Ben Tóth’s current event talking point outline. Flex your verbal muscles in any discussion!

I’ve already printed out my copy. Watch the show he co-hosted this week,

Blowback: Exposing Imperial Decline Show

https://www.youtube.com/@BlowbackExposingImperial-hh8ig

Outline

PROJECT 404

AT HOME

– 404: Verkhovna Rada announced the lack of money for large-scale mobilization ( Ria )

– 404: Ukraine DM says it may send military draft notices to men including abroad, by email ( Ukro-Pravda )

– 404: Egyptian journalist found dead after exposing Elensky‘s luxury villa ( Pravda )

– 404: Ukraine accuses New York Times of ‘working for the Kremlin‘ ( ukraine CCD > RT )

– 404: Moscow ‘will be defeated’ Elenskiy says as Ukraine marks Christmas on 25 December 1st time ( Guardian )

Context: Not 1st time: Happened in 1941, under Nazi Occupation to show Europeanness, not Russian Asiaticness

ALLIES – WEARY / PANICKING

– USC: Can the US afford for Ukraine to Lose? Basically the story is : costs keep mounting ( The Hill )

– EUK: How will the Ukraine war end? Victory against Russia looks ‘unlikely’ ( Times )

– EUK: Macron acknowledges European countries’ doubts about helping Ukraine ( Ukro-Pravda )

– EUK: Ukraine will suffer ‘insane’ losses if US stops aid, warn frontline troops ( Independent )

– EUK: Gen. Skrzypczak: Ukraine can only defend itself. Russia‘s advantage is too great ( Wyborcza )

– EUK: Europe braces for ‘some kind of new cold war’ with Russia – Finnish DM Häkkänen ( Politico )

– EUK: Czech FM: If Ukraine falls we will face Russia on our borders ( Ukro-pravda )

ALLIES ‘WINNING’

– EUK: UK DM Grant Shapps: No price is too high to thwart the autocrats ( Telegraph )

– EUK: Putin suffered ‘big strategic defeat’ in Ukraine on 666th day – Stoltenberg ( Newsweek )

THE LAST AID

– EUK: Britain ramps up naval support for Ukraine to ‘keep Kyiv in the fight’ – over Black Sea ( Telegraph )

– EUK: German Govt. proposes raising taxes to continue military aid – Economic Council ( Rheinische Post )

– EUK: Czechia to pay Ukrainians to go back home ( Ukro-pravda )

– EUK: Estonian Interior Minister says it could help with mobilization of Ukrainians in Estonia ( Urko-Pravda )

– EUK: Netherlands to transfer 18 Dutch F-16s from Romanian training base – Rutte ( Kyiv Ind )

PLAN B

– EUK: Denmark agrees to host US troops and equipment in new defense deal ( Thelocal.dk )

Contex : Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Baltic midgets are under direct US military control now

        Poland opposition establishes ties with US MoD, CIA and State Dept ( Rzeczpospolita )

RUSSIA RESPONDS

– RUC: President Lukashenko arrives in St Petersburg for two-day summit ( Ru MFA, video )

– RUC: Austrian ÖMW (25%) and German Wintersell (35%) cut out from Russian oil-gas ventures – decree ( TASS )

– RUC: French bank Societe General and shares eliminated from Rosbank by presidential decree ( TASS )

– RUC: Russia will bomb NATO air bases if F-16 fighter jets transferred to Ukraine take off from there ( EurA Times )

– RUC: Russian Embassy in Ottawa confirms request to extradite Yaroslav Hunka for war crimes ( official X )

– RUC: Russia rules the waves : West losing maritime trade, Moscow increasing ( RT )

– RUC: Top 5 Russian weapons that shattered the myth of NATO invincibility in 2023 ( Sputnik )

Context : 1. Tor-M2 AA / SAM system | 2. T-90 Proryv ( Breakthrough ) | 3. Lancet Bespilotny | 4. Ka-52 Alligator
         5. Mister Kinzhal, the Hypersonic Dagger. | Hon. mention : VA-11 Shkval ( Squall ) Torpedo.

– RUC: Russian army liberates Maryinka, pushes Ukrainian artillery away from Donetsk – Shoigu ( TASS )

Context: And they sing : Smuglianka, Maldavanka to celebrate ( video )

        Also Ukrainian and Russian soldiers sing Katyusha over the trenches ( video )

ELECTIONS

– RUC: Central Election Commission refuses to register Ekaterina Duntsova – 100 errors in application ( RIA )

– USC: Blinken is concerned about the whereabouts of Navalny ( his official X )

– USC: Aleksei Navalny Found in Arctic Prison, Easing Fears Over His Safety ( NYT )

PROJECT HOLY LAND

ISRAEL

– ISR: Netanyahu bars his DM from holding talks with Mossad chief on Israeli hostages: Report ( Andalou )

