# entry

guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747573693
title: Israel kills 130 Palestinians in a matter of hours as Gaza talks resume
content: Israel’s intensified attacks on Gaza have killed more than 130 Palestinians in a matter of hours.
hash: )#��<�?���;�@v�
tags: #Show Types
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2025/5/18/israel-kills-130-palestinians-in-a-matter-of-hours-as-gaza-talks-resume?traffic_source=rss


guid: 1031489 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: From Debanking To Banking Arms-Race - The Rise Of Stablecoins
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/debanking-banking-arms-race-rise-stablecoins
hash: 6%���g�u��c��;q^
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content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">From Debanking To Banking Arms-Race - The Rise Of Stablecoins</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/the-rise-of-stablecoins"><em>Authored by Megan Knab via CoinTelegraph.com,</em></a></p>

<p><strong>There are few historical examples of such a massive about-face for an industry, from banks debanking crypto businesses to now embracing stablecoins.</strong> If you talk to most crypto startup founders or companies with crypto on the balance sheet, they will all have war stories about finding, applying for and maintaining bank accounts. </p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/01944f60-e8cc-731c-a8d6-807013ae.jpg?itok=1Jge8n_X" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/01944f60-e8cc-731c-a8d6-807013ae.jpg?itok=1Jge8n_X"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ae0a502-8b96-4c24-a64e-cbb28603f55f" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="333" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/01944f60-e8cc-731c-a8d6-807013ae.jpg?itok=1Jge8n_X" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>Over the past three years, over half of debanking complaints have been lodged against four American banks — Bank of America, JPMorgan, Wells Fargo and Citibank. <strong>Now, as the policies that discriminated against the crypto industry, like “<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/lessons-operation-chokepoint-hearings">Operation Chokepoint 2.0</a>” and the <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/sec-cancels-crypto-accounting-guidance-sab-121">recision of controversial accounting rule SAB 121</a>, have been repealed, a new openness to blockchain technology from the finance sector is possible. </strong></p>

<p>It is imperative that the banking industry stop shunning crypto and start — at least understanding it — to stay competitive. How stablecoins are deployed will separate the banking winners and losers. </p>

<h2>From debanking to stablecoins </h2>

<p>Of course, stablecoins are not a new concept. For years, large institutions like JPMorgan and Santander have experimented with stablecoins and blockchains. Those experiments were around small functions like internal treasury reconciliation and interbank settlement. Much of this was also on private blockchains created by those banks. Implementing digital dollars on private chains, however, misses out on the core innovation of stablecoins.</p>

<p><strong>While the use case of stablecoins for international remittances is clear, we are just scratching the surface of the power of stablecoins on public networks.</strong> For example, stablecoins eradicate unauthorized payment disputes and enable far faster pay cycles. </p>

<p>Payroll payments are also complex. Payday is a web of thousands of automated clearing houses, wires, comma-separated values and PDFs. The programmability of stablecoins enables companies to create efficiency among all these data structures, processing times, reconciliations and paycheck reporting. </p>

<p><strong>Many smaller banks are just now waking up to the opportunity to incorporate permissionless, public network stablecoins into their workflows. </strong>Similar to how many businesses started to investigate how AI might change their businesses with the 2022 release of ChatGPT, so too are banks needing to look at how stablecoins will upend money movement.</p>

<p> Recently, Custodia Bank issued its own stablecoin, Avit, on Ethereum. Custodia’s users can access quick, cheap banking services that are hard to beat. This is an excellent example of implementation for other financial institutions to follow.</p>

<h2>Stablecoin adoption is increasing as the tech keeps improving</h2>

<p>Active stablecoin wallets <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/stablecoin-users-53-percent-growth-2025">increased from 19.6 million in February 2024 to over 30 million</a> in February 2025, according to Artemis and Dune. US President Donald Trump hopes to have stablecoin legislation on his desk by August 2025.<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/wyoming-governor-announces-partner-state-stablecoin"> Wyoming</a> already did so in late March 2025.</p>

<p><strong>Stablecoin infrastructure has improved significantly, and there is increased confidence in the security of stablecoins. 91% of the supply of stablecoins is fiat-backed, and only 8.5% are backed by collateralized crypto assets.</strong> Riskier algorithmic stablecoins have gone out of vogue.</p>

<p>Incremental changes also make it easier for non-crypto businesses to use stablecoins. There are now simple solutions for many of the original UX problems with stablecoins.</p>

<p><strong>Additionally, more assets are moving onchain. </strong>Using stablecoins on public networks like Ethereum, payment companies will be better prepared to serve the future financial system. It’s not just stablecoins that are updating the financial system, either. Earlier this year, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said on <em>Squawk Box</em> he wants the SEC to “rapidly approve the tokenization of bonds and stocks.”</p>

<p>For banks looking for a competitive advantage in a world of powerful fintechs, shifting interest rates and lower consumer savings,<strong> using the power of stablecoins to improve their products and their internal operations might be the most powerful decision they make. </strong></p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T13:20:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 09:20</span>


guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747574495
title: Pro-Palestine protesters condemn Israel’s Eurovision performance
hash: |����fM��?& ڕc
tags: #Show Types
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
Protesters were assaulted and dragged away for shouting ‘Free Palestine’ during Israel's performance at Eurovision.

link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2025/5/18/pro-palestine-protesters-condemn-israels-eurovision-performance?traffic_source=rss


guid: yt:video:ZeCV-vjZWqU
title: AMB. Charles Freeman : Does Israel survive without support from the US?
author: ;Judge Napolitano - Judging Freedom
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeCV-vjZWqU
hash: ��+A$�(�w @K� 
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guid: https://gript.ie/?p=330830
title: MYERS: Enoch Powell was terrifyingly right
author: ;Kevin Myers
link: https://gript.ie/myers-enoch-powell-was-terrifyingly-right/
hash: �m�|�L �O�.��
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<div><img src="https://gript.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/skynews-enoch-powell-rivers-of-blood_4288036-e1747575516786.jpg" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p><strong>Dear Reader,</strong></p>
<p>It is a simple statement of fact that if you are looking for diversity of thought in the Irish media, you will struggle to find it. That is why we founded Gript – to serve the gap in the market left by so many of our colleagues, when they decided that the job of journalists was not to challenge consensus thought, but to herd around it, and defend it fiercely.</p>
<p>If you are looking for a media outlet that blames everything on the “far right” in Ireland, then you don’t have to go far to find one. If, by contrast, you are looking for a media outlet that looks beyond that cheap sloganeering, and tries to understand and report on the real concerns held by ordinary people – and a good few prominent people, albeit privately – then that is what we try to do here.</p>
<p>But we cannot do it without your support, and your subscription.</p>
<p>We reject Government funding, because, in our view, that would be the end of our independence. The moment we did so, we would begin looking over our shoulder, and wondering if our coverage of a particular issue might lead to that money being taken away. In time – not all at once, but slowly and inexorably – we would become just another safe, consensus, state-funded voice.</p>
<p>But there’s a bargain to be struck here: If you value our independence, then you must support it. If you want us to be answerable to you, then you must take a stake in our work.</p>
<p>What we try to do here is to be open, honest, and brave. That does not mean that you will always agree with us. It does mean that there will be times when we will annoy you, and publish things you disagree with: That’s part of the deal. We are independent, not servants of one cause, or another.</p>
<p>That is what media is supposed to be, but too often in Ireland no longer is. We are trying to change that, and we need your help. I am, therefore, asking for it, and would deeply appreciate a subscription at the level you can afford.</p>
<p>With gratitude,</p>
<p><strong>John</strong></p>

tags:
#Comment Ireland #Comment World #Featured #Featured Picks #Highlights #Premium #Enoch Powell #Immigration #Keir Starmer #Kevin Myers #UK


guid: yt:video:nlbkwJq7iQI
title: Ray McGovern recounts his visit with an old friend - Edward Snowden, while in Moscow.
author: ;Judge Napolitano - Judging Freedom
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlbkwJq7iQI
hash: �7Al�*�f T���/
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guid: https://risingtidefoundation.net/?p=17340
title: Who Killed Alfred Herrhausen in 1989- and Why (The Answer Revealed After 32 Years)
author: ;ibykus20
hash: ����͙��l�� �
tags: #Economics #Europe #History #Video
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content:
<div><img src="https://i0.wp.com/risingtidefoundation.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/024_blackbox_brd_galerie02-1400x916-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C785&amp;ssl=1" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>This Rising Tide Foundation lecture features investigative journalist, film maker and historian Dirk Pohlmann. Throughout this deep dive into history (premised on research that will be revealed in his upcoming book) Dirk sheds light on the truth of Deutschebank President Alfred Herrhausen’s 1989 murder in startling detail. This presentation takes an audience through a century of history starting with the British efforts to destroy the Berlin-Baghdad railway in the early 20th century as a parallel to the current drive for war against Russia and China. This is followed by a zero-ing in on the takeover of US intelligence by the British during the 20th century and the CIA/MI6 use of fascist stay behinds throughout the post-WWII period to nominally fight the Soviets while in reality becoming a new clandestine terrorist-controlling army deployed against the population itself. With this context set, Dirk then tells the tale of Alfred Herrhausen’s vision for the post-Cold War era and what destroyed this momentum.</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Who Killed Alfred Herrhausen in 1989- and Why (The Answer Revealed After 32 Years)" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SFzBvavbUXg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
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guid: https://risingtidefoundation.net/?p=17345
title: Identifying False Post-WWII Narratives [RTF Lecture with Irene Eckert]
author: ;Matthew Ehret
hash: �z����������
tags: #Aesthetical Education #Cultural Warfare #History #Symposium
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<div><img src="https://i0.wp.com/risingtidefoundation.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/irene-intro-feature.jpg?fit=887%2C625&amp;ssl=1" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>What if everything you’ve ever been taught about the causes of the Cold War were a lie? What if leading Nazis like Reinhardt Gehlen (chief of Nazi intelligence) and his entire network were reconstituted in West Germany by leading figures running the CIA? What if these same agencies also created a nihilistic cult of ugliness in literature, film, painting and music in order to destroy the deeper German cultural heritage of Bach, Beethoven, Schiller, Lessing and Mendelsohn in order to enslave society both in Germany and more broadly?</p>
<p>In this Rising Tide Foundation lecture, Irene Eckert takes us through this history in detail starting with the untimely death of Franklin Roosevelt and the destruction of his anti-imperial post-WW2 vision.</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Identifying False Post-WWII Narratives [RTF Lecture with Irene Eckert]" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-TbONrHARe8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><p>Irene Eckert is a teacher of German literature and history. She has also served as Editor-in-Chief of Arbeitskreis for Peace Policy and Nuclear Free Europe (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFIwaUlWcHl2WGYxVDY4dk9PWDJ1ZDZ4YUQxd3xBQ3Jtc0tsSkgzT0t5NjZjNUtQS05uMmJvclluZGhtcXptQm5kTFdaZUtqenhvcXhsMHBtaFUwZkJoN3BDbjlTeERqdFNvcG1vS1c4YVhZUGlvN0NpRGVzMnQzc0pzc1Nma3FRbHFoMzZUSjlpejRkU1JxODk5cw&amp;q=http%3A%2F%2Fakf-europe.org%2F">http://akf-europe.org</a>). She recently composed an essay based on the material outlined in her lecture <a href="https://canadianpatriot.org/2021/12/16/aborted-post-war-ii-opportunities-and-how-to-resurrect-hope/">found here</a>.</p>
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guid: https://risingtidefoundation.net/?p=19541
title: Clash of the Two Americas Mini Doc Part 3: How a World of Sovereign Republics was Subverted
author: ;Matthew Ehret
link: https://risingtidefoundation.net/2025/05/18/video-how-a-world-of-sovereign-republics-was-subverted/
hash: *����7��ɷ���9G
tags: #Video #Universal History
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>Many paradoxes are littered about the contours of history, and many false narratives have been placed between the mind of truth seekers and the basic elementary facts of historical causality which would provide the greatest insight not only into the reasons for our current crises, but also creative insights into solutions for the future.</p>
<p>Several major questions addressed in this third of a series of Unfinished Symphony historical videos are:</p>
<p>Why was the success of the American Revolution not replicated across the world after 1783 despite the fact that leading republican revolutionaries from France, Prussia, Italy, Germany, Poland, Ireland and even India worked tirelessly to ensure both the success of 1776 within the 13 colonies as well as in their home countries?</p>
<p>Why did the new age of reason and win-win cooperation fail to manifest in the late 18th century while the archaic system of Hobbesian unipolarism and hereditary institutions kept its claws firmly into its human host.</p>
<p>How did the beautiful potential of the French Revolution turn into a bloodbath of Jacobin terror, and tyranny leading to the murder of Benjamin Franklin’s key allies in France?</p>
<p>This new video titled “How a World of Sovereign Republics was Subverted” is based on the new audiobook of Clash of the Two Americas vol 1 (the Unfinished Symphony) written by Matthew Ehret and Cynthia Chung, narrated by Hugh Patrick Trudeau and produced by Jason Dahl. It answers the above questions and much more.</p>
<p>Watch this new video on Rumble, BitChute and Youtube below:</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://rumble.com/v1e3ezx-how-a-world-of-sovereign-republics-was-subverted-from-the-clash-of-2-americ.html"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="563" data-attachment-id="19542" data-permalink="https://risingtidefoundation.net/2025/05/18/video-how-a-world-of-sovereign-republics-was-subverted/image-15/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/risingtidefoundation.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image.png?fit=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="1024,576" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="image" data-image-description data-image-caption data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/risingtidefoundation.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image.png?fit=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/risingtidefoundation.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image.png?fit=1000%2C563&amp;ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/risingtidefoundation.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image.png?resize=1000%2C563&amp;ssl=1" alt data-sanitized-class="wp-image-19542"></a></figure>
<h2 data-sanitized-class="wp-block-heading">and YouTube <a href="https://youtu.be/3XN6QxP3cKE">here</a>:</h2>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="How a World of Sovereign Republics was Subverted [from the Clash of 2 Americas]" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3XN6QxP3cKE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><h2 data-sanitized-class="wp-block-heading">Watch episode 1 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOD9UImaVwk&amp;t=85s">here</a>, episode 2 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dFqUE_Y2nU">here</a>, episode 4 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ_gp628-qw">here</a>, and episode 5 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1v8TeQTwfk">here</a>.</h2>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://canadianpatriot.org/untold-history-of-canada-books/"><img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="591" data-attachment-id="19544" data-permalink="https://risingtidefoundation.net/2025/05/18/video-how-a-world-of-sovereign-republics-was-subverted/image-1-2/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/risingtidefoundation.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image-1.png?fit=1024%2C605&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="1024,605" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="image-1" data-image-description data-image-caption data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/risingtidefoundation.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image-1.png?fit=300%2C177&amp;ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/risingtidefoundation.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image-1.png?fit=1000%2C591&amp;ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/risingtidefoundation.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image-1.png?resize=1000%2C591&amp;ssl=1" alt data-sanitized-class="wp-image-19544"></a></figure>


guid: https://risingtidefoundation.net/?p=16271
title: Symposium: Rediscovering the Lost Art of Statecraft
author: ;Matthew Ehret
link: https://risingtidefoundation.net/2025/05/18/symposium-rediscovering-the-lost-art-of-statecraft/
hash: q��y@�tƝ$1<C�K
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<div><img src="https://i0.wp.com/risingtidefoundation.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/rtf-symposium-lost-art-of-statecraft-just-image.jpg?fit=1200%2C868&amp;ssl=1" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><h4 data-sanitized-class="wp-block-heading">To view all past symposiums <a href="https://risingtidefoundation.net/events/">click here</a>. To register for future class series email info@risingtidefoundation.net</h4>
<h2 data-sanitized-class="wp-block-heading"><strong>1st Movement: The Ancients</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday May 9 at 4pm EST<br><strong>Title:</strong> Plato and Confucius, Spiritual Brothers and Philosopher Kings Living at the Two Ends of the World Island<br><strong>Lecturer:</strong> Dr. Quan Le<br><strong>Bio:</strong> Dr. Le is a practicing psychiatrist and geopolitical analyst with a focus on Asian history, culture and world religions.</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Plato and Confucius, Spiritual Brothers and Philosopher Kings by Dr. Quan Le" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PtFZXvWFmbA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><p>____________________________________________________________________________________________________________</p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday May 16 at 4pm EST<br><strong>Title:</strong> Plato’s Fight Against the Temple of Apollo at Delphi and the Cult of Democracy<br><strong>Lecturer:</strong> Cynthia Chung<br><strong>Bio:</strong> Cynthia is Editor and Co-Founder of the Rising Tide Foundation and is a writer for the Strategic Culture Foundation. She is a classically trained pianist with experience leading choral works and holds a BSC in Molecular Genetics.</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Plato's Fight Against Apollo's Temple of Delphi and the Cult of Democracy (Cynthia Chung lecture)" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vX4J8Amxpf0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><p>____________________________________________________________________________________________________________</p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday May 23 at 1pm EST<br><strong>Title:</strong> How Tragedy Can Heal Society: The Oresteia as Political Therapy<br><strong>Lecturer:</strong> Dr. Nicolai Petro<br><strong>Bio:</strong>  Dr. Petro is the Silvia-Chandley Professor of Peace Studies and Nonviolence (2017-2019) and Professor of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_science">Political Science</a> at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Rhode_Island">University of Rhode Island</a>, in the United States. He also served as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_State_Department">US State Department</a>‘s special assistant for policy on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union">Soviet Union</a> in the early 1990s and is currently a Member of the Board at the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://simoneweilcenter.org/" target="_blank">Simone Weil Center </a>and the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://usrussiaaccord.com/" target="_blank">American Committee for U.S.-Russian Accord</a>.</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="How Tragedy Can Heal Society: The Oresteia as Political Therapy with Dr. Nicolai Petro" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XN5A_mLAos8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><h2 data-sanitized-class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2nd Movement: The Renaissance Emerges</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday June 6 at 2pm EST<br><strong>Title;</strong> Gottfried Leibniz and the Cameralist Tradition<br><strong>Lecturer</strong>: Nancy Spannaus<br><strong>Bio:</strong> Nancy is the President and founder of <a href="https://americansystemnow.com/">American System Now</a> and author of the recently published <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Versus-Wall-Street-Principles-ebook/dp/B07NXXQ2WN/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&amp;qid=1619476519&amp;refinements=p_27%3ANancy+Spannaus&amp;s=digital-text&amp;sr=1-1&amp;text=Nancy+Spannaus">Hamilton vs Wall Street</a> and the 1977 book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Political-Economy-American-Revolution-ebook/dp/B00U58EYF4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&amp;keywords=political+economy+of+the+american+revolution&amp;qid=1619476449&amp;s=digital-text&amp;sr=1-1">“The Political-Economy of the American Revolution”</a></p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Gottfried Leibniz and the Cameralist Tradition (RTF Lecture with Nancy Spannaus)" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qb-IGzBiBDQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><p>____________________________________________________________________________________________________________</p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday June 13 at 4pm EST<br><strong>Title:</strong> The Principle of Westphalia and the Birth of International Law<br><strong>Lecturer:</strong> Matthew Ehret<br><strong>Bio:</strong> Matthew is a co-founder of the Rising Tide Foundation, Editor-in-Chief of the<a href="http://www.canadianpatriot.org/"> Canadian Patriot Review</a> and Senior Fellow of the American University in Moscow. He is a BRI Expert on Tactical Talk and a writer for the Strategic Culture Foundation.</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="The Peace of Westphalia: A Phase Shift in Universal History [RTF Lecture with Matthew Ehret]" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R5cqHvGCuZo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><h2 data-sanitized-class="wp-block-heading"><strong>3rd Movement: The Birth of a Republic</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday June 20 at 1pm EST:<br><strong>Title:</strong> A City on a Hill and Winthrop’s Grand Design<br><strong>Lecturer:</strong> Sam Labrier<br><strong>Bio:</strong> Sam has a degree in History from Concordia University and obtained his engineering degree from Ryerson University in Toronto. He has worked in the fields of nuclear engineering, electrical power engineering, and optical biophysics.</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="A City on a Hill and Winthrop's Grand Design [RTF Lecture with Sam Labrier]" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I-cF1kuDykM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><p>____________________________________________________________________________________________________________</p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday June 27 at 4pm EST<br><strong>Title:</strong> Benjamin Franklin’s Stroke of Genius and the Rise of the American System<br><strong>Lecturer:</strong> Anton Chaitkin<br><strong>Bio:</strong> Anton is a researcher, historian and activist who has published several best seller books on US history and politics including Treason in America: From Aaron Burr to Averell Harriman and the Unauthorized Biography of George Bush. Most recently he has published volume one of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Who-We-Are-Americas-Universal-ebook/dp/B08QBSFYK2">Who We Are: America’s Struggle for Universal Progress</a> (1750s-1850s).</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Why the American System Matters: Franklin, Lincoln, FDR and You [Anton Chaitkin RTF Lecture]" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-hxyKPIHTr4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><p>____________________________________________________________________________________________________________</p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday July 4 at 4pm EST<br><strong>Title:</strong> Shakespeare and Statecraft as Expressed by Abraham Lincoln<br><strong>Lecturer:</strong> Martin Sieff<br><strong>Bio:</strong> Martin Sieff is Adjunct Professor of Transnational Threats at Bay Atlantic University and a senior fellow of the Global Policy Institute and the American University in Moscow. He is the author of seven books including “<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Cycles-Change-American-History-Coming-ebook/dp/B00V3KTQBA">Cycles of Change: the patterns of US politics from Thomas Jefferson to Barack Obama</a>‘ – and “Gathering Storm: The Three Great Eras of US History and Coming Crisis that Will Lead to the Fourth”</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Shakespeare and Statecraft as Expressed by Abraham Lincoln - Martin Sieff RTF lecture" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V-cTTaJzIzI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><p><strong>Follow Up Special by Martin Sieff:</strong> Ulysses Grant: America’s Greatest General and Most Underrated President (September 12, 2021)</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Ulysses Grant: America's Greatest General and Most Underrated President [Martin Sieff lecture]" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C_HDLQuwRyU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><h2 data-sanitized-class="wp-block-heading"><strong>4th Movement: A New Global Paradigm Emerges</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday July 11 at 4pm EST<br><strong>Title:</strong> The Dream of an African Renaissance: Cheikh Anta Diop’s Grand Design<br><strong>Lecturer:</strong> Nicholas Jones<br><strong>Bio:</strong> Nicholas is a professional dancer with La Grande Ballet de Montreal who has performed around the world and recently founded the <a href="https://www.artistsallianceforafrica.com/">Artists Alliance for Africa</a> as a non-profit devoted to bringing classical artistic training to children in Kenya with the goal of establishing a full academy in Africa.</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="The Dream of an African Renaissance: Cheikh Anta Diop's Grand Design" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4AgklS9TlMg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><p>____________________________________________________________________________________________________________</p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday July 18 at 4pm EST<br><strong>Title:</strong> The Bandung Conference and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence<br><strong>Lecturer:</strong> Cynthia Chung<br><strong>Bio:</strong> Cynthia is Editor and Co-Founder of the Rising Tide Foundation and is a writer for the Strategic Culture Foundation. She is a classically trained pianist with experience leading choral works and holds a BSC in Molecular Genetics.</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Bandung (Asian-African) Conference- The Voice of the People (Cynthia Chung RTF Lecture)" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i0tFlawT9vo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><p>____________________________________________________________________________________________________________</p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday July 25 at 4pm EST<br><strong>Title:</strong> Franklin Roosevelt’s Republican Grand Design (Act 1)<br><strong>Lecturer:</strong> Pascal Chevrier<br><strong>Bio:</strong> Pascal is a history teacher and educator based in Quebec with experience working in Arctic communities.</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Franklin Roosevelt's Republican Grand Design" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JJnGMjkLRcE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday August 1, at 4pm EST<br><strong>Title:</strong> John F Kennedy’s New Frontiers (Act 2)<br><strong>Lecturer:</strong> Pascal Chevrier<br><strong>Bio:</strong> Pascal is a history teacher and educator based in Quebec with experience working in Arctic communities.</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Kennedy and the New Frontier [RTF Lecture by Pascal Chevrier]" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SZJ8hmvOrp4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><h2 data-sanitized-class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Fifth Movement: Bridging the East-West Divide</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday August 8 at 4pm EST<br><strong>Title:</strong> China and the Founding of the United States<br><strong>Lecturer:</strong> Dr. David Wang<br><strong>Bio:</strong> <a href="http://foundingfathersandchina.blogspot.com/">Dave Wang</a> is Manager of Hollis Library and Adjunct Professor of St. Johns University<a href="https://www.resetdoc.org/story/benjamin-franklin-and-chinese-civilization/">.</a> Prof. Wang has published over twenty groundbreaking articles on the topic of Chinese influences on the founding fathers of America including the new book ‘China and the Founding of the United States: The Influence of Traditional Chinese Civilization’ published by Lexington Books this summer. You can find more of his work at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://foundingfathersandchina.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">https://foundingfathersandchina.blogspot.com</a></p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="China and the Founding of the United States [RTF Lecture with Dr. David Wang]" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d-X9xXVd0vM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday August 15 at 4pm EST<br><strong>Title:</strong> Statecraft in Modern Day China: From Sun Yat-sen to the New Silk Road<br><strong>Lecturer:</strong> Dr. Quan Le<br><strong>Bio:</strong> Dr. Le is a practicing psychiatrist and geopolitical analyst with a focus on Asian history, culture and world religions.</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Statecraft in Modern China: From Sun Yat-sen to the New Silk Road" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QiptkcHNvCM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><p><strong>Date:</strong> August 29 at 4pm EST<br><strong>Title:</strong> The American Russian Paradox<br><strong>Lecturer:</strong> Jeffrey Steinberg<br>Bio: Jeffrey Steinberg is Executive Vice President of PTB Global Advisors, a consulting firm with clients across Asia.  He is an adjunct professor at Frederick College and Florida Gulf Coast University, where he teaches courses on US national security, the US Constitution, Modern China, and Russian-American relations.  He was a senior editor and counterintelligence director for Executive Intelligence Review.  </p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="The Russian-American Paradox (Jeff Steinberg Lecture)" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8oNLCdDdPSk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><h2 data-sanitized-class="wp-block-heading">Epilog<strong>ue</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday September 5 at 4pm EST<br><strong>Title:</strong> From Shelley to Plato: Why Poets are the Unacknowledged Legislators of World<br><strong>Lecturer:</strong> Gerald Therrien<br><strong>Bio:</strong> Gerald is a historian and author of a four volume series on Canadian History entitled ‘Canadian History Unveiled’ and has lectured on topics ranging from poetry, ancient Athenian culture, the renaissance and the Haitian revolution. He also serves as advisor to the Rising Tide Foundation.</p>
<figure data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div data-sanitized-class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="From Shelley to Plato: Why Poets are the Unacknowledged Legislators of the World" width="1000" height="563" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vcjz_Dmm504?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin">[embedded content]</iframe></div>
</figure><h2 data-sanitized-class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New symposium begins (September 12): The Earth’s Next 1000 Years</strong> – <a href="https://risingtidefoundation.net/symposium-earths-next-thousand-years-september-19-nov-21/">CLICK HERE TO SEE SCHEDULE</a></h2>
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tags:
#Aesthetical Education #Dialogue of Cultures #new silk road #Philosophy #renaissance #Symposium #Universal History


guid: 1031520 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: Hamas Planned Oct. 7 To Prevent Israel-Saudi Normalization, Documents Confirm
author: ;Tyler Durden
hash: b�2�)�+[�W�ws
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Hamas Planned Oct. 7 To Prevent Israel-Saudi Normalization, Documents Confirm</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Newly uncovered internal Hamas documents confirm a longtime theory explaining the motives behind the Oct.7, 2023 terror attack which kicked off the bloody and grinding Gaza war, which still shows no signs of abating and has resulted in unprecedented death and destruction in the Gaza Strip.</p>

<p>The documents, published by <em>The Wall Street Journal</em>, demonstrate that Hamas leaders had a <strong>specific aim of preventing a potential peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia</strong> based on the US-backed Abraham Accords. This was speculated about soon after the horrific attacks that also kicked off the hostage crisis.</p>
<a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/sinwar1.jpg?itok=6S7bkygz" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/sinwar1.jpg?itok=6S7bkygz"><picture><figure role="group" data-sanitized-class="caption caption-img inline-images image-style-inline-images"><img alt="" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e62b1318-2837-43a0-972c-8e33cecc0fa9" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="281" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/sinwar1.jpg?itok=6S7bkygz" typeof="foaf:Image" width="500"><figcaption><em>Yahya Sinwar signaling 'victory' at a 2021 rally, via Shutterstock.</em></figcaption></figure></picture></a>

<p>This is according to minutes from a high-level meeting which cite now slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and which were <strong>reportedly discovered by Israeli forces in Gaza tunnels</strong>. Sinwar was quoted in the internal papers, which are <strong>dated Oct. 2, 2023</strong> - as saying, "There is no doubt that the Saudi-Zionist normalization agreement is progressing significantly."</p>

<p>He expressed alarm that a deal would <strong>"open the door for the majority of Arab and Islamic countries to follow the same path." </strong></p>

<p>Indeed the Palestinians have long feared that broad acceptance of the Abraham Accords in the region would leave the cause of a statehood permanently forgotten and sidelined. It would allow for Israeli expansion with impunity, and with no powerful Arab block to resist or raise a voice. It would also likely dry up any funding or weapons support for armed groups like Hamas or Islamic Jihad.</p>

<p>The Wall Street Journal presents the following, quoting notes from the <a href="https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/05/18/hamas-planned-oct-7-to-prevent-israel-saudi-normalization/">meeting further</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
<p data-testid="paragraph" data-type="paragraph" font-size="16"><em>For Sinwar and Hamas, who have called for total destruction of Israel and the creation of a Palestinian state between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, this was unacceptable. <strong>Sinwar said it was time to unleash an attack that had been in the planning stages for two years</strong>.</em></p>

<p data-testid="paragraph" data-type="paragraph" font-size="16"><em>The goal, he said, is <strong>"to bring about a major move or a strategic shift in the paths and balances of the region with regard to the Palestinian cause."</strong> He expected to get help from the other Iranian-backed forces of the so-called axis of resistance to Israel.</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>He called for an <strong>"extraordinary act"</strong> in order to halt the move toward Israeli-Saudi normalization.</p>
<a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/snwrpapers.jpg?itok=XRoF9BJ8" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/snwrpapers.jpg?itok=XRoF9BJ8"><picture><figure role="group" data-sanitized-class="caption caption-img inline-images image-style-inline-images"><img alt="" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a3175645-432c-4271-8764-44b5f4019664" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="198" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/snwrpapers.jpg?itok=XRoF9BJ8" typeof="foaf:Image" width="500"><figcaption><em>WSJ: "The Israeli military says it found minutes from an Oct. 2, 2023 meeting of Hamas leadership where Yahya Sinwar said an 'extraordinary act' was needed to confront Israeli-Saudi normalization."</em></figcaption></figure></picture></a>

<p>Hamas has not commented on the documents' authenticity, but again, their contents appear fully consistent with concerns voiced by some Palestinian officials long prior to Oct. 7 - that the Palestinian cause would suffocate and die if the Arab Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia, achieve full diplomatic normalization with Israel.</p>

<p>One year ago, at the tail-end of the Biden administration, the US was <a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/biden-pushing-pipe-dream-israel-saudi-mega-deal-based-palestinian-state-recognition">still trying</a> to entice the Saudis to sign a deal - even offering help with <strong>developing a civilian nuclear program</strong> and fewer restrictions on arms purchases in exchange for normalizing ties with Israel.</p>

<p data-type="paragraph">The US position has long been that a Palestinian state must be born out direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians, and not accomplished superficially within an external forum like the UN. But powerful Arab states like Saudi Arabia would theoretically apply immense pressure on the Palestinian side.</p>

<p data-type="paragraph">Israel for its part has clearly <strong>rejected that it will allow for a Palestinian state so long as Hamas still exists</strong>, and PM Netanyahu has even linked the more secular-leaning Palestinian Authority in the West Bank to 'terrorism'. He has also rejected a prior US call to allow the PA to take over and administer the Gaza Strip. The reality is that the current Gaza war makes the prospect of achieving a Palestinian state more distant than ever.</p>
<a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/idftunnesl.jpg?itok=aSfVqHJB" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/idftunnesl.jpg?itok=aSfVqHJB"><picture><figure role="group" data-sanitized-class="caption caption-img inline-images image-style-inline-images"><img alt="" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="18a18d28-c140-41c1-93ec-6d49e87eafdb" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="349" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/idftunnesl.jpg?itok=aSfVqHJB" typeof="foaf:Image" width="500"><figcaption><em>Israeli military in Hamas tunnels and commander bunkers under Gaza, via IDF.</em></figcaption></figure></picture></a>

<p data-type="paragraph">And the prospect of Palestinian statehood resulting from some kind of Israel-Saudi normalization agreement based on Trump's Abraham Accords (conceived during his first administration) - which US media reports previously hailed as 'deal of the century' - also clearly seems <strong>a pipe dream at this point</strong>.</p>

<p data-type="paragraph"><strong>In this regard at least, Sinyar's 'extraordinary act' served its purpose</strong>, but the bloody aftermath is thousands of Israelis killed, many tens of thousands of Palestinians dead and wounded, and <strong>a region on fire</strong>.</p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T13:55:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 09:55</span>

link:
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/hamas-planned-oct-7-prevent-israel-saudi-normalization-documents-confirm


guid: yt:video:RCbokZA0fxk
title: LaRouche: &quot;Laying Down the Laws of Physical Economy&quot;
author: ;Diane Sare
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCbokZA0fxk
hash: ���&�k����o�t�Y
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guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306240
title: Live updates: Lawmakers discuss Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill,’ Qatari jet gift
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/5306240-live-updates-trump-tax-bill-qatar-jet-gift-joe-biden/
hash: ���A<��J'K+�nk
tags: #News
content:
House Republicans will reconvene this evening to find a path to pass President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” after encountering a hurdle on Friday. Five fiscal hawks blocked the measure from being made out of the House Budget Committee. The GOP lawmakers who voted against pushing forward the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBB) include: Reps. Chip Roy (Texas), Ralph Norman…

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guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5304413
title: Yes, Harvard had it coming — but Trump’s ‘fix’ is still unconstitutional
author: ;Connor Murnane; Opinion Contributor
link: https://thehill.com/opinion/education/5304413-harvard-federal-funding-threats/
hash: �Ϸ=�u���F쌓
tags: #Education #Opinion
content:
Harvard University has a history of undermining free speech and academic freedom, but the Trump administration's response of freezing its federal funding is unlawful and unconstitutional.

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{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/trump-universities_lonas-cochrane_AP.jpg?w=900","type":"image/jpeg","length":1233097}]}


guid: https://strategic-culture.su/?post_type=article&amp;p=885383
title: Onde estão os germes mais férteis do trumpismo na Europa?
author: ;A A
hash: ��5��e��M]b1/�}
tags: #Português #European Union #MAGA #Truman #United States
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p><strong><em>Um estudo revela que muitos franceses aderem às ideias fundadoras do trumpismo. A direita, mais do que a extrema-direita, poderá ser a beneficiária.</em></strong></p>
<p><em><strong>By Gérald PAPY</strong></em></p>
<p><strong><span>Junte-se a nós no</span> <a href="https://t.me/SCF_Portuguese" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><u>Telegram</u></a></strong><strong><u><a href="https://t.me/SCF_Portuguese" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tlg.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875659"></a></u>, <u><a href="https://twitter.com/SCJournalOnline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a><a href="https://twitter.com/SCJournalOnline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/twitter.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875661"></a></u></strong><strong><span> e </span></strong><strong><u><a href="https://vk.com/strategicculture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VK</a><a href="https://vk.com/strategicculture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wk.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875662"></a></u>.</strong></p>
<p><strong><span>Escreva para nós:</span> <a href="mailto:info@strategic-culture.su" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><u>info@strategic-culture.su</u></a></strong></p>
<p>Um estudo revela que muitos franceses aderem às ideias fundadoras do trumpismo. A direita, mais do que a extrema-direita, poderá ser a beneficiária.</p>
<p>Com sua gestão da guerra na Ucrânia e a orientação dada às relações comerciais transatlânticas, Donald Trump conquistou novos inimigos na Europa desde o início de seu novo mandato. Mas será que o próprio trumpismo poderia se disseminar pela União Europeia?</p>
<p>O Centro de Pesquisas Políticas de Sciences Po (Cevipof), em Paris, e a Universidade Livre Internacional de Estudos Sociais Guido Carli (Luiss), em Roma, submeteram algumas diretrizes do programa político da nova administração americana à avaliação de amostras de cidadãos na França, Itália, Alemanha e Países Baixos entre meados de janeiro e início de fevereiro, no âmbito da 16ª onda do Barômetro da Confiança Política. Foram testados: a rejeição à classe política, o desencanto com a democracia, a demanda por mais autoridade, a desconfiança na justiça, a expansão do liberalismo econômico e a recusa à ingerência estatal na vida privada. Com base nos resultados das pesquisas de opinião, pode-se afirmar que existe na Europa um terreno fértil para o desenvolvimento do trumpismo.</p>
<p><strong>Crise da democracia</strong></p>
<p>Para Luc Rouban, diretor de pesquisa do CNRS, membro do Cevipof e autor do relatório “O Trumpismo à Francesa” (1), a França é, dos quatro países estudados, o mais permeável às ideias do trumpismo.</p>
<p>“É neste país que observamos as convergências mais fortes. Claro, há diferenças entre a França e os EUA, principalmente porque estes são uma federação. Mas ideias de soberania, voluntarismo nacional e um Estado forte… sempre foram difundidas na França, inclusive na esquerda. Não devemos esquecer isso”, analisa Rouban.</p>
<p>Três marcadores do trumpismo revelam essa proximidade francesa com a percepção do cidadão americano: desconfiança na justiça, relação complicada com a classe política e crise democrática em torno da noção de eficiência.</p>
<p>“A sensação de que a democracia não funciona bem e de que, com menos democracia mas mais eficiência, as coisas seriam melhores, realmente distingue a França da Alemanha, Itália e Países Baixos”, destaca Rouban. Para ele, o fenômeno é tanto conjuntural – “ligado à instabilidade política desde a dissolução da Assembleia Nacional, as eleições legislativas e as dificuldades para formar governo” – quanto estrutural.</p>
<p>“A França vive essa situação há anos. Lembremos o discurso dos coletes amarelos: ‘Joguei o jogo, fiz tudo o que me pediram, e mesmo assim não consigo’. Muitos cidadãos sentem que há indiferença ou ineficiência em resolver seus problemas.”</p>
<p>A falta de confiança na justiça é outro indicador dessa particularidade francesa: apenas 44% confiam no sistema judiciário, mesmo percentual da Itália, contra 63% nos Países Baixos e 66% na Alemanha. A França tem a maior proporção de entrevistados que consideram a justiça “muito leniente” (69%), “parcial” (77%) e “politizada” (69%). O recente episódio judicial – a condenação de Marine Le Pen por desvio de verbas públicas e sua exploração política – certamente reforçará essa tendência. Exceto quanto à acusação de leniência, os italianos expressam nível similar de desconfiança no judiciário, bem acima de alemães e holandeses.</p>
<p><strong>Apoio aos serviços públicos</strong></p>
<p>Por outro lado, franceses, alemães, italianos e holandeses expressam relativa confiança em seus sistemas de saúde, polícia e forças armadas (entre 64% e 80%). Em geral, a satisfação com os serviços públicos na Europa contrasta com a situação nos EUA.</p>
<p>“Alguns aspectos são próprios do trumpismo e de políticas encontradas nas Américas – não só nos EUA, mas também com Jair Bolsonaro no Brasil ou Javier Milei na Argentina – que combinam mensagens de extrema-direita com posições neoliberais ou até libertárias, buscando reduzir a essência do Estado”, explica Benjamin Biard, pesquisador do Centro de Pesquisa e Informação Sociopolítica (Crisp). “Na Europa, os partidos de extrema-direita não focam tanto em desmantelar serviços públicos. Alguns, como a Reunião Nacional na França ou o Vlaams Belang na Bélgica, até adotam retórica social para ampliar seu eleitorado.”</p>
<p>Diante de uma população mais apegada aos serviços públicos, fica difícil para os “herdeiros naturais” do trumpismo na Europa aplicarem as mesmas receitas. Ainda assim, o número de entrevistados que acham que “o número de funcionários públicos deveria ser reduzido” – marca registrada da administração Trump – nunca foi tão alto nos quatro países (53% desde 2017).</p>
<p><strong>A extrema-direita não é o único veículo</strong></p>
<p>Embora os movimentos de extrema-direita – abertamente apoiados por Trump, o vice-presidente Vance e o conselheiro Musk – pareçam ser o terreno natural para a expansão do trumpismo na Europa, não são os únicos possíveis receptores.</p>
<p>“A volta de Donald Trump à Casa Branca exerce fascínio inegável em grande parte da direita e extrema-direita francesas, ao mostrar que uma direita radical e autoritária pode chegar ao poder num país considerado modelo das democracias ocidentais”, observa Rouban. Mas as ideias trumpistas se espalham além: influenciam os Republicanos, setores do macronismo e até a esquerda.</p>
<p>“A recepção do trumpismo na França pode reconfigurar significativamente a direita. Talvez não beneficie a Reunião Nacional, que não parece melhor posicionada para atender à demanda por liberalismo e mobilidade social que o trumpismo defende. Os Republicanos poderiam ser os principais beneficiados.”</p>
<p><strong>Batalha de nacionalismos</strong></p>
<p>Na extrema-direita europeia, a adesão ao trumpismo é desigual e depende de sensibilidades divergentes. No Parlamento Europeu, essa corrente está representada por pelo menos três grupos políticos. Sem dúvida, a primeira-ministra italiana Giorgia Meloni (Irmãos da Itália) simboliza melhor que ninguém a convergência entre parte da classe política europeia e o governo americano.</p>
<p>“Mas ela está numa posição delicada”, observa Biard. “Tem relações privilegiadas com Trump, mas sua política comercial prejudica a UE e seus Estados-membros, incluindo a Itália. É o paradoxo desse tipo de aliança.”</p>
<p>É também o paradoxo de partidos que promovem nacionalismos que, por natureza, podem colidir com os de outros países, mesmo supostamente da mesma família política. Os otimistas podem se alegrar vendo-os se enfrentarem. Mas persiste uma realidade preocupante, identificada por Rouban: expectativas similares às que levaram Trump à presidência em novembro de 2024 estão fortemente presentes em eleitorados europeus.</p>
<p>(1) “O Trumpismo à Francesa”, Luc Rouban, Barômetro da Confiança Política, Sciences Po Cevipof, março de 2025.</p>
<p><em>Original article: </em><a href="https://www.levif.be/international/europe/trumpisme-ou-sont-les-germes-les-plus-feconds-du-trumpisme-en-europe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>levif.be</strong></a></p>

link:
https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/05/18/onde-estao-os-germes-mais-ferteis-do-trumpismo-na-europa/


guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165922/portugal-roumanie-pologne-elections-extreme-droite
title: Portugal, Roumanie et Pologne : jour d’élections sur fond de montée de l’extrême droite
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165922/portugal-roumanie-pologne-elections-extreme-droite
hash: �[l��״b��ď�
content:
<p>George Simion, partisan de Donald Trump eurosceptique, pourrait remporter la présidentielle roumaine.</p>

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guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165928/rougeole-mefiance-vaccin-desinformation-alerte
title: La méfiance vaccinale alimente la résurgence de la rougeole, alertent des experts
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165928/rougeole-mefiance-vaccin-desinformation-alerte
hash: �|�}\o+L Z�_D�
content:
<p>Le Canada est aux prises avec sa plus grosse flambée de rougeole depuis l’élimination de la maladie, en 1998.</p>

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guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/sports/2165930/de-grasse-a-5-centiemes-de-la-victoire-a-tokyo
title: De Grasse à 5 centièmes de la victoire à Tokyo
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/sports/2165930/de-grasse-a-5-centiemes-de-la-victoire-a-tokyo
hash: �\V��7��L�ao$
content:
<p>Le multiple médaillé olympique n’a pas pu rejoindre Robert Gregory, qui a arrêté le chrono en 20,24 s.</p>

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guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747574142
title: Pope Leo XIV meets Ukraine’s Zelenskyy after his inaugural Mass
content: Pontiff calls for peace and unity at the service, which attracts dignitaries from around the world.
hash: g��l =�K��� 
tags: #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/18/pope-leo-xiv-meets-ukraines-zelenskyy-after-his-inaugural-mass?traffic_source=rss


guid: 1031490 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: Schiff On Metals &amp; Miners: Dollar Bubble Burst Will Humble The Economy
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/schiff-metals-miners-dollar-bubble-burst-will-humble-economy
hash: �"��?�0b T4��H
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Schiff On Metals &amp; Miners: Dollar Bubble Burst Will Humble The Economy</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="https://www.schiffgold.com/interviews/schiff-on-metals-and-miners-dollar-bubble-will-humble-the-economy"><em>Via SchiffGold.com,</em></a></p>

<p>Peter recently joined <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@metalsandminers">Metals and Miners </a>host Gary Gohm to discuss a range of economic topics, from consumer debt to the fragility of the U.S. dollar and the shifting global reserve landscape. He explains how reckless borrowing—by both consumers and governments—ties into the bigger story of <a href="https://www.schiffgold.com/exploring-finance/treasury-has-paid-out-941b-in-interest-over-the-last-12-months">unsustainable dollar dominance</a> and its consequences for economic security, <a href="https://www.schiffgold.com/guest-commentaries/cracked-shells-how-supply-shocks-not-monopoly-drive-egg-prices">inflation</a>, and the gold market. </p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="432" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W_zLn1-C0V8" title="Prepare for Economic Chaos! Gold Surge, Dollar Crash Warning, Miners to explode | PETER SCHIFF" width="768" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin"></iframe></p>

<p>Peter opens with a candid take on the psychology of <a href="https://www.schiffgold.com/guest-commentaries/trumps-easy-money-agenda-empowering-wall-street-undermining-main-street">U.S. consumers facing mounting financial strain.</a> He notes that for many deeply in debt, there’s little incentive to curb borrowing when bankruptcy feels inevitable:</p>

<blockquote>
<p><em><strong>And I think that the people who are trying to borrow more money out of desperation, they probably don’t even care that they can’t pay the money back.</strong> </em></p>

<p><em>They just want to borrow more. And in fact, once you’ve already borrowed more than you can possibly repay, and you know it’s just a matter of time before you file for bankruptcy, you may as well go out with a real bang. I mean, so you might as well just take out as much additional credit. </em></p>

<p><em><strong>So the consumer has no qualms about refinancing a house that is going to go into foreclosure anyway, or maxing out a credit card that he has no intention of paying, or signing up for buy now, pay later, when in his mind it’s ‘buy now, pay never.’</strong></em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Steering the conversation to the foundation of this unchecked borrowing, Peter highlights the even larger bubble inflating quietly in the background: the U.S. dollar and Treasury markets. He argues that <a href="https://www.schiffgold.com/commentaries/heres-why-tariffs-wont-bring-back-manufacturing">it’s this inflation that fuels trade imbalances </a>and the erosion of American manufacturing—not foreign “cheating” or tariffs as some officials claim:</p>

<blockquote>
<p><em><strong>Well, first of all, the biggest bubble of them all is the one in the US dollar and in US treasuries. </strong></em></p>

<p><em>And that’s what’s been enabling these massive trade deficits that Secretary Bessent said are responsible for hollowing out our industrial base, decimating our supply chains, sacrificing our economic security. </em></p>

<p><em>All that stuff is true as to what’s happened, but he’s got the cause wrong. <strong>He’s blaming all these problems on foreigners cheating through tariffs and non-tariff barriers. But that’s got nothing to do with it.</strong></em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Peter then zeroes in on a risk most policymakers won’t acknowledge: the vulnerability of American banks if confronted with a stagflation scenario. He explains that stress tests run by the Federal Reserve ignore <a href="https://www.schiffgold.com/exploring-finance/jobs-last-three-months-saw-downward-revisions-of-57k-on-average">the one scenario that could truly expose the banking system’s weaknesses</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
<p><em><strong>Well, it’s extremely exposed.</strong> And in fact, you know, stagflation, a combination of a weak economy and rising interest rates, is the one scenario that the Fed never stress tested any of the banks for. </em></p>

<p><em>The Federal Reserve, in its most worst case adverse scenario, where there is a massive recession with high unemployment, they assume that interest rates go back down to zero, and that treasury bonds yields collapse. </em></p>

<p><strong><em>They did not run a stress test where you have a recession with high unemployment, but inflation and interest rates go up, not down. … They’d all fail under a really adverse scenario.</em></strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Shifting the focus to where big players are moving their assets, Peter notes that central banks are already well into the process of selling dollars and U.S. government debt in favor of gold. He argues that this transition is still in its early stages, with <a href="https://www.schiffgold.com/key-gold-news/2025-etf-inflows-are-recognition-of-the-golden-bull">gold’s price set to climb much higher </a>as a result:</p>

<blockquote>
<p><em><strong>We’re just headed higher to 4,000 and beyond. But gold is what central banks are buying as they are selling dollars. </strong></em></p>

<p><em>They are moving reserves from dollars to gold, which means they’re not buying treasuries either or mortgage backed securities. </em></p>

<p><em><strong>And we’re still early in that process.</strong> It’s been going on for a couple of years, but it’s still got a long way to go.</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Peter ties his argument together by recalling how the U.S. has used the dollar’s global reserve currency status as a crutch to maintain lifestyles that outstrip domestic production and savings. As <a href="https://www.schiffgold.com/commentaries/the-dollar-falters-as-gold-remains-stable">the world moves away from the dollar</a>, he warns, Americans will be forced to return to more sustainable habits—producing and saving rather than consuming and borrowing:</p>

<blockquote>
<p><em><strong>The changes that I am referring to have to do with the fact that we’ve been able to get a free ride on the global gravy train.</strong> </em></p>

<p><em>We’ve been able to exploit the reserve status of the US dollar to live beyond our means. We’re able to consume as a nation more than we collectively produce, and we’re able to borrow a lot more than we collectively save. </em></p>

<p><strong><em>And so our standard of living, right, our ability to buy stuff, has been enhanced by taking advantage of the dollar’s role. Without the dollar as a reserve currency, we’d have to produce more, which means we’d have to save more.</em></strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>For more of Peter’s insight, check out <a href="https://www.schiffgold.com/interviews/schiff-on-mining-network-gold-up-as-easy-credit-weigh-on-the-dollar">his other recent interview</a> on the Mining Network!</p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T14:30:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 10:30</span>


guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747574637
title: US policy shifts on Syria, Yemen, Iran – but not Israel
hash: �J�k�yk��#P��ec
tags: #TV Shows
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content:
US President Donald Trump talks about starvation in Gaza, but is the US willing to impose consequences on Israel?

link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/program/the-bottom-line/2025/5/18/us-policy-shifts-on-syria-yemen-iran-but-not?traffic_source=rss


guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165929/rome-messe-pape-rencontres-diplomatiques-carney
title: À Rome, Carney rencontre le pape et s’entretient avec J.D. Vance
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165929/rome-messe-pape-rencontres-diplomatiques-carney
hash: s�ϵk�H�M��{,&
content:
<p>Le premier ministre a rencontré le pape Léon XIV au Vatican après la messe d'inauguration de son pontificat.</p>

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guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306258
title: Bessent warns tariffs will return to ‘Liberation Day’ rates if negotiations aren’t in good faith
author: ;Alex Gangitano
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5306258-bessent-warns-tariff-liberation-day-rates/
hash: �LU��V��RSV���
tags: #Administration #Business
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Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday warned that tariffs on trading partners could go back to the rate slapped on them on “Liberation Day” last month if they don’t engage in good-faith negotiations. “I think that it would be the April 2nd level,” Bessent said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” with Kristen Welker when…

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guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747579489
title: Arab states “haven’t taken substantive action” to end Israel’s war on Gaza
content: “Here we are with the Palestinians continuing to pay the biggest price.”
hash: �z��SR ��25�-�N
tags: #Show Types
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link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/program/quotable/2025/5/18/arab-states-havent-taken-substantive-action-to-end-israels-war-on-gaza?traffic_source=rss


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5302201
title: Trump’s NASA budget cuts: The good, the bad, and the ugly
author: ;Mark R. Whittington; Opinion Contributor
content: What will Congress do?
hash: �.pٖ*߰Zt��Nj6
tags: #Opinion #Technology
link:
https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/5302201-trumps-nasa-budget-cuts-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

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guid: https://strategic-culture.su/?post_type=article&amp;p=885369
title: Il Governo Meloni ha regalato la cyber security italiana a Israele, non dimentichiamocelo
author: ;A A
hash: � �m��]Un�!�$�
tags: #Italiano #Benjamin Netanyahu #Cyber Security #Giorgia Meloni #Israel #Italy
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content:
<p><strong><em>Cosa hanno in comune Israele e  la cybersecurity dell’Italia? </em></strong></p>
<p><strong><span><span><em>Segue nostro</em></span> <a href="https://t.me/SCF_Italiano" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telegram</a><a href="https://t.me/SCF_Italiano" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tlg.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875659"></a><a href="https://t.me/SCF_Italiano" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>.</span></a></span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Un matrimonio di successo</strong></p>
<p>Quello fra Giorgia Meloni e il governo di Bibi Netanyahu sembra davvero un matrimonio di successo. Uno dei dettagli che erano rimasti sottotraccia, per pochi addetti ai lavori, è che nel marzo del 2023 il Governo aveva ceduto gran parte della cyber security a Israele, con uno storico accordo che è risultato particolarmente succulento per il Paese mediorientale. È stato il giornalista Antonio Negri a tirare fuori il coniglio dal cappello, durante la trasmissione televisiva condotta da Peter Gomez, ricordando a tutti gli italiani che no, non c’è alcuna sicurezza in ciò che facciamo e che sì, se Meloni continua a difendere a spada tratta l’indifendibile stato genocida noto come Israele, non c’è di che stupirsi.</p>
<p>«Vogliamo accrescere il livello della nostra cooperazione nei settori più innovativi come l’intelligenza artificiale. Credo che questa cosa si possa concretizzare. L’ultimo incontro risale a nove anni fa, ed è arrivato il momento di darvi il benvenuto in Israele». I premier Meloni e Netanyahu hanno espresso la volontà di rafforzare la <em>partnership</em> tra Roma e Tel Aviv sul campo diplomatico-militare e sulla<em> cybersecurity.</em> «Israele è una superpotenza tecnologica, l’Italia è una grande potenza industriale», aveva a suo tempo affermato il ministro per Sviluppo economico e il Made in Italy Adolfo Urso, «siamo ben consapevoli che dalla nostra piena collaborazione possa sortire un effetto positivo».</p>
<p>In Italia, come in molti altri Paesi, i cyberattacchi stanno registrando un incremento costante di anno in anno, dando origine a una vera e propria “guerra informatica diffusa”. <a href="https://clusit.it/wp-content/uploads/download/Rapporto_Clusit_aggiornamento_10-2023_web.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Secondo il rapporto annuale del Clusit</a> (Associazione Italiana per la Sicurezza Informatica) del 2023, solo nel 2022 sono stati registrati 188 attacchi informatici diretti contro il nostro Paese, con un aumento del 169% rispetto all’anno precedente. I settori maggiormente colpiti risultano essere le imprese manifatturiere del Made in Italy, il comparto tecnico-scientifico e i servizi professionali.</p>
<p>Per le aziende risulta oggi essenziale comprendere il grado di vulnerabilità ai rischi informatici e mettere al sicuro i propri sistemi digitali. In quest’ottica, il mantenimento di una solida cooperazione con Israele assume un ruolo strategico per l’Italia. Israele, infatti, secondo il Data Innovation Index di Bloomberg, è il primo Paese al mondo per intensità di ricerca e sviluppo, e il quinto per densità di imprese high-tech, con oltre 7.000 startup attive. Inoltre, circa il 40% degli investimenti globali nei round di finanziamento destinati a società di cybersicurezza avviene proprio in Israele.</p>
<p>Anche l’Unione Europea ha preso provvedimenti per rafforzare la protezione dei Paesi membri. La direttiva NIS2, entrata in vigore il 17 gennaio 2023, consente agli Stati di adottare misure coordinate, sia tecniche che organizzative, per migliorare la gestione degli incidenti informatici e per rafforzare le pratiche di gestione del rischio cyber.</p>
<p>Nel corso dell’incontro tenutosi nel marzo 2023 tra la Presidente del Consiglio Giorgia Meloni e il Primo Ministro israeliano Benjamin Netanyahu, è stato annunciato un nuovo vertice intergovernativo per rilanciare la cooperazione bilaterale. «Abbiamo condiviso l’urgenza di convocare un incontro intergovernativo, che manca dal 2013. Il prossimo dovrebbe svolgersi in Israele e vorremmo organizzarne uno il prima possibile», ha dichiarato la premier. Netanyahu ha aggiunto: «Desideriamo fare un ulteriore passo avanti, organizzando nei prossimi mesi un incontro che affronti una decina di ambiti di cooperazione reciproca».</p>
<p>Chiaramente non mancano le preoccupazioni legate all’utilizzo di prodotti appartenenti a questo specifico settore. Israele è infatti il Paese che ha creato, sviluppato e commercializzato lo <em>spyware</em> Pegasus, prodotto dalla società israeliana NSO Group. Si tratta di un trojan in grado di infettare dispositivi mobili tramite attacchi “over the air”, ovvero senza bisogno di interazione diretta con l’utente. Pegasus è capace di accedere a messaggi di testo, registrare chiamate, raccogliere password, localizzare la posizione del dispositivo, attivare microfono e fotocamera, e prelevare dati da applicazioni installate.</p>
<p>La sua esistenza è stata resa pubblica nell’agosto 2016, in seguito a un tentativo fallito di installazione sull’iPhone dell’attivista per i diritti umani Ahmad Mansour. L’episodio ha dato il via a un’indagine che ha svelato le capacità dello spyware e le vulnerabilità sfruttate per il suo funzionamento. Si è trattato di uno degli attacchi più sofisticati mai rilevati su smartphone: per la prima volta, un malware remoto è riuscito a ottenere accesso completo a un iPhone sfruttando un <em>jailbreak</em> invisibile. Pegasus è stato impiegato per monitorare attivisti politici, giornalisti e leader mondiali, tra cui Jamal Khashoggi – poi assassinato – Omar Abdulaziz, e il fondatore del Washington Post, Jeff Bezos. L’indagine internazionale nota come <em>The Pegasus Project</em> ha confermato che lo spyware continua a essere utilizzato contro figure di alto profilo.</p>
<p>Anche l’Italia è entrata indirettamente in questa rete globale. Un’inchiesta del <em>Washington Post</em> ha evidenziato il ruolo dell’azienda milanese Hacking Team nello sviluppo e nella commercializzazione di tecnologie simili, impiegate per sorvegliare attivisti per i diritti umani. Fondata nel 2003 da David Vincenzetti, la società ha creato il sistema RCS (Remote Control System), noto anche come Galileo: un pacchetto offensivo capace di infettare computer e dispositivi mobili attraverso malware attivati dall’apertura di e-mail o file. Una volta installato, lo spyware consente di inviare <em>screenshot</em>, e-mail, chat e conversazioni al server remoto del controllore.</p>
<p>Nel 2015 Hacking Team <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/06/hacking-team-hacked-firm-sold-spying-tools-to-repressive-regimes-documents-claim" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fu protagonista</a> del cosiddetto “Datagate italiano”, quando un attacco hacker rese pubblici documenti riservati, clienti e codice sorgente dell’azienda. Tra i suoi clienti figuravano Paesi come Bahrein, Egitto, Nigeria, Kazakistan, Marocco, Sudan, Venezuela e Arabia Saudita. Nel 2018, il Tribunale di Milano ha archiviato le indagini sulla società, che è stata salvata da un fondo saudita con l’acquisito del 20% delle azioni tramite una società con sede a Cipro.</p>
<p><strong>Un sistema nepotista</strong></p>
<p>L’agenzia cyber è stata trasformata in un feudo fatto di nepotismo e intrallazzi di famiglia.</p>
<p>L’anno scorso Telecom Italia SpA, l’ex monopolista telefonico del Paese, ha venduto la sua rete fissa, un asset strategico, alla società di private equity statunitense KKR &amp; Co. La vendita della rete è stata la prima del suo genere per una compagnia telefonica europea ed è stata fortemente sostenuta dal governo Meloni. Lunedì il governo italiano ha confermato di essere in trattative con SpaceX di Elon Musk per un possibile accordo da 1,5 miliardi di euro per telecomunicazioni sicure</p>
<p>La stessa ACN che ha ignorato le <a href="https://t.me/lacivettabianca/8370" target="_blank" rel="noopener">segnalazioni</a> sulla <a href="https://t.me/lacivettabianca/8369" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vendita online dei numeri</a> di Mattarella e Meloni ora potrà liberarsi di chiunque osi sollevare dubbi interni. La stessa agenzia incapace di proteggere persino i propri dati ora avrà il potere di punire non l’incompetenza, ma la lealtà insufficiente. Firmato centrodestra compatto: Paolo Emilio Russo (Forza Italia), Tiziana Nisini (Lega) e Marta Schifone (Fratelli d’Italia). Quaranta dirigenti nel mirino, pronti per essere “ricollocati” se oseranno parlare fuori dal coro. I dissidenti verranno rispediti nella pubblica amministrazione, perdendo stipendi equiparati a quelli della Banca d’Italia. Una punizione dorata per chi tradisce l’omertà.</p>
<p>Intanto i vertici brillano: l’ex direttore Baldoni rimosso ma ancora pagato al massimo livello, circondato da ammiragli e ufficiali senza competenze informatiche specifiche. E poi la moglie del senatore FdI, l’ex assessora vicina al partito, il cognato dell’ex ministra… tutti regolarmente assunti, ovviamente.</p>
<p>Seicento milioni di budget fino al 2026 per un’agenzia che non sa proteggere nemmeno se stessa, ma sa benissimo come proteggersi dalle critiche interne.</p>
<p>La cybersicurezza italiana muore così: non per attacchi esterni, ma per la metamorfosi in cortile di famiglia dove la competenza vale meno della fedeltà e la sicurezza nazionale è sacrificata sull’altare del controllo politico.</p>
<p>Ricordate: mentre il vostro numero viene venduto online per 50 euro, loro si preoccupano di silenziare chi potrebbe denunciarlo.</p>
<p>La sagra italiana dei paradossi di idiozia ha ancora le cucine aperte.<br>
</p>

link:
https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/05/18/il-governo-meloni-ha-regalato-cyber-security-italiana-israele-non-dimentichiamocelo/


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306265
title: Murphy: ‘I think we all bear responsibility’ for Democrats’ 2024 loss
author: ;Rachel Scully
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/5306265-chris-murphy-democrats-2024-loss/
hash: �r⶝��{��S_'
tags: #News #Senate #Sunday Talk Shows
content:
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said he believes the Democratic Party as a whole is responsible for their loss in the 2024 presidential election, despite many of his fellow Democrats blaming former President Biden for the outcome. On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” host Kristen Welker mentioned the new book from CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’s Alex Thompson, which…

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guid: 1031528 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: Vance &amp; Zelensky Repair Relationship In 'Good' Vatican Meeting
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/vance-zelensky-repair-relationship-good-vatican-meeting
hash: n��>>* �F�Zd
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content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Vance &amp; Zelensky Repair Relationship In 'Good' Vatican Meeting</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Amid ongoing efforts to reset the relationship between Washington and Kiev, US Vice President JD Vance met with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and his top aides in Rome on Sunday.</p>

<p>Crucially, this is the <strong>first time Zelensky and Vance have met since their blow-up in the White House in February</strong>. The pointed exchange had even led to Trump very briefly suspending weapons deliveries and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine.</p>
<a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/vanceandzel.jpg?itok=CM0fPMs3" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/vanceandzel.jpg?itok=CM0fPMs3"><picture><figure role="group" data-sanitized-class="caption caption-img inline-images image-style-inline-images"><img alt="" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8ec2794a-60c5-4bee-9dd2-dff3167e5e06" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="333" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/vanceandzel.jpg?itok=CM0fPMs3" typeof="foaf:Image" width="500"><figcaption><em>Via FT/X</em></figcaption></figure></picture></a>

<p>But both of them this weekend were in Rome for the newly installed Pope Leo XIV's inauguration mass at the Vatican. Zelensky had also met with the Pope after the Sunday service at St. Peter's.</p>

<p>As for the Zelensky-Vance encounter, the Ukrainian leader <strong>hailed that it was a "good meeting"</strong>. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also present.</p>

<p>"We discussed the negotiations in Istanbul, <strong>where the Russians sent a low-level delegation with no decision-making authority</strong>," Zelensky said.</p>

<p>"I reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness for real diplomacy and stressed the importance of a full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible," he added.</p>

<p>"<strong>We also touched on the need for sanctions against Russia</strong>, bilateral trade, defense cooperation, the situation on the battlefield, and the future exchange of prisoners. Pressure on Russia must continue until it is ready to stop the war," Zelensky's description of the meeting continued. "And, of course, we discussed our joint steps to achieve a just and sustainable peace."</p>

<p>The Trump White House has indeed been dangling the prospect of more anti-Moscow sanctions, in the scenario that the US deems Putin's engagement in peace negotiations insufficient. </p>

<p>So far, <strong>Zelensky is trying to make the case that the Kremlin is just stringing Trump along</strong>, playing the peace game just enough to buy more time as it makes slow gains on the battlefield.</p>
<a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/vanceukr1.jpg?itok=jthzG6Dv" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/vanceukr1.jpg?itok=jthzG6Dv"><picture><figure role="group" data-sanitized-class="caption caption-img inline-images image-style-inline-images"><img alt="" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8cc0140d-afce-4503-87b0-17a97d040ae8" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="333" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/vanceukr1.jpg?itok=jthzG6Dv" typeof="foaf:Image" width="500"><figcaption><em>Via FT/X</em></figcaption></figure></picture></a>

<p>The Pope himself has meanwhile been urgently calling for peace in Ukraine, among other global hotspots. Interestingly, Washington could be eyeing Rome as a venue for more talks to <a href="https://kyivindependent.com/breaking-zelensky-meets-pope-leo-xiv-at-vatican/">achieve peace</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
<p><em>A day before the event, Rubio said that the <strong>Vatican could serve as a neutral venue for future peace negotiations</strong> between Kyiv and Moscow.</em></p>

<p><em>Speaking in Rome before his meeting with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Vatican's envoy on Ukraine, Rubio <a href="https://kyivindependent.com/rubio-says-vatican-could-host-peace-talks-praises-holy-sees-role-in-ukraine-war/" target="_blank">noted</a> that "both sides would be comfortable" holding talks there.</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Below: most analysts agree that the Istanbul talks resulted in no breakthrough, and that the process is still largely at a 'stalled' point.</p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">This analysis captures the unfortunate result of the US letting Russia deflect the drive for a ceasefire. Tomorrow’s phone calls - Trump-Putin, Trump-Zelenskyy, &amp; possibly Trump/Zelenskyy with key Europeans - could improve the trajectory, if the Trump pushes Putin. <a href="https://t.co/6n4yFVRC70">https://t.co/6n4yFVRC70</a></p>
— Daniel Fried (@AmbDanFried) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmbDanFried/status/1924107121030779035?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>The pope last week appeared to be very open to this, telling an audience in some of his first public words since becoming Pontiff that he carries the "suffering of the beloved people of Ukraine" in his heart and called for an <strong>"authentic and lasting peace."</strong></p>

