Nikki Haley Says She Doesn’t Feel Bound by RNC Loyalty Pledge

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Nikki Haley Says She Doesn’t Feel Bound by RNC Loyalty Pledge

(Headline USA) GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley said she no longer felt bound to the loyalty pledge she made to the Republican National Committee to back the party’s eventual nominee.

The pledge was one of the conditions for participating in the recent GOP debates, which frontrunner Donald Trump notably boycotted for that specific reason.

“At the time of the debate, we had to take it,” Haley told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. 

“The RNC is now not the same RNC,” she claimed, alluding to RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel’s decision to step down after the March 5 “Super Tuesday” primaries. 

When pressed on whether she felt bound to that pledge, Haley said, “No. I think I’ll make what decision I want to make, but that’s not something I’m thinking about.”

Trump and his allies have signaled their desire to replace McDaniel with Michael Whatley, the current head of the North Carolina Republican Party, as well as Trump’s own daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.

In a speech Saturday in Greensboro, N.C., Trump noted that Whatley had succeeded where many had failed in preventing widespread vote fraud during the 2020 election, despite going up against a Democrat governor and attorney general who attempted to issue last-minute policy changes via executive fiat.

Haley would not be the only candidate on the debate stage to welsh on his honor-bound word. After dropping out of the race, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie declared that he would not support Trump in November.

The Trump campaign, however, made it clear it didn’t think much of Haley’s commitment either way.

“Republican voters have delivered resounding wins for President Trump in every single primary contest and this race is over,” Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “Our focus is now on Joe Biden and the general election.” 

Haley won her first primary contest, in Washington, D.C., on Sunday. 

Trump dismissed her victory in a post on Truth Social, saying he “purposely” stayed away from campaigning in the “Swamp” because there was “no upside” to it.

“Birdbrain spent all of her time, money and effort there. Over the weekend we won Missouri, Idaho, and Michigan—BIG NUMBERS—Complete destruction of a very weak opponent. The really big numbers will come on Super Tuesday,” he added.

Kamala Harris Publicly Backs Hamas w/ Call for ‘Immediate Ceasefire’ in Gaza

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Kamala Harris Publicly Backs Hamas w/ Call for ‘Immediate Ceasefire’ in Gaza

(Headline USA) Vice President Kamala Harris over the weekend publicly called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, marking what could be a significant shift in the White House’s policy toward Israel, CNN reported.

Describing the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas as a “humanitarian catastrophe,” Harris urged the two parties to reach a deal that would give other countries the opportunity to provide the region with additional aid.

“People in Gaza are starving, conditions inhumane, and our common humanity compels us to act,” Harris told a crowd Sunday in Selma, Alabama. “Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table.”

Israel on Sunday afternoon rebuffed so-called negotiations for a ceasefire that were taking place in Cairo after Hamas refused to meet one of its most basic conditions, for a list of hostages that the terror organization continued to hold captive.

Nonetheless, Harris claimed the deal would “get the hostages out and get a significant amount of aid in,” without elaborating as to how the plan would secure the hostages, who have been languishing in Hamas hideaways for nearly five months since the Oct. 7 ambush that left more than 1,200 innocent Israelis dead. 

Israel’s capitulation “would allow us to build something more enduring to ensure Israel is secure and to respect the rights of the Palestinian people,” Harris said. 

The Biden administration has thus far avoided calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, which would require Israel to completely stop its offensive against Hamas.

And while Harris has acknowledged the threat Hamas poses to Israel, she has been much more critical of Israel’s response than President Joe Biden or other members of the administration—at least publicly.

“No excuses,” she said this weekend, before filling in as a Hamas proxy by issuing a series of ultimatums to Israel:

“They must open new border crossings. They must not impose any unnecessary restrictions on the delivery. They must ensure humanitarian personnel, sites, and convoys are not targeted. They must work to restore basic services and promote order in Gaza, so more water and fuel can reach those in need,” Harris decreed.

