B-Man

I posted this in random thread yesterday but things are now heating up. Let us pray that wiser heads prevail. .

GOODER AND HARDER, CALIFORNIA: CA gas could hit $8.44 per gallon in 2026 due to refinery closures, regulations. The new study from University of Southern California professor Michael A. Mische examined California’s historical gas prices, oil supply and refining capacity, and modeled the likely impact of refinery closures and costly new fossil fuel and refinery fees and regulations. “The shutdown of the two California-based refineries could possibly place the Golden State in a precarious economic situation and create a gasoline deficit potentially ranging from 6.6 million to 13.1 million gallons a day, as defined by the shortfall between consumption and production,” wrote Mische. “Reductions in fuel supplies of this magnitude will resonate throughout multiple supply chains affecting production, costs, and prices across many industries such as air travel, food delivery, agricultural production, manufacturing, electrical power generation, distribution, groceries and healthcare.” Mische said the high delta between California gas prices and that of other states is the result of state taxes and fees, and policies that have reduced in-state oil production and refining capacity faster than gasoline demand has fallen. https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/ca-gas-could-hit-844-gallon-2026-due-refinery-closures-regulations?

What a wonderful example of the liberal mindset. There can be NO discussion with President Trump, if you do you're a traitor. And they can't figure out why people are laughing at them.

Washington State launched an attack on Catholics when Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a bill forcing priests to break the Seal of Confession. This story flew under the radar while the Left was frothing over a meme of President Donald Trump as the new pope. This is the real story, though; they're trying to send priests to jail. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K. Dhillon took notice and announced that the Justice Department would be opening a First Amendment investigation into the law. https://twitchy.com/brettt/2025/05/06/justice-department-opens-case-on-anti-catholic-law-n2412439 /

India has sided with the United States (US) President Donald Trump on the trade war with Xi Jinping of China. Reports indicate that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ready to accept all conditions of the US in a trade deal. Trump raised tariffs on most Chinese imports to 145%, citing the need to reduce the trade deficit and encourage domestic manufacturing. In retaliation, China has imposed 125% tariffs on US goods and implemented non-tariff barriers, including export controls on critical rare-earth elements. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Trump in the White House in February 2025. After the meeting, the leaders announced they would pursue a “framework” for greater cooperation. “ Prime Minister Modi and I have agreed that we will be in negotiations to address the long-running disparities,” Trump said. “But really, we want a certain level of playing field, which we really think we’re entitled to.” India-US Partnership On the other hand, Modi said India and the US will have a MEGA partnership for prosperity. He said India is working towards a Viksit Bharat, which in the American context translates into MIGA. “An excellent meeting with Trump at the White House. Our talks will add significant momentum to the India-USA friendship,” Modi said. Modi also met with US Vice President JD Vance and his family in New Delhi. In a statement, Modi said they reviewed the fast-paced progress following my visit to the US and meeting with President Trump. He explained that the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership will be a defining partnership of the 21st Century for a better future of the world. “We are committed to mutually beneficial cooperation, including in trade, technology, defence, energy and people-to-people exchanges,” he added. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/india-bows-to-trump-accepts-all-u-s-trade-conditions-and-tariffs/ar-AA1EbCsr?

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Back to the thread. Conclave updates World's eyes turn to Vatican City as papal conclave to elect next pope set to begin In total, 133 cardinals will be voting during conclave, the most electors ever. By Jon Haworth https://abcnews.go.com/International/worlds-eyes-turn-vatican-city-papal-conclave-elect/story?id=121507440 As Vatican staff take oath of secrecy for 2025 conclave, some contentious issues await the new pope By Chris Livesay Vatican City — All the Vatican staff who will be involved in the 2025 conclave to pick the late Pope Francis' successor — from the cleaners to the cooks and custodians — have taken their oath of secrecy. The punishment for leaking information about the ancient Catholic Church ritual is immediate excommunication. The 133 cardinal electors tasked with electing the next pontiff will take their own oath on Wednesday, inside the Sistine Chapel, as the conclave gets underway. They have all arrived at the Vatican for the gathering, and they've been seen this week going in and out of meetings every day, where they discuss the merits of the men among their own ranks — any one of whom could be chosen as the next pope. From Wednesday, the cardinal electors will gather in the chapel, beneath Michelangelo's renowned Last Judgement fresco, to decide who should lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/conclave-2025-pope-francis-replacement-contentious-issues/ ,

Release the election fraud whistleblowers.

