Turning around to return to camp, they quickly realized how close they had come to death.  Nailed to the backs of the trees, German signs warned, “Minen!”  Had they moved through the woods earlier that morning, they would have been “blown to bits.”

Weeks later in mid-December, Mac got a letter from his mother.  “Can you remember where you were on Thanksgiving Day?” she asked.  His mother explained that she had awakened just after midnight with a sense of terror.  “I had a strong feeling that you were in great danger.  When I opened my Bible, a phrase in Second Chronicles [20:17] gleamed on the page: ‘Stand ye still and see the salvation of the Lord with you…’”  Stand…ye…still.  Mac had definitely received his mother’s Thanksgiving message.

I came across Mac’s story in this collection of inspiring Thanksgiving miracles.  It spoke to me because I have had my share of similar moments in life — when a whisper stopped me in my tracks and moved me in a different direction.  In each of those instances, the choice before me seemed small, but the voice inside my head insisted that it would be consequential.  That voice has always been right.  So it is in this world: sometimes a single step is our undoing, and sometimes a single step is our salvation.  When you hear an unexpected whisper, it’s best to listen.

We don’t always listen, though, do we?  Sometimes we ignore any misgivings and continue down our original path.  And when those choices burn us down the road, we have an even more consequential decision to make: do we let our past mistakes define our futures, or do we use our newly gained wisdom to defeat challenges yet to come?

It is not easy to admit when we’ve been wrong.  It is even harder to find peace when our bad decisions harm others.  It is tempting to cover up one bad choice with another.  You do that enough times, though, and you eventually realize that you’ve done nothing but bury important truths.

When I was younger, a wise man told me to be thankful for my regrets.  “Thankful?” I remember thinking in disbelief.  I preferred to carry my regrets like weights around my neck.  I refused to let them go.  Living like that means living with inconsolable pain.  But there was something else that old philosopher said that stuck with me: your regrets give you a chance to be a better person today than you were yesterday.  Be thankful for your regrets, he argued, because they are the instruments that mold our character.  Use your pain to grow, or your pain will one day use you up.  Some of the best people around us have profound regrets.  Often, it is their profound regret that has shaped them into such morally excellent people.

Be thankful for the hard lessons.  Wisdom is rarely obtained with ease.  If it were, everyone around us would be wise.  Wise people stand out because wisdom comes with a cost.  We humans all suffer in one form or another.  Only some of us, however, learn to use that suffering to become better versions of ourselves.

Sometimes bits of wisdom seem contradictory.  In a single evening with friends, you might hear one argue, “People never change,” and another insist, “People do change.”  Are our natures set in stone from the moment we enter this world, or are we capable of real, substantial growth?  I have always been fond of what the Ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus had to say on the matter: “A man’s character is his fate.”  Who we are affects our decisions, and our decisions ultimately affect our futures.

But think about the advice from the old wise man I mentioned above who encouraged me to be thankful for my regrets.  If our character is shaped by how we handle our regrets, then surely we have some measure of control over our fates.  Perhaps the more we understand about ourselves, the more capable we become of creating our own futures.

There have been only a few times in my life when I was near someone who gave me the shivers.  If you’ve ever found yourself around such a person, it is difficult not to believe in the existence of evil.  Aside from truly evil human beings, though, most people are capable of doing both bad and good things.  You can take a boy without a family, give him a gun, and tell him to protect his neighborhood gang.  Awful acts soon follow.  You can give a boy a family, help him learn from his mistakes, and encourage him to protect his community.  The same boy becomes a selfless police officer.  Often, it is not a question of whether we humans change or not but rather how we channel our inherent natures.  When we are wise enough to learn from our mistakes and listen to those who wish to help us, we become better people.

As Mac St. Johns’s Thanksgiving Day story from WWII shows, sometimes the difference between life and death is a steadfast faith in God.  Will we listen when He whispers, or will we walk the other way?  Will we allow Him to shape our character, or will we insist on doing so without His help?  So much is at stake.  At any moment, we might face the most consequential decision of our lives.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, many of us are also celebrating President Trump’s election victory.  Something has been rotten in America for quite some time.  Our national borders, shared history, and common love for freedom have been disappearing.  Multinational corporations and international bureaucrats have long exerted more influence over our country’s direction than the people who call America home.  Our national debt is unsustainable.  Our government is corrupt.  Our Constitution is ignored.  Our Union is divided.  Our culture is vulgar.  Our moral compass is broken.  President Trump’s return to office offers the prospect of needed change.

