[FoxNews] A law enforcement expert says Memphis' dramatic drop in violent crime is a "blueprint for other cities" across the nation. That, or changing the reporting thresholds.
Data from the Memphis Police Department shows violent crime is down over 40% so far in 2026 compared to the same period last year, following President Donald Trump's establishment of the Memphis Safe Task Force — a coalition of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and the Tennessee National Guard.
#1
Memphis has been on my short list of "places too scary to visit." But there's an emerging correlation between deploying the National Guard and reducing crime.
Posted by: Matt ||
04/23/2026 13:04 Comments ||
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#2
Exactly so, Matt. I suspect that’s exactly the timing correlation that matters, not that the local police suddenly became significantly more effective with no change of ROE.
#3
My wife and I went to Memphis in 2013 because she's a big Elvis fan if you wanted to visit Graceland. Other than that or if you work for FedEx there is no reason on Earth to go there.
It was one of the scariest and most dangerous places I ever visited.
#4
Mr. Wife and I went to Memphis for the International Blues Competition every year when he was on the board of the Cincinnati Blues Society, and he has gone most years since with another former board member who organizes a winter blues festival here — they go to find performers for our little festival. The competition is held for the better part of a week in January or February in the bars up and down Beale Street.
I don’t doubt that it is precisely as dangerous as you say, EMS Artifact, but I am oblivious to the signs, being a child of the safe suburbs. Also, during the week of the competition, groups of uniformed Memphis police are visibly on guard throughout the area.
[Just The News] House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer told reporters Wednesday that he is not in favor of pardoning former Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell in exchange for her testimony and cooperation with the committee.
Comer said members of his panel are split over whether they support the pardon after she invoked the Fifth Amendment during her deposition earlier this year. Maxwell's attorney said she would only answer questions if given clemency.
The chairman said a lot of people are in favor of the pardon but that he himself is against it and that it has divided his panel. He did not indicate what lawmakers support the pardon.
"My committee’s split on that. I don’t speak for my committee," he told Politico. "I think it looks bad. Honestly, other than Epstein, the worst person in this whole investigation is Maxwell."
House Oversight Ranking Member Robert Garcia said his party is united in opposing the pardon, stating it would be a "giant step back" for Epstein's survivors.
#1
She's safe as was promised. Jeffrey Epstein is a fading public memory. She's not talking to anyone (especially the media). She's not written a tell-all book, and her pickleball game has vastly improved.
#2
I thought Elizabeth Warren was the only person in the legislature with pardoning power.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/23/2026 6:23 Comments ||
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#3
She is the daughter of Robert Maxwell, who received a state funeral from Israel and is buried at the foot of the Mount of Olives.
He also bought MacMillan, which published nearly every textbook in America for generations. We got our version of history (whites invented slavery, etc.) from him.
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] A transgender Utah woman and her lover have been accused of kidnapping her 10-year-old child and taking them to Cuba to allegedly get gender reassignment surgery.
Rose Inessa-Ethington, 42, the child's biological father, and her partner Blue Inessa-Ethington were arrested on Monday after being deported from Cuba.
Federal prosecutors said the couple brought the 10-year-old, as well as Blue's three-year-old child, to the Caribbean nation earlier this month, allegedly intending to force the child to transition.
The 10-year-old was born a male but identifies as a female, which worried family members said was 'largely believed to be due to manipulation by Rose', officials said in a press release.
Rose, who shares custody with the child's biological mother, transitioned to female after the child was born a decade ago, family members said.
The couple, from Cache County, Utah, raised concerns when they 'skipped out on a planned camping trip to Canada' on March 28, and the child was not returned to the custody of her biological mother five days later.
They had instead taken the children to Mexico City and then to Havana, and the child's family called police after raising 'significant concerns for the minor’s well-being.'
A search of their home then revealed 'to-do lists' to bring the 10-year-old to Cuba, including to 'learn Spanish', withdraw $10,000, obtain a tourist visa and 'empty' their bank accounts, court records showed.
