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Waste Of The Day: Veterans’ Hospital Equipment Is Missing

Topline: The Veterans Health Administration has lost an estimated 5% of its reusable medical equipment worth at least $211 million — including exam tables, computers and microscopes — and “will continue to do so if processes are not improved,” according to a new audit from the Veterans Affairs inspector general.

Key facts: VA hospitals own over 2 million pieces of nonexpendable equipment that is meant to be used for two years or more, valued at $12 billion. Federal auditors recently visited hospitals to see if the VA was properly tracking the equipment and found that thousands of items had disappeared.

The auditors estimated that a third of the equipment — 537,000 items — is in a different location than inventory records claim, and an additional 75,500 items are missing entirely.

It’s possible there is even more missing equipment, because the VA is only required to keep track of inventory worth more than $5,000.

Some of the nonexpendable equipment is tracked using electronic tags, but some of the tags have dead batteries or only show what building the item is in and not what room.

The VA also uses an “inventory by exception” system in which items that have their location recorded during routine maintenance do not need to be included in annual inventory reports for up to 24 months, even though most items are required to be logged every 12 months. Auditors wrote that “a lot can go wrong, including losing equipment,” because of the inventory-by-exception system.

There are also staffing issues contributing to the missing equipment. Some VA employees working on inventory could not search for items because they did not have the keys to all the rooms in the hospital. Some hospitals have staffing levels below 40%, which employees said made it harder to fill out inventory reports on time.

Search all federal, state and local salaries and vendor spending with the world’s largest government spending database at OpenTheBooks.com. 

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OpenAI to Implement Age Verification System for ChatGPT as AI Mental Health Crisis Deepens

OpenAI has announced plans to develop an automated age-prediction system to determine whether ChatGPT users are over or under 18, following a lawsuit related to a teen’s suicide. The teen’s parents claim that Sam Altman’s AI chatbot served as the boy’s “suicide coach.”

Ars Technica reports that in the wake of a lawsuit involving a 16-year-old boy who tragically died by suicide after engaging in extensive conversations with ChatGPT, OpenAI has announced its intention to implement an age verification system for its popular AI chatbot. The company aims to automatically direct younger users to a restricted version of the service, prioritizing safety over privacy and freedom for teens.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the potential privacy compromise for adults in a blog post but believes it is a necessary trade-off to ensure the well-being of younger users. The company plans to route users under 18 to a modified ChatGPT experience that blocks graphic sexual content and includes other age-appropriate restrictions. When uncertain about a user’s age, the system will default to the restricted experience, requiring adults to verify their age to access full functionality.

Developing an effective age-prediction system is a complex technical challenge for OpenAI. The company has not specified the technology it intends to use or provided a timeline for deployment. Recent academic research has shown both possibilities and limitations for age detection based on text analysis. While some studies have achieved high accuracy rates under controlled conditions, performance drops significantly when attempting to classify specific age groups or when users actively try to deceive the system.

In addition to the age-prediction system, OpenAI plans to launch parental controls by the end of September. These features will allow parents to link their accounts with their teenagers’ accounts, disable specific functions, set usage blackout hours, and receive notifications when the system detects acute distress in their teen’s interactions. However, the company notes that in rare emergency situations where parents cannot be reached, they may involve law enforcement as a next step.

The push for enhanced safety measures follows OpenAI’s acknowledgment that ChatGPT’s safety protocols can break down during lengthy conversations, potentially failing to intervene or notify anyone when vulnerable users engage in harmful interactions. The tragic case of Adam Raine, the 16-year-old who died by suicide, highlighted the system’s shortcomings when it mentioned suicide 1,275 times in conversations with the teen without taking appropriate action.

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COLLAPSIFORNIA: California tied with Louisiana for nation’s highest poverty rate in 2024

In a stark juxtaposition that defies its sun-drenched, affluent image, California has officially tied Louisiana for the highest poverty rate in the United States. A new analysis reveals that in 2024, a staggering seven million Californians, which makes up 17.7 percent of the state’s population, were living below the poverty line, a figure that mirrors the deep economic distress long associated with the Deep South.

This alarming parity, drawn from a report by the California Budget and Policy Center, uses the Census Bureau’s supplemental measure that provides a more realistic picture by factoring in crushing local costs of living, medical expenses and family size.

While the two states now share this grim title, their paths leading up to this point are a study in contrasting American crises: one of exorbitant urban wealth, the other of persistent rural need.

A tale of two poverty crises

For Louisiana, a 17.7 percent poverty rate is a familiar reality. The state has perennially ranked among the nation’s poorest, grappling with job shortages in rural areas and a legacy of economic stagnation.

For California, however, this ranking is a monumental policy failure. The state is an economic powerhouse, home to some of the world’s most valuable companies and richest individuals. Yet, its prosperity is a mirage for millions of its residents.

