Badlands News Brief

Debt Deals, China Chiefs & Epstein's Banks

The News Cycle is almost impossible to track these days. At least, to do so fully.

That’s where we come in.

In the Badlands News Brief, the Badlands Media team hand picks news items of interest from the previous days to give you an overview of the biggest goings-on relevant to the Truth Community.

Some items feature original commentary from members of our growing team of citizen journalists. Feel free to follow the corresponding link to see their other work.

Now, onto the news from Wednesday, May 31 …

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McCarthy Reportedly Gave Democrats Secret Concessions In Exchange For Debt Ceiling Votes

Hours after the House passed the debt ceiling bill, Axios reports that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) gave Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) secret concessions to boost spending on Democratic districts in the form of "community project funding" in exchange for their votes earlier this evening, according to two senior lawmakers.

One lawmaker said the deal boosts earmarks to Democrats to bring them "closer to parity" with what Republicans receive in such funds in the GOP-led House. -Axios

McCarthy has told reporters that he didn't cut any deals to supply the Democratic votes.

When asked if he cut a deal, Jeffries said "House Democrats to the rescue to avoid a dangerous default and help House Republicans get legislation over the finish line that they negotiated themselves."

More via Axios;

The backdrop: Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, previously had told Democrats that they would receive significantly reduced funding for projects in their districts this year, according to Politico.

What we're watching: The deal could further inflame far-right lawmakers already incensed about the compromise bill that McCarthy cut with Biden. They've accused the speaker of caving to most of Democrats’ demands and not cutting enough government spending. — ZeroHedge, citing Axios

Our Take: “This year’s political UFC match, where the needs, rights, and interests of the American people are set aside to accommodate private interests and political ambitions, went off with out a hitch. The winner ... McCarthy? No wait. Biden. No wait, the freedom caucus, no no. China, definitely China.

With the usual threats of sky falling calamity, the media covered this year’s death match with all the vigor and intensity of the gladiatorial games of Rome.

The degree to which these oh-so-honest politicians conspire behind closed doors for political gain is sobering to say the least.

If only a tenth of the same energy was devoted to actually solving real problems Americans are dealing with, we could have perfect roads, no taxes, and schools that actually educate instead of traumatize and groom.” — Justin Deschamps

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Another Take: “Nothing Justin said above is wrong.

And yet, when you engage with everything in the current War of Stories as seasoning in the midst of Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign (for real, this time,) I believe that the Debt Ceiling debacle takes on a more positive bent.

Ironically, when you see the ongoing exposure of the Deep State Establishment within the U.S. government as a necessary—and controlled—operation, and when you see the US Dollar as being in need of desperate reform, if not outright replacement, something like a hyper-inflationary debt increase will continue to grease the rails toward the fiat monetary system’s demise, and the Great Awakening.

Just like Trump predicted.” — Burning Bright

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China declines US request for a meeting between defense chiefs

China has declined a request from the United States for a meeting between their defense chiefs at an annual security forum in Singapore this weekend, media reported on Monday, a new sign of strain between the powers.

"Overnight, the PRC informed the U.S. that they have declined our early May invitation for Secretary (Lloyd) Austin to meet with PRC Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu in Singapore," the Pentagon said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal, referring to China by the initials of its official name, the People's Republic of China.

Li has been under U.S. sanctions since 2018 over the purchase of combat aircraft and equipment from Russia's main arms exporter, Rosoboronexport.

The Pentagon said it believed in open communication "to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict."

Last week, White House spokesman John Kirby said there were discussions by the Defense Department to get talks going between Austin and his Chinese counterpart, who was named defense minister in March. — Reuters

Our Take: “Considering that the Biden Administration is deeply enmeshed with the People’s Republic of China, this feels like a manufactured controversy.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is the one running things at the White House, and Sullivan met with PRC Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi on May 12 — for more than eight hours.

During that meeting, according to the official read out, ‘Both sides agreed to maintain this channel between Director Wang and the National Security Advisor.’

That is, a little over two weeks ago, the US government via the NSC agreed to an official communication channel with the PRC. Now, the PRC declines a meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and the media wants you to believe this move is indicative of ‘rising tensions between the US and China.’

Maybe.

The more likely answer is that meeting with Austin provides no benefit to the PRC while declining the meeting propagates the ‘rising tensions’ narrative, which benefits both the Biden administration and the PRC.

In terms of diplomacy, the PRC doesn’t need to meet with Austin when they have comms with Sullivan. The SecDef is a member of the National Security Council. The National Security Advisor sets the agenda for the NSC and is the President’s right hand. The PRC’s acknowledged channel with Sullivan is a direct line to the President, for whom Sullivan is running things, given the President has dementia. Why would the PRC need Austin?

Interestingly, Reuters failed to include the Sullivan meeting in their reporting. It doesn’t help the narrative that Austin’s rejection is indicative of the rising tensions between the US and China, so you can understand why they’d omit it.” — Ashe in America

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U.S. Supreme Court settles circuit split, rules IRS may summons bank information without account holder notice

Issue: Under Internal Revenue Code Section 7609(c)(2)(D)(i), must the Internal Revenue Service provide notice when seeking the records of innocent third parties?

Case Summary: In a unanimous decision written by Justice John Roberts, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the IRS need not provide notice to innocent bank account holders when the summonses are issued to aid in the collection of a delinquent taxpayer’s tax assessment.

