31 July 2025

Senate confirms Emil Bove to Third Circuit, as Dems fail to thwart Trump pick
Emil Bove, President Donald Trump’s former criminal defense attorney, has been confirmed to a lifetime seat on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals — the culmination of a tumultuous campaign from his detractors that ultimately fractured his support among the Senate GOP. Trump has long taken pride in his selections for the federal judiciary, of which there were hundreds during his first term,

US Envoy Witkoff to arrive in Israel to address ‘Gaza situation’ 
Witkoff is traveling to Israel on Thursday. His visit is “part of an effort to advance negotiations for a hostage deal and to assess the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” stated a report in The Jerusalem Post, citing an anonymous source. A U.S. official later confirmed that Witkoff “will meet with officials to discuss next steps in addressing the situation in Gaza.”

‘Misdirected by the misinformation’ – Reactions to British PM Keir Starmer’s statement on recognizing Palestinian state in September 
Following Thursday’s announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron vowing to recognize a Palestinian state this September, … It appears the United Kingdom has responded to the call. Last night British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined France in setting September as a deadline for Israel to meet his conditions, warning that failure to do so would automatically lead to the recognition of a Palestinian state.

Saudi Arabia builds trade corridor to circumvent Houthis amid continued attacks on Israel & shipping lanes 
Port of futuristic ‘Neom’ desert city becomes hub for trade corridor. Saudi Arabia is building a new regional trade corridor linking Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iraq to circumvent the southern Red Sea, where the Yemeni Houthi terrorists continue to fire on ships while launching missiles at Israel. The Saudi Press Agency announced Wednesday that the Neom port, located in northern Saudi Arabia, relatively close to the Jordanian and Iraqi borders, completed a trial run of a new trade corridor, which would cut cargo times to Egypt and Iraq in half.

Arab Nations Call for Hamas to Disarm and End Gaza Rule
Several Arab countries are joining other countries and urging Hamas to disarm and end its rule over Gaza. Middle East expert Anders Persson sees it as part of an emerging diplomatic tsunami to increase pressure on the parties.

Two medical researchers say tick-borne meat allergy should be allowed to spread because eating meat is “morally impermissible”
In their paper, they used the warped argument that “eating meat is morally impermissible” and so “efforts to prevent the spread of tick-borne AGS are also morally impermissible.” AGS, or alpha-gal syndrome, is an allergy to mammalian meat which can be life-threatening. It is caused by a tick bite.
Essentially, because the two medical researchers feel that eating meat is morally impermissible, they feel that justice is done if people develop this potentially life-threatening condition as a result.

This Isn’t About Israel — It’s About Global Jihad
While Americans debate from thousands of miles away, Israel just made one of the most consequential decisions in its modern history: to vote toward the annexation of Judea and Samaria. Predictably, Western voices—our most popular pundits, politicians, and yes, pastors—are in an uproar, clutching the pearls of the long-dead “two-state solution.” But let’s be clear: this move isn’t about peace treaties, land swaps, or failed diplomacy. This is about survival. And it’s about stopping the march of radical jihadist Islam before it reaches your doorstep.

8.8-Magnitude Earthquake Triggers Pacific-Wide “Gog and Magog” Tsunami 
Rabbi Yekutiel Fish, author of the Hebrew Torah blog, Sod HaChashmal, emphasized that forces of nature, such as earthquakes and volcanoes, are manifestations of God’s judgement, denoted in the Bible by His name ‘elohim.’ The rabbi noted that the seismic aspect of God’s influence in the world was explicitly described in Psalms, which describes earthquake-generated tsunamis as an end-of-days phenomenon. Therefore we are not afraid though the earth reels, though mountains topple into the sea. Its waters rage and foam; in its swell mountains quake. Selah. Psalms 46:3-4

Colonel Hezi Nehama: The war in Gaza can be won in a month
He also argues that Hezbollah’s weakened posture in the north makes it possible for Israel to shift forces southward, thereby enabling a full-scale ground operation in Gaza. Col. Nehama believes the war against Hamas can be won—and won swiftly—but only through a decisive and aggressive strategy that goes beyond the current approach.