<p><strong><a data-image-external-href="https://store.zerohedge.com/10lb-premium-wagyu-ground-beef-bundle-zero-hedge" data-image-href="https://store.zerohedge.com/10lb-premium-wagyu-ground-beef-bundle-zero-hedge" data-link-option="2" href="https://store.zerohedge.com/10lb-premium-wagyu-ground-beef-bundle-zero-hedge"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="34605c98-fad6-4c77-bf5f-b7e785e9ab19" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="296" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/memorial%203.JPG?itok=IZHual5b" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></strong></p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T15:05:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 11:05</span>


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306232
author: ;Elizabeth Crisp
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/5306232-pence-criticizes-trump-mideast-visit-9-11/
hash: �Y�ͣ~$X%m���V�v
title:
Pence on Trump’s Middle East trip: ‘Never been a fan’ of presidents ‘criticizing America on foreign soil’

content:
Former Vice President Mike Pence criticized President Trump's speech in Saudi Arabia, where he praised Saudi Arabia and criticized the US for intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan.

tags:
#Administration #Campaign #International #News #Jamal Khashoggi #Jamal Khashoggi's family #kristen welker #meet the press #Mike Pence #Osama Bin Laden #President Trump #saudi arabia

attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/pence.png?w=900","type":"image/png","length":818087}]}


guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747577148
title: EU, UK leaders speak with Trump before his Putin call as Ukraine hit
hash: �f��'��I�������D
tags: #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
Leaders discuss an unconditional ceasefire and more sanctions on Russia as Ukraine laments 'record' drone barrage.

link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/18/eu-uk-leaders-to-speak-with-trump-before-his-putin-call-as-ukraine-hit?traffic_source=rss


guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747578888
title: Verstappen wins F1 Emilia-Romagna GP to close gap on McLaren duo
hash: ��xpr�E&��c�
tags: #Sport
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
Reigning world champion wins for the fourth straight time at Imola, defeating McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/5/18/verstappen-beats-norris-piastri-in-f1-emilia-romagna-gp-at-imola?traffic_source=rss


guid: 1031505 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: The Irony Of Moody's Downgrade Of U.S. Credit
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/irony-moodys-downgrade-us-credit
hash: �H�D+�����=�`�;
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">The Irony Of Moody's Downgrade Of U.S. Credit</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>Submitted by <a href="https://quoththeraven.substack.com/p/the-irony-of-moodys-downgrade-of">QTR's Fringe Finance</a></em></p>

<p>On Friday, the U.S. lost its last perfect credit rating as Moody’s downgraded it from ‘AAA’ to ‘Aa1,’ citing decades of rising deficits and interest costs. This ends a perfect rating streak held since 1917. Moody’s had warned in 2023 that a downgrade was possible, following similar moves by Fitch in 2023 and S&amp;P in 2011.</p>

<p>The layers of irony behind this downgrade—and its timing—aren’t lost on me.</p>

<p>It’s a farce, really. By the logic Moody’s is now applying, the downgrade should have happened a decade ago, when it became painfully clear that the U.S. had a crippling spending addiction, compounded by a monetary ideology that essentially tried to reverse the fundamental laws of debits and credits.</p>

<p>Yes, it’s bad enough that the U.S. now carries $37 trillion in debt. But what’s worse is that, despite this massive burden, deficits have continued to grow—clear proof that we’ve learned nothing about fiscal restraint. Our refusal to stop putting everything on the national credit card, and our complete disregard for basic math and economic reality, should have triggered <em>multiple</em> downgrades over the past decade.</p>

<p>But the real kicker isn’t just the reckless spending—it’s our full embrace of Modern Monetary Theory, which doesn’t just ignore this irresponsibility <strong>but actively encourages it</strong>. Yet, somehow, Moody’s didn’t see a problem with monetary policy anytime before Friday.</p>

<p>To quote Peter Gibbons in <em>Office Space:</em></p>

<blockquote>
<p><em>“It’s not that I’m lazy, it’s that I just don’t care.”</em></p>
</blockquote>

<figure role="group"><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-05-17%20at%2010.29.13%E2%80%AFPM.jpg?itok=nRH5-m9j" data-link-option="0" href="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-05-17%20at%2010.29.13%E2%80%AFPM.jpg?itok=nRH5-m9j"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="23ea4df3-d076-4102-833c-11decd9e0746" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="282" typeof="foaf:Image" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-05-17%20at%2010.29.13%E2%80%AFPM.jpg?itok=nRH5-m9j" alt="" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a>

<figcaption><p>Every time Paul Krugman wrote another column or Stephanie Kelton published a new book—and then got a national media platform to promote it—the U.S. deserved a downgrade.</p>
</figcaption></figure><p>Every time the Federal Reserve and the people responsible for advocating asinine monetary theory put on full display their inability to understand the economy or forecast economic events, it should have sent a message to rating agencies that the country is flying blind when it comes to fiscal and monetary policy, and that we deserved a downgrade.</p>

<p>When Ben Bernanke publicly said things like “we can print money at no cost,” the country should have been downgraded.</p>

<p>When Bernanke said the subprime crisis was “contained”, before it caused the collapse of the entire global economy, we should have been downgraded.</p>

<hr><p>🔥 <strong>50% OFF FOR LIFE:</strong> Using this coupon entitles you to 50% off an annual subscription to <em>Fringe Finance </em>for life: <strong><a href="https://quoththeraven.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=d8097c43" rel="">Get 50% off forever</a></strong></p>

<hr><p>Every time a Fed governor like Neel Kashkari went on national television to declare that the Federal Reserve had “infinite money,” we should have been downgraded.</p>

<p>When Janet Yellen kept interest rates at 0% for years despite a roaring U.S. economy that was clearly no longer in need of unlimited stimulus, the country should have been downgraded.</p>

<p>And every time an analyst, famous investor, government official, or Fed member incorrectly claimed that inflation was transitory when it wasn’t, the country should have been downgraded.</p>

<p>No, it wasn’t just the backwards monetary policy we embraced to make ourselves feel better about our financial irresponsibility that should have led to downgrades; it was also the <strong>ongoing parade of public gaffes and humiliations by everyone associated with the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve over the last two decades</strong>.</p>

<p>This put on full display to everyone in the world who was paying attention—apparently except the rating agencies—that we were on a treacherous path, destined to end in a catch-22.</p>

<p><a data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8c5f53ae-b79b-4d1a-b995-dc94e841b76e_2561x1366.jpeg" rel="" target="_blank"><img alt="Office Space (1999) - " it not that i lazy. just don care. data-attrs="{" src="https://www.zerohedge.com/" space height="385" loading="lazy" title="Office Space (1999) - " width="726"></a></p>

<p><em>Moody's analyst</em></p>

<p>I used to write often not just about the Biden administration’s fiscal irresponsibility, but also about the fact that they didn’t even <em>pretend</em> to care about financial responsibility.</p>

<p>The Biden administration never even <em>talked</em> about the idea of making cuts or balancing the budget—the bare minimum any administration can do. Simply <em>talking</em> about fiscal discipline is often enough politically; y<strong>ou don’t even have to deliver results</strong>. But the Biden administration couldn’t even manage that.</p>

<p>And then along comes the Trump administration, running on the idea of trying to rein in spending and taking on the Herculean task of, at least in some small way, addressing the nation’s out-of-control deficit. There’s been talk about recalibrating global trade. There have been attempts—however slow—to curb spending through DOGE’s effort. And there’s been a focus on getting the country’s financial house and deficit back in order for the first time in at least a decade.</p>

<p>Only now, as the torch passes to the administration which, at the very least, is at least <em>talking</em> about balancing the budget and taking some steps toward it—Moody’s shows up and casually downgrades the country’s credit rating. Here’s the timing of the downgrade on a chart, in a <a href="https://x.com/zerohedge/status/1923805544608862600" rel="">way that only Zero Hedge</a> can do:</p>

<p><a data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F06743437-aefb-4498-9bd7-dd402d4b80d3_1958x1300.jpeg" rel="" target="_blank"><img alt="Image" data-attrs="{" src="https://www.zerohedge.com/" height="475" loading="lazy" title="Image" width="725"></a></p>

<p><em>Chart: Zero Hedge</em></p>

<p>Honestly, I don’t know whether to laugh at the fact that this didn’t happen a decade ago or at the fact that they waited until now—when balancing the budget is finally part of the national conversation—to do it. Either way, the downgrade is as hollow and performative as politicians jawboning about fiscal responsibility with no real intention of acting on it.</p>

<p>I’m not saying Moody’s was wrong, I’m saying it doesn’t matter. The U.S. has already set its course. One way or another, we’ll keep printing more money and relying on the dollar’s status as the global reserve currency to futilely prop up our standard of living.</p>

<p>There might be some adjustments in trade policy or spending, but our general trajectory was set after 2000, locked in after 2008, and supercharged by the unprecedented quantitative easing during COVID, when we simply papered over the entire economy with new cash, only to be befuddled by where excess inflation came from. Make no mistake: any time there’s financial instability going forward, the U.S. will print money first and ask questions later. And whatever Moody’s or any other rating agency has to say about it is irrelevant.</p>

<p>Long ago, we embarked on an unprecedented monetary policy experiment. And the outcomes will be just as unprecedented. That means neither you, nor I, nor the same rating agencies that were all but complicit in the subprime housing crisis, can predict how this ends.</p>

<hr><p>Now read:</p>

<ul><li><a href="https://quoththeraven.substack.com/p/the-drug-pricing-scramble" native="true">The Drug Pricing Scramble</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://quoththeraven.substack.com/p/to-make-flying-safe-make-air-traffic" native="true">To Make Flying Safe, Make Air Traffic Control a Profit-Seeking Business</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://quoththeraven.substack.com/p/as-good-as-it-gets" native="true">As Good As It Gets?</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://quoththeraven.substack.com/p/do-the-rich-pay-their-fair-share" native="true">Do The Rich Pay Their Fair Share of Taxes?</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://quoththeraven.substack.com/p/the-case-against-subsidizing-amtrak" native="true">The Case Against Subsidizing Amtrak</a></li>
</ul><p><a data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7b4f0b11-cdb4-4f89-9600-5faf882f9b35_66x52.png" rel="" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-attrs="{" src="https://www.zerohedge.com/" height="52" loading="lazy" title="" width="66"></a></p>

<p><em><strong>QTR’s Disclaimer</strong></em><strong>:</strong> <em>Please read my full legal disclaimer <a href="https://quoththeraven.substack.com/about" rel="">on my About page here</a></em>. <em>This post represents my opinions only.</em> <em>In addition, please understand I am an idiot and often get things wrong and lose money. I may own or transact in any names mentioned in this piece at any time without warning. Contributor posts and aggregated posts have been hand selected by me, have not been fact checked and are the opinions of their authors. They are either submitted to QTR by their author, reprinted under a <a href="https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/" rel="">Creative Commons license</a> with my best effort to uphold what the license asks, or with the permission of the author.</em></p>

<p><em>This is not a recommendation to buy or sell any stocks or securities, just my opinions. I often lose money on positions I trade/invest in. I may add any name mentioned in this article and sell any name mentioned in this piece at any time, without further warning. None of this is a solicitation to buy or sell securities. I may or may not own names I write about and are watching. Sometimes I’m bullish without owning things, sometimes I’m bearish and do own things. Just assume my positions could be exactly the opposite of what you think they are just in case. If I’m long I could quickly be short and vice versa. I won’t update my positions. All positions can change immediately as soon as I publish this, with or without notice and at any point I can be long, short or neutral on any position. You are on your own. Do not make decisions based on my blog. I exist on the fringe. The publisher does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided in this page. These are not the opinions of any of my employers, partners, or associates. I did my best to be honest about my disclosures but can’t guarantee I am right; I write these posts after a couple beers sometimes. I edit after my posts are published because I’m impatient and lazy, so if you see a typo, check back in a half hour. Also, I just straight up get shit wrong a lot. I mention it twice because it’s that important.</em></p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T15:40:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 11:40</span>


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306272
title: Bessent defends Trump’s Qatari luxury jet gift: ‘French gave us the Statue of Liberty’
author: ;Elizabeth Crisp
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/5306272-bessent-defends-trump-jet-gift/
hash: ��8�q[��n�>Y��v
content:
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the Trump administration's decision to accept a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar, comparing it to the French gift of the Statue of Liberty, while also highlighting the importance of the Qatar Airways deal to purchase 160 jets from Boeing.

tags:
#Administration #International #News #Boeing #Bret Baier #Fox News #Grover Cleveland #Jake Tapper #Qatar Airways #Ronald Reagan #Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent #Trump administration

attributes:
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guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165935/attractions-bords-routes-tourisme-automobile
title: Canard, outarde ou orignal géants : l’été, saison des attractions en bord de route
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165935/attractions-bords-routes-tourisme-automobile
hash: ����$�]D�ԃ-��hF
content:
<p>Cet été, laissez-vous séduire par ces animaux et objets géants qui bordent les routes du pays!</p>

attributes:
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guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747575495
title: South Korea’s presidential candidates hold first heated debate
hash: ܒ�-��k����.�o
tags: #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
Candidates Lee Jae-myung, the frontrunner, and his opponent Kim Moon-soo clash in the first of three televised debates.

link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/18/south-koreas-presidential-candidates-hold-first-heated-debate?traffic_source=rss


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5305058
title: Concerns rise over medical coverage losses from ‘big, beautiful bill’
author: ;Nathaniel Weixel
hash: ��r$�{����,���
tags: #Health Care
content:
Doctors, patients and health experts are bracing for massive coverage losses as House Republicans are poised to impose Medicaid work requirements as part of the “big, beautiful bill” encompassing many of President Trump’s legislative priorities.   They are warning that a blizzard of red tape and administrative hurdles will strip people of needed health care.  …

link:
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5305058-concerns-rise-over-medical-coverage-losses-from-big-beautiful-bill/

attributes:
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guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5304942
title: A modern golem: The ‘antisemitism’ charge has run amok
author: ;Mark I. Pinsky; opinion contributor
hash: �3��e���VB��/�<
tags: #Civil Rights #Opinion
content:
Leaders like ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt and ZOA’s Mort Klein have successfully conflated any criticism — however justified — of Israel’s Gaza and West Bank policy with antisemitism.

link:
https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/5304942-a-modern-golem-the-antisemitism-charge-has-run-amok/

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guid: yt:video:Pae_RubF4_Q
author: ;Dialogue Works
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pae_RubF4_Q
hash: ��'4�*D�� )�@Hy�
title:
Putin Turns on Trump as Ukraine War Enters Deadliest Phase Yet! | Andrei Martyanov &amp; Mark Sleboda

attributes:
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guid: 1031524 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: Houthis Again Target Israel's International Airport With Ballistic Missile
author: ;Tyler Durden
hash: P.BN�cn �\���)
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Houthis Again Target Israel's International Airport With Ballistic Missile</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The Houthis have responded to Israel's major Friday airstrikes on sites across Yemen by <strong>launching two ballistic missiles at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv</strong>.</p>

<p>The Israeli military announced Sunday morning the intercept of at least one inbound ballistic missile, saying there were no injuries or casualties from the attack, only light injuries of people clamoring into bomb shelters.</p>

<p>"Sirens had sounded across central Israel, including in Tel Aviv, and the Shfela and Sharon regions, sending nearly a million residents scrambling to bomb shelters," <em><a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-downs-missile-from-yemen-houthis-claim-to-target-ben-gurion-airport/">Times of Israel</a></em> reports.</p>
<a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/houthisatatck.jpg?itok=Q8LkvMnw" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/houthisatatck.jpg?itok=Q8LkvMnw"><picture><figure role="group" data-sanitized-class="caption caption-img inline-images image-style-inline-images"><img alt="" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f8bbf727-d2b7-420e-9e0c-c3b2569525ef" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="334" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/houthisatatck.jpg?itok=Q8LkvMnw" typeof="foaf:Image" width="500"><figcaption><em>Prior launch in 2024, via Houthi Media Center</em></figcaption></figure></picture></a>

<p>"Preceding the sirens by some five minutes, an early warning was issued to residents, alerting civilians of the long-range missile attack via a push notification on their phones," the report continues.</p>

<p>Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree later <strong>confirmed in a statement the group's intent to strike Ben Gurion international airport again</strong>, after earlier this month scoring a direct hit. </p>

<p>Crucially, he warned that Ansarallah (the Houthis) will keep up these attacks until the "siege is lifted" - in reference to Gaza. Already, the United States military has withdrawn from engaging the Houthis, after President Trump said a ceasefire had been agreed to.</p>

<p>As for the new missile attack, the IDF said its air defenses shot down the missile at around 2am. The second Houthis missile is believed to have likely fallen far short of its target, perhaps landing in the desert. Iranian state media had <strong>described it as a 'hypersonic missile' launch</strong> - though this seems dubious.</p>

<p>All of this means there will likely be more Israeli attacks on Yemen to come. "The IDF now struck and severely damaged the ports in Yemen that are under the control of the Houthi terror group. <strong>The airport in Sanaa also remains destroyed</strong>," Israeli Defense Minister Katz said Friday.</p>

<p>"As we said, if the Houthis continue to fire missiles on Israel, they will suffer painful blows, and we will also strike the heads of terror just as we did to Deif and the Sinwars in Gaza, to Nasrallah in Beirut and Haniyeh in Tehran," he added.</p>

<blockquote data-media-max-width="560" data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="rtl" lang="ar" xml:lang="ar">اعتراض صاروخ في <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%AA%D9%84_%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A8?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#تل_أبيب</a> أطلق من <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#اليمن</a>.. وإغلاق مؤقت لمطار بن غوريون أمام عمليات الإقلاع والهبوط <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%84_%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%8A?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#سوشال_سكاي</a> <a href="https://t.co/jhZiE89CAh">pic.twitter.com/jhZiE89CAh</a></p>
— سكاي نيوز عربية (@skynewsarabia) <a href="https://twitter.com/skynewsarabia/status/1923936640072069267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>And so it looks as if each side will continue trading tit-for-tat blows, but civilians will continue to suffer - and civilian aviation in the whole region could be impacted.</p>

<p>Israel has vowed to decapitate Houthi leadership, saying it will hunt down and eliminate Abdul-Malik al-Houthi in Yemen, along with his top military officials.</p>

<p>But short of an actual ground war, which Israel doesn't have the stomach for - also given ongoing Gaza operations - taking out Houthi leadership and infrastructure will be easier said than done.</p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T16:15:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 12:15</span>

link:
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/houthis-again-target-israels-international-airport-ballistic-missile


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306288/
title: Person of interest in Palm Springs IVF clinic explosion confirmed dead: FBI
author: ;Will Conybeare
content: The FBI is investigating the explosion as an act of terrorism.
hash: }�J{�F��H�_�a�
tags: #News
link:
https://thehill.com/homenews/5306288-person-of-interest-in-palm-springs-ivf-clinic-explosion-believed-dead-reports/

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guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306315
title: Bessent: Countries bringing ‘good proposals’ with ‘a few exceptions’
author: ;Elizabeth Crisp
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/5306315-bessent-trade-agreements-tariff-war/
hash: �޺>O�Z�m�����
content:
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the Trump administration's tariff overhaul has positioned the U.S. for better trade deals with foreign countries, while downplaying Moody's recent downgrade of the federal government's credit rating.

tags:
#Administration #Business #International #News #Policy #China #CNN’s “State of the Union” #congress #house #Jake Tapper #Moody’s #President Trump #Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

attributes:
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guid: yt:video:HBQWbq1HLkA
title: PM Carney meets with German chancellor Friedrich Merz in Rome – May 18, 2025
author: ;cpac
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBQWbq1HLkA
hash: ����@�DJ�j'y�6*D
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guid: 1031475 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: Did The Biden Admin Fudge Jobs Numbers Into Election? Labor Dept Report Raises Questions
author: ;Tyler Durden
hash: �Q� t�E ��F_��
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Did The Biden Admin Fudge Jobs Numbers Into Election? Labor Dept Report Raises Questions</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="https://amgreatness.com/2025/05/12/did-the-biden-administration-fudge-jobs-numbers-labor-dept-report-raises-doubts/"><em>Via American Greatness,</em></a></p>

<p><strong>The former Biden administration’s claim to have added nearly 400,000 jobs from July to September of 2024, is being scrutinized after new data released by the Labor Department suggests that none of those jobs ever existed.</strong></p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/GettyImages-2193654537-scaled-e1.jpg?itok=tRzZYoxj" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/GettyImages-2193654537-scaled-e1.jpg?itok=tRzZYoxj"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bae3acfc-e4e5-4cdc-864c-39b9fa4497d5" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="187" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/GettyImages-2193654537-scaled-e1.jpg?itok=tRzZYoxj" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>Bean counters under the former Biden administration published optimistic estimates for everything from job growth to the size of the economy, only to quietly walk those numbers back and revise them down to more realistic results afterward.</p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">“[N]ew data suggest *none* of those jobs ever existed” <a href="https://t.co/6lrXo0Fj5m">https://t.co/6lrXo0Fj5m</a></p>
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/BasedMikeLee/status/1921953872873935007?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates monthly the estimated number of non-farm payrolls as well as making revisions for its last two months’ estimates.</p>

<p><a href="https://townhall.com/columnists/ej-antoni/2025/05/12/labor-department-admits-hundreds-of-thousands-of-biden-jobs-were-fake-n2656813">Townhall reports</a> that, under the Biden administration, the revisions were typically abnormal in magnitude and direction and required significant revision downward.</p>

<p><strong>During the third quarter of 2024, the monthly job reports showed an increase of 399,000 jobs.</strong></p>

<p>But with more comprehensive quarterly data being released by the Business Employment Dynamics (BED) survey, <strong>the new numbers had to be revised to show a 1,000 job decline during that same period.</strong></p>

<p>The more comprehensive quarterly reports are used to create an annual benchmark figure which adjusts 12 months of jobs data to make the report as accurate as possible.</p>

<p>The annual benchmark figures are published each March and this year’s annual benchmark figures for the period between March 2023 and March 2024 showed a staggering loss of 598,000 non-farm payroll jobs.</p>

<p><strong>Those downward revisions are expected to continue as more of the Biden-era jobs data is released.</strong></p>

<p>From March through June of 2024, the economy supposedly added 398,000 nonfarm payrolls, according to the monthly job reports.</p>

<p>However, the BED data shows a net loss of 163,000 private sector jobs during that time period.</p>

<p><strong>Instead of adding nearly 800,000 jobs during the middle of last year, the economy likely lost 160,000 of them instead.</strong></p>

<p>The Democrats were insistent that the economy was doing great under Biden, but the <strong>voters refused to be gaslit </strong>about the economic pain they’ve been feeling and voted accordingly.</p>

<p><em><strong>Check out this <a href="https://store.zerohedge.com/7-day-emergency-food-supply-ready-grab-bag/?utm_source=zerohedge.com&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=store_promo">ReadyWise go-bag...</a></strong></em> <em>25-year shelf life!</em></p>
<a data-image-external-href="https://store.zerohedge.com/7-day-emergency-food-supply-ready-grab-bag/?utm_source=zerohedge.com&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=store_promo" data-image-href="https://store.zerohedge.com/7-day-emergency-food-supply-ready-grab-bag/?utm_source=zerohedge.com&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=store_promo" data-link-option="2" href="https://store.zerohedge.com/7-day-emergency-food-supply-ready-grab-bag/?utm_source=zerohedge.com&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=store_promo"><picture><figure role="group" data-sanitized-class="caption caption-img inline-images image-style-inline-images"><img alt="" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="56f13962-565d-40de-93a6-27bdb675c1ba" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="273" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/grab%20bag%201a%20JPG.jpg?itok=MRXkEMgl" typeof="foaf:Image" width="500"><figcaption><em>Click pic, grab one for each car.</em></figcaption></figure></picture></a></div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T16:50:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 12:50</span>

link:
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/did-biden-admin-fudge-jobs-numbers-election-labor-dept-report-raises-questions


guid: yt:video:AbOoZ_LrZms
title: Epistemological Sovereignty
author: ;Middle Nation
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbOoZ_LrZms
hash: I�JiE�GkW �!#�
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guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165926/accident-mortel-enfants-alcool-401
title: Trois enfants meurent dans un accident de voiture à Toronto
content: <p>L’alcool au volant serait en cause, selon les policiers.</p>
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165926/accident-mortel-enfants-alcool-401
hash: ���x�"��=�����
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guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5302272
title: The US military is making a comeback thanks to Trump
author: ;Taylor Hathorn; Opinion Contributor
link: https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/5302272-military-revival-under-trump-hegseth/
hash: � n�ш��j�% I|
tags: #National Security #Opinion
content:
The American warfighter is no longer forgotten. They are fired up, locked in and ready to lead again. 

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guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306229/
title: 2 crew members killed after Mexican Navy ship hits Brooklyn Bridge
author: ;Emily Rahhal
hash: ��}�&+U�� 4��
tags: #News
content:
Two people are dead after a Mexican Navy ship's masts collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday.

link:
https://thehill.com/homenews/5306229-2-crew-members-killed-after-mexican-navy-ship-hits-brooklyn-bridge/

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guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747585301
title: Israeli strikes batter Gaza hospitals as brutal siege, bombing intensify
hash: �ģ,�BϜ��q��X�
tags: #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
Indonesian Hospital in Gaza's north 'forced out of service' amid intensifying Israeli strikes on healthcare system.

link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/18/israeli-strikes-batter-gaza-hospitals-as-brutal-siege-bombing-intensify?traffic_source=rss


guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747586630
title: Russia detains Greek oil tanker after it departs Estonian port
hash: �U�����1��Twb�
tags: #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
Estonia redirects maritime traffic to prevent future incidents after Russia's detention of the Green Admire oil tanker.

link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/18/russia-detains-greek-oil-tanker-after-it-departs-estonian-port?traffic_source=rss


guid: 1031492 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: The Great Simmering In The West
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/great-simmering-west
hash: /��:� ���{&��"�
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">The Great Simmering In The West</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/05/the_great_simmering_in_the_west.html"><em>Authored by J.B.Shurk via AmericanThinker.com,</em></a></p>

<p><strong>People all over the world are worried about the future.</strong>  While regional wars continue to fester, the prospect of global war weighs heavily on many.  However, likely belligerents are not all foreign aggressors.  Nearly a century of globalization has erected a web of clunky international institutions that wield tremendous power while disregarding sovereign borders.  Concomitantly, mass immigration has transformed once-homogenous national populations into stews of many competing cultures and religions.  <strong>Battle lines forming <em>inside</em> nations are <a href="https://dailysceptic.org/2025/05/12/is-britain-on-the-brink-of-civil-war/">more serious</a> than those forming <em>among</em> them.</strong></p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/252928_640.jpg?itok=zLyYWsVr" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/252928_640.jpg?itok=zLyYWsVr"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1b3404af-6bf5-4b60-8b68-9bd62bc99f7b" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="350" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/252928_640.jpg?itok=zLyYWsVr" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p><strong>Self-described “futurists” such as Bill Gates and <a href="https://www.weforum.org/people/yuval-noah-harari/">Yuval Harari</a> believe that artificial intelligence will soon replace most humans in the workforce and that a small cadre of global “elites” must centrally manage humanity’s transition to general “uselessness.”  </strong>With A.I. entities independently running machines and becoming exponentially smarter and more competent in their tasks, <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2025/05/13/agibot-china-robot-trains-tesla-optimus-humanoid/">entire industries</a> will transition from human to synthetic labor until <em>all industry</em> surrenders to A.I.  </p>

<p>As emerging robotics programs have <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/the-ai-robotics-combo-will-all-employees-be-replaced-5845999?utm_source=partner&amp;utm_campaign=ZeroHedge">demonstrated</a>, no profession will be immune to the next generations of A.I.-equipped machines.  Robots will pick the fields, <a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/political/cyborg-10-worlds-first-robocop-debuts-facial-recognition-and-360deg-camera-vision">police the streets</a>, and perform complex medical surgeries.  A.I. can already write legal briefs that pass muster and screenplays that are at least as interesting as anything Hollywood produces these days.  Engineers, architects, and chemists are competing against machines that can process a thousand lifetimes of computations before their human counterparts finish morning coffee.</p>

<p>Men such as Gates and Harari see this future galloping toward us and view its implications as self-evident. <strong> As human producers are replaced, human “value” will dwindle. </strong> </p>

<p>No longer sustaining even a fraction of their cost through their own labor, human beings will become extraneous to the creation of wealth and permanent drains on the global State.  </p>

<p><strong>The task of the global State, in turn, will be to construct a system capable of selecting a small number of “elites” to oversee the system from one generation to the next, while maintaining control over a rump of “useless eaters” permitted to live in State-designed shelters and survive on State-allocated rations.</strong>  For those parts of the population not chosen to live as wards of the State, life will be hard.  War, famine, and disease will make survival difficult.  Those struggles, combined with global programs discouraging childbirth and exacerbating infertility, will induce a Malthusian “solution,” in which much of the world simply dies off.</p>

<p><strong>This is a dark vision. </strong> No matter how much globalist “elites” paint this future as “progress,” it is nothing less than a carefully planned planetary genocide.  As with all terrible genocides, it targets not just the human body, but also the human mind and soul.  It means to wear down the “useless eaters” until they hate themselves and pity their tormentors for having to put up with them.  </p>

<p>Have you read about any of the <a href="https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/heart-wrenching-lessons-from-canadas-assisted-dying-regime-ramona-coelho-in-the-herald/">heartbreaking stories</a> involving vulnerable individuals who have been encouraged to commit suicide by taking advantage of Canada’s legalized “Medical Assistance in Dying”?  Often patients’ only ailments are loneliness and depression.  Before they die, many apologize for being burdens on society.  The Canadian government has the gall to applaud victims for their selflessness!  Eighty years after the Nazis summarily executed the physically and mentally disabled for being “drains” on the State, the Canadian government lacks the requisite historical literacy to feel shame!</p>

<p>Yet the Canadian government is hardly alone in embracing policies that deny the innate value of human life.  All Western nations have been busy cultivating a culture of death.  Abortion, once considered the unlawful taking of a life and morally condemnable, is celebrated as some kind of twisted civil right that empowers the strong to kill the weak.  Transgenderism, a mental illness that indulges self-hatred, has mutated from a rare psychological condition into a euphoric movement with fashionable promoters intent on silencing worried parents, hypnotizing medical professionals, and grooming children toward a depressing future involving castration and bodily mutilation.  Young people — particularly women — are encouraged to forgo families and concentrate on professional careers.  </p>

<p>Marriage is demeaned as a “patriarchal” and “homophobic” institution of the past.  Monogamy is ridiculed as unnatural, while promiscuity is encouraged.  Having children is criticized as a “selfish” act that will only exacerbate man-made (<em>i.e.</em>, fake) “climate change.”  Central bank–engineered inflation has made the cost of rearing a child so exorbitant that even healthy married couples often put off parenthood until it’s too late.</p>

<p><strong>Under the mutually reinforcing guises of protecting civil rights, advancing feminism, protecting the environment, and dismantling forms of oppression, the West has ushered in a disorienting era in which biological reality, marriage, motherhood, parenthood, and the family unit are under sustained attack.</strong></p>

<p>The devastating results of such policies were entirely predictable.  Birth rates have plummeted.  The Sexual Revolution fundamentally reoriented Western culture away from values that promote and cherish life.  Government welfare programs are now insolvent and headed toward total financial ruin because the youngest generations are too small to support the oldest.  If planetary depopulation was the goal, post-WWII Western globalists mostly succeeded in crippling their own nations.</p>

<p><strong>A century-long experiment that has undermined family values and extolled a hedonistic culture of death has made Western nations much weaker today.  </strong>Rather than admit failure, the same Western globalists have chosen to <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/india-soon-to-surpass-uk-as-largest-migrant-community-in-australia-abs-5849930">flood their nations</a> with millions of foreigners to make up for crushing population loss.  In order to “fix” one colossal mess of their own making, they have simply created another.</p>

<p>Even so-called “conservatives” have spent the last several decades ignoring immigration laws and defending the resettlement of tens of millions of foreigners.  A number of years back, George Will caught my attention during a segment on Fox News when he scolded Americans who are fed up with illegal immigration by warning them that their Social Security retirement checks would dry up unless the government aided and abetted criminal aliens on a massive scale. </p>

<p>The moral vacuity of Will’s argument was astonishing.  Since the days of FDR’s dramatic expansion of the welfare state, freedom-minded Americans have long resisted government entitlement programs that tax personal income and redistribute those taxes to other citizens.  Such programs have <strong>pushed America toward a form of soft socialism and prevented workers from keeping their own hard earned money to spend or invest as they see fit.</strong>  Decades of higher taxes have left most Americans dependent on some form of government welfare.  </p>

<p>Will effectively told conservatives that if they ever wanted to see a dime from all the earned income confiscated in the form of entitlement taxes over their lifetimes, their only answer is to welcome illegal aliens with open arms.  In other words, <em>to save socialism, we must destroy America with open borders!</em>  No wonder freedom-minded Americans no longer listen to George Will. </p>

<p>For much of the last century, this noxious brand of Establishment “conservatism” has infected Western politics.  Whatever monstrosity the political left constructs today, “ruling class conservatives” work breathlessly to <em>conserve</em> tomorrow.  The West’s collapse has been a bipartisan effort.  That’s why lowly citizens in America, Britain, Holland, France, Germany, Austria, Poland, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere no longer see competing political parties.  They recognize one Establishment <em>Uniparty</em> working against them.</p>

<p>That’s bad news for Western “elites.”  They have built a miserable world in which pornography, social media voyeurism, and online “likes” have replaced individual purpose, real relationships, and growing families.  National pride and cultural traditions have given way to open borders and contradictory multiculturalism.  Despite decades of technological abundance, the future still looks bleak and dangerous.  “Art” is all the same because “artists” and “intellectuals” have been conditioned to think and say the same things.</p>

