Tim Walz Demands Federal Government Foot Bill For Minnesota’s 'Recovery' From Anti-ICE Riots

Last month, President Donald Trump sent Homan to Minnesota to personally oversee immigration enforcement operations and end the chaos, after ICE and CBP officers shot two protesters and the situation began to spiral out of control. Soon after, Homan successfully convinced Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to allow local law enforcement to coordinate with federal agents, prompting an initial drawdown of 700 agents.

“Given this increase in unprecedented collaboration, and as a result of the need for less law enforcement officers to do this work in a safer environment, I have announced effective immediately, we will draw down seven hundred people effective today. Seven hundred law enforcement personnel,” Homan said at the time.

TOM HOMAN: “Given this increase in unprecedented collaboration and as a result of the need for less law enforcement officers to do this work in a safer environment, I have announced effective immediately, we'll draw down 700 people effective today.” pic.twitter.com/uKPt9LPT4p

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) February 4, 2026

On Thursday, Homan announced the end of Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, declaring it a successful mission accomplished. The operation, which began in early December with approximately 3,000 immigration enforcement officers deployed to the sanctuary state, achieved thousands of arrests.

Border Czar Tom Homan said this morning in Minneapolis that the federal immigration enforcement surge operation for Minnesota is coming to an end.

He also said that fraud investigations will continue.

"With that, and success that has been made arresting public safety threats… pic.twitter.com/H8phRav8Ih

— Paul Villarreal (AKA Vince Manfeld) (@AureliusStoic1) February 12, 2026

Despite the operation’s obvious success, Gov. Tim Walz spun the news as a victory for the agitators and thanked Minnesotans for driving federal agents out. 

“Minnesota, on behalf of not just this state but the country, thank you. That same energy now needs to be directed towards recovery, to finding ways that people have done during these challenging months to go forward,” he said.

Walz then promptly pivoted to pushing the narrative that Minnesota needs to recover from immigration enforcement efforts that took place.

“So, I want to say, this damage is still being assessed, but we do know … we’re going to be proposing a reinstitution of our small business emergency fund. It’s what we use very successfully during COVID in the recovery, the economic recovery that we saw in Minnesota that outpaced most of the rest of the country. We’re going to be proposing a first-time $10 million one-time targeted loans, forgivable loans that we know, and I want to be very clear, is a very small piece of this.”

And Walz wants the federal government to pay for it.

“But what I am going to challenge, as we get ready to start here in a few days the legislative session, this legislative session needs to be about recovery of the damage that’s been done to us,” Walz continued. “I am also asking our team—and I’m going to make appeals to our federal delegation—the federal government needs to pay for what they broke here.”

According to a report, the city of Minneapolis spent $1 million in rental assistance for those impacted by the raids, and burned through $4.3 million in police overtime during the anti-ICE riots and protests, and that figure is still climbing. The department had only 600 officers trying to manage the chaos created by anti-ICE rioters destroying property.

“They are going to be accountability [sic] on the things that happen, but one of the things is the incredible and immense costs that were born by the people of this state,” Walz continued. “The federal government needs to be responsible. You don’t get to break things and then just leave without doing something about it.”

While Walz talks tough about demanding that the federal government pay for the mess he and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey created, he appeared to concede that the effort to get the federal government to fund this “recovery” plan would fail.

“So the changes that need to be made, the investments that need to come back, they need to show—they being the federal government and they being this administration—they need to do more. But I’m not going to hold my breath that the federal government is going to do the right thing.”

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 21:20

Tim Walz Demands Federal Government Foot Bill For Minnesota’s 'Recovery' From Anti-ICE Riots

Last month, President Donald Trump sent Homan to Minnesota to personally oversee immigration enforcement operations and end the chaos, after ICE and CBP officers shot two protesters and the situation began to spiral out of control. Soon after, Homan successfully convinced Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to allow local law enforcement to coordinate with federal agents, prompting an initial drawdown of 700 agents.

“Given this increase in unprecedented collaboration, and as a result of the need for less law enforcement officers to do this work in a safer environment, I have announced effective immediately, we will draw down seven hundred people effective today. Seven hundred law enforcement personnel,” Homan said at the time.

TOM HOMAN: “Given this increase in unprecedented collaboration and as a result of the need for less law enforcement officers to do this work in a safer environment, I have announced effective immediately, we'll draw down 700 people effective today.” pic.twitter.com/uKPt9LPT4p

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) February 4, 2026

On Thursday, Homan announced the end of Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, declaring it a successful mission accomplished. The operation, which began in early December with approximately 3,000 immigration enforcement officers deployed to the sanctuary state, achieved thousands of arrests.

Border Czar Tom Homan said this morning in Minneapolis that the federal immigration enforcement surge operation for Minnesota is coming to an end.

He also said that fraud investigations will continue.

"With that, and success that has been made arresting public safety threats… pic.twitter.com/H8phRav8Ih

— Paul Villarreal (AKA Vince Manfeld) (@AureliusStoic1) February 12, 2026

Despite the operation’s obvious success, Gov. Tim Walz spun the news as a victory for the agitators and thanked Minnesotans for driving federal agents out. 

“Minnesota, on behalf of not just this state but the country, thank you. That same energy now needs to be directed towards recovery, to finding ways that people have done during these challenging months to go forward,” he said.

Walz then promptly pivoted to pushing the narrative that Minnesota needs to recover from immigration enforcement efforts that took place.

“So, I want to say, this damage is still being assessed, but we do know … we’re going to be proposing a reinstitution of our small business emergency fund. It’s what we use very successfully during COVID in the recovery, the economic recovery that we saw in Minnesota that outpaced most of the rest of the country. We’re going to be proposing a first-time $10 million one-time targeted loans, forgivable loans that we know, and I want to be very clear, is a very small piece of this.”

And Walz wants the federal government to pay for it.

“But what I am going to challenge, as we get ready to start here in a few days the legislative session, this legislative session needs to be about recovery of the damage that’s been done to us,” Walz continued. “I am also asking our team—and I’m going to make appeals to our federal delegation—the federal government needs to pay for what they broke here.”

According to a report, the city of Minneapolis spent $1 million in rental assistance for those impacted by the raids, and burned through $4.3 million in police overtime during the anti-ICE riots and protests, and that figure is still climbing. The department had only 600 officers trying to manage the chaos created by anti-ICE rioters destroying property.

“They are going to be accountability [sic] on the things that happen, but one of the things is the incredible and immense costs that were born by the people of this state,” Walz continued. “The federal government needs to be responsible. You don’t get to break things and then just leave without doing something about it.”

While Walz talks tough about demanding that the federal government pay for the mess he and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey created, he appeared to concede that the effort to get the federal government to fund this “recovery” plan would fail.

“So the changes that need to be made, the investments that need to come back, they need to show—they being the federal government and they being this administration—they need to do more. But I’m not going to hold my breath that the federal government is going to do the right thing.”

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 21:20

US-Controlled ATACMS Missiles Deployed In South China Sea, 10km Off China's Mainland

Authored by Drago Bosni

Mere days after the US-backed government in Taipei launched the so-called Joint Firepower Coordination Center (JFCC), defined as “an enhanced firepower coordination effort in close cooperation with the United States”, multirole sources have confirmed that the Chinese breakaway island province of Taiwan is deploying the overhyped and exorbitantly overpriced M142 HIMARS MLRS (multiple launch rocket system) to the islands of Penghu and Dongyin.

The US-made system is also equipped with ATACMS missiles, extending its reach to 300 km. Taipei insists that this will “strengthen the effectiveness of the kill chain”, while its Ministry of Defense (MoD) stressed that the increase in HIMARS orders to 111 units was undertaken specifically to forward-deploy them to the islands closest to China’s mainland.

US-made ATACMS long-range missile. Wiki Commons

Dongyin, the northernmost island of the Matsu archipelago in the East China Sea, (see Map) is located around 10 km from mainland China. Deploying missiles such as the ATACMS there puts virtually the entire Fujian province within range, including key cities like Fuzhou, Ningde and Quanzhou.

However, the situation is even worse, given that the US controls those missiles through the JFCC. Its establishment and the permanent deployment of American personnel at command and control facilities in Taipei to oversee planning and potential use of ATACMS missiles in case of yet another US/NATO-orchestrated escalation are deeply troubling and concerning for Beijing.

However, Taipei is still trying to present it as “harmless assistance in coordination and supervision”. They’re just not saying for what.

Obviously, China is not buying it and for good reason. Namely, the JFCC allows Washington DC to select targets and finalize attack plans.Formally, this is done jointly with local forces, but we all know how the Pentagon uses vassals and satellite states, especially when it comes to striking strategic assets such as critical industrial and scientific infrastructure, both of which are found in abundance across mainland China.

