Rls metro breaking news

This is a weekly post where you can talk about Ravens news from the past week, discuss sports in general, or any other topics that come to mind. Please be respectful to each other, report comments that break Reddiquette.

This was just copy/pasted from google docs so apologies in advance for any formatting issues.
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19°28’N 37°14’E
Near Port Sudan, Sudan, Africa.
Another helicopter thundered past in the distance, following the line of the oil pipeline back towards the port facilities.
"That's three in the past hour," Cody observed. "Still think nothing's going on?" "I think if you want to bother Adams again it's gonna be your ass." Keith replied.
"Come on, don't be like that." Cody said.
"Nope."
"Come on, don't be a bitch."
"Nope."
"Bitch says what."
"Nope."
"Got fifty bucks says you won't do it."
"Nope."
"Will both of you shut the fuck up," Eduardo groaned from the back seat of the vehicle. "We're almost done here and you can go harass Adams in person when we get back to base."
"Yeah but I'm curious now." Cody said.
"Well, tell Miles to turn this vic around and we can go."
"What do you say, Miles? You know Adams doesn't check the log timestamps too closely."
"The final marker is literally thirty meters away," Miles said patiently. "I will turn the vic around there and we will drive back to base and you can badger Adams into a stroke on your own time. Until then, watch your sector."
"Uh well, my sector's full of sand, can I have a different one?"
"There's some rocks in mine."
"Like the face of the fucking moon out here, man." Cody moaned.
"Maybe you shouldn't have signed up for a job in the fucking Sudan, genius." Eduardo said.
"Man, I'm just here for the money." Cody replied.
"Well, I'm not here for the weather." Martin said, cranking the wheel around in a practiced motion. The battered white SUV slewed around, wheels spraying dust and pebbles. Cody keyed the radio on his vest. "Base, this is Cody checking in. We're at the outer marker for the southern patrol path, heading back, over."
There was the faint buzz of static.
"Copy that, Cody. Any contacts?"
"No contacts, base. All quiet here. Out."
Martin patted Cody on the shoulder. "Proud of you, buddy. That took real strength."
Cody flipped him off.
The radio crackled again. "Cody, this is base, where did you say you were?"
"Base, this is Cody, we are at the outer marker for our patrol route, heading back your way, over."
"Uh, copy Cody, hang on one second."
“Cody, this is Adams,” a new voice said over the radio. “I need your team to swing west and investigate unauthorized activity near the pipeline in, uh grid square A54-41."
"The fuck this is Cody's team." Keith muttered from the back.
"Copy that, Adams, we'll move to investigate immediately," Cody said crisply. "Any intel on the intruders?"
The radio crackled again. "The uh, number of intruders is unknown at this time."
Miles keyed his own radio. "Adams, who called this report in?"
"The report was forwarded to us by local security forces."
A chorus of groans rose from the interior of the SUV.
"Fuckin' locals." Eduardo said.
"And why isn't local security handling this?"
"Miles, I don't need to remind you that Vericom has been contracted to guard the terminal facilities and pipeline-"
"Yeah yeah, spare me the geopolitics, Adams, I'm just a dumb trigger puller, remember? I'm not asking you why I'm here, I'm asking why the very much armed local security isn't apprehending the trespassers."
"The local security called it in," Adams replied in a tight, angry voice. "And under the terms of our contract we are responsible for apprehending any trespassers in our zone. Is that satisfactory, Mr. Martin?"
"Copy, moving to apprehend. Out."
"Fuckin' locals." Eduardo muttered again as the SUV turned towards the new destination.
"Coming up on the location now." Cody was tapping at the topographical map displayed on his ruggedized tablet.
"Copy that," Miles said absently, maneuvering the SUV around a scattering of larger boulders. Behind him Keith rolled down his window and propped the muzzle of his M4 carbine on the opening.
"Relax," Eduardo said. "Just some lost people."
"Maybe." Keith said, squinting out over the dusty, rolling terrain.
The SUV bounced over the crest of another low ridge, the long dust plume trailing behind it in the harsh midday sun. Miles slowed to a stop. In the far distance there was a glint of light off a moving vehicle traversing the coastal highway. There was no other sign of life in sight.
"Yeah, there's nothing out here." Cody said after a few moments.
Keith had extracted a pair of binoculars from his chest rig and was scanning the surroundings.
"Nothing on this side, boss." Eduardo said.
"Keith?" Miles said.
"Nothing moving but heat haze."
"Cody, call in negative contact. Let's head back to base." Miles said as the SUV rolled forward.