In a press release announcing the couple's arrest, prosecutors said family members had long held fears that the child was going to be forced into 'gender reassignment surgery prior to puberty.'
On April 13, a Utah court ordered the 10-year-old be returned to the child's biological mother immediately, and granted her exclusive custody of the child.
The group were located in Cuba three days later, and were deported before being arrested upon their arrival back in the US.
The couple appeared in court on Monday in Richmond, Virginia, and are set to be transported to Utah for the remainder of their court proceedings, officials said.
Both Rose and Blue are charged in a federal criminal complaint of International Parental Kidnapping.
A GoFundMe set up by Blue in 2021 sheds some light on the family's struggles with Rose's transition, noting that her child's biological mother had custody at the time.
lf The fundraiser added that Rose was known as a 'cornerstone of the LGBTQ+ community' in Utah, and often organized marches and protests, taught 'diversity training' and lobbied lawmakers.
'Anyone who has spent time with Rose and [her son] sees how much care and thought she puts into parenting her gender open child,' Blue wrote in the fundraiser.
'[Her son] does exceptionally well for their age because of how Rose is raising them. Rose helps find safe and inclusive medical providers and schools for the child in addition to organizing appointments, buying clothes, and ensuring good nutrition.
'She even trains providers and teachers to make sure [her son] has the best chances of not being discriminated against.'
The fundraiser added that Rose was known as a 'cornerstone of the LGBTQ+ community' in Utah, and often organized marches and protests, taught 'diversity training' and lobbied lawmakers.
Posted by: Skidmark ||
04/23/2026 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1792 views]
Top|| File under: Nut Jobs
[GaterwayPundit] Prominent UFO researcher, Ancient Aliens personality, and bestselling author David Wilcock was found dead Monday in an apparent suicide outside his home in Boulder County, Colorado.
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a press release that deputies responded to a 911 call to the 1400 block of Ridge Road, where Wilcock resided, around 10:44 a.m. on April 20, regarding a possible mental health crisis.
When deputies arrived at approximately 11:02 a.m., they encountered a male subject outside a residence holding a weapon.
The man then used the weapon on himself. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The release did not name Wilcock, citing the need to notify next of kin, but many were quick to note that this is the exact block he lived on.
Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna subsequently confirmed Wilcock’s passing on X, writing, "We just learned of the tragic passing of David Wilcock. We are praying for his family and loved ones and the millions of lives he impacted."
Just two days before his death, Wilcock went live on YouTube and made chilling remarks about a pattern of deaths in his community.
"I’m excited to be here, you know, every day that I have on earth is a gift and a blessing, and I’m very grateful for that, because frankly, people are disappearing. Scientists are going missing," he said. "It’s a little bit scary."
I plan on LIVING. Not suicidal at all. Just concerned about what happens when you prove God is real.
Many of the victims had ties to sensitive defense research. Several were found dead under circumstances initially ruled as suicide or ruled undetermined, while others simply vanished while hiking or walking without their phones, wallets, or keys.
Wilcock’s death now adds another high-profile name to the growing list at a moment when federal authorities say they are actively probing possible foreign actors or larger conspiracies behind the pattern.s
#4
Skidmark's link directs us to a bit on Huntsville Alabama.
Huntsville, Alabama
Does the Rant know about Huntsville?
Huntsville was on the Soviets first strike list.
Space Force wanted to relocate there.
Why?
The Science. Black Projects. Special Access Programs.
Jim Ashburn - superconductors - Huntsville
Ning Li - antigravity - Huntsville
Richard Eskridge - antigravity - Huntsville
John Fuchs - warp drives - Huntsville
Huntsville is one of the most interesting places in the United States that we never talk about.
#5
REMEMBER THE MOVIE 2012?
There was a scene where Wood Harrelson pulls down a large chart of all the DEAD people to show John Cusack all those that were eliminated that knew of the impending disaster and/or Elite Evac preparations.
**Huntsville, Alabama, played a key role in President Reagan’s "Star Wars" program**, officially known as the **Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)**, through its long-standing involvement in missile defense research and development. As home to the **Redstone Arsenal** and dubbed “the Pentagon of the South,” Huntsville became a central hub for defense contractors and engineers working on advanced missile interception technologies during the 1980s.