Taiwanese Defense Minister Koo Li-hsiung says these concerns are “incorrect and misleading”, insisting that US troops on the island are “not acting as supervisors or monitors”. Koo claims that “the presence of US staff reflects longstanding, institutionalized cooperation mechanisms focused on strengthening Taiwan’s defensive and combat capabilities rather than any form of foreign oversight”.

However, empirical evidence makes it very difficult to take such claims seriously. Namely, the Pentagon effectively launched hundreds of strikes on Russia in the last four years, using the NATO-orchestrated Ukrainian conflict as a way to test and probe the Russian military, as well as the Kremlin’s strategic reactions and posturing. Many of these attacks were launched at purely civilian targets, the most notorious of which was on June 23, 2024. On that day, at least four US-made ATACMS missiles were shot down by Russian air and missile defenses above Sevastopol, Crimea. The banned cluster submunitions (primarily used against infantry) of at least one missile exploded above the crowded beaches at Uchkuyevka and Lyubimovka on the northern outskirts of Sevastopol.

The attack, nearly coinciding with the anniversary of the Nazi invasion of Russia, killed four civilians and injured over 150 others. At the time of this act of terrorism, US/NATO ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) assets were present above the Black Sea, prompting Moscow’s direct response.

The US, aided by its numerous vassals and satellite states, could easily use a similar scenario in a potential confrontation with China, particularly if the warmongers and war criminals in Washington DC manage to escalate yet another conflict, just this time over Taiwan. Beijing is certainly aware that the JFCC can facilitate such escalation and understands the political West’s terrorist nature and tendency to target civilians all across the globe in an attempt to provoke a violent response.

This is then unmistakably framed as Russian, Chinese, Serbian, Iranian or anyone else’s supposed “aggression”, while the populace is galvanized for “defensive” wars that are somehow always tens of thousands of kilometers away from America’s shores. Worse yet, the fact that the Taipei regime is using virtually identical weapons as the Neo-Nazi junta is also very telling, particularly platforms such as HIMARS.

It should be noted that the ATACMS missiles were provided to the Taiwanese military years ago and even tested during 2025 live-fire drills, all coordinated (or should we say commanded) by the Pentagon. This includes the first publicly reported use of the HIMARS, pointing to Taipei’s intent to integrate these systems into its broader military architecture, all under American supervision.

Obviously, the ATACMS is by no means a match to China’s hypersonic weapons, as the US is decades behind in such technologies. In addition, the Chinese military uses some of the most advanced ABM (anti-ballistic missile) defenses on the planet, most notably the HQ-19 and HQ-29. However, Beijing is still concerned that the HIMARS and its munitions (particularly the ATACMS) could be used against Chinese civilians in the neighboring Fujian province. Naturally, this is most definitely not in the interest of Taiwan or its people, as it could trigger China’s direct response, one that would obliterate virtually any target on the island.

However, the US might reckon this is an ideal opportunity to not only undermine Chinese efforts to peacefully resolve the Taiwan crisis, but also to cement hatred and enmity between Beijing and Taipei.

Sadly, this is precisely what happened in NATO-occupied Ukraine, where tens of millions of ethnic Russians were not only brainwashed into becoming “Ukrainians”, but also galvanized into pathological hatred toward other ethnic Russians. Moscow still tried to localize the resulting conflict and prevent it from spreading beyond the Donbass.

However, it was precisely Washington DC’s ability to direct violence virtually everywhere in NATO-occupied Ukraine that eventually forced the Kremlin to respond. Although nearly four years have passed and millions have died thanks to the political West’s obsession with wars, death and destruction (among other things, such as its pedophile-cannibalistic tendencies), the conflict’s end is still not in sight. The US/NATO sees this strategy of “controlled chaos” as an ideal way to destabilize virtually the entire world.

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 20:55

India Explores Gas Power Boost To Stabilize Grid During Peak Hours

By Tsvetana Paraskova of OilPrice.com,

India considers boosting the run rates of its gas-fired power plants during evening peak hours to support the grid amid the surge in renewable power generation, India’s Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal said on Friday.  

“For the last three years we have been studying whether gas plants can run for eight hours in the evening and remain shut during the rest of the day,” Agarwal said at a meeting with power plant executives, as carried by Reuters. 

India has reduced in recent years its gas-fired power fleet from 25 gigawatts to 20 GW, due to idled plants for years that are now unfit to operate. 

However, the country, where coal remains king but renewables rapidly expand, looks to keep the 20 GW gas-fired capacity to provide flexible baseload capacity to offset the intermittency of solar and wind power. 

India is expected to import about 29 million tons of LNG this year, while its goal to almost double the share of gas in the energy mix to 15% will need import capacity of around 100 million tons, Kumar Singh, chief executive at Petronet Ltd, the biggest Indian LNG importer, said at the India Energy Week conference last month.

India, however, needs liquefied natural gas prices in Asia to nearly halve from current levels in order to significantly raise LNG imports and consumption, the executive added. 

India is in no hurry to sign long-term LNG delivery deals as the country’s price-sensitive buyers stall talks and wait for the coming supply glut to pressure sellers into agreeing to lower prices.

But later this year, the LNG market is expected to tilt into oversupply and in a buyer’s market, in which India - and other price-sensitive buyers in Asia - could have the upper hand in negotiations with long-term LNG sellers.

Meanwhile, NITI Aayog, the policy think tank of the Indian government, said this week that India’s coal demand could more than double by 2050 from current levels under current policies.  

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 20:05

"Low Profile" Doomsday Nuclear Bunker Hits Market, Just 3 Hours From DC

Continuing our coverage of privately owned nuclear bunkers for sale, we generally find Cold War-era underground sites clustered in the Midwest. However, a recently listed bunker in the hills of central Pennsylvania sits roughly a three-hour drive from Washington, D.C., and New York City, offering a rare Mid-Atlantic bug-out option.

Coldwell Banker real estate agents Blain Berrier and Greg Rothman listed the Cold War-era underground nuclear bunker, originally constructed in the late 1960s as part of what they describe as the AT&T Long Lines project. It was engineered for durability, redundancy, and long-term self-sufficiency.

The 4,800-square-foot, below-grade, reinforced-concrete bunker was renovated 15 years ago and used to secure a data and communications site.

"Power infrastructure includes commercial electric service with automatic transfer capability and a 150 kVA diesel generator supported by on-site fuel storage designed for extended runtime," the agents said.

And there is more:

Here's what's special about the bunker on Weikert Road in Millmont, central Pennsylvania: its proximity to major cities across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

The amenities get even better:

4,800+ square foot below-grade reinforced concrete bunker, configured with multiple secured rooms, hardened corridors, and support areas. Several rooms include private bathrooms, and the layout was designed for both manned and unmanned operations.

. . .

Mechanical systems include multiple heat pumps utilizing a closed-loop well water system for heating and cooling, originally engineered to operate continuously and efficiently. Environmental systems incorporate multi-stage air filtration and water purification components, designed for long-duration occupancy. The facility also includes specialized mechanical rooms, utility areas, and hardened support spaces typical of secure infrastructure installations.

This is important:

The site benefits from controlled access, substantial setbacks, and a low-profile footprint.

And did we mention price??

Is this a near-perfect bug-out nuclear bunker for the Mid-Atlantic corridor?

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 19:40

When It Comes To Climate And Energy, Let's Retire The Politics Of Fear

Authored by Gary Abernathy via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

In the latest example of the scare tactics favored by climate change alarmists, it was announced last month that 2025 “was the third-warmest in modern history, according to Copernicus, the European Union’s climate change monitoring service,” as reported by NBC News.

A light display created using drones is performed near the U.N. headquarters ahead of the 78th U.N. General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 15, 2023. Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images

The story added: “The conclusion came as no surprise: The past 11 years have been the 11 warmest on record, according to Copernicus data. In 2025, the average global temperature was about 1.47 degrees Celsius (2.65 Fahrenheit) higher than from 1850 to 1900—the period scientists use as a reference point, since it precedes the industrial era in which massive amounts of carbon pollution have been pumped into the atmosphere.”

As usual, our most affordable and reliable fuel sources were blamed.

“The primary reason for these record temperatures is the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, dominated by the burning of fossil fuels,” according to Samantha Burgess, the “strategic lead on climate” for the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which operates Copernicus, according to the report.

Sometimes it feels like the climate change crusaders are oblivious to everything going on around them. For decades, they’ve been resorting to the same tired strategies to convince us that doom and gloom are just around the corner if we don’t change our ways. What they ignore is that their tactics aren’t working—more people than ever are tuning them out.

Americans in particular have grown wise to the predictions that don’t come true and the demands that don’t make sense. In fact, so badly has science become blatantly politicized that the number of people who have a great amount of trust in science keeps shrinking.

