8-4-25 DailyBriefs.info  archive     

Date: August 4, 2025 Source: "coffeeandcovid.com- MIRACLES Monday August 4 2025 CC NEWS .pdf" by Jeff Childers, Coffee & Covid 2025

Executive Summary:

This briefing document summarizes key themes and facts from Jeff Childers' "Coffee & Covid" news roundup from August 4, 2025. The article highlights three main points: a crackdown on perceived "liberal lunacy and corruption" in Alachua County, Florida; the dismantling of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) mandates in federal hiring by the Trump administration; and the disastrous marketing failures of Jaguar, likened to Bud Light, which are attributed to "post-pandemic political realities." A central overarching theme is the idea that the COVID-19 pandemic acted as a "great pivot," accelerating cultural shifts, exposing perceived hypocrisies of the Democratic party, and ultimately leading to a "recalibration" of societal values towards merit and traditionalism.

Main Themes and Key Ideas:

1. State Intervention Against "Liberal Lunacy and Corruption" in Alachua County, Florida

• Uni-party Dominance & Political Constraint: Childers asserts that Alachua County, despite having 30-40% Republican electorate, has only elected two Republicans to the County Commission since Reconstruction, leading to "uni-party dominance" where local Democrats "feel no political constraint whatsoever."

• School Board Controversy: The author details a specific incident involving Alachua School Board Chair Sarah Rockwell, who "openly wishing death on Republicans" (via a "Hulk Hogan post") sparked outrage and attracted "keen attention of state officials."

• State Sanctions: In response to the school board's behavior and perceived failure to maintain order, Florida’s Education Commissioner recommended "docking the county an amount of funding equal to the Board’s combined salaries."

• Governor DeSantis's Action: Separately, Governor DeSantis issued a press release titled “Florida DOGE Puts Boots on the Ground in Gainesville and Broward County,” initiating a "long-overdue financial colonoscopy" of Gainesville and Alachua County, which Childers describes as a "snakepit of corruption" with "some of the highest local tax levels in the state."

• Author's Personal Experience: Childers states his extensive history of "tangling with this school board since 2020," including a successful lawsuit in 2021 against their defiance of Governor DeSantis's unmasking order, illustrating the "level of sheer liberal lunacy" he has dealt with locally.

• Symbolism of Mask-Wearing: Childers interjects a critical comment about mask-wearing in 2025, suggesting it's indicative of an unsafe or undesirable personality type, reinforcing his narrative of "liberal lunacy."

2. Trump Administration's Dismantling of DEI and Restoration of Merit-Based Hiring

• Tectonic Shift in Federal Hiring: The "earth-shaking story" is the Trump administration's rescission of "Jimmy Carter-era DEI mandates for federal hiring." This involves the dismissal of Luevano v. Ezell, a 45-year-old consent decree.

• End of Cognitive Testing Ban: The Luevano decree, established in 1979, "banned cognitive testing for federal jobs" (specifically the Civil Service Exam, which tested "I.Q. —general intelligence apart from formal education— in terms of verbal, mathematical, and analytical reasoning") and "birthed the modern DEI mandate in civil service."

• Substitution of Credentials for Capability: The Carter Administration's agreement to the consent decree effectively "substituted credentials for capability" by allowing candidates with a 3.5 GPA or a top-third class ranking to be automatically eligible, rather than taking a standardized test.

• Metastasis of DEI: Childers argues that Luevano's Consent Decree was the "original root or wellspring of what would inexorably metastasize into the formal DEI infrastructure," expanding beyond race to "ritualistically preference sex, national origin, atypical sexual proclivities, insanity (“neurodivergence”), and most recently, outright, bona-fide mental disorders like gender dysphoria and autogynephilia."

• Return to Merit: The dismissal of Luevano signifies a return to merit-based hiring, as quoted by DOJ Civil Rights chief Harmeet Dhillon: “The Justice Department reopened federal employment opportunities based on merit—not race.” This is seen as President Trump having "reset the game. Merit is back."

• Critique of "Expert Class" and Decline in Innovation: The author links the DEI era to the rise of the "expert class of midwit officials" and a "big freeze" in arts, culture, and science. He cites a 2020 American Economic Review paper concluding that "ideas are getting harder to find," and notes a lack of significant Nobel Prizes post-2000.

• Consequences for Academia: The emphasis on grades and degrees over merit led to "grade inflation, social promotion, rising costs of college degrees, and a sprawling, federally-guaranteed student loan industry." Childers asserts that "Critical thinking became a handicap. It now mostly matters only where kids went to school, and how well they conformed by pleasing their grade-awarding professors."

3. Jaguar's Disastrous Rebrand and the "Post-Pandemic Political Realities"

• CEO's Departure: Jaguar's CEO, Adrian Mardell, is stepping down "ahead of the Brand's Contentious Rebrand," signaling significant internal issues.

• "Worse Than Bud Lite": Jaguar's situation is presented as "even worse" than Bud Light's marketing failures. Sales in Europe flatlined with an "astonishing 98% drop," selling only 49 cars in April compared to 2,000 the previous April.

• "Colorful Characters" Marketing Campaign: The sales decline is attributed to a new marketing campaign featuring "colorful characters" and "no cars," which the author describes as "indescribably painful to watch" and suggests they decided their "new electric customer base is flamboyant transexxuals."

• Misalignment with Core Market: Jaguar's "classic market actually trends very conservative: people who value iconic, traditional, understated luxury brands with a cherished historical aesthetic." The campaign, ironically titled “Copy Nothing,” is criticized for copying "the most tired visual tropes of 2020s progressivism and features characters who are all the same —gender confused— but in different neon colors."

• Slow Reaction: Unlike Bud Light, Jaguar is reacting slowly, with its PR firm Accenture Song only being "reconsidering[ed]" and the creatives still in place.

4. COVID-19 as the "Great Pivot" and Cultural Accelerant

• Shift in "Edginess": Childers observes a fundamental shift in cultural rebellion: "In 2019, men painting their nails and wearing dresses to the Oscars was edgy. But in 2025, saying 'boys and girls are different' is even edgier. Real rebellion now looks like dad jokes, beards, dresses, eating meat, and practicing monogamy."

• COVID as the "Accelerant": "Covid was the great pivot. The blast crater at the center of the radical cultural revolution between 2019 to 2025 is shaped like a spike protein. Covid wasn’t the direct cause; it was the accelerant, the revelator, the institutional unmasker."

• Exposure of Elites and Democrats: The pandemic "tore the mask off the machinery behind the narratives, revealed what elites actually think of normal people (the “herd”), and taught millions to doubt what they’re told." Politically, it "fractured the traditional left-right axis," exposing Democrats as "liars" who were "not, in fact, the party of working people" but rather the "party of the jab-or-terminate policy." Their stance on "my body, my choice" was revealed as conditional when it came to forced injections.

• Republican Libertarianism Vindicated: The author claims "a virus revealed that Republican libertarianism protected individual rights, whereas Democrats think individual rights are more like privileges to be suspended when they become politically inconvenient."

• Enabling Conservative Victories: "Covid made the impossible possible. The exposure of the Democrats’ real brand paved the way for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and greased the skids for Trump’s re-election."

• Jaguar as a Metaphor: Jaguar's "goofy, neon-hued, conformist ad campaign" is presented as mirroring "the aesthetic of the modern Democratic Party" and its "entire operating delusion: the belief that symbolic identity signaling can substitute for substance, that moral preening is persuasive, that delivering useful products is just a distraction, and that the audience will never notice the contradiction between words and actions."

• "Ultimate Covid Miracle": The crisis "that was supposed to lock down humanity ended up unlocking reality," leading to a "straight line" trajectory from the covid crisis to events like the return of merit-based civil service exams.

Conclusion:

The "Coffee & Covid" briefing for August 4, 2025, presents a highly partisan and critical view of contemporary societal trends, framing them through the lens of a post-pandemic "recalibration." It champions conservative values, a return to meritocracy, and critiques what it perceives as the overreach and hypocrisy of liberal ideology, particularly as evidenced in local governance and corporate marketing. The COVID-19 pandemic is presented not merely as a health crisis, but as a pivotal moment that accelerated cultural shifts, exposed political realities, and ultimately paved the way for a resurgence of traditionalist and merit-based principles.