<p><strong>In this great simmering throughout the West, most citizens have <a href="https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2025/05/07/nearly-half-of-britons-would-not-fight-for-country-under-any-circumstances/">no interest</a> in fighting foreign wars.  Their bubbling anger faces one direction: toward domineering, destructive, and unrepentant “elites.”</strong></p>

<p>*  *  *</p>

<p><em>Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ZeroHedge.</em></p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T18:00:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 14:00</span>


guid: https://www.whitehouse.gov/?p=12666
title: The One Big Beautiful Bill Will Crack Down On Illegal Immigration
author: ;The White House
hash: �= JM�R����
tags: #Articles
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<div><img src="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WH47-Social-Share-Card.jpg" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>The One Big Beautiful Bill is a historic piece of legislation that empowers ICE to deport the millions of illegal immigrants that entered under Joe Biden, ensures illegal immigrants do not receive <a href="https://x.com/HouseAgGOP/status/1923096743853322318">food stamps</a> or <a href="https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/05/15/democrat-messaging-falters-as-they-ask-constituents-to-foot-medicaid-costs-for-1-4-million-illegal-aliens/">Medicaid</a>, <a href="https://waysandmeans.house.gov/2025/05/14/ways-and-means-votes-to-make-2017-tax-cuts-permanent-provide-additional-relief-for-workers-reward-investment-in-america-and-hold-woke-elites-accountable/">taxes</a> money illegal aliens send out of the country, and <a href="https://homeland.house.gov/2025/04/27/house-homeland-security-committee-releases-text-for-budget-reconciliation-recommendations/">permanently</a> secures the border.</p>
<p>The Big Beautiful Bill <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/www.fairus.org/legislation/congress/house-committees-immigration-funding%3C">includes</a> tens of billions of dollars in expanded ICE detention and calls for hiring a minimum of 10,000 new ICE agents. The House Judiciary Committee <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1923737188073693492" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">says</a> the bill “provides funding for at least 1 million annual removals, 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel, and detention capacity sufficient to maintain an average daily population of at least 100,000 aliens.”</p>
<p>As <a href="https://x.com/NumbersUSA/status/1923434141728538662">NumbersUSA said in a statement</a>: “For decades Congress has promised to secure the border and failed to deliver. The House Reconciliation bill delivers on the promise of building the border wall, 10,000 ICE officers, detention beds, historic funding for Customs and Border Patrol and a tax on money illegal aliens send out of the country. The Trump Administration needs this funding to deport illegal aliens, millions of whom entered the country over the last four years.”</p>
<p>Even opponents of the President’s agenda <a href="https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2025/05/17/liberal-amnesty-group-inadvertently-makes-great-case-for-the-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-n2657204">acknowledge</a> that this historic legislation will allow ICE to “ramp up mass deportation operations to a level never before seen in American history.”</p>
<p>Put simply, The Big Beautiful Bill will empower Big Beautiful Deportations.</p>

link:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/05/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-will-crack-down-on-illegal-immigration/


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306387
title: Virginia Dem: GOP tax cuts would be on ‘backs of millions of Americans’
author: ;Elizabeth Crisp
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/5306387-gop-budget-proposal-mcclennan-critique/
hash: �]��9�� >҂�)]
tags: #Administration #Health Care #House #News
content:
Rep. Jennifer McClellan warned that the proposed tax cuts in GOP budget proposals would hurt millions of Americans who rely on Medicaid and food stamps, while Republicans argue that the potential savings from Medicaid work requirements and SNAP funding would help cover tax cuts.

attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2205111353.jpg?w=900","type":"image/jpeg","length":142931}]}


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5304088
title: Netanyahu is not America’s ally — and Trump finally knows it
author: ;John Mac Ghlionn; opinion contributor
link: https://thehill.com/opinion/5304088-netanyahu-politics-foreign-policy/
hash: nd��e�%���s
tags: #International #Opinion #Donald Trump #Gaza #Iran #Israel #Netanyahu
content:
Netanyahu's manipulation of American aid and his pursuit of power through war, rather than a genuine desire to ally with the U.S., is what needs to be condemned.

attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/AP25131652497073.jpg?w=900","type":"image/jpeg","length":258279}]}


guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747591292
title: Pro-EU Nicusor Dan defeats hard-right rival in key Romania election
content: The European Union and Ukraine welcome the result.
hash: �J �Z:L�d &�)
tags: #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/18/pro-eu-nicusor-dan-on-course-to-beat-hard-right-rival-in-romania-election?traffic_source=rss


guid: 1031502 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: Kid Rock Blames "Ugly Ass, Broke, Crazy" Liberal Women For Low US Birthrate
author: ;Tyler Durden
hash: �)v��[F�/���w�
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Kid Rock Blames "Ugly Ass, Broke, Crazy" Liberal Women For Low US Birthrate</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Musician Kid Rock has figured out why the US birthrate is so low; <strong>'Ugly ass, broke, crazy, deranged, TDS liberal women.'</strong></p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/AP25090812964744_c0-0-8093-4718_s885x516_jpg_92.jpg?itok=Ippucc1j" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/AP25090812964744_c0-0-8093-4718_s885x516_jpg_92.jpg?itok=Ippucc1j"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="82b1e030-ef7c-46f3-be3c-bebf7dd6a9dd" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="292" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/AP25090812964744_c0-0-8093-4718_s885x516_jpg_92.jpg?itok=Ippucc1j" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>Speaking with <em>Fox News</em>' Jesse Watters, the 54-year-old rocker responded to a clip of left-wing protesters, saying: "You look at these rallies, and it’s like a bunch of women that no guy wants to sleep with and a bunch of dudes that want to sleep with each other."</p>

<p>"We have this low birth rate in America, and it all made sense. It just hit me right now, because <strong>who’s gonna sleep with these ugly ass, broke, crazy, deranged, TDS [Trump Derangement Syndrome] liberal women?</strong>"</p>

<p>Watters responded by asking whether Rock sees "blue hair" and "female armpit hair" at his concerts.</p>

<p>Watch:</p>

<blockquote data-media-max-width="560" data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Kid Rock: “We have this low birth rate in America..it just hit me right now because who's going to sleep with these ugly ass broke liberal women? Look at these rallies, it's like a bunch of women that no guy wants to sleep with &amp; a bunch of dudes that want to sleep each other”🤣 <a href="https://t.co/J0Z9HIDOuK">pic.twitter.com/J0Z9HIDOuK</a></p>
— Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) <a href="https://twitter.com/DerrickEvans4WV/status/1923214550125482059?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote>

<p>Is he wrong?</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/triggered_4.jpg?itok=JCNIix4T" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/triggered_4.jpg?itok=JCNIix4T"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="61b6c030-ef8c-40ce-ac80-d74b5e60da51" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="281" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/triggered_4.jpg?itok=JCNIix4T" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>The two also discussed former FBI Director <strong>James Comey</strong>'s now-deleted "86-47" social media post, which many suggested were a death threat against President Donald Trump - to which Comey played dumb. </p>

<p>"<strong>The head of the FBI — he doesn’t know what 86 somebody means?</strong>" said Kid Rock. "I mean, this guy was either drunk, or he’s clearly got TDS at the highest levels because Trump handed his ass to him."</p>

<p>"I might send out a drunk tweet, all right? I’m in a rock band for crying out loud," he continued. "This guy’s the head of the FBI. Trump had an assassination attempt twice on him. It’s like, what is the freaking matter with these people?"</p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Kid Rock unleashes on Comey: "Yeah, he's the head of the FBI—he doesn't know what '86 somebody' means?...This guy is either drunk, or he's clearly got TDS at the highest levels because Trump handed his ass to him...What is freaking the matter with these people?!" <a href="https://t.co/MuGMk66np8">pic.twitter.com/MuGMk66np8</a></p>
— Julia 🇺🇸 (@Jules31415) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jules31415/status/1923449266653044980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p><strong><a data-image-external-href="https://store.zerohedge.com/prime-berkshire-pork-ebersole-cattle-co-double-pork-bundle/" data-image-href="https://store.zerohedge.com/prime-berkshire-pork-ebersole-cattle-co-double-pork-bundle/" data-link-option="2" href="https://store.zerohedge.com/prime-berkshire-pork-ebersole-cattle-co-double-pork-bundle/"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="816cf367-42cf-4859-9074-b550037f8ad9" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="295" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/berkshire1.jpg?itok=PYdPGyme" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></strong></p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T18:35:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 14:35</span>

link:
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/kid-rock-blames-ugly-ass-broke-crazy-liberal-women-low-us-birthrate


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306449
author: ;Elizabeth Crisp
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5306449-ryan-zinke-medicaid-work-requirements/
hash: ��*�;q���� 3�W�
title:
Zinke says GOP budget won’t harm the needy: ‘People who deserve benefits are going to get the benefits’

content:
Rep. Ryan Zinke expressed concern over the country's debt and advocated for states to shoulder the burden of federal programs like Medicaid and SNAP, while defending proposed Medicaid work requirements and the 2017 tax cuts.

tags:
#Administration #House #Policy #congress #Medicaid #Montana #Moody's #President Trump #Rep. Ryan Zinke #SNAP #U.S.

attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2165599670.jpg?w=900","type":"image/jpeg","length":113129}]}


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5305077
title: Trump blinked and Beijing knows it
author: ;Imran Khalid; opinion contributor
link: https://thehill.com/opinion/5305077-china-outmaneuvers-trump-tariffs/
hash: �� �ܶC�vR�l� 
content:
China outmaneuvered the Trump administration's tariff war, securing a provisional halt to the escalating trade conflict through a diplomatic approach, allowing for a more predictable and rules-based global trade landscape.

tags:
#International #Opinion #Beijing #China #Geneva statement #Trump administration #U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent #Wall Street

attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/AP25130034695823_fb105b.jpg?w=900","type":"image/jpeg","length":263831}]}


guid: 1031525 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: Trump Denies Rift With Netanyahu, Says PM 'Fought Hard &amp; Bravely'
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-denies-rift-netanyahu-says-pm-fought-hard-bravely
hash: B��!j:g\5M �� u
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Trump Denies Rift With Netanyahu, Says PM 'Fought Hard &amp; Bravely'</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="https://thecradle.co/articles/trump-denies-rift-with-netanyahu-says-pm-fought-hard-and-bravely"><em>Via The Cradle</em></a></p>

<p>US President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/trump-says-hes-not-frustrated-with-netanyahu-bibi-hes-an-angry-man-and-he-should-be-because-of-oct-7/">denied</a> that he has grown "frustrated" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing the leader who remains 'wanted' by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as someone who has <strong>"a tough situation</strong>.<strong>"</strong></p>

<p>Asked during a televised interview with Fox News if he was frustrated by the Israeli premier, Trump said, “No, look, he’s got a tough situation. You have to remember, there was October 7 that everyone forgets. <strong>It was one of the most violent days in the history of the world</strong>, not the Middle East, the world, when you look at the tapes.”</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/trumpbibi_0.jpg?itok=o0dbQ0tD" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/trumpbibi_0.jpg?itok=o0dbQ0tD"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="85cdd18e-7365-42c0-8ed6-bfc9a4d1ce17" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="333" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/trumpbibi_0.jpg?itok=o0dbQ0tD" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>"<strong>Bibi, he’s an angry man</strong>, and he should be because of October 7, and he’s been hurt badly by that, but in another way, he’s been sort of helped because I think he’s fought hard and bravely," he added.</p>

<p>Trump made his comments as the Israeli military <a href="https://thecradle.co/articles/israel-expands-north-gaza-invasion-killing-over-150-in-under-24-hours">expanded</a> its invasion of northern Gaza, killing hundreds of starving Palestinians.</p>

<p>According to several Israeli media reports, the military plans to capture all of Gaza and forcibly displace the population to an area between the Egyptian border and the newly established Morag axis.</p>

<p>"[Gaza's] population will be moved. One thing will be clear: <strong>There will be no in-and-out</strong>. We'll call up reserves to come and hold territory – we're not going to enter and then exit the area, only to carry out raids afterward. That's not the plan. The intention is the opposite of that," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/world/middleeast/israel-strikes-gaza-killing-dozens-trump-floats-freedom-zone-intl">stated</a> earlier this month.</p>

<p>Watch the interview segment below:</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Fox News: <strong><em>Are you frustrated with Prime Minister Netanyahu?</em></strong></p>

<p>Trump: <em><strong>No</strong>. You have to remember <strong>there was an October 7 that everyone forgets</strong>. It was one of the most violent days in the history of the world. Not the Middle East - the world.</em></p>
</blockquote>

<blockquote data-media-max-width="560" data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Fox News: Are you frustrated with Prime Minister Netanyahu?<br><br>
Trump: No. You have to remember there was an October 7 that everyone forgets. It was one of the most violent days in the history of the world. Not the Middle East - the world. <a href="https://t.co/6BD0bql6EI">pic.twitter.com/6BD0bql6EI</a></p>
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) <a href="https://twitter.com/AvivaKlompas/status/1923537863280386206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>Trump's interview with Fox News occurred upon his return from his tour of West Asia, during which he visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, securing hundreds of billions in <a href="https://thecradle.co/articles/uae-pledges-14tn-investment-in-us-as-trump-ends-west-asia-tour">investment pledges</a>.</p>

<p>Ahead of his trip, multiple western media outlets <a href="https://thecradle.co/articles/trump-losing-patience-with-netanyahu-advances-us-plans-without-israeli-involvement-report">reported</a> that the US president <strong>had "lost patience"</strong> with Netanyahu and decided to "move on" with pursuing US goals in the region without waiting for Israel.</p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T19:10:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 15:10</span>


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306520
title: Clyburn denies Biden’s decline: ‘Never saw anything that I thought was unusual’
author: ;Elizabeth Crisp
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5306520-clyburn-biden-cognitive-abilities-questioned/
hash: sD�͓���h��7�S
content:
Rep. James Clyburn, a close confidant of former President Biden, defended Biden's cognitive abilities, citing their frequent interactions and Biden's ability to lead the country despite some reports of memory lapses.

tags:
#Administration #Campaign #House #News #“Original Sin” #CNN’s Jake Tapper #Donald Trump #Former President Biden #Rep. James Clyburn #robert hur #Vice President Biden

attributes:
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guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165924/feu-ferme-vache-champlain
title: En Mauricie, 300 vaches périssent dans un incendie
content: <p>Le feu a ravagé un bâtiment de la ferme Ghielen de Champlain.</p>
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165924/feu-ferme-vache-champlain
hash: Ӽ� o� 벌l�/?�
attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://images.radio-canada.ca/q_auto,w_635,h_357/v1/ici-info/16x9/incendie-ferme-laitiere-champlain.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","length":0}]}


guid: https://gript.ie/?p=330843
title: Michael Gaine murder: Man in 50s arrested
author: ;Máirín de Barra
link: https://gript.ie/michael-gaine-murder-man-in-50s-arrested/
hash: Au�4�L�9�;���J
tags: #Featured #Irish News #Arrest #Michael Gaine #Murder #slurry tank
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<div><img src="https://gript.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/M-Gaines.jpg" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p><strong>Dear Reader,</strong></p>
<p>It is a simple statement of fact that if you are looking for diversity of thought in the Irish media, you will struggle to find it. That is why we founded Gript – to serve the gap in the market left by so many of our colleagues, when they decided that the job of journalists was not to challenge consensus thought, but to herd around it, and defend it fiercely.</p>
<p>If you are looking for a media outlet that blames everything on the “far right” in Ireland, then you don’t have to go far to find one. If, by contrast, you are looking for a media outlet that looks beyond that cheap sloganeering, and tries to understand and report on the real concerns held by ordinary people – and a good few prominent people, albeit privately – then that is what we try to do here.</p>
<p>But we cannot do it without your support, and your subscription.</p>
<p>We reject Government funding, because, in our view, that would be the end of our independence. The moment we did so, we would begin looking over our shoulder, and wondering if our coverage of a particular issue might lead to that money being taken away. In time – not all at once, but slowly and inexorably – we would become just another safe, consensus, state-funded voice.</p>
<p>But there’s a bargain to be struck here: If you value our independence, then you must support it. If you want us to be answerable to you, then you must take a stake in our work.</p>
<p>What we try to do here is to be open, honest, and brave. That does not mean that you will always agree with us. It does mean that there will be times when we will annoy you, and publish things you disagree with: That’s part of the deal. We are independent, not servants of one cause, or another.</p>
<p>That is what media is supposed to be, but too often in Ireland no longer is. We are trying to change that, and we need your help. I am, therefore, asking for it, and would deeply appreciate a subscription at the level you can afford.</p>
<p>With gratitude,</p>
<p><strong>John</strong></p>


guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747593652
title: Deadly blast rocks police station in eastern Syria, killing three: Report
content: Explosion reported in Al-Mayadeen, in the Deir az Zor countryside, also wounds several people.
hash: �;5U�}<;��[��
tags: #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/18/deadly-blast-rocks-police-station-in-eastern-syria-killing-three-report?traffic_source=rss


guid: 1031542 at https://www.zerohedge.com
author: ;Tyler Durden
hash: �h�k�d����c- �n�
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
title:
Patel &amp; Bongino Tease New 'Russiagate' Evidence In 'Wave Of Transparency' - Yet Insist Jeffrey Epstein Killed Himself

content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Patel &amp; Bongino Tease New 'Russiagate' Evidence In 'Wave Of Transparency' - Yet Insist Jeffrey Epstein Killed Himself</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino sat down for a wide-ranging interview with <em>Fox News</em> on Sunday, where the pair hinted at a "wave of transparency" on the horizon over weaponization of the DOJ by the Biden and Obama administrations.</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/GrPZWgxX0AAcrCz_jpg-large_92.jpg?itok=LpjCbX85" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/GrPZWgxX0AAcrCz_jpg-large_92.jpg?itok=LpjCbX85"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="07baecce-a5bc-45c2-83b3-5c8e3345db1d" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="281" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/GrPZWgxX0AAcrCz_jpg-large_92.jpg?itok=LpjCbX85" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>"You asked in the beginning how the FBI was weaponized," Patel told host Maria Bartiromo. "Well, <strong>the FBI hijacked the constitutional responsibility of the Department of Justice and the Attorney General, </strong>and James Comey and others specifically decided what cases to prosecute and not prosecute. Don't believe me? Go to the videotape in the Hillary Clinton investigation."</p>

<p>Cool, cool.</p>

<p>"We don't decide prosecutions, and neither does any agent or intel analyst. <strong>We have great partners under Attorney General [Pam] Bondi</strong>. We work with them and discuss the matter with them, but the prosecutorial decision is with them," Patel continued.</p>

<p>No rush on those indictments and pre-dawn raids, guys.</p>

<h2>'Additional' Russiagate Details?</h2>

<p>The pair also said they've uncovered additional details regarding the Obama DOJ's Crossfire Hurricane (Russiagate) investigation, and are working with Congress on it - which for some reason they have to do before they can release it.</p>

<p>Of note, Patel was previously the House Intelligence Committee's lead Russiagate investigator.</p>

<p>"They bastardized the process, they withheld and hid documentation and put it in rooms where people weren't supposed to look," he said.</p>

<p>"That's how vindictive and vicious the former leadership structure here was. Not only did they bastardize the FISA process and lie to the American public, they withheld and hid documentation and put it in rooms where people weren't supposed to look," Patel continued, adding "<strong>It's a good thing we're here now to clean it up, and you're about to see a wave of transparency… Just give us about a week or two.</strong>"</p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Kash Patel &amp; Dan Bongino say they uncovered new information pertaining to the Russiagate hoax and accountability is coming:<br><br>
“I’m telling you and the American public that we have now found material and information and people who wanted to hide it from the world since we got in… <a href="https://t.co/GyoGW2Ttcj">pic.twitter.com/GyoGW2Ttcj</a></p>
— TheStormHasArrived (@TheStormRedux) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStormRedux/status/1924108797850591691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>Epstein Killed Himself?</h2>

<p>In another segment, <strong>the pair insisted that pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein definitely killed himself.</strong></p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/epstein%20gurney%201_0.jpg?itok=a2k7frrc" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/epstein%20gurney%201_0.jpg?itok=a2k7frrc"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a17e0ed0-fc48-46e3-88b3-c6f5a3e1a840" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="285" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/epstein%20gurney%201_0.jpg?itok=a2k7frrc" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>"You said Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide. People don’t believe it," said Bartiromo.</p>

<p>"They have a right to their opinion," Patel replied. "But as someone who’s been a public defender, a prosecutor, who’s worked in that prison system and been inside segregated housing——you know a suicide when you see one. And that’s what that was."</p>

<p>Bongino concurred, saying "He killed himself."</p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">NEW: Kash Patel and Dan Bongino double down on Jeffrey Epstein claim, “He killed himself.”<br><br>
It’s the most infamous death of the century.<br><br>
And when Kash Patel told Maria Bartiromo he believed Epstein committed suicide, she pushed back.<br><br>
“You said Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide.… <a href="https://t.co/oDRxJM7fA8">pic.twitter.com/oDRxJM7fA8</a></p>
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) <a href="https://twitter.com/VigilantFox/status/1924128234439844211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>So, Epstein, whose cellmate moved out the <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/jeffrey-epstein-investigation-suicide-prison-how-guards-sleeping-a9062951.html"><strong>day before</strong></a> he died, was able to kill himself right at the moment <strong><a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-08-27/surveillance-video-outside-epsteins-cell-deemed-unusable">security cameras malfunctioned</a> and his guards fell asleep. </strong>And other inmates reportedly heard <strong>"<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeffrey-epstein-death-shrieking-heard-jail-cell-morning-he-died-metropolitan-correctional-center/">shouting and shrieking</a>" from Epstein's jail cell</strong> the morning he died. And some footage which <em>was</em> apparently recovered was deemed "too flawed for investigators to use."</p>

<p>And this was a photo of the 'noose' he used:</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/clean%20noose%20epstein_1.jpg?itok=uONc-Up8" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/clean%20noose%20epstein_1.jpg?itok=uONc-Up8"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d3e249ed-3f7f-4876-9a58-c359b111ba0d" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="281" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/clean%20noose%20epstein_1.jpg?itok=uONc-Up8" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>And coroner Dr. Michael Baden said his autopsy was more consistent with <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/forensic-pathologist-jeffrey-epstein-homicide-suicide"><strong>homicidal strangulation</strong></a> than suicide.</p>

<p>Right.</p>

<p>Remember when Elon Musk told Joe Rogan he can't dig <em>too</em> deep into government corruption or he'll be wet work'd? Bongino's reply to the above question has the same vibes.</p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Elon musk tells Joe Rogan he is afraid of exposing all of the corruption because “they” would kill him 😳 <a href="https://t.co/gbJxvUjELx">pic.twitter.com/gbJxvUjELx</a></p>
— internet hall of fame (@InternetH0F) <a href="https://twitter.com/InternetH0F/status/1896455529813139858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>*  *  *</p>

<p><em><strong>Grow your own food with <a href="https://store.zerohedge.com/wise-food-storage-heirloom-seed-vault-39-varieties-4-500-seeds/?utm_source=zerohedge.com&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=store_promo">HEIRLOOM SEEDS</a></strong> (39 varieties - 4,500 seeds) from <a href="https://store.zerohedge.com/?utm_source=zerohedge.com&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=store_promo">ZH Store!</a>  Free shipping in the USA. </em></p>
<a data-image-external-href="https://store.zerohedge.com/wise-food-storage-heirloom-seed-vault-39-varieties-4-500-seeds/?utm_source=zerohedge.com&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=store_promo" data-image-href="https://store.zerohedge.com/wise-food-storage-heirloom-seed-vault-39-varieties-4-500-seeds/?utm_source=zerohedge.com&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=store_promo" data-link-option="2" href="https://store.zerohedge.com/wise-food-storage-heirloom-seed-vault-39-varieties-4-500-seeds/?utm_source=zerohedge.com&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=store_promo"><picture><figure role="group" data-sanitized-class="caption caption-img inline-images image-style-inline-images"><img alt="" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a3c7e03a-456d-4667-ac6a-e5d3d39a52e8" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="294" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/seed_vault_1__62543.1725935890.1280.1280a.jpg?itok=hAHZDzrT" typeof="foaf:Image" width="500"><figcaption><em>Click pic... buy seeds... take food supply into your own hands...</em></figcaption></figure></picture></a></div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T19:45:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 15:45</span>

link:
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/patel-bongino-tease-russiagate-accountability-wave-transparency-yet-insist-jeffrey


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306599
title: Zelensky briefs Vance, Rubio on Russia-Ukraine talks
author: ;Sarah Fortinsky
link: https://thehill.com/policy/international/5306599-zelensky-rubio-discuss-peace-talks/
hash: lҎ!�� �! �o<�u
tags: #Administration #International #ceasefire #Russia-Ukraine war
content:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday to discuss peace talk negotiations held with Russia as the Trump administration seeks to broker a ceasefire in the three-year conflict. Zelensky said in a statement that he briefed the U.S. officials about talks held on Friday with…

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guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306562
title: Suspect identified in Palm Springs clinic bombing
author: ;Elizabeth Crisp
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/5306562-palm-springs-bombing-suspect-bartkus/
hash: J8� � ������0q
content:
Guy Edward Bartkus, a 25-year-old man with nihilistic ideations, was suspected of carrying out a bombing attack outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, which injured four people and damaged several businesses, before reportedly dying in the blast.

tags:
#Health Care #News #State Watch #Akil Davis #American Reproductive Centers IVF clinic #FBI’s Los Angeles field office #Guy Edward Bartkus #Palm Springs Police Chief Andrew Mills

attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/AP25137715171775.jpg?w=480","type":"image/jpeg","length":1144378}]}


guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165971/feux-lac-bonnet-mobilisation-urgence
title: Au Manitoba, mobilisation contre les feux encore non maîtrisés
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165971/feux-lac-bonnet-mobilisation-urgence
hash: ْHrC#��y��e=3��
content:
<p>Il reste des feux actifs et l'avis d'évacuation reste en vigueur à certains endroits autour de Lac du Bonnet.</p>

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guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747579126
title: The UN says global hunger has hit a new high
content: Nearly 300 million people faced acute hunger in 2024.
hash: z�#GT� ~�n
tags: #TV News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/video/inside-story/2025/5/18/the-un-says-global-hunger-has-hit-a-new-high?traffic_source=rss


guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165975/puvirnituq-manque-eau-nunavik-urgence
title: « Nous traversons une période difficile », dit la mairesse de Puvirnituq
content: <p>La Municipalité a déclaré l'état d'urgence samedi.</p>
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165975/puvirnituq-manque-eau-nunavik-urgence
hash: ������ ��Տ����
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guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306632
title: Biden diagnosed with prostate cancer
author: ;Julia Manchester; Brandon Conradis
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5306632-biden-diagnosed-prostate-cancer/
hash: ��A9�����&�O��y
tags: #Administration
content:
Former President Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, his spokesperson announced on Sunday. “Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms,” according to a statement from Biden’s personal office. “On Friday he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized…

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guid: 1031550 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: Biden Diagnosed With 'Aggressive' Stage IV Prostate Cancer
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/biden-diagnosed-aggressive-stage-iv-prostate-cancer
hash: ��B����k�wѝN��
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Biden Diagnosed With 'Aggressive' Stage IV Prostate Cancer</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Fresh on the heels of the Trump administration dumping the <a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/political/biden-hur-tape-drops-and-boy-it-rough">Biden-Hur tapes</a> to <em>Axios</em> (revealing what we all knew - Biden was totally cooked &amp; we still don't know who was actually running the country for four years), <strong>the Biden family announced that the former president has an aggressive form of prostate cancer. </strong></p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/biden%20face%2012_1.PNG?itok=HZvSLQiS" data-link-option="0" href="https://www.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/biden%20face%2012_1.PNG?itok=HZvSLQiS"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="caa7765a-ce44-4026-8cda-69b6a048164a" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="292" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/biden%20face%2012_1.PNG?itok=HZvSLQiS" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>The news comes five days after a small nodule was found in the 82-year-old Biden's prostate after a "routine physical exam," which "necessitated further evaluation."</p>

<p>According to the family statement, "On Friday, he [Biden] was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone. While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management."</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/get_attachment_url_92%288%29.jpg?itok=H6rJxmqG" data-link-option="0" href="https://www.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/get_attachment_url_92%288%29.jpg?itok=H6rJxmqG"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f018e19b-e583-4225-855a-37a352260fa9" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="400" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/get_attachment_url_92%288%29.jpg?itok=H6rJxmqG" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p><strong>A Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) is the highest risk category for prostate cancer. </strong>The scores range from 6 to 10, with a score of 9 indicating an aggressive cancer with a high likelihood of spreading.</p>

<p>The fact that it has spread beyond the prostate classifies it as <strong>Stage IV</strong> - with bone metastases common in advanced prostate cancer.</p>

<p>President Trump and First Lady Melania wished Biden 'a fast and successful recovery.'</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/get_attachment_url_92%289%29.jpg?itok=1wdA5wrG" data-link-option="0" href="https://www.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/get_attachment_url_92%289%29.jpg?itok=1wdA5wrG"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d2e3c82c-c918-409d-8980-399e8034b7d6" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="248" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/get_attachment_url_92%289%29.jpg?itok=1wdA5wrG" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>And wait...</p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Remember when Biden said he had cancer in 2022?!?!?<a href="https://t.co/Dwh2n5sE0D">pic.twitter.com/Dwh2n5sE0D</a></p>
— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) <a href="https://twitter.com/DogRightGirl/status/1924209960029700332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>Which of course begs several questions...</p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Joe Biden has Cancer with metastasis to the bone.<br><br>
This is considered advanced.<br><br>
If he had the best medical care and screenings for 4 years they'd have found it and it means he's likely had it since before dropping out.<br><br>
Democrats knew. <a href="https://t.co/liQdEeiSuX">pic.twitter.com/liQdEeiSuX</a></p>
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) <a href="https://twitter.com/Timcast/status/1924210709375693222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Had Biden been re-elected we would not be learning of the prostate cancer diagnosis.</p>
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) <a href="https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/1924194826263675227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>*  *  *</p>

<p><em><strong>FINAL COUNTDOWN BEFORE SHIPPING CUTOFF...</strong></em></p>

<p><strong><a data-image-external-href="https://store.zerohedge.com/10lb-premium-wagyu-ground-beef-bundle-zero-hedge" data-image-href="https://store.zerohedge.com/10lb-premium-wagyu-ground-beef-bundle-zero-hedge" data-link-option="2" href="https://store.zerohedge.com/10lb-premium-wagyu-ground-beef-bundle-zero-hedge"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="34605c98-fad6-4c77-bf5f-b7e785e9ab19" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="296" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/memorial%203.JPG?itok=IZHual5b" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></strong></p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://www.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-19T10:22:13+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Mon, 05/19/2025 - 06:22</span>


guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165982/president-joe-biden-cancer-prostate-sante-os
title: L’ex-président américain Joe Biden est atteint d’un cancer
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165982/president-joe-biden-cancer-prostate-sante-os
hash: g���T����lM��
content:
<p>Il s'agit d'un cancer de la prostate « agressif » avec des métastases osseuses, selon son personnel.</p>

attributes:
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guid: 1031538 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: Do Republicans Buy The Dip Far More Than Democrats
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/do-republicans-buy-dip-far-more-democrats
hash: �JD{��F\i��2�
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Do Republicans Buy The Dip Far More Than Democrats</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>By Peter Tchir of Academy Securities</em></p>

<h2>Together We Stand… Ratings… UMich</h2>

<p>We already covered the <a href="https://academysecurities.com/macro-strategy-insights/the-pivot-it-is-real-and-positive/?asmac=2c7baf37-4fb0-406a-b67c-97f1cccb353c">Trump PIVOT </a>and the <a href="https://academysecurities.com/macro-strategy-insights/were-april-tariff-policies-just-a-bad-dream/?asmac=f9df604f-c811-4716-bd2d-65c07050f3e2">Trump PUT </a>as positives in the past week. We got to kick off the first half hour of <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-05-13/bloomberg-surveillance-05-13-2025-video">Bloomberg TV </a>on Tuesday and published the <a href="https://academysecurities.com/geopolitical-podcasts/6590/">Around the World </a>Podcast on Thursday. Neil Wiley, formerly from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, represented the Geopolitical Intelligence Group.</p>

<p>While questions remain about:</p>

<ul><li><strong>Trade deals. </strong>While we have outlines for China and the U.K., and the market is operating under the assumption of 10% or so for the rest of the world, more official announcements would be welcomed (in so far as to reduce the uncertainty).</li>
	<li><strong>The impact of tariffs is starting to show up. </strong>PPI showed margin declines, presumably as companies, at least initially, absorb the cost of tariffs (typically, it takes time to pass on price increases). We are seeing some large retailers lay the groundwork for higher prices. While tariffs (after all the reductions and backpedaling from Liberation Day) should be manageable, there will be impacts.</li>
	<li><strong>The peace processes </strong>in the Middle East and in Europe seem to be homing in on deals, but reaching a definitive deal has been elusive.</li>
	<li><strong>Concerns about the impact on The American Brand </strong>have diminished, but this is still a potential issue that is not being priced in.</li>
</ul><p>But today, I wanted to turn the focus to navigating domestic issues/hurdles.</p>

<p><strong>Budget 2026 </strong>will be a crucial steppingstone for the growth that this administration is expected to deliver.</p>

<p>It may not be smooth sailing, as the nation itself is far from putting unanimous support towards every initiative. We have “picked a fight” with the rest of the world on trade, which is one thing, but there is also a lot of domestic friction to navigate.</p>

<h3>U.S. Ratings Downgrade</h3>

<p>Moody’s, the last remaining NRSRO (Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization – officially they are not Rating “Agencies”), dropped the U.S. from AAA.</p>

<p><strong>I don’t expect a major market reaction </strong>(in either the bond or equity market) from this action.</p>

