TL;DR

• This article is for off-grid builders planning to integrate wide-area communications into a code-aware electrical system
• Starlink is viable as a primary link if you can supply about 1.7–1.8 kWh per day or run on a scheduled work window, maintain a clear sky dome, and add automatic LTE failover
• Your site powers the terminal; traffic exits through ground gateways. Inter-satellite laser links can route to distant powered gateways during a regional outage, but extreme, wide-area events can still degrade service until backhaul is restored
• Plan about 70–75 watts continuous for terminal plus router; require unobstructed sky above roughly 25–30 degrees elevation for stable real-time calls
• 24/7 operation generally begins around 600–1,000 watts of PV and 4–6 kWh of LiFePO₄; an eight-hour work window often works with 200–400 watts of PV and 1–2 kWh of LiFePO₄
• Use Starlink as primary only when power, sky view, and LTE failover are solved; otherwise choose a directional LTE path first

Grid-down connectivity should remain an operational requirement for many homesteads and not a mere slogan. Starlink is a satellite internet system that uses a self-aiming dish and low-earth-orbit satellites to deliver broadband where trenchable fiber or reliable fixed wireless do not exist. If you run client work, remote instruction, or site monitoring, a sustained outage is lost revenue and diminished awareness. This assessment treats Starlink as a designed subsystem that you power from your own solar, battery, or generator. Traffic moves through satellites and exits via ground gateways on terrestrial backhaul, which means the link can route around some local failures but still depends on powered infrastructure somewhere on the ground.

The question is not whether the technology is impressive; the question is whether it is the right primary pipe for your site conditions, energy budget, and risk posture.

Starlink delivers broadband-class throughput and latency that support conferencing and cloud workflows. It is independent of your local utility drop because you provide the power, which can allow continued service when neighborhood cable or fiber is dark. It is not independent of ground infrastructure in absolute terms, because user links still traverse gateways tied to terrestrial networks. That mixed dependency is what you design around: enough energy on site to run the terminal when you need it and a second transport path to absorb policy shifts, congestion, or gateway issues.

Power Budget And System Sizing

Continuous draw is the governing constraint. A conservative design value for the terminal and router is about 70–75 watts, which is roughly 1.7–1.8 kWh in a full day. If you intend to operate only during office hours, the daily energy drops to about 0.6 kWh and the storage and array requirements change accordingly. Higher DC bus voltages such as twenty-four or forty-eight volts reduce conductor size and conversion losses and simplify integration with a quality inverter or a DC-DC supply sized for steady load plus margin.

Site Conditions And Link Stability

Low-earth-orbit tracking requires a clean sky dome. Brief obstruction from trees, a chimney line, or nearby terrain introduces short interruptions that a browser can mask but a live call cannot. Before you buy, run the obstruction tool at the exact mast location and confirm a clear arc above roughly twenty-five to thirty degrees elevation. If you cannot achieve that without pruning or a taller structure, model LTE as your primary path.

Starlink Decision Framework For Grid-Down Use

This framework replaces guesswork with three pass-fail checkpoints. If any fail, it’s best to treat LTE as a more ideal primary and revisit later.

You begin with sky clearance. Use the Starlink obstruction check at the proposed mount point at three different times of day and look for a clean report with minimal predicted events and a clear arc above the stated elevation. You then size the power system against your duty cycle rather than an abstract “always-on” assumption. Plan about 1.8 kWh per day for continuous operation, which typically implies several kilowatt-hours of usable storage and a mid-sized PV array, or plan roughly one third of that if you will schedule the terminal to run only during work hours.

Finally, require automatic LTE failover if your homestead depends on conferencing, voice over IP, or remote access, because policy changes and congestion are a certainty over a multi-year horizon.

For readers who want numbers in one place after that reasoning, here is the compact version. This list is not a substitute for the steps above; it mirrors them for quick reference after you have done the checks.

• Approve Starlink as Primary when the obstruction survey is clean, the power system can meet the calculated kWh with at least three days of autonomy, and a dual-WAN router with LTE failover is part of the design
• Approve LTE as Primary when the site cannot meet the sky or energy requirements, or when measured LTE with a directional antenna meets work needs with far lower draw

Installation That Respects Code And Roof Warranties

A reliable link starts with correct mechanical and electrical practice rather than exotic hardware. Choose a flashed, lag-bolted mount into rafters on a pitched roof or an engineered ballast mount on a flat roof after you verify exposure category, setbacks, and structure.

Then, bond the mast to the building grounding electrode system with short, straight conductors. Add surge protection on the power-over-Ethernet run at the entry point and at the rack. Use outdoor-rated cable with compression fittings and sealed penetrations with drip loops. Place a dual-WAN router upstream of your switches and access points so Starlink and the LTE modem occupy separate WAN ports and health checks govern failover. This approach allows local services such as storage and cameras to remain useful on the LAN even when both WAN links are down.

Operating Strategy For Energy And Workload

Operations policy has as much impact on energy cost as hardware selection. If you do not need overnight connectivity, schedule the terminal to power during working hours and shut down outside that window to avoid idle consumption and heater cycles in cold weather. Use wired Ethernet to the workstation for meetings and schedule large transfers during solar-positive hours. If you use a generator, keep the rack on a small line-interactive UPS so the link rides through transfer events without rebooting.

Cost And ROI

Starlink service in the United States runs about one hundred twenty dollars per month for residential plans, which is roughly one thousand four hundred forty dollars per year, with occasional promotions that change kit pricing. The capital outlay that matters to an off-grid site is the incremental energy system required to run the terminal when you need it. A round-the-clock profile typically implies several kilowatt-hours of LiFePO₄ storage and a mid-sized PV array; a work-hours-only profile often functions with roughly one third of that.

The economic test is simple: compare one day of lost income to the annualized cost of service plus the incremental battery and array capacity the terminal requires. If a single lost day has a value above a few hundred dollars, a scheduled-runtime configuration usually pays for itself; if your workload is light and your cellular signal is strong, an LTE-first design remains the lower-cost primary with Starlink added later as redundant capacity.

Starlink During Solar Storms

Space weather affects both satellites and the radio path that connects your dish to the constellation, so the correct question is not whether Starlink is immune, but how it behaves under real disturbances and what that means for a homestead. During the severe geomagnetic storms of May 10–12, 2024, SpaceX acknowledged “degraded service,” and independent measurements reported increased latency and pockets of packet loss rather than a complete network collapse. NOAA categorized that period as a G5-class event, the most intense level and the strongest since 2003, and invited impact reports from communications operators because multiple technologies saw effects.

In practical terms, users with clear sky and healthy power experienced slower and less stable links but often remained connected; users on marginal sites or with obstructions saw more pronounced issues.

A separate risk appears during launches and at very low orbital altitudes, where geomagnetic storms thicken the upper atmosphere and increase drag. In February 2022, a moderate storm caused about forty newly launched, low-altitude Starlink satellites to reenter prematurely. That event did not reflect the behavior of the operational network at nominal altitudes, but it does illustrate that solar activity can force operational adjustments and, in extreme cases, accelerate the retirement of aging units.

For an end user, the operational takeaway is straightforward: even with inter-satellite laser routing that can reach distant powered gateways, the user-to-satellite radio link still crosses the ionosphere and can degrade during severe storms, so you plan for temporary performance hits and you keep LTE failover ready.

When To Choose Starlink, When To Walk Away

Starlink is the correct primary path when the obstruction survey is clean, the power system can meet the calculated kWh with margin, and automatic LTE failover is part of the design. LTE or fixed wireless should come first when the site sits under heavy canopy or complex terrain that you cannot fix with a practical mast, when winter heater draw cannot be supported even with scheduling, or when measured cellular performance already meets your workload at a fraction of the power. The goal is not to own a specific device; the goal is to maintain a usable, testable pipe on ordinary days and during grid-down events.