The questions now are straightforward: will we learn from our past mistakes?  Will we admit that we have sometimes taken the wrong path as a nation, caused unnecessary harm, and hurt ourselves?  Will we stop covering up one bad choice with another?  Will we make use of our suffering and grow stronger?  Will we learn from painful experiences and gain wisdom?  Will we choose to be thankful for our many regrets?

A country’s character is its fate, too.  Any country is capable of both tremendous good and shocking atrocity.  Any country can nurture its people’s best impulses or exacerbate its people’s worst instincts.  Any country can submit to evil or seek God’s guidance and forgiveness.

If we have been given a second chance this year, let us be supremely grateful.  Let us be penitent.  Let us demonstrate wisdom.  Let us harness the best parts of our natures.  Let this be the first of many joyous Thanksgivings to come.  Above all else: let us be still…and listen.

For decades, Andreessen has supported Democrats, including Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton. However, a troubling spring meeting with Biden administration officials caused major concerns. During the meeting, officials explained their plan to control AI through government regulatory capture—a strategy reminiscent of Communist policies in China.

“We had meetings [Biden officials] this spring that were the most alarming meetings I’ve ever been in. Where they were taking us through their plans, and it was – basically just full government – full government control – like this sort of thing, there will be a small number of large companies that will be completely regulated and controlled by the government, they told us. They said don’t even start startups – there’s just no way that they can succeed – there’s no way that we’re going to permit that to happen.” 

In mid-July, Axios reported that Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz had donated to President-elect Trump’s campaign. At the time, their support was attributed to Trump’s pro stance on crypto and AI regulation. It’s another telling example of just how far-left Democrats in the White House spooked Silicon Valley heavy hitters, such as Elon Musk.

Back to the podcast, Rogan asked Andreessen: “When you leave a meeting like that, what do you do?”

Andreessen responded: “You endorse Donald Trump.” 

X user Ben Averbook condensed Rogan’s three-hour podcast into a series of the most important highlights:

Biden's administration laid it all out:

Only 2-3 AI companies would be allowed to exist.

Complete control over development. pic.twitter.com/HEz8pAWXq5

— Ben Averbook (@benaverbook) November 26, 2024

Andreessen told Rogan about the federal government’s rogue “Operation Choke Point.” He described it as a move by the Department of Justice that initially targeted marijuana businesses and gun manufacturers. He said under Biden, it was then weaponized to destroy political opponents, tech founders, and the crypto community.

They’ve uncovered a new way to destroy companies:

30 tech founders were secretly debanked.

No warning. No explanation. No appeals.

Pure, silent government power. pic.twitter.com/iKPn9XmI82

— Ben Averbook (@benaverbook) November 26, 2024

Rogan and Andreessen discussed the government workforce dilemma.

The government workforce has been exposed:

• Half never returned to the office after COVID.
• Some show up just one day a month.
• Yet, they still collect full DC-level salaries. pic.twitter.com/MCzNZJIC6x

— Ben Averbook (@benaverbook) November 26, 2024

Andreessen spoke about Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and how they may have devised a plan to reduce the government workforce.

However, @elonmusk and @DOGE might have the solution:

“You can work from home… just not for the federal government.” pic.twitter.com/CaukJjmkY5

— Ben Averbook (@benaverbook) November 26, 2024

They spoke about national security threats.

Our national security is hanging by a thread:

• 90% of US military drones are Chinese-made.
• FAA regulations wiped out American manufacturers.

Each drone has the potential to be a weapon—or a spy platform. pic.twitter.com/tldx5xuVOJ

— Ben Averbook (@benaverbook) November 26, 2024

The Make America Healthy Again movement.

They’ve already tested this level of control on our food system:

• The USDA promoted high fructose corn syrup everywhere.
• Created the infamous upside-down food pyramid.

Now, they’re aiming for the same dominance over tech. pic.twitter.com/bIYzapFJCw

— Ben Averbook (@benaverbook) November 26, 2024

Silicon Valley’s political views are fracturing.

Silicon Valley is breaking under pressure:

One side blindly follows every NYT narrative.

The other sees the truth.

“We’ve even split into two kinds of dinner parties.” pic.twitter.com/dwaI909RA0

— Ben Averbook (@benaverbook) November 26, 2024

AI censorship.

"If you thought social media censorship was bad, AI control will be 1000x worse. It's going to be the control layer for everything:

Your kids' education, your loans, your front door." pic.twitter.com/7oVksN6zR8

— Ben Averbook (@benaverbook) November 26, 2024

First’ Twitter Files’… YouTube files next?

.@pmarca tells @joerogan that it's highly likely there will be a YouTube Files: "This new administration is probably going to carve all of this stuff open." pic.twitter.com/7NcwHMp9Z4

— CAPITAL (@capitalnewshq) November 26, 2024

(Mercola)—Chronic diseases have become the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, kill 41 million people every year, amounting to 74% of deaths globally.¹ In the U.S., these conditions account for 8 out of the top 10 causes of death.²

The shift from infectious diseases to chronic, noncommunicable ailments began in the early 1900s, driven by improvements in sanitation, nutrition and medical technology. However, this transition has come with its own set of challenges. As the population ages and lifestyles change, the prevalence of chronic diseases continues to climb.

The cost to health systems is staggering — over $1 trillion annually in the U.S. alone.³ Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to lower your risk and prevent chronic diseases. Understanding effective prevention strategies is essential for improving your overall health and well-being.

The Big Four: Heart Disease, Cancer, Diabetes and Dementia

Among chronic diseases, four stand out as particularly impactful: heart disease, cancer, diabetes and dementia. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. Cancer follows closely behind, claiming over 600,000 lives annually. Diabetes affects more than 37 million Americans, with millions more undiagnosed or living with prediabetes.⁴

Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are rapidly growing concerns, with an estimated 6.7 million Americans aged 65 and over currently affected. These conditions not only impact your health and longevity but also place an enormous financial burden on individuals and health care systems.

The global cost of cancer alone is projected to reach $25 trillion between 2020 and 2050, with five cancers — tracheal, bronchial and lung; colon and rectal; breast; liver and leukemia — accounting for nearly half of that cost.⁵ As these diseases become increasingly prevalent, prevention and early intervention to protect your health and quality of life is crucial.

Most Americans Suffer from Chronic Disease

Close to 60% of U.S. adults have at least one chronic disease. About 40% suffer from multiple chronic conditions.⁶ A recent study published in Frontiers in Public Health has also projected a significant increase in chronic diseases among adults aged 50 and older.⁷

By 2050, the number of Americans in this age group is expected to surge by 61%, reaching 221 million. Further, those with at least one chronic condition are projected to increase by 99.5%, from 71.5 million in 2020 to 142.7 million by 2050.⁸

Researchers considered nine major chronic conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung diseases, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and psychiatric problems. These projections highlight the urgent need for you to take proactive steps in managing your health, as the likelihood of developing a chronic condition increases with age.

The Rise of Multimorbidity: A Growing Concern for Your Health

While the increase in single chronic conditions is concerning, the rise in multimorbidity — having two or more chronic conditions — is equally worrying. The study predicts a 91.1% increase in multimorbidity cases, from 7.8 million in 2020 to 14.9 million by 2050.⁹

The majority of individuals with chronic conditions or multimorbidity are between 60 and 79 years old. However, the most significant increase is projected for those 80 and older, with a staggering 244% rise in single chronic conditions and a 202.7% increase in multimorbidity cases from 2020 to 2050.¹⁰

The study also reveals interesting patterns in chronic disease distribution across gender and racial lines. By 2050, women are projected to make up 53% of those with a single chronic condition, while men will form the majority (51%) of those with multimorbidity. Among racial groups, non-Hispanic Whites are expected to see the largest increase in absolute numbers, but other racial groups will experience significant rises as well.

For instance, the number of Hispanics with at least one chronic condition is projected to increase by 110% from 2020 to 2050. These disparities highlight the need for targeted health interventions and personalized approaches to chronic disease prevention and management.

Understanding your own risk factors based on your gender and racial background will help you take more effective steps to prevent chronic disease. However, adopting a holistic approach to your health, addressing not just individual symptoms but the underlying causes of disease, is essential for everyone, at all life stages.

Geographic Patterns of Chronic Disease

Your risk of chronic disease isn’t just influenced by individual factors — it’s also closely tied to where you live. Research published in Preventing Chronic Disease unveiled geographic patterns in chronic disease prevalence across the U.S.¹¹

The southeastern region of the country stands out as a hotspot, with clusters of high chronic disease prevalence throughout. This pattern isn’t random; it reflects decades of social and economic policies that have created environments conducive to poor health outcomes.

In contrast, areas with lower chronic disease prevalence are more scattered, often clustering around major metropolitan areas. For instance, in Texas, you’ll find pockets of lower prevalence around Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Similarly, the Atlanta metropolitan region in Georgia shows lower chronic disease rates compared to surrounding areas.

