The World Health Organization’s Maria Van Kerkhove said that the next COVID variant could be a cause for concern, as too many variants are currently in circulation. The uncertainty of what the next COVID variant could remain a significant cause of concern for the WHO.
“We need to plan for different kinds of scenarios,” Van Kerkhove said. She also pointed out that Omicron is currently dominant worldwide, adding that the WHO is currently tracking sublineages and sister lineages of the variant – BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.12.1.
The solution, according to the rulers, is the “vaccine.” Yet, in the age of the vaccine, people are still getting sick and being hospitalized and dying of the disease they were injected against. Other “health officials” have also stated that the vaccine doesn’t stop transmission or therefore, infection.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus asserted that a dramatic drop in testing for Covid-19 has left the world blind to the virus’s continuing rampage and its potentially dangerous mutations. So, because people have decided to live with getting a cold and are no longer getting tested when they feel perfectly fine, we have a problem because they can’t panic people using “cases” into getting a shot. Surely, when the time comes, they will invent numbers and roll out yet another testing scheme to convince the public they need to be slaves in order to never get a cold again.
Ghebreysus also warned that the declining numbers could also be a result of significant cuts in testing for the virus, according to a report by LiveMint. “This makes us increasingly blind to patterns of transmission and evolution,” Tedros said adding, “When it comes to a deadly virus, ignorance is not bliss.”
“This virus won’t go away just because countries stop looking for it,” Tedros said, pointing out that “it is still spreading, it is still changing, and it is still killing.”
All of this continued insistence on keeping this “virus” in the headlines is enough to make anyone wonder what they have in store for us next.
INFLATION IS RUNNING AT 40-YEAR HIGHS!
NEGATIVE INTEREST RATES ARE TAXING SAVERS,
CREATING FOOD SHORTAGES
AND MAKING LIFE MISERABLE IN THE UNITED STATES!
There’s Little Time Left Before the REAL DISASTER occurs!
Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased at an annual rate of 1.4 percent in the first quarter of 2022 (table 1), according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter, real GDP increased 6.9 percent.
The GDP estimate released today is based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision by the source agency … The “second” estimate for the first quarter, based on more complete data, will be released on May 26, 2022.
We’ve been warning about a Biden recession for months.
We unquestionably live in a disposable society. Half of us recycle a tenth of what we should and almost none of us make complete use of our food. Take chicken for example. A few carcasses can make a broth that makes store bought undrinkable in comparison. Combine a solid broth recipe with a pressure canner and you can put up gallons that will keep for months or years. This article will combine the two concepts (cooking and preserving) into the best pressure canned chicken stock you will ever have.
Several quarts of pressure canned chicken stock
Making The Most Of The Least With Pressure Canned Chicken Stock
Broths and stocks are one of the best ways to make the most of the least. By the least, I mean all the bits that are either not edible (bones) or we consider scraps (celery roots and onion tops). Specifically, in times of need, such as grid down events, we need to make use of every resource available. This includes those little bits that would otherwise go in the trash.
First, chicken bones, as well as beef bones, are loaded with flavor, minerals, and other nutrients. The current rage of bone broth is centered around use of this very resource! Hidden inside of every chicken is a wealth of goodness that should never be tossed aside. Keep your scraps and bones in a freezer bag.
Second, broths and stocks are best accompanied with vegetables and spices. The traditional mirepoix of carrots, onions, and celery build body and flavor in your stock. Don’t stop here. Feel free to add garlic, parsley, or anything that suits your fancy. The best part is you don’t have to use the best of the best. Start a freezer bag for your carrot tops, onion parts, and garlic cloves that are too small to spend time cleaning. Once the bag is full it’s time for the stock pot.
In short, get in the habit of saving the little bits. Once you have a freezer bag or two break out the stock pot and get boiling.
Basics Of Pressure Canned Chicken Stock
In general, a stock has three main ingredients bones, vegetables, and water. The result of the boil is a richly flavored liquid that contains collagen. Collagen is the magic ingredient that creates body in the stock. You know your stock is loaded with it when it cools. A collagen rich stock is firm when cool and jiggles.
Specifically, the more bones, connective tissue, and skin, the more collagen. More collagen equals more flavor and that is your goal. Building flavor on top of the basic bone broth comes from cooking the carcass and adding vegetables.
