Society's ChildS


Gold Seal

SOTT Focus: Suck It, Wall Street

pitchforks
In the fall of 2008, America's wealthiest companies were in a pickle. Short-selling hedge funds, smelling blood as the global economy cratered, loaded up with bets against finance stocks, pouring downward pressure on teetering, hyper-leveraged firms like Morgan Stanley and Citigroup. The free-market purists at the banks begged the government to stop the music, and when the S.E.C. complied with a ban on financial short sales, conventional wisdom let out a cheer.

"This will absolutely make a difference," economist Peter Cardillo told CNN. "Now, if there is any good news, shorts will have to cover."

At the time, poor beleaguered banks were victims, while hedge funds betting them down as the economy circled the drain were seen as antisocial monsters. "They are like looters after a hurricane," seethed Andrew Cuomo, then-Attorney General of New York State, who "promised to intensify investigations into short selling abuses." Senator John McCain, in the home stretch of his eventual landslide loss to Barack Obama, added that S.E.C. chairman Christopher Cox had "betrayed the public's trust" by allowing "speculators and hedge funds" to "turn our markets into a casino."

Fast forward thirteen years. The day-trading followers of a two-million-subscriber Reddit forum called "wallstreetbets" somewhat randomly decide to keep short-sellers from laying waste to a brick-and-mortar retail video game company called GameStop, betting it up in defiance of the Street. Worth just $6 four months ago, the stock went from $18.36 on the afternoon of the Capitol riot, to $43.03 on the 21st two weeks later, to $147.98 this past Tuesday the 26th, to an incredible $347.51 at the close of the next day, January 27th.

Comment: Sadly, they're soon going to learn that the stock market, like the ballot box, will forevermore be stacked against them. This GameStop Rebellion is - and will hopefully continue to be - great fun, for a while, but we're in the Age of Tyranny now, and pathocrats HATE being made fun of.

On CNBC talking-head Sorkin's palaver about r/WallStreetBets investors 'hurting pension funds that invest through hedge funds', commentator Louis Rossmann has reported on the fact that the day traders' 'reckless activity' has so far saved at least one major pension fund:




Attention

Anti-Trump Lincoln Project turns on 'predator' co-founder after he's accused of harassing 21 men, offering jobs for sex

The Lincoln Project
© screenshot/Washingtonian
Longtime GOP operative and co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project John Weaver has been accused of sending unsolicited, sexually charged messages to over 20 men, including one who was only 14 when he first made contact.

Weaver had previously acknowledged sending inappropriate messages to men after multiple accusers came forward in recent weeks. The Republican, who has worked with John McCain, John Kasich, and numerous other conservatives, admitted to sending some of the messages and came out as gay in a statement, despite having a wife and two children.

"The truth is that I'm gay," he said. "And that I have a wife and two kids who I love. My inability to reconcile those two truths has led to this agonizing place."

Weaver apologized for making the men "uncomfortable through messages."

In a report published on Sunday in the New York Times, Weaver's alleged misdeeds were detailed more thoroughly, as 21 men came forward to accuse him of sending unsolicited messages. One accuser was only 14 when Weaver made contact, and still in high school when he began "asking questions about his body." The messages became more sexual in nature once he turned 18.

Weaver is not accused of anything illegal, but rather preying upon young men in the field of politics, offering professional and personal favors in exchange for sex. Only one of the message exchanges led to a consensual encounter.

Comment: Weaver is symbolic of the Lincoln Project as a whole: total fraud, and pathological to boot.


Bad Guys

Best of the Web: Lockdown tyranny: Calgary police take travelling woman into mandatory isolation, but refuse to tell family where she is

chris mathis
An Edmonton pastor may have found out the hard way Thursday night about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's new travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trudeau announced Friday morning all returning travellers into the country must go to a government isolation centre where another COVID-19 test will be taken. If a passenger tests negative, they will be allowed to return home for a strictly-enforced another 11 days. Those testing positive will be taken to another government facility for the rest of their 14-day quarantine.

Trudeau said it will cost each traveller about $2,000 for the cost of the test, accommodations and food.

The new rules weren't even announced yet Thursday night, but it appears officials at YYC were ready.

"(My wife Nikki) arrived in Calgary tonight and when she got there she was greeted by a Police Officer and an AHS official," wrote Pastor Chris Mathis on his Facebook page.

"They rejected her results and told her she needed to go immediately to an isolation facility. She was told if she resisted she would be arrested. She called me, and I immediately asked to talk with the officer. I talked with both a police officer and the AHS official, they reiterated what she had said to me. I asked for the address of where she would be, they said they could not give me the location address as it was confidential.