<ul><li>Treasuries are typically included in investment guidelines specifically not by ratings. <strong>There should be very few (if any) buyers of Treasuries who can no longer buy Treasuries</strong>, or even need to reduce their allocation, because one agency changed their rating.</li>
	<li>Some ratings “derived” from the U.S. government rating could be changed due to this downgrade, but again, the impact should be minimal. Most bond indices rely on 2 out of 3 agencies, and S&amp;P and Fitch both had the U.S. rated below AAA for some time.</li>
</ul><p><strong>The timing seems odd.</strong></p>

<ul><li>The U.S. rating isn’t something I spend a lot of time thinking about (since I think any downgrade impact is minimal, at most) but this seemed a bit “out of the blue.”</li>
	<li>DOGE, while not wildly successful (we didn’t reach the trillions hoped for), saw some progress.</li>
	<li>Yes, higher yields mean the debt <strong>we roll over has an average coupon that is higher than what is being replaced, </strong>but this is nothing new.</li>
	<li><strong>Budget 2026 </strong>is working its way through the system. While it does look like it will increase the deficit, it is not yet a done deal, so it seems a bit premature to cut the rating until that is decided.</li>
	<li>The <strong>Inflation Reduction Act</strong>, which was never going to reduce inflation, didn’t seem to trigger the action. Spending at record highs, while unemployment was low and inflation was high, seemed more “frivolous” (or dangerous) than anything that has happened in the past few months.</li>
</ul><p>We have to assume that this wasn’t a political decision, but the timing (ahead of finalizing the budget) seems odd<strong>. It is unlikely to be the sort of action they will reverse quickly.</strong></p>

<p>It does highlight that we have domestic issues to overcome, and we need to make sure those get the attention that they need and deserve.</p>

<h3>CONsumer CONfidence</h3>

<p>Longtime readers know that the T-Report tends to refer to the report that was issued on Friday as the CONsumer CONfidence report, because it is fraught with issues (see November 2021 <a href="https://academysecurities.com/macro-strategy-insights/consumer-confidence/?asmac=8d4ef35d-2d27-4d02-b3d8-a6d4bbff496f">T-Report</a>).</p>

<p><strong>But this is now getting ridiculous</strong></p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/umich%20consumer%20exp.jpeg?itok=q9GSPGcU" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/umich%20consumer%20exp.jpeg?itok=q9GSPGcU"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9bbdea89-8fba-43fc-b009-5cfc31f1aa7a" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="232" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/umich%20consumer%20exp.jpeg?itok=q9GSPGcU" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>That is not the “ridiculous” part. Believe it or not, <strong>the fact that expectations are the lowest since the GFC is not what I find the most ridiculous about the UMich Report.</strong></p>

<p><strong>What I find amazing is the differential between Democrats and Republicans.</strong></p>

<p>Democrats came in at 22.5! <strong>Seriously, 22.5! </strong>Republicans came in at 90.8! Seriously, 90.8! Even Republicans, in this survey, are down from 106.8 in the aftermath of the election, but this divergence is abnormally high.</p>

<p>Yes, there is always a divergence between the two parties, and it is weirdly large (at least weirdly large from my viewpoint), but this is getting crazy.</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/expectations%20democra.jpeg?itok=tYbO7-zk" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/expectations%20democra.jpeg?itok=tYbO7-zk"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2f618a93-01a5-4b43-a38c-fde092e1ac2a" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="232" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/expectations%20democra.jpeg?itok=tYbO7-zk" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p><strong>How do we consistently have large differences that are getting larger?</strong></p>

<p>This cannot make it easy to govern or get policy through! Maybe it isn’t meant to be easy, but as the U.S. is pressuring countries across the globe, it cannot be helpful that there is such a divergence of views here.</p>

<h3>One Curious Chart</h3>

<p>Retail was better at buying the dip, it seems, than most of Wall Street</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/retail%20better%20at%20buying%20dip.jpeg?itok=gk94sxBn" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/retail%20better%20at%20buying%20dip.jpeg?itok=gk94sxBn"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="81a470a7-c837-434b-95fb-f1ff5f100ec0" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="232" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/retail%20better%20at%20buying%20dip.jpeg?itok=gk94sxBn" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>Since that was the case at the lows, it is worth noticing that retail (TQQQ as a 3x daily leveraged Nasdaq 100 ETF is geared towards aggressive retail traders) has been taking profits here.</p>

<p>For the first time ever, <strong>the T-Report wishes we had access to fund flows by party affiliation</strong>.</p>

<p>Given the extreme divergence, do <u><strong>Republicans buy the dip far more than Democrats</strong></u>? Is that too crazy to be even possible? If true, does the wealth effect affect one party more than the other?</p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Also, tripling-down on shorting the faceripping rebound really won't help the blue line <a href="https://t.co/UI8OZHe704">pic.twitter.com/UI8OZHe704</a></p>
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) <a href="https://twitter.com/zerohedge/status/1922489372361822498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>I’ve never really thought about people allowing extreme views on politics to dramatically change their investment views, but is it possible? <strong>Or is it just easy to say something extreme on a survey, while being more balanced in one’s asset allocations?</strong></p>

<p>That latter point makes more sense to me, but it would be great to see investment allocation by party!</p>

<h3>Bottom Line</h3>

<p><strong>On rates:</strong></p>

<ul><li><strong>Clarity on tariffs makes it easier, not more difficult, for Powell to cut rates</strong>. Markets had the opposite reaction on the China deal, but with lower tariffs, and lower risk of tariff-generated price increases, it will be easier for Powell to cut rates if employment data weakens (which is my base case).</li>
	<li><strong>We need to bump up the range on 10s</strong>. We’ve been thinking 4.1% to 4.5% as a wide range. With the state of the deficit, they should be pushed up to 4.3% to 4.7%, with a greater probability of pushing to 5% than to 4%. While the timing of the rating downgrade seems odd, the reality that the deficit is far from being resolved seems reasonable. Nothing dramatic for rates, but a 20 bps increase to the range seems appropriate (as we are bumping up against the 4.5% top end of our previous range).</li>
</ul><p><strong>On equities</strong>, the move higher has been propelled by a policy pivot and what seems like clear evidence that the President is now associating himself with the stock market, compelling him to drive policies to help stocks. That all makes sense, but a LOT has now been priced in, and it is interesting that the “smart money” (retail) is backing off their bets!</p>

<p><strong>Foreign investors have an easier time being underweight Treasuries </strong>(they can buy their own domestic bonds), but they have <strong>less ability to reduce exposure to credit </strong>(U.S. corporate debt offers the most opportunities to diversity across rating, industry, and maturity) and equities (40% of the revenue of the S&amp;P 500 comes from overseas sales – since most of the companies are global in nature). <strong>The global nature of the biggest “U.S. Companies” may remain a point of periodic friction between the companies (acting for their shareholders) and the government (acting for the people).</strong></p>

<p><strong>Crypto </strong>is doing well, and it seems very likely that it will get some form of adoption by this administration. Not sure I see the point, but would not fight it, or even embrace it.</p>

<p>Day-to-day volatility should be lower. We will see smaller responses to every announcement (policies that sound bad can be retracted, and good news is very priced in).</p>

<p><strong>The one sentiment that seems universal</strong>, from asset managers to corporate decision makers, and from domestic to foreign participants, <strong>is that everyone is hoping that the last 2 months aren’t representative of the next few years!</strong><br>
Markets and the economy will continue to be driven by policy, <strong>but the volatility (or violence) of the moves should be reduced.</strong></p>

<p>Together we stand is true, which is why we wanted to highlight not just the risk of “friction” internationally, but also the potential for “friction” domestically that may impact markets negatively from here.</p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T20:20:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 16:20</span>


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306613
title: Rubio says ‘we’ll find out pretty soon’ if Russia is ‘tapping us along’ in Ukraine talks
author: ;Elizabeth Crisp
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5306613-rubio-optimism-kremlin-ukraine-peace-talks/
hash: {��8l��8 ^
content:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed cautious optimism about the Kremlin's commitment to brokering peace with Ukraine, while President Trump expressed frustration over the stagnant talks and threatened harsher sanctions if progress isn't made.

tags:
#Administration #Defense #International #CBS #Margaret Brennan #President Trump #russia #Secretary of State Marco Rubio #Sergey Lavrov #ukraine #united states #Vladimir Putin

attributes:
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guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306639
title: Khanna criticizes Trump agreement to put AI data center in Dubai: What about ‘America First’?
author: ;Sarah Fortinsky
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5306639-khanna-criticizes-trump-ai-deal/
hash: �6�\�RP��f<���
tags: #Business #House #International #Technology #AI #UAE
content:
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) on Sunday criticized the Trump administration’s deal with the United Arab Emirates to build a massive artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Dubai, suggesting the president should have sought to build the hub on American soil. In an interview on ABC News’s “This Week,” the Silicon Valley congressman questioned whether the…

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guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747600332
title: Former US President Joe Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer
content: US President Trump says he wishes former rival a 'fast and successful recovery'.
hash: ��$����W�l���>
tags: #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/18/former-us-president-biden-diagnosed-with-aggressive-prostate-cancer?traffic_source=rss


guid: 1031540 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: GPS Disruption Reported In World's Most Critical Maritime Chokepoint
author: ;Tyler Durden
hash: TWwe?J�>O��"A
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">GPS Disruption Reported In World's Most Critical Maritime Chokepoint</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A new report has emerged stating that vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz are experiencing GPS interference, disrupting electronic navigation systems and forcing commercial ships to rely on manual or backup methods in one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. </p>

<p>UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) <a href="https://www.ukmto.org/ukmto-products/advisories/2025">announced</a> on X late Sunday morning that it has "<strong>received reports from vessels experiencing GPS interference in the Strait of Hormuz area, with disruptions lasting several hours, affecting navigation systems and requiring vessels to rely on backup methods</strong>."</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/GrPJ5xNXMAAC_zp.png?itok=uOeiC6Mu" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/GrPJ5xNXMAAC_zp.png?itok=uOeiC6Mu"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="11657eab-8809-4ecc-976e-75563794ec5c" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="711" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/GrPJ5xNXMAAC_zp.png?itok=uOeiC6Mu" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>UKMTO provided no further information on the source of the GPS interference. However, if it was caused by a foreign adversary such as Iran, GPS interference in the critical maritime chokepoint would be considered a form of hybrid warfare. </p>

<p>GPS interference or spoofing falls into the domain of non-kinetic warfare—it doesn't involve firing weapons but can degrade vessel operations in the strait. </p>

<p>The incident occurred after Iran's president and the US agreed to continued nuclear talks on Saturday. </p>

<p>"We are negotiating, and we will negotiate, we are not after war but we do not fear any threat," President Masoud Pezeshkian said during a speech to the military broadcasted on state television.</p>

<p>The issue with GPS disruptions in the strait is that it's considered an energy superhighway for the global economy. About 20% of global oil (and about 30% of seaborne-traded oil) passes through the narrow stretch of water (approximately 17 to 20 million barrels of oil per day) that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.</p>

<p>Last year, analysts led by Tom Joyce, managing director and capital market strategist at MUFG, showed clients the <a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/mufg-warns-higher-friction-geopolitics-puts-these-global-maritime-chokepoints-risk">critical maritime chokepoints</a> across the Middle East, including the Suez Canal, the Bab-El Mandeb Strait, and the Strait of Hormuz. This note was published around the time Iran-backed Houthis were just getting started on their campaign to attack US and Israel-linked ships in the Southern Red Sea. </p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/2024-01-24_07-32-04_0.png?itok=LNEi39V_" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/2024-01-24_07-32-04_0.png?itok=LNEi39V_"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="69836ae6-4650-4186-9dcc-401022f17e93" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="376" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/2024-01-24_07-32-04_0.png?itok=LNEi39V_" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>Any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz—whether through conventional conflict, cyber operations, GPS spoofing, or sabotage—can trigger a surge in the war risk premium for Brent crude prices, elevate maritime insurance premiums, and undermine global energy security. </p>

<p>While there are currently no indications that the GPS interference incident will impact crude markets when futures reopen, the incident warrants additional monitoring. </p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T20:55:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 16:55</span>

link:
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/gps-disruption-reported-worlds-most-critical-maritime-chokepoint


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5304773
title: Trump faces serious GOP questions over Air Force One Qatar plan
author: ;Al Weaver
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5304773-trump-qatari-jet-gift-controversy/
hash: 9�{���-�c��y� ]�
tags: #News #Senate
content:
President Trump has returned from the Middle East to mounting questions about whether it’s appropriate for him to accept a luxury Qatari jet to serve as the next Air Force One, including from Republicans increasingly dubious that the move is a smart and worthwhile idea.  Republicans have given the president a wide berth on a…

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guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747597472
title: Poland set for tight presidential election after centrist takes first round
hash: ���Qg �_OA�J�,
tags: #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
Governing party's pro-EU candidate and a right-wing nationalist are set for a decisive second-round showdown on June 1.

link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/18/centrist-trzaskowski-leads-first-round-in-polands-tight-presidential-poll?traffic_source=rss


guid: 1031499 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: Tattoos May Be Linked To Cancer - Here's Why...
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/tattoos-may-be-linked-cancer-heres-why
hash: Dt �w�3�5��{G&�
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Tattoos May Be Linked To Cancer - Here's Why...</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/tattoos-may-be-linked-to-cancer-heres-why-5849327?utm_source=partner&amp;utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&amp;src_src=partner&amp;src_cmp=ZeroHedge">Authored by Zena le Roux via The Epoch Times</a> (emphasis ours),</em></p>

<p>“I got tattooed during a time in my life when I wasn’t fully informed about what was going into my body or what I was allowing onto my skin. Back then, it was about art, self-expression, and creative identity.”</p>
<a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/image_92%2852%29_0.jpg?itok=IUHn9KW5" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/image_92%2852%29_0.jpg?itok=IUHn9KW5"><picture><figure role="group" data-sanitized-class="caption caption-img inline-images image-style-inline-images"><img alt="" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="797b1b15-ef75-4bfd-a8d7-a1ae381c8a49" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="333" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/image_92%2852%29_0.jpg?itok=IUHn9KW5" typeof="foaf:Image" width="500"><figcaption><em>Witthaya Prasongsin/GettyImages</em></figcaption></figure></picture></a>

<p>“Today, I see it differently. Tattoos are not harmless,” Ellie Grey a book author, wrote on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=689144350425533&amp;set=pb.100079899212849.-2207520000">Facebook</a>.</p>

<p>Like Grey, many people choose to get tattoos as self-expression, acts of remembrance, or transformation. But even when the meaning runs deep, tattoos can have consequences—some only now coming to light.</p>

<h2>The Link Between Tattoos and Cancer</h2>

<p><strong>Many tattoo inks contain chemicals that have been classified as carcinogenic—or cancer-causing—by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.</strong></p>

<p>A 2024 <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(24)00228-1/fulltext">study</a> by Swedish researchers found that 21 percent of participants with malignant lymphoma had tattoos compared with 17 percent of controls. The risk was highest—an 81 percent increase—among those who got their first tattoo within two years of diagnosis.</p>

<p>“<strong>We know that tattoo ink often contains toxic chemicals</strong> and that a significant portion of the injected ink is transported away from the skin by the immune system, which perceives it as a foreign substance,” Christel Nielsen, associate professor and lead author of the study, told The Epoch Times.</p>

<p><strong>Once ink enters the dermis, the layer of skin beneath the outer layer, the immune system attempts to clear it, sending pigment particles to nearby lymph nodes and, potentially, other organs.</strong> This may disrupt immune function and trigger systemic inflammation. Over time, the persistent presence of ink in lymphatic tissue could contribute to abnormal immune activity and increase the risk of cancers such as lymphoma and skin cancer.</p>

<p>*  *  *</p>

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<p>Are some tattoos more harmful than others?</p>

<h2>Does Size Matter</h2>

<p>Nielsen’s study found no clear link between the size of a tattoo and lymphoma risk.</p>

<p>“<strong>We did not observe an increased risk with larger tattoos, which was unexpected</strong>,” Nielsen said. “That does not mean such a link doesn’t exist—only that our study design may not have been able to detect it.”</p>

<p>However, Nielsen noted that a January <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-025-21413-3">study</a> published in BMC Public Health on the same topic found a different pattern, suggesting that larger tattoos may indeed be associated with a higher cancer risk. The study proposed that larger tattoos might have a stronger effect due to greater overall ink exposure or prolonged exposure from tattoos acquired over time.</p>

<p>Tattoo risks also include infections and allergic reactions that may be difficult to treat, Dr. Bruce Brod, clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, told the Epoch Times. Such risks may be amplified by the amount of ink used or how deeply it’s deposited—factors more likely in larger or multiple tattoos.</p>

<h2>Does Color Matter</h2>

<p><strong>Another factor to consider is the color of the tattoo. </strong>In a matched analysis comparing individuals with similar characteristics, <strong>those with black or grey tattoos had a 23 percent higher risk of lymphoma.</strong> Those with both black and colored tattoos had a 21 percent higher risk compared to people without tattoos.</p>

<p>In a broader, less-controlled analysis, the risk was even higher for black and grey tattoos, showing a 32 percent increase, and lower for tattoos with both black and colored ink, with an 11 percent increase. Of note, this broader analysis may have been influenced by other factors, such as lifestyle or health differences between groups.</p>

<p><strong>Black ink often contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons</strong>, which are known to be carcinogenic and can increase the risk of cancer. Colored inks, on the other hand, may contain primary aromatic amines. Both may contain metals like arsenic, lead, and chromium.</p>

<h2>Warning Signs</h2>

<p>“Current regulations on tattoo ink ingredients are not sufficient,” Dr. Trisha Khanna, dermatologist and medical advisory board member at Codex Labs, told The Epoch Times. “This is a growing concern among dermatologists.”</p>

<p><strong>Some warning signs people with tattoos should look out for when monitoring their skin health include persistent redness, itching, bumps, new pigmented lesions, color change, ulceration, and bleeding, Khanna said.</strong></p>

<p>Tattoos can also complicate the early detection of skin cancer, Brod said. Since changes in the skin may be obscured by the tattoo pigment, detecting potential issues becomes more challenging.</p>

<p>If people notice a new or changing spot within a tattoo—or anywhere on the skin—it’s crucial to seek evaluation from a dermatologist, he said.</p>

<h2>Laser Removal</h2>

<p>After learning about the risks, some people’s first instinct might be to remove their tattoo. However, laser removal could further increase the lymphoma risk. Among tattooed participants who underwent laser treatment, the risk of lymphoma was found to be three times higher.</p>

<p>These findings align with experimental studies showing that laser treatment breaks down azo compounds—chemicals used to color tattoos—into potentially toxic, cancer-causing substances. This breakdown may release more harmful chemicals into the body, further raising the risk.</p>

<h2>What to Do if You Have a Tattoo</h2>

<p>If you’re already tattooed and concerned about the risks, the best approach is to focus on your overall health.</p>

<p>“The best thing we can do for our health, tattoos or not, is to maintain a healthy lifestyle—regular exercise and a nutritious diet,” Nielsen said.</p>

<p><strong>Make sure to take an active role in improving your diet to help reduce cancer risk.</strong></p>

<p>“Eating more plant-based foods isn’t just a trend—it’s a proven strategy,” Amy Bragagnini, a clinical oncology dietitian, told The Epoch Times. “A diet rich in colorful fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, and whole grains has been linked to lower cancer rates.”</p>

<p>For people considering getting a tattoo, it’s important to weigh all the information before making a decision. Ultimately, the choice is personal.</p>

<p>“As researchers, our role is to provide knowledge so people can make informed decisions,” Nielsen said.</p>

<p>“If someone is concerned about potential health effects, then it may be best to refrain from tattooing to avoid future worries.”</p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T21:30:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 17:30</span>


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306739
title: Trump wishes Biden ‘fast and successful recovery’ after cancer diagnosis
author: ;Brandon Conradis
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5306739-trump-biden-prostate-cancer-diagnosis/
hash: �� "@�qr�Qڡ��
tags: #Administration #Campaign
content:
President Trump on Sunday expressed his condolences after former President Biden announced he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we…

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guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306738
title: Whatley claims Comey’s social media post was intentional and should be investigated
author: ;Sarah Fortinsky
hash: dF�5���oCd�p���
tags: #Administration #Campaign #News #DHS #FBI #RNC
content:
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Michael Whatley said in a Sunday interview that there’s “no way” former FBI Director James Comey didn’t realize his “8647” social media post would be interpreted as a call for violence, as the former FBI director asserted when he took down the post hours later. The RNC chair said Comey…

link:
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5306738-whatley-comey-social-post-intentional-should-be-investigated/

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guid: yt:video:-Serrrz9nZ8
author: ;C-SPAN
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Serrrz9nZ8
hash: �߳��F;\�'����u
title:
AW: Leah Litman, &quot;Lawless - How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories..&quot;

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guid: https://strategic-culture.su/?post_type=article&amp;p=885385
title: Trump should not threaten new sanctions when he talks to President Putin
author: ;A A
hash: *yb�icl�R��p��^
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
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<div data-sanitized-class="code-block code-block-2">
<p><strong><em>Russia will keep fighting, Ukraine will lose all of the Donbass and Europe will pay the price</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><span>Join us on </span><a href="https://t.me/strategic_culture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telegram</a><a href="https://t.me/strategic_culture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tlg.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875659"></a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SCJournalOnline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a><a href="https://twitter.com/SCJournalOnline" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/twitter.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875661"></a><span>, and</span> <a href="https://vk.com/strategicculture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VK</a><a href="https://vk.com/strategicculture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/wk.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875662"></a>.</strong></p>
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<p><strong><span>Contact us:</span> </strong><a href="mailto:info@strategic-culture.su" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><u><strong>info@strategic-culture.su</strong></u></a></p>
<p>The U.S. side has made various signals that it might impose massive new sanctions on Russia unless the war ends soon. This would be a huge mistake that would lock in the fighting for the rest of the year and leave Europe on the hook for a massive bill and political disruption that it cannot afford. Trump should not threaten Putin with sanctions when they talk on Monday 19 May.</p>
<p>In the run up to the Russia-Ukraine bilateral peace talks which finally took place in Istanbul last week, both the EU and the UK imposed new sanctions on Russia. On 9 May, as Russian commemorated victory Day, Britain imposed sanctions on Russia’s shadow fleet and the EU followed suit with its 17<sup>th</sup> package of Russia sanctions on 14 May, the day before the Istanbul talks were due to start. Both the UK and EU have threatened further sanctions should Russia not agree a full and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine and, with Zelensky, have actively urged the U.S. to follow suit, which it has not done, so far. However, the Americans have spoken increasingly about the possibility of massive new sanctions against Russia: this would be a huge mistake.</p>
<p>Sanctioning a country before peace talks have already started, or while they are still going on, is already a bad look. Very clearly, the Ukrainians, Europeans and British hope that new sanctions will apply such pressure on Russia that it agrees to terms that are more favourable to the Ukrainian side. I.e. that Ukraine does not have to go back to the Istanbul 1 commitment to adopt permanently neutral status. The western mainstream press has been carpet bombing their intellectually degraded readers with the latest press line that Ukraine should not have to go back to the Istanbul 1 text as a starting point for talks.</p>
<p>But there’s a problem. For this strategy to be effective, the sanctions have to work.</p>
<p>As I’ve pointed out before, sanctions against Russian energy have had limited impact, not just since 2022, but since 2014. Nothing about the glidepath of sanctions since February 2014 suggests that new sanctions will work now.</p>
<p>This latest round of UK and EU sanctions aimed to apply more pressure on enforcement of the G7 oil price cap of $60 which was first imposed in December 2022. Since the war started, that policy has failed.</p>
<p>Between 2021 and 2024, total volumes of Russian oil exported fell by just 0.2 million barrels per day, or 2.6%. After a bumper year for tax receipts in 2022 caused by Russian tumbling rouble and skyrocketing energy prices, Russia pulled in current account surpluses of $49.4bn and $62.3bn in 2023 and 2024. This was on the back of still strong goods exports of $425bn and $433bn respectively.</p>
<p>There are several reasons why the oil price cap didn’t work, the biggest being that Russia diverted 3 million barrels per day, around 39.5% of total oil exports to India (1.9 mbd), Türkiye (0.6 mbd) and China (0.5 mbd). Türkiye and India boosted exports of refined fuels to Europe providing a backdoor route for Russian oil to Europe. The second reason the oil price cap didn’t work is the near ten month time lag between war starting and the limit being imposed, which gave Russia space to readjust before punitive measure had been imposed. During this period, oil prices also dropped sharply from the high of $120 in the summer of 2022, to around $80 when the measure was imposed: the G7 missed the boat to impose maximum damage; this reinforces the point I make all the time that coalitions cannot act with speed and decisiveness.</p>
<p>Today, the Russian Urals oil price is below the $60 G7 cap meaning that any registered shipping company can transport it without penalty, which renders the British and European sanctions as pointless in any case.</p>
<p>Let’s be clear, western nations imposing sanctions against Russia that don’t work is not a new phenomena. As I have pointed out many times before, the vast majority (92%) of people that the UK has imposed assets freezes and travel bans upon have never held assets in the UK nor travelled here. For companies, the figure is just 23. The same, I am sure, is true of EU and U.S. sanctions, which cover largely the same cast list of characters and companies, as we all share and compare the same lists of possible designations. Financial sector sanctions prompted a massive readjustment of Russia’s financial sector. Energy and dual use sanctions drove self-sufficiency in technology production, through Rosnet, Gazprom and RosTec: i.e. these companies invested more in R&amp;D on component production while sourcing components from alternative markets, in particular China.</p>
<p>At well over 20,000 sanctions imposed so far, Russia’s economy has proved remarkably robust and its key export sectors still find ways to deliver similar volumes across the world. At some point, I hope policy makers in London, Brussels and Washington will start to ask whether this policy is working. We long ago passed the point of diminishing marginal returns. I fear, however, they have their heads in the sand or, possibly another, darker, place.</p>
<p>So, coming back to Trump’s phone call with Putin on Monday 19 May you might ask yourself, ‘so what if he imposes a few more sanctions if they won’t work anyway?’</p>
<p>Putin would see the imposition of new U.S. sanctions as a complete 180, destroying any emerging trust he had in Trump or any belief in America’s stated intentions to end the war in Ukraine.</p>
<p>It is clear to me that further U.S. sanctions on Russia would kill stone dead any chance of a ceasefire in Ukraine at a time when Russia still has the upper hand. Russia has increased the pace of its advance since the Victory Day ceasefire and seems to be adding new blocks of red to the battle map each day. At the current rate of advance, even without a catastrophic Ukrainian collapse, it seems realistic to expect that Russia would paint out the remaining territory in Donetsk and Luhansk during the remainder of this year. In the process they would need to overcome the heavily fortified towns of Pokrovsk, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, in what would likely be brutal and attritional battles killing many thousands more on both sides.</p>
<p>Moreover, dragging out the war for longer would simply add to Europe’s continent liability to fund Ukraine’s war effort at a time when it is only ever going to lose. Ukraine is spending over 26% of GDP on defence in 2025 and 67.5% of its budget expenditure is on defence and security, leaving a budget black hotel of $42bn that has to be filled. America under Trump isn’t going to fill this hole. And, as Ukraine is cut off from international lending markets, that black hole is being filled by Europe.</p>
<p>There is no money for this.</p>
<p>Europe has neither the political capital nor the funds to maintain a losing war in Ukraine at enormous expense without massive domestic political blowback in their own countries.</p>
<p>Notwithstanding the possibly understandable fear among European leaders of failing and being seen to fail in Ukraine, keeping the war going is at best, a gesture in cynical self-preservation, pushing their eventual political demise further down the track.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, we have been here so many times before. Right back to the Minsk II agreement, Ukraine has been pushing for ever more sanctions against Russia that only ever served to ramp up resentment and exacerbate the conflict. European leaders have invested too much in Zelensky and his self-serving demands aimed primarily at staying in power. He is quickly becoming the gun that shoots European elites in the head.</p>
<p>If Trump really wants to be seen as a peacemaker, he should avoid doing what every other western leader before him including Sleepy Joe did and resist the temptation to impose more sanctions. Instead, he should continue to press the President Putin to continue to engage with bilateral peace talks that finally recommences in Istanbul last week. He must also tell the Eurocrats and Zelensky that they must make compromises rather than plugging the same old failed prescriptions.</p>
<p></p>

link:
https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/05/19/trump-should-not-threaten-new-sanctions-when-he-talks-to-president-putin/

tags:
#Americas #Russia &amp; CIS #World #Diplomacy #Donald Trump #Russia #Sanctions #Ukraine #United States #Vladimir Putin #Volodymyr Zelensky


guid: 1031474 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: MAHA Working: Goldman Finds "Better-For-You" Consumption Shift Underway
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/food/maha-working-goldman-finds-better-you-consumption-shift-underway
hash: g��e�[�_5k�Z|!
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">MAHA Working: Goldman Finds "Better-For-You" Consumption Shift Underway</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>President Trump's second term will likely be regarded as a major public health inflection point, driven by the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement. The initiative aims to revolutionize a broken system rigged against patients—creating disease and then profiting from it—while also targeting reform of the nation's food supply chain, which is dominated by the processed food industrial complex.</p>

<p>Goldman analysts Leah Jordan and Eli Thompson provided clients with early indications that consumers are shifting and seeking "<strong>better-for-you options</strong>" at the supermarket. </p>

<p>"<strong>Softer snacking demand with outperformance in better-for-you options</strong>," Jordan wrote in a note to clients earlier this month. </p>

<p>She continued, "<strong>Several packaged food companies noted a slowdown in snacking demand</strong> as consumers focused on essentials in the current backdrop. However, <strong>better-for-you categories (e.g., high protein) have been outperforming</strong>, although select indulgences are resonating as well, noting relative strength in seasonal confection for HSY (e.g., Valentine's Day and Easter) and cookies (over crackers) for MDLZ." </p>

<p>The analysts expect the MAHA theme to continue:  </p>

<blockquote>
<p><em><u><strong>"We expect the ongoing consumption shift towards better-for-you to continue</strong></u>, while investors have also noted caution on snacking, with risks related to rising GLP-1 adoption (including the potential launch of oral options) and regulation changes (e.g., potential SNAP funding cuts for select categories, removal of certain dyes/additives). All in, we see continued tailwinds for natural/organic (Buy SFM) and protein (Buy SFD)." </em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>They pointed to recent earnings commentary from major food companies, which revealed a noticeable slowdown in processed food sales between April and May.</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/2025-05-17_11-40-37.png?itok=RbosukWS" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/2025-05-17_11-40-37.png?itok=RbosukWS"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a641597c-b2ff-4e92-8f5e-0e3f017c9190" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="350" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/2025-05-17_11-40-37.png?itok=RbosukWS" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>Year-to-date snacking trends are on the decline. </p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/2025-05-17_11-40-52.png?itok=m5QY4r-F" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/2025-05-17_11-40-52.png?itok=m5QY4r-F"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fe46c884-5f0b-4ace-8d13-42e8c721611e" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="404" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/2025-05-17_11-40-52.png?itok=m5QY4r-F" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>Prioritize your health. Eat real food.</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/Chcicken_Scoop_Blog_Image_1200x630.png?itok=iUU9aURH" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/Chcicken_Scoop_Blog_Image_1200x630.png?itok=iUU9aURH"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="01741e6b-884d-4c6f-b0ab-8d946cdeddbe" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="266" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/Chcicken_Scoop_Blog_Image_1200x630.png?itok=iUU9aURH" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>Americans are waking up to the rigged system that profits from our sickness.</p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Prioritize your health. Eat real food. <a href="https://t.co/q1HpFLxHj4">pic.twitter.com/q1HpFLxHj4</a></p>
— Giga Based Dad (@GigaBasedDad) <a href="https://twitter.com/GigaBasedDad/status/1923686180354392383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>Eat real food. </p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">YOU'RE DANG RIGHT 😎 <a href="https://t.co/s5sRdD3rkB">pic.twitter.com/s5sRdD3rkB</a></p>
— Declaration of Memes (@LibertyCappy) <a href="https://twitter.com/LibertyCappy/status/1916151532665323952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>This is more than politics—it's a movement for the nation's future. </p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/GL_Kh56bUAAyy_b.jpg?itok=YP4_sng1" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/GL_Kh56bUAAyy_b.jpg?itok=YP4_sng1"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="eb402d3e-6f80-40d4-b68f-337c7bb0a236" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="510" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/GL_Kh56bUAAyy_b.jpg?itok=YP4_sng1" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>Recall that the "N" in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) means "Nutrition," yet many <span>recipients are buying soda bottles and candy bars. SNAP is <a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/n-snap-means-nutrition" target="_blank">also one of the</a></span><a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/n-snap-means-nutrition"> nation’s largest welfare programs</a>. </p>

<p>Expand your carbon footprint: <a href="https://store.zerohedge.com/rancher-direct-clean-food/?utm_source=banner&amp;utm_medium=banner&amp;utm_campaign=store_promo&amp;utm_content=sidebar">Eat real food</a>.</p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T22:05:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 18:05</span>


guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747601102
title: Portugal’s ruling party set to win general election, fall short of majority
hash: J<������_�bj #!
tags: #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
The election has been dominated by issues such as housing and immigration, and follows a decade of fragile governments.

link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/18/portuguese-pms-party-set-to-win-general-election-fall-short-of-majority?traffic_source=rss


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306773
title: Harris responds to Biden’s cancer diagnosis: ‘Joe is a fighter’
author: ;Julia Manchester
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5306773-biden-cancer-diagnosis-harris-statement/
hash: $�`${5�%�VW�
tags: #Administration #Campaign
content:
Former Vice President Kamala Harris responded to news of President Biden’s cancer diagnosis on Sunday, calling her former boss “a fighter.”  “Doug and I are saddened to learn of President Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis. We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time,” Harris wrote in…

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guid: https://strategic-culture.su/?post_type=article&amp;p=885395
title: Dilemma tedesco nel cuore del continente
author: ;A A
link: https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/05/19/dilemma-tedesco-nel-cuore-del-continente/
hash: 06�,�G�y�]X��$
tags: #Italiano #Alternative for Germany #Elections #Germany #Justice
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p><strong><em>Un passato che non vuole mai passare: questa è la dinamica principe che muove il mondo politico tedesco da ormai 80 anni a questa parte e che sembra in questi giorni essere arrivata ad una resa dei conti che mette in dubbio quella che è considerata la più potente democrazia del continente europeo.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><span><span><em>Segue nostro</em></span> <a href="https://t.me/SCF_Italiano" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telegram</a><a href="https://t.me/SCF_Italiano" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img loading="lazy" src="https://strategic-culture.su/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/tlg.jpg" alt="" width="25" height="25" data-sanitized-class="alignnone wp-image-875659"></a><a href="https://t.me/SCF_Italiano" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>.</span></a></span></strong></p>
<p>Per andare al dunque, il “Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz” ossia l’Ufficio tedesco per la protezione della Costituzione (sotto l’autorità del Ministero degli Interni federale) ha classificato come incostituzionale il partito “Alternativa per la Germania” agli inizi di maggio: la decisione è stata subito dopo bloccata dal ricorso sporto dalla leader del partito stesso – Alice Weidel – che ha tempestivamente impugnato il provvedimento che ne sospende gli effetti per il momento.</p>
<p>Se la questione è rimandata è tuttavia evidente oltre ogni dubbio il dilemma cui si trova di fronte la Germania (e di rimando, l’Europa intera): il senso stesso della democrazia liberale, la sua difesa ed il suo stesso limite. In parole altre la situazione evoca quesiti esistenziali che apparivano risolti sin dal termine dell’ultimo conflitto mondiale, allorchè la genesi del nuovo stato tedesco – la Repubblica federale che oggi conosciamo – fissò gli equilibri geopolitici del continente per il secolo a venire. E’ da qui che occorre partire per evidenziare la particolarità del sistema impostato dagli alleati angloamericani nell’immediato dopoguerra, o meglio metterne in luce il peccato originale: la democrazia liberale di ispirazione occidentale promossa dal 1945 in avanti nasce imperfetta ovvero si genera dalle macerie dei totalitarismi la cui memoria viene naturalmente messa al bando dal nuovo sistema (tra il 1952-56 partito nazista e comunista sono dichiarati illegali nella Germania occidentale) il quale tuttavia non fissa con esattezza la definizione dei pericoli dai quali la costituzione ha diritto di difendersi, lasciando libera intepretazione di decidere cosa sia “estremismo” o meno. In sostanza si avvera il curioso paradosso secondo il quale l’ideologia della libertà si afferma incontrastata, priva di pericoli, grazie alla rimozione giuridica degli stessi: ne emerge quasi – a livello di principio – una dittatura della democrazia, un “totalitarismo liberale” tanto attento alla propria salvaguardia (garantita mettendo al bando gli avversari) quanto lo erano i totalitarismi non liberali di matrice socialista o fascista.</p>
<p>Tale contraddizione non è stata affrontata per oltre mezzo secolo: non si rendeva necessario farlo, considerata l’entità risibile delle formazioni estremiste per tutta la seconda metà del XX secolo e quindi la sostanziale assenza di qualsiasi vera sfida all’estabilishment esistente. Al contrario il contesto di fondo della prima metà del secolo attualmente in corso e le sue sfide – in primo luogo le migrazioni di massa – pongono domande esistenziali che mai si erano poste in precedenza alla società tedesca delle generazioni passate: la formidabile ascesa dell’AFD (Alternativa per la Germania) nel panorama partitico tedesco ne è una fragorosa testimonianza. L’elite politica euro-atlantica al potere in Germania si trova a dover constatare che nello spazio di poco più di un decennio si è verificato l’inimmaginabile: una formazione partitica al di fuori degli schemi liberal-democratici e globalisti come AFD (fondata nel 2013) è passata dal nulla all’attuale 20% alle ultime elezioni legislative nazionali, un risultato storico ed un vero e proprio sisma per ragioni che si possono immaginare. Per la prima volta nella storia politica dello stato tedesco post-bellico un’entità politica definita di estrema destra è riuscita ad inserirsi profondamente nel tessuto sociale così come nel parlamento federale: se ancora fino a a 20 anni orsono non era immaginabile che le frange ultraconservatrici potessero infrangere la soglia minima di sbarramento del 5% dei voti per entrare in parlamento, adesso non soltanto la superano, ma incassano 1/5 dei consensi a livello nazionale (con proiezioni che indicano un potenziale ancor più alto, prossimo ad un 1/4 dei suffragi, stando agli ultimi sondaggi di maggio in concomitanza alla questione legale attuale del aprtito) estendendo a macchia d’olio la propria presenza ben oltre il bacino tradizionale degli ultraconservatori nelle regioni dell’ex DDR e risultando quindi presenti in modo consistente in qualsiasi regione tedesca, incluse quelle più occidentalizzate dell’ex Germania ovest. Il quadro è anche più problematico se si considera che questa avanzata non è andata a scapito delle formazioni di estrema sinistra come Die Linke – che rimangono molto solide nelle loro roccaforti elettorali – bensì a danno di partiti “di sistema” come i Verdi i liberal-democratici e lo stesso asse CDU-CSU, cardine ed equilibrio del sistema politico-elettorale tedesco quanto lo fu la Democrazia cristiana in Italia o i gollisti in Francia.</p>
<p>Situazione quindi di massimo allarme per le alte sfere dell’arco costituzionale tedesco, di colpo di fronte alle conseguenze di una generazione di scelte che danno vita a scenari che adesso non si sa come gestire: la nuova mappa del consenso elettorale tedesco ridisegna dalle fondamenta gli equilibri tradizionali, dando vita ad una nuova dinamica (che già si osserva in Francia) che non vede più l’alternanza convenzionale di destra e sinistra – compatibili al sistema, cioè globaliste –  intente a conquistarsi il maggior appoggio possibile del centro, dando così vita alle classiche coalizioni, bensì queste ultime due forze in netto declino, al punto di non essere più in grado di di governare e pertanto nella condizione (unica nella storia elettorale dal 1945 ad oggi) di doversi alleare tra loro tra i seggi del Bundestag al fine di fronteggiare la “marea eversiva” costituita dalle forze antisistema, in questo frangente storico incarnate dalla destra radicale di AFD.</p>
<p>Cambia dalla radice il senso stesso del confronto politico a questo punto: non più la dicotomia classica di centro-destra e centro-sinistra quanto piuttosto una macro coalizione di tutti costoro contro qualsiasi elemento si faccia troppo forte nella società tedesca arrivando a destabilizzarne l’ordine costituzionale stabilito dal secondo dopoguerra. In parole altre si ha un gigantesco agglomerato di forze politiche, un continuum trasversale il cui unico comun denominatore è quello di tenere in vita il sistema originario di matrice liberal-democratica contro qualsaisi sfidante: non ha più senso parlare di destra o sinistra, dal momento che la contrapposizione che si configura tira in ballo modelli assai più basilari quali l’occidente atlantico contro dottrine continantaliste o eurasiatiche.</p>
<p>La natura del confronto fuoriesce pertanto dai canoni convenzionali che caratterizzano il normale svolgimento del confronto democratico dato che esso assume un carattere esistenziale: i problemi dell’Europa sono talmente estesi e profondi (tanto in politica estera che interna) che ciò che è in questione non è più tanto un’amministrazione – progressista o libertaria che sia – quanto il modello di vita stesso e quindi di civiltà verso il quale le società del continente vorranno incamminarsi. Ebbene, è proprio in questo labirinto di interrogativi che l’estabilishment euro-atlantico si ritrova a confrontarsi con un ennesimo problema ossia come evitare tale confronto, come respingere l’elemento estraneo: il punto non è da poco in quanto mette alla prova l’essenza di cosa viene concepito come “democrazia” in occidente.</p>
<p>Dalla prima reazione, istintiva, da parte del sistema che è stata il tentativo di repressione legale di AFD, si può dedurre tutta l’impreparazione della cultura giuridica tedesca nell’affrontare il nuovo contesto: la costituzione tedesca “si difende” come ha sempre fatto, quasi in automatico, individuando le particelle estranee  ed eliminandole, ovvero escludendole dal normale gioco democratico rendendole illegali. Una metodica sufficiente una generazione orsono, quando le formazioni politiche alternative al sistema costituzionale erano una realtà numericamente insignificante e pertanto facile da classificare come come “estremista”: inadeguate però al giorno d’oggi nel gestire il confronto con un grande partito di massa che raccoglie oltre il 20% dei voti – ovvero il secondo del paese – saldamente inserito in tutti gli strati del tessuto sociale (condizione lavorativa, classe d’età e di istruzione secondo le analisi accurate dei flussi elettorali). La verità è che l’AFD – che si tenta di mettere sotto accusa come se fosse una formazione antidemocratica – non è una fazione estremistica bensì un forte segmento della società: pretendere di tacciarlo ed annullarlo attraverso metodi legali fa legittimamente sorgere dubbi in merito alla democrazia occidentale che si vorrebbe difendere e i suoi valori ultimi cadendo nella più eclatante della contraddizioni.</p>
<p>Il partito di Alice Weidel ha un significato profondo, emblematico, nella misura in cui mette in imbarazzo il “sistema Germania” ovvero l’equilibrio stabilito e sacro dello stato legale dalla fine dell’ultima guerra mondiale ad oggi: un sistema costituzionale che dal 1949 ad oggi mette al bando il nazismo e in generale gli “estremismi”, ma senza specificare cosa siano questi ultimi se non in modo del tutto vago. Arbitrario stabilire gli aspetti culturali da interdire: ovvio e giustificato nei confronti dell’iconografia nazista, più discutibile nel caso dell’iconografia kaiseriana pre-1914 – la quale non ha oggettivamente a che fare col nazismo – e se poi si arriva bandire simbologie dei secoli passati (dello stato prussiano o addirittura medievali) allora la perplessità cresce esponenzialmente. Si può mettere al bando la storia se essa non collima coi valori dominanti ? Si può archiviare la memoria storica dei secoli perchè non va d’accordo col concetto odierno di democrazia in occidente ? E’ il medesimo equivoco da cui nasce la “cancel culture” nei campus universitari anglosassoni ed altrove.</p>
<p>La verità è che l’ideologia nazional-conservatrice (non liberale) non può essere eliminata in Germania: le istituzioni possono solo provare a sopprimerla o oscurarla (come accaduta per 70 anni dopo il 1945) il che costituisce un grave errore creando solo una cortina di nebbia che oscura la realtà. Ma a parte questo,il problema più profondo di tutti, il vero nodo dell’enigma identitario tedesco è che la leadership nazionale al potere dall’avvento della Bundesrepublik ad oggi, punta proprio al contrario: non si desidera che la Germania superi quel 1945, ma piuttosto la si vorrebbe in eterna stasi, cristallizzata come ai tempi della guerra fredda. La classe politica tedesca – formata da tre generazioni di seguito di atlantismo – non vuole un vero superamento dell’ultimo conflitto mondiale nella coscienza collettiva, preferendo una società ancorata ad esso alle strutture della guerra fredda verificatasi sviluppatasi tra il 1945 e il 1990:  all’annullamento geopolitico e alla rinuncia costituzionale della guerra e delle armi, ma al tempo medesimo accettando da 80 anni a questa parte di ospitare testate nucleari statunitensi malgrado il rifiuto di averne di proprie.</p>
<p>Si dice comunemente che i neofascisti non volessero superare il passato, con le loro mascherate di dubbio gusto (ed è vero), tuttavia non viene invece detto che i migliori alleati involontari in questo atto di rifiuto di andare avanti sono proprio le forze democratiche tradizionali afferenti all’arco costituzionale: anche queste – a modo loro e per i propri scopi – sono altrettanto restie a superare la guerra mondiale dal cui risultato deriva la propria fortuna, il proprio stabilirsi come classe politica dominante nel nuovo contesto affermatosi.</p>
<p>In ultima istanza l’enigma tedesco (ed europeo) consiste proprio in questo: la democrazia liberale al potere è la maggiore forza conservatrice esistente nella propria opera di venerazione del sistema instauratosi al termine del più tragico conflitto affrontato dalla propria nazione la cui sconfitta viene festaggiata nella misura in cui segna il principio (ne è la matrice) del sistema politico/partitico dal quale traggono nutrimento e status. L’attuale resistenza all’emergere di nuove forze che rappresentano nuovi bisogni della società – come lo AFD – mettono in luce piuttosto il grado di scollamento che ormai sussiste tra il governanti e governati, tra l’elite e la società reale: il primo vive in un mondo sempre più scostato dalla realtà, seguendo interessi che coincidono sempre di meno con la seconda che ne invece ne subisce le conseguenze. E’ quest’ultimo in realtà uno schema già visto (il conflitto tra l’elite globalista e la periferia nel contesto francese), ma in questo caso si rischia addirittura di arrivare un passo più in là ossia classificare come estremista, cioè indesiderato, ponendo le premesse per l’autorizzazione a metterlo fuorilegge: oscurare in forza di legge un partito che rappresenta da solo oltre 15 milioni di elettori – nell’impossibilità di curare i mali della società invece – e creando così un precedente mai sentito nella storia della cultura politica occidentale e degli ideali da essa sostenuti. Grave il dilemma che molto presto l’intera classe politica tedesca e comunitaria dovrà affrontare.</p>
<p></p>


guid: 1031537 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: FBI Agents Beg Court To Destroy List Before 'Shame' Campaign
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/fbi-agents-beg-court-destroy-list-shame-campaign
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content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">FBI Agents Beg Court To Destroy List Before 'Shame' Campaign</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>Authored by <a href="https://headlineusa.com/author/lcornelio/">Luis Cornelio</a> via <a href="https://headlineusa.com/subscribe/">Headline USA</a>,</em></p>

<p><strong>A group of <a href="https://headlineusa.com/tag/fbi">FBI</a> agents involved in the Jan. 6 investigations asked a judge Thursday to destroy a Trump administration list containing the names of roughly 5,000 agents tied to the probes. </strong></p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/fabricating-fascists.jpg?itok=4iMRWAKl" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/fabricating-fascists.jpg?itok=4iMRWAKl"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="777a5b57-961d-4955-8055-e53127197dca" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="286" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/fabricating-fascists.jpg?itok=4iMRWAKl" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>Their move follows <a href="https://headlineusa.com/tag/ed-martin">Ed Martin’s</a> vow, as the newly appointed weaponization czar, to<strong> “name” and “shame” the thousands of agents </strong>who helped crack down on more than 1,000 Americans allegedly involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, protests. </p>

<p>The anonymous agents told U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb that Martin’s public pledge signals the federal government plans to release the list. They first sued in February, asking the court to destroy or seal the roster. </p>

<p>Their Thursday filing came after Martin <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/-_6zxO-6aeM?si=VQvZ0YCJurYqmyTv&amp;t=1366">promised</a> at a Tuesday press conference to hold the agents accountable for destroying the lives of more than 1,000 Jan. 6 defendants. </p>

<blockquote>
<p><em><strong>“There are some really bad actors, some people that did some really bad things to the American people. And if they can be charged, we’ll charge them. </strong></em></p>

<p><em>But if they can’t be charged, we will name them. </em></p>

<p><em><strong>And in a culture that respects shame, they should be people that are ashamed. And that’s a fact. That’s the way things work.</strong> And so that’s, that’s how I believe the job operates.” </em></p>
</blockquote>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-_6zxO-6aeM?start=1366&amp;" width="560" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin"></iframe></p>

<p>The agents argue Martin’s rhetoric puts them in greater danger of retribution by the pardoned Jan. 6 defendants. </p>

<blockquote>
<p><em>“Mr. Martin’s statements represent new, relevant facts worthy of the Court’s attention while it considers Plaintiffs’ requested relief,” their filing claimed, according to <a href="https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/immediate-danger-of-retribution-jan-6-prosecutors-endangered-by-trump-admin-official-who-plans-to-name-and-shame-them-agents-say/">Law and Crime</a>. </em></p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>The agents are represented by a group of attorneys that includes Mark Zaid, who is also suing President Trump over revoked security clearances. </strong></p>

<p>Zaid is also representing former FBI agent Jamie Mannina in a defamation suit against journalist James O’Keefe, after O’Keefe released undercover footage of Mannina expressing his contempt for Trump. </p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="https://siphox.zhstore.com/" data-image-href="https://siphox.zhstore.com/" data-link-option="2" href="https://siphox.zhstore.com/"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c5dbf4d3-6a01-447f-8e3e-bd20c5c0a2d7" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="141" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/SiPhox_17.png?itok=Cq5M2FWW" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T22:40:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 18:40</span>


guid: https://www.mondialisation.ca/?p=5698667
title: Infolettre: Stratégie de Trump armes et affaires
author: ;Mondialisation.ca
link: https://www.mondialisation.ca/infolettre-strategie-de-trump-armes-et-affaires/5698667
hash: ��-KJ#���$��f&
tags: #Francais @fr
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<h2><strong>Sélection d’articles :</strong></h2>
<div data-sanitized-class="alignleft"><a href="https://www.mondialisation.ca/la-strategie-de-trump-armes-et-affaires/5698654"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://www.mondialisation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Capture-decran-le-2025-05-16-a-19.12.41-51x46.png" alt="" width="51" height="46" data-sanitized-class="attachment-featured_thumbnail size-featured_thumbnail wp-post-image alignleft"></a></div>
<p><strong data-sanitized-class="title"><a href="https://www.mondialisation.ca/la-strategie-de-trump-armes-et-affaires/5698654">La stratégie de Trump : armes et affaires</a></strong></p>
<p><em data-sanitized-class="date">Par <span data-sanitized-class="author"><a title="Articles par Manlio Dinucci" href="https://www.mondialisation.ca/author/manlio-dinucci">Manlio Dinucci</a></span>, 17 mai 2025</em></p>
<p>Le président Trump a dit que résoudre les conflits est plus difficile qu’il ne pensait. Concernant l’Ukraine, “Vladimir Poutine est particulièrement dur …</p>


guid: yt:video:6Bn_7xwZc3Y
title: Alastair Crooke : Israel is in Moral Meltdown.
author: ;Judge Napolitano - Judging Freedom
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bn_7xwZc3Y
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guid: yt:video:3DaOv-PdyWo
title: Ray McGovern : The Russians Always Claim What is Theirs
author: ;Judge Napolitano - Judging Freedom
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DaOv-PdyWo
hash: �?�X����#ß`T
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guid: yt:video:JMe8pUxb1ZA
title: Larry Johnson : Do We Still Have a Constitution?
author: ;Judge Napolitano - Judging Freedom
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMe8pUxb1ZA
hash: �5���g�� N>�
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guid: yt:video:l_I8UcO0uu8
title: Prof. Jeffrey Sachs : US Christian Zionists Attack Free Speech.
author: ;Judge Napolitano - Judging Freedom
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_I8UcO0uu8
hash: Tϐ�dߡQ ܹ�a
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guid: https://www.mondialisation.ca/?p=5698669
title: Encore un “complot iranien” fictif à Londres?
author: ;Robert Inlakesh
link: https://www.mondialisation.ca/encore-un-complot-iranien-fictif-a-londres/5698669
hash: �kP��ϥA�B>z�>
tags: #Francais @fr #Mobile
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<div>L’arrestation d’un groupe composé, selon certaines sources, de ressortissants iraniens accusés d’avoir planifié une attaque contre l’ambassade d’Israël à Londres, a coïncidé avec une campagne de lobbying agressive en faveur du classement du Corps des gardiens de la révolution islamique …</div>


guid: yt:video:SXJMBvK8Oio
title: Col. Jacques Boud: Europe on the Brink: Is the EU Destroying Itself?
author: ;Dialogue Works
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXJMBvK8Oio
hash: �����*�p 켧0
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guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306809
title: Hillary Clinton shares condolences after Biden’s cancer diagnosis
author: ;Sarah Fortinsky
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5306809-biden-diagnosed-aggressive-prostate-cancer/
hash: �s�u&\Hｅ6HV��
tags: #Administration #Health Care #Biden #biden cancer #prostate cancer
content:
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday extended well wishes to former President Biden after he announced he was diagnosed with an “aggressive form” of prostate cancer. In her short message, Clinton nodded to the work Biden and his family have done to combat the disease and promote early detection. “I’m thinking of the…

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guid: yt:video:huB_Lp0xFc4
title: Larry C. Johnson: Putin Drops a Devastating Bombshell on Trump
author: ;Dialogue Works
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huB_Lp0xFc4
hash: �O� ���F�Gjb�n
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guid: yt:video:9PlxQkYxP1A
title: Pepe Escobar: Facing the Storm: How Iran Plans to Tackle the U.S.
author: ;Dialogue Works
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PlxQkYxP1A
hash: �Qj�� �|2��+:�G
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guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306816
title: Biden’s cancer diagnosis prompts bipartisan outpouring of support
author: ;Julia Manchester; Amie Parnes
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5306816-joe-biden-cancer-diagnosis-well-wishes/
hash: 8@�^�N�wa>��R���
tags: #Administration #Campaign
content:
Former President Biden’s political allies and rivals alike sent a flood of well wishes and tributes to the former president on Sunday following news of his cancer diagnosis, praising him as “a fighter.”  The news of Biden’s health challenges came amid renewed scrutiny of his decision to initially run for a second term despite questions…

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guid: 1031544 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: Los Angeles Announces Flying Taxis For Visitors At 'No-Car' Olympics
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/los-angeles-announces-flying-taxis-visitors-no-car-olympics
hash: �t�7�"���F��
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content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Los Angeles Announces Flying Taxis For Visitors At 'No-Car' Olympics</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/los-angeles-announces-flying-taxis-for-visitors-at-no-car-olympics-5859313?utm_source=partner&amp;utm_campaign=ZeroHedge"><em>Authored by Kimberley Hayek via The Epoch Times,</em></a></p>

<p><strong>Los Angeles announced May 15 that air taxis will be available for visitors and Team USA at the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games by Archer Aviation Inc.</strong></p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/image%20%2810%29_8.jpg?itok=yJYSBYpA" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/image%20%2810%29_8.jpg?itok=yJYSBYpA"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c9327a4a-465f-481e-b3cb-009de29647ed" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="333" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/image%20%2810%29_8.jpg?itok=yJYSBYpA" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>Mayor Karen Bass pledged last year that the Olympics would be a “no-car Games” and that people would need to use public transportation to access venues.</p>

<p><strong>However, Archer’s electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft will also be used for the 2028 Games, transporting VIPs, fans, and stakeholders, while also aiding emergency services and security operations across Los Angeles.</strong></p>

<p>The LA28 Games are projected to attract more than 15 million visitors and be watched by billions of viewers worldwide. Around 4 billion people watched the 2024 Paris Olympics.</p>

<p><strong>Archer said its Midnight aircraft emits less noise and emissions than traditional helicopters. </strong>The company hopes to begin commercial operations in 2026, assuming it receives Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification approval.</p>

<p>The aircraft is manufactured at facilities in San Jose, California, and Covington, Georgia.</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/0a5e1760-3201-11f0-b33d-476c0569.jpg?itok=-P4U3BLB" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/0a5e1760-3201-11f0-b33d-476c0569.jpg?itok=-P4U3BLB"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="56540521-a886-482c-9349-e74782c0d4f0" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="281" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/0a5e1760-3201-11f0-b33d-476c0569.jpg?itok=-P4U3BLB" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>Archer’s aircraft will pick up and drop off passengers at vertiports at key LA28 venues, such as SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, as well as major hubs like Los Angeles International Airport, Hollywood, Orange County, and Santa Monica. The company is aiming to keep the flights between 10 and 20 minutes.</p>

<blockquote>
<p><em>“We want to transform the way people get around Los Angeles and leave a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America. There’s no better time to do that than during the LA28 Games,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation, in a <a href="https://la28.org/en/newsroom/archer-selected-as-official-air-taxi-provider-of-la28-games.html">statement</a>. </em></p>

<p><em><strong>“I can’t wait to see Midnight flying passengers over Los Angeles, emblazoned with the Team USA logo and LA28 logo.”</strong></em></p>

<p><em>“At LA28, we’re building a platform for constant innovation and creativity, which is why we’ve partnered with forward-thinking companies like Archer,” LA28 Chairperson and President Casey Wasserman said in a statement.</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>LA28 and Archer Aviation did not return a request for comment by publication time.</p>

<p>The company will also assist NBCUniversal’s coverage of the 2026 and 2028 Olympic Games, with its Midnight aircraft featured in storytelling moments, including the 2028 Opening and Closing Ceremonies.</p>

<p><strong>The LA28 Games will be Los Angeles’s third Olympic hosting after 1932 and 1984 and its first Paralympic hosting.</strong></p>

<p>Archer also has contracts with United Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, as well as a $142 million U.S. Air Force contract. The company’s stock surged in early trading on May 16 and is up approximately 30 percent on the week.</p>

<p><strong>Archer’s future depends on FAA certification, which is still in progress. The company has received partial certification from the FAA, but production approval for the Midnight aircraft remains pending.</strong></p>

<p>Despite the lack of certification, Archer has forged plans with SoFi Stadium and the University of Southern California, facilitating vertiport development, according to Nikhil Goel, Archer’s chief commercial officer.</p>

<p>*  *  *</p>

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      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-18T23:50:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 19:50</span>


guid: 1031532 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: "It Was A War. We Won": Rare Breed Triggers Scores Landmark Victory Over DOJ/ATF
author: ;Tyler Durden
hash: z�5l��j�̥� -�l
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">"It Was A War. We Won": Rare Breed Triggers Scores Landmark Victory Over DOJ/ATF </span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The Department of Justice announced a settlement with Rare Breed Triggers (RBT) on Friday, ending a multi-year legal battle over Forced Reset Triggers (FRTs). The agreement aligns with President Trump's Executive Order protecting Second Amendment rights and follows guidance from the Attorney General's Second Amendment Enforcement Task Force.</p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Department of Justice Announces Settlement of Litigation Between the Federal Government and Rare Breed Triggers<br><br>
🔗: <a href="https://t.co/dRraTKE0q8">https://t.co/dRraTKE0q8</a> <a href="https://t.co/jonhWQlDv3">pic.twitter.com/jonhWQlDv3</a></p>
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJusticeDept/status/1923486572218851332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>The legal settlement marks a significant reversal of the Biden administration's efforts to weaponize the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in its crackdown on FRT-15s—a trigger mechanism for AR-platform rifles that increases the rate of fire.</p>

<p><strong><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/FRT-15.jpg?itok=gBL5hWtX" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/FRT-15.jpg?itok=gBL5hWtX"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d921a5a1-7056-4640-aa42-9ebd02f6cea1" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="333" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/FRT-15.jpg?itok=gBL5hWtX" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></strong></p>

<p>Lawrence DeMonico, president of RBT, has explained countless times that the FRT-15 is not a "machine gun" because it does not fire more than one round per single function of the trigger—an essential distinction under the definitions outlined in the Gun Control Act and the National Firearms Act. As "Forced Reset" implies, spring tension and a mechanical assist reset the trigger after each shot.</p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/486488684?h=5b8a88d93e" title="vimeo-player" width="640" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin"></iframe></p>

<p>The DOJ outlined key terms of the settlement with RBT, including the <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-announces-settlement-litigation-between-federal-government-and-rare-breed">following provisions</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
<p><em>The Department's agreement with Rare Breed Triggers avoids the need for continued appeals in United States v. Rare Breed Triggers and continued litigation in other, related cases concerning the same issue. The settlement includes agreed-upon conditions that significantly advance public safety with respect to FRTs, including that Rare Breed will not develop or design FRTs for use in any pistol and will enforce its patents to prevent infringement that could threaten public safety. Rare Breed also agrees to promote the safe and responsible use of its products.</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Gun rights groups that joined RBT's lawsuit against ATF hailed the settlement as a major victory.</p>

<p>"This is one of the most stunning victories in the history of the gun rights movement. We didn't just beat the ATF — we put them in a submission hold, and they tapped out," said Dudley Brown, President of the National Association for Gun Rights, adding, "This decision marks a new era of holding the DOJ and ATF accountable when they trample the rights of law-abiding gun owners. We made them give back what they took, and that's a precedent they'll never forget."</p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">IT’S OFFICIAL!! The DOJ/ATF just officially laid down their arms. Three cheers for the rule of law, the Second Amendment, and Rare Breed Triggers! <a href="https://t.co/YCcVIbABGz">pic.twitter.com/YCcVIbABGz</a></p>
— Hannah Hill (@hannahhill_sc) <a href="https://twitter.com/hannahhill_sc/status/1923488447202983983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>RBT's DeMonico stated, "This victory is a landmark moment in the fight against unchecked government overreach. The ATF and DOJ tried to silence and bury us not because we broke the law, but because I refused to bend to the will of a tyrannical administration." </p>

<p>"With the support of the National Association for Gun Rights and renewed leadership at the DOJ under President Trump, we fought the machine and won. I made a promise to see this battle through to the end, no matter the consequences, and today I am proud to say… Promise kept!" DeMonico said. </p>

<p>Let's revisit our multi-year reporting of the <em>United States v. Rare Breed Triggers</em></p>