Chicken stock filled with collagen, once cooled it gels up like jello
Next, roasting caramelizes sugars and secondly intensifies flavor. This happens in both your vegetables as well as your meats. In fact, my favorite chicken stock comes from roasting a chicken twice. First, I’ll cook the chicken and strip the meat from it, then I’ll roast the bones, skin, and other cast offs. This deepens the flavor. You can also strip a raw chicken, preserve the meat, and then roast the raw bones. This works equally well.
To that end, give your vegetables the same treatment. It’s often easiest to roast them with the chicken. Get them good and brown caramelizing the natural sugars.
Roasted chicken, onion, and garlic
Finally, don’t worry about the skin and fat. Include it now as fat adds flavor. Once we have boiled out the flavor we will discard the now flavorless fat. The chilling process makes it easy to strip of all the fat from your stock.
Canning Basics
The goal of canning is to preserve food. This is done by killing of any bacteria and then creating an environment that inhibits further bacteria growth.
Common to both canning methods are the jars and lids. During cooking the air inside the jar expands and upon cooling the contracting air and the lid for a vacuum. The low oxygen environment is the first barrier against bacteria growth.
Basically, water bath canners bring their contents up to a maximum of 212 F. Further, this preserving method relies on an acidic environment for preservation. Most water bath canned fruits rely on either natural acidity or added, in the form of sugar or vinegar. Unfortunately, acid flavor will ruin the broth. Therefore, we must use pressure canning.
In contrast, pressure canning raises the temperature above boiling (212 F) to around 245 F to preserve low acid foods. To accomplish this you need a special canner that is capable of raising pressures and therefore temperature. Pressure canners have thicker walls, locking lids, and several safety features that allow them to safely build increased pressure.
Regardless of the method used it is imperative that you use trusted recipes and follow them exactly. Canning depends on the material canned (meats vs fruits vs vegetables), the environment (acidic or neutral), and the temperatures. Variabilities such as food density can alter a recipe rendering caning instructions difference for sliced apples vs sliced pears.
Therefore, always use recipes from reliable sources such as the local cooperative extension and well-respected books such as the following.
Ball Home Canning Test Kitchen ( (Author)
English (Publication Language)
368 Pages – 05/31/2016 (Publication Date) – TI Inc. (Publisher)
Pressure Canning Equipment
Previously stated, pressure canning requires a little bit of specialized equipment. This includes jars, rings, lids, and a pressure canner.
All things considered, jars are the best part of canning. They are re-usable across the generations. Some of the jars I use today were first used by my grandmother. When purchasing jars new make sure that they are specifically for canning and not decorative. Decorative jars will not survive the canning process.
Ball wide mouth quart jar
Ideal for preserving jams, jellies sauces, mustard & flavored vinegar
Custom time tested ceiling compound help ensure a quality seal with each lid
New brushed silver design on the outside lid matched kitchen designs
Refrigerate up to 3 weeks, fresh preserve and store up to 1 year
As stated, jars can be re-used over and over again. This makes flea markets, garage sales, and the local Goodwill all targets for picking up a few extra cases. For jars with an unknow origin always inspect them for cracks and chips. Discard any that aren’t 100% clear of chips and cracks.
The next requirement are jar lids. If you purchase jars new they will come with a set of lids. Lids are one use only and you’ll eventually have to buy a new set. Buy in bulk when possible, they come in handy!
Sale
72-Pieces Total. LIDS ONLY. Does not come with the bands. Made in the USA
Designed for preserving food, you can seal in the freshness and enjoy freshly made foods tonight or tomorrow
They’re easy to wash clean. When canning, lids are for one-time use only
Use these lids for preserve, jelly, salsa and more. This product is BPA-free
Specifically, lids are a single use item. While there are re-usable “Tattler” lids, normal canning lids are to be used once only. After a use they won’t hold a seal and will lead to spoilage.
The final piece of equipment for your pressure canned chicken stock is a pressure canner. This is definitely a place to “buy once, cry once.” In light of this, I highly recommend you purchase new for your first canner. Then, once you have a few batches under your belt then look at the secondary market.