Iranian general was killed in street chase, not airstrike, daughter claims
The daughter of a top Iranian general killed in June says her father died in a street chase with Israeli agents, not an airstrike. Mahdieh Shadmani made the explosive claim in a video posted Monday to Instagram, according to Iran International. “Some might think my father was killed in an airstrike, but it was a direct chase with the Israelis,” she said. The general, Ali Shadmani, was head of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters—Iran’s main war command. He was officially reported dead on June 17. Iranian state media said he died from injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran.

Cotton: Israel not obligated to send aid to Gaza
Israel has no responsibility to supply aid to Gaza during wartime, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) said on Monday, defending Israel’s actions in the face of mounting international pressure. Speaking in Washington, the Arkansas Republican praised the Israeli military for what he called its efforts to help civilians despite the October 7 Hamas assault.

Hezbollah’s southern front no longer exists – IDF
In summarizing its last nine months of action against the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon, the IDF said that the Iranian proxy’s southern front, which faces Israel, no longer exists. The Shiite village strongholds remain destroyed and empty, with some 12,000 terrorists either dead or injured.

Smotrich: Rebuilding of Gaza Jewish communities ‘closer than ever’
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Tuesday declared that the rebuilding of Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip was now “closer than ever,” outlining a vision for a plan even larger than previous efforts. “This is a realistic work plan,” he stated. Speaking at a conference organized by the Gush Katif Heritage Center, Smotrich stressed that the sacrifices made by Israel during the war against the Hamas terrorist group were not intended “just to hand Gaza from one Arab to another.” He called the coastal enclave “an inseparable part of the Land of Israel.”

US official: Trump sees recognition of Palestinian state as reward to Hamas
US President Donald Trump will not support recognition of a Palestinian state, viewing such a move as a reward for the Hamas terror group, a White House official said on Wednesday,

Hostage families welcome Arab League’s call for Hamas to relinquish Gaza
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum responded on Wednesday to a rare unified statement from Arab League nations – including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt – calling for Hamas to disarm and relinquish control of the Gaza Strip. “We welcome this important progress and the Arab League’s recognition that Hamas must end its rule in Gaza,” the Forum said in a statement. “Kidnapping innocent men, women, and children is a blatant violation of international law and must be unequivocally condemned.”

Half of ‘very liberal’ US Jews believe Israel is comitting genocide, JPPI survey finds
Of US Jews in general, 45% say Israel is too aggressive in its war in Gaza, while around 33% say Israel is not aggressive enough. Split socio-politically, the majority of liberal Jews believe Israel is overly aggressive, while most conservative Jews (a smaller cohort) believe that Israel is not aggressive enough. 70% of Jewish Trump voters (roughly a quarter to a third of US Jews) believe Israel isn’t aggressive enough,

A Podcast Had Guests Calling on People to ‘Take Down’ and ‘Kill’ Jews — and Nothing Happened
Is a podcast guest in America permitted to call for the killing of Jews? As far as I know, that’s incitement. A random antisemitic female guest appeared on the Fresh and Fit Podcast with host Myron Gaines, whose real name is Amrou Fudl. The show has more than 1.5 million subscribers. Gaines pretends to be an intellect, and he is not a very good actor.

US takes ‘massive action,’ sanctions 115 people, entities who smuggle oil for Iran 
The U.S. The Treasury Department took its largest action against Iran since 2018, announcing sanctions against a shipping empire managed by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, whose father Ali Shamkhani is a senior political adviser to the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader. A senior Treasury Department official told reporters on … Wednesday that the federal government’s “massive action” includes sanctioning 15 shipping firms, 52 vessels—including oil tankers and container ships—12 people and 53 other entities.

Microsoft reveals: These are the jobs AI may soon replace
Published recently, the study analyzes 200,000 anonymous interactions with Bing Copilot and provides a fresh perspective on the professions most impacted by AI assistance. Unlike previous studies based on forecasts, this one examines how people are already using AI across different industries. The result is a clearer view of how AI is integrating into day-to-day work, and which roles are most vulnerable.

Widow of one of last Yemenite Jews leaves for Israel
The widow of Yahya Ben Youssef, one of the last Yemenite Jews who died in June 2024, has left Yemen for Israel, a source in Yemen told Ynet on Tuesday. The couple had no children. Only four Jews now remain in Yemen,

As Parental Skepticism Increases, The American Academy Of Pediatrics Calls For An End To All Non-Medical Vaccine Exemptions
As public and parental skepticism over Big Pharma’s never-ending vaccine schedule for children grows, the push to inject young Americans by force, even against their parents’ wishes, is growing too. But as tax-funded tyrants call for eliminating what medical and religious freedoms remain, anger and suspicion are exploding. The latest shoe to drop: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) just released a policy statement calling for an end to all non-medical exemptions from immunization mandates imposed on school children. It’s being taken seriously. But the backlash to the draconian proposal to trample religious liberty and parental rights is escalating quickly.

Severe floods leave at least 25 dead and thousands displaced in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria
Torrential rain combined with suspected dam water release caused severe flooding in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria, on July 27, 2025, leaving at least 25 people dead, 55 injured, and thousands displaced.

Tsunami waves up to 1.7 m (5.7 feet) recorded in Hawaii after M8.8 Kamchatka earthquake on July 29, no major damage reported
A tsunami generated by the M8.8 earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 29, 2025, produced waves of up to 1.7 m (5.7 ft) across parts of Hawaii, prompting evacuations, port closures, and widespread coastal alerts. No significant damage or casualties have been reported.

Powerful M8.8 earthquake and tsunami strike Kamchatka Peninsula, sixth strongest earthquake on record
A powerful earthquake registered by the USGS as M8.8 hit near the coast of Kamchatka, Russia, at 23:24 UTC on July 29, 2025 (11:24 local time on July 30). The earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 21 km (13 miles) and generated a Pacific-wide tsunami, prompting warnings, advisories, and evacuations across multiple countries and territories.

Another Canary: The Las Vegas Economy Is Tanking Just Like It Did In 2008 And 2009
If you want to get a really good indication of where the U.S. economy is heading, just look at what is happening in Las Vegas. During good times, hotel occupancy rates are very high and lots of money is thrown around in the casinos. But when times are getting tough, less people head to Las Vegas and those that do go tend to be tighter with their money. We saw a perfect example of this during the Great Recession. Once the global financial crisis hit, gambling revenues in Las Vegas plunged. The following comes from an ABC News article that was published in 2009…

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Pitches Eyeball-Scanning World ID to Bankers
Shut out by privacy regulators skeptical of his iris-scanning ID scheme, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is taking a different route. He’s now turning to the financial sector to pitch World ID, a digital identity platform built on the premise that artificial intelligence has made it impossible to tell humans from machines. It’s a solution aimed at solving a problem AI itself has created.

Is The Federal Reserve Purposely Trying To Destroy The U.S. Economy?
Oops, they did it again. Even though the housing market has been in a depressed state for an extended period of time and even though economic conditions are slowing down all over the country, the Federal Reserve has once again refused to lower interest rates. What in the world are they thinking? I certainly share President Trump’s frustration with the Fed. Central banks all over the world have been cutting rates, but our central bank just won’t budge. Have Fed officials gone completely insane, or are they purposely trying to destroy the U.S. economy?

Big Tech proposes European Commission adjust water efficiency rules to allow data centres located where water is scarce to be viable
A collaboration of Big Tech and data centre operators has submitted a paper to the European Commission detailing the issues it has with the Commission’s policies on the restriction of water and energy requirements for data centres. Data centres require enormous amounts of energy and water to operate.  So Big Tech and data centre operators are proposing that the Commission adjust their policies to include a statistical trick that will allow data centres to operate in locations where water is scarce.