**Engineers in Huntsville contributed to SDI’s ambitious goals**, which included space-based lasers, ground-based interceptors, and advanced sensor networks to destroy incoming nuclear missiles. One former Raytheon engineer, **Mike Schroer**, who began working on SDI in 1986, noted that while the technical challenges were immense, the day-to-day work focused on incremental improvements in sensor technology, computing power, and software—despite growing awareness of the program’s physical and financial limits.
- SDI faced major technical hurdles, including the difficulty of reliably intercepting multiple warheads and decoys under real-world conditions.
- Critics argued the system was technologically unfeasible and risked escalating the arms race.
- Though full-scale "Star Wars" was never deployed, **Huntsville remains a critical center for missile defense**, with ongoing work by the **Missile Defense Agency (MDA)** and contractors on modern systems that evolved from SDI concepts.
Today, Huntsville continues to be involved in next-generation defense initiatives, including efforts like the proposed **"Golden Dome"**, which some describe as a modern revival of Reagan’s original vision.
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] Residents across Nevada and parts of California were startled on Wednesday after a series of earthquakes sent shockwaves across hundreds of miles.
At least four notable tremors were detected near Carson City, Nevada, ranging from 2.6 to 4.8 magnitude.
The swarm struck at 10.23am PT (1.23pm ET) near Silver Springs, Nevada, an area that has experienced an uptick in seismic activity in recent weeks.
One local posted on Facebook: 'It's the same area that's been rocking us the past week. It's not stopping; I fear volcanic activity.
There are volcanic features in this region, but officials say they are generally considered extinct or dormant rather than active, immediate threats.
The US Geological Survey reported that shaking was felt as far west as areas outside Sacramento, California. One Californian shared on Facebook that they felt shaking in Colfax, which is about 140 miles west of the Nevada epicenter.
Residents across western Nevada reported feeling the ground shake for several seconds after the 4.8 magnitude quake, which followed a cluster of smaller tremors recorded minutes earlier.
One local shared on Facebook: 'Our house shook pretty good. It lasted longer than most do.' Another added: 'Here in Yerington, it felt stronger than the last.'
[HumangleMedia] From dozens of countries around the world, members of a violent independence movement are meeting weekly and raising thousands of dollars to fund a war back home.
On the last Sunday of June this year, members of an armed separatist group in Nigeria assembled for a Zoom meeting. Meetings like this have been held weekly since January to raise money for the group’s activities. They follow the same routine, starting with Land of the Rising Sun, an anthem adopted by Biafra when it broke away from Nigeria half a century ago. Then, they observe a minute silence for ‘fallen heroes’. Then, they play a second anthem used today by the group’s militia. But there was something a bit unusual about this particular meeting on June 30. The ‘Prime Minister’ was present.
About eight minutes in, 39-year-old Simon Ekpa began his address, welcoming participants to this “first special fundraising”. He wore a black t-shirt, a shiny necklace, and a smug smile. Behind him was a digital wallpaper showing the Golden Gate Bridge.
“This one is going to shock the enemy,” he said, still smiling.
“They will be saying, ‘Was it not yesterday there was [another] fundraising?’ Yes o. Even Ukraine is still raising funds, going from one country to another. We have not even controlled our central bank. The World Bank has not even recognised us. And we are fighting a country with a multibillion-dollar GDP and all that. As small as we are, we have shown that we are David. We are killing them, neutralising them with one stone, and we are multiplying. So today, we have come again for this special fundraising.”
Since July 2021, Ekpa has been at the forefront of a campaign to forcefully get Nigeria to break into multiple countries, including the ‘United States of Biafra’. The money raised at this event is meant to put things in place for a convention in Finland later in the year where the group plans to declare the ‘restoration of the state of Biafra’.
