Good morning. Here’s your Early Warning for Friday, 17 September 2021. You can receive this daily briefing by signing up at https://forwardobserver.com/daily-sa
TODAY’S BRIEFING:
- D.C. braces for Saturday protests
- Workers returning as benefits end
- Fed faces ethics violations for stock trades
- DoD wants Havana Syndrome reports
- District Judge opens immigration floodgates
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
PROTEST: The anti-riot fencing in Washington D.C. has returned prior to the “Justice for J6” protests scheduled for Saturday. D.C. Metro Police issued a traffic advisory with major road closures around the Capitol Complex and White House as authorities expect the protest to be highly attended. In response, the Department of Homeland Security told local law enforcement a “small number of recent online threats of violence referencing the planned rally, including online discussions encouraging violence the day before the rally.” (AC: Around 1,000 people are expected to attend, but counter-protesters are holding a competing event nearby which increases the chances for conflict. Expect an outsized law enforcement presence in attendance as Washington seeks to reassert its authority over the protestors, following previous clashes. – D.M.)
UNEMPLOYMENT: Jobless claims increased by 332,000 last week, a new low for monthly moving averages in the past 18 months. The record indicates that the economy is continuing to grow, and individuals are starting to get jobs. In the same arena, unemployment and claims for unemployment pay have decreased at an average for each week. Last year this week, 30.3 million Americans were unemployed. Now, there are only 12.1 million. A report from Bank of America shows that many individuals are concerned with the coronavirus Delta variant and may be more driven to return to work now that the expanded unemployment insurance benefits have expired. (AC: It’s probable that the individuals who were disincentivized to return to work from these expanded benefits will now return to work, as money is no longer sent directly to them from the government. -T.W.)
ETHICS: Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell instructed staff members to go over the Fed’s rules for stock trading after several policymakers accidentally disclosed large transactions that looked like a conflict of interest with their role in the Fed. In Powell’s statement, he included that the Fed is held to a higher standard than members of Congress because members of the Fed create monetary policy. Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to each Federal Reserve banking “asking that, within 60 days, you impose a ban on the ownership and trading of individual stocks by senior officials. (AC: The disclosed transactions are drawing a sum of criticism from many individuals around the country. The Fed is trying to preserve trust in the financial system. Still, these disclosures seem to erode faith in its members, especially when trillions of dollars are being spent and controversial policies are being passed. -T.W.)
HAVANA SYNDROME: Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin released a memo to all Defense Department employees about “Anomalou Health Incidents” (AHIs). Secretary Austin wants personnel to report any “sudden and troubling sensory events” as part of a broader effort to identify the origins of what’s been dubbed “Havana Syndrome.” While the majority of events have taken place overseas, attacks in Washington D.C. date back to 2019. (AC: Investigations remain ongoing and the Congress passed a support bill for victims of AHIs. Russia is suspected as the main perpetrator, fielding the technology in locations with a known military and intelligence presence. – D.M.)
IMMIGRATION: U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan gave the Biden administration 14 days to appeal a reversal of Title 42 immigration policies. Under the Biden and Trump administrations, 1.1 million people previously turned away from the U.S.-Mexico border will be able to seek asylum in the United States. The ruling follows a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union and other immigration advocacy groups which sought to ease restrictions at the border. The Department of Homeland Security supported using health-related restrictions to mitigate the overwhelming numbers of illegal immigrants crossing the border, but has yet to respond to Judge Sullivan’s ruling. (AC: Pending legislation in the House would provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants. This indicates Judge Sullivan’s ruling will coincide with the passage of the proposed bills and further limit the Executive branch’s ability to reject illegal immigrants. – D.M.)
HAZARDS WARNING
HURRICANE SEASON: The National Hurricane Center says post-tropical system Nicholas is expected to produce additional rainfall across the central Gulf coast through the end of the week, with isolated storm total amounts of 14 inches possible.Flash flooding impacts, especially in urban areas, are possible across the Gulf region. The low pressure areas off the Carolina coast are expected to form into a tropical depression soon before transitioning into a gale-force storm. The storm is not currently projected to make landfall but life-threatening ocean swells are possible.
In today’s Early Warning, Dustin looks at Chinese infiltration of Western media. Upgrade your Situational Awareness to Early Warning here: https://forwardobserver.com/subscribe