Political Fallout Is Biggest Risk For Market After 'Botched' UK Budget

“Markets have had to catch up pretty quickly”

The astonishing early reveal of the UK budget’s main measures is causing chaos, with volatile moves in bonds and the pound...

Rachel Reeves’ Budget raises taxes by £26bn, taking the burden to an all-time high of 38 per cent of GDP by the end of the parliament, according to an accidentally released forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

The OBR’s assessment of Reeves’ Budget was published amid chaotic scenes before noon on Wednesday, around 45 minutes before the chancellor delivered her crucial second Budget.

It revealed that Reeves will freeze all personal income tax thresholds until 2030-31, in a move that is expected to raise £8.3bn a year and is the biggest tax-raising measure.

The second-biggest tax measure is a raid on salary sacrifice pension contributions, which will raise an additional £4.7bn. Among the other measures mentioned are charges on electric cars raising £1.4bn, gambling duty reform to bring in £1.1bn, and a council tax surcharge on homes worth more than £2mn, which will raise £400mn in 2029-2030.

Eir Nolsøe summarizes the headlines thus:

• Personal tax thresholds will be frozen until end of decade, raising £8 billion. This will pull 780,000 more people into paying the basic rate of income tax and create 920,000 more higher-rate tax payers.

• National Insurance on salary-sacrificed pension contributions will bolster the public coffers by £4.7 billion.

• Increasing tax rates on dividends, property and savings income by two percentage points, raising £2.1 billion.

• A new mileage-based charge on electric and plug-in hybrid cars from April 2028, at around half the fuel duty paid by petrol drivers. This will raise £1.4 billion.

• A reduction in writing down allowances in corporation tax that will cost firms £1.5 billion. These allowances allow big companies to deduct a percentage of the value of certain items from their profits each year.

• An overhaul of gambling taxes that will bring in £1.1 billion while changes to capital gains tax reliefs on employee ownership trusts raising £0.9 billion.

• The trailed ‘mansion tax’ will hit owners of properties over £2 million from April 2028. It will be implemented as a council tax surcharge and raise £0.4 billion a year by the end of the decade.

• Borrowing to fall from 4.5% of GDP in 2025-26 to 1.9% by 2030-31.

• Meanwhile, debt as a share of GDP will end the decade at 96% of GDP, up from 95% this year. This is two percentage points higher than anticipated in March and twice the debt level of the average rich country, according to the OBR.

• The fiscal watchdog predicts growth will be 1.5% on average a year until the end of the decade, a downgrade of 0.3 percentage points from March. The OBR blamed this on a weaker outlook for productivity gains.

• Welfare U-turns and ending the two-child benefit are poised to cost the taxpayer £9 billion a year by the end of the decade.

Who are the winners and losers of today’s budget?

Let’s start with the winners:

• Lower-income families with children, thanks to the chancellor’s decision to scrap the two-child benefit cap

• Pensioners and low-paid workers also benefit from higher minimum wage rates and state pensions, while all households will enjoy cheaper energy bills

• And let’s not forget the bond market which been positively (so far) surprised by a bigger-than-expected £22 billion buffer

• High street retailers thanks to changes to the business rates regime

• Investment companies owing to the changes being made to ISA to encourage more investment in stocks

The losers list is much longer, and broader. A few include:

• Millions will be dragged into paying higher rates of income tax

• Owners of more expensive properties facing higher levies, which has hit shares in some homebuilders

• Bank of England policymakers are now expected to reach their inflation target a year later than previous forecasts

• Overall, real household disposable income growth is projected to vanish over the next years

• Online gambling companies which will face significantly higher duties

As the most unpopular UK Chancellor ever...

Reeves defended her choices, saying there would almost be £22 billion of headroom in the public finances as a result of her Budget.

I said there would be no return to austerity, and I meant it. This Budget will maintain our investment in our economy and our National Health Service. I said I would cut the cost of living, and I meant it: this Budget will bring down inflation and provide immediate relief for families. I said that I would cut debt and borrowing, and I meant it: because of this Budget, borrowing will fall as a share of GDP in every year of the forecast.

Our net financial debt will be lower by the end of the forecast than it is today and I will more than double the headroom against our stability rule to £21.7 billion – meeting our stability rule and meeting it a year early.

These are my choices. Not austerity. Not reckless borrowing. Not turning a blind eye to unfairness. My choice is a Budget for fair taxes, strong public services, and a stable economy. That is the Labour choice.

However, there’s concern among cyber security experts as to how the OBR leak today happened too.

“It’s truly astonishing that such a market sensitive document could find its way online via official channels in advance of the Chancellor’s speech,” Kenny MacAulay, CEO of accounting software platform Acting Office said by email.

“Basic compliance requirements should be in place to prevent this from happening, and a complete review is required about how and why such a major breach would take place.”

James Baxter Derrington says the Budget “has broken the deal the Labour Party made with the nation and breached its manifesto”.

The extension of the income tax threshold freeze – Rishi Sunak’s invidious invention – is a direct increase in the taxes that working people pay, to the tune of more than £8 billion. Every penny of this will be swallowed up, not by improved public services for us all but by increased benefits payments to a select few. In fact, it will barely cover half of that cost.

For a Chancellor so dedicated to targeting those with the “broadest shoulders”, she has picked one of the most regressive taxes possible. This stealth tax will not target the wealthiest but disproportionately affect those working desperately hard on lower salaries. A party founded on the principle of supporting the working man has just betrayed him.

Continuing in the spirit of prioritising state reliance over rewarding work, Reeves has slashed the amount employees can put into their pensions via salary sacrifice schemes. Don’t worry about funding your own retirement through prudent saving, this government is keen to create a generation of pensioners reliant on the state.

The Telegraph highlights that Reeves has now raised taxes by £70 billion across her two Budgets, more than seven times the £8.5 billion mentioned in the manifesto. Meanwhile the national debt will rise to £3.5 trillion by 2031, more than double the £1.6 trillion before the pandemic (on the measure of public sector net debt excluding the Bank of England, the metric used under the Conservatives) as Rachel Reeves’s borrowing mounts up.

But as Bloomberg strategist, Simon White notes, UK market spreads face the bigger risk from the potential political fallout if the budget lands badly, rather than from any major surprises in the announcement.

Never in recent memory has a UK budget had such grim anticipation, nor been so botched in its preparation.

A smorgasbord of leaks and U-turns has preceded what is expected to be a smorgasbord of tax rises and extra spending commitments.

Nevertheless, the market is not yet having a nervous breakdown. A combination of risk spreads and other UK markets, such as sterling, asset swap spreads and bond spreads, has widened recently, but is still well below where it was at the time of Reeves’ first full budget in October 2024.

The market is giving a cautious pass to Reeves’ tax-raising plans (which have been mostly leaked over the last 24 hours), but it’s an uneasy truce. It’s not inconceivable, as also discussed by my colleagues earlier, that pressure will mount on Reeves to quit if her party’s backbenchers don’t like her policies, or it lands especially badly with the electorate.

Unless the narrative shifts away from soaking working people and savers to inflate an already bloated benefits bill, the blowback may be considerable.

If Reeves comes under risk, the Prime Minister would be in the firing line too. There is talk of a “coronation” for Health Secretary Wes Streeting after the local elections in May. Markets discount to the present, and so does politics. Pressure might grow for a change of leadership much sooner.

Streeting would not be expected to be as fiscally loose as some other leadership candidates, but he is an untested quantity. Nor do we know who his Chancellor would be. What we do know is that a typical Labour MP did not get elected to save money.

Markets abhor uncertainty as well as spendthrift politicians. Risk spreads will widen much more sharply if Reeves plays a poor hand badly today.

Andrew Griffith, shadow business secretary, said:

“This Budget process has been a fiasco from start to finish and the unprecedented leak of the OBR’s report is just the final embarrassment.”

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/26/2025 - 08:26

The Middle Class Is Cracking

Authored by Charles Hugh Smioth via OfTwoMinds blog,

Borrowing more to maintain spending is hanging on by one's fingernails, not middle-class security.

The middle class is cracking, but if you want a statistic that "proves" this, there isn't one. The cracking isn't a statistic, it's the culmination of observations logged over the past 15 years about these critical measures of what it takes to qualify as middle class:

1. How much income a household needs to secure the minimum qualifications of a middle class standard of living / quality of life, based on the conventional standards of the 1960s - 1980s. (The qualifying characteristics are listed below.)

2. The upward or downward mobility of those claiming middle class status. Put another way: if it requires monumental effort and perfect execution to achieve the minimum qualifications of middle class security, then that isn't a "middle class" set of qualifications, that's an elite set of qualifications.

3. Precarity: how much (or little) financial disruption does it take to tip a household into a down-spiral that becomes increasingly difficult to escape. The foundation of any non-trivial definition of "middle class" (any definition that is solely based on income is trivial) is the financial resilience offered by ownership of assets, particularly income-producing assets, and savings that can be tapped to handle emergencies.

I've been addressing these issues for many years. Here are a few of my posts on the decay of the middle class:

Priced Out of the Middle Class (June 28, 2012)

What Does It Take To Be Middle Class? (December 5, 2013)

Misplaced Pride: Most of the "Middle Class" Is Actually Working Class (June 14, 2019)

Squeezed for Decades, America's Working Class Is Finally Up Against the Wall (May 13, 2024)

Here are the minimum requirements to qualify as middle class, drawn up by myself and readers:

1. Meaningful healthcare insurance. By meaningful I mean healthcare insurance that doesn't have high deductibles--if you have to pay thousands of dollars before the insurance kicks in, that's not insurance, it's a simulation of insurance--and insurance that isn't reduced to meaninglessness by limitations on coverage and/or zero coverge for core elements of healthcare.