[…]

Bottom Line: Although the decision is a win for IRS, the Court expressed apprehension about the scope of IRS’s power to issue summonses. The Court declined to define what “in aid of the collection” of an assessment or judgment means, which, in other cases, could still limit the IRS’s ability to issue summonses without giving notice. — ABA Banking Journal

Our Take: “Overreach much?

Conservative Justices, where are you?

As if not getting what we rightfully expected in the debt ceiling bill wasn’t enough, now this. American citizens are growing more fearful of the IRS, and for good reason. I can understand investigations involving tax fraud and major tax evasion, but this is an all out assault on the right to due process and reasonable expectation of privacy. All backed up by paperwork being sent to the collections department of the IRS.

Furthermore, to raise the stakes here, what about the corporations and wealthy persons who knowingly violate tax laws or bend them in their favor? It seems the average person will be scrutinized more than the aforementioned.

Let's look closer, shall we ?

From the source: Under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) § 7609, IRS must give notice to third parties when issuing summonses for their records. The statute provides exceptions to that general rule, because sometimes notice would defeat the purpose of the summons by giving taxpayers a chance to move their assets out of the reach of IRS. The exception at issue in Polselli, section 7609(c)(2)(D)(i), allows IRS to withhold notice when three conditions are met. The third-party summons:  must be issued ‘in aid of collection’; an assessment or judgment against the delinquent taxpayer must occur; and both the assessment/judgment and the collection activity must pertain to the same taxpayer.

Chief Justice Roberts wrote the decision in a 9-0 unanimous ruling that gives the IRS the ability to loophole their way into potentially going Gestapo on small business owners and self-employed citizens, while no further legislation to investigate or penalize the big businesses, big wigs, and the other criminals that are avoiding the spotlight follows.

Really makes one ponder the advantage of a conservative majority on the Supreme Court. When taxes have never properly been apportioned, we the people are the ones who have been done the injustice.” — Johnny Q

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Epstein Pal Jes Staley Throws Jamie Dimon Under The Bus, Setting Stage For Massive Legal Battle

Former JPMorgan Chase executive Jes Staley has thrown CEO Jamie Dimon under the bus over the bank's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein - claiming in legal documents that he and Dimon communicated about the convicted sex offender.

Dimon maintains he had no such conversations, the Wall Street Journal reports, while Staley claims he knew about Epstein's sex trafficking operation and that he regrets his friendship with Epstein.

According to the filing, Staley says that he and Dimon communicated when Epstein was arrested in 2006 and 2008 when Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution, and served 13 months in a work-release program. Staley also claims that Dimon communicated with him several times through 2012 about whether to maintain Epstein as a client.

"There is no evidence that any such communications ever occurred—nothing in the voluminous number of documents reviewed and nothing in the nearly dozen depositions taken, including that of our own CEO," said a spokeswoman for JPMorgan, adding that Dimon doesn't believe such conversations with Staley ever happened. "The one person who claims this to be true is currently accused of horrific acts and dishonesty.” — ZeroHedge, citing The Wall Street Journal

Our Take: “The Epstein Saga continues with yet another big name CEO of a globalist corporation, seemingly confused about what he did or did not talk about regarding Epstein.

Bear in mind, these same banks work with civil asset forfeiture cases, where investigations lead to confiscation of private property, often without a conviction, and often without any recompense.

Also bear in mind, the same cohort of international bankers sought to deprive, and did deprive, a sizable portion of the Canadian freedom convoy supporters during the protests in Ottawa.

And these same bankers are, as we speak colluding with all other international bankers to deprive free people of the power to control their wealth via currency, through the ultimate economic weapon of control known as Central Bank Digital Currencies.

The frustration around the double standard of justice is rising, and for good reason. The entire facade of ‘democracy’ is crumbling before our eyes. And Epstein's case and related developments are playing a contributing role.” — Justin Deschamps

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A Proclamation on Black Music Month, 2023

During Black Music Month, we pay homage to legends of American music, who have composed the soundtrack of American life.  Their creativity has given rise to distinctly American art forms that influence contemporary music worldwide and sing to the soul of the American experience.

This month, we celebrate the songs and artists that challenge us to think critically, stand up to injustice, and believe in ourselves.  We recommit to expanding the promise of dignity and opportunity for all Americans.  And we revel in the sounds, spirit, and soul of some of the very best music ever created.

[…]

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2023 as Black Music Month.  I call upon public officials, educators, and all the people of the United States to observe this month by honoring Black musicians and raising awareness and appreciation of Black music. — The White House

Our Take: “It’s officially June!

June is my birthday month — so it’s the best month — but in recent years, June has become synonymous with rainbows and BDSM parades. Not anymore!

Biden was very busy proclaiming things yesterday, and you now have options when deciding upon which virtues to signal in the year’s sixth month. June is officially:

(1) Black Music Month

(2) National Caribbean-American Heritage Month

(3) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month

(4) National Immigrant Heritage Month

(5) National Ocean Month

(6) National Homeownership Month

So, thanks to Biden, you can now choose how you celebrate Ashe’s Birthday Month; still, I need to give a special shout out to all the steel drum playing, non-binary Caribbean immigrants who braved the ocean to realize their dream of home ownership. June is for you.” — Ashe in America

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We hope you enjoyed this brief look back at the major news items you might have missed in this ever-escalating and ever-accelerating news cycle as the Information War continues to rage on around us.

The Badlands Media team will continue to combine our cognitive powers in order to slow things down and find the signal amidst the noise as this series expands.

As always, if you have any thoughts on these news items or the MANY others swirling in the digital ether, drop into the comments below to share them with your fellow Badlanders.

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