Areas with high chronic disease prevalence often share common socioeconomic characteristics. If you live in these areas, you’re more likely to face higher rates of disability, unemployment and reliance on government assistance programs like SNAP. Educational attainment is also a significant factor — areas with lower chronic disease prevalence have a much higher proportion of residents with post-high school education.

The economic divide is stark: the median income in areas with the lowest chronic disease prevalence is nearly double that of areas with the highest prevalence. Home values show an even more dramatic disparity, with median values in low-prevalence areas being almost three times higher than in high-prevalence areas.¹²

These disparities highlight the profound impact that your local environment and community characteristics have on your health. Still, along with recognizing risks associated with your location, remember that it’s also important to take proactive steps to mitigate them.

The Mental Health Crisis: A Hidden Epidemic Within the Chronic Disease Pandemic

While physical chronic diseases have been at the forefront of health discussions, mental health disorders are rapidly becoming a significant part of the global disease burden. Mental health issues account for 20% of the global disease burden,¹³ with addiction, mood disorders and anxiety playing major roles.

There’s often a delay in seeking treatment for these conditions. For instance, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), one of the top 10 leading causes of disability in the developed world, typically goes untreated for about 10 years. Similarly, individuals with gambling disorder often wait around nine years before seeking help.

These delays significantly increase the burden of disease. Recognizing the importance of mental health in overall well-being is crucial for your health journey, as mental and physical health are deeply interconnected.

Addressing the Four E’s to Prevent Premature Deaths from Chronic Disease

Optimizing mitochondrial health is the single most important step you can take to achieve vibrant, lasting health and avoid chronic disease, as impaired mitochondrial function lies at the heart of most chronic conditions.

There are about 100,000 trillion mitochondria in your body,¹⁴ each with hundreds of electron transport chains. Their staggering numbers reveal just how vital they are to your cellular function and, by extension, your overall well-being. Your mitochondria produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is critical for every function in your body. Without energy, your cells can’t repair and regenerate themselves.

The fundamental issue underlying most chronic disease is that your cells are not producing enough energy. There are four primary factors decimating your cellular energy production — the four E’s:

Avoid Mitochondrial Poisons to Boost Your Cellular Health

These and other mitochondrial poisons lead to a disruption in the delicate oxygen balance within your gut, creating an environment that favors the proliferation of harmful, oxygen-tolerant microbes while inhibiting the growth of beneficial, oxygen-intolerant microbes crucial for gut health. Mucin acts as a binding agent for your colonic epithelium, with colonocytes forming a critical barrier.

When this barrier is compromised, it initiates a progressive decline in health, accelerating the aging process.

Addressing the underlying factors damaging colonocytes and restoring proper oxygen levels is essential for reestablishing the population of beneficial, oxygen-intolerant microbes. The communication between mitochondria and your gut microbiome is vital, but when oxygen-tolerant pathogenic bacteria predominate, they crowd out beneficial bacteria, impeding the production of necessary metabolites for optimal health.

Until excess oxygen is removed from your colon, even the most beneficial lifestyle factors such as exercise, sleep, nutrition and supplements may not lead to significant improvements. Simply introducing probiotics is not an effective solution, as commercially available probiotics are often non-viable in the gut environment. These may provide postbiotic benefits but cannot serve as true “seeds” to reestablish the proper microbial community.

Your gut environment must be healthy for oxygen-intolerant microbes to thrive, much like seeds require suitable conditions to grow. Avoiding mitochondrial poisons, like those above, is key to creating and maintaining this favorable environment for gut health and microbial balance, and ultimately for avoiding chronic disease.

My new book, “Your Guide to Cellular Health: Unlocking the Science of Longevity and Joy,” explains in detail how to improve your mitochondrial function for increased cellular energy. Addressing energy production might prevent the majority of premature deaths from chronic diseases worldwide.

• ¹ World Health Organization, Noncommunicable diseases September 16, 2023
• ^2, 3, 5 Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes. 2024 Jan 20;8(1):112–119
• ⁴ Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes. 2024 Jan 20;8(1):112–119, Diabetes
• ⁶ National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, Commentary on Chronic Disease Prevention in 2022
• ^{7, 8, 9, 10} Front. Public Health, 12 January 2023, Volume 10 – 2022
• ^11, 12 Prev Chronic Dis 2024;21:230267
• ¹³ Front. Public Health, 13 October 2023, Volume 11 – 2023
• ¹⁴ Mito Canada, What Are Mitochondria and Why They Matter

Throughout Harris’ campaign, the vice president and her spokespeople often touted how Harris could be the official to bring joy to Americans. On “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” the British journalist played a clip of Harris’ nearly 10-minute thank you to voters, encouraging supporters to “never let anybody take your power.”