The report points directly to the expiration of pandemic-era aid as the catalyst for a nationwide surge in poverty, the largest in over fifty years.

In 2021, expanded child tax credits, boosted food assistance and eviction protections had slashed California’s poverty rate to a record low of 11 percent. As that lifeline was severed, the fall was precipitous and painful.

The primary engine of California’s poverty crisis is not a lack of jobs, but a suffocating cost of living, with housing as the lead weight. The state is a nation of renters in peril; their poverty rate is a devastating 27.1 percent, more than double the 11.1 percent rate for homeowners.

In major cities, the median rent routinely exceeds $2,000 a month, forcing low-income families to dedicate more than a third of their income solely to keeping a roof over their heads.

This creates impossible choices between paying rent, buying groceries, or covering medical bills. The consequences are visible in the state’s sprawling homeless encampments and in the overcrowded apartments where multiple families “double up” to survive.

For many, the California dream has been reduced to a government-dependent existence where quality of life is dictated by the level of public assistance one can secure.

The crisis is not felt equally. Children and seniors experience poverty rates above 20 percent.

Black and Latino residents see rates roughly ten points higher than their white neighbors, a glaring inequity driven by wage gaps and a dire shortage of affordable childcare.

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Former Mexican President’s Sons Reportedly Tied to Cartel Fuel Investigations

A new controversy spread in Mexico as two sons of the country’s former President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) are allegedly being tied to a large-scale cartel-connected fuel theft and smuggling network.

The revelations came to light this week as the news outlet Latinus first reported on a series of “Amparos,” or legal protections similar to an injunction that had been filed on behalf of Andres Manuel “Andy” and Roberto “Bobby” Lopez Beltran, the two oldest sons of AMLO. The amparos were meant to protect the two brothers against arrest, even though it is not publicly known if they are under any investigations.

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Should Elected Officials Censor Americans? Trump’s Administration Says Yes.

Last week, a gunman in Utah shot and killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk. It was a brutal and tragic event, regardless of one’s politics. And yet the fallout of Kirk’s murder has revealed a disturbing hostility toward free speech on the political right.

Republicans have long cast themselves as defenders of free speech against cancel culture and the censorial impulses of the political left. And there was merit to the argument—Reason has covered many cases of overreach.

But over the last week, MAGA Republicans have scoured social media for government employees posting about Kirk’s murder, contacting employers in an attempt to get them fired. “Kirk’s online defenders have snitch-tagged the employers of government workers over social media posts saying they don’t care about the assassination, that they didn’t like Kirk even as they condemn his assassination, and even criticizing Kirk prior to his assassination,” Reason‘s Christian Britschgi wrote this week. Even for nongovernmental employees, social media detectives apparently compiled a database with tens of thousands of people who criticized Kirk, including their names and employers.

Of course, that’s just people online. It’s not like those with government power are advocating such a thing, right?

“I would think maybe their [broadcast] license should be taken away,” President Donald Trump told reporters this week on Air Force One, about TV networks. “All they do is hit Trump. They’re licensed. They’re not allowed to do that.”

“When you see someone celebrating Charlie’s murder, call them out. And hell, call their employer,” Vice President J.D. Vance said while guest-hosting Kirk’s podcast this week. “We don’t believe in political violence, but we do believe in civility.”

Vance’s argument bears a striking resemblance to the comments made just a few years ago by his ideological enemies. When certain public and not-so-public figures received backlash for offensive statements, some commentators noted that this was not cancel culture, it was “consequence culture”—people merely experiencing the consequences of their actions.

It’s no surprise that Trump has no principles on free speech—from the beginning of his first term, he called the press the “enemy of the American people.” But Vance’s position marks a notable pivot from just a few months ago.

“Just as the Biden administration seemed desperate to silence people for speaking their minds, so the Trump administration will do precisely the opposite,” Vance said in a speech at the Munich Security Conference in February. “Under Donald Trump’s leadership, we may disagree with your views, but we will fight to defend your right to offer them in the public square, agree or disagree.”

Now, Vance seems less keen on defending someone’s right to offer views that he personally disagrees with. Unfortunately, he’s not alone.

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Trump Administration Teaming Up with TPUSA and Others to Promote Patriotism in Schools

As the United States approaches its 250th Anniversary, the Trump administration is making it a priority to promote patriotism in schools across the nation.

On Wednesday, a partnership with Turning Point USA and more than 40 organizations was formed to promote civics education to young people.

According to Fox News, “Partners in the American 250 Civics Education Coalition include conservative groups such as PragerU, Hillsdale College, Moms for Liberty, and the America First Policy Institute.”

Fox News reports:

The Department of Education called it a “landmark initiative” that is “dedicated to renewing patriotism, strengthening civic knowledge and advancing a shared understanding of America’s founding principles in schools across the nation.”

