

Tech
What Caused The Texas Energy Crisis?
Questions arise regarding the failure of the Texas power grid as the state continues to recover from a historic winter storm.
The Current Texas Crisis
New reports from the Texas Tribune on Friday suggest that the state was “Seconds and minutes” away from a “catastrophic” blackout that could have lasted months if grid operators did not take action to stop a massive drop in energy supply.
Unseasonably cold temperatures knocked natural gas and coal plants offline as well as froze wind turbines. As a result, operators had to resort to rolling blackouts to stop the surge in demand from overwhelming its circuits.
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Several factors have been blamed for the sudden and severe energy crisis, with fossil-fuel proponents blaming frozen wind turbines and other alternative energy that was frozen over, BBC suggested. Others such as the New York Times have blamed natural gas pipes freezing and pointing responsibility on to Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
However, there has been one component of the U.S. power grid that has not been looked into: The equipment itself.
China And The Electrical Grid
An April 2014 report from the Department of Energy found that there were only six domestic manufacturers of power equipment in the United States, while China had 30 manufacturers.
Several Chinese-based companies, such as HICO and Siemens, have plants that export transformers to several countries. The report further suggested that the actual production of U.S.-built transformers was less than a fifth of China’s production.
The report showed that the U.S. has become dependent on foreign-made transformers to maintain capability of the power grid.
“In 2010, only 15 percent of the Nation’s demand for power transformers…was met through domestic production,” the report concluded.
In 2019, deputy director of counterintelligence at the DOE said that “There have been over 200 Chinese transformers that have come into the U.S. energy sector in the last ten years,” according to RealClearEnergy, highlighting the country’s dependence on energy.
One of the companies who makes these transformers, JiangSu HuaPeng Transformer Co., recently finished projects in Houston. The city was among the hardest hit in the recent energy crisis.
Trump’s Executive Order
On May 1, 2020, then-President Donald Trump signed an executive order that essentially made the U.S> power grid “America First” by allowing the Secretaries of Defense, Interior and Homeland Security along with the Director of National intelligence to identify equipment that was designed and owned by foreign jurisdictions, including China.
The E.O. aimed to prevent future transactions regarding the supplementation or manufacturing of any equipment that under “foreign adversary control.”
“The transaction…poses and undue risk of sabotage to or subversion of the design, integrity…or manufacturing of the bulk-power system in the United States.” The E.O. read in part.
The order would allow the appropriate departments to “identify” the equipment and “isolate or monitor” their behavior. A task force also formed to focus on vulnerabilities and procurement of the power system of the U.S.
The order may have stemmed from a report regarding the “Electric Panda” hacking group. POLITICO reported that the group had targeted 40 U.S. contracting facilities that specialize in numerous fields.
The U.S. energy secretary at the time also prohibited utilities that supply facilities from importing items from China. Secretary Dan Brouillette said that it was “imperative” the power system was secure from attacks and exploitation.
Biden Reverses Course
On President Joe Biden’s first day in office, he issued an executive order seeking to address the Keystone XL pipeline. In the bottom part of the order, the action also suspended Trump’s order for 90 days to consider if a replacement should be issued.
The provision reportedly allows China to continue exporting transformers to the United States without any issues. It also comes on the heels of reports that Chinese hackers used the SolarWinds bug to spy on U.S. payrolls.
The order remains suspended until April, when the order will be replaced or expire. It is not clear what the Biden administration will replace the order with, if at all.
Before the winter storm, Biden approved an emergency declaration for Texas in the event of the worst. However, Biden’s response to the power outages has been slow, with new authorizations only coming yesterday regarding deliveries of supplies.
What Happens Next?
The situation in Texas, albeit caused mainly by unprecedented weather conditions, could have been mitigated significantly. The use of Chinese-built transformers may have had a role in exactly why the power grid catastrophically failed.
Although it’s unlikely a cyberattack may have caused the grid to undergo immense stress, the use of such technology should be of concern. The vulnerabilities of the U.S. power grid are now on display in the south and should not go unnoticed.