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Welcome to the Lenny and Maria Sanchez Deep Dive Podcast Show.

Today, we're delving into a range of critical topics that shed light on various aspects of our world, from health and politics to history and societal trends. Let's get started.

First up, we're discussing insights from Joachim Bartoll's piece, "All Fortified Supplements/Foods Are Toxic And Will NOT Support Any Kind Of Recovery". The core message here is that fortified supplements and foods are considered toxic and unhelpful for recovery. The author argues that artificial, inorganic compounds in these products are not recognized by the body and can cause damage and toxic accumulation. Instead, Bartoll emphasizes that real animal-based foods provide bioavailable, organic, and bioactive nutrients that the body can easily use, store, or discard without leading to toxicity. A meta-analysis on stroke survivors is cited, where protein-rich nutritional drinks showed modest cognitive improvement, but the author counters that processing destroys nutrients, and artificial fortification negates any benefit due to toxicity. Specifically, Bartoll differentiates between real B vitamins found in animal-based foods, which are fully bioavailable, and artificial B vitamins in supplements and plant-based edibles, which are deemed inorganic and toxic. The author is critical of the "medical establishment" and "researchers" for pushing artificial supplements over real food, suggesting they are either incompetent or promoting industry interests.

Next, we turn to Rhoda Wilson's article, "Biotechnology and AI have become a religion". This piece posits that the rise of biotechnology and artificial intelligence has created a new "religion" that, despite promises of a better life, poses significant risks to human health and freedom. Dr. Guy Hatchard, cited in the article, warns that the combination of AI and biotechnology is leading to "unfettered experimentation on human populations" with potentially catastrophic consequences. Concerns are raised about the New Zealand Gene Technology Bill, which could automate the adoption of untested products like RNA-sprayed crops and aerosolized vaccines, as proposed by companies such as Flagship Pioneering and EcoHealth Alliance. The author highlights how laws like the US PREP Act and the NZ Gene Technology Bill could allow secret administration of medical products during emergencies without public consent or legal accountability. The article argues that this "new faith" in technology is based on false premises, specifically that life can be safely manipulated through genetic editing and that unconscious computers can make superior decisions to human minds. The piece also touches on declining life expectancy, the rapid adoption of AI in education potentially suppressing critical thinking, and the alleged ineffectiveness and harm of Covid-19 vaccines, linking peaks in excess deaths to vaccination periods. The author concludes that this endeavor may be driven by a "voracious appetite for profit or possibly an apocalyptic urge to spread suffering and death".

Our third discussion point comes from George Christensen's article, "Klaus Schwab is left with nothing, and he won’t be happy". The central takeaway is that Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, has been exposed for extensive misconduct and corruption, leading to his forced resignation. The article details various allegations, including Schwab and his wife's questionable luxury travel expenses exceeding $1.1 million, often lacking business justification. It also mentions the misuse of $50 million in WEF funds for a lavish mansion, Villa Mundi, which Hilde Schwab allegedly controlled for private use. Christensen highlights the hypocrisy of Schwab advocating for austerity while engaging in extravagant personal spending on Moët, massages, and ski chalets. Furthermore, Schwab is accused of manipulating the WEF's Global Competitiveness Report to politically lower the UK's post-Brexit rankings. The article describes a workplace culture rife with fear, intimidation, discrimination, and sexual misconduct, with staff even forming a support group called "WEFugees". The Davos spectacle itself is portrayed as a "grotesque parody" of its stated goals, with reports of widespread escort service use. Schwab's planned succession reportedly collapsed, and his attempts to challenge the internal investigation were refused, suggesting that "globalist elites" sought his removal due to his perceived failure to achieve the "Great Reset". The author concludes by calling the WEF corrupt and collapsing, urging governments to sever ties.

Next, we examine Fergus Hodgson's account, "Inside Guatemala's Libertarian University". Hodgson recounts his problematic experience at Francisco Marroquín University, known for its libertarian leanings. A key takeaway is the author's discovery of widespread and overt cheating within the Master of Finance program, where students openly copied each other on quizzes and exams. The program's "doble titulación" with Tulane University, initially seen as an advantage, was later understood by the author as a sign that such dual-degree programs in Latin America can be less rigorous, driven by financial incentives for the partnering prestigious universities. Crucially, when Hodgson reported the cheating, faculty and deans acknowledged the issue but showed institutional indifference, explaining that inaction was a "business necessity" to maintain tuition revenue. This lack of integrity eventually led the author to leave the program without completing it. Hodgson reflects that this situation reflects deeper "cultural challenges" in Guatemala, where in a "low-trust society," cheating is perceived differently, and adherence to rules may be seen as foolish. He cautions that prospective students or business ventures in Guatemala should be aware of the prevalent corruption.

Moving on, we discuss the ideas presented in "Religion and Politics in Public Life". This piece argues that American society has been conditioned to rigidly separate religion and politics, a concept portrayed as fundamentally at odds with the idea of a "confessional society" and leading to a "schizophrenic life". The author's central point is that every culture inherently embodies a faith, and a people's religion is naturally reified in their public life. A truly Christian culture, or Catholic Christendom, would see a political society united by the public profession of its faith. The author stresses that true faith requires "visible, palpable expression" in public life, not merely private or abstract belief. The article contends that native-born Americans often prioritize their national identity over their religious one, a consequence of the US Constitution's emphasis on Church-State separation and a historical process of "Americanization". The Founding Fathers are characterized as primarily deist, not aiming to establish a Christian Commonwealth, leading to a nation that makes "no real provision for God in its public life". This separation, the author suggests, marginalizes aspects of human experience that would otherwise be enriched by the intersection of faith and life. The article concludes by lamenting that religion and politics, though essential, have become "the great taboo" subjects in American public discourse.

Our next source is "The Unlucky Elderly of America 2.0". This article paints a grim picture, arguing that the current state of elderly care in America is a "nightmare" and a symptom of a society that has lost respect for its elders. The author draws a sharp contrast with the past, noting that a century ago, nursing homes were rare, and elderly family members typically resided with their adult children, being valued as integral parts of the household. This contrasts with Asian, Middle Eastern, and African cultures, which still revere their elders, unlike Western societies, particularly "majority White" ones, where "poisonous conditioning" has led to treating elderly parents as nuisances to be "put away". The piece highlights that while roughly half of long-term care for the elderly is still provided by adult children, the other half often ends up in expensive nursing homes or assisted living facilities where neglect, mistreatment, and loneliness are common due to indifferent staff and infrequent family visits. The author views the unwillingness of many adult children to care for their aging parents as a sign of societal selfishness and a lack of respect. Furthermore, the article suggests that modern media contributes to an "anti-family agenda" by portraying aging parents as burdensome.

Continuing our deep dive, we turn to "Things Fall Apart: A Transatlantic Odyssey". The author’s central concern is that modern civilization is beginning to "fall apart" due to a societal failure to recognize and maintain the crucial role of skilled labor in supporting our high living standards and infrastructure. The narrative illustrates this through a personal transatlantic travel experience plagued by mechanical problems and operational inefficiencies. The author recounts multiple disruptions, including an initial flight delay due to a cargo door sensor, followed by agonizingly slow jet-bridge operations and frustrating security procedures involving scanner malfunctions and stalled baggage conveyors at Heathrow Airport. The most significant incident involved a mid-flight return to London after the aircraft developed failed AC packs, unusual sounds, and an acrid smell, deeming it unfit for trans-Atlantic flight. The author notes that the Boeing 777, once a modern marvel, now seems like an "old horse" constantly requiring repair. The piece also highlights the breakdown in airline customer service, characterized by poor communication, conflicting information, and disorganized support for stranded passengers. Although the personal experience was merely a "comical hassle," the author expresses a deeper fear that understaffed maintenance departments could lead to "far more serious" consequences.

Next, we look at Eric Zuesse's article, "Trump’s Effectiveness Has Now Been Shattered. Dems Will Win the Mid-Terms". The central argument is that Donald Trump's political effectiveness has been "shattered," leading to the prediction that the Democratic Party will win the upcoming mid-term elections. The author attributes this decline to the "disastrous" jobs numbers released on August 1st, showing minimal job growth, which he argues is a direct consequence of the "enormous uncertainty" that Trump's tariffs have imposed on businesses and their supply chains. The constant changes in Trump's tariff policies are described as "killing the American economy". A significant event highlighted is Trump's immediate firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer after she reported the poor job figures and revised previous data downward. This action, along with the data revisions, is presented as severely damaging the credibility of America's financial reports in the global financial community and signaling a decline in the US's imperial power. The article suggests this decline could lead the US government, in its desperation to maintain hegemony, to become "even more boldly aggressive," potentially escalating to World War Three. Trump is further portrayed as desperate and reckless, exemplified by his public response to a Russian official's statement by ordering nuclear submarines closer to Russia as a "personal insult".