"Copy copy." Cody keyed his radio. "Base, this is Cody, we're at grid A54-41, negative on contact with intruders, over."
"Copy that Cody, we haven't gotten any other reports in your zone, go ahead and head in."
"Thanks very much, base, will do. Cody out."
The SUV bumped and bounced its way back onto the “paved” road. While the main coastal highway was in decent shape, the smaller roads were mostly potholes and washouts held together by cracked concrete and gravel. Although flatter than the surrounding landscape, it was a bold or desperate driver that would risk driving on it at normal highway speeds. This fact most likely saved four lives as Miles had plenty of time to spot the dusty tan plate lying in the road as the vehicle slowly bounced towards it.
“Guys, is that a land mine I’m seeing in the road ahead?” Miles said, pointing. “Directly ahead, maybe twenty yards, just past the two bushes.”
Cody sat up, peering through the dusty windshield. “Slow up, slow up. Shit, I think you’re right.”
“Call it in,” Miles said. “We use this road all the time, what was the last team through here?"
"Dallas' team had outer perimeter patrol this morning." Keith volunteered.
"Base, this is Cody, we've got what looks like a landmine on Route 33, maybe two or three klicks from the coastal highway, please advise, over."
There was a brief hiss of static. No reply.
"Base, do you read, over?"
Static.
“Base, this is a fucking great time for a coffee break!”
No answer.
“Guys, I think this is a no shit situation,” Miles said, putting the SUV in reverse. “Let’s get off the X and back to base.”
Cody slid his AR up into the ready position. Keith and Eduardo already had their rifles out and ready.
Miles executed a hasty three point turn and gunned the SUV back the way they had come.
“How concerned should we be right now?” Keith shouted over the engine noise. “Not the
first time we’ve lost comms with base out here.”
“Could be nothing,” Miles shouted back. “But out here it could be a strike on the port or oil terminal. Not that hard to jam comms and drop a few mines on the roads.”
“Hell, I’m here for it.” Keith shouted.
“I’ll keep trying to raise base or one of the other teams.” Cody shouted.
The SUV bounced and lurched its way back over the route it had taken and finally reached the coastal highway where Miles jammed the pedal down. Cody still couldn’t make contact with base but was able to reach another patrolling team who confirmed that base was incommunicado. As they roared up the coastal highway Cody pointed towards a rising plume of dense black smoke ahead of them. “Looks like shit’s gone down, boys.”
“Fuck,” Keith swore, peering around Cody’ headrest to look ahead. “So much for site security.”
“Guys, we’ve got a roadblock ahead.” Cody said, pointing. A dilapidated cargo truck had stopped and was attempting to turn around. A pair of pickup trucks were just visible beyond it, blocking off the road in a shallow V. Men in mismatched fatigues and headscarves stood atop them holding rifles.
“Are those our guys?” Miles asked, slowing the SUV.
“Fuck if I can tell from here.” Cody said.
“Well I’m not fucking moving up.” Miles said.
“Go around,” Eduardo said, peering out his window. “No ditch here.”
“Go now while the truck is between us and them.” Keith added.
“Hang on.” Miles gunned the SUV down the shallow embankment parallel to the roadblock.
Keith twisted around in his seat. “They’re tracking us”.
Miles glanced in the rearview mirror. The guards were pointing and waving their arms at the SUV. One of them with a pistol in one hand and a radio in the other seemed to be giving orders
“Are we still under the ROE?” Cody asked. “I’d really like to shoot back if they try to kill us.”
“I’m not dying over fucked comms and a misunderstanding.” Keith said.
The checkpoint guards were scrambling into their trucks. One of them ripped off a burst that went wide.
“Fuck it, that’s good enough for me,” Miles said, slamming on the brakes. “Dismount and engage hostiles.”
The men threw themselves out of the vehicle. Eduardo and Cody went prone in the dirt and began firing. On the other side Keith propped his rifle on the vehicle’s bumper and squeezed off several careful shots.
The checkpoint guards had been caught by surprise by the sudden attack. One of the trucks had just roared into motion when the bullets began punching through the windshield. The other was still parked, its crew climbing into the cab when the shooting started. Multiple rounds smashed the windshield into a starred, opaque mess. The driver leaped from the seat and ran for cover behind the truck wheels. Miles shot him in the back and he dropped.