Biden has also become more openly critical of Israel in recent weeks, likely due, in part, to pressure from Muslim voters, who delivered a rebuke last week in Michigan’s Democratic primary by voting “uncommitted,” despite the fact that Biden faces no serious competition for the nomination.

The same group—including outspoken pro-Hamas Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.—has warned Biden they will not support him in November’s general election unless he calls for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and stops supporting Israel.

“You want my vote? You cannot kill my people in my name. As simple as that,” Michigan leftist Terry Ahwal told the New York Times last week. “Everything Israel wants, they get.”

Mayorkas Claims Biden’s Open-Border Policies Not Meant to Change U.S. ‘Electoral Dynamics’

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Mayorkas Claims Biden’s Open-Border Policies Not Meant to Change U.S. ‘Electoral Dynamics’

(Headline USA) Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas insisted on Sunday that the Biden administration’s refusal to crack down on illegal immigration was not meant to change the “electoral dynamics” of the country.

CNN’s Dana Bash pressed Mayorkas on the reasoning behind the Biden administration’s immigration policies, which have resulted in an estimated 10 million or more illegal immigrants flooding the country over the past three years.

“Donald Trump yesterday suggested that on the campaign trail that President Biden has a deliberate strategy to let migrants across the border because, he says, President Biden wants to ‘overthrow the United States’ and ‘nullify the will of the actual American voters and establish a new base of power that gives them control for generations,'” Bash said. “What’s your reaction to that?” 

Mayorkas at first cited the Hatch Act, which prevents federal officials from using their positions to campaign, and refused to answer the question. 

Bash then re-worded her question: “Is it the policy of the Biden administration to allow as many migrants to come across the border in order to change the political dynamics, the electoral dynamics, of America?” she said.

“Of course not, and the facts indicate that is absolutely false” Mayorkas claimed.

“Since May of this year, of last year, we have removed or returned more individuals than in any year since 2015,” he continued. “And we haven’t even run 12 months over the last three years. We’ve removed, returned or expelled more people than in all four years of the prior administration.”

Data from Mayorkas’s own department shows deportations have dropped dramatically under Biden. In 2022, they fell to the lowest levels in the agency’s history despite record-high border crossings, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Despite Mayorkas’s denials, several influential figures have argued that Biden’s open-border policies are part of a broader electoral strategy.

“Dems won’t deport, because every illegal is a highly likely vote at some point,” billionaire Elon Musk said last week. “That simple incentive explains what seems to be insane behavior.”

Soros-Backed Maine DA to Let Illegals Off for Traffic Violations

Jacob Bruns
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Soros-Backed Maine DA to Let Illegals Off for Traffic Violations

(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) A district attorney in Cumberland County, Maine, Jacqueline Sartoris, says that she will no longer charge illegal immigrants who commit traffic violations, the Maine Wire reported.

Namely, the George-Soros-backed DA—whose district includes Portland, the state’s largest city—has committed to “de-criminalizing” violations such as driving without a license, driving with a suspended registration or driving an unregistered vehicle.

Sartoris announced the news in a memo last week. The new rules went into effect on March 1.

The violations in question are often associated with illegal immigrants, who have to drive unregistered vehicles lest they make themselves known to the state. By reducing such penalties from criminal to civil status, it will become increasingly difficult to locate and deport illegal immigrants in the state.

As such, Sartoris noted that her approach to illegal immigrants will be to help them become legalized citizens, not to enforce the laws she has sworn to uphold.

“The focus for us is on problem-solving (making people get legal) and focusing on genuine public safety cases, of which we have plenty,” Sartoris wrote in the memo.

According to the DA, the move was meant to alleviate the caseload burden that falls on her office as violent crime in Maine spikes.

“If you have other thoughts about resolving our 150% caseload, please feel free to share them,” Sartoris said.

“At the moment, and for the foreseeable future, this step is prudent, responsive to real-world challenges, and a civil violation is the appropriate response when any of these are the only potential criminal charge,” she added.