Our penultimate discussion today covers Ron Unz's article, "Marked for Death by a Reckless America". The central thesis of this piece is that Israel and the Zionist movement have historically employed assassination as a tool of statecraft more extensively than any other political entity, and that America has increasingly adopted this "Israelization" of its military doctrine, leading to dangerous and reckless foreign policy decisions. The author cites specific instances, such as Israel's alleged role in the assassinations of Iranian military commanders, political leaders, and nuclear scientists, and the suspicious helicopter crash that killed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Unz also references evidence suggesting the Israeli Mossad's involvement in the assassinations of Presidents John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. The article highlights a shift in American policy: traditionally, Western governments eschewed political assassinations, with US presidents even issuing executive orders prohibiting CIA assassinations. However, after 9/11, these prohibitions allegedly eroded, replaced by "targeted killings" via drone strikes, with a significant escalation under the Bush and Obama administrations, and culminating in President Trump claiming the right to assassinate any world leader "not to our liking," as seen with the assassination of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. This shift is attributed to the "complete capture" of the American government and political life by "The Israel Lobby" and militantly pro-Israel Neocons. The article further argues that delusional beliefs about the fragility of opposing regimes, fostered by US think-tanks, are leading to reckless American actions such as alleged involvement in drone attacks on Russia's strategic bomber fleet and attempts to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The absence of Putin and Xi from a recent BRICS summit is speculated to be due to fears of American assassination attempts.

Finally, we consider Dave Chambers' article, "Purifying American History". This piece provides a critical analysis of Kermit Roosevelt III's book, "The Nation That Never Was," which attempts to reframe American history based on a concept of "inclusive equality". Chambers' key takeaway is that President Biden's "standard story" of America as a "proposition nation" founded on "equality and democracy" is inconsistent with historical reality, as the Founders, like Jefferson and Madison, were "racialists" who envisioned America for the white race. Roosevelt, described as a "preacher in the church of racial egalitarianism," proposes a new narrative that is "antagonistic toward white racialism and white identity politics". He defines "inclusive equality" as an open political community where outsiders can become insiders and government promotes equality, contrasting it with "exclusive individualism". Roosevelt critiques the Declaration of Independence as being about national independence, not universal rights, and finds the Constitution's primary goal to be the formation of a union of states, not individual equality. He argues that Reconstruction should be seen as the "revolution that destroyed Founding America", proposing Lincoln's Gettysburg Address as the "founding document of our America". Roosevelt praises the Fourteenth Amendment's birthright citizenship for "opening up" political communities, even admitting its ratification was "probably not valid" and involved "cramming down" the South, viewing this as justifiable for "justice and democracy". Chambers, however, highlights that even Lincoln was a "racialist," and the Reconstruction Congress, despite its actions, still adhered to a form of "exclusive individualism," revealing the difficulty of creating a narrative free from white racialism while maintaining historical continuity.

Thank you for listening to another session of the Lenny and Maria Sanchez Deep Dive Podcast Show, produced and archived at the website dailybriefs.info.

I. Florida State Intervention and Local Politics

1. MIRACLES ☙ Monday, August 4, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS By Jeff Childers Florida's state officials are intervening in Alachua County due to perceived liberal excess and corruption, specifically targeting the school board. Florida drops a hammer on my home county for out-of-control liberalism and corruption.
   
   Florida Politics covered the story under the unscriptable headline, “Education Commissioner Kamoutsas threatens salaries of Alachua School Board after Sarah Rockwell’s Hulk Hogan post sparks outrage”.
   
   

2. Alachua County's political landscape is dominated by a single party, leading to unchecked actions by local Democrats. Although Republicans comprise between 30%-40% of the electorate in my Florida county of Alachua, only two (2) Republicans have ever been elected to the County Commission— since Reconstruction.
   
   One result of uni-party dominance is that local Democrats feel no political constraint whatsoever and often do feebleminded things like openly wishing death on Republicans, as our ungendered school board chair-thing Sarah Rockwell did last week.
   
   

3. Public behavior of Alachua School Board members, particularly Sarah Rockwell, has garnered national attention and criticism from conservative influencers. Popular conservative influencers like the Hodge Twins have been marveling over Rockwell’s repulsive behavior and the disastrous aftermath that unfolded at the very next school board meeting, which descended into chaos, accusations of white supremacy.
   
   At one point, the midwits on the board ordered cops to haul a lone conservative parent out of the meeting, supported by rapturous applause and maniacal laughter by the mostly-female attendees (also, troublingly, wearing an alarming number of face masks).
   
   

4. The Alachua School Board's actions led to state-level financial penalties, with the Education Commissioner recommending docking their funding. That wild progressive excess caused the state’s Education Commissioner to recommend docking the county an amount of funding equal to the Board’s combined salaries.
   
   In 2021, Alachua’s School Board became the national face of blue-run Florida counties defying Governor DeSantis’s unmasking order, and I was forced to sue them (successfully) to bring them to heel.
   
   

5. Governor DeSantis has initiated financial scrutiny of Gainesville and Broward County, targeting what he views as corruption and excessive local taxation in Gainesville. Separately on Thursday (also after Rockwell’s MAGA death-wish post), Florida’s Governor DeSantis issued a press release on the state’s website titled, “Florida DOGE Puts Boots on the Ground in Gainesville and Broward County”.
   
   Most conservatives who live here believe the city and county —featuring some of the highest local tax levels in the state— are a snakepit of corruption.
   
   

II. Rescission of DEI Mandates and Return to Merit

6. The Trump administration has ended Jimmy Carter-era DEI mandates for federal hiring, specifically rescinding the Luevano v. Ezell consent decree. On Friday, Axios ran a quiet but earth-shaking story headlined, “Trump administration rescinds Jimmy Carter‑era DEI mandates for federal hiring”.
   
   On Friday, the D.C. District Court officially dismissed Luevano v. Ezell, a Carter-era consent decree that banned cognitive testing for federal jobs and birthed the modern DEI mandate in civil service.
   
   

7. The dismissal of the Luevano decree signifies a major shift towards merit-based federal employment, potentially influencing private employers. Luevano’s demise isn’t just a policy tweak.
   
   Now, the gates are open again.
   
   

8. Historically, the Civil Service Exam (CSE) was used for federal hiring to assess general cognitive ability before it was abolished by the Luevano consent decree. Before Luevano, applicants for most federal jobs had to take something called the “Civil Service Exam”.
   
   It primarily tested I.Q. —general intelligence apart from formal education— in terms of verbal, mathematical, and analytical reasoning.
   
   

9. The Luevano consent decree was established after a lawsuit claimed the CSE resulted in disparate impact for minority candidates, leading to the substitution of credentials for capability. But in 1979, a group of Black and Hispanic plaintiffs sued, arguing that the CSE resulted in a disparate impact for minority candidates.
   
   Carter’s DOJ essentially agreed, and entered into a voluntary “consent decree” that abolished a mandatory CSE, banned any future replacement test, and automatically made eligible any candidates with a 3.5 GPA or a top-third class ranking— thereby effectively substituting credentials for capability.
   
   

10. The Luevano Consent Decree is identified as the origin of the modern DEI infrastructure, which expanded to preference various identity groups beyond race. Thus, Luevano’s Consent Decree became the original root or wellspring of what would inexorably metastasize into the formal DEI infrastructure, which first took hold in the federal government and then infected every company doing business with the government, through contractor mandates and purchasing preferences.
    
    Over the years, it predictably mushroomed far beyond race to ritualistically preference sex, national origin, atypical sexual proclivities, insanity (“neurodivergence”), and most recently, outright, bona-fide mental disorders like gender dysphoria and autogynephilia.
    