Two medical researchers say tick-borne meat allergy should be allowed to spread because eating meat is “morally impermissible”
Last month, a paper by two American researchers from the Western Michigan University School of Medicine was published in the journal Bioethics.  In their paper, they used the warped argument that “eating meat is morally impermissible” and so “efforts to prevent the spread of tick-borne AGS are also morally impermissible.”

AI in Wyoming may soon use more electricity than state’s human residents
On Monday, Mayor Patrick Collins of Cheyenne, Wyoming, announced plans for an AI data center that would consume more electricity than all homes in the state combined, according to The Associated Press. The facility, a joint venture between energy infrastructure company Tallgrass and AI data center developer Crusoe, would start at 1.8 gigawatts and scale up to 10 gigawatts of power use.

UK Government Spends £850m to Cover Up Stupid Afghan Mistake
In September 2021, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) accidentally leaked a spreadsheet. The file contained personal information – including names, locations and contact details – of 100 British officials including special forces and MI6 personnel, as well as thousands of Afghan nationals. The Afghan names were applicants for relocation under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) having assisted the British Forces. The leak meant Taliban-linked accounts were then able to access the information and were reportedly using the data to trace survivors within hours, posing critical safety risks to UK intelligence staff and the Afghans who helped them. The UK government called it an isolated mistake. It wasn’t.

Americans Spend Nearly Half Of Their Days Online, And Young People Are More Suicidal Than Ever
Our society is more addicted to the Internet than ever. So how has that affected us? Are we happier than we once were, or are we less happy? Are we more mentally healthy than we once were, or are we less mentally healthy? I don’t have to give you the answers to those questions, because you already know. Our society has gone completely nuts, and our suicide rate has soared. In particular, we are seeing historically high levels of suicide and depression among our young people. We have a major national crisis on our hands, but hardly anyone is talking about it.

It’s A Trap: We Are Escalating A War Against The One Nation On Earth That Could Completely Destroy Us
Just six months ago, there was so much optimism that we were going to have peace with Russia. It was never going to be easy, but at least President Trump was willing to talk to the Russians to see if an agreement would be possible. Unfortunately, Trump is now telling us that he is “not so interested in talking anymore”, and instead he is making threats. As I have warned repeatedly, threatening the Russians will backfire severely. Someone that is close to Trump needs to explain to him that this approach is only going to make things worse.

30 July 2025

Live updates: Japan downgrades last remaining tsunami alert but advisories remain in place for its Pacific coast
A tsunami sent powerful waves toward coastal areas of Russia’s Kuril Islands, Japan and Hawaii and Alaska and California after a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia early Wednesday. Japan has downgraded its last remaining tsunami alert, which was in the country’s north. Tsunami advisories remain in place for its Pacific coast. The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami as high as 60 centimeters (2 feet) had bSirens blared in Honolulu as residents were urged to higher ground. “Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property,” the warning stated. een detected as the waves moved south along the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Tokyo Bay.

Ukrainian drones turned Russia’s Salsk station into a firestorm — fuel train destroyed (video)
Ukrainian drones struck deep into Russian territory overnight on 29 July, igniting a massive blaze at a railway hub in Rostov Oblast and cutting power to large parts of occupied Donetsk Oblast. The coordinated strikes disrupted rail traffic, left thousands stranded, and caused a widespread blackout.
Local residents reported a large fire at the station after explosions shook the city. Witnesses said they saw drones overhead while Russian troops tried to shoot them down with rifles.

Satellite imagery shows new activity at two Iranian nuclear sites, as regime warns against renewed ‘US aggression’ 
An analysis of satellite imagery by the Institute for Science and International Security found … new activity at one of the Esfahan tunnel entrances that occurred during the last few days.” The work being done at both sites appears to be minimal at this point, related mostly to clearing debris and restoring vehicle access. Albright said, “There is also no observable activity at the primary tunnel entrances leading into the enrichment facility” at the Fordow site.

