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Former US President Barack Obama has warned against the dangers of political polarization during an event in Berlin on Wednesday as part of his global speaking tour.

At the event, Obama said that some young people believe everything they see on social media platforms like TikTok.

He said this can lead to the spread of misinformation as well as polarization, both of which he cited as some of the greatest threats to democracy.

Obama's talk was held at the 17,000-seat Mercedes-Benz Arena. Tickets ranged from 60 ($65) to 550.

While in Berlin, Obama had dinner with his "old friend," former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on Tuesday.

Obama's term as president from 2009 to 2017 coincided with the latter part of Merkel's time in office, and the two leaders had a warm relationship.

The former US president also had lunch with Germany's current Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday.

He said the two leaders might come from opposing parties, but they share the same basic values.

These differences of opinion make for a healthy democracy, he added.

zc/rc (dpa)

Original post:
Obama warns of polarization at Berlin speaking event - DW (English)

By Joe GuzzardiSyndicated columnist

The latest chapter in the ongoing open border crisis involves four former first families associated with groups whose mission is to transport migrants from their home countries to the United States. Immigration lawyers call this aiding and abetting, a federal crime.

One claim that journalists on the immigration beat should never make: Ive seen it all. Some might label the open borders crisis that has allowed more than 5 million illegal aliens to cross into the U.S. interior and the refusal by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to enforce immigration law the apex of criminality.

Under Biden, annual illegal immigration entries far exceed the legal entry total. Many aliens have been granted parole, an immigration status that includes work permission. And after a year, parolees have access to federal welfare programs as if they were lawfully present. Parole was never intended to be granted en masse, munificence that Biden is not allowed to authorize. Despite the strictly defined guidelines, Biden has paroled 1 million aliens, including 800,000 who are inadmissible.

As troubling as Bidens and Mayorkas contempt for immigration law is, a recent news story may be more worrisome. The story revealed that a nongovernmental organization (NGO), Welcome.US, is expanding its scope. Originally created in partnership with American Express Global Business Travel (AEGBT), the NGO helped relocate Afghans to the U.S. during 2021 and 2022. Now working in tandem with Miles4Migrants while retaining its association with AEGBT, the NGO is committed to funding flights into the U.S. interior for migrants, likely unvetted, from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, Ukraine and Nicaragua.

The Afghan endeavor, with ties to billionaire George Soros, also had corporate backing from Walmart, Airbnb, The New York Times, the Business Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Starbucks, The Washington Post, Goldman Sachs, Goodwill Industries, Microsoft and Chobani. Soros Open Society Foundations has placed several of its members on the Welcome.US National Welcome Council.

That huge Fortune 500 companies, George Soros and immigration expansionist activists like President Obamas Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Cecilia Muoz are all-in on facilitating more migration is no surprise. Other names on the list, however, while not a total shock, are a grave disappointment to an American majority who want to return to historic immigration levels, 230,000 annually, and sustainable population growth. The Census Bureau identified immigration and births to immigrants as the main driver of population growth.

The Welcome.US website identifies as Honorary Co-Chairs Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Hillary and Bill Clinton, Laura and George Bush, and Michelle and Barack Obama. These influential first families are the most elite among the elite. They have the power of persuasion and vast wealth. The Carters, net worth about $10 million, are the groups paupers. Then come the Bushes Laura and George W., with a net worth of $120 million; the Obamas, $135 million; and the Clintons, $250 million. During their terms, the four ex-presidents encouraged, with some success, more immigration.

Carter signed the Refugee Act of 1980. Bush pushed hard for amnesty from Day One of his administration, and two years ago, he wrote a book extolling the benefits of immigration. In 1998, Clinton signed the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act that increased the cap on H-1B visas from the then-current 65,000 level to 115,000 for FY 1999, 115,000 in FY 2000 and 107,500 in FY 2001. Obama issued several pro-immigration executive orders.

Assume that politics plays no part in ex-presidents migrant relocation quest, and that the highest ideals motivate the four, a more important question still lurks. Some may ask if the presidents are violating U.S. Federal Code Title 8 Section 1324, Bringing in and Harboring Certain Aliens. The Codes language includes these exact words referencing alien transport . anyone who brings to or attempts to bring to the U.S. is subject to criminal penalties. The current immigration status of the prospective incoming migrants is unknown, but the probability that many have neither been granted parole nor been adequately vetted is high. Moreover, the Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes DHS to prescribe parole only on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.

Clinton and the Obamas have juris doctor degrees from, respectively, Yale and Harvard. If they didnt know the federal immigration codes before signing up with Welcome.US, they should have researched them.

Actively promoting refugee resettlement, which most Americans oppose, is unworthy of former presidential families.