The other truck rolled forward down the shallow incline with a dead driver at the wheel. The guards in the back continued firing over the roof. The back window of the SUV shattered and bullets banged off the steel frame, showering Keith and Eduardo with shards of safety glass. Miles fired at a guard crouched in the truck bed and the man disappeared, then popped back up again when Miles shifted targets. Miles shifted back and fired again, his gun clicking empty on the third shot. He dropped the empty magazine and yanked a new one from his vest. The new mag clicked into place and Miles resumed shooting. A corner of his mind was pleasantly surprised at how easily it was done under fire.
One of the guards on the far truck bailed off the back and fled across the road, disappearing into the ditch on the far side. Suddenly no one was firing back at them.
Miles cautiously rose to his feet. With Keith and Cody covering him, he and Eduardo circled wide around the checkpoint, scanning for any sign of life. Nothing moved but wisps of steam from under the hood of one of the trucks. He waved the others in. They swept the checkpoint carefully. There were six dead guards and a blood trail leading out into the brush.
“Fuck.” Keith said emphatically.
“Fuck me,” Cody said, slotting in a fresh mag. “You guys good?
“I’m good.” Keith said.
“Good here.” Eduardo said, patting himself down.
“I’m ok.” Martin said.
“Fuck,” Keith said again. “Fuckers just opened up on us. These weren’t local security, right?”
“Check the bodies for intel,” Miles said, already rifling through the pockets of one of the shooters. “I don’t know who the fuck these guys were but we’re gonna get grilled about this.”
The three of them methodically searched the bodies while Eduardo held overwatch. None of the bodies had any documents on them. The weapons were gathered and stacked in the back of one of the trucks while the bodies were laid out next to it. Martin retrieved their SUV which proved to have suffered no worse damage than shot out windows and the four of them piled in.
Cody finally got a response on the radio as they neared the base. A rattled Adams responded to their calls by ordering them in to assist with base security. “Radio shack got hit and we’ve been dealing with jamming. We still have two patrols out in the field who haven’t reported in, we need you to assist in maintaining a defensive perimeter.”
“Copy that, boss. Tell base we’re coming in so don’t fucking shoot at us. Already dealt with that once today.”
They dismounted in the central courtyard. The comms building had taken a direct hit from an RPG and was still smoking. Two sheet covered bodies lay beside it. Several of the other buildings had bullet holes and other signs of battle damage.
As directed, the team took up defensive positions on the roof of one of the perimeter buildings. Dallas’ team was on a nearby building overlooking the main entrance. Miles got on the radio and contacted them.
“Glad to see y’all made it,” Dallas said by way of greeting. “Been a real shitshow here.” He pointed towards the billowing black smoke belching out of the wreckage of the oil pipeline terminal. “Probably not getting our contract renewed for this site.”
“So what the fuck happened?” Miles asked.
“Don’t know. We were in the bunkhouse when we heard the radio shack get hit. Whoever it was lit the place up and then peeled out. We had barely gotten outside when the oil terminal went up. Someone said they saw Sea Ports Corporation logos on the trucks but I don’t know if that’s true. All I saw was dust.”
“Shit, you think that’s true? Locals were behind this?”
“Someone with more brains than your average fanatic is. They knew exactly what to hit and exactly how to jam our comms.”
“They mined the roads along our patrol routes too, so either they’ve been watching us or they paid off someone on the inside.”
“Smart.” Dallas said.
“I saw the two bodies by the radio shack. Any of your team get hit?”
“Negative. They were in and out. I think someone in the admin building caught a stray round but that was all.”
“I know Shedge was on shift in comms,” Miles said. “Who was the other?”
“Morris.” Dallas said.
They fell silent for a while.
The two missing patrol teams drove in thirty minutes later in a single shot up SUV. They had come under long range fire from hidden enemies and had evaded out into the desert. One of the vehicles had been disabled, but the team managed to dismount and take cover while the other vehicle moved to pick them up. One team member had been grazed on the leg and another had taken a hit to the chest plate. The uninjured team members joined them on the perimeter defense. No attack materialized.
A convoy of Sudanese military vehicles rolled in late that evening to take charge of the terminal. The PMC personnel were ordered to collect their personal items and evacuate the site. The Sudanese wanted them out, so while the company lawyers argued with the Sudanese administration, all personnel on the ground were transported out to Port Sudan International Airport for flights back to the United States.
Miles, Keith, Cody, and Eduardo caught up with each other outside the terminal. Keith was chatting with two of the airport ground crew in passable Arabic as the others walked up.
“Hey, you guys aren’t going to believe this but apparently there’s been a bunch of foreign fighter types coming through here in the past several weeks.” Keith said by way of greeting.
“Go fucking figure.” Miles said.
“I don’t even give a shit,” Cody said, unwrapping a pack of cigarettes. “In a couple of hours I’ll be on my way back home with a fat early contract termination check in my pocket.”
Eduardo nodded. “We all survived, importantly.”
“Amen to that.” Cody said.
The ground crew members bid Keith farewell and sauntered off towards the terminal.
There was silence for a minute while Cody methodically extracted and lit up a cigarette.
“That was pretty fucking badass though,” Miles said. “Shot our way out of an ambush and drove home.”
“Pretty wild.” Keith agreed.
“Never saw the people I killed before,” Eduardo said. “Returning fire yes, but not securing the bodies. Always gone afterwards.”
“I definitely had that out-of-body feeling you get sometimes under fire,” Cody said. “Like you’re just watching your own body go through the motions while you sit and watch.”
“I never got that,” Miles said. “I was inside my own head but I always knew somehow what to do next. Like even when we swept the roadblock I knew exactly where to turn and where the bodies were going to be. It sounds crazy but I wasn’t really scared of getting shot, I was scared of moving wrong or stepping in the wrong place and I’d break the focus and suddenly I’d have to think through every motion again.”
Eduardo nodded. “I know how that feels.”
Another silence. Cody took a deep drag on the cigarette.
“You don’t think we’ll get fired over this, do you?” Keith asked. “Because I still have bills to pay back home and I don’t need this on my record.”
“I doubt it,” Cody said. “I mean, its completely out of our hands so who the fuck knows really. But its not something you get fired over. You see how fast they’re pulling us out of here, like no operation debrief or anything? Company’s got bigger problems to worry about right now.”
“Like the oil pipeline that got blown up, not about a possible bad shoot in the desert.” Keith said.
“Oil terminal.” Miles corrected quietly.
“You watch,” Cody continued. “In about three days some Vericom executive is going to strap on his golden parachute and take a dive off the top floor because the company stock dipped by sixty cents. Then we’ll all get an email with a big fat non-disclosure agreement attached showing up in our inboxes.”
“You would work for them again?” Eduardo sounded surprised.
“Fuck it, why not?” Cody said. “The pay’s good, and what are the odds that a fuck up like this happens to me twice?”
“Seems like higher odds than before.” Miles said.
“Everybody’s running a little hot these days,” Keith said. “You’ve got the Syrian and Yemen civil wars, the military coup in Turkey, the bombings in Europe, the riots in India, the drug wars in Mexico and southeast Asia, plus that bombing at the Olympics.”
“I still think that one was a false flag.” Cody said.
“Bullshit, that was the work of ISIS scum.” Eduardo replied angrily.
“He’s got a point, Cody,” Miles said. “They grabbed one of the bombers before he could clack off his vest after all.”
“Maybe,” Cody said. “Now the shooting at the Clinton rally, that was a false flag, no question. The FBI practically admitted it. They’re terrified she’ll lose and they need a few martyrs.”
“Don’t know why you pay so much attention to that,” Miles said. “Not like the other guy is any better. Just a pair of narcissistic old fucks getting their rocks off on the American people’s dime.”
“I like to know which side is going to be screaming about a rigged election for the next four years while their savings and civil liberties go up in smoke.” Cody lit another cigarette from the butt of the first.
“You know I hate it when you chain smoke and turn into Alex Jones.” Miles said.
“Brother, you should see me on meth.” Cody grinned.
“I didn’t know you smoked at all.” Eduardo said.
“Only on the way home,” Cody said. “Otherwise I don’t.”
The four of them stood around on the airport tarmac until the encroaching evening chill drove them inside with the rest of the Vericom personnel. Miles’ last glimpse of Sudan was the stark black outline of the western hills as the sun sank behind them. Then night fell and the only light was the harsh white arc lights of the airport illuminating the red and white airliner being fueled to carry them home.
$$$$
News Headlines of the day:
FBI: Philadelphia shooter had ‘strong ties’ to right wing ultranationalist groups.
US economy signals uncertainty as Far East trade war heats up.
British lawmaker shot dead, EU referendum campaigns suspended
Prominent Mexican politician, family among the dead following Sinaloa cartel gun battle.
‘Terrorism is not welcome here’: Sudanese President issues warning following oil pipeline bombing.