Israel weighs new Gaza ‘siege plans’ as attempts to resurrect ceasefire talks continue 
during a cabinet meeting on Monday evening, the political leadership discussed several possible next steps, including some that would dramatically raise the pressure on the terror group. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) presented a new “siege plan” for the Gaza Strip that would cut off all humanitarian aid and electricity, … Netanyahu is even mulling the annexation of parts of the enclave …

Israel and US to boycott UN two-state conference, Washington calls it ‘publicity stunt’ 
Israel and the United States on Monday announced they would boycott a United Nations conference aimed at advancing a two-state solution in the Middle East, citing the ongoing war between Israel and the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hamas. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce dismissed the conference as a “publicity stunt” that empowers Hamas and undermines prospects for peace.

As Hamas’ ‘obstinacy’ blocks a hostage deal, Netanyahu mulls Gaza annexation
Speaking on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Hamas’ “obstinacy” for the failure of hostage negotiations and reportedly considered annexing parts of Gaza, according to The Times of Israel. there is one major obstacle, and everyone knows it — Hamas. The official said that the notion of annexing Gaza was brought up at several of the meetings. Maariv reported that Netanyahu recently met with ministers, during which he framed the idea of annexing Gaza and wanted to explore it as an option.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt call on Hamas to disarm, leave Gaza
Seventeen nations have signed a statement calling for the Hamas terrorist organization to disarm and end its rulership over the Gaza Strip, Among the nations that signed the document are Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt, three nations that have been heavily involved in the attempts to end the war between Israel and Hamas. Qatar’s demand that Hamas disarm and no longer rule Gaza is especially notable as Qatar has moved ceasefire talks in a more pro-Hamas direction since the war began and has hosted Hamas leaders in luxury hotels for many years.

1,200 participants complete circuit of Temple Mount gates
“It was uplifting to witness so many people expressing their longing for the Temple and their deep connection to this holy site. We are especially grateful to Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose support ensured the event could proceed as planned.”

Calling out President Macron: It’s really about ego, not diplomacy
French President Emmanuel Macron’s renewed push for the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian Arab state is not born of noble diplomacy or moral clarity—it’s an attempt to salvage his own ego. After being diplomatically outmaneuvered and publicly embarrassed by Israel’s successful and precise military operation against Iran, Macron was forced to abort his orchestrated announcement recognizing a Palestinian Arab state at the United Nations. The event, planned for maximum theatrical effect,

New York Judge Sentences Neo-Nazi to 5 Years for Livestreaming Bomb Threats Against Jewish Hospitals
The US Justice Department announced last week that US District Judge Ramon Reyes, Jr. issued the sentence for Domagoj Patkovic, 31, who terrorized patients and medical workers with hoax bomb threat phone calls to historically Jewish health-care centers in New York City and on Long Island.

Israel achieves its goals in Gaza offensive, now must decide what’s next 
The offensive in Gaza has reached its stated goals and – unless the government decides to expand it – as it awaits a new Hamas response to the efforts of mediators to secure a ceasefire and hostage release deal, the IDF will hold the lines assigned to them.

Trump puts pressure on Harvard and others to pay up, after Columbia deal
The White House is pushing Harvard University and several other elite colleges to pay millions to the government to settle investigations into alleged antisemitism, a senior administration official said Friday. The administration is seeking payments from the University of Michigan as well as Northwestern, Cornell and Brown universities, in an effort to make deals similar to the $200 million agreement announced Wednesday with Columbia University. The financial dragnet could impact dozens of other colleges and universities that are also facing – or were threatened with – investigations by the Trump administration, the White House said. The Columbia deal requires the Ivy League school to pay more than $200 million

Pointing To Anti-American Ideologies And The Evils Of Globalism, Trump Admin Says ‘Enough’ To UN ‘Education’ Agency
The most important tool of the United Nations agenda for globalism, the UN “education” agency known as UNESCO, just received a major black eye from the Trump administration this week as the U.S. government announced its withdrawal. Globalists everywhere are howling. And UNESCO’s leadership is fuming. But much more work remains if Americans are going to free themselves and their children from the dangerous influence of the communists, New Age occultists, population-control zealots and other evildoers running the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Indeed, its influence is felt in classrooms across America and worldwide.

