Originally published at: Virginia Declares State of Emergency as SNAP Benefits Become Uncertain, Beef Prices up 13% – Peak Prosperity
US Politics
The ongoing government shutdown, now in its 25th day, has heightened tensions, with prediction markets showing low odds of resolution before early November and macro issues such as debt and state-level divides persisting. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency on October 23 to allocate state funds for food assistance, as the federal shutdown threatens SNAP benefits for 850,000 residents starting November 1. The USDA confirmed that contingency funds cannot cover regular benefits, which support 42 million Americans or 12% of the population, with average household payments at $332 monthly and higher for families with children or disabilities. Other states, including California committing $80 million and deploying the National Guard to food banks, and Colorado allocating $10 million, have enacted similar measures. Some observers suggest that such declarations may also serve political aims amid partisan debates over the shutdown’s causes. Upcoming changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will impose work requirements on adults aged 18 to 65 from November 1, exempting those with limitations.
Meanwhile, European analysts have raised concerns about deepening U.S. divisions, drawing on historical precedents such as the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion over taxation and likening current conditions to those preceding civil conflict, as defined by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies as involving at least 1,000 deaths in organized violence. Martin Armstrong’s economic cycle models trace erosion of public confidence from a 1985 peak and project a downturn through 2037, with capital reportedly shifting to private assets amid polarization between ideological extremes. Other assessments highlight the resilience of U.S. institutions and public preference for peaceful resolutions to political disputes.
Economy
Private entities control 60% of U.S. land, totaling 1.3 billion acres, with major holders including the Emerson family at 2.4 million acres, John Malone at 2.22 million, and Bill Gates at over 200,000 acres across 18 states. This concentration could influence local taxes, voting districts, and resource allocation, and some reports note potential strains on public services if properties remain tax-exempt. Analyses also indicate that such ownership often supports conservation and sustainable agriculture initiatives. Asset managers BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street oversee $23 trillion and cast proxy votes for 90% of S&P 500 stocks, which can shape corporate boards. U.S. debt stands at $36 trillion, or 120% of GDP, with foreign holders such as Japan and China each at $1.8 trillion, which some analysts say complicates refinancing amid persistent deficits.
U.S. beef prices rose 12.9% for ground beef and 16.6% for steaks over the past year, compared to overall food inflation of 3.1%, as cattle inventory reached a 75-year low following the closure of 150,000 ranches since 2017. Droughts have reduced herd sizes, input costs for fertilizer and equipment have increased, and four firms control over 80% of processing, prompting lawsuits over alleged price collusion. President Trump proposed increasing imports from Argentina to boost supply, which drew criticism from ranchers and groups like the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association for reportedly favoring processors without lowering retail costs. Some industry observers express optimism about market recovery through recent price improvements and adaptation to global demand dynamics. The Agriculture Department announced measures to expand grazing land and aid small processors, though experts note herd rebuilding could take years.
German companies are submitting detailed supply chain data, including manufacturing diagrams and production forecasts, to secure six-month export licenses for rare earth minerals amid controls introduced by China in April and October. China supplies 95% of Germany’s rare earths, which are essential for semiconductors and manufacturing, and the disclosures could highlight vulnerabilities such as single-supplier dependencies, according to some analyses. Licensing delays caused 46 production shutdowns in September among surveyed firms, with larger companies like automakers receiving faster approvals via a German embassy priority list. The German government has engaged business leaders and plans bilateral talks with Beijing to extend license durations and diversify sources, as the European Union prepares coordinated responses to address supply chain risks. Chinese officials have stated that the controls aim to ensure sustainable resource use and national security, applying uniformly without targeting specific nations.
Energy
The expansion of electric vehicle production has increased demand for battery materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, with mining often occurring in regions including China and Africa using diesel-powered equipment. According to reports, a typical Tesla Model Y battery requires processing 12 tons of lithium ore, 5 tons of cobalt, and 3 tons of nickel, along with moving 250 tons of soil. Some analyses indicate that full lifecycle emissions, including mining and manufacturing, result in a carbon footprint higher than that of diesel vehicles. Most electricity for charging electric vehicles derives from fossil fuels, with renewables accounting for less than 5% globally, and overall well-to-plug efficiency reaching only 37% according to European Commission data. Hybrids use gasoline engines to charge batteries, which some sources say maintains dependence on oil without reductions in emissions proportional to mileage. Other studies suggest that long-term operational emissions from electric vehicles are lower than those of gasoline counterparts, particularly as renewable energy adoption increases, with ongoing efforts to improve mining sustainability and battery recycling.
European Politics
Independent candidate Catherine Connolly secured Ireland’s presidency with 63% of the vote, defeating Heather Humphreys, who conceded early, with support from left-wing parties including Sinn Féin and Labour. Connolly, a former Galway mayor, campaigned on preserving Irish military neutrality and reportedly criticized EU militarization and NATO expansion for contributing to conflicts such as Ukraine. She drew parallels between Germany’s military-industrial developments and 1930s rearmament, while addressing domestic issues such as housing and cost-of-living pressures, which reportedly boosted her appeal among younger voters through social media. As president, Connolly holds powers to refer bills to the constitutional court and dissolve parliament if the government loses majority support, though the role remains largely ceremonial in Ireland’s parliamentary system. Some EU officials have expressed concerns that her stance could complicate collaborative defense efforts within the bloc.
Space News
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope detected infrared signatures in comet Three Atlas during a spectroscopic scan on October 21, showing geometric structures spaced 127 meters apart within its interior. The patterns shifted over the following 12 hours. Additional observations indicate the object’s mass is lower than expected, its rotation has stabilized at an 8.7-hour period, and it has decelerated by 0.3 km/s. Its trajectory passes near Venus, Earth, and Mars. Some researchers have suggested the features may indicate an engineered design from a long-dormant system, while the European Space Agency described the anomalies as potentially resulting from natural fracturing. The ESA has emphasized the need for additional data before concluding on artificial origins, with some experts cautioning against premature speculation on non-natural explanations. Researchers are monitoring for further changes ahead of its perihelion on October 29.
Charlie Kirk
Witness Ryne Simmons reported that FBI agents urged him to delete video footage of an alleged assassination attempt on Charlie Kirk, citing potential PTSD, and followed up to confirm erasure. Simmons initially submitted the video as a tip but grew suspicious after escalating contact from local to national levels, leading him to preserve copies across multiple drives. The incident has prompted questions about evidence handling in the investigation, according to some reports. The FBI has denied pressuring witnesses to delete evidence, reaffirming commitment to a thorough probe.
Sources
The Ghost Probe: Three Atlas Reveals Ancient AI Awakening
We may be witnessing our first encounter with what I call ghost ships of the cosmos.
Source | Submitted by 0007
The Electric Illusion: Unveiling the Environmental Devastation of the EV Boom
Electric vehicles are not the sustainable miracle they’re marketed to be
Source | Submitted by PhilH
Who Really Owns America? Land Barons, Banking Titans, and Bitcoin’s Radical Fix
And over the course of this video, I’m going to help explain the different forms of control and how they’ve evolved throughout history, from land, money to corporations to debt, and so much more.
Source | Submitted by PhilH
US Beef Prices Skyrocket: Trump’s Plans Spark Rancher Backlash
Beef prices have gotten so high in the US that it has become a political problem.
Source | Submitted by Barbara
Irish Neutrality Champion Catherine Connolly Wins Presidency in Landslide
Independent candidate Catherine Connolly, a long-time advocate of Irish military neutrality and a critic of NATO’s expansion and EU militarization, has won Ireland’s presidential election in a landslide.
Source | Submitted by Rodster
German Firms Yield Supply Chain Secrets to China in Rare Earth Crunch
As German firms wrestle with new Chinese controls on rare earths, they are handing Beijing sensitive supply chain information it could potentially use to squeeze manufacturers or shut down production lines in Europe’s biggest economy.
Source (Paywalled) | Submitted by Shplad
Europe Fears US Civil War: From Whiskey Rebellion to ECM-Predicted Upheaval
The United States is due for another massive civil war, but this time, it will be far larger than a mere revolution over taxes.
Source | Submitted by davefairtex
Virginia Governor Declares Emergency as SNAP Benefits Teeter on Shutdown Brink
Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency in Virginia on Oct. 23 to provide relief for residents at risk of losing federal food benefits next month.
FBI Accused of Pressuring Witness to Delete Charlie Kirk Assassination Video
They had said, because this was your friend, I think it’s best that you erase the video from your phone because it’s just going to be PTSD.
Source | Submitted by Chris Martenson
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: European Space Agency (ESA), CleanTechnica, BBC, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Beef Magazine, China Ministry of Commerce, Euronews, The Brookings Institution, Politico, and FBI.
