Drug Shortages a U.S. Security Threat, Crude Tankers Hit $647K/Day - Is Dropping Flock ALPRs Enough?

Daily Digest
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Originally published at: Drug Shortages a U.S. Security Threat, Crude Tankers Hit $647K/Day – Is Dropping Flock ALPRs Enough? – Peak Prosperity

Health

ICU physician Dr. Joseph Varon describes U.S. drug shortages as a national security issue. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists recorded 227 active shortages in June 2026, nearly half involving single-manufacturer products. Shortages include saline, dextrose, amiodarone, midazolam, and morphine. Varon attributed the shortages to offshoring, noting that 69 percent of generics and 89 percent of active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturers are located outside the United States, mainly in India and China. He cited the 2024 closure of Baxter’s North Cove plant, which supplied about 60 percent of U.S. IV solutions, as an example of single points of failure.

In other news, a report by A Midwestern Doctor stated that roughly 1,500 studies and user reports indicate DMSO can dissolve clots and restore circulation. One trial of 11 patients given IV DMSO within 12 hours reported 63 percent marked improvement at three months. The report claims the compound could reduce stroke-related disabilities. However, conventional assessments indicate that broader claims for DMSO in stroke treatment lack sufficient rigorous clinical validation beyond its limited FDA-approved uses.

Privacy & Surveillance

After facing significant public backlash, more than 50 jurisdictions have canceled contracts with Flock Safety, whose automated license plate readers feed a national database of vehicle movements. Flock reduced default data retention from 30 to 7 days, tied searches to case codes, and removed federal agencies from its national search tool. Documented cases include officers accessing data for personal reasons and mistaken identifications leading to armed stops.

However, ACLU analyst Jay Stanley stated that ending Flock contracts would not address the broader ALPR issue. Motorola Solutions’ Digital Recognition Network records 500 million scans monthly with no retention limits, and the NYPD retains data for five years. Axon has entered the ALPR market. Stanley recommended 48-hour retention limits, local storage, no nationwide sharing, no AI analytics, and warrants for searches.

Energy

Earnings on the benchmark Saudi Arabia-to-China supertanker route reached $647,000 per day because so few tanker owners are willing to risk the journey. TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne estimated the cost of moving a single cargo through the Strait of Hormuz at roughly $20 million. Traders estimate daily Hormuz outflows at 6 to 8 million barrels, with Goldman Sachs estimating flows at two-thirds of pre-war levels. Some producers are transferring oil outside the Gulf, incurring two freight charges per barrel. Houthi attacks have forced some Saudi shipments around Africa.

In other news, Kyrgyzstan’s Energy Ministry stated that a short-term shutdown of two generators at the Toktogul hydropower plant caused the initial disturbance in the Unified Energy System of Central Asia on August 14, triggering emergency controls. Officials said their safeguards contained the disruption and that outages in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan should be examined by a separate commission. The World Bank launched a 10-year REMIT program in early 2026 to develop a regional electricity market. Uzbekistan reported that recently installed energy storage systems limited its exposure. Broader infrastructure strains from rising computing loads and expected winter power deficits are also under examination amid regional integration efforts.

Geopolitics

A Russian drone strike on an ammunition depot in Myla, Ukraine, killed at least 37 people and damaged about 50 residential buildings and a care home. President Zelensky described the depot’s placement near civilians as “terrible negligence.” Ukrainian prosecutors opened a criminal investigation. Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotskyi stated that roughly 90 percent of food-logistics infrastructure serving major retail chains has been destroyed. Russia’s Defense Ministry stated the site held components and launch boosters for long-range drones.

European Politics

Spanish National Police reported that an ambush on a patrol in Ceuta was pre-planned, with stones stockpiled in advance. Four soldiers were injured. Military association head Marco Antonio Gómez stated that soldiers “go without weapons.” Twelve suspects were detained. Four Moroccan migrants were arrested in connection with the incident, and authorities are pursuing expedited returns while processing asylum claims.

In the UK, relatives of Rhiannon Whyte, a British woman killed by a Sudanese migrant previously denied asylum in Germany and Italy, joined 18 other relatives in requesting UK conviction data by nationality for 2018–2024. The Information Commissioner ordered disclosure, but Justice Secretary David Lammy is appealing. Partial data show foreign nationals accounting for 14.1 percent of 2025 sexual-offence convictions and 79 percent of theft arrests on railways.

Sources

Kyrgyzstan Blames Toktogul Plant for Central Asia Blackout, Denies Full Fault

“This initial disturbance should not be equated with the direct cause of the shutdown of individual power systems and power nodes in other countries.”

Source | Submitted by Barbara

Hormuz Hazards: Tanker Rates Hit $650K Daily Amid Iran War

Earnings on the benchmark Saudi Arabia-to-China supertanker route surged to a record $647,000 per day on Thursday, according to Baltic Exchange data cited by Bloomberg.