    

11. The DEI credentialist era is associated with the rise of an "expert class" making policies, exemplified by seemingly unqualified or controversial figures in public roles. Possibly the most annoying symptom of the DEI credentialist era was the rise of the so-called “expert class” of midwit officials making policy and swanking their credentials throughout the pandemic.
    
    Transsexual, luggage-stealing nuclear waste disposal directors.
    
    

12. The emphasis on credentials over merit is linked to a decline in research productivity and a general "big freeze" in arts, culture, and science during the post-millennial period. I have written extensively about the “big freeze” in arts, culture, and science that caused the post-millennial period to be the least fruitful era in modern history.
    
    in 2020, the American Economic Review published a paper concluding that, despite ubiquitous computers, the Internet, and more money than Solomon dreamed of, research productivity still fell sharply during the previous two decades.
    
    

13. The shift towards credentials as currency for employment has led to negative consequences in education, including grade inflation and rising college costs funded by student loans. And since grades and degrees became the new currency for earning well-paying employment instead of merit, skills, or qualifications, the Academy began aggrandizing an outsized political influence.
    
    A vast parade of horribles ensued: grade inflation, social promotion, rising costs of college degrees, and a sprawling, federally-guaranteed student loan industry that collected in advance the first twenty years of kids’ expected earnings.
    
    

14. The author believes that Trump's actions in ending the DEI mandates will reset the system, bringing back merit and reversing the decline in innovation. By cutting all this off at the original roots, President Trump has reset the game.
    
    Merit is back.
    
    

III. Corporate Marketing and Cultural Shifts

15. Jaguar's CEO has resigned amidst a disastrous rebrand and marketing campaign that resulted in a severe decline in European sales. JLR CEO Adrian Mardell to Step Down Ahead of the Brand's Contentious Rebrand.
    
    According to the New York Post, Jaguar sales in Europe flatlined— by an astonishing 98% drop.
    
    

16. Jaguar's marketing campaign, titled “Copy Nothing,” is criticized for featuring "colorful characters" and no cars, alienating its traditional conservative customer base. They green-lighted a series of ads featuring “colorful characters” and no cars.
    
    Jaguar’s classic market actually trends very conservative: people who value iconic, traditional, understated luxury brands with a cherished historical aesthetic.
    
    

17. The Jaguar campaign is compared to Bud Light's marketing misstep, but described as even worse due to its apparent targeting of "flamboyant transexxuals" and slow reaction. Jaguar’s problems are better compared to Bud Lite, except —if you can imagine it— even worse.
    
    I guess Jaguar decided its new electric customer base is flamboyant transexxuals.
    
    

18. The author argues that what was once "edgy" in culture (e.g., men wearing dresses) has been replaced by traditional values becoming the new form of "rebellion." In 2019, men painting their nails and wearing dresses to the Oscars was edgy.
    
    But in 2025, saying “boys and girls are different” is even edgier.
    
    

IV. Covid-19's Societal Impact

19. Covid-19 is identified as the pivotal event that accelerated cultural change, exposed the true nature of elites and political parties, and fractured the traditional left-right political axis. It was Covid.
    
    Politically, covid fractured the traditional left-right axis.
    
    

20. The article suggests that the "covid crisis" ultimately led to "unlocking reality" and enabled significant political shifts like the overturning of Roe v. Wade and Trump's re-election. Covid made the impossible possible.
    
    It’s the ultimate covid miracle: the crisis that was supposed to lock down humanity ended up unlocking reality.
    
    

Date: August 5, 2025

Sources:

• Excerpts from "bartoll.se-All Fortified SupplementsFoods Are Toxic And Will NOT Support Any Kind Of Recovery.pdf" (Joachim Bartoll, August 4, 2025)

• Excerpts from "expose-news.com-Biotechnology and AI have become a religion.pdf" (Rhoda Wilson, August 4, 2025; featuring Dr. Guy Hatchard)

• Excerpts from "expose-news.com-Klaus Schwab is left with nothing and he wont be happy.pdf" (Rhoda Wilson, August 4, 2025; featuring George Christensen)

• Excerpts from "lewrockwell.com-Inside Guatemalas Libertarian University.pdf" (Fergus Hodgson, August 4, 2025)

• Excerpts from "lewrockwell.com-Religion and Politics in Public Life.pdf" (Regis Martin, August 4, 2025)

• Excerpts from "lewrockwell.com-The Unlucky Elderly of America 2.0.pdf" (Donald Jeffries, August 4, 2025)

• Excerpts from "lewrockwell.com-Things Fall Apart A Transatlantic Odyssey.pdf" (August 4, 2025)

• Excerpts from "lewrockwell.com-Trumps Effectiveness Has Now Been Shattered Dems Will Win the Mid-Terms.pdf" (Eric Zuesse, August 4, 2025)

• Excerpts from "unz.com-Marked for Death by a Reckless America by Ron Unz.pdf" (Ron Unz, August 4, 2025)

• Excerpts from "unz.com-Purifying American History by Dave Chambers.pdf" (Dave Chambers, July 31, 2025)

Executive Summary

The collected sources paint a stark picture of a world in accelerating decline, characterized by widespread corruption, elite manipulation, eroding societal values, and increasing global instability. Key themes include the perceived dangers of technological overreach (AI and biotechnology), the alleged corrupting influence of globalist organizations and their leaders, the deliberate erosion of traditional societal structures (family, religion, national identity), and the reckless pursuit of geopolitical dominance by the United States, often in concert with Israel, through unconventional and dangerous means. A pervasive sense of disillusionment and a call for a return to "real" or "natural" ways are evident across various domains, from food and health to politics and education.

I. Elite Control, Corruption, and Globalist Agendas

A dominant theme is the alleged control of global narratives and policies by corrupt elites and organizations, leading to detrimental outcomes for the general populace.

• World Economic Forum (WEF) and Klaus Schwab: George Christensen's piece alleges the spectacular downfall of Klaus Schwab, founder of the WEF, due to "widespread misconduct and corruption." An internal investigation reportedly uncovered "$1.1 million in questionable travel expenses," "misuse of funds," and "political manipulation of WEF reports," including direct orders to "lower the UK’s post-Brexit rankings." The author claims this signifies "the WEF’s collapse" and the end of "a corrupt, elitist system masked as global progressivism," advocating for governments to "cut all ties." The article suggests Schwab's removal was a coordinated effort by globalist elites who found him "no longer useful."

• Big Pharma and Food/Supplement Industry: Joachim Bartoll asserts that the "medical establishment and 'researchers'" push "artificial supplements with fake toxic inorganic compounds instead of actually consuming real animal-based foods." He accuses Examine.com of either "extreme[ly] incompetent[ce]" or "shilling for Big Pharma and the Food- and Supplement Industry" by not disclosing the toxicity of artificial vitamins.

• Technological Elite and "New Religion": Dr. Guy Hatchard argues that "the rise of biotechnology and AI has created a new religion that promises a better life, but in reality, it poses significant risks to human health and freedom." This "new faith" fills a void left by declining religious and cultural traditions, offering "immortality through miracle medical drugs" and a "computer-controlled life free of drudgery." Hatchard warns of "unfettered experimentation on human populations" through the combination of AI and biotechnology, citing proposed RNA-sprayed crops and aerosolized vaccines. He links the New Zealand Gene Technology Bill to US measures like Flagship Pioneering's plans to "spray crops with RNA" and EcoHealth Alliance's DEFUSE proposal for "aerosolised chimeric coronavirus spike proteins, immune modulators and self-spreading vaccines over human and animal populations using drones."

• Censorship and Information Control: Several sources (Wilson/Hatchard, Christensen) explicitly state that "Your Government and Big Tech are actively trying to censor the information reported by The Exposé to serve their own needs," emphasizing the importance of "uncensored news."

• "Propaganda Bubble" and Delusion in Foreign Policy: Ron Unz highlights that "much of America’s leadership seems to exist in an unrealistic propaganda-bubble" regarding the strength of rival nations like Russia and China. This delusion, he argues, has led to "extremely reckless and dangerous behavior," including assassination attempts.

II. Erosion of Traditional Values and Societal Decay

The sources express deep concern over the decline of traditional societal structures, moral principles, and intellectual capabilities, particularly within Western societies.