Sartoris’s policies are consistent with other Soros-backed DA’s, who make efforts to advance “social justice” across the nation by taking a lax approach to criminals.

Soros gave her $300,000 via one of his PACs to run for DA in 2022.

According to her website, Sartoris got into politics in order “to stand up against the anti-immigration, anti-choice [opposed to abortion], anti-science [opposed to vaccine- and mask mandates] forces which arose during the 2016 election.”

Merrick Garland Declares Election Integrity Racist, Threatens Red States

Ken Silva
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Merrick Garland Declares Election Integrity Racist, Threatens Red States

(Ken Silva, Headline USA) Attorney General Merrick Garland said the quiet part out loud Sunday at an Alabama church, where bragged to the predominantly black congregation about his Justice Department blocking local attempts to crack down on voter fraud.

Garland told the congregation that “the right to vote is still under attack,” referencing states passing requirements for voters to prove their identity, residency and citizenship.

“We are challenging efforts by states and jurisdictions to implement discriminatory, burdensome and unnecessary restrictions on the ballot, including those related to mail-in voting, the use of drop boxes, and voter ID requirements,” he said.

Garland’s remarks were roundly criticized on Twitter, with some observers noting that the attorney general implicitly insulted the black community by suggesting that they can’t figure out how to obtain identification.

“Assuming that black people can’t get an ID is extremely racist,” said Trending Politics co-owner Collin Rugg.

“NEWSFLASH: Americans of all races want secure elections!” added the Center for Renewing America.

One user posted an interview where black voters scoff at the notion that they can’t obtain identification.

Garland’s remarks came days after a federal court struck down an Arizona law that would have required voters to provide proof of residence on the grounds that such a requirement violates the National Voter Registration Act.

US District Judge Susan Bolton’s decision last Thursday followed a similar ruling in the same case last September, when she struck down proof-of-citizenship requirements for voters.

Ken Silva is a staff writer at Headline USA. Follow him at twitter.com/jd_cashless.

Democrat Proposes Child-Like Sex Dolls to Offer Pedophile ‘Release’

Jacob Bruns
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Democrat Proposes Child-Like Sex Dolls to Offer Pedophile ‘Release’

(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) Kentucky state Sen. Karen Berg argued in a Thursday committee hearing that child-shaped sex dolls could allow pedophiles a kind of “release,” the New York Post reported.

The Republican Party of Kentucky posted video footage of Berg’s comments on Twitter Friday.

“This might be the most disturbing thing you see today,” they wrote, suggesting that Berg’s remarks have “no place in the Commonwealth.”

Berg made her comment amidst a discussion of HB 207, which would outlaw the sale and possession of such sex dolls, as well as child sexual-abuse material generated through artificial intelligence.

According to Berg, who said she has arrived at her conclusions after Google searching the night before, sex dolls shaped like children could reduce instances of pedophiles sexually assaulting children.

“There are what they call ‘MAPS,’ Minor Attracted Persons,” she said, “and the limited amount of research that’s done on these dolls, guys, suggest[s] that they actually—for people who are attracted to minors—that these dolls actually decrease their proclivity to go out and attack children, that it actually gives them a release that makes them less likely to go outside of their home.”

Efforts by the Left to sanitize pedophilia by imposing politically correct terminology have themselves been met with equal parts scorn and ridicule.

However, some fear that, like other behaviors once classified as sexual deviancy, it may only be a matter of time before the Overton window for broader acceptance of pedophilia gets pried open and so-called MAPs become a protected class.

After feeling some pressure to respond to Berg’s remarks, Democrat Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s office said that the governor supports the bill and opposes pedophilia.

“The Governor disagrees with the comments,” said Crystal Staley, Beshear’s communications director.

“He fully supports and will sign the bill,” Staley continued. “The administration has also worked with the Kentucky State Police and Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky on the bill’s content.”