"I asked for their names, again they would not give me any information or their names. I pushed, I questioned, I tried to fight but they said they would arrest her if she resisted. They would not give me any information on where they were taking my wife.

Briefcase

Proud Boys face conspiracy charges after Capitol riot

Pezzola
© Win McNamee/Getty ImagesDominic Pezzola (L) stands among the crowd of Trump supporters • January 6, 2021
Federal prosecutors Friday night announced the first conspiracy charges against members of the Proud Boys over the group's role in the deadly Jan. 6 riot in the Capitol.

Prosecutors said in a news release that two members of the far-right "Western chauvinist" group conspired to obstruct law enforcement officers' efforts to protect the Capitol from the mob. The members, Dominic Pezzola of Rochester, N.Y., and William Pepe of Beacon, N.Y., had already been charged with lesser offenses from their activities on Jan. 6.

The new charges represented a substantial step up in prosecutors' actions against Proud Boys members. More than 170 people have been charged over the riot, though most have been over minor allegations such as disorderly conduct and unlawful entry.

Conspiracy charges were also previously announced against three members of the militia group the Oath Keepers over their alleged role in the chaos on Capitol Hill.

Comment: What the FBI claims to have found:
Prosecutors charge that Pezzola stormed the US Capitol on Jan. 6 by breaking a window with the shield of a Capitol police officer, ultimately "allowing the first group of rioters to stream through."

"The defendant's actions show planning, determination, and coordination," the court documents state. "His stated desire to commit further acts of violence, combined with his access to weapons-and-bomb-making manuals, is extremely concerning."

At the time of Pezzola's arrest on Jan. 15, the FBI executed a search warrant at Pezzola's home and discovered a thumb drive with hundreds of PDF files, including a "significant" sum that "provided detailed instructions for making homemade firearms, poisons, and/or explosives," the court papers state.

Prosecutors are seeking to have the court order the pre-trial detention of Pezzola.
In other arrests regarding the Capitol breach:
Two Pennsylvania women were arrested Friday for allegedly storming the U.S. Capitol building during the Jan. 6 breach and expressing intent to kill Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Dawn Bancroft and Diana Santos-Smith are facing three charges of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority, violent entry, and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

In a Friday affidavit, an FBI special agent described how cellphone footage, apparently filmed by Bancroft, show the pair exiting the Capitol.

"We broke into the Capitol...we got inside, we did our part," Bancroft, who wore a MAGA ski-cap, says in the video. "We were looking for Nancy to shoot her in the friggin' brain but we didn't find her."

But when prosecutors interviewed Santos-Smith, who is also depicted in the affidavit wearing a red MAGA baseball cap, on Jan. 20, she denied ever entering the building. They later showed her a video of the two of them in the Capitol, at which point she allegedly admitted she "lied" and said they didn't "have a pre-planned agenda."

Santos-Smith also said that when she and Bancroft approached the Capitol, they heard other pro-Trump supporters yelling, "They're letting us in," which she claimed to interpret as being "allowed" in. Though she and Bancroft tried to enter at various locations, they climbed through a broken window.

Santos-Smith told prosecutors that she "knew that they should not be going inside the building" and alleged that neither of the women entered any offices or either chamber. She claimed the pair of them left "approximately 30 seconds to one minute" after entering the building through the same window they came in.

Bancroft, who took the video, sent the footage to her children but then deleted it and advised them to do the same. She provided the authorities with additional footage and images she took from the day.
Additional threats were forthcoming:
Pezzola was later seen on video inside the Capitol with a cigar, having what he called a "victory smoke," and boasting that he "knew we could take this" over. The remarks showed Pezzola "invested a significant personal effort to take over the Capitol and that he did so in coordination with others."

An unidentified witness told the FBI that Pezzola was with a group at the Capitol whose members said they would have killed anyone they got hold of, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and then-Vice President Mike Pence, according to prosecutors. The witness added that people in the group said they'd return on the "20th" and kill everyone they could. The presidential inauguration was Jan. 20.

Pezzola, 43, served six years stateside in the Marines as an infantryman and was discharged in 2005 at the rank of corporal, service records show. His lawyer has said his client is self-employed and a family man.

Pepe, 31, was photographed inside the Capitol and later identified as a Metro-North Railroad train yard laborer who had called in sick to go to Washington for a Jan. 6 protest by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, according to a Jan. 11 criminal court complaint. Pepe, who lives in Beacon in New York's Hudson Valley, has since been suspended without pay from his job at the New York City-area commuter railroad.