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With oversight from Education Secretary Linda E. McMahon, the initiative aims to foster conversations about citizenship and America’s values.

McMahon said Wednesday that young Americans need to be equipped with an understanding of American history and values.

The U.S. Department of Education shared details of the initiative as well as the organizations who will be participating. 

“With oversight from U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and the Department, the AFPI-led coalition will spearhead nationwide initiatives to engage students, educators, and communities in conversations about liberty, citizenship, and America’s enduring values.”

“As America approaches 250 years since its founding, we are proud to announce this coalition to ensure every young American understands the beauty of our nation and is equipped with the civic knowledge required to contribute meaningfully to its future,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

“A country cannot survive if its values are forgotten by its people. More than ever, we need to restore the vitality of the American spirit, and this coalition will take bold steps to educate, inspire, and mobilize youth toward active and informed citizenship.”

“AFPI is proud to stand with the Department of Education and partner with over 40 best-in-class organizations to form this coalition,” said Interim President of the American First Policy Institute Greg Sindelar. “Together, we are building a movement that will ensure the next generation understands America’s founding principles and carries them forward with confidence and pride.”

“Turning Point USA, which includes Turning Point Education, is more resolved than ever to advance God-centered, virtuous education for students flourishing across our nation,” said Dr. Hutz H. Hertzberg, Chief Education Officer of Turning Point Education. “With that in mind, we are honored to partner with the distinguished organizations that comprise the America 250 Civics Education Coalition to restore, revive, and reclaim robust American civics education for all students throughout our country.”

“We celebrate Lincoln for his greatness in recalling the nation to the principles of its birth, the principles of the Declaration of Independence, the most beautiful political document in history,” said Dr. Larry Arnn, President of Hillsdale College. “It is time to repeat his work and the work of Jefferson and the Founders. We will work together to learn those principles, and for the love of them we will have a grand celebration.”

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There’s a Simple Reason You Won’t Hear Much About This Gruesome Murder of Two Women in Washington

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller highlighted yet another example of an atrocity that will be swept under the rug by the mainstream media because it was committed by an illegal immigrant in a sanctuary state. 

Marvin Ortiz-Montecinos, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, is accused of killing his girlfriend Victoria Aparicio Cruz, and their roommate, Yaneth Gomez-Hernandez in Burien, Washington, earlier this month.  

The 29-year-old suspect, who has a wife and children in Guatemala, stabbed the two women dozens of times in the gruesome attack. 

Marvin Ortiz-Montecinos was charged Friday, Sept. 12, with two counts of first-degree murder with deadly weapon enhancements in connection with the deaths of Victoria Aparicio Cruz and Yaneth Gomez-Hernandez.

According to charging documents obtained by PEOPLE, Ortiz-Montecinos is accused of using a filet knife to stab his girlfriend Cruz, “slicing through her neck, slicing her hands in multiple places as she tried to defend herself, and stabbing her multiple times in the back even after she was clearly unresponsive and deceased.”

Prosecutors allege that an hour before the attack, Ortiz-Montecinos “complained about Victoria breaking up with him,” per the documents.

Gomez-Hernandez, who was roommates with the couple, was found naked with a towel covering part of her leg, per the documents. “It appears victim Yaneth Gomez-Hernandez, the defendant’s roommate, was violently and cruelly murdered simply for trying to intervene,” according to the documents.

Gomez-Hernandez suffered 43 stab wounds.

The documents states that “both women received neck wounds so large and deep it appears clear that the defendant was attempting to slice and saw at his victims, and not simply stab them.” (People)

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Still Smarting from Total Defeat in the 2024 Presidental Election, Kamala Harris Can’t Stop Whining- Shares What Joe Biden Said to Rattle Her Just Before Crucial Trump Debate

The Gateway Pundit reported on “loyal” Kamala Harris’s upcoming memoir, ‘107 Days,’ and the blame she is spreading across the Democrat establishment for her resounding loss to President Donald Trump in 2024.

In an excerpt of the memoir obtained by The Atlantic, Harris calls Biden’s decision to run for a second term ‘reckless’ and says it should not have been “left to an individual’s ego” or “ambition.”

Writing about her decision not to try to convince Biden to drop out, Harris writes, “’It’s Joe and Jill’s decision.’ We all said that, like a mantra, as if we’d all been hypnotized. Was it grace, or was it recklessness?”

“In retrospect, I think it was recklessness. The stakes were simply too high.”

Now, in a newly revealed excerpt, Harris whines that Biden rattled her right before she went head-to-head with then-candidate Donald Trump on the debate stage.

According to the book, as Harris prepared for the high-stakes, and only debate of her campaign, Biden called to “wish her luck” but ended up scolding and rattling her instead.