• Decline of Family and Care for the Elderly: Donald Jeffries laments the shift away from multi-generational living, stating, "The family was the most important thing in most people’s lives back then. That’s hard to imagine now, in this decadent and narcissistic time." He notes the rise of nursing homes as a "de facto apartheid system for oldsters" and criticizes the modern American attitude that sees "your parents are stupid, and smelly, and sickly, and ask too many questions. They cramp your style. Put them away where we don’t have to see them." He highlights a survey showing 28% of Americans 60+ live alone, compared to a 16% average in 130 countries.

• Compromised Education and Critical Thinking: Dr. Guy Hatchard expresses alarm at the "rapid adoption of AI in education," leading to children "in front of screens rather than human teachers and denying them crucial socialisation skills while suppressing their ability to think critically." He quotes a professor stating, "students are using [AI] for all uni [university] work and to replace thinking, and are subsequently de-optimising themselves for future jobs." Employers report that "university leavers they encountered often struggled to speak on the phone or in meetings, take notes with a pen, relay messages precisely or complete written tasks without internet access."

• Academic Corruption: Fergus Hodgson details his experience at Francisco Marroquín University (UFM) in Guatemala, revealing "widespread cheating" and a culture where "students and faculty were working in a difficult, style-over-substance scenario that disincentivized integrity." He describes how Tulane University, UFM's partner, "dilute[d] its brand value by selling degrees abroad" and previously "faked admission and test numbers to artificially improve its standing."

• Marginalization of Religion in Public Life: Regis Martin argues that American society has been "carefully coached to observe all the requisite protocols" of "keeping religion and politics in separate compartments." He states that "Ours is the first nation under God which makes no real provision for God in its public life, owing to a great and sundering wall of separation between Church and State, religion and politics, faith and life." This, he suggests, leads to a "failure of imagination, an absentee historical sense" and the marginalization of human experience untouched by the intersection of faith and life. He concludes that "Religion and politics" are "the only two things in the world worth talking about. Worth fighting about, actually."

• "Purifying" American History and Identity: Dave Chambers reviews Kermit Roosevelt III's book, which seeks to dismantle the "standard story" of America as founded on "equality and democracy" and instead argues for a narrative rooted in Reconstruction. Chambers asserts that the founders were "open and unapologetic racialists" who intended America for the "white race alone." Roosevelt's project is described as a "declaration of holy war against the way that American history is popularly understood" to "purify" it of "exclusive individualism" (i.e., racialism) and promote "inclusive equality."

III. Geopolitical Instability and Reckless Foreign Policy

Several sources warn of escalating global tensions and the dangerous, often self-defeating, foreign policy actions of the United States.

• US and Israeli Assassination Policy: Ron Unz extensively details Israel's history as an "Assassination Nation," documenting "nearly 3,000 such foreign political killings." He argues that "the American government and American political life have been almost entirely captured by what scholars John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt called 'The Israel Lobby,'" leading to the "Israelization" of American military doctrine. This, he claims, has resulted in the US adopting political assassination as a tool of foreign policy, escalating from targeting "terrorists" to "any world leader not to our liking whom we unilaterally declare worthy of death." Specific examples cited include the assassination of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and alleged US involvement in drone attacks on Russian airbases and an attempt to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin. These actions are described as "extremely reckless and dangerous."

• Delusional Assessments of Adversaries: Unz suggests that American foreign policy elites operate under "unrealistic assumptions regarding the weakness of the two regimes" (Iran and Russia), believing that "elimination of their top leaders would lead to a collapse." He highlights "delusional" figures regarding Russian casualties and think-tank reports, like one from the Hudson Institute, suggesting China is "fragile and weak" and preparing for US military deployment inside China for "post-collapse management."

• Trump's Economic and Geopolitical Recklessness: Eric Zuesse asserts that "Trump’s Effectiveness Has Now Been Shattered" due to "disastrous jobs-numbers" caused by "the enormous uncertainty that Trump’s tariffs have created for business planners." He also criticizes Trump's "going crazy with his failures and with his ever-rising threats and retaliations," including ordering "two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that" in response to a Russian official's comment. This behavior, Zuesse warns, means "the U.S. empire... has reached its pinnacle, and the world-center is now definitely in Asia."

• Declining Infrastructure and Workforce: The anonymous author of "Things Fall Apart" recounts significant travel delays and mechanical failures with airlines, leading to concern that "airline maintenance departments are struggling to maintain their fleets of aging aircraft" and may be "understaffed with skilled and reliable people." This is framed as a broader societal issue, where "skilled laborers are what keep our advanced civilization going," and their absence could lead to "far more serious" consequences.

IV. Health and "Natural" Living

A distinct theme revolves around the promotion of "real" or "natural" foods and nutrients, contrasting with skepticism towards processed and fortified products.

• Toxicity of Fortified Foods/Supplements: Joachim Bartoll strongly argues that "All Fortified Supplements/Foods Are Toxic And Will NOT Support Any Kind Of Recovery." He differentiates between "real nutrients found in animal-based foods" which are "fully bioavailable and bioactive," and "artificial fake nutrients or plant-based inorganic 'nutrients'" which are "extremely toxic" and cause "damage and toxic accumulation." He advocates for "real food and real nutrients" from "species-appropriate food source."

Key Facts and Ideas:

• Klaus Schwab's alleged downfall: Accusations of $1.1 million in questionable expenses, political manipulation of reports, and workplace abuse leading to forced resignation.

• Biotechnology and AI as a "new religion": Warnings about "unfettered experimentation on human populations" through RNA-sprayed crops and aerosolized vaccines, automated adoption of gene technology via legislation (NZ Gene Technology Bill mirroring US policies).

• Historical shift in elderly care: From multi-generational homes to nursing homes, with a significant increase in elderly living alone in the US (28% vs. 16% global average).

• Academic integrity concerns: Instances of widespread cheating and institutional complicity in "low-trust societies."

• American founding and racialism: Rejection of the "proposition nation" myth, arguing founders were racialists aiming to preserve America for whites.

• "Israelization" of US foreign policy: Allegations of US adoption of Israel's assassination as a tool of statecraft, including against high-profile leaders like Soleimani and alleged attempts on Putin.

• Economic instability: Trump's tariffs blamed for "disastrous jobs-numbers" and global financial shock due to loss of confidence in US financial reports after a BLS Commissioner firing.

• Military readiness concerns: Aging aircraft fleets and potential understaffing in maintenance, signaling broader societal decline in skilled labor.

• Toxicity of artificial nutrients: Claim that fortified supplements and plant-based "nutrients" are inorganic and harmful, unlike bioavailable nutrients from animal products.

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NotebookLM can be inaccurate; please double check its responses.

Here are the key takeaway points from each source:

I. All Fortified Supplements/Foods Are Toxic And Will NOT Support Any Kind Of Recovery by Joachim Bartoll

• The author posits that the medical establishment and "researchers" promote artificial supplements containing fake, toxic inorganic compounds instead of advocating for real, animal-based foods with bioavailable, organic, and bioactive nutrients.
  
  

• He contends that all fortified supplements and foods are toxic and will not support any kind of recovery.
  
  

• A meta-analysis, summarized by Examine.com, indicated that protein-rich nutritional drinks modestly aided cognition in stroke survivors compared to poor diets.
  
  

• The author argues that while milk protein might offer some nutrients, processing destroys many, and artificial fortification negates benefits, as the body does not recognize these compounds.
  
  

• The addition of artificial "vitamins" is considered extremely toxic, causing damage and toxic accumulation.
  
  

• Cognitive function even declined when plant extracts were used for fortification, which the author attributes to the inherent toxicity of plants for human consumption.
  
  

• A critical distinction is drawn between real nutrients found in animal-based foods and artificial compounds intended to mimic vitamins.
  
  

• Real nutrients from animal sources are described as fully bioavailable and bioactive, easily used, stored, or discarded by the body, thus never becoming toxic or allowing overconsumption.
  
  

• Conversely, artificial or plant-based inorganic "nutrients" are not fully bioavailable, are largely unrecognized by the body, and require a toxic breakdown process.
  
  

• Any residues from this process lead to toxicity, toxic accumulation, and cell/tissue damage.
  
  

• The author critiques Examine.com for its failure to disclose the toxicity of artificial nutrients, suggesting either incompetence or complicity with the pharmaceutical and supplement industries.
  
  

• He stresses the importance of educating people about real food and nutrients, asserting that plant-based products and artificial supplements unfairly discredit genuine nutrition due to the harm they cause.
  