Berg later apologized, claiming that she did not mean to promote pedophilia.

“As a mom and a physician, I am of course deeply concerned with the harm of pedophilia and I regret if my question in committee didn’t convey that,” she wrote, adding that she ultimately voted to outlaw child sex dolls.

“I voted in favor of House Bill (HB) 207 to outlaw child-sex dolls, a stance that aligns with my commitment to safeguarding the well-being of our youth and holding perpetrators accountable,” she said.

Fed Pressured to Cut Rates as Key Indicator Signals ‘Recession Ahead’

Money Metals News Service
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Fed Pressured to Cut Rates as Key Indicator Signals ‘Recession Ahead’

(Stefan Gleason, Money Metals News Service) The mainstream financial media is reporting that inflation is coming down.

It’s not coming down to the Federal Reserve’s supposed 2% target – let alone low enough to cease being a persistent problem for millions of families. Nor is it even clear that the rate of price level increases is on a path lower in 2024.

According to William J. Luther of the American Institute for Economic Research:

Inflation picked up in January, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (PCEPI), which is the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, grew at a continuously compounding annual rate of 4.1 percent in the first month of the year.

The PCEPI has grown at an annualized rate of 1.8 percent over the last three months and 2.5 percent over the last six months. Prices today are 8.4 percentage points higher than they would have been had they grown at an annualized rate of 2.0 percent since January 2020.

Some categories of consumer prices are up much more than the overall official reading (which has been engineered by federal bureaucrats to understate food, shelter, healthcare and other expenses).

For example, food stamp costs for family meals have jumped more than 30% over the past three years. Automobile insurance rates are up 26%. And rising housing costs continue to outpace income growth.

To the extent that consumer price increases do ease at all this year, it will be because the economy is slowing.

The latest manufacturing data releases suggest the industrial sector is seeing softening demand. States are starting to report rising levels of job losses. And consumers are growing more negative toward the economy.

The Conference Board reported last week that consumer confidence fell in February for the first time in three months. Americans’ expectations for income and business conditions saw a significant decline, falling below a threshold that “often signals recession ahead,” according to the Conference Board.

Contrary to how ordinary Americans are feeling about the economy, the Biden administration is trying to sell them the narrative that it’s gotten far better since he assumed office.

But judging by Joe Biden’s historically low approval rating, that narrative isn’t resonating with many voters.

The upshot is that pressure on the Fed to cut interest rates will likely grow between now and November.

When central bankers finally do relent and begin easing, the U.S. dollar can be expected to weaken in the currency market. That could be the catalyst precious metals markets need to move meaningfully higher.

Stefan Gleason is CEO of Money Metals Exchange, the company has been named “Best Overall Online Precious Metals Dealer” by Investopedia. A graduate of the University of Florida, Gleason is a seasoned business leader, investor, political strategist, and grassroots activist. Gleason has frequently appeared on national television networks such as CNN, FoxNews, and CNBC and in hundreds of publications such as the Wall Street Journal, TheStreet, and Seeking Alpha.

Gold Futures Close at Record High

Money Metals News Service
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Gold Futures Close at Record High

(Mike Maharrey, Money Metals News Service) Gold future prices closed at a record high level on Friday with renewed hope that the Federal Reserve will begin easing off interest rates sooner rather than later.

Gold for April delivery rose by $41 on Friday, a 2 percent gain, settling at $2095.70. That was a record close for the most actively traded contract.

Gold futures hit an intraday high of $2096.40, below the all-time record of $2,152.30 set on Dec. 4.

The spot price of gold blew through the resistance level at $2,050 per ounce and pushed above $2,090, testing the $2,100 level. The record spot price for gold is $2,135 an ounce set in early December 2023.

Silver also rallied on Friday, with the spot price reclaiming the $23 per ounce level.

Gold prices climbed a wall of hope as data released Friday could push the Fed to begin lowering interest rates.