“She just looked like a broken woman to me. This was a woman who was selling us joy, who looked utterly miserable, still talking in a kind of generalized word salad way. Also talking nonsense, because of course the Democrats took a massive drubbing, and it’s on her watch. So of course, they’re all going to feel not as confident and strong as they were before,” Morgan said. “They need a radical rethink, I think, the Democrats, but it was kind of sad, wasn’t it, that video?”

Kasparian responded to Morgan’s remarks.

“I thought it was kind of funny. Like, I see myself as a 22 year old at three in the morning at a bar talking to a best friend,” Kasparian said. “That’s what I sound like, ‘Don’t let anybody take your power away from you.’ But putting that aside, there’s a part of me that feels a little bad for Kamala Harris, because I do feel that she was basically set up to lose, right? I mean, you have Joe Biden coming out of the gate saying that he’s going to tap a black woman for his VP.”

Kasparian went on to say that President Joe Biden’s choice of picking a “token” based on race set up Harris for her loss. She also called out Biden and Harris campaign advisors who said during a podcast that they had no backup plan after the president dropped his re-election bid.

“When you do that, what it signals to the rest of the country is that you’re gonna pick a token to make a point,” Kasparian said. “It’s not based on merit. I think that’s an issue, and it doesn’t look good. But then on top of that, really, the person who deserves a great deal of blame, actually, the people who deserve a great deal of blame is Joe Biden.”

“[He] refused to drop out of the race, decided to run for a second term, even though he had promised not to run for a second term. And all of the campaign officials surrounding him, who, by the way, just yesterday on ‘Pod Save America,’ admitted that after Biden had that disastrous debate performance, they didn’t have a plan B,” Kasparian said. “They didn’t engage in a plan B. The only thing they were hyper focused on was keeping Biden in the race. How irresponsible is that?”

“The Young Turks” co-host concluded by questioning how the campaign advisers could be comfortable with Biden leading the country for another four years, despite his “level of cognitive decline,” stating that the party has “lost its credibility, entirely.”

Following Biden’s withdrawal from the race and his endorsement of Harris on July 21, the vice president was repeatedly pressed on her flip-flopping of left-wing policies she had promoted prior to 2020, as well as her reported avoidance of sitting with corporate media for an in-depth interview on the issues. However, despite losing both the Electoral College and the popular vote, some Democratic pundits appeared confused as to how the vice president could have lost to Trump.

In a recent CBS/YouGov poll, 59% of voters approved of how Trump is handling the transition of power.

(Featured Image Media Credit: Screenshot/YouTube/”Piers Morgan Uncensored”)

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].

Kevin Laskowski, of Falls Church, Virginia, who is priest-in-charge at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Centreville, Virginia, was among the contestants dealing with the category “Quoting the King James Bible.”

To his credit, Laskowski was able to answer “And the light shineth in” this, which “comprehended it not.”

“What is the darkness?” he correctly responded.

Another clue stated: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green” these.

“What is green pastures?” he answered rightly.

But then came a pair of clues to which the reverend was completely silent.

“Why beholdest thou” this 4-letter thing “that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”

The correct response to the triple-stumper was “the mote.”

And the final, $1,000 clue also left all three contestants unable to voice anything.

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils” this phrase.

The correct response is “the breath of life.”

The initial biblical clue stated: “Exodus 20:8 commands, ‘Remember’ this day ‘to keep it holy.’”

It was answered correctly with “the Sabbath;” not by the priest, but by challenger Julia Schan, a stay-at-home mom from Pleasanton, California.

Laskowski was able to answer the alcohol-related Final Jeopardy clue: “Its 15 official state songs include 2 that mention moonshine & 3 played in 3/4 time.”

He correctly responded to win the game: “What is Tennessee?”

Some comments posted online about the priest’s performance include:

“Imagine being an Episcopalian priest and not be able to answer these clues about the Bible. Neither did the other 2 contestants. Fun times.”

“I always chuckle a little when there’s a clergyman on Jeopardy! who doesn’t know bible clues.”

“The Episcopalian priest on Jeopardy only getting two answers correct in the Bible category [bleeping] rules.”

“The priest knew hip hop lyrics yesterday and missed Bible quotes today?? Is he cosplaying us?”

“So the Episcopal priest could barely handle the Bible category? That tracks about right. Catholics and Episcopalians don’t read nor teach the Bible.

“If you wear your clerical collar to be a Jeopardy contestant, you best show up in the ‘Quoting the King James Bible’ category.”

