text: Good morning. Here’s your Early Warning for Monday, 3 January 2022.TODAY’S BRIEFING:U.S. drought conditions worsenCalifornia pork laws drive national price hikeChinese intel datamining U.S. social mediaDesperate, lame duck Congress in 2022New lockdowns in China hit chipmakers Hazards WarningRussia-NATO SITREP: NEW U.S.- RUSSIA PHONE CALLS, REVERSED GAS FLOWS & CYBER ATTACKSIndo-Pacific SITREP: CHINA CARRIER STRIKE GROUPS, INDIA SURPRISES WITH THIRD NUCLEAR MISSILE SUBLIC Summary/ INTSUMSITUATIONAL AWARENESSU.S. DROUGHT CONDITIONS: Winter wheat in drought has increased seven percentage points from last week, expanding the drought area in the United States to 65%. Seen in the chart below, the USDA reports that 20% is in moderate drought, 28% in severe drought, 14% in extreme drought, and 3% in exceptional drought. Persistent dryness, enhanced winds, anomalous warmth, and worsening soil conditions prolongs the drought conditions. (Analyst Comment: Increases in drought conditions found in the Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas areas indicate worsening conditions in the near term. Drought conditions impact food prices and hinder firefighting efforts as seen in Colorado’s historic wildfires.