Poll: Americans’ nuclear fears on the rise – National & International News – TUE 29Mar2022

Poll: Americans’ nuclear fears on the rise. Biden budget shoots for moon with uber-wealth tax. China: Shanghai in hard lockdown as COVID cases rise.

NATIONAL NEWS

Poll: Americans’ nuclear fears on the rise

Uncertainty over the situation in Europe has elevated Americans’ fears of a nuclear conflict to levels not seen in a generation. The escalation of rhetoric on all sides and continuous calls from some for NATO involvement in Ukraine has increased Americans’ anxiety that the US may soon find itself in direct military conflict with Russia. A new poll shows that 75% of Americans fear that Putin may execute a direct nuclear strike on the US. Of those, 45% are very concerned and 30% are somewhat concerned. Moreover, 57% of Americans fear that their local area may be struck.

A new round of talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates starts today in Turkey. Both sides have voiced willingness to make some concessions to reach an agreement. However, the Russian side in particular has sought to tamp down hopes of a quick resolution.

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).

Further reading: Sales of bunkers and prepper supplies skyrocket

Biden budget shoots for moon with uber-wealth tax

The White House has released its 2023 budget proposal which contains, among many other things, extensive reforms to the taxes payable by America’s uber-wealthy. One of the most ambitious pillars of the plan would be a minimum 20% income tax on Americans worth over $100 million. In past years, billionaire moguls such as Elon Musk of Tesla and Jeff Bezos of Amazon have gotten away with paying $0 in income tax due to loopholes.

Roughly 20,600 American taxpayers are worth over $100 million. Projections show that over half of the $360 billion the tax would raise annually would be from America’s roughly 700 billionaires. The plan would also make changes to how gains in stock price and property values are taxed.

The plan also proposes new spending to spur the economy, combat climate change, cut healthcare costs, and provide affordable childcare, among other things.

Even with the new spending, White House projections show that the proposed tax reforms would reduce the federal deficit by $1 trillion over the next 10 years.

It’s a strong starting point for a negotiation, but the budget is unlikely to pass as proposed. 

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

China: Shanghai in major COVID lockdown as cases rise

Shanghai, one of China’s largest cities, is facing the prospect of a hard COVID lockdown after a recent spike in cases. Cases have climbed sharply in recent days, reaching over 4000 today. For months, the city hasn’t had a single reported case.

With a population of 26 million (greater than Florida), Shanghai will be one of the largest cities ever to be subject to such a severe lockdown. Shanghai also has one of the world’s largest ports and other major industrial areas that supply global trade. 

The city is bisected by the Huangpu River, which will mark the dividing line for a rolling lockdown. Today, the part of the city east of the Huangpu entered a 5-day shutdown. The western side will then also be shut down for 5 days. During this time, people will not be allowed to leave their homes. All major bridges and tunnels crossing the river are closed. Vital supplies will be brought door-to-door and everyone will be subject to mass testing. 

Since the start of the pandemic, China has adopted a COVID Zero policy which has seen draconian lockdowns throughout the country at the first sign of locally transmitted infections.

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).

Please share any thoughts, comments or questions in the Comments section below!