Badlands News Brief
The Free Market of Ideas Condemns the Regime
Badlands Media will always put out our content for free, but you can support us by becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter. Help our collective of citizen journalists take back the narrative from the MSM. We are the news now.
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.
Items feature original commentary from members of our growing team of citizen journalists, whose stated opinions are their own. Feel free to follow the corresponding link to see their other work.
Now, onto the news from Monday, October 23 …
Russia Accuses US Of Stoking "Escalation" By Mideast Force Build-Up As Pentagon Blames Iran
Russia has weighed in strongly against the additional US warships recently sent by the Pentagon to the Middle East region, saying this heightened US presence only serves as a risk of "escalation" of the conflict in Gaza.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday during a meeting Tehran that "the more a state takes this kind of proactive measures, the greater the risk and the danger of an escalation of the conflict". He called out Washington as "already among the countries intervening the most" since the October 7 Hamas terror attack.
The same day, the Pentagon said it believes Iran-backed groups in the region are planning to ramp up attacks on US forces in the region. This came amid continuing sporadic drone and missile strikes against US bases in Syria and Iraq. According to a fresh CNN report:
There are “red lights flashing everywhere,” a US official in the region told CNN.
Officials said that at this point, Iran appears to be encouraging the groups rather than explicitly directing them. One official said Iran is providing guidance to the militia groups that they will not be punished – by not getting resupplied with weaponry, for example – if they continue to attack US or Israeli targets.
On Monday, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said there is “a very direct connection between these groups” and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and he said the US is “deeply concerned about the potential of any significant escalation of these attacks in the days ahead.”
Kirby added in his comments, “Iran’s goal is to maintain some plausible deniability here, but we are not going to allow them to do that.” — ZeroHedge
Our Take: “Here's how badly things are going from an optics perspective for the Biden Admin as a direct result of the Israel-Hamas conflict:
World superpowers are—rightly or wrongly—criticizing their kinetic and strategic moves, while the Media Industrial Complex domestically points out the mixed messaging between escalatory and conciliatory coming out of the Admin.
Both Democrat and GOP voters opposed the Admin's requests and promises to fund Israel to the tune of tens of billions.
US-based Muslims (particularly in Michigan and several swing states,) are threatening to vote Trump in 2024 as a direct result of the Biden Admin's handling of the crisis.
The most famous comedian in the world, Dave Chappelle was subjected to a partial walkout in Boston last weekend as a result of the extreme polarization afflicting the nation, angering ideological supporters of both Israel and Palestine, demonstrating the pickle the current cultural Regime is trapped in.
Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Mohammed bin Salman are major world leaders calling for peace, US neutrality and a two-state solution to the problem, aligning with the ONLY point of agreement between most Americans.
All the while, it seems that whatever Actuals need to be taken care of on the ground in that complex theater of the world are en route … and hopefully, in far more capable hands than the (public) facing US Admin.
Planned. Long. Ago.” —
Visiting US senators: Hamas must be destroyed, war was opened to prevent Saudi peace
Leading a bipartisan US Senate delegation of five Republicans and five Democrats to Israel, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said in a press conference Sunday that “destroying Hamas is non-negotiable,” threatening to open a war front on Iran’s borders if it moves to broaden the current war in Gaza.
“What is winning? For the terrorist organization to be destroyed, for the people of Israel to have the sense of peace they’ve lost, for the Palestinian people to have hope they don’t have, and for the Arabs and Israelis to end a conflict that would make the world better,” said Graham in Tel Aviv.
The senators, who had originally planned to be in the region to promote Israeli-Saudi normalization, stressed that they have a positive vision for the region after the Palestinian terror group is destroyed.
“How does this end? Israel thrives, they survive, Hamas is destroyed, the Palestinian people have a better life.”
On October 7, Hamas launched its brutal mass assault on Israel, killing over 1,400 people, most of them civilians slaughtered in their homes or at a music festival near the Gaza border, and taking hostage over 200.
The US group met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman on Saturday and urged him to offer funds to sustain the Gazan people until Hamas is destroyed. They also met families of hostages taken by Hamas. — The Times of Israel
Our Take: “The reboot of the war on terror is going as expected, with US Senators doing everything they can to antagonize Iran.
