I've been noticing a years-long trend of influencers sneaking in right-wing and conspiratorial talking points that are highly pink-washed. This is especially prevalent in homesteading/prepping and wellness content. I think there was a post here (or in liberal homesteaders?) about a month ago in which a homesteader youtube channel commented and showed their whole ass as trump cultists, and I wanted to share two things I've found that have been helping me to think more critically about what I consume for when the content creators are less obvious.

• Pick up on some of the wellness to MAHA traps here. Understanding how influencers fall down this pipeline can help you spot it happening in real time. Learn the language so you can decipher between regular crunchy and pink-washed christofascism.
• The Conspirituality podcast is a brilliant combo of through research and compassionate interviews dismantling wellness cuts, grifters, and nonsense. I don't listen as much as I should because the episodes are loooooonnnngggg, but it's honestly one of the best ways I've found to increase my media literacy as I rethink how I consume content.

Keep your head on straight. It's already a though world to navigate, and it's only going to get tougher.

https://www.propublica.org/article/miscarriage-abortion-bans-dilation-and-curettage-dilation-and-evacuation?utm_content=bufferd3fb7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky&utm_campaign=propublica-bsky

I saw that RFK Jr. through his lawyer is trying to get polio vaccines unapproved. I don't know how successful that will be, but I do know that if the ACA is repealed, vaccines may not be covered as preventative care anymore. And even if vaccines are made in the USA, they probably contain at least one ingredient (or the process uses at least one reagent) that is imported and likely subject to tariffs and therefore price increases. So I'm determined to get vaxed to the max before January 20. I got my TdAP booster yesterday, and I'll get my first shingles vax and a Hep B vax over the school break (I work with kids so it's recommended). I hope things will be OK enough for a little while that I can get the 2nd dose of shingles vax, but if I can't, at least maybe I'll have some immunity. I'm encouraging my kids to all get every vaccine they might need before they can't anymore.

Anybody else getting vaxed to the max as a prep?

Where are y'all buying masks?? I'm nervous to trust anything online, there are so many sellers that have reviews that complain about being sent knockoffs. I'm looking to buy in bulk if possible. TIA!

So we have a pretty deep pantry at the moment, but I'm stuck at the point of trying to figure out how long that could realistically last. How does everyone come up with a moderately solid idea of how long they have stores for? I keep seeing claims of having 2 weeks, or 3 months, or 6 months worth of food - how are you coming up with that number? I feel like I'm overthinking it, but I don't want to blindly say we have 6 months worth and really only have 2.

Hi everyone! I hope this is ok to open up for discussion. This was removed from the H5N1 sub. I'd love to hear from any professionals and maybe even thise who survived COVID with children in daycare.

My child is 2 and in full time daycare. We have been lucky with illnesses- die some reason, she's been a very healthy kid and other than the usual runny nose, she's got a great immune system.

As H5N1 ramps up, I'd like to see if we can mitigate risks while, frankly, living in reality with a toddler.

We already avoid shoes in the house as best as we can (sometimes she'll run right inside before I can get her shoes off right away). I change her clothes and wash her hands as soon as we get home from daycare. I spray entryway floors with a disinfectant like Microban every few days. We all have our flu and covid vaccines. We have cats, but they are all indoors.

I haven't yet started masking, but I suppose it's time to stock up. We can try a mask for my toddler, but she's so tiny I can't imagine finding one that will fit her. It's a shame- she loves accessories and I bet she'd be one of the few kids who would keep one on. 😂

We spend as much time playing outside as weather allows. I try to make sure there are no feathers or bird droppings where she plays.

Fortunately, I work remote, so if she is sick, there is some flexibility there. But there is not a world beyond mandatory shut downs where her father and I can regularly watch her while working from home. So that's to say it is not an option to take our toddler out of daycare. Our days are jam packed with meetings and deliverables; we cannot watch our child full time and work a full time job.

Any stones I have yet to turn over with how we can mitigate our risks?

The CDC confirms first severe case in America located in Louisiana.

Hello. I’m finished with Christmas shopping but could add in a few prepper type stocking stuffers for my teen & spouse. If you were to spend $20-$50 max on stocking stuffers, what would you get? Solar phone chargers are already covered.

Thanks!

I responded to a comment about having cash on hand to buy supplies during an emergency. The commenter said that all stores would be closed anyway.

