Grayman Briefing - 2nd Amendment, Protests & Civil Unrest, Censorship, Supply Chain, National Security Intel, & Survival News

FYSA - Food Recall: In AZ, CA, CO, GA, IL, LA, MI, MO, MS, NC, NM, NV, NY, OK, SC, TX, and WV on July 25th; the FDA confirmed increased Salmonella infections and subsequent hospitalizations across 17 states linked in part to shell eggs produced by Midwest Poultry Services in Texas. Approximately 19 million eggs with sell-by dates through mid-August were recalled after distribution to multiple retailers, including Kroger and Brookshire stores. Debrief: Consumers shoul...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

Government Oversight Brief: COVID-19 BLUF: Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment after receiving a presidential pardon, over 1,100 pages of his private diary entries were released, and the Trump Administration published a White House page on COVID-19 origins, gain-of-function research, and the federal pandemic response. On July 29th, Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared before the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC). Fauci exercised his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination 69 times at the Senate committee hearing, declining to answer questions on the origins of COVID-19 and the U.S. pandemic response. This questioning occurred after Fauci received a full and unconditional preemptive pardon from President Joe Biden on January 19th, 2025. The pardon covered any federal offenses he committed or taken part in from January 1st, 2014, through the date of the pardon, specifically those arising from or related to his service as Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, the White House COVID-19 Response Team, or as Chief Medical Advisor to the President. In late July, Sen. Rand Paul released over 1,100 pages of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s electronic private diary entries spanning December 2019 to December 2022. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said his team recovered the typewritten notes after an eight-month search across 11 government servers where they had been sequestered, then provided them to Paul and Sen. Ron Johnson as part of a COVID origins probe. In the recovered "private journal," on January 26th, 2020, Fauci wrote that the Wuhan wet market “was not the source, it was the amplifier,” with the first infection in early December unconnected to it. On February 1st, 2020, during a call with about a dozen scientists (linked to the later Proximal Origin paper), he noted only two believed the virus was natural; the rest thought “deliberate insertion was possible,” citing gain-of-function work at the Wuhan lab, and concluded “we could not let this go.” Amid rising deaths, Fauci extensively tracked his media profile and fame. In a May 21, 2020, entry, he wrote that his “national and international fame is explosive and really unimaginable” and that it was “not hyperbole” to say he was “the most famous and talked about person in the country and one of the most recognizable” in the world. He logged flattering coverage, Secret Service familiarity, and merchandise (“swag”), including Fauci donuts, T-shirts, socks, mugs, bobbleheads, and “St. Fauci” prayer candles. Celebrity notes include a call with Barbra Streisand (vaccine advice plus explaining Alexa), interactions with Julia Roberts, and a declined Dancing with the Stars invitation. The diaries contrast private thoughts with public messaging and document White House tensions as Fauci publicly made statements that were in opposition to what he wrote privately. On July 29th, while Fauci was being questioned and refusing to answer questions, the Trump Administration provided a landing page on the origins and fraud relates to COVID-19, saying, "The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2 publication — which was used repeatedly by public health officials and the media to discredit the lab leak theory — was prompted by Dr. Fauci to push the preferred narrative that COVID-19 originated naturally." The White House confirmed COVID-19 originated from a laboratory incident at the Wuhan Institute of Virology involving gain-of-function research funded by Dr. Anthony Fauci, who promoted the natural-origin narrative and other disinformation. EcoHealth Alliance used U.S. taxpayer fundin...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Defense Industrial Base: Nationwide on July 20th; President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Defense to prioritize domestic and allied sources for critical defense materials while reducing reliance on foreign adversaries. The order requires contractors to map supply chains and exhaust domestic or allied sourcing options before requesting waivers, with non-compliance potentially affecting eligibility for future defense contracts. Debrief: Th...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Government Oversight / First Amendment: Nationwide; the Department of Justice issued grand jury and phone records subpoenas targeting multiple New York Times reporters and, in some instances, their spouses and a parent as part of a criminal investigation into leaks concerning security issues involving a Qatari-donated presidential aircraft. During a federal court hearing, the judge questioned the subpoenas' potential First Amendment implications, after which the DOJ withdrew the subpoenas while stating the underlying leak investigation remains active. Debrief: Although the subpoe...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

SORD Global: Summary of Recent Developments from around the world. 》In Iran, the U.S. launched additional strikes on drone and missile storage sites plus air defenses and used a B-1 bomber for the first time since fighting resumed while President Trump threatened to destroy bridges or power plants including in Tehran for each Iranian attack on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC retaliated against U.S. targets in Kuwait and Jordan leading to an oil tanker explosion on a mined route. Separately, Brent crude ros... 》In Yemen, the Houthis announced missile and drone attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea as part of a naval blockade that forced around 10 ships to retreat while U.S. Secretary of State Rubio expressed hope they would de-escalate and stay out of the broader Iran confli... 》In Lebanon and Israel, the next round of U.S.-brokered talks is scheduled for August 4 in Italy according to a Lebanese official amid the ongoing regional tensions linked to t... 》In the Russia-Ukraine war, EU diplomats agreed on a 21st sanctions package targeting 94 financial institutions Moscow's stock exchange shadow fleet vessels and crypto platforms while freezing the Russian oil price cap at $44.10 for another year and Ukraine agreed to export drones to the U.S. for the Pentagon's Drone Domina... 》In South Africa, two Ghanaian nationals petitioned the International Criminal Court to open a preliminary investigation into attacks against foreign nationals alleging a pattern of widespread and systematic assaults that could constitute crimes against humanity and accusing the government of failing to prevent or puni... 》In Afghanistan, Amnesty International sai... 》In Mali, the Trump administration is weighing military action to target the al-Qaeda affiliated group JNIM wit...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Government Oversight: In CA, ongoing since 2024 with recent viral attention; California laws block parents from accessing certain medical records of their children once the child turns 12 by authorizing minors to independently consent to and control the confidentiality of specific services, including outpatient mental health treatment and counseling. Family Code §6924, as amended by AB 665 (effective July 2024), removed prior safeguards that allowed parents to request medical records or be informed of procedures completed on their children. These include substance abuse care, contraception, reproductive health procedures, and gender-mutilation (gender-affirming) services. Parents maintain access to general, non-sensitive records, but providers restrict sensitive categories unless the minor consents to allowing parents to be informed, thus direct...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Major Incident: In WI, reported July 22nd; Madison Police Department officers responded to a report of a man attempting to break into vehicles by checking doors and stealing bicycles. Police located 41-year-old Corey Ruiz (black male) who then fled and evaded capture for a short time. He was later located again and attempted to flee on a stolen bicycle. Officers made contact, re-engaged, and a physical struggle ensued with four officers in the intersection where Ruiz produced a fixed-blade knife and assaulted one veteran officer with the blade during the attempted arrest. Officers deployed a Taser without success before the injured officer fired three shots at close range, killing Ruiz. Bystander videos captured the altercation and gunshots; police displayed the knife at the scene. After the criminal attacked officers with a deadly weapon and was stopped with deadly force, hundreds protested at the intersection that evening, marching to the state Capitol and disrupting concerts and businesses on the Square with chants for perceived accountability. The protesters chanted "no justice no peace" and "shut it down". The state DOJ is con...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Health & Safety: Nationwide; the American Red Cross declared a national emergency blood shortage after the supply fell nearly 25% in June due to a steep decline in donations since late May, with distributions to hospitals now nearly 3,500 units higher per week than expected amid summer trauma season. All blood types are needed, with O positive, B negative, and AB plasma in particularly short supply. Red Cross supplies about 40% of the nation's blood, and donations cannot be stockpiled due to short shelf life. Debrief: This recurring summer shortfall is expected but the low-supply and frequency of sa...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

Field Notes - Natural Disaster: In MN, MI, WI, NY, VT, PA, and the Northeastern U.S.; 1,000+ Canadian wildfires, including 190+ in Ontario and fires in northern MN, have created dense smoke plumes, causing unhealthy to hazardous air quality across the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast, affecting millions with PM2.5 particles. A heat dome in the U.S. is trapping smoke near the ground, pushing it through MI, OH, MN, WI, NY, VT, PA, and New England. AQI reached 785 in MI and 775 in OH, with alerts issued in multiple states. Impacts included closed beaches and pools in Chicago, IL, and Lakewood, OH, rescheduled events such as an MLS game and a concert, and the distribution of 100,000+ masks in New York City. Conditions worsened midweek before expected rainfall was forecast to disperse the smoke. President Trump commented on the wildfires and threatened to impose tariffs, explaining, "We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is bei"...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Major Incident: In NY on July 20th; a man identified as Andrew Arrabaca, 43, with a history of anti-ICE activism set off an incendiary device outside 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, pouring gasoline on stairs and igniting it with fireworks, which produced flames, smoke, and an explosion-like effect. He also fired 5-7 pellets from an airsoft rifle/pistol, striking a bystander. A Federal Protective Service officer tackled and detained him, sustaining minor injuries; two minor injuries were reported total. Officers recovered items including two pellet guns, axes, a hammer, kni...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