  

• B vitamins sourced from species-appropriate animal foods like meat and organ meats are stated to be fully bioavailable, organic, and bioactive.
  
  

• In contrast, "B vitamins" found in plant-based edibles and artificial supplements are labeled as inorganic and toxic, contributing to tissue damage.
  
  

II. Biotechnology and AI have become a religion by Rhoda Wilson

• The article claims that the emergence of biotechnology and AI has given rise to a new "religion" that falsely promises a better life.
  
  

• Dr. Guy Hatchard warns that this new faith actually poses significant risks to human health and freedom.
  
  

• The proposed Gene Technology Bill in New Zealand is criticized for automating the adoption of gene technology, which could lead to the rapid introduction of untested and harmful products.
  
  

• This would mean that products approved in the US, such as RNA-sprayed crops and aerosolized vaccines, could be automatically adopted in New Zealand.
  
  

• The alliance between AI and biotechnology is leading to "unfettered experimentation on human populations," with the potential for catastrophic consequences.
  
  

• The biotechnology industry is actively pushing to ensure these projects can proceed without "obstructive regulation".
  
  

• Flagship Pioneering has launched Terrana Biosciences, a company planning to spray crops with RNA designed to be heritable across plant generations, which is described as polluting the entire food chain.
  
  

• EcoHealth Alliance's DEFUSE proposal detailed plans to spray aerosolized chimeric coronavirus spike proteins and self-spreading vaccines over human and animal populations using drones.
  
  

• The PREP Act in the US grants the government power to secretly administer biological products, drugs, and vaccines during an emergency without consent, geographic limits, or legal accountability.
  
  

• New Zealand's Gene Technology Bill contains a parallel provision for emergency authorizations, allowing the Minister to grant powers in the event of health or environmental threats.
  
  

• The broad acceptance of this new technological ideology is attributed not to totalitarian measures, but to the projection of a "captivating but false narrative of a bright future" if people comply.
  
  

• This "new faith" is described as involving a departure from common sense, reason, and rationality, likened to "rushing towards the flame like a moth".
  
  

• One fundamental false idea in this new faith is that the meaning of life is entirely contained in DNA, which can be safely edited to improve life, disregarding consciousness and real-world adverse effects.
  
  

• Another false premise is the belief that unconscious computers, relying solely on input data and algorithms, can make better and safer decisions than human minds, which is seen as an "absurdly uninformed dismissal of human genius".
  
  

• The widespread adoption of weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy, even by those not clinically overweight, is presented as evidence of how many people have embraced this new technological "religion," seemingly unaware of the "very common and very serious adverse effects".
  
  

• The rapid integration of AI into education, placing children in front of screens instead of human teachers, is seen as denying them crucial socialisation skills and suppressing critical thinking.
  
  

• The use of AI by high school and university students to write assignments is linked to a decline in fundamental skills like coherent writing and critical thinking, which are becoming "basically elite skills".
  
  

• Employers report that university leavers often struggle with basic professional tasks such as speaking on the phone, taking notes with a pen, or completing written tasks without internet access, rendering them "all but unemployable".
  
  

• The author contends that Covid-19 mRNA injections were neither safe nor effective, causing millions of people to become sick or die, contradicting the World Health Organization's public narrative.
  
  

• He points to cumulative excess deaths in Japan as evidence that biotechnology, whether through a "biotechnology-generated disease" or a "biotechnology-generated vaccine," has taken lives.
  
  

• A group of concerned scientists highlighted that peaks in excess deaths in official health records correspond precisely to periods 90-120 days following Covid-19 vaccination and boosters, offering "the strongest statistical proof of causality yet".
  
  

• The author suggests that the "failed mRNA technology" is being repackaged to ensure widespread exposure through food or aerial sprays, driven by a "voracious appetite for profit or possibly an apocalyptic urge to spread suffering and death".
  
  

III. Inside Guatemala's Libertarian University by Fergus Hodgson

• The author chose Francisco Marroquín University (UFM) for his Master of Finance degree due to its libertarian philosophy and the financial benefit of being half the price of studying at Tulane's campus.
  
  

• UFM offered a "doble titulación" with Tulane University, meaning simultaneous degrees from both institutions.
  
  

• Respected individuals in Guatemala cautioned the author that UFM was experiencing a "lackluster era", and a former UFM employee mentioned an American who had abruptly left his studies.
  
  

• The author questioned why Latin American universities frequently engage in "doble titulación" given students' strong preference for Anglo-American branding and why prestigious universities would partner with less selective programs.
  
  

• The author quickly observed that widespread cheating and coordination on quizzes and assignments were taken for granted among the students, most of whom knew each other.
  
  

• When he reported the copying to a professor, she simply "shrugged," indicating a lack of concern or willingness to intervene.
  
  

• A semester-long class at Tulane was condensed into three days, which the author found to be a "charade" with minimal educational value.
  
  

• During a take-home exam for this class, students openly collaborated on the exam right in front of the lecturers.
  
  

• The author documented the cheating by photographing students passing around exam copies and reported his concerns to the Tulane lecturer, the UFM Business School dean, and the rector.
  
  

• Despite initial receptiveness, these officials ultimately decided not to crack down, as doing so would effectively eliminate the program due to the pervasiveness of the cheating.
  
  

• A UFM instructor admitted that admitting students who engaged in cheating was a "business necessity" for the school's tuition revenue.
  
  

• The instructor also noted that pushing back against cheating could make it difficult for UFM faculty to be hired by other Guatemalan universities, revealing a systemic issue.
  
  

• The final catalyst for the author's departure was a professor leaving a final exam early, which immediately led to students collaborating and using copies of previous years' exams.
  
  

• Feeling he could no longer take the program seriously, the author walked out and did not return to any UFM classes.
  
  

• After leaving UFM, the author successfully secured full-tuition scholarship offers from top US universities, including Boston College, Johns Hopkins, and Rice University.
  
  

• He ultimately chose Rice and graduated with an MBA in finance in 2021, a path that he felt "vindicated" his decision to leave UFM.
  
  

• The author expresses negative feelings towards UFM, stating it "spat me out," and toward Tulane for "turn[ing] a blind eye" to the cheating.
  
  

• He concludes that the "doble titulación" program served as a "low-effort money-maker for Tulane," indicating a willingness to compromise academic standards for financial gain.
  
  

• Most Guatemalans the author encountered were unsurprised by the prevalence of cheating, with some even finding his surprise amusing, suggesting a cultural familiarity with such patterns.
  
  

• In Guatemala's "low-trust society," adherence to rules or academic standards is often perceived as foolish, as people are inclined to "go along to get along".
  
  

• UFM's self-proclaimed status as the number-one university in Guatemala did not impress the author, as it fails to rank among the top 250 in Latin America and is 49th in Central America according to QS rankings.
  
  

• His experience at UFM reflected a "microcosm of the broader Guatemalan (chapín) society," where those in power often resist changes that might disrupt the status quo.
  
  

• The author advises anyone considering moving to or studying in Guatemala to be fully aware of the country's customs that contribute to poverty and the tremendous challenge of overcoming corruption.
  
  

• He warns that foreigners should not expect locals to change for newcomers and should generally distrust local institutions, as Guatemalans themselves often move or study abroad due to lack of trust in their own systems.
  
  

IV. Religion and Politics in Public Life by Regis Martin

• The author contends that American citizens have been trained to keep religion and politics in "separate compartments," observing "requisite protocols" that prevent Church and State from being seen together.
  
  

• This conditioning makes the very concept of a "confessional society" an affront to both American law and custom.
  
  

• Every culture is described as an "outward sign" or "embodiment" of faith, which is inherently natural and unavoidable.
  
  

• The author argues that a culture's existence is nothing less than the "reification of a people's religion," as essential as the air they breathe.
  
  

• Christian Culture, or Catholic Christendom, is defined as a political society where its "animating and fundamental principle of unity" is the public profession of the Catholic faith.
  
  

• This public profession requires visible and palpable expression, distinguishing it from abstract or purely ethereal concepts of faith.
  
  

• Many native-born Americans, including Catholics, tend to perceive themselves as primarily American, viewing their Catholic identity as merely an "accidental and fortuitous addition".
  
  

• This process of "wholesale Americanization" has caused countless Catholic ethnic groups to progressively "bleach away" memories of their homelands.
  