Up Next:

Survival Life’s Ultimate Guide to SHTF Preparedness Plan

Survival Tech: Accessing Crucial Information When The Grid Goes Down

 

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A shotgun is one of the oldest firearm designs still in regular use, and for good reason. Put simply, a shotgun is brutally effective at close ranges where most home defense scenarios occur. Still, owning a defensive shotgun for the house is not the same as being ready to use it safely and effectively. Training is the foundation, but equipment matters a great deal too. Thoughtful, simple gear choices make the gun easier to use under stress. Too many accessories, or the wrong ones, create problems you will fight with when you need the tool to work.

A Proven Platform — The Defensive Shotgun

Build from a reliable base. For this setup I began with a Mossberg 590, the seven-shot tube version. The 590 is a defensive classic for a reason: rugged, familiar controls, and a long history of proven performance. When you choose your platform, think reliability first. Accessories come later and they should only be added if they solve a real problem for your mission.

Sling & Ergo

A sling is mandatory. It keeps the gun on your person, frees your hands without setting the shotgun down, and creates a degree of control so unauthorized users cannot easily grab it. For this build I used a Magpul sling and QD studs mounted to a FAB Defense stock. The Magpul sling is simple, robust, and fast to manipulate. Quick detach mounting gives you options without locking you into a single configuration, the QD studs also allow you to exit the sling from either end.

Ergonomics are about feel, texture, and repeatability. Fab Defense’s handguard in this setup offers plenty of M-LOK real estate for accessories, with added texture that helps when conditions are wet or when adrenaline has taken your fine motor skills. The rear stock in this case includes a shock buffer system. It looks like a standard buffer tube on the outside, but inside there is a spring and shock mechanism that soaks up recoil. I was skeptical when I first saw it, but after running hot defensive loads it genuinely soaks up felt recoil and reduces shooter fatigue. That means you can practice longer, cycle faster between shots, and remain more accurate when using stout loads.

Sights

Sighting choices should favor fast target acquisition and redundancy. On the 590 I mounted a Meprolight MPO DF. It is an RMR footprint red dot running on a CR1623 battery with a stated runtime of 15,000 hours. The DF’s purpose-built baseplate allowed an almost co-witness setup with the front bead, giving an optical fast-aiming solution while keeping a visible backup.

I also installed an XS Sights front bead night sight replacement. The XS front bead is a sensible backup because it is visible in extremely low light and costs far less than an optic. If your dot ever fails, the big white bead gives you a clear, quick index point and works well with a light.

An optic plus bead is the pairing I prefer. The optic gives instant aiming in dim conditions, and the bead is a zero-tech fallback. Practice both ways so you can transition fluidly if one solution fails.

More Than Lumens

A light is not optional. You cannot index a threat you cannot see. If you don’t have one on the gun itself you need to have some ambient light in your house and on the property itself. Out front, this 590 uses a Nextorch WL50B IR head unit with a momentary switch. Nextorch is known for building reliable weapon lights. The WL50B operates on CR123A cells or its rechargeable proprietary battery and capable lumen output is listed at 1000 lumens on high. It also produces IR output in its configuration, which may be useful in some setups and unnecessary in others. If you do not intend to use IR, select the white-light only option to avoid complexity.

Important detail: mounting and switching matter as much as raw lumen numbers. If your light’s switch is awkward, you will not be able to manipulate it under stress. Likewise, a light that moves around under recoil will fail you. Test the placement, and if necessary reposition the switch and secure the mount with thread locker where appropriate. This gun needed just that. I built what I thought would work, it sucked and needed to be moved.

Ammunition: Pattern & Distance

Ammunition selection is one of the most consequential decisions you will make. People often say, “get good ammo,” and that is true, but you need to define what “good” means for your house. The practical way to select a defensive load is to measure the maximum line-of-sight distance inside your home from the likely breach points to the positions where you expect the threat to present. That means walking the perimeter, imagining an intruder’s possible path, and using the farthest reasonable engagement distance as your test.

Buy three different loads and pattern them at that distance. Pattern testing shows you how the shot distributes and whether it is likely to keep the pellets inside the intended target. Shotguns remain ballistically powerful at home defense ranges, so you want the pellets to do their job on-target and not continue past where they can cause unintended harm.

In this build I tested Remington 00 Buck, which the data in this example reported as a nine-pellet packet at 1325 fps. Treat manufacturer and test data critically and test it on your own. I also tested Remington Rifled Slugger slugs through this 590. The gun is not fitted with a choke and is intended to run buck and ball. A rifled slug placed carefully from a smoothbore barrel shot a 1oz slug that averaged 1,416.1 fps over five shots in my testing. The Slugger easily hit a 9 in steel plate out to 50 yards, which demonstrates why slugs have utility when you need reach. Conversely, light birdshot like Nitro 27 is not ideal for defensive work; it has minimal recoil and cycles actions nicely for testing, but its wound potential and penetration patterns are designed for sport, not stopping threats.

The rule of thumb is this: choose a load you can place where you want it and that patterns acceptably at the distances you might actually need it. Only load that trusted defensive round in your defensive gun when it is actively being used for protection.

Recoil Management

Recoil is not only about shooter comfort. It affects follow-up shots, endurance during extended training, and the shooter’s willingness to use the gun. The Fab Defense shock-buffer stock in this build materially reduced felt recoil and allowed me to run heavier defensive loads without significant fatigue. That makes it possible to train with real loads more often and to maintain consistent performance.

Reliability is non-negotiable. Any accessory you add increases the chance of failure if it is not compatible or properly secured. In my build I had to reposition the light and its switch after an initial test, and I used Loctite on key fasteners where movement could have created failures. Run the gun hard, clear it, shoot a number of full-magazine strings, then re-check fasteners and mounts.

The Elephant 

Shotguns are “always empty” their power factor is high and capacity is low compared to handguns. There is no one right way to solve that problem; there are several perfectly valid approaches and a lot of personal preference and tradeoffs. Some shooters like a stock- or receiver-mounted caddy that holds a handful of extra shells in easy reach. Others prefer a side-saddle or Velcro shotgun cards that carry a tube-full of shells along the receiver for fast reloads. 

What matters more than which method you choose is that the extra ammo is on the gun itself.Whatever system you adopt, practice reloading with it until the motion is second nature under time pressure.

Pitfalls & Simple Rules

There are three simple rules that will keep your setup usable. First, keep it simple. If an accessory makes the gun harder to manipulate, remove it. Second, test everything. If you do not test the entire system… gun, mounts, sights, light, sling, and ammunition; assume something will fail when you need it. Third, train with exactly what you will use for defense. That means the same sling, stock, magazine pattern, light, switch placement, and loads.

Gimmicks sell well on review videos, but many fail under recoil or in a damp, chaotic environment. Smart buyers pick proven components, mount them correctly, and then practice until the system and the shooter behave as one.

Final Thoughts

A defensive shotgun is a high-power factor, low-capacity firearm. That reality frames everything that follows. You will spend more time managing the tube than you will firing rounds, so think about how you will carry extra ammo and how fast you can get it into the gun when needed. I didn’t give you a recommendation here, not because it’s unimportant but you have to commit to it yourself. 

A defensive shotgun is an honest tool: simple in concept, but precise in execution. Choose a reliable chassis, prioritize controls you can operate without fine motor skills, fit a dependable optic and a simple backup, mount a usable light, and pick and pattern your defensive load at real world distances found in your house. Add a sling and a practical method to carry spare rounds so the low capacity of the platform does not become a liability.

Above all, test and train. A well-built shotgun that has not been run, refined, and rehearsed will betray you when you need it. Build thoughtfully, practice deliberately, and keep the gear earned from experience, not impulse.

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There is one magazine that represents the interests of the global elite more than any other.  It is known as “The Economist”, and each year it puts out an issue that is dedicated to what is coming in the year ahead.  As we have seen so many times before, these issues tend to be alarmingly accurate.  The reason why they are so accurate is because the ultra-wealthy elite have an enormous amount of influence over the course of human events.  If they are absolutely determined to make something happen, there is a good chance that it is going to happen.  Ominously, it appears that they are anticipating a great deal of global chaos in 2026.

The Economist has been around since 1843, but it has never had a very large readership among the general population.

Ultimately, it is a publication by the elite and for the elite.

According to Wikipedia, it has editorial offices all over the planet but it is primarily based in the city of London…

The Economist is a British news and current affairs journal published in a weekly print magazine format and daily on digital platforms. Variously referred to as a magazine and a newspaper,^[6][7] it publishes stories on topics that include economics, business, geopolitics, technology and culture. Mostly written and edited in London,^[8] it has other editorial offices in the United States and in major cities in continental Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.^[9][8] The publication prominently features data journalism, and has a focus on interpretive analysis over original reporting, to both criticism and acclaim.

Many of the wealthiest families in Europe are among the shareholders of the company, and Sir Evelyn Robert de Rothschild was actually the chairman from the early 1970s to the late 1980s…

Aside from the Agnelli family, smaller shareholders in the company include Cadbury, Rothschild (21%), Schroder, Layton and other family interests as well as a number of staff and former staff shareholders.^[37][43] A board of trustees formally appoints the editor, who cannot be removed without its permission. The Economist Newspaper Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Economist Group. Sir Evelyn Robert de Rothschild was chairman of the company from 1972 to 1989.

If you want to know what the global elite are thinking, this is the publication that you need to be reading.

And the cover for “The World Ahead 2026” issue is perhaps the most ominous that they have ever published…

When you look at that cover, what stands out to you?

To me, the fact that there are so many symbols relating to war really got my attention.

There is a huge red tank on one side of the cover, and another huge red tank on the other side of the cover.

At the top there are several large missiles that look like they are ready to be launched, and at the bottom there are more large missiles.

Also, right in the middle we see two enormous swords that are crossed.

That is clearly meant to symbolize war.

Obviously they believe that war will continue to be a major theme in 2026, and that is something that I have been consistently warning about.

And they also seem to think that certain individuals will continue to be major players in world affairs during the coming year.

Volodymyr Zelensky is clearly visible in the upper right hand portion of the cover.

Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu appear to be depicted on the left hand portion of the cover.

And just like last year, Donald Trump is right in the middle.

On Monday, Trump refused to rule out the possibility of sending U.S. ground troops into Venezuela…

Asked if he would rule out US troops on the ground in Venezuela, Trump replied: “No I don’t rule out that, I don’t rule out anything.

“We just have to take care of Venezuela,” he added. “They dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country from prisons.”

Personally, I think that this is a trap.

If we go to war with Venezuela, a large portion of our military forces will be tied up and our relations with the rest of the world will greatly suffer.

And Trump is also suggesting that military strikes in Mexico and Colombia could be coming…

President Trump hinted at being open to sending military strikes to Mexico and Colombia in order to stop drugs on Monday, sending chills across the region.

The president made the comments during a press conference on Monday as he hosted a meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the White House task force on the 2026 World Cup at the Oval Office.

“Would I launch strikes on Mexico to stop drugs? It’s OK with me. Whatever we have to do to stop drugs. Mexico is…look I looked at Mexico City over the weekend. There’s some big problems over there. If we had to would we do there what we’ve done to the waterways? You know there is almost no drugs coming through our waterways anymore. Isn’t it down like 85%?” the president said.

On the other side of the globe, I expect the conflict between Israel and Iran to erupt again, I expect the war in Ukraine to continue to escalate, and I will be watching China very, very closely.

Getting back to the magazine cover, I also noticed that there is a chart that seems to depict some sort of a financial crash right under the crossed swords.

And not too far below that chart, there is a red image of a broken dollar sign.

In addition, throughout the bottom half of the graphic it looks like paper currency is falling everywhere.

Wow.

Obviously they are trying to communicate something about the global economy, and it certainly isn’t good.

Will 2026 be a year of financial collapse?

We won’t have to wait too long to find out.

I also noticed two gigantic syringes near the bottom of the cover.

And throughout the cover there are lots of “pills” floating around.

I started to count them, but there are just too many.

So what does this mean?

Are they suggesting that another global pandemic is on the way?

Will 2026 be a year when people are taking shots and pills to try to protect themselves from a major pestilence that has broken out?

Interestingly, an outbreak of the Marburg virus has just been confirmed in Ethiopia…

Ethiopia has confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in the south of the country, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Saturday.

The Marburg virus is one of the deadliest known pathogens. Like Ebola, it causes severe bleeding, fever, vomiting and diarrhea and has a 21-day incubation period.

Also like Ebola, it is transmitted via contact with bodily fluids and has a fatality rate of between 25 and 80 per cent.

The head of the World Health Organization, Ethiopia’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed on Friday that at least nine cases had been detected in southern Ethiopia, two days after Africa CDC was alerted to a suspected haemorrhagic virus in the region.

Personally, I am convinced that pestilence will be a major theme in 2026.

I hope that all of you have been getting ready for that.

Lastly, I wanted to mention the giant raised fist near the top of the cover.

A raised fist has been the primary symbol of resistance to the Trump administration.

And I don’t think that it is an accident that the giant raised fist has been placed right on top of the American flag in this graphic.

Are the global elite planning civil unrest in major U.S. cities in 2026?

We know that they have been lavishly funding far left protest groups in this country.

Will 2026 be a year when mass protests against Trump go to the next level?

I think that is their plan.

I think that they fully intend to unleash chaos, and that fits perfectly with what I am expecting too.

Unfortunately for the elite, I do not believe that they will be able to control the chaos that is coming.

We really are right on the brink of a global nightmare, and once it starts nobody is going to be able to wake up from it.

Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written nine other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post Super Creepy ‘The World Ahead 2026’ Magazine Cover Published By The Economist Shows They Expect War, Pestilence And Financial Collapse Next Year appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

For decades, an insidious Big Brother control grid has been growing and evolving all around us, and now artificial intelligence is allowing authorities to do things that they have never been able to do before.  Shockingly, that includes monitoring where we drive so that those with “suspicious” travel patterns can be detained.  There are many that are arguing that this kind of surveillance is unconstitutional, and it is certainly morally wrong.  How can we possibly be free if the federal government is literally watching us wherever we go?

I don’t want to live in a “Minority Report society” where the government is arresting people simply because an algorithm has flagged their travel patterns.

But that is precisely what the Border Patrol’s “predictive intelligence program” is doing…

The U.S. Border Patrol is monitoring millions of American drivers nationwide in a secretive program to identify and detain people whose travel patterns it deems suspicious, The Associated Press has found.

The Border Patrol’s predictive intelligence program has resulted in people being stopped, searched and in some cases arrested. A network of cameras scans and records vehicle license plate information, and an algorithm flags vehicles deemed suspicious based on where they came from, where they were going and which route they took. Federal agents in turn may then flag local law enforcement.

Suddenly, drivers find themselves pulled over – often for reasons cited such as speeding, no turn signals or even a dangling air freshener blocking the view. They are then aggressively questioned and searched, with no inkling that the roads they drove put them on law enforcement’s radar.

This is so wrong.

The AP spoke to eight former officials that have direct knowledge of this program.

All of them confirmed that this is happening.