Over the weekend, the US reportedly re-routed the USS Eisenhower Carrier group into the Persian Gulf in a show of force to Iran — objectively an escalation in the region’s latest conflict. The war ships were initially reported to be headed to the Mediterranean in support of Israel, and now we have carrier groups flanking Saudi Arabia.
This Senators’ visit had all the classic earmarks of a diplomatic mission to support the normalization of Saudi-Israel relations but, in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attack, diplomacy is the last thing on anyone’s mind. And diplomacy is never on Lindsey Grambo’s mind, let’s be honest. He’s never heard of a region in the world where he wasn’t keen to send Americans to die.
Aside from the geo-political implications of this visit, and the visitors’ rhetoric, we also have to wonder about the cost. Americans are losing their shirts due to ‘Bidenomics,’ but we can send legislators to the other side of the world to advertise for war?
Weakening America is their goal. It’s always been their goal. Great Reset or bust, eh, Grambo?” —
NewsGuard & US Govt. Sued By Consortium News; Musk Slams 'Scam'
NewsGuard, a company which claims to rate media outlets' level of 'trustworthiness' and therefore has a meaningful influence over ad revenue, has been sued along with the Biden administration by Consortium News, which also named the Pentagon's Cyber Command for "contracting with NewsGuard to identify, report and abridge the speech of American media organizations that dissent from U.S. official positions on foreign policy."
According to the complaint, NewsGuard is "acting jointly or in concert with the United States to coerce news organizations to alter viewpoints" regarding Ukraine, Russia and Syria, and has impsed a form of "censorship and repression of views" that diverge from US policies and those of its allies, the complaint says.
Consortium also notes that NewsGuard has branded the entirety of Consortium News' 20,000+ articles as 'unreliable' based on just six examples they took issue with (which is the exact same thing they do with ZeroHedge and other independent media).
[…]
In another X thread, Elon Musk called Newsguard a "scam" after they gave political commentator Tim Pool a strike "because we ran 5 stories out of nearly 5,000 that quoted [former President Donald] Trump." — ZeroHedge
Our Take: “The ‘free market’ is a term used to describe a host of emanations that, in some cases, adversely affect our society.
Of course, the free market is a vital aspect of a truly free society; however, it’s debatable that any market on earth at this time is truly free, owing to the fact that a market is itself a place where citizens exchanged goods and service under the rule of law (good faith, clean hands, mutual respect of rights, transparency, full disclosure, equal protection, etc). And yet, what takes place in many markets is hardly in accordance with the true rule of law. Manipulation from some of the biggest and most powerful actors in the world is nearly universal, as they use their incredible influence to unfairly extract advantages in ways that, frankly, we have barely begun to understand.
This is related to the NewsGuard situation because it was involved in a scheme to down rank certain news sites based on allegedly bad reporting, poor journalism practices, and bias, and this was interpreted by Ad agencies that serve ads to news sites that the site in question was not able to provide viable ad products to advertisers.
Many quality sites that do better journalism than the untouchable elites that populate the lofty heights of the mainstream media have been demonetized based on the false claim they spread mis, mal, and dis information, not to mention being defamed with racist, bigoted, and misogynistic labeling. But if one reviews the sites that get down-ranked, they tend to be quite popular, and when it comes to advertising, the most important elements are eyeballs and attention. Whether or not a site shares quality news is, for the most part, immaterial to the benefits advertisers would receive. As long as people are going there and have eyes on Ads, those advertisers should be satisfied—they sell more products and get more exposure.
Simply put: If a website is popular, it should be attractive to advertisers.
The fact that advertisers went against their own best interest to not place an advertisement with a news site based on a NewsGuard review suggests that NewsGuard’s real purpose is to demonetize any news site that’s gone off the MSM script. And it betrays a connection between a NGO (NewsGuard) and Ads servers, of which Google is the largest.
Today, we know this as the beloved ESG policy scheme. In the past, such behavior would be an example of anti-trust—not that regulators seem to care that much about that anymore. But now, it’s just progressive to wield undue power and influence to destroy the competition, lie to the people, and do it all under the guise of ‘the free market.’