– ISR: Yahu: Three Prerequisites 4 Peace: Hamas destroyed. Gaza demilitarized, Palestine deradicalized ( WSJ )

– ISR: Netanyahu Says Peace Depends on Hamas’ End, Demilitarized Gaza ( Bloomberg )

– ISR: Israel hit Bethlehem in Christmas raids on occupied West Bank ( Al Jazeera )

– ISR: 230 US planes 30 US ships have arrived in Israel with weapons, ammo since 10-7 ( Ynet )

– ISR: Cyber attack launched, massive power outages in Tel Aviv, Dimona ( videos )

– ISR: Northern Sinai Peninsula is an ideal location to resettle for the people of Gaza ( Jpost )

– ISR: Israeli airstrike in Syria kills senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards member ( Reuters )

– ISR: Suicide tendencies rise among Israeli soldiers amid Gaza war, over 2,000 soldiers seek help ( Ynet > IRNA )

OPERATION PROSPERITY GUARDIAN

– EUK: US mil. operation in Red Sea sparks tensions between Madrid and Washington – Sanchez veto ( El Pais )

– EUK: Spain, Italy, France decline US Command of Red Sea Operation Prosperity Guardian ( Reuters )

– EUK: Joe Biden warned ‘no one takes him seriously’ as EU brutally snubs US ( Express )

– USC: Pentagon accuses Tehran of striking oil tanker near India ( RT )

– USC: US Navy is unprepared for prolonged war with Yemen – Larry Johnson ( Sonar21 )

– USC: US builds a trap for itself in Red Sea – Scott Ritter ( Sputnik )

– WEA: Hoping for peace with Houthis, Saudis keep low profile in Red Sea conflict ( NYT )

– WEA: Maersk prepares to return to Red Sea under US-led protection ( Bloomberg )

THE OTHERS

– RUC: Israel high-tech factories have difficulties importing components from China ( Ynet )

– RUC: Beijing shrugs at US call for help protecting Red Sea shipping ( Politico )

– WEA: Iran vows retaliation after top commander killed in Israeli attack on Syria – IRGC ( Cradle )

– WEA: IRGC Deputy Chief says Gibraltar can be closed for shipping if genocide continues ( Mehr News )

– WEA: EAEU countries sign full-scale free trade agreement with Iran ( TASS )

– WEA: Israel, Hamas don’t jump at Egypt‘s plan to end their war ( Politico )

– WEA: Vast majority – 91% – of Saudis agree Arab state should cut ties with Israel ( WINEP > Cradle )

– WEA: Yemen warring parties commit to ceasefire, UN-led peace process – UN envoy ( Al Jazeera )

Context : Iran-backed Ansarallah, and Saudi-backed Sana’a government, not Red Sea

THE ALLIES

– EUK: Benjamin Netanyahu’s failing leadership – lack of planning for future ( FT )

– USC: Visual evidence shows Israel dropped 2k-Pound bombs where It Ordered Gazans to move for safety ( NYT )

– USC: As World’s gaze shifts to Gaza, Israel’s psyche remains defined by Oct. 7 ( NYT )

– USC: US struggles to revive Palestinian Authority for post-war Gaza role ( WaPo )

– USC: Biden says he did not ask for cease-fire in call with Israel’s Netanyahu ( Hill )

– USC: UN Security Council resolution neutered by US ( UN > RT )  

– USC: US reaches compromise on UN resolution to boost aid to Gaza ( Times )

HEGEMON & SLAVES

US / GLOBAL ECONOMY

– GLO: Banks shed 60,000 jobs in one of worst years for cuts since financial crisis ( FT )

– GLO: Business bankruptcies surge under impact of high interest rates – US 30%, Germany 25%, EU 13% ( FT )

– GLO: Rich world uses green policies to hold back the poor – UN trade chief ( FT )

– USC: Nobel Shiller – Confiscating Russian funds is risky, will cause cataclysm in dollar system ( La Repubblica )

– USC: Nikki Haley quietly bought a $2.4M SC island home after leaving office and joining Boeing board ( NYP )

– USC: US faces possibility of decommissioning aged ICBMs – Russia puts new regiment on duty ( Milwatch )

– USC: Facing housing shortages, cities try to cram more units on lot ( NYT )

– USC: Think your credit card rate is high? Some in Brazil pay 455 percent. ( WaPo )

THE RULES BASED ORDER

– USC: How to thwart China’s bid to lead the Global South – US should see India as bridge to world ( Foreign Affairs )

– USC: The West‘s only licensed small reactor project is dead. Only SMRs are in Russia and China ( Telegraph )

– USC: US claims huge chunk of Arctic Seabed amid strategic push for resources ( Bloomberg )

– USC: US Adds a million square kilometers to continental shelf Claim ( Mining.com! )

– USC: State department claims it is about geography, not resources ( state.gov )