You may think that you are safe is you do not live near the border, but when asked about the scope of this program the CBP explained that it can legally operate “anywhere in the United States”…

CBP defended its use of license plate readers, stating that the program is “governed by a stringent, multi-layered policy framework, as well as federal law and constitutional protections, to ensure the technology is applied responsibly and for clearly defined security purposes.” The agency added: “For national security reasons, we do not detail the specific operational applications.” According to CBP, while the U.S. Border Patrol primarily operates within 100 miles of the border, it is legally permitted “to operate anywhere in the United States”.

Reading that should send a chill up your spine.

Apparently this program began “about a decade ago”, and they have been going to great lengths to keep it secret…

Once limited to policing the nation’s boundaries, the Border Patrol’s surveillance system stretches into the country’s interior and monitors ordinary Americans’ daily actions and connections for anomalies instead of simply targeting wanted suspects. Started about a decade ago to fight illegal border-related activities and the trafficking of both drugs and people, it has expanded over the past five years.

Border Patrol has for years hidden details of its license plate reader program, trying to keep any mention of the program out of court documents and police reports, according to two people familiar with the program. Readers are often disguised along highways in traffic safety equipment like drums and barrels.

If the government is trying to keep a domestic surveillance program secret, that is a major red flag right there.

Obviously they know that they are doing something that the general population would not like.

So why are they doing it?

We are also being told that the government is “ramping up its social media surveillance” with new AI-driven tools…

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is acquiring powerful new surveillance tools to identify and monitor people.

They include apps that let federal agents point a cell phone at someone’s face to potentially identify them and determine their immigration status in the field, and another that can scan irises. Newly licensed software can give “access to vast amounts of location-based data,” according to an archive of the website of the company that developed it, and ICE recently revived a previously frozen contract with a company that makes spyware that can hack into cell phones.

The federal agency is also ramping up its social media surveillance, with new AI-driven software contracts, and is considering hiring 24/7 teams of contractors assigned to scouring various databases and platforms like Facebook and TikTok and creating dossiers on users.

When most of us post stuff on social media, we never even imagine that the feds might be spying on us.

But that is exactly what is taking place.

According to Politico, the Department of Homeland Security has contracts with several social media monitoring companies…

It’s not clear what tools the government is using to collect and analyze social media posts, and DHS didn’t respond to a direct request about how it is surveilling online platforms.

To get a picture of what kinds of tools they might be using, DFD reviewed active federal contracts from public government records, and found four DHS contracts with social media monitoring companies.

One of the entities that the Department of Homeland Security is working with is known as Zignal Labs.

Apparently Zignal Labs is able to monitor and analyze “8 billion social media posts per day”…

An informational pamphlet marked confidential but publicly available online advertises that Zignal Labs “leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning” to analyze over 8 billion social media posts per day, providing “curated detection feeds” for its clients. The information, the company says, allows law enforcement to “detect and respond to threats with greater clarity and speed.”

Essentially, Zignal Labs is using artificial intelligence to watch everything that we do on social media.

If you post this article on social media, they will see that too.

Big Brother is watching, and if something you post gets flagged, you could potentially get into trouble.

If we do not stand up and object now, they will just keep pushing the envelope even farther.

Eventually, we could end up just like China…

To get a sense of the capabilities of AI law enforcement, look to present-day China. Analysts estimate that over half of the world’s surveillance cameras are in China, and many of those cameras use AI facial recognition. AI algorithms identify people and track their movements, allowing the government to monitor their activities and their meetings with others. Iris scans act as a visual fingerprint of people, even those wearing masks. Spy drones fly above China’s cities, recording activities in ever-sharper detail. AI analytics can spot unlawful or anomalous actions, even littering. In recent years, Chinese authorities have installed facial recognition cameras inside residential buildings, hotels, and even karaoke bars. The goal of installing these systems is, according to a Fujian province police department, “controlling and managing people.”

Increasingly, AI is used not just for surveillance but also for policing. Semi-autonomous AI police robots operate without human input a majority of the time. In China, these police robots patrol public places and use facial recognition to scan for people wanted by law enforcement. When such a person is detected, the robot begins following them until the police arrive. Other robots knock suspects over or fire a “net gun” to immobilize them.

In China, there is nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.

The Chinese government uses artificial intelligence to monitor everyone and everything, and even the smallest infringement can affect your social credit score.

What the Chinese have created is the exact opposite of a free society.

And that is where we are heading too if we continue to go down the road that we are on now.

Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written nine other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post The Feds Are Using Dystopian AI Surveillance Tools To Monitor Where We Drive And What We Do On Social Media appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

A global drama of historic proportions is unfolding right in front of our eyes.  But most people don’t understand what is happening because they don’t want to understand what is happening.  Global events have begun to move at a pace that is absolutely breathtaking, and decisions that world leaders are making right now will have enormous implications for every man, woman and child on the entire planet.  But if you don’t understand the bigger picture, you simply are not going to understand how the various pieces of the puzzle fit together.

On Tuesday, President Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House.

His visit began with a welcoming ceremony that was absolutely spectacular…

The White House arrival ceremony for the crown prince was laden with fanfare, complete with a U.S. military flyover, cannons, horses, and a red carpet. American and Saudi flags adorned the White House South Lawn, and a military band greeted the Saudi royal. Mr. Trump and the crown prince exchanged greetings as they shook hands, and then watched the formation of F-35 and F-16 fighter jets fly by before going inside the White House.

Who else has President Trump treated like this?

It is very unusual for the Trump administration to put on a show involving horses, cannons and fighter jets.

Obviously President Trump must want something.

One of the things that he wants is increased Saudi investment, and it appears that he is going to get that…

Ahead of bin Salman’s arrival, Mr. Trump told reporters Monday that the U.S. would sell F-35 fighter jets to the Saudis. In the Oval Office, MBS said the Saudis will increase a planned investment of $600 million in the U.S. to closer to $1 trillion, an announcement that pleased Mr. Trump greatly.

Another thing that he wants is for the Saudis to join the Abraham Accords…

Mr. Trump and his son-in-law and former top White House adviser Jared Kushner have fostered close relationships with the Saudis and the crown prince in particular, viewing them as critical partners for both security and business in a turbulent Middle East. The president said the Abraham Accords — an agreement from his first term that normalized diplomatic relations between Israel, Bahrain and the UAE — would be a big topic of discussion during the visit.

“The Abraham Accords will be a part we’re going to be discussing,” Mr. Trump said over the weekend. “I hope that Saudi Arabia will be going into the Abraham Accords fairly shortly. We’ve had tremendous interest in the Abraham Accords since we put Iran out of business.”

We should want everyone in the Middle East to have peace with one another.

But President Trump knows that the Saudis have made it abundantly clear that they are not going to join the Abraham Accords unless they get what they want.

And what they want is a Palestinian state…

A senior Palestinian Authority official close to PA President Mahmoud Abbas tells The Times of Israel that Saudi Arabia has assured the PA in closed-door talks that it will not normalize ties with Israel before the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 lines.

“They told us they will not abandon the Palestinians. Resolving the Palestinian issue is the gateway to normalization with Israel,” the official says.

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both fully understand the Saudi position, but they have both been proceeding with negotiations anyway.

What does that tell us?

On Monday, the UN Security Council approved President Trump’s 20 point peace plan for Gaza, and Trump was named chairman of “the Board of Peace”…

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on Monday in support of President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan in Gaza, and Trump has been named chairman of the Board of Peace.

The resolution passed the council 13-0-2, endorsing the president’s plan, which Hamas agreed to on October 8 and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan officially endorsed in a signing with Trump on October 13.

“Congratulations to the World on the incredible Vote of the United Nations Security Council, just moments ago, acknowledging and endorsing the BOARD OF PEACE, which will be chaired by me, and include the most powerful and respected Leaders throughout the World,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

According to the official UN website, the resolution that was approved provides “a pathway towards Palestinian self-determination and eventual statehood”…

A transitional governance mechanism named the Board of Peace – chaired by President Donald Trump under the US peace plan which underpinned the 8 October ceasefire – would be formed to coordinate security, humanitarian and reconstruction planning.

This would guide Gaza towards a reformed Palestinian governing authority. The resolution outlines a pathway towards Palestinian self-determination and eventual statehood, linked to accountable governance and reconstruction milestones.

This is what Saudi Arabia and other radical Islamic regimes in the Middle East have wanted all along.

And they think that Donald Trump is the president that is going to get this over the line for them.

Once that happens, nothing will ever be the same again.

Meanwhile, Trump is laying the groundwork for a regime change war in Venezuela…

With the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s most advanced aircraft carrier, now stationed within striking distance of Venezuela, there are roughly 15,000 American troops at sea and on land in the region — including in Puerto Rico, where U.S. F-35 stealth fighter jets have been seen flying nearly around the clock this week.

The Ford arrived as the Trump administration moved to designate a purported drug-smuggling ring known as the “Cartel de Los Soles” as a foreign terrorist organization. President Trump said that designation could open the door to targeting assets and infrastructure inside Venezuela.

Asked Monday if he would rule out sending American ground troops into Venezuela, Mr. Trump said: “No, I don’t rule out that. I don’t rule out anything. We just have to take care of Venezuela.”

The USS Gerald R. Ford is the largest warship in the U.S. Navy.

By bringing it within striking distance of Venezuela, John Bolton says that President Trump “has now put the gun on the table”…

Bringing the USS Gerald Ford to the region is a real statement.

“Trump has now put the gun on the table,” Bolton said. “The question is, is he going to use it or not?”

I don’t think that this is for show.

I think that at some point President Trump will pull the trigger.

And President Trump is suggesting that airstrikes against Mexican drug cartels could be coming too…

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said he would launch strikes against Mexico if it would stop drugs from being trafficked into the United States.

“Okay with me, whatever we have to do to stop drugs,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.

Of course Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum continues to insist that she will never give Trump permission to do this…

Donald Trump’s threat of US military strikes against drug cartels inside Mexico is a non-starter, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday.

‘It’s not going to happen,’ she said at a press conference, responding to Trump’s warning that he would do ‘whatever we have to do,’ including strikes within the territory.

If we conduct strikes on drug cartels in Mexican territory without her permission, that will be an act of war.

Stay tuned, because that could actually happen.

Before I end this article, I wanted to bring up a very alarming incident that just occurred in Poland…

Warsaw authorities have now laid official blame on the sabotage attack on Poland’s rail network which was uncovered Sunday, and could have led to the derailing of a train. As everyone expected, they are looking squarely at Moscow.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced Tuesday that an investigation at the scene points to two Ukrainian citizens who have “long worked for Russian intelligence” as the prime suspects in the case.

A train track linking the Polish cities of Warsaw and Lublin had been destroyed in an “unprecedented act of sabotage”. Tusk described the damaged railway is as crucially important for delivering aid to Ukraine.

“The goal was to cause a rail catastrophe,” Tusk told members of Polish parliament in a briefing on Tuesday. He identified that at one of the two specific sabotage sites a military-grade C4 explosive charge was used.

Yes, it is possible that Russia wanted to cause a rail accident in Poland for some reason.

But to me, this very much smells like a false flag attack.

It would be incredibly stupid for the Russians to conduct an attack on Polish soil, because the Russians definitely do not want to go to war with NATO.

But the Ukrainians are desperate to drag NATO directly into the war, because that is the only shot they have of winning it.

Polish authorities have not caught the two Ukrainian citizens that have “long worked for Russian intelligence”, and so we may not get solid answers regarding these two mysterious individuals any time soon.

But if something happens that causes a direct conflict between Russia and NATO, it will be a major victory for Ukraine, and it will also put us right on the brink of nuclear war.

So much is starting to happen all over the world.

Hold on tight, because I am entirely convinced that the next few months will be extremely pivotal for all of us.

Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written nine other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post President Trump, Saudi Arabia, The Gaza “Board Of Peace”, And The Dark Secret That Hardly Anyone Is Talking About appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

The chaos that has erupted in Mexico City is shocking the entire globe.  Vast hordes of angry protesters that are fed up with the corruption of the Mexican government surrounded the presidential palace on Saturday.  Law enforcement authorities knew that the protesters would be coming, and so they set up an enormous security wall around the presidential palace, but the protesters tore it down anyway.  In all my years, I have never seen anything quite like this in Mexico.  Could it be possible that our southern neighbor is on the verge of collapse?

At this stage, nobody can deny that Mexico is a failed narco-state.  The drug cartels currently control about a third of all Mexican territory, and it has been estimated that they bring in approximately 600 billion pesos from drug trafficking each year.

Most of the drugs that those cartels produce end up on the streets of major U.S. cities, but Claudia Sheinbaum refuses to take action against the cartels, and she won’t allow the Trump administration to take action against them either.

The protest in Mexico City on Saturday was an anti-cartel protest.  Many Mexicans are deeply frustrated with what has happened to their nation, and they are blaming Claudia Sheinbaum’s government…

Rioters stormed the barricades outside the presidential palace in Mexico City as an anti-cartel protest descended into chaos.

Mobs of frustrated, mostly Gen Z Mexican protestors traded blows with cops and screamed slogans about how corruption and cartel killings have spiraled out of control in their country.

Thousands of people filled the streets of the nation’s capital and marched to the palace, which is the official residence of President Claudia Sheinbaum, the progressive politician who took office last October.

A lot of people got hurt during the violence that erupted.

In fact, it is being reported that 100 police officers were injured…

At least 120 people – 100 of them police officers – have been injured in clashes during anti-government protests in Mexico City, police said.

Earlier this month, one of the most outspoken anti-cartel politicians in Mexico was assassinated.

His name was Carlos Manzo, and many in the crowd in Mexico City were heard chanting his name.

The protesters simply want their country back, but that is not going to happen.

A couple of weeks ago, Sheinbaum completely ruled out a new “war on drugs”…

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum ruled out a new “war on drugs” as a response to the assassination of a regional mayor who was shot at a Day of the Dead celebration, a brazen killing that has sparked national outrage.

“Returning to the war against el narco is not an option,” Sheinbaum told reporters Monday, referring to the bloody anti-crime offensive launched almost two decades ago. “Mexico already did that, and the violence got worse.”

The president spoke as the nation was reeling from the killing Saturday of Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan in the west-central state of Michoacán, which has become an organized-crime battleground.

Sheinbaum belongs to a far left political party called Morena.

In many ways, it is very similar ideologically to the Democratic Socialists of America.

During the election that resulted in her coming to power, 37 other candidates for office were assassinated by the cartels…

Claudia Sheinbaum was elected as Mexico’s first female president Sunday following the deadliest election campaign in the country’s modern history.

More than three dozen candidates were assassinated, including a local government candidate in central Puebla state who was killed on Friday, increasing the total number of those killed to 37 ahead of Sunday’s vote, according to data from security consultancy Integralia obtained by Reuters.

As long as she continues to do what they want, Sheinbaum isn’t going to be touched by the cartels.

They were absolutely thrilled when she won, and they continue to be thrilled with her.

It would be difficult to overstate the power that the cartels have accumulated.  In recent decades they have become increasingly sophisticated and increasingly militarized…

As Mexico’s two-decade war against drug cartels has worn on, cartel tactics have evolved. The groups have begun to focus not just on moving drugs to the United States but also on controlling territory inside Mexico, which has led to intensified inter-cartel battles and the groups’ increased militarization. Cartels now operate more like insurgent groups than purely criminal organizations, employing tactics such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), drones, and the recruitment of foreign mercenaries, specifically from Colombia. As of May 2024, cartels controlled about one-third of Mexico’s territory.

If one cartel ran the whole show, there would be a lot less violence.

Unfortunately for the Mexican people, there are numerous cartel wars that are currently raging in various parts of the country…

• The Sinaloa Cartel Civil War: Two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, the Mayito Flacos and Los Chapitos, are currently battling for control of the state of Sinaloa. Forces under leader Ismael “Mayito Flaco” Zambada currently control southern Sinaloa, while Los Chapitos are centered around the state capital of Culiacán. Los Chapitos recently announced an alliance with their historical rival, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), and CJNG fighters have launched offensives along the border of Sinaloa and Durango against Mayito Flaco-associated factions.

• The Gulf Cartel Civil War: Multiple factions of the Gulf Cartel are fighting for control of Tamaulipas, with the two main groups being the Metros, out of Reynosa and Grupo Escorpión out of Matamoros. The factions currently maintain a tenuous ceasefire after years of fighting.

• Mayito Flaco and CJNG Conflict: Mayito Flaco and CJNG are currently engaged in multiple territorial battles spanning Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Durango, Zacatecas, and Chiapas.

• CJNG Michoacán Offensive: CJNG is currently on the offensive in Michoacán, fighting against two cartels, the United Cartels and La Familia Michoacana.

We are being told that President Trump is considering going to war with Venezuela in order to reduce the flow of drugs into the United States.

But the truth is that far, far more drugs are coming into the United States from Mexico…

The switch to Venezuela was a surprise to those of us studying drug trafficking: Fentanyl from Mexico is the leading cause for overdose deaths in the U.S. Drugs trafficked through and from Venezuela are not synthetic opioids, but cocaine shipped to West Africa and Europe, with very little making its way to the U.S. Fentanyl, not cocaine, is the leading contributor to U.S. overdose deaths.

A couple of weeks ago, NBC News was reporting that U.S. officials had actually been planning an operation that would “send American troops and intelligence officers into Mexico to target drug cartels”…

The Trump administration has begun detailed planning for a new mission to send American troops and intelligence officers into Mexico to target drug cartels, according to two U.S. officials and two former senior U.S. officials familiar with the effort.

The early stages of training for the potential mission, which would include ground operations inside Mexico, has already begun, the two current U.S. officials said. But a deployment to Mexico is not imminent, the two U.S. officials and one of the former U.S. officials said. Discussions about the scope of the mission are ongoing, and a final decision has not been made, the two current U.S. officials said.

In order to take action inside Mexican territory, we would need the permission of the Mexican government.

And every time this has come up, Sheinbaum has completely rejected the possibility of any U.S. military activity on Mexican soil…

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has flatly denied reports that the United States is planning to send troops into Mexico to confront the country’s powerful cartels, noting that she had repeatedly rejected such offers from Donald Trump.

“It’s not going to happen,” Sheinbaum said during her daily morning news conference on Tuesday. “We do not agree with any process of interference or interventionism.”

Sheinbaum’s comments come after a report from NBC News citing current and former US officials that the Trump administration has started planning a mission to send US troops and intelligence officers into Mexico.

We could go in without Sheinbaum’s permission, but that would be an act of war.

If we cross that red line, that would push Mexico into the arms of Russia and China.

But will President Trump really be okay with sitting back and watching Mexican drug cartels continue to flood our streets with illegal drugs for the next three years?

That seems unlikely.

I think that at some point President Trump will lose patience and take military action against the cartels, and at that point things will get really wild.

Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written nine other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post Is Mexico On The Verge Of Collapse? A Massive Uprising Erupts As Protesters That Have Lost All Faith In The Government Storm The Presidential Palace appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

In recent decades, the U.S. has been involved in a string of disastrous regime change wars.  Instead of learning our lesson, it appears that we are on the verge of starting another regime change war.  Without a doubt, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is a really bad guy, and his nation produces vast quantities of illegal drugs that end up on the streets of major U.S. cities.  But a regime change war in Venezuela would require an enormous commitment of military resources.  It would be a huge strategic mistake to commit so much of our military firepower in South America at a time when fighting between Israel and Iran could break out again at any moment, when Russian forces are about to make a major breakthrough in Ukraine, and when the Chinese could make a move on Taiwan if they sense an opportunity to do so.  In addition, a regime change war would have very serious implications for our relations with other nations.  The Europeans are telling us not to do this, many of our South American allies are telling us not to do this, and the Venezuelans have already reached out to Russia and China for help.  If we ignore everyone else and go barreling into Venezuela anyway, the rest of the planet will be very displeased with us.

There is a world of difference between bombing a few drug boats and going to war with a nation that has hundreds of thousands of soldiers and that has a total population of more than 28 million people.

On Tuesday, the U.S. military destroyed yet another drug-trafficking boat, and everyone that was aboard was killed…

The U.S. military conducted another strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat on Tuesday, a Pentagon official confirmed to CBS News. The attack targeted a vessel in the Caribbean Sea and killed four people on board.

Since September, U.S. forces have destroyed at least 21 vessels in 20 strikes in international waters, killing at least 80 people. The Trump administration says the operations — the details of which remain sparse — are part of an anti-drug offensive.

There are some very significant questions that need to be answered about the legality of these attacks.

But if this was as far as we went, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal.

Unfortunately, it is being reported that President Trump has been presented “with updated options for potential operations in Venezuela”, and we are being warned that military strikes could begin “within days”…

Donald Trump is planning strikes on Venezuela within days and has been presented with a suite of military options by his top generals, according to a report.

The president was briefed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, sources told CBS News.

The commander in chief has not yet made a final decision but action could come as soon as this week, the sources said.

Since a final decision has not been made yet, that means that President Trump could still potentially be swayed one way or the other.

So everyone needs to be making a tremendous amount of noise about this, because the clock is ticking.

An enormous U.S. force has been deployed to the region, and earlier this week that force was joined by the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group…

Earlier this week, the USS Gerald Ford carrier strike group entered U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility. Southern Command is the primary combatant unit for operations in the Caribbean and South America.

The Ford joins a flotilla of destroyers, war planes and special operations assets that are already in the region.

Those ships are not just going to sit there indefinitely.

Either they are going to take action soon or they are going to go home.

Let us hope that it is the latter.

Venezuela is so concerned about a potential U.S. attack that they have deployed nearly 200,000 soldiers…

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said Tuesday in a statement that Venezuela is preparing to set a maximum level of alert amid rising tensions with the U.S.

The objective is to place “the entire country’s military arsenal on full operational readiness,” Padrino López said. The preparations include “massive deployment of ground, aerial, naval, riverine and missile forces” with the participation of all security forces and militia.

Padrino said on national television that Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, ordered a massive deployment of soldiers — “almost 200,000,” he said — as part of the special operation.

Maduro is not stupid.

He knows that Trump has been after him for a very long time, and Trump’s comments during a recent 60 Minutes interview gave him even more reason for alarm…

Many people both inside Venezuela, including President Nicolas Maduro himself, and observers outside the country believe the increased U.S. military pressure is aimed at forcing Maduro out of office.

When asked in a recent interview with “60 Minutes” if Maduro’s “days were numbered,” Mr. Trump responded, “I would say yeah. I think so, yeah.”

Would the world be a better place without Nicolas Maduro?

Yes.

But as we have seen in Afghanistan and Iraq, a regime change war can drag on for years.

And in this case, it could bring us even closer to war with Russia…

Russia has vowed to stand “ready” to assist Venezuela as Donald Trump ramps up the US military footprint near the South American country in what Washington has characterized as a counter-narcotics operation.

Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov stated the Kremlin is “ready to fully act within the framework of the obligations that were mutually stipulated in this agreement with our Venezuelan friends”, following the nations’ signing of a strategic partnership in May.

I don’t like the sound of that at all.

To what extent is Russia ready to “assist” Venezuela?

Would they just provide arms to the Venezuelans, or would they be willing to go even farther than that?

