Tsunami fears hit the West Coast as scientists warn of 'inevitable' earthquake

Tsunami fears hit the West Coast as scientists warn of 'inevitable' earthquake

ELLYN LAPOINTE

Scientists are sounding the alarm after a series of earthquakes rocked the West Coast last week, warning a major seismic event is 'inevitable.'

Earthquakes trigger tsunamis by causing the ocean floor to rise or fall, pushing water above to form a massive wave.

But it isn't just California at risk, Washington sits along the Cascadia Subduction Zone that is capable of a 'megaquake', they said. 

Harold Tobin, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, said: '[The] 700-mile long fault capable of producing earthquakes up to magnitude 9 and tsunamis that will impact the entire coast.'

The quake and resulting tsunami could be devastate the Pacific Northwest, killing an estimated 14,000 people and injuring more than 100,000 in Oregon and Washington, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Cascadia Subduction Zone -that stretches from northern California to the Pacific  - last released a 9.2 magnitude 'megaquake' in 1700, and pressure has been building since.

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) states there is about a 37 percent chance that the Cascadia Subduction Zone will produce an earthquake of magnitude 7.1 or greater within the next 50 years.

Robert Ezelle, the director of Washington state's emergency management division, said: 'It's going to be the worst natural disaster in our country's history.'

'Washington has, second only to California, the greatest risk from earthquakes in the country, Tobin told KIRO7.

That is because the state its on active faults and fault zones, making seismic events inevitable. 

Along these faults, 'the earthquakes might be smaller, but the damage could be really much worse,' Tobin said.

Large earthquakes produced by these faults would likely cause mass property destruction, cut off access to certain neighborhoods and lead to numerous injuries and even deaths. 

'One would expect the power to be down, natural gas lines to be broken, maybe water and sewer lines to be broken,' Tobin said.

He told NBC News that if a major quake were to hit the Cascadia shaking would last five minutes, but tsunami waves would batter the coast for 10 hours.

Roads and bridges would be destroyed, along with some 620,000 buildings and about 100 hospitals and 2,000 schools. 

'We're unprepared,' Ezelle said, noting that residents would have to take care of each other due to Washington officials say they'd have to fend for themselves for at least two weeks.

And in California, the most recent large earthquakes did not stem from the San Andreas Fault, but the Salt Wells Valley and Paxton Ranch Fault Zones.

This magnitude 6.4 foreshock and magnitude 7.1 mainshock cut power to at least 3,000 residents in Ridgecrest and caused a total of 50,000 people to feel shaking.

That suggests a damaging earthquake can come from practically anywhere along the West Coast. 

Both the San Andreas Fault and the Cascadia Subduction Zone are long overdue for a major earthquake. 

School district bans pastors from Fellowship of Christian Athletes meetings

School district bans pastors from Fellowship of Christian Athletes meetings

Bob Unruh

A school district in the leftist enclave of Minnesota, now run by Gov. Tim Walz, the failed Democrat nominee for vice president in 2024 whose agenda has been to promote abortion and transgenderism, has decided to ban pastors from meetings of the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

A report from columnist Todd Starnes identified the school as Pequot Lakes Public Schools, which announced "non-school adults may not attend FCA meetings on a regular basis."

The report explained the school imposed the draconian viewpoint discrimination rule after the Freedom From Religious Foundation filed a complaint and accused a local youth pastor of recruiting students at middle school FCA meetings.

"They accused the middle school of using FCA meetings as a recruiting ground for a religious mission. They further contended that the youth pastor broke the Equal Access Act," Starnes reported.

Kyle Steinberg, a part of the FFRF team, complained, "Schools cannot constitutionally allow religious organizations to treat schools as a recruiting ground for their religious mission."

And Annie Laurie Gaylor, another FFRF member, insisted, "A pastor or other evangelists may not be allowed unobstructed access to a captive audience of public school students. The district has made the right call to abide by the Constitution."

Starnes, however, pointed out, "For the record there's nothing unconstitutional about a Christian club inviting a Christian minister to speak to Christian students."

Further, students may choose to attend FCA meetings, but are not ordered to do so.

Starnes pointed out if atheists want equal access they could start their own club.

