text: (AC: Expect that China will respond to U.S. sanctions through a variety of gray zone tactics such as cyberattacks on infrastructure and finance targets and political warfare in Pacific Island nations such as the Solomon Islands, which is experiencing civil unrest due to unpopular COVID restrictions. Solomon Islanders see the COVID restrictions as another example of corrupt Chinese-backed officials in their own government overstepping their authority and acting outside the best interest of Solomon Islanders. China will continue to use information operations, such as those in the ASPI report, which aim to refute Western allegations of human rights violations, smear U.S.-styled “democracy” and call into question U.S. legitimacy as a power in the Pacific. – M.M.)Homeland SITREP: The risk of double digit inflation next yearA Twitter account using the pseudonym “Dr. Benjamin Braddock” recently warned that a Senate staffer’s “internal estimates are 35% inflation by next summer.” We have no way to confirm or deny this, however, the account has a history of insightful opinions and nearly 30,000 followers. Additionally, while I have no reason to doubt the information, I also can’t confirm that the Senate staffer’s internal projections are accurate.