Sale
The only method recommended safe by the US Department of Agriculture for canning vegetables, meats, poultry, and seafood
Doubles as a boiling-water canner for preserving fruits, jams, jellies, pickles, and salsa; Handy as a large capacity pressure cooker
Constructed of warp-resistant heavy-gauge aluminum for fast, even heating; Works on regular and smooth-top ranges; Extended 12-year limited warranty
Deluxe pressure dial gauge registers the complete range of processing pressures; This precise measurement is especially important at higher altitudes
Extra-large size is great for big canning jobs; Includes canning/cooking rack and complete 76-page instruction and recipe book
PRESSURE COOKER + CANNER – All American Pressure Cookers/Canners offer an easy solution for home canning. The USDA recommends pressure canning as the only safe way to can meat, vegetables & fruits. Holds approximately 19 pint jars or 7 quart jars.
METAL-TO-METAL SEAL – Only All American Pressure Cookers/Canners feature an exclusive, precision machined, metal-to-metal sealing system. Positive action clamping locks form a steam-tight seal without any costly-to-replace gaskets.
EASY TO USE – Since our seal doesn’t use a gasket, the cover can be easily opened & closed. Each model also features an easy-to-read steam gauge, an easy-to-clean satin finish, and a precision machined regulator weight for accurate pressure control.
DURABLE – From the sturdy phenolic top handle to the double-thickness edges that provide additional protection on points of heaviest wear, this pressure cooker/canner is built to last.
FROM OUR FAMILY, TO YOURS – Established in 1909, All American is a family-owned company focused on quality manufacturing above all else. We take pride in casting high-quality products that families can cherish for generations to come.
Regardless of the make and model that you purchase, always read and follow the directions. Pay particular attention to the pressure required at your altitude. Just as adjustments for time are taken into consideration for water bath canning, pressure must be adjusted. In general, weight is increased for altitudes above 1,000 feet above sea level. Check your manual for specific use at your altitude.
Pressure canner up to pressure and temperature
How To Make Chicken Stock
This is the first part of our pressure canned chicken stock recipe. The result of this half will be a full bodied and favorable stock. Finally, once you have the basics down feel free to experiment with your own additions.
Yield: Approx. 8 quarts
Description: Chicken Stock
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6-12 hours
Additional Time: NA
Ingredients
3 whole chickens or 8 leg quarters
2.5 gallons water
3 medium onions
6 carrots
½ a head of celery
2 heads of garlic
4 bay leaves
Salt (or chicken bullion) to taste
Pepper
Spices (Parsley, thyme, sage, etc.)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 F degrees
If using whole chickens, quarter them, if using leg quarters, no further cutting is needed
Put chicken parts in a roasting pan
Add the carrots (coarsely chopped)
Chop up and add the onions (cut in half)
Coarsely chop and add the celery
Add the garlic (whole is fine)
Liberally salt and pepper the entire contents of the roasting pan
Place in the oven and roast until the skin is golden brown, about 1.5 hours
Remove the chicken from the oven and allow to cool enough to handle
Strip the chicken meat from the bones and reserve for another use
Add the vegetables, bones, skin, and any rendered fat or juices from the roasting pan to a large pot
Pour in 2.5 gallons of water to the pot
Add the bay leaves and spices to the pot
Bring to a boil
A pot full of roasted vegetables and chicken scraps ready for a 12 hour boil
Simmer for 6-12 hours
The stock should reduce to about 2 gallons
Turn off the heat and let the stock cool
Remove the bones and test the stock for flavor
If it needs salt, add a little bouillon and taste again
Set the stock in a refrigerator or freezer and allow to cool over night
The fat will settle to the top and congeal, it can now be easily removed
Once chilled, the fat comes easily off the stock
Warm the stock and taste and make any final adjustments for flavor
How To Pressure Can Chicken Stock
Now that you have two gallons of beautiful stock, it’s time to preserve it.