I just watched Steven Kenneth "Destiny" Bonnell Goransson the Second's response to DPak. In that video, Destiny claims that DPak's views are "not mainstream" and that he's "barely center left, but more far left".
I disagree. Though it's obviously debatable where "center left" ends and "far left" begins, the policies that Destiny called out as "far left" are supported by a majority of Americans. I think that fits the definition of "mainstream".
In a different reddit comment, Destiny also describes four of Elizabeth Warren's policies as making her '"far left" on basically every single country on Earth.' So I'll include her positions here too, though it isn't the main focus of this post.
Also, to quote another comment Destiny made, I'm going to ignore other countries and focus on their popularity with Americans because "why the fuck would international politics be relevant when defining American political media consumed in America??"

$15/hour minimum wage (aka "2x the minimum wage")

DPak's position

DPak has multiple videos supporting $15/hour minimum wage and then pegging it to inflation. Here's a recent example.

Warren's position

Warren's Raise the Wage Act of 2021 planned to increase the minimum wage to $15/hour over a period of 5 years.

Polls

According to a 2023 University of Maryland Poll 65% of Americans support raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 over a 5 year period. This includes 90% of Democrats, 64% of Independents, and 41% of Republicans.
Contemporary polls during Warren's presidential candidacy show about the same: between 60% and 65% of Americans support a $15/hour minimum wage.

Elections

Election results from some very "not far-left" states:

• Nebraska (Trump +19.1 in 2020) voted in 2022 to increase its minimum wage to $15/hour and peg it to the CPI by 2026. It passed with 59% of the vote.
  
• Florida (Trump +3.4) voted in 2020 to increase its minimum wage to $15/hour by 2026. It passed with 61% of the vote.
  
• Missouri (Trump +15.4) voted in 2018 to raise minimum wage to $12/hour and peg it to the CPI starting in 2023. Depending on how the CPI does, it will probably hit $15/hour between 2028 and 2030.
  

tldr

All this to say, it's clearly not a "far left" position.

Universal healthcare

DPak's position

DPak supports Warren and Bernie's push for universal healthcare, but he is agnostic about how to implement it. Two systems he specifically mentions are Singapore's and Germany's. I'm not completely familiar with these systems, but a quick Google indicates they have a mix of private and public health insurance. So while he seems amenable to their "single payer only" systems, he doesn't seem tied to them and is more focused on getting people covered.

Warren's position

Warren's Medicare for All plan would have phased in a single-payer system over 3 years, at which point "duplicate coverage" would be illegal. AKA most private insurance would be banned.

Polls

About 57% of the country, including 59% of Independents, supports some kind of universal healthcare, according to a Gallup poll in December 2022. So at least that position (and the one DPak holds) is not "far left". I think it'd be more accurate to say it's center-left.
It's not clear to me that their question about preference for a "government run health care system", which they say has 43% support in that same 2022 poll. So I checked an older Pew poll from 2020, which does appear to break it out. In this poll, 36% of respondants chose "single national government program" over "mix of government of private programs".

tldr

DPak's position of supporting universal health care is supported by over half the country, including 3/5 of independents. I don't think you can say that is "far left" or "not mainstream" with any seriousness.
As for Warren, she's certainly farther left than the majority of the country or DPak's position. I guess it'd depend on where you draw your boundaries as to whether this is "far left" or not. However, if having single-payer only healthcare, a position on the left, has 36% support and is "far left" then not raising the minimum wage to $15/hour, which has 35% support and is a position on the right, would seem to be "far right".

Free education for the entire country

DPak's position

DPak seems to support tuition-free public colleges and universities. Here is a video where he discussed the topic with Andrew Yang. Here is another video where he discusses his support for states trialing free college programs that could then be rolled out nationally if they work.

Warren's position

Elizabeth Warren supported "giving every American the opportunity to attend a two-year or four-year public college or technical school without paying a dime in tuition or fees".

Polls

63% of Americans support tuition-free public college and universities according to an August 2021 Pew poll.

tldr

Again, this is a position supported by the majority of the country. It's not "far left".
Some of Warren's other related positions, like cancelling $50k of student loan debt, are less popular and you can make a stronger argument about that being far left.

Wealth tax

DPak's position

DPak seems skeptical about a wealth tax working, even if he supports it in principle.

Warren's position

Warren proposed a wealth tax. It would have been 2% on wealth between $50 million and $1 billion and then 6% on wealth over $1 billion.

Polls

64% of respondents to a Reuters/Ipsos poll strongly or somewhat agreed that "the very rich should contribute an extra share of their total wealth each year to support public programs". This included 77% of Democrats, 63% of Independents, and 53% of Republicans.
63% of respondents to a 2019 New York Times/SurveyMonkey poll supported Warren's wealth tax plan. This included 77% of Democrats, 55% of Independents, and 57% of Republicans.

tldr

The NY Times poll is pre-COVID (I wasn't able to find a more recent poll) so maybe things have changed as it became more tied to Bernie and Warren, but at least at that point it didn't seem to be a "far left" idea.

Overall TLDR

Of the policies that Destiny called out as "far left", they are all supported by more than half the country. So it seems that, at least for DPak and those policies he called out, that label is inaccurate and DPak is within the "mainstream".
My intuition is that Warren could be called far left, particularly among elected officials. However, that's not due to these policies, with the exception of the part of her universal health care plan where she wants to abolish duplicate private coverage. It's more due to other things like wanting to cancel $50,000 of student loan debt or her positions on social issues.

My gf and I (both 20sF) are moving to Alexandria and have just signed a lease at the asher apartments near the Braddock Road Metro. We weren't able to see the unit/area in person before we signed the lease but it seemed nice so we went on with it. I definitely should have done more due diligence.
I've started following nova and some alexandria news boards and have been seeing a lot of news about shootings/shots fired near the public housing in that area. Maybe not a *lot* of news, but definitely more than I expected in the last month alone.
Is this a legitimate concern for residents in the area or am I getting too wound up from the news? My gf has lived in cities all her life and accepts that it's just the reality, but I'm feeling worried about it. Is the area pretty safe to walk/commute in spite of the shootings? Sorry if this comes off as super sheltered and please tell me if i'm being silly.

“It was a war that should have never, ever started."
The Post Millennial Jun 2, 2023 3 Minute Read
During a Fox News town hall with host Sean Hannity on Thursday evening former President Donald Trump and top GOP presidential contender for 2024 said he could stop the war between Russia and Ukraine “in 24 hours” and would bring inflation down, which he referred to as a killer of empires.
Trump was asked about high inflation, medicare, social security, and the quality of life for seniors.
"Inflation is a killer of countries," Trump said, noting that empires have been routinely taken down throughout history by this scourge. "We could head up very much higher," he said of current inflation rates, and said that he would bring energy costs down as well as interest rates. "Right now our country is a total mess," he said, and said that he would also rebuild the military.
During a commercial break, the crowd went wild with chants of "USA!"
After stating he could turn the country around “in six months,” discussing the Biden family’s shady business dealing and a variety of other topics, Trump told the crowd, “I don't want that war to continue and I'll stop that war, mark my words, I'll stop that war in 24 hours.” The pledge was received with thunderous applause.
Hannity asked how Trump would accomplish that, to which the former president replied, “I know both. And frankly, Zelensky was very good because… he was part of the phone call… he could have gone and grandstanded and said, ‘Well, I felt threatened. I felt threatened.’ He didn't.”
“I get along with him, I get along with Putin It's, it would've been much easier to stop it before it started. Putin would've never done this, would've been much easier.”
“Right now, it's a mess. Now they're hitting Kiev and they're hitting all sorts of things that weren't supposed to be hit. The country is being decimated.”
Trump continued, “By the way, the deaths are far more than they report. You know, when they say ‘nine apartment houses got knocked down and two people got hurt.’ No, no. Hundreds of people died. The numbers are much different than what you're being told.”
Trump then laid out his plan, “I will get them into a room and they will, and I know an exact way.”
“Number one, you tell one, ‘You're not gonna get anything unless you make a deal.’”
‘You tell the other one, ‘They're gonna get a lot. Unless you make a deal’ and you just sit 'em and you put 'em in and you have to make the determination. And within, I'm telling you, within 24 hours, that whole thing will be settled. It'll be settled.”
“You need the power of the Oval Office. You do. You can't just walk in and say, ‘oh, I'm gonna settle the deal.’ You need the power of the presidency.”
“It was a war that should have never, ever started. It's a horrible war. It's a vicious, vicious (war). I saw it today where missiles are going into cities, in this case, Kyiv, and you see the schoolchildren going to school and missiles are following them. The whole thing is horrible. I will have that settled in 24 hours.”
Trump then went after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and said, “When I hear the DeSanctimonious come and say, ‘we need eight years.’ Again, if he needs eight years, don't vote for him.”
“This country will be hopping in six months and a lot of it's gonna do with energy, and it'll be hopping in six months and less than six months, but it'll be, it'll be back.”
Full town hall available here: https://youtu.be/vLMGRJRnZyE