That fact was backed up by a recent Pew Research Center report that found that “Americans’ confidence in scientists remains lower than it was prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.” To many of us, it is now obvious that the inconsistent guidance on COVID-19 and many COVID-19 pandemic edicts that were later found to be ineffective and even misleading demonstrated that science was not above being overtly politicized.

While the Pew study noted a Democrat–Republican disparagement regarding trust in science (Democrats trust it more, Republicans less), only 28 percent of all U.S. adults said they have “a great deal” of confidence in scientists “to act in the public’s best interest.”

I recently noted the welcome admission by manmade climate change believer Noah Kaufman, a senior research scholar at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, who, writing for The Atlantic, said flatly that “the full effects of climate change are unknowable, and a more constructive public discussion about climate policy will require getting more comfortable with that.” Whether in regard to vaccines, dietary guidelines, or climate change, in recent years science has too often found itself at the center of partisan political debates and has thus lost the trust of many Americans by appearing to support certain causes over others based on ideology rather than pure scientific data.

But we can’t afford to let that happen when it comes to making energy decisions. Why? Because no one can deny that affordable energy is the key to economic prosperity for U.S. households and businesses.

When energy costs are low, manufacturers can produce goods at a lower cost, resulting in more-competitive products domestically and internationally.

When fuel is affordable—whether diesel, gasoline, or jet fuel—all modes of transportation, including airlines, trucking and shipping companies, can charge less, resulting in savings for all consumers.

Heating, cooling, and transportation costs represent the most significant share of most families’ budgets. When energy costs are reasonable, household spending on other goods and services increases, not only helping individual families but also contributing to overall economic growth.

In addition to everything else, there is real damage caused by manipulating science in a way that puts climate over people. It puts people in danger and keeps them in poverty—and ultimately only a privileged few will benefit.

Consider the billions that the Biden administration doled out to political cronies on its way out the door in the name of the climate cause. Consider also the Obama administration giving more than $500 million dollars to Solyndra, the solar panel company accused of engaging in “a pattern of false and misleading assertions,” only to see it go bust—all at the expense of hardworking, taxpaying Americans.

That’s why it’s important to remove the manipulation of the energy sector from the politicization that has infiltrated the scientific community. Americans should not be pawns in the effort to frighten our people or our government into abandoning our most reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy sources.

There’s a better way. By passing the Affordable, Reliable, Clean Energy Security Act (ARC-ES), Congress can codify into law the guarantee that Americans will always have access to low-cost energy, regardless of the effort of progressive political groups to weaponize science in order to funnel tax dollars to prop up “alternatives.”

Anyone can manipulate data to come up with horrifying “what if” scenarios designed to frighten or intimidate people into making their preferred choices. That’s not how to make public policy. We need to pass ARC-ES to move past the days when the science that fewer people trust is manipulated to justify changes in energy policy that few people want. When it comes to science, let’s trade the politics of panic for the integrity of facts.

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 19:15

From Border Incursions To Stadiums: Counter-Drone Systems To Protect World Cup Games

Whether the brief shutdown of El Paso airspace was driven by a reported U.S. military directed-energy counter-drone weapon or what senior U.S. officials characterized as a Mexican cartel drone incursion remains unresolved at the moment.

Our assessment is that, with FIFA World Cup matches just months away, the Trump administration is racing to deploy counter-drone systems. After all, President Donald Trump signed last year's "Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty" executive order, which set the stage for accelerating counter-UAS and airspace security technology.

On Tuesday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that, through the federal Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Grant Program, four New York public safety agencies will use $17.2 million to fund equipment and systems that "detect, identify, track, monitor and/or mitigate unmanned aircraft systems" during the FIFA World Cup matches.

"With the evolution of technology comes new ways it can be used to harm others," Governor Hochul said. "This funding will go a long way to keep New Yorkers safe while allowing historic events like the 2026 World Cup and our nation's 250th birthday to be celebrated safely and securely."

Earlier this morning, defense tech firm Fortem Technologies announced it had received a multimillion-dollar contract to deploy its net-equipped DroneHunter at U.S. venues during soccer games this summer.

Last month, U.S. military, federal agencies, and local authorities gathered for a two-day summit near U.S. Northern Command headquarters, bringing together federal agencies, 11 U.S. host committees, and FIFA's security heads to prepare for matches across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

"We're never going to not worry about a dirty bomb," Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosanna Cordero-Stutz, who participated in the planning session, told Politico. "But we also recognize that there's a lot of other things that we need to worry about as well."

"You can't just give counter-UAS mitigation equipment to law enforcement that hasn't learned how to use it yet," said White House FIFA World Cup Task Force Coordinator Andrew Giuliani, who coordinated the federal government's role in tournament preparations and addressed the drone threat at the summit.

To FIFA officials and U.S. government leaders, the fastest-growing threat to the host cities across North America will be drones.

Last month, we outlined the theme that the rise of "Next-Gen Counter-Drone Security" was certainly upon us, but our focus was on securing data centers.

We pointed out that Wall Street analysts largely end their analysis at the financing and construction of next-generation data centers, with limited discussion regarding the modern security architecture required once these facilities are built and become instant high-value targets for non-state actors or foreign adversaries (read this); traditional perimeter measures such as metal chain-link fencing and standard surveillance systems are rendered utterly useless in the world of emerging AI threats, including coordinated autonomous drone or swarm-based attacks.

Our view is that the counter-drone industry is set to see a rush of investment in companies developing and deploying detect-and-identify systems, as well as defeat systems such as soft-kill or hard-kill options that could include kinetic sentry systems.

If you're wondering what a hard-kill option looks like ... 

... Allen Control Systems has that covered. 

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 18:50

FBI Warns Of Romance Scams Ahead Of Valentine's Day

Authored by Jill McLaughlin via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Love is in the air, but it might be too good to be true for some hopeful romantics searching for love online, according to the FBI.

A woman holds a phone displaying the TikTok app, in this file photo taken on Aug. 11, 2024. Oleksii Pydsosonnii/The Epoch Times

The FBI warned dating app surfers ahead of Valentine’s Day to beware of criminals using romance scams.

“The criminals who carry out romance scams are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring, and believable,” the FBI said in a statement on Feb. 11. “Con artists are present on most dating and social media sites.”

Scammers want to establish a relationship as quickly as possible, endearing themselves to their victims to gain trust, according to the FBI.

The scammers may propose marriage and make plans to meet in person, but that never happens. Then, they ask for money, the FBI said.

The con artists often claim they work in the building-and-construction industry and are based outside the United States.

“That makes it easier to avoid meeting in person—and more plausible when they ask for money for a medical emergency or unexpected legal fee,” the FBI stated.

If someone asks to meet online and needs bank account information or asks to deposit money, they are most likely using the account information to carry out theft or fraud schemes, the FBI warned.

In one case, Glenda, 81, fell for an online romance scam and landed in custody charged with federal crimes, according to a video on the FBI’s YouTube channel.

Glenda, whose last name was withheld, said in 2014 she met someone online who worked in Nigeria. The scammer said he needed money to leave the country and sent her electronics to pawn and send him the money. She said she eventually fell in love with the scammer and became a money mule.

In 2021, she pled guilty to two federal felonies, according to the video posted by the FBI.

Romance scams are a huge problem, according to AARP.

Reported losses totaled $1.12 billion in 2023, with median losses per person of $2,000. This is the highest reported form of any imposter scam loss, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

A survey in 2023 by the FTC shows the most commonly used lies that romance scammers adopted were:

·      “I or someone close to me is sick, hurt, or in jail.”

·      “I can teach you how to invest.”

·      “I’m in the military or far away.”

·      “I need help with an important delivery.”

·      “We’ve never met … but let’s talk about marriage.”

·      “I’ve come into some money or gold.”

·      “I’m on an oil rig or ship.”

·      “You can trust me with your private pictures.”

The FBI advises people to search for photos and profiles online to see whether the image, names, and details appear elsewhere.

The agency also suggests asking many questions, being suspicious, and never sending money to anyone without meeting them in person.

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 18:25

Hamptons Real Estate Surges To New Highs As 2026 Rental Demand "Strong As Ever"

The Hamptons is once again in the spotlight as one of the country’s hottest luxury real estate markets.

Known for its beaches, upscale villages, and sprawling estates, this stretch of Long Island has seen home prices climb to record levels.

At the same time, summer rentals for 2026 are being booked far earlier than usual, showing that demand for the area remains as strong as ever, according to Vocal.Media. 

By the end of 2025, home values in the Hamptons had reached new highs.

The median price rose to about $2.3 million, while average luxury sales approached $3.8 million. Properties priced above $5 million are selling in greater numbers than before, and even homes in the lower luxury range are commanding steep premiums. Limited inventory and steady interest from high-income buyers have made competition especially intense.

Several factors are fueling this surge. There are simply fewer homes available than buyers want, which keeps pressure on prices. At the same time, wealthy buyers from finance, technology, and entertainment continue to view the Hamptons as both a lifestyle destination and a long-term investment. Its proximity to New York City, along with ocean views, privacy, and prestige, adds to its appeal.

The report says the rental market is just as competitive. Many properties for the summer of 2026 have already been leased months in advance.

Seasonal rates vary widely, with entry-level homes starting around $50,000, mid-range properties reaching well over $150,000, and top-tier oceanfront estates climbing toward $1 million or more.

Homes with pools, modern interiors, and prime locations tend to rent the fastest.

Rental patterns are also shifting.

July has become more popular than August, and renters are planning further ahead than in the past.

While some landlords adjust pricing closer to the season to fill remaining vacancies, the most desirable homes rarely remain available for long.

For buyers, the current market means facing stiff competition and historically high prices.

Acting quickly and working with experienced local agents can make a significant difference. Renters, meanwhile, need to secure properties well in advance and remain flexible about timing or location to improve their chances of finding good options.

Looking ahead, there are few signs that the Hamptons market is slowing down.

With strong demand, limited supply, and growing interest from affluent buyers and renters, the area continues to stand out as a place where luxury living, investment potential, and coastal lifestyle come together.

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 18:00

Mainstream Media Silent As Alleged Hate Crime Hoax Leads To Major Civil Award

Authored by Jonathan Turley,

There is a major verdict out of Texas where a mother and an attorney were ordered to pay millions for perpetuating an alleged hate crime hoax that was eagerly spread by the mainstream media.

Asher Vann, a minor at the time, was labeled a racist maniac who tortured SeMarion Humphrey, his black classmate, with other classmates.

After the jury found that the allegations constituted the intentional infliction of emotional distress, the same media that spread the story remained conspicuously silent.

Crickets.

Major media outlets from NBC to CBS to the Daily Mail published the account of how Humphrey was tortured, shot with BB guns, and forced to drink urine during a sleepover.

The NAACP and Black Lives Matter protested the lack of action from officials ignoring the alleged racist attack.

Good Morning America aired a segment featuring ABC host Linsey Davis, who promoted a GoFundMe account that raised approximately $120,000 for “therapy and private schooling.”

In her interviews, Humphrey’s mother, Summer Smith, called Vann “evil” and described his depravity to enabling reporters like Linsey Davis.

Some, however, were not convinced. 

Washington Free Beacon reported that Smith spent less than $1,000 of the donated funds toward her son’s schooling while spending funds on items including a designer dog, dining, travel, beauty products, liquor and vapes.

Parents rallied around the Humphrey family and held events at the school.

Eventually, the case against Vann was submitted to a grand jury, despite later testimony by Plano Police Department officer Patricia McClure that she did not believe there was probable cause for any charge. Given the pressure campaign, it was given to a grand jury anyway. The grand jurors then refused to indict.

Vann sued and testified that the alleged racist act occurred at a camp that was caught in a snowstorm.  Unsupervised, the teenagers engaged in dumb games and pranks. He said that, after unsuccessfully searching for small game, they decided to shoot each other. All of the kids were wearing thick clothing and shot each other with the BB guns for fun.

He testified that Humphrey participated in the game with everyone else in both being shot and shooting others.

The urine was described as a prank that was played on various boys, according to Vann, but no one actually drank from the cup.

Under the common law, the elements of the tort of an intentional infliction of emotional distress require a plaintiff to show that the defendant “(a) intentionally engaged in some conduct toward the plaintiff considered outrageous and intolerable in that it offends the generally accepted standards of decency and morality; (b) with the purpose of inflicting emotional distress or where any reasonable person would have known that such would result; and (c) that severe emotional distress resulted as a direct consequence of the defendant’s conduct.”

A racially diverse jury handed down a verdict against Humphrey’s mother and the family attorney, Kim Cole. The inclusion of the lawyer in the verdict makes this a relatively rare case.

Smith and Cole were ordered to pay $3.2 million in damages to Vann, now an adult in college. Both the mother and the lawyer were ordered to pay $1,599,000.00.

The case raised obvious analogies to other cases that were eagerly promulgated by the media but later disproven, such as the Jussie Smollett hoax.

The Smollett story of MAGA-associated racists roaming the streets of Chicago was irresistible as politicians like Nancy Pelosi and others piled on. ABC’s Robin Roberts gave Smollett an interview that was breathtaking in its lack of substantive questions or even curiosity about glaring red flags in his account. Roberts described Smollett as “bruised but not broken” and nodded as he described his narrow escape from being lynched in America. She concluded the interview with “Beautiful, thank you, Jussie.”

The Texas case followed the same trajectory as the media built up the story and then went silent as countervailing facts were produced by the family.

Once again, the role and liability of counsel Cole is particularly interesting. We discussed a claim of defamation by counsel in the Depp-Heard case.

Attorneys are protected by absolute privilege in court in making harmful and even false statements. This privilege is best stated in the Restatement of Law (Second) of Torts section 586 “to publish defamatory matter concerning another in communications preliminary to a proposed judicial proceeding, or in the institution of, or during the course and as part of, a judicial proceeding in which he participates as counsel, if it has some relation to the proceedings.”

However, it also means that “statements made during an occasion outside a judicial proceeding are not covered.” Thus, while “[t]he duties and actions of a lawyer in representing a client are not confined to judicial proceedings,” the court ruled that interviews with a reporter would fall outside of the privilege. Most courts reject the notion of an absolute privilege while considering a more limited possible privilege for out-of-court statements. See Kennedy v. Cannon, 229 Md. 92, 182 A.2d 54, 58 (1962) (the “absolute privilege will not attach to counsel’s extrajudicial publications, related to the litigation, which are made outside the purview of the judicial proceeding”).

Likewise, actions by counsel can be deemed as the intentional infliction of emotional distress as well as privacy violations. This can be a dangerously fluid line, since all litigation causes some degree of emotional distress, particularly in tort cases, where reputations are attacked. Moreover, lawyers often assist clients in seeking donations to GoFundMe accounts, which may help defray legal fees. Such public advocacy, however, entails a greater risk of liability.

The key in this case was the actions taken outside of the court as well as the alleged falsity of the underlying representations.

The targeting of a minor is particularly notable in this case and raises memories of the disgraceful media attacks on Nick Sandmann, who was falsely accused of abusing a Native American activist in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

Despite various media organizations correcting the story and some settling with Sandmann, some in the media continued to attack him.

The Vann case is likely to be reviewed by many lawyers outside Texas.

It is a case that could be replicated in future cases involving lawyers accused of fueling reckless or inflammatory public claims.

The fact that the damages were evenly divided between the mother and the lawyer shows the level of culpability that the jury assigned to the role of the lawyer.

Here is the jury verdict form: Jury-Verdict

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 17:40

NYPD Told To Stop Ejecting Homeless From NYC Subways Due To Freezing Temperatures

NYPD officers were ordered to stand down on enforcement in the subway system during last weekend’s deep freeze, halting removals and holding off on cracking down as windchills dropped below zero, according to ABC.

"We put a complete stop to all ejections, even people who could potentially be causing problems in the subway system," said Alex Crohn, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives.

That decision emerged during a City Council oversight hearing examining how the Mamdani administration managed more than two weeks of snow and dangerous cold. Eighteen people died outside during that stretch, at least 15 of them believed to be from hypothermia.

Council members pressed officials on why more people weren’t compelled to seek shelter.

"How can a person refusing to come indoors in freezing weather where they are obviously at great risk of potentially dying, not be assessed to be a danger to themselves?" asked City Council Speaker Julie Menin.

Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park said the legal threshold is specific and was followed, adding that 52 people were taken indoors against their will.

"Are they exhibiting signs of mental illness and are they a danger to themselves or others? Right. So, if an individual is completely lucid, they are dry, they are wearing enough layers of clothing and they do not want to come inside. They have the right not to come inside," Park said.

She also told lawmakers the cold intensified quickly over a weekend, leaving many caught off guard.

"We had this very dangerous situation happening very quickly on a weekend and I think it caught people by surprise," Park said.

Advocates acknowledged some of the city’s efforts but highlighted breakdowns, including a case described by Coalition for the Homeless leader David Giffen.

"We saw one individual who was discharged from a city hospital out to the streets. And that person a few hours later was found dead," Giffen said. "That never should have happened. Hospitals should not be releasing people or discharging them if they're inpatients, out to the streets."

City officials testified that about 600 outreach workers are assigned to engage people living outside, though 10 to 20 deaths linked to extreme weather still occur each year. Several council members suggested that boosting staffing levels could reduce that toll.

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 17:20

Midterm Palpitations

Authored by Victor Davis Hanson via American Greatness,

Recent regional special elections have seen Democratic candidates win a number of special election races.

Now energized left-wing politicos remind the nation daily that every incumbent president, except three over the last century, has suffered substantial midterm losses in Congress.

Polls show Trump suffering an average 11-point negative unfavorability rating.

So Democrats promise to soon stop all new legislation and end Trump and his counterrevolution itself.

But the left will never offer any alternative agenda on the economy, the border, crime, or foreign policy.

Instead, the new Democrat-Socialist Party views the Biden disaster of 2021-2024 not as a result of his puppeteers’ toxic policies of open borders, 21 percent aggregate inflation, dead-end green energy subsidies, DEI mandates, trans fixations, and an appeasing foreign policy that led to wars abroad and emboldened China.

Instead, they now blame those catastrophic years on Biden’s own enfeebled state—as if he were merely a hapless, debilitated messenger for their otherwise superb radical message.

So absent a positive agenda, Democrats will simply run all their state and federal campaigns as if Trump, their Satanic monster, is on every ballot.

Their Trump obsessions result in three now well-worn strategies.

The first, of course, is still more chaos.

The left believes that the unending 2020 riots cost Trump the election.

Ever since, they have sought to concoct a nihilist replay—whether the Tesla hysterias, the perpetual threats of government shutdowns, tough-guy talk of open insurrection against the federal government, or the current, performative-art, anti-ICE violence in Minneapolis.

They concede most Americans still support Trump’s closed borders and legal-only immigration, but hope they want a return to “normalcy” even more.

The more violence, Nazi-invective, and sheer craziness the left can instill—storming church services, ramming ICE vehicles, taking over the streets, or boasting of armed resistance—the more they believe that voters will blame not them, the instigators, but Trump, the target of their insurrectionary madness.

In Democrats’ blinkered reckoning, voters supposedly would prefer 10,000 illegal aliens methodically and daily swarming the border instead of seeing Minneapolis in utter neo-Confederate revolt.

Second, Democrats seize on every Trump art-of-the-deal excess or coarse putdown.

They scream that narcissistic Trump’s new ballroom has wrecked the White House. Or madman Trump was on the verge of fighting our NATO brethren in Greenland. Or cruel Trump wrecked our relationship with the lovable and blameless Canadians.

Democrats grant that voters sincerely like Trump’s secure border, the new trade agreements that correct past asymmetries, a rearming NATO, a defanged Iran, and the end to Maduro’s communist thugocracy—but not Trump’s messy art-of-the-deal means to achieve those desirable ends.

They scream that Trump talked crazily of making Canada a 51st state, not that it was finally shocked into promising to pay what it owed back in NATO contributions, securing its side of the border, and addressing its massive trade surpluses with the US.

So, Trump needs to avoid the very melodramas the left wants to exploit, which detract from his own undeniable accomplishments and the Democrats’ previous disastrous record.

Third, Democrats still rely on their ossified partnerships with the media, academia, and popular culture to mouth the old talking points.

So we are told ad nauseam that Trump caused the “affordability” crisis.

Or Trump is still Putin’s puppet.

Or Trump was an Epstein groupie.

Or Trump’s trade war crashed the economy.

Behind this stale Democrat boilerplate lies a deep fear that the Nietzschean Trump, just as he beat all their lawfare ambushes, will also do the impossible and avoid losing the Congress in November.

And they should fear.

Trump’s catalysts for a booming 2026 economy are already in place.

No one can now stop massive deregulation, new tax cuts and incentives, recalibrated tariffs, unprecedented foreign investment, record energy development, and the new emerging technologies.

All that is needed before the midterms is not controversial new initiatives, but more focus on the current boom in GDP, lower inflation, and increased purchasing power—all in contrast to Biden’s inflation disaster.

Voters still support closed borders and deportations of criminals and the millions who swarmed in under Biden.

But the best way to remind them of a secure border is to concentrate on partnering with red and purple state and local law enforcement for the next few months.

Each week, the thousands of systematically deported criminals in these jurisdictions will contrast with the thousands of violent offenders who are sanctuaried and protected in failed blue states.

And without the smokescreen of the ICE psychodramas, there are a lot of Democrat fears—like the vast Somali fraud in Minnesota, the even greater welfare scandals emerging in California, and the antics and verbiage of the hard left, like Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and the herky-jerky Gavin Newsom, who turned California’s natural paradise into a manmade purgatory.

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 17:00

You Can Buy Love... (But It's Never Been More Expensive)

U.S. adults will spend a record $29.1 billion on Valentine’s Day this year, according to estimates published by the National Retail Federation.

You will find more infographics at Statista">As Statista's (ironically named) Valentine Fourreau reports, this is up from last year’s $27.5 billion, with U.S. shoppers planning to spend $200 on average per person, up from $189 in 2025.

You will find more infographics at Statista

According to the NRF, Valentine’s Day was one of the annual events that shoppers tended to splash out the most on last year.

Where the average per person expected spend for the date was $188.81, it was slightly higher for Easter ($189.26), and lower for graduation ($119.54), Halloween ($114.45), Independence Day ($92.44), the Super Bowl ($91.58) and St. Patrick’s Day ($43.64).

A lot of Americans are expected to celebrate the day.

This year, 55 percent of U.S. adults are forecast to mark Valentine’s Day. This is based on a survey of 7,800 U.S. adults conducted between January 2 and January 8, 2026.

The most common gifts consumers plan to give this year are candy (cited by 56 percent of respondents), followed by greeting cards and flowers (both 41 percent).

Outside of significant others, 58 percent of respondents plan on purchasing gifts for other family members such as kids, parents or siblings this year, while 35 percent will be buying gifts for their pets.

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 16:40

"An Astonishing Sign Of Cultural Decay..."

Authored by James Howard Kunstler,

Sure, Take That Time-Out

“Crisis is when brittleness meets shock. “

- Yuri Bezmenov’s Ghost on X

By shutting down the government for a minimum of ten days supposedly over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Wile E. Coyote Democratic Party is about to blow up another Acme bomb in its mangy muzzle.

I will tell you why.

First, this DHS business is just a stupid prank to bamboozle the public.

It will not shut down ICE operations, as Chuck Schumer pretends. ICE was already funded with $75-billion in last year’s Big Beautiful Bill. The shutdown will only defund the Coast Guard and airport security. (Does that sound smart?)

Second, senators will be leaving the DC swamp and going home to their states where, it turns out, polls show that voters of both parties combined overwhelmingly favor election reform by 84-percent.

The House has passed the SAVE Act onto the Senate for action, up or down. For at least ten days of the shutdown, the senators will have to explain why proving that you are a citizen to vote is a bad idea — or conversely, why allowing non-citizens to vote is a good idea. So, thanks, Democrats, for sending the senators home to face their voters.

Eventually, senators will have to return to the US Capitol and take up the SAVE Act.

The act will require proof of citizenship to register, photo ID to vote in person and for requesting an absentee ballot. The bill would prohibit universal mail-in voting, require absentee ballots be received by election day, impose a five-year prison sentence for helping anyone to register without correct documents, and provisions to clean up the states’ voter rolls.

Additional legislation still in the House, introduced by Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI), would provide for Election Day only in-person voting by paper ballots, and yet other bills awaiting action would eliminate electronic vote-tallying machines. All the provisions above are common in most other civilized nations (and even a few that are not, such as Afghanistan). The Democratic Party is against all of it because they can only win national elections by deceit and chicanery.

When Senators return to DC, they will have to overcome the filibuster in its current mode, which is the silent or so-called “zombie” filibuster. You see, in the old days, before 1972, if senators wanted to filibuster, they had to actually hold the Senate floor and keep talking — bringing all Senate business to a complete halt until either they gave up or the majority could gather enough votes for cloture (ending debate). It was physically very hard on the senators, an ordeal, and to get through the hours of mindless blather, they would read the phone book, or the World Almanac, or a Sunday newspaper from page one to the obituaries, which subjected them to ridicule.

After 1972, the Senate introduced what they called “the two-track” system, which allowed the body to move on to other business under a filibuster, without requiring a member to stand and speak. All that was needed was for a senator to inform the leadership that he intended to block a vote, with the backing of 40 other senators. This led to a dramatic increase in the use of filibusters — transforming them from a rare, physically demanding gambit into a routine procedural threat.

Now, the catch is that this change in procedure was never formally voted on. Going from “talking” filibusters to “silent” filibusters didn’t happen through a deliberate decision by the full Senate to change the rules — it emerged in 1972 from a procedural workaround that then Majority Leader Mike Mansfield introduced.

It’s just a custom masquerading as a rule, and one that now Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) could declare null and void.

Doing so would bring back the old talking filibuster. Opponents of a given bill, such as the SAVE Act, would have to step into the well of Senate and offer arguments against election reform, or they could read through the Chicago phone book.

In either case, they’d expose themselves to ridicule. Perhaps those ten days at home during the present government shutdown will lead to an attitude change.

If that doesn’t do it, consider that sometime in the weeks and months ahead, you will be seeing some results from the seizure of the Fulton County, GA, 2020 voting records that took place in January. Since the FBI went in there on a warrant — meaning a judge saw probable cause of voter fraud — the country will likely be exposed to real evidence, for the first time, that one crucial swing state ran a corrupt election operation, and it will no longer be possible for the Democrats to yell that such claims are “baseless” or “debunked.”

It’s an astonishing sign of cultural decay that we are even arguing over election reform at this point.

The measures introduced during the dastardly COVID-19 trip - unlimited mail-in balloting, organized “ballot harvesting,” counting ballots for weeks after Election Day, doing so with Dominion / Smartmatic machines connectable to the Internet, and ignoring chain-of-custody requirements - were patently and obviously dishonest.

That’s what got you four years of “Joe Biden,” a walking-talking lie.

Is there anything that the Democratic Party doesn’t lie about? I’ll wait for your answer.

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 16:20

Somali Fallout: US Treasury Will Pay Snitches Up To 30% On Fraud, Money Laundering Prosecutions

On the heels of all that Somali fraud in Minnesota, the US Treasury Department on Friday launched a new portal where people can report suspected fraud, money laundering and sanctions violations. 

Snitchin' Bubbles from The Wire

According to officials, tips should be submitted with supporting documents. "FinCEN’s Office of the Whistleblower is accepting tips involving violations and conspiracies related to the Bank Secrecy Act, U.S. sanctions programs, and several other laws critical to safeguarding the U.S. financial system and national security. "

Individuals who voluntarily provide information about such violations or conspiracies to commit violations may be eligible for awards if the information they provide leads to a successful enforcement action by the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) or the Department of Justice (DOJ) that results in monetary penalties exceeding $1,000,000, and the requirements in 31 U.S.C. § 5323 and its implementing regulation are otherwise met. A copy of the statute is available here. -FINCEN

How much are we talking about? Between 10-30% "of what has been collected of the monetary sanctions imposed in the action or related actions," and it's got to be north of $1 million. 

Scott Bessent speaks as he testifies during a Senate Committee on Finance confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 16, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File photo

"President Trump has been clear that Americans have a right to know that their tax dollars are not being diverted to fund acts of global terror or to fund luxury cars for fraudsters," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, adding that whistleblowers may receive financial rewards. 

"At Treasury, we follow the money. We did it with the mafia, we have done it with the cartels, and we’re doing it with the Somali fraudsters," he added. "We are going to offer whistleblower payments to anyone who wants to tell us the who, what, when, where, and how this fraud and money laundering has occurred."

Bessent told CNBC's "Squawk Box" "It's going to be a great way to ferret out waste, fraud and abuse," adding "We're setting up a website and we will be giving rewards up to 10% to 30% of the fines that we levy."

Minnesota has seen a series of large-scale fraud schemes targeting state-administered federal programs, including child nutrition (Feeding Our Future), housing stabilization services, autism/early intervention (EIDBI), and other Medicaid-funded services. The largest single case, Feeding Our Future, involved a $250 million COVID-era scam where largely Somalian defendants submitted fake meal claims and invoices for nonexistent food distribution, with proceeds funding luxury purchases, real estate, and overseas transfers.

Wider probes into 14 high-risk Medicaid programs (totaling ~$18 billion spent since 2018) estimate that half or more may be fraudulent, pushing overall losses potentially into the billions; additional schemes in personal care assistance, home/community-based services, and substance-use programs have added hundreds of millions more. Many operations involved Somali-run nonprofits, providers, or shell companies that billed for undelivered or fabricated services, though the Feeding Our Future "mastermind" (Aimee Bock) was not Somali. Suspected fraud has extended to child-care/daycare centers (sparked by a late-2025 viral video alleging $30–100 million in overbilling) and other providers, prompting active FBI/DOJ investigations into dozens of centers.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has focused on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his state, including its Somali community of up to 80,000 - alleging fraud dating to 2020 by some nonprofit groups which were backed by federal programs administering the state's childcare and other social services programs. 

The IRS is also launching a dedicated fraud task force focused on targeting the misuse of funding by 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities, Reuters reports.

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 15:40

Brazil Proposes National Bitcoin Reserve, Targets 1 Million BTC Over Five Years

Authored by Micah Zimmerman via BitcoinMagazine.com,

Brazilian lawmakers have reintroduced a bill to create a national Strategic Sovereign Bitcoin Reserve, known as RESBit, proposing the gradual acquisition of one million bitcoins over five years. 

The bill, presented by Federal Deputy Luiz Gastão (PSD/CE), outlines a comprehensive framework to integrate Bitcoin into the country’s financial strategy and diversify national reserves.

The proposed legislation establishes several guidelines for RESBit.

First, the plan calls for a gradual accumulation of at least 1,000,000 BTC over five years.

It prohibits the sale of bitcoins seized by Brazilian judicial authorities, ensuring that these assets remain within public control. 

The bill also allows for the collection of Brazil’s federal taxes in Bitcoin and offers incentives for public companies to engage in Bitcoin mining and storage.

Transparency is a central feature of the proposal. The bill mandates public disclosure of RESBit’s bitcoin holdings through internet-based platforms, enabling auditing by the public.

It emphasizes secure storage of digital assets using technologies such as cold wallets, multisignature wallets, and other internationally recognized mechanisms.

In addition, the legislation permits temporary holdings of spot ETFs backed by bitcoin in the reserve portfolio, subject to urgent and limited circumstances.

If approved, Brazil could join a small group of countries actively holding Bitcoin at a national level, potentially surpassing major holders like the United States and China. 

Other countries like Brazil exploring Bitcoin reserves 

Quite famously, El Salvador holds the mantle as the ‘world’s first country’ with a strategic Bitcoin reserve, reporting over 7,560 Bitcoin under President Nayib Bukele’s program.

Despite scaling back mandatory Bitcoin acceptance under IMF agreements, the government has maintained regular purchases, citing long-term financial sovereignty and reserve diversification. The National Bitcoin Office now splits holdings across multiple addresses to bolster security and transparency.

The Central American nation’s approach has inspired policymakers worldwide. In the United States, the BITCOIN Act of 2025 proposed somewhat of a federal strategic Bitcoin reserve, while several states, including New Hampshire and Arizona, have passed or proposed laws allowing portions of public funds to be invested in digital assets.

President Trump’s March 2025 executive order further directed federal agencies to explore Bitcoin accumulation from seized assets without new taxpayer costs.

In Europe, the Czech National Bank has a similar allocation in bitcoin, while Switzerland sees a citizen-led initiative proposing a constitutional mandate for Bitcoin holdings. 

Hong Kong, Ukraine, and Pakistan are also exploring frameworks to hold Bitcoin at the national level, with Pakistan pledging never to sell its future reserves.

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 15:20

As reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on February 10, 2026

Trump Plans Venezuela Trip, First U.S. President Visit Since Bill Clinton

President Donald Trump told reporters outside the White House on Friday afternoon that he plans to visit Venezuela, but offered no details or timeline. If it happens, it would be a historic trip, coming as Venezuelan oil flows accelerate under tighter U.S. oversight.

"I'm going to make a visit to Venezuela... We haven't decided [when]," Trump told reporters, adding that he also had a "good meeting" with Venezuela's neighbor, Colombia.

.@POTUS: "I'm going to make a visit to Venezuela... We haven't decided [when]." pic.twitter.com/yLADVt37Co

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 13, 2026

Reuters said that Trump praised Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez.

"We have a very good relationship with the president of Venezuela," Trump said, noting that the U.S. is "working together very closely" with Rodriguez on access to oil.

Asked by Reuters if he will recognize Rodriguez as the official government, Trump responded, "Yeah, we have done that. We are dealing with them, and really, right now they have done a great job."

On Thursday, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC News that Venezuelan oil revenue is no longer being deposited into a Qatari account.

"An account was set up in Qatar, controlled by the U.S. government the whole time, to land that money in and then send the money from there down to Venezuela," Wright said.

The energy secretary continued, "Now we have an account at the U.S. Treasury. The money won’t go to Qatar anymore."

Wright also said that revenue from Venezuelan oil sales now tops $1 billion.

The last sitting US president to visit Venezuela was in 1997, when Bill Clinton traveled to Caracas and met with Rafael Caldera.

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 14:40

Leftist Vandals Again Hit Chicago Mural Of Murdered Ukrainian Iryna

Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,

The Chicago mural honoring Iryna Zarutska, the innocent Ukrainian refugee stabbed to death in cold blood on a Charlotte light rail train, has been vandalized again—just two weeks after its unveiling.

This latest defacement underscores how deranged leftists will go to any lengths to suppress reminders of the deadly fallout from their soft-on-crime policies, even when the victim is a refugee who fled war.

The mural, painted on a three-story brick building at West Montrose and North Western avenues in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood, depicts Zarutska’s face gazing solemnly, a stark memorial to her senseless murder last August by repeat offender Decarlos Brown Jr.

?#BREAKING: The Chicago mural of Iryna Zarutska has been defaced for a 2nd time in just 14 days.

I don't understand how anyone could do this…

You have to be a complete sociopath to want to vandalize a mural of an innocent refugee who was m*rdered in cold blood/

Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/VNzaGz22dl

— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) February 11, 2026

The artwork was defaced for the second time in just 14 days. Video footage shows the vandalism, highlighting the graffiti scrawled across the tribute.

This incident follows a pattern of attacks on similar murals nationwide, as we previously reported.

In Brooklyn’s Bushwick, a massive mural was tagged with “F-ck Trump” shortly after completion, while Manhattan’s Lower East Side version was hit with “Please vandalize this” spray-painted over Zarutska’s face.

Florida’s Pensacola mural faced repeated assaults, defaced at least three times with mockery of her death.

Zarutska, 23, escaped the horrors of Russia’s war in Ukraine, seeking safety in the U.S. as a refugee. Her killer, Brown, had been arrested and released 14 times prior, a direct result of Democrat-run cities prioritizing criminals over public safety.

Surveillance footage captured the brutal attack, with Brown reportedly boasting, “I got that white girl,” as bystanders tried to save her. The racial angle was downplayed by corporate media, in stark contrast to their amplification of other cases.

President Trump highlighted Zarutska’s murder in speeches, vowing to crack down on “savage bloodthirsty criminals” unleashed by leftist agendas. 

The mural campaign, backed by over $1 million from Elon Musk and others, aims to keep her memory alive and spotlight these policy failures.

But leftists can’t tolerate it. Outlets like The Guardian have smeared the effort as “weaponizing her memory” through “sterile” art, ignoring the real hypocrisy: Zarutska embodies the very refugees they claim to champion, yet her story is erased because it bolsters Trump’s push for law and order.

Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via Locals or check out our unique merch. Follow us on X @ModernityNews.

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/13/2026 - 14:20

James Bradshaw of the Globe and Mail reports CAAT puts CEO on leave, names new chair and vice-chair amid governance crisis:

The CAAT Pension Plan has placed chief executive officer Derek Dobson on administrative leave, installed an acting CEO and appointed a new chair and vice-chair to its board of trustees as a governance crisis at the $23-billion pension plan has spurred an overhaul of its leadership.

Mr. Dobson is being sidelined, effective immediately, after some of the plan’s top executives raised concerns about his conduct as well as oversight by CAAT’s board of trustees, setting off multiple investigations into possible governance failures.

Kevin Fahey, who was promoted to chief investment officer in late January, has been appointed as CAAT’s acting CEO and plan manager, CAAT said in a statement on Friday.

The pension plan also named trustee Audrey Wubbenhorst as its new board chair, and Janet Greenwood as vice-chair.

Previous board chair Don Smith was removed from his role earlier this month by the labour group that appointed him, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), days after The Globe and Mail reported that concerns about board oversight and decision-making had spurred investigations into the plan’s governance.

Kareen Stangherlin, the previous vice-chair, has resigned as a CAAT trustee, the pension plan said Friday.

“The CAAT board of trustees has determined that these changes are in the best interests of the plan and are necessary to restore stakeholder trust in CAAT’s leadership, governance and plan management,” Ms. Wubbenhorst said in a statement.

She added that Mr. Fahey is “a veteran CAAT executive” who has worked at the plan for more than 16 years and is well suited “to lead the organization through the current period of significant change.”

As recently as last week, a CAAT spokesperson said the pension plan’s board of trustees continued “to have confidence” in Mr. Dobson and his ability to lead the organization.

But CAAT’s board met on Wednesday evening, two sources said, setting in motion the latest changes to the pension plan’s leadership.

The Globe is not identifying the sources because they are not authorized to discuss internal matters.

CAAT is a multiemployer pension plan that serves Ontario’s colleges and more than 800 public- and private-sector employers. It has a total of about 125,000 members. The Globe has been a participating employer in CAAT since 2022.

Mr. Dobson had been CAAT’s CEO since 2009, and faced scrutiny over a $1.6-million vacation payment he received last year that was at odds with company policy, as well as the handling of a personal relationship he had been having with a CAAT employee for more than a year.

The vacation payout, made as compensation for unused time off, was the third such payment Mr. Dobson received over a period of several years, sources said. The board approved those payments despite internal guidelines that limit how much vacation time CAAT employees can carry over or have paid out.

CAAT’s board also allowed Mr. Dobson’s workplace relationship to continue, putting guardrails in place to try to prevent perceived conflicts of interest, but it remained a point of tension among the plan’s staff.

An external expert hired by CAAT in December has been conducting a governance review that is expected to be completed later in February.

“The governance-related issues subject to the review do not affect the Plan’s financial health or its ability to deliver secure, predictable pensions to members,” CAAT’s statement said.

The most recent financial disclosures for CAAT said the plan has a 124-per-cent funded status, meaning that it has $1.24 in assets for every dollar it expects to pay to members in pension benefits.

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario – which oversees the province’s pension plans – has also been probing what took place at CAAT and speaking with employees in recent weeks, two sources said.

With Mr. Dobson on leave, nearly all of CAAT’s senior leadership team has changed or left the plan over the past four weeks, leaving a leadership void that must now be filled by a board that has also come under pressure.

It has been a jarring period for CAAT, as Mr. Dobson has been the public face of the plan through a period of ambitious expansion that brought employers from a number of different industries on board. Morale at the plan has taken a major hit as long-tenured, senior leaders departed with little explanation, four sources said.

“We have gone through a lot recently, and many CAATsters have been understandably upset by it all,” CAAT said in an internal e-mail to employees on Friday. “The board determined the best way to restore stability was through this change.”

The turmoil at CAAT first came to a head internally in November, when three of the pension plan’s top executives approached the board with a number of concerns about governance, urging trustees to investigate them, multiple sources said.

The internal tensions only spilled into public view in January when those three executives – chief investment officer Asif Haque, chief financial officer Mike Dawson and chief pension officer Evan Howard – abruptly left the plan on Jan. 19.

CAAT promoted Mr. Fahey to CIO and appointed Scott Blakey, who had only recently stepped down from CAAT’s board, as interim executive vice-president and chief people and culture officer. Chief strategy officer Jillian Kennedy remained in place. 

Matthew Sellers of HR Reporter also reports CAAT Pension Plan CEO put on leave as board launches governance overhaul:

CAAT Pension Plan has sidelined its long‑time CEO and reshuffled its board leadership as it navigates an ongoing governance review tied to a vacation payment made to the top executive.

The board of trustees confirmed that CEO and plan manager Derek Dobson has been placed on administrative leave, effective immediately, while it moves to “restore stakeholder trust in CAAT’s leadership, governance and plan management.”

To provide continuity, the board has elevated chief investment officer Kevin Fahey to acting CEO and plan manager. Fahey has spent more than 16 years with CAAT and has been a key figure in building the plan’s investment strategy.

CEO removed, CIO steps in at CAAT

In addition to his role at CAAT, Fahey sits on the investment committee for the Teachers' Pension Plan Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador, and has previously chaired both the Pension Investment Association of Canada and the Salvation Army of Canada’s Investment Advisory Committee. He holds a commerce degree from Queen’s University, an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School and is a CFA charter holder.

Board chair Audrey Wubbenhorst said the leadership changes are intended to steady the organization through a sensitive period.

“The CAAT Board of Trustees has determined that these changes are in the best interests of the Plan and are necessary to restore stakeholder trust in CAAT’s leadership, governance and plan management. Kevin is a veteran CAAT executive with a strong track record of high performance and his extensive experience and institutional knowledge make him ideally suited to lead the organization through the current period of significant change.”

The recent exits follow other changes in CAAT’s leadership. The plan’s CHRO left in June 2024, and its senior vice‑president of technology and IT services management as well as its head of policy and government relations departed earlier this year, according to the Globe.

Julie Giraldi was CHRO at CAAT from 2020 to 2025, according to her LinkedIn profile

New chair and vice‑chair take the helm

The governance shakeup extends beyond the CEO’s office. Wubbenhorst, an employee‑appointed trustee since 2023 and co‑chair of the finance and administration committee, has been named chair of the board, succeeding Don Smith.

Wubbenhorst is a communications faculty member at Humber Polytechnic and previously spent more than a decade at BMO Bank of Montreal in HR, communications and commercial banking. She has also served as a school trustee and on multiple boards, including Humber Polytechnic, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, Holland Bloorview Hospital’s Research Ethics Board and CNIB Lake Joe’s Advisory Board. She holds an MA, an MBA and the ICD.D designation.

Employer‑appointed trustee Janet Greenwood, who joined the board in 2023, steps into the vice‑chair role following the resignation of former vice‑chair and trustee Kareen Stangherlin.

Governance review tied to CEO’s vacation pay

The leadership changes come as CAAT’s board oversees an independent review of its governance policies, procedures and practices. The review was initiated after concerns surfaced over a vacation payment involving the CEO.

The board has emphasized that the governance issues under examination are not related to the plan’s funding strength or its ability to pay benefits, and says it expects the external review to wrap up later in February.

“Good governance is the backbone of a pension plan’s stability and strength, and the foundation for trust between the plan and its sponsors, members and all other stakeholders,” said Wubbenhorst. “The Board will carefully consider findings and recommendations of the independent review and remains focused as always on strengthening Plan governance to ensure it aligns with industry best practices.”

Financial position remains robust, says CAAT

Despite the turmoil at the top, CAAT is underscoring that its financial footing remains solid. Recent independent valuations show the plan 124 per cent funded on a going‑concern basis, meaning it holds $1.24 in assets for every dollar of pension promised to members. With more than $23 billion in assets and over $6 billion in funding reserves, stress testing indicates a greater than 99 per cent probability the plan will stay fully funded over the next two decades.

Founded in 1967 to serve Ontario’s college system, the CAAT Pension Plan has since expanded to more than 800 participating employers across 20 industries in the for‑profit, non‑profit and broader public sectors, and now counts over 125,000 members.

As the governance review proceeds and the new leadership team settles in, the board says its priority is maintaining benefit security for members while reinforcing confidence in how the plan is overseen.

Earlier today, CAAT issued a statement stating the CEO has been placed on leave and new acting CEO and new Chair and Vice Chair have been appointed:

• Derek Dobson placed on administrative leave effective immediately
• Kevin Fahey, current Chief Investment Officer, appointed as acting CEO and Plan Manager
• Audrey Wubbenhorst and Janet Greenwood appointed Chair and Vice Chair, respectively

Toronto, February 13, 2026 – The Board of Trustees of the CAAT Pension Plan (“CAAT” or “the Plan”) today announced the appointment of a new acting Chief Executive Officer and Plan Manager, and that Derek Dobson has been placed on administrative leave. CAAT also announced it has appointed a new Chair and Vice Chair of its Board of Trustees.

Mr. Dobson’s administrative leave is effective immediately, and Kevin Fahey, who most recently served as CAAT’s Chief Investment Officer and has spent more than 16 years at the Plan, has been appointed as acting CEO to ensure CAAT remains focused on executing its strategy and serving its sponsors and members.

Audrey Wubbenhorst has been appointed as Chair. Ms. Wubbenhorst succeeds Don Smith. Janet Greenwood has been appointed as Vice-Chair, replacing Kareen Stangherlin, who was Vice-Chair and who has resigned as a CAAT trustee.

Speaking about Mr. Fahey’s appointment, Ms. Wubbenhorst said: “The CAAT Board of Trustees has determined that these changes are in the best interests of the Plan and are necessary to restore stakeholder trust in CAAT’s leadership, governance and plan management. Kevin is a veteran CAAT executive with a strong track record of high performance and his extensive experience and institutional knowledge make him ideally suited to lead the organization through the current period of significant change.”

In addition to his service at CAAT, Mr. Fahey sits on the Investment Committee for Teachers' Pension Plan Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador. Previously, he was the Chair of the Pension Investment Association of Canada and also chaired the Salvation Army of Canada’s Investment Advisory Committee. Mr. Fahey holds a BCom from Queen’s University, an LL.B from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University and is a CFA Charterholder.

Ms. Wubbenhorst has been an employee-appointed Trustee since 2023 and is Co-Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee. Ms. Wubbenhorst is a faculty member at Humber Polytechnic where she teaches communications. Prior to joining Humber, she worked for more than a dozen years at BMO Bank of Montreal in human resources, communications and commercial banking.  She has also served as a school trustee and on several boards including Humber Polytechnic, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, Holland Bloorview Hospital's Research Ethics Board and CNIB Lake Joe's Advisory Board.  Ms. Wubbenhorst has an MA, MBA and ICD.D designation.

Ms. Greenwood has been an employer-appointed Trustee since 2023 and has served as a Co-Chair on the Investment Committee and a member of the Governance Committee. She has more than three decades of global wealth management expertise in corporate and pension fund management, institutional investment, governance, business development and risk management. Her portfolio career includes roles as Committee Chair, Co-Chair, Independent Director, Director of Special Purpose Corporations, and also at charitable and not-for-profit organizations. Ms. Greenwood holds business degrees, investment certifications and holds the ICD.D designation.

In addition to the appointments of Mr. Fahey, Ms. Wubbenhorst and Ms. Greenwood, CAAT also provided an update on its independent governance review, which was established by the Board after it became aware of concerns related to a vacation payment to Mr. Dobson. The governance-related issues subject to the review do not affect the Plan’s financial health or its ability to deliver secure, predictable pensions to members, and CAAT continues to expect that it will be completed later in February.

“Good governance is the backbone of a pension plan’s stability and strength, and the foundation for trust between the plan and its sponsors, members and all other stakeholders,” Ms. Wubbenhorst said. “The Board will carefully consider findings and recommendations of the independent review and remains focused as always on strengthening Plan governance to ensure it aligns with industry best practices.”

CAAT's most recent independent valuations show the Plan at a 124% funded status. This means for every $1 of pension benefits CAAT has promised to members, the Plan has $1.24 in assets. With more than $23 billion in assets and over $6 billion in funding reserves, the Plan is well positioned to withstand market volatility, demographic change, and other risks. Stress testing confirms a greater than 99% probability that the Plan will remain fully funded over the next 20 years.

About CAAT:

Established in 1967, the CAAT Pension Plan is an independent, jointly governed plan that offers highly desirable modern defined benefit pensions. Originally created to support the Ontario college system, the CAAT Plan now proudly serves more than 800 participating employers in 20 industries, including the for-profit, non-profit, and broader public sectors. It currently has more than 125,000 members. The CAAT Plan is respected for its pension and investment management expertise and focus on stability and benefit security. On January 1, 2025, the Plan was 124% funded on a going-concern basis. 

It's Friday, I typically reserve Fridays to discuss market action and I enjoy that but sometimes you need to cover important pension matters and this is definitely important for CAAT members.

I'll try to be brief but in a nutshell, I'm not surprised and the Board led by a new Chair and Vice Chair is doing the right thing and issued a perfectly worded statement.

Importantly, given the events that have transpired which I covered in detail here and here, I am not shocked that Derek Dobson was placed on administrative leave effective immediately.

The Board led by new Chair Audrey Wubbenhorst and Janet Greenwood also did the right thing naming Kevin Fahey, the CIO, as acting CEO and Plan Manager.

Kevin is a seasoned professional with impeccable credentials, CAAT members and employees know and trust him and in doing this, they're restoring trust at the organization. 

This is your number one job as a Board when a governance crisis erupts, restore trust as soon as possible as you await the findings of an independent governance report.

I'm actually impressed at how swiftly and diligently the Board responded, they immediately went into action naming a new Chair and Vice Chair, called an urgent meeting Wednesday evening and then moved to place the CEO on administrative leave while naming a new acting CEO. 

Take note all board members, this is exactly what should have happened when the three senior execs expressed a loss of confidence in their leader: everyone should have immediately been placed on administrative leave pending the findings of an independent governance report.

I also like what the new Chair Ms. Wubbenhorst said in the statement:

“Good governance is the backbone of a pension plan’s stability and strength, and the foundation for trust between the plan and its sponsors, members and all other stakeholders. The Board will carefully consider findings and recommendations of the independent review and remains focused as always on strengthening Plan governance to ensure it aligns with industry best practices.”  

This isn't only a CAAT specific issue, everyone needs to make sure their governance is reviewed periodically and changed to reflect industry leading standards.

In my opinion, great fiduciaries are also champions of great governance.

So where does CAAT go from here? I think Kevin Fahey will be extremely busy over the next few weeks and we will all have to wait for the independent governance report to see the next steps. 

I can confidently tell CAAT members however to be patient, what is happening now seems like abrupt change and it is but the organization will come out of this a lot stronger.

That's all I have to say on this matter today, I am fully supportive of CAAT's new Chair and Vice Chair and acting CEO Kevin Fahey and think over the long run, this will be a governance blip and the organization will thrive over the coming years.

What about markets, Leo? Aren't you going to cover markets? I had a whole topic titled "Is the AI Disruption Trade Overdone?" and maybe I'll do something over the weekend but I'm tired and need a break from these crazy volatile markets.

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