Kidnapping, Rape, Murder, Sex Trafficking, Child Labor: How Cartels Treat the Youngest Migrants

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You’ve heard the horror stories of illegal immigrant children forced into sex trafficking or labor trafficking. Jarrod Sadulski, an expert on smuggling, can tell you how those children end up in the hands of the cartels in the first place.

Mr. Sadulski has been studying the cartels and talking with migrants on both sides of the border and is revealing horrifying details of what the smugglers do to children.

Nearly every single migrant from Central America or South America is robbed in some way, he said. Some are killed if they can’t pay. Others are kidnapped and taken to Western Union to collect money from family members.

Children are stolen from families south of the border and become unaccompanied alien children in the U.S. The government sends them to communities across the country, where a grim fate often awaits: occasionally sex trafficking, but usually forced labor.

“The cartels are exploiting this by having children placed with sponsors who exploit the children for profit,” Mr. Sadulski said. (Read more from “Kidnapping, Rape, Murder, Sex Trafficking, Child Labor: How Cartels Treat the Youngest Migrants” HERE)

It Turns Out That Western Sanctions on Russia’s Booming Oil Industry May Be Falling Flat

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The West has sought to crack down on Russia’s oil sector through crippling sanctions in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine, but new data indicates that a key goal of the sanctions is not being achieved, Bloomberg News reported Monday.

The price for Russian Ural crude oil deliveries from a major Black Sea port to Asian buyers has fallen to its lowest mark since October 2023, while theoretical delivery costs — a metric that isolates the impacts of sanctions specifically — has also decreased, according to Bloomberg, which cites market research from a company called Argus Media. The price decreases allow Russian companies to keep a larger share of revenues earned from sales to buyers in China and India, and indicate that a key goal of the West’s massive sanctions package targeting Russia — increasing delivery costs — is not being met.

Russia is expected to rake in $9.4 billion in revenues from oil and gas in June alone, a 50% increase from the same period in 2023, Reuters reported.

Currently, it costs about $7.2 million to deliver one million barrels of Russian Ural crude to northern China by way of the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, according to Bloomberg. As of early April, the same delivery would cost $10.4 million.

The part of those costs that are thought to be directly attributable to the West’s sanctions have also decreased, down to about $2.8 million from approximately $6.8 million in April, according to Bloomberg. Additionally, the per-barrel price premium on oil shipped from the Baltic Sea to India has fallen by about 45%, currently sitting at $4 after being as high as $7.40 in April. (Read more from “It Turns Out That Western Sanctions on Russia’s Booming Oil Industry May Be Falling Flat” HERE)

Majority of Americans Approve of Trump’s First Term More Than Biden’s, New Poll Reveals

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A majority of American voters now approve of former President Donald Trump’s job performance during his first term, compared to less than that for President Joe Biden’s current term, according to a new poll released Sunday.

Among registered voters, 51% said they approved of Trump’s job performance during his first term, compared to just 41% who said that they approved of Biden’s job performance during his current term, according to a poll conducted by USA Today/Suffolk University. The voters who were surveyed following Biden’s poor debate performance also said that Trump would do a better job than Biden on the economy and immigration, two of the top issues going into the upcoming presidential election.

The economy was listed as the most important issue for 35% of respondents, while threats to democracy was listed as the most important for 21% of respondents and immigration for 19% of respondents, according to the poll.

Most of the voters surveyed said they prefer Trump over Biden to handle the economy, with 54% saying the former president would do a better job while 40% believed Biden would be better, according to the poll. (Read more from “Majority of Americans Approve of Trump’s First Term More Than Biden’s, New Poll Reveals” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Indian Prime Minister Visits Moscow for Talks With Vladimir Putin

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Moscow on Monday for a two-day state visit that included a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for Monday night.

Debate over the intended significance of Modi’s visit was rife in foreign policy circles on Monday. Officially, the Indian government said Modi was simply resuming a long-standing tradition of bilateral summits with Russia that was interrupted by first the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic and then Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. India has maintained cordial relations with Russia since the Cold War, upgrading to an official “strategic partnership” with an agreement signed in 2000.

The New York Times on Monday thought Modi wanted to signal his “determination to stick to his own diplomatic path” by hopping over to Moscow at a moment when the Western world is eager to isolate Putin and pressure him for peace.

For his part, Putin could use Modi’s visit to demonstrate that “the Kremlin continues to have a strong partnership with India, despite India’s deepening relationship with the United States.” India buys massive amounts of Russian oil at discount prices, an arrangement that has benefited both countries tremendously since the outbreak of the Ukraine war.

Bloomberg News speculated that Modi and Putin needed to clean up some thorny issues in their bilateral relationship. India is especially worried about Russia getting closer to regional arch-rival China, which has probably done more to help Russia get through sanctions than even India’s gigantic oil purchases. India’s massive trade imbalance with Russia is also causing Modi some political trouble at home. (Read more from “Indian Prime Minister Visits Moscow for Talks With Vladimir Putin” HERE)

Biden Dares Dem Party Elites: “Run Against Me”

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In a defiant interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” President Joe Biden dismissed calls from Democratic elites urging him to drop out of the 2024 presidential race, inviting them to challenge him at the Democratic National Convention instead.

“I was one of the few people out there publicly saying before the 2022 election there will be no red wave, there will be no red wave,” Biden asserted. “I’ve been all over the country. I didn’t believe it at all. Then in 2023, key elections, I went into those races, not every one of them, but a lot of them, saying we were going to win. We won those.”