Yield: Approx. 8 quarts
Description: Chicken Stock
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 75-90 minutes
Additional Time: NA
Ingredients
2 gallons of chicken stock
2 tablespoons vinegar (for cleaning the rims of the jars)
Instructions
Bring the broth to a simmer
Add the lids and rings to a pot of water and bring to a boil
Clean and inspect the jars, reject any with chips or cracks
Add hot water to the pressure canner (according to the directions)
Ladle the stock into the jars, leaving 1” between the liquid and the rim of the jar (headspace)
Wipe off the rim with a vinegar soaked paper towel
Add a lid and a ring to the jar
Finger tighten the rings
Place the jars in the pressure canner
Attach the lid and process according to the directions of the canner
In the case of our All American canner, this is as follows
Secure the lid to the canner
Turn on the heat
Allow the water to boil, steam will escape via the vent
Allow the canner to vent for 10 minutes
Place the weight on the canner
Once it jiggles, time the canner for 90 minutes (quarts) or 75 minutes (pints)
After the required time turn the canner off
Allow the temperature to come back to 212 degrees
Remove the weight and allow the canner to vent for 10 minutes
Remove the lid and remove the jars
Allow the jars to cool to room temperature
Check that each of the lids have dimpled (listen for the “ping”)
Remove the rings and rinse off the jars
Enjoy
How Long Does Pressure Canned Chicken Stock Last
The USDA recommends using home canned goods within a year. Foodborne illness is nothing to mess with. Botulism is colorless, odorless, and can ruin your life. Any home canned good you open should be inspected before use.
First, Visually inspect the contents through the jar. If the color is off or the liquid is unnaturally cloudy discard it. Second, inspect the lid. Canning lids should be dimpled as the vacuum pulls them into the jar. Any sign of bulging and the contents of the jar get trashed.
Third, open the jar. There should be a hiss as lit pops. No hiss – no good.
Finally, use your nose and tongue! Give the contents a good sniff and look for any off smells, likewise, give it a small taste. Any bad smells or taste and you’re better safe than sorry.
That being said I have always tested every jar I’ve opened and have only lost two jars. They both failed all the above tests. First, they looked wrong. Next, the liquid was discolored. Third, there was no hiss on opening. Finally, the smell was overpowering.
Specifically, of those jars that have passed the test, and there have been hundreds that we’ve canned and eaten, most of them have been much older than 6 months. A few have even been more than 5 years! These we checked and double checked and they all passed.
Final Thoughts on Pressure Canned Chicken Broth
There are a few pleasures as great as making, preserving, and enjoying your own homemade food. To enjoy quality food above and beyond the meager offerings of store bought is a special treat.
Especially rewarding is knowing that you made use of every scrap of food in the house, wasting as little as possible. Finally, being able to store your efforts for a long time is a special trifecta.
Give this pressure canned chicken stock a try with this great recipe. It’s easier than you can imagine and well worth the effort!
via SHTFPreparedness
TFB has a wide variety of writers on hand that span the entire globe. One writer I’ve followed closely even before I joined the TFB team has been fellow writer Vladimir Onokoy. Vladimir has a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to the guns of Europe and specifically the guns of the Middle East and Pakistan. While Vladimir was in Pakistan, he had a chance to tour their extremely varied firearms manufacturing facilities and as a result, he has a strong grasp of the current situation of the Pakistani firearms industry. Today he’s going to share his insight, experience, and thoughts on Pakistani firearms, the places they come from, and what he thinks the Pakistani firearms industry is going to be getting into in the coming years.
TFB B-Side Podcast: Pakistani Firearms with TFB Writer Vladimir Onokoy
Today on the TFB B-Side Podcast we have TFB Writer Vladimir Onokoy. Vladimir is an expert on small arms from across the world but takes particular interest in firearms outside the United States. Vladimir has spent many years working in different countries as a security contractor, firearms instructor, consultant, and armorer. Most of you who read TFB will know him for his top-tier coverage of the unknown history of the Kalashnakov rifle and detailed and timely coverage of various foreign (non-US) firearms expos like IDEF, DEFEXPO, DES, and WDS just to name a few. Please welcome Vladimir to the program as he talks about his extensive experience working with the Pakistani firearms industry and its two very different sectors of firearms manufacturing.
If you’ve said that buying a silencer is too expensive, too long of a wait, or that the paperwork is too confusing, you’re not alone. Buying a silencer is a big deal, and we don’t take it lightly either! But it’s the easiest it’s ever been!