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Society & Culture
Writer Who Ignited Spark Starting Revolt Against Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports Punished
There was a major backlash this year for the first time against Pride Month, and much of the trend can be credited back to a brave writer who broke a story in December 2021 about a transgender athlete competing in female sports. For this, he has been drastically shadowbanned on Twitter, which has unfortunately not been corrected under the new fairer leadership of Elon Musk. While Twitter (recently renamed to X) has become the most powerful media platform in the world, allowing formerly suppressed conservative journalists (including myself) to thrive, Chris Tremoglie remains mostly invisible, punished for his groundbreaking work that has helped women and girls everywhere.
Tremoglie, a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner, attended classes with swimmer Lia Thomas at the University of Pennsylvania. On Dec. 14, 2021, he broke the story of Thomas racing with the female swim team. “Thomas set a new Ivy League ‘female’ record in the 500-meter freestyle on Friday,” Tremoglie wrote in the piece, titled “The University of Pennsylvania is Oppressing Females.” He argued, “No mother or father should have to worry about daughters losing opportunities because of transgenderism’s radical hatred of women.”
Tremoglie followed up with an interview of one of the female swimmers on the team, which landed him a spot on Fox & Friends. “She compares herself to Jackie Robinson,” the anonymous teammate told Tremoglie. “She said she is like the Jackie Robinson of trans sports. … “She laughs about it and mocks the situation … she’s not sympathetic or empathetic at all.”
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Tremoglie’s work was cited in a Federalist Society report, Gender Identity Policy Under the Biden Administration. It referenced his exclusive article about how both UPenn and the Philly DA ignored complaints about Thomas’s nudity in the women’s locker room.
Shortly afterwards, Tremoglie noticed his Twitter engagement drastically dropped and he was no longer accumulating new followers. It became impossible for others to type in his name or username and find his account easily, and when people went to his page, it contained a warning over it, “Caution: This profile may include potentially sensitive content,” requiring the user to click “yes” in order to view the page. A shadowban checking site shows that his account has both a search suggestion and search ban on it.
Nothing changed after Musk bought Twitter, even though other conservative journalists were freed from the biased algorithm. Twitter has not responded to his requests. Even though he has taken immense efforts to obtain new followers, which the rest of us conservative journalists don’t have to do in the Musk era — we’re now easily getting new followers organically just like the lefty media has always been able to do — he remains stuck at 13,700.
Despite the ongoing censorship, Tremoglie hasn’t let up covering the controversy. In December, he published the amusing “2022’s Man of the Year: Lia Thomas.” Tremoglie said, “[W]hile I presume Thomas was just a college student with a mental health problem who just wanted to swim … Thomas was the poster boy of the LGBT genderless world and utopia the Left hoped to create.”
Now, instead of being canceled for “dead naming” transgenders, Tremoglie helped turn the tide around so people can speak more freely about this radical agenda without censorship. Swimmers like Riley Gaines have started speaking up, and legislation is passing around the country to keep women’s and girls’ sports for females only. People began objecting to medical gender transitions for youth, until the pushback fully expanded in June, as stores like Target were forced to dismantle their pride displays due to anger over the extreme LGBTQ+ agenda.
Thanks to trailblazers like Tremoglie, combined with Musk’s takeover of Twitter, others are now free to state their opinions about transgender extremism on Twitter. But Tremoglie’s still paying the price. Even though he’s as clever as Cat Turd on Twitter, his journalism receives no boost. If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
Tremoglie isn’t the only one who continues to encounter unfair shadowbanning under the Musk era. Jordan Conradson, The Gateway Pundit’s Arizona reporter, is so shadowbanned that when you quote tweet him, his tweets don’t show up unless you click on them. Conradson is considered one of the best reporters in Arizona and somewhat of a prodigy at only 21; his articles regularly get hundreds of comments, but he only has 21,200 followers on Twitter due to the ongoing shadowban.