Yes, but can he match Josh's three Super Bowl wins ?

Here it is !

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TRUTH. RELATED WOW!

NOTHING SAYS IMPARTIALITY AND NEUTRALITY LIKE UNRWA’S LONG COLLABORATION WITH HAMAS: What a clown show the whole UN/NGO complex is.

Meanwhile: MINUS 90% OF THE MEDIA ATTENTION THAT ACCOMPANIED ITS LOSSES: How the stock market made back all its losses after Trump escalated the trade war. FTA: Through all the market’s tumult, U.S. companies have continued to deliver profit reports for the start of the year that have topped analysts’ expectations. Stock prices tend to follow profits over the long term, and that’s given the market a notable boost. Three out of every four companies in the S&P 500 have beaten analysts’ expectations for profits in recent weeks, including such market heavyweights as Microsoft and Meta Platforms. They’re on track to deliver growth of nearly 13% from a year earlier, according to FactSet. https://fortune.com/2025/05/04/stock-market-rebound-sp500-trump-trade-war-liberation-day-tariffs/

Here’s the Real Reason the Media Is Pushing Fake Polls Matt Margolis In yet another crushing blow to the left-wing media's phony narrative that Trump voters are regretting supporting him in 2024, recent focus groups clearly demonstrate that Trump voters aren't experiencing an ounce of buyer's remorse. The mainstream media can push their fake polls and doomsday economic forecasts all they want—Trump's base isn't budging. “People are not regretting voting for Donald Trump. And then to watch their pollster say, ‘Yeah, if the election were held today, Trump would still wipe the floor with Kamala Harris,’ or probably any other Democrat, for that matter,” Hannity pointed out. “Why are they doing that? Are they trying to divide Trump with congressional Republicans and senators to stymie his agenda?” "That's exactly why they're doing it," Cahaly revealed. "They realize that Washington is full of political animals. And if they can convince the people in Congress that Trump is somehow becoming more toxic, then they can damage his agenda." The playbook is painfully obvious. The same pollsters who spectacularly failed to predict Trump's electoral success are now doubling down on their flawed methodology. https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2025/05/05/heres-the-real-reason-the-media-is-pushing-fake-polls-n4939486

Trump Intends to Keep Winning: Talks This Week With China, Canada By Ward Clark This is President Donald Trump's 16th week in office, and he shows no signs of slowing down. The upcoming week's plans include more negotiations with Ukraine and Russia, a meeting with Canada's new Prime Minister, and trade negotiations with a number of other countries, including China. It's going to be a busy week. Trump's 16th week back in the Oval Office is anticipated to include a meeting with Canada's new leader, ongoing talks to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, and trade negotiations with foreign nations that are expected to continue heating up before the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs ends in July. Canada would seem to be a priority, in part because they have a new Prime Minister, and in part because they are our primary trade partner - oh, and we share a 3,000+ mile border. We conduct nearly a trillion dollars in trade with Canada annually, and Canada places significant tariffs on American goods, most notably agricultural products. If Canada wants us to drop tariffs, they should be willing to do likewise, and that would be good for both countries. Sauce for the goose. Hopefully, that will come up in the conversation between the president and the new Canadian leader this week. https://redstate.com/wardclark/2025/05/05/trump-intends-to-keep-winning-talks-this-week-with-china-canada-n2188692

CHANGE: ‘No Participation Trophies’: Trump Revamps Performance Reviews for Top Bureaucrats. Performance reviews are about to become much more difficult for the upper echelon of federal government employees. The Trump administration will soon introduce rules to end what the Office of Personnel Management describes as an “everyone gets a trophy” culture permeating the federal workforce, RealClearPolitics is first to report. The ranks of the Senior Executive Service, top bureaucrats serving throughout the government and across administrations, swelled to around 8,000 under President Biden. Most live in Washington, D.C. They typically earn an annual salary between $183,000 and $250,000. An overwhelming majority, 96%, according to an OPM memo, receive above-average performance ratings even as public trust in government continues to crater. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2025/05/01/no_participation_trophies_trump_revamps_performance_reviews_top_bureaucrats__152728.html “Above average” doesn’t mean what it used to.