Biafra was the name adopted by Nigeria’s Eastern region when it seceded in May 1967. That declaration led to a years-long civil war, which claimed anywhere between 500,000 and three million lives. Most of those deaths were due to starvation caused by a blockade imposed by the federal government. Decades later, the cracks that led to the war and the new ones created by it are still present, and the calls for secession still ripple across the South East.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited by Vladimir Dobrynin
[REGNUM] Begoña Gómez, wife of Spanish Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, suspected of "abuse of office," was unable to quietly withdraw from the political scene after the word "corruption" first appeared in the press in connection with her name. And so, she can no longer quietly avoid criminal charges.
Recently, Madrid investigating judge Juan Carlos Peinado accepted the complaints filed by the civil society organizations Hazte Oir (Make Yourself Known) and Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), as well as the Vox (Voice) party. If the court upholds the 81-page A4-sized indictment prepared by these organizations' lawyers, Sánchez's wife will face 24 years in prison.
Furthermore, Begoña Gómez may be required to pay a fine equal to twelve times her average monthly income. She will also be banned from holding any public office for 30 years. It is not yet clear whether these years will be counted from the date the sentence is served or from the date the sentence becomes final.
The prime minister's wife faces such a litany of punishments if the court finds evidence of "influence peddling," corruption in business, misappropriation of funds (embezzlement), and "unjustified" (as the press softens the term "illegal") occupation of official position.
What "influence peddling" is requires no explanation, but Begoña's official position deserves some attention. The wife of the Spanish prime minister held the position of lecturer and head of the "competitive social transformation" department at Madrid's prestigious Complutense University. Even Gomez herself, on whose initiative the department was created, couldn't clearly explain the meaning behind this title.
Organizing this project required the prime minister's wife's efforts and financial expenditures. These expenditures, according to information available to the investigation, were assumed by the Madrid-based consulting firm Innova Next SL and the Valley Business School, both owned by businessman Juan Carlos Barrabes. These two organizations later won a pair of public procurement tenders, allegedly thanks to Gómez. The total amount received by Barrabes' firms for "utilization" of funds amounted to €15.6 million.
Investigators say "pressure from above was exerted on university management" to open a department "that was completely unnecessary." It operated for several years and was closed "as having neither scientific nor practical value" immediately after the investigation began. According to El Pais publications, Gómez holds neither an academic degree nor even a university education.
According to investigators, she also embezzled software worth €300,000, paid for with university funds.
Law enforcement agencies are also investigating the Spanish government's 2020 allocation of €450 million to Air Europa, an airline in deep financial crisis. The connection again points to Begoña: the company previously pledged to donate a large sum to a business project she initiated to develop entrepreneurship in Africa. Investigators are scrutinizing the personal and business ties of Pedro Sánchez's wife with the son of Air Europa's owner, Javier Hidalgo.
Against the backdrop of these millions, the accusation that Gomez used the work of the councilor of the Moncloa Palace (the seat of government), Cristina Alvarez, for her personal gain on a government salary seems like a mere trifle.
The European Union Public Prosecutor's Office has also taken an interest in Begoña Gómez's case. According to Madrid lawyer Miguel Ramos, "part of the funds Barrabes received at the insistence of the Prime Minister's wife came from European funds." This gives the prosecutor's office grounds to suspect misuse of the funds received by the businessman.
"In his April 11 ruling, Peinado agreed to complete the investigation and prosecute Gómez and two other individuals under investigation in this case—Cristina Álvarez and businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés, who won two public tenders from the Spanish Ministry of Digital Development using letters of recommendation signed by Gómez. This step is tantamount to formally filing charges," the press noted.
It didn't take long for government officials to react. Soon, Justice Minister Félix Bolaños, Transport Minister Oscar Puente, the government spokesperson, and the Minister of Social Welfare and Migration Elma Saiz addressed the media. As ESDiario points out, they "took turns launching a vigorous and clearly planned attack on the judge's decision to have Begoña Gómez tried by a jury on four serious charges."
"This was a planned operation aimed at undermining the judge's credibility even before the trial began. And, above all, it laid the foundation for the extremely dangerous strategy Sanchez is considering if his wife is convicted," the media reported.