Twin M5.1 earthquakes hit Santorini area, Ios becomes fourth island under state of emergency, Greece

Twin M5.1 earthquakes hit Santorini area, Ios becomes fourth island under state of emergency, Greece

Rishika Yadav

Ios became the fourth island in the Aegean to be placed under a state of emergency on February 15, following the trend set by Santorini on February 6, Amorgos on February 12, and Anafi on February 13, due to the ongoing seismic activity in the region since late January 2025. On January 18, two M5.1 quakes were registered between Santorini and Amorgos, shaking the area with enough intensity to be felt across multiple islands.

Two M5.1 earthquakes struck between the islands of Santorini and Amorgos early on February 18, as an intense seismic swarm continued shaking the region. The quakes, recorded at a depth of 8 km (5 miles) at 04:46 and 06:08 UTC, were the fourth strongest since the sequence began in late January.

This ongoing seismic activity has led to Ios becoming the fourth island in the Aegean to be placed under a state of emergency on February 15, following Santorini, Amorgos, and Anafi. The emergency status will remain in effect until March 14 as authorities continue to assess the region’s stability.Seismologists Dimitris Papanikolaou and Kostas Papazachos have recently dismissed concerns about the formation of a new volcano in the region.

“This is an unprecedented phenomenon,” Papanikolaou said, adding that the seismic sequence could persist for months. He clarified that while magma movement is occurring at depths greater than 5 km (3.1 miles), the likelihood of a volcanic eruption is low.

“There is no chance of a volcanic eruption right now. Both volcanoes are calm,” he added, referring to nearby Santorini and Kolumbos volcanoes.

Over 550 earthquakes recorded at Campi Flegrei caldera, prompting school closures in Pozzuoli, Italy

Over 550 earthquakes recorded at Campi Flegrei caldera, prompting school closures in Pozzuoli, Italy

Rishika Yadav

An intense earthquake swarm is in progress in the Campi Flegrei volcanic caldera, southern Italy, since 15:53 UTC on February 15, 2025. More than 556 earthquakes with magnitudes up to M3.9 were registered by 13:00 UTC on February 18. As a precautionary measure, schools in the town of Pozzuoli, which is close to the epicenter of the earthquakes, are closed today.

An intense earthquake swarm started at Campi Flegrei volcanic caldera — also known as Phlegrean Fields — at 16:53 LT (15:53 UTC) on February 15, with the area recording more than 556 earthquakes by 13:00 UTC on February 18, according to data provided by the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

The two strongest earthquakes measured M3.9. The first occurred in the Gulf of Pozzuoli at 15:30 LT (14:30 UTC) on February 16, and the second near Pozzuoli at 00:19 LT on February 17 (23:19 UTC on February 16).

In response to the increasing seismicity, Pozzuoli Mayor Gigi Manzoni ordered the closure of schools on February 18 to allow municipal technicians to conduct structural safety inspections.

The country’s Civil Protection Department also deployed volunteer emergency responders and established temporary shelters for displaced residents in Pozzuoli, Bacoli, and Naples.

Nello Musumeci, Civil Protection Minister, has appointed a special commissioner to oversee risk-prevention measures and has raised concerns over urban development in this seismically active region.

Zelensky Launches PR Offensive

Zelensky Launches PR Offensive, Accuses Trump of Living in a Russian ‘Disinformation Bubble’ – Trump Issues Savage Response, Calls Him a ‘Dictator’!

Paul Serran

While the eyes of the world are glued on the US-Russia Peace Process led by Donald J. Trump and Vladimir Putin, the war follows unabated with the same prospects as before: Russian Federation forces steamrolling the Ukrainian defenders.

In the last 10 days, a cursory search shows that Russia has conquered the settlements of Orekhovo-Vasilevka, Dachnoye, Dzerzhinsk, Yasenovoye, Vodyanoye Vtoroye, Zelenoye Pole, Berezovka, Figolevka, Yampolovka and Sverdlikovo.

No major cities, maybe we think it’s just a bunch of Slavic-sounding names, but we once again have to agree: it’s a lot of places.

