Editor’s Commentary: Let’s cut to the chase. We don’t know much. As everyone is aware, the affidavit was so heavily redacted, we just don’t have a clear picture of what the FBI or the judge were thinking. That’s troubling when we consider this is likely part of a much larger conspiracy against not only President Trump, but against America First patriots in general.
One can argue this is all part of a conspiracy against the United States of America. Tammy and I discussed this on today’s episode of The JD Rucker Show. Here’s a clip based on an article from Daily Signal. The article itself is below the Brighteon and Rumble commentaries we posted.
On Brighteon:
On Rumble:
Original Article:
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that on Aug. 8, the FBI took the unprecedented step of executing a search warrant at former President Donald Trump’s Florida home, Mar-a-Lago.
Despite claims by some that they have “seen no evidence that there was any political motivation” behind the raid, many remain skeptical—especially given its unprecedented nature and the FBI’s prior troublesome actions involving Trump and officials in his administration.
After all, an FBI lawyer plead guilty to altering a document that was later used to obtain a warrant to spy on a Trump campaign aide, and it appeared to many that the FBI broke normal protocols and essentially set a perjury trap for Trump’s national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Then there’s the double standard that appears to be in play, considering that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton faced no legal repercussions for sending and receiving classified information on her own, very vulnerable home-brew computer server.
So, what was the FBI looking for at Mar-a-Lago? We can’t be precisely sure, but we know that the dispute essentially centers on whether Trump retained documents that he shouldn’t have once he left office.
The warrant, which the FBI obtained from a magistrate judge, “describes the material that was being sought, the locations they were likely to be found, and the crimes to which that material would pertain.”
As previously explained, the “warrant delineates three potential crimes: misuse of national defense information (18 U.S.C. § 793, which is part of the Espionage Act); obstruction of justice by destroying, altering, or falsifying records in connection with a federal investigation (18 U.S.C. § 1519); and concealing, removing, or destroying protected federal documents (18 U.S.C. § 2071).”
But it doesn’t provide much insight into the investigation beyond that. That’s why several news organizations asked the federal magistrate judge who signed the original warrant to release the affidavit that goes along with it.
A search warrant affidavit is simply a sworn statement by a law enforcement official—in this case an FBI agent—describing in more detail the crimes being investigated and why that official thinks probable cause exists that evidence of those crimes would be found at a specific location.
While the Justice Department opposed release of the affidavit, the judge ordered that it be released by noon on Friday, subject to certain redactions, which the Justice Department proposed and the judge accepted.
As expected, the redactions are heavy and, as a result, the affidavit reveals little information about the investigation beyond what was already publicly known. In fact, even most of the FBI’s justifications for redacting certain information are themselves redacted.
But in a memorandum the Justice Department submitted to the judge, the department broadly identifies protecting witnesses, maintaining the integrity of the investigation, protecting grand jury material, protecting the safety of law enforcement personnel, and maintaining appropriate privacy for the targets of any investigation as the primary reasons for the redactions.
Still, the unredacted portions of the affidavit do contain a few nuggets of information.
It states that the 15 boxes of documents that Trump and his team turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration on Jan. 18 appeared to “contain National Defense Information (NDI) … and were stored at [Mar-a-Lago] in an unauthorized location.”
The affidavit also alleged that these “highly classified documents” were “intermingled with other records” and that “fourteen of the FIFTEEN BOXES” contained documents with “classification markings.”
It went on to state that a “preliminary triage of the documents with classification markings revealed the following approximate numbers: 184 unique documents bearing classification markings, including 67 documents marked as CONFIDENTIAL, 92 documents marked as SECRET, and 25 documents marked as TOP SECRET.”
The agent also listed other classification markings that were contained on the documents.
Of course, the markings on those and other documents aren’t necessarily dispositive of their classification status. As the Supreme Court has explained, a president has the constitutional authority to unilaterally classify and declassify most executive branch documents.
Trump and his counsel argued as much in a May 25 letter to the chief of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, and a former Trump adviser, Kash Patel, asserted that Trump had, in fact, declassified any documents found at Mar-a-Lago.
The FBI agent included this information in the affidavit and even noted that Trump’s counsel had requested that the Justice Department “provide this letter [from him explaining his view that a president has absolute authority to declassify documents] to any judicial officer who is asked to rule on any motion pertaining to this investigation, or on any application made in connection with any investigative request concerning this investigation,” which the agent did, attaching the letter as an exhibit to the affidavit.
The next several pages in the affidavit are redacted, which presumably are—though we can only speculate—the Justice Department’s response to those legal and factual claims.
It has also recently come out, according to reports, “that President Biden authorized the National Archives and Records Administration to reject any executive privilege claims that former President Donald Trump might use to stop the Justice Department from accessing classified documents stored at his Mar-a-Lago estate.”
That cleared the way for the Justice Department’s review of the documents, and ultimately for the raid on Trump’s estate.
The FBI appears to have seized 27 boxes of documents and several other items, though the property receipt the agents submitted only vaguely describes the contents. And despite claims from the media—based, of course, on (selective) leaks from confidential sources—that the documents contained “nuclear secrets” and dire warnings that our country’s “most sensitive secrets” could be compromised, we don’t really know what the documents contain.
For their part, Trump and his team claim that the FBI seized attorney-client privileged documents and documents protected by executive privilege, and they are seeking the appointment of a special master—an independent third party working for the court—to determine which documents should be returned to them without the government first reviewing them.
The government says that it has implemented a “taint team” composed of agents and officials not working on the case to perform essentially the same function—though those individuals still work for the FBI and Justice Department.
Regardless, the wrangling over the raid and the documents is far from over, and we can only reiterate here what we have said before: Buckle up! It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
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.
Important: Our sponsors at Jase are now offering emergency preparedness subscription medications on top of the long-term storage antibiotics they offer. Use promo code “Rucker10” at checkout!
The use of the espionage act to retrieve documents for the national archives, in itself would indicate that the national defense claims are just an excuse. They retrieved dozens of boxes containing a total of just 184 documents with classified markings, publishing the specific numbers. Now if they were after any specific documents, they wouldn’t do that. The number of documents with classified markings would be irrelevant. Whether or not the national archives needed the documents would be irrelevant. Their reasoning and actions indicate to me that they had no specific documents in mind. Somebody apparently told them, hey there’s documents with classified markings on it – probably the FBI agents who were welcomed in by Trump himself, originally went through the documents, and gave the all clear, aside from suggesting a second lock. So they decided to abuse the espionage act as an excuse.
What little information has been made available thus far strongly indicates to me that this is nothing but another fishing expedition to cover their own posteriors. They are terrified their sins will find them out. Somebody got the bright idea, hey there are documents down there with classified markings, let’s use that. They’ve been up to no good, and they’re scared out of their minds that Trump could have some documents that the people would find very, very interesting, and that he might leak them out. I doubt very seriously that any of the documents would harm a nation that was truly of the people, by the people, and for the people. I doubt the documents would harm democracy and self governance. Inasmuch as they may aid an enemy country, it would likely be the result of instability and unrest – the people justifiably up in arms about what the government has been up to, possibly leading to the end of the intel apparatus as we know it, possibly the end of the democrat party, and likely many people going to prison. What the documents would likely harm is their own fascist actions, because it’s a law just about as sure as gravity, whatever they accuse someone else of doing is most often exactly what they’ve done, what they’re doing, or what they’re about to do. That’s how hypocrites operate.
The Trump team has made several public statements that would raise more suspicion, draw more attention, provoke and encourage those who are targeting him to keep going.
If it’s a fishing expedition to destroy him personally, you don’t do that.
If there might be dangerous documents, you don’t do that.
If you might be guilty, you don’t do that.
You do that when the goal is to draw out and expose the ones that are up to no good. Make them spoil their drawers, while also giving them a false sense of security to keep coming after you. Sooner or later they’ll make a bad miscalculation. They’ll expose themselves sooner or later – and will probably themselves break every law they listed on the warrant in the process.
All speculation on my part, but it smells to me like it’s not an operation to target Trump as much as it is more desperate attempts to make sure they’ve covered their own posteriors.