Justice Minister Bolaños stated that the investigation "has brought shame on many citizens, as well as many judges in the country, and the damage to the good name of the Spanish justice system will undoubtedly be irreparable in many respects. " He called the investigation "extremely, extremely, extremely, extremely dubious" and attempted to butter up Peinado, pointing to him as a pleasant "exception to the majority of Spanish judges."
"An impartial higher court will overturn the decisions of lower courts," the head of the Ministry of Justice expressed confidence.
Puente expressed the categorical opinion that the judge had succumbed to pressure from "extreme right-wing politicians" and joined them in opposing "the people's democratically elected representatives." This rhetoric is no accident.
Often labeled as a far-right party and championing traditional family values, Vox has long been marginalized, much like the AfD in Germany. All political parties in Spain refused to form alliances with Vox, which threatened to sideline it. However, the "Begoña Gómez affair" prompted the major opposition Popular Party (Partido Popular) to collaborate with Vox. Now, Vox has a real chance of winning a seat in the country's government if the right-wing alliance wins the 2027 elections.
Manos Limpias was founded in the mid-1990s as a public servants' union. Its founder and director, Miguel Bernad, is a lawyer with ties to nationalists. He has filed complaints against the legalization of same-sex marriage*, against organizations supporting Catalan sports teams, against union pickets during the metro strike, and has alleged widespread human rights violations against inmates in Catalan prisons.
Furthermore, Bernard demanded criminal prosecution of the King's daughter, Infanta Cristina, for "misuse of funds" by her businessman husband. Miguel sometimes gets confused in his testimony: in 2005, he claimed the organization had won 30% of the cases it filed, while a year later he claimed 70%.
Hazte Oir is an ultra-Catholic and ultra-conservative association. In May 2013, Interior Minister Jorge Fernández Díaz of the People's Party declared it a "public benefit association." In 2019, the Socialist government's Interior Ministry announced the revocation of Hazte Oir's status as a public benefit organization "for belittling or undervaluing alternative ideas about the family."
Unsurprisingly, when mentioning all of these organizations in the media, the label "far-right" or "extremist" is tacitly mandatory. However, tellingly, when covering the situation with Sánchez's wife, publications try to refrain from referring to their "ultra-right" status. After all, the vast majority of newspapers in the Iberian kingdom support the opposition Popular Party (PPP), despite calling themselves "independent publications." Apparently welcoming the scandal that has erupted within the government, they avoid emphasizing the specific image of the plaintiffs, especially when some of them may become allies of the Popular Party.
The general population, however, shows little interest in what's happening. The vast majority of them continue to devote their free time not to media gems like "According to Sánchez, the opening of a trial against his wife would mean that the country's judiciary has carried out an anti-democratic, anti-state coup" but to searching for gas stations where they can fill up cheaply and figuring out Real Madrid's chances of closing the nine-point gap to Barça in the national football championship.
Israel, however, promises to add fuel to the fire of the corruption scandal by pledging to "present information that could have devastating consequences for the Spanish Prime Minister's inner circle" by July 23. Considering that the current Spanish government is arguably the most anti-Israel in Europe, the Jewish state will surely seize the opportunity to get even.
Official Madrid has long and consistently supported the Palestinian people, advocating for the creation of a new Arab state in the region and all possible sanctions against Israel. And, of course, it has actively and strongly opposed the military operation in the Middle East that began this year, calling American and Israeli actions in Iran "unjustified and dangerous." Spain even recalled its ambassador from Israel.
The threats to plant dirt on Sanchez and his entourage may prove hollow, but it's impossible to rule out the possibility of additional, interesting information emerging that the prime minister's political rivals will exploit. They're already baiting him at every opportunity.
None of them forgot how some intermediary firms profited from supplying the Cabinet of Ministers with personal protective equipment during the pandemic, and how the prime minister pushed through financial and military aid to Ukraine without parliamentary approval. It's not that the People's Party vehemently opposed aid to Kyiv, but they're always happy to remind the prime minister of his questionable actions.