Kimber’s award-winning R7 Mako: the polymer-frame, striker-fired micro-compact with 14 rounds total capacity, and a trigger you have to experience to believe. Feed your appetite for something different at www.R7Mako.com.
Christopher Bartocci, the author of “Black Rifle II: The M16 Into the 21st Century” book has acquired the printing rights of the book and has announced its new edition which is retitled “America’s Rifle: M16/M4 late Cold War through Global War on Terror”. The book will be printed by Small Arms Publishing, a new division of Mr. Batrocci’s company Small Arms Solutions.
America’s Rifle will contain the same information as the Black Rifle II with the exception of an expanded “About the Author” section. Small Arms Solutions note that America’s Rifle will be printed by the same company that prints books for Collector Grade Publications, the publisher of Black Rifle II, and adds that it means the new book holds that library book quality. Small Arms Solutions also note that getting into the publishing business will allow them to print more books written by Chris Bartocci which will include the next volume of this iconic book series about the AR15 family of weapons – the Black Rifle III (full title is not yet determined). In the below-embedded video, Chris explains the reasons for renaming the new edition and why it has been out of print for a year.
Currently the “America’s Rifle: M16/M4 late Cold War through Global War on Terror” is available for preorder for $87.95. Additionally, you can place an order for a signed copy that costs $117.95. The prices include the shipping costs and the estimated start of delivery is July 2022.
For those of you who have read the Black Rifle and Black Rifle II, let us know in the comments section what you think about these books and what you expect to see in the third volume?
Pictures by Small Arms Solutions LLC, www.smallarmssolutions.com/
A senior Islamic Jihad official claims that Allah brought Jews to the Middle East so that the Islamists can finish them off.
Senior Islamic Jihad official, Muhammad Shalah shared a couple of days ago that the Jihad against the Jews is led by the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as Hizbullah and Syria, Yemen, and Iraq. He claimed to take pride that these are the same groups that stood against “criminal America” which planted Israel in Palestine.
Muhammad Shalah claimed that Iran provided them with rockets and they were congratulated for their strikes on Tel Aviv. “We don’t need anyone to come and die here. We will die alone.”
He also shared that Allah brought the Jews to Israel so they could finish them off.
Insurrection apparently did occur in the US as recently as the 2016 Election and Inauguration of President Trump. Multiple individuals and entities from the right and left tried to prevent President Trump from winning the 2016 election and then from being inaugurated.
The big effort to destroy Trump was based on lies from the Hillary campaign. Her gang claimed that citizen Trump was connected to Russia and Vladimir Putin. We knew then and know now that this was all a lie. It likely was was an attempt to cover up for the leaked Podesta emails to WikiLeaks and how they got there. Or maybe it was an attempt to project Russian-related crimes on President Trump to cover up the Uranium One sale to Russia where the Clintons made millions as a result. Whatever the reason, the Clintons have never been held accountable for the crimes identified in the Podesta emails or for their profiteering from the Uranium One deal.
A recently resurfaced NPR interview suggests the individual responsible for leaking the Steele Dossier to Buzzfeed in 2017 did so as a “Hail Mary” attempt to prevent former President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
News of why the dossier was apparently leaked was met with little fanfare or headlines at the time. What’s more, the revelation from NPR’s interview indicates the media played a key role in the alleged plan to stop Trump from taking office.
David Kramer, a former State Department official and associate of late Arizona Sen. John McCain, leaked copies of the dossier – authored by former British spy Christopher Steele – to Buzzfeed News and multiple other networks.
Buzzfeed subsequentlypublished the dossier on Jan. 10, 2017, about two months after the 2016 election was called for Trump, but prior to his inauguration.
NPR later conducted a 2019 interview with Glenn Simpson and Peter Fritsch, the duo responsible for hiring Steele on behalf of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.
The interview uncovers a revelation regarding the timing of the leaked dossier. According to Simpson and Fritsch, the Steele Dossier was leaked to Buzzfeed News in the hopes that it would “thwart” Trump’s upcoming inauguration.
As we reported back in 2019, Kramer didn’t only provide the dossier to Buzzfeed, he provided the dossier to over a dozen left-wing journalists.