In a First, NRC Approves Restart of Mothballed Nuclear Facility
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Thursday granted multiple licensing and regulatory approvals necessary for the 800-MW Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan to restart operations later this year. The NRC’s approval to transition Palisades back to an operating license represents an unprecedented milestone in U.S. nuclear energy,” Holtec President Kelly Trice said. Palisades would be the first U.S. plant to be brought back online after decommissioning.

Russia Tones Down Naval Celebrations As Drones Fly Near Putin’s Hometown 
Russia held subdued ceremonies honoring its navy on July 27 in St. Petersburg, citing security concerns, and authorities in the surrounding region reported that air defense forces shot down several drones they said were fired by Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia kept up its assault on Ukraine, where officials said the military shot down 78 of the 83 attack drones or decoys fired overnight and into the morning, including several whose fragments damaged buildings in the Poltava region,

29 attacks on Israel, U.S. bases foiled by Iraq to contain regional conflict, says PM
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani revealed … that his government blocked 29 attempts by pro-Iranian militias to launch missiles and drones at Israel and U.S. bases in Iraq during last month’s 12-day war with Iran. The efforts, he said, were thwarted through a combination of military and political measures.

US Justice Department files ‘misconduct complaint’ against judge over Trump remarks
The US Justice Department filed a misconduct complaint Monday against a prominent judge over his remarks about President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi said. “Today at my direction, @TheJusticeDept filed a misconduct complaint against U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg for making improper public comments about President Trump and his Administration,” Bondi said on X. “These comments have undermined the integrity of the judiciary, and we will not stand for that,” she added.

US rescinds legal basis for greenhouse gas vehicle regulations
The US Environmental Protection Agency proposed Tuesday rescinding the 2009 “Endangerment Finding” that serves as the legal foundation for regulating greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, potentially eliminating more than $1 trillion in climate regulations. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the proposal in Indiana, targeting the Obama-era determination that greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide endanger public health and welfare. “With this proposal, the Trump EPA is proposing to end 16 years of uncertainty for automakers and American consumers,” said Zeldin. ..previous administrations “twisted the law, ignored precedent, and warped science” in implementing climate policies..

Strong earthquake strikes near Russia; Tsunami warnings issued for Japan, U.S
A massive magnitude-8.7 (possibly 8.8) earthquake struck near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula Wednesday morning, prompting the Japanese government to issue tsunami warnings and evacuations along its northeastern coast, while warnings have been issued for much of the U.S. West Coast. If confirmed as an 8.8 strike, it would be among the 10 largest earthquakes ever recorded and the largest since 2011, when a 9.1 earthquake struck Japan, resulting in a tsunami that killed over 18,000 people and destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

6.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Macquarie Island Region, Second Quake In 3 Days
Macquarie Island [Australia], July 29: An earthquake of magnitude 6.7 rattled across Macquarie Island Region on Tuesday. The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10km, making it susceptible to aftershocks. Earlier on July 26, another earthquake of magnitude 6.2 occurred in the region.

Deep M6.6 earthquake hits south of the Fiji Islands
A deep earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.6 hit south of the Fiji Islands at 17:53 UTC on July 29, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 553 km (331 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.

30 dead and over 80,000 evacuated as extreme rainfall hits Beijing, China
At least 30 people died and more than 80,000 were evacuated in Beijing, China, after record rainfall from July 26–28, 2025, caused severe flooding and landslides.

The Bubble Is Bursting: Delinquency Rates Have Doubled, And Credit Card Defaults Are Soaring
Did you know that U.S. households are carrying $1.18 trillion in credit card debt? Considering the fact that the average rate of interest on credit card balances is now over 20 percent, that is not good news at all. Sadly, most of the country is just barely scraping by from month to month in this very harsh economic environment, and turning to credit cards for some relief can be extremely tempting. A thousand-dollar credit card balance can turn into four or five thousand dollars in the blink of an eye, and once you get that deep into the hole, it can be very difficult to ever dig yourself out. Of course, if you end up losing your job or having a major medical emergency, that can be enough to push you completely over the edge financially. Today, that is happening to an alarming number of Americans.