Source

America’s Drug Shortages: A Warning From the ICU

A nation that cannot reliably supply its hospitals with essential medicines is not merely experiencing an inconvenient drug shortage. It has discovered a strategic vulnerability.

Source

Why the Backlash Against Flock Cameras Is a Healthy Sign

Basically, don’t let the government grab power you wouldn’t trust your political enemies to wield.

Source

Russia’s Strike on Kiev Ammo Dump Exposes Negligence, Wrecks 90% of Retail Logistics

Another poorly sited ammo dump cooking off next to civilians, a retail logistics network that Ukraine’s own minister says is 90% gone, and winter approaching.

Source

Labour’s Secret: Blocking Foreign Crime Data to Hide Open-Border Failures

Labour has consistently refused to publish sex crime data by nationality. Why are they trying to appeal against releasing the data? Do Labour just want to cover up the truth about foreign national offenders?

Source

Migrant Rock Ambush Exposes Spain’s Unarmed, Restricted Troops in Ceuta

Our military is helpless.

Source

DMSO: The Suppressed Remedy That Could Avert Millions of Strokes

DMSO revolutionizes the treatment of strokes, as it not only eliminates the stroke, but also can be started hours earlier than normal treatments and is able to heal the injured tissue that would otherwise be lost.

Source

Flock’s Demise Won’t End the ALPR Surveillance Trap

Getting rid of Flock isn’t enough to solve America’s surveillance problem

Source

In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Nikkei Asia, @Investinc_Intel, @qadiryusfzai, @TheAliceSmith, and CGTN Europe.

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Here is an article that would qualify as a “Good News Friday” post. Iceland has voted to reject attempts to become part of the EU.

Part of the reason was concerns with Icelandic sovereignty.

The Presstitute articles don’t mention it but I am sure that some of the rejection was due to the fact that the EU is a censorship regime that is both anti-democratic and anti-human rights. They are also supportive of destabilizing open borders policies and are itching for war against the world’s most heavily armed nuclear power. If you are an Icelander, do you really want to be a part of the European Dystopia?

In other news, Benjamin Netanyahu is denouncing “settler” violence against Palestinians. I suppose Netanyahu is starting to see the writing on the international wall of those opposing genocide - as well as the muslim military alliances being formed against him.

And the Presstitute media - now that their credibility has tanked - is toying around with the idea of honest reporting.

After the Pennsylvania Health Department announced Wednesday that one of the two people whose deaths in the state were associated with measles was an infant, the coroner involved in the case has said he does not consider measles to be the cause of death.

Finally, Trump has announced a “deal” giving American corporations control over a significant number of Venezuelan oil fields. Is this really a “deal” or something else. Trump had previously kidnapped the Venezuelan President and threatened the new President with kidnapping. So one wonders if this should be characterized as a “steal” instead of a “deal.” I think it is a steal. And this theft will not decrease the cost of American gasoline or diesel for years, if ever. The “deal” has already been denounced widely by politicians in Venezuela. One wonders how enthusiastic American companies will be in pursuing the expropriation of Venezuelan assets when the locals will see Americans as thieves with targets on their backs.

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Trumpstein claims that we are almost back to normal traffic thru the SoH. Logic, data and those in that region are saying otherwise. It is going pretty well for those countries that are friendly to Iran, such as China.

Meanwhile, Tucker Carlson is saying, Trumpstein should be removed from Office immediately. I think most would agree with that. He’s always been an @sshole but one under control. Now he’s still an @sshole but unstable and out of control.

This is a really good interview between Chris Hedges and John Mersheimer who says, the Iran war is the biggest strategic blunder in US history. As he goes into details, nothing has been achieved and Iran today, is much stronger militarily, has more influence in the region and is a rising regional power.

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A mistake might be thinking Trump doesn’t have a plan to benefit.

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Who has invested in Axon? Who has the power to quietly swap out Flock for Axon? (After a suspiciously successful campaign against them)

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In this interview, Prof Marandi tells Prof Glenn Diesen that Iran’s armed forces plan to target Nutten-Yahoo and his senior leadership. One can only hope as the Israeli leadership are nothing more than bloodthirsty monsters.

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I have heard that the plan might be this.

Destroy the middle east as an oil producing region. That weakens China, India and Pakistan.

Then seize Venezuelan oil (which they are doing) and dilute very heavy Venezuelan crude with very light American shale oil to make usable oil products. This would make the US the world’s dominant energy power.

Sounds logical, but like all neocon plans, it might look good on paper but reality often proves to be more complex than Rand Corporation power-point projections.

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:lying_face: How Trump’s soft coup in Venezuela paved the way for a 65 billion-barrel oil heist

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez insists the country is “preserving its sovereignty” even as she prepares to hand the US the rights to tens of billions of barrels of its oil.