This Episcopalian priest dominated the “it’s also a drink” category, but he grew up Catholic so it checks out. #jeopardy pic.twitter.com/q6rtm7iXPG

— RK Cats (@richksu) November 26, 2024

Watching the Episcopalian priest bomb the “Bible” category on Jeopardy…. pic.twitter.com/09bGlr1hQn

— Joshua Ortegon (@JoshuaOrtegon) November 28, 2024

Follow Joe on Twitter @JoeKovacsNews

Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

China is the world’s largest car market and domestic brands are dominating with a surge of electric vehicles. Chinese companies are also expanding into Southeast Asia, challenging the long-standing dominance of brands like Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi, according to w new report by Bloomberg.

Between 2019 and 2024, Japanese automakers experienced the steepest market share declines in China, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, according to Bloomberg’s analysis of sales and registration data.

Japanese automakers are losing ground across Asia, with all six tracked by Bloomberg experiencing declines in China. Even Toyota, the global leader in car volume, has seen its sales stagnate. In Southeast Asia, a traditional stronghold for Japanese brands, market share has dropped sharply.

In Thailand and Singapore, Japanese carmakers now control just 35% of the market, down from over 50% in 2019, while streets once dominated by Nissan and Mazda are increasingly filled with Chinese brands.

The Bloomberg profile notes that Toyota remains competitive in some segments, like pickups, but the broader outlook is troubling for automakers once renowned for efficiency and reliability. Their slow pivot to fully electric vehicles puts them at risk of falling behind in a market driven by advanced battery technology and smart software.

Although Chinese automakers face high tariffs in Europe and the U.S., the erosion of Japanese dominance in Asia could signal wider challenges ahead.

Toyota’s stronghold in Southeast Asia is supported by regional production of gasoline cars with larger engines, appealing to local preferences. In 2023, Thailand and Indonesia accounted for nearly 10% of Toyota’s 11 million global vehicle output. However, other Japanese brands, like Nissan, are struggling.

Nissan’s outdated lineup and lack of hybrids contributed to profit losses and production cuts, with its presence in Jakarta now fading.

Meanwhile, Chinese automaker BYD has rapidly gained traction in Indonesia, ranking as the sixth top-selling brand just months after delivering its first vehicles. Its $40,000 Seal EV is proving especially popular.

Japan’s global auto production share has dropped from over 20% two decades ago to 11%, while China has surged to dominate, now accounting for nearly 40% of worldwide car manufacturing. Chinese automakers are leveraging their expertise in low-cost batteries and flexible supply chains to expand into Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, further challenging Japan’s dominance in these markets.

Consumer confidence is up. The stock market, crypto, and gold numbers have looked solid after the initial post-election shock to the system. Things are looking good, but that doesn’t mean we can become complacent. It still behooves Americans to be frugal with spending until all of the dust settles and President Trump’s economic plan can truly kick into action. With that said, here’s some important information from Zero Hedge…

(Zero Hedge)—The Fed’s favorite (when it’s going down) inflation indicator – Core PCE – ticked up noticeably in October to +2.8%, the highest since April…

Headline PCE rose 0.2% MoM (as expected) lifting it 2.3% YoY (up from +2.1% YoY prior)…

A jump in Services and Durable Goods costs drove the reignition of inflation…

The so-called SuperCore PCE (Services ex-shelter) surged up to +3.51% YoY…

Incomes – for once – grew at a faster rate than spending (+0.6% MoM vs +0.4% MoM respectively)….

…and while that bumped up the savings rate MoM, thanks to massive revisions, Americans lost $140BN in personal savings… out of nowhere…

Oh look, the savings rate was just revised sharply lower for most of 2024 and some $140BN in personal savings was magically erased. pic.twitter.com/T3lGgLCIEQ

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) November 27, 2024

Remember when they revised it from 2.4% to 5.0% in late September to bump up GDP? Well, we guess Kamala isn’t president.. so all bets (adjustments) are off…

And finally, imagine how bad things would be if the government wasn’t handing over billions to ‘we, the people’ all of a sudden…

Bye, bye, rate-cut expectations!…

Mayor Bill Wells of El Cajon, about 40 miles from the Mexico border in San Diego County, claims the city police face misdemeanor charges in California if they cooperate with federal authorities to deport illegal immigrants.

Although El Cajon is not a sanctuary city, California’s sanctuary law prohibits cooperation with federal immigration officers in most cases.

In a social media post Monday, Wells said his city intends to comply with federal authorities despite the risk, but hopes to get clarification from state Attorney General Rob Bonta before deportations begin.