More mass immigration loosens the labor market, expands population unsustainably and is especially harmful to societys most vulnerable job seekers issues that Democrats claim to care about but. However, judging by their actions, they do not. With Title 42 ending on May 11, the U.S. will experience a huge immigration influx.

Thousands are lined up at the Southwest border; no need to fly in migrants.

Joe Guzzardi is a Project for Immigration Reform analyst who has written about immigration for more than 30 years.

See the article here:
Clinton, Bush, Obama align with open borders groups - The Highland County Press

The U.S. labor market cooled in April, but continues to resist the impact of high inflation and rising interest rates, with the unemployment rate dipping to 3.4%, a 50-year low. The reasons behind the labor markets astounding recovery from the pandemic are still unclear, but the latest data may give the Federal Reserve good reason to believe its rate-hiking campaign isnt doing as much damage as once feared, according to Jason Furman, one of the Obama administrations top economic advisors.

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Were now well into the era of the mystery of the extra workers, Furman, who is currently an economics professor at Harvard University, tweeted Friday about the unprecedented rebound, adding that the recovery is exceeding pre-pandemic forecasts, which is especially amazing given that the population is smaller than they expected due to premature deaths and missing immigrants.

The U.S. added 253,000 jobs last month, according to the latest jobs report released Friday, higher than the 180,000 gain economists had projected, according to a Wall Street Journal poll. The labor market has recovered at historic speeds from the blow received during the pandemic, when unemployment peaked at 14.7% in April 2020.

The fast recovery might be best represented in the employment rate for prime-age workers, the percent of adults aged 25 to 54 who are employed. It took only three years for that rate to exceed pre-pandemic numbers, in contrast to the 2008 recessions fallout, when it required over a decade to normalize.

Average hourly earnings also climbed higher than expected, to 4.4% over the 12 months ending in April, in a good sign for workers but bad news for the Fed, as Chair Jerome Powell has often said over the past year that rising worker wages are a key cause of persistent inflation. But among the three messages Furman saw in the latest labor market data, he took comfort in the knowledge that even if the central bank does decide to push forward with more interest rate hikes, the strong labor market could be spared.

Story continues

Furmans first lesson from the latest jobs report, and other similarly strong ones in recent months, is that todays labor market is not consistent with the Feds inflation reduction goals. The Fed wants unemployment to rise so that inflation declines. But the labor market is cooling from its huge gains earlier this year. The big unknown looking forward, Furman noted in his second takeaway, is how much the labor market will contract as the economy slows.

Contraction in the pipeline from the credit crunch, question is how much, he wrote, referring to the economic pressures caused by turmoil in the banking sector that reared its head again last week when First Republic Bank filed for bankruptcy and most of its assets were bought by JPMorgan Chase.

The Fed hiked rates another quarter of a percentage point this week to the highest level in 16 years, while signaling it will likely pause for the short term to see what happens next. But with the labor market still as strong as ever, the Fed might be more likely to move forward with more interest rate hikes because the risk of sparking a big jump in unemployment is smaller, Furman wrote.

Overall Fed has a bit less reason to worry about rate hikes, I'll bet more coming, he wrote in his third takeaway from the report, suggesting that more rate hikes in 2023 might not cause a severe recession as many investors feared last year.

Other economists, like the University of Michigans Justin Wolfers, agreed with Furmans assessment that the latest labor data is positive. Other commenters have said that the Fed should not cut interest rates anytime soon in light of the jobs report.

Here's the first big data point we received since the Fed meeting, and it shows us that the Fed is killing the situation where it's not forced to raise rates more aggressively, but it's not in a situation where it has to cut rates either more aggressively, Art Sarhan, chief executive of 50 Park Investments, told Reuters Friday.

Economists at Moodys also expressed a positive view of labor market dynamics moving forward in a note Friday. The imbalance between demand for and supply of labor is beginning to ease across G20 advanced economies including the U.S., analysts wrote. They added that the labor market will likely loosen and stabilize later this year as the economy slows and, especially in the U.S., immigration flows return to pre-pandemic levels, easing wage pressures and the risk of more entrenched inflationary dynamics.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Originally posted here:
Top Obama economist draws 3 conclusions from the jobs report and the mystery of extra workers - Yahoo Finance

A famed Birmingham photographer who shot the cover art for the bestselling books Becoming by Michelle Obama and Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey plans to open a steak and martini restaurant on Highland Avenue between Rojo and Bottega.

Miller Mobley presented plans for Georges, a city tavern, to the Birmingham City Council on Tuesday. It would be within walking distance of the Virginia Samford Theatre at Caldwell Park.

The council approved rezoning for the proposed restaurant at 2614 Highland Avenue, about three blocks east of Bottega, and three blocks west of Rojo.