Instead of going to war with Venezuela, we should really be focusing on ending the war in Ukraine.

The Ukrainians are being pushed out of the absolutely critical fortress city of Pokrovsk, and we are being told that the Russians are now starting to make significant progress in the Zaporizhzhia region as well…

As Ukrainian forces struggle to hold onto the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk, they are facing increasing pressure about 55 miles to the southwest in the Zaporizhzhia region. The Ukrainian Southern Command on Wednesday said its forces pulled out of the small hamlet of Rivnopillia, the latest in a string of withdrawals in the area since Tuesday. The retreat puts Russian troops a little more than 50 miles east of Zaporizhia, one of Ukraine’s biggest cities with a population of more than 700,000.

The two fronts, in adjacent regions, are related, given Russia’s overwhelming advantage in troop strength and Ukraine’s more limited ability to generate forces to defend both areas. As a result, there are serious questions about how much longer Ukraine can hold onto Pokrovsk and the strategic impact of its potential fall.

Ukraine’s defenses are crumbling, and the Ukrainians understand very clearly that the only way that they can win the war is to drag NATO into it.

On the other side of the globe, the Venezuelans are asking the Russians and the Chinese for help in defending against a potential U.S. invasion.

With each passing day, we are getting closer to the kinetic phase of World War III.

For a long time I have been hoping that cooler heads would prevail, but that is simply not happening.

Now we are potentially just days away from initiating a major war with Venezuela, and that would not be a good thing for any of us.

Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written nine other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post The U.S. Is On The Verge Of One Of The Greatest Strategic Mistakes In Modern History appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

Most hikers may be prepared for bad weather or a twisted ankle, but only a few will know what to do if a bear appears on the trail. Many assume they’ll never see one, yet black bears reside in more than 30 U.S. states, mostly in forested parks and mountain regions. Wildlife agencies also record dozens of encounters each year that result in injuries, as well as one or two fatal attacks nationwide.

For hikers and campers, knowing how to survive a bear encounter should be basic knowledge as a close call can happen even on familiar routes. This article explains how to avoid these animal incidents and escape from them unharmed.

TL;DR: How to Survive a Bear Encounter

• Identify the bear. Knowing whether it’s a black, brown, or polar bear will help you determine how to respond.
• Avoid contact. Use open routes, keep food sealed, and move away if you see fresh bear tracks or scat.
• React with control. Stay still if spotted, back away slowly, and use bear spray when the animal closes in.
• If it makes contact. Play dead if it’s a grizzly, fight back against black and polar bears, then leave the area immediately.

Tips to Avoid a Bear Encounter

Bears usually avoid humans, but they may become territorial when triggered. Follow these steps to stay off their radar.

• Stick to open trails.
  Bears often travel through thick brush and low cover. Staying on open paths gives both you and the animal time to see and avoid each other.
• Watch out for bear signs.
  Fresh tracks, scat, claw marks, or torn logs mean a bear is nearby. If you spot several signs in one area, leave the area immediately and take another route.
• Manage food and scent.
  Bears can smell food from over a mile away, so store all food, trash, and toiletries at least 100 yards from your tent. You can also hang them 10–15 feet high and 4 feet from the trunk.
• Choose your campsite wisely.
  Avoid areas with berry bushes, game trails, or water sources as these are natural feeding zones and common bear highways. Pick open ground with a clear view and easy escape routes.

Bear Identification

Before you react to a bear attack, you have to know what species you’re looking at, as each type acts differently when startled or threatened. A quick bear identification can help you decide whether to stand your ground, play dead, or fight back. Here are three of the most common species and their key features:

• Grizzly or Brown Bear: Large, heavy body with a thick hump of muscle over the shoulders. The face is broad and dish-shaped, the ears are short and rounded, and the claws are long and straight for digging. Their fur is usually brown with lighter tips around the hump or head.
• Black Bear: Smaller and lighter build with tall, pointed ears and a straight nose profile. The shoulders are flat with no muscle hump. Claws are short and curved for climbing, and their coat can range from black to brown or even cinnamon.
• Polar Bear: The largest of all bears with a long neck, narrow head, and creamy white coat. Their thick legs and massive paws are built for cold terrain and swimming.

First Sight (General Response)

Now that you know how to identify a bear, the next step is to manage what happens when you spot one. They usually don’t attack right away and often decide how to react based on what you do next. The goal here is to prevent the situation from escalating by giving the animal enough space to leave.

What to Do:

• Stop and stay still to avoid startling the bear. Take a few seconds to assess how far away it is and whether it has noticed you yet.
• If the bear hasn’t noticed you, stay silent and back away slowly. Move one step at a time and keep your eyes on the animal’s position. Stay downwind if possible to keep your scent from reaching it.
• If the bear has noticed you but isn’t moving closer, stay calm and visible. Face it at an angle, but don’t stare at it directly. Let it see your full outline so it recognizes you as human.
• If the bear seems unsure, speak in a calm, low voice. A steady “Hey bear…” or “Easy bear…” will help them understand you’re human.
• Keep your backpack on and your hands visible. The pack shields your back if the bear swats, and putting your hands in front will let you draw spray quickly or hold trekking poles smoothly if the bear attacks you.

Species Note:

• Polar Bears: If you’re in polar bear country, don’t try to talk or wait for a reaction. Start moving away as soon as you see one, and have deterrents ready such as spray, flares, or noise devices. An approaching polar bear is most likely hunting for prey.

During a Bear Charge

Even if you stay calm and follow every rule during the first sight, a bear may still “charge” or rush toward you to test your reaction or drive you away. You usually have only a few seconds to act, and your best defense at this stage is to time your spray and hold your ground.

What to Do:

1. Stand your ground. Running and turning away from bears triggers a chase response. Instead, plant your feet shoulder-width apart and maintain balance.
2. Face the bear and ready your spray. Grip the bear spray with both hands and take off the safety clip. Keep it at chest level and aim slightly downward.
3. Use the spray when the bear is about 30 feet away. Fire a short one- to two-second burst and sweep side to side at knee height to form a fog barrier. If the animal keeps coming, spray again.
4. Keep your stance and prepare for contact. Most bears will stop shortly when they hit the mist. If it doesn’t, stay facing the bear and be ready for physical impact.

If a Bear Makes Contact

Even with perfect preparation, some encounters may still end in physical contact, and your response will have to depend on the type of bear. The goal is to survive the first few seconds of impact and make the animal lose interest as fast as possible.

What to Do:

• Grizzly or Brown Bear:
  Drop flat on your stomach with your legs spread wide so the bear cannot roll you over. Place your hands behind your neck to protect it and keep your elbows close to your sides. Stay still and play dead until the bear moves away. Remain quiet and don’t get up until the animal’s completely gone.
• Black Bear:
  Don’t play dead. Instead, fight back with everything you have. Use fists, rocks, trekking poles, or knives and strike the bear’s face, eyes, and nose. Shouting while you hit can help drive it off by showing resistance.
• Polar Bear:
  Polar bears see humans as prey, so fight back and use anything solid or sharp such as tools, sticks, or your pack to strike their face and eyes. If possible, keep moving until you find a shelter or a barrier where you can hide from the animal.

After the Bear Encounter

Surviving a bear encounter doesn’t end when the animal leaves. You still need to secure yourself, check for injuries, and report what happened. This stage is about getting to safety and learning from the experience so you’re better prepared next time.

What to Do:

• Leave the area immediately.
  Move calmly but quickly in the opposite direction. Avoid running, and keep your bear spray accessible until you’re far from the site.
• Check for injuries and gear damage.
  Treat wounds as soon as you’re in a safe spot. Look for tears in clothing, broken straps, or damaged spray canisters.
• Mark your location.
  Note a GPS point or visual landmark so you can report the exact spot to the authorities later.
• Report the encounter.
  Contact park rangers, wildlife officers, or local authorities as soon as possible. They use reports to track bear behavior and prevent future bear incidents.

Bear Protection Gear Checklist

Carrying these tools helps you spot a bear sooner, make noise when needed, and protect yourself during an attack.

• Bear Spray (EPA-approved, at least 1% capsaicin): Your primary defense within 30 feet. Keep it on your belt or chest strap for quicker access.
• Air Horn or Whistle: A noise tool to warn or deter bears before they approach.
• Trekking Poles or Hatchet: Serves as last-resort protection if a bear closes the gap.
• Flashlight or Headlamp: Bright light provides visibility during nighttime and scares off bears.
• Bear Canister or Odor-Proof Bags: Securely store food and scented items to prevent bear encounters.

Knowing how to identify bear species and respond correctly should be part of every hiker’s safety routine. Before your next trip, check your bear protection gear and review your response plan in case of a close call. The more you understand how these animals think and move, the better your chances of surviving a wild encounter.

FAQs

1. What should I do first to survive a bear encounter?
Stay calm and assess the bear’s behavior. Do not run. Back away slowly, keep your bear spray ready, and speak in a calm voice so the bear recognizes you as human.

2. Can bear spray really help in a bear attack?
Yes. Bear spray is proven to stop aggressive bears when used correctly within 25–30 feet. Aim slightly downward to create a fog barrier between you and the animal to survive a bear encounter safely.

3. How can I avoid meeting a bear while hiking or camping?
Stick to open trails, make steady noise in dense brush, and keep food stored 100 yards from camp. Avoiding surprise encounters is the best way to stay safe outdoors.

 

This article was originally published by Michael Snyder at The End of the American Dream under the title: France Announces That It Will Help Draft The Constitution For A Palestinian State As Israel And Iran Move Toward War

There have been stunning new developments in the Middle East.  France and the Palestinian Authority have agreed to establish a joint committee to draft a constitution for a Palestinian state.  Needless to say, this will give French President Emmanuel Macron a tremendous amount of power to shape what a future Palestinian government will look like.  But the mainstream media in the Western world is hardly saying anything about this.

Meanwhile, Israel and Iran are moving even closer to war.

It is being reported that Iranian missile factories are “working around the clock” so that the Iranians can fire up to 2,000 missiles at once when the current pause in hostilities inevitably fails…

Tensions between Iran and Israel are once again reaching a dangerous peak. Intelligence reports cited by The New York Times warn that Tehran is preparing for a much larger and deadlier confrontation than before. Iran’s missile factories are working around the clock, and its military is reportedly building the ability to launch up to 2,000 missiles at once at Israel — a dramatic escalation compared to the 500 missiles fired over 12 days during the June 2025 clashes.

This time, both countries are moving beyond ordinary military posturing. Iran is preparing for a fast, overwhelming strike, while Israel is strengthening its defenses — not only against ballistic missiles but also developing new systems to intercept hypersonic weapons, a threat that could soon enter the Middle East battlefield.

During the 12 Day War, the Iranians fired a few missiles at a time, and that made it fairly easy for the Israelis to intercept them.

When fighting resumes, the Iranians hope to overwhelm Israeli defenses by firing vast numbers of missiles simultaneously.

Multiple Iranian officials have made it clear that Iran’s missile arsenal hasn’t just been rebuilt.  According to them, it is now far better than it was during the 12 Day War…

“Iran’s missile power today far surpasses that of the 12-Day War,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently declared, touting what he described as the regime’s rapid recovery from the massive U.S. and Israeli bombardment that struck dozens of military and nuclear sites in June. “The enemy in the recent 12-day war failed to achieve all its objectives and was defeated,” he said.

His comments were echoed by Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh, who claimed that Iran’s defense industry has not only rebounded but expanded. “Iran’s defense production has improved both in quantity and quality compared to before the 12-day Israeli-imposed war in June,” Nasirzadeh said Monday, insisting that new missiles are rolling off production lines faster than ever.

Will the Israelis just sit back and allow the Iranians to mass-produce thousands upon thousands of missiles?

According to Newsweek, the Israelis consider both Iran’s nuclear program and Iran’s missile program to be “existential threats”…

Israel’s perspective reflects the urgency these developments create. Israeli officials view Iran’s nuclear and missile advances as existential threats. Although Israel’s June offensive was halted under U.S. pressure, officials reportedly consider the work unfinished and see no barrier to resuming strikes if Iran continues advancing its nuclear and missile programs.

I don’t think that it will be too much longer before fighting resumes.

And once it does, will it be for all the marbles?

The Jerusalem Post is telling us that there are some Israeli officials who are pushing for regime change in Iran before President Trump leaves office in 2029…

Certain Israeli officials have increasingly been dropping anonymous threats to Iran in the global and Israeli media to try to deter it from its ongoing push to rebuild its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles programs. One of the latest threats was that Israel should strive with the US for regime change before US President Donald Trump exits office in 2029.

Of course, at the moment, Israel is occupied with Hamas in the south and Hezbollah in the north.

In both cases, a ceasefire is supposed to be in effect, but in both cases the IDF has continued “to conduct operations on both fronts”…

It’s been one month since Israel and Hamas reached the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire proposed by President Donald Trump, and the anniversary looms of a separate U.S.-backed truce in Lebanon reached between Israel and Hezbollah in November 2024, yet the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continues to conduct operations on both fronts.

IDF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani argued that Israeli attacks in the two countries are justified due to ongoing enemy action and attempts to rebuild capabilities ravaged by the two-year war that has rocked the Middle East.

“I think what’s clear is that Hamas and Hezbollah, in the north in a similar way, are interested in violating the agreement,” Shoshani told Newsweek at a briefing on Tuesday. “They’re interested in the agreement being held on our side, and they’re interested to violate it without any consequences.”

In the short term, I don’t think that there is going to be peace.

In fact, I think that the Middle East could erupt in flames at any moment.

But once the war is finally over, the “international community” is going to push extremely hard for a Palestinian state to be established.

On Tuesday, France announced that it will be helping the Palestinian Authority to “draft a constitution for a future state”…

France hosted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Paris for a meeting on Tuesday, during which French President Emmanuel Macron committed to helping the PA draft a constitution for a future state.

Macron, whose country led the charge in recognizing a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly in September, said France and the PA would set up a joint committee to work on drawing up a new framework for the state.

“This committee will be responsible for working on all legal aspects: constitutional, institutional and organizational,” he told reporters, adding that Abbas had presented him with the first draft of a potential constitution.

This is enormous news.

So why isn’t it getting a lot more coverage?

Along with France, Saudi Arabia has also been one of the leading advocates for a Palestinian state.

And the Saudis are making it abundantly clear that they will not join the Abraham Accords unless there is a plan to make a Palestinian state a reality…

Trump said last month he hoped Saudi Arabia would “very soon” join other Muslim countries that signed the 2020 Abraham Accords normalizing ties with Israel.

But Riyadh has signaled to Washington through diplomatic channels that its position has not changed: it will sign up only if there is agreement on a roadmap to Palestinian statehood, two Gulf sources told Reuters.

The intention is to avoid diplomatic missteps and ensure alignment of the Saudi and US positions before any public statements are made, they said. One said the aim was to avoid any confusion at or after the White House talks on November 18.

The Saudis will meet with President Trump next week.

They are desperate to see a Palestinian state established.

And they are convinced that Trump is the president who will be able to deliver it.

Of course, once a Palestinian state is formally established, we all know what that will mean.

We really are living in historic times, and so many major events are starting to happen right in front of our eyes.

So buckle up and hold on tight, because global events will soon get really crazy.

Michael’s new book, entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next,” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book, entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next,” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written nine other books that are available on Amazon.com, including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books, you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream, and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.