2nd Amendment Brief: USPS Carry Ban BLUF: The DOJ has abandoned its appeal of the Texas ruling striking down the federal post office firearm carry ban, leaving FPC and SAF members protected nationwide under an existing injunction while additional lawsuits seek to extend that relief to all Americans, increasing the likelihood of eventual Supreme Court review. Nationwide on July 16th; the DOJ filed an unopposed motion to voluntarily dismiss its Fifth Circuit appeal in Firearms Policy Coalition, Inc. et al. v. Todd Wallace Blanche, abandoning defense of the federal post office firearm carry ban. This follows the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruling striking down the ban as lacking historical tradition, plus the March 17th order extending a permanent injunction to all present and future FPC and Second Amendment Foundation members. The unopposed motion under means each party bears its own costs; if granted, the district court injunction stands, shielding FPC/SAF members from enforcement when carrying firearms for self-defense in ordinary post offices and on postal property. The FPC President stated the prior defense treated peaceable Americans like criminals. Debrief: This effectively ends federal enforcement of the post office carry prohibition against protected plaintiffs nationwide, expanding lawful carry options in everyday government facilities without new legislation and aligning with broader Trump administration 2A policy shifts. The NRA, Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners Foundation, and individual plaintiffs have filed Hornbake v. Blanche in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania seeking a nationwide ruling that the U.S. Postal Service firearm carry ban is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, arguing that post offices lack a historical basis as prohibited "sensitive places" under Bruen. Meanwhile, in Nastri v. Bondi, a federal judge in Connecticut upheld the ban, with plaintiffs expected to appeal, creati...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Supply Chain: In IL, IN and Nationwide; above average rainfall has triggered nutrient shortages and rootworm outbreaks among corn and soybean crops in key Midwest growing areas. Reduced harvests from these problems could tighten corn and soybean supplies moving into fall which may raise feed costs for livestock and lead to higher grocery prices for meat, dairy, and processed foods across the U.S. Debrief: Farmers should test soils and plants, plant cover crops in damaged zones, scout for insects during pollination, and limit early fungicide use. These steps aim to protect remaining yields in affected regions that supp...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

Field Notes - National Security: In FL, GA, and AL from July 8-14; a possible threat has emerged following claims that Cuba acquired roughly 300 Iranian Shahed-136 drones since 2023 with a range potentially capable of reaching FL, GA, and AL. Under ideal weather and technical conditions, the drones could potentially have the range to reach SC, NC, TN, MS, LA, AR, TX, VA, WV, KY, MO, IL, IN, OH, MD, DE, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, and OK. These reports prompted a July 8 event in Coral Gables hosted by United Against Nuclear Iran. The group displayed a recovered drone while former Gov. Jeb Bush and Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) warned of threats from expanding Iran-Cuba military ties. President Trump addressed the issue during White House remarks on July 13. He confirmed the U.S. is investigating the possible storage of the drones. Trump stated, "If they do have that, and they might very well have that, we'll take care of it," and added, "We're looking into it now." Cuba's foreign minister rejected the allegations as fearmongering and suggested they could be used to justify U.S. action. Debrief: The claims remain unverified by independent public sources yet have progressed from advocacy warnings to direct presidential comment, likely prompting further U.S. intelligence review, sanctions, or monitoring that could influence Caribbean policy and Florida security planning. Residents in potentia...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

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Field Notes - Major Crime / Preparedness: In NC on July 9th and other states, reported June-July; a driver in rural Warren County near Warrenton NC was robbed at gunpoint around 6:20 p.m. on July 9th after stopping to move a log placed on Parktown/Baltimore Road by three masked men hiding in the woods, losing cash with no injuries reported as the Warren County Sheriff’s Office investigates potential patterns. Similar recent tactics appeared in a June 13th Barstow CA area carjacking involving a stolen vehicle from Phelan where suspects fled after the incident; multiple boxing-in attempts during a 4-day vehicle crime spree in Plymouth Township PA where suspects used vehicles to trap targets before attempted carjackings; rideshare carjackings in Frederica DE on July 4th with armed suspects forcing the driver out; Northern District Baltimore MD armed carjackings on July 7th targeting a rideshare driver with suspects arrested after vehicle recovery; and stalled or disabled vehicle ambushes noted in various urban reports echoing classic methods of debris obstacles or fake breakdowns to lure drivers. Debrief: In one notable 2012 incident in Fresno, CA, police responded to multiple reports of a baby stroller filled with garbage placed as a road hazard on an isolated frontage road, which authorities suspected was deliberate bait to lure drivers into stopping for a potential carjacking. Separately, around 2025 in the Detroit, MI area, a man who pulled over as a good Samaritan to assist people with a seemingly broken-down vehicle was carjacked. In a similar 2022 ruse in Fairfax County, VA, a group staged a broken-down car on I-495 and lured a helpful motorist ultimately resulting in robbery. The recent incidents signal a re-emerging trend of low-tech road ambushes exploiting driver compliance on isolated or slowed routes, increasing risks for commuters and delivery workers across rural and suburban U.S. areas. Citizens should prioritize evasion by not stopping for obstacles, maintaining vehicle security, using dashcams, and reporting suspicious roadblocks to aid law enforcement in pattern analysis. To avoid roadside ambushes and debris traps, enhance situational awareness when unable to travel in well-lit areas or on high-traffic routes. Maintain extra following distance and never stop for objects like boxes, strollers, or "broken-down" vehicles in isolated areas. Drive around them or take an alternative route if you detect suspicious activity early. If you come across a possible trap, reversing may not be the best option, as that may be expected. Recognize potential setups by suspicious people waving, hazard lights on quiet roads, or cars trying to box you in. If forced to slow, stay in your locked vehicle with the engine running and call 911 when able, but note that help will likely not arrive in time, s...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Infrastructure: In DE, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, NJ, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, and DC through July 15th; PJM Interconnection, the largest U.S. power grid operator serving 67 million people, declared emergency conditions in early July due to a heat dome driving record electricity demand from surging air conditioning use that exceeded the 2006 all-time peak. The Energy Secretary issued two Section 202(c) Federal Power Act orders directing PJM to dispatch specific generating units, grant temporary emissions relief for coal, gas, and other plants to run at maximum output, and, as a last resort before voltage reduction or rolling blackouts, curtail data centers and large loads with backup generation within 15 minutes while exempting hospitals, 911 centers, water treatment facilities, and defense facilities. PJM issued Hot Weather, Maximum Generation, and Load Management Alerts, recalled maintenance outages, and managed near-record peaks without escalating to full Energy Emergency Alert Level 3. The emergency alert wa...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

