period. (Data from The New York Times).

Pentagon's Diary Gets Personal

Protecting for gain of function knowledge only aides those who initiated the constitutional violations. It does nothing to combat the homegrown terrorism or the narcissistic above the law belief. The best obtainable version of the truth.


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Uvalde School Shooting: Shocking Video Released

The shocking video of the Robb Elementary School shooting was released by the Austin-American Statesman this week dramatically contraindicates all messaging presented to Texas Governor Gregg Abbott on May 24, 2022, and in the immediate aftermath, in an attempt to control the narrative.

The Images from Robb Elementary school hallway crowded with representatives from multiple agencies, each holding heavy weaponry, armed with ballistic shields, is revolting, and can hardly be described adequately to present clear representation.

In the first three minutes of the tape, panicked screams can be heard, as students are told to "get to your rooms." A child rounds the corner, pauses, and watches the shooter walking down the hall, at the sound of the first shot he runs.

The shooter, armed with only an automatic weapon looks at the first door and instantly decides to pass it by and begins walking, without thought or concern, down the hallway, stops at a door and opens fire on the classroom.

It was then a trio of police officers arrive, making their way to the classroom, the shooter must have seen then, which contradicts all statements that the door was locked, if the shooter saw the police and began firing, initially the door had to be open. These police run, turning away from the unfolding massacre to save themselves. The video shows one officer appearing to laugh at his narrow escape.

What followed is a circus show of police hanging out in the hallway rubbernecking the carnage, while 19 children and two educators lay dying 100 feet away.

"It is a great scandal, the biggest police scandal since George Floyd, meaning one of the biggest in U.S. history," writes Wall Street Journal Opinion Columnist Peggy Noonan.

"It's time to talk about criminal charges against police leaders at Uvalde. Unlike the Chauvin case, it wouldn't be for what officers did, but for what they didn't do. They didn't take action. We wouldn't even be having this discussion without the release of the video and the revelations contained in it," wrote Frank Figliuzzi, MSNBC Opinion Columnist.

The extremely troubling video provides evidence again of egregious actions by American law enforcement, actions that would not have been scrutinized if cases like George Floyd, where law enforcement played a direct role in his murder or Ahmaud Arbery, where prosecutorial misconduct nearly derailed the prosecution of those responsible for his death.

For many however, law enforcement misconduct has been incrementally increasing over, at minimum, the past thirty years.

Ask any rape victim and they will explain speaking to detectives has long been considered the second "rape" as victims are routinely held responsible for the crimes committed against them. This battery by detectives has led to statistics for sexual assault prosecution that are shocking: Out of every 1000 victims less than 300 report the crimes and of that less than six see the inside of the courtroom. This statistic is an invitation for rapists, from all walks of life, to freely rape without thought or concern of prosecution.

Mental Health Helpline Mandated by FCC

The Federal Communications Commission has mandated that all cellphone carriers to implement the shorted, 988, of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and integrate into their system.

"According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24 in the U.S and almost 20% of high school students report serious thoughts of suicide. And if that's not staggering enough, 9% of these teens have attempted to take their lives," commented Chanda Spates, DDAAT-App! CEO," said.

The new "988" number, like "911" for emergencies, is easy to remember, and immediately connects callers to a confidential hotline, where a live respondent will talk with the caller.


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Ivana Trump, first wife of Donald Trump, Dies

Ivana Trump, the first wife of former President Donald Trump and mother of his three eldest children died this week in an accidental fall at her Upper East Side, Manhattan, townhouse. She was 73.

Trump, a world class athlete, business mogul, and dedicated mother, sustained blunt force torso injuries from falling down a spiral staircase. A wellness check found the socialite unresponsive on the floor at the bottom of the stairs.

Her death was announced by former President Donald Trump who said according to the Associated Press, "She was a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great and inspirational life," he wrote on Truth Social. The couple shared three children, Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric. "She was so proud of them, as we were all so proud of her," he wrote. "Rest In Peace, Ivana!"'

The former president and his Czech-born Olympic Skier met the former president on a trip to the United States in 1976 and married one year later, on April 7, 1977. She was instrumental in rebranding her husband as "The Donald" and rebuilding the then developer, turning his name and brand into global recognition. After 15 years of marriage and three children, the power couple divorced over his very public affair.

Born with natural business acumen, and honed during her marriage to Trump, Ivana turned her post-divorce life into a global business conglomerate giving credence to the phrase, "Don't get made, get everything," which she said during her cameo on the comedy "The First Wives Club."

Ivana Trump is survived by three children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric and ten grandchildren. Funeral arrangements have not been released.

For more information on President Joe Biden www.whitehouse.gov.

Sources: Various © Articles covered by Copyright protection.

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