“No officer should have to choose between doing their duty and jeopardizing their future,” Wells posted. “As mayor of El Cajon, I’m doing everything in my power to protect our officers and stand against these dangerous [state] policies.”

The city’s police chief alerted Wells to the conflict, he said.

“I talked to our chief, who was the one who informed me that the officers themselves were at risk,” Wells told The Epoch Times on Tuesday. “That was a new piece of information for me to have.”

California officers can lose their police certification and job if arrested for a felony or other crime, according to the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

Officers can also lose their state pensions if they are convicted of a felony related to their official duties, according to the state’s retirement system.

California lawmakers passed the California Values Act in 2017—also called its Sanctuary State law or Senate Bill 54—that prohibits law enforcement agencies, including school police and security departments, from using resources to investigate, detain, or arrest people for immigration enforcement.

The law bans law enforcement from asking for a person’s immigration status, detaining a person based on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) request, arresting someone based on a civil immigration warrant, and participating in any agreements or programs that deputize police as immigration agents.

It also prohibits law enforcement from participating in border patrol activities, including warrantless searches and using federal immigration agents and interpreters.

The state law allows immigration authorities to interview inmates, but prohibits them from having permanent office space in jails.

When California’s law was enacted, the U.S. Department of Justice filed legal action against the state, former Gov. Jerry Brown, and former Attorney General Xavier Becerra, seeking to stop its enforcement.

“These criminal aliens are subject to removal from the United States under federal immigration law, and SB 54 interferes with federal immigration authorities’ ability to carry out their responsibilities under federal law,” the DOJ claimed in March 2018.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to grant review of the legal challenge in 2020, allowing two lower-court decisions in favor of California’s sanctuary law to stand.

Wells said he plans to participate in the deportation process in a Nov. 20 social media post.

“With all the talk of sanctuary cities and states, let me make this perfectly clear: El Cajon is NOT a sanctuary city. We will do everything in our power to assist the federal government in removing criminals from this country,” he stated in the post last week.

He reiterated his position Tuesday. Wells, who also founded a Mayors for Safe Cities group in 2017, is hoping to meet with Tom Homan, Trump’s former ICE director and nominated border czar for his incoming administration.

“I’m trying to arrange a meeting with myself and Tom Homan and will be asking for the feds to give us some resources to protect ourselves for complying,” Wells said. “It is my intention to find a way to comply with federal law.”

Homan, who does not require a Senate confirmation before starting his new job, would be in charge of the nation’s borders. He has already made public statements about his policy against sanctuary jurisdictions.

Wells is drafting a letter to send to California’s attorney general for clarification of the law and hopes the City Council will approve of it Dec. 11, he said.

While immigration hasn’t crippled the city, Wells said there are “a lot of people on the streets that we don’t know where they came from.” The city’s schools are also extremely impacted, he added.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta’s offices did not return requests for comment Tuesday.

Newsom announced Nov. 7 that he was calling for state lawmakers to convene a special session later this year to protect California laws on immigrant protection, as well as on abortion, the climate, and LGBT issues.

The Daily Signal first reported in September that the House Oversight and Accountability Committee opened an investigation into the potential politicization of the population count and miscounts in 14 states.

The December Oversight hearing will review the Census Bureau’s 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey, or PES. The hearing will also look at the bureau’s preparations for the 2030 Census.

“The Census Bureau’s review of the 2020 Census revealed substantial miscounts and discrepancies tending to benefit Democrat-run states,” House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said in a statement to The Daily Signal. “Congress has a responsibility to conduct oversight of these massive errors to ensure they are not repeated in the 2030 census.”

U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Santos, an appointee of President Joe Biden, is set to testify at the hearing.

“Additionally, current integrity issues with the Census must be addressed,” Comer said.

He continued:

The Biden-Harris administration facilitated the worst border crisis in American history, allowing millions of illegal aliens to enter and reside in our country unlawfully. To ensure only U.S. citizens are counted for the apportionment of congressional seats and Electoral College votes, Congress must pass the Equal Representation Act to add a straightforward citizenship question to the Census. We look forward to hearing Director Santos’ testimony and ensuring the Census Bureau takes the necessary steps to deliver a fair and accurate 2030 census.

The 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey found statistically significant miscounts in the 2020 Census in 14 states.

The Biden administration’s Census Bureau revealed in May 2022 that it undercounted the Republican-leaning states of Arkansas by 5%, Florida by 3.4%, Mississippi by 4.11%, Tennessee by 4.78%, and Texas by 1.92%. The Census Bureau undercounted one Democratic-leaning state, Illinois, by 1.97%.