  

• The Founding Fathers, despite their "noble and pure" vision, were not primarily motivated by a "holy desire" to spread the Gospel or establish a Christian Commonwealth.
  
  

• Their religious views tended towards deism, envisioning God as a "Clockmaker" who initiated creation and then largely withdrew from active involvement.
  
  

• The "great and sundering wall of separation between Church and State" in America has led to the marginalization of significant areas of human experience, leaving them untouched by the richness of faith intersecting with life, grace, and nature.
  
  

• The author suggests that a true "Christian Culture" could not emerge from the American historical experience due to this inherent separation.
  
  

• The author identifies religion and politics as the "two great unmentionables" in American society, often avoided in public discussions and parties.
  
  

• Despite this taboo, he argues that they are the "only two things in the world worth talking about," and even "worth fighting about".
  
  

• The author concludes that a world "configured to Christ" is where one would most likely discover genuine "laughter and friends".
  
  

• He suggests that in such a world, the effort required to achieve victory ("the wear of winning") would be not only worthwhile but also honorable and necessary to defend.
  
  

V. The Unlucky Elderly of America 2.0 by Donald Jeffries

• The author states that for a large portion of the elderly population in America, their existence has become a "nightmare," echoing his mother's sentiment that "Old age is hell".
  
  

• He suggests that a society's true measure lies in how it treats its elderly.
  
  

• A century ago, nursing homes were practically non-existent, and retirement communities were not a feature of society; instead, elderly parents typically resided with their adult children.
  
  

• This shift is starkly illustrated by statistics: in 1960, less than one-fifth of the elderly lived alone, but by 1984, this figure rose to nearly one-third, while the percentage living with adult children or other family members dropped from 40% to 22%.
  
  

• In contrast to Western societies, Asian, Middle Eastern, and African cultures traditionally celebrate and revere their elderly, with multigenerational families being the norm.
  
  

• These cultures generally do not relegate their elderly to impersonal nursing homes where they might experience neglect or abuse.
  
  

• Western societies are criticized for adopting a "poisonous conditioning" that portrays older parents negatively, leading adult children to "put them away".
  
  

• While America offers "senior citizen discounts," the author notes a profound difference in the depth of respect compared to cultures that observe specific days like Japan's "Respect for the Aged Day".
  
  

• The author interprets the statistic that half of "informal care giving" for seniors is still provided by adult children pessimistically, concluding that the other half are unwilling to assist.
  
  

• He highlights the exorbitant cost of nursing homes, often $6,000 or more per month, for facilities where residents are frequently neglected and rarely visited by family.
  
  

• The author asserts that the selfishness and lack of empathy towards the elderly are part of a broader "anti-family agenda".
  
  

• He observes that modern television and film often reinforce the idea that aging parents are a "nuisance".
  
  

• The author describes his recent visits to nursing homes as "heartbreaking," encountering lonely individuals who await visits from loved ones that "never come".
  
  

• He recounts a specific instance where a loved one's roommate, in her 80s and losing functions daily, received no visitors for an entire month except her husband, realizing too late they should have had children.
  
  

• The author laments the "disastrous influence of our secular western culture" making inroads into Asian countries, where nursing homes were previously rare.
  
  

• He fears a future where "no revered elders anywhere in the world" will exist, and they will be "ridiculed, ignored, and then taken away to parts unknown, like a waste removal service".
  
  

VI. Things Fall Apart: A Transatlantic Odyssey by no author

• The author stresses that the high living standards, safety, comfort, and conveniences of advanced civilization are dependent on an "unseen and unsung army of skilled laborers".
  
  

• Many modern amenities, such as electricity and running water, were luxuries even for royalty a century ago but are now taken for granted by most in the developed world.
  
  

• The author's recent trip from Europe sparked concern that airline maintenance departments are struggling to maintain their fleets of aging aircraft.
  
  

• He worries that understaffing with skilled and reliable personnel could lead to consequences far more serious than mere inconvenience.
  
  

• The first flight from Vienna experienced a 25-minute delay due to a faulty cargo door sensor, despite the door appearing closed.
  
  

• The captain humorously attributed the fix to an engineer applying "magic spray".
  
  

• Heathrow Airport's layout is described as a confusing maze of "interminable corridors," making connections a challenge.
  
  

• Further delays occurred at security, including an "extraordinary search" of an elderly, disabled woman and a malfunctioning carry-on baggage conveyor.
  
  

• Approximately forty minutes into the transatlantic flight, the captain announced a mechanical problem, requiring the aircraft to return to London.
  
  

• The issue was identified as a failure of the AC packs on both engines, critical for cabin temperature and pressure, alongside reports of unusual mechanical sounds and an acrid smell.
  
  

• Upon returning to Heathrow, passengers were left on the tarmac without a gate assignment, awaiting a maintenance assessment with no clear timeline for repairs.
  
  

• The captain informed passengers he was signing off due to reaching his legal work limit, leaving the question of how they would reach Dallas uncertain, with a "hypothetical possibility" of a flight to JFK.
  
  

• Passengers received conflicting and constantly changing flight updates via text messages every two minutes.
  
  

• Instructions for transfer and baggage claim were disorganized, leading to confusion and long lines, with no initial information on digital displays for luggage collection.
  
  

• The author declined the airline's offer of a voucher for the "grim modernist room" of the Heathrow IBIS.
  
  

• Instead, he booked a room at the charming Pelham in South Kensington, choosing to make the best of his unexpected night in London.
  
  

• The author reflects that the Boeing 777, introduced in 1995, now feels like an "old horse" that is "often injured and in constant need of veterinarian care".
  
  

• This incident, coupled with a prior maintenance issue on his outbound flight, reinforced his concerns about the aging airline fleet and its reliability.
  
  

VII. Trump’s Effectiveness Has Now Been Shattered. Dems Will Win the Mid-Terms. by Eric Zuesse

• The author asserts that Donald Trump's effectiveness has been "shattered," predicting a Democratic victory in the mid-term elections.
  
  

• This decline is attributed to disastrous jobs numbers released on August 1st, showing significantly lower job additions than required to replace employees leaving the workforce.
  
  

• The author blames Trump's tariffs for "crashing the U.S. economy," due to the immense uncertainty they create for businesses planning supply chains months in advance.
  
  

• The constant changes in tariff policies make it impossible for American corporations to decide whether to switch suppliers from major exporters like China and Mexico.
  
  

• Trump's immediate firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, following the release of the bad jobs figures, sent "shock waves throughout the global financial community".
  
  

• This action, combined with the downward revision of previously published jobs numbers, has "severely damaged" the credibility of America's financial reports internationally.
  
  

• The author posits that the US is experiencing a "turning-point downward" as a global imperial power, with the "world-center" now definitively in Asia.
  
  

• He suggests that a mutual-defense treaty between Russia, China, and Iran could lead to a "bright" future, whereas a declining US empire's increased aggressiveness could lead to World War Three.
  
  

• Trump's "desperation" and "craziness" are exemplified by his response to Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev's statement about World War III.
  
  

• Trump publicly ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned "right up close to Russia" as a "retaliation" for what he perceived as a "personal insult" from Medvedev.
  
  

• The author warns that the "increasingly-desperate-to-maintain-its-hegemony U.S. Government will become even more boldly aggressive" in its declining phase.
  
  

• He suggests that simply waiting for the US empire to end would likely result in World War Three.
  
  

VIII. Marked for Death by a Reckless America?, by Ron Unz

• The author claims that Israel and the Zionist movement have used assassination as a tool of statecraft more extensively than any other political entity in recorded history.
  
  

• He cites Israel's strike against Iran, which allegedly resulted in the assassination of most of Iran's top military commanders, some political leaders, and prominent nuclear scientists, as a prime example.
  
  

• The author suggests that "considerable evidence" indicates the Israeli Mossad played a central role in the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and Robert F. Kennedy years later, which are described as the highest-profile political assassinations of the last century.
  
  

• These claims are supported by references to his own articles, "How Israel Killed the Kennedys" and "Mossad Assassinations".
  
  

• For several centuries, Western governments had largely abandoned political assassinations against rival nations' leadership, deeming such actions immoral and illegal.
  
  

• This changed over the last two decades, especially after the 9/11 attacks, with assassinations being euphemistically relabeled as "targeted killings".
  