2. Significant equity (25%-50%) in a home or other real estate.

3. Income/expenses that enable the household to save at least 6% of its net income.

4. Significant retirement funds: 401Ks, IRAs, etc.

5. The ability to service all debt and expenses over the medium-term if one of the primary household wage-earners lose their job.

6. Reliable vehicles for each wage earner.

7. If a household requires government assistance to maintain the family lifestyle, their Middle Class status is in doubt.

8. A percentage of non-paper, non-real estate hard assets such as family heirlooms, precious metals, tools, etc. that can be transferred to the next generation, i.e. generational wealth.

9. Ability to invest in offspring (education, extracurricular clubs/training, etc.).

10. Leisure time devoted to the maintenance of physical/spiritual/mental fitness.

11. Continual accumulation of human and social capital (new skills, networks of collaborators, markets for one's services, etc.)

12. Family ownership of income-producing assets such as rental properties, bonds, family-owned business, etc.

The absolute scale of these requirements is less important than all twelve being included in the household's quiver. In other words, it's not necessary to own equity worth millions, but it is important to own meaningful equity across the range of assets listed above.

Back in 2012, I went through each requirement and arrived at a minimum household income of $106,000-- adjusted for inflation, the equivalent sum today is $152,000. Before you scoff, please read the entirety of Michael Green's careful analysis of what qualifies as "poverty level income" and "middle class income:" How a Broken Benchmark Quietly Broke America (via Cheryl A.)

Green concluded the minimum income needed today is $140,000-- more or less the same as my estimate, especially given his detailed explanation of why this minimum is barebones.

Green's analysis of middle-class precarity dismantles all the statistical rah-rah presented as evidence that we're all getting richer every day, in every way. Like insurance with stupidly high deductibles, this isn't middle class security, it's a simulation of middle class security.

This report in the Wall Street Journal suggests this reality is now so undeniably obvious that the WSJ had to address it: The Middle Class Is Buckling Under Almost Five Years of Persistent Inflation: Workers growing tired of economy in which everything seems to get more expensive.

As Green explained, soaring costs for big-ticket essentials--all the things required to participate in the economy in a meaningful fashion--are crushing the middle class.

Unless you lucked into an early seating for the banquet of wealth served up by The Everything Bubble--then life is good: Feeling Great About the Economy? You Must Own Stocks: Investors' rosy feelings about their stock market gains are powering spending--but it's a different story for everyone else.

This has generated a generational divide in security/precarity and wealth accumulation: those who bought stocks and housing long ago when they were relatively cheap have piled up wealth not by being more productive, but by becoming early owners of capital that has been goosed by policies seeking to boost spending via "the wealth effect."

That this bubble-generated wealth flowed predominantly to older households with incomes that enabled asset purchases effectively made the rich richer. Those without these advantages lost ground, and absent the cushion of wealth piled up by The Everything Bubble, their claim to middle-class security is more a simulation than the real thing.

The middle class is cracking, and the Everything Bubble hasn't even started to pop yet; once it does, job losses will accelerate due to the self-reinforcing nature of job losses reducing income and spending which then triggers more job cuts. How the U.S. Economy Became Hooked on AI Spending: Growth has been bolstered by data-center investment and stock-market wealth. A reversal could raise the risk of recession.

This chart illustrates the reality: the already-wealthy have pulled away as financialization, globalization, precarity and inflation gutted the middle class.

The solidity and economic dominance of the US middle-class is illusory. The middle class is cracking, and borrowing more to maintain spending is hanging on by one's fingernails, not middle-class security.

*  *  *

My new book Investing In Revolution is available at a 10% discount ($18 for the paperback, $24 for the hardcover and $8.95 for the ebook edition) through November. Introduction (free)

Check out my updated Books and Films. Become a $3/month patron of my work via patreon.com Subscribe to my Substack for free

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/26/2025 - 08:05

Medicare Secures 71% Price Cut On Novo's Anti-Obesity Drug As Part Of Broad Affordability Push

The Trump administration is laser-focused on "Operation Affordability," aiming to drive down the cost of food and healthcare ahead of the midterm election cycle.

On Tuesday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a savings of 44%, or $12 billion, from last year's negotiated Medicare spending on 15 drugs used to treat severe chronic conditions and cancer.  

Of those price cuts, CMS negotiated a 71% discount on GLP-1 medication, including Ozempic and Wegovy, for Medicare patients.

Other significant reductions include a 50% cut for Pfizer's Ibrance, a 48% drop for the prostate-cancer drug Xtandi, and a 73% reduction for GSK's Trelegy Ellipta.

Here's more from CMS: 

The Maximum Fair Prices (MFPs) for these 15 drugs will become effective January 1, 2027, bringing the total number of negotiated drugs to 25 when combined with the 10 previously negotiated drugs with MFPs taking effect January 1, 2026. The 15 drugs in this second negotiation cycle, used to treat cancer, diabetes, asthma, and other chronic illnesses, represent some of the highest Medicare Part D spending. The MFPs offer substantial savings for both beneficiaries and the Medicare program.

These are the first large-scale, publicly disclosed Medicare drug-price negotiations - and for good reason, as the administration works to lower healthcare costs.

"President Trump directed us to stop at nothing to lower health care costs for the American people," said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "As we work to Make America Healthy Again, we will use every tool at our disposal to deliver affordable health care to seniors."

Bloomberg quoted Novo Nordisk as saying it had "serious concerns" about government-driven pricing and continued to oppose the negotiation framework, even as it pivoted toward aggressive price cuts for its GLP-1 drugs to gain market share. 

Related: 

• Novo Undercuts Lilly's Obesity Drug Price, Now Cheaper Than Car Payment

• Trump's Lilly And Novo Deal Slashes Monthly Weight-Loss Drug Costs By Up To 90%

• "Surgical & Beautiful": Trump Boasts Operation Affordability Ahead Of Midterm Cycle

CMS' announcement underscores the administration's accelerated push to lower prescription drug costs, expand affordability for Medicare beneficiaries, and reduce broader medical expenses, alongside efforts to ease food prices. With low-income household budgets under strain, affordability is shaping up to be a major topic heading into the midterm election cycle.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/26/2025 - 07:45

Retirement Deadlines You Can't Miss By December 31

Authored by John Rampton via The Epoch Times,

As the year winds down, many people are thinking about holiday plans, family gatherings, and completing work projects. However, for retirees and those planning for retirement, financial deadlines carry a special urgency. Tax bills, retirement accounts, and even healthcare costs can be affected by some of these cutoffs. By missing them, you could be losing out on valuable opportunities, or worse, you may face penalties.

Zephyr_p/shutterstock

The good news? To stay on top of retirement-related deadlines, here are the most important ones you need to know before December 31.

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)

A must-do task at year-end for retirees over age 73 (or 72 if you reach that age before 2023) is to take required minimum distributions from traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, and similar tax-deferred accounts.

Why it matters:

As soon as you reach RMD age, you must withdraw a minimum amount every year. It’s a steep penalty if you don’t: 25 percent of the amount you should have withdrawn—reduced to 10 percent if you correct it quickly.

What to do:

• Confirm your RMD amount with your financial institution.
• IRA owners with multiple accounts can take their total RMDs from just one IRA. You must take distributions from each 401(k) separately, however.
• Avoid waiting until the last week of December, when hours may be reduced at banks.

Roth Conversions

Do you want to move money from an IRA or 401(k) to a Roth? A Roth conversion is a powerful tax-planning strategy since future withdrawals are tax-free. For the current tax year, however, you have until December 31 to complete a conversion.

Why it matters:

• As you enter retirement, a conversion can protect your tax rate and help diversify your tax exposure.
• When you convert the amount, however, you are subject to ordinary income taxes.

What to do:

• Analyze whether converting is worthwhile based on your current tax bracket.
• To avoid jumping into a higher tax bracket, consider breaking conversions into smaller chunks over several years.
• A tax advisor can help you with this strategy, as it requires careful planning.

Charitable Giving (Including Qualified Charitable Distributions)

If you want your charitable contributions to be considered for this year’s deduction, the year-end is also the deadline. With qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), retirees who are charitably inclined have even more flexibility.

Why it matters:

• If you itemize your deductions, traditional donations can reduce your taxable income.
• You can transfer up to $100,000 per year directly from your IRA to a qualified charity with a QCD for those age 70½ and older. Also, it counts towards your RMD and is not taxable.

What to do:

• Choose between giving cash, appreciated securities, or making a QCD.
• To claim the tax benefit, transfer before December 31.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

If you have an employer-sponsored health plan with an FSA and are not yet on Medicare, check your balance. FSAs typically follow a “use it or lose it” rule by December 31, though some plans allow for a grace period or a small rollover.

Why it matters: Typically, unused funds disappear at the end of the year.

What to do:

• Make those medical appointments you’ve been putting off.
• Be sure to stock up on over-the-counter products that are eligible.
• Verify your employer’s grace periods and rollover policies.

Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Changes

During the Medicare Open Enrollment period, which runs from October 15 through December 7, the decisions you make affect your coverage for the following year. As a result, December is an important month to confirm your choices.

Why it matters:

If you miss this deadline, you’ll be locked into your current coverage, with a few exceptions. The result could be higher premiums or prescriptions that are not covered.

What to do:

• Compare your plan’s benefits for 2025 with those of other plans.
• Don’t forget to check your insurance coverage for doctors and prescriptions.
• To avoid surprises in January, submit changes before December 7.

Harvesting Tax Losses (and Gains)

You can offset capital gains or ordinary income up to $3,000 if you sell investments at a loss by December 31, if you have a taxable investment account. Known as “tax-loss harvesting,” this strategy lowers your tax bill.

