International
CA average price for gallon of gas hits ‘record high’, fears of increase after sanctions against Russia
On Tuesday President Joe Biden addressed the world, announcing sanctions against Russia. While he said his administration would try to keep gas prices from skyrocketing, Americans need to be “honest” about sacrifices.
“As we respond, my administration is using every tool at our disposal to protect American businesses and consumers from rising prices at the pump,” he said. “As I said last week, defending freedom will have costs for us as well, here at home. We need to be honest about that.”
The Los Angeles Times reports that gas prices are “higher than ever” and there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight as the U.S. and Russia begin to spar over Ukraine. According to the American Automobile Association, a gallon of regular gas across California hit a record high of $4.742 on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s average of $4.742 is 3 cents higher than just last week’s average, 10 cents higher than last month’s average, and well over the $3.573 average a year ago. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Russia is the world’s third-largest producer of petroleum and other crude oil.
The threat of military conflict between Russia and Ukraine lead some to fear Russia will cut off natural gas exports after the sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe. The Los Angeles Times reports:
California doesn’t import any oil from Russia. As of 2020, the state brought in 24% of its oil from Ecuador, 23% from Saudi Arabia and 20% from Iraq, according to the California Energy Commission.
Still, the absence of a major exporter such as Russia would increase global demand for oil from other countries, which could affect the retail price in California. The state has become increasingly dependent on oil imports as it attempts to move away from fracking, making it increasingly vulnerable to external price swings.
National Security
Former senior Army officer indicted for sharing defense secrets with woman in Ukraine he met on dating website
The Justice Department (DOJ) accused a former senior Army officer assigned to U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) of giving out classified defense secrets to a woman he met on a foreign dating website in an indictment unsealed Monday night. According to the indictment, David Franklin Slater, who had retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel, allegedly sent information labeled SECRET from approximately February to April 2022.
Slater was working as a civilian employee for STRATCOM, which oversees U.S. nuclear forces, where he held a Top Secret security clearance and had access to sensitive briefings about Russia’s war against Ukraine. The individual receiving the information claimed to be a woman from Ukraine.
The Daily Caller News Foundation reports:
The woman called Slater her “secret informant love” and her “secret agent,” according to a transcript of their exchanges included in the indictment.
She frequently asked him to provide “sensitive, non-public, closely held and classified” defense information, the DOJ said in a press release. Some of that information pertained to military targets related to Russia’s war in Ukraine and U.S. information on Russian military capabilities.
“American Intelligence says that already 100% of Russian troops are located on the territory of Ukraine. Do you think this information can be trusted?” the conspirator asked on March 7, 2022, the first request mentioned in the indictment.
Others followed on a regular basis.
“By the way, you were the first to tell me that NATO members are traveling by train and only now (already evening) this was announced on our news. You are my secret informant love! How were your meetings? Successfully?” the conspirator messaged Slater on March 15, 2022.
Another request for classified information in March was signed, “You are my secret agent. With love.”
In each of the cases, Slater provided the requested secret information, the indictment alleges.
“Sweet Dave, the supply of weapons is completely classified, which is great!” the conspirator told Slater in on April 12.
Authorities arrested Slater on Saturday, according to a press release accompanying the indictment. The DOJ charged Slater with one count of conspiracy to disclose national defense information and two counts of unauthorized disclosure.
He was set to make his first court appearance on Tuesday; if convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000, according to the DOJ.
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Judee
February 23, 2022 at 9:53 am
Good distraction for this administration’s domestic problems. Blame everything on Russia problems now.
Profx
February 23, 2022 at 10:17 am
Perhaps Russia can help us out by giving us more gas…
Brandon has things under control.
MikeinAZ
February 23, 2022 at 12:29 pm
Democrats and the environmental nuts are really excited about this news. The higher gas goes, the happier they’ll be because in their minds, Americans will drive less and we will be saving mother earth from a hoax.
Frank
February 23, 2022 at 1:43 pm
All according to plan
ken
February 23, 2022 at 5:56 pm
Thanks Joe
EMG
February 24, 2022 at 3:32 pm
The Presidents comment “…we will try to keep prices…” is total b.s. All the President need do is reverse his vindictive actions re: Trump policies regarding energy and we would return to a self-reliant country for our own energy. He would not have to beg OPEC and others to step up their production either. Anything less and we just know the administration is lying to us with impunity. It’s time to consider a change.