In the meantime, Ukrainian ‘president without a mandate’ Volodymyr Zelensky is conducting a PR offensive to try and disrupt the peace process the best he can.

Just a glance at the headlines shows us the ‘information carpet bombing’ that the MSM (USAID media) is delivering on behalf of the ‘defender of democracy’ Zelensky:

• Zelensky says Trump is living in Russian ‘disinformation space’ [more about that below}
• President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine today does not have many formats to guarantee security, such as NATO
• Who is waiting to replace Zelensky? [It’s Zaluzhny or Poroshenko, for now]
• No, Zelenskyy doesn’t have 4% approval as Trump claims; it’s over 50% [That’s NOT true.]
• France says it does not understand why Trump blames Ukraine for war.
• Zelensky Says Won’t ‘Sell’ Ukraine in US Resources Deal [He was the one who brought the issue into the negotiations].
• Zelensky Responds to Trump Calling for Elections in Ukraine [As tyrants do].

All this crying and whining by the Ukrainian former comedian has overshadowed the grand development: Putin Says Normal Diplomatic Ties Restored Between Russia and US. Huge.

Zelensky tried to respond fiercely to President Trump’s latest ‘rebuke’, accusing Trump of living in a Russian ‘disinformation space’.

The Hill reported:

“’Unfortunately, President Trump, I have great respect for him as a leader of a nation that we have great respect for, the American people who always support us, unfortunately lives in this disinformation space’, Zelensky told reporters early Wednesday. […] Zelensky also pressed Trump and U.S. officials to ‘be more truthful’.”

Here’s the complete text of Trump’s blistering response:

“Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and “TRUMP,” will never be able to settle.

The United States has spent $200 Billion Dollars more than Europe, and Europe’s money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back. Why didn’t Sleepy Joe Biden demand Equalization, in that this War is far more important to Europe than it is to us — We have a big, beautiful Ocean as separation. On top of this, Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is “MISSING.”

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USAID Sent $9.3B To Islamic Terror States That Killed 3,000 American Soldiers

USAID Sent $9.3B To Islamic Terror States That Killed 3,000 American Soldiers

 DANIEL GREENFIELD

“It is really, really a sad day in America,” Rep. Ilhan Omar declared at a rally protesting the reconstruction of USAID.

It wasn’t a sad day for America, but it was so for Somalia.

Over the last two years, USAID doled out $2.3 billion in “humanitarian assistance” to Omar’s native Somalia. Last year it reported a request for $1.6 billion in aid and even in December 2024, with the Biden administration on the way out the door, it sent an additional $29 million.

USAID support for Somalia had doubled under the Biden administration and with $3.3 billion from USAID allocated in the last 5 years. the threatened withdrawal of funding must have been a painful blow for Omar, who is very close to the Somali regime. Former Somali Prime Minister Hassan Khaire had stated “the interest of Ilhan are not Ilhan’s, it’s not the interest of Minnesota, nor is it the interest of the American people, the interest of Ilhan is that of the Somalian people and Somalia.”

Somalia, along with other Islamic terrorist entities, including the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Gaza, were among the top beneficiaries of USAID cash.

USAID sent $2.1 billion to Gaza and the West Bank since the Hamas attacks of Oct 7. In 2024 alone, $917 million was programmed for the terrorist areas occupying Israel.

USAID provided over $3.7 billion to Afghanistan since the Taliban took over with $832 million in the previous fiscal year alone. The money was so unaccountable that USAID refused to cooperate with SIGAR: the government watchdog tracking spending in Afghanistan intent on blocking money from aiding terrorists.

Even while the United States of America was at war with the Houthis, the Islamic terrorist group firing on US Navy vessels out of Yemen, USAID continued to direct billions of dollars to Yemen. In 2024, USAID announced a $2.7 billion aid request for Yemen and allocated $753 million. Over the last 5 years, it doled out $3.4 billion.

Other Islamic terrorist states that have heavily drawn on USAID include Pakistan which harbored Osama bin Laden, but benefited from $600 million in the last 5 years. While some American towns and cities lacked clean drinking water, USAID labored to build plants for Pakistan’s majority Muslim population even while it engaged in the persecution of Christians.

