Health
A McCullough Foundation review of more than 300 studies concludes that vaccination is the primary risk factor in autism’s increase, describing it as the most thorough analysis to date on the condition’s causes. This conclusion has been contested by major health authorities and scientific consensus, which maintain that extensive research shows no causal link between vaccines and autism.
In other news, fluoroquinolone antibiotics, such as levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, have been associated with severe side effects, including interference with mitochondrial enzymes and collagen synthesis, leading to tendon ruptures, neuropathy, and tissue damage from oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species, according to medical research. The FDA has issued warnings since 2008 about risks including tendinitis, irreversible peripheral neuropathy, disabling effects, blood sugar changes, mental health alterations, and aortic issues. The UK’s MHRA restricted prescriptions in 2024 to cases without viable alternatives. Despite over 14 million annual U.S. prescriptions, estimates indicate 70,000 to 210,000 adverse reactions and 14,000 to 42,000 cases of associated disability each year, often misdiagnosed due to delayed symptoms and limited awareness. Healthcare experts note that fluoroquinolones remain vital for treating serious infections where alternatives are ineffective, with benefits outweighing risks in appropriate clinical scenarios under informed prescribing.
Environment
Israeli-U.S. company Stardust Solutions raised $60 million to begin outdoor tests in April, involving aircraft spraying undisclosed reflective particles at 11 miles altitude to reflect sunlight; the firm claims the material avoids buildup in humans or ecosystems and does not harm the ozone layer, though it lacks patents, peer-reviewed evidence, or full disclosure. Over 590 scientists have called for a global moratorium on solar geoengineering, citing potential risks to weather patterns and international relations.
A study published in Nature examines biodiversity effects from onshore wind turbines, estimating they cause about one million bat deaths yearly in areas with high turbine density, such as the U.S., UK, Canada, and Germany, along with bird fatalities including raptors and vultures; this could contribute to local extinctions for low-reproduction species like cinereous vultures in Europe and hoary bats in North America. The study also notes habitat degradation in biodiverse regions, changes in animal behavior and populations, insect declines from blade strikes, and ecosystem disruptions from microclimate shifts, vibrational noise, and soil impacts, with projections warning of significant consequences if turbines expand to cover up to 13% of U.S. land in net zero scenarios. Environmental groups argue that climate change poses a greater overall threat to wildlife, and advancements like radar detection and turbine adjustments can mitigate localized impacts while advancing emission reductions.
Economy
Amazon has announced plans to cut about 30,000 corporate positions, or 10% of its 350,000 corporate staff, to manage costs from pandemic-related expansions; this would mark the company’s largest layoffs since 27,000 in late 2022. Labor groups have expressed concerns over impacts on employee morale, while analysts note the move aligns with broader tech sector efforts to enhance profitability amid economic pressures.
In Los Angeles, city officials and financial analyses report structural budget challenges stemming from a growth-dependent model that deferred infrastructure maintenance, resulting in a $1 billion shortfall, reserves dropping from $648 million to $300 million, and accumulated deficits approaching $40 billion, with negative net positions and reliance on certain development projects. City leaders counter that strategic investments, such as convention center expansions, could generate long-term economic benefits through tourism and job creation, potentially offsetting current fiscal strains.
A historical analysis draws parallels between the U.S. economic trajectory and the declines of empires such as Spain, Britain, and the Soviet Union, citing stages including overextension, currency debasement, debt accumulation, production losses, and social challenges. Reports indicate the U.S. military maintains commitments in 150 countries, with national debt at $36 trillion, exceeding 120% of GDP, and a manufacturing sector affected by an $800 billion trade deficit. These factors have been associated with issues such as increased crime rates and declining fertility, according to various studies. However, some economists argue that the U.S. economy’s technological innovations and GDP growth differentiate it from historical precedents, suggesting the debt situation remains manageable with appropriate fiscal policies.
Energy
A report from the Tony Blair Institute recommends that the UK government drop its 2030 clean power target to focus on reducing electricity bills, positing that lower energy costs could speed up electrification and improve security as North Sea oil production declines, while still pursuing net zero goals through broader adoption rather than quick fossil fuel reductions. This view differs from the Labour government’s pledge to maintain the target to protect consumers from future price shocks, though groups like Energy UK support domestic power generation for eventual cost savings. Critics, including environmental advocates, warn that abandoning the target could weaken international climate commitments and delay the shift from fossil fuels.
In the U.S., retail electricity prices have increased in line with national inflation from 2019 to 2024, with variations across states attributed to factors including infrastructure expenses—transmission costs nearly tripled and distribution costs doubled over two decades—along with aging equipment, supply chain inflation for items like transformers, and extreme weather such as California wildfires, which analyses link to 40% of the state’s price rises. Studies show that load growth from sources like data centers tends to lower rates by distributing fixed costs, while behind-the-meter solar can increase them via certain billing mechanisms; utility-scale renewables have neutral or downward effects, and renewable portfolio standards add about 0.4 cents per kilowatt-hour. Publicly owned utilities have reportedly kept price increases lower than investor-owned ones in some regions, and global energy market volatility from geopolitical events has also contributed to overall trends.
