SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, we focus on the North Idaho Republicans group. (See the Idaho section.) Idaho The Idaho GOP’s recent changes, as reported by the liberal Idaho Statesman newspaper: Former GOP heads say party needs ‘course correction’ after divisive changes. JWR’s Comments: The truth is that a few …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.” –  Thomas Jefferson


Preparedness Notes for Monday — January 1, 2024

On January 1, 2002  the monetary unit of the European Union, the Euro, was introduced with the issuance of both currency and coins, and by March 2002 it was the sole legal tender of participating member states. — A last-minute news update (posted 6:30 PM Pacific Time, Sunday, December 31, 2023): MAJOR X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: Earth-orbiting satellites have just detected a major X5-class solar flare. It is the strongest flare of Solar Cycle 25 (so far) and the most powerful eruption the sun has produced since the great storms of Sept. 2017. The underlying sunspot is a giant, and it …


Stihl MSE250C Corded Electric Chainsaw, by Thomas Christianson

The Bottom Line, Up Front The Stihl MSE250C corded electric chainsaw is a rugged workhorse of a saw that is well suited for professional or for farm and ranch-level work. Although the unit that I own has an 18 inch bar and chain, I agree with Stihl’s recommendation that this saw is best suited for a 16 inch bar and chain. With a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $629.99 it is relatively expensive for a corded electric chainsaw, but it has the high quality and extreme durability that is worthy of its high price. If you are as hard on corded …


Recipe of the Week: Crock Pot Venison Roast

The following recipe for Crock Pot Venison Roast is from SurvivalBlog reader Ray J. Ingredients 3 pounds venison roast, de-boned 1 large onion, sliced 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon garlic salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix 1 (10.75-ounce) can of condensed cream of mushroom soup Directions Rise a deboned venison roast and place in a crock pot slow cooker. Cover with onion slices. Sprinkle with soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce Add garlic salt and pepper, to suit your taste. Stir the onion soup mix and condensed soup together …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at some economics and investing predictions for 2024. Precious Metals: The Silver Surge: Anticipating Big Moves in 2024 and 2025. o  o  o Gold Is Going To Reach New ALL Time Highs! Will Silver Follow? Economy & Finance: From the biased Biden boosters at Fitch: World Growth to Fall Sharply in 2024 but …



Preparedness Notes for Sunday — December 31, 2023

December 31, 1862, the U.S.S. Monitor sank, in a storm off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Just nine months earlier, the ship had been part of a revolution in naval warfare when the ironclad dueled to a standstill with the C.S.S. Virginia (Merrimack) off Hampton Roads, Virginia, in one of the most famous naval battles in American history—the first time two ironclads faced each other in a naval engagement. — I just heard that sci-fi novelist David Drake passed away. Drake was best known as the author of the 10-book Hammer’s Slammers series. He will be greatly missed. — Today’s feature …


Why We Should Dread a Second Civil War

Introductory Note: In a SurvivalBlog essay that I wrote back in January, 2019, I warned that there were signs that a Second Civil War might be brewing. I’d like to update and expand on that theme, in this essay. — The recent release of the first trailer for the scheduled April 2024 release of the A24 Productions movie titled Civil War has prompted considerable conjecture. The film reportedly had a $75 million budget. Commentator Tim Pool posted his thoughts on it, and then followed up with a more in-depth panel discussion, and then another. Dozens of others have also chimed …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: My Newsome Year’s Resolution: Never Trust a Politician Who Cannot Define What a Woman Is, or Who Claims That Men Can Have Babies News Links: Governor Newsom signs Senate Bill 132. Newsom signs law requiring gender-neutral bathrooms in California schools by 2026. Gov. Newsom Signs Bill to Strip Children from Parents to Medically Transgender Them. California Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs 9 Pro-LGBTQ+ Bills Into Law. Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 2218 – Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund. Gavin Newsom savagely mocked as ‘disgusting transphobe’ for claiming men can’t get pregnant …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day: 

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But …


Preparedness Notes for Saturday — December 30, 2023

On December 30, 1905, former Governor Frank Steunenberg (pictured) was assassinated with a dynamite bomb near his home in Caldwell, Idaho. According to Infogalactic:  “He was assassinated in 1905 by one-time union member Harry Orchard, who was also a paid informant for the Cripple Creek Mine Owners’ Association. Orchard attempted to implicate leaders of the radical Western Federation of Miners in the assassination. The labor leaders were found not guilty in two trials, but Orchard spent the rest of his life in prison.” On December 30, 1853, the U.S. acquired nearly 30,000 square miles (78,000 square km) of additional northern …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

 “And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred. And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any …


Preparedness Notes for Friday — December 29, 2023

On December 29, 1845, Texas was admitted as the 28th state of the Union. — Today is the birthday of actor Jude Law (born 1972.) You may remember him from Enemy at The Gates and Sky Captain. — Natchez Shooters Supplies (one of our affiliate advertisers) is running a special promotion today and tomorrow:  Take An Additional 10% Off ALL Clearance-Listed Items When You Spend $99.99+  (This offer ends at 11:59pm EST on 12/30/2023.)  To get the additional 10% off, use Promo Code P231229 — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 110 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction …