Lies trying to hide how bad the Biden Recession sucks continue to unravel, a mini Texas-vs.-California update, Ukraine makes another oil refinery go boom, true depths of human depravity, some Bill Burr and Critical Drinker links, and two tons of Murica. It’s the Friday LinkSwarm!
Against expectations of a small improvement from -11.3 to -10.0, the headline sentiment gauge dropped to -14.4 (the lowest end of analysts’ forecasts).
Furthermore, the production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, fell five points to -4.1, a reading that suggests a slight decline in output month over month.
Other measures of manufacturing activity also indicated declines this month.
The new orders index – a key measure of demand – dropped 17 points to -11.8 after briefly turning positive last month.
The capacity utilization index edged down five points to -5.7, and the shipments index plunged from 0.1 to -15.4.
The decline in new orders came alongside a surge in prices as raw materials costs rose to 13-month highs…
That has the stench of stagflation lathered all over it.
Also worse than reported: employment numbers. “Philadelphia Fed Admits US Payrolls Overstated By At Least 800,000.”
We first have to go back to December 2022, when we reported something shocking: as part of its data analysis of the “more comprehensive, accurate job estimates released by the BLS as part of its Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program”, the Philadelphia Fed found that the BLS had overstated jobs to the tune of 1.1 million! This is what the Philadelphia Fed wrote in its quarterly Early Benchmark Revision of State Payroll Employment report at the time:
Our estimates incorporate more comprehensive, accurate job estimates released by the BLS as part of its Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program to augment the sample data from the BLS’s CES that are issued monthly on a timely basis. All percentage change calculations are expressed as annualized rates. Read more about our methodology. Learn more about interpreting our early benchmark estimates.
So what did this “more accurate”, “more comprehensive” report find? It found that…
In the aggregate, 10,500 net new jobs were added during the period rather than the 1,121,500 jobs estimated by the sum of the states; the U.S. CES estimated net growth of 1,047,000 jobs for the period.
Lots of detailed analysis snipped.
Putting it all together, we now know – as the Philly Fed reported first – that the labor market is far weaker than conventionally believed. In fact, no less than 800,000 payrolls are “missing” when one uses the far more accurate Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages data rather than the BLS’ woefully inaccurate and politically mandated payrolls “data”, and if one looks back the the monthly gains across most of 2023, one gets not 230K jobs added on average every month but rather 130K.
Of course, none of that paints Bidenomics in a flattering picture, because while one can at least pretend that issuing $1 trillion in debt every 100 days to add 3 million jos per year is somewhat acceptable, learning that that ridiculous amount buys 800,000 jobs less is hardly the endorsement that the White House needs.
I think I link a story like this every year: “California Leads Among U.S. States Sending People to Texas in 2022. Florida and New York combined sent fewer people to Texas than California.” Leave any leftwing politics behind when you move…
California has a $55 billion deficit. But don’t worry, for the 24-25 fiscal year, it’s a $73 billion deficit.
A Russian-backed “propaganda” network has been broken up for spreading anti-Ukraine stories and paying unnamed European politicians, according to authorities in several countries.
Investigators claimed it used the popular Voice of Europe website as a vehicle to pay politicians.
The Czech Republic and Poland said the network aimed to influence European politics.
Voice of Europe did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment.
Czech media, citing intelligence sources, reported that politicians from Germany, France, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Hungary were paid by Voice of Europe in order to influence upcoming elections for the European Parliament.
The German newspaper Der Spiegel said the money was either handed over in cash in covert meetings in Prague or through cryptocurrency exchanges.
Pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk is alleged by the Czech Republic to be behind the network.
Mr Medvedchuk was arrested in Ukraine soon after the Russian invasion, but later transferred to Russia with about 50 prisoners of war in exchange for 215 Ukrainians.
Czech authorities also named Artyom Marchevsky, alleging he managed the day-to-day business of the website. Both men were sanctioned by Czech authorities.
“$100M missing from Bay area trust fund management company. A Bay area father who counted on a local non-profit to handle a trust fund designed for his daughter’s long-term care feels duped.” And this is a trust for special needs kids.
The radical leftists in control of Baltimore City Hall have plunged the metro area just north of Washington, DC, into apocalyptic levels. We advise readers to entirely avoid the metro area as violent crime spirals out of control.
Failed social justice reforms, defunding the police, and widespread mistrust of the police have resulted in a skeleton police force that will no longer be able to protect residents in some regions of the city.
Fox Baltimore reported last Tuesday that only three police officers were on duty for the Southern Police District, which includes more than 61,000 residents.
Joe Lieberman, RIP. One of the least reprehensible Democratic senators of the last 30 years or so. But I still remember this:
Don’t click on this link unless you want to plumb the depths of human depravity. Noteworthy: “He and his husband.”
Stellantis, AKA The European Monster That Ate Chrysler, just just laid off a whole bunch of white collar workers. Note their mention of focusing on “implementing our EV product offensive.” Oh yeah, they’re boned.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declares victory over Disney, as the latter has dropped their lawsuit over the the elimination of their special district status.
Sean Combs, AKA “Puff Daddy,” AKA “Diddy,” raided by the FBI. “A source close to the investigation told NBC News that the raid was connected to allegations of sex-trafficking and sexual assault and the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms.” “Source close” caveats apply.
The federal government is going to allow a shuttered nuclear power plant to be restarted. “The federal government announced that it would provide a $1.5 billion loan to restart a nuclear power plant in southwestern Michigan. NJ-based Holtec International acquired the 800-megawatt Palisades plant in 2022 with plans to dismantle it, but with support from the state of Michigan and the Biden administration, the emphasis has shifted to restarting the nuclear power plant by late 2025 instead.” Not wild about the loan part, but restarting America’s nuclear energy growth is long overdue.