Geopolitics
Venezuela’s government announced the arrest of individuals it describes as CIA-linked mercenaries involved in an alleged U.S.-backed false flag operation intended to incite military conflict, while accusing Trinidad and Tobago of cooperating with Washington via joint exercises that purportedly breach regional peace agreements and enable human rights violations. The detentions resemble 2024 arrests of U.S. citizens and others accused of plotting against President Maduro, claims denied by Western governments, amid U.S. actions targeting the alleged Cartel de los Soles, which reportedly led to 43 killings and two captures of suspected traffickers. U.S. officials have dismissed the accusations as baseless, stating that joint exercises with Trinidad and Tobago focus solely on countering drug trafficking without intent to destabilize Venezuela.
Meanwhile, U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers flew parallel to Venezuela’s coast for the second time in a week, coming within 50 miles of Caracas and a few miles of its airspace, launched from North Dakota bases as part of anti-drug efforts but indicating elevated tensions; officials have suggested possible future expansions, including ground operations, under a potential Trump administration. Venezuelan authorities denounced the flights as provocative acts threatening sovereignty, while U.S. Southern Command described them as routine demonstrations of readiness against regional security threats like narcotics trafficking.
Sources
The Seven Stages of Empire: Why America Is Next to Fall
There’s a pattern in history that has destroyed three global superpowers in the last 500 years. And right now in 2025, the United States is following that exact same pattern stage by stage, decision by decision, almost like we’re reading from the same script that led to catastrophe every single time before.
Source | Submitted by pinecarr
Los Angeles: Ground Zero for the Growth Ponzi’s Collapse
Los Angeles is not simply broke; it’s structurally insolvent.
Source | Submitted by Barbara
Blair Think Tank Urges Ditching UK’s 2030 Clean Power Target to Cut Bills and Boost Security
Tony Blair’s think tank has called for the government to ditch its 2030 clean power target as it urged the Labour government to focus on making electricity cheaper in order to persuade Brits to use it over gas.
Source | Submitted by jhughes1973
Unraveling U.S. Electricity Price Spikes: Renewables, Wildfires, and Load Myths Exposed
This analysis shows that, while the recent increase in average U.S. retail electricity prices has largely tracked inflation, some states experienced steep price increases exceeding inflation, whereas many others saw reductions in inflation-adjusted prices.
Source | Submitted by Shplad
US Electricity Prices Surge: Infrastructure and Weather, Not Just Data Centers, to Blame
This is a much more nuanced issue than just, ‘We have a new data center, so rates will go up.’
Source | Submitted by Shplad
Fluoroquinolones: The Antibiotics Poisoning Millions Unknowingly
Millions of people are severely affected by these drugs, landing in wheelchairs, or unable to function, or dead.
Source | Submitted by Redneck Engineer
New Nature Study Reveals Vast Biodiversity Toll of Onshore Wind Turbines
In short, the science team notes that turbines can kill birds, bats and insects, change animal behaviour, physiology and demography and alter ecosystems.
Venezuela Claims CIA Mercenary Detentions in US-Orchestrated ‘False Flag’ Plot
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez announced the alleged capture of “mercenaries” linked to the CIA, describing the arrests as part of a “false-flag operation” intended to provoke a military confrontation with Venezuela.
US Bombers Buzz Venezuela’s Coast for Second Time in a Week Amid Regime Change Buzz
Two US Air Force B-1B “Lancer” Long-Range Heavy Bombers have once again buzzed Venezuela’s coast on Monday, reportedly coming to within less than 50 miles from the capital of Caracas.
Amazon to Cut 30,000 Corporate Jobs Starting Tuesday in Major Cost-Saving Move
Amazon Plans To Axe 30,000 Corporate Jobs, Cuts Begin Tuesday
Stardust’s $60M Gamble: Blocking the Sun with Secret Chemicals Starts in April
Stardust’s experiment marks the moment private industry begins rewriting the atmosphere itself—without public knowledge, informed consent, or independent oversight—turning the Earth into a test site for an unproven technology no one voted for.
Landmark Report: Vaccines Identified as Dominant Factor in Autism’s Rise
Vaccination Is the DOMINANT Risk Factor
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: The New York Times, LA Business Journal, The Washington Post, The Guardian, American Public Power Association, Reuters, MedTechInsights, Science-Based Medicine, Greenpeace, U.S. Southern Command, and Telesur.
by aaronmckeon 