Mark Mendlovitz, one of the funniest conservatives on Twitter, told me only his followers interact with him since he’s being hidden from others. This may be due to a new policy that counts blocks against visibility: If numerous left-wingers block a conservative, the algorithm reduces their visibility. Mendlovitz has become legendary at refuting trolls, especially on the topic of election fraud, who then angrily block him, so sadly he’s paying for it. Ever since Musk allowed conservatives to be treated equally on Twitter, their new prominence has made them prime targets for the left’s paid trolls. So it’s not like Mendlovitz can easily escape the trolls.
Maybe these stalwart conservatives have been overlooked because they’re not cute 20-something conservative female “influencers.” Whatever the reason, it’s unfair that they are being sharply suppressed on the number one media site in the world, which is supposed to have dropped the bias against conservatives. In today’s era, it’s difficult to get traction as a conservative journalist now without Twitter since the rest of big tech massively censors us.
We’re just asking for a little fairness that was overlooked. Others posting about transgenders in sports are no longer shadowbanned, so Tremoglie should be treated equally. The rest of big tech is a lost cause, but since Musk has finally given conservatives one big tech platform that doesn’t discriminate against them, which is amazingly now the most powerful media platform in the world, tell Musk to stop the shadowbanning of these important voices.
Business
SAVE YOURSELF: Is This The Surefire Way to Protect Your Money in the Inevitable Financial Meltdown?
Decentralized finance (DeFi) has emerged as a revolutionary technology.
CAN DECENTRALIZED FINANCE BE THE WAY TO SAVE YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY FROM MELTDOWNS AND TYRANNY?
Decentralized finance (DeFi) is built on the blockchain, which offers a wide range of financial services without the need for intermediaries such as banks or other financial institutions. DeFi has emerged as a popular alternative to traditional finance, offering a more open, transparent, and decentralized financial system. In this article, we will explore why DeFi can protect you from a coming financial meltdown and from tyrannical governments.
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DeFi is built on the blockchain, which means that it is inherently decentralized. This means that there is no central authority controlling the system, and all transactions are verified and validated by a distributed network of nodes. This makes the system more resilient and less vulnerable to attack or manipulation. Unlike traditional financial systems, where central authorities have the power to manipulate the system, DeFi is designed to be transparent and immutable.
One of the main advantages of DeFi is that it offers greater financial freedom and control to users. DeFi allows users to access a wide range of financial services without the need for intermediaries. This means that users can transact directly with each other, without having to go through banks or other financial institutions. This gives users greater control over their finances and reduces the risks associated with centralized financial systems.
Another advantage of DeFi is that it is highly transparent. All transactions on the blockchain are public and can be verified by anyone. This means that there is no room for fraud or manipulation, as all transactions are visible to all participants in the network. This level of transparency is not possible in traditional financial systems, where transactions are often opaque and difficult to track.
DeFi also offers greater security to users. Transactions on the blockchain are secured using cryptography, making them virtually impossible to hack or manipulate. This means that users can trust the system, knowing that their funds are secure. Traditional financial systems, on the other hand, are often vulnerable to cyberattacks and fraud, which can result in significant financial losses.
Furthermore, DeFi is designed to be more inclusive and accessible to everyone. Unlike traditional financial systems, which often have high barriers to entry, DeFi is open to anyone with an internet connection. This means that people who are unbanked or underbanked can access financial services that were previously unavailable to them. This inclusivity is important because it helps to reduce financial inequality and promotes greater financial inclusion.
Finally, DeFi is more resilient than traditional financial systems. DeFi is built on a decentralized network of nodes, which means that there is no single point of failure. This makes the system more resilient to attacks and more resistant to financial meltdowns. In traditional financial systems, a single point of failure can have catastrophic consequences, as we saw in the 2008 financial crisis.
DeFi is a new and exciting financial system that offers a wide range of benefits over traditional finance. It is transparent, secure, accessible, and resilient, making it an attractive option for people who are looking to protect themselves from a coming financial meltdown. While DeFi is still in its early stages, it has the potential to transform the world of finance, offering a more open, transparent, and decentralized financial system for everyone.
