Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] The first lunar mission in 54 years may be postponed due to a major solar plasma outburst. This was reported on March 28 by the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Space Research Institute ( IKI ) of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
They indicated that a four-person crew would depart for the Moon on the night of April 1–2. This would take them outside the protective influence of the Earth's magnetic field, something that hadn't happened since 1972.
Scientists explained that during ejections near Earth, secondary effects of space weather are observed: changes in the magnetic field and atmospheric density, and an increase in the number of charged particles. However, in distant orbits, the spacecraft will enter directly into a cloud of solar plasma, which will envelop the planet for several days.
"In this regard, solar activity will be monitored especially closely in the coming days," the experts noted, recalling that in November 2025, due to solar activity, NASA postponed the launch of the ESCAPADE satellites to Mars.
At present, the laboratory noted, the probability of plasma reaching Earth is low. The cloud may only barely brush the planet. However, the Sun is beginning to systematically increase its activity, a process that could continue throughout the next week.
Includes interesting letter from Chevron CEO Andy Walz "An evil man will burn his own nation to the ground to rule over the ashes." ~ Sun Tzu
[California Globe] Is California on the precipice of social and economic collapse?
Nearly two weeks ago President Donald Trump announced he was invoking the Defense Production Act, and ordered the override of California laws blocking the restart of offshore oil production and the Santa Ynez Pipeline System to restart an oil pipeline project off the Santa Barbara coast, in the name of the "National Defense Resources Preparedness."
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright directed Sable Offshore Corp. to restore operations of the Santa Ynez Unit and Santa Ynez Pipeline System to address supply disruption risks caused by California policies that have left the region and U.S. military forces dependent on foreign oil.
With President Trump’s invocation of the Defense Production Act, overriding California laws, and restarting the Sable Offshore Corp. oil pipeline project, many are hoping that the federal intervention we’ve been asking for is here.
While California’s governor and Democrat-dominated Legislature have ignored the oil and gas crisis they have inflicted on California, oil experts have been warning that California’s faux "climate crisis" was leading to gas and oil shortages, dramatically increasing gas prices and energy costs, and a national security crisis.
We’ve been talking to the experts and warning for years, that California’s push to ban gas powered automobiles in favor of electric vehicles and an all-electric energy grid was not only preposterous, it would lead to potential economic collapse.
Chevron CEO Andy Walz was also warning of the impending crisis, as recently as September.
As petroleum expert Mike Ariza told the Globe this week, that was prior to the closure of Phillips 66 and Valero in Benicia. When the Phillips 66 plant closed both myself and my team were concerned that we were at or near our infrastructure limit to off load fuel tankers.
Then on January 31st, when Valero Benicia shut down, and not in April 2026 as media keeps claiming, prices started to climb. In Northern California gasoline and diesel had increased by over 80 cents per gallon in Hamilton City and Chico — Before the war with Iran started. "It was a definite indicator that we had in fact reached that infrastructure limit."
If you look at the letters that were dispatched by PBF, Chevron, and Marathon to CARB and the governor you can see a clear pattern. First, In the PBF letter they cite the closure of Valero in Benicia.
In early March, the Globe reported on Chevron’s letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Air Resources Board warning them of deep concerns and strong opposition to the CARB-proposed amendments to the Cap-and-Invest (formerly cap and trade) regulation, that the state’s few remaining refineries can’t survive, and the California economy could be crippled.
In the letter, Chevron President Andy Walz cautions that the price of gasoline will increase by more than a dollar a gallon by 2030 as a result of this regulatory change, as well as 536,770 petroleum industry jobs could be lost in the state if CARB’s proposal is authorized.
That is because "The proposed regulation will cripple the survivability of the state’s remaining refineries, which will result in California losing the entire industry to this misguided program. This regulation will increase transportation and aviation fuel prices for consumers. It will risk significant job losses, including many high-paying union jobs, while reducing funding for essential public services. It will upend California’s fuels market and threaten critical energy and national security assets."
"With regard to these Cap and Investment amendments the rates for the refineries will increase by hundreds of millions," Ariza said. "At the same time, foreign fuel imports coming from the polluting refineries and polluting ships DO NOT HAVE TO PAY these assessments."
"To me, the theme in Andy Walz’s letter from September was simple," Ariza continued. "The business climate in California is unacceptable. The state needed to make real sustainable durable changes to the way the state works with the refineries."
Here is Walz’s September 2025 letter:
"It is a very difficult place to do business. And if we don’t think we can get our return we’re going to put our money somewhere else. And I don’t want to do that.
It’s regulation. It’s the cost of doing business. It’s the cost of labor. It’s the cost of building.
Permitting fees and permitting time. It is a lot of things that make it very difficult for a company like Chevron and for a lot of businesses to do business in California. It’s very expensive."