Kramer also provided the bogus dossier to now-fired FBI Director Jim Comey. The Russian dossier was paid for by the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
After the election in November 2016, the Deep State’s “Secret Society” met for the first time overseas in England. This timing coincided with Kramer’s visit to the UK and John Brennan’s visit to Portugal. The purpose of this secret society or the participants have never been fully uncovered.
Looking back, it does appear that there was a very large and involved effort to stop President Trump from becoming President before his inauguration. This is the real insurrection that has never been addressed or accounted for.
A New York grand jury investigating President Trump expires next week and will not be extended.
The jury failed to find any crimes against Trump despite months of investigations.
Marxist Democrats and their media were hoping the jury would make up some crime so they could continue to torment Trump for exposing their failures and radicalism.
A special grand jury that had been hearing evidence in the criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump expires at the end of the week and will not be extended, sources familiar with the matter confirmed to ABC News.
The special grand jury was empaneled last fall, but had stopped hearing evidence once Alvin Bragg became district attorney in Manhattan in January, raising questions about the strength of the case and whether prosecutors had amassed all the elements required to prove it.
The two senior prosecutors who had been leading the investigation, Mark Pomerantz and Cary Dunne, resigned in February. Pomerantz said in his resignation letter he believed Trump “is guilty of numerous felony violations.”
Trump has denied wrongdoing.
The district attorney’s office declined to confirm or deny the decision not to extend the special grand jury, which was first reported by CNN. Grand juries can always be called upon to hear evidence and weigh the return of an indictment and a new special grand jury could always be empaneled.
The National Park Service recently shared plans to control the deer population in the D.C. area and reduce the number of deer by 15 to 20 percent over the next 10 years. According to WTOP, officials are even considering adding wolves or bears to the parklands to introduce natural predators, though the NPS later pushed back on that idea.
“What’s happening is [the deer are] not facing any real predation,” said Sean McGinty, an NPS spokesperson.
Deer have flourished in National Capital Parks – East with “low levels of disease, gentle winters, favorable habitats and vegetation in and around the parks, and no natural predators,” according to the NPS. An official Deer Management Plan for D.C. and Maryland parks under NPS management has not yet been implemented, but the high density of animals in the area makes one necessary. A 2021 NPS assessment showed an average deer population of almost 200 deer observed per night and nearly 175 deer per square mile in recent years. This concentration of animals raised habitat and human-wildlife conflict concerns among wildlife officials.
“Within forests, deer can significantly reduce forest regeneration by damaging and eating tree seedlings and saplings,” said McGinty. “Over time, this can degrade forests and the habitat they provide for other animals and plants.”
Adding natural predators to the area would theoretically help reduce the number of deer, although McGinty told WTOP that there isn’t really enough wilderness for black bears in the area. He did not mention any of the red tape involved with trying to introduce an already controversial predator to the nation’s capital. Hunting is not allowed in national parks, and many of the parks targeted for deer reduction are managed under the National Capital Parks umbrella.
In a later discussion with McGinty, he denied that bears or wolves would be introduced to the parks to cull deer populations. “There are no plans at all, point blank, period, end of story, to introduce predators within Washington D.C.,” he said. “Those animals require habitats that are not here.”
Additional management measures would include using trained marksmen and biologists to safely reduce the deer population in the area. This program is not expected to interfere with existing deer hunting licenses or deer seasons, and venison collected from any culling will be donated to local food pantries.
“Our plan remains to use trained sharpshooters within our parks utilizing extreme prerequisites for safety, ” said McGinty. “That remains our only option at this moment because unfortunately, it remains the only effective option for reducing the deer population in our area.”
The plan would impact Anacostia Park, Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, Fort Mahan, Fort Dupont, Fort Davis, Fort Chaplin, Fort Stanton, Fort Ricketts, Fort Greble, Battery Carroll, and Shepherd Parkway in Washington D.C. NPS also laid out plans for Maryland parks, including Fort Washington Park, Fort Foote, Piscataway Park, Oxon Cove Park, Harmony Hall, Greenbelt Park, Baltimore-Washington Parkway, and Suitland Parkway.
Editor’s Note: This Story was updated to include additional comments from the National Park Service.
On Monday, Elon Musk announced that his bid to buy Twitter for $44 billion had been accepted and the eccentric billionaire automaker, space company owner from South Africa became the owner of the 280 character limit social media network used by world powers in every country on the planet.
This move had many on the left in a frenzy with attacks on Elon Musk beginning instantly. Popular police accountability Twitter influencer Shaun King made a tweet complaining that Musk’s purchase of Twitter was solely about “white power,” before deleting his account.
“At its root, @ElonMusk wanting to purchase Twitter is not about left vs right,” King tweeted. “It’s about white power.”
“The man was raised in Apartheid by a white nationalist,” King argued. “He’s upset that Twitter won’t allow white nationalists to target/harass people. That’s his definition of free speech.”
King stopped short of providing a single example or evidence to support his claim before removing himself from the discussion entirely.
Others, like Faiz Siddiqui from the Washington Post, took to using his platform at the newspaper to fear monger about Musk’s takeover of Twitter. In a tweet, Siddiqui claimed that “Musk buying Twitter puts a single person in command of the world’s most valuable automaker, the private firm conducting U.S. space launches, and the communications medium used by the world’s most powerful people. “He’s more powerful than countries now.”
Apparently, Siddiqui forgot that he writes for the Post, owned by Jeff Bezos, who literally contracts with the CIA and whose tentacles are intertwined with many of the world’s most nefarious actors.
In the meanwhile, on the right, its a celebration. Dozens of previously banned accounts are now back on the platform.
The right is in a celebratory hypnosis as they finally “own the libs” on Twitter with many of them hoping that the left flees the platform with their tails between their legs as they hail their new savior, Elon Musk.
Unfortunately, some on the right are already calling for Musk to remove accounts belonging to their political rivals and the censorship saga has already taken hold.
“But this time, we will be doing it, so it will be good,” is how all tyranny begins.
In reality, we do not know what is in store other than the very few details Musk has released already — which will be beneficial to all if they are actually implemented.
So far, Musk — a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist” — has promised to make the news feed algorithms open-source, remove all the spambots, and authenticate actual human accounts to prevent bot swarms from steering public opinion. He’s also publicly stated that he wants all of his most staunch critics to have an equal voice on the platform.
All of these things are extremely beneficial to free speech and public discourse, but only time will tell if it actually happens. Many folks remain skeptical that any of this will happen, and rightfully so.
But if it doesn’t happen, what do we have to lose? Twitter will fall and Musk will have spent $44 million on the 15th largest social media platform in the world for no reason.
So no, Musk is not a savior or a messiah that will usher in some new panacea for censorship and democracy. But just like he shouldn’t be treated as a messiah, he shouldn’t be immediately dismissed simply for being a billionaire.
Increasing public discourse and the freedom of people to speak their minds — even if it is repugnant and horrible — will only lead to good things. Despite what the pro-censorship crowd thinks, silencing “bad speak” only tends to further divide, increase the spread of disinformation, and drive extremism.
One example happened during the beginning of the pandemic when anyone who shared information on social media about anything related to COVID-19 and the lab in Wuhan, China, saw their post removed and may have even been banned. Facebook, Twitter, Google, the establishment media, and many in the government made it their primary mission to “dispel misinformation” over the origins of the COVID-19 virus.
As the world found out last May, the fact-checkers, the government, big tech, and social media were all dead wrong. The effects of this censorship campaign only led to people believing outlandish conspiracy theories and pushed them further away from the truth.
Make no mistake, there are definitely some asinine and utterly stupid conspiracy theories and hateful ideas out there on just about everything, including COVID-19. But does society need handlers to hide these things from them by censoring those who engage with it?
Stupid and hateful ideas didn’t use to go extremely viral. Even in the furthest corners of the conspiracy theory realm, verifiably false ideas were easily proven wrong and dismissed swiftly. But that no longer happens now thanks to the censors.
If the platform of the censors is so grand, why not allow them to compete with other platforms? Censoring ideas doesn’t stop them, it only allows very bad ideas to go unchallenged in the public arena, thereby granting them credence. This is extremely dangerous.
If Musk can slow this process through his acquisition of Twitter, then it is a good thing. But those who are celebrating him as a messiah because he will help them “own the libs” or “purge them from Twitter” are no different than the rabid thought police on the left.
Discourse is the path to progress, not silencing those with whom you disagree.