– USC: Why US double standards on Israel and Russia play into a dangerous game – hypocrisy comes with a high price tag in terms of credibility – Diplomatic Editor ( Guardian )

UNREST & ELECTIONS

– USC: Biden tells media to start reporting ‘the right way’ about Economy ( Presser > RT )

– USC: In campus protests over Gaza, echoes of outcry over Vietnam ( NYT )

– USC: Threats to public officials soaring, deputy attorney general says ( Politico )

– USC: How Russian and Chinese Interference could affect the 2024 election ( NYT )

– USC: If and when American democracy dies, Young people may be to blame ( Verdict )

HOUSE SLAVES

– EUK: Nord stream and Germany‘s shrinking economy – imho bloody obvious ( Sy Hersh )

– EUK: Britons increasingly turning to food black market – experts say ( Guardian )

– EUK: How inflation stole Christmass across Europe – food, drink, presents ( Guardian )

– EUK: Christmas fails to bring holiday cheer for German retailers – consumers cautious ( DW )

– EUK: German railway unions voted for indefinite General Strike starting January 8 ( AP )

– EUK: UK ‘Pothole pandemic’ leads to 70% jump in damage and injury claims against councils ( Telegraph )

– EUK: London knife and gun crime surges amid gang warfare ( Telegraph )

– EUK: UK economy set to outstrip France and gain on Germany ( Times )

– EUK: European plans for battery supply chain face delays as US lures components producers ( FT )

– EUK: Swiss capital Bern is considering a pilot scheme to allow the sale of cocaine for recreational use ( Reuters )

– EUK: Polish Orlen files arbitration case against US Venture Global for breaking gas contract ( Bloomberg )

Context : This follows ( Royal Dutch ) Shell and ( British Petroleum ) BP in similar litigation last week

FAILED BELGRADE MAIDAN

– EUK: Color revolution being attempted in Serbia – warned in advance, Vucic ( RT )

– EUK: Serbia thanks Russian spies for warning about color revolution attempt – Brnabic ( RT )

– EUK: Serbian police fire teargas as thousand protest over ‘unfair’ elections ( Guardian )

– EUK: Serbian police detain 38 people protesting over ‘unfair’ election ( France 24 )

THE EAST

CHINA

– RUC: China builds up private security to protect overseas interests in hostile, unstable regions ( SCMP )

– RUC: How the Ukraine war has given Chinese airlines long-haul advantage ( Telegraph )

– RUC: SMIC is working on 3nm process technology despite US sanctions – Report ( Nikkei )

– USC: China Is Stealing AI Secrets to Turbocharge Spying, U.S. Says ( WSJ )

– USC: China‘s Video-game curbs reverberate in markets worldwide ( Bloomberg )

– USC: American Spies confront a new, Formidable China – lost network, no real insight ( WSJ )

– USC: Younger Americans are friendlier to China – less likely to see as enemy ( Economist )

– EUK: The Guardian view on the sham trial of Jimmy Lai – a bleak day for Hong Kong ( Guardian )

ASIA

– ASO: US, Japan announce record defense budgets targeting China – deteriorating security environment ( GT )

– ASO: South Korean Hyundai to resume operations in Saint Petersburg plant in January 2024 ( Kyodo )

– ASO: Rumors swirl that TSMC chairman Mark Liu ousted over Arizona fab debacle ( Tom’s Hardware )

– ASO: Biden replaced by Macron at India‘s Republic Day parade in January ( official X )

LATIN AMERICA

– LAT: Britain has sent the warship HMS Trent to Guyana, in tensions with Venezuela ( BBC )

– LAT: Milei‘s Argentina looks to veteran diplomat to ‘mend ties’ with China – reports ( SCMP )

AFRICA

– AFR: Last French soldier leaves Niger, people celebrate ( video )

– AFR: Nigeriens celebrate the departure of the last French soldiers  “The rooster is dead!” ( video )

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Appendix – Short Clips

Claire Daly – Nein Danke, Frau Genocide : https://twitter.com/innova_center/status/1739406990680412541

Russians singing ‘Smuglianka’, captured Marinka : https://twitter.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/1739323694781178243

Russians and Ukrainians singing Katyusha: https://twitter.com/simpatico771/status/1738988585653559720

Ukro-refugee cost went up 300% : https://twitter.com/djuric_zlatko/status/1739426240778436900

Netanyahu holiday message : https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM/status/1738968478806094309

Nigeriens celebrate Rooster is dead : https://twitter.com/Blackrussiantv/status/1739060160184582653

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APPENDIX : Legend

USC = United States + Canada

EUK = Europe + United Kingdom | 404 = Ukraine

WEA = West Asia, formerly Middle East | ISR = Israel

ASO = Asia + Oceania

AFR = Africa

LAT = Latin America

GLO = Global