Big Ambitions, EA 0.2 Build 1864 hotfix is now on Steam!
Hello! Big hotfix coming to you this weekend!
Summary here, full list in the link below:

* Reinstated new and improved Employee Demands update
* Office Jobs - Big Revamp
* Fixed a few Soft-Locks
* Fixed some uniform issues
* Improved barriers placement (placing rope/belt/shop barriers now have more freedom)
* Increased HR Manager max employees from 25 to 50
* Increased passive skill gain for AI employees when working
* Reduced traffic aggressiveness
* Ensure there's always an available building to satisfy the second Uncle Fred Business size
* Fixed fired HR Managers breaking insurance manager dialog
* Fixed can't reach 100% cleanliness in some scenarios
* Fixed couldn't reach 100% Interior Design Score in certain buildings (A1, A2, C1, M1)
* Fixed player's customer service skill disappearing
* Fixed can't load some old savegames
* Fixed TimeMachine on split-shift ignoring break between shifts
* Fixed Purchasing Agent training is now done after deliveries to prevent delivery failures due to prices going under the minimum purchase order
* Fixed Restaurant Booth attaching random items and getting stuck (you can put small flowers on it)
* Fixed "Graphic Tablet with screen" now also satisfies "Graphic Tablet" demand
* Fixed Bling Cribs Achievement wasn't counting deliveries. It should properly count any new items you put in the apartment, but any items it missed before still won't count
* Fixed some issues causing the camera zoom to stop working
* Fixed if store is "temporarily closed" employee's scheduled hours didn't satisfy their demands

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1331550/view/3714952930094353295

This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 77%. (I'm a bot)

An investigation carried out by an international nonprofit law firm in partnership with Ukrainian prosecutors has accused Russian forces of using starvation as a weapon of war against Ukrainian civilians during the early stages of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The report accused Russia of using various methods to cut off Ukrainian civilians' access to food and water.
"Armed sieges, obstruction of humanitarian access, pillaging of agricultural machinery and harvests, shelling of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, and the blockade of ports and grain, are among barbaric starvation tactics being used by Putin and his forces to break the Ukrainian people," the report states.
Russia has previously been accused of deliberately targeting Ukrainian food supplies and production, including during the siege of on the key port of Mariupol, and Murdoch said her team's findings were "Just the tip of the iceberg in Putin's calculated plan to terrorize, subjugate and kill Ukrainian people."
Ukraine's prosecutor general's office has said it has registered over 88,000 incidents of suspected war crimes by Russian forces since the war began.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March over alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine over the last 15 months.