According to Spanish political analysts, the trial of the prime minister's wife, to which Pedro Sánchez will be called as a witness, may not begin until next year. Spain will hold parliamentary elections in 2027, and the winning party will form the government. A dramatic conclusion to the corruption scandal with a verdict—even without all the demands of the public prosecutors being met—could mark the end of the Spanish Socialist government.
#1
Spain has strongly supported Ukraine the past 4 years. That has ticked off Russia even though Spain is sort of socialist and aligns with Russia in several issues.
Posted by: Lord Garth ||
04/23/2026 9:51 Comments ||
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#2
I thought being oppressed was a badge of honor among leftists.
I guess they want oppression without jail time.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
04/23/2026 11:16 Comments ||
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#3
Commies, Socialists, Fascists, Capitalists, they all have their 1%ers.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited by Gregor Spitzen
[REGNUM] The economic recession in Germany, a consequence of the deindustrialization of industry, which in turn was caused by a series of catastrophic mistakes in public administration and foreign policy, is forcing big business to seek unconventional solutions to the crisis.
He often follows the tried-and-true principle of "everything old is new again." Before the Franco-Prussian, First, and Second World Wars, state military procurement became the impetus for significant economic growth in Germany. So now, during the latest crisis, there's talk of returning to "old-fashioned" methods. But things aren't so simple.
Although the service sector currently generates approximately 70% of Germany's economic output, manufacturing still accounts for a solid 20% of GDP. However, judging by the emerging trend, the industrial sector's share of the German economy will only continue to decline.
According to official German government data, approximately 15,000 jobs are lost in German industry every month, particularly in the automotive industry, once a driver of growth and export revenue.
Mercedes, for example, reported a 49% decline in profits for 2025.
Shit. That’s not good.
Volkswagen (VW), the world's second-largest automaker, is in a similarly unenviable position: a 44% decline in profits over the same period and the announcement of plans to cut 50,000 jobs in the country by 2030. Premium brand Porsche is reporting colossal losses and a 98% decline in operating profit compared to 2024, which was already one of the worst years in the company's recent history.
At the same time, the Friedrich Merz government's policy of taking an €800 billion "loan" from the budget of future generations of Germans for "defense and infrastructure" and embarking on a course of limited industrial militarization opened up unprecedented public financing opportunities for defense industry companies. The results were immediate: according to the cabinet, nearly 90% of European venture capital invested in defense technologies is directed to German companies.
Across Germany's industrial belt, production lines that once fueled the German auto industry are being repurposed to serve the war effort. Idle factory floors and the growing pool of laid-off skilled workers are being redirected to the only sector experiencing rapid economic growth amid the crisis.
"Europe must be able to defend itself, and that means building a strong security and defense industry we can rely on. Repurposing existing production sites from other industries can reduce barriers to increasing domestic capacity," said Economy Minister Katherina Reiche.
Automakers are heeding the minister's advice. Volkswagen is now actively negotiating with Israeli companies to begin producing components for the Iron Dome system by 2027 at its Osnabrück plant in Lower Saxony, where the Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg were previously built.
While rumors of working with the Israelis have not yet been documented, collaboration with the defense sector will not be new for VW, which has been working with Rheinmetall for 15 years through the joint venture Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles.
Dutch tank manufacturer KNDS is also actively eyeing the VW plant in Osnabrück, but is keeping its interest under wraps. "KNDS is on a growth trajectory, and we are actively working to best meet growing capacity needs and exploring cooperation models with suitable industrial partners. Discussions are ongoing, but we will not speculate on market rumors," the Dutch company responded to an official inquiry from Süddeutsche Zeitung.
However, some experts in Germany doubt the feasibility of quickly converting the domestic auto industry to military needs. "The problems of the automotive industry cannot be solved by the defense industry. Such a conversion is only possible in a limited form," says Christian Mölling, a political scientist specializing in security and defense issues.