Why it matters:

When done properly, tax-loss harvesting reduces taxes without significantly altering your investment approach.

What to do:

• With the help of your financial advisor, review your portfolio.
• Identify investments that are underperforming and sell them.
• It’s important to be aware of the “wash sale rule,” which disallows deductions if a substantially identical security is purchased within 30 days.

Maximizing 401(k) and IRA Contributions

Employer-sponsored plans, such as 401(k)s, require you to contribute to your retirement accounts by December 31. Contributions to IRAs, however, can usually be made until the tax filing deadline in April.

Why it matters:

• If you contribute before year-end, you won’t miss out on employer matching.
• In traditional accounts, contributions reduce taxable income for the current year.

What to do:

• Take a look at your contributions so far this year.
• Check with your HR department or benefits department about adjusting your contributions.

Reviewing Beneficiaries and Estate Plans

Retirement accounts, insurance policies, and estate plans can all be reviewed at the end of the year, even if there is no specific deadline.

Why it matters: In some cases, outdated designations, like former spouses, may override your will and result in family disputes.

What to do:

• Be sure to review all policies and accounts.
• As needed, update beneficiary designations.
• If your life has changed significantly, schedule a meeting with an estate planner.

Health Savings Account (HSA) Contributions

In case you have a high-deductible health plan and are eligible for an HSA, you can contribute until the tax filing deadline. Employers may, however, set internal payroll deadlines in December for employee contributions.

Why it matters:

With HSAs, you can make tax-deductible contributions, grow the fund tax-deferred, and withdraw money tax-free.

What to do:

• If you can, max out your contributions.
• Verify that your employer doesn’t set an earlier contribution cutoff than the IRS.

Key Takeaways

December 31 isn’t just the end of the calendar year—it’s also the end of many retirement planning opportunities. Taking RMDs, donating to charities, and reviewing Medicare coverage all have deadlines that cannot be overlooked.

If you plan early and consult with a financial advisor, you can avoid costly mistakes and optimize your tax strategy.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/26/2025 - 06:30

These Are The Largest Bodies Of Water In Our Solar System

From the icy crusts of distant moons to the oceans beneath their surfaces, the solar system is teeming with hidden water.

This visualization from Made Visual Daily, via Visual Capitalist, compares all known and estimated bodies of water in our solar system, including those beneath the surface, on a volumetric scale.

The data comes from sources including USGS, NASA’s Ocean Worlds program, and a variety of planetary science missions, like Cassini and MESSENGER.

Comparing Water Volumes in the Solar System

Below is the full breakdown of water volumes by celestial body or source:

Earth’s ocean holds 1.3 billion km³ of water, but that’s dwarfed by subsurface oceans on other moons. Ganymede, for instance, is believed to host 11.4 billion km³ in liquid water beneath its ice shell—nearly nine times the volume of Earth’s oceans.

The Surprising Abundance of Extraterrestrial Water

When thinking of water in space, Mars or icy comets may come to mind, but some of the most significant reservoirs lie within the interiors of moons orbiting the gas giants. Jupiter’s Europa, with its estimated 2.88 billion km³ ocean, and Saturn’s Titan, with nearly 4 billion km³ beneath its surface, are standout examples.

These “ocean worlds” are central to current astrobiological research. According to NASA’s Ocean Worlds program, the presence of water increases the potential for life, making these moons high-priority exploration targets. Missions like Europa Clipper and Dragonfly are being developed to investigate these alien seas further.

How Do We Know There’s Water Out There?

Scientists use a combination of techniques to detect extraterrestrial water: gravitational field measurements, ice-penetrating radar, and spectroscopy are just a few. For instance, the Galileo and Cassini missions provided crucial insights into the internal oceans of Europa and Titan.

More recently, researchers have proposed new techniques to identify liquid water on exoplanets, using infrared signals from water clouds or oceans to analyze distant worlds.

Reframing Earth’s Place in the Water Hierarchy

While Earth is often dubbed the “blue planet,” it’s far from the wettest body in the solar system. Including underground and frozen sources, Earth’s total water volume still trails several icy moons.

This context reshapes how we think about planetary habitability. As our understanding grows, it’s increasingly likely that life-supporting conditions may exist far from the traditional “habitable zone” around stars.

 

 

Check out similar space explorations like Top 10 Star Systems with Earth-Like Exoplanets on the Voronoi app.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/26/2025 - 05:45

China Deploys World’s First Commercial Supercritical CO2 Power Generator

China has activated what the South China Morning Post describes as the world’s first commercial power unit using supercritical carbon dioxide, or sCO₂, marking a notable step forward in clean energy technology.

Developed by the China National Nuclear Corporation, the generator replaces traditional steam with high-pressure CO₂ to turn waste heat from steelmaking into electricity, according to SCMP.

The first installation, located at the Shougang Shuicheng Steel complex in Liupanshui, Guizhou, links two 15-megawatt units to the grid and is expected to deliver roughly 50 per cent higher efficiency than typical steam-based waste-heat systems.

Unlike the Rankine cycle used in steam plants, sCO₂ systems operate on a compact Brayton-cycle loop. CO₂ becomes supercritical at high temperature and pressure, giving it fluid properties that boost energy conversion efficiency beyond 50 per cent while allowing turbines and auxiliary parts to be far smaller.

Because steel sintering can produce temperatures above 700°C, the process is well suited to this technology, and researchers see clear potential for applications in advanced nuclear reactors, mobile nuclear systems, space power units and concentrated solar facilities.

South China Morning Post writes that the project, built jointly with Jigang International Engineering and Technology, follows more than a decade of research. CNNC reached stable full-power laboratory operation in 2019 and began constructing the commercial system in 2023. According to SCMP, the new installation is intended to set a technological foundation for future large-scale deployments.

Similar sCO₂ demonstration efforts are also underway overseas. In Texas, the US Department of Energy–supported Step Demo pilot has already reached full turbine speed at 500°C, producing several megawatts of grid-synchronised power during early testing as it progresses toward its 10-MWe goal.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/26/2025 - 02:45

Does Germany Poses A Significant Non-Military Threat To Polish Sovereignty?

Authored by Andrew Korybko via Substack,

Its continued hegemony over Central & Eastern Europe threatens to further erode Poland’s already limited sovereignty, but this can be shattered with US support, though at the cost of subordinating Poland to Trump 2.0’s envisaged “Pax Americana” that would also impose limits on its sovereignty.

“The AfD’s Co-Leader Declared That Poland Could Become A Threat To Germany” earlier this month, the rationale of which was explained in the preceding analysis, but it’s also true that some in Poland regard Germany as threat to their country as well.

Whereas the perception that some Germans have of Poland as a threat is derived from it trying to shatter Germany’s hegemony over Central & Eastern Europe (CEE), the perception that some Poles have of Germany as a threat is derived from that selfsame hegemony.

The grey cardinal of Poland’s conservative-nationalist opposition (“Law & Justice” or PiS per its Polish acronym), Jaroslaw Kaczynski, has been among the most outspoken voices about this. He’s spoken on this subject for years, even declaring right before the special operation that Germany’s EU federalization plans are an attempt to build a “Fourth Reich”. Kaczynski recently reaffirmed that Germany nowadays leads “a kind of new empire” and, together with France, “want[s] to take Poland’s sovereignty away.”

Prime Minister Donald Tusk is “a German agent” tasked for fulfilling this plot, he claimed in late December 2023 after PiS lost control of the Sejm following its defeat in that fall’s elections, but Trump 2.0’s envisaged “Pax Americana” can possibly save Poland according to his latest assessment.

He said in late September that “Pax Americana would be global but it would allow for the existence of sovereign states, including a sovereign Poland, constrained only by demands of joint defence within NATO.”

This aligns with the insight shared in the earlier cited analysis about the AfD co-leader’s views on Poland, which drew attention to how the US is helping Poland shatter German hegemony in CEE in order to facilitate the creation of a Polish-led wedge (the “Three Seas Initiative”, 3SI) between Germany and Russia. For Poland to achieve its full geostrategic potential in this regard, both in furtherance of its own and the US’ shared interests, PiS must regain control of the Sejm during fall 2027’s next elections.

That would almost certainly necessitate allying with the Confederation party, which leads Poland’s populist-nationalist opposition and whose chief Slawomir Mentzen came in third place during the first presidential round with 14.81% of the vote, but Mentzen conditioned this on PiS’ top leaders resigning. Other than Kaczynski, he demanded the departure of former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, but their egos (especially Kaczynski’s) might prevent that despite it arguably being for the greater good.

In any case, Poland’s sovereignty can only enduringly be defended vis-à-vis Berlin-led Brussels by rallying CEE to collectively oppose the EU’s federalization plans, which can be advanced through transforming the US-backed 3SI into a political platform to this end. Poland must also continue reviving its lost Great Power status in parallel with replacing Hungary’s role as a continental hub for conservative-/populist-nationalist movements, which requires regaining control of the Sejm, all of which with US support.

Polish independence activists fought “for our freedom and yours” during the Partition period as they famously proclaimed, especially when they participated in independence struggles abroad, with their modern struggle against German hegemony over CEE representing the spiritual successor of that cause. Its success is also far from certain, but unlike back then, Poland can count on US support but at the cost of subordinating itself to “Pax Americana” with no chance of achieving full sovereignty under this order.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/26/2025 - 02:00

Escobar: The European Matryoshka Of Irrelevance

Authored by Pepe Escobar,

The EU/NATO combo cannot but play the role of pathetic yapping chihuahuas. That’s the price you pay for a matrioshka of supreme stupidity.