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The deportation from UK numbers have reached an all-time high, sparking concerns and questions about who is being affected and why. With so many individuals facing the possibility of being forced to leave their homes and loved ones behind, it's important to understand the reasons behind this surge in deportations. In this blog post, we'll dive into the details of what's causing these record-breaking numbers and explore how you can help those who are impacted by them. Whether you're a concerned citizen or an immigration solicitor looking for ways to assist your clients, read on to learn more about this pressing issue.
The UK's Deportation Numbers Reach Record Highs
In recent years, the UK has seen a significant increase in deportation numbers. According to reports from the Home Office, the total number of individuals deported from the country reached an all-time high in 2020. This statistic has sparked concerns and debates about who is being affected by these deportations and why.
One group that's been heavily impacted by this surge in deportations are undocumented immigrants who have lived in the UK for years but don't have legal status. These individuals often face harsh consequences such as detention centers and forced removals, leaving many families torn apart.
Another factor contributing to these record-high deportation numbers is stricter immigration policies implemented by the government. In recent years, there has been a push towards tougher regulations on immigration which can result in more individuals being denied entry or facing deportation.
It's clear that there are many complex factors at play when it comes to understanding why deportation numbers are reaching record highs in the UK. While some argue that tighter regulations are necessary to protect national security and resources, others believe that greater compassion must be shown towards those who may have fled their home countries due to war or persecution.
Who is Affected by These Deportations?
The record high numbers of deportations in the UK have affected a significant number of individuals and families residing in the country. Among those affected are refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented immigrants, and people with criminal records.
Refugees who have fled their home countries due to war or persecution may face deportation if their status is not recognized by the UK government. Asylum seekers who are awaiting a decision on their application for protection may also be at risk of deportation.
Undocumented immigrants who have overstayed their visas or entered the country illegally are among those most vulnerable to deportation. The fear of being deported can lead them to live in constant anxiety and uncertainty.
People with criminal records, including minor offenses such as traffic violations, can also face UK deportation . This has caused many families to be separated from loved ones who have lived in the country for years but are now facing removal due to past convictions.
These deportations affect both individuals and entire communities. It's important that we understand the diverse experiences of those affected by these policies and work towards finding solutions that prioritize human rights and dignity for all.
The Reasons for the Record High Numbers
The UK's record high deportation numbers are not without reason. One of the main reasons is due to the stricter immigration policies implemented by the government in recent years.
Many individuals who have been living in the UK for several years, some even with families and children born in the country, are being deported on grounds of overstaying their visas or having criminal records.
In addition to this, Brexit has also played a role in increasing deportation numbers. Non-UK citizens who do not meet new post-Brexit immigration requirements are at risk of being deported.
Furthermore, COVID-19 travel restrictions have made it difficult for those whose visas have expired to leave the country voluntarily. As a result, they face deportation as an enforced measure by authorities.
While there may be various reasons for these record-high deportation numbers in the UK, it is crucial that we understand their impact and work towards finding solutions that prioritize human rights and compassionate treatment of all individuals affected by these issues.
The Consequences of Deportation
The consequences of deportation can be severe and far-reaching. For individuals who are deported, they may face challenges in finding employment, obtaining housing, and accessing healthcare in their country of origin. They may also be separated from family members and loved ones who remain in the UK.
For families left behind, deportation can have a devastating impact. Children may be forced to grow up without one or both parents, leading to emotional distress and long-term trauma. In some cases, spouses may also be separated from each other for years at a time.
Deportation can also have economic impacts on both the individual being deported and the surrounding community. Individuals who are deported may lose their jobs or businesses that they have built over several years. The communities where these individuals live will also experience a loss of productivity if many people are being deported at once.
Moreover, there is often significant stigma attached to deportation which can lead to social isolation and discrimination against those affected by it. This can further exacerbate feelings of loneliness and depression among those who have been forcibly removed from their homes.
The consequences of deportation go far beyond just removing an individual from one country to another; it affects entire families as well as local economies and communities too.
How to Help Those Who Are Affected
If you know someone who is facing deportation or has been recently deported, it can be difficult to know how best to support them during this challenging time. Here are some ways you can help:
Firstly, educate yourself on the immigration policies in the UK and what rights those facing deportation have. This will allow you to provide accurate information and guidance as needed.
Secondly, offer emotional support by being present and listening without judgment. Facing deportation can be an incredibly stressful experience for individuals and their families.
Thirdly, connect them with resources such as legal aid clinics or community organizations that specialize in supporting immigrants.
Consider advocating for policy changes at a local level by contacting your elected representatives and expressing your concerns about current immigration policies.
Remember that every individual's situation is unique, so it's important to approach each case with sensitivity and respect while offering practical assistance where possible.
Conclusion
The UK's record high deportation numbers are a cause for concern. Families and individuals who have built their lives in the country now face the prospect of being forcibly removed. It is important to note that not all deportations are justified, and it is crucial to seek legal advice from experienced immigration solicitors if you or someone you know is facing deportation.
The reasons behind these deportations vary; however, it is undeniable that they have had severe consequences on those affected. With many losing their jobs, homes, and loved ones, it is vital to show compassion towards them during this difficult time.
As a society, we must strive towards finding more humane solutions for dealing with immigration issues rather than resorting to mass deportations. The government could consider providing more support for immigrants and increasing funding for organisations that work towards helping them integrate into society.
We need to remember that migrants are human beings too – people who may be fleeing war-torn countries or seeking better opportunities for themselves and their families. Therefore, as a nation known for its tolerance and acceptance of diversity, we should do our best to provide help wherever possible instead of turning our backs on those in need.

We've just recently started breaking the news to people and what I hear more often is either "You are going to be a beautiful mom" or comments about the way I currently look. It's mostly people I care about and I know they mean well, they are genuinely happy and their reactions have been sweet. But it baffles me how, with everything that's going on inside me, what seems to matter the most is how I look on the outside. Now that I think of it, it's something I've noticed before, people complimenting pregnant women because of the way they look. Not to mention the obsession over mothers gaining back perfect bikini bodies soon after birth. But what if I end up looking ugly? I mean, with everything I'll go through, for a while looks won't exactly be my priority. They definitely are not now, with how sick and sleep deprived I am. So yeah, would that make my pregnancy less admirable? Don't get me wrong, not saying a woman should not look after herself during pregnancy, if it helps them feel good, they definitely should! But everyone is different, so yeah, I'm curious to hear your experiences.