Badlands News Brief
Debates Set, Funding Found & NGO's Defied
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 pick news items of interest from the previous days to give you an overview of the biggest goings-on relevant to the Truth Community.
Many items feature original (and subjective) commentary. Feel free to follow the corresponding link to see our writers’ Substack accounts and check out their other work.
Now, onto the news from Wednesday, May 15 …
Biden and Trump agree to 2 presidential debates, with first set for June 27 on CNN
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have both accepted an invitation from CNN to debate on June 27, a historically early showdown that will set the tone for the final months of the 2024 campaign.
“I’ve received and accepted an invitation from @CNN for a debate on June 27th. Over to you, Donald. As you said: anywhere, any time, any place,” Biden said in a post on X.
Trump later told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, “The answer is yes, I will accept.”
Later Wednesday morning, both men said they had accepted an invitation from ABC to hold a second debate on September 10.
The news is the latest development in a quickly escalating tit-for-tat over debates between the two political rivals. Biden’s campaign earlier called on Trump to join him for two presidential debates hosted by news organizations and formally informed the Commission on Presidential Debates that the president will not participate in its previously scheduled fall debates. The former president quickly said he was on board with earlier debates and told radio host Hugh Hewitt that he would accept any moderator.
Biden only recently said that he was happy to debate Trump, though he was non-committal on the format of such a debate, telling radio host Howard Stern, “I’m happy to debate him.” In a social media video and a subsequent letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates, Biden’s campaign laid out its proposed terms, including possible debate dates in June and September. — CNN
Our Take: “First, let’s watch a video from friend of Badlands Patri0tsareinContr0l to get an idea of what happened the last time these two met in the debate cage:
These snippets are a perfect encapsulation of what I refer to as the Reverse Hegelian Dialectic that is the core engine of the Great Awakening.
The Hegelian Dialectic is a logical framework that comprises three stages: thesis, antithesis, synthesis. In common parlance, we describe it as the Problem-Reaction-Solution theorem, and it generally describes the progression through which the Deep State has guided the American people away from their own best interests.
The reason this dialectic has been so effective is because it takes a progression framework that humans are naturally inclined to follow because it maps onto survival instincts and simply creates an artificial middle step toward a pre-determined outcome, rendering the ‘natural’ progression artificial.
Patriots have reversed this, presenting Trump as the Thesis, Biden as the Antithesis ... and the America First Agenda as the Synthesis.
Problem > Reaction > Solution ... but this time, it sticks, because this time, it's TRUE.” —
Biden Readies $1BN In Bombs For Israel Despite Progressive & Swing State Voter Revolt
The Biden administration continues to speak out of both sides of its mouth when it comes to Israel and Gaza policy as Progressive Democratic voters continue peeling off in droves, declaring that they can't in good conscience vote for Biden in November.
On Tuesday, the contradictions continued and abounded, as the White House informed Congress it is planning a new $1 billion arms transfer to Israel. And ironically this will mark the first new package since Biden earlier this month announced it paused a weapon shipment to Israel on human rights concerns.
A State Department report has since found that US weapons have likely been used in a way contrary to international humanitarian law, but stopped short of condemning Israel for war crimes.
The Wall Street Journal first broke the news of the new package, writing "The Biden administration notified Congress on Tuesday that it was moving forward with more than $1 billion in new weapons deals for Israel, U.S. and congressional officials said, a massive arms package less than a week after the White House paused a shipment of bombs over a planned Israeli assault on Rafah." — ZeroHedge
Our Take: “When we talk about narrative seeding and game theory, among the best examples is when Trump went all in against Islam in the lead-up to the 2016 election, then turned around and rug-pulled everybody by visiting Saudi Arabia and being received like a conquering hero.
We are now seeing the second coming of that rug-pull.
Democrat voters were already sympathetic toward Muslims in the Middle East due to Bush's Iraq War, but Trump's antagonistic demeanor and brilliant delivery as the heel of the Left during 2016 exacerbated that sentiment toward Muslims and set it in stone.
I personally believe that President Trump's decision to implement Devolution was not just based on the state of domestic affairs in America in December 2020, but was also based on the stark reality that the foreign lobby ultimately rules DC. Therefore, a foreign group of powerful actors would have been empowered to weaponize DC against President Trump had he done anything other than walk away.
At the head of this host is the Israeli lobby—led by AIPAC—which just yesterday released a video boasting that they have been donating to basically every politician in DC since the middle of the 20th century, effectively bragging that they have owned them all. (An ad about ‘bipartisan’ support for Israel.)
