The warnings about Iran are getting louder, and they’re coming with a date and hardware attached. Meanwhile, half the people in one new survey say they’re skipping meals. Here’s what you need to know today.

Reports of a Short, Intense Campaign Against Iran

Gulf states have reportedly been told to get ready for a short military campaign against Iran after the November 3rd midterms. That’s Tuesday, so after Tuesday we may see a short and intense attack. The war that was supposed to be short and intense started about ten or eleven months ago, and you’re still suffering from that short.

The Wall Street Journal, so not a total fringe rag, reports that the United States and Israel are readying heavy joint combat operations against Iran, again after the midterm elections. President Trump is reportedly leaning toward a large strike on Iranian nuclear and infrastructure targets immediately after the election. Netanyahu said in his speech, “We will remove the Iranian threat forever in cooperation with President Trump.”

The hardware is moving. A Patriot missile system has been moved from Texas to the Middle East, which tells you they’re preparing for more escalation. Another carrier group is headed that way, along with a marine naval unit and a helicopter carrier. There are over 20 US warships off the coast of Iran, and the number is growing.

Britain’s Foreign Office updated its guidance just yesterday, saying the risk of sudden escalation in the Middle East is high and warning that flight cancellations could happen at any time. Three of Britain’s four nuclear-armed submarines are at sea at the same time. That is highly unusual.

Flávio Bolsonaro Arrives in Miami

Flávio Bolsonaro and his family have reportedly arrived in Miami under political asylum. The report is that Brazilian President Lula tried to have Bolsonaro arrested for questioning the election results, even though all he tried to do was use the regular courts to challenge the election.

While the votes were still being counted, a Brazilian Supreme Court justice ordered Bolsonaro’s passport surrendered, supposedly over a campaign finance matter. It’s the same judge who has Bolsonaro’s father locked up for 27 years.

Lead Contamination in a Walmart Fruit Cocktail

Pacific Coast Producers is recalling 1,836 cases of Walmart’s Great Value Fruit Cocktail over lead contamination. That’s about 44,000 cans. The 15-ounce cans were sold in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wyoming.

Check your pantry for a best-by date of September 1st, 2027. The FDA says the fruit may have elevated levels of lead, and it’s a class two recall.

The FEC Goes Offline a Week Before the Vote

Just because there are election problems in Brazil doesn’t mean the United States isn’t having them too. The Federal Election Commission’s electronic filing system went offline Monday night after a hacker targeted it. That means groups can’t file their last-minute campaign spending reports one week before the vote. It supposedly doesn’t affect the voting itself.

Half of Those Polled Are Skipping Meals

About half of the roughly 1,000 people in a new survey say they’re skipping meals because of food prices. Federal data shows grocery prices have risen sharply since 2020, with ground beef up 67%.

An Update From Me

Some of you asked about the changing publishing times, the different background and why I’ve looked tired. First off, Mrs. Poplar and I are fine. We’re doing great. She’s in the room watching me record. We’re traveling with our family on the other side of the country. I promise I’ll get some sleep tonight.

What the Watchmen Are Seeing

On your data: Truckerjoe says it should be illegal for auto dealer websites to pass people’s information to other dealer websites, or for any company to sell your information to the highest bidder. You’d think so. But at this point, it is not illegal in the United States.

Ohio: One viewer says Morton Salt just shut down its massive Fairport mine after significant water intrusion was found underground on October 22nd. All the workers are safe. The 9,000-acre mine supplies road salt to Ohio, and the state’s transportation department says it has about 70% of its winter supply delivered so far. It may also affect table salt availability in the Northeast. We’ll be following that.

Minnesota: Larry says if the power goes out when it’s 20 below, it will be horrible. It absolutely is. But people have survived without electricity for thousands of years. We’ve built our society around the assumption that the power stays on, and that’s what preparedness is about. Have backups.

Switzerland: One viewer says Switzerland took in its first Ebola case, a Nigerian woman flown in from Nigeria for treatment yesterday. There’s still uncertainty over where she caught it, possibly while visiting relatives in Uganda, but they can’t trace it properly.

It’s good that doctors in the West are learning how to treat it. It’s also hard to know the real mortality rate. You see 50% in these countries, but you’re usually only diagnosing the most serious cases, and those patients aren’t getting good Western care. How far does that rate drop with good doctors? You don’t know until it shows up somewhere like Switzerland.

Richmond, Virginia: One viewer is sitting in the boarding area at the airport and says there are no Ebola restrictions. You’d see them when you’re entering a country. When we went into India back in July, I believe, they made us list every country we’d been in and check a box saying we hadn’t been to any country affected by Ebola. Believe me, countries are going to be tightening those restrictions.

On canned chili: A reader who works at a chain grocery store says if you buy Campbell’s chili with the pop-top lids, check them for rust along the seal. They’ve seen cases in their warehouse and at other stores in their area. Pop-top lids break more easily, so always check that the seal is intact before you buy. Be careful stacking those cans, too. Put a cardboard spacer between levels.

On lettuce: One reader says there’s no lettuce shortage at their house. They grow lettuce in a mason jar with the Kratky hydroponic method, and full-sized kale too. You fill a container with nutrient solution, set the plant in with its roots in the solution, harvest it, then refill the container. If you like greens, give it a try.

On growing food: Patricia says you can grow lettuce in pots and stagger your plantings. It doesn’t need a lot of light, so the pot method works outside too, and it’s fairly fast. Same with radishes. She’s 71 and moved into a tiny yard with no garden, so she uses planters and pots for herbs, potatoes, three tomato plants and some peppers. She froze extra blueberries and strawberries this summer, and she hasn’t bought tomatoes or peppers at the store recently.

The Bottom Line

Gulf states are being told to prepare, warships are moving in, and Britain has put submarines to sea. Add a hacked election filing system, a lead recall, a poll full of skipped meals and a salt mine shut down just before winter, and the message is to be ready.

Check your pantry for that fruit cocktail. Have backups for the power. Start growing something, even if it’s one jar of lettuce. And look out for your neighbors.

Watch the video: US, Israel, & UK Warn It’s Now Coming- Watchmen Uodates

Steve Poplar is the publisher of The Poplar Report.