FYSA - Supply Chain / Global Conflict: In the U.S. (SPR sites in TX and LA), as of early July; amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) inventory has fallen to approximately 320 million barrels, according to recent DOE and EIA data. This follows an authorized release of 172 million barrels to address supply shortages since the Iran war began in late February 2026, with additional drawdowns totaling tens of millions of barrels since late March. Analyst reports state the SPR is now approximately 19 million barrels above its estimated minimum operating level of 250 million barrels (with physical tank bottoms at roughly 180 million barrels), reducing the nation's emergency buffer against further supply disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 percent of global seaborne oil trade passes. On July 6-7, Iran attacked three commercial vessels near the Strait, prompting U.S. strikes on more than 80 Iranian targets, the revocation of an Iranian oil sales waiver, and President Trump to declare the previous ceasefire over. Iran responded with strikes on U.S. facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait. Debrief: There are distinctions between total SPR inventory and portions reserved for national security purposes under Department of Defense oversight, for which Secretary of Defense Hegseth may be required to certify additional drawdowns. The reduced reserve capacity limits the United States' ability to respond rapidly to major energy supply disruptions caused by conflicts affecting critical chokepoints. This could contribute to higher fuel prices and tighter fuel supplies for citizens while highlighting broader national vulnerabilities tied to global energy interdependence despite strong domestic production. Monitoring SPR replenishment and diversification of energy supply sources supports long-term preparedness. Th...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

2nd Amendment Brief: National Summary BLUF: FPC launched a challenge to Denver and CO firearm and magazine bans, the Supreme Court let FPC’s PA young-adult carry win take effect, FPC moved to add CA's Glock-style handgun ban to its roster lawsuit, and VA courts delivered additional setbacks to the state’s firearm and magazine ban. 》In CO on June 30th; FPC and the Colorado State Shooting Association filed a lawsuit in Elliott v. Denver in federal court challenging Denver’s “assault weapon” ban and the Colorado magazine restrictions (over 15 rounds). Debrief: This expands the coordinated legal attack on semiautomatic firearm and magazine bans while the Supreme Court prepares to hear Vir... 》In PA on June 30th; the U.S. Supreme Court denied Pennsylvania officials’ cert petition in FPC’s Bivens case, leaving in place the Third Circuit ruling that Pennsylvania’s ban on public carry by peaceable adults under 21 violates the Second Amendment. Debrief: The decision lets the young-adult carr... 》In CA on July 1st; FPC filed a motion to supplement Renna v. Bonta to add a challenge to California’s ban on semiautomatic handguns with cruciform trigger bars, including many Glock and Glock-style pistols. Debrief: This turns California’s new handgun restriction into part of the broader roster/mi... 》In VA on July 6th; GOA reported that a three-judge panel denied the Commonwealth’s attempt to consolidate lawsuits challenging Virginia’s new firearm and magazine bans. Separately, on June 29th, Washington Circuit Court issued a statewide preliminary injunction in Santolla v. Katz blocking enforcement of the bans. Debrief: This is a material follow-up because Virginia’s ban is now facing multi... 》In KY/Nationwide on June 24th; FPC filed a reply brief supporting summary judgment in Roberts v. ATF, its challenge to the National Firearms Act’s registration regime for suppressors and short-barrele...(CLASSIFIED, get briefs in real-time unredacted by joining at www.graymanbriefing.com)

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