Star of David

Police officer injured, five protesters arrested in Jerusalem 'Covid' protests


Comment: We're not sure, but they seem to be protesting FOR more lockdown measures...


notes for victims
© Sassoni AvshalomHabima Square, Tel Aviv: Notes symbolize 4,600 coronavirus victims in Israel.
Protesters in Tel Aviv scattered notes displaying numbers throughout Habima Square, meant to symbolize the people who have so far succumbed to COVID-19.

They called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign gathering on bridges and junctions across the country on Saturday afternoon for the 32nd consecutive week, with a march to Balfour street taking place in Jerusalem, an art exhibition dedicated to the Israeli victims of COVID-19 in Tel Aviv, and a protest attended by hundreds near Netanyahu's residence in Herzliya.

In Jerusalem, protests were organized by the Crime Minister and Kumi Israel (which translates to "Rise Israel") Movements. A march left the String Bridge at 6:30 p.m. and made its way toward the Prime Minister's Official Residence on Balfour street, demanding that an inquiry committee be established to investigate the government's conduct during the coronavirus pandemic, and protesting the decision to archive coronavirus cabinet protocols for 30 years.

Comment: Other scenes from the protest:
Anti-Neti Protest
© Black Flags MovementAnti-Netanyahu protesters at Yamay Junction
Protester Tel Aviv
© Sasoni AvshalomProtester against Netanyahu in Habima Square, Tel Aviv
These appear to be in contrast to anti-lockdown protests that have been taking place in Israel, usually by Orthodox Jewish settler families...


Syringe

Rep. Stephen Lynch tests positive for COVID-19 despite receiving both vaccine doses


Comment: So... maybe the vaccines don't work as advertized?


Rep. Stephen Lynch
© Alex Wong/GettyRep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) is pictured during a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing in Washington, D.C. on September 22, 2020.
Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday despite having completed a full course of vaccination against the virus.

Lynch tested positive more than a week after taking the second of two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and days after his office learned that a staff member had tested positive. Although both of the vaccines approved for use in the U.S. were tested to be around 95 percent effective in preventing infections, experts have cautioned that even those who have been vaccinated run the risk of becoming infected.

"This afternoon U.S. Representative Stephen F. Lynch received a positive test result for COVID-19 after a staff member in the Congressman's Boston office had tested positive earlier in the week," Lynch's Communications Director Molly Rose Tarpey said in a statement. "Congressman Lynch had received the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine and subsequently received a negative COVID-19 test prior to attending President Biden's Inauguration."

Tarpey added that Lynch "remains asymptomatic and feels fine" but will continue to "self-quarantine and will vote by proxy in Congress during the coming weeks." It is not clear when Lynch had the second dose of the vaccine, but maximum immunity to the virus is achieved at least one or two weeks after completing course of either approved vaccine. Pfizer has stated that protection can be expected a week after the second dose. Tarpey declined Newsweek's request for further comment or details.

Comment: Nothing to see here. Just a totally effective vaccine doing its thing.


Magnify

Facebook hires first chief compliance officer amid regulatory scrutiny

Facebook
© Reuters/Dado Ruvic
Facebook announced that it has hired its first chief compliance officer as the company faces scrutiny from regulators.

Henry Moniz will join Facebook on Feb. 8 to head the social media giant's compliance team, The Wall Street Journal reported. Moniz previously served as chief compliance officer and chief audit executive for media company ViacomCBS and will be the first to hold the title of compliance chief at Facebook.

Moniz will work under Facebook's general counsel Jennifer Newstead, according to the Journal, and report to a board committee that oversees audit and risk. Facebook reportedly hopes Moniz's appointment will help the company move toward its goal of enhancing global compliance and risk management as well as promoting high standards of legal and ethical conduct. Newstead said in a statement:
"The current regulatory environment demands strong compliance leadership, and Henry will play a key role in driving our ongoing commitment to continually strengthen our global compliance and risk management functions."
Facebook has faced increasing pressure from lawmakers and other regulators globally on issues of privacy, competition and taxes.

Comment: What goes around...Facebook is prepping an antitrust lawsuit against Apple - the core allegation targets App Store rules:
Facebook has reportedly been preparing an antitrust lawsuit against Apple for months, an allegation that the company is forcing developers to follow App Store rules that its own apps don't have to abide by. According to The Information, if Facebook decides to file suit, its complaint could also target Apple's refusal to allow third-party apps from becoming the default messaging service on its devices instead of iMessage. Apple has said that it's bringing in the policy to protect user privacy.

The potential litigation would follow an antitrust suit that Epic Games brought against Apple last year. The developer is seeking changes to Apple's business practices, including its cut of app sales and in-app purchases. Facebook and several other companies joined Epic in criticizing Apple's "unfair" policies.