USAID spent over $700 million on Iraq during the last 5 years even though the country has long since been governed by Iranian puppets whose militias have been firing on American soldiers.

$3.4 billion was directed to Syria over the past 5 years by USAID even as it was caught in a civil war between Shiite Islamists aligned with Iran and Sunni Islamists aligned with Al Qaeda.

USAID allocated $1.1 billion to spend on Lebanon even as the country was run by Hezbollah.

While USAID is unable to function in Iran, between Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, over $8 billion was sent to Iranian puppet regimes aligned with terrorism.

USAID had spent some $18.5 billion on Islamic terror states over those 5 years.

This is not a full list of USAID spending in Muslim countries, but only those countries whose governments are closely interlinked with terrorists, sponsor terrorist groups or serve as puppets of terror groups and states. Some of these countries are actively in conflict with the U.S. They include countries responsible for the murder of American soldiers and terror attacks in America.

USAID has sent $9.3 billion to Islamic terror states collectively responsible for killing over 3,000 American soldiers. Not only did Islamic terrorist states and groups kill us, but in the ultimate obscenity, we have rewarded them with millions of dollars for each of our murdered soldiers.

The reconstruction of USAID under the full umbrella of the State Department rather than as a ‘super-NGO’ advancing anti-American interests across the globe has been met with outrage by critics claiming that foreign aid advances our national security.

But is sending $18 billion to Islamic terror states really helping our national security.

USAID has provided massive amounts of funding for the UN and NGO ‘non-profits’ which operate inside terrorist areas with little to no oversight. Special exemptions have been handed out to allow distributors of ‘humanitarian aid’ to partner with and do business with terrorists.

Including some of the Islamic terrorist groups that America is still at war with.

It may never be fully known how much of our foreign aid went into the pockets of Islamic terrorists, but the USAID freeze and consolidation under the State Department can help make sure that the aid pipeline stops being a way to fund the Islamic terrorists killing Americans.

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration for Suspending Refugee Settlement Funding

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration for Suspending Refugee Settlement Funding

Jim Hᴏft

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging its decision to suspend federal funding for refugee resettlement.

The move comes as part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to realign American priorities—protecting the homeland first, rather than funding programs that facilitate unchecked migration.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, names the State Department, the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as defendants.

USCCB is incorporated as a non-profit and headquartered in the District of Columbia.

USCCB alleges that the administration’s decision to freeze funds allocated for refugee assistance is not only unlawful but also in direct violation of congressional appropriations and statutory obligations under the Refugee Act of 1980.

According to the complaint:

For nearly 80 years, the Catholic Church has been caring for refugees within the United States. Refugees face significant challenges upon entering the country, including locating housing, learning English, and finding employment.

The Church has long helped to ease those burdens and integrate refugees into American society by providing shelter, clothing, food, and training.

This work is an expression of charity taken in fulfillment of Christ’s commandment to serve those in need, regardless of their race, creed, or color.

For more than sixty years, Congress likewise has recognized that refugee assis- tance and resettlement is not just a moral imperative, but also is essential to this country’s interests.

In 1962, in response to the increase of refugees fleeing communist countries, Congress passed the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act, which authorized the appropriation of funds to address “urgent refugee and migration needs.”

The USCCB’s lawsuit hinges on the claim that the suspension of federal funds for refugee resettlement leaves thousands of refugees in limbo. But what these bishops fail to acknowledge is the utter disaster that Joe Biden’s reckless immigration policies have created.

Trump’s decision to pause this funding is a necessary step to clean up Biden’s mess and reassess where taxpayer dollars are actually going. Instead of prioritizing illegal migrants, Trump’s administration is focused on helping struggling American families, veterans, and homeless citizens—a fact that the liberal media and activist organizations conveniently ignore.

Last month, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14155, titled “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,” which suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) effective January 27, 2025.

This order halted the entry of refugees into the United States and suspended federal funding to organizations assisting refugees, including those already in the country. The suspension was to remain in effect until a determination was made that resuming the program aligned with U.S. interests.