Assuming I have done all my math right, we have a clear case of collusion to suppress free speech, free thought, and the free flow of true information for a clandestine purpose—not for the benefit of freedom, justice, and the rule of law.
None of this is all that surprising to anyone in the alternative media. But previously, we’ve only had suspicions and anecdotes to work with. Now we have a fairly clear-cut and easily provable example of a conspiracy to suppress the rights and freedoms of a very large portion of the unalienable, right-endowed population.
As a final note, the free market might be one of a few of the most heavily manipulated, propagandized, and actively managed conceptual frameworks of our international global civilization. The free market is far more critical to a healthy economy and society than we truly realize, I would say. And when we rediscover just how much the free market can and should be used properly, we’ll be shocked at how badly we let the situation get before we took notice.” —
Another Take: “In news that should surprise no one, NewsGuard (a favorite of Con Inc.) is being sued for essentially acting as a paid propaganda and censorship arm of the US Administrative State, with Info War Chaos Agent Elon Musk fanning the flames and linking them to similar efforts forwarded by the founders of Wikipedia.
The Media Industrial Complex used to be relatively straightforward, with the vast majority of info dissemination relegated to newspapers and TV screens. In the modern age, access to information has increased exponentially, and so, new forms of info control, diversion and censorship rose to take the place of the old guard.
In the case of NewsGuard, at least they never really lied to us; in fact, they told us what they were from the start: guardians of the Media ... not necessarily of the truth, veracity or journalistic integrity.
The enemy often tells you exactly who they are and what they're doing.
All we have to do is take them at their word, and the rest tends to follow.” —
Police: Vehicle reportedly drives through pro-Palestinian rally in Minneapolis
No injuries were reported after someone allegedly drove their vehicle through a crowd rallying in support of Palestinians on Sunday.
The Minneapolis Police Department says it received several reports of disturbances surrounding a demonstration near the intersection of Hennepin Avenue and Lyndale Avenue around 3:23 p.m.
Various witnesses reported a vehicle driving through the crowd and one person reported the sound of a gunshot, according to MPD.
No injuries have been reported related to the demonstrations and no victims have come forward, police say.
MPD says it is conducting follow-up investigations and that there have been no arrests.
A similar protest is planned for Wednesday afternoon outside Rep. Betty McCullom's office in St. Paul, according to the Minnesota Anti-War Committee, which helped organize Sunday's demonstration. — CBS News
But also …
Our Take: “Cognitive Dissonance is a hell of a drug.
And it's one the Marxist Left has been hooked on for decades, and that was only rendered clear and obvious to the majority of Americans following Donald Trump's first administration and the cultural, political and clandestine insurrection the Deep State have led against him since.
Perhaps no period in recent American history demonstrated the extremist views of the 'anti-extremists' more so than the Summer of Love in 2020, when BLM activists and Antifa thugs burned down American cities, murdered and stole to their hearts' content, while cultural thought leaders and grifters made millions off of the carnage.
Now, the same cultural contingent that rallied so 'mostly peacefully' following the death of George Floyd (itself one of the biggest PsyOps of the decade,) are rallying and rioting around Hamas terror.
This now puts them at odds with the posture of the current Admin/Regime, which they ostensibly helped to install.
It's all coming down.” —
Food giant enters insect market
Tyson Foods last week announced its foray into the insect protein market by partnering with Netherlands-based bug food manufacturer Protix.
In addition to a cash investment in Protix, Tyson Foods announced that the two companies have agreed to build a large facility which will be used to make bug food.
“The to-be-built facility in the U.S. will house an enclosed system to support all aspects of insect protein production including the breeding, incubating, and hatching of insect larvae,” said Tyson Foods in a statement Tuesday. “In addition to ingredients for the aquaculture and pet food industries, processed larvae may also be used as ingredients within livestock and plant feed.”
Protix, which in 2015 was selected as one of the World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers, manufactures approximately 14,000 metric tons of bug food per year under the pretext of “fighting climate change.” Eating insects for the weather is a practice heavily pushed by globalist governments and the World Economic Forum, which has anticipated the day when “we can all buy a bag of edible insects at our local grocery store.”