In 1957, Senator Stuart Symington attempted to bring legislation to the Senate floor that would have forced the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the most powerful Israeli lobby group, to register as a foreign agent. He failed to get necessary support, but one senator did support Symington's proposal:
John F. Kennedy.
President Kennedy would have a very contemptuous relationship with AIPAC and the government of Israel during his presidency. He, too, sought to get AIPAC registered as a foreign agent—as all foreign lobby groups are required to do, per federal law—as he believed that AIPAC was working behind the scenes in DC and subverting his efforts to pursue nuclear disarmament.
Symington would remain in the Senate, and succeed in passing an amendment to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty in the 1970's that prohibits the US from giving foreign aid to any government found in violation of the treaty. It has yet to be enforced against Israel.
It is awfully convenient that Trump doesn't have to be the one in office while the Israeli Deep State implodes on the world stage. And the icing on the cake is that Biden has to obey the masters of DC, in spite of his base, which is in full sympathy of the Muslims, in large part due to [2016] Candidate Trump.
Trump is a chess master.” —
HHS initiates debarment of EcoHealth Alliance, suspends funding
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has agreed to a Covid Select committee recommendation to initiate official debarment proceedings and impose a government-wide suspension of U.S. taxpayer funds to EcoHealth Alliance Inc., including a halt on all active grants.
Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) released a statement today, confirming that the HHS has accepted the Select Subcommittee's recommendation to formally debar EcoHealth Alliance, Inc.
Read the full statement by clicking the link above. — Badlands News
Our Take: “There are rules, and in a system of equal justice, the rules will apply equally.
We all watched as the rules were ‘applied’ to John Eastman and Jeffrey Clark in their disbarment hearings.
We’ve been waiting for justice in the Eco Health Alliance scandal for some time now…
Are you ready for a boomerang?” —
Texas A&M Galveston to close for days after barge slams into bridge to island
A barge slammed into a bridge in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into the bay, forcing a shutdown of the span and prompting the university on the other side of the bridge to close its campus through the weekend, officials said.
Texas A&M University at Galveston said Wednesday evening that the campus on Pelican Island would be closed Thursday through Sunday, citing an "extended outage of the bridge through the weekend," according to the university announcement.
Aerial images showed that a section of a rail line alongside the bridge appeared to have collapsed, with slabs of concrete piled on the barge.
No injuries were immediately reported at the Pelican Island Causeway after the incident, which unfolded shortly before 10 a.m. CT, the city of Galveston said in a statement.
Two operators were on the barge at the time of the impact, said Spencer Lewis, a spokesperson for the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management.
Lewis said that one of the operators fell into the water but was immediately rescued and that the other remained on the barge and was eventually rescued, as well. The Texas A&M marine unit rescued the operators. — NBC News
Our Take: “We are observing the results of the Salami Slicing Tactic so often used by communists: Using a series of many small actions to produce a larger result that would be difficult or unlawful to perform.
It is also reminiscent of the ancient form of Chinese torture, death by a thousand cuts or ‘slow slicing.’
When an enemy coordinates to attack critical infrastructure in an overt way, we are fortunate to be dealing with such simple, straightforward warfare.
More dangerous is the Salami Slicing Tactic as applied to critical infrastructure over time.
Degrading a nation, slice by slice, with strategy and precision can cause a form of destruction that can no longer be traced to an enemy's efforts.
Sometimes, I find it helpful to cultivate a humble mindset so I can admire what my enemy has been able to achieve, and what values and principles it took.
Small, gradual, committed efforts to cultivate big change takes a kind of fortitude and principled nature that needs to be intentionally included in culture and education. The patience and detached sense of service required to be working on something for one's own nation that will not come to fruition in one's own lifetime, cannot only come as a result of internal family values. This kind of work ethic comes from the collective values upheld by a culture.
For morale's sake, it's important to remember that the inverse of this same axiom is true to our benefit. Just as our enemy can attack slice by slice based on a larger vision of victory, so can those of us building a parallel economy and society stay precise and strategic with the power of each small act we take. Small moments of service tied to a vision of greatness, in a culture of shared devotion is the same tactic, available to us now.” —
Slovak PM Robert Fico Expected To Survive; UK Media Appears To Justify Assassination Attempt
Prime Minister Fico is said to be improving, following reports that he was in surgery due to several gunshot wounds from the Wednesday assassination attempt. Deputy Prime Minister Tomas Taraba has told the BBC he "is not in a life-threatening situation at this moment."