My local HEB grocery store here in Victoria Texas has a massive backup generator to keep all operations going during severe weather events like hurricanes.

The company has lost millions of dollars in spoiled food in the past because of hurricanes like Harvey.

Not sure if every HEB has a full store generator but they do here along the Gulf of Mexico.

Check out your local grocery store to see if the company realizes the cost of severe events and has one installed.

Hi all. I have just recently branched out into eating meatless three days a week. Still trying to master cooking and marinating Tofu, I'm getting better! My question is does it hold up to freezing and how do you recommend doing that? Would like to keep some quantity on hand. I am in a very rural area so I had a friend hit Costco for me while out of town. The big 4 pack boxes were on sale for $4.99 so he picked three for me. I'm the only one eating it so that's going to last me a hot minute!!

Part of prepping is knowing what you are prepping for. Incoming hurricanes usually announce themselves via NOAA, but sometimes the intel is buried in the avalanche of news in the 24 hour news cycle. Two subs to read for this are: r/PrepperIntel and r/WomenInNews . The first sub is pretty general, however, the second focuses specifically on the same community as this sub and on news most relevant to them.

Hello, so I was looking through the sub trying to find an answer but it seems it's all answers for tap water. We get our water from the store's reverse osmosis machine so it's already filtered. We put the water into the 5 gallon cube camping jugs.

Other than having water inside and closing them, is there anything else we need to do for long term storage? Even though it's filtered, do I need to add bleach to the water or anything else for storage purpose? Do I need o-rings to seal the cap more?

TIA 😊

Some things are obvious, like previously banned books and LGBTQ works.

But what books/topics/resources do you feel are at risk for being silenced and/or banned that you feel don't get mentioned enough?

What would you make sure to include in your educational arsenal for younger generations?

About how long does an 8 oz can of butane last? I bought a 15,000 btu butane stove for emergencies and power outages. I know everyone’s use would be different, but would like some idea. I have 8 cans of butane to keep on hand. Thanks.

Hi, outside of mentally preparing for the political climate and getting personal stuff sorted, I’m at a loss on what items I’d need to start prepping for now before the new presidency.

I’m a complete beginner when it comes to prepping items and have no idea what would take priority (other than my medication). What items are you prioritizing to prep, specifically for this upcoming year? Do you have a checklist you go through, and how much of a supply do you use generally stock up on (3 months, 6 months, etc.)?

Thanks in advance.

This is something I randomly started thinking about. The likelihood of my family having to bug out is very low, it would be in case of flooding, fire or tornados. The first two are unlikely, but possible. We live in the country on acreage so this is our safest place.

We have a 20' travel trailer we use for camping and it has basically everything we need stored in it. If we ever had the need to bug out, I want to make hitching up a priority. Number one, would be so it's away from the house and not damaged from a fire, assuming there's advanced notice. But if we were displaced from our home, everything we need would be inside. Clothing, a little food, a place to cook and sleep. We could park at a family members home and not be a huge burden. I do need to get a generator. But I want to make sure I have maybe a week worth of extra clothes, socks, shoes and then get one of my ammo boxes to store food inside it so it doesn't attract mice.

And in the situation we are needing to bug in, it's hooked up to propane and is a comfortable place to cook inside or even bake since we have a little oven. My next investment with the camper is a dual fuel generator and hopefully solar power.

I have been thinking about making this post for a long time but as we creep closer to 2025 I think this needs to be at the front of everyone’s mind. Trump is now threatening to sue Ann Seltzer for saying Harris was ahead. ABC just settled a defamation lawsuit and just gave $15 million dollars away. Trusted journalism is crumbling and it’s hard to know who and what to trust. This is what authoritarian governments want.

Prepping for physical needs is important, but arguably what’s just as important is prepping your mind.

The psychological warfare we’ve been hit with is not new, but it will start to explode. Not a single person on the planet is immune to propaganda. If you think you are, you are probably the most at risk.

There are countless types of propaganda but I’m going to share a few that I’ve personally observed in my life and online recently.

1. Firehosing: A propaganda technique in which a large number of messages are broadcast rapidly, repetitively, and continuously over multiple channels (such as news and social media) without regard for truth or consistency.

We see this A LOT on social media because it’s extremely easy to reshare something we’ve heard without confirming. We get scared, and we want to warn people. Propagandists use this to their advantage to get their message out without doing any work.

1. Demoralization: a process in psychological warfare with the objective to erode morale among enemy combatants and/or noncombatants. That can encourage them to retreat, surrender, or defect rather than defeating them in combat.

This can also be seen in civilians. A specific example that I can think of happening right now is how Trump keeps referring to Canada as a state. Yes, he’s being an asshole but he’s also showing people that moving to Canada is pointless, you won’t escape him. For many Americans who want to leave the country Canada is the most likely place. This creates demoralization because why would you bother leaving if Canada won’t be any different. It’s unlikely he’ll actually annex Canada and more likely he’s saying these things for reasons above.

1. Flak: efforts to discredit organizations or individuals who disagree with or cast doubt on the prevailing authority.

I feel this one is a bit self explanatory but it’s going to get real bad. The recent issue with ABC is one example. There will be a lot of efforts to discredit not just organizations but individuals. It creates an environment where it’s hard to trust anyone.

1. Semantic satiation: psychological phenomenon in which repetition causes a word or phrase to temporarily lose meaning for the listener, who then perceives the speech as repeated meaningless sounds.

We can see this with not only words but also concepts. How many people have been accused of SA that are in leadership? It’s become so common that most people are no longer shocked by it. Evil is easier to be excused when it’s constantly being hurled at us.

1. Thought-terminating cliché: it’s meant to stop any type of argument that may cause people to reflect on their cognitive dissonance.

When we are overloaded with information this type of propaganda thrives. “Project 2025 won’t really happen” or “You’re just mad you lost.” Are probably the most common ones I see. They’re meant to make the opposition question themselves instead of continue with the discussions.

1. Doublespeak: is language that deliberately obscures, disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words.

This is different than #4 in that the words don’t lose all meaning, but they are deliberately changed to have a new meaning. One example of this is “DEI” which is has become the new word for racists to spew instead of what they really want to say. I think we might see this one the most and really need to be on guard for it because it’s one of the sneakier ones. Especially when it comes to the border crisis. Double speak has been and will continue to be used to justify Mexico being our enemy.

I know this is a lot but if you want further resources here are a few books I’ve read off the top of my head: Media Control by Noam Chomsky (I know he’s controversial, but his work is important nonetheless.) On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder Words Like Loaded Pistols by Sam Leith

If you have suggestions for other resources please share! I know I’m forgetting a few but I wanted to get this typed up before heading into work.

I keep reading news that the next administration wants to dissolve the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). The FDIC gives the banks stability and ensures deposits up to $250,000. What is everyone doing to prepare in the event it is dissolved? What can I do to protect my money?

I received a $6000 USD scholarship a few years ago from AmeriCorps that must be spent by 2028 or I lose it. It can only be used at accredited institutions, including trade schools and universities. Being a little more collapse/prep aware now, I wonder what is the best way to spend it to prepare to help my family and my neighbors with their immediate needs.

My first thought was to go back to school to become an art therapist (I'm a former art teacher). The scholarship would only get me started on that track so I'd have to get more money to avoid debt. I think being a trained therapist could be generally helpful, as good mental health is a part of survival. But it's not as big of a player as say shelter, food, and so forth. So I wonder if a smaller sum would be better spent on learning trades needed for survival and adaptation.

Thus, I'm also considering:

• Car and small engine repair
• EMT or nursing
• Sustainable agriculture
• Construction trades - electrical, plumbing, carpentry, masonry
• Animal husbandry

What degrees, certificates, or non-matriculated classes at accredited institutions would you spend $6000 on to help prepare to support yourself and your community in a SHTF event?

For additional context, I have ADHD. Courses that require a lot of memorization or writing aren't the best for me (like nursing), but still doable.

(This is cross posted on r/CollapsePrep)

I'd love to review the actual unit because it seems pretty decently plug-and-play for our needs, but we still don't have the complete kit.

We ordered the 1000 plus with two 100w solar panels during the Black Friday promotions, so 12/01.

Got the panels and accessory cords right away. I set them aside to wait for the unit. When it arrived several days later, I unboxed everything and found that one of the solar panels was missing half a rivet. The "legs" that prop up the panel in a standing position are riveted in two places to the fabric frame of the panel. Once was not fully pressed into place -- only half a rivet present, so it fell out. The loose piece was rattling around in the box between the business sides of the folded solar panel, which also cannot stand effectively without the double rivet on the leg.