Factors Driving Gold and Silver Bulls

On Thursday, the Bureau of Economic Analysts reported the January Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (PCE) rose 2.4 percent on an annual basis, down from December’s 2.6 percent. On a monthly basis, PCE was up 0.3 percent and the core PCE rose by 0.4 percent. Both of these numbers were higher than December’s readings, but that failed to raise concern because they were in line with expectations.

The PCE is the Federal Reserve’s favorite price inflation indicator because it tends to understate price inflation the most. With no surprises in the January report and the headline number settling close to the Fed’s mythical 2 percent target, the report renewed hope that the central bank will start easing interest rates earlier this year. Hotter-than-expected CPI data dashed those hopes in February, driving gold lower to test the $2,000 level.

On Friday, the Institute for Supply Management’s index of manufacturers plunged to 47.8 percent in February, down from 49.1 in January. The consensus was for the ISM index to rise slightly to 49.5 percent.

The unexpected drop in the ISM index reveals weakness in the economy, and it further stoked optimism about interest rate cuts.

Dollar weakness provided additional tailwinds for gold and silver on Friday.

The gold and silver rallies on Friday followed a pattern we’ve seen over the last couple of years. Any indication that price inflation is cooling, or the economy is weakening, has been bullish for gold. The hope is a victory over inflation will allow the Fed to cut interest rates. Since gold is a non-yielding asset, most people consider a higher interest rate environment negative for gold.

But the mainstream seems to be totally ignoring the reality of price inflation. Despite the PCE, price inflation is far from beaten. The CPI trend has been hotter; and more significantly, the Fed hasn’t done enough to put inflation in its grave. While a 5.5 percent interest rate is high for an economy loaded up with debt, it isn’t high in the face of a 6 percent CPI (using a more honest 1970s formula).

Nevertheless, almost everybody remains convinced that the Fed has got this. They remain confident that the Fed will give them back their easy money soon and that will float the economy to the much-anticipated soft landing.

And ironically, the markets are desperate for the Fed to declare a win over inflation so it can go back to the inflationary policies that caused prices to spike, to begin with.  Rising prices are a symptom of monetary inflation. And monetary inflation is exactly what we will get when the central bank reverts to a looser monetary policy.

So, this bull run in both gold and silver is justified. In fact, both are arguably underpriced given the fact that the economy is hopelessly addicted to inflation. The bubble economy needs easy money to run. That’s why the mainstream desperately wants it back. Since gold and silver both serve as inflation hedges, prices should arguably be much higher. This is especially true of silver, which appears underpriced based on supply and demand dynamics alone.

Mike Maharrey is a journalist and market analyst for MoneyMetals.com with over a decade of experience in precious metals. He holds a BS in accounting from the University of Kentucky and a BA in journalism from the University of South Florida.

Silver Demand at Near-Record Levels and Other Silver News

Money Metals News Service
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Silver Demand at Near-Record Levels and Other Silver News

(Mike Maharrey, Money Metals News Service) Silver demand is expected to hit 1.2 billion ounces this year. That would rank as the second-highest annual silver demand on record.

Record industrial demand for silver is expected to drive overall silver offtake this year, according to an article in the latest edition of the Silver Institute’s Silver News.

Worldwide silver demand is expected to rise 1 percent owing to a projected record high in industrial demand and a turnaround in jewelry and silverware offtake. 

According to the Silver Institute, industrial demand is expected to rise by 4 percent to a record 690 million ounces in 2024. Photovoltaics (PV) and automotive industries will serve as the key drivers. Specifically, new, higher-efficiency N-type solar cells being phased in require more silver than older solar panel technology. 

India is projected to drive silver jewelry demand higher, driving global demand in the sector up by 6 percent to record levels.

The Silver Institute projects a structural market deficit of 176 million ounces. That would be the fourth consecutive year of demand outstripping supply, cutting further into global silver reserves.

Silver appears to be significantly underpriced given the supply and demand dynamics.

This was just one of several interesting stories reported in the latest edition of Silver News.

