In a shocking revelation that should raise alarm bells for every American, it has come to light that internet trolls, allegedly backed by the Chinese Communist Party, are posing as U.S. citizens on social media platforms like TikTok. This insidious operation is targeting voters, especially supporters of Donald Trump, ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
One has to wonder about the true motives behind this blatant interference. When pretending to be Trump supporters, they’re obnoxious. When engaging with real Trump supporters, they’re threatening.
According to research reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, these Beijing-backed trolls are pushing divisive narratives on critical issues such as gun control, racial inequality, and the Israel-Hamas conflict. This is not just a casual online campaign; it’s a calculated effort to manipulate public opinion and sway the upcoming election in favor of their agenda.
Breitbart News has previously reported on TikTok’s troubling practices, revealing that the platform has sent sensitive user data about Americans—data that includes their opinions on gun control and abortion—straight to their Chinese overlords. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has now confirmed that TikTok employees communicate internally using a tool called Lark, claiming that “significant amounts of restricted US user data (including but not limited to personally identifiable information)” was shared on this platform. The DOJ further elaborates, stating, “This resulted in certain sensitive U.S. person data being contained in Lark channels and, therefore, stored on Chinese servers and accessible to ByteDance employees located in China.”
This raises a critical question: how can we trust a platform that so blatantly compromises American privacy and security? The Chinese propaganda machine is not just targeting former President Donald Trump; it has also set its sights on Vice President Kamala Harris and even President Joe Biden before he was ousted from his reelection campaign. The initiative is attributed to the notorious Chinese disinformation group, Spamouflage, as reported by the Associated Press.
Jack Stubbs, the chief intelligence officer at Graphika, stated, “One of the world’s largest covert online influence operations, an operation run by Chinese state-linked actors, has become more aggressive in its efforts to infiltrate and sway U.S. political conversations ahead of the election.” This is not just a minor issue; it’s a full-scale assault on our democratic processes.
The trolls are adopting fake identities to masquerade as U.S. voters, engaging in political debates online to control the narrative. One TikTok account, known as the “Harlan Report,” racked up an astonishing 1.5 million views on a single post. When pressed for their identity, the individual behind the account cryptically stated, “In your world, I am a clown. Sorry, You cannot know my identity, nobody ensure my safety.” This level of secrecy is deeply concerning and raises further questions about the integrity of the information being disseminated.
Following inquiries from the Wall Street Journal, TikTok took action and banned the Harlan Report account. However, a review of the account’s X profile revealed it had amassed 11,000 followers before being suspended from Elon Musk’s platform as well. The Harlan Report account posed as a 31-year-old conservative, complete with hashtags like #Patriotsunited, #MAGA, and Trump2024 in its bio.
Moreover, the Wall Street Journal uncovered that TikTok has been promoting “thousands of videos with political lies and hyperbole to its users.” One particular network of anti-Trump videos was traced back to a web of overseas accounts operating from China, Iran, and Vietnam.
While China, Russia, and Iran have denied any involvement in targeting U.S. voters through clandestine internet activities, it’s widely understood that foreign nations engage in online propaganda campaigns every election cycle. Earlier this summer, American spy agencies reported that Iran is actively seeking to influence the outcome of the U.S. presidential race to prevent a second Trump term.
As we approach the 2024 election, it’s imperative that we remain vigilant against these politically motivated ploys. The integrity of our democracy is at stake, and we must question the motives behind these foreign interventions. Will we allow our political discourse to be hijacked by foreign actors, or will we stand up for the truth? The choice is ours.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
Coffee the Christian way: Promised Grounds
