Deborah Birx sparks controversy with new bird flu warnings

Former White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx is advocating for increased government action to address the potential threat of bird flu, warning that the U.S. is unprepared for a possible outbreak.

Birx has called for weekly testing of individuals potentially exposed to bird flu, emphasizing the risk of asymptomatic spread, similar to COVID-19, which has drawn criticism for potentially inflating case numbers and stoking fear.

Critics accuse Birx of fearmongering and replicating controversial COVID-19 strategies, such as mass testing and restrictive measures, which they argue could infringe on personal freedoms and lead to government overreach.

Birx’s warnings have fueled conspiracy theories, including claims that the focus on bird flu is part of a larger agenda to control protein consumption and promote alternative food sources like lab-grown meat or insect-based proteins.

Birx remains a divisive figure, with supporters viewing her as a dedicated public health advocate and critics seeing her as a symbol of government overreach. The debate highlights the ongoing tension between public health measures and individual liberties in the United States.

Deborah Birx, the former White House coronavirus response coordinator under the Trump administration, is once again at the center of a heated public health debate. This time, her focus is on bird flu, and her calls for increased government action have drawn sharp criticism from skeptics who accuse her of fearmongering and advocating for policies that could undermine personal freedoms.

Birx, who played a prominent role in shaping the U.S. government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been vocal in recent months about the potential dangers of bird flu. In a recent CNN interview, she warned that the United States is not adequately prepared to address the threat. She argued that routine weekly testing of individuals potentially exposed to bird flu is necessary to prevent a widespread outbreak.

Critics, however, have been quick to draw parallels between her current proposals and the controversial COVID-19 response strategies. During the pandemic, mass testing campaigns were implemented, often resulting in high numbers of reported cases, including false positives. Birx herself acknowledged in the CNN interview that increased testing for bird flu is essential because, as with COVID-19, much of the spread could be asymptomatic.

This approach has raised eyebrows among those who view it as a repeat of what they describe as the “pandemic propaganda” of the past. Critics argue that such testing could artificially inflate case numbers, stoking unnecessary fear and justifying restrictive government measures.

Birx’s recent comments have also reignited debates about the balance between public health and individual liberty. Some observers accuse her of using fear to push for policies that could infringe on personal freedoms, much like the lockdowns, mandates, and surveillance measures implemented during the COVID-19 crisis.

In her CNN interview, Birx attempted to appeal to the public’s intelligence, stating, “I find the American public to be incredibly smart.” Yet, her critics hope that same intelligence will lead Americans to question the necessity of her proposed measures and resist what they see as an overreach of government power.

Ulterior agenda

The broader context of Birx’s warnings has also sparked conspiracy theories and concerns about the global food supply. Some commentators have suggested that the focus on bird flu is part of a larger agenda to control protein consumption, particularly beef, and push for alternative food sources like lab-grown meat or insect-based proteins. These theories, while unverified, have gained traction among certain segments of the population, further complicating the public discourse around bird flu.

As the debate continues, Birx remains a polarizing figure. To her supporters, she is a dedicated public health official working to prevent another pandemic. To her detractors, she is a symbol of government overreach and the misuse of public health crises to justify restrictive policies.

Whether her warnings about bird flu will lead to concrete action or be dismissed as fearmongering remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the conversation around public health, personal freedom, and government authority is far from over. As Americans grapple with these complex issues, the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to shape their responses to new threats – real or perceived.

Sources include:

RonPaulInstitute.org

Ground.news

EurasiaReview.com

https://www.naturalnews.com/2025-01-04-deborah-birx-sparks-controversy-bird-flu-warnings.html

As extreme cold threatens U.S. electricity supply, grid watchdog issues dire warning to suppliers

"When you get a cold event like this, not only do you see record demand, but then you have the possibility of infrastructure freezing up. They have to shut the wells down because it’s too dangerous to produce,” Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group, said.

North America’s grid watchdog issued a dire warning as forecasts of extreme cold in January descends on the U.S. and Canada.

According to a Jan. 1 report from AccuWeather, multiple rounds of Arctic air will sail across the U.S. throughout the month, impacting 250 million people living in 40 states from the Great Plains to the East Coast.

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), a nonprofit international regulatory authority overseeing electricity reliability on the grid, is urging all the industries involved in delivering electricity to consumers to take steps to avoid potentially deadly blackouts.

“I’m asking everyone in the electricity supply chain – from natural gas producers to pipeline operators, to system operators, to power generators, and the utilities themselves – to take all appropriate actions to ensure that we can maintain an uninterrupted supply of electricity to customers, so that January will be warm and bright for everyone,” NERC CEO Jim Robb said in a statement on the nonprofit’s Youtube Channel.

