Scratch ‘n’ Sniff

Social Security Shock as Retired Workers Set to Get Historic Payout Starting in June
Payouts to Social Security beneficiaries are a necessity, and cover a part of the expenses of at least nine out of ten retirees, as per Gallup polls.

The average monthly benefit for each category in April was about $1,755.57.

However, due to an increase in the cost of living, the June payout will surpass $2,000 for the first time in the SSA’s history… (Continue to full article)

U.S. Genocidal Madness Has Never Ended!
How then can the US society come to terms with its past? How can it acknowledge responsibility? The late Native historian Jack Forbes always stressed that while living persons are not responsible for what their ancestors did, they are responsible for the society they live in, which is a product of that past, assuming this responsibility provides a means of survival and liberation.

Everyone and everything in the world is affected, for the most part negatively, by US dominance and intervention, often violently through direct military means or through proxies

Those of us who write about the heinous Israeli genocidal slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza, although we are most often met with blind indifference by the bulk of society, continue to expose this evil in the midst of this torturous death of innocents… (Continue to full article)

Thanks To Donald Trump, The American Dream Is Dead
Donald Trump’s so-called “voluntary deportation” program is yet another example of how he is killing the alleged “American Dream.”

There was once a time when the phrase “The American Dream” evoked images of opportunity—a place where hard work could elevate anyone, no matter their race, origin, or zip code; a melting pot of possibility. But in today’s America, that dream isn’t just fading—it’s been put on life support, and Donald Trump is hovering over it with a pillow.

With the latest rollout of Trump’s “voluntary deportation” initiative—complete with a convenient app, CBP Home, and a $1,000 travel stipend—his administration has made one thing painfully clear: the American Dream is no longer inclusive… (Continue to full article)

The U.S. Debt Crisis Is Worse Than You Think
America’s $36 trillion debt has experts on edge — here’s what’s really at stake.

Major firms are sounding the alarm on America’s growing debt problem with Moody’s recently downgrading the country’s credit rating. Brett Ewing, chief market strategist at First Franklin Financial Services, joined TheStreet to break down just how serious the problem is and what it could mean for everyday Americans.

We’re sitting around $40 trillion in debt, and we’re running close to a 7% deficit right now.

We still have a lot of room to work with to get that under control over the next decade. And there’s some major things that can be done here in the short run… (Continue to full article)

“Liberation Day” is Cancelled: Trump’s Global Tariffs Ruled Illegal
The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that Trump did not have the authority to set unilateral tariffs

A federal court ruled that Donald Trump overstepped his authority when he attempted to set unilateral 10% tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners.

The U.S. Court of International Trade said that the president’s emergency powers justification for the tariffs didn’t pass muster, in a ruling issued on Wednesday. The three-judge panel objected to the Trump administration’s argument that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act granted “unbounded tariff authority” to the executive branch. In their ruling, they called for a narrow reading of the act and the powers it grants… (Continue to full article)

Goodbye to Traditional Gas Stations in the US
Walmart, Costco, and Dollar General are jumping headfirst into the fuel business in the US

Electrification may be the future, but Walmart, Costco, and Dollar General seem unfazed, they’re becoming gas giants. Wait, what? That’s right. These three major retailers are opening more gas stations. But don’t be mistaken. This isn’t an improvised move, it’s a calculated response to the slow energy transition and the need to build customer loyalty in a fiercely competitive environment.

Of course, it’s all about evolve or die. So these three giants have decided to adapt by turning their parking lots into fuelling centres, but not for electric vehicles. Walmart has already announced more than 45 new gas stations across the U.S., while Costco is extending the hours of its members-only fuel stations. Dollar General, meanwhile, is experimenting with gas stations in the southern part of the country. But weren’t we transitioning to electric? What’s going on??? (Continue to full article)