Here are some of the highlights…

  • Top silver stakeholders from the U.S. and Canada have asked Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson that silver be placed on the list of critical minerals. “The latter half of the 20th  century saw a decline in silver mining activities due to economic factors and declining ore grades, while the demand for silver is rising – there was a 237.7-million-ounce silver deficit in 2022, and the deficit will continue unless additional production opportunities are identified.” The stakeholders outlined that silver should be included in the critical minerals list because it meets several criteria. 
  • A rare silver coin suspected of being 2,500 years old, albeit broken on purpose, was found near Jerusalem which archeologists say shows a time when currency was moving from silver pieces to actual coins. The coins were broken in half when traders needed a lower-value coin. 
  • Meanwhile, 29 rare silver coins were recently unearthed about 60 miles southwest of Athens. They were thought to be minted around the sixth and fourth centuries BCE. Some of the coins (called ‘staters’) were minted in Olympia during the Olympic games and were meant to spread the word about the contests. 
  • While cloud seeding with silver-iodide crystals is growing in popularity to induce rain to parched areas, some South Asian countries are using it to help mitigate air pollution. The goal is simple: force rain to fall and the drops will latch onto air pollution particles and wash them to the ground. 
  • Although air filters are some of the best ways to protect people from dangerous pathogens in their house or office air, these filters can also spread airborne bacterial and viral infections when germs cling to filter material. Researchers in Spain have tested various silver, copper, and zinc oxide sprays and found that all of them helped kill germs to varying degrees with the silver oxide spray, “demonstrating a complete prevention of targeted bacterial growth throughout the 24-hour incubation period measured by the study.”

Mike Maharrey is a journalist and market analyst for MoneyMetals.com with over a decade of experience in precious metals. He holds a BS in accounting from the University of Kentucky and a BA in journalism from the University of South Florida.

Federal Court Strikes down Voter ID Law

Ken Silva
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Federal Court Strikes down Voter ID Law

(Ken Silva, Headline USA) A federal court struck down last week an Arizona law that would have required voters to provide proof of residence, ruling that such a requirement violates the National Voter Registration Act.

US District Judge Susan Bolton’s decision follows a similar ruling in the same case last September, when she struck down proof-of-citizenship requirements for voters.

In her decision last Thursday, Bolton said a law requiring voters to provide proof of residence would have a chilling effect on voter registration, while it won’t have much impact on preventing fraud.

“The Court finds that though it may occur, non-citizens voting in Arizona is quite rare, and non-citizen voter fraud in Arizona is rarer still,” Bolton said.

“But while the Voting Laws are not likely to meaningfully reduce possible non-citizen voting in Arizona, they could help to prevent non-citizens from registering or voting.”

Democrat attorney Marc Elias—whose organization, Democracy Docket, sponsored the lawsuit—celebrated Bolton’s ruling. He was roundly criticized in response, with conservatives accusing him of selling out his country.

Last Thursday’s ruling was the latest blow for voting integrity in Arizona, where the Democratic secretary of state has already paved the way for illegal immigrants to vote in the state’s upcoming election. Elon Musk brought attention to this issue in January, when someone posted on Twitter an updated elections procedures manual, which states that people without proof of citizenship can still vote on “federal-only” ballots.

According to an analysis from Hayden Ludwig, the director of policy research for Restoration of America, the language in the new election procedures manual paves the way for illegal immigrants to vote in the March 19 primary.

Republicans in Arizona have responded to the recent development by introducing legislation that would guaranteeing that only qualified registered voters who are U.S. citizens and at least 18 years old “may vote in an election in this state.” However, that legislation won’t be considered until the November 2024 elections.

Ludwig said passing that legislation is absolutely crucial for the state’s future.

“Come November, Arizonans have a chance at restoring their right to vote,” he said. “With the way things are going in America, it may be their last shot.”

Ken Silva is a staff writer at Headline USA. Follow him at twitter.com/jd_cashless.

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