<ul><li>
	<p><em><a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/political/atf-now-labels-frt-15-machine-gun-turning-law-abiding-citizens-criminals">ATF Now Labels FRT-15 A Machine Gun, Turning Law-Abiding Citizens Into Criminals</a></em></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p><em><a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/political/florida-gun-company-fires-back-atf-labeling-frt-15-machine-gun-says-will-not-comply">Rare Breed Triggers Fires Back At ATF, Says "Will Not Comply" ​​​​</a></em></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p><em><a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/political/rare-breed-triggers-responds-alleged-leaked-atf-memo-seize-frt-15-dealers">Rare Breed Triggers Responds To Alleged Leaked ATF Memo To Seize FRT-15s From Dealers</a></em></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p><em><a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/political/atf-declares-some-frt-15-triggers-prohibited-machineguns">ATF Declares Some FRT-15 Triggers "Prohibited Machineguns"</a></em></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p><em><a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/political/rare-breed-triggers-cancels-customers-orders-after-atf-raided-vendor">Rare Breed Triggers Cancels Customers' Orders After "ATF Raided Vendor"</a></em></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p><em><a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/political/were-you-expecting-us-atf-agents-go-door-door-confiscate-frt-15-triggers">"Were You Expecting Us?": ATF Agents Go 'Door To Door' To Confiscate FRT-15 Triggers</a></em></p>
	</li>
</ul><p>DeMonico added: "This is a complete and total vindication of Rare Breed Triggers and everyone who stood up for the Constitution. We refused to fold — and we won." </p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">TOTAL VICTORY OVER THE ATF 🚨<br>
FORCED RESET TRIGGERS ARE BACK 🔫<br><br>
The DOJ has settled in our case, NAGR v. Garland -conceding on ALL points.<br>
🔴 Return ALL seized triggers.<br>
🔴 Drop their appeal in the 5th Circuit and all other cases.<br>
🔴 Pledge not to touch FRTs in the future. <a href="https://t.co/lioBevidle">pic.twitter.com/lioBevidle</a></p>
— National Association for Gun Rights (@NatlGunRights) <a href="https://twitter.com/NatlGunRights/status/1923457351119667475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>Gun blogger Mrgunsngear provided additional color on the RBT settlement. </p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Big win for all forced reset trigger owners, manufacturers, and Americans in general here 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/hIN7z3upHw">pic.twitter.com/hIN7z3upHw</a></p>
— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mrgunsngear/status/1923769580436000906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>In our view, DeMonico and the gun rights groups should not have settled with the Trump administration but instead pushed the case to a final ruling that could have established lasting legal safeguards. While settling isn't inherently negative, the core issue is the absence of long-lasting protections. Without codified legal barriers, a future Democratic administration—and its network of shady anti-gun groups funded by far-left billionaires—could once again weaponize the ATF, dragging the industry into the same crisis experienced during the Biden-Harris regime era.</p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-19T00:25:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 20:25</span>

link:
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/it-was-war-we-won-rare-breed-triggers-scores-landmark-victory-over-dojatf


guid: 6829ec6a6660b2000128a0c1
title: Zimbabwe Signs Memoranda for Development Deals with Belarus
author: ;Janet West
link: https://eir.news/2025/05/news/zimbabwe-signs-mous-for-development-deals-with-belarus/
hash: �ؒ��G#�Njuq�FK{
tags: #New World Paradigm #Africa #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa made a state visit to Belarus May 11-15, in which he had crucial-level discussions with President Aleksandr Lukashenko and signed several agreements to enhance cooperation between the two nations, <a href="https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/zimbabwe/mnangagwa-concludes-4-day-state-visit-to-belarus/">according to the <em>Zimbabwe Mail</em></a>.</p>
<p>The agreements included development in the areas of agriculture, mining and manufacturing, health, water purification and waste management. Healthcare in particular is being put on a fast track, while most of the other agreements are aimed at implementation during 2026-2030.</p>
<p>“Among the most significant outcomes is the agreement for the construction of a new facility at Parirenyatwa Hospital and the provision of affordable medicines. The initiative is expected to bolster Zimbabwe’s public healthcare system and improve access to essential medical services,” the <em>Zimbabwe Mail</em> reported.</p>
<p>Belarus has become a key partner of Zimbabwe, especially in the areas of agriculture and mining.</p>
<p>“Since 2019, the country has received over 2,000 high-tech tractors, 80 combine harvesters and other farming machinery under the Belarus Farm Mechanization Facility. This support has significantly boosted agricultural productivity, with the country recently acquiring an additional 800 units of farm equipment to be delivered this year,” reported Harare’s <a href="https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/implementation-of-belarus-deals-begins-agric-grows-threefold-from-minsks-support/"><em>The Herald</em></a>.</p>
<p>“Speaking during a tour of a local fabric manufacturing company in Belarus, Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwe stands to benefit from Belarus’ advanced textile industry.”</p>
<p>She noted that the government-owned factory can process the raw material of high-quality cotton from the product to the finished garment, and emphasized that industry must shift from exporting raw materials to producing finished goods for internal consumption.</p>
<p>Zimbabwe also has abundant mineral resources—large platinum and palladium reserves, and significant lithium reserves; Mnangagwa also offered mineral exploration deals to Belarus. Opposition figures in Zimbabwe, such as Citizens Coalition for Change Member of Parliament, Edwin Mushoriwa, have raised concerns that there need to be further discussion and protections of investments put into place, according to online newspaper <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/mnangagwa-offers-lukashenko-minerals-as-opposition-raises-red-flags-over-zims-relationship-with-belarus/"><em>New Zimbabwe</em></a> on May 16.</p>


guid: 6829f7166660b2000128a0fa
title: Short New Jersey Transit Strike Ends with Tentative Deal
author: ;Steven Carr
link: https://eir.news/2025/05/news/strike-cripples-new-jersey-transit/
hash: "|o'�p6]���#zl�
tags: #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>Three days after the union representing 460 rail engineers for New Jersey Transit officially went on strike, on May 15, service is being restored following a tentative agreement. Service restarts on Tuesday, NJ Transit said in a <a href="https://www.njtransit.com/restart">statement</a> emailed to commuters Sunday evening.</p>
<p>New Jersey Transit is a state-run system that carries 1 million paid trips every work day, making it the third largest transit system in the country.</p>
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guid: 6829fcb96660b2000128a10e
title: Myanmar Prime Minister Insists, &amp;#039;No Single Power Should Control the World&amp;#039;
author: ;Janet West
link: https://eir.news/2025/05/news/myanmar-pm-no-single-power-should-control-the-world/
hash: 1`��w0 ��o�%E�
tags: #New World Paradigm #Asia #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>Myanmar Prime Minister Min Aung Hlaing <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/617757-myanmar-russia-china-india/">gave an interview to RT</a>, published on May 17, in which he emphasized that many of the developing countries, such as Myanmar, have suffered greatly “under a unipolar system.”</p>
<p>“That is why transitioning to a multipolar world works best for us. It is better to share global resources, to act fairly, to distribute things more evenly. Conflicts arise from inequality, so if we want to avoid conflicts, I believe a multipolar system is the best approach,” said the prime minister.</p>
<p>“The U.S. and Western bloc controlled the world through unipolarity. Then it became bipolar, and from bipolarity it returned to unipolarity. This made the West stronger,” Min Aung Hliang added.</p>
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guid: 682a03416660b2000128a12a
title: Historian Asks, &amp;#039;Has Germany Learned Nothing from the Holocaust?&amp;#039;
author: ;Janet West
link: https://eir.news/2025/05/news/historian-asks-has-germany-learned-nothing-from-the-holocaust/
hash: ��.HͺO������{K
tags: #Strategic War Danger #Southwest Asia #News
content:
<div><img src="https://eir.news/content/images/size/w1200/2025/05/Entrance_Auschwitz_I.jpg" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On May 13, historian <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/617472-germany-israel-palestine-genocide/">Tarik Cyril Amar criticized</a> a Berlin event, at which the state-funded German-Israeli Society, held an “Israel Day” celebration in late April. A Jewish restaurant, Feinberg’s, displayed a poster promoting a watermelon smoothie that should have been enough to turn any decent person’s stomach.</p>
<p>The poster showed a lion (a symbol of Israel) holding drinks made from watermelons—a symbol of Palestinian identity. “The background consisted of a pile of watermelons, often cut open, many featuring instantly recognizable baby faces,” Amar writes in RT. “The poster’s text said (partly in English and partly in German): ‘Watermelon meets Zion. Israeli-style watermelon, shredded, mashed, and hacked to pieces.’”</p>
<p>Amar commented that “The poster was, of course, an unmistakable allusion to Israel’s ongoing combined genocide-ethnic cleansing operation, with its main (though not sole) target the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. That is the place where the majority of Israel’s victims, many of them babies and children, have literally been ‘shredded’ and ‘cut to pieces,’” adding that “it is Gaza under Israeli assault for which doctors had to invent a new abbreviation: WCNSF—wounded child, no surviving family.”</p>
<p>Amar concluded by posing the question: “What is intriguing is that this time there has been some protest even, if all too faintly, in some mainstream media outlets. Maybe Germany is not entirely lost yet. Or is it, as before in German history, only a minority that shows decency but cannot change the deeply indecent course of the country’s morally and intellectually kaput elites and the majority still following them?”</p>
<p>A German journalist, <a href="https://x.com/derJamesJackson/status/1916555498008047857">James Jackson</a>, shared the grotesque poster on X on April 27, concluding: “Many are interpreting this as a violent fantasy.”</p>
<p>Amar is a historian of the 20th century, specializing in Ukraine, Russia, and the Soviet Union, and has held scholarships at the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute.</p>

attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://eir.news/content/images/2025/05/Entrance_Auschwitz_I.jpg","medium":"image"}]}


guid: 682a08f46660b2000128a13d
title: Lavrov Exposes How &amp;#039;West Wants To Pit India against China&amp;#039;
author: ;Janet West
link: https://eir.news/2025/05/news/lavrov-west-wants-to-pit-india-against-china/
hash: ��qC�r���� `I
tags: #Strategic War Danger #Russia and Ukraine #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke on May 15 at a meeting of the <a href="https://www.rt.com/india/617713-west-pitting-india-against-china/">“Culture without Borders: The Role and Development of Cultural Diplomacy”</a> diplomatic club.</p>
<p>“Take note of the current developments in the Asia-Pacific region, which the West has started calling the Indo-Pacific region to give its policy a clear anti-China orientation—expecting thereby to additionally drive a wedge between our great friends and neighbors India and China,” <a href="https://tass.com/politics/1958273">TASS quoted him as saying</a>.</p>
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guid: 682a0e806660b2000128a14f
title: Putin To Inaugurate a ‘Russia-Arab Summit’
author: ;David Shavin
link: https://eir.news/2025/05/news/putin-to-inaugurate-a-russia-arab-summit/
hash: ����,�@� �= |
tags: #New World Paradigm #Russia and Ukraine #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>As Arab leaders convened in Baghdad for the 34th Arab League Summit to address the crisis in Gaza, Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited them to Moscow for the first-ever Russia-Arab Summit, set for October 15. The President’s website has released <a href="http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76933">an excerpt</a> from Putin’s official invitation.</p>
<p>Putin acknowledged the severe toll of death and suffering in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and calls for enhanced cooperation to resolve the issues. He emphasized the Arab League’s key role in multilateral dialogue and reiterated Russia’s support for diplomatic solutions grounded in international law and respect for state sovereignty.</p>
<p>The President expressed Russia’s intent to deepen its engagement with the Arab League and its member states, and has therefore invited all the leaders to Moscow for the first Russia-Arab Summit. “I am confident that this meeting will help strengthen multifaceted mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries and also search for ways to bring about peace, security and stability in the Middle East and North Africa,” Putin writes.</p>


guid: 682a11036660b2000128a15c
title: Russia and Talks: Rubio&amp;#039;s Moderation vs. CBS News’ Instigations
author: ;David Shavin
link: https://eir.news/2025/05/news/russia-talks-rubios-moderation-vs-cbss-instigations/
hash: �v�1ـ<q���JB�R
tags: #U.S. and Canada #Russia and Ukraine #Ukraine conflict #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>U.S. Secretary of State Rubio appeared today on CBS News’ “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” after his May 17 talk with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. During the <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marco-rubio-face-the-nation-transcript-5-18-2025/">interview</a>,</p>
<p>Rubio countered some of Brennan’s provocative mischaracterizations of Russian positions.</p>
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guid: 682a11886660b2000128a169
title: Lavrov Calls BRICS the Key Institution for the Global Majority
author: ;Janet West
link: https://eir.news/2025/05/news/lavrov-brics-is-key-institution-for-the-global-majority/
hash: �P������G��A���v
tags: #New World Paradigm #Economics #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke on May 15 via video to the second BRICS Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum, held May 15-16 in Moscow, <a href="https://www.rt.com/africa/617684-lavrov-brics-platform-global-majority/">reported RT</a>.</p>
<p>He noted that the BRICS now encompasses about half the world’s population, and that it’s natural for developing countries to want to participate with it.</p>
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guid: 682a19316660b2000128a17f
title: Putin Assures Russia Wants To Eliminate Root Cause of Ukraine Conflict
author: ;Janet West
link: https://eir.news/2025/05/news/putin-russia-wants-to-eliminate-root-cause-of-ukraine-conflict/
hash: Qt�z��XyhQ�A�)%B
tags: #Strategic War Danger #Russia and Ukraine #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>Russia President Vladimir Putin stated in a clip released by journalist Pavel Zarubin of an interview posted by Russia 1 TV on Sunday, May 18, that Russia is seeking a lasting and sustainable peace by eliminating the root causes for its military operations in Ukraine.</p>
<p>He said that Russia has “enough strength and resources to bring what was started in 2022 to its logical conclusion” and fulfill Moscow’s main goals, <a href="https://www.rt.com/russia/617782-moscow-wants-lasting-peace-ukraine/">reported RT</a>.</p>
<p>Putin referred to the need to ensure the security of the Russian state, and referred to the territories of “Crimea, Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, and the regions of Kherson and Zaporozhye, which overwhelmingly voted in favor of joining Russia in referendums in 2014 and 2022.”</p>
<p>He also acknowledged that during the ongoing diplomacy between the U.S. and Russia to settle the conflict, both nations have their own national interests, and Russia expects that its security interests will be respected.</p>
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guid: 682a21ce6660b2000128a2e3
title: Pope Leo XIV Celebrates a Joyous and Hopeful Inaugural Mass
author: ;Janet West
link: https://eir.news/2025/05/news/pope-leo-xiv-celebrates-a-joyous-and-hopeful-inaugural-mass/
hash: y�n<��9� �Z48H�
tags: #New World Paradigm #Europe #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>Today, with 200,000 in attendance in St. Peter’s Square, and millions more participating online, Pope Leo XIV officially inaugurated his papacy by celebrating “Holy Mass for the Beginning of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV.”</p>
<p>He expressed gratitude for the prayers of the faithful, and particularly during the conclave of the College of Cardinals. He said that the cardinals felt ‘’the working of the Holy Spirit, who was able to bring us into harmony, like musical instruments, so that our heartstrings could vibrate in a single melody,” <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/pope-leo-xiv-let-us-walk-towards-god-and-love-one-another.html">reported Vatican News</a>.</p>
<p>He expressed his hope for “a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.”</p>
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guid: 682a234f6660b2000128a2fd
title: A Trump Administration Suspension of Habeas Corpus Would Violate Constitution
author: ;Jason Ross
hash: �c�m]����/M_߳�
tags: #U.S. and Canada #News
content:
<div><img src="https://eir.news/content/images/2025/05/Stephen_Miller_-54361384084-.jpg" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>On May 9, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/1920911944866808017">told</a> reporters that the Trump administration was considering suspending the right to <em>habeas corpus</em>—the right of a detained person to access the judicial system to challenge their detention. But most legal authorities have considered it clear that this right can be suspended only by the Congress, not the executive.</p>
<p>“The Constitution is clear—and that of course is the <em>supreme</em> law of the land—that the privilege of the writ of <em>habeas corpus</em> can be suspended in a time of invasion, so that’s an option we’re actively looking at,” he explained.</p>
<p>“Look, a lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not,” he continued, suggesting that if courts don’t rule the way Trump wants them to, they will be out of the equation altogether. Without <em>habeas corpus</em>, a person can be detained indefinitely, without trial or other due process.</p>
<p>The right of <em>habeas corpus</em> appears in Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution: “The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion of the public Safety may require it.” Article I deals with the powers of the legislative branch, not the President.</p>
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attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://eir.news/content/images/2025/05/Stephen_Miller_-54361384084-.jpg","medium":"image"}]}


guid: 682a2b116660b2000128a30e
title: Romania Holds Presidential Election
author: ;Jason Ross
link: https://eir.news/2025/05/news/romanian-election-on-sunday/
hash: ��=>�U�:s�^[d�
tags: #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>Romanians went to the polls on Sunday, May 18, to elect their next President.</p>
<p>George Simion, the candidate endorsed by Cailin Georgescu—whose campaign was banned based on unsupported claims of Russian interference—was leading in the polls going into today’s presidential election in Romania.</p>
<p>Initial exit polls put Simion at approximately 45%, with his pro-EU opponent Nicușor Dan at 55%. These are not official results, and they do not include any exit polling of the Romanian diaspora, who voted in the election while outside the country.</p>
<p>Dan has been the mayor of Bucharest since 2020.</p>
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guid: 682a305d6660b2000128a319
title: Fico and Orban Comment on Resolving Ukraine Conflict
author: ;Chris Lewis
link: https://eir.news/2025/05/news/pravda-reports-on-fico-orban-comments-on-ukraine-conflict/
hash: ^vf�'�ۣG ��
tags: #Strategic War Danger #Europe #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p>Slovakia’s <em>Pravda</em> newspaper reports on comments from Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in which the two neighboring leaders put forward their views on achieving peace in Ukraine, which both NATO member-countries border.</p>
<p>Fico disagreed with the EU’s new sanctions on Russia imposed last week, calling the restrictions a “plague” that would harm the European Union, while having a negligible impact on Russia. “Sanctions are like a plague and I reject the sanctions policy,” he told Slovak broadcaster STVR, <a href="https://slovakia.news-pravda.com/en/world/2025/05/17/9504.html"><em>Pravda</em> reports</a>.</p>
<p>He said he would oppose any new sanctions, and would veto them if he thought they would damage Slovakia’s economy.</p>
<p>Hungary’s Prime Minister Orban said that the EU should follow the path of the United States concerning the war in Ukraine. Orban said that if the EU were to strive for a ceasefire in Ukraine, forget about sanctions, and return to “normal economic cooperation” with Russia, this would provide a huge economic benefit to all involved. “Europeans must understand that there is no point in going down different paths, let’s join the Americans,” he told Hungarian TV2, <a href="https://hungary.news-pravda.com/en/world/2025/05/18/9934.html"><em>Pravda</em> reports</a>.</p>
<p>“We need direct American-Russian, and then or before that, Russian-European negotiations. Russian-Ukrainian negotiations will never end this war. We hope that this will happen as soon as possible, but for now we can only hope for it,” he said.</p>


guid: 682a31146660b2000128a325
author: ;Rick Sanders
hash: Lj�����s�M&��
tags: #New World Paradigm #Europe #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
title:
Major Dutch Newspaper Finds Genocide Scholars Virtually Unanimous against Israel&amp;#039;s Genocide in Gaza

content:
<p>One-quarter of the infants in the Gaza Strip are acutely malnourished, and Israel refuses to let in thousands of trucks carrying emergency aid. The armed forces shoot at anyone who enters the buffer zone; they bomb hospitals and tent camps. For the umpteenth time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government ordered many Palestinians in Gaza to leave their homes; his Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announces that Gaza will be “completely destroyed” within a few months; and Moshe Saada, a fellow Likud member, proposes to starve and expel all Gazans. Israel has already killed 53,000 Palestinians, including at least 15,000 children.</p>
<p>The conclusion that Israel is committing genocide is no longer restricted to activists. The UN International Court of Justice has ruled it “plausible”; Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese used the term “genocide”; now even the Director of Netherlands Institute for War Documentation speaks of “genocidal violence.”</p>
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guid: 682a35d66660b2000128a333
title: Putin&amp;#039;s Chief Negotiator Schools the West in History
author: ;Janet West
link: https://eir.news/2025/05/news/putins-chief-negotiator-schools-the-west-in-history/
hash: 2�y�S�{�I�O�.)
tags: #Strategic War Danger #Russia and Ukraine #News
content:
<div><img src="https://eir.news/content/images/2025/05/Screen-Shot-2025-05-18-at-9.25.18-PM.jpg" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>Russian Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, the chief negotiator in the meetings between Ukraine and Russian representatives at the Istanbul talks, conducted an interview on May 16 with the Rossiya-1 TV channel, posted <a href="https://youtu.be/gp0UOVxkaqE">here</a> with AI-generated English audio translation.</p>
<p>He said that at the negotiations, it was important to remind Ukraine about agreements reached in Gomel, Belarus, and in Istanbul in February and March 2022.</p>
<p>Those <a href="https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/fact-sheet-istanbul-protocol-draft-document-april-15-2022">agreements</a> included Ukraine renouncing its effort to join NATO, becoming permanently neutral (not joining any military alliance), and restoring the Russian language as one of official state languages of Ukraine, on equal footing with Ukrainian, among other stipulations.</p>
<p>In the interview, Medinsky said, “It was the key topic because we are considering the talks as the resumption of the Istanbul process, so it was important to reiterate what we agreed on in Gomel back at the end of February and how all this would have ended, had Ukraine agreed to peace at the end of February. They did not agree, they were dragging their feet and after that the next stage of agreements was in Istanbul.”</p>
<p>He pointed out how common it was to negotiate during the fighting, not only in a condition of ceasefire.</p>
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guid: 1031469 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: Kroger Overcharging Customers On Sale Items, Consumer Reports Investigation Finds
author: ;Tyler Durden
hash: �g]�"�� �G}�+5�
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Kroger Overcharging Customers On Sale Items, Consumer Reports Investigation Finds</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>You know times are getting tough when grocery stores resort to good ole' fashion ripping off customers via mispricing.</p>

<p>Shoppers at Kroger-owned stores may be unknowingly paying more at checkout due to pricing errors, according to a Consumer Reports investigation with The Guardian and the Food and Environment Reporting Network.</p>

<p>Even if you don’t shop at Kroger, similar issues have been found at other retailers, according to <em>Consumer Reports </em>and <a href="https://www.kcra.com/article/consumer-reports-investigation-kroger-stores-overcharging/64773100">NBC affiliate KCRA</a>.</p>

<p>Investigators found expired sale tags on over 150 grocery items, leading to overcharges on products like beef, salmon, coffee, juice, vegetables, cough medicine, and dog food. “Imagine picking up an item on sale only to be charged full price at checkout. That's exactly what Consumer Reports says is happening at Kroger-owned stores across the country.”</p>

<p>The investigation began after Kroger workers in Colorado, currently in union talks, reported widespread pricing problems. CR recruited shoppers to check 26 Kroger-owned stores in 14 states and D.C., finding overcharges averaging $1.70 per sale item, or 18.4% more. Workers blamed staffing cuts and reduced hours, saying it’s impossible to keep up with thousands of discount tags.</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-05-17%20at%2011.18.40%E2%80%AFAM.jpg?itok=FvbNaVEZ" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-05-17%20at%2011.18.40%E2%80%AFAM.jpg?itok=FvbNaVEZ"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8227ea3b-1798-44b6-bfd3-07e07164b4f2" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="310" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-05-17%20at%2011.18.40%E2%80%AFAM.jpg?itok=FvbNaVEZ" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>The KCRA <a href="https://www.kcra.com/article/consumer-reports-investigation-kroger-stores-overcharging/64773100">report</a> says that Kroger is testing digital price tags, promising “better accuracy,” and says its “Make it Right” policy lets employees fix mistakes immediately. In a statement, Kroger said it is “committed to affordable and accurate pricing” and conducts weekly price checks reviewing “millions of items.”</p>

<p>Kroger isn’t alone. In 2022, a Walmart shopper sued over 15% overcharges, and last October, Safeway, Albertsons, and Vons paid nearly $4 million to settle a similar lawsuit.</p>

<p>Consumer Reports advises shoppers to take photos of sale tags, check receipts before leaving, and demand refunds if prices don’t match. An internal Kroger audit found nearly 6% of items had wrong tags—far above its 1% error policy.</p>

<p>“Kroger is committed to affordable and accurate pricing, and we conduct robust price check processes that reviews millions of items weekly to ensure our shelf prices are accurate. The complaint noted by Consumer Reports included a few dozen examples across several years out of billions of customer transactions annually. While any error is unacceptable, the characterization of widespread pricing concerns is patently false," Kroger said in its response.</p>

<p>The company continued:</p>

<blockquote>
<p><em>Kroger’s “Make It Right” policy ensures associates can create a customer experience and addresses any situation when we unintentionally fall short of a customer’s expectations. Connecting regular technology upgrades and our “Make It Right” policy to price accuracy is incorrect.</em></p>

<p><em>It is also inaccurate to say the company reduced standards or labor hours. We have not done so, and in fact, the standards we set in 2017 remain the same today.</em></p>

<p><em>We intentionally staff our stores to keep them running smoothly while creating an enjoyable place to shop. Our staffing decisions are data-driven to balance workload and schedules.</em></p>

<p><em>For nearly two decades, Kroger’s business model has been rooted in bringing down prices to attract more customers to our stores – and this is not changing. We respect our associates and our customers, and we conduct our business accordingly.”</em></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-19T01:35:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 21:35</span>

link:
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/kroger-overcharging-customers-sale-items-consumer-reports-investigation-finds


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306882
title: Obamas react to Biden cancer diagnosis
author: ;Sarah Fortinsky
link: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5306882-obama-encourages-biden-after-cancer-diagnosis/
hash: ?��� ���vy ��
content:
Former President Obama on Sunday responded to news of former President Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis by expressing confidence in his former vice president’s “trademark resolve and grace.” He also pointed to the work Biden has done to advance cancer research. “Michelle and I are thinking of the entire Biden family,” Obama wrote in a post…

tags:
#Administration #Health Care #Biden administration #Cancer #Cancer moonshot #Obama administration #prostate cancer

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guid: yt:video:E9-RGL8umWo
title: Prostate Cancer Has A Right To Exist. Biden's Tumor Has A Right To Defend Itself.
author: ;Caitlin Johnstone
link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9-RGL8umWo
hash: [v%1!�$ ���P�)
attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/v/E9-RGL8umWo?version=3","title":"Prostate Cancer Has A Right To Exist. Biden's Tumor Has A Right To Defend Itself.","description":"Biden's malignant metastatic tumor must be given everything it needs to defend itself from unprovoked attacks by radical oncologists.\n\nReading by Tim Foley.\n\nThanks for watching! Subscribe to my Substack at caitlinjohnst.one for email updates on all my new stuff.","type":"application/x-shockwave-flash","height":390,"width":640,"thumbnails":["https://i2.ytimg.com/vi/E9-RGL8umWo/hqdefault.jpg"]}]}


guid: 1031501 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: If Abortion Is Healthcare, Why Is Abortion Data Going Unreported?
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/if-abortion-healthcare-why-abortion-data-going-unreported
hash: ���� �l���|V��
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">If Abortion Is Healthcare, Why Is Abortion Data Going Unreported?</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em><a href="https://realclearwire.com/articles/2025/05/16/if_abortion_is_healthcare_why_is_abortion_data_going_unreported_152797.html">Authored by Samantha Flom via RealClear Politics</a> (emphasis ours),</em></p>

<p><em>We were told mifepristone is "safer than Tylenol" by pro-abortion activists. Now women are discovering how lethal that lie really is. </em></p>

<p><strong>"Abortion care is healthcare!"</strong></p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/abort_0.JPG?itok=87RvXkNW" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/abort_0.JPG?itok=87RvXkNW"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36f8a3c2-1f25-4698-adbd-19cb053148f1" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="333" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/abort_0.JPG?itok=87RvXkNW" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p><strong>The oft-repeated claim of the abortion lobby emerges whenever someone dares to question whether an elective procedure with the goal of ending a human being’s life really qualifies as medical "care."</strong></p>

<p>But with explosive new research by the <a href="https://www.ffroa.com/">Foundation for the Restoration of America</a> exposing that <strong>more than one in 10 women who have a chemical abortion experience <a href="https://www.ffroa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/FFROA-Chemical-Abortion-Data-Review.pdf">serious adverse side effects</a></strong> – including death – the time has come to revisit that argument.</p>

<p>If chemical abortion is healthcare, why do the women who choose that path suffer at an alarming rate, and why have we never heard this before?</p>

<p>The short answer: <strong>Medical providers have no federal obligation to tell us.</strong></p>

<p>While most states enforce some form of mandatory abortion reporting, there is no national requirement that they report that data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And as states set their own reporting standards, what little information that gets voluntarily provided to the CDC amounts to a jumbled mix of demographics with too many holes to paint a clear picture.</p>

<p>The pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/abortion-reporting-requirements">reports</a> that just 28 states require public health reporting on any complications that arise from abortions. In the case of mifepristone, the first pill in the two-drug chemical abortion regimen, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) <a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/020687s020lbl.pdf">acknowledges</a> that those complications could include such life-threatening conditions as sepsis, hemorrhage, uterine rupture, ruptured ectopic pregnancy, and even death.</p>

<p>Despite those known risks, <strong>chemical abortion has become the most popular method for pregnancy termination in the United States, accounting for <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/news-release/2024/medication-abortions-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020">63%</a> of all abortions – or about 642,700 abortions – in 2023, according to Guttmacher.</strong></p>

<p>Yet the Foundation for the Restoration of America’s review of insurance claims data for 2017 through 2023 revealed an average adverse event rate of 10.9% for every chemical abortion – a <a href="https://restoration-news.com/at-home-abortion-pill-is-22-times-more-dangerous-than-fda-admits-report">risk rate 22 times higher</a> than the FDA admits.</p>

<p>That means more than 70,000 women likely experienced at least one serious adverse health event from a chemical abortion in 2023.</p>

<p><strong>Suddenly, ProPublica’s Pulitzer Prize-winning <a href="https://www.propublica.org/series/life-of-the-mother">reporting</a> last year on the supposed dangers of restricting abortion seems woefully incomplete… and dangerously misleading.</strong></p>

<p>The outlet framed the 2022 deaths of Amber Nicole Thurman, 28, and Candi Miller, 41, as the result of delayed care due to Georgia’s ban on most abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy.</p>

<p>In Thurman’s case, her symptoms reportedly progressed from typical cramping to severe bleeding that worsened over the course of several days. Five days after taking the first pill, she vomited blood and passed out. It was only because her boyfriend found her and called 911 that she even made it to the hospital, where doctors eventually diagnosed her with acute severe sepsis.</p>

<p>While the doctors undeniably waited too long to perform the dilation and curettage procedure necessary to remove the remaining tissue from Thurman’s uterus and save her life, there is no evidence to suggest Georgia’s abortion law played a role in that decision. In fact, the law includes an exception for procedures performed to save the life of a mother, and Thurman’s life was clearly at risk.</p>

<p><strong>The truth is, even if her doctors were hesitant to intervene, it wouldn’t change the source of Thurman’s deteriorating health: the abortion pills.</strong></p>

<p>Miller, like Thurman, suffered an incomplete abortion and neglected to seek emergency care as her symptoms grew increasingly severe. After spending several days moaning in agony, she was found unresponsive in her bed.</p>

<p>An autopsy later revealed that Miller still had fetal tissue in her uterus and a lethal combination of painkillers in her system, including fentanyl. But would she have taken the painkillers if the abortion pills had worked as intended? Probably not.</p>

<p>ProPublica downplayed the complications both women experienced as "rare" side effects of the chemical abortion regimen. But as the latest evidence suggests, they are anything but rare.</p>

<p><strong>Planned Parenthood and its media defenders <a href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/the-abortion-pill/how-safe-is-the-abortion-pill">claim</a> that chemical abortion is "safer than … Tylenol."</strong></p>

<p>Let's put that claim to the test with federal reporting requirements.</p>

<p>If abortion in general is truly as safe and effective as the procedure’s advocates claim, they should have no problem with medical providers collecting and reporting the data to prove it.</p>

<p>Women have a right to know the risks of any medication they might consider taking. Setting aside the cavernous divide on the morality of killing an unborn child, one would hope we can at least all agree that women deserve better from the pharmaceutical industry than a one-in-10 chance of ending their own lives, too.</p>

<p><em>Samantha Flom is a senior investigative researcher for Restoration News. Her work has also appeared in The Epoch Times and on the Right Side Broadcasting Network website.</em></p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-19T02:10:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 22:10</span>


guid: https://thehill.com/?p=5306895
title: Republicans advance Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ in unusual late-night vote
author: ;Emily Brooks; Mike Lillis; Mychael Schnell
link: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5306895-republicans-budget-committee-vote-trump-bill/
hash: ���~<ୋH�����
tags: #Budget #Business #House #News
content:
Republican deficit hawks allowed President Trump’s bill of legislative priorities to advance out of the House Budget Committee in an unusual late-night vote Sunday, marking a key hurdle cleared for House GOP leaders and a sign of progress for warring Republican factions.  After gaveling in after 10 p.m. EDT Sunday, the committee voted 17-16 to…

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guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747616974
title: Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,180
content: These are the key events on day 1,180 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
hash: ~�v��-��Ŋ�ftt�
tags: #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/19/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-1180?traffic_source=rss


guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1746968738
title: ‘Fear is real’: Why young Kashmiris are removing tattoos of guns, ‘freedom’
hash: ��Zxw�1�F#�� �
tags: #Features
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
For years, these tattoos symbolised defiance against the Indian government. Now, thousands are erasing them.

link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/5/19/fear-is-real-why-are-kashmiri-youths-removing-tattoos-from-their-bodies?traffic_source=rss


guid: 1031543 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: Pepe Escobar 'Decodes' The Istanbul Kabuki
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/pepe-escobar-decodes-istanbul-kabuki
hash: �+.��br/t��*�D
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Pepe Escobar 'Decodes' The Istanbul Kabuki</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>Authored by Pepe Escobar,</em></p>

<p>Did President Putin really change the game by proposing the resumption of negotiations on the proxy war in Ukraine in Istanbul – over three years after the first ones were scotched by NATO?</p>

<p><strong>It’s complicated. And depends on which “game” we’re talking about.</strong></p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/5276300472426296225-930x520.jpg?itok=gPs45VJ7" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/5276300472426296225-930x520.jpg?itok=gPs45VJ7"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="91ec9c00-283e-4eb7-917c-114f150763fb" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="280" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/5276300472426296225-930x520.jpg?itok=gPs45VJ7" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p><strong>What the Russian move instantly accomplished was to throw into total disarray the European warmongering Three Stooges (Starmer, BlackRock chancellor, Le Petit Roi) Cocaine Express.</strong></p>

<p>Irrelevant Europe was not even at the table in Istanbul – except via extensive previous briefing of the low-rent, shabby-dressed Ukrainian delegation. That was compounded by the noisy barking threat in the sidelines advocating “more sanctions” to “pressure Russia”.</p>

<p>In March 2022 in Istanbul, Kiev could have stopped the war. Every one of us who were in Istanbul at the time could foresee that Kiev would eventually have to be forced to the table all over again.</p>

<p>So in essence we are back to the same negotiation – with the same top Russian negotiator, competent historian Vladimir Medinsky, heading a delegation composed by pros, but with Ukraine now facing over a million dead; deprived of at least four regions – more on the way; what’s left of its mineral wealth de facto controlled by the US; and a horrendous black hole that passes for an “economy”. We are talking about country 404 territory.</p>

<p>During the negotiations on Friday, Medinsky went straight to the point:</p>

<blockquote>
<p>“We don’t want war, but we are ready to fight for a year, two, three – as long as it takes. We fought with Sweden for 21 years [the Great Northern War, 1700-1721, as it is known in Russia]. How long are you ready to fight?”</p>
</blockquote>

<p>That’s the geopolitical/military state of things for Kiev and their “to the last Ukrainian” warmongering backers: either you capitulate, or we’re going to hurt you even more.</p>

<h2><strong>What’s the point of these negotiations?</strong></h2>

<p>Turkiye under uber-opportunist Sultan Erdogan in fact hosted a P.R. meeting between Moscow, Kiev and itself – with the Ukrainians unleashing a blitzkrieg of infantile tantrums only designed to influence global public opinion. In sharp contrast, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, did his best to put a positive spin on the proceedings.</p>

<p><strong>Istanbul 2.0, Dmitriev asserted, achieved a large exchange of prisoners (1,000 on each side); ceasefire options to be presented by both sides; and a continuation of dialogue.</strong></p>

<p>That’s not much. Well, at least they discussed in the same language: Russian. Nothing was lost in translation.</p>

<p>A serious case can be made that to propose the resumption of these negotiations, under this format, was meaningless. There’s no evidence in the horizon both parties might touch the fundamental issue anytime soon: the whole geopolitical strategic equation in Eastern Europe, from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea and beyond – leading to an “indivisibility of security” new deal with global repercussions.</p>

<p>That implies that whatever track these negotiations may follow further on down the road, they are an objective impossibility. Meanwhile, the proxy war in Ukraine – and the SMO – will go on.</p>

<p><strong>That would also suggest that the Moscow security establishment considers the neo-nazi instrumentalized goons in Kiev at best as a re-enactment of the 6th Army of Paulus, with which you negotiate the end of a battle, but not the end of the war.</strong></p>

<p>Even <a href="https://natowatch.org/default/2025/balance-power-russo-ukraine-war?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email">NATO semi-realists</a> as retired Commodore Steven Jermy have been forced to admit that “Russia is in the driving seat” and clueless Europeans “appear to believe that the losers should dictate the terms of ceasefire or surrender.”</p>

<p>All the barking by the – European – chihuahuas of war cannot disguise the fundamental geopolitical/military fact: a massive NATO humiliation. Trump’s humongous problem is that he has to manage it – and sell it to domestic public opinion and the global public opinion as some sort of “deal” he struck with Putin.</p>

<p>It’s enlightening once again to go back to Grandmaster Lavrov, always the uber-realist, back in September 2024: “In April 2022, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators reached agreement in Istanbul. If that agreement had been observed, Ukraine would have preserved part of Donbass. But every time another agreement, always accepted by Russia, is broken, Ukraine shrinks in size.”</p>

<h2><strong>The (Great) Game, revisited</strong></h2>

<p>Now back to the (Great) Game. Kiev negotiators eventually admitting Ukrainian capitulation means a NATO capitulation and an Empire of Chaos capitulation. That’s the ultimate anathema for the US ruling classes. Even an ultra-negotiated, carefully managed Ukrainian surrender will be an impossible sell – not to mention Washington under Narcissus Drowned Trump acknowledging a strategic defeat.</p>