  

• The Bush Administration carried out 47 "assassinations-by-another-name," while Barack Obama, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, increased this total to 542.
  
  

• Under President Trump, America took the "fateful step" of asserting the right to assassinate any world leader it unilaterally deemed "worthy of death".
  
  

• Kenneth M. Pollack, a former CIA analyst, expressed dismay at the erosion of prohibitions against assassinations, attributing it to the "Israelization" of American government and its military doctrine.
  
  

• The author argues that the American political system has been "almost entirely captured by 'The Israel Lobby,'" leading to US leaders adopting Israeli-style practices.
  
  

• The author highlights the strong likelihood of American involvement in attacks on Russia's strategic bomber fleet (a leg of its nuclear deterrent) and an attempt to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin with drones.
  
  

• He characterizes this behavior as "exceptionally reckless and dangerous," despite Ukraine claiming credit for the attacks.
  
  

• The author notes that America has maintained the world's largest biological warfare program for seventy years, spending tens of billions of dollars.
  
  

• He speculates that Russian President Putin's unusual seating arrangements during meetings with Western leaders were likely due to concerns that Western leaders might be "immunized carriers of a dangerous biological agent" intended to infect him.
  
  

• The author contends that American involvement in assassinations of Iranian and Russian leaders stems from "unrealistic assumptions" regarding the fragility and weakness of those regimes.
  
  

• He suggests that much of America's leadership operates within an "unrealistic propaganda-bubble," accepting fantasies like grossly exaggerated Russian casualty figures in Ukraine.
  
  

• Leading think-tanks like Rand Corporation and the Hudson Institute have published reports suggesting that China's military is weak and its government is "fragile and weak, and possibly ripe for collapse".
  
  

• The Hudson Institute, a "militantly pro-Israel Neocon research organization," even proposed preparing for American military deployment inside China to seize facilities and reconstruct the government after a collapse.
  
  

• The author contrasts China's historical economic growth and its real productive economy, which he claims is larger than the combined total for America, the EU, and Japan, with America's "decades of stagnation".
  
  

• He notes China's leadership in many technological sectors and its possession of "unstoppable hypersonic missiles".
  
  

• The author speculates that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Putin may have abstained from attending the BRICS summit in Brazil due to concerns about potential American assassination attempts, especially after the suspicious death of Iranian President Raisi.
  
  

• He argues that a country developing a reputation for assassinating other leaders, even during negotiations, will have "serious consequences" for international relations.
  
  

• Commenters question the characterization of Barack Obama as a "constitutional scholar," noting his lack of published academic work in the field.
  
  

• The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Obama is also deemed "meaningless" given the significant number of "targeted killings" under his administration.
  
  

• The American political system is described as "corrupted by the Israel lobby" and largely controlled by pro-Israel partisans.
  
  

• The author notes the "bizarre twist" that foreign students criticizing the government of Israel have been rounded up and deported under the Trump Administration, unlike those criticizing America.
  
  

• The author criticizes US leaders for believing in the "delusional might of American military power" despite the nation's vulnerability to indefensible hypersonic missile attacks.
  
  

• Think tanks are described as a "low-effort high payout industry," primarily funded by government to produce arguments for increased military spending based on "specious and sometimes absurd speculation".
  
  

• The author warns that if the US adopts an "anything goes" approach in warfare, other nations will reciprocate, taking off their own gloves.
  
  

• He notes that the US and its current leadership are "notorious for being unable to take a dose of its own medicine".
  
  

IX. Purifying American History by Dave Chambers

• The author critiques President Joe Biden's assertion that America was founded on "equality and democracy," arguing that this narrative is inconsistent with historical reality.
  
  

• He states that Founding Fathers like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were "race realists" who intended to preserve the American Republic exclusively for the white race.
  
  

• The concept of America as a "universal nation" open to all who embrace its propositions is dismissed as a "myth," contrasting sharply with the actual beliefs of the founders and subsequent leaders.
  
  

• The author, quoting Sam Francis, suggests that if one rejects the significance of race, then one effectively rejects America as it has "really existed throughout its history".
  
  

• The article introduces Kermit Roosevelt III's book, "The Nation That Never Was: Reconstructing America’s Story," which presents an alternative historical narrative at odds with popular understanding.
  
  

• Roosevelt, described as a "preacher in the church of racial egalitarianism," aims to craft a story of America that justifies and promotes his political ideology of "inclusive equality".
  
  

• The "standard story" of American history, propagated in public schools and by politicians, is summarized as beginning with the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, embodying "liberty and equality," and showing a continuous progression towards fulfilling these ideals despite past shortcomings like slavery.
  
  

• Roosevelt argues this "standard account" is "not accurate" because it presents a "fundamentally false story about where our values come from, and about who the heroes and villains of our national story are".
  
  

• Roosevelt contends that the Declaration of Independence is primarily about "independence" rather than "human rights" or "equality," serving the specific purpose of justifying the American colonies' secession from the British Crown.
  
  

• He states that the document "does not contain our modern values of liberty and equality" and its core is the political theory of popular rebellion against threatening government.
  
  

• The Constitution's primary objective was to "form a more perfect union" for the sake of interstate and international relations, not to establish equality among individuals or races.
  
  

• It focused on protecting states' rights, promoting free commerce, and ensuring republican government, with "almost nothing to say about the liberty and equality of individuals".
  
  

• Roosevelt proposes viewing Reconstruction as a "revolution that destroyed Founding America," allowing for a separation from the perceived "bad acts" of the Founding era.
  
  

• He controversially suggests that Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, despite its "magic trick" of invoking the Declaration, should be considered the founding document of "our America," asserting that the original Declaration actually sided with the Confederate South.
  
  

• Roosevelt praises the Fourteenth Amendment's birthright citizenship clause for expanding political communities in a way the Declaration never envisioned.
  
  

• He provocatively argues that the Fourteenth Amendment was "probably not valid" under the Founders' Constitution's ratification process, yet views its non-consensual imposition as positive because it served "justice and democracy".
  
  

• Roosevelt starkly links the Confederacy to "Founding America," stating that the "corpse of the Confederacy" represents the "body of Founding America" and the "death of the central principle of the Declaration".
  
  

• He concedes that the Confederates were the "rightful heirs of the Founding Fathers" in terms of their legal arguments, a position typically held by Southern sympathizers.
  
  

• Roosevelt labels the modern Republican party as adopting the Confederacy's ideology, portraying themselves as defending "founding values" that America abandoned during Reconstruction.
  
  

• He identifies figures from Nixon to Trump, as well as movements like the Tea Party and January 6 protesters, as heirs of the "Redeemers," who sought to reverse Reconstruction.
  
  

• Like Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln is depicted as an "avowed racialist" who initially intended to resettle freed blacks in Africa and did not aim to abolish slavery at the outset of his presidency.
  
  

• His later actions, such as the Emancipation Proclamation, are debated as potentially driven by political expediency rather than a change in his private racial views.
  
  

• The author argues that even the Reconstruction Congress, despite its progressive actions, was motivated by pragmatic goals (like bolstering Republican electoral prospects) and adhered to a form of "exclusive individualism," not Roosevelt's "inclusive equality".
  
  

• Senators during the Fourteenth Amendment debates expressed concerns about non-white immigration and sought to protect the interests of white "insiders".
  
  

• Roosevelt's proposed alternative history emphasizes that it "looks forward, not back," is a "story of failure, not success," and highlights "ruptures and breaks with the past, not a story of continuity".
  
  

• The author concludes that Roosevelt's narrative, by rejecting racial continuity with America's past, is "predictably underwhelming" and fails to find a true historical embodiment of "inclusive equality".
  
  

• A commenter describes Jefferson's phrase, "all men are created equal," as "the curse that has destroyed us".
  
  

• Another commenter clarifies that the problem lies in the misunderstanding of this phrase, arguing that true equality pertains to human rights, not to material possessions, physical or mental abilities, or opportunities, and that attempts to force these other forms of equality lead to national destruction.
  
  

• One commenter asserts that America was formed as a "Masonic construct" with ties to Jewish Messianism, arguing it was never a true "nation" due to its focus on race-mixing.
  
  

• They conclude that America is now a "Tower of Babel," a "garbage dump," and a "failed state" that "needs to disappear".