No one ever lost money betting on the politically suicidal instincts of post-Orwellian EU – that acronym for a virtual Europe.

Call them juvenile bipolar psychos or a bunch of yapping chihuahuas: no Jupiterian or Mercurial voice of reason has been capable to impart to the “leadership” in Brussels and their vassals in most European capitals – yes, there are healthy exceptions – that losers in wars do not dictate terms.

And still those War Council luminaries – with a special starring role for the toxic Pfizer Medusa and her Estonian sidekick unable to even manage a herring stall in the Baltics – insist that essentially the mega-corrupt gang in Kiev must prevail, to the last Ukrainian dead, and on top of it dictate the final terms of their non-surrender.

Reality begs to differ. Plan A was never to talk, much less negotiate with Russia. And still there’s no Plan B.

So after the 28-pointer Theater of the Absurd – which is not even Trump’s plan, but a mish mash concocted by the Witkoff-Dmitriev duo plus “insights” from neo-con Rubio and toxic Zionist asset Jared Kushner – the cross-yapping went ballistic, leading to an emergency “counter-plan” that is, what else, a Loser’s Manifesto.

Even Rubio allowed himself a shining moment: “What plan?” Might as well call it The Euro-kiss of Death.

Russia, meanwhile, behaves like Lao Tzu surrounded by rabid stray dogs. The conditions for a negotiation have been set in detail by Putin since June 2024. These are non-negotiable, and would allow the negotiation to start: Kiev withdraws from the four regions and formally pledges to never enter NATO.

One of the EU’s “counter-plan” points is a 30-day ceasefire, with all territorial disputes to be debated afterwards. So that means everything frozen on the current front line, and no Ukraine withdrawal from the parts of Donbass they still occupy.

None of that – and much more – is remotely acceptable to the actual winner of the war, Russia. It would not be acceptable even if NATO troops were entering Moscow tomorrow.

So the “counter-plan”, elaborated in conjunction with the unimaginably corrupt Kiev combo, is essentially a sabotage op to buy some extra time and buy some $6 trillion in – American – weapons – for their amply avowed Forever War. Fine with Moscow – as the SMO will keep going on, rolling thunder mode.

Losers bombing a peace plan

The EU’s 24-point counter-plan contains nuggets such as Ukraine receiving legally binding security guarantees from the Empire of Chaos and its vassals: a de facto NATO Article 5 scam with different terminology.

Plus no restrictions on Ukraine’s armed forces and defense industry; control of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (with the Empire of Chaos in the mix) and the Kakhovka Dam; unhindered access to the Dnieper River and control of the Kinburn Spit.

And the killer: Ukraine “financially compensated” – including through the stolen, so far, Russian sovereign assets, which will remain stolen until Moscow pays compensation.

As for sanctions, they “may” – that’s the operative word – be “partially” – another operative word – eased only after a “sustainable peace”, with automatic snap-back if the deal is violated. Translation: the West can sanction Russia again anytime they see fit. No word on provocations by the EU/NATO using Ukraine – the actual set up that led to the SMO.

So what the “counter-plan” proposes – obviously redacted by a bunch of Eurocrats who cannot even fire a pistol properly – is a replica of the exact blueprint that led to the battlefield opened in February 2022.

Russia once again is playing it with boundless patience. The Trump plan which is not really Trump’s is diplomatically regarded as a “good foundation” for further serious negotiations – with the yapping crowd having no access to the table. That’s it – at best.

After all Russia is enjoying a series of overlapping asymmetric advantages in the battlefield: systemic and tactical adaptation; enormous advantage in drone operations (FPV drones with fiber-optics); use of long-range glide bombs.

The chihuahua “counter-plan” essentially calls for a frozen war; a remilitarized Ukraine; a remilitarized NATO; and ultimately a perennial Forever War against Russia. It has already bombed, metaphorically, the original Trump plan that is not exactly Trump’s.

The “counter-plan” should also be seen as a diversionist tactic now that the dark pit of corruption in Kiev starts to be pried upon by the NABU investigation – even as Russian UN representative Nebenzya had been warning the UN Security Council since forever that “you were dealing with a corrupt gang that is profiting from the war”.

Nebenzya also correctly observed that not a single Western country has said a word about the corruption scandal in Kiev. Of course: because a proper investigation will inevitably follow the corruption chain of command all the way to decision making circles in Washington and in Brussels.

The metaphysical void of EU “elites”

Emmanuel Todd, in his ground-breaking The Defeat of the West, published in France early last year (the first review in English is here) was the first European analyst to get deeper into the EU malaise, side by side with his comprehensive analysis of the proxy war in Ukraine.

Recently, in an outstanding lecture in Hiroshima, Todd made a startling correlation between Russophobia and Protestantism. Certain passages are worth quoting at length:

“What we have seen appear recently in Europe is a specifically European Russophobia, a specifically European warmongering, centered on Northern Europe, on Protestant Europe. Protestant Europe is the United Kingdom, it’s the majority of Germany, it’s Scandinavia, it’s two out of three Baltic countries.”

At the same time, Todd has observed that “Spain, Italy, Catholic countries in general, are neither Russophobic nor hawkish.”

Todd’s key argument is that protestantism “is more dangerous in its zero state than Catholicism”: “Protestantism is more capable of leaving behind a nihilistic society. Protestantism, and the same could be said of Judaism, was a very demanding religion. There was God, there was the faithful, and the world was secondary. The beauty of the world in particular was rejected with, among other things, a refusal of images, a refusal of the visual arts. When such religions, obsessed with transcendence, disappear, nothing remains. The world itself is not interesting, empty. This intense void opens up a particular possibility of nihilism. Catholicism is a less demanding, more humane religion that can accept the idea that the world is, in itself, beautiful. The images have not been rejected in the Catholic world, and the Catholic world is filled with artistic wonders. In a Catholic country, if you lose God, you are left with the feeling of this beauty of the world. If you are French, you still have the feeling that you live — an illusion no doubt — in the most beautiful country in the world.”

Well, it’s slightly more nuanced. What about the – vicious – Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition? Germany was in fact forced by a massive P.R. campaign to become Russophobic, unlike the Baltic chihuahuas. Most of Protestant Europe is in fact atheistic – and the next step from atheism is nihilism. Romania is mostly Christian Orthodox – where hatred of Russia is like a national sport. And Protestantism was essentially Christianity turbo-charged to the Age of Capital. So the main conflict is in fact Western turbo-Neoliberalism v. Christian Orthodox Russia.

Back to the basics.

Everyone with an IQ over room temperature knows that the NATO regime in Kiev runs on theft and outright plunder. The lights are now off. Heating is mostly off. The army is steadily collapsing all along the 1,200+ km frontline.

Yet the EU elites – the set up in Brussels just follows their orders – have invested no holds barred in the inevitable (in their dreams) collapse and looting of Russia. That’s why there was never a Plan B.

If the EU folds now, if they admit they are the irretrievable losers in this absurdist adventure, the economic collapse will be epic. The EU/NATO combo cannot but play the role of pathetic yapping chihuahuas. That’s the price you pay for a matryoshka of supreme stupidity: to provoke and threaten a superpower with the most advanced nuclear and hypersonic arsenal on the planet. Their current “victory” is to bomb Trump’s already shaky “peace” plan.

So many horrors, so little time. On a more auspicious note, let’s give Todd the last word:

“If you are Italian, you actually live in the country in the world where there are the most beautiful things, since Italy itself has become an object of art. In such contexts, the fear of the metaphysical void is less intense, and therefore the risk of nihilism less. In my opinion, the country in Europe least threatened by nihilism is Italy, because in Italy everything is beautiful”.

So shed your metaphysical void, dump those chihuahuas of war, and embrace the beauty of Italy as a living work of art. That’s exactly what I’m doing next.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ZeroHedge.

Tyler Durden Tue, 11/25/2025 - 23:25

CDC Shuts Down Monkey Labs Amid Tuberculosis "Time Bomb" Fears

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will end all nonhuman-primate research conducted at its own facilities, marking the first time since the National Institutes of Health retired its chimpanzees in 2015 that a major federal health agency has fully shuttered an in-house monkey program, Science reports.

Scene from "Project X"

The decision affects roughly 200 macaques currently housed at the CDC’s Atlanta campus. A CDC spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg that the agency is developing a wind-down plan but declined to provide a specific timeline or details on the fate of the animals.

The move follows years of criticism from animal-welfare groups and some scientists who argue that monkey models have produced limited translational value, particularly in HIV vaccine development, where decades of primate studies have yet to yield a licensed product. The CDC cited both ethical considerations and a strategic pivot to human-relevant alternatives, including organ-on-a-chip platforms, advanced cell cultures, and computational models, as factors in the decision.

Separately, the CDC has grappled with biosecurity incidents involving imported primates. Internal data reviewed by PETA show that between 2021 and 2024, quarantine screening identified 69 cases of tuberculosis in incoming macaques, with an additional 16 cases detected after animals had been released to laboratories.

“PETA has warned the CDC since 2022 that its monkey import pipeline is a ticking TB time bomb,” said Dr. Jones-Engel. “Yet its willful blindness has allowed a known biosecurity threat to pour into the U.S. We urge the CDC to end the importation of monkeys to laboratories—for public safety, scientific integrity, and the primates themselves.”

The phase-out aligns with broader federal efforts to reduce animal testing. Signed in 2022, the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act 2.0 removed the mandate for animal testing before human trials, while the NIH, EPA, and FDA have all expanded funding for non-animal approaches.

“This move is historic. For the first time, a U.S. agency is choosing modern, human-relevant science over a failed system of monkey experiments,” said Janine McCarthy, acting director of research policy for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. "Now, the CDC should use that funding to transition to human-relevant research and to ensure that these monkeys are sent to sanctuaries for the remainder of their lives.”

“The CDC just sent a message to the entire biomedical establishment: The era of monkey experimentation is over,” McCarthy added.

Tyler Durden Tue, 11/25/2025 - 23:00

Chinese Text-To-App 'Vibe Coding' Tool Went So Viral It Crashed

Software engineers have been increasingly relying on AI to help with complex coding tasks, a practice known as "vibe-coding."

Stephanie Arnett/MIT Technology Review | Adobe Stock

While vibe-coding has been largely limited to helping with portions of a project, Chinese developers have created an AI tool that converts text into a complete app. 

The app, LingGuang, launched last Tuesday and reached over 1 million downloads in four days. By Monday, the app crossed 2 million downloads, according to the developer - Ant Group (an affiliate of the Chinese conglomerate Alibaba Group), while LingGuang ranked #1 on Apple's mainland China App Store for free utilities apps, and #6 overall for free apps. 

Shortly after going viral, the 'flash program' feature temporarily crashed amid a flood of users. 

The flash program allows users to create personalized, interactive apps using natural language prompts in 30 seconds. According to Ant Group, people are creating apps like 'kid activity generators' and car cost savings calculators. 

"LingGuang is bringing every user their own personal AI developer: someone who can code, create visuals, build programs, and turn complex ideas into simple solutions — right in your pocket," according to a Tuesday press release from Ant Group CTO He Zhengyu. 

On Monday, the company said that the explosive popularity makes LingGuang "a key player worth following in the quickly evolving global AI race," noting that the app hit its first million downloads faster than ChatGPT and Sora. 

Beyond the flash programming feature, LingGuang is being advertised as a multimodal AI tool that can generate 3D models, interactive charts, animations and other illustrations in order to help users understand abstract concepts. The tool also includes an "AGI camera" that can understand inputs in real time and help users analyze or edit pictures or videos on the fly. 

h/t Capital.news

Tyler Durden Tue, 11/25/2025 - 21:20

Dead Cows Don't Fart? Countries Raise Concerns Over Methane-Reducing Additive For Bovines

Authored by Jonathan Turley,

Scandinavian countries are moving to suspend the mandated use of Bovaer, a methane-reducing additive designed to reduce bovine flatulence. A contributor to methane pollution, cow farts were supposed to be reduced by the additive to reduce climate-harming pollutant. However, there are widespread reports of collapse, lethargy, reduced feed intake, fever, diarrhea, and significant drops in milk production.

There are also reports of cow miscarriages and deaths, though most involve discomfort and farmers reported that the cows improved after cessation of the supplement. What could follow is a colossal product liability lawsuit.

Various countries, like Denmark, made the additive mandatory for the inclusion in feed only to have widespread reports of serious harm to cows. Norway and other countries have suspended the use of Bovaer. It is also used in the United States, but it is not required.

Most reports involve sickness and reduced production in dairy herds.

The question is whether the manufacturer is liable. Elanco US is still advertising the benefits of the supplement:

“Every dairy could use additional, diversified income. That’s where Bovaer® from Elanco comes in. Bovaer is one of the most scientifically researched and recognized methane-reduction feed ingredients globally. Bovaer provides an access point for dairy producers to be financially rewarded for reducing their dairy’s carbon footprint by decreasing their herd’s enteric methane emissions.”

There is also the question of the liability of countries that forced dairy farmers to use the product.

If these reports are accurate, the manufacturer could be sued for a design defect and, in light of the statements above, possible warning defects.

Given the widespread complaints, there is a legitimate question of whether the drug was adequately tested. Alternatively, the company could argue that these reports are condition-related and reflect other causes, where correlation is not causation. The company could also claim that the problems are due to incorrect use of the supplement, such as incorrect dosage or delivery.

What is interesting about this case is the possible increase in damages in countries where the supplement was mandated. It is not clear if there are added protections or waivers granted to the company in these countries.

This could be a warning, manufacturing, or design defect. We do not have enough facts. A manufacturing defect is the least likely unless it is shown that the company failed to properly monitor the concentration of the active ingredients during production or allowed them to be altered by environmental conditions.

It could prove both a warning and a design defect. The company states that “Bovaer has no negative impact on the quantity or quality of milk produced.” It cites a 2022 study to support that claim: Hristov AN, Melgar A, Wasson D, Arndt C. Symposium review: Effective nutritional strategies to mitigate enteric methane in dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci. 2022:105(10):8543–57. However, that study also adds a caveat about the use of certain ingredients in some of these methane-reducing products. For example:

“The red macroalga Asparagopsis taxiformis has a strong CH4 mitigation effect, but studies are needed to determine its feasibility, long-term efficacy, and effects on animal production and health. We concluded that widespread adoption of mitigation strategies with proven effectiveness by the livestock industries will depend on cost, government policies and incentives, and willingness of consumers to pay a higher price for animal products with decreased carbon footprint.”

Again, we need to know more about the composition of the supplement used in these countries.

Under the Restatement Second of Torts, the consumer expectations test asks whether the product is more dangerous than the expectations of the ordinary consumer. Under the more demanding test of the Restatement Third, the question is whether there is a reasonable alternative design. Both would appear viable for plaintiffs if these accounts are proven correct.

The most obvious approach in the United States would be a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer. Indeed, we could see filings in various states and the need for the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) to intervene and consolidate the cases in a single district.

Tyler Durden Tue, 11/25/2025 - 20:55

HUD Launches Hotline To Crack Down On Crime, Illegal Immigrants In Public Housing

Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times,

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner announced the launch of a new national hotline that allows public housing residents to report on criminals and illegal immigrants in HUD-funded housing.

The hotline, 1-800-347-3735, can be used by residents to call the HUD Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for reporting “criminals, illegal aliens, sex offenders, human traffickers, and those guilty of gang activity, drug distribution, and fraud,” Turner said at a Nov. 24 press briefing in Memphis, Tennessee.

Residents can also submit tips on the 24/7 monitored Hudoig.gov/hotline website.

Housing Secretary Scott Turner (R) with President Donald Trump in Washington on July 22, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

According to Turner, law enforcement personnel stand ready to assist with any complaints received through the hotline or website. The activity is coordinated with assistance from the FBI, the Department of Justice, and state and local partners.

He encouraged public housing residents to make use of the reporting platforms.

“We'll clean up our public housing so that they can fulfill their function of sanctuaries for the most vulnerable people in our country, where American citizens can get a temporary hand up and then gain independence from government help,” the Housing secretary said, adding that the department wanted to assist American citizens specifically.

“Illegal aliens have no place in public housing. It’s outrageous that people who should not be here come across our borders, and now usurp spots and housing units that support American people.

“Establishing this hotline is an important step in fighting this injustice for both the people of Memphis and for Americans nationwide.”

Turner said the hotline was part of President Donald Trump’s effort to make the city safe again, which includes the Memphis Safe Task Force. The task force was set up following a Sept. 15 directive from Trump that ordered the National Guard and government agencies to assist in restoring law and order in Memphis.

More than 3,000 violent fugitives have so far been arrested by the task force since the operation began in October, Turner said. This includes more than 300 known gang members and up to 12 homicide suspects.

An estimated 6.8 million Americans rely on public housing assistance, based on data from the National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH).

According to a September 2020 report from NCHPH, crime rates are higher in areas where Public Housing Primary Care (PHPC) Health Centers are located than the national average. These centers provide medical services to patients living in public housing or in close proximity to it.

“There is an average of 505 violent crimes per 100,000 population in PHPC Health Center counties compared to the national average of 386 per 100,000,” the report reads.

Mixed-Status Families

Trump signed an executive order in February ordering agencies to ensure that “no taxpayer-funded benefits go to unqualified aliens.”

Following the executive order, Turner issued a letter to HUD grant recipients and stakeholders in April, informing them that federal housing assistance benefits will no longer be granted to illegal immigrants.

“The Department will take steps to ensure that Federal resources are not used to support ‘sanctuary’ policies of State and local jurisdictions that actively prevent federal authorities from deporting illegal aliens,” the letter reads.

Meanwhile, in a Sept. 15 post, policy research group Urban Institute raised concerns about how HUD’s policies would affect mixed-status families in which members have varied immigration statuses.

The institute said that fewer than 1 percent of households receiving housing assistance are mixed-status and that the “HUD’s data request will have dire consequences” on this group, including psychological distress, financial hardship, and harm to children’s development.

HUD said in a Nov. 21 statement that it has supported housing affordability for more than 1 million Americans this year.

Since January 2025, the Federal Housing Administration, an agency under HUD, has insured mortgages for more than 700,000 homebuyers and refinance borrowers, which includes first-time homebuyers and senior citizens, it said.

During this period, the Government National Mortgage Association, or Ginnie Mae, has supported more than 430,000 Veterans Affairs loans, HUD said, adding that nearly a third of these loans went to first-time homebuyers.

“President Trump’s bold leadership is empowering HUD to use every tool at our disposal to make the American dream of homeownership a reality,” Turner said in a statement.

Tyler Durden Tue, 11/25/2025 - 20:05

FBI To Interview Lawmakers In "Illegal Orders" Video

FBI agents are seeking to interview lawmakers who appeared in a video telling members of the military not to obey illegal orders, the lawmakers said on Nov. 25.

The FBI contacted the sergeants at arms for the House of Representatives and Senate, requesting interviews with the lawmakers, Reps. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) said in a joint statement.

“No amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution,” they stated.

“We swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath lasts a lifetime and we intend to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will never give up the ship.”

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who also participated in the video, said on X that the FBI has “appeared to open an inquiry into” her over the video.

“This isn’t just about a video. This is not the America I know, and I’m not going to let this next step from the FBI stop me from speaking up for my country and our Constitution,” she wrote.

As Zachary Stieber reports for The Epoch Times, The FBI did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.

In the video, released on Nov. 18, members said they wanted to speak to service members and people who work in the Intelligence Community. They said that the audience should disobey orders that are illegal. Deluzio said that “you must refuse illegal orders.”

“Your vigilance is critical,” Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) added later. “And know that we have your back,” Slotkin said.

No allegedly illegal orders were specified in the video, and after posting the video, lawmakers have largely declined to list specific examples during television appearances beyond referring to how President Donald Trump has been accused of telling officials in 2020 that they should shoot protesters in the legs.

“If we wait until the moment that he gives a manifestly unlawful order to a young soldier, then we have failed them,” Crow said on CBS over the weekend.

“We have to start that conversation now and get people thinking about the distinction, which is exactly what we did.”

Trump has accused the Democrats of seditious behavior and suggested they should be arrested and charged.

Military officials announced Monday that Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy officer, is under investigation for allegedly violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice and federal law, including one law that bars actions intended to interfere with the “loyalty, morale, or discipline of the military or naval forces of the United States.”

“The video made by the ‘Seditious Six’ was despicable, reckless, and false,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement.

“Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of ‘good order and discipline.’ Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion—which only puts our warriors in danger.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in Washington that the White House supports the investigation.

“You can’t have a functioning military if there’s disorder and chaos within the ranks—and that’s what these Democrat members were encouraging,” she said.

In an interview that aired on X on Monday, FBI Director Kash Patel said career analysts and agents will make any determination on the Democratic lawmakers who urged members of the military to disobey illegal orders, when asked what his reaction to it was.

"Is there a lawful predicate to open up an inquiry and investigation or is there not? And that decision will be made by the career agents and analysts here at the FBI," Patel said in the interview.

When asked if the FBI was involved, Patel said, "based on the fact that it's an ongoing matter, there's not much I can say."

Tyler Durden Tue, 11/25/2025 - 19:40

A Looming Mexican Coup?

Authored by Kit Klarenberg,

On November 15th, incendiary protests engulfed over 50 cities across Mexico.

The Western media has universally adopted the narrative disaffected local “Gen Z” sought to vent their righteous rage against the government, over corruption, and the administration’s purported ties to drug cartels. Footage of law enforcement clashing with demonstrators spread like wildfire, and many outlets widely emphasised how the upheaval injured at least 120 people. Few acknowledged the overwhelming majority of those hurt - 100 - were police officers.

A New York Times report made the insurrectionary designs of those causing mayhem on Mexico’s streets clear.

“The goal of this march is precisely to remove the President, and to show we are angry, that the people are not with her,” one protester was quoted as saying.

Oddly absent from mainstream coverage of the hullabaloo was any recognition President Claudia Sheinbaum enjoys popularity of which Western leaders can only fantasise.

Polls throughout her first year in office indicate 70 - 80% of the public support her.

Sheinbaum has charged the fiery demonstrations were “inorganic”, “paid for”, and “a movement promoted from abroad against the government.” There are strong grounds to believe this was absolutely the case. For one, a key local amplifier of the protests, and supposed police brutality, was media outlet Animal Politico. The National Democratic Institute, a wing of avowed CIA front the National Endowment for Democracy, lists the organisation among its “partners”. Mexican newspaper Milenio has documented in detail the news site’s voluminous US funding.

Furthermore, former Mexican President Vicente Fox attended the protests, and posted extensively on social media in support of the demonstrators. In 2001, he was bestowed NED’s Annual Democracy Award. Another prominent supporter was oligarch Ricardo Salinas Pliego, Mexico’s third-richest man. In March 2023, in conjunction with the shadowy Atlas Network, he launched Universidad de la Libertad, to “advance free-market principles, business development, and innovation” in the country.

Atlas Network comprises a web of libertarian think tanks, bankrolled by major US corporations, with deep and cohering ties to Western foundations and intelligence cutouts, including NED. The Network itself doles out millions annually “supporting pro-freedom organizations” worldwide. A longtime beneficiary of its largesse is the Venezuela-based Center for the Dissemination of Economic Information (CEDICE), which operated at the forefront of the April 2002 US-orchestrated coup that temporarily ousted elected President Hugo Chávez.

Fast forward to today, and Washington again appears to be plotting the Venezuelan government’s downfall. A huge military buildup around the country, and belligerent actions in the Caribbean supposedly intended to thwart drug trafficking operations directed by Caracas, could be harbingers of all-out invasion. The widely-admired Sheinbaum, who stands steadfastly opposed to US machinations in Latin America, represents a significant barrier to realising that goal. It stands to reason the Empire must neutralise her first, before training its crosshairs elsewhere in the region.

‘Legal Justification’

It may be no coincidence the foreign-sponsored upsurge of anti-government agitation that unfolded in Mexico followed not long after murmurings the Trump administration is considering inserting US forces and intelligence operatives into the country, to conduct aggressive covert operations supposedly targeting cartels. On November 3rd NBC reported this “new mission” would represent “a break” with the approach of past US governments, which have hitherto “quietly deployed CIA, military and law enforcement teams” to “support local police and army units” battling drug syndicates:

“If the mission is given the final green light, the administration plans to maintain secrecy around it and not publicize actions associated with it, as it has with recent bombings of suspected drug-smuggling boats…Under the new mission…US troops in Mexico would mainly use drone strikes to hit drug labs and cartel members and leaders…Some of the drones that special forces would use require operators to be on the ground to use them effectively and safely.”

Similar action was previously mooted in April, prompting a firm rebuke from Sheinbaum. The President declared: “The US is not going to come to Mexico with the military. We cooperate, we collaborate, but there is not going to be an invasion. That is ruled out, absolutely ruled out.” However, NBC notes while Washington “would prefer to coordinate with the Mexican government on any new mission against drug cartels…officials have not ruled out operating without that coordination.”

US military action being waged inside Mexico without state approval would represent an absolutely egregious and unprecedented breach of the country’s sovereignty. Moreover, at Washington’s demand, Sheinbaum has already deployed 10,000 troops to the US border, significantly increased fentanyl seizures, and extradited 55 senior cartel figures Stateside. These escalations are nonetheless seemingly insufficient, raising obvious questions as to whether an ulterior motive lies behind the Trump administration’s new mission - for which elite military and CIA personnel have apparently already begun training.

One explanation could be Sheinbaum representing a potent barrier to regime change in Caracas - a monstrous objective for which Trump strived over much of his first term in office, that has become turbocharged over recent months. Sheinbaum has publicly rubbished the US President’s claims there is evidence linking Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to drug dealing, called for constructive dialogue between the pair, and repeatedly condemned extrajudicial US airstrikes on boats purportedly ferrying drugs, which have killed scores of potentially innocent people.

US strike on supposed narco-terrorists, September 2025

Those attacks, which began in September, are widely perceived to be a prelude to all-out US invasion of Venezuela, and have frequently been conducted in Mexico’s territorial waters. In addition to openly admitting they aren’t certain targeted boats are in fact ferrying narcotics, and the identities of victims are unknown, Trump administration officials have struggled to provide any legal justification whatsoever for the deadly strikes. On October 30th, a classified bipartisan Congressional briefing was convened, at which government representatives attempted to explain their rationale.

Attendees from both primary US political parties “were not happy with the level [of] information that was provided, and certainly the level of legal justification that was provided,” Republican Mike Turner complained. Meanwhile, Democrat Sara Jacobs declared, “I’m not convinced that what they said was accurate,” concluding the administration’s strategy “is actually not about addressing” the flow of narcotics into the US, or crushing Latin American drug smuggling networks. Her comments may be more illuminating than she intended.

‘Big Problems’

On top of clearing a beachhead for invading Venezuela, Sheinbaum could be earmarked for removal by Washington because, from the CIA’s perspective, the Mexican President’s hardline crackdown on local cartels may be proving too successful for her own good. Within six months of taking office, police and security forces dismantled 750 drug labs across the country, arrested close to 20,000 cartel operatives, and seized over 140 tons of narcotics. Drug barons who evaded capture have been forced into hiding, while suffering multimillion dollar losses.

Mexican authorities arrest high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel member, February 2025

Markedly, these efforts largely haven’t been conducted in coordination with Washington. This raises the prospect that individuals and groups ensnared by Sheinbaum’s anti-cartel crusade - which has been praised in many quarters - might one way or another have been working for and/or with the CIA. Investigations by veteran deep state researcher Peter Dale Scott reveal how since World War II, the core component of any international drug cartel’s success has consistently been maintaining a clandestine relationship with US intelligence.

Indeed, per Scott, it is difficult if not impossible to prosper in the narcotics trade without the CIA’s protection. A palpable illustration of this phenomenon is provided by the Guadalajara Cartel’s extraordinary rise. After its founding in the late 1970s, the group rapidly became one of North America’s largest drug suppliers. Key to its success was its covert bond with Mexico’s Federal Security Directorate (DFS), which was created by and enjoyed a deeply intimate relationship with the CIA.

In return for a 25% cut of the Guadalajara Cartel’s profits, the ultra-violent drug syndicate was not only insulated from legal repercussions, but actively assisted by DFS. Joint US-Mexican anti-drug efforts in the early 1980s deliberately targeted solely minor traffickers, eliminating the Cartel’s competition. Resultantly, by 1982 Mexico had replaced Colombia as the States’ leading supplier of marijuana, and was providing up to 30% of the country’s cocaine. All along, the CIA and DEA did and said nothing, despite full cognisance of the Cartel’s activities.

Guadalajara might still be in business today, were it not for its February 1985 kidnap, brutal torture and murder of DEA agent Enrique Salazar. Allegations the CIA and DFS colluded in his killing, to conceal their complicity in the Latin American drug trade, have long-abounded. Nonetheless, Salazar’s slaying was so sickeningly savage it led to sizeable US public and political pressure for Mexican authorities to bring those responsible to justice. Within four years, several of the Cartel’s leaders were jailed, and the enterprise folded.

Enrique Salazar’s mutilated corpse is returned to the US

There is no knowing whether Sheinbaum has inadvertently trodden on the ‘wrong’ person’s toes in her battles against organised crime in her country. Yet, the violent protests have evidently provided Washington enormously useful ammunition. Commenting on the unrest, Trump remarked, “I looked at Mexico City over the weekend. There’s some big problems there…I am not happy with Mexico.” He added military action “to stop drugs” there was “OK with me.” The opening salvo in a new US war may have just been fired.

Tyler Durden Tue, 11/25/2025 - 19:15

DHS's "Operation Red Sunset" Investigating Chinese Bitcoin Mining Giant Over National Security Concerns

The Department of Homeland Security has launched an investigation dubbed "Operation Red Sunset” into Bitmain Technologies, China's leading Bitcoin mining equipment maker, over concerns its hardware could compromise U.S. national security, sources told Bloomberg.

Power supply units for mining rigs made by Bitmain Technologies Ltd.
Photographer: Bloomberg

Federal officials are examining whether Bitmain's machines, deployed at mining sites near military installations and critical infrastructure, are vulnerable to remote manipulation by foreign actors, according to the report. Additionally, the probe is also reviewing potential import duty violations by the Beijing-based company.

Among the locations of particular concerns is a facility in close proximity to an U.S. Air Force nuclear missile base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In July, a Senate Intelligence Committee report flagged the risk of Chinese-made devices being remotely controlled, spotlighting potential vulnerabilities in the nation's security perimeter.

DHS inspectors currently examine mining hardware and components at U.S. ports of entry, conducting chip and firmware analyses to detect backdoors or other security flaws, yet the agency hasn't disclosed its findings.

Bitmain has rejected the allegations as "unequivocally false," claiming it adheres to all U.S. legal requirements. In a statement, the company said that it “strictly complies with U.S. and applicable laws and regulations and has never engaged in activities that pose risks to U.S. national security” and that it “has no awareness of or any information at all regarding any alleged federal investigation purported to be called ‘Operation Red Sunset.’”

Bitmain also attributed past equipment detentions to routine Federal Communications Commission queries rather than espionage concerns, and disputed the Senate committee's characterization of security risks.

Bitmain faced similar accusations during Bitcoin's 2017 "block size wars," when the cryptocurrency community fractured over network scaling, Gizmodo reported. While the developer ecosystem and most users backed the Segregated Witness upgrade, which required 95% miner approval to activate, Bitmain drew suspicion over its hardware's role in the contentious debate.

At the time, Bitmain dismissed the accusations as a smear campaign, but the episode raised questions about whether the world's largest mining equipment supplier was leveraging its market position to influence protocol decisions for competitive advantage. SegWit ultimately activated without the block size increase Bitmain had advocated for, resolving the standoff, Gizmodo pointed out.

"Operation Red Sunset” has drawn heightened attention following American Bitcoin's $314 million purchase of 16,000 Bitmain machines in August. The venture, linked to former President Donald Trump's family, said it conducted comprehensive security assessments and found no threats.

In late March, a small publicly traded company made a surprising announcement: It would spin off part of its business into a new venture that counted Eric and Donald Trump Jr. as investors. This new company, American Bitcoin, “aims to become the world’s largest, most efficient pure-play Bitcoin miner,” according to a press release. The startup inherited options to acquire Bitmain equipment that its predecessor had arranged.

Headquartered in Miami, the company plans to build data centers in Texas, New York and Alberta, Canada, that would run 76,000 mining machines, according to corporate filings. -Bloomberg

And to get that all going, American Bitcoin went to Bitmain. 

Eric Trump, co-founder and chief strategy officer of American Bitcoin, center, at the Nasdaq MarketSite in September.Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg

Of course, the assessment won't stop anti-crypto zealot Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) from demanding an investigation into American Bitcoin.

Tyler Durden Tue, 11/25/2025 - 18:50

AI Toys Pose 'Unprecedented Risks' To Infants And Children, Advisory Warns

Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times,

Toys embedded with artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots undermine children’s healthy development and pose unprecedented risks, according to a new advisory published by advocacy group Fairplay, which warned parents against buying AI toys for their children during this holiday season.

The Nov. 20 advisory was endorsed by more than 150 child development and digital safety experts and organizations.

“AI toys are chatbots that are embedded in everyday children’s toys, like plushies, dolls, action figures, or kids’ robots, and use artificial intelligence technology designed to communicate like a trusted friend and mimic human characteristics and emotions,” Fairplay said.

“Examples include Miko, Gabbo/Grem/Grok (from Curio Interactive), Smart Teddy, Folotoy, Roybi, and Loona Robot Dog (from Keyi Technology). Top toy maker Mattel also plans to sell AI toys. They are marketed to children as young as infants.”

Harmful AI interactions with children have come under scrutiny by lawmakers, especially after the much-publicized lawsuit against Character.AI that accused the company of triggering suicidal thoughts in children and causing the death of a 14-year-old.

“The serious harms that AI chatbots have inflicted on children are well-documented, including fostering obsessive use, having explicit sexual conversations, and encouraging unsafe behaviors, violence against others, and self-harm,” Fairplay said.

The toy manufacturers’ primary target is young children, who are even less developmentally equipped to protect themselves than older children and teens, the advocacy claimed.

A one-page advisory released by the advocacy group briefly outlines five main reasons parents should not indulge their children with AI toys.

These include the fact that AI toys are typically powered by the same intelligence that has already harmed children. Additionally, these kinds of toys prey on children’s trust, disrupt healthy relationships and the ability to build resilience, invade family privacy by collecting sensitive data, and displace key creative and learning activities, according to the advisory.

“Testing by U.S. PIRG has already found instances of AI toys telling children where to find knives, teaching them how to light a match, and even engaging them in sexually explicit conversations,” said Fairplay, referring to the Public Interest Research Group.

Children tend to trust whatever the AI tells them, while the AI is preprogrammed to keep them happy and entertained, the group noted.

After collecting private details about the family and children the advisory said, “AI toy companies can use all of this intimate data to make their AI systems more life-like, responsive, and addictive, allowing them to build a relationship with a child, and ultimately sell products/services.”

When children play with a standard teddy bear, they use their imagination and engage in pretend play, which supports critical foundational development.

“On the other hand, AI toys drive the conversation and play through prompts, preloaded scripts, and predictable interactions, potentially stifling this development,” the advisory reads.

The claims of educational benefits by toy companies are “minimal,” with a child possibly picking up a “few facts or vocabulary words,” Fairplay said.

“Companion AI has already harmed teens. Stuffing that same technology into cute, kid-friendly toys exposes even younger children to risks beyond what we currently comprehend,” Rachel Franz, director of Fairplay’s Young Children Thrive Offline program, said in a Nov. 20 statement.

“It’s ridiculous that these toys are unregulated and being marketed to families with a promise of safety, learning, and friendship, promises that have no evidence behind them, while mounting evidence shows that similar technology can do real harm,” she said.

“The risk is simply too great. Children should be able to play with their toys, not be played by them.”

On Sept. 11, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it was launching an inquiry into AI chatbots acting as companions.

“Protecting kids online is a top priority for the Trump-Vance FTC, and so is fostering innovation in critical sectors of our economy,” said FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson.

“The study we’re launching today will help us better understand how AI firms are developing their products and the steps they are taking to protect children.”

AI-Embedded Toys

Fairplay’s warning was issued as toy manufacturers are increasingly seeking to integrate AI into their offerings. For instance, in June, Mattel announced a collaboration with OpenAI to support the development of AI-powered products.

In an October statement reaffirming its stance on AI toys, The Toy Association, which represents more than 900 companies in the United States, supported the judicious use of artificial intelligence and internet-connected toys.

“Toy safety is the top priority of the toy industry and protecting children and maintaining the trust of parents are part of that mission. Indeed, all toys sold in the U.S. are required to comply with over 100 different safety standards and tests to ensure the physical safety of children at play,” it said.

“As The Toy Association tracks new technologies, including the growth of AI, we are committed to educating our members about the potential applications of connected technologies in toys and how to maintain the safety of children and families above all else.”

A Nov. 13 report from PIRG detailed the results of its assessment of four toys containing AI chatbots that interact with children.

The group found that certain toys talked about inappropriate topics and doled out danger-prone advice.

Some toy companies put in guardrails to ensure the AI toys were kid-appropriate, PIRG said, but “we found those guardrails vary in effectiveness—and at times, can break down entirely.”

The Epoch Times reached out to Keyi Technology, Mattel, and OpenAI for comment but did not receive any response by publication time.

Tyler Durden Tue, 11/25/2025 - 18:25

These Are America's Most (And Least) Affordable Cities

Today, Tupelo, MS is the nation’s most affordable city, where your dollar can stretch 21% further than the U.S. average.

Similarly, several Southern cities have the lowest cost of living in the country, typically seeing smaller populations and more affordable housing. In contrast, New York and California continue to rank among the most expensive places to live.

This graphic, via Visual Capitalist's Dorothy Neufeld, shows the U.S. cities with the lowest and highest cost of living, based on data from the Council for Community and Economic Research.

Where Are America’s Affordable Cities?

Below, we rank cities by their cost of living index, which measured 61 items in Q2 2025:

Oklahoma stands out for affordability, with three of the nation’s 10 most affordable cities. Texas and Kansas follow closely, each with two.

In Oklahoma City, the median home sale price sits at $225,167, and more than half of homes sold in August went for less than the list price. Down south, McAllen, Texas saw the third-lowest grocery costs in the country.

At the other end of the spectrum, living costs in Manhattan are more than twice the national average—72% higher than even San Francisco. Neighboring boroughs like Brooklyn and Queens also rank among the least affordable in the U.S., driven by an influx of Manhattan buyers during the pandemic.

Honolulu, meanwhile, takes the lead for grocery expenses, with prices more than 32% above the U.S. average, and 13% higher than in Manhattan.

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the world’s most expensive real estate markets.

Tyler Durden Tue, 11/25/2025 - 18:00

CAIR Sues Texas Over Terrorist Organization Designation

Authored by Matthew Vadum via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed a federal lawsuit against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott after he designated the controversial Muslim advocacy group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Transnational Criminal Organization.

Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 15, 2025. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

CAIR Litigation Director and General Counsel Lena Masri said in a statement that the group filed the lawsuit on Nov. 20 to defend itself.

“No civil rights organizations are safe if a governor can baselessly and unilaterally declare any of them terrorist groups, ban them from buying land, and threaten them with closure,” she said.

In a Nov. 18 proclamation, Abbott also assigned the same designations to the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization created almost a century ago.

Although the Muslim Brotherhood, which has branches all over the world, says it has renounced violence and now aims to establish Islamic rule through elections and other peaceful means, the proclamation said the Muslim Brotherhood “provides support to localized branches in countries and territories throughout the world, including groups that conduct terrorism internationally.”

The proclamation describes CAIR as a Muslim Brotherhood “successor organization,” and notes that the FBI has described CAIR as a “front group” for “Hamas and its support network” in the United States.

The new state-level designations empower the Texas attorney general, currently Ken Paxton, to sue to shutter both groups and block them, as well as their affiliates, from acquiring land in Texas, the Republican governor said. The organizations were designated under the Texas Penal and Property Codes, according to the proclamation.

“The Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR have long made their goals clear: to forcibly impose Sharia law and establish Islam’s ‘mastership of the world,’” Abbott said in a statement.

“The actions taken by the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR to support terrorism across the globe and subvert our laws through violence, intimidation, and harassment are unacceptable,” he said.

After the lawsuit was filed, President Donald Trump said on Nov. 23 that he was planning to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a move that he has considered since his first term.

On Nov. 24, Trump signed an executive order to begin the process of designating “certain chapters or other subdivisions” of the Muslim Brotherhood as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorist entities under federal law.

Although neither CAIR nor the Muslim Brotherhood had to date been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the president, the State Department has designated specific branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as Specially Designated Global Terrorist entities, according to the proclamation.

The Muslim Brotherhood has been banned or labeled a Foreign Terrorist Organization in several countries, among them Austria, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.

Under U.S. law, a Foreign Terrorist Organization is a foreign organization that the federal government recognizes as engaging in or having the capability of engaging in terrorism that threatens U.S. national security. U.S. law forbids persons in the United States from providing material support to such a designated organization and requires U.S. financial institutions to report funds in the organization’s possession to the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Treasury Department.

A Specially Designated Global Terrorist is a person or entity that the State Department or the Treasury Department has designated as a terrorist. The person or entity has been deemed to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism “that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.” The designation allows the federal government to direct U.S. financial institutions to block the assets of the person or entity.

The Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin chapters of CAIR filed the new lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, calling Abbott’s proclamation “defamatory.”

The group alleged in its complaint that the governor is attempting “to punish the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization simply because [he] disagrees with its views.”

Abbott allegedly violated the First Amendment by issuing the proclamation, which “chills Plaintiffs’ freedom of speech and freedom of association, and retaliates against Plaintiffs for their exercise of their rights,” the complaint stated.

The group also stated that Abbott’s statement that it functions as a “front group” for Hamas is “inflammatory” and has no basis in fact.

The Epoch Times reached out for comment to the governor’s office and the Muslim Brotherhood. No replies were received by publication time.

Aldgra Fredly and Jacob Burg contributed to this report.

Tyler Durden Tue, 11/25/2025 - 17:40

America's Largest Teachers Union Is Doubling Down On Radical Left Ideology

Recently obtained internal documents from the National Education Association, the largest teachers union in the US, focus on training educators to become far-left activists in support of spreading woke propaganda to their students.  

According to information gathered by a conservative non-profit called Defending Education, the NEA's upcoming training at an undisclosed location this December doesn’t focus on academics, but on attacking Republicans as “racist and transphobic,” pushing race-class-gender narratives, and promoting gender-transition guides for staff.

The training is targeted for union staff and teams as part of the NEA UniServ and Organizing Training Program 2025–2026.  

The goals of the session include, but are not limited to, “dismantling systems of privilege and oppression as it relates to LGBTQ+ educators and students” and “deepening skills and strategies to confront implicit bias, micro-aggressions and stereotypes.”  

Republicans are characterized as using an “arsenal of racist dog whistles,’ according to training materials. Participants are instructed how to evoke a “Race Class Gender Narrative” to push back.  

“Over the last ten years, Republicans in state legislatures have increasingly turned to anti-transgender rhetoric and legislation as a powerful complement to their arsenal of racist dog whistles used to whip up fear and consolidate power...they have paired these attacks with fear-mongering about Critical Race Theory, mobilizing their base with a potent mix of racist and transphobic tropes.”

The documents focus heavily on issues like "structural oppression" and transgender propaganda with an emphasis on defending the medical transitioning of children.  Teachers are encouraged to use gender fluid language (like neutral pronouns) with students while avoiding scrutiny from parents and administrators. 

Teacher's unions have consistently acted as a root source for woke indoctrination, feeding talking points and activist strategies to leftist teachers who then operate as grooming agents rather than academic educators.  As Florida Governor Ron DeSantis notes on X:

"The radical partisanship of these teacher unions has been a major contributor to education decline in the US.  They see the K-12 school system as as a political means for adults to further their agenda.  This is why the unions fought so hard to close schools during COVID; it was never about the kids."

“The NEA is the largest teachers’ union in the country, and they have decided to vilify half the country in an upcoming training,” said Erika Sanzi, senior director of communications for Defending Education.  “As far as they are concerned, the only reasons anyone could oppose their preferred ideologies are racism and transphobia and they name Republicans as villains, in writing!” 

Sanzi added:

“Their federal charter was granted because they promised to ‘elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of teaching; and to promote the cause of education in the United States...Seeing as their leadership—and by extension, the organization itself—has morphed into a far-left insane asylum that is actively destroying the cause of education, that charter is no longer defensible..."

Leftist activism within the education system is perhaps one of the greatest existential crises in America's recent history.  Children are brainwashed by teachers to believe in deconstruction ideology; to hate western civilization, to embrace moral relativism, to ignore biological facts and adopt mentally unhinged sexual theories. 

Since progressives are increasingly refusing to have their own children and build their own families, the only way they can carry on their doctrine to the next generation is to poison the minds of other people's children.  Teachers unions have played an integral role in this agenda.   

Tyler Durden Tue, 11/25/2025 - 17:20

DOJ Renews Bid To Have Court Unseal Epstein, Maxwell Grand Jury Materials

Authored by Aldgra Fredly via The Epoch Times,

The Department of Justice (DOJ) renewed its request on Nov. 24 to unseal grand jury materials related to the case of deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, following the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act last week.

In a motion filed to a U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, the DOJ said the Epstein Files Transparency Act—which President Donald Trump signed into law on Nov. 19—reflects the congressional intent to override grand jury secrecy.

“In the light of the Act’s clear mandate, the Court should authorize the Department of Justice to release the grand jury transcripts and exhibits and modify any preexisting protective orders that would otherwise prevent public disclosure by the Government of materials of which is required by the Act,” it stated.

The DOJ said it would make appropriate redactions to protect victims’ identities and other personal information. The law requires that any redactions be accompanied by a written explanation, which must be published in the Federal Register and submitted to Congress.

It requested that the court issue an expedited ruling, as the Act requires the DOJ to release all unclassified records and investigative materials related to the case within 30 days.

In August, U.S. District Judge Richard Berman denied the DOJ’s bid to unseal the grand jury materials, ruling that officials had failed to provide sufficient justification for unsealing the files and citing potential safety risks to victims.

U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer on Aug. 11 denied a similar motion in Maxwell’s case, finding that granting the motion “would bloat the ‘special circumstances’ doctrine, which to date has warranted disclosure in only a tiny number of cases, all involving unique testimony by firsthand witnesses to events of obvious public or historical moment.”

After the Epstein files bill cleared the Senate, the DOJ filed a renewed motion on Nov. 21 to a U.S. District Court in Florida to unseal the grand jury materials, followed by a second filing in the Southern District of New York on Nov. 24.

Grand jury materials are typically kept private. Exceptions outlined in federal rules allow the unsealing of materials, and special circumstances, including public interest, can permit unsealing outside those exceptions.

Epstein was convicted in 2008 in a Florida state court for procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute after pleading guilty. He was later arrested in 2019 on sex trafficking charges.

His former girlfriend and associate, Maxwell, was sentenced in 2022 after she was found guilty of child sex trafficking and other offenses. In August 2019, Epstein was found dead in his New York jail cell in what was ruled a suicide.

Tyler Durden Tue, 11/25/2025 - 17:00