What we are trying to do is create kind of Birminghams first and only city tavern, Mobley said. It kind of goes back to the nostalgic age of dining. I call it the gilded age, where theres those historic cities like Boston, New York and Chicago that have those old-school establishments where you might get a martini and a steak, have a night of theatre, and dinner at the same time. Thats kind of the heart of this concept and what were trying to bring to the area.

Council members expressed concerns about parking, but Mobley said it will be valet parking-oriented, similar to Bottega, and will have a lease contract with a nearby office building that has 60 parking spaces it can use at night as a valet lot.

The restaurant will be in the Hanover Circle Historic District of Highland Park.

To me, atmosphere and place-making is just as important as the restaurant itself, Mobley said. You kind of want to put it in a neighborhood that has the fabric that adds to the overall environment and I think Highland Park is one of the gem neighborhoods in Birmingham and just has the historic beauty that sometimes these new neighborhoods lack.

Mobley, who is also the owner of Slims Pizzeria in Mountain Brook, did not mention any cost estimates on the renovation project for Georges.

It just felt the neighborhood was speaking to me and the building was speaking to me, Mobley said. You know, its been a pretty desolate building for the past decade. So, were coming there to restore it and add some vibrancy to the neighborhood.

The restaurant would have seating for up to 125 people, including outdoor seating, white tablecloth interior tables and seating at the bar.

Its very dark and cinematic, Mobley said of the interior design. Its dramatic.

He described the menu as classic white tablecloth offerings.

Were not trying to re-invent food here, he said. Were doing something thats very classic: oysters Rockefeller, steaks, great fish, that kind of fare.

Mobley, who is from Birmingham, moved to New York City to establish his photography business. His portraits have included studio sessions with Anthony Bourdain, Tom Hanks, Robert DeNiro, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, George Clooney, Ariana Grande, Natalie Portman, Mel Gibson, Lady Gaga, Pharrell Williams, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, Al Pacino, Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Lupita Nyongo, Ben Stiller, and other celebrity subjects. He did a photo shoot of President Barack Obama for Parade magazine in 2014.

Hes been commissioned by Disney, Netflix, HBO, AMC, Random House, Google, Apple, Amazon, Facebook, National Geographic, Elle, Rolling Stone, Harpers Bazaar, Esquire and Time.

The restaurant would be his love letter to Birmingham, he said.

When I think of this restaurant I think of it as a love letter to Birmingham, using materials that are native to Birmingham, such as the brick on the outside of the restaurant, which is a Clinker brick which is made here historically, and kind of infusing some English vibes into the restaurant, but just creating a really classy establishment.

Mobley later told AL.com he did not have a timeline for renovations or when the restaurant would open. Although the name Georges was in the documents presented to the city, its a working title and the restaurant has not officially been named yet, he said.

The building targeted for renovation was formerly the medical office of Dr. Claude Orian Truss, a Birmingham native and author of the 1983 book The Missing Diagnosis, who attracted clients from around the world due to his pioneering treatment of yeast infections. Truss, 86, a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College and Cornell University Medical College and former chief of cardiology at U.S. Air Force Hospital at Maxwell Field, died on Sept. 10, 2009.

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Michelle Obama shares new book cover shot by Alabama photographer

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Remember the Weird Western? Ex-supermarket on Highland Avenue approved for apartments

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Famed Obama photographer plans steak and martini restaurant on Highland in Birmingham - AL.com

Former US president Barack Obama, film director Steven Spielberg and singer Bruce Springsteen surprised a Barcelona restaurant with a last-minute dinner reservation on Thursday.

Obama, former first lady Michelle, Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw came to the Catalan capital for Springsteens concert on Friday night.

Pol Perello, an employee at the Palace Hotels Amar restaurant posted a picture on his Instagram of the stars posing with the staff after they enjoyed a seafood meal.

Pleasures that this job brings you, Perello wrote.

Amar chef Rafa Zafra told Spanish radio network Cadena SER that Spanish-American chef Jos Andrs, who has a close relationship with the Obamas, recommended the restaurant only a few hours before the famous guests arrived.

The security people told us to please not ask them for photos, but just before leaving, Obama entered the kitchen and told us that this had been one of their best meals and if they could take a photo with the whole team, Zafra said.

We gave them oysters, shellfish, and fish from Roses, my classic the caviar bikini a little bit of everything, he stated, adding the group also drank a little.

The one who behaved best was the one who had to work today, he said, in reference to Springsteens concert.

Obama met Springsteen when the singer backed him for president in 2008, and the two have since become friends. The former president has also been longtime friends with the acclaimed film director and honored him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.

The rest is here:
Obama, Spielberg and Springsteen dazzle Barcelona restaurant - The Times of Israel