SEVEN BENEFITS OF DECENTRALIZED FINANCE
Decentralized finance (DeFi) has emerged as a revolutionary technology that enables individuals to conduct financial transactions without the need for intermediaries such as banks or financial institutions. DeFi uses blockchain technology, which provides a transparent and secure way of conducting financial transactions. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of decentralized finance, along with a brief overview of crypto and blockchain.
Overview of Crypto and Blockchain
Crypto refers to digital currencies that use cryptography to secure financial transactions and control the creation of new units. Bitcoin, which was created in 2009, is the most well-known cryptocurrency. It is based on blockchain technology, which is a decentralized ledger that records transactions in a transparent and secure manner. Blockchain technology provides a secure and tamper-proof way of recording transactions, making it ideal for use in financial transactions.
Benefits of Decentralized Finance
Lower Transaction Costs
Decentralized finance provides a cost-effective way of conducting financial transactions. Traditional financial systems are often plagued by high transaction costs, which are passed on to customers. DeFi eliminates the need for intermediaries, which means that transaction costs are significantly lower. This makes it easier for individuals to access financial services and reduces the barriers to entry for new players in the market.
Greater Accessibility
DeFi provides greater accessibility to financial services, particularly for individuals who are unbanked or underbanked. In many parts of the world, people do not have access to traditional banking services due to various factors such as lack of documentation, poor credit history, or living in remote areas. DeFi provides a way for these individuals to access financial services using only a smartphone and an internet connection. This has the potential to increase financial inclusion and reduce poverty.
Increased Transparency
One of the main benefits of blockchain technology is its transparency. Transactions recorded on the blockchain are publicly visible, making it easier to trace the flow of funds. This provides a level of transparency that is not possible with traditional financial systems. Decentralized finance leverages this transparency to provide greater accountability and reduce the risk of fraud. This makes DeFi a more secure and trustworthy way of conducting financial transactions.
Robert Kiyosaki on the Coming Financial Tsunami
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More Control Over Personal Data
Traditional financial systems often require individuals to provide personal data such as name, address, and social security number. This data is stored by banks and financial institutions, making it vulnerable to hacks and breaches. DeFi provides individuals with more control over their personal data by using self-sovereign identity solutions. These solutions enable individuals to control their own data and share it only with the parties they trust.
Greater Flexibility
Decentralized finance provides greater flexibility in terms of financial products and services. Traditional financial systems are often rigid, with limited options for customers. DeFi provides a range of financial products and services, including loans, savings accounts, insurance, and investment products. This gives individuals greater flexibility to choose the financial products and services that meet their specific needs.
Faster Settlement Times
Blockchain technology enables faster settlement times for financial transactions. Traditional financial systems often require several intermediaries to process transactions, which can take several days. With DeFi, transactions are processed directly on the blockchain, which means that settlement times can be as fast as a few seconds. This provides greater convenience for customers and reduces the risk of errors and delays.
Reduced Counterparty Risk
Traditional financial systems often involve counterparty risk, which is the risk that one party will fail to fulfill its obligations in a financial transaction. DeFi eliminates counterparty risk by using smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts that automatically execute when certain conditions are met. This provides greater security and reduces the risk of fraud and default.
Conclusion
Decentralized finance is a revolutionary technology that has the potential to transform the financial industry. By eliminating intermediaries, increasing accessibility, increasing transparency, providing more control over personal data, offering greater flexibility, enabling faster settlement times, and reducing counterparty risk, DeFi provides numerous benefits that traditional financial systems cannot match. As DeFi continues to evolve, it has the potential to create a more equitable and inclusive financial system that benefits individuals and communities around the world.
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Investing in decentralized finance (DeFi) and cryptocurrencies involves risk and may result in significant financial losses. Readers are advised to conduct their own research and seek the advice of a financial professional before investing in DeFi or cryptocurrencies. The author and publisher of this article are not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of investing in DeFi or cryptocurrencies.
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