A problem recently surfaced at the long-suffering VW plant in Lower Saxony. Rheinmetall never received an order from the Bundeswehr for the six-wheeled, 18-ton Fuchs armored personnel carrier, which it could have manufactured in Osnabrück. However, the eight-wheeled Boxer armored personnel carrier, for which the company did receive an order, cannot be produced at the same plant because the workshop would simply collapse due to the armored vehicle's heavy weight—36.5 tons.
By comparison, in France, the process of restructuring the auto industry to meet military needs is somewhat simpler. The government directly contacts companies and orders everything they need. For example, Renault currently produces 6,000 drones per month for the French armed forces under a 10-year contract worth approximately €1 billion.
However, experts emphasize that the production of UAVs and armored vehicles are fundamentally different. "A drone can be produced anywhere. Its design is significantly less complex and consists of far fewer components than a battle tank," says Mölling. And his point is confirmed by Ukraine, where UAVs are often assembled in makeshift conditions by unskilled personnel.
EU authorities are also actively seeking ways to preserve industrial jobs while simultaneously increasing military production by utilizing production capacities that are currently underutilized due to the crisis in the European auto industry and integrating them into the production chains of Rheinmetall, KNDS, or BAE Systems.
It is curious that the same European Commission that for years promoted the "green" transformation, which contributed significantly to the European auto industry losing the economic race to China, is now actively speaking out in favor of the heavy military-industrial complex.
However, as practice shows, reorienting the auto industry to the needs of the Bundeswehr, if possible, will not happen tomorrow and on a very limited scale.
#1
The conversion of a car plant to tanks would not make economic sense, in my opinion.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
04/23/2026 6:17 Comments ||
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#2
Done here in the US during WWII. By Feb 1942 Ford, GM, and Chrysler were dedicated to Gov't production for the war. I believe civilian auto production resumed with the 1946 Model year. The UK went through a similar conversion with Austin, Bedford, and Daimler.
Gasoline and other commodities were rationed using ration cards, stamps and books. The S&H Green Stamp model had been successfully copied
#4
The chief problem would seem to be the lack of heavy (10~ton) gantry cranes in most auto facilities. They generally don't bother to put them in anymore.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
04/23/2026 8:43 Comments ||
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[Big League Politics] Democrats could be staring down a significant Electoral College disadvantage after the 2030 Census, as new projections show population trends continuing to favor fast-growing, Republican-leaning states.
According to recent analysis, as many as 14 Electoral College votes could shift away from traditionally Democrat-controlled states due to ongoing migration patterns and population changes across the country.
States like Texas and Florida are expected to lead the gains. Texas could pick up as many as three additional Electoral College votes, while Florida may add two. Other growing states, including Idaho and Utah, are also projected to gain representation.
Meanwhile, several longtime Democrat strongholds are on track to lose ground. California could lose up to three Electoral College votes, Illinois may drop two, and both New York and Rhode Island are projected to lose one each.
These changes are driven by population movement, which determines how congressional seats—and therefore Electoral College votes—are distributed every ten years following the census.
The trend is not new. After the 2020 Census, states like Texas and Florida gained seats, while California lost a congressional seat for the first time in its history. If current projections hold, the impact heading into the 2032 presidential election could be even more pronounced.
Much of the shift is being fueled by Americans relocating from high-cost, high-tax states to more affordable regions in the South and West. States like Texas and Florida have seen steady population growth as residents seek lower costs of living, job opportunities, and business-friendly environments.
At the same time, parts of the Northeast and Midwest have experienced slower growth—or even population declines—putting them at risk of losing political influence on the national stage.
The long-term implications could be significant. With fewer Electoral College votes coming from large blue states, Democrats may be forced to expand their electoral map into competitive Sun Belt states such as Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina.
Still, demographic trends don’t guarantee political outcomes. Voters relocating from blue states could shift the political makeup of traditionally red states over time, potentially making them more competitive.
#3
The Census Bureau cooked numbers in 2020 biasing their 'algorithm' to give blue states more reps. They'll do it again in 2030 unless they're forced to use a unmodified raw count.
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.
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] A transgender Utah woman and her lover have been accused of kidnapping her 10-year-old child and taking them to Cuba to allegedly get gender reassignment surgery.