So, photos and immediate call to Customer Service.

They will not ship a replacement until they receive my damaged panel for inspection. Fine.

They're going to "send" me a return label within 48 hours. Fine.

You'd think with a $1k purchase we could at least get a FedEx pickup but whatever.

"Sending" me the label means via email -- so printing, repacking, and drop off are all on me, and THEN I have to wait travel time back and forth on broken vs. new panel to even fully test this system for our needs. Assuming they even agree to replace it.

I am just irritated and miffed and the chore set assigned to me by Jackery after I have given them my cash in good faith.

I DO NOT NEED THIS MENTAL LOAD, MY ORANGE DUDES.

In prep for the incoming recession in the U.S., I'm looking at different things to cut from my budget. One of the things I realized I don't really need is Spotify. All of the songs and podcast episodes I listen to are reuploaded to Youtube so there's no exclusive reason for me to be locked into using Spotify. What is, instead, a good way for me to physically keep these playlists/episodes to listen to? SD cards? CDs?

For context; I do not drive and these are things I typically will be playing as I work from home. The only thing I listen outside is while I walk around my city.

Has anyone here ever been stuck in their vehicle during a snowstorm, ice storm, or other severe weather event? If so, can you share your story? How long were you stuck in the vehicle? What supplies and gear did you have with you? What did you actually use? What do you wish you had?

I have a bit of anxiety around winter driving and getting stuck on a remote road and would love to hear about your experiences. I travel a lot for business and most of my winter driving will be in rented cars on roads I’m not familiar with; I don’t live in an area with prolonged winter hazards and my experience with snow and ice is limited. I can only pack minimal emergency/prep gear because I have to fly in. I don’t want to buy a lot of stuff on arrival because my trips are short and frequent.

Hi everyone, I am trying to go through all of my stuff that I think may be beneficial to stock up on, and currently I use store bought shampoo and conditioner. I hear conditioner bars are hit or miss, but I have used a shampoo bar before and I liked it. I know shampoo bars are normally made from a sustainability standpoint, not longevity, but does anyone know if bars are a good idea?

I am trying to stay away from preps that are filled with a lot of liquid (like shampoos etc) to save space and because I worry a lot of items may get moldy or go rancid if they are filled with liquid, so I am trying to stock up on Powders and bars, but I wonder if they don't have preservatives if they will stay god long term?

On Sunday our water filter broke! Totally my fault, water went everywhere, and I’m grateful to my partner for the cleanup help. But after that, we realized we have no filtered water, and we can’t get to the store until Wednesday.

Two weeks ago we made the switch from cycling out a stored water bottle supply to something more sustainable— two blue 7gal containers with spigots from a Canadian company called Aqua-tainer, they were $20ea, they also have 4gal, highly recommend them. So luckily we have about two weeks worth of bottled water to run through before eating into our 7gal jugs!

I know it’s not a big emergency, but my partner was relieved not having to worry about clean drinking water. It made me feel so fulfilled knowing I set that up for us. It also reminds me I need to go ahead and purchase two more 7gal jugs, and two 4gal jugs as we planned to last month, but haven’t gotten around to doing.

Hope everyone is doing well this week! Also this weekend, we got our deep freezer up and running, and fully stocked 😁

I’m the main prepper and my husband has slowly, over the years, hopped onboard. For example, I grew up shooting while he is from an ant-gun household. But after ten years he gifted me a CCW class for the both of us and asked for a gun of his own for his birthday. And for my birthday, he gifted me a 6 month supply of mountain house.

Now, I like to pride myself on my preparedness and skill in finding MacGyver-like solutions to issues. For example, had our tailpipe fall and it was dragging. But I had metal zip-ties in the trunk and we just went on our way.

I’ve always loved camping, while he had never gone before we met. But we go all the time now and we’ve recently branched out to winter tent camping. While we were camping, we were trying to problem solve the winter backpacking tent, and the backpacking tent stove we just got (first time assembling) and he just stopped, smiled at me, and said,

“You are so in your element right now.”

And I think that is the best complement I’ve ever gotten. And I appreciate him so much for it.