Used Japanese homes are worthless Not just because of the shrinking population, but because they’re designed to be.
The Critical Drinker is not impressed with the Road House remake. “The Patrick Swayze original wasn’t exactly peak cinema. It was dumb and over-the-top and silly, and I don’t imagine people were exactly crying out for a remake. But damn, man, it’s like Citizen Kane compared to this version.”
School tries to ban American flag from truck. Result: Two tons of Murica.
Twitch is cracking down on streams that “focus on intimate body parts.” After watching this, I have one question: Where exactly did the lady featured obtain her “automatic butt jiggler?”
Feel-good crime aftermath story:
Dog shot during the robbery given a warm send off by hospital staff after undergoing multiple surgeries..🐕🐾🥺🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/OnSjqmRt2u
Dwight occasionally sends me emails titled “The Most Dangerous Profession in America,” each containing links to news stories demonstrating that the rapper lifestyle is frequently not conducive to the “life” part. So I was happy to return the favor when this Nate the Lawyer video on the Young Thug trial popped up in my feed, since the stupidity on display there is off the hook.
“A juror was arrested and sent to jail. The judge slaps a potential juror with jail time. Her offense: shooting video of courtroom proceedings.”
“A defense attorney [Anastsios Mannettas] was arrested and sent to jail.”
“Even a court officer was arrested and sent to jail.”
“Fulton County Sheriff’s deputy [Akeiba Stanley] arrested earlier today and accused of trying to smuggle contraband to a defendant in the case.”
“We’re talking about Grammy award-winning rapper Young Thug in his Rico trial in Georgia. Now, he comes from a poor Atlanta neighborhood. He grew up in a housing project, and then made it to rap superstar, having the number one album in the country.”
May 2020: A Fulton County grand jury “handed down indictments to Young Thug and 26 other people under the state’s RICO statute.”
“Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffrey Lamar Williams, is one of 28 defendants charged in a sweeping 56 count indictment against the criminal street gang Young Slim Life, also known as YSL.”
“The charges [range] from conspiracy to violate the Georgia criminal racketing law, murder, armed robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.”
“Also named: Sergio Kitchens, who performs under the name Gunna.”
Fulton County DA Fani Willis (she of trumped-up Trump charges) claims that gangs are responsible for 75-80% of violent crime in the area, which I rather doubt.
“According to the indictment, YSL is a criminal street gang. Started in late 2012 in the Cleveland Avenue area of Atlanta, prosecutors say Young Thug is a co-founder. He and his affiliates have played a role in some of the city’s most violent crimes.”
On RICO: “The only element that the prosecution would have to prove is that this gang is organized as a racketeering enterprise.”
“Now, after those indictments, people are looking at decades in prison, and the defendants start flipping like fish. Check this out:”
“Last week, Sergio Kitchens, better known as rapper Gunna, took the first plea deal, followed by Walter Murphy, an alleged YSL co-founder. Then Wunnie Lee (rapper Slimelife Shawty) and Martinez Arnold (rapper Lil Duke) cut deals. Now today Quantavious Grier (rapper Unfoonk) entered a guilty plea.” Grier is Young Thug’s brother.
“All five have been said sentenced between 9 and 10 years on probation. They will also have to testify at the YSL trial.”
Stanley: “Her arrest warrants detail her having an inappropriate relationship with an inmate: visiting his cell, communicating with an inmate through Instagram [Do prisoners in Georgia get access to Instagram? Is Internet access now a right? – LP] and trying to smuggle contraband to Christian Eppinger from one of his relatives. Eppinger is accused of shooting a veteran Atlanta police officer several times last year while he was being taken into custody.” Is Eppinger an aspiring rapper? Of course he is, under the moniker “Big Bhris.”
If you remember this SNL commercial, you’re officially old.
“A defense attorney for Young Thug and his crew was arrested for possession of prescription drugs and attempting to toss a phone to allegedly another attorney but missing it, hitting a deputy upside the head so they charged him with assault.”
“One of the defendants was caught passing Young Thug drugs in court.”
“Young Thug’s fellow defendant Khalif Adams [real name: Jeffery Williams -LP] passed Percocet to Young Thug under the guise of a handshake right in front of the entire courtroom. Adams is serving a life sentence per murder.”
The juror caught filming got three days for contempt.
“Things are getting so petty that a lawyer for one of the defendants was ordered by the judge to buy lunch for everybody from a nearby strip club, and, and, and with given the penalty of writing a 17 page essay or spending 20 days in jail for the crime of being late to court a couple of times he’s got to write a paper on being professional in court. I am not joking. It’s literally 20 days in jail or write this paper.”
The judge specifies “Papaer is to be published quality, in APA format, and at least 10 primary and 10 secondary sources.”
I’m skipping over the question of using Young Thug’s rap lyrics in the trial.
Speaking of Dwight, he sent over a link that one of Young Thug’s co-defendants was stabbed in jail.
One of the five co-defendants on trial with rapper Young Thug has been stabbed at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, delaying the proceedings for at least a day, authorities said.
Shannon Stillwell was stabbed multiple times Sunday evening and was in stable condition, the county sheriff’s office said in a news release Monday.
Is Stillwell an aspiring rapper? Of course he is, being known as “SB” or “Shannon Jackson.”
Stillwell was stabbed by another inmate, Willie Brown, during a fight between the two men, who were housed in the same zone, the sheriff’s office said. The cause of the fight wasn’t known, the release said.
Brown, who was arrested in July 202O and was being held without bond, was charged with aggravated assault and possession of prohibited items in relation to Stillwell’s stabbing.