<p>Because that will mean the Empire of Chaos losing Eurasia for good: the ultimate Mackinder/Brzezinski nightmare. Coupled with the consequential solidification of the <em>multi-nodal</em>, multipolar world.</p>

<p><strong>The Russia-China stategic partnership is very much aware of every nook and cranny in this larger-than-life process. Beyond the current Turkish kabuki, they clearly understand the Big Eurasia Equation.</strong></p>

<p>Beijing is fully aware NATO’s real goal was always to confront it via Russia.  Ukraine was NATO’s pawn to take down Russia then get to China from the West. The goal of the US ruling elites as they configured their thalassocratic empire remains to blockade China from the West by land and sea, using Russia; then use Taiwan as a staging area to blockade China from the East by sea. No wonder control of Taiwan is a Chinese strategic imperative.</p>

<p>Enter Mackinder panic – all over again: the China-Russia strategic partnership can beat NATO hands down – and Russia, by itself, is already doing it. Xi and Putin once again discussed the chessboard in detail, in person, prior to the Victory Day parade last week in Moscow.</p>

<p><strong>The endgame, once again, is clear: the US losing the entire Eurasian land mass. Ukraine, under these immense geopolitical imperatives, is only a sovereign-deprived pawn in the (Great) Game.</strong></p>

<p>As for the tantrum-addicted clown in Kiev, he is merely an actor with no authority whatsoever, negotiations included. He is completely dominated by Ukrainian neo-Nazis who will kill him if and when the war is over. He merely fronts for them and gets paid off. And that’s why – enthusiastically supported by inconsequential London, Paris and Berlin – he’s obsessed to continue a Forever War destroying the very nation he claims to represent.</p>

<p>*  *  *</p>

<p><em>Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ZeroHedge.</em></p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-19T03:20:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 05/18/2025 - 23:20</span>


guid: 1031609 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: House Republicans Advance Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" After Weekend Of Negotiations
author: ;Tyler Durden
hash: ��;g��x(��C3:
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">House Republicans Advance Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" After Weekend Of Negotiations</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Following a <a href="https://www.zerohedge.com/political/trump-torches-gop-grandstanders-house-republicans-brawl-over-one-big-beautiful-bill">Friday fracas</a> on Capitol Hill which saw House Republicans fail to advance President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" out of the House Budget Committee,<strong> Republicans on said Committee did just that </strong><strong>after several GOP deficit hawks relented. </strong>And while the bill still has a couple of stops before it can hit the House Floor, passage to the Senate could come as early as the end of this week.</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/2224-Punchbowl-News-AM-3-20240202-044958am_jpg_92.jpg?itok=7TOAUx_S" data-link-option="0" href="https://www.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/2224-Punchbowl-News-AM-3-20240202-044958am_jpg_92.jpg?itok=7TOAUx_S"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e06e4bd8-e69d-4dcb-a4e5-83b7fc81994a" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="333" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/2224-Punchbowl-News-AM-3-20240202-044958am_jpg_92.jpg?itok=7TOAUx_S" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>The measure passed narrowly, 17-16, with all Democrats opposed and four Republicans; <strong>Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, and Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma - voting "present"</strong> after voting "No" on the bill in a 16-21 vote just two days earlier. The sudden turnaround followed a weekend of furious negotiations that remain largely behind closed doors.</p>

<p>Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) met with fellow lawmakers shortly before Sunday’s vote and told reporters that there had been "some minor modifications," several sources posted on X. <strong>Johnson said the bill, which includes making Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent and reforming Medicaid, is now "on track" for a House floor vote toward the end of this week.</strong></p>

<p><strong>The vote was a big win for Johnson and Trump,</strong> coming just two days after Republican opposition torpedoed the bill’s first attempt at committee passage. Despite this procedural victory, <strong>the legislation must still clear the House Rules Committee and secure a vote on the House floor</strong>, where Republicans hold only a razor-thin majority, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/19/house-budget-reconciliation-vote"><em>Axios</em></a> reports.</p>

<p><strong>Norman, one of the Republicans who shifted his position, said he was "excited about the changes"</strong> in the works for the bill.</p>

<p>Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-TX) confirmed during the Sunday night session that "most likely there would be some changes" to the measure before it reaches the floor - but he couldn’t comment on specifics or any side deals that might have been struck.</p>

<p><strong>The panel’s reversal came after it initially rejected the legislation Friday,</strong> setting off a scramble to renegotiate terms with holdout Republicans. One of the most contentious elements has been the GOP’s proposed Medicaid overhaul, with conservatives pushing for deeper structural changes and moderates raising concerns about the political risks.</p>

<p>Even if the package passes the House, <strong>Senate Republicans are expected to propose their own revisions</strong>. To that end, Johnson has also been working to secure buy-in from blue state Republicans by exploring a compromise on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap.</p>

<p>On Friday, Trump did his usual shit-talking to pressure Republicans into line - posting on Truth Social; “We don't need ‘GRANDSTANDERS’ in the Republican Party. STOP TALKING, AND GET IT DONE!”</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/trump%20grand.JPG?itok=vXBPQrqw" data-link-option="0" href="https://www.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/trump%20grand.JPG?itok=vXBPQrqw"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a28c1bed-9c4d-434f-9614-ee9f8a512bbe" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="155" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/trump%20grand.JPG?itok=vXBPQrqw" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>*  *  *</p>

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      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://www.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-19T11:44:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Mon, 05/19/2025 - 07:44</span>

link:
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/house-republicans-advance-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-after-weekend-negotiations


guid: 682a8b466660b2000128a3e5
title: The New Paradigm Is the Agenda
author: ;Jason Ross
link: https://eir.news/2025/05/news/the-new-paradigm-is-the-agenda/
hash: b����)V��0�H�3
tags: #Daily Lead
content:
<div><img src="https://eir.news/content/images/2025/05/Destruction_caused_by_Israeli_bombing_of_Jabalia_camp-_Gaza_Strip-1.jpg" data-sanitized-class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p>The world desperately needs a new paradigm of security and development.</p>
<p>Consider the Russia-Ukraine-U.S. discussions on ending the conflict in Ukraine:</p>
<p>Those living in NATO-land are told that the talks are useless, since Putin will not agree to a ceasefire. But Putin has been clear all along that he wants a successful resolution of the root causes of the conflict, and a ceasefire is not necessarily a step in that direction. As his chief negotiator in Istanbul, Vladimir Medinsky, <a href="https://eir.news/2025/05/news/putins-chief-negotiator-schools-the-west-in-history/">has noted</a>, it is not uncommon for negotiations to take place under conditions of fighting.</p>
<p>Those living in NATO-land are told that after calling for negotiations, Putin did not show up in Istanbul. But he never said he would. He called for a resumption of the negotiations that were called off in April 2022 under pressure from Boris Johnson. And he appointed two of the 2022 negotiators to the talks in Istanbul.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Russia has “<a href="https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/2018300/">acknowledged</a> the constructive role played by the United States” in encouraging Zelenskyy to finally resume negotiations.</p>
<p>Consider negotiations with Iran:</p>
<p>It is useful that President Trump has not given Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu what he wants—war with Iran. But demands for Iran to completely give up uranium enrichment (which Trump sometimes calls for and sometimes doesn’t) are not the path to peace. As Trita Parsi <a href="https://responsiblestatecraft.org/zero-enrichment-iran/">points out</a>, it took far longer than it should have to reach a nuclear deal with Iran in the form of the JCPOA. In 2003, Iran proposed a comprehensive deal, which would have limited but not ended its enrichment capability. At the time, it had under 200 centrifuges. The Bush administration ignored the proposal. By 2006, the country had over 3,000 centrifuges. The Bush administration formally agreed to engage in talks, but made an impossible demand: that Iran stop all enrichment <strong>before</strong> the talks began. In 2009, Iran operated 8,000 centrifuges and had stockpiled over a ton of low-enriched uranium. By the time the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was implemented, Iran had 19,000 centrifuges and ten tons of low-enriched uranium.</p>
<p>Look at the genocide Israel is conducting in Gaza:</p>
<p>On May 17 <em>The Times</em> of London reports on a leaked Israeli map that proposes <a href="https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/israel-hamas-war/article/leaked-map-shows-israeli-proposal-to-force-gazans-into-three-strips-of-land-sjnn5nkbp">splitting Gaza into three sections</a>—north, center, and south—with wide Israeli army corridors separating them, and a large new buffer zone further shrinking the available land in the Strip. Palestinians could cross from one zone to another only with Israeli permission.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s announcement that he will <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-airstrike-kills-least-24-gaza-mediators-host-ceasefire-talks-2025-05-17/">resume humanitarian aid</a> to Gaza (in a limited way) has <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/insanity-netanyahu-blasted-by-hawkish-politicians-groups-for-resuming-gaza-aid/">provoked waves of anger</a> from elements in Israel who are even more insane than he is. “Every humanitarian aid that enters the Strip, and definitely all parts of it, will fuel Hamas and give it oxygen while our hostages languish in tunnels,” National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir complained. Another member of his party referred to Netanyahu as “A leader who could have led to a clear victory and been remembered as the one who defeated radical Islam, but who time after time lets this historic opportunity slip away. Letting humanitarian aid in now directly harms the war effort to achieve victory.”</p>
<p>As <a href="https://x.com/tparsi/status/1924271200479395945">an anti-genocide commencement address</a> at George Washington University, and the response to it, indicate, the future belongs to peacemakers, not to murderers. A commencement speaker at New York University whose <a href="https://x.com/prem_thakker/status/1923027614270128306">address</a> was on the same theme has had <a href="https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2025/may/statement-by-nyu-spokesperson-john-beckman.html">his diploma withheld</a>.</p>
<p>A comprehensive global solution is the only way to solve these crises, and others threatening the world today.</p>
<p>Consider an outlook on solving just one of these issues. The deserts of Southwest Asia cry out for massive transformations of the environment, and of the people.</p>
<p>The LaRouche Oasis Plan, which will be the focus of the third panel of <a href="https://schillerinstitute.com/blog/2025/03/01/conference-invitation/">the upcoming Schiller Institute conference</a>, holds that by cooperating to use desalination, pumping, and other techniques fight the desert, rather than each other, the people of Southwest Asia will better be able to recognize the humanity in each other, the common capability of human beings to discover principles of nature and to transform our relationship to the environment around us. There are no human animals.</p>
<p>This plan is not some distant aspiration of what can be achieved years in the future <strong>after</strong> the peace. It is only through a paradigm of international relations supporting this approach, as will be discussed in the first panel of the conference, that peace is even possible!</p>
<p>Every minute the genocide continues brings more death, more bitterness, more difficulty in achieving shared prosperity. It must end! And the geopolitical paradigm that originates most conflict in the world today must be replaced with a new security and development architecture, and that on a global scale.</p>
<p>Don’t miss out on the May 24-25 conference! Registration for in-person attendance has closed, but it’s not too late to <a href="https://schillerinstitute.com/blog/2025/03/01/conference-invitation/">sign up to participate online</a>.</p>

attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://eir.news/content/images/2025/05/Destruction_caused_by_Israeli_bombing_of_Jabalia_camp-_Gaza_Strip-1.jpg","medium":"image"}]}


guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747624814
title: Trump’s massive tax cut bill passes key US House committee vote
content: Nonpartisan analysts say bill would add $3-5tn to the nation's $36.2tn debt over the next decade.
hash: "��7����R76z�>
tags: #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/19/trumps-massive-tax-cut-bill-passes-key-us-house-committee-vote?traffic_source=rss


guid: 1031547 at https://www.zerohedge.com
author: ;Tyler Durden
hash: ]�X[�������`��
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
title:
"Smacks Too Much Of Elimination Of Political Rivals" - German Chancellor Merz "Very Skeptical" About Banning AfD

content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">"Smacks Too Much Of Elimination Of Political Rivals" - German Chancellor Merz "Very Skeptical" About Banning AfD</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="https://rmx.news/article/german-democracy-still-alive-merz-speaks-out-against-afd-ban-says-it-smacks-too-much-of-the-elimination-of-political-rivals/"><em>Via Remix News,</em></a></p>

<p><strong>In recent months, a ban of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) appeared to be inching closer and closer, but now a key voice has clearly spoken out against such a move.</strong></p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/GettyImages-2214851409.jpg?itok=YVDH1wFw" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/GettyImages-2214851409.jpg?itok=YVDH1wFw"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="451ad10d-fcee-4eb2-b84c-d6dea098330d" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="333" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/GettyImages-2214851409.jpg?itok=YVDH1wFw" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>Chancellor Friedrich Merz has now said that voting on <strong>an AfD ban in the Bundestag is not the right path, saying it “smacks too much of the elimination of political rivals.”</strong> </p>

<p>He said he does not believe the current evidence is sufficient.</p>

<p><strong>He has even gone a step farther, stating that former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, an SPD politician with far-left sympathies who wrote for Antifa Magazine, was wrong to classify the AfD as “confirmed” right-wing extremist</strong> in the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) report. </p>

<p>Critics indicate that she rushed the report out at the last minute of her tenure, despite the BfV having no president and despite a lack of any expert review, which she had previously promised would happen.</p>

<p>Speaking to <a href="https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2025-05/friedrich-merz-afd-verfassungsschutz-gutachten-rechtsextremismus">Die Zeit</a>, Merz said; <em><strong>“Working ‘aggressively and militantly’ against the free democratic basic order must be proven. And the burden of proof lies solely with the state. That is a classic task of the executive branch. And I have always internally resisted initiating ban proceedings from within the Bundestag. That smacks too much of political competition elimination to me.”</strong></em></p>

<p>When the BfV first labeled the AfD “certainly right-wing extremist,” calls came from the left, including the Greens, Left Party, and SPD, to immediately begin proceedings to ban the party in the Bundestag. Even a large portion of the CDU backed the move.</p>

<p><strong>Now, the BfV has temporarily removed the designation pending a court appeal,</strong> and as Remix News reported, <a href="https://rmx.news/article/a-complete-surrender-us-pressure-may-have-forced-germany-to-drop-surveillance-on-right-wing-afd-party/">this removal may have been in large part possible due to pressure from the United States</a>.</p>

<p>Merz also expressed his displeasure with Faeser’s move to release the report on her last day of work.</p>

<p><strong>He told Zeit he was “not happy with the way this process is being conducted.”</strong></p>

<blockquote>
<p><em>“The old government presented a report without any factual review, and it was also classified as confidential,” he added. </em></p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>As Remix News reported, the 1,100 page report contained only public statements from the AfD, and it has already been leaked and published by the German press. </strong></p>

<p>Remix News, <a href="https://rmx.news/article/why-is-the-secret-german-spy-report-on-the-afd-party-only-filled-with-public-statements/">in a report published earlier today</a>, notes that the BfV is likely sitting on huge amounts of private surveillance data related to AfD members, but due to the unsavory mass surveillance methods used to obtain this data, it is likely withholding this from any official report.</p>

<blockquote>
<p><em><strong>“I don’t know the content of this report, and frankly, I don’t want to know it until the Federal Ministry of the Interior has made an assessment of it,” </strong></em>said Merz. </p>
</blockquote>

<p>He said that it would take several weeks and even months for the interior ministry to make such an assessment.</p>

<p><a href="https://rmx.news/article/german-democracy-still-alive-merz-speaks-out-against-afd-ban-says-it-smacks-too-much-of-the-elimination-of-political-rivals/"><em>Read more here...</em></a></p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-19T06:00:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Mon, 05/19/2025 - 02:00</span>

link:
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/smacks-too-much-elimination-political-rivals-german-chancellor-merz-very-skeptical


guid: https://www.aljazeera.com/?t=1747317065
title: South Africa’s Ramaphosa to visit Trump: Can they fix tricky relations?
hash: ���0Xq���@ڏ:o7
tags: #News
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
The two countries have clashed over alleged persecution of white South Africans and Israel's war on Gaza.

link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/19/south-africas-ramaphosa-to-visit-trump-can-they-fix-tricky-relations?traffic_source=rss


guid: 1031444 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: US vs China: Mapping Trade Dominance In Africa
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-vs-china-mapping-trade-dominance-africa
hash: @��b `��V �B�h�
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">US vs China: Mapping Trade Dominance In Africa</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>China has steadily expanded its <a href="https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/how-china-overtook-u-s-in-global-trade-dominance-2000-2024/">global trade footprint</a> and now surpasses the U.S. as the leading trading partner in many regions around the world.</strong></p>

<p>In Africa, for instance, China <a href="https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/china-africa">overtook</a> the U.S. as the continent’s top trading partner back in 2009—a position it continues to hold today.</p>

<p>This graphic, <a href="https://www.visualcapitalist.com/u-s-vs-china-mapping-trade-dominance-in-africa-2003-2023">via Visual Capitalist's Kayla Zhu, </a>visualizes whether each African country trades with the U.S. or China more in 2003 versus 2023.</p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/Africawithbar.jpg?itok=2b6ECUbY" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/Africawithbar.jpg?itok=2b6ECUbY"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="48bb4dce-c9fb-42fa-810c-1cf2bdc00b7c" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="654" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/Africawithbar.jpg?itok=2b6ECUbY" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p><em>Data comes from the Observatory of Economic Complexity and UN Comtrade via the <a href="https://carnegieendowment.org/carnegie-africa-program-newsletter/should-africa-brace-for-trumps-tariffs?lang=en&amp;utm_source=semafor">Carnegie Endowment for International Peace</a>. 2023 or the latest data available was used.</em></p>

<h2>African Countries Are Choosing China over the States</h2>

<p>Below, we show which country (U.S. or China) each African country traded with more in 2003 versus 2023.</p>

<table data-sanitized-id="tablepress-5655" data-sanitized-class="tablepress tablepress-id-5655"><thead><tr data-sanitized-class="row-1"><th data-sanitized-class="column-1">Country</th>
			<th data-sanitized-class="column-2">Trades more with? (2003)</th>
			<th data-sanitized-class="column-3">Trades more with? (2023)</th>
		</tr></thead><tbody data-sanitized-class="row-striping row-hover"><tr data-sanitized-class="row-2"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇩🇿 Algeria</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-3"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇦🇴 Angola</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-4"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇧🇯 Benin</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-5"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇧🇼 Botswana</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-6"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇧🇫 Burkina Faso</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-7"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇧🇮 Burundi</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-8"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇨🇲 Cameroon</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-9"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇨🇻 Cape Verde</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-10"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇨🇫 Central African Republic</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-11"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇹🇩 Chad</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-12"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇰🇲 Comoros</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-13"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-14"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-15"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇩🇯 Djibouti</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-16"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇪🇬 Egypt</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-17"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-18"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇪🇷 Eritrea</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-19"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇸🇿 Eswatini</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇺🇸 United States</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-20"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇪🇹 Ethiopia</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-21"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇬🇦 Gabon</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-22"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇬🇲 The Gambia</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-23"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇬🇭 Ghana</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-24"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇬🇳 Guinea</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-25"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-26"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-27"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇰🇪 Kenya</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-28"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇱🇸 Lesotho</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇺🇸 United States</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-29"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇱🇷 Liberia</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-30"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇱🇾 Libya</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-31"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇲🇬 Madagascar</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-32"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇲🇼 Malawi</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-33"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇲🇱 Mali</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-34"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇲🇷 Mauritania</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-35"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇲🇺 Mauritius</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-36"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇲🇦 Morocco</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-37"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇲🇿 Mozambique</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-38"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇳🇦 Namibia</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-39"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇳🇪 Niger</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-40"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇳🇬 Nigeria</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-41"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇷🇼 Rwanda</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-42"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇸🇹 São Tomé &amp; Príncipe</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-43"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇸🇳 Senegal</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-44"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇸🇨 Seychelles</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-45"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇸🇱 Sierra Leone</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-46"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇸🇴 Somalia</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-47"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇿🇦 South Africa</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-48"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇸🇸 South Sudan</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-49"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇸🇩 Sudan</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-50"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇹🇿 Tanzania</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-51"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇹🇬 Togo</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-52"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇹🇳 Tunisia</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-53"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇺🇬 Uganda</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇺🇸 United States</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-54"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇿🇲 Zambia</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr><tr data-sanitized-class="row-55"><td data-sanitized-class="column-1">🇿🇼 Zimbabwe</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-2">🇨🇳 China</td>
			<td data-sanitized-class="column-3">🇨🇳 China</td>
		</tr></tbody></table><p>In 2003, China was the preferred trading partner over the U.S. for 18 African countries or 35% of the continent.</p>

<p>Fast forward 20 years, 52 out of the 54 African countries (97%) trade more with China than with the U.S. as of 2023.</p>

<p>China-Africa trade climbed to <a href="https://africabriefing.com/china-africa-trade-surge-2024/">$295 billion</a> in 2024, marking a 6% year-on-year increase.</p>

<p>Beyond trade, China has also increased its <a href="https://www.visualcapitalist.com/charted-20-years-of-u-s-and-chinese-fdi-in-africa/">foreign direct investment</a> (FDI) into the continent, with annual FDI flows rising from about $75 million in 2003 to nearly <a href="https://www.sais-cari.org/chinese-investment-in-africa">$4 billion</a> in 2023, focusing on sectors like agriculture, light manufacturing, and services.</p>

<p>China has proactively sought to improve China-Africa relations through major initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which are designed to boost trade by investing in infrastructure, streamlining trade processes, and strengthening African value chains.</p>

<p>However, China has also faced criticism for alleged “debt-trap diplomacy,” a practice in which it is accused of providing loans to countries that may struggle to repay them, including many of <a href="https://www.visualcapitalist.com/countries-loans-from-china/">Africa’s poorest countries</a>.</p>

<p><em>To learn more about China’s trade relations, check out this <a href="https://www.voronoiapp.com/economy/Chinas-Exports-Grow-in-Emerging-Markets-Decline-in-the-US--3867">graphic</a> that visualizes the country’s exports by region from 2000 to 2022.</em></p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-19T06:45:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Mon, 05/19/2025 - 02:45</span>


guid: https://gript.ie/?p=322262
title: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
author: ;Dr Matt Treacy
link: https://gript.ie/no-good-deed-goes-unpunished-4/
hash: ��_�����'�w1cb
tags: #Culture #Why I left the Left #Fay Stender #Matt Treacy #why I left the left
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<p><em><strong><span>Today, 19th May, is the anniversary of the death of Fay Stender in 1980 at age 48</span></strong></em></p>
<hr>
<p><strong>There is a little known but brilliant book, The Death of Uncle Joe, by Alison Macleod who worked for the British Communist Daily Worker  in the 1940s and 1950s until eventually seeing sense and leaving.</strong> The book is well worth reading for its human insight into how many people doggedly stuck to their illusions despite all. They included Daily Worker editor Bill Rust, whose daughter Rosa had been sent to the gulag but who defended it all to his death.</p>
<p>Read the book if you can, but I have chosen from it part of her preface, as an introduction to the main character in this tale: “What on earth was the matter with us all?”</p>
<p>It was a question that one of the tragic figures of the American left posed to herself just before she took her own life.</p>
<p>Fay Stender had been one of the stalwarts of the California left in the 1960s and early 70s. She became famous as one of the lawyers who defended the despicable Eldridge Cleaver of the Black Panthers, who claimed that his serial rapes had been a political act, and the even more horrific jail psychopath George Jackson. Perhaps her worst act, in concert with others in the San Francisco left was to edit their writings in a way that made them plausible. Just as Jim Fitzpatrick’s cartoon of Guevara made an icon of a mass murderer.</p>
<p>The white petit bourgeois new left and the black criminals posing as revolutionaries shared a contempt for decent people of all colours. In one of Jackson’s prison letters, which perhaps Stender forgot to edit, he attacks his father as a man who spent his whole life working instead of holding up gas stations or preying on his neighbours.</p>
<p>Stender was at one time so besotted with Jackson that she became intimate with him, but he disowned her when she apparently demurred at smuggling weapons into prison for him. She was replaced in his scheme by Angela Davis. For once Jackson had encountered someone who was even more self serving in their devotion to the “revolution.” It has served her well up until the present day.</p>
<p>Stender continued to be part of the far left into the 1970s, and wrote an essay in a legal journal in 1974 advocating the abolition of prisons. Davis, who bought the guns for Jackson’s 16 year old brother Jonathan before he was killed in a hostage taking, has also stolen her thunder on that great notion.</p>
<p>Her “betrayal” of Jackson, who had been shot dead in an August 1971 attempt escape during which he murdered another five people. had not been forgotten. In May 1979 Stender was shot by a Black Guerrilla Family member Edward Brooks who forced her to sign a statement admitting having done badly by George. Brooks was later murdered in Folsom prison, of Johnny Cash fame, in a dispute between the revolutionaries over drugs and the rape of other prisoners who the gangs controlled as prostitutes. One of Stender’s former comrades on the legal left Linda Castro described Brook’s treatment over the shooting of her “friend” as racist.</p>
<p>A year after the attempted murder which left Stender severely disabled, she committed suicide in Hong Kong. Her last testament, contained in a letter to another former defender of the Panthers and Jackson and the Weather Underground. Beverley Axelrod, is a fitting epitaph to a life largely wasted in pursuit of ultra leftist nihilism.</p>
<p>She referred to Axelrod having rewrote Cleaver’s semi illiterate rants for Ramparts and his autobiography. And admitted that those who had ridiculed them for their infatuation had not all been “right wing bigots.”</p>
<p>They had believed that they had “discovered the hidden brilliance of Cleaver and Jackson … but it was nothing compared with their psychological genius. It was as if they intuited our fairy-tale fantasies, our dreams of the hero in the heart of the beast …” Axelrod, judging by her subsequent career, seems not to have taken it to heart.</p>
<p>Not surprisingly, the manner of Stender’s death and its implications for the left were mostly ignored. Other than by people like David Horowitz and Peter Collier, the former editors of Ramparts who wrote about her in their seminal book Destructive Generation, one of the great deconstructions of the American left.</p>
<p>Unlike them and others, Stender was not given the time to properly imbibe the lessons of what she had been involved in. Only the tragic confrontation with Brooks brought her to the final realisation that the fruits of attacking the foundations of society are anarchy. Not the anarchy of people sharing everything in common, as goes one fantasy, but the anarchy of doing whatever you wish if you can get away with it.</p>
<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="https://gript.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FayStender2.jpg" alt width="900" height="1068" data-sanitized-class="alignnone size-full wp-image-207061"></p>

<p>Part of the <strong><em>Why I Left the Left</em></strong> series.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" src="https://gript.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/LeftLogo.jpg" alt width="325" height="162" data-sanitized-class="alignnone size-full wp-image-206764"></p>


guid: 1031552 at https://www.zerohedge.com
title: What On Earth Has This Got To Do With Pride?
author: ;Tyler Durden
link: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/what-earth-has-got-do-pride
hash: �/,��ٕf.��W��
attributes: {"enclosures":[]}
content:
<span property="schema:name" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">What On Earth Has This Got To Do With Pride?</span>

            <div property="schema:text" data-sanitized-class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="https://modernity.news/2025/05/17/what-on-earth-has-this-got-to-do-with-pride"><em>Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,</em></a></p>

<p><em><strong>Some bright spark has decided that a Falklands War landing craft is the perfect thing to slap rainbow Pride colours all over to once again mark the LGBTQ event for the entirety of June.</strong></em></p>

<p><a data-image-external-href="" data-image-href="/s3/files/inline-images/Falklands.jpg?itok=t8wU_Y_p" data-link-option="0" href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/Falklands.jpg?itok=t8wU_Y_p"><picture><img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="de3ef526-6bf4-4972-b4ce-1906834b5ea9" data-responsive-image-style="inline_images" height="281" width="500" src="https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/styles/inline_image_mobile/public/inline-images/Falklands.jpg?itok=t8wU_Y_p" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" data-sanitized-class="inline-images image-style-inline-images"></picture></a></p>

<p>The move has angered veterans, who describe it as “entirely inappropriate” adding “Our Falklands dead will be turning in their graves.”</p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">What On Earth Has This Got To Do With Pride? <a href="https://t.co/0Rlx2sSzRh">https://t.co/0Rlx2sSzRh</a> “The drum doesn’t need banging any more.”</p>
— m o d e r n i t y (@ModernityNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/ModernityNews/status/1923812430271930471?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>The <em>Telegraph </em><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/15/outcry-falklands-war-landing-craft-decorated-pride/">reports:</a></p>

<blockquote>
<p><em>Foxtrot 8, which landed Royal Marine and Parachute Regiment soldiers on the South Atlantic archipelago, has been coated in a rainbow vinyl wrap.</em></p>

<p><em>Portsmouth Historic Quarter, which owns it, commissioned the decoration to mark the 25th anniversary of the ban on homosexuality within the Armed Forces being lifted. But the decoration has been criticised as disrespectful by veterans.</em></p>

<p><em>A retired senior Royal Navy officer said: </em></p>

<p><em><strong>“To paint a landing craft that was used in the Falklands War in pride colours is entirely inappropriate.</strong></em></p>

<p><em><strong>“What next? Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory in rainbow colours?”</strong></em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Rear Adml Chris Parry, a Falklands veteran further described the display as “quite divisive”.</p>

<p><em><strong>“Frankly, this battle was fought and won 25 years ago when gays were openly allowed in the Armed Forces,”</strong></em> he said, adding “In fact, the first gay officer in the Navy was in my ship. He was allowed to come out quite openly.”</p>

<p>“This is something that has been fought and won. The drum doesn’t need banging any more,” Parry further urged.</p>

<p>Reform UK MP Lee Anderson remarked “Pride flags have no place on naval ships, in our classrooms, or flying above Government buildings.”</p>

<p><em><strong>“Let’s stop making everything about what you like to do in the bedroom and get back to work,”</strong></em> Anderson added.</p>

<p>This is yet another example of the demented demand for anything and everything to be gay or trans for no explicable reason.</p>

<p>For example, imagine being a police officer in the UK and having to drive around in this:</p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Clownworld plod. <a href="https://t.co/wRq25Go1c7">https://t.co/wRq25Go1c7</a></p>
— m o d e r n i t y (@ModernityNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/ModernityNews/status/1923705205574549906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>Perhaps it’s all coming down from Alphabet HQ:</p>

<blockquote data-sanitized-class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Meanwhile, at Alphabet HQ... <a href="https://t.co/5KbXp2tf8c">https://t.co/5KbXp2tf8c</a></p>
— m o d e r n i t y (@ModernityNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/ModernityNews/status/1923705565445865540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>*  *  *</p>

<p><em>Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via <a href="https://pauljosephwatson.locals.com/support">Locals</a> or check out our unique <a href="https://www.modernity.news/shop">merch</a>. Follow us on X <a href="https://x.com/modernitynews">@ModernityNews</a></em>.</p>
</div>
      <span rel="schema:author" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" lang="" about="https://cms.zerohedge.com/users/tyler-durden" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="" xml:lang="" data-sanitized-class="username">Tyler Durden</a></span>
<span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2025-05-19T07:30:00+00:00" data-sanitized-class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Mon, 05/19/2025 - 03:30</span>


title: Albertine Lapensée, perdue... et retrouvé
content: <p>Le mystère de la disparition d'une héroïne du hockey</p>
hash: �{D����Y+ �c�
guid:
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/recit-numerique/12820/albertine-lapensee-hockey-feminin-mystere-disparition-intersexualite

link:
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/recit-numerique/12820/albertine-lapensee-hockey-feminin-mystere-disparition-intersexualite

attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://images.radio-canada.ca/q_auto,w_635,h_357/v1/ici-info/16x9/albertine-lapensee-entete-conducteurs.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","length":0}]}


guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2166009/festival-journalisme-carleton-sur-mer-liberte-presse
title: Le journalisme et l’information, malgré tout
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2166009/festival-journalisme-carleton-sur-mer-liberte-presse
hash: Qu�)��KA���� �9
content:
<p>Entre une liberté de presse en déclin et la désinformation, des jeunes espèrent encore devenir journalistes.</p>

attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://images.radio-canada.ca/q_auto,w_635,h_357/v1/ici-info/16x9/festival-journalisme-carleton-mer-81203.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","length":0}]}


guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/sports/2165717/football-quarts-canadiens-calvillo-ghavami
title: L’essor des quarts-arrières canadiens vu par Anthony Calvillo et Sasha Ghavami
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/sports/2165717/football-quarts-canadiens-calvillo-ghavami
hash: �Vk�\ ��4��[> 
content:
<p>Kurtis Rourke et Taylor Elgersma tentent leur chance dans la NFL, l'un à San Francisco, l'autre à Green Bay.</p>

attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://images.radio-canada.ca/q_auto,w_635,h_357/v1/ici-info/sports/16x9/taylor-elgersma.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","length":0}]}


guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165425/tourisme-maine-boycott-canadiens
title: « Les Canadiens ont toujours été importants pour Old Orchard Beach »
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165425/tourisme-maine-boycott-canadiens
hash: %��ذ}�6cyi �_�z
content:
<p>Dans le Maine, les localités qui dépendent du tourisme canadien s’inquiètent d’une baisse d'achalandage.</p>

attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://images.radio-canada.ca/q_auto,w_635,h_357/v1/ici-info/16x9/old-orchard-beach-pier.JPG","type":"image/jpeg","length":0}]}


guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165716/caq-congres-releve-syndicats-etudiants
title: Les jeunes caquistes veulent que Legault affronte les syndicats
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2165716/caq-congres-releve-syndicats-etudiants
hash: 1T+�Kx�ߨs���.
content:
<p>La Commission Relève de la CAQ veut que le gouvernement Legault exige plus de transparence des syndicats.</p>

attributes:
{"enclosures":[{"url":"https://images.radio-canada.ca/q_auto,w_635,h_357/v1/ici-info/16x9/manif-transition-energetique-pour-la-suite-du-monde.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","length":0}]}


guid: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2149352/guerre-enfants-sarajevo-bosnie-traumatisme
title: La guerre avec des yeux d’enfants : entre jeux et traumatismes
link: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2149352/guerre-enfants-sarajevo-bosnie-traumatisme
hash: �}8z��8 ��z�(ɲ
content:
<p>Les enfants souffrent des conflits partout dans le monde. Un musée de Sarajevo leur donne une voix.</p>

attributes:
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