From day one, President Trump has been clear—America’s resources must serve its citizens before being funneled into costly resettlement programs that historically have been rife with fraud and inefficiency. His recent executive order, which prompted this lawsuit, was designed to review and eliminate wasteful spending in foreign aid programs, including those that incentivize mass migration.

Yet, instead of respecting the administration’s lawful authority, the USCCB—a group that should be standing for American values—chose to challenge Trump in court.

What’s even more suspect is their legal argument: that halting taxpayer-funded resettlement efforts somehow violates federal law. Since when did charity become an entitlement to government cash?

If the USCCB is truly committed to its mission of helping refugees, why not use its own funds instead of demanding unlimited public money? The Catholic Church is one of the wealthiest institutions in the world, yet it insists on relying on American taxpayers to fund a policy that prioritizes non-citizens over struggling U.S. communities.

Ron Paul: Can We Really Cut Half of The Military Budget? You Bet!

Can We Really Cut Half of The Military Budget The Grift?

Ron Paul

The wailing sound you heard last Thursday was the chorus of the Beltway warmongers shrieking in despair at President Trump’s suggestion that there was no reason for the United States to be spending one trillion dollars on “defense.”

“…[O]ne of the first meetings I want to have is with President Xi of China and President Putin of Russia, and I want to say let’s cut our military budget in half. And we can do that, and I think we’ll be able to do that,” the President told reporters.

With this statement, President Trump blew up one of the biggest myths of our time, particularly among Republicans, that spending more on the military is essential to keeping us safe. There is a vast and well-funded network of political and industrial interests that depend on maintaining that myth, from the weapons manufacturers to the mainstream media to the think tanks and beyond. Why? Because most of what is called “defense spending” has little to do with defending this country and a lot to do with enriching the politically well-connected.

Maintaining that global military empire has bankrupted the United States while making us less safe and less free. President Trump seems to understand this. But the military-industrial complex and its cheerleaders have for decades pushed the idea that we could not survive without continuously increasing their budgets.

Thanks to the work of the “Department of Government Efficiency” we are learning that much of what has been sold as “essential spending” is nothing of the sort. Take USAID, for example. We were led to believe that this agency was feeding the poor while promoting the best kind of American values overseas. Thanks to DOGE, we learned that the money was going to absurdities like funding transgender puppet shows in Peru.

We are also learning that a great deal of USAID money was going to actually overthrow democratic governments overseas – as well as manipulate foreign media and promote censorship of “dissident” voices at home and abroad. Not only was USAID not helping countries overseas – it was actually harming them!

Just as with USAID, when we are able to see just where that one trillion military budget is going Americans are going to fully realize that they have been lied to for decades. That is why we need a full audit of the Pentagon and full transparency of the results.

We also need a change in policy. Americans are beginning to understand the economic costs of maintaining a global military empire. US taxpayers are forced to cover more than half of the entire NATO budget while European countries rattle sabers at Russia and threaten war. If Europe feels so threatened by Russia, why don’t they cover the costs of their own defense? Why do poor Americans have to pay for the defense of rich Europeans? Haven’t we had enough of this?

I very much hope that President Trump follows through with his plan to drastically reduce our bloated military budget. We can start by closing the hundreds of military bases overseas, bringing back our troops from foreign countries, and eliminating our massive commitments to NATO and other international organizations.

We also need a change in policy. Americans are beginning to understand the economic costs of maintaining a global military empire. US taxpayers are forced to cover more than half of the entire NATO budget while European countries rattle sabers at Russia and threaten war. If Europe feels so threatened by Russia, why don’t they cover the costs of their own defense? Why do poor Americans have to pay for the defense of rich Europeans? Haven’t we had enough of this?

I very much hope that President Trump follows through with his plan to drastically reduce our bloated military budget. We can start by closing the hundreds of military bases overseas, bringing back our troops from foreign countries, and eliminating our massive commitments to NATO and other international organizations.

Three Strikes?

Three Strikes—You’re Out!

Jeff Thomas

Strike One: Confiscation of Wealth

In 2010, the US government passed the massive (2,300 pages) Dodd-Frank Act. 

Ostensibly, Dodd-Frank was intended to end the excessive risk-taking that had led to the 2008 crash. Although Congress could simply have reinstated the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 (a mere 37 pages, the 1999 repeal of which led to the crash), it passed Dodd-Frank. Many congressmen admitted that they had never even read it before passing it. Unfortunate. Buried in that bill was legislation that allowed the opposite of what the bill was claimed to have been meant to do. It allowed US banks to confiscate account holders’ deposits—in other words, it codified the bail-in process.

Although no confiscation has yet taken place, a trial balloon for confiscation was sent up in Cyprus in 2013 and the world accepted the concept. The path is now paved for similar confiscation in the US. In essence, this means that any funds that are entrusted to any bank in the US are unsafe.

Strike Two: Civil Forfeiture

The stated purpose of the civil forfeiture law is to seize property that may have been connected in some way to a crime. In the 1980s, the US Congress gave the green light to law enforcement agencies to retain the proceeds of their seizures. In addition, the traditional “innocent until proven guilty” principle was thrown out. The onus was now on the accused to prove that his property was not connected to a crime. If he could not do so, the authorities could keep the proceeds.

But the enforcement of this law has not been focused on wealthy drug kingpins. Nationwide, it has been focused on the average citizen, who is limited as to his ability for recourse. Typically, he’s stopped by police as he’s driving down the road. His possessions (particularly cash) are seized on the claim of a minor traffic offense. Another method of seizure is to raid a home or business premises. Often, anything of value is taken, under the assumption that it “may have been connected to a crime.” And often, the charges are trumped-up and the arguments flimsy.

The accused must then fight in court to regain his property, which happens rarely. Most cases never reach the courtroom. In many that do, the individual finds he cannot afford the legal fees, so he either gives up or settles. Abuses abound and in some jurisdictions, seizure has become a full-time activity, netting hundreds of millions in value, little of which is ever returned, even if no charges are ever filed against the accused.

Strike Three: Removal of Free Speech

In December of 2016, the US Congress passed the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act, following a television campaign warning that “fake news” created by Russia had increased support for presidential candidate Donald Trump, allowing him to defeat Hillary Clinton.

The law provides for the implementation of an Orwellian “Ministry of Truth” to counter “foreign disinformation and manipulation” that ostensibly threatens “security” and “stability.”

No single government agency has been charged with the enforcement of this law, which suggests that any government agency that objects to published information that disagrees with its own will have the power to take action. It may punish “the extensive and destabilising foreign propaganda and disinformation operations being waged against us.”

The upshot of this is that the US government will have the authority to crack down on any group or individual that it decides is disseminating “propaganda,” including punishing and/or shutting down any source it deems guilty of disseminating information that does not match its own propaganda.

And so, returning to our investor, he’s looking at a country in which he already has three strikes against him. He’s almost certain to lose. What will he do? Well, sad to say, human nature dictates that he’s most likely to simply put his head in the sand and continue on regardless. If he’s already neck-deep in the US investment game, he’ll be inclined to continue and hope for the best, much to his eventual regret.

Historically, whenever any country declines to the point that its government has removed the rights of property ownership and freedom of speech, most people do tend to just hang in there and ride the train to the bottom.

Very few choose to vote with their feet and decamp to another jurisdiction where the laws are not so draconian. For whatever reason, that which is so easy to understand in baseball is very hard to understand with regard to investment and residency.

Editor’s Note: Unfortunately most people have no idea what really happens when a government goes out of control, let alone how to prepare…

The coming economic and political collapse is going to be much worse, much longer, and very different than what we’ve seen in the past.

Bitcoin: Financial Freedom or Digital Dystopia?

Bitcoin: Financial Freedom or Digital Dystopia?

Scipio Eruditus

In an era defined by rapid technological transformation and an ever-encroaching surveillance state, Bitcoin has been lauded as the panacea for our (admittedly) antiquated, debt-based, fiat monetary system. However, a growing body of evidence and analysis suggests that beneath the veneer of libertarian utopianism, Bitcoin serves a very different purpose.

At its inception in 2008, Bitcoin was conceived of as a “peer-to-peer electronic cash system” — a radical departure from the centralized paradigms that had defined monetary policy for the previous two centuries. The genius of Bitcoin lies in its novel amalgamation of cryptographic hashing and digital signatures. 