Biden’s confidence in his electoral success reflects his far-fetched belief that the average American voter still supports him.

“The American public is not going to move away from me as an average voter. Again, I’m here for two reasons, pal. One, to rebuild the economy for hardworking middle-class people to give everybody a shot, a straight shot, everybody gets a fair chance. Number two, remember all this talk about how I don’t have the black support. Give me a break, come with me, watch. I’m getting frustrated by the elites, not you guys, the elites in the party. Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that don’t think I should run, run against me, announce for president, challenge me at the convention.”

Biden’s remarks come amid growing speculation about his ability to secure another term, with some party members expressing concern over his age and recent debate performances. However, Biden remains undeterred.

“In Europe, the polls were wrong in France and there’s no right wave here in America either,” Biden added.

Photo credit: Flickr

Radio Station Cuts Ties With Host Who Revealed She Asked Biden Questions Fed to Her by President’s Team

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A Philadelphia radio station has cut ties with the host who admitted to asking President Biden questions that were supplied to her by his team, WURD Radio’s leadership confirmed Sunday.

Andrea Lawful-Sanders, who previously hosted “The Source” on WURD 96.1 FM, scored the first post-debate interview with Biden last Wednesday.

However, on Saturday, she revealed to CNN’s “First of All with Victor Blackwell” that she was fed eight questions by Biden’s team — and used four of them as her only queries to the president.

Sara Lomax, WURD Radio’s president and CEO, said Sunday that she was not involved in negotiations for the interview.

“The interview featured pre-determined questions provided by the White House, which violates our practice of remaining an independent media outlet accountable to our listeners. As a result, Ms. Lawful-Sanders and WURD Radio have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately,” Lomax said. (Read more from “Radio Station Cuts Ties With Host Who Revealed She Asked Biden Questions Fed to Her by President’s Team” HERE)

Hunter Biden’s the Real Point Person in Joe’s White House — Don’t Underestimate the First Son

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While the focus has been on four-time Vogue cover girl Jill Biden and her screeching assurances that Joe is hale and hearty and fit for another four years, the first son has flown under the radar.

But Hunter is glued to his father’s side for a reason. He was with him at Camp David to help prepare for the disastrous debate, was there for the vainglorious Annie Leibovitz family photo shoot post-debate, then flew back with the president to the White House where he has been ensconced ever since.

He reportedly is acting as “gatekeeper” to his father and helping write speeches for him, while White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that he has been sitting in on Joe’s meetings with senior staff. . .

Hunter’s role also has caused concern for the powerful House Intelligence committee, with Republican chairman Mike Turner demanding to know if Hunter is “receiving classified information” . . .

Despite the questionable optics, Hunter is not even trying to hide his position of influence, and instead is acting proprietorial, important and in charge. Cameras caught him looking deliriously happy and networking like a pro in the East Room where his father was conducting a Medal of Honor ceremony Wednesday.

[I]n the addled state Joe is in now, unable to hide his cognitive deficits, Hunter is in the driver’s seat like never before. (Read more from “Hunter Biden’s the Real Point Person in Joe’s White House — Don’t Underestimate the First Son” HERE)

What a Sad Day for France

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Riots erupted in France on Sunday after Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced his resignation after election results revealed a far-left coalition was set to win a plurality of French parliamentary seats.

The results were a major upset for the conservative French who counted on Marine Le Pen’s National Rally to secure the win.

Footage showed thousands of protestors rummaging through the streets of Paris, setting fires and clashing with more than 30,000 police officers.

The New Popular Front (NFP) alliance is on course to have 172-215 MPs with Emmanuel Macron’s centrists on 150-180 seats and the RN on 115-155, according to projections by four leading polling firms. The party was formed last month, bringing together socialists, greens, communists and the hard-left into one camp – with the leader of the radical left, Jean-Luc Melenchon, vowing to implement several socialist policies, which critics fear will leave France ‘ungovernable’. Via the Daily Mail.

(Read more from “What a Sad Day for France” HERE)

Dems Predict ‘Sh*t is Going to Hit the Fan’ as They Plan to Push Biden Out

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The Democratic Party is in total chaos after President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance, leading the party to panic just four months before the November election.

As Biden continues to defy the country, saying that only God himself can convince the president to drop out of the race, Democrats are hellbent on pushing him out by the end of this week.

Democrats can no longer turn a blind eye to Biden’s ailing health after several of his last public appearances shed light on his cognitive decline.

Big-time donors have echoed similar sentiments, threatening to withhold funding until the 81-year-old president is no longer in the running.

“The sh*t is going to hit the fan on Monday when Congress returns,” a House Democrat told Axios. “People are scared about their own races. But they’re also worried about the country, and about democracy.” (Read more from “Dems Predict ‘Sh*t is Going to Hit the Fan’ as They Plan to Push Biden Out” HERE)

Man Killed by Exploding Firework Mounted on His Head

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A South Carolina man died Thursday after the fireworks mounted on his head exploded, New York Post reported.

Allen Ray McGrew, a 41-year-old father, was fatally injured when a firework he placed on his head exploded, according to the New York Post. McGrew, who was reportedly attempting to entertain neighbors at a local block party with a fireworks show, died instantly from head injuries caused by the accident. . .

“He was holding this firework over his top hat,” the wife told the New York Post. “I thought he was just showboating before he set it on the ground. I didn’t realize he had already lit it.” (Read more from “Man Killed by Exploding Firework Mounted on His Head” HERE)