Earlier this year the European Union approved the use of cricket powder in major processed foods sold to the public. In Australia, children are being fed crickets and conditioned to enjoy them as a snack. Frontline News reported in September 2022 that 1,000 Australian schools have added chips containing “eco-friendly” crickets to their canteens. In one video, three Australian school children can be seen eating the insect-laced snacks and being conditioned in real time by adults behind the camera. — Frontline News
Our Take: “In July, NPR published a podcast episode entitled, ‘This right wing conspiracy theory about eating bugs is about as racist as you think.’ The premise of the piece: ‘Proponents of the theory lean on the anti-semitic trope that ‘global elites’ have a plot to control the masses — in this case under the guise of climate change solutions — by forcing them to eat bugs.’
What’s funny is that NPR was pushing bugs in 2016, 2017, and 2018 — but now if you point it out, you’re racist.
Global elites are not a conspiracy theory. It’s not racist to point out that there is a global corporate communist regime comprised of governments, corporations, pseudo-governmental entities, academics, NGOs, and charitable organizations that collaborate to shape the world around us. It’s also not racist to point out that they want us to get off animal protein and switch to bugs. It’s page one on Google.
Now Tyson Foods — a global corporation that has about a 14% share of the global protein market — is partnering with an ‘insect protein company’ from the Netherlands to manufacture bug protein in the US. According to the article, ‘Protix, which in 2015 was selected as one of the World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers, manufactures approximately 14,000 metric tons of bug food per year under the pretext of ‘fighting climate change.’
Is NPR going to call the WEF antisemitic, or is the ‘public’ propaganda machine going to apologize for lying?
That was rhetorical because the answer, of course, is that they are going to ignore the latest development and continue their taxpayer-funded gaslight.” —
BONUS ITEMS
Biden Admin Quietly Admits Worst Ever Illegal Crossing Numbers As Axios Declares Border "More Fortified Than Ever"
Gaslighting much...?
Presumably these two things can be correct at the same time:
1) The US southern border is "more fortified than it's ever been" - Conservatives 'open-border' term is a myth, according to Axios...
2) CBP quietly revealed on Saturday that in September the highest ever number of encounters with illegal immigrants attempting to cross into the country was recorded, and that close to 2.5 MILLION have crossed the border this fiscal year.
If both these 'facts' are true, then the Biden administration has a major problem. — ZeroHedge
Trump Targets Jack Smith After Judge Temporarily Lifts Gag Order
Days after a federal judge temporarily lifted a gag order, former President Donald Trump criticized special counsel Jack Smith on social media.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan granted President Trump a temporary hold last week on her previous ruling in the 2020 election conspiracy case while the Trump legal team is appealing the order, arguing that it is unconstitutional.
In the meantime, President Trump criticized Mr. Smith on Truth Social as being "deranged" and said his team "leak[ed]" a story to the New York Times about an Australian businessman, Anthony Pratt, claiming the former president told classified secrets to him.
He denied those reports.
"With this in mind, there is NO WAY I can get a fair trial on a Biden, Election Interference Indictment, in D.C. Obviously, at the appropriate time, if this ridiculous case should be allowed to proceed forward, which is, according to legal scholars, very doubtful, I will be making a demand for a Venue Change!" he also wrote on the social media platform.
Earlier this month, Judge Chutkan ordered President Trump to not make any posts or statements regarding possible witnesses, Mr. Smith, his family, or court staff, although he can make general statements about the Department of Justice and Washington itself. Prosecutors alleged that the former president's posts on social media could incite violence or contaminate the jury pool, while Trump's attorneys argued that such an order would violate his right to free speech—especially as he is a leading candidate for the 2024 presidential election. — The Epoch Times
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.
Spot on BB: "and hopefully, in far more capable hands than the (public) facing US Admin. Planned. Long. Ago.” — Burning Bright
Eyes wide open produces an amazing show...
Love your sarcasm Ashe.
Thanks for another great set of Takes.
P.S. BB the latest substack https://badlands.substack.com/p/a-hypnotists-take-on-israel-palestine is amazing!!!
By gagging the leading candidate for the 2024 Presidential race, that wicked judge is violating MY individual right to vote, since I want to cast an informed ballot and the Trump opinions, biased or not, are relevant data. I want to SUE her down to her underwear! But it would be a Class Action lawsuit, and that requires a licensed attorney who can represent others.