Fox News reports:

The then-president said, “My brother called. He’s been talking to a group of real power brokers in Philly,” according to an excerpt of the book in The Guardian. He then allegedly asked if Harris was familiar with several people related to the matter, which she was not.

“His brother had told him that those guys were not going to support me because I’d been saying bad things about him. He wasn’t inclined to believe it, he claimed, but he thought I should know in case my team had been encouraging me to put daylight between the two of us,” Harris wrote in the book, according to an excerpt of the book in The Guardian.

Biden then went on to talk about his past debate performances, leaving Harris confused, “angry and disappointed,” according to The Guardian. She was upset that her boss had called before a critical moment in her political career and made “it all about himself.” Harris added that Biden was “distracting me with worry about hostile power-brokers in the biggest city of the most important state.”

Then-second gentleman Doug Emhoff apparently noticed his wife was in distress and advised her to “let it go” before facing off against Trump.

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NPR’s Latest Article on the Charlie Kirk Assassination Is Why It Got Defunded

You only have to read a few paragraphs into this article about the Charlie Kirk assassination in National Public Radio to see why this lefty outlet got defunded. It’s as if none of these clowns watched the press conference by Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray this week, where he said that the suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, was a leftist. He targeted Kirk due to his beliefs. This ‘we don’t know the motive’ represents another legacy media fail, one where mockery and dismissal are warranted. The best part of NPR’s line is that we need to know more about Robinson’s position on—get this—labor and immigration issues before we can make a political determination (via NPR) [emphasis mine]:

In their charging document, authorities cite text messages that Robinson allegedly exchanged with “his lover/roommate,” a person they describe as “a biological male who was transitioning genders.” The document also includes another text in which Robinson allegedly explains that he killed Kirk because he had “had enough of his hatred.” 

The presumed motive has added fire to a rash of speculation by high-reach conservatives, who have suggested that this motive equated to a political ideology. The same day Kirk was killed, President Trump claimed the shooter was a “radical leftist.” Others have suggested that the suspect may have been “groomed” by a “trans terror cell” and that he was perhaps working with larger groups, including “antifa.” So far, these claims have not been supported by publicly released evidence. 

In fact, little is still known about Robinson’s politics. According to the charging document, his mother told investigators that he had become more “pro-gay and trans-rights oriented” within the last year. It also includes a text message, allegedly written by Robinson, that said “since trump got into office [my dad] has been pretty diehard maga.” But Robinson is not registered with a political party in Utah. There is no evidence of his positions on other issues of importance to the left, such as immigration or labor. 

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Biden’s Former Chief of Staff Admits What We All Knew About Joe

You must wonder how many more ‘Biden was braindead’ stories are going to drop. A lot has happened, not all good, over the past couple of weeks, but the investigation into Joe Biden’s use of the autopen, among other things, is still ongoing. We knew no one was in charge, but it’s become quite a shambolic unraveling in how this White House operated. For starters, it shouldn’t be a herculean effort for the Speaker of the House to get one-on-one time with the president. When it happened, Speaker Johnson said Biden couldn’t remember some executive orders he’d signed. 

Now, his former chief of staff, Jeff Zients, is admitting that Joe couldn’t remember names, struggled with dates, and needed extra meetings to make decisions. In short, the president was cooked and was perpetually on the struggle bus in the final year of his failed presidency (via Axios):

Joe Biden had difficulty remembering names and dates, and often required extra meetings to make decisions in the final years of his presidency, his former chief of staff Jeff Zients told congressional investigators Thursday, according to people familiar with Zients’ remarks.

Why it matters: Zients is one of the highest-ranking officials from the Biden White House to acknowledge that Biden’s age affected his abilities — even as the 81-year-old president was seeking another four years in the Oval Office. 

Driving the news: In a closed hearing, Zients told the GOP-led House Oversight Committee that over the course of the presidency Biden began asking for more meetings. 

Instead of having three meetings before making a decision, for example, Biden would want four.

Zients said Biden had long had trouble with names and dates, but acknowledged to investigators that the president’s memory of such facts got worse in the final years of his term. 

The intrigue: Zients also said that former First Lady Jill Biden spoke with him about managing Biden as Zients was preparing to take on the role of chief of staff in early 2023. 

So, why did Democrats want this guy to run again? We know why—it’s was the cling onto power. Here we have a man who flat-out cannot do the job, but Democrats were willing to drag him along until they couldn’t, especially after the nation saw that he was brain-dead when he got bulldozed by Donald Trump in CNN’s June debate last year. And yet, for years, we were told all was well and that the report filed by Special Counsel Robert Hur, who investigated Biden for mishandling classified information, was off-base and mean-spirited. Hur described Biden as an old man with memory problems. Hur was right. We were right. The Democrats were wrong. At least, some top aides are starting to talk, whereas most have clammed up when subpoenaed. 

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