With the closure of the Phillips Wilmington Refinery and Valero in Benicia "that means we lose another 20% of gasoline that people need to get to work, to get to school, to do the things they need to do. And that means prices are going to go up and it’s going to be less reliable.
I think we are at that crisis mode.
Chevron has been here for 145 years. We would like to stay. We haven’t made any decisions to stay or go yet.
But we need real sustainable durable changes to the way the state works."
Andy Walz, CEO Chevron Corporation
"So what did the state do in response?" Ariza asked. "They doubled down with insane fees on this Cap and Invest!"
"In our current configuration with only seven operating refineries we are absolutely in danger of uncontrolled PRICE SPIKES and ’SHORTAGES.'"
"These price spikes and shortages can be caused by multiple reasons as we had previously discussed. Some of these include storms delaying tankers, dock or equipment problems, unscheduled refinery downtimes, or unrest in various locations across the globe."
"This puts our civilian population and military at significant risk."
"Now three independent oil corporations have submitted separate letters stating that they will shutdown all six of their refineries and leave if the state refuses to negotiate with them on these proposed amendments."
"THIS IS A HISTORICAL PRECEDENT!"
Western States Petroleum Association says that in California we use 7 million gallons of diesel per day, Ariza reminded. "With the shutdown of all six refineries and the loss of 1.186 million barrels per day of crude oil refining capacity the state will lose a minimum of 7 million gallons per day of diesel production. In addition to that loss the state will lose nearly ALL of the remaining jet fuel production for EVERY AIRPORT in the state."
Ariza continued:
"Keep in mind that cities typically have three to five days of food supply on hand. With no diesel to transport food and with the loss of 25 million gallons per day of gasoline production people are going to starve. It’s simple logistics."
"If in May the air resource board adopts the Cap and Invest proposed amendments then I would expect letters from all three corporations stating their intention to shut down and leave the state."
Ariza’s concerns were amplified by War correspondent Michael Yon, who "has spent years tracking these patterns across continents. Now, he says the pieces are finally locking into place—and the result could be a level of famine the modern world has never experienced," The Vigilant Fox confirmed on Substack. "He says a far more dangerous chain reaction is unfolding behind the scenes, one that could hit every grocery store, every supply chain, and every household all at once. He explained that critical maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal, and Turkish Straits are not just trade routes, they’re lifelines for food, fertilizer, and fuel. If even a few of these are blocked at the same time, the effects cascade globally."
"If this happens then the feds have to step in!" Ariza said "The loss of these refineries will cause the largest economical collapse in the history of the United States."
They will redefine the word "SHORTAGE"!
"The civil unrest and probable loss of life in California, Nevada, and Arizona will be unprecedented."
"The threat to the military, the entire west coast, and the nation as a whole will be both real and severe!!!"
And why would Gov. Newsom and the state’s Democrat lawmakers do this to California? Do they really plan to burn this state to the ground to rule over the ashes?
With President Trump’s invocation of the Defense Production Act, overriding California laws, and restarting the Sable Offshore Corp. oil pipeline project, many are hoping that the federal intervention we’ve been asking for is here.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
03/29/2026 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1816 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
"The business climate in California is unacceptable. The state needed to make real sustainable durable changes to the way the state works with the refineries."
#5
I had not considered the impact on the military bases by what the Dems are doing in CA.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
03/29/2026 11:06 Comments ||
Top||
#6
They have the EV's. Sorry for you guys that live there, but I don't give 1 fuck any problems there. The military can get around their stupid asses I'm sure.
Posted by: chris ||
03/29/2026 12:37 Comments ||
Top||
#7
The military can get around their stupid asses I'm sure.
Yes, they can, chris, and the Defense Production Act is how they do it.
I would like to add that not everybody in California voted for Gavin Newsom. Republicans are suffering alongside Democrats. The difference is that Republicans understand that Newsom's war on energy companies is the problem while simpleton Democrats blame Trump.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
03/29/2026 16:51 Comments ||
Top||
#8
CARB is an unelected organization with way too much power. It needs to be abolished.
#9
As a native '59 Californian, I can only remember voting a couple times for democrats. That was back in the 80's when not all were communist and psychotic
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/29/2026 19:10 Comments ||
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[Breitbart] The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier that has been part of Middle East war operations, arrived at the Croatian city of Split on Saturday, the US embassy said in a statement.
AFP journalists saw the vessel arriving on Saturday morning as it headed toward the port, with the embassy saying it was part of a “scheduled port visit and maintenance”.
The carrier left a naval base in Crete earlier this week after returning to the base following a laundry fire onboard, which injured two crew members.
“During its visit the USS Gerald R Ford will host local officials and key leaders to recognise the strong and enduring alliance between the United States and Croatia,” the embassy statement said.
The United States and Israel launched a massive air campaign against Iran in late February following a major US military buildup in the Middle East that included the Ford and another aircraft carrier, the Abraham Lincoln.