The claim rings hollow.

What is unfolding is the resource grab that began in January, when US special forces abducted then-president Nicolas Maduro - a soft coup where the real prize was control over Venezuela’s oil spigot.

Stripped of the sovereignty rhetoric, here is what Venezuela is conceding:

:right_arrow: a 25-year agreement covering rights to 65 billion barrels of proven reserves of Venezuelan oil

:right_arrow: development of 17 strategic oilfields with an initial production target of 1.5 million barrels per day

:right_arrow: opening of eight additional greenfield oil blocks as part of a wider energy expansion

:right_arrow: US reportedly secures 55% effective stake through a joint venture with private operators, with field rights structured as long-term concessions

:right_arrow: a fixed $19 per barrel paid to Venezuela on every barrel sold to the US (potentially $209 billion a year at full scale, according to Rodriguez)

:right_arrow: retention of formal “ownership” while ceding operational control, capital, technology and expertise to foreign - primarily American - companies

Venezuelan officials are reportedly already preparing to sign agreements to grant new oil exploration and production rights to several companies, including US firm Chevron.

In other words:

:red_circle: a quarter-century timeframe effectively locks Venezuela into a relationship of dependency

:red_circle: production targets would flood markets with Venezuelan crude under US operational sway

:red_circle: per-barrel cut that, however lucrative on paper, leaves the strategic decisions, technology and ultimate leverage in foreign hands

The $209 billion annual promise announced by Rodriguez assumes optimal production levels and favorable oil prices - both highly optimistic projections given Venezuela’s devastated infrastructure after years of US sanctions, and the volatility of global energy markets.

:+1: Substack | Chat | @geopolitics_prime

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—:red_exclamation_mark::united_states:/:iran: BREAKING: The U.S. carried out airstrikes against two launch platforms on Larak Island, southern Iran, in the Strait of Hormuz

According to preliminary information, there are two martyrs and two injured.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— :united_states:/:iran:/:jordan: NEW: The attack against Larak was carried out with an American drone that took off from Jordan

@Middle_East_Spectator

—:red_exclamation_mark::united_states:/:iran: IRGC Statement:

‘The American-Zionist enemy, once again, based on its desperation in solving domestic problems and its reduced credibility among regional countries, sought to revive its sinister role and public opinion, by attacking Larak Island in an aggressive act which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of several of our soldiers and compatriots.

This act will be responded to by the sons of Islamic Iran and will result in the punishment of the aggressor.’

@Middle_East_Spectator

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I guess we now see what Iran’s recent statement re their war strategy and responses actually means.

EDIT - I’ll add something I have been saying since the start. Wake me up when they sink a warship. Until then, it looks a bit half hearted.

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This was in response to Iran hitting a couple of ships yesterday as they threatened to do and they did.The US responded to that and Iran says they will respond, as you noted in the IRGC statement.

This is all playing out precisely as Prof Robert Pape says in his Escalation Trap theory. The problem for the US is that Iran has far more drones (cheaper) than the US. While there was a pause in the fighting, Iran was quickly building more drones and missiles, preparing for the next phase in the war.

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Larry Johnson thinks and I agree that this will escalate and he says the Iranians will likely target and hit Jordon.

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Iran just lodged a missile attack against an American base in Jordan.

—:red_exclamation_mark::iran:/:jordan:/:united_states: BREAKING: Iranian ballistic missiles launched at Muwaffaq Salti Airbase, Jordan; interception attempts ongoing

@Middle_East_SpectatorMiddle_East_Spectator

There have also been Iranian cruise missile launched against American warships in the Gulf of Oman.

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That’s what Larry Johnson was saying and the thing is that the US has used up most of its interceptors and the remaining stockpile is to protect Israel. Joe Kent thinks Trumpstein is itching to end this via nuclear weapons against Iran.

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Faux News is reporting that there has been, NO significant damage and virtually all of the incoming missiles hitting Jordon have been intercepted. Yeah, sure guys! :lying_face:

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aka ‘blowback’

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One of the stated reasons for NOT assassinating opposing leaders in war is to reduce the incentive for the other side to do the same… but that ship has sailed out of the barn long ago

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The other good reason is when the current leader is more moderate than the next wave to come to power. Seems this was the case in Iran. Putin is reportedly keeping his neocons from going heavy handed. And as difficult as it is to believe, Netanyahu has way worse insane members of leadership around him.

Supposedly, Hegseth is exploring running for president in 2028. It’s difficult to imagine a worse president than AOC, but you never know.

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following the horse that left port… :wink:

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Yes. Though, from another angle, Iran’s home turf is being hit and economically affected. Vs the US that isn’t really *. Each country has different vulnerable pressure points / clocks that the other side tries to run out.

'* Though you could say it is due to SPR draw downs, pressure on dollar etc. But it’s not the same as missiles slamming in or ships blockading you.