The Census Bureau overcounted Biden’s home state of Delaware by 5.45% as well as other Democratic-leaning states: Hawaii by 6.79%, Massachusetts by 2.24%, Minnesota by 3.84%, New York by 3.44%, and Rhode Island by 5%. It also overcounted two Republican-leaning states, Ohio by 1.49% and Utah by 2.59%.

The group’s consumer confidence index rose to 111.7 in November, up from 109.6 in October, marking the second consecutive month of improvement, according to the Nov. 26 report.

The present situation index, which gauges consumers’ views of current business and labor market conditions, climbed 4.8 points to 140.9. Meanwhile, the expectations index, which reflects outlooks over the next six months on income, business, and labor conditions, inched up 0.4 points to 92.3, remaining well above the threshold of 80 that is typically associated with recession risks.

“The proportion of consumers anticipating a recession over the next 12 months fell further in November and was the lowest since we first asked the question in July 2022,” Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, said in a statement.

Peterson said that November’s increase in overall consumer confidence was mostly due to more positive assessments of current conditions, particularly with respect to the labor market.

“Compared to October, consumers were also substantially more optimistic about future job availability, which reached its highest level in almost three years,” Peterson said.

Even though consumers’ assessments of their family’s current financial situation fell slightly, optimism for their finances over the next six months reached a new high. Confidence in the U.S. stock market also reached a record high, with 56.4 percent of respondents expecting stock prices to increase over the next 12 months.

Inflation expectations also fell sharply. The average 12-month inflation expectations fell from 5.3 percent in October to 4.9 percent in November, the lowest in nearly four-and-a-half years. Still, elevated prices remained the top concern for consumers, followed by worries about higher taxes, social unrest, as well as conflicts and wars.

“In a special question about concerns and hopes for 2025, consumers overwhelmingly selected higher prices as their top concern and lower prices as their top wish for the new year,” the report states.

Despite the rise in optimism, consumers reported mixed plans for future purchases. Buying intentions for homes stalling in November, while plans to purchase autos ticked up. Durable goods purchases faced uncertainty, with declines in plans for appliances and electronics, offset by steady interest in travel and healthcare spending.

Other data released on Tuesday suggests Americans are tightening their purse strings. Best Buy, the nation’s biggest consumer electronics chain, reported another quarterly sales drop as customers pivoted toward essentials, away from gadgets and appliances. The retailer also lowered its annual sales and profit outlook, with CEO Corie Barry noting weak customer demand ahead of the November election and shoppers who were waiting for bargains.

“We continue to see a consumer who is seeking value and sales events, and one who is also willing to spend on high price-point products when they need to or when there is new, compelling technology,“ Barry said in a statement. ”Thus, we are balancing our optimism in both the industry and our unique positioning with a pragmatic approach to likely uneven customer behavior going forward.”

Similarly, Kohl’s reported disappointing third-quarter results and lowered its full-year sales outlook. The retailer now expects comparable sales to decline 6 percent to 7 percent for the year, a deeper slump than the 3 percent to 5 percent it previously projected.

“Our third quarter results did not meet our expectations as sales remained soft in our apparel and footwear businesses,“ CEO Tom Kingsbury said in a statement. ”We are approaching our financial outlook for the year more conservatively given the third quarter underperformance and our expectation for a highly competitive holiday season.”

Target also reported weak sales and slumping profits as customers pulled back on non-essential purchases. CEO Brian Cornell said the company “encountered some unique challenges and cost pressures that impacted our bottom-line performance” in the third quarter, although he expressed confidence in Target’s business fundamentals and its ability to deliver on longer-term financial goals.

The picture wasn’t universally grim among the nation’s retailers during this reporting season, however. Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, last week reported a solid third quarter and raised its full-year net sales growth guidance to between 4.8 and 5.1 percent.

“We had a strong quarter, continuing our momentum,” CEO Doug McMillon said in a statement. “In-store volumes grow, pickup from store grew faster, and delivery from store grew even faster than that.”

Alongside the rise in consumer confidence, as reported by The Conference Board, there was also an uptick in sentiment among professional economic forecasters this week. The latest National Association for Business Economics (NABE) survey showed that economists have raised their growth projections substantially for 2025 and most of them no longer see downside risks as predominant.
NABE’s periodic survey, released on Nov. 25 and based on the responses of 38 professional forecasters, found improved economic growth projections for both this year and the next, while expecting inflation to cool further.