Both ships — which have air wings made up of dozens of aircraft — have played key roles in Iran operations, and the withdrawal of the Ford leaves a gap for US forces in the region.
The Ford has been at sea for nearly nine months — a deployment that has already seen it take part in US operations in the Caribbean, where Washington’s forces have carried out strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats, interdicted sanctioned tankers and seized Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
A fire broke out in a laundry room aboard the carrier on March 12, injuring two sailors and causing major damage to some 100 beds, according to the US military.
The carrier has also reportedly suffered significant problems with its toilet system while at sea, with US media reporting clogs and long lines for restrooms on the ship.
Presumably all but a skeleton crew will be sent home, where morale and skills will become improved.
#2
"In my long contemplation of logs,
I have rarely seen mention of bogs."
So, would Patrick O'Brian
Be laughing or crying?
"Oui!" say les bidet-loving Frogs.
WASHINGTON, March 26 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday asking federal contractors and their subcontractors to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion practices, the White House said.
Trump has cracked down on public and private organizations - from government agencies to private universities - over DEI practices.
Civil rights advocates say DEI practices help address historic inequities for marginalized groups like women, the LGBT community and ethnic minorities. Trump casts DEI as anti-merit and as discriminatory against groups like white people and men.
#1
I certainly applaud his efforts, but'DEI' as it is known today, has been around for half a century or more. Likely no getting rid of it entirely in the short-term.
Starting on July 1, Idaho will become the only state in the union that uses a firing squad as its primary option to fulfill its death penalty obligations. Idaho will also become one of only three states that include child rape as a death penalty crime.
The most controversial part of this July 1 legal change is, believe it or not, Idaho adding the rape of a child under age 12 to its list of death penalty crimes.
In 2008, by a five-to-four decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty for child rapists was not proportional to the crime and struck it down as a violation of the Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
Since then, though, both Florida and Tennessee have passed laws adding child rape to death penalty crimes. With Idaho being the third, the Court will likely be forced to revisit the case, and we have a much different and more reasonable Supreme Court today.
I am sure Idaho will have a long waiting list of signed up volunteers for their firing squad. With each willing to supply their own 30 cal plus weapon and ammo.
But, I still like public hangings better.
As it put a much deeper warning thought into the minds of the public watching a Pedophile swing for few minutes, before cutting it down.
#4
Bootlegging and murder dropped off considerably in Bloody Williamson County, ILL after Russian born Shachnai Itzak Birger aka Charlie Birger was hung.
[ZH] In the latest indication of America's deteriorating relationship with the State of Israel, a federal legislator used a Capitol Hill hearing to ask a simple but long-forbidden question of America's top arms control official: "Does Israel have nuclear weapons?"
The official repeatedly refused to say what everyone knows -- that Israel has hundreds of nuclear weapons.
Hundreds? Absolutely nobody knows if that is true, except the Dimona mushroom growers and a few top Israeli military and political types. But hundreds sounds like an excessive investment for a small country that until Bibi Netanyahu rationalized the economy in the 1990s was definitely looking under the couch cushions for spare change to buy milk.
Worse, straining credulity, he told his interrogator, Texas Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro, that "it would be outside of my purview as the arms control and arms proliferation under secretary to discuss that specific question." Castro replied, "Sir, that is a dereliction of duty."
The exchange took place in a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday, with Castro grilling Under Secretary of State for Arms Control Thomas G. DiNanno. Castro persisted through DiNanno's repeated dodging of the question. "The consequences, as you know, are grave. This war continues to escalate," said Castro. DiNanno also refused to say if he himself knew the answer but was not allowed to say so....
A big reason why it's taboo went unmentioned during the hearing. Because Israel is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and also has nuclear weapons, every dollar of aid to Israel breaks American law. Beyond that, the feigned official ignorance about Israel's nuclear arsenal is meant to obscure the sheer hypocrisy of nuclear-armed Israel -- a country with a government increasingly dominated by expansionist and religious zealots
Such idiocy. Were Israel seriously expansionist, they’d not only have given up the Sinai peninsula, the Gaza Strip, and tried to give up the West Bank for peace, but in this last round they would have emptied Gaza and plowed it from north to south, then planted the entire thing in orange groves and cucumbers, while turning the emptied West Bank into vineyards, and taken back the entire Sinai. And there wouldn’t have been a thing the world could have done to stop them, even without the threat of nukes.
-- decrying Iran's enrichment of uranium, particularly given the US intelligence community has repeatedly assessed that Iran stopped its initial pursuit of such weapons 23 years ago.
#5
Based on the fact when nukes were coming into the modern world, all of the Middle East was against Israel... I would bet on Israel having them on that fact alone.
#1
"Folks, follow me, Moses, to Subway
For a honey and baby-on-bun tray
Or a cubitlong lamb
With a side of ["By d-mn!"]!
Seven shekels!"
[sign: "Closed until Sunday"]
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