"Fortunately, as far as I know, the operation went well – and I guess in the end he will survive," the statement indicated.
Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak has told reporters in a briefing that "there is no doubt" that the attack was a politically motivated assassination attempt. "The inability to accept the will of some part of the public, which some group does not like, is the result that they have worked towards today," he said in reference to Fico’s political opponents. A video is widely circulated of the detained suspect's interrogation wherein the man, identified as Juraj Cintula, confesses to saying he "disagreed" with his government's policies.
Western media coverage of the attempted killing has been interesting to say the least. Fico was alongside Viktor Orban a dissenter when it comes to the NATO line on Ukraine.
Journalist Glenn Greenwald has commented, for example, "Listen to this Sky News report on the shooting of Robert Fico. Not only do they come close to justifying it because he opposes aid to Ukraine, but they also casually imply that he's being paid by the Kremlin. This casual accusation is so prevalent in the West, and toxic." — ZeroHedge
And …
White House 'Deeply Troubled' As Georgia Enacts Law To Thwart NGO 'Interference'
Defying large domestic protests and condemnation from the United States and other Western governments, the Republic of Georgia's parliament on Tuesday adopted a "foreign agents" law that would impede foreign nongovernmental organizations' (NGOs') ability to operate in the country -- and put Georgia's European Union and NATO ambitions in jeopardy.
Georgia's president, Salome Zourabichvili, has vowed to veto the measure, but the parliament approved the law by a 84-30 margin, only needs 76 to override a veto. After the law's passage, Biden Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters:
"We’re deeply troubled by Georgia’s Kremlin-style 'foreign agents' legislation...we have been outspoken about our concerns with the legislation, which runs counter to democratic values and would move Georgia further away from the values of the European Union and, let’s not forget, also NATO." — ZeroHedge
Our Take: “This community has spent the past 6+ months learning about Operation Gladio—the post-WW2 ‘stay-behind’ units in Europe that were used to conduct assassinations and color revolutions, among more psychologically-oriented operations. (Basically, it’s how the CIA has controlled Europe and the world since the 1950's.)
I look around today, and I see social media headlines explicitly recalling Gladio in their reporting of this attack, because that is exactly what it looks like.
It's worth noting that Robert Fico voted against Ukraine joining NATO. He also voted against the WHO Pandemic Treaty. Two days ago, he had Slovakia abstain from voting for the EU's New Pact on Migration and Asylum, which will dictate how all 27 member nations will receive future waves of illegal migrants without resistance.
All I'm saying is that it's worth pointing out that Fico habitually opposed the hegemony, and Slovakia shares a border on the western side of Ukraine.
This story about Georgia barring NGO's and then NATO coming in with swift hostility is just too perfect. Tell us that NGO's are critical elements of CIA black ops without telling me that clowns rule the world with NGO's.” —
Putin To Visit China To Discuss Energy Ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit China on May 16-17 for discussions with President Xi Jinping, in part to discuss expanding energy and trade partnerships.
The state visit, initiated by Xi, will cover topics such as China's Belt and Road Initiative as well as the situation in the Middle East and Asia, and Ukraine.
Putin will be accompanied by key officials including Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, and executives from major Russian companies such as Sberbank, VTB, Rosneft, and Novatek. They will engage in informal meetings and discussions, highlighting the strategic partnership between the two nations.
The visit also includes a gala evening commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union recognizing the People's Republic of China. This relationship, now more critical than ever, sees China challenging U.S. dominance across various sectors, including quantum computing, synthetic biology, and military power.
A key focus of Putin's visit will be discussions with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on trade and economic cooperation. Putin will also visit Harbin, a city with historical ties to Russia, further strengthening regional connections. — OilPrice.com
Our Take: “Russia and China fear-mongering is again reaching a fever pitch in the MSM. Want to know the real reason the Western Hegemon fears their budding alliance?
Sanctions backfired, as ‘Trade between China and Russia reached a record $240 billion in 2023, a 26.3% increase from the previous year, according to Chinese customs data.’
This is all occurring against the backdrop of an assassination attempt against populist Slovak leader Robert Fico, a close friend and confidant of nationalist Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, and a known critic of NATO's anti-Russia sanctions and anti-China rhetoric.
