The “Orange Man Bad” folks in corporate media are certainly singing a very different tune than the one they had expected to sing this past week. After all, this was supposed to be the week when they finally got him. This was supposed to be their golden opportunity to gleefully report on criminal charges against President Donald Trump.
Instead, most have been talking about grand jury foreman Emily Kohrs. Some have issued criticism against Judge Robert C.I. McBurney, who presided over the special grand jury. Still others are concerned that the investigating district attorney’s team working the case improperly. It’s all a mess.
Is this by design? Probably not. It’s probably just bad decisions made by multiple people. But I can’t help but think of a race I saw in junior high. One of the most popular boys in 5th grade, who prided himself on being an athlete, was challenged to a foot race by a girl. Half of the school was gathered during recess to witness the event. They raced from one tree to another; looking back I’d imagine it was about 50 yards.
The girl was starting to pull ahead halfway through the race and the boy tumbled. He got up limping. He said she’d tripped him. I was within 10 feet of the incident and watching intently. She was far enough ahead at that point that he couldn’t have touched her, let alone been tripped by her. He just didn’t want to face the shame of losing to a girl so he fell and pretended to be too injured to race again.
That’s the feeling I get from all of this. Again, I’m not saying it’s likely that this is happening, but it’s possible. Why did Emily Kohrs do a media tour and say the outrageous things she said? Why are the judge and prosecution making themselves look like a slapstick version of justice? Why is the media plopping their great victory in the memory hole so soon?
As Pam Key at Breitbart noted:
ABC News reporter Terry Moran said Sunday on “This Week” that the interview blitz of Fulton County grand jury foreman Emily Kohrs “damaged the investigation” of former President Donald Trump’s call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
Martha Raddatz said, “The forewoman of the grand jury investigation of whether Donald Trump or others were interfering with the 2020 election, she’s now under fire after her media blitz this week. We are back with the round table, and Terry, you cover the courts for us. This interview may have been toe-curling, but did she really break any rules?”
Moran said, “Well, no formal rules because the judge said you can talk to reporters, and that is a grand juror’s right. Please, the judge said, don’t damage the investigation. That’s what she just did. She beclowned herself for one thing. She looked like a fool, like, somebody looking for their 15 minutes, and damaged the investigation because this is no way to run a popsicle stand, much less a grand jury investigation of the former president of the United States in one of the biggest Georgia cases in history. She created a nightmare for the prosecutor who may bring charges, for the judge who’s going to preside over any trials, and given a gift to all the defendants, Donald Trump, if he is indicted and others as well.”
Team Trump is handling it properly by NOT focusing so much on Kohrs and instead pointing at their potential future adversaries in the prosecution. Trump attorney Drew Findling went on Face the Nation to put the attention where they need it:
Trump's lawyers now say the Georgia-based investigation into the former president and his allies has been "compromised" following recent public remarks by the special grand jury forewoman.
"We've lost 100 percent confidence in this process," Drew Findling tells @costareports. pic.twitter.com/mcfCJQpulC
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) February 26, 2023
It’s legally imperative that Team Trump put the focus on their future adversaries because if charges are brought forward, Emily Kohrs will no longer be a factor at all. It behooves Trump’s legal team to highlight impropriety by the prosecution instead. As noted by Daniel Chaitin at Daily Wire:
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, a Democrat, may soon use the special grand jury’s findings to pursue charges by impaneling a separate, regular grand jury. After the special grand jury finished its months-long effort, which roped in 75 witnesses, Willis told a judge last month, “decisions are imminent.”
The special grand jury’s report remains mostly under seal, but Kohrs divulged how it recommends multiple indictments. She also said despite her desire to subpoena Trump, the panel did not do so because of considerations about limited time and resources.
Several legal experts warned the interviews given by Kohrs might create problems for prosecutors putting together any criminal cases.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who oversaw the special grand jury, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) that jurors cannot discuss their deliberations but are not prohibited from “talking about the fruit of their deliberations.”
Findling said Trump’s legal team has “no chagrin” toward Kohrs in particular but rather the appearance of a “relationship” between prosecuting attorneys and the members of this grand jury.
If those involved with the grand jury are trying to “trip and limp” away from this, some will want to know why they would do it. The answer is pretty straightforward. The powers-that-be need to be able to blame an unfortunate series of missteps and odd circumstances for not bringing charges forward against Trump. Otherwise, they’d have to admit they simply didn’t have enough evidence to prosecute and they will NEVER admit that.
There seems to be only two possibilities. Either everyone involved in the special grand jury is pretending to be incompetent as an excuse for not leveling charges against Trump, or they’re legitimately incompetent. Or both. It’s probably both.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.