text: VENEZUELA CLOSING FREE MEDIA OUTLETS IN AUTHORITATIVE CRACKDOWN: officials from the Venezuelan government telecommunications regulator Conatel, have accelerated ongoing efforts to close radio stations and seize transmission equipment belonging to independent media outlets in the country. Conatal officials have closed 50 radio stations since the beginning of the year, with 15 closures coming in the last month, a significant increase from only nine closures last year. The closures reflect larger efforts by the Maduro government to consolidate government control over media in the country, which has left only 12 newspapers and 74 news and political radio stations, most of which are controlled by government agencies. Conatel officials say the closures come because the stations “misuse” frequencies and lack required licenses. Critics say most applications for licenses have gone unanswered, allowing Conatel to close stations at any time.MEXICO: WE’VE HAD ENOUGH INTEREST RATE HIKES: A key official at the Bank of Mexico cautioned against increasing the monetary policy rate to “excessively” high levels as the economy remains weak. The official, board member Gerardo Esquivel, said the bank’s current rate-hike cycle should end with rates between 10-10.25%. He added, “Expected inflation for 2023 is around 5%, roughly, which means that a rate of 10.0% or 10.25% would be… high enough and restrictive enough.” He added that Mexico began raising rates ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve, and demand pressures between the U.S. and Mexico were not the same and did not require Mexico to follow along with the U.S.Fed.LOW INTENSITY CONFLICT INTSUMCANADIAN SRA RESTARTS: The Canadian Socialist Rifle Association started back up after a 20-month hiatus. The organization is based out of Vancouver and is working on starting up chapters in the eastern half of Canada. Their inaugural range day garnered the attention of several other leftist organizations in the area that have members interested in the SRA. (AC: A resurgence in membership for armed groups is something we have long expected in response to political instability. Canada has recently had several major political issues, including the trucker protest, the response to it by Prime Minister Trudeau, and, most recently, a ban on the sale of new handguns. – J.V.)Tuscaloosa, ALSize: TBDActivity: UA Leftists, formerly University of Alabama Youth Democratic Socialists of America, coordinate protest against Matt Walsh’s “What is a Woman?” tour. The protest is on Thursday, 27 OCT, and UA Leftists coordinate sign making get-together on Tuesday, 25 OCT.Location: Ten Hoor Hall, Ridgecrest East Residential, 900 2nd St, Tuscaloosa, AL Time: 1900; Tuesday, 25-27 OCTOrlando, FLSize: TBDActivity: Far Left activists organize protest of Florida Board of Medicine meeting at the Regency Hotel in Orlando.Location: 9801 International Drive, Orlando, FLTime: 0800; Friday, 28 OCTNormal, ILSize: TBDActivity: Illinois State University Youth Democratic Socialists of America plan “Take Back the Night” event to protest targeted violence and demand a safer campus.Location: Stevenson Hall Room 101, 319 W North St, Normal, ILTime: 1900; Thursday, 27 OCTHouston, TXSize: TBDActivity: Space City Anarchist Organization coordinates mutual aid and food distribution to win hearts and minds in the Houston downtown area of the unhoused.Location: Houston, TXTime: 1200; Thursday, 27 OCT— END REPORT