Hash functions, by design, transmute any input data into a fixed-length, ostensibly unique string: a digital fingerprint that is near-impossible to replicate. As such, digital signatures furnish a mechanism for the verification of transactional authenticity. The integrity of Bitcoin’s blockchain — the indelible, distributed ledger that records every transaction — is inextricably bound to the hash function known as SHA-256.

Herein lies an early portent of the platform’s double-edged nature: SHA-256 was a creation of the National Security Agency (NSA):

The integrity of Bitcoin’s blockchain and consensus over the ordering of transactions depend on a hash function called SHA-256, which was designed by the NSA and published by the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST).

Thus, while the ostensible brilliance of Bitcoin’s decentralized ledger seduces libertarians and technophiles alike, its reliance on an NSA-engineered technology — at the very least — opens up the possibility of a purposely engineered backdoor in its core cryptographic functions. Truly, it strains credulity to believe that the masters of digital lockpicking would release a lock to the world they don’t have the key to. Regardless of Bitcoin’s origins or its tangential ties to the NSA, the transparency of Bitcoin’s blockchain ledger serves as a veritable panopticon.

Every transaction forms a detailed tapestry of economic activity, readily exploitable by those possessing the requisite analytic and technical resources — like say, state security and intelligence agencies.

Moreover, the still elusive figure of Bitcoin’s inventor, Satoshi Nakamoto, intensifies the currents of suspicion. There is little controversy over the interpretation of Satoshi as meaning “intelligence.” However, his surname, Nakamoto, is more opaque; some have suggested it may mean “central origin.” Though a definitive interpretation is hampered by the absence of the kanji, this alternative reading intimates that Bitcoin’s genesis might be less a spontaneous act of anarchistic rebellion than a calculated maneuver to lay the intellectual groundwork for an all-encompassing system of control.

It is also incumbent upon us to distinguish Bitcoin from the broader phenomenon of blockchain technology. Whereas Bitcoin represents one specific instantiation of this technology — digital currency — blockchain itself is applicable to a myriad of domains, including logistics, identity verification, and “smart contracts.”

 The gradual normalization of blockchain constitutes a subtle indoctrination into a not-so distant future where every transaction, every datum, is permanently recorded and accessible. In this light, Bitcoin is not an isolated experiment but rather the herald of an all-encompassing digital order wherein surveillance is embedded in the very infrastructure of our economic and social lives.

The mythos of Bitcoin as an impervious, tamper-proof sanctuary of financial autonomy is a narrative ardently propagated by its supporters. Yet, a more circumspect analysis reveals that the very features extolled as enablers of freedom may also constitute its Achilles’ heel. Beneath the veneer of anonymity lies a system of considerable vulnerability — one whose cryptographic fortifications are not immune to exploitation, and whose ostensibly immutable ledger is a veritable treasure trove for state actors.

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Key Takeaways From Russia-US Talks In Riyadh

Rebuilding ties, finding common ground, Ukraine peace negotiations: key takeaways from Russia-US talks in Riyadh

RT

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has described the meeting with the US delegation as “useful” as both sides look to re-establish contacts

Russia and the US have taken the first steps towards normalizing relations after an impasse which lasted years under the Joe Biden administration.

Delegations from Moscow and Washington met on Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss the restoration of diplomatic ties, future Ukraine peace talks, and an upcoming summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Donald Trump.

The Russian team included Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, presidential aide Yury Ushakov, and Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev. Representing the United States were Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and special envoy Ambassador Steve Witkoff.

Here’s what the sides said following the meeting, which lasted nearly 4.5 hours:

Russia and the US will work to restore diplomatic missions

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the talks were useful and both delegations worked “quite successfully” on improving relations.

One of the first steps agreed upon during the meeting, he explained, is to once and for all solve the issue of diplomatic missions, given that both countries had exchanged a number of diplomatic expulsions during the Biden administration, resulting in a breakdown of communications between Moscow and Washington.

As part of this, Moscow and Washington have committed to appoint ambassadors to each other’s countries as soon as possible and remove the “artificial barriers” that had been built by the Biden administration to “seriously complicate” the work of Russia’s diplomatic missions and hinder the development of normal relations, Lavrov said.

The deputy heads of the diplomatic departments of the two countries will soon meet to put an end to these issues, among which Lavrov listed the seizure of Russian real estate in the US and the restrictions on bank transfers for the Russian side.

The Russian and American delegations “not only listened, but also heard each other” during the talks, Lavrov said. The US has begun to better understand Russia's position, which Moscow has repeatedly outlined over the years, he added.

Lavrov said that Russia and the US have expressed an interest in resuming consultations on resolving geopolitical issues and removing barriers to economic cooperation, noting that the American side has demonstrated a “determination” to “move forward” in bilateral relations.

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The Coming World Leader:

The Coming World Leader:

Skip Heitzig

Revelation 13 introduces us to one of the main characters on the stage during the Great Tribulation. We usually call him the Antichrist. Now, when some people hear of the Antichrist, they tend to snicker and grin in a condescending way, as if to say, “Oh, how hopelessly naïve!” They put him on par with Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. But make no mistake: This sinister, dark, evil person will come on the scene, and people will say of him, “Our savior!” He will deceive and destroy the world.

Six characteristics will mark this future world leader. The first is wickedness. In verse 1, he is called “a beast.” As John stands on a beach, he sees rising from the sea a monstrous, weird creature with seven heads, ten horns, and ten crowns. This creature is a hideous combination of three animals: a leopard, a bear, and a lion. This is how God sees the Antichrist—just as he saw Satan as a dragon rather than an angel of light. God is able to peel away the veneer of supposed reputation and reveal the fabric of one’s character.

The Greek term for “beast” is therion, which speaks of a wild, venomous beast, a monster. Paul calls this character “the man of sin,” “the son of perdition,” and “the lawless one” (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 8). The Antichrist will come on the world scene much like the angels at Christmas, saying, “Peace on earth” and offering a plan for world tranquility. But this will not last long. Midway through the Tribulation, he will commit what both Daniel and Jesus called “the abomination of desolation” (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15), thus revealing his true character. This beast, the Antichrist, will serve Satan and will receive both power and authority directly from the father of lies, the head of this counterfeit trinity.

The second characteristic is world dominance. Verse 1 says the Antichrist will have seven heads, ten horns, and ten crowns; verse 2 declares that the devil will give him his power, his throne, and great authority. This man will be granted power to “make war with the saints and to overcome them” and will be given authority over “every tribe, tongue, and nation” (v. 7). This recalls the vision in Daniel 7 of four beasts representing four distinct world powers: a lion (Babylon), a bear (Medo-Persia), a leopard (Greece), and a grotesque and terrifying creature (Rome). Here, John sees a single beast possessing all of the characteristics of the four creatures in Daniel 7. And this final kingdom will have seven heads and ten horns, representing separate governments that at the time of the end will come together in a confederacy.

This ruler will impose a new kind of world order on the planet—a world order with unprecedented influence. Daniel 7:23 says the Antichrist will devour the whole earth, trampling it and breaking it into pieces. If he is to deliver world peace, then he will need a global influence.

As world conditions decline—and the world will get progressively worse as we approach the rapture—there will grow such a cry for peace that any solution, any confederation that can promise peace on earth, will gain global support. By promising exactly this, the Antichrist will achieve global dominion.

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Christian Gathering In Iran Raided: Agents Confiscated Bibles, Musical Instruments, And Communication Devices.

Christian Convert Arrested in Northern Iran

Somayeh Rajabi, a Christian convert from northern Babol, has been detained by IRGC intelligence agents since February 6, according to Mohabat News.

The news outlet reported that over 20 intelligence agents raided a Christian gathering in Gatab, near Babol, on February 6.

During the raid, agents confiscated Bibles, musical instruments, and communication devices.

Attendees were forced to provide their personal information and phone passwords.

According to the report, agents forcibly removed and destroyed cross necklaces worn by attendees and denied medical care to those injured during the incident.

Rajabi contacted her family a day after her arrest, informing them that she had been transferred to a prison in Sari.

The arrest comes amid increasing pressure on Christians in Iran.