Something Is Seriously Wrong With Michelle Obama If you had told me just a few years ago that Michelle Obama would be a presidential candidate, I'd have said she was the most formidable opponent the Democratic Party could put up. Yet, as I sit here in May of 2025, I'm not even sure she'd survive a primary, much less be competitive in a general election. Things have changed dramatically, and the spiral is continuing for Barack Obama's wife. Her new podcast has not only bombed in the ratings, but she's been using the platform to dish on her husband and call America racist while showing an astonishing amount of entitlement and lack of self-awareness. It's as if she's going through a mid-late-life crisis, and that includes rather noticeable changes to her appearance. To put it another way, something is seriously wrong with Michelle Obama. Take her latest podcast appearance as a perfect example. When asked about her time in the White House, instead of lauding the immense privilege she enjoyed (and has enjoyed since childhood, when you consider her background), she complained about supposedly having to pay for her own food. OBAMA: Many people don't know, I mean, much is not covered. You're paying for every food, every bit of food that you eat. You know, you're not paying for housing and the staff in it, but everything, even travel, if you're not traveling with the president and the kids are coming on Brightstar, which is the First Lady's plane, we had to pay for their travel. When the Obamas handed over the keys to the White House, they were worth $12 million. Was it really a hardship for them to have to pay for their own food? Does Michelle Obama understand how normal people live? Not only do we pay for our food, but we pay for everything else as well. I couldn't imagine living in the White House rent-free for eight years, complete with a taxpayer-funded army of servants (excuse me...staffers) and ever uttering a complaint about it. That's not to say rich people can't have frustrations, but there's a way to express them without coming across as an ungrateful brat. Again, though, if this were an isolated incident, maybe it could be ignored. But Michelle Obama has become obsessed with painting herself as a victim of America's class system despite firmly being at the top of it. Mix in some accusations of racism, and you've got her current worldview, and it's not pretty or healthy. Understand that this isn't a woman who grew up behind the eight ball. She had good parents who sent her to one of the best high schools in her area. Her college days were spent in the Ivy League. She was given the best jobs. She married a man who became a senator and president. She has two children. Yet, to hear her talk, her entire life has been marred by oppression. The Obamas are currently estimated to be worth around $70 million. America has been extremely kind to them. There is nothing for Michelle Obama to be complaining about. She could be expressing her gratitude to a country that allows anyone to succeed, presenting herself as an inspirational figure for future generations. Instead, she continues to sow division and discord, painting a picture of her life that doesn't begin to match reality. Perhaps the former first lady should try touching grass. She can easily do so by walking out the front door of her massive mansion on Martha's Vineyard. Perspective is a valuable thing, and Michelle Obama has completely lost any semblance of it. https://redstate.com/bonchie/2025/05/04/something-is-seriously-wrong-with-michelle-obama-n2188686#google_vignette

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What a concept. Portugal announces the expulsion of 18,000 foreigners ahead of a national election Associated Press News, by Staff Portugal’s caretaker government plans to expel some 18,000 foreigners living in the country without authorization, a minister said Saturday in the buildup to a national election. Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro said the center-right government will issue approximately 18,000 notifications to people in the country illegally to leave. The minister said officials will begin next week by asking some 4,500 foreigners to leave voluntarily within 20 days. Portugal will hold an early general election on May 18. https://apnews.com/article/portugal-immigration-election-c491f01613bab2f5342118d288c2903e?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=share

Reminder of where we were 5 years ago. .