Additionally, we're seeing reports this week that Georgia, a satellite state of the former USSR and one that hosted its own colored revolution (literally ... look up the 'Rose Revolution') in 2003 is moving to ban NGO's from operating in the region, effectively severing ties with NATO and the EU and curtailing attempts to bring them into the fold Ukraine-style.
Not a great week for the Globalists.” —
Coalition Of States Sue Biden Admin, California Over Electric Vehicle Mandates
A coalition of Republican-led states is suing the Biden administration and the State of California in an attempt to prevent new electric vehicle mandates on truck owners and operators throughout the country from going into effect.
Two legal challenges were filed over the new emissions rules, Nebraska Attorney General Hilgers said in a statement on May 13.
They include a petition for review filed by a coalition of 24 states in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit which challenges the Biden administration’s new regulation setting stronger greenhouse gas emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles.
That petition lists the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its administrator Michael Regan as defendants.
In the legal filing, plaintiffs argue the EPA’s rule imposing stringent tailpipe emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles effectively forces manufacturers to produce more electric trucks and fewer internal combustion trucks. — The Epoch Times
Our Take: “So-called ruler of the United States Joe Biden is, again, mandating personal choices, and the coalition of states against him on this latest overreach is large and growing.
I am a fan of states suing the federal government because the federal government is operating so far outside its constitutional limitations that the People wonder whether the constitution is still in effect.
Is our flag still there?
Albert Einstein once (allegedly) said, ‘The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt.’
In other words, freedom is only possible by constantly struggling for it.” —
BONUS ITEMS
Trump takes fight over gag order to NY's highest court
Former President Trump has asked New York's highest court to rescind the limited gag order that prevents him from commenting publicly about witnesses, jurors and lawyers in his ongoing criminal trial, according to a new court filing.
The filing is sealed, but is the next step after an intermediate appeals court yesterday upheld the order imposed by trial Judge Juan Merchan.
Trump has frequently attacked the judge, which is permitted, and has called the limited gag order unconstitutional.
In its ruling yesterday, the intermediate appellate court said that Merchan had appropriately balanced Trump's free speech rights with the court's need to control the trial.
There was no immediate comment from the Manhattan DA's office. — ABC News
FBI retaliated against whistleblowers with clearance holds despite repeated denials, watchdog finds
The FBI sidelined dozens of whistleblowers by suspending their security clearances for more than a year, an inspector general’s report released Tuesday found — despite a top bureau official denying the retaliation in closed-door depositions before Congress, according to transcripts reviewed by The Post.
Justice Department watchdog Michael Horowitz revealed in a letter to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco that the FBI lacks protections for whistleblowers who claim they are being put on ice in retaliation for going to Congress.
The bureau notably did not provide avenues for whistleblowers to retain employment while their clearances were being reviewed, the five-page missive from Horowitz stated. — NY Post
"They Left Us No Choice": Woman With Vaccine Injury In Clinical Trial Sues AstraZeneca
An American woman who suffered an injury from AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine sued the company on May 13, alleging the company breached a contract by not paying for the medical care she requires to deal with the injury.
“They left us no choice,” Brianne Dressen, a preschool teacher in Utah, told The Epoch Times in an email.
Ms. Dressen has paid tens of thousands of dollars to drugs to treat the nervous system disorder and other issues she’s experiencing, according to the complaint, filed in federal court in her home state.
Ms. Dressen chose to participate in AstraZeneca’s clinical trial in 2020 because she wanted to help the company develop its COVID-19 vaccine. The consent form she signed stated in part that AstraZeneca would “cover the costs of research injuries” and “pay the costs of medical treatment.”
“With these reassurances should something go wrong, Bri signed the form, rolled up her sleeve, and let the drug company inject the experimental product into her arm. Her mind was at peace, as Bri believed she was doing the right thing for her country, her students, and her family,” the suit states.
Ms. Dressen soon started experiencing problems, including blurred vision, tinnitus, and vomiting. She later became extremely sensitive to light and suffered spikes in her heart rate.
Ms. Dressen went to see numerous doctors as she attempted to figure out what was wrong with her, and seek treatment. — 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.
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.
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.
Thanks Simon for the best gold nugget (amongst many) "Small moments of service tied to a vision of greatness, in a culture of shared devotion is the same tactic, available to us now.” — Simon Esler"
Great stories and Takes today y'all. Thanks!!!
God Wins!
God Bless!!!
"Trump is a chess master.” — GhostofBasedPatrickHenry"
Trump is a Trojan horse.