Robb explained that proactive actions will avoid what happened in 2021 with Winter Storm Uri and 2023 with Winter Storm Elliot. Both storms resulted in widespread blackouts, as the natural gas supply system, upon which the U.S. relies more heavily due to the shutdown of coal-fired power plants, was unable to keep up with increased demand.

With the January cold coming, natural gas prices have risen 4% in the past week at the U.S. benchmark Henry Hub, Financial Times reported. Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group, told the Times, that the “market may have to face a winter challenge that it has not seen in a while.”

Flynn told Fox Business that the storms have extensive impacts to the natural gas supply chain.

"When you get a cold event like this, not only do you see record demand, but then you have the possibility of infrastructure freezing up. They have to shut the wells down because it’s too dangerous to produce,” Flynn said.

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/energy/extreme-cold-threatens-us-electricity-supply-grid-watchdog-issues-dire

U.S. gas prices expected to drop nationwide in 2025

According to Gasbuddy's 2025 Fuel Price Outlook, the projected total U.S. gasoline spending will reach $410.8 billion, an 8% decline from the $423.1 billion Americans spent in 2024.

For American drivers, 2025 is poised to bring continued relief at the pump, marking the third consecutive year of gas price drops. Experts predict the national average per gallon will decline to $3.22 in 2025.

Monthly fluctuations are expected throughout the year, peaking in April at a monthly average of $3.53 per gallon before dropping to $2.89 per gallon in December.

According to Gasbuddy's 2025 Fuel Price Outlook, the projected total U.S. gasoline spending will reach $410.8 billion, an 8% decline from the $423.1 billion Americans spent in 2024.

"While declining fuel prices in 2025 will provide welcome relief to American drivers and businesses, emerging risks could lead to increased volatility," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

He continued, "Geopolitical uncertainties, potential disruptions from extreme weather, and policy shifts under the new administration could create challenges for fuel markets. Despite this, expanding global refining capacity and moderating demand are expected to support lower prices for most of the year."

The report shows that the daily average could top out as high as $3.67 per gallon due to the expected increase in seasonal demands and the change to summer gasoline, which occurs at a varied pace coast to coast.

Gas prices will vary across different regions, as high fuel taxes and specific fuel requirements, on top of other state mandates, could potentially send West Coast cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco to higher gas prices back to the range of $5.13 and $5.96 per gallon.

In New Jersey, prices are expected to range between $3.08 and $3.44 per gallon, similar to 2024 levels.

Diesel prices are expected to decline, with a national average of $3.48 per gallon in 2025.

The report highlights the complexities of the fuel markets and the potential impacts they face in 2025 due to a change in leadership, uncertainties over tariffs, and tensions from the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The report states, "This uncertainty, as well as the fluid state of the global economy, fiscal policy by central banks to tame inflation, and the timing of interest rate cuts could alter the direction of the economy, shifting fundamentals in significant ways."

https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/us-gas-prices-expected-drop-nationwide-2025

U-Haul report places Illinois near the bottom of places people are moving to

Illinois' place on the list grew three spots from No. 48 in the 2023 report.

Amoving and storage company has released its annual migration trends data, which measures one-way customer moves through the U.S. in 2024, and once again Illinois is near the bottom.

U-Haul growth states are ranked by their net gain or loss of U-Haul customers over the past year. The report gauges how well states and cities are attracting and maintaining residents, with Illinois coming in 45th place. Illinois' place on the list grew three spots from No. 48 in the 2023 report.

Texas District Vice President Matt Merrill said he sees a steady flow of Illinoisans into the Lone State State, which ranked second in the nation in the report.

“Nationally, we see a lot of customers moving out of our Blue states coming down to the south to the Red states,” said Merrill. “A lot of that has to do with pro-business and less government control. In Texas specifically, we see a lot of customers moving here from Illinois and the Chicago market.”

Merrill adds that the housing market is still very affordable in Texas. Illinoisans continue to pay the second-highest property taxes in the country.

District VP Jason Hardin said there is a reason South Carolina and North Carolina both ranked in the top three.

“They’re moving here because of jobs,” said Hardin. “We have a lot of tech coming in, manufacturing, such as Boeing, Volvo, BMW.”

Meanwhile, Illinois’ unemployment rate, at 5.3%, is one of the highest in the country.

According to U-Haul, South Carolina, Texas, North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee were the top five growth states for the year. Texas has ranked first or second among U-Haul Growth States each year since 2016. Florida has been fourth or higher every year since 2015.

“Migration to the Southeast and Southwest continues as families gauge their cost of living, job opportunities, quality of life and other factors that go into relocating to a new state,” said John “J.T.” Taylor, U-Haul International president.

https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/u-haul-report-places-illinois-near-bottom-places-people-are-moving