Like Epic, Facebook could ask for changes to App Store rules rather than monetary damages from Apple. Apple claims its App Store rules reduce the risk of malware and scams.

Recently, WhatsApp accused Apple of having a double standard when it comes to data privacy labels on iOS.

When Facebook reported its quarterly earnings on Wednesday, CFO Dave Wehner suggested that Apple's plan to limit cross-site and cross-app tracking for advertising purposes, which should come into effect early this year, could have an impact on ad revenue.

Zuckerberg took a swing at iMessage for storing "non-end-to-end encrypted backups of your messages by default unless you disable iCloud." He claimed that WhatsApp was "clearly superior" when it comes to protecting people's messages.

The Federal Trade Commission and most state attorneys general sued Facebook last month. They accused it of anti-competitive practices by scooping up rival companies Instagram and WhatsApp and hope to undo those acquisitions. Apple, meanwhile, is the subject of a European Union antitrust investigation and is reportedly part of another probe by the Department of Justice.
Comes around... A West Virginia newspaper publisher is suing both Google and Facebook:
A West Virginia news publisher has filed an antitrust suit against Google and Facebook, who together receive roughly half of all digital ad dollars in the U.S. and are facing antitrust charges from federal and state authorities. The company, HD Media, owns several papers in the state, including the Herald-Dispatch in Huntington and the Charleston Gazette-Mail.

HD Media claims Google has so monopolized the online ad market that "it threatens the extinction of local newspapers across the country." The suit also alleges that Google and Facebook conspired to further their dominance with a secret agreement, referring to a suit filed by 10 Republican attorneys general in December.

The company claims it has hurt its ability to "effectively monetize its content" because Google is enabled to take an uncompetitive share of the news publisher's ad revenues.

It's the first antitrust lawsuit against a tech platform focused on news publishing, said David Chavern, head of the news trade group News Media Alliance.

HD Media filed in federal court in West Virginia and asked for a jury trial.



Dollar

Maxine Waters has given over $1M in campaign cash to her daughter


Comment: Maybe file this one under 'crony capitalism'?


Maxine Waters/Daughter
© Getty Images/KJNRepresentative Maxine Waters • Karen Waters
California Democrat, Rep. Maxine Waters has cashed in more than $1 million for her daughter through her campaigns since 2003, according to federal election data.

Karen Waters received over $1.1 million for her services with her mother's campaigns -- $250,000 of which came from the most recent election cycle, reported the Federal Election Commission.

Daughter of the California Democrat organized slate-mailing operations to bolster her mother's re-election.

Slate-mailing is an uncommon practice in federal elections, where a consulting firm is hired to create a pamphlet of sorts that contains a list of candidates or policy measures, and advises voters how to cast their ballots. Congresswoman Waters was reportedly the only federal politician to use a slate-mailer operation during the 2020 general election.

Though the practice is not all together that uncommon in the state of California, who has seen politicians like Gov. Gavin Newsom use the campaigning method. Vice President Kamala Harris also used slate-mailers during her 2017 Senate campaign.

But Water's daughter isn't the only family member who has profited from her time in congressional campaigns.

A 2004 report by the Los Angeles Times found that various members of Waters' family had received over $1 million during the previous eight years, from businesses and campaigns relating to the congresswoman.

Comment: Waters, who has reportedly 'converted funding into income' for years, continues to be elected. It is no secret.


Pumpkin 2

Twitter troll subbed 'Trump' with 'Cuomo' quoting Maxine Waters' infamous call to violence: Democrats lose their minds

Maxine Waters
© Mike Segar/ReutersMaxine Waters
Blue checkmarks and Democrats took to Twitter on Thursday to condemn a call for violence against Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the people in his administration. The quote in question, however, was actually a call to violence against former President Donald Trump and his supporters from U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., that a Twitter troll account called "Cuomo Watch" satirically modified to say "Cuomo."

"'If you see anybody from the Cuomo Administration in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. And you push back on them. And you tell them they're not welcome anymore, anywhere.' -Maxine CuomoWatch," the tweet reads.

Bullseye

It's not just Robinhood: The Reddit Rebellion has gummed up the entire financial system's plumbing

stock charts toilet paper reddit gamestop
While mainstream media is juggling with just who to be angry at, and who to virtue-signal for in the WallStreetBets Reddit Rebellion and Robinhood Rout episiode, the reality under the surface is that the US financial markets have just been punctured by the thin blades of truth. As CHS recently noted, "it is fatally wounded but nobody dares notice."

So, what's really happening with Robinhood et al...?

As @Compound248 details in this excellent thread, "this is a 'plumbing' issue. It is esoteric, even for those on Wall Street."

Here is the explanation of how the toilet is clogged.

Comment: