week ending May 17

Fed's Kugler warns Trump tariffs will push up prices and push down incomes -- Federal Reserve governor Adriana Kugler said Monday that steeper tariffs will drive prices higher, acting to push down incomes and lower economic growth. “Although higher tariffs on US imported goods may affect our macroeconomy through many channels … I think they will primarily act as a negative supply shock, raising prices and decreasing economic activity,” Kugler said in a speech in Dublin, Ireland. Kugler’s comments come even as the US and China have agreed to deescalate and slash tariff rates by 115 percentage points for 90 days as both sides discuss fairer trade between the two countries. The move will drop American tariffs on Chinese goods, which currently run as high as 145%, to 30% and slash China's retaliatory duties from 125% to 10%. “Trade policies are evolving and are likely to continue shifting, even as recently as this morning,” she noted. Given what Kulger sees as upside risks to inflation and a "somewhat restrictive" level on interest rates now, she said she supported holding rates steady at the policy meeting last week. "Ultimately, I see the US as likely to experience lower growth and higher inflation," she said. Traders on Monday pushed the odds of a rate cut in June down to 8% and scaled back their bets on number of cuts for the year to 2. They now don't expect a first cut until September. Kugler is the latest central bank policymaker to warn about higher inflation, elevated unemployment, and slower economic growth this year, following similar comments Friday from Federal Reserve governor Michael Barr and New York Fed president John Williams. The comments from the policymakers highlight the dilemma for the central bank as it tries to weigh both sides of its mandate — stable prices and maximum employment — at a time when the true effects of White House trade policies on the economy are still unknown. Their warnings also echo observations recently expressed by Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who on Wednesday reiterated that he would wait for greater clarity on the impact of Trump's tariffs before deciding on a path for monetary policy going forward. All Fed officials on Wednesday voted unanimously to maintain the Fed's benchmark interest rate in the range of 4.25% to 4.5%, a mark reached at the end of 2024 after cutting rates by a full percentage point last fall.

Fed officials say China-US tariff reprieve lowers risks (Reuters) - The U.S.-China deal to lower the most aggressive import tariffs between the world's two largest economies could lessen the impact of their trade war, though the levies left in place are still steep and will leave a mark on the economy, Federal Reserve officials said on Monday. Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler said the 90-day pause on import levies at levels that threatened to shut down bilateral trade reduces chances that the U.S. central bank will need to lower interest rates in response to an economic slowdown. The outcome of the weekend meetings between Chinese and U.S. officials "obviously ... is an improvement as far as trade between the two countries" is concerned, Kugler said at a Central Bank of Ireland symposium in Dublin. She said the tariff rates, now 30% on Chinese imports for the next 90 days, were still "pretty high" and she expected "definitely an increase in prices and a slowdown in the economy" as a result. But Kugler expects those impacts to be more muted. "My basic outlook, in some sense, may have changed in terms of the extent to which we need to use our tools, and the magnitude," she said. In separate comments to the New York Times, Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee agreed the weekend deal would lower the impact tariffs have on the economy - for now. "It is definitely less impactful stagflationarily than the path they were on," Goolsbee told the paper. Still, that tariff rate is "three to five times higher than what it was before, so it is going to have a stagflationary impulse on the economy. It's going to make growth slower and make prices rise." Investors decreased their bets on Monday that the Fed would cut rates early this summer, with an initial quarter-percentage-point rate cut now not expected until September and only a half-percentage-point reduction in total anticipated by the end of 2025. Prior to the tariff pause agreed over the weekend, Fed rate cuts were expected to begin in July. But as the Trump administration has seemed to back off its most aggressive tariff strategies, U.S. stocks and market interest rates have risen, and the threat of a tariff-driven recession has diminished. The Fed's policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee last week kept its benchmark interest rate in the 4.25%-4.50% range where it had been since December. Policymakers said they were unlikely to make a change until it was clear whether tariffs would lead to a new inflation problem, or undercut growth and pose risks to the job market that warranted a reduction in borrowing costs. A third possibility - of a negotiated resolution that leads to a more limited jump in inflation and keeps growth largely on track - was highlighted by the trade war detente announced over the weekend. "Even with this reprieve, tariffs are much higher than they were, so the outlook still involves tariff raising near-term inflation well above 2%," offering a reason for the Fed to stay on hold, economists with the consulting firm of former Fed Governor Larry Meyers said. "What this reprieve does is reduce the likelihood that we'll see a deterioration in the labor market severe enough for the FOMC to ease despite concerns about elevated inflation." Kugler said the trade conflict still could have deep implications for the U.S., including a reputational hit that could drive investors elsewhere. "In the medium term, if this was long-lasting, I think the one issue that I would be looking to is how supply chains get rearranged ... if in the rest of the world, some start feeling that they don't find a reliable partner at the other end," she said. It is also posing immediate problems for the Fed in even knowing the pace at which the economy is growing, or not, because recent data have been so distorted by firms and households rushing to beat import tariffs. Output contracted in the first quarter, but that was largely attributed to a record surge in imports. "It is currently hard to judge the underlying pace of growth of the U.S. economy," Kugler said.

Fed vice chair focused on 'hard data' amid uncertainty - The Federal Reserve's second-in-command is looking for solid evidence of the impact of tariffs before throwing his support behind changing interest rates. Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson said in a speech Wednesday that elevated tariffs will likely lead to inflation, but time will tell how impactful that spike in prices might be.

Fed's Barr warns of long and lasting supply chain disruption -- High import costs could have an outsize impact on Main Street, a Federal Reserve official warned Thursday, adding that the hardships could have a long shelf life. Federal Reserve Gov. Michael Barr said tariffs could have an outsize impact on small businesses and hardships could outlive the trade policy debate.

Powell: Fed policy review honing in on communication - Communication practices have taken center stage in the Federal Reserve's review of its monetary policy framework. The Federal Reserve chair said there is "room for improvement" in how the central bank conveys economic uncertainties to markets and the public.

US economy could face ‘more persistent supply shocks’: Powell - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday that the economy may be entering a period of more volatile inflation and more regular supply shocks relative to recent decades, in which inflation and unemployment remained low. Powell reflected Wednesday on “the possibility that inflation could be more volatile going forward than during the inter-crisis period of the 2010s,” the decade between the global financial crisis of 2008 and the March 2020 onset of the coronavirus pandemic. “We may be entering a period of more frequent, and potentially more persistent supply shocks, a difficult challenge for the economy and for central banks,” Powell said at a conference reviewing U.S. central bank policy of recent years. Powell didn’t get into the specifics of what may be driving the increased frequency of the supply shocks, which are external disruptions to economic activity such as spikes in upstream commodity prices or work stoppages like the ones that happened during the pandemic. Powell said last year that the era of near-zero interest rates is likely over. “We probably won’t go back to that era between the global financial crisis and the pandemic where rates were very, very low and inflation was very low — like, extremely low,” Powell told Congress last summer. “I don’t think we’re going back to rates that are that low.” However, Powell has recently stressed significant policy changes being undertaken by the Trump administration in the areas of immigration, trade, regulation, and federal spending and taxation. Trump’s trade war has been the most noticeable of those in recent months, which saw the overall U.S. tariff rate rising to around 25 percent in April, largely due to triple-digit tariffs on China, a top U.S. trading partner. The 145-percent tariff on China has since been lowered, and the effective U.S. tariff rate is now closer to 13 percent than 25 percent, according to Wall Street ratings agency Fitch. But Trump’s trade war is in a constant state of flux and has been marked by several notable reversals, including on 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada, on the “de minimis” tariff exemption on packages from China worth less than $800, and on dozens of country-specific “reciprocal” tariffs that involved a novel calculation from the White House. Interbank lending rates are less likely now to get “stuck at the lower bound,” Powell said, as they did between 2008 and 2015, when the Fed kept them around 0 percent even as unemployment steadily declined.

House Republicans unveil $4 trillion debt ceiling increase plan -- House Republicans are moving forward with plans to raise the nation’s debt ceiling by $4 trillion as part of a larger plan to advance President Trump’s tax agenda. The proposal, which was included in legislative text unveiled by the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday, is in line with House instructions outlined in a blueprint adopted by congressional Republicans last month that kicked off the process by which the party is using to enact Trump’s tax priorities.Including the debt ceiling in the broader bill will allow Republicans to avoid Democratic demands for concessions in exchange for their votes to raise the debt limit. But tacking debt limit action onto the same vehicle they’re using for Trump’s tax plans could also put a tight time crunch on Republicans to pass the sweeping tax bill.Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent is already calling on Congress to raise or suspend the debt ceiling by July to keep the federal government from defaulting on its more than $36 trillion debt.In a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Friday, Bessent said there is “reasonable probability” the government’s “cash and extraordinary measures will be exhausted in August while Congress is scheduled to be in recess.” There’s also a key difference in how both GOP-led chambers plan to address the debt limit in instructions for the budget framework Republicans adopted last month. While the House’s plans call for raising the debt limit by $4 trillion, the Senate’s instructions detail a $5 trillion increase to the debt ceiling. Some Senate Republicans have argued the higher proposed figure would stave off the threat of default through the coming midterm elections. But not all Republicans were happy with the $5 trillion amount. Other internal disagreements over proposed savings for the plan, including in areas such as reforms for Medicaid, have also emerged as challenges for House GOP leadership as it works to keep the party unified behind the sprawling package.

Republicans unveil steep Medicaid cuts in Donald Trump's tax bill - Legislation introduced by House Republicans late Sunday would slash Medicaid spending significantly by imposing new restrictions on Medicaid beneficiaries such as work requirements and more frequent eligibility checks, but the most controversial changes floated to the program were not included. The bill from the House Energy and Commerce Committee comes ahead of what’s expected to be a marathon committee hearing Tuesday. The legislation released Sunday did not include specific spending estimates, but claimed it would save roughly $900 billion. It appears to cater more to the moderate wing of the party than the conservatives, who had been agitating for drastic cuts to the program. But it remains to be seen if leaders found the right balance between the two factions. In a Wall Street Journal opinion article published Sunday ahead of the bill’s release, Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) indicated the changes to Medicaid shouldn’t be seen as a cut. “Undoubtedly, Democrats will use this as an opportunity to engage in fear-mongering and misrepresent our bill as an attack on Medicaid,” he wrote. “In reality, it preserves and strengthens Medicaid for children, mothers, people with disabilities and the elderly—for whom the program was designed.” The legislation does not include a per-beneficiary cap on federal Medicaid spending. Neither does it include a reduction in the minimum federal share to states, both of which were being pushed by conservatives. Still, millions of people would lose health insurance under the plan through policies such as work requirements and a new cost-sharing requirement for certain beneficiaries. The bill also touches on a host of social issues. For instance, it would prohibit Medicaid funding being used for gender-affirming care for minors. It would also stop Medicaid from reimbursing community health providers such as Planned Parenthood that provide family planning and abortion services. “Let’s be clear, Republican leadership released this bill under cover of night because they don’t want people to know their true intentions,” committee ranking member Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) said in a statement. Democrats late Sunday released a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis showing the legislation would increase the number of people without health insurance by at least 8.6 million in 2034.

Trump’s $4.9 trillion tax plan targets Medicaid to offset costs (AP) — House Republicans proposed sweeping tax breaks Monday in President Donald Trump’s big priority bill, tallying at least $4.9 trillion in costs so far, partly paid for with cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and green energy programs used by millions of Americans. The House Ways and Means Committee named its package “THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’’ in all capital letters, a nod to Trump himself. It seeks to extend the tax breaks approved during Trump’s first term — and boost the standard deduction, child tax credit and estate tax exemption — while adding new tax breaks on tipped wages, overtime pay, Social Security benefits and auto loans that Trump promised during his campaign for the White House. There’s also a tripling of the state and local tax deduction, called SALT, from $10,000 up to $30,000 for couples, which certain high-tax state GOP lawmakers from New York and California already rejected as too meager. Private universities would be hit with hefty a new tax on their endowments, as much as 21%, as the Trump administration goes after the Ivy League and other campuses. And one unusual provision would terminate the tax-exempt status of groups the State Department says support “terrorists,” which civil society advocates warn is a way to potentially punish those at odds with the Trump administration. Overall, the package is touching off the biggest political debate over taxes, spending and the nation’s priorities in nearly a decade. Not since 2017 has Congress wrestled with legislation as this, when Republicans approved the Trump tax cuts but also failed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. The cost assessments are only preliminary, and expected to soar. “Republicans need to UNIFY,” Trump posted on social media before departing for a trip to the Middle East. Trump said when he returns to Washington, “we will work together on any and all outstanding issues, but there shouldn’t be many — The Bill is GREAT. We have no alternative, WE MUST WIN!” But one key Republican, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, implored his party not to impair Medicaid, arguing that cutting health care to pay for tax breaks is both “morally wrong and politically suicidal.” “If Republicans want to be a working-class party — if we want to be a majority party — we must ignore calls to cut Medicaid and start delivering on America’s promise for America’s working people,” Hawley wrote in The New York Times. Late Monday, the House Agriculture Committee released its proposals — cutting $290 billion from federal nutrition programs, in part by shifting costs to the states and requiring able-bodied adults without dependents to fulfill work requirements until they are 64 years old, rather than 54, to qualify for food aid. As Republicans race toward House Speaker Mike Johnson’s Memorial Day deadline to pass Trump’s big bill, they are preparing to flood the zone with round-the-clock public hearings starting Tuesday and stitch the various sections together in what will become a massive package. The politics ahead are uncertain. The bipartisan Joint Committee on Taxation said Monday that tax breaks would reduce revenue by $4.9 trillion over the decade — and that was before Trump’s new tax breaks were included. Texas Rep. Chip Roy, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, warned the price tag could climb to $20 trillion, piling onto the deficits and debt. “I sure hope House & Senate leadership are coming up with a backup plan,” Roy posted on social media, “…. because I’m not here to rack up an additional $20 trillion in debt over 10 years.”

House Republicans unveil Medicaid bill: What to know -- House Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee this week unveiled a plan to cut more than $880 billion to pay for a significant portion of President Trump’s domestic agenda. After months of wrangling over how deeply to cut Medicaid, committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) appears to have avoided the most politically controversial proposals while also saving more money than the committee needed. An official score by the Congressional Budget Office hasn’t been released, though it acknowledged in a letter Monday that the committee’s recommendation would exceed the savings target laid out in the blueprint governing Trump’s “big beautiful bill” and wouldn’t increase the deficit after 2034. But as the measure moves ahead in the House and gets to the Senate, GOP leaders are going to need to figure out how to keep both moderates and conservatives happy. The panel is scheduled to meet on Tuesday afternoon for a marathon session to debate and refine the package. The plan caters more to the moderate wing of the Republican party by omitting two of the biggest and most politically controversial proposals discussed: a per-capita cap on people who get coverage from Medicaid expansion, and a direct lowering of the federal matching rate. Instead, most of the savings come from policies that would cause Medicaid beneficiaries to pay more for doctors’ visits and complete more paperwork to prove eligibility. It would also impose a requirement for poor, childless adults, between the ages of 19 to 64, to prove they are working at least 80 hours a month. All told, the Medicaid and health portions would save about $715 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. But it would also result in at least 8.6 million more Americans going uninsured. One of the largest chunks of savings in the proposal comes from cracking down on the ability of states to levy taxes on providers like hospitals and nursing homes. Provider taxes have been a lucrative loophole for states to get more federal Medicaid funding by taxing providers and then returning the money to them in the form of higher reimbursements for treatment. The proposal would freeze all state taxes at their current rates and prevent states from imposing additional taxes. The plan doesn’t roll back current taxes, so some conservatives argue it could have gone further. But the loss of the extra revenue will force states to reconsider how they fund their Medicaid programs. States will have to decide whether to cut benefits or raise taxes. The new work requirements will be federally mandated, but enforcement will be up to the states. Under the proposal, states must enforce “community engagement” requirements on Medicaid enrollees beginning in 2029. Community engagement is defined as 80 hours of work, community service or a work program each month. Other options include at least half-time enrollment in an educational program or a combination of the available options. The proposal would also penalize the handful of Democratic-led states which have used their own money to offer Medicaid to undocumented immigrants. It would reduce the federal match to 80 percent for the expansion population—down from the current 90 percent—if the states continued to subsidize such coverage. The states that would be hit hardest are New York, Washington and California. The proposal includes a win for anti-abortion lawmakers; it would strip Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood and its affiliates. The proposal doesn’t mention Planned Parenthood by name, but it would prevent Medicaid from funding health providers that also offer abortion services. Abortions for cases of rape, incest or to save the mother from harm or death are exempted. Medicaid is already banned from covering abortions, but proponents say Planned Parenthood shouldn’t get any federal funding, because women can go elsewhere for non-abortion care. The move may not save money, but is an important conservative message. Moderate lawmakers had expressed concern about the possibility of such a provision being included, but anti-abortion groups are ratcheting up the pressure. Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, during a Monday web event called on grassroots activists to contact specific House and Senate lawmakers and urge them to support defunding Planned Parenthood. The list included what Hawkins said were some “pro-choice” GOP moderates like Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) as well as longtime anti-abortion champions. Guthrie may have tried to thread the needle between moderates and conservatives, but it’s not clear if it will be enough to sell them on it. “Does the bill offer ANY transformative changes on Medicaid or otherwise? Currently – NO,” conservative hardliner Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) wrote on X. He said the plan “ignores the policy changes that matter” such as lowering the enhanced federal match for expansion states. “Even the changes it embraces are mainly codification of rules Trump would do anyway, leaving healthcare costs spiraling, fat cats still making lots of money while hard-working Americans are left behind,” Roy wrote. “We will need SIGNIFICANT additional changes to garner my support.”

House releases full GOP tax bill with Donald Trump's priorities, SALT increase - The House Ways and Means Committee on Monday released a fuller version of its part of Republicans’ bill full of President Trump’s legislative priorities, kicking off what is expected to be a showdown over the tax provisions in the sprawling measure.The 389-page measure, which is the centerpiece of the GOP’s megabill, is expected to draw howls from within the House GOP conference.In one of the most long-awaited details, the legislation increases the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap from $10,000 to $30,000 for single and joint filers — which would phase down as income grows — a figure lower than the proposal floated by key stakeholders.Shortly before the release of the tax bill, a group of Republican moderates from high-tax blue states told leadership they would be content with a SALT deduction cap of $62,000 for single filers and $124,000 for joint filers. The proposition came after the same group rejected an offer from leadership last week to increase the SALT deduction cap to $30,000.Moderate Republicans from high-tax blue states pushing for a higher SALT deduction cap were quick to push back on the panel’s text. “Still a hell no,” said Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), one of the most vocal members pushing to increase the SALT deduction cap.The SALT deduction cap, which was first instituted in the 2017 Trump tax cuts, has emerged as one of the most contentious debates pertaining to the Trump agenda bill. Moderate Republicans from high-tax blue states — including New York, New Jersey and California — have been pushing to increase the cap, which deficit hawks are opposed to.The release of the text — which had been highly anticipated since Friday night, when the panel unveiled a partial version of the measure — comes as the committee prepares to debate and advance the measure in a meeting scheduled to begin on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. EDT. That meeting is expected to run through the night. Beyond increasing the SALT deduction cap, the bill includes several tax-related promises Trump made on the campaign trail, including getting rid of taxes on tips and overtime — provisions set to expire at the end of 2028. The bill also proposes exempting car loan interest payments through 2028, with several exceptions.The bill also makes the 2017 income tax rate reductions permanent, a priority for many Republicans. The 2017 tax law specifies marginal tax rates of 10 percent, 12 percent, 22 percent, 24 percent, 32 percent, 35 percent and 37 percent.While there had been consideration of letting the top tax rate expire, which would mean that the highest tax bracket for regular income would increase to 39.6 percent, this provision was left out. Conservative tax groups had railed against that possibility, but Trump pushed for the change within the past week, sources previously told The Hill.Late last week, however, he appeared to waffle on that stance. In a Friday morning Truth Social post, Trump said he would be “OKAY if they do” increase taxes on the rich, but voiced some hesitation because of the political implications.The bill’s release comes as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is looking to keep the conference on his ambitious timeline of approving the entire package by Memorial Day. Despite the lingering disagreements, Johnson was confident the conference would remain on track. “Yes, I think we’re going to meet it,” he told reporters when asked if he is still confident in his Memorial Day deadline.

Congressional Budget Office says House GOP plan exceeds $880 billion savings target -The Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid, surpassed its target of finding $880 billion in savings to help pay for legislation to extend President Trump’s tax cuts and other priorities, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). In a brief letter to Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), the CBO said the committee’s reconciliation recommendations would reduce deficits by more than $880 billion by 2034 and “would not increase on-budget deficits in any year after 2034.” The letter did not have any other details about total costs.The Energy and Commerce Committee rolled out its bill Sunday evening, which included steep cuts to Medicaid but omitted some of the most controversial proposals to reform the program.GOP committee staff told reporters on Monday they would like to have a full CBO score of the bill in time for Tuesday’s session to amend and advance the bill, but they did not anticipate it would come in time. The effort to move ahead with a marathon markup of the bill without a full CBO analysis echoes the effort to repeal ObamaCare in 2017. Democrats at the time accused Republicans of trying to hide that a CBO score would reveal that millions of people would lose health insurance. Late Sunday, Democrats circulated a partial CBO analysis of the committee’s proposal, which found it would reduce federal spending by an estimated $912 billion over the decade — $715 billion from health provisions alone — and cause 8.6 million people to become uninsured.

House Republicans propose higher taxes on university endowments -House Republicans are looking to raise excise taxes on private university endowments in President Trump’s tax bill as the administration battles with higher education. The text of the legislative package released Tuesday shows Republicans want to increase university endowment taxes ranging from a 1.4 percent to a 21 percent increase. For institutions like Harvard University with a student adjusted endowment of $2 million, the tax on the endowment would bump up to 21 percent. The gains on a university endowment were never taxed before Trump’s first term in 2017 under a tax package that put a 1.4 percent rate on colleges with 500 or more tuition paying students and had $500,000 or more in endowment funds per student. The increase in the tax would come as the Trump administration has gone to war with higher education, pulling research funding for numerous institution.

GOP bill makes heavy cuts to green energy credits in its fine print -- Congressional Republicans’ phase-out of the tax credits for climate friendly energy sources are expected to decimate the incentives and raise U.S. emissions. While the GOP’s “big, beautiful bill,” which faces an uncertain future and a key committee vote Friday, proposes to phase out the credits over several years, analysts say the legislation’s fine print effectively cuts them entirely. “What’s in the text now is about as bad as it could be and is likely to cause a lot of project cancellations, and that has knock-on effects on the economy, on people’s energy bills and so on,” said Robbie Orvis, senior director of modeling and analysis at climate policy think tank Energy Innovation. “It’s pretty rough in terms of the outlook for clean energy,” Orvis added. One of the most significant provisions in Democrats’ 2022 Inflation Reduction Act was “technology neutral” tax credits that provide significant subsidies to any energy source that can get its planet-warming emissions below a certain threshold. The Republican bill winds down those credits, along with a separate one that specifically benefits nuclear energy, over the next six years or so. But it also adds new restrictions on who can claim those credits. The most significant of those is language that says that projects that start construction more than one year after the bill’s passage cannot qualify for the credit if they have any components, subcomponents or minerals that are built, mined or processed in China. China is a major hub for minerals processing, and it may be difficult for companies to find ones that are not refined there, especially on such a tight timeline. Derrick Flakoll, senior policy associate at BNEF, said that in effect, these requirements are similar to “a full cutoff for projects from mid-2026” because of “the ubiquity of Chinese critical minerals, Chinese intellectual property, Chinese batteries, polysilicon for solar [and] permanent magnets for offshore wind.” Constantino Nicolaou, CEO of manufacturing and installation company PanelClaw, told reporters during a solar industry press briefing that these requirements are “unworkable.” “It is so complicated for a manufacturer, it is so complicated for a developer, it’s so complicated for a financier,” Nicolaou said, particularly pointing to the subcomponent and mineral restrictions. The solar industry is lobbying heavily for changes to be made to this provision and others. Representatives from the Solar Energy Industries Association and its member companies have met with 40 congressional offices this week. Meanwhile, the GOP bill also kills something called “transferability” that makes it easier for projects to get financing. Supporters of the credits also say the timeline is particularly short because in the legislation the credit can only be claimed based on when projects actually start producing energy rather than when their construction begins. Initial analyses of the credits are coming to similar conclusions. Modeler Rhodium Group found the changes to the tax code under the GOP plan are “likely to be similar to the impact of a full repeal of the energy tax credits.” “There’s been a couple years of investments already made, stuff that’s already come onto the grid, electric vehicles that have already been bought. This doesn’t step away from those, but it does mean that going forward, you wouldn’t see the benefits of those tax credits,” said Ben King, associate director of Rhodium Group’s Energy & Climate practice. The group’s analysis found that such changes could raise household energy bills by up to 7 percent in 2035 and could also drastically raise U.S. planet-warming emissions. The group’s baseline scenario puts U.S. emissions between 31 percent and 50 percent lower in 2035 than where they were in 2005, while the policies proposed in the bill would bring emissions down by only between 23 percent and 39 percent. King said that in practice, the change in emissions that year is about equivalent to the current emissions of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania combined. Overall, Chris Seiple, vice chair of Wood Mackenzie’s Power & Renewables group, described the bill as “a sledgehammer disguised as a scalpel,” in an email to The Hill.

Trump package to be changed to appease recalcitrant Republicans -- Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Thursday signaled that changes will be made to the party’s mega-bill full of President Trump’s legislative priorities in order to win support from conservative and moderate Republicans balking at some of its provisions. Those alterations, he warned, will not only include a larger tax break for blue states that several Republican moderates are demanding but also steeper spending cuts elsewhere in the bill, as fiscal hawks raise alarm that the legislation does not do enough to rein in the ballooning deficit. “If you do more on SALT, you have to find more in savings. So these are the dials, the metaphorical dials I’m talking about,” Johnson said, referring to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction. “When you’re trying to craft a piece of legislation that is this comprehensive and this complex, it requires a lot of thought and deliberation.” The Speaker declined to elaborate on what specifically would be changed, saying only that “everything is on the table.” The warning came after a two-hour-plus meeting in the Speaker’s office Thursday, during with Johnson met with moderate Republicans pushing for a higher SALT deduction cap and hard-line conservatives calling for much more muscular Medicaid changes — requests that are red lines for the opposite camps. Republicans from high-tax blue states — including New York, New Jersey and California — are calling for an increase to the proposed SALT deduction cap of $30,000 for individuals making $400,000 or more, arguing that it does not provide substantive relief for constituents. The issue has been one of the biggest hang-ups hampering the bill. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), a key member of the SALT Caucus, said after the meeting that the group provided scorekeepers with “new requests” for number analyses as they search for a deduction cap palatable for the entire conference. “In one sense, [there was] good progress in that members were talking, understanding each other’s priorities a little better. That gives me some optimism,” said Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), another SALT Caucus member. “Yet, there’s been no bona fide change, or an offer, different from what’s in the very faulty Ways and Means bill.” Any increase to the deduction cap proposal, however, will spark howls from hard-line conservatives, who are apprehensive of spiking the cap and say that if it goes higher, it must be paid for with additional spending cuts — slashes that could perturb moderates.

Republican package on brink of being blocked by hardliners --A key committee vote for the Republican package full of President Trump’s legislative priorities scheduled for Friday could be punted to next week as hardliners on the panel threaten to block the legislation. “I haven’t given up yet. But there are concerns about having to get more information, which would potentially delay this to next week, so we’ll see,” House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) said Thursday. The possible delay comes after a wave of hardliners on the panel — Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), and Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) — said they planned to vote against advancing the GOP’s megabill in its current form in a meeting scheduled for Friday. The defections would be enough to stop it from moving forward, and several other hardline conservative members on the panel also said they were undecided or expressed reservations about the bill. The Budget Committee is the next stop for the legislation — officially titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — that pairs major Trump priorities like extension of tax cuts with reforms to Medicaid and food assistance programs, as well as other measures that were finalized in marathon markups in the Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, and Ways and Means committees this week. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was aiming to pass the bill on the House floor next week, but it needs to get through the Budget Committee and House Rules Committee beforehand. House Republicans are negotiating changes to the underlying legislation ahead of the planned floor vote next week — namely a proposed increase to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap in exchange for changing other aspects of the bill like Medicaid reforms. The details of those changes are expected to be negotiated through the weekend as lawmakers wait for budget projections of various proposals, according to lawmakers who met with Johnson on Thursday morning.

Trump Tax Bill Fails To Advance As Conservative Holdouts Double Down On 'No' -A fiery intra-party fight exploded on Capitol Hill Friday as House Republicans clashed over President Donald Trump's mammoth "One Big Beautiful Bill," with Trump himself jumping into the fray to torch conservative holdouts as attention-hungry "grandstanders." As the House Budget Committee met to advance the 1,116-plus-page megabill - packed with Trump’s signature proposals on taxes, Medicaid, and immigration - chaos broke out behind the scenes, and in front of the cameras, as hardline conservatives threatened to blow up the entire process. "Republicans MUST UNITE behind ‘THE ONE, BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL!’" Trump posted on Truth Social. "We don’t need ‘GRANDSTANDERS’ in the Republican Party. STOP TALKING, AND GET IT DONE!" The scorched-earth post came as the House Budget Committee met down to mark up the massive reconciliation bill, which bundles together much of Trump’s second-term policy wishlist: tax cuts, welfare reform, immigration crackdowns, and the death of Biden’s green energy subsidies. But what was supposed to be a legislative victory lap turned into a high-stakes hostage crisis, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) caught between warring GOP factions, each demanding major changes and threatening to sink the bill if they don’t get their way. Conservatives on the committee - Reps. Chip Roy, Ralph Norman, Andrew Clyde, and Josh Brecheen - signaled they were ready to vote against the bill unless major changes were made. Their demands include a faster phase-in of Medicaid work requirements, a ban on undocumented immigrants receiving federal benefits, and immediate termination of Inflation Reduction Act clean energy provisions. "If they don’t [change it], I’m gonna vote no. We’ll kill it," Norman warned Thursday. "I don’t want to. But I will." Update (1210ET): The House Budget Committee has voted down the reconciliation bill by a vote of 16-21 - with GOP Reps. Clyde, Roy, Breechen, Norman and Smucker (who flipped his vote) all voting "no". "This bill falls profoundly short. It does not do what we say it does with respect to deficits," said Rep. Chip Roy. Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) said "I am unable to support this package in its current form, but I look forward to strengthening this bill to ensure that it does pass, so that we full all of our America First promises to the American people." Whilst Ralph Norman (R-SC) said "Sadly, I’m a hard no until we get this ironed out." According to Punchbowl's Jake Sherman, Smucker likely flipped "no" to preserve the ability to reconsider the bill at a later time. House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Jody Arrington (R-TX) said after the vote "I do not anticipate us coming back today."

Putin Proposes Direct Talks With Ukraine, Zelensky Says Ceasefire Must Happen First - On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed starting direct peace talks with Ukraine without preconditions in Turkey this Thursday.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially responded by saying there must be a ceasefire before talks could be held. He later said that he was willing to meet with Putin in Istanbul this Thursday, but made clear it would still be conditional on a ceasefire.“We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings,” Zelesnky wrote on X. “And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses.”In his announcement proposing the talks, Putin said that Ukraine had rejected previous Russian ceasefire offers, including the three-day truce he declared for Russian Victory Day, which ended at midnight on May 11. Throughout the three days, both sides accused the other of violating the ceasefire.“I will repeat: we have proposed steps towards a ceasefire on many occasions. We have never refused to engage in dialogue with the Ukrainian side,” Putin said. President Trump said that he wanted Ukraine to accept Putin’s offer for direct talks without a ceasefire. “President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY,” he wrote on Truth Social. “At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!” he added. Despite Trump’s post, Zelensky said he expects a ceasefire to begin on Monday. “Starting tomorrow, we await a ceasefire — this proposal is on the table. A full and unconditional ceasefire, one that lasts long enough to provide a necessary foundation for diplomacy, could significantly bring peace closer,” he said.

Trump urges Ukraine to meet with Russia in Turkey to negotiate ‘a possible end to the bloodbath’ -President Trump on Sunday urged Ukrainian leaders to agree to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey later this week to negotiate an end to the three-year conflict.“President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH. Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump said on Truth Social. Trump added in the post that the meeting would help “determine whether or not a deal is possible” so European and American leaders can determine “where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!” “I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who’s too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll, which could not have been won (not even close!) without the United States of America. HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!” Trump added.Trump’s post came after Putin on Sunday proposed direct talks with Ukraine on Thursday in Istanbul “to achieve the restoration of a long-term, lasting peace.” Russia also launched drone attacks on Kyiv, The Associated Press reported, just hours after Putin proposed the talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed Russia’s offer for direct peace talks, but he insisted there must be a full, temporary ceasefire first, according to the AP. “We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy. There is no point in prolonging the killings,” Zelensky said in a post on the social platform X following Trump’s plea. “And I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses.”On Monday, Trump spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan about efforts to end the war in Ukraine, stating on Truth Social that he had a “very good and productive telephone conversation” that covered the war between Russia and Ukraine and the situations in Syria and Gaza. Trump said he was invited to visit Turkey and extended an invitation to Erdoğan to come to Washington. “In any event, I look forward to working with President Erdoğan on getting the ridiculous, but deadly, War between Russia and Ukraine ended — NOW!” Trump posted. Turkey is a NATO member that has attempted to maintain relations with both Ukraine and Russia throughout the conflict.

Trump Says He's 'Thinking' About Joining Ukraine-Russia Talks in Turkey - President Trump said on Monday that he was considering joining talks between Russia and Ukraine that are expected to be held in Istanbul this Thursday.“I think you may have a good result at the Thursday meeting in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine. I believe the two leaders are going to be there,” the president told reporters.“I was thinking about flying over. I don’t know where I’m going to be on Thursday, I’ve got so many meetings, but I was thinking about actually flying over there,” he added.Russian President Vladimir Putin first proposed the talks on Sunday, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky initially responded by saying the negotiations were conditional on a ceasefire.Zelensky appeared to back down on his position, saying on Monday that he was “ready” to travel to Turkey, though he still mentioned the idea of a ceasefire. “I am ready to come to Turkey. Unfortunately, the world still has not received a clear response from Russia to the numerous proposals for a ceasefire,” Zelensky said on X.The Ukrainian leader also welcomed the idea of Trump attending the talks. “It is important that President Trump fully supports the meeting, and we would like him to find an opportunity to come,” Zelensky said.European leaders are saying that Putin must agree to a ceasefire before the talks, but Trump has called on Ukraine to accept Russia’s proposal for negotiations without preconditions.So far, the Kremlin has not confirmed that Putin is willing to attend the talks himself. “Moscow has remained silent all day regarding the proposal for a direct meeting,” Zelensky said.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Putin’s approach to the talks was “aimed at finding a real diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian crisis, eliminating the root causes of the conflict, and establishing lasting peace.”The last time Russia and Ukraine held direct peace talks was back in the early days of the Russian invasion, in March and April 2022. At the time, Russia’s main demand was for Ukrainian neutrality. Those efforts were discouraged by the US, and later that year, Russia declared its annexation of four Ukrainian oblasts and added the recognition of that territory as Russia to its demands to end the war.

Trump on Putin skipping Ukraine peace talks: 'Why would he go if I'm not going?' President Trump said Thursday he was not surprised that Russian President Vladimir Putin was a no-show for peace talks with Ukraine being held in Turkey, attributing it to his own absence. “I actually said, ‘Why would he go if I’m not going?’” Trump told reporters in Qatar. “I would go, but I wasn’t planning to go, and I said, ‘I don’t think he’s going to go if I don’t go.'” The president left open the possibility of going to Turkey on Friday, though he acknowledged he had a full schedule on his next stop in the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates. “If something happened, I would go on Friday if it was appropriate,” Trump said. The president, speaking later Thursday aboard Air Force One, told reporters “nothing is going to happen” on Ukraine talks “until Putin and I get together.” The two men have spoken on the phone in recent weeks, but there are no concrete plans for them to meet in person.

Russia-Ukraine peace talks end after less than 2 hours with deal to swap POWs but no ceasefire - (AP) — The first direct Russia-Ukraine peace talks since the early weeks of Moscow’s 2022 invasion ended after less than two hours Friday, and while both sides agreed on a large prisoner swap, they clearly remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighting. One such condition for Ukraine, backed by its Western allies, is a temporary ceasefire as a first step toward a peaceful settlement. The Kremlin has pushed back against such a truce, which remains elusive. “We haven’t received a Russian ‘yes’ on this basic point,” Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhii said after the talks. “If you want to have serious negotiations, you have to have guns silenced.” But Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky pronounced himself “satisfied with the outcome,” adding that Moscow was ready to continue contacts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed the talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of France, Germany, the U.K. and Poland. In a post on X from a European leadership meeting in Albania, he urged “tough sanctions” against Moscow if it rejects “a full and unconditional ceasefire and an end to killings.” In Istanbul, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, according to the heads of both delegations, in what would be their biggest such swap. Both sides also discussed a ceasefire and a meeting between their heads of state, according to chief Ukrainian delegate, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, said both sides agreed to provide each other with detailed ceasefire proposals, with Ukraine requesting the heads of state meeting, which Russia took under consideration.

Iran Says Fourth Round of Talks With US 'Difficult But Useful' - Iran said on Sunday that the fourth round of negotiations it held with the US earlier in the day were “difficult but useful,” and both sides have agreed to hold more talks.“The fourth round of indirect Iran-US negotiations is concluded; difficult but useful talks to better understand each other’s positions and to find reasonable & realistic ways to address the differences,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei wrote on X. “Next round will be coordinated and announced by Oman.”A US official told Axios that an agreement was reached on moving forward and working out the technical details of a potential nuclear deal. “We are encouraged by today’s outcome and look forward to our next meeting, which will happen in the near future,” the official said.The US delegation was led by President Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the Iranian side was led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. According to the US official speaking to Axios, negotiations were held both indirectly and directly.It remains unclear exactly what kind of conditions the US is looking to impose on Iran’s nuclear program. Publicly, US officials have been calling for Iran to eliminate its nuclear enrichment program, which is a non-starter for Tehran. “Enrichment capability is one of the honors and achievements of the Iranian nation,” Aragchi said ahead of Sunday’s talks, adding that the issue was “non-negotiable.”President Trump said last week that the US hasn’t decided yet if it would agree to a deal that would allow Iran to continue enriching uranium. He has been threatening to bomb Iran if a deal isn’t reached, even though his intelligence agencies recently reaffirmed that there’s no evidence Tehran is building a bomb or that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reversed his ban on the development of nuclear weapons.

Treasury Department sanctions over 20 companies it says gave Iranian oil to China - The Treasury Department announced on Tuesday that it has sanctioned a network of more than 20 companies it says have supplied Iranian oil to China. The department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned nearly two dozen firms on Tuesday that it says have assisted in dispatching billions of dollars’ worth of oil to Beijing for Iran’s armed forces general staff and Sepehr Energy, its primary commercial affiliate. “Today’s action underscores our continued focus on intensifying pressure on every aspect of Iran’s oil trade, which the regime uses to fund its dangerous and destabilizing activities,” Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. “The United States will continue targeting this primary source of revenue, so long as the regime continues its support for terrorism and proliferation of deadly weapons,” Bessent added. The department imposed sanctions on Huangdao Inspection and Certification Co., stating they have been providing oil cargo inspection services to ships already sanctioned for carrying Iranian oil. CCIC Singapore PTE, an export company, was also on the list. The OFAC said CCIC Singapore PTE has assisted Sepehr in delivering inspections needed before the oil is transferred to China and in helping it hide where the oil originated. Qingdao Linkrich was also slapped with sanctions, with OFAC stating that it helped Sepehr Energy-chartered vessels with discharge and arrival at Qingdao Port in China. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the revenue from the sale of the oil funds helped in the development of “ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), nuclear proliferation, and Iran’s terrorist proxies, including the Houthis’ attacks on Red Sea Shipping, the U.S. Navy, and Israel.”

More Than 200 Republicans Work To Sabotage Chances of Iran Nuclear Deal - More than 200 Republicans in Congress have sent a letter to President Trump urging him that any deal with Iran must involve the complete dismantlement of Tehran’s nuclear enrichment program, which Iranian officials have made clear is a non-starter.The letter was signed by 177 GOP House members and every Republican in the Senate except for Rand Paul (R-KY). “The Iranian regime should know that the administration has Congressional backing to ensure their ability to enrich uranium is permanently eliminated,” the letter reads. The Republicans pointed to comments from Trump administration officials demanding Iran eliminate uranium enrichment, though it’s unclear if that’s the demand they’re making in talks with Iran, since negotiations continue to advance.“You and your administration have therefore correctly drawn a red line against a deal that allows Iran to retain any enrichment capacity,” the letter says.

Trump Sends Nuclear Proposal to Tehran, Demands Iran Act ‘Quickly’ - The president threatened that something “bad” would happen to the Islamic Republic if Tehran did not rapidly come to an agreement with the USby Kyle Anzalone May 16, 2025 at 1:30 pm ET CategoriesNewsPresident Donald Trump wrapped up his first trip abroad since returning to the Oval Office by sending Iran a proposal for a nuclear agreement and threatening that something “bad” would happen if Tehran did not quickly make a deal with Washington.On Friday, Trump said he passed the proposal to Iran and demanded they act quickly or face consequences. “We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran. I think we’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this,” he said. “But most importantly, they know they have to move quickly, or something bad is going to happen.” The previous day, Trump said that the two sides were close to a deal. Washington has not publicly revealed any details from the agreement. On Thursday, the Iranian foreign minister said Tehran had not received a proposal from Washington.The messaging from the White House has fluctuated significantly. At times, Washington has said that Tehran must completely abandon its nuclear program, including its ability to enrich uranium. At other points, US officials have said Iran could maintain nuclear enrichment in an arrangement similar to the 2015 nuclear deal.Tehran has said it will not sign a deal that requires it to give up its enrichment program.Trump and other top US officials have said a nuclear deal with Iran must come soon or Washington may declare war on Tehran. The White House says the short timeline is necessary, claiming Iran is getting close to building a nuclear weapon.However, the US intelligence community has said for over a decade that Tehran is not building a nuclear weapon.

US Replaces B-2 Bombers at Diego Garcia Base With B-52s - The US is replacing the B-2 stealth bombers it deployed to its base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean with B-52 bombers, US officials have toldReuters.The US began deploying the B-2s to Diego Garcia in March as President Trump was threatening to bomb Iran and was carrying out heavy airstrikes in Yemen. Trump also deployed an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East, a second THAAD missile defense system to Israel, and other air assets to the region.Between March 15 and May 6, the US launched over 1,000 strikes on Yemen, killing over 200 civilians. According to Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin, the US used the B-2 bombers it deployed to Diego Garcia for some of the attacks.Tensions in the region have cooled since Trump ended his bombing campaign in Yemen, and the US has held several rounds of talks with Iran.But the US is maintaining its additional force posture in the region, and Trump administration officials have still been threatening an attack on Iran if negotiations to reach a nuclear deal fail, even though there’s no evidence Tehran is working toward a nuclear weapon.Satellite images have shown that in recent days, four B-52 bombers and at least six B-2s have been deployed to the base. The US officials speaking to Reuters said the B-52s were there to replace the B-2s.The main difference between the two aircraft is the B-2’s stealth ability. Both bombers can carry the heaviest bombs in the US arsenal, including nuclear weapons.

US Launches Airstrike in Somalia, Says It Targeted al-Shabaab - US Africa Command announced on Wednesday that its forces launched an airstrike in Somalia a day earlier that targeted al-Shabaab just north of Mogadishu.The command refused to share any details about the strike, saying, “Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security.”The attack comes as the US-backed federal government is facing an offensive from al-Shabaab that may threaten its control over Mogadishu. The threat is real enough that, according to The New York Times, State Department officials recently suggested closing down the US embassy in Mogadishu and evacuating most US personnel.The Times report, which was published April 10, said that other administration officials, including Sebastian Gorka, the top counterterrorism official on the National Security Council, were pushing for the US to escalate its air campaign against al-Shabaab.The continued US airstrikes in Somalia suggest that the Trump administration is doubling down on propping up the federal government, which appears as weak as ever and controls little territory inside Somalia’s internationally recognized borders.

Rand Paul: Qatar jet not good idea, could cloud US ability to judge human rights record - Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he doesn’t think it’s a good idea for President Trump to accept a luxury Boeing jet from Qatar since it could possibly hinder the United States’s ability to call out any human rights violations. “I’ve spent time trying not to sell weapons to Qatar because they have human rights violations of their people,” Paul said in a Monday interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters. “I really haven’t been a big fan, and I wonder if our ability to judge their human rights record would be clouded by the fact of this large gift.” “I wouldn’t take it. That’s just me,” he added. The Boeing 747-8 airplane from the government of Qatar would replace Air Force One and be kept by Trump’s eventual presidential library after the end of his term. Boeing has had a contract with the U.S. government to build a new Air Force One, but it has been delayed. Trump, who is set to visit Qatar this week in the first extended foreign trip of his second term, defended his potential acceptance of a new plane, saying it would be “stupid” not to do so. “I could be a stupid person and say, ‘Oh no, we don’t want a free plane.’ We give free things out, we’ll take one too. And, it helps us out because … we have 40-year-old aircraft,” he said Monday morning, referring to Air Force One. “So, I think it’s a great gesture from Qatar, I appreciate it very much. I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I could be a stupid person and say, ‘No we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane,’ but I thought it was a great gesture.” Rand isn’t the only Senate Republican who has expressed uneasiness about the potential arrangement. While Republicans were not quick to criticize the gift, they have indicated concerns for several reasons. “I’m not flying on a Qatari plane. They support Hamas,” said Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), an ardent Trump supporter. “I don’t know how you make it safe.” “‘Gosh, let me give you a plane.’ I mean, that seems pretty nice, but they support Hamas, so I don’t know. I don’t know how you make it safe,” Scott continued, declining to say what Trump should do as the decision is up to him. “I don’t want the president of the United States flying on an unsafe plane.”

Reed: Trump’s Qatar plane would ‘pose immense counterintelligence risks’ President Trump’s acceptance of a Qatar-donated Boeing 747 as a new Air Force One aircraft would pose “immense counterintelligence risks” to the United States if used, according to the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Trump on Sunday confirmed that his administration is planning to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 from the Qatari government, worth roughly $400 million and meant to replace Air Force One for much of the rest of his term. While reports have emerged that the Defense Department would take possession of the 13-year-old aircraft and configure it for presidential use — including by altering its electronic and communications equipment — Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) on Monday raised serious questions as to the safety of that plan. Using the plane as Air Force One “would pose immense counterintelligence risks by granting a foreign nation potential access to sensitive systems and communications,” Reed, the ranking member of his chamber’s defense panel, said in a statement. “This reckless disregard for national security and diplomatic propriety signals a dangerous willingness to barter American interests for personal gain,” Reed said, adding that “it is an affront to the office of the presidency and a betrayal of the trust placed in any U.S. leader to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty.” Washington has been up in arms over news that Trump intends to take possession of Qatar’s Boeing aircraft, with the president arguing that the move is sound, considering that Boeing has been delayed in delivering a new Air Force One to the administration. “It’s a great gesture from Qatar,” Trump told reporters Monday. “I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I mean, I could be a stupid person and say, ‘No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane.’”

Cruz raises espionage concerns over Qatar's jet gift to US - Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) is warning that Qatar’s gift of a luxury Boeing 747-8 to the Trump administration to serve as the new Air Force One poses “significant espionage and surveillance problems,” a concern voiced by other lawmakers. “I’m not a fan of Qatar. I think they have a really disturbing pattern of funding theocratic lunatics who want to murder us, funding Hamas and Hezbollah. And that’s a real problem,” Cruz said in an interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Tuesday. “I also think the plane poses significant espionage and surveillance problems,” he warned. “We’ll see how this issue plays out, but I certainly have concerns.” The value of the plane is estimated at $400 million, which Qatar’s royal family offered as a gift to the United States ahead of Trump’s first major foreign trip of his second term to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Trump has argued that only a “stupid person” would not accept the gift, but some experts and lawmakers are questioning whether it could be fully swept for eavesdropping or other foreign intelligence equipment. Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, warned that using the Qatari plane would “pose immense counterintelligence risks by granting a foreign nation potential access to sensitive systems and communications. Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, noted the plane’s extensive electrical system would be very difficult to check thoroughly for potential security vulnerabilities. “It is completely negligent and, as far as I’m concerned, reckless to think that Air Force One where the president is asked to function as our commander in chief in a situation room, making life-or-death decisions, is on a plane given to us by a foreign government with 200 miles of wiring in it,” he said. Asked if Durbin is concerned about espionage, he replied: “I certainly am.” “Two hundred miles of wiring in this plane? We’re going to go through every square inch of that to make certain the Qataris or some other government doesn’t have access to the most important decisions made by our president? This is irresponsible,” he said. Durbin said he wants to hear Attorney General Pam Bondi testify before Congress about the approval of the Qatari gift. “Remember, she was a paid agent of the Qatari government, a lobbyist, before she became attorney general,” he said.

Loomer: Qatari jet gift a ‘stain’ on Trump presidency - Conservative provocateur Laura Loomer, who has been a staunch supporter of President Trump, called him out over the weekend as the White House prepares to receive a $400 million Boeing jet from the Qatari government.“I love President Trump. I would take a bullet for him,” Loomer wrote in a post on the social platform X. “But, I have to call a spade a spade. We cannot accept a $400 million ‘gift’ from jihadists in suits.”“This is really going to be such a stain on the admin if this is true,” Loomer said. “I’m so disappointed.” Trump confirmed reporting that Qatar’s royal family plans to give a Boeing 747-8 airplane to the Department of Defense to replace the aging Air Force One while he’s in office. According to ABC News, which first reported the plans, the plane will be transferred to Trump’s presidential library when he leaves office. The gift is expected to be formally announced when Trump travels to the Middle East this week. Loomer, who has faced backlash in the past for spreading anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric, blasted the arrangement as a move that would run contrary to the push to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a “terrorist organization.”“It’s going to be hard for the admin to designate the Muslim Brotherhood and obliterate Iranian proxies in Hamas and Hezbollah when Qatar funds the Muslim Brotherhood, harbors HAMAS, and the US just accepted a $400 million jet from Qatar,” Loomer wrote. “The biggest lobby in DC is the Qatar lobby. We are watching an Islamic takeover of our country in real time.”

Democrats question Pete Hegseth on Donald Trump's Qatar jet security risks --Several Democratic senators are questioning Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over President Trump’s acceptance of a jet from Qatar, stressing in a letter the national security risks and counterintelligence concerns inherent in such a transaction. “The American people deserve to understand this administration’s plans for securing this aircraft, the vulnerabilities its use will present to our national security and the price tag they will be asked to pay for President Trump’s decision to integrate this aircraft into our most sensitive fleet,” the group of lawmakers, led by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) wrote in the letter dated Wednesday. Earlier this week, Trump said he would accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jet from the Qatari government. The aircraft would be received by the Defense Department in what the president described as a “very public and transparent transaction.” But the move has been met with criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike. Democrats, in the letter, deemed it “unconstitutional” and expressed concerns about threats to the president’s safety. The group of lawmakers argued it “provides a dangerous opportunity to exploit for foreign intelligence agencies and adversaries seeking to do harm to the United States.” “An unsecure and unprotected Air Force One presents clear dangers to our national security,” the lawmakers continued. GOP lawmakers, including Sens. Todd Young (Ind.) and Ted Cruz (Texas), also expressed discomfort about the jet, reiterating Democrats’ concerns about the country’s security.

Department Of Defense Orders Halt To Gender Transition Medicine, Procedures - The U.S. Department of Defense said in a new memorandum that it is halting medical treatments and procedures for troops who identify as transgender and other personnel with gender dysphoria (GD).“Within the direct care component, meaning at military medical treatment facilities ... Service members and all other covered beneficiaries 19 years of age or older may only receive mental health care and counseling for GD,” Dr. Stephen L. Ferrara, acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said in the memo, which is dated May 9.“Apart from consults for the diagnosis of GD and provision of mental health care and counseling ... staff will refer all other care (e.g., cross-sex hormone therapy) for GD to the private sector.”The Pentagon did not return a request for comment by publication time. GD refers to when a person believes they’re a gender that’s different from their sex. President Donald Trump, after taking office in January, said in an order that “expressing a false ‘gender identity’ divergent from an individual’s sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service.”Defense officials later said that all troops with a history of GD would be discharged, with limited exceptions. That process was paused after court rulings against the policy. The Supreme Court on May 6 stayed those rulings, enabling officials to resume the process.Officials said on May 8 that they were discharging about 1,000 troops who identify as transgender or otherwise have GD.Ferrara said in the new memo, which was sent to the director of the Defense Health Agency and assistant secretaries at the Army, Navy, and Air Force, that he was providing fresh guidance in light of the Supreme Court ruling.That includes emphasizing that military doctors are not to perform any surgeries that would aid in gender transition, such as breast removal.Ferrara also said that all unscheduled, scheduled, and planned surgical procedures “associated with facilitating sex reassignment for Service members diagnosed with GD” are now canceled, as are any previously approved waivers for the surgeries. Ferrara said his office would accept waiver requests for care deemed medically necessary to address surgical complications.The military is allowing troops with GD who have been receiving cross-sex hormones to keep receiving them until they are separated, if a health care provider recommends that path “in order to prevent further complications.” The Department of Defense, though, will no longer pay for newly initiated cross-sex hormones, according to the memo, as ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Ex-Senate Democrat: Trump avoiding Israel on Middle East trip sends ‘hell of a message’ -- Former Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) weighed in on President Trump’s trip to the Middle East, saying Tuesday that the decision not to visit Israel sends a clear message about his stance on the war in Gaza. Trump traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, late Monday to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss investment. He is also slated to make stops in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar.“I think that the fact that he’s avoiding Israel on this trip sends a hell of a message,” Tester said Tuesday during an appearance on MSNBC. “If Israel didn’t pick this message up, they’re tone deaf,” he continued. “Because the message is pretty clear, I think, to everybody around him, that if you want to play in the Middle East, then you’ve got to be nice with others, and there’s been a lot of problems over the last few years.”His comments come as the Israeli military has continued to conduct airstrikes on civilians in the West Bank and blocked humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip — which is run by Palestinian militant group Hamas.Trump and administration officials had encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire but recently turned their focus to recovering American hostages.Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage held by Hamas was released on Monday, as Israeli forces struck a school-turned-shelter in Gaza, killing a group of around 16 people that consisted mostly of women and children.

Trump, Saudis secure $600B investment deal to include billions in defense --President Trump on Tuesday secured a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the United States along with a multibillion-dollar defense partnership following a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. The investment, according to a White House fact sheet, will strengthen energy security, defense, technology and access to global infrastructure and critical minerals. It includes a $142 billion defense and security deal that equips Saudi Arabia with state-of-the-art war equipment provided by dozens of U.S. firms. The equipment includes air and missile defense and air force and space advancements. The White House called the deal “historic and transformative for both countries” and said it brings in “a new golden era of partnership.” Days after Trump’s inauguration, the crown prince first announced the Arab nation would invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the four years of Trump’s second term. The White House is detailing those investments following the meeting in Saudi Arabia. As part of the deal, Saudi Arabian company DataVolt is moving forward with plans to invest $20 billion in artificial intelligence data centers and energy infrastructure in the U.S., and top companies such as Google, Oracle, Salesforce and Uber, among others, are investing $80 billion in technologies in both countries. Also included in the deal are infrastructure projects American companies Hill International, Jacobs, Parsons, and AECOM are taking on in Saudi Arabia, including at King Salman International Airport, to total $2 billion in U.S. services exports. Other exports will include GE Vernova’s gas turbines and energy solutions, worth $14.2 billion, and Boeing 737-8 passenger aircraft for Saudi company AviLease, worth $4.8 billion, according to the White House. Additionally, health care company Shamekh IV Solutions will invest $5.8 billion, including through a plant in Michigan to launch a high-capacity IV fluid facility. Several sector-specific funds will be created through the investment partnership, including a $5 billion energy investment fund, $5 billion New Era Aerospace and Defense Technology Fund and $4 billion Enfield Sports Global Sports Fund. “President Trump is the dealmaker in chief, and he has once again secured a historic deal that strengthens America’s economic dominance and global influence,” the White House fact sheet said. The White House also argued the investment builds on the deal struck with the United Kingdom last week to include billions of dollars of increased market access to American exports.

Trump Signs Major Weapons and Investment Deals With Saudi Arabia - The Trump administration announced a massive weapons sale to Saudi Arabia worth nearly $142 billion, calling it the “largest defense sales agreement in history.” In exchange, Riyadh gave assurances that it would go ahead with $600 billion in investments in the United States.The White House announced the deals on Tuesday as Trump visited the Gulf kingdom, noting they would cover energy, defense, mining and technology. It said the weapons sale would provide Saudi Arabia with “state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen US defense firms.”The $142 billion military package will help Riyadh to upgrade its air force and missile defenses, coastal security, “space capabilities,” as well as its communications systems, and will include “extensive training and support to build the capacity of the Saudi armed forces,” the White House fact sheet added.In addition to receiving weapons and gear from more than 12 US arms-makers, senior Boeing official Michael Strosnider told Saudi state TV on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia could soon be integrated into the global supply chain for the F-15EX fighter jet, though offered few details. Last year, the company said it was weighing a potential sale of F-15EXs to the kingdom, as well as a deal to upgrade its existing fleet.The White House announcement went on to tout Riyadh’s “historic and transformative” $600 billion investment pledge, which will include a wide range of contracts with American Big Tech firms, billions for AI data centers and energy infrastructure in the US, and major purchases from Boeing and GE, among other deals.“We will work in the coming months on the second phase to complete deals and raise it to $1 trillion,” Trump said in Riyadh during a four-day trip to the Middle East.Accompanied by a number of American business leaders, including Elon Musk, the president is slated to travel to Qatar on Wednesday, and then onto the United Arab Emirates the following day.Ahead of his visit to the UAE, the State Department on Monday said it had approved possible sales of CH-47F Chinook helicopters and F-16 fighter jet components to Abu Dhabi for a combined $1.4 billion. Those deals still require a final rubber stamp by lawmakers, however, with some Senate Democrats vowing to block the sales. Much like Saudi Arabia, the UAE has pledged to invest some $1.4 trillion in the US economy over the next decade, likely seeking favorable weapons sales and other benefits in return.

Boeing Scores Largest-Ever Order As Dealmaking Trump Tours Gulf States --President Trump's Gulf tour began Tuesday with the lifting of long-standing U.S. sanctions on Syria and a massive $600 billion investment deal from Saudi Arabia to invest in the American economy. The visit quickly led to a flurry of other investments, including multibillion-dollar AI dealsbetween U.S. chipmakers Nvidia and AMD with Humain, a newly launched artificial intelligence firm backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. On Wednesday, the momentum continued in Qatar, where Trump unveiled Boeing's largest widebody aircraft order ever. Faisal Al-Mudahka, editor-in-chief of the Gulf Times, described Qatar Airways' massive purchase of between 160 - 200 widebody aircraft from Boeing—the largest order in the company's history—as a "win-win" for both nations. "I think Donald Trump and Qatar know how to package things to make political gains and economic gains," Al-Mudahka said. Qatar Airways has become one of the world's top airlines, with a growing market share worldwide. The expanded fleet of the 787 Dreamliner model will allow the airline to add more long-haul flights. Earlier, Trump participated in a signing ceremony on a series of bilateral agreements with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, including:

• Qatar Airways signed an agreement to purchase 210 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines.
• A number of defence agreements, including a letter of intent on defence cooperation and a letter offer and acceptance for MQ-9B drones.
• A joint declaration of cooperation between the two nations.

After the signing ceremony, Qatar's emir said he had a "great" few hours with Trump, during which they discussed various topics. I think after signing these documents, we are going to another level of relations," the emir said. Trump also congratulated Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who was also in Doha, for the signing of the deal. Here's the White House's fact sheet of the agreement with Qatar to generate at least $1.2 trillion in economic activity between both countries:

• The landmark deals celebrated today will drive innovation and prosperity for generations, bolster American manufacturing and technological leadership, and put America on the path to a new Golden Age.
• Since President Trump took office, his commitment to American manufacturing and innovation has attracted trillions of dollars in investments and global commercial deals. Allies like Qatar are partnering in the United States' success.

Boeing shares rose 2% in the late morning cash session in New York, trading around the $208 handle—the highest level in roughly 15 months

Trump administration, UAE partner for AI campus in Abu Dhabi - -The Trump administration and the United Arab Emirates are partnering to build a massive data center in Abu Dhabi that is expected to be the largest artificial intelligence (AI) campus outside the United States. The AI campus, unveiled during President Trump’s visit to the UAE, will have 5 gigawatts of capacity and will eventually stretch across 10 square miles, the Commerce Department announced Thursday. The data center at Qasr Al Watan will serve as a regional platform for U.S. hyperscalers, which are technology companies that provide cloud computing and data management services. These companies will be able to offer low-latency services to nearly half of the global population resigning within 2,000 miles of the UAE, the Commerce Department. “In the UAE, American companies will operate the data centers and offer American-managed cloud services throughout the region,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a statement Thursday. “By extending the world’s leading American tech stack to an important strategic partner in the region, this agreement is a major milestone in achieving President Trump’s vision for U.S. AI dominance.” It is one of a flurry of AI-related deals the Trump administration signed this week with the Gulf states. The Trump administration has made American AI dominance a key goal of its technology policy, though some have concerns these deals sidestepped national security concerns. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) slammed Trump’s support for deals to sell advanced U.S. chip technology to Saudi Arabia and the UAE on Thursday. Schumer said Trump would “greenlight the sale of the most sensitive U.S. chip technology in exchange for vague promises of more foreign investment.” “This deal could very well be dangerous because we have no clarity on how the Saudis and Emiratis will prevent the Chinese Communist Party, the Chinese government, the Chinese manufacturing establishment from getting their hands on these chips,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.

Trump Slams ‘Neocons,’ ‘Nation Builders’ in Saudi Speech President Donald Trump traveled to Saudi Arabia for the first foreign trip of his second administration. During an address in the Gulf kingdom, Trumpslammed neocons and Iran, while also weighing in on Ukraine and Syria.“It’s crucial for the wider world to know this great transformation has not come from Western interventionists, or flying people in beautiful planes giving you lectures on how to live and how to govern your own affairs,” the president said. “In the end, the so-called nation builders wrecked far more nations than they built and the interventionists were intervening in complex societies that they did not even understand themselves.”Trump added, “No, the gleaming marvels of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not created by the so-called nation builders, neocons, or liberal nonprofits like those who spent trillions and trillions of dollars failing to develop Baghdad, so many other cities.”The comparison of the Iraqi and Saudi capitals is notable, as the US spent trillions of dollars fighting a war in Iraq and attempting to rebuild the country as a Western democracy. That project is widely regarded as a failure that led to the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The president also discussed his engagement with Iran during the address. “I want to make a deal with Iran. If I can make a deal with Iran, I’ll be very happy,” Trump added. “We’re going to make your region and the world a safer place. But if Iran’s leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive, maximum pressure.” Trump has previously stated that Iran must agree to a new nuclear deal or face attacks from the US. Tehran signed a nuclear agreement with the US in 2015, but Trump withdrew from that agreement in 2018.While discussing Syria, Trump said Washington would lift sanctions on Damascus to give them a “chance at greatness.” The US imposed sanctions on Syria as a part of Washington’s regime change war to remove President Bashar al-Assad. After he was finally driven from Syria and his government collapsed, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani seized power in Damascus.Jolani, a veteran of the Iraq War and the founder of al-Qaeda in Syria, has been embraced by Western leaders. Jolani’s government has committed horrific violence directed at Syria’s minority sects, leading to thousands of Alawites murdered. Additionally, the president said that a top American official would travel to Turkey on Thursday for major talks between Russia and Ukraine. “Our people are going to be going there. [Secretary of State Marco Rubio] is going to be going there. Others are going to be going, and we’ll see if we can get it done,” he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, hosted by Turkey. Initially, Zelensky refused to attend unless Moscow agreed to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. However, after pressure from Trump, Zelensky said he would attend the summit.

Inside Trump’s Hardball Strategy to Control Global Oil Prices There is one critical economic reason and one crucial political one why sitting U.S. presidents want to keep oil prices at the lower rather than higher end of historical averages. The economic rationale centres on the close correlation between oil prices and the wider health of the U.S. economy. Historical data highlights that every US$10 per barrel (pb) or so change in the price of crude oil results in around a 25-30 cent change in the price of a gallon of gasoline, and for every 1 cent that the average price per gallon of gasoline rises, more than US$1 billion or so per year in consumer spending is lost. The political reason is that since 1896, the sitting U.S. president has won re-election 11 times out of 11 if the economy was not in recession within two years of an upcoming election. However, sitting U.S. presidents who went into a re-election campaign with the economy in recession won only one time out of seven. The same pattern broadly applies to the re-election chances of candidates of any sitting president’s party in U.S. mid-term elections as well, the outcome of which affects the ability of the incumbent leader to push ahead with their legislative agenda for the last two years of their presidency. In any event, the statistics make sober reading for incumbent U.S. presidents and the senatorial, congressional and gubernatorial candidates of their party when considering how to handle domestic and international policies related to the oil price. Consequently, it is not surprising -- as Bob McNally, the former energy adviser to former President George W. Bush put it – that, “Few things terrify an American president more than a spike in fuel [gasoline] prices.” Trump’s view when he began his first term as president on 20 January 2017 was that the oil price needed to trade in a US$40-45 per barrel (pb) of Brent to US$75-80 pb range – ‘The Trump Oil Price Range’. The floor was seen as the price at which most U.S. shale oil producers could make a decent profit, and the ceiling was seen as being most advantageous for U.S. economic growth. However, at that point the Saudis were still trying desperately in 2017 to repair the appalling damage its 2014-2016 Oil Price War had done to its own finances and to those of its OPEC brothers, so they embarked on coordinated production cuts (with Russia as the new-found member of the expended ‘OPEC+’ cartel) to push the oil price higher. Harking back to the original 1945 U.S.-Saudi Arabia agreement that balanced oil against security as also examined inmy latest book, Trump said: “OPEC and OPEC nations are, as usual, ripping off the rest of the world, and I don’t like it. Nobody should like it.” He added: “We defend many of these nations for nothing, and then they take advantage of us by giving us high oil prices. Not good. We want them to stop raising prices. We want them to start lowering prices and they must contribute substantially to military protection from now on.” Following Trump’s direct and clear warnings to Saudi Arabia’s Royal Family in the third quarter of 2018 of the catastrophic consequences if the Kingdom continued to keep oil prices higher than the US$80 per barrel Brent price ceiling, Saudi Arabia increased production and oil prices came down again. That period was the only part of Trump’s presidency that saw his Oil Price Trading Range breached to the upside. That said, the ceiling of this range is well below the recent levels that Saudi Arabia has needed to fully restore its finances to where they were before the onset of the 2014-2016 Oil Price War. This pricing discrepancy prompted Saudi Arabia to launch another oil price war in 2020 using the same strategy that had previously failed in 2014-2016 and towards the same aim of setting back the seemingly inexorable advance of the U.S. shale oil sector. Trump’s reaction to this was even more aggressive than before, with a telephone call made on 2 April (according to a very senior source in the White House spoken to by OilPrice.com at the time) in which he very clearly told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that unless OPEC started cutting oil production – so allowing oil prices to rise (above the danger zone for U.S. shale oil producers) – that he would be powerless to stop lawmakers from passing legislation to withdraw U.S. troops from Saudi Arabia. It was also made very clear by Trump that the next time the Saudis tried the same thing it would be the end of the 1945 Agreement between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. This, said Trump, would involve the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. military assistance from the Kingdom, without further notice. Following that, Saudi Arabia and OPEC gradually cut oil production to bring prices back up. As of now, Saudi Arabia’s 2025 fiscal breakeven price per barrel of the Brent crude benchmark is a minimum of US$90.9, according to IMF figures. So bad are the real-world ramifications of this that several ‘Vision 2030’ projects – aimed at reducing the Kingdom’s dependence on oil -- have either been suspended or radically reduced in size, including the flagship Neom City development. Initially-costed at US$1.5 trillion the linear city project located has been cut back in size from 106 miles long to just 1.6 miles long. A deficit on both the current account and budget are still in place, and according to economic data sources Saudi Arabia’s public debt jumped 16% to over US$324 billion last year. “This gap between the spot Brent price and the level the Saudis need to breakeven fiscally looks set to run and with retaliatory options cut off now Trump’s in power, it looks like they’ll have to keep going to the debt markets to fill it,” a senior source in the European Union’s energy security complex exclusively told OilPrice.com last week. “This is likely to make it [Saudi Arabia] even more reliant on the U.S. over time, given the dominance of the country in the global bond markets,” he added. On top of all this, Trump ordered the ‘No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels’ (NOPEC) Bill be made fully ready to be passed into law at minimal notice, as a further deterrent to be used against Saudi Arabia. The NOPEC Bill would make it illegal to artificially cap oil production or to set prices, as OPEC does under the leadership of the Kingdom. The Bill would also immediately remove the sovereign immunity in U.S. courts for OPEC as a group and for every one of its individual member states. This would leave Saudi Arabia open to being sued under existing U.S. anti-trust legislation, with its total liability being its estimated US$1 trillion of investments in the U.S. alone. The U.S. would then be legally entitled to freeze all Saudi bank accounts in the U.S., seize its assets in the country, and halt all use of U.S. dollars by the Saudis anywhere in the world (oil is denominated in U.S. dollars, of course). It would also allow the U.S. to go after Saudi Aramco and its assets and funds, as it is still a majority state-owned production and trading vehicle. This would mean that Aramco could be ordered to break itself up into smaller, constituent companies that are not deemed to break competition rules in the oil, gas, and petrochemicals sectors or to influence the oil price.

Trump to roll back US sanctions on Syria - President Trump announced Tuesday he was rolling back sanctions on Syria at the urging of allies in the Middle East in an effort to boost the new government in Damascus. “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump said in remarks in Riyadh, prompting a standing ovation from a sea of Saudi officials in the room. Trump said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Erdoğan had encouraged him to remove the sanctions, which had been imposed against the former Bashar al-Assad regime amid a brutal civil war. The Assad government was driven out of office by Syrian rebels late last year. “Oh what I do for the crown prince,” Trump said with a laugh on Monday. “The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important function…but now it’s [Syria’s] time to shine.” Trump said his secretary of State, Marco Rubio, would meet later this week in Turkey with the new Syrian foreign minister. U.S. sanctions had cut Syria off from the global financial system and imposed other economic penalties on the government as civil war raged on for more than a decade. Leaving those sanctions in place would make it difficult for the new government to lead a recovery, experts said. “In Syria, which has seen so much misery and death, there is a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace,” Trump said.

Trump Will Lift All Sanctions on Syria, Will Meet HTS Leader Wednesday - President Trump has announced that he will lift all sanctions the US has against the Syrian government, which he says will “give them a chance at greatness.” He will also meet Syria’s leader, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday.The US has had sanctions on Syria since 1979, then declaring them a state sponsor of terrorism. They increased those sanctions in 2004 and again in 2011. The sanctions put in place in 2011 forbade all US citizens from investing in Syria in any way or providing services to their petroleum industry.When the Syrian Civil War was raging, control over Syria’s once substantial oil and gas infrastructure was a big focus. The US helped the Kurdish SDF capture the Conoco gas field in the northeast, for instance. An American company, Conoco withdrew from Syria in 2005, and the field was run by the state-run gas company up until the war.While the war apparently ended in December with the HTS seizing power, control over the infrastructure is still speculative, and the condition of those sites is uncertain, as many have not operated anywhere near full capacity for many years. That may be where the meeting with Sharaa comes in. White House officials have confirmed the meeting, though Trump only said he “agreed to say hello” while both of them are in Saudi Arabia. Sharaa is expected to pitch a minerals deal to Trump, reportedly similar to the one agreed to with Ukraine. This mineral deal proposal was couched as suggesting the mineral deal in return for the sanctions relief. With the sanctions eased, Syria would not only be able to recover frozen assets, but could also contract with US companies for bring the oil and gas industry back to its former capacity. The deal may also have an eye on encouraging the US to support HTS rule into the future for economic reasons. Sharaa has reportedly also offered a Trump Tower to be built in Damascus. The meeting will likely be controversial, as the HTS is still a designed terrorist group in the US and Sharaa, who was formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, was a key figure in al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), captured by US troops during the Iraq War and held for years in various detention centers.

Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Arrested for Confronting Congress About Slaughter of Gaza Children - - Ben Cohen, co-founder of the ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s, was arrested at a Senate hearing on Wednesday for confronting Congress about its support for Israel’s slaughter of children in Gaza.“Congress kills poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs and pays for it by kicking kids off Medicaid in the US,” Cohen said as he was being escorted out of the hearing by Capitol Police. Cohen also called out Congress for its support for Israel’s starvation blockade on Gaza, which has been imposed since March 2. “Congress and senators need to ease the siege; they need to let food into Gaza,” he said.Cohen’s protest occurred as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a staunch supporter of Israel, was giving testimony to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.Capitol Police told Axios that Cohen was charged with “Crowding, Obstructing, or Incommoding.” Six others were arrested and charged during the hearing. Based on videos of the incident, their protest was not related to Gaza.“I told Congress they’re killing poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs, and they’re paying for it by kicking poor kids off Medicaid in the US,” Cohen wrote on X after the incident. “This was the authorities’ response.” Cohen has a history of antiwar activism and was arrested at the Department of Justice in 2023 for protesting in support of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. He recently appeared on the Tucker Carlson Show and discussed his opposition to US involvement in the war in Ukraine.

UN Rejects US and Israeli-Backed Aid Plan for Gaza - The UN on Thursday rejected a US and Israeli-backed Gaza aid plan, which has been condemned as a transparent effort to use aid to force Palestinians into a tiny area of southern Gaza. “This particular distribution plan does not accord with our basic principles, including those of impartiality, neutrality, independence, and we will not be participating in this,” deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters. Haq’s comments come a day after a new US-backed organization, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), announced that it would begin distributing aid in Gaza by the end of May and said that it had Israeli permission. UN agencies and other aid organizations say they have thousands of trucks ready to enter Gaza to bring relief to the starving Palestinian population, but the US and Israel have devised the new scheme for aid over allegations that Hamas has diverted previous shipments, which the Palestinian group has denied.The GHF plan would help facilitate Israel’s goals for its planned escalations in Gaza, which include the goal of “concentrating” the entire civilian population south of the Morag Corridor, a strip of land that separates the southern Gaza cities of Rafah and Khan Younis.According to Israeli media, the plan is to establish four aid distribution sites south of the Morag Corridor, meaning Palestinians would be forced to travel to the area or starve. BBC reported on Thursday that an additional aid distribution site might be established near the Netzarim Corridor, which separates northern Gaza from the rest of the Strip.

White House Working on Plan to Send 1 Million Palestinians to Libya - The Donald Trump administration is attempting to bribe one of the warring parties in Libya to accept 1 million Palestinians that Israel is attempting to cleanse from Gaza. Libya became a failed state after the US-led regime change war against longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.According to NBC News, multiple US officials confirmed that the Trump administration was in negotiations with one of Libya’s competing governments. “In exchange for the resettling of Palestinians, the administration would potentially release to Libya billions of dollars of funds that the U.S. froze more than a decade ago,” the report explains.The NBC News report did not specify if the US was talking with the Tripoli-based government led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, or the eastern government led by Khalifa Haftar. Libya has been in a state of civil war since the US-backed jihadist-linked rebels overthrew and murdered Gaddafi in 2011.Fighting has erupted in the areas around Tripoli in recent weeks. Both Libyan governments are accused of serious human rights abuses, and the State Department directs Americans not to travel to the North African state “due to crime, terrorism, unexploded landmines, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict.”NBC News noted that representatives from the US, Israel, Dbeibah, and Haftar did not respond to requests for comment.The report comes as both Netanyahu and Trump have discussed proposals for the massive displacement of Palestinians in recent days. On Friday, the American leader said, “I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good: Make it a freedom zone. Let the United States get involved, and make it just a freedom zone.”He added, “I’d be proud to have the United States have it, take it, make it a freedom zone, let some good things happen. Put people in homes where they can be safe, and Hamas is going to have to be dealt with.”Trump floated a similar proposal earlier in his administration. At the time, he said the Palestinians would be removed from the Strip and sent to live in refugee cities in third countries.

Trump Says He Wants the US To 'Take' Gaza and 'Turn It Into a Freedom Zone' - President Trump said on Thursday that he wants the US to “take” Gaza and turn it into a “freedom zone,” signaling he hasn’t given up on his idea for a US takeover of the territory.The president made the comments during a meeting with business leaders in Qatar before heading to the UAE later in the day.“I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good: Make it a freedom zone. Let the United States get involved, and make it just a freedom zone,” the president said.“I’d be proud to have the United States have it, take it, make it a freedom zone, let some good things happen. Put people in homes where they can be safe, and Hamas is going to have to be dealt with,” he added.

Concluding Middle East tour, Trump reiterates plan for US to “take” Gaza US President Donald Trump concluded his Middle East tour in Qatar Thursday by reiterating his administration’s plan to annex the Gaza Strip, on the same day that Israel massacred over 136 Palestinians. “I’d be proud to have the United States have it, take it, make it a freedom zone,” Trump said, referring to Gaza. He added, “It’s not like you’re trying to save something. There’s no buildings.” Trump did not mention the fact that this destruction had been wrought using US-provided weapons. In February, Trump declared that “The US will take over the Gaza Strip.... We’ll own it.” He said the US will “level it out” and “create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs.” In February, Trump explicitly called for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, stating that other countries will “build various domains that will ultimately be occupied by the 1.8 million Palestinians living in Gaza.” In recent days, the US and international media have been full of reports of a “rift” between the US and Israel, which Trump did not visit during his tour of the Middle East. It is clear, however, that the US is fully committed to the Israeli genocide in Gaza. The Times of Israel reported Thursday that the Trump administration was not seeking to pressure Israel to stop the “war” in Gaza, declaring, “The Israeli government is a sovereign government.” In the three months since Trump made his proposal to “own” Gaza and expel its Palestinian population, the Netanyahu government has made major inroads toward this plan. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a plan to place Gaza under permanent military occupation and displace its population to concentration camps in preparation for their removal. Echoing the “final solution,” the Nazi term for the genocide of Europe’s Jews, Netanyahu declared, “It’s time to launch the concluding moves.” The means by which the Netanyahu government hopes to displace the Palestinians from Gaza is through mass starvation. For 74 days, there has been no food, water, or electricity allowed into Gaza, leading to a surge in malnutrition. The Netanyahu government is hoping to use food as a weapon to force the displacement of the Palestinian people.

Multiple Western Press Outlets Have Suddenly Pivoted Hard Against Israel -- Caitlin Johnstone -After a year and a half of genocidal atrocities, the editorial boards of numerous British press outlets have suddenly come out hard against Israel’s genocidal onslaught in Gaza. The first drop of rain came last week from The Financial Times in a piece by the editorial board titled “The west’s shameful silence on Gaza,” which denounces the US and Europe for having “issued barely a word of condemnation” of their ally’s criminality, saying they “should be ashamed of their silence, and stop enabling Netanyahu to act with impunity.”Then came The Economist with a piece titled “The war in Gaza must end,” which argues that Trump should pressure the Netanyahu regime for a ceasefire, saying that “The only people who benefit from continuing the war are Mr Netanyahu, who keeps his coalition intact, and his far-right allies, who dream of emptying Gaza and rebuilding Jewish settlements there.”On Saturday came an editorial from The Independent titled “End the deafening silence on Gaza — it is time to speak up,” arguing that British PM Keir Starmer “should be ashamed that he said nothing, especially since Mr Netanyahu has now announced new plans to expand the already devastating bombardment of Gaza,” and saying that “It is time for the world to wake up to what is happening and to demand an end to the suffering of the Palestinians trapped in the enclave.”On Sunday The Guardian editorial board joined in with a write-up titled “The Guardian view on Israel and Gaza: Trump can stop this horror. The alternative is unthinkable,” saying “The US president has the leverage to force through a ceasefire. If he does not, he will implicitly signal approval of what looks like a plan of total destruction.”“What is this, if not genocidal?” The Guardian asks. “When will the US and its allies act to stop the horror, if not now?”To be clear, these are editorials, not op-eds. This means that they are not the expression of one person’s opinion but the stated position of each outlet as a whole. We’ve been seeing the occasional op-ed which is critical of Israel’s actions throughout the Gaza holocaust in the mainstream western press, but to see the actual outlets come out aggressively denouncing Israel and its western backers all at once is a very new development.Some longtime Israel supporters have unexpectedly begun changing their tune as individuals as well.Conservative MP Mark Pritchard said at the House of Commons last week that he had supported Israel “at all costs” for decades, but said “I got it wrong” and publicly withdrew that support over Israel’s actions in Gaza.“For many years — I’ve been in this House twenty years — I have supported Israel pretty much at all costs, quite frankly,” Pritchard said. “But today, I want to say that I got it wrong and I condemn Israel for what it is doing to the Palestinian people in Gaza and indeed in the West Bank, and I’d like to withdraw my support right now for the actions of Israel, what they are doing right now in Gaza.”“I’m really concerned that this is a moment in history when people look back, where we’ve got it wrong as a country,” Pritchard added. Pro-Israel pundit Shaiel Ben-Ephraim, who had been aggressively denouncing campus protesters and accusing Israel’s critics of “blood libel” throughout the Gaza holocaust, has now come out and publicly admitted that Israel is committing a genocide which must be opposed.“It took me a long time to get to this point, but it’s time to face it. Israel is committing genocide in Gaza,” Ephraim tweeted recently. “Between the indiscriminate bombing of hospitals, starvation of the population, plans for ethnic cleansing, slaughter of aid workers and cover ups, there is no escaping it. Israel is trying to eradicate the Palestinian people. We can’t stop it unless we admit it.”It is odd that it has taken all these people a year and a half to get to this point. I myself have a much lower tolerance for genocide and the mass murder of children. If you’ve been riding the genocide train for nineteen months, it looks a bit weird to suddenly start screaming about how terrible it is and demanding to hit the brakes all of a sudden.These people have not suddenly evolved a conscience, they’re just smelling what’s in the wind. Once the consensus shifts past a certain point there’s naturally going to be a mad rush to avoid being among the last to stand against it, because you know you’ll be wearing that mark for the rest of your life in public after history has had a clear look at what you did.

Rubio Tells Netanyahu Trump Is ‘Concerned About Humanitarian Situation in Gaza’ - Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that President Donald Trump has become “concerned” about the Palestinians in Gaza. In March, Tel Aviv imposed a total blockade on all goods and aid entering the Strip, leading to widespread starvation.Axios reporter and IDF veteran Barak Ravid posted to X on Thursday, “US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone with Prime Minister Netanyahu and told him that the Trump administration is concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.”Tel Aviv is responsible for the mass suffering in Gaza as the IDF is preventing all food, fuel, and medicine from entering the territory. At least scores of children have starved to death over the past two weeksIsrael has also stepped up attacks on Gaza’s already partially destroyed hospital network. Earlier this week, Tel Aviv admitted to dropping nine bunker-busting bombs on or near the European Hospital in southern Gaza in an attempt to kill a single Hamas member.On Friday, Trump told reporters while in the UAE, “We’re looking at Gaza, and we got to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving.” He added, “A lot of people. There’s a lot of bad things going on.”The previous day, Trump restated his plan to have American forces take over Gaza and turn the Strip into a “freedom zone.”“I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good: Make it a freedom zone. Let the United States get involved, and make it just a freedom zone,” the president said. “I’d be proud to have the United States have it, take it, make it a freedom zone, let some good things happen. Put people in homes where they can be safe, and Hamas is going to have to be dealt with.”

Report: Witkoff Told Mediators That the US Won't Force Israel To End Gaza Slaughter - US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has told Arab mediators that the US will not force Israel to end its genocidal war in the Gaza Strip, according to a report from The Times of Israel. The report, which cited Arab officials, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was staunchly refusing to end military operations in Gaza, a position he has made clear in public comments as the Israeli military is preparing a major escalation. “We in the coming days will be entering with all our strength to complete the process… to subdue Hamas,” Netanyahu said on Tuesday. “It could be that Hamas will say ‘pause, we want to release another 10 hostages.’ Ok, release them. We will receive them and after that enter. But there will not be a situation where we stop the war.” The Times report also cited a source who was present at a meeting Witkoff held with the family members of Israeli captives held in Gaza last week. The source said that Witkoff largely agreed with the position of Arab mediators that Israel’s plan to escalate will not be effective. At another meeting with hostage families this week, Witkoff was pressed on why the US didn’t force Israel to stop. “We’re not the Israeli government. We don’t disagree. The Israeli government is a sovereign government. They can’t tell us what to do, and we can’t tell them what to do,” Witkoff said,according to a recording of the meeting obtained by Haaretz. Israel’s military operations in Gaza are entirely reliant on US military aid, meaning the US has the ability to pressure Netanyahu to end the slaughter and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, which has been under a total Israeli blockade since March 2.\

US Charges High-Ranking Mexican Drug Cartel Suspects With Narco-Terrorism --U.S. officials unveiled an indictment Tuesday against two alleged Mexican drug cartel leaders on narco-terrorism charges. The indictment comes after the Trump administration in February designated the Sinaloa Cartel and seven other Latin American crime organizations as “foreign terrorist organizations,” upping its pressure on cartels operating in the U.S. and on anyone aiding them. President Donald Trump called for the designation in an executive order on Jan. 20, the day he took office in his second term.The “foreign terrorist organization” label is unusual because it deploys a terrorist designation normally reserved for groups like al-Qaida or the Islamic State group that use violence for political ends — not for money-focused crime rings such as the drug cartels.“If you act like a terrorist, you shouldn’t be surprised if you are charged as one,” said Adam Gordon, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California.Those charged were described as key leaders of the Beltrán Leyva Organization, according to the indictment. The organization is one of a number of warring criminal groups that once formed part of the Sinaloa Cartel and have since split off and warred for territory and power, fueling bloodshed in large swathes of Mexico.Pedro Inzunza Noriega and his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, were also charged with providing material support of terrorism in connection with the trafficking of massive amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin into the United States,according to court documents. Five other high-ranking members were charged with drug trafficking and money laundering.All remain fugitives, officials said.The father and son have overseen “one of the largest and most sophisticated fentanyl production networks in the world,” Gordon said. The organization is accused of trafficking tens of thousands of kilograms (pounds) of fentanyl into the United States.Mexican authorities in December raided multiple sites controlled by the father and son that resulted in the world’s largest seizure of fentanyl, totaling 1,500 kilograms (more than 1.65 tons), according to court documents.The group is also known for its violence, engaging in shootouts, kidnappings, torture and murders and targeting officials.It controls the drug trade in various parts of Central America and in many areas of Mexico – including in the border city of Tijuana, across from San Diego, according to the indictment. The elder Pedro is paralyzed after being shot by a rival cartel member. His group has been one of the top distributors of cocaine and now fentanyl since 2006, Gordon said.

They’ll be back’: White Afrikaners leave South Africa to be refugees in US | Al Jazeera – On a chilly Sunday evening in Johannesburg, OR Tambo International Airport was filled with tourists and travellers entering and exiting South Africa’s busiest airport. On one side of the international departures hall, a few dozen people queued – their trollies piled with luggage, travel pillows and children’s blankets – as they waited to board a charter flight to Washington Dulles International Airport in the United States.Dressed casually and comfortably for the 13-hour journey that would follow, the group – most young, all white – talked among themselves while avoiding onlookers. Although they blended into the bustling terminal around them, these weren’t ordinary travellers. They were Afrikaners leaving South Africa to be refugees in Donald Trump’s America.When Charl Kleinhaus first applied for refugee resettlement in the US earlier this year, he told officials he had been threatened and that people attempted to claim his property.The 46-year-old, who claimed to own a farm in Limpopo, South Africa’s northernmost province, was not required to present proof of these threats or provide details regarding when the alleged incidents occurred.On Sunday, he joined dozens of others accepted by the Trump administration as part of a pilot programme granting asylum to people from the Afrikaner community – descendants of mainly Dutch colonisers that led the brutal apartheid regime for nearly five decades. The Trump administration claims white people face discrimination in South Africa – a country where they make up some 7 percent of the population but own more than 70 percent of the land and occupy the majority of top management positions.“I want you all to know that you are really welcome here and that we respect what you have had to deal with these last few years,” US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau told Kleinhaus and the others when they landed at the Dulles International in Virginia.“We respect the long tradition of your people and what you have accomplished over the years,” he said on Monday.Speaking to a journalist at the airport, Kleinhaus said he never expected “this land expropriation thing to go so far” in South Africa.He was referring to the recently passed Expropriation Act, which allows the South African government to, in exceptional circumstances, take land for public use without compensation. Pretoria says the measure is aimed at redressing apartheid injustices, as Black South Africans who make up more than 80 percent of the population still own just 4 percent of the land.South African officials say the law has not resulted in any land grabs. There is also no record of Kleinhaus’s property being expropriated.Kleinhaus was unaffected by any threats and the government was unaware of anyone who might have threatened his property, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told Al Jazeera. “The people of South Africa have not been affected by the expropriation of land. There’s no evidence. None of them are affected by any farm murders either,” the minister emphasised.In February, when Trump signed an executive order granting refugee status to Afrikaners, he cited widely discredited claims that their land was being seized and that they were being brutally killed in South Africa.On Monday, Trump again claimed that Afrikaners were victims of a “genocide” – an accusation South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and other experts maintain is based on lies.“Farmers are being killed,” Trump told reporters. “White farmers are being brutally killed, and the land is being confiscated in South Africa.”Ramaphosa has also debunked claims that the group who left this week faced any persecution at home.“They are leaving because they do not wish to embrace the democratic transformation unfolding in South Africa,” he said.

Trump administration ends TPS protections against Afghan deportations -The Trump administration on Monday formally lifted a shield on deportation of Afghans in the U.S., arguing improving conditions in the Taliban-run country mean its U.S.-based citizens no longer merit such protections.The announcement from the Department of Homeland Security would end temporary protected status (TPS) for Afghans, a protection offered by the Biden administration after the U.S. withdrawal amid deteriorating conditions in the country.TPS can be initiated when the administration concludes it’s not safe to deport people to their country due to civil unrest or other dangerous conditions.“This administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday in a release.“We’ve reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners, and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation. Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevent them from returning to their home country.”The filing of the notice in the Federal Register said the protections will end in 60 days — the minimum timeline allowed under law.Poor conditions in Afghanistan have only accelerated since the 2021 U.S. withdrawal. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees last month condemned forced deportations to Afghanistan from neighboring countries, writing that its “escalating humanitarian crisis is being compounded by the mass return of its nationals.”“The large-scale returns are putting even greater pressure on already stretched humanitarian resources and worsening the plight of millions struggling to survive,” the report states.A 2023 report from the State Department noted extensive gender-based violence and a “significant deterioration in women’s rights during the year due to edicts that further restricted access to education and employment.”It also cited a crackdown on religious minorities, LGBTQ Afghans, activists, and Taliban and ISIS-K recruitment of child soldiers.

Budget airline begins deportation flights -Avelo Airlines, a budget carrier, began deportation flights from Arizona on Monday under contract with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).Flights departed from the Mesa Gateway Airport outside Phoenix, according to The Associated Press, which added that the company will use three Boeing 737-800s for the removals. “Having a portion of our company dedicated to charter flying, without exposure to fluctuating fuel prices or risk from macroeconomic factors, provides us with the stability to grow our core business, which is scheduled passenger travel,” Avelo founder and CEO Andrew Levy said in a statement to the Arizona News. He added that the partnership with Homeland Security would help Avelo retain approximately 1,100 crew members and expand passenger service. But several groups have criticized the deportation flights. “We urge Avelo to reconsider this decision that will be bad for the airline and our country. Flight Attendants are charged with the safety and health of the passengers on our flights and to evacuate an airplane in 90 seconds or less in the event of an emergency,” the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said in an April statement after an agreement between the carrier and Homeland Security was signed.“Having an entire flight of people handcuffed and shackled would hinder any evacuation and risk injury or death. It also impedes our ability to respond to a medical emergency, fire on board, decompression, etc. We cannot do our jobs in these conditions,” it added. The New Haven Immigrants Coalition, an immigrant rights group, created a petition that now has more than 30,000 signatures condemning the airline’s deportation flights. The Department of Homeland Security, meanwhile, has slammed reporting on privatized deportation efforts. “This is nothing more than a tired tactic to abolish ICE by proxy. Avelo Airlines is a sub-carrier on a government contract to assist with deportation flights. Attacks and demonization of ICE and our partners is wrong. ICE officers are now facing a 413% increase in assaults,” the agency wrote in a Tuesday post on the social platform X.“Illegal aliens that ICE is deporting broke our nation’s laws. DHS is a law enforcement agency, and it will continue to carry out immigration enforcement for the safety of Americans who have been victimized by rapists, murderers, drug traffickers, and gang members,” it added.

Pentagon flights to Guantanamo cost more than $21M - The Trump administration spent more than $21 million on military flights transporting migrants to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, within just three months, according to new figures provided to Congress by the Pentagon. The data, released by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Monday, revealed that between Jan. 20 and April 8, U.S. Transportation Command conducted 46 deportation flights on military aircraft to Naval Station Guantánamo Bay. The effort was pricey, with 802.5 flight hours costing an average of $26,277 per hour. “Every American should be outraged by Donald Trump wasting military resources to pay for his political stunts that do not make us safer,” Warren said in a statement accompanying the numbers. “U.S. servicemembers did not sign up for this abuse of power.” Transcom confirmed to The Hill that the information Warren shared is accurate and came from responses that command head Gen. Randall Reed sent to the Senate Armed Services Committee following his posture hearing in March. The figures were first reported by NBC News. /

US immigration Gestapo continues nationwide terror campaign --Emboldened by Trump and the feckless Democrats, immigration police around the United States are operating with lawless impunity as they carry out their fascist deportation operations. In states governed by Republicans and Democrats alike, federal agents under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) thugs and their accomplices in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)—are arresting parents, children and even local officials without cause, a warrant or due process.Every day on social media, videos are shared showing horrifying images of heavily armed and masked thugs ripping families apart and handcuffing and disappearing them into unmarked vehicles. The detained are trapped in a network of for-profit prisons for weeks, if not months on end, before being exiled to a “home” country—which could range from an El Salvadoran mega prison, to a Libyan dungeon, or a country the person has not been to in years or has no memory of, because they came to the United States as infants and grew up here.Unable to carry out “mass deportations” with the current forces at his disposal, Trump ordered DHS Friday to hire 20,000 additional agents. Seeking to deport 1 million people by the end of the year, the Trump administration is enlisting state police to assist in the operations. In Tennessee, which is controlled by the Republicans, the Tennessee Highway Patrol has partnered with ICE to carry out illegal searches and seizures of residents. The racist and targeted operation began on May 3, focused on Latino neighborhoods around Nashville. In the early morning hours, the state police began making hundreds of traffic stops with ICE agents. Suspected undocumented immigrants were detained and quickly moved onto two charter buses and sent to Louisiana.Since May 3, the Tennessee Highway Patrol has conducted nearly 600 such traffic stops, with ICE agents arresting 103 people for alleged immigration violations, according to the Associated Press. The fascist roundup has provoked mass anger throughout the Nashville metropolitan area, home to over 2 million people.On Saturday, a Major League Soccer game held at Geodis Park in Nashville was boycotted by thousands of local residents. La Brigada De Oro, the officially recognized Latin American supporter group for Nashville SC, canceled all game-day activities, while many of those who did attend the game held signs that read: “We are not all here” in English and “No estamos todo aquí” in Spanish.In a video posted to her Instagram page early Sunday morning, rock singer Monte Mader reported that there were multiple raids in downtown Nashville while she was performing.“We worked downtown Nashville, the Broadway Strip and there were ICE raids on Broadway in the bars tonight. Places were closing their kitchens early, getting their staff home, posting signs saying, ‘Private. Do not enter.’”“And I want to be so f***ing clear,” she continued. “That these masked ‘federal police officers’ who are not announcing themselves and do not have probable cause and do not have warrants are breaking the law. … This is kidnapping and human trafficking.”In the same video she reminded “these weak masked-up cowards” that after Hitler “the Nuremburg trials” were held. “This fever is going to break. And you will be held accountable for your crimes.”

ICE raids tear through California despite Democrats’ “sanctuary” promises –-Communities across California are facing a renewed wave of ICE raids, bringing fear, instability and repression into the lives of countless immigrant families. Central Coast areas such as San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties have been targeted with particular intensity. These operations, largely directed at extremely poor, predominantly Latin American migrant laborers, signal a growing campaign against the working class as a whole—one whose implications reach far beyond immigration policy alone. The recent actions, confirmed by 805 UndocuFund, an organization that provides assistance to immigrants, included at least three separate raids with seven arrests. Some of those seized were previously protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a registry originally created during the Obama administration. With this list now controlled by the Trump administration, migrants who once believed themselves shielded from immediate deportation now find themselves targeted by the very apparatus they were encouraged to register with. In Oxnard, a man was apprehended by ICE in a dramatic ambush at a gas station. Surrounded by multiple cars he was detained in front of his two children. No attention was paid to their welfare during the arrest. A gas station attendant intervened to ensure the children’s safety, allowing them to contact a relative. Such scenes offer a glimpse into the operations of a fascistic state that has contempt for basic legal procedure, democratic rights and human decency. 805 UndocuFund coordinator Beatriz Basurto described the raids as being conducted to “meet a quota,” and pointed to a pattern of warrantless arrests. According to Basurto, ICE agents arrive with a photograph and seize individuals found nearby, often without any verified identity. This method, far from the procedural norms traditionally associated with law enforcement, resembles dragnet operations historically associated with Latin American regimes in the ’70s or European fascism in the ’30s. In Pomona, ICE operations targeted day laborers gathered outside a Home Depot on April 22. Between 15 and 20 individuals were rounded up by agents. Three Guatemalan men were swiftly deported despite being present in the United States for more than two years, according to their families. All lacked any criminal history. Others taken during the same raid remain unaccounted for; some may be detained at ICE facilities near the Mexican border. In another incident in Pomona the same day, 58-year-old barber Martin Majin-Leon was arrested at gunpoint by ICE while opening his shop, which he had operated for over two decades. His family only located him after checking security footage and receiving word from the Mexican consulate. After 30 hours, ICE released him from the Calexico detention center. These events unfold against a backdrop of bipartisan complicity. The DACA registry—originally presented as a “protective” measure without providing a path to citizenship—created a database that Trump is using to target migrants. Prior to Trump’s return to the White House, no move was made by the outgoing Biden administration to protect these individuals.

DHS agents imprison Guatemalan mother at hospital during labor and birth, provoking public outcry -- On April 28, Erika Mateo, a 24-year-old Guatemalan woman who was 9-months pregnant, was found wandering alone in the Arizona desert after crossing the Mexican border and seeking asylum in the US. Mateo was immediately taken into custody and, after going into labor the following morning, was hospitalized at Tucson Medical Center (TMC) under armed guard by the Department of Homeland Security. She was immediately placed under expedited removal—a process to quickly remove her without the right to have her case brought before a judge. After giving birth, Mateo was swiftly transferred into the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who stood watch outside her hospital room. During her recovery she was denied access to her attorney, family and friends. Mateo stated that she refused to let go of her newborn baby, Emily, for fear that she would be taken away. Mateo had traveled 2,000 miles to escape a violent and unsafe living situation in Guatemala, where she feared for her own life and that of her unborn baby. After crossing the US-Mexico border she was accidentally separated from her group and got lost in the Sonoran Desert. Mateo told USA Today that she feared she was going to die. “I walked and walked, but everything looked the same,” she said. “It was like walking in place. I would burst into tears pleading with God to help me find a way or for someone to find me.” Mateo’s attorney, Luis Campos, told reporters that when he attempted to visit her at TMC, ICE agents blocked the entrance to her hospital room, stating she was in their custody and was allowed no visitors. They told Campos he needed a signed G-28 form naming him as her attorney before he could see her. Campos told the ICE agents that he had the form with him but needed her signature; the agents continued to bar his entrance to the room. On May 3, hundreds in the community gathered outside the hospital to protest Mateo’s treatment and imminent deportation. After public outcry demanding her release from ICE custody, federal authorities reversed their decision to immediately deport the mother. She was released from ICE custody and she and her newborn daughter are now in Phoenix awaiting a court appearance in front of an immigration judge to make her case for asylum.

DHS requests 20,000 National Guard troops to help with mass deportations - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has requested 20,000 National Guard troops to help with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement, a DHS official confirmed to The Hill Thursday. The department requested the Guard members from the Pentagon “to help carry out the President’s mandate from the American people to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. A Defense official also told The Hill that the Pentagon “received a request” this week but was not able to share the contents because planning is in the initial stages and predecisional. The New York Times first reported on the request and was told Pentagon lawyers were reviewing it along with “interior immigration enforcement.” It is unknown what role National Guard members would take in the immigration crackdown, such as whether they would be involved in rounding up and arresting people for deportation or just transportation or security. It’s also unclear whether state governors would have to approve the plan or if President Trump would move to federalize the National Guard to take control of its troops. The last time the U.S. government did so was in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots, sparked by the police beating of Rodney King. The plan was quickly bashed by Democratic lawmakers including Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), who said she was “deeply disturbed” by Trump’s “abuse and misuse” of the U.S. military.

House Democrat: DHS 'going to come after US citizens' -Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) suggested Wednesday that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) could start deporting U.S. citizens with the expanded budget requested for fiscal 2026. During an interview with MSNBC’s “All In with Chris Hayes,” Garcia was asked about the Trump administration’s request for “an unprecedented expansion of funding of DHS, particularly on immigration enforcement” and “what it would look like to give this agency three to five times the funding it currently has.” Garcia said that with more funding, DHS “would only expand” its current efforts. “They’re deporting … children with cancer that have been diagnosed to other countries without their permission and the permission of their parents; they are essentially locking away students for expressing their freedom of speech and their political views. They’re deporting people that we give appointments for, for asylum. They are whisking away, literally in the dead of night, people from our communities across the country, without any of them even getting a chance to call a lawyer or their family,” Garcia said in the interview. “And they expect us to support giving them more resources to do this?” he continued. The congressman warned the situation could escalate. “Let’s be clear, they are going to come after United States citizens. They are already doing it to children, to immigrants, to asylum-seekers. And we cannot give them more money to do this. And now they’re going after members of Congress,” Garcia continued. “So this is an incredibly dangerous moment for this country, and we’ve got to take it very seriously.”

Bruce Springsteen on Trump: US ‘in hands of corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration’ --Bruce Springsteen is using his voice to lambast President Trump, saying the country is “currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration.” “There’s some very weird, strange and dangerous s‑‑‑ going on out there right now. In America, they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent,” Springsteen, who backed Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential race, said Monday as he kicked off his Land of Hope and Dreams tour in Manchester, England. “In America, the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world’s poorest children to sickness and death,” Springsteen continued. “In my country, they’re taking sadistic pleasure in the pain that they inflict on loyal American workers. They’re rolling back historic civil rights legislation that led to a more just and plural society,” he told the audience in video of the concert posted on social media. “They are abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom. They are defunding American universities that won’t bow down to their ideological demands,” the 75-year-old Grammy Award winner said. “They are removing residents off American streets and without due process of law, are deporting them to foreign detention centers and prisons. This is all happening now,” Springsteen said.

US, China pausing most steep tariff hikes for 90 days -- The United States and China said Monday they agreed to a 90-day pause on most retaliatory tariffs imposed on each other since early April, when President Trump announced his sweeping global tariff plan and ratcheted up his trade war with China.The world’s two largest economies issued a joint statement overnight in which they pledged to continue working toward a lasting trade deal while reducing tariffs in the meantime. Stock market futures jumped following news of the agreement.Under the agreement, the U.S. would lower its tariff rate on Chinese imports from 145 percent to 30 percent, while China agreed to lowers its tariff rate on U.S. goods from 125 percent to 10 percent.China also agreed to suspend or remove nontariff countermeasures taken against the U.S. since early last month, according to a White House fact sheet on the deal. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent announced the agreement at a news conference in Geneva. The news came after officials from both countries met this weekend for the first time since the trade war began to engage in trade discussions. “The consensus from both delegations this weekend is neither side wants a decoupling,” Bessent said, according to The Associated Press. “And what had occurred with these very high tariff … was an embargo, the equivalent of an embargo. And neither side wants that. We do want trade.”“We want more balanced trade. And I think that both sides are committed to achieving that,” he added. The 145 percent tariffs on China were imposed April 9, when Trump implemented a 90-day pause on “reciprocal” tariffs on other nations a week after “Liberation Day.” The White House insists it is in talks with other trading partners during the 90-day pause to strike deals, and it announced a trade agreement with the U.K. on Thursday.

Trump administration cutting tariffs on small packages from China - President Trump’s administration is reducing tariffs on small packages from China from 120 percent to 54 percent in light of the three-month trade truce with Beijing.The White House announced the change in a late Monday executive order, slashing the so-called “de minimis” tariff for low-value goods that are being imported from China. Small imported packages will be subject to a 54 percent tariff or $100 flat fee.The exemption has permitted online retailers to sidestep customs inspections and import taxes on goods they ship that are worth $800 or less. It has been a priority for online marketplaces such as Shein, Amazon and Temu, along with other package shippers that import Chinese items to the U.S. Trump announced in an order on Feb. 1 that the “duty-free de minimis treatment … shall not be available.” His administration then amended the original order, temporarily preventing low-cost items from China from being hit with new tariffs as he escalated his trade war with Beijing.The White House ended the de minimis tariff loophole for low-value Chinese goods earlier this month. “De minimis — it’s very, it’s a big deal. It’s a big scam going on against our country, against really small businesses and we’ve ended it. We put an end to it,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting. Reducing the tariffs on small packages is a further de-escalation of the trade war between the U.S. and China following talks in Geneva, Switzerland, over the weekend. The two sides announced they agreed to halt most retaliatory tariffs for 90 days, duties that were imposed after Trump rolled out his “Liberation Day” tariffs on most trading partners around the world. As part of the agreement, the U.S. would drop the tariff rate from 145 percent to 30 percent. Beijing would lower its rate from 125 percent to 10 percent. China also said it would remove or suspend nontariff countermeasures imposed against Washington, according to the White House.

Donald Trump suggests China would have 'broken apart' without trade deal - President Trump said Friday that he thinks that China would have suffered more harm than the U.S. in a prolonged trade war because America “has spirit again” after electing him to a second term.“If I didn’t do that deal with China, I think China would have broken apart. We are not going to break,” Trump said during an appearance on Fox News’s “Special Report.”“Our country has a lot of spirit, and you know why? Because of November 5, our country has spirit again,” he told host Bret Baier.Trump was referring to Election Day, when he defeated former Vice President Harris to reclaim the presidency after losing to President Biden four years earlier.His comments come days after the U.S. and China announced a temporary truce in their battle of escalating tariffs since Trump upped the tax on Chinese imports with his “Liberation Day” tariff plan last month.

Xi Jinping says Donald Trump's trade war will backfire - China’s President Xi Jinping said President Trump’s trade policy would backfire, a day after U.S. and Chinese negotiators signed a deal to lower mounting tariffs. “There are no winners in tariff wars or trade wars. Bullying or hegemonism only leads to self-isolation,” Xi said during a Tuesday speech, according to a transcript from state-sponsored media outlet Xinhua. He added that unity and cooperation among nations were “indispensable for safeguarding” global peace and stability. Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent said the highest tariffs imposed by Xi and Trump were “the equivalent of an embargo, and neither side wants that. We do want trade.” Bessent worked alongside U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to strike a deal with Chinese counterparts Monday that amounted to each side reducing tariffs on the other by 115 percentage points. Tariffs on Chinese imports will drop from 145 percent to 30 percent, while Beijing’s tax on American imports is set to soften from 125 percent to 10 percent. In his Tuesday speech in Beijing at a summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders, Xi shared a five-point plan to increase partnership with those countries. Last year, trade between China and Latin American and Caribbean nations exceeded $500 billion for the first time, an increase of more than 40 times from the beginning of this century, according to Xi. China has also signed free trade agreements with Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Nicaragua. “We uphold solidarity and coordination and rise to global challenges with resolve. Together, China and LAC countries champion true multilateralism, uphold international fairness and justice, advance global governance reform, and promote multipolarization of the world and greater democracy in international relations,” Xi said, promising to advance their collective efforts amid a trade war with the U.S., according to a Xinhua transcript.

Larry Summers: No question Trump blinked on China tariffs -Former Treasury Department Secretary Larry Summers said Monday that there was no question that President Trump blinked when it came to the recent agreement on a 90-day pause between the United States and China on most tariffs imposed on each other since early last month.“I think it’s very clear that it’s President Trump who blinked,” Summers told CNN’s Kasie Hunt on “The Arena.” “We had said that we were determined to impose these policies for an indefinite period.”“China didn’t make any consequential or significant change in its policies,” he added.On Monday, China and the U.S. said they agreed to a 90-day pause on most tariffs imposed on each other beginning in early April. In a joint statement overnight, the two countries vowed to continue working in the direction of a lasting trade deal while bringing down tariffs for now. Due to the agreement, the U.S. dropped its tariff rate for Chinese imports to 30 percent from 145 percent, while China agreed to bring down its tariff rate to 10 percent from 125 percent.“Now look, sometimes it’s good to blink,” Summers told Hunt. “When you make a mistake, it’s usually best to correct it and retreat, even if it’s a little bit embarrassing.” The Hill was directed to recent comments from press secretary Karoline Leavitt by the White House.“This is an extraordinary first step in the right direction, and thanks to the strength of President Trump, Secretary Bessent and Ambassador Greer, we’re able to cut this initial deal with China,” Leavitt said on Fox News’s “Fox & Friends.”

Trump takes swing at Tim Cook over Apple manufacturing in India -- President Trump took a swing Thursday at Apple CEO Tim Cook over his company’s manufacturing in India, emphasizing that he wants the iPhone maker to expand production in the United States. “I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, ‘Tim you’re my friend, I treated you very good. You’re coming in with $500 billion, but now you’re building all over India. I don’t want you building in India,’” Trump said. “I said, ‘Tim, look, we’ve treated you really good. We’ve put up with all the plants that you built in China for years. Now, you gotta build us. We’re not interested in you building in India. India can take care of themselves. They’re doing very well. We want you to build here,’” he added. “And they’re going to be upping their production in the United States.” Trump revealed Monday that he spoke to the Apple CEO after he announced an agreement with China to significantly reduce tariffs for 90 days. The president said Cook, who previously promised to invest $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, now plans to open more plants stateside. Apple was particularly vulnerable to Trump’s trade war with China. The iPhone maker manufactures the vast majority of its products in China, although it has increasingly diversified its supply chain to include India and Vietnam. All three countries were initially subject to hefty import taxes under Trump’s “reciprocal” tariff regime, threatening to upend the company’s business model and drive up prices. China, India and Vietnam faced tariff rates of 34 percent, 26 percent and 46 percent, respectively. As Beijing and Washington went tit for tat on tariffs, rates increased until they settled at a 145 percent tariff on Chinese imports in the U.S. and a 125 percent tariff on American imports in China. Trump ultimately put most “reciprocal” tariffs on hold as the market showed signs of faltering, leaving in place only the China tariffs and a baseline 10 percent tariff. He also later exempted electronics, like Apple’s smartphones, from the tariffs on Chinese goods.

Walmart says it will raise prices due to higher costs from tariffs --Walmart said Thursday it will raise its prices due to higher costs driven by President Trump’s trade war, a sign that tariffs are hitting the economy and consumers despite moves to ratchet them down.The retail giant said it plans to raise prices this month and early this summer, passing along some of the cost as tariff-affected merchandise hits store shelves. “The magnitude and speed at which these prices are coming to us is somewhat unprecedented in history,” Walmart Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey told The Wall Street Journal.Walmart also announced its profits slipped in the first quarter of the year, to $4.45 billion or 56 cents per share, from $5.10 billion or 63 cents per share, The Associated Press noted. It did not issue a profit outlook, given the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s tariff regime, joining a number of other companies that have taken the same stance.

Trump tariffs tested in court as challengers seek to block them --President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs faced their most significant legal scrutiny yet Tuesday as a group of small businesses asserted to a three-judge panel that Trump exceeded his authority.The New York-based U.S. Court of International Trade spent most of Tuesday’s two-hour argument questioning how it could draw a manageable legal standard in adjudicating Trump’s April 2 tariff announcement, which has disrupted financial markets and reshaped global trade flows. Trump imposed the sweeping tariffs without congressional approval by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1977 law that authorizes the president to impose necessary economic sanctions during an emergency to combat an “unusual and extraordinary threat.” A group of five small businesses, represented by the libertarian public-interest firm Liberty Justice Center and George Mason University law professor Ilya Somin, sued by arguing IEEPA does not allow tariffs. Even if it does, Trump’s trade deficit justification is far from an emergency, they assert. The panel of judges repeatedly pressed the challengers over what line the court could draw to determine when a president’s determination is valid, as the administration argues Trump’s emergency declaration is not reviewable by the courts. Judge Timothy Reif, a Trump appointee, asked, “Are there judicially manageable standards that the court could apply to determine whether an emergency is unusual and extraordinary?” “Can I have some words? ‘You know it when you see it’ doesn’t work, so give me some words,” Judge Jane Restani, a Reagan appointee, similarly pressed. Jeffrey Schwab, who represented the challengers, insisted the court did not need to formulate a precise legal standard. He analogized Trump’s declaration to a baseball pitch far from the strike zone that hits the batter. “I’m asking this court to be an umpire and call a strike, and you’re asking me where is the strike zone — is it at the knees or below the knees — and I’m saying it’s a wild pitch,” Schwab said.

Tulsi Gabbard fires top officials citing intelligence politicization. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard fired two top officials at the National Intelligence Council, purging leaders amid what the office called an effort to address “weaponization” of intelligence. Gabbard removed the acting head of the council, Mike Collins, as well as his deputy, Maria Langan-Riekhof. It’s a big shift at an entity the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) bills as part of the “analytic arm” of the intelligence community, with tasks including coordinating with policymakers. In addition to the removal of the two aides, Gabbard also uprooted the council from its office space at the CIA, returning it to quarters within the ODNI. “The director is working alongside President Trump to end the weaponization and politicization of the intelligence community,” an ODNI spokesperson told The Hill. Fox News first reported the moves. According to Fox, Collins was associated with Michael Morell, former deputy director of the CIA, who was among the former intelligence officials who signed a letter casting doubt on the discovery of Hunter Biden’s laptop, saying it had “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”The firings come just days after the council released, through a Freedom of Information Act request, an assessment contradicting Trump administration claims that the Tren de Aragua gang is coordinating with the Venezuelan government. In doing so, it undercut a key basis for President Trump’s invocation of wartime powers to remove people to a Salvadoran prison. Trump has accused Tren de Aragua (TDA) of coordinating with President Nicolás Maduro in justifying his use of the 1789 Alien Enemies Act.

Kristi Noem eyes $50M for new DHS jet -- President Trump isn’t the only administration official eyeing a new jet: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is also set to get one under a last-minute addition to the Coast Guard budget. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, blasted the agency for the $50 million line item that “had never been requested or even mentioned before.” “I was horrified last Friday when we received a last minute addition to your spend plan for fiscal ’25, a new $50 million Gulfstream 5 for Secretary Noem’s personal travel coming from the Coast Guard budget. She already has a Gulfstream 5, by the way, this is a new one,” Underwood said during a Wednesday hearing. The Department of Homeland Security has defended the request. “The current CG-101 G550 is over twenty years old, outside of Gulfstream’s service life, and well beyond operational usage hours for a corporate aircraft,” Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs, said in a statement. “This is a matter of safety. Much like the Coast Guard’s ships that are well beyond their service life and safe operational usage, Coast Guard’s aircraft are too,” she added. “This Administration is taking action to restore our Nation’s finest maritime Armed Service to a capable fighting force.” Coast Guard Adm. Kevin Lunday did not respond to a direct question from Underwood about whether he had been asked by higher ups at the DHS to add a request for the plane, but he did defend the need for it. “It’s old, and it’s approaching obsolescence and the end of its service life, the avionics are increasingly obsolete, the communications are increasingly unreliable, and it’s in need of recapitalization, like much of the rest of the fleet,” he said. “But this aircraft is necessary to provide the secretary, the deputy secretary, me as the acting commandant, the acting vice and our two area commanders with secure, reliable on demand communications and movement,” he continued.

DOE’s wind, solar, hydrogen offices on chopping block, leaked doc says -The Energy Department is considering axing federal programs aimed at bolstering solar and wind technology and helping integrate renewables into the grid to comply with drastic cuts in President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2026 budget request, according to documents viewed by POLITICO’s E&E News.DOE is mulling zeroing out hundreds of millions of dollars for sub offices within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, including Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies, Renewable Energy Grid Integration, Solar Energy Technologies, and Wind Energy Technologies, according to the document.The document offers a window into what changes may be afoot as DOE moves to align its spending with Trump’s budget request, yet Congress will ultimately have to sign off. Bipartisan senators earlier this week grilled Trump’s nominees over the spending cuts and demanded to know how they would lead agencies facing such challenges.DOE did not immediately respond when asked about the document or plans to cut the programs, but two career officials within DOE — granted anonymity because they fear retribution — confirmed the document was authentic.

NOAA seeks to reassign employees to fill ‘critically understaffed’ weather service offices -- The Trump administration is seeking to reassign other employees to “critically understaffed” offices in the National Weather Service (NWS), according to an internal document. The move to reassign these other employees comes after the administration fired hundreds of people at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including some staff at the NWS. The service is now looking to staff 76 positions, including meteorologists in disaster-prone areas such as Houston and Miami, according to the document, which was reviewed by Science Committee Democratic staff.In particular, it’s looking for staffers from other parts of NOAA to fill the holes in the weather service. “This Reassignment Opportunity Notice will non-competitively fill vacancies in critically understaffed operational locations across the National Weather Service,” the document states. The scramble comes as hurricane season begins next month.

House Republicans propose major reforms to SNAP, seeking deep cuts -House Republicans rolled out legislation Monday evening that would make significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as the party seeks deep cuts to federal spending as part of a broader plan to advance President Trump’s legislative agenda.The 97-page text from the House Agriculture Committee includes provisions that would require states to cover a portion of SNAP benefit costs, tighten eligibility requirements for the program and seek to block the federal government from being able to increase monthly benefits in the future.The panel is set to hold a meeting on the legislation later Tuesday afternoon, with hopes to advance the text out of committee. The proposal comes as Republicans are assembling a sprawling package across multiple committees to enact Trump’s tax priorities, boost funding for defense and his deportation plans, and significantly cut federal spending. For their role in the party’s overall goal to find more than a trillion dollars in savings, Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee were tasked with crafting recommendations for at least $230 billion in cuts.The GOP-led committee touted the legislation on social media upon its rollout as a measure that would restore SNAP “to its original intent” and promote “work, not welfare—while saving taxpayer dollars and investing in American agriculture.”While SNAP benefits are currently funded by the federal government, the proposal calls for the federal share of the cost of allotments to go from 100 percent in the next two fiscal years to 95 percent in fiscal 2028 “and each fiscal year thereafter.”

Trump drug pricing proposal puts GOP senators in a tough spot -- An executive order from President Trump aims to make deep cuts to prescription drug costs, putting GOP lawmakers who have traditionally opposed government-directed drug pricing in a tough position. Republican lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (S.D.) and Senate GOP Whip John Barrasso (Wyo.), have warned in the past that directing the federal government to set drug prices will slow innovation and limit patients’ access to lifesaving therapies. Now they’re in the tough position of having to respond to Trump’s latest move, which would cut deeply into pharmaceutical companies’ profits. The industry, which contributes generously to members of both parties, warns that Trump’s proposed reform could jeopardize hundreds of billions of dollars in research and development investments. Thune on Monday said that Trump’s executive order would be “fairly controversial” if put into legislation on Capitol Hill, reflecting his party’s longtime skepticism of using Medicare’s huge buying power to pressure drug companies to lower prices. “My assumption is that would be fairly controversial up here if we were doing it … legislatively,” Thune said of Trump’s executive order on drug pricing. Trump’s executive order directs the secretary of Health and Human Services to work with the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to “communicate most-favored-nation price targets to pharmaceutical manufacturers to bring prices for American patients in line with comparably developed nations.” It would cover drugs offered under Medicare and Medicaid, as well as those offered under private insurance. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), when asked about the president’s proposal, instead touted his own bill to ban “deceptive and unfair pricing schemes” by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the so-called middlemen that pharmaceutical manufacturers have blamed for rising prices. “All you got to do is pass my PBM legislation. We’ll get drug prices down just as easily and that’s what I’m concentrating on,” he said. The response is more in line with the pharmaceutical industry’s view of the main drivers of high drug costs. Stephen J. Ubl, the president and CEO of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), said in a statement Sunday responding to Trump’s proposal that “PBMS, insurers and hospitals” right now “take 50 percent of every dollar spent for medicines.” He said that “the amount going to middlemen” in the United States “often exceed the price in Europe.”

Kennedy defends HHS budget cuts before House, Senate committees --Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. returned to Capitol Hill today to defend the job cuts and restructuring he's overseen at federal health agencies since his confirmation and the Trump administration's proposed 2026 budget cuts. In back-to-back hearings before the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Kennedy argued that HHS had been overtaken by bureaucracy, redundancy, and radical ideology and is in need of streamlining. He repeated the mantra that HHS will pursue "gold-standard" science to achieve his goal of addressing Americans' chronic health issues. “We intend to do a lot more with less," Kennedy said in his opening statement before the House Appropriations Committee. "We must spend smarter. We will shift funding away from bureaucracy toward direct impact."Republicans on both committees were generally supportive of the changes overseen by Kennedy and DOGE and the proposed budget cuts."It's clear the status quo does not work," said HELP Committee chair Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA). "Bureaucratic bloat and regulatory hurdles at the Department of Health and Human Services have made it harder to deliver services. HHS needs to work better for the American people.""We share your goal of making America healthy again," said Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL).But Democrats were more critical. And they repeatedly pressed Kennedy on the cuts that have already been made at the department, which they argued involve funding that's already been appropriated by Congress. "The evidence suggests that you are cutting billions of dollars in funding right now," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), citing the Trump administration's termination of $2.7 billion in previously approved NIH research grants. "You do not have the authority to do what you're doing." DeLauro also argued that Kennedy does not have the power to restructure or eliminate agencies with HHS. "That is in the jurisdiction of the United States Congress," she said.Kennedy rejected some reports of cuts at HHS sub-agencies, repeatedly saying that no working scientists had been fired and noting that many divisions are being moved to the newly formed Administration for a Healthy America. But while he defended his reorganization of HHS and some of the current and proposed budget cuts as necessary given the size of the nation's deficit, he also, on multiple occasions, acknowledged that the proposed budget cuts will have an impact."I think the cuts that are now proposed by NIH are going to hurt," Kennedy said. "There's no agency head in the government that wants to see their budget cut."Kennedy was also pressed by Democrats at both hearings on the US measles outbreak, which currently stands at 1,001 cases, and various statements he'd made about the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Although the country is currently on pace to have more measles cases than it has had in more than two decades, Kennedy sought to downplay the outbreak. "We are doing a better job at CDC today than any other nation at controlling this measles outbreak," Kennedy told Rep. DeLauro, arguing that Europe, Mexico, and Canada are all seeing bigger outbreaks than the United States. When asked by Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) whether he would tell parents that the MMR vaccine was the best way to prevent the spread of measles, Kennedy said he would. But in a back-and-forth with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) over several statements that he has made about the MMR vaccine since becoming secretary—including that the vaccine wanes very quickly, has never been fully tested for safety, and contains fetal debris—Kennedy maintained those statements were correct and that there are safety issues with vaccines that have never truly been investigated. "I'm going to tell the truth about everything we know and don't know about vaccines," he said. "I'm not going to just tell people that everything is safe and effective if I know that there are issues." Kennedy would later claim, in addressing a question about the MMR vaccine from Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), that the only vaccine that has been tested in a placebo-controlled trial was the COVID vaccine. Sen. Cassidy, a physician who played a crucial role in confirming Kennedy despite his concerns about his positions on vaccines, noted for the record that Kennedy's claim was not true. "The rotavirus, measles, and HPV vaccines have all been [tested against placebo], and some vaccines have been tested against previous versions," Cassidy said.

Trump’s ban on “gain-of-function” research: an attack on science and preparation for war - On May 5, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order with the seemingly benign title, “Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research.” A more accurate title would have been, “Blindfolding science and encouraging anti-China hysteria,” but Trump and his fascist aides traffic in lies and conspiracy theories, not the truth. The order bans federal funding of what it describes as “dangerous gain-of-function research” carried out overseas in “countries of concern,” singling out China by name. It also places such research under strict federal control within the United States itself, whether funded by the government or conducted privately.While there is no mention of Wuhan and only one reference to COVID-19, the executive order amounts to weaponizing the fascist conspiracy theory that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was created in the Wuhan Institute for Virology and inadvertently or deliberately leaked to infect the world’s population The order comes just two weeks after the White House entirely revised its web presentation of the COVID-19 pandemic, embracing the “lab leak” theory and presenting Trump as the strongman who would beat back the supposed Chinese threat. This of course conveniently ignored, as the executive order does, the fact that Trump was in the White House when the pandemic began, and did nothing to stop it, while promoting groundless quack theories about curing the deadly disease with hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin and even bleach.An additional feature of this conspiracy theory, developed most extensively by the bipartisan Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, is that longtime public health official Dr. Anthony Fauci oversaw the funding of dangerous research at WIV through EcoHealth Alliance, the non-profit research organization led by Dr. Peter Daszak. The fact sheet that accompanies Trump’s executive order regurgitates these slanders. The WSWS has analyzed and rebutted these conspiracies extensively, and presented comprehensive evidence amassed over five years that points compellingly to a natural, zoonotic origin for SARS-CoV-2, likely stemming from wildlife trade at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan. This record can be accessed here. Most recently, a study published in Cell in May 7, 2025, just two days after Trump’s executive order, drawing on phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses, provided significant evidence reinforcing the role of the animal trade in the emergence of both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. The study found that the closest bat virus ancestors of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 existed less than a decade before their human emergence, but their natural dispersal in horseshoe bats was not sufficient to carry them the large distances to the sites where they first emerged in humans. This pattern strongly suggests that the viruses “hitched a ride there with other animals via the wildlife trade,” mirroring what happened during the 2002 SARS outbreak where related viruses were found in civets and raccoon dogs hundreds of miles from bat populations. This new research underscores how interactions with intermediate hosts through the wildlife trade were critical to the zoonotic spillover events for both pandemics. It also provides objective scientific refutation of the entire Wuhan Lab conspiracy theory that has been promoted globally.This “lab leak” falsification served to deflect from the devastating failures of the domestic pandemic response in numerous capitalist countries by scapegoating China and attacking scientists and institutions that contradicted the preferred political line. Trump’s executive order, therefore, represents the codification of this politically motivated agenda, leveraging the power of the state to restrict crucial scientific research under the pretext of a theory overwhelmingly contradicted by available evidence, turning the pursuit of origins tracing into a political witch-hunt against science and public health.During the signing of the executive order, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.—notorious for purveying virtually every anti-science conspiracy known to man—opined, referring to “gain-of-function” research, “Can’t point to a single good thing that comes from it.” Perhaps he was thinking about his decades of anti-scientific campaigning against vaccination. In any case, he knows little about such research and understands nothing. At its core, gain-of-function (GOF) research involves genetically altering an organism, particularly pathogens, to study how enhanced virulence, pathogenicity, or transmissibility could develop, in order to deepen the understanding of the pathogen and assist in developing countermeasures.This is distinct from loss-of-function (LOF) research, which investigates weakened pathogens, though the two methods are interconnected and often used in the same study.

Transportation secretary blasts states that want EV-charging money - Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Wednesday had harsh words for the states that sued him for withholding billions of dollars that Congress approved to build electric vehicle charging stations.Duffy criticized the attorneys general of 16 Democrat-led states and the District of Columbia for being too slow to spend the funds, which between all states totals $5 billion.“The Biden-Buttigieg Administration failed miserably to deliver EV chargers despite their promises,” Duffy said in a statement, referring to the former president and to Duffy’s predecessor as Transportation secretary, Pete Buttegieg, who is considering a run for president in 2028.The slow rollout of the charging initiative, known as the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, or NEVI, became a campaign issue last year as then-candidate Donald Trump characterized it as both inefficient and a waste of money.

Transportation secretary blasts states that want EV-charging money - Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Wednesday had harsh words for the states that sued him for withholding billions of dollars that Congress approved to build electric vehicle charging stations.Duffy criticized the attorneys general of 16 Democrat-led states and the District of Columbia for being too slow to spend the funds, which between all states totals $5 billion.“The Biden-Buttigieg Administration failed miserably to deliver EV chargers despite their promises,” Duffy said in a statement, referring to the former president and to Duffy’s predecessor as Transportation secretary, Pete Buttegieg, who is considering a run for president in 2028.The slow rollout of the charging initiative, known as the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, or NEVI, became a campaign issue last year as then-candidate Donald Trump characterized it as both inefficient and a waste of money.

Dems gird for record-breaking Energy and Commerce markup - Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee could go to unprecedented lengths this week to protest Republicans’ efforts to cut energy, climate and health care programs in their party-line bill. When the committee gavels in at 2 p.m. Tuesday to mark up its portion of the GOP’s tax, energy and national security legislation, lawmakers will embark on what could be a record-setting debate over provisions targeting clean energy grants, environmental programs and especially Medicaid. Republicans will likely reject all of the Democrats’ proposed changes, but lawmakers and aides on both sides of the aisle say the minority is intent on trying to make the markup as painful as possible. Democrats could offer enough amendments to keep the markup going for more than 27 consecutive hours — the committee record set during 2017 debate over the Affordable Care Act.

Supreme Court justices appear open to stopping courts from blocking Trump orders - Conservative justices on the Supreme Court appeared open to curbing lower courts’ ability to block Trump administration policies as the White House faces challenges to its efforts to curtail immigration and turbocharge fossil fuel development. During oral arguments Thursday, the justices weighed whether lower courts had overstepped by imposing nationwide injunctions against the president’s executive orders that seek to restrict birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed under the 14th Amendment. Justice Neil Gorsuch likened an individual judge issuing a ruling that applies across the country to a finding that “everybody, everywhere, nationwide, perhaps cosmically, stands to benefit.’“ The case, Trump v. CASA Inc., could have important implications for opponents of the Trump administration’s efforts to overhaul the federal workforce, slash agency grants and scrap environmental protections, and who have relied on judges to block these changes.

Supreme Court broadens standard for unreasonable force claims against police -- The Supreme Court on Thursday made it easier to bring unreasonable force claims against police, ruling unanimously that courts should examine the circumstances beyond the split seconds when an officer fears for their safety in deciding whether they can be tried for unreasonable force. The case stemmed from a 2016 traffic stop in Texas. Ashtian Barnes, 24, was killed during the routine stop. He had been driving his girlfriend’s rental car, which had outstanding toll violations, when stopped by officer Roberto Felix Jr. After Barnes was asked to present his license and insurance, the car started moving forward. Felix jumped onto the vehicle’s doorsill and shot inside, striking Barnes twice and killing him. The exchange turned deadly in seconds. The justices were asked to weigh whether courts should examine everything that happened during the traffic stop or just the moment when Felix feared for his safety when evaluating an excessive force claim. In a 9-0 decision, they said the so-called “moment of the threat” doctrine should not be applied in such cases, instead directing courts to review the “totality of the circumstances.” “To assess whether an officer acted reasonably in using force, a court must consider all the relevant circumstances, including facts and events leading up to the climactic moment,” Justice Elena Kagan wrote in the majority opinion. Kagan noted the situation at the precise moment of the shooting may often be what matters most, given that the officer’s choice in those split seconds are what is under review. However, she said earlier facts and circumstances may inform how a “reasonable officer” would have responded to later ones. “Prior events may show, for example, why a reasonable officer would have perceived otherwise ambiguous conduct of a suspect as threatening,” she said. “Or instead they may show why such an officer would have perceived the same conduct as innocuous.” Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote a concurring opinion — which was joined by conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Amy Coney Barrett — to add additional context to the majority opinion about the “dangers of traffic stops” for police officers. He noted that notorious criminals like Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and serial killer Ted Bundy were both apprehended following traffic stops. And when a car pulls away during a stop, “the risks multiply.” “The point here is that when a driver abruptly pulls away during a traffic stop, an officer has no particularly good or safe options,” Kavanaugh wrote. “Of course, when an officer uses force against a fleeing driver, the judiciary still must assess any resulting Fourth Amendment claim under the standard of objective reasonableness,” he added. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit had ruled that Barnes’s Fourth Amendment rights were not violated under the appellate court’s precedent, which abides by the “moment of the threat” doctrine. But in a concurring decision, Circuit Judge Patrick Higginbotham, who wrote the majority opinion, said the justices should overturn it. “Here, given the rapid sequence of events and Officer Felix’s role in drawing his weapon and jumping on the running board, the totality of the circumstances merits finding that Officer Felix violated Barnes’s Fourth Amendment right to be free from excessive force,” Higginbotham wrote.

Senate Democrats, worried about John Fetterman, discussing ways to help -- Democratic senators are having private conversations about how to help Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) in the wake of an explosive report that the first-term Pennsylvania senator is behaving erratically and in a way that may pose a danger to himself or others, according to sources familiar with those discussions. Two Democratic senators told The Hill they are talking with colleagues about how to best help Fetterman, who they fear is struggling to cope with the emotional rigors of serving in Congress, a stressful job even for the fittest individuals, who often find themselves the targets of political attacks. “Every time I see him, I’m worried about him,” said a Democratic senator who requested anonymity. The senator cited a recent report in New York Magazine that Fetterman’s former chief of staff alerted the senator’s doctor at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center that he was “on a bad trajectory” and might not “be with us for much longer” unless something changes. “I know we’re all in touch with each other having conversations about how to intervene. I haven’t heard anybody say they’re not worried about it,” the senator said of the discussions among senators about how to help Fetterman. “People are trying to figure out what to do. People are worried about his safety,” the lawmaker added. A second Democratic senator, who also requested anonymity, described being “involved in discussions” about how to help Fetterman. The lawmaker said the bombshell report in New York Magazine “gets our attention.” “We’re trying to be good friends,” the source added. A third Democratic senator who requested anonymity reported witnessing Fetterman become emotional at work and expressed concern about his “well-being.” “Certainly, I’m concerned about his well-being like all other senators,” the lawmaker said. Fetterman’s office did not respond to a request for comment. A Democratic aide said Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) has made an effort to reach out to Fetterman, forming a friendship and helping to break through the wall that has emerged between Fetterman and many of his Democratic colleagues. Fetterman’s former top aide, Adam Jentleson, a well-known Capitol Hill veteran who previously served as former Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid’s (Nev.) deputy chief of staff, warned Fetterman’s doctor a year ago in a 1,600-word email that the senator was exhibiting “warning signs” that they had previously discussed after he was admitted to Walter Reed for clinical depression in 2023. The aide flagged Fetterman’s heavy use of social media, which was described as an “accelerant” of his depression; reckless driving; and the purchase of a firearm. Jentleson warned that Fetterman’s driving had become so erratic that staff refused to get in a car with him. The aide also flagged conspiratorial thinking, megalomania, roller-coaster emotions and questioned whether Fetterman was taking medication prescribed to combat his depression. Fetterman pushed back on the report last week as a “one-source hit piece” and vowed to stay in the Senate for the remainder of his term, which expires in 2028. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) said Fetterman has largely withdrawn from casual interactions with Democratic colleagues.

DNC moves toward nullifying election of David Hogg, Malcolm Kenyatta as vice chairs - The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has taken a first step toward possibly requiring a new election for two of its vice chairs, including David Hogg, who has stirred controversy with his call for primary challenges to longtime incumbents in safe seats. The DNC’s Credentials Committee voted Monday to nullify the results of the February election in which Hogg and Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta won two of the three vice chair positions. The vote followed a procedural complaint that one of the losing candidates made challenging the way the election was determined.But internal strife has dominated much of the past month of Hogg’s DNC tenure. Hogg’s group, Leaders We Deserve, launched a $20 million effort in mid-April to advance more than a dozen primary challenges against Democratic members of Congress to bring in a new generation to serve.He’s said sitting members in competitive districts and those in safe districts who have been effective at standing up to President Trump would not be targeted, but his move has still caused plenty of backlash within the party. DNC Chair Ken Martin said following Hogg’s announcement that no DNC officer should try to influence a primary. But party leaders have said the vote Monday was about the procedural issue, not other considerations. Christine Pelosi, the daughter of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and a member of the Credentials Committee, said in a post on the social platform X that the first vice chair, Artie Blanco, was elected with a clear majority, but Kenyatta and Hogg were elected on a combined ballot. One of the losing candidates, Kalyn Free, issued a complaint alleging conducting the election on a combined ballot violated the DNC’s rules. The younger Pelosi said she called for upholding the election results but addressing the issue for future elections, but her proposal fell short of a majority vote of the committee, which eventually voted to recommend the DNC hold new ballots for Hogg and Kenyatta’s vice chair positions. The full membership of the DNC will need to vote on the proposal for a new election to be held. “Meanwhile, Malcolm Kenyatta and David Hogg continue to serve as DNC Vice Chairs,” Pelosi said. “And I think I speak for all of us on the Committee when I say I hope both of these talented individuals put their names on the ballot again.” Hogg denounced the move in a statement, saying the DNC had taken its first steps to remove him from his position. “While this vote was based on how the DNC conducting its officers’ elections, which I had nothing to do with, it is also impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party which loomed large over this vote,” he wrote. Hogg added that the DNC made clear its plans to remove him from his position in declaring its “neutrality” stance in primaries, but he argued party committees such as the Senate and House Democrats’ campaign arms regularly get involved in primaries. “The DNC has pledged to remove me, and this vote has provided an avenue to fast-track that effort,” he said. Kenyatta posted on X that he disagreed with the ruling but respects the committee’s decision. But he challenged the idea it is about Hogg, noting the challenge from Free was brought well before the 25-year-old — who entered the spotlight as a survivor of the 2018 Parkland school shooting — announced his primary plan. “The credentials committee believed, as they stated, that they are remedying a procedural flaw. But doing so the way they did, is a slap in my face. I’m frustrated, but I’ll be ok,” Kenyatta wrote in the post.

Elon Musk's America PAC sued again over unpaid petition dues -- A second class-action lawsuit has been filed against Elon Musk’s America PAC alleging that the group hasn’t paid voters what they were promised for signing a petition during President Trump’s 2024 campaign. Three plaintiffs from Pennsylvania, Nevada and Georgia filed the lawsuit last week on behalf of anyone who is in the same situation, accusing the super PAC of not paying them in full for their signatures or for referring other voters to sign. The petition declared support for the First and Second amendments to the Constitution. Musk and the group originally offered signatories, and those who refer others to sign, $47 for their signature and each person they refer before raising the amount to $100. The offer was just for those living in battleground states during the presidential election. But the plaintiffs allege they weren’t paid the promised amount for signing or referring other registered voters to sign. The complaint states that one plaintiff, Steven Reid, worked as a canvasser for America PAC in Michigan and Georgia and referred “many voters” to sign but hasn’t received the reward despite “multiple attempts” to collect. The complaint states that Reid estimates he is owed at least several thousand dollars for the referrals. “Plaintiffs are in communication with numerous others who referred voters to sign the America PAC petition, who are likewise frustrated that they did not receive full payments for their referrals,” the suit reads. This is the second lawsuit against America PAC over alleged nonpayment regarding the petition, after a man from Pennsylvania anonymously filed a complaint last month making similar allegations. That man alleged that Musk and the group owe him $20,000 for gathering signatures.

Noem says DHS, Secret Service investigating Comey after he ‘called for the assassination’ of Trump -- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem accused former FBI Director James Comey of calling for President Trump’s “assassination,” saying federal law enforcement authorities are now investigating the “threat.” “Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump,” Noem wrote on the social platform X on Thursday evening. “DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately,” she added. Comey — a longtime foe of the president’s — posted a photo earlier Thursday on Instagram of seashells on a beach arranged to form the numbers “8647.” The post garnered significant blowback from much of Trump’s base, with many understanding the numbers to be a call for violence against the 47th president, Trump. Others suggested the “86” could be calling for the president to be impeached or removed from office. Comey removed the photo Thursday evening and clarified in a new post that he did not intend to call for violence and didn’t realize his message would be interpreted that way. “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message,” Comey wrote on Instagram. “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence,” he continued. “It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”

Trump: Comey post ‘meant assassination’ - President Trump said he thinks former FBI Director James Comey’s Instagram photo of seashells on a beach arranged to form the numbers “8647” was a call for his assassination, saying the Justice Department will deal with the repercussions. The post on Thursday, which Comey has since removed, garnered significant blowback from much of Trump’s base with many understanding the numbers to be a call for violence against the 47th president.“He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant. If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant, that meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier.“Now, he wasn’t very competent, but he was competent enough to know what that meant. And he did it for a reason, and he was hit so hard because people like me, they like what’s happening with our country,” he told the “Special Report” host. “Our country’s become respected again and all this. And he’s calling for the assassination of the president.”Baier noted Comey apologized, clarified in a new post he did not intend to call for violence and said he didn’t realize his message would be interpreted that way.“Well, he apologized because he was hit,” Trump replied.Baier then asked what the president wants to see happen in response and Trump deferred to Attorney General Pam Bondi.“I don’t want to take a position on it, because that’s going to be up to Pam and all of the great people. But I will say this, I think it’s a terrible thing,” Trump said. “And when you add his history to that, if he had a clean history, he doesn’t.”

Trump to house 7.5K soldiers for military parade in government buildings: Report - More than 7,000 soldiers will reportedly be housed in government office buildings for a major military parade next month to mark the Army’s 250th anniversary. The parade, which will also fall on President Trump’s birthday, is expected to feature tanks, military planes and other equipment on the National Mall, according to planning documents obtained by USA Today. The total cost of the parade will be roughly $30 million, but may increase. USA Today reported that soldiers and equipment are expected to arrive in Washington in the days leading up to the June 14 parade. The news outlet reported that there will be 120 military vehicles in town for the event, including 24 Abrams tanks and howitzer cannons. Trump is expected to observe the parade from a viewing stand along Constitution Avenue near the White House. The parade will conclude with fireworks at dusk, USA Today reported. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the plans. An Army official previously confirmed to The Hill that the parade will stretch almost 4 miles, from the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., to the White House. Democrats and critics have questioned both the cost of the parade and whether it politicizes the military, which has traditionally been nonpartisan. The fact that the parade falls on Trump’s birthday has only fueled criticism from Democrats who view it as a way for the president to celebrate himself.

Trump family's crypto ventures raise concerns as American Bitcoin plans IPO -American Bitcoin, Eric Trump’s bitcoin mining company, announced Monday that it plans to go public. The firm will merge with fellow bitcoin mining firm Gryphon Digital Mining and operate under the American Bitcoin brand, appearing on the Nasdaq under the ticker “ABTC,” according to a press release. “Our vision for American Bitcoin is to create the most investable Bitcoin accumulation platform in the market,” Trump, co-founder and chief strategy officer of American Bitcoin, said in a statement. “Today’s announcement marks an important milestone in that journey, bringing us closer to offering every investor access to a purpose-built platform engineered for scale and long-term value creation in what we believe is one of the most important asset classes of our time,” he continued. The president’s son launched American Bitcoin earlier this year alongside bitcoin mining company Hut 8. Bitcoin mining is used to create new bitcoins and verify bitcoin transactions. The decision to go public is the latest move by President Trump’s family in the crypto space, which has increasingly raised concerns as his administration seeks to boost the industry. World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture launched by the president and his sons last year, announced earlier this month that its new stablecoin would be used to complete a $2 billion transaction between Emirati firm MGX and crypto exchange Binance. Trump is also set to attend a dinner later this month with the top investors in his meme coin, which he launched shortly before his inauguration. Both moves have prompted concerns from Democrats and advocacy groups, who warn that Trump and his family may be profiting off his office and opening up the government to foreign influence. The Trump family’s expanding crypto portfolio is also starting to cause problems for the president’s legislative agenda. The administration and Republican lawmakers have made crypto legislation a priority in this Congress, focusing on getting stablecoin and market structure bills across the finish line. However, recent progress appears to have largely come to a halt. House Democrats walked out of a hearing on market structure legislation last week, citing concerns about Trump’s recent crypto ventures. Senate stablecoin legislation also failed to clear a key early hurdle on the floor Thursday, after Democrats voted down the bill. They accused Republican leadership of cutting negotiations short. The World Liberty Financial deal also gave the bill’s opponents new fuel.

Trump family’s bitcoin investment gains an energy foothold - A bitcoin mining company backed by President Donald Trump’s sons announced plans to go public Monday through a merger that gives the family a foothold in the U.S. and Canadian energy business.American Bitcoin, the mining firm backed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., said Monday that it would go public on the Nasdaq through a merger with public company Gryphon Digital Mining. The combined company will operate as American Bitcoin, which lists Eric Trump as a co-founder and chief strategy officer.The merger marks a more aggressive move by the Trump family into the electricity infrastructure that enables its digital currency business. American Bitcoin started out as a subsidiary of the Miami-based energy infrastructure company Hut 8, which has a portfolio of 15 sites in the United States and Canada totaling more than 1,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Hut 8 will act as American Bitcoin’s exclusive infrastructure and operations partner, according to the companies’ announcement, and American Bitcoin previously said it would co-locate miners at Hut 8 sites.A presentation by American Bitcoin says that the new venture aims to “become a category leader in the Bitcoin ecosystem” and to achieve “mining leadership” through “Hut 8’s energy advantage, rapid execution and proven team.” The company, the presentation says, can also leverage and expand “access to low-cost power, establishing a fundamental operational advantage” to its mining business.Upon returning to Washington, Trump wasted no time standing behind tech executives pledging hundreds of billions of dollars to build data centers big enough to command the lead over China in developing artificial intelligence. And Trump has said he wants the U.S. to be the crypto capital of the world, including by opening up energy resources to boost digital mining. “If crypto is going to define the future, I want it to be mined, minted and made in the USA,” Trump said at an industry conference last July while running for his second term. The White House has framed Trump’s “energy abundance” agenda as an economic necessity for America’s powerful tech companies — largely to power an AI boom, but also for energy-hungry crypto mining and high-tech manufacturing. The White House has rolled out executive orders designed to speed permitting and bypass environmental rules to get data centers and power plants built more quickly. And the Energy Department plans to help private companies build data centers on federal land, including at national labs. Through American Bitcoin — a Hut 8 subsidiary that was briefly called American Data Center — the Trump family business venture is delving deeper into the energy space where federal policies under Trump intersect directly with access to electricity and fuels. And that comes as the energy industry is in some turmoil. On-again, off-again tariffs and the global economic implications are contributing to a slump in oil prices and pushing up costs for energy technology. Trump has put natural gas build-outs and reviving old coal plants at the center of his energy policy, while attacks on wind and solar power are pushing more of that investment to the sideline. In an April call launching American Bitcoin, Eric Trump said the winner of the bitcoin race will be “whoever can do it best and most efficiently and most pragmatically, in the cheapest energy environments.”The “mining” of digital currency requires massive amounts of computing power. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated last year that digital currency mining accounted for as much as 2.3 percent of the nation’s electricity use based on publicly available data. Plans to survey crypto companies about their energy consumption and sources of energy were halted after an industry lawsuit last year and have not been revived under the Trump administration. American Bitcoin did not detail what sources of energy it planned to use or where it would build new mining sites. The company also did not reply to a request for comment.

Johnson waves off concerns about Trump meme coin -- House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) brushed off concerns about President Trump and his family’s recent cryptocurrency dealings, stating the president has “nothing to hide.” During a press conference Monday, a reporter pressed Johnson on his past criticism of the Biden family’s foreign dealings, asking the Speaker if he is “equally concerned” about the Trump family’s crypto ventures. “Look there are authorities that, police, executive branch, ethics rules … I’m not an expert in that,” Johnson replied. “My expertise is in the House.” “The reason many people refer to the Bidens as the Biden crime family is because they were doing all this stuff behind curtains … in the back rooms, they were trying to conceal it, and they repeatedly lied about it,” Johnson said. “Whatever President Trump is doing is out in the open. They’re not trying to conceal anything.” Congressional Republicans carried out a yearlong probe last year into former President Biden, alleging the former president engaged in impeachable conduct centering around the business activities of family members, including his son, Hunter. At the end of the probe, House Republican investigators asserted Biden, as vice president, was likely aware of his family members allegedly using their connection to him to boost business deals in Ukraine, China and elsewhere. Democrats have increasingly raised concerns in recent weeks over Trump’s family crypto business, World Liberty Financial, including its new deal with Emirati firm MGX and crypto exchange Binance. As part of the deal, World Liberty Financials’s new stablecoin will be used to complete the $2 billion transaction.

Tether Buys $459 Million In Crypto, Launches New Bitcoin Treasury Company -- Cantor Equity Partners, Inc. revealed in a new filing with the SEC yesterday that Tether bought 4,812.2 Bitcoin for a total of $458.7 million on behalf of Jack Mallers’ recently launched Bitcoin treasury company, Twenty One Capital, which plans to eventually go public under the ticker XXI. “Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, Tether agreed that within ten (10) business days thereof, it would purchase a number of Bitcoin equal to an aggregate purchase price of $458,700,000,” Cantor stated in the filing. “With the Convertible Notes PIPE, entered into on April 22, 2025 by Pubco and the Company with certain investors, less a holdback amount of $52,000,000), and place such Bitcoin in a digital wallet held or operated by or on behalf of Tether.As Bitcoin Magazine reports, Tether is holding the Bitcoin in a digital wallet, which anyone can view the holdings online here.....showcasing further transparency into their holdings similar to how some spot Bitcoin ETF issuers and other public corporations, such as Bitwise and Metaplanet, have done with their holdings.“The Initial PIPE Bitcoin will be sold by Tether to Pubco at the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement upon the funding of the PIPE Investments by the PIPE Investors for a purchase price of $458,700,000,” the filing further stated.Cantor Equity Partners Inc., currently trading under the ticker CEP, is now live in the markets as it works toward completing its merger with Twenty One Capital. CEO Jack Mallers recently emphasized the firm’s aggressive Bitcoin acquisition strategy, stating: “We do intend to raise as much capital as we possibly can to acquire Bitcoin… We will never have Bitcoin per share negative. At least that is our intent. Our intent is to make sure when you are a shareholder of Twenty One that you are getting wealthier in Bitcoin terms.”

Is The Senate Stablecoin Bill Dead? Dems Demand Treasury Info On Trump Citing Crypto "Bribery" Risks -CoinDesk's Margau Nijkerk reports that Top House Democrats sent a letter to the U.S. Treasury Department Wednesday, asking its money laundering watchdog to hand over all suspicious activity reports (SARs) tied to President Donald Trump’s crypto ventures. In a letter sent to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Reps. Gerald Connolly (D-Va.), Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) - the ranking members of the House Oversight, Administrative, and Judiciary committees - called for an urgent investigation into Trump’s blockchain project World Liberty Financial and the $TRUMP memecoin, citing possible violations of campaign finance laws, bribery statutes and securities regulations.“The Committees seek to determine whether legislation is necessary to prevent violations of campaign finance, consumer protection, bribery, securities fraud, and other anti-corruption laws in connection with fundraising by candidates for federal office and federal officeholders and to guard against deceptive and predatory campaign fundraising practices, illicit foreign influence over federal officials, and other financial misconduct connected to prospective or current federal officials,” the leading Democrats on the committees wrote in a press release shared with CoinDesk. The request marks an escalation in congressional scrutiny on whether President Trump and his entourage are abusing their positions of power to benefit their crypto businesses. Senate Democrats pointed to Trump’s crypto ventures last week as part of their reason for not voting to advance stablecoin legislation that previously saw bipartisan support. The inquiry zeroes in not only on the Trump family’s September 2024 launch of World Liberty Financial and the $TRUMP memecoin launched just days before his inauguration, but also Elon Musk’s America PAC and whether they are using Trump’s name to solicit donations under false pretenses. As Sander Luz reported earlier via Decrypt.co, it was supposed to be a slam dunk.The American crypto industry, flush with more political capital than it has ever had (and perhaps will ever have), was to get its long-awaited “regulatory clarity” on stablecoins last week.And yet the Senate failed to pass a key procedural vote on the marquee stablecoin legislation. As the bill, dubbed the GENIUS Act, languishes in legislative purgatory, should it be considered functionally dead—or might there be hope yet for its passage? It depends who you ask. Technically speaking, according to the Senate’s rules, the window to file a motion to reconsider the bill—which would establish a legal framework for offering stablecoins in the United States—has already passed. Such a motion would have had to be filed by Monday evening, and no senators did so in time. Stablecoins are a key component of the crypto economy. They are essentially digital dollar-equivalents that allow their users to enter and exit digital asset trades, and send payments or remittances overseas, without the need to access dollars directly. It’s expected that once these assets are anointed by the U.S. Congress, rules of the road signed into law by President Donald Trump, banking giants and Wall Street titans will join the fray and enter the stablecoin market—bringing billions if not trillions of dollars into crypto. That’s why the lobbying arm of the crypto industry has been pushing so hard for this legislation. But the GENIUS Act has not been taken up for a cloture vote this week because, functionally, political calculus has not changed on the topic since Thursday.

Republican bill bars states from regulating AI for 10 years - A Republican tax bill released late Sunday seeks to block states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI) models for the next 10 years. The bill text from the House Energy and Commerce Committee would bar states from enforcing laws or regulations governing AI models, AI systems or automated decision systems. It provides some exemptions for laws and regulations that aim to “remove legal impediments” or “facilitate the deployment or operation” of AI systems, as well as those that seek to “streamline licensing, permitting, routing, zoning, procurement, or reporting procedures.” It would also permit state laws that do not “impose any substantive design, performance, data-handling, documentation, civil liability, taxation, fee, or other requirement” on AI systems. The bill, which comes as Republicans gear up to advance President Trump’s legislative agenda this week, aligns with the administration’s emphasis on AI innovation instead of regulation. Shortly after taking office, Trump rescinded former President Biden’s executive order establishing guardrails around AI and fielded input on his own forthcoming “AI Action Plan.” Vice President Vance also slammed “excessive regulation” of AI during his first international trip in the administration in February. “We believe that excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry just as it’s taking off,” Vance said at the AI Action Summit in Paris. “And I’d like to see that deregulatory flavor making a lot of the conversations this conference.” Meanwhile, as AI regulation at the federal level remains in limbo, states have sought to develop laws around the rapidly developing technology. State legislatures considered nearly 700 AI bills last year, 113 of which were ultimately enacted into law, according to the Business Software Alliance. California launched a controversial effort last year to regulate extreme risks from AI that faced pushback from federal lawmakers. State S.B. 1047, which sought to require powerful AI models to undergo safety testing before they could be released and hold developers liable for severe harms, was ultimately vetoed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).

Prominent chatbots routinely exaggerate science findings, study shows When summarizing scientific studies, large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and DeepSeek produce inaccurate conclusions in up to 73% of cases, according to a study by Uwe Peters (Utrecht University) and Benjamin Chin-Yee (Western University, Canada/University of Cambridge, UK). The researchers tested the most prominent LLMs and analyzed thousands of chatbot-generated science summaries, revealing that most models consistently produced broader conclusions than those in the summarized texts. Surprisingly, prompts for accuracy increased the problem and newer LLMs performed worse than older ones. The work is published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. The study evaluated how accurately ten leading LLMs, including ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Claude, and LLaMA, summarize abstracts and full-length articles from top science and medical journals (e.g., Nature, Science, and The Lancet). Testing LLMs over one year, the researchers collected 4,900 LLM-generated summaries. Six of ten models systematically exaggerated claims found in the original texts, often in subtle but impactful ways; for instance, changing cautious, past-tense claims like "The treatment was effective in this study" to a more sweeping, present-tense version like "The treatment is effective." These changes can mislead readers into believing that findings apply much more broadly than they actually do. Strikingly, when the models were explicitly prompted to avoid inaccuracies, they were nearly twice as likely to produce overgeneralized conclusions than when given a simple summary request. "This effect is concerning," Peters said. "Students, researchers, and policymakers may assume that if they ask ChatGPT to avoid inaccuracies, they'll get a more reliable summary. Our findings prove the opposite." Peters and Chin-Yee also directly compared chatbot-generated to human-written summaries of the same articles. Unexpectedly, chatbots were nearly five times more likely to produce broad generalizations than their human counterparts."Worryingly," said Peters, "newer AI models, like ChatGPT-4o and DeepSeek, performed worse than older ones."The researchers recommend using LLMs such as Claude, which had the highest generalization accuracy, setting chatbots to lower "temperature" (the parameter fixing a chatbot's "creativity"), and using prompts that enforce indirect, past-tense reporting in science summaries. Finally, "If we want AI to support science literacy rather than undermine it," Peters said, "we need more vigilance and testing of these systems in science communication contexts."

Study: Tokenization not a threat to monetary policy control --Central banks need not fear the widespread tokenization of money and securities, according to recent findings from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Bank for International Settlements. A joint study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Bank for International Settlements found that a shift to widespread tokenization would not impact central banks' ability to transmit monetary policy, and that the technology could even prove beneficial.

Basel Committee resists US pressure to downplay climate risk - U.S. efforts to rein in the Basel Committee's focus on climate risks were met with a rare show of resistance this week, according to people familiar with the matter. The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Risks won't be disbanded, according to people familiar with the matter.

Trump signs CRAs for overdraft, larger participant rules— President Donald Trump signed the Republican-led Congressional Review Act resolution overturning the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule that would have limited many overdraft fees. President Donald Trump has signed two Congressional Review Act resolutions nullifying the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's rule capping many overdraft fees and subjecting large data brokers to regulation.

Federal Reserve ends enforcement action vs. Illinois bank - The Federal Reserve has ended an enforcement action against a small Illinois bank and its holding company. The Federal Reserve Board terminated a written agreement with Du Quoin State Bank from 2023. The order had stemmed from the bank's deficient interest rate risk management.

US-China tariff truce gives banks hope amid uncertainty --A 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs between the U.S. and China boosted the near-term economic outlook for banks, but tensions and uncertainty around trade barriers remain high.

Conservatives block tax bill, including bank-favored riders — The House Budget Committee failed to advance House Republicans' tax and spending bill, a stunning failure for the bill that would have given banks many items on their legislative wish list. In a dramatic move, conservative hardliners blocked President Donald Trump's tax and spending bill, which would have included many measures favored by banks.

Banks face repeat of data-sharing fight with CFPB move - A U.S. consumer watchdog looks poised to tear up a rule on customer financial data sharing and start all over again — but with a depleted staff, a potentially drained budget and all of the same thorny issues.The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is likely to scratch and rework its open banking rule, at a time when the agency's fate is in doubt.

CFPB kills proposal to rein in data brokers - -The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has withdrawn a proposed rule aimed at protecting consumers from having their personal and financial information sold by data brokers. The Trump administration has withdrawn from the Federal Register a proposed rule that sought to protect consumers from having their sensitive financial information sold.

Trump's CFPB rescinds 70 guidance and enforcement documents --The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is radically cutting enforcement by withdrawing nearly 70 guidance documents, citing President Trump's mandate to eliminate regulations and reduce costs for businesses. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a policy directive rescinding scores of standing guidance documents, interpretive rules and advisory opinions in a bid to reduce compliance costs.Acting Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Russell Vought rescinded scores of guidance documents in a Federal Register notice scheduled for publication Monday.

Trump's CFPB has dropped half of all pending litigation -The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has dismissed or withdrawn more than half of its pending enforcement cases as the Trump administration clears the docket of work it inherited from the Biden era. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has dismissed or withdrawn from more than 20 lawsuits as the Trump administration reverses the work done during the Biden era.

Appeals court hears CFPB argument for 90% reduction in force -- A panel of appellate judges will decide whether the Trump administration can fire 90% of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's staff through a reduction-in-force without impacting the agency's legally-mandated work.Firing 90% of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's staff and stripping it down to "the statutory studs" is lawful, an attorney for the CFPB told an appeals court.

Trump signs CRAs for overdraft, larger participant rules— President Donald Trump signed the Republican-led Congressional Review Act resolution overturning the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule that would have limited many overdraft fees. President Donald Trump has signed two Congressional Review Act resolutions nullifying the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's rule capping many overdraft fees and subjecting large data brokers to regulation.

Deregulation is the new norm at the CFPB, and banks love it --- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been in a freefall since former Director Rohit Chopra was ousted in February, kickstarting a game of musical chairs at the top of the agency and beginning the current campaign to defang the regulator. More change is on the horizon, for better or for worse. The Trump administration has brought deregulation and staff cuts to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, leaving many wondering what's next.

Exclusive: Warren says DOJ can stop Capital One-Discover deal -- Senate Banking Committee ranking member Elizabeth Warren is pressing the Department of Justice to block the Capital One deal to acquire Discover, according to a letter shared with American Banker. Warren is pushing the Department of Justice to use its power to halt the deal, already approved by bank regulators.

Fired credit union regulators dig in for lengthy court fight -Questions remain whether Trump can legitimately remove board members from the National Credit Union Administration, and the answers lie in the courts.

Fed April SLOOS Survey: Banks reported Weaker Demand for Residential Real Estate -From the Federal Reserve: The April 2025 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices The April 2025 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices (SLOOS) addressed changes in the standards and terms on, and demand for, bank loans to businesses and households over the past three months, which generally correspond to the first quarter of 2025.Regarding loans to businesses over the first quarter, survey respondents reported, on balance, tighter lending standards and weaker demand for commercial and industrial (C&I) loans to firms of all sizes. Furthermore, banks reported tighter or basically unchanged lending standards, and weaker or basically unchanged demand for commercial real estate (CRE) loans.Banks also responded to a set of special questions about changes in lending policies and demand for CRE loans over the past year. For all CRE loan categories, banks reported having tightened policies related to loan-to-value ratios and debt service coverage ratios. For some CRE loan categories, banks also tightened policies related to market areas served and the length of interest-only payment periods. For office loans, banks reported having tightened all queried policies on such loans over the past year.For loans to households, banks reported basically unchanged lending standards and weaker demand for most categories of residential real estate (RRE) loans, on balance. Banks similarly reported basically unchanged lending standards but stronger demand for home equity lines of credit (HELOCs). In addition, banks reported having tightened standards for credit card loans, while standards remained basically unchanged for auto and other consumer loans. Meanwhile, demand reportedly weakened for credit card and other consumer loans and remained basically unchanged for auto loans.This graph on Residential Real Estate demand is from the Senior Loan Officer Survey Charts.This graph is for demand and shows that demand has been weak since late 2021. The left graph is from 1990 to 2014. The right graph is from 2015 to Q1 2025.

Delinquency Rates for Commercial Properties Increased in the First Quarter of 2025 - Delinquency rates for mortgages backed by commercial properties increased during the first quarter of 2025. This is according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) latest commercial real estate finance (CREF) Loan Performance Survey."The delinquency rate for commercial mortgages increased again in the first quarter of 2025, driven by higher delinquencies on lodging and industrial properties and rising delinquencies on GSE and FHA loans,” said Judie Ricks, MBA’s Associate Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Research. “MBA is closely watching delinquency trends, as there have been increases in both later-stage and new delinquencies. Economic growth will slow in 2025, which could lead to further increases in mortgage delinquencies through the second half of the year.”

• The balance of commercial mortgages that are not current increased slightly in the first quarter of 2025.
• The share of loans that were delinquent increased for some property types, particularly office and lodging, decreased for industrial and retail properties, and remained roughly constant for multifamily properties overall.
• Among capital sources, CMBS loan delinquency rates saw the highest levels.
• 5.2% of CMBS loan balances were 30 days or more delinquent, down from 5.3% at the end of last quarter.
• Non-current rates for other capital sources remained moderate.
• 1.0% of life company loan balances were delinquent, up from 0.9%.
• 0.6% of GSE loan balances were delinquent, up from 0.55% the previous quarter.
• 1.1% of FHA multifamily and health care loan balances were delinquent, up from 1.0% the prior quarter.

MBA's CREF Loan Performance survey collected information on commercial and multifamily mortgage portfolios as of December 30, 2024. This quarters’ results build on similar surveys conducted since April 2020. Participants reported on $2.6 trillion of loans in March 2025, representing 54 percent of the total $4.8 trillion in commercial and multifamily mortgage debt outstanding (MDO) relative to the fourth quarter of 2024 MDO report.

Q1 NY Fed Report: Mortgage Originations by Credit Score, Delinquencies Increase, Foreclosures Increase -The NY Fed released the Q1 Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit this morning. Here are a few charts from the report. The first graph shows mortgage originations by credit score (this includes both purchase and refinance). Look at the difference in credit scores in the recent period compared to the during the bubble years (2003 through 2006). Recently there have been almost no originations for borrowers with credit scores below 620, and few below 660. A significant majority of recent originations have been to borrowers with credit score above 760.Solid underwriting is a key reason I’ve argued Don't Compare the Current Housing Boom to the Bubble and Bust, Look instead at the 1978 to 1982 period for lessons. From the NY Fed:The volume of mortgage originations, measured as appearances of new mortgages on consumer credit reports and including both refinance and purchase origin ations, increased slightly with $426 billion newly originated in 2025Q1. … Home equity lines of credit (HELOC) limits continued to rise and saw a $3 billion increase. …Credit quality of newly originated loans was mixed. … There was a slight deterioration in mortgages, as the median score of newly originated mortgage loans declined by 2 points and the tenth percentile score declined by 5 points.Here is another way to look at the credit scores by origination over time. There was a significant decline in credit scores during the bubble.Transition Rates for Current Mortgages A possible concern is the increase in transition rates from current to 30-60 days late. This has been steadily increasing since mortgage rates increased and is now back to pre-pandemic levels. Further increases would be a little worrisome.And here is the transition to serious delinquencies. Most short-term delinquencies transition back to current, but there has also been an increase in transitions to serious delinquencies.The transition rate to serious delinquent is generally increasing and foreclosures are close to pre-pandemic levels. The Q1 increase is likely due to the end of the VA foreclosure moratorium.There is much more in the report.

MBA: Mortgage Delinquencies Increased Slightly in Q1 2025 - From the MBA: Mortgage Delinquencies Increase Slightly in the First Quarter of 2025The delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties increased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.04 percent of all loans outstanding at the end of the first quarter of 2025, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) National Delinquency Survey.The delinquency rate was up 6 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2024 and up 10 basis points from one year ago. The percentage of loans on which foreclosure actions were started in the first quarter rose by 5 basis points to 0.20 percent.“There were mixed results for mortgage performance in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the end of 2024. Delinquencies on conventional loans increased slightly, while mortgage delinquencies on FHA and VA loans declined,” . “Foreclosure inventories increased across all three loan types, and particularly for VA loans. Despite certain segments of borrowers having difficulty making their mortgage payments, the overall national delinquency and foreclosure rates remain below historical averages for now.” Added Walsh, “The percentage of VA loans in the foreclosure process rose to 0.84 percent, the highest level since the fourth quarter of 2019. The increase from the previous quarter marks the largest quarterly change recorded for the VA foreclosure inventory rate since the inception of MBA’s survey in 1979.” Walsh noted that a voluntary VA foreclosure moratorium was in effect through the end of 2024 to allow time to implement the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) Program. That program has since ended without a replacement loss mitigation option approved by Congress. Further increases in the foreclosure rate could result if economic conditions worsen and loan workout options are unavailable. The following graph shows the percent of loans delinquent by days past due. Overall delinquencies increased in Q1. The sharp increase in 2020 in the 90-day bucket was due to loans in forbearance (included as delinquent but not reported to the credit bureaus). The percent of loans in the foreclosure process increased year-over-year from 0.46 percent in Q1 2024 to 0.49 percent in Q1 2025 (red) but remains historically low. Key findings of MBA's First Quarter of 2025 National Delinquency Survey:

• Compared to last quarter, the seasonally adjusted mortgage delinquency rate increased for all loans outstanding. By stage, the 30-day delinquency rate increased 11 basis points to 2.14 percent, the 60-day delinquency rate decreased 3 basis points to 0.73 percent, and the 90-day delinquency bucket decreased 2 basis points to 1.17 percent.
• By loan type, the total seasonally adjusted delinquency rate for conventional loans increased 8 basis points to 2.70 percent over the previous quarter. The total FHA seasonally adjusted delinquency rate decreased 41 basis points to 10.62 percent, and the total VA seasonally adjusted delinquency rate decreased 7 basis points to 4.63 percent.
• On a year-over-year basis, total mortgage delinquencies increased for all loans outstanding. The delinquency rate increased 8 basis points for conventional loans, increased 23 basis points for FHA loans and decreased 3 basis points for VA loans from the previous year.
• The delinquency rate includes loans that are at least one payment past due but does not include loans in the process of foreclosure. The percentage of loans in the foreclosure process at the end of the first quarter was 0.49 percent, up 4 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2024 and 3 basis points higher than one year ago.
• The non-seasonally adjusted seriously delinquent rate, the percentage of loans that are 90 days or more past due or in the process of foreclosure, was 1.63 percent. It decreased 5 basis points from last quarter and increased 19 basis points from last year. The seriously delinquent rate decreased 3 basis points for conventional loans, decreased 14 basis points for FHA loans, and decreased 7 basis points for VA loans from the previous quarter. Compared to a year ago, the seriously delinquent rate increased 5 basis points for conventional loans, increased 80 basis points for FHA loans and increased 50 basis points for VA loans.
• The five states with the largest year over year increases in their overall delinquency rate were: Florida (46 basis points), South Carolina (26 basis points), Georgia (25 basis points), Delaware (25 basis points), and Wyoming (24 basis points).

The primary concern is the increase in FHA and VA delinquency rates. Some of the recent increase is probably due to the hurricanes last year and wildfires in California.

Q1 NY Fed Report: Mortgage Originations by Credit Score, Delinquencies Increase, Foreclosures Increase -- Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Q1 NY Fed Report: Mortgage Originations by Credit Score, Delinquencies Increase, Foreclosures Increase A brief excerpt: The transition rate to serious delinquent is generally increasing and foreclosures are close to pre-pandemic levels. The Q1 increase is likely due to the end of the VA foreclosure moratorium....There is much more in the report. There is much more in the article.

MBA: Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey -- From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Mortgage applications increased 1.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 9, 2025. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 1.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 1 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 0.4 percent from the previous week and was 44 percent higher than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 2 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 2 percent compared with the previous week and was 18 percent higher than the same week one year ago.“Last week saw steadier mortgage rates, as the FOMC meeting played as predicted, and market movements led to a small two-basis point increase in the 30-year conforming rate to 6.86 percent,” “Refinance volume was little changed for the week, with a small increase in government refinances, and a decrease in conventional refinances. The news for the week was the growth in purchase applications, up 2.3 percent and almost 18 percent higher than last year’s pace. Despite the economic uncertainty, the increase in home inventory means there are additional properties to buy, unlike the last two years, and this supply is supporting more transactions.” “There was a notable gain in government purchase applications, up almost 5 percent for the week and 40 percent on an annual basis.” ...The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($806,500 or less) increased to 6.86 percent from 6.84 percent, with points remaining unchanged at 0.68 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The first graph shows the MBA mortgage purchase index. According to the MBA, purchase activity is up 18% year-over-year unadjusted. Purchase application activity is up from the lows in late October 2023 and is 10% above the lowest levels during the housing bust. The second graph shows the refinance index since 1990. The refinance index decreased and remained very low.

Housing May 12th Weekly Update: Inventory up 1.6% Week-over-week, Up 32.9% Year-over-year Altos reports that active single-family inventory was up 1.6% week-over-week. Inventory is now up 21.1% from the seasonal bottom in January and is increasing. Usually, inventory is up about 11.5% from the seasonal low by this week in the year. So, 2025 is seeing a larger than normal pickup in inventory. The first graph shows the seasonal pattern for active single-family inventory since 2015.The red line is for 2025. The black line is for 2019. Inventory was up 32.9% compared to the same week in 2024 (last week it was up 32.9%), and down 15.7% compared to the same week in 2019 (last week it was down 16.0%). This is the highest level since prior to the pandemic. It now appears inventory will be close to 2019 levels towards the end of 2025. This second inventory graph is courtesy of Altos Research. As of May 9th, inventory was at 756 thousand (7-day average), compared to 744 thousand the prior week. Mike Simonsen discusses this data regularly on Youtube

NY Fed Q1 Report: Change in Household Debt Balances Mixed; Student Loan Delinquencies Rise Sharply --From the NY Fed: Change in Household Debt Balances Mixed; Student Loan Delinquencies Rise Sharply - The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Center for Microeconomic Data today issued its Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit. The report shows total household debt increased by $167 billion (0.9%) in Q1 2025, to $18.20 trillion. The report is based on data from the New York Fed’s nationally representative Consumer Credit Panel. It includes a one-page summary of key takeaways and their supporting data points.The New York Fed also issued an accompanying Liberty Street Economics blog post examining student loan delinquency, including which borrowers were past due in the first quarter and implications for their access to other credit.“Transition rates into serious delinquency have leveled off for credit card and auto loans over the past year,” “However, the first batch of past due student loans were reported in the first quarter of 2025, resulting in a large jump in seriously delinquent borrowers.”Credit card balances fell by $29 billion from the previous quarter and stood at $1.18 trillion at the end of March 2025. Auto loan balances also declined by $13 billion, representing the second drop from one subsequent quarter since 2011, and totaled $1.64 trillion. Mortgage balances grew by $199 billion and stood at $12.80 trillion. HELOC balances rose by $6 billion to $402 billion, representing the twelfth consecutive quarterly increase. Student loan balances grew by $16 billion and now stand at $1.63 trillion. Other balances, which include retail cards and other consumer loans, fell by $12 billion.The pace of mortgage originations increased slightly, with $426 billion newly originated mortgages in Q1 2025. Aggregate limits on credit card accounts increased moderately by $77 billion, representing a 1.5% increase from the previous quarter.Aggregate delinquency rates increased from the previous quarter, with 4.3% of outstanding debt in some stage of delinquency. Transition into early delinquency held steady for nearly all debt types, with the exception of student loans. Student loans saw a large uptick in the rate at which balances went from current to delinquent due to the resumption of reporting of delinquent student loans on credit reports after a nearly five-year pause due to the pandemic. Transition into serious delinquency remained stable for auto loans, credit cards, and other debt. Here are three graphs from the report: The first graph shows household debt increased in Q1. Household debt previously peaked in 2008 and bottomed in Q3 2013. Unlike following the great recession, there wasn't a decline in debt during the pandemic.From the NY Fed:Aggregate nominal household debt balances increased by $167 billion in the first quarter of 2025, a 0.9% rise from 2024Q4. Balances now stand at $18.20 trillion and have increased by $4.06 trillion since the end of 2019, just before the pandemic recession. The second graph shows the percent of debt in delinquency. The overall delinquency rate increased in Q1. From the NY Fed: Aggregate delinquency rates increased in the first quarter of 2025. As of the end of March, 4.3 percent of outstanding debt was in some stage of delinquency, up from 3.6 percent in the fourth quarter. Transition into early delinquency held steady for nearly all debt types; the exception was for student loans, which saw a large uptick in the rate at which balances went from current to delinquent due to the resumption of reporting of delinquent student loans on credit reports after a nearly 5-year pause due to the pandemic. Transition rates into serious delinquency, defined as 90 or more days past due, remained stable for auto loans and credit cards, and saw increases for mortgages, HELOCs, and student loans. The third graph shows Mortgage Originations by Credit Score. From the NY Fed: The volume of mortgage originations, measured as appearances of new mortgages on consumer credit reports and including both refinance and purchase originations, increased slightly with $426 billion newly originated in 2025Q1. ... Home equity lines of credit (HELOC) limits continued to rise and saw a $3 billion increase. There is much more in the report.

BLS: CPI Increased 0.2% in April; Core CPI increased 0.2% --From the BLS: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in April, after falling 0.1 percent in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.3 percent before seasonal adjustment.The index for shelter rose 0.3 percent in April, accounting for more than half of the all items monthly increase. The energy index also increased over the month, rising 0.7 percent as increases in the natural gas index and the electricity index more than offset a decline in the gasoline index. The index for food, in contrast, fell 0.1 percent in April as the food at home index decreased 0.4 percent and the food away from home index rose 0.4 percent over the month.The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in April, following a 0.1-percent increase in March. Indexes that increased over the month include household furnishings and operations, medical care, motor vehicle insurance, education, and personal care. The indexes for airline fares, used cars and trucks, communication, and apparel were among the major indexes that decreased in April.The all items index rose 2.3 percent for the 12 months ending April, after rising 2.4 percent over the 12 months ending March. The April change was the smallest 12-month increase in the all items index since February 2021. The all items less food and energy index rose 2.8 percent over the last 12 months. The energy index decreased 3.7 percent for the 12 months ending April. The food index increased 2.8 percent over the last year. The change in CPI was below expectations. I'll post a graph later today after the Cleveland Fed releases the median and trimmed-mean CPI.

Egg prices tank in April as food inflation declined the most in 5 years -- After a wave of increases, eggs prices fell 12.7% on a monthly basis in April, its largest month-over-month drop since March 1984. According to April's CPI report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the price of a dozen large white eggs clocked in at $5.12, down from the record high of $6.23 in March. Yet prices are still far above last April's $2.86 as the industry continues to struggle with avian flu. BLS economist Steve Reed cautions that the decline is small compared to its sharp rise. For April, egg prices are up 49.3% year over year on an unadjusted basis. In March, egg prices were up 60.4% year over year and 5.9% month over month. Wells Fargo's Kevin Bergquist said the volume of egg imports during the first three months of 2025 increased by nearly 80%. He noted that while "imported egg products may not have had a direct impact on shell egg prices in the U.S.," they might have provided some "pricing pressure relief to the overall egg market." Bergquist added that consumers are still holding off on adding eggs to their baskets due to their high cost this year. Texas A&M University professor David Anderson told Yahoo Finance the lower demand has contributed to decreasing prices. The decline in egg prices brought overall grocery inflation lower, down 0.4% compared to March and up 2% year over year. Food costs at restaurants and bars increased 0.4% month over month and 3.9% year over year. But overall food inflation dropped 0.1% compared to March, its largest monthly decline in nearly five years. "That's been an ongoing issue ... the food at home and food away from home going in different directions," Anderson said. Five of the six major grocery store food groups saw a decline versus March. Reed said the broad nature of the drop suggests it's not a fluke, but a real downturn. The meats, poultry, fish, and eggs category fell 1.6%. The cost of frankfurters is down 5.2%, but beef and veal edged up 0.1%, Anderson said a smaller cattle supply and the beginning of grilling season are causing prices to increase, and he expects prices to remain sticky given the ongoing supply constraint. Cereal and bakery products fell 0.5%, dragged lower by frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts, and turnovers. Dairy and related products fell 0.2%, with ice cream leading that decline. Fruit and vegetable prices slid 0.4%, in line with previous months. The sole category bucking the trend was nonalcoholic beverages, with prices up 0.7% over March, partially due to coffee inflation. Coffee prices were up 2.4%, the biggest increase since July of 2022.

YoY Measures of Inflation: Services, Goods and Shelter -Here are a few measures of inflation: The first graph is the one Fed Chair Powell had mentioned two years ago when services less rent of shelter was up around 8% year-over-year. This declined and is now up 3.3% YoY.This graph shows the YoY price change for Services and Services less rent of shelter through April 2025. Services were up 3.7% YoY as of April 2025, unchanged from 3.7% YoY in March.Services less rent of shelter was up 3.3% YoY in April, unchanged from 3.3% YoY in March. The second graph shows that goods prices started to increase year-over-year (YoY) in 2020 and accelerated in 2021 due to both strong demand and supply chain disruptions.Durables were at -1.4% YoY as of April 2025, down from -1.0% YoY in March. Commodities less food and energy commodities were at 0.2% YoY in April, up from 0.0% YoY in March.Here is a graph of the year-over-year change in shelter from the CPI report (through April) and housing from the PCE report (through March) Shelter was up 4.0% year-over-year in April, unchanged from 4.0% in March. Housing (PCE) was up 4.3% YoY in March, unchanged from 4.3% in February.This is still catching up with private new lease data. Core CPI ex-shelter was up 1.8% YoY in April. This key measure has been at or below the Fed's target for 8 of the last 12 months.

Cleveland Fed: Median CPI increased 0.3% and Trimmed-mean CPI increased 0.2% in April - The Cleveland Fed released the median CPI and the trimmed-mean CPI. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the median Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% in April. The 16% trimmed-mean Consumer Price Index increased 0.2%. "The median CPI and 16% trimmed-mean CPI are measures of core inflation calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland based on data released in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) monthly CPI report".This graph shows the year-over-year change for these four key measures of inflation. On a year-over-year basis, the median CPI rose 3.5% (unchanged from 3.5% YoY in March), the trimmed-mean CPI rose 3.0% (unchanged from 3.0%), and the CPI less food and energy rose 2.8% (unchanged from 2.8%). Core PCE is for March was up 2.7% YoY, down from 2.8% in February. Based on the CPI report this morning, Core PCE is expected to decline to 2.6% YoY in April.

Newark Airport traffic slowed due to new telecommunications issue - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) briefly slowed air traffic at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday because a new telecommunications issue affected the Philadelphia facility that guides planes into and out of New Jersey’s largest airport. The FAA said in a statement that the agency slowed traffic amid work to ensure “redundancies were working as designed” before normal airport operations resume, according to The Associated Press. The disruptions come as the airport has been in the national spotlight for delays as a result of staffing issues, largely among air traffic controllers, and technological challenges. The airport is also undergoing construction of its runway, worsening delays. For 90 seconds on April 28, controllers at a Philadelphia air traffic control center who were responsible for monitoring air traffic in and out of Newark Airport lost radar and communications with the flights. They were unable to “see, hear, or talk to them,” the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said, according to The New York Times. A subsequent outage Friday deepened a backlog of cancellations and delays at Newark, which is one of the three main New York City-area airports and one of the busiest in the nation. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday the federal government has reduced the number of flights departing from Newark in response to the latest disruptions, saying, “our mission is safety.”

Trends in Educational Attainment in the U.S. Labor Force -- The first graph shows the unemployment rate by four levels of education (all groups are 25 years and older) through April 2025. Note: This is an update to a post from several years ago.Unfortunately, this data only goes back to 1992 and includes only three recessions (the stock / tech bust in 2001, and the housing bust/financial crisis, and the 2020 pandemic). Clearly education matters with regards to the unemployment rate, with the lowest rate for college graduates at 2.5% in April, and highest for those without a high school degree at 6.2% in April.All four groups were generally trending down prior to the pandemic, and all are close to pre-pandemic levels now. Note: This says nothing about the quality of jobs - as an example, a college graduate working at minimum wage would be considered "employed". This brings up an interesting question: What is the composition of the labor force by educational attainment, and how has that been changing over time?Here is some data on the U.S. labor force by educational attainment since 1992. Currently, almost 67 million people (25 and over) in the U.S. labor force have a bachelor's degree or higher. This is almost 45% of the labor force, up from 26.2% in 1992.This is the only category trending up. "Some college", "high school" and "less than high school" have been trending down.Based on recent trends, probably half the labor force will have at least a bachelor's degree sometime next decade (2030s).Some thoughts: Since workers with bachelor's degrees typically have a lower unemployment rate, rising educational attainment is probably a factor in pushing down the overall unemployment rate over time.Also, I'd guess more education would mean less labor turnover, and that education is a factor in lower weekly claims.A more educated labor force is a positive for the future.

Video shows boys, age 7 and 9, in armed standoff with deputies -- The Brief - Shocking video showed two boys, aged 7 and 9, armed with a loaded firearm in a standoff with law enforcement in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The incident happened in February, but the video was recently released. The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office released the nearly six-minute-long video. Drone footage showed the two boys dressed in Minecraft and Star Wars-themed clothing as they stood behind a covered unit. The handgun was clearly visible in their hands, and they passed the weapon between one another. According to The Albuquerque Journal, deputies fired a less-lethal round to distract the boys, and one of the kids raised the gun and pulled the trigger. Sheriff John Allen told the outlet that the gun malfunctioned but had it gone off, "our deputies could have taken deadly force." Deputies said their drone allowed them to manage the high-risk situation. They were able to get the gun away from the boys without anyone getting hurt. The Journal also quoted Allen as saying the BCSO had been called to the home at least 50 times due to issues with the boys and their family.

Federal Judge Rules Against Student Who Wore A "Let's Go Brandon" Shirt - by Jonathan Turley - We previously discussed how schools were making students remove sweatshirts reading “Let’s Go Brandon.” I have argued that the shirts should be treated as protected speech. However, United States District Court Judge Christopher Boyko just delivered another blow to free speech in rejecting a claim for such protection, at least as the basis for injunctive relief, in Conrad v. Madison Local School Dist—Bd. of Ed. In the prior Michigan case with the sweater shown below, Judge Paul Maloney in D.A. v. Tri County Area Schools (W.D. Mich.) ruled that a “Let’s Go Brandon” T-shirt could be the basis for punishment: A school can certainly prohibit students from wearing a shirt displaying the phrase F*** Joe Biden. Plaintiffs concede this conclusion. … The relevant four-letter word is a swear word and would be considered vulgar and profane. The Sixth Circuit has written that “it has long been held that despite the sanctity of the First Amendment, speech that is vulgar or profane is not entitled to absolute constitutional protection.” … If schools can prohibit students from wearing apparel that contains profanity, schools can also prohibit students from wearing apparel that can reasonably be interpreted as profane. School administrators could prohibit a shirt that reads “F#%* Joe Biden.” School officials have restricted student from wearing shirts that use homophones for profane words … [such as] “Somebody Went to HOOVER DAM And All I Got Was This ‘DAM’ Shirt.” … [Defendants] recalled speaking to one student who was wearing a hat that said “Fet’s Luck” … [and asking] a student to change out of a hoodie that displayed the words “Uranus Liquor” because the message was lewd. School officials could likely prohibit students from wearing concert shirts from the music duo LMFAO (Laughing My F***ing A** Off) or apparel displaying “AITA?” (Am I the A**hole?)…. Again, I strongly disagreed with that decision. However, it has now been replicated in Ohio. In his complaint, C.C. details how he was wearing a shirt with the phrase “Let’s Go Brandon” on November 25, 2024, underneath a flannel shirt. He alleges that teacher (and registered Democrat) Krista Ferini was bothered after spotting the shirt and ordered him to “button that up. I know what that means.” C.C. did so, but later, he was in a classroom that lacked air conditioning, so he took off his flannel shirt. That is when allegedly Ferini proceeded to write him up for the infraction. Principal Andrew Keeple then instructed C.C. to wear the flannel the rest of the day and never to wear the shirt to school again. C.C. defied that order and wore the shirt again in January of 2025.While no one else complained, Ferini was reportedly irate and again wrote up C.C. Keeple declared that C.C. had once again violated the school’s dress code and that the shirt constituted a vulgar expression even though it contained no vulgar terms. He stated that further discipline would follow if C.C. continued to wear the shirt.On March 24, 2025, C.C. wore the t-shirt again.While no one complained, he received a detention from Keeple. C.C. was disciplined on two other occasions for wearing the shirt. The court ruled: “While this case presents serious questions of student free speech versus a school’s interest in protecting students from vulgar and profane speech, the Court finds Plaintiff has not met his high burden to show a substantial likelihood of success on the merits by clear and convincing evidence. While the D.A. case was on summary judgment and presented facts that are different than those before this Court, Defendant’s burden on summary judgment was a preponderance standard which is a lesser burden than Plaintiff’s here. Moreover, that case presented fact issues going to the reasonableness of the school’s interpretation. Here, as Defendants point out, Plaintiff acknowledges in his Verified Complaint that “Let’s Go Brandon” is a euphemism for F*#% Joe Biden. “In school speech cases where a school limits or restricts a student’s expression, courts must determine whether the school’s interpretation of the expression is reasonable.” “The student’s expression must be considered in the proper context but the student’s motivation or subjective intent is irrelevant.” Given the strong interests of both sides, the unique characteristics of speech in a school setting, the finding by at least one court in this circuit that the school’s interpretation of the phrase as vulgar was reasonable, and the acknowledgment in this case by Plaintiff that the phrase is a vulgar euphemism, the Court finds Plaintiff has not shown a substantial likelihood of success on the merits to support injunctive relief. This does not mean Plaintiff cannot win on the merits of the claim as discovery will likely provide clearer evidence on the reasonableness of the interpretation. But given the high standard for injunctive relief, the Court finds against Plaintiff….”

Bipartisan bill would require daily moment of silence in Ohio schools -- A proposed bill would require Ohio school districts to have a moment of silence every day. Ohio state Reps. Gary Click (R-Vickery) and Eric Synenberg (D-Beachwood) gave sponsor testimony on House Bill 187 Tuesday before the House Education Committee. State law currently allows teachers to have a moment of silence in the classroom, so this bill would change one word in the law — from may to shall, creating a new mandate. The bill leaves the implementation up to the teacher. "This bill does not ask for much and is extremely non-prescriptive," Click said in his sponsor testimony. "It does not say where, when, or how long. It just says simply a moment. … Mindfulness is becoming a lost art in the hustle and bustle of modern society and is a discipline worth teaching." Students are constantly being bombarded with technology, Synenberg said. "While we as lawmakers can't solve every mental health challenge students face, we do have the ability to create a space for a brief opportunity of peace and quiet," he said. Students have the right to leave the classroom if they do not wish to participate in the moment of silence under the bill, but Synenberg said the legislation can't prevent a student who chooses not to participate from getting bullied or made fun of. "That will have to be dealt with on an individual basis by the teachers (and) administration at school," he said. "Hopefully, students are not going to do that. I'm sure it could happen, but we unfortunately can't prevent that." Lawmakers on the committee had a lively discussion weighing the pros and cons of the bill. "We've been having a lot of discussion in the committee so far about how to roll back some of the mandates and regulations in our schools, and obviously this one says shall, as opposed to may," Education Committee Chair Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur (R-Ashtabula) said. "So how do you propose that fits into the context of trying to be less burdensome and not adding costs to the local districts?" Click responded by saying there would be no cost to this bill. "This could be defined as a mandate," Synenberg said. “It is sort of an anti-mandate mandate. So it's, 'Do this, but really what we are having you do is for a small part of the day telling you don’t have to teach, you don't have to instruct, you don't have to be disciplining students. You'll just be present with your students for that time.'" State Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna) asked what currently prevents a school from having a daily moment of silence? "There's nothing that prevents them," Click said. "And yet, for some reason, not everyone does, and we just think it would be a good practice to implement across the state in every school." State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) said he would occasionally do a moment of silence in his classroom. "In today's day and age — with the mental health crisis that we have on our hands — I think it's wise," he said. Brennan asked the lawmakers how having a daily moment of silence could help students foster mindfulness, empathy, and gratitude. "I don't know if our young people are consistently taught the value of just being still," Click said. "I think that is a discipline that is worth teaching, and some teachers might want to expand on that and teach their students how to meditate."

California State University students wage hunger strike against Gaza genocide - On May 5, 25 students from San Francisco State, Sacramento State, Long Beach State, and San Jose State universities in California launched a hunger strike under the banner of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), to oppose mass starvation as part of the genocide in Gaza. “We refuse to be complicit in the Israeli occupation’s siege on Gaza, which has left countless Palestinians suffering from malnourishment, disease, and death,” they declared in a statement. Israel’s siege has turned Gaza into a killing ground. The statement notes, “Starvation as a tool of war and collective punishment has already taken the lives of 17,000 children in Gaza since October 2023.” This figure reveals only a fraction of the monstrous scale of the crime, where children waste away while the world’s leading powers ship weapons, money and diplomatic cover to the Israeli war machine.The statement warns: “The Israeli government aims to continue the mass extermination of Palestinians by withholding food, water, medicine, fuel, and other supplies at the border, while barring humanitarian workers and medical aid from entering Gaza.” The genocidal siege stretches far beyond direct murder, extending into the everyday life of every Palestinian. Aurora, a striking student member of SJP at Long Beach State, spoke to the WSWS: “The situation in Gaza is comparable to what the Nazis carried out during World War II against the Jewish people, which was unconscionable.” She also commented on the role of academic institutions: “Universities have basically become businesses and corporations under capitalism. This drive for profit is partially what has caused universities to become so complicit in global oppression.”The Trump administration has pressured major universities like Harvard, Columbia, and Penn by threatening or cutting federal funds if they don’t comply with government demands on cracking down protests against the genocide—which university administrators have dutifully enforced.Aurora added her concerns about academic institutions’ complicity with the Trump administration: “We’re seeing a lot of anticipatory compliance from our universities, where without even facing any consequences or waiting for Trump to fully do things, they’re already bending to his will just in the anticipation that he could cut them off financially.” California State University (CSU) responded to the hunger strike by firmly denying any plans to divest from Israel, one of the students’ main demands. In a statement issued through spokesperson Amy Bentley-Smith, the administration said, “We respect the diverse beliefs and personal convictions of our students, including those who have chosen to participate in a hunger strike. At the same time, we strongly urge our students to consider forms of expression that do not jeopardize their health and well-being.”CSU’s posture of concern for the well-being of its own students stands in stark contrast to the administration’s silence on the suffering of the Palestinians. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children, have been killed in Israel’s bombardment and siege since October 2023, with many more injured or facing imminent starvation.

NYU withholds diploma of student who used commencement speech to address Israel-Hamas war -New York University said it is withholding the diploma of a student who delivered an unapproved commencement speech to address what he called the "atrocities currently happening in Palestine" during the Israel-Hamas war. The prestigious private university quickly condemned the speech delivered by student Logan Rozos on Wednesday. "NYU strongly denounces the choice by a student at the Gallatin School’s graduation today—one of over 20 school graduation ceremonies across our campus—to misuse his role as student speaker to express his personal and one-sided political views," the school said in a statement Wednesday. Rozos told members of his graduating class that he had been "freaking out a lot" about his speech, but his "moral and political commitments guide me to say that the only thing that is appropriate to say in this time and to a group this large is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine." The ceremony was livestreamed on the school's website, but a recording of it is not yet available. Videos of Rozos' speech were posted online. The camera panned to show some of his fellow classmates clapping and cheering. "I want to say that the genocide currently occurring is supported politically and militarily by the United States, is paid for by our tax dollars, and has been livestreamed to our phones for the past 18 months," Rozos continued. "I do not wish to speak only to my own politics today, but to speak for all people of conscience, all people who feel the moral injury of this atrocity. And I want to say that I condemn this genocide and complicity in this genocide."

House Republicans propose higher taxes on university endowments -House Republicans are looking to raise excise taxes on private university endowments in President Trump’s tax bill as the administration battles with higher education. The text of the legislative package released Tuesday shows Republicans want to increase university endowment taxes ranging from a 1.4 percent to a 21 percent increase. For institutions like Harvard University with a student adjusted endowment of $2 million, the tax on the endowment would bump up to 21 percent. The gains on a university endowment were never taxed before Trump’s first term in 2017 under a tax package that put a 1.4 percent rate on colleges with 500 or more tuition paying students and had $500,000 or more in endowment funds per student. The increase in the tax would come as the Trump administration has gone to war with higher education, pulling research funding for numerous institution.

Korean study links early antibiotic use to higher risk of early puberty in girls - A study of South Korean children suggests antibiotic use in girls in the first year of life may be linked to earlier onset of puberty, researchers reported last week at a joint meeting of the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology and the European Society of Endocrinology.In the study, researchers from two university hospitals in South Korea analyzed antibiotic use in 322,731 children (135,232 boys and 187,499 girls) from 0 to 12 months, then followed them until age 10 for the boys and age 9 for the girls. The primary outcome was central precocious puberty (CPP), which for girls is defined as onset of puberty before age 8.Most children in the study (90.4%) received antibiotics during the first year of life. Compared with those who were prescribed antibiotics after the first year, girls who received antibiotics during the first 3 months had a 23% increased risk of CPP (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 1.36). Girls who were prescribed antibiotics at 6 to 9 months (aHR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.32) and 9 to 12 months (aHR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.26) also had an increased risk of CPP. In addition, girls who were prescribed five or more classes of antibiotics had a higher risk of CPP than those who received two or fewer. "Our study adds to growing concerns about how antibiotics given in infancy could affect children’s long-term development—possibly by altering the gut microbiome or hormonal balance—but the reasons behind it are still unclear," study co-author Yunsoo Choe, MD, of Hanyang University Guri Hospital said in a press release. "Understanding these biological mechanisms may help guide safer antibiotic use and inform early-life care strategies for children." Choe added that earlier research by the same team found that exclusive breastfeeding was associated with a lower risk of CPP, which supports the idea that early-life factors affecting the gut microbiome or endocrine-metabolic pathways may influence puberty development.

Trump’s ban on “gain-of-function” research: an attack on science and preparation for war - On May 5, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order with the seemingly benign title, “Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research.” A more accurate title would have been, “Blindfolding science and encouraging anti-China hysteria,” but Trump and his fascist aides traffic in lies and conspiracy theories, not the truth. The order bans federal funding of what it describes as “dangerous gain-of-function research” carried out overseas in “countries of concern,” singling out China by name. It also places such research under strict federal control within the United States itself, whether funded by the government or conducted privately.While there is no mention of Wuhan and only one reference to COVID-19, the executive order amounts to weaponizing the fascist conspiracy theory that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was created in the Wuhan Institute for Virology and inadvertently or deliberately leaked to infect the world’s population The order comes just two weeks after the White House entirely revised its web presentation of the COVID-19 pandemic, embracing the “lab leak” theory and presenting Trump as the strongman who would beat back the supposed Chinese threat. This of course conveniently ignored, as the executive order does, the fact that Trump was in the White House when the pandemic began, and did nothing to stop it, while promoting groundless quack theories about curing the deadly disease with hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin and even bleach.An additional feature of this conspiracy theory, developed most extensively by the bipartisan Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, is that longtime public health official Dr. Anthony Fauci oversaw the funding of dangerous research at WIV through EcoHealth Alliance, the non-profit research organization led by Dr. Peter Daszak. The fact sheet that accompanies Trump’s executive order regurgitates these slanders. The WSWS has analyzed and rebutted these conspiracies extensively, and presented comprehensive evidence amassed over five years that points compellingly to a natural, zoonotic origin for SARS-CoV-2, likely stemming from wildlife trade at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan. This record can be accessed here. Most recently, a study published in Cell in May 7, 2025, just two days after Trump’s executive order, drawing on phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses, provided significant evidence reinforcing the role of the animal trade in the emergence of both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. The study found that the closest bat virus ancestors of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 existed less than a decade before their human emergence, but their natural dispersal in horseshoe bats was not sufficient to carry them the large distances to the sites where they first emerged in humans. This pattern strongly suggests that the viruses “hitched a ride there with other animals via the wildlife trade,” mirroring what happened during the 2002 SARS outbreak where related viruses were found in civets and raccoon dogs hundreds of miles from bat populations. This new research underscores how interactions with intermediate hosts through the wildlife trade were critical to the zoonotic spillover events for both pandemics. It also provides objective scientific refutation of the entire Wuhan Lab conspiracy theory that has been promoted globally.This “lab leak” falsification served to deflect from the devastating failures of the domestic pandemic response in numerous capitalist countries by scapegoating China and attacking scientists and institutions that contradicted the preferred political line. Trump’s executive order, therefore, represents the codification of this politically motivated agenda, leveraging the power of the state to restrict crucial scientific research under the pretext of a theory overwhelmingly contradicted by available evidence, turning the pursuit of origins tracing into a political witch-hunt against science and public health.During the signing of the executive order, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.—notorious for purveying virtually every anti-science conspiracy known to man—opined, referring to “gain-of-function” research, “Can’t point to a single good thing that comes from it.” Perhaps he was thinking about his decades of anti-scientific campaigning against vaccination. In any case, he knows little about such research and understands nothing. At its core, gain-of-function (GOF) research involves genetically altering an organism, particularly pathogens, to study how enhanced virulence, pathogenicity, or transmissibility could develop, in order to deepen the understanding of the pathogen and assist in developing countermeasures.This is distinct from loss-of-function (LOF) research, which investigates weakened pathogens, though the two methods are interconnected and often used in the same study.

Golf course proximity linked to higher Parkinson's disease risk --Barrow Neurological Institute and Mayo Clinic-led researchers report an association between living near golf courses and increased Parkinson's disease (PD) risk in a study published in JAMA Network Open. Residents within 1 to 2 miles of a golf course demonstrated nearly triple the odds of having PD, with the greatest risk identified among those in water service areas with a golf course situated in regions susceptible to groundwater contamination. Environmental risk factors, including pesticide exposure, have been identified as contributors to PD risk. Golf courses in the United States are treated with pesticides at levels up to 15 times higher than those in Europe, raising concerns about potential environmental contamination. Earlier reports have proposed that proximity to golf courses may increase PD risk through groundwater and drinking water contamination. In the study, "Proximity to Golf Courses and Risk of Parkinson Disease," researchers conducted a population-based case-control study to assess the relationship between proximity to golf courses and PD risk. The cohort included 419 incident PD cases and 5,113 matched controls identified through the Rochester Epidemiology Project, a comprehensive medical records system covering a 27-county region in southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin from 1991 to 2015. PD cases were confirmed through a review of medical records, including diagnosis verification by a movement disorder specialist. Controls were matched by age, sex, and index date, defined as the date of PD symptom onset for cases or a comparable date for controls. Address-level data were used to assess proximity to golf courses. Golf course boundaries were mapped using satellite imagery and linked to participant addresses. Distances to the nearest golf course were calculated based on residential latitude and longitude recorded up to three years prior to PD symptom onset or the index date for controls. Data on water service areas were sourced from the US Geological Survey, categorizing regions by the presence or absence of a golf course. Groundwater vulnerability data, provided by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, defined susceptible areas based on factors such as soil texture, bedrock depth, and karst geology. Data on municipal wells were obtained from the Minnesota Geospatial Information Office, with wells classified as shallow (less than 100 feet deep) or deep. Exposure assessments included residence distance to the nearest golf course, living in a water service area with a golf course, and residence in groundwater-vulnerable regions. Distance categories were structured as less than 1 mile, 1 to 2 miles, 2 to 3 miles, 3 to 6 miles, and more than 6 miles. Living 1 to 2 miles from a golf course was associated with 198% higher odds of PD, while those 2 to 3 miles away had 121% higher odds. Risk declined by approximately 13% per additional mile beyond 3 miles. Residing in water service areas with a golf course showed 96% higher odds of PD compared to areas without a golf course, regardless of residential proximity. Municipal well-specific factors, including depth or well proximity to golf courses, did not indicate a significant change in PD risk. Intriguingly, individuals relying on private wells, while still at increased risk, were at a lower risk than municipal well users. Findings align with broader concerns regarding pesticide exposure and its potential impact on neurodegenerative diseases. Proximity to golf courses emerged as a factor in PD risk, particularly in areas with groundwater vulnerability, suggesting that environmental susceptibility may play a critical role in exposure pathways. Public health implications extend beyond the immediate proximity, given the widespread use of pesticides on golf courses nationally. Evaluating groundwater contamination and implementing protective measures in areas with similar environmental vulnerability could mitigate potential exposure risks. Addressing pesticide application practices on golf courses and monitoring groundwater quality in susceptible areas may serve as preventive strategies to reduce PD risk in nearby populations.

Woman dies of Creutzfeldt-Jakob almost 50 years after taking prion-contaminated growth hormone -A University of California–led case report in Emerging Infectious Diseases, describes a 58-year-old woman who, an estimated 48 years after treatment with cadaver-derived human growth hormone, died of iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (iCJD), a prion disease.The patient, who sought care after developing gait imbalance and tremors 2 weeks earlier, had received prion-contaminated cadaveric human growth hormone (chGH) for 9.3 years starting at age 7. Prion diseases, which affect both humans and animals, are fatal neurologic conditions caused by infectious misfolded proteins. chGH is a well-described iatrogenic (healthcare-related) cause of this type of CJD. The National Hormone Pituitary Program (NHPP) administered the drug to treat growth failure to roughly 7,700 US patients from the 1960s through the 1980s, the researchers noted. An outbreak of chGH-related iCJD, first recognized in the United States in 1985, prompted the immediate shutdown of chGH production and NHPP administration of the drug. Soon after, chGH was replaced with recombinant (biosynthetic) human growth hormone, but the iCJD outbreak continued due to the often-long latency period in some previous chGH recipients. This patient was the 36th iCJD case among US NHPP chGH recipients and the 254th such case worldwide as of January 2024. When she presented for treatment, her medical history included depression, cervical spine fusion, and idiopathic panhypopituitarism, a condition that occurs when the pituitary gland doesn't produce all or most of its hormones, but it isn't clear why. The initial neurologic exam showed frequent lateral movements of the head and trunk, as well as irregular hand movements that went away with distraction, but the exam was otherwise unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and cervical spine revealed no pathology. Results of the Mayo Clinic Autoimmune Movement Disorders Panel and HIV screening were negative, and copper, vitamin E, and vitamin B!2 levels were within normal ranges. The patient was referred to the movement disorders clinic and advised to start physical therapy and continue psychologic treatment.Over the next month, the patient developed urinary incontinence, worsening tremors, decreased speech, and abnormal gait. She returned to the hospital with tachypnea (abnormally fast breathing), hyperekplexia (exaggerated startle reflex with intense muscle stiffness), and appendicular rigidity (stiffness in the arms and legs). Her breathing and alertness quickly declined, and she was intubated. In the next several days, she developed both stimulus-induced and spontaneous myoclonus (a neurologic condition featuring sudden, involuntary muscle jerks or twitches), and she remained in a coma. Prion testing at the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center (NPDPSC) at Case Western Reserve University showed substantially elevated total tau (protein that forms tangles in the brain) and a very high concentration of 14-3-3 protein. A real-time quaking-induced conversion assay was positive for prions. Per the patient's documented wishes, she was extubated and died.

RFK Jr. swims in Rock Creek despite NPS ban due to bacteria levels -Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed Sunday that he took a dip in Washington, D.C.’s, Rock Creek with his grandchildren, despite long-standing warnings that high bacterial levels make the Potomac River tributary unsafe.“Mother’s Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek,” Kennedy wrote in a post on the social platform X along with multiple photos, including one of the shirtless 71-year-old Cabinet member submerged in the water.According to the National Park Service (NPS), “swimming and wading are not allowed due to high bacteria levels.”Swimming has been illegal in most of D.C.’s waterways since the 1970s, largely because of contamination from the District’s aging sewer system, though there have been recent efforts to roll back the five-decade prohibition, and it is rarely enforced. Several signs posted along Rock Creek warn of the potential dangers, and the NPS advises pet owners to keep animals out of the water, as well.Health and Human Services didn’t immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment on Kennedy’s swim or concerns about the water’s contamination.

Benefits of boiling water with dirty fuels outweigh the risk in areas with unclean resources: Study - Boiling unclean water in many regions of the world results in air pollution from burning dirty fuels, but the benefits of doing so usually outweigh the risks, a new study has found. The boiling process, even at low effectiveness and when using sooty stoves, leads to a daily net reduction in “disability-adjusted life years,” or the number of healthy life years lost, according to the study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives.“In places where there is not centralized infrastructure that provides clean water, the responsibility for addressing that risk falls to individual households,” co-corresponding author Angela Harris, an associate professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering at North Carolina State University, said in a statement. “The advice to those households is often to boil the water before using it,” Harris continued. “But these households often have to rely on heating sources that carry risks of their own.” While the research community has generally focused on these risks separately, Harris and her colleagues decided to explore how the two factors overlap. To do so, they used computational models to estimate the health impacts linked to the consumption of contaminated water and exposure to emissions from cookstoves. These models, the authors explained, accounted for varying levels of water quality and of pollution from the stoves. They then used their framework to pursue case studies in both Uganda and Vietnam and incorporated public health and demographic data from both nations, Grieshop explained. The scientists calculated the total change in disability-adjusted life years from household air pollution and diarrhea from fecal contamination of drinking water. They determined that boiling water decreased diarrheal disease by an average of 1,100 such years and 367 years per 10,000 people, for those under and over five years old in Uganda, respectively. Similar results materialized in Vietnam, although fewer such years were avoided in children under five there — a variance that the scientists attributed to different demographics.

EPA mulls rollback of landmark ‘forever chemicals’ rule - The Trump administration is weighing plans to roll back the first-ever nationwide limits on “forever chemicals” in drinking water, with details expected in the next three weeks, attorneys for EPA said in a filing Monday.The administration asked a federal appeals court for an additional 21 days to finalize a policy addressing “the most significant compliance challenges” with the Biden-era drinking water regulation for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Chemical manufacturers and water utilities have sued to overturn the rule, raising questions about whether the Trump administration will defend it.“A short additional abeyance period is appropriate to provide time for EPA to decide on its planned course of action and for the parties to evaluate the potential impact of EPA’s announcement on the issues presented here and confer regarding how to proceed in this litigation,” EPA attorneys said in the new filing. The rule sets legal limits for concentrations of six types of PFAS, a group of human-made chemicals that may increase people’s risk of cancer and other serious illnesses. The chemicals have been found in roughly half the nation’s tap water, and EPA has determined that some of the substances are unsafe even at very low levels.

EPA plans to weaken ‘forever chemical’ drinking water limits -- The Trump administration has announced plans to weaken drinking water limits for toxic “forever chemicals” despite its promises to “Make America Healthy Again.” “Forever chemicals” are toxic substances that are found in the tap water of nearly half of the U.S. population. There are thousands of these substances and they can last for hundreds or even thousands of years in the environment. Exposure to these chemicals, also known as PFAS, has been linked to health issues including cancer, kidney and thyroid issues, weakened immune systems and fertility issues. In 2024, the Biden administration set the first-ever limits on six types of PFAS. It said at the time that its action would reduce exposure to PFAS for about 100 million people, preventing 9,600 deaths and nearly 30,000 illnesses in the coming decades. Under the Biden-era rules, public drinking water systems were required to test for these chemicals. If it found them, they’d have to install technology to filter them out by 2029. The Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it will “rescind and reconsider” filtration requirements for four of those six PFAS. For the two PFAS that will still need to be filtered out, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is delaying the requirements to do so by two years. Now, public water systems with just two types of PFAS — PFOA and PFOS — will be required to filter out those chemicals by 2031. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin described the changes as “common-sense flexibility.”

Wastewater testing predicts community COVID cases, experts say --SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance accurately predicts the incidence of symptomatic COVID-19 infections in the community, data from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities suggest. For the study, published late last week in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, the investigators used real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and population-outcome models to identify any relationship between symptomatic COVID-19 infection in workers in a Minnesota healthcare system and SARS-CoV-2 community wastewater concentrations from January 2022 to August 2024. All non-remote healthcare workers had to show proof of a positive test to justify their COVID-related absence from work. "Widespread immunity through vaccination or natural infection has altered the predictive ability of wastewater for hospitalization and mortality," the study authors noted. "In addition, most testing is done at home and results are less often officially reported to public health agencies. As a result, monitoring of COVID-19-related illness is more difficult and less precise." A total 215 wastewater samples were collected from the 9 million–person sewershed of the Twin Cities Wastewater Treatment Plant for 32 months. During that period, 6,879 positive COVID-19 test results were reported to the Fairview Employee Occupational Health and Safety office from workers who lived in the wastewater catchment area. SARS-CoV-2 wastewater concentrations accurately predicted the next week's COVID-19 community case count. The researchers observed three surges in both case counts and correlated SARS-CoV-2 wastewater levels: (1) January 2022, which was characterized by a rapid increase in concentrations that did not resolve until spring 2023; (2) July 2023; and (3) June 2024. "It is possible that this [pattern] reflects the unique transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 over the study period, including the emergence of novel variants and shifts in population immunity and behavior," the researchers wrote. "It is also unusual that the three periods of rapid increase observed in this study occurred during the time of the year when most people in Minnesota spend more time outdoors and children are not in school." Wastewater tracking, the authors said, could be expanded to help monitor other infectious diseases such as H5N1 avian flu or mpox or to detect unexpected pathogens circulating in the community.

Announcement On COVID-19 Vaccines For Kids Coming Soon: FDA Commissioner --Health officials are poised to make an announcement on COVID-19 vaccines, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said.“That is something that’s being discussed right now,” Dr. Marty Makary, the commissioner, said in an interview, released on May 12, after being asked by political activist Charlie Kirk about whether COVID-19 vaccines will remain on the childhood vaccination schedule.“I think you’re going to see some announcement on that in the coming weeks, but I know they are trying to review all of the scientific data.”The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services, which maintains the schedule, did not respond to a request for comment. Makary told Kirk that there’s no evidence available at this time that supports giving healthy children additional COVID-19 vaccine doses.“That evidence does not exist, and so we’re not going to rubberstamp things at the FDA,” he said. “I don’t think you’re going to see the CDC pushing COVID shots in young, healthy children.”The FDA commissioner, who expressed concern before joining the agency about vaccinating children, noted that there is no data from randomized, controlled trials for the COVID-19 vaccines that are currently available. The regulatory agency cleared the vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax in 2024, pointing to animal testing and data from previous versions of the shots.“There’s no good randomized control data that the current version, the latest formulation, of the COVID shot, is necessary for young, healthy children. Other leading countries in Europe have recommended against it,” Makary said. “So I think you’re going to hear something forthcoming.” The CDC, in 2023, added the COVID-19 vaccines to the vaccination schedule, following a recommendation from its vaccine advisory panel.

COVID before or during pregnancy may confer 2 to 3 times the risk of miscarriage -A study involving nearly 27,000 pregnancies suggests that women infected with COVID-19 before or during pregnancy are at two to three times the risk for miscarriage before 20 weeks' gestation. The University of Texas–led analysis used electronic health records to evaluate the relationship between COVID-19 and miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and preterm delivery from 2019 to 2023. Ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, rendering it unviable. "In early pregnancy and the periconception period, SARS-CoV-2 infection may disrupt the complex immunology of pregnancy, which shifts between the temporary immunosuppression necessary for implantation and fetal tolerance and the proinflammatory response which helps to prevent infections in mid-pregnancy," the researchers wrote. The findings were published late last week in BMC Medicine. Among the 25,058 pregnancies in the Southeast Texas Pregnancy and COVID Cohort, 8.3% ended in miscarriage or abortion, 6.0% of which were further classified as miscarriages, 1.5% as ectopic pregnancies, 51.7% as live births, 0.6% as stillbirths, and 37.9% as deliveries, which can mean either a live birth or stillbirth. Seventeen women died, with five due to any cause and two due to COVID-19 complications around the time of childbirth.Among the 22,610 singleton pregnancies with gestational age at delivery after 20 weeks, 76.7% were classified by term, with 16.7% preterm (before 37 weeks' gestation). The overall risk of miscarriage was 6.3%. Multivariable models tied both mild and moderate-to-severe pre-pregnancy COVID-19 to miscarriage (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.48 and 2.81, respectively). It also linked mild and moderate-to-severe first-trimester infection to miscarriage (aOR, 2.31 and 2.45, respectively).

COVID-19 fueled increase in hospital-onset MRSA, study finds - A US surveillance study shows that patients with recent COVID-19 infections contributed substantially to increases in hospital-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia during the pandemic. The findings were published today in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. The study, led by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health departments, analyzed incident MRSA blood isolates from residents in six states (California, Connecticut, Georgia, Minnesota, New York, and Tennessee) from 2005 through 2022. The researchers wanted to assess the impact of the pandemic on community-associated (CA), healthcare-associated community-onset (HACO), and hospital-onset (HO) MRSA bacteremia.The data showed that overall MRSA bacteremia incidence per 100,000 population fell from 32.6 in 2005 to 15.7 in 2016, increased to 17.0 in 2019, then ranged from 15.6 t0 16.2 during 2020 to 2022. But the pandemic had a different impact on the incidence of MRSA bacteremia depending on the type.HACO MRSA incidence fell from 18.7 in 2005 to 10.2 in 2017, increased to 10.8 in 2019, then hit its nadir (9.0) in 2021, while CA MRSA began rising in 2016 but was much lower than predicted from 2020 to 2022. The study authors suggest this drop in incidence may be related to COVID-19 mitigation measures, including closures of schools, gyms, and workplaces; reductions in elective surgeries; and increased use of personal protective equipment among healthcare workers. Incidence of HO MRSA bacteremia during the pandemic followed a different trajectory. After a substantial drop from 2005 through 2014, HO MRSA incidence did not significantly change from 2014 through 2019, then rose by 40% (compared with 2019) in 2021. From 2020 through 2022, 18.2% to 21.8% of HO MRSA bacteremia cases had recent COVID-19 infections. When the researchers excluded cases with recent COVID, incidence fell within the expected range, which the authors say suggests COVID-related hospitalization contributed substantially to the increase in HO MRSA bacteremia.

Real-world evidence shows remdesivir tied to less death in hospitalized COVID patients -A new study published in BMC Infectious Diseasessuggests the antiviral remdesivir (RDV) is associated with reduced mortality among COVID-19 patients based on electronic health records (EHRs) of COVID-19 patients seen in three Spanish hospital systems from January 2021 to March 2022.The authors used artificial intelligence and natural-language processing tools to find relevant clinical information contained in the EHRs, mostly in the form of unstructured free text, otherwise not available in conventional administrative documentation, the authors said. This allowed the authors to assess the real-world efficacy of RDV outside of the existing trials on the drug conducted in the first year of the pandemic.The study compared 812 treated and 2,703 untreated patients. The average age was 72 years. and 57.3% were male. The most prevalent conditions at baseline were high blood pressure (65.8%), heart disease (62.3%), and neurological diseases (50%) for all participants. Patients receiving RDV did, however, have higher rates of obesity (27.5% vs 21.7%).Overall, the hazard ratio for in-hospital mortality at 28 days was 0.73 (95% confidence interval, 0.56 to 0.96) compared to untreated patients, or a 27% lower risk. Risk difference and risk ratio for 28-day survival was 2.7% and 0.76, respectively, for a 24% lower risk.

Lower fitness levels before infection linked to long COVID -- A study conducted in Dallas of 1,666 COVID-19 patients, of which 80 (5%) had long COVID, reveals that those with long COVID, on average, had lower pre‐COVID fitness. The study was published yesterday in the Journal of the American Heart Association.Researchers enrolled adults ages 20 to 74 years old with reduced cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) assessed at least twice from 2017 to 2023. CRF measures before 2020 were considered prepandemic; otherwise, self-reports of infection status or long COVID (persistent symptoms for 3 or more months) were used to determine participant status.All study participants completed at least two exercise treadmill tests, and CRF was estimated as final workload in metabolic equivalents. The authors also assessed total treadmill time and maximal heart rate and heart rate recovery at 1 minute. At baseline, those who later developed long COVID had lower CRF—10.0 metabolic (MET) equivalents, compared with 11.1 in those who recovered, 10.7 in uninfected people, and 11.3 prepandemic. Self‐reported physical activity was lower among those with long COVID, by 880 MET‐minutes per week, compared to the other groups, as well.Of note, the authors said unexplained shortness of breath with physical activity was similar pre‐COVID in each group (3.8% long COVID, 2.7% recovered, 3.0% uninfected, and 3.3% prepandemic), but at follow‐up was more prevalent among those with long COVID (5.0% versus 1.0% recovered, 1.1% uninfected, 2.1% prepandemic).Shortness of breath was the most common long-COVID symptom reported by those in the study who had symptoms for 12 or more weeks after initial infection.

Data suggest COVID-19 reinfections less likely to cause long COVID - A new preprint study on the preprint server medRxiv involving healthcare workers in Quebec shows that the risk of long COVID following any initial COVID-19 infection was similar among participants, cumulative risk increased with the number of infections, but reinfections were associated with a much lower risk of long COVID than a person's first infection.The study is based on 22,496 online survey participants and 3,978 telephone survey participants who took part in a retrospective cohort study from May 16 to June 15, 2023. It has not yet been peer-reviewed.Participants, all healthcare workers, were asked to assess self-reported COVID-19–attributed symptoms lasting at least 12 weeks, classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on perceived symptom intensity. Results were compared with COVID controls (infected participants without long COVID) and with non-COVID controls (uninfected participants).Among all online respondents, 17.0% said they had experienced persistent symptoms following COVID-19 infections, similar to the 15.9% of telephone respondents. Forty-three percent of respondents with long COVID said their case was moderate, and 33% classified their long COVID as severe.The most common symptoms among those with long COVID were fatigue, shortness of breath, neurocognitive symptoms, post-exertional malaise, and smell or taste disturbances.The cumulative risk of long COVID increased with the number of reported COVID-19 infections, rising from 13.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.1% to 14.4%) for a single infection to 37.0% (95% CI, 33.0% to 40.9%) for three infections in the online survey, and from 11.8% (a single infection) to 29.5% (≥3 infections) in the telephone survey, according to the authors.With both surveys combined, the risk of long COVID was two to three times higher after the initial infection (14.8%) than after first (5.8%) or second (5.3%) reinfections."Severe symptoms were reported 5 to 22 times more often by long COVID cases than by COVID controls, except for fever, cough, insomnia, anxiety, and depression (2.7 to 4.5 times)," the authors wrote.Risk for long COVID was highest following infections with the ancestral strain and lowest after Omicron infections. However, because Omicron caused such widespread transmission, that strain was associated with the most long-COVID cases."Our study indicates that long COVID risk is roughly two thirds lower following reinfection compared to first infection," the authors said. "This may be partly related to greater host-specific resistance among individuals who did not have long COVID following their first episode."

Long COVID tied to substantial loss in work productivity - A new study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests significant work productivity losses in people living with long-COVID symptoms for 2 or more years. The findings come from adult respondents to an online survey incorporating the Valuation of Lost Productivity questionnaire given to residents of British Columbia, Canada. All participants had a SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed via polymerase chain reaction testing 1 to 2 years prior to the survey. The median time between infection and survey completion was 28 months. Participants with ongoing long-COVID symptoms were more likely to be female, older, White, unvaccinated before infection, and have had a severe initial COVID-19 illness, the authors wrote. Among 906 participants, 165 (18.7%) reported long-COVID symptoms. The 165 people with long COVID reported greater total productivity loss than other COVID-19 survivors (adjusted mean difference, 99.2 hours per 3 months; 95% confidence interval, 44.9 to 167.5 hours).This equals about 33 lost hours of productivity each month—or about 8 hours per week.Overall, participants with ongoing long-COVID symptoms were much more likely to report any productivity loss in the preceding 3 months compared to those without ongoing long-COVID symptoms (74.9% vs. 47.1%). Similarly, 72.9% of those with long COVID compared to 39.4% without reported work performance impairment in the preceding 7 days of the survey."On average, among those with long COVID symptoms, the amount of time loss was nearly 100 hours (equivalent to 2.7 weeks of full-time work) more over 3 months and almost 15% greater work performance impairment per week," the authors concluded. They added that the productivity loss described in the study is comparable to the burden associated with chronic migraine, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Study: Long COVID ‘brain fog’ linked to inflammation, stress markers - A new study indicates the debilitating “brain fog” suffered by millions of long COVID patients is linked to changes in the brain, including inflammation and an impaired ability to rewire itself following COVID-19 infection.United Press International reported this week that the small-scale study, conducted by researchers at Corewell Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Michigan State University, shows that altered levels of a pair of key brain chemicals could be the culprit.The study marks the first time doctors have been able to provide scientific proof that validates the experiences of the approximately 12 million COVID “long-haulers” in the U.S. who have reported neurological symptoms.Researchers looked at biomarkers in study participants and found that those complaining of brain fog had higher levels of an anti-inflammatory protein that is crucial to regulating a person’s immune system, UPI reported. They also showed lower serum levels of nerve growth factor, a protein vital to the brain’s plasticity.The study examined 17 COVID-19 patients, including 10 who still experienced symptoms six months after contracting the virus. The most debilitating symptom is brain fog, described by Yale Medicine as “sluggish” thinking, forgetfulness, difficulty processing information and an inability to focus or concentrate on tasks they used to complete with ease.The National Library of Medicine describes plasticity as the ability of the brain to change its activity in response to illness or injury. That healing process includes reorganizing the brain’s structure, functions or connections.One of the biggest issues involving long COVID has been doctors’ inability to find physical proof of the symptoms described by patients. The study has changed that,according to co-author Dr. Bengt Arnetz. “We found biological changes, which I think [is a] very big strength for this study,” Arnetz said, according to UPI. “In parallel with the effects on executive function, we also saw that [NGF], which reflects the brain’s ability to adapt to grow new neurons and connection, was suppressed in long COVID. This is aligned with the findings in the neuro-cognitive test.”For the neuro-cognitive test, researchers put study participants through a battery of psychological exams. The results were unremarkable for all the exams except one — the “letter fluency” test. Errors or difficulty performing the task are indicative of executive functioning impairments as well as impairments in memory and language. According to the Library of Medicine, similar impairments are found in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia.

HHS expected to discontinue COVID vaccine recommendations for some groups --The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will likely remove recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that children, teens, and pregnant women receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported yesterday, citing people familiar with the developments.The CDC currently recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older be vaccinated against COVID, a universal recommendation that it has had in place since September 2023, when the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for that option. At the time, some ACIP members thought it would be better to focus on seniors and those at highest risk for disease, but the wider committee was swayed by data, including those for long COVID, showing that no group is at low risk for the virus. The universal COVID vaccine recommendation is similar to the that for influenza vaccines, and health officials have said another benefit of the approach is simplified vaccine messaging.

Common colds surging, measles slowing, tomato recall, good news in New York, and things flying under the radar by Katelyn Jetelina, Your Local Epidemiologist - Lab-confirmed cases of rhinoviruses and enteroviruses—better known as the common cold—are high across the U.S. This is normal for this time of year, with a typical peak in mid-May before easing up for the summer. Tree pollen is also surging, triggering a lot of allergy symptoms. Grasses will soon take over. This spring is another record-breaker for seasonal allergies, with more (and larger) particles in the air due to rising carbon dioxide levels and a warming climate. Allergies can weaken your immune system and make you more vulnerable to viruses like the cold. On the flip side, colds can make you more reactive to allergens. It’s a vicious cycle. The U.S. has surpassed 1,000 confirmed measles cases—1,014 as of Saturday. While this is slightly behind Mexico (1,065) and Canada (1,867) case counts, it’s a troubling trend as we edge closer to breaking a 25-year record. The North Dakota and Arkansas outbreaks (11 cases and 6 cases) and subsets of the Texas outbreak (the El Paso cluster is medium with 53 cases) are still small but continue to grow. We also had sporadic cases in California and New York the past week. Note: Florida stopped publicly sharing infectious disease alerts; it’s unclear why. Growth in other places, like West Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, continues to slow down. This is due to a combination of two things:

• In some places, the virus is running out of people to infect.
• Local public health teams are actively tracing, isolating, quarantining, and vaccinating.

You’re well protected if you’re up to date on your MMR vaccine. However, if you live near an outbreak and have an infant under 12 months, talk to your pediatrician—MMR can be given as early as 6 months in some cases. Slowing spread is welcome news for those most at risk, including immunocompromised individuals, infants under 1, and others who are unvaccinated. Fresh and Ready Foods has recalled several ready-to-eat sandwiches and snack items sold in California, Washington, Nevada, and Arizona—including in healthcare facilities—due to a Listeria outbreak. So far, at least 10 people have been hospitalized. Those most at risk include pregnant women, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. The recalled products have “use by” dates between April 22 and May 19, 2025, and were sold under the brand names Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go, and Fresh Take Crave Away. Ray & Mascari Inc. has issued a recall of 4-count vine-ripe tomatoes sold at Gordon Food Service Stores across 11 states. If you bought these and live in one of the affected states (see map above), it’s best to toss them out. A lot is happening between the lines in the health policy world that isn’t necessarily getting picked up, so I figured I would call out a few that are unfolding:

• 1. Vaccine policy is stalling in an unusual way. At the most recent ACIP meeting, CDC’s external vaccine advisory committee voted to expand RSV vaccine eligibility to adults aged 50 and older. Normally, this recommendation would be approved by the CDC Director within 48 hours. But since we currently don’t have a confirmed director (Dr. Monarez awaits Senate approval), the decision fell to the Chief of Staff. That was weeks ago—and still, no sign-off. Word is RFK Jr. has empowered his inner circle to privately access and review the science before making a decision, effectively bypassing the expert advisory process altogether. This delay and lack of transparency undermine the administration’s own stated commitment to transparent decision-making.
• 2. The Surgeon General nominee is… a wellness influencer. Casey Means, a physician-turned-influencer and founder of a wellness tech company, has been nominated for Surgeon General. While the role doesn’t drive policy, per se, it does come with a huge megaphone—it’s “America’s Doctor,” after all. While she rightly highlights important issues like nutrition, the solutions she promotes often lead Americans down the wrong path. For example, her company profits from selling continuous glucose monitors to the general public—despite strong evidence that these devices are only truly useful for people with diabetes who take insulin. (Note: The wellness industry is lucrative; worth more than $6 trillion.) She’s also questioned the number of childhood vaccines, advocated drinking raw milk during an H5N1 outbreak, and suggested unsafe practices like making Ozempic at home. I originally assumed her nomination would sail through. Now, I’m not so sure. Regardless, a wellness influencer getting a Surgeon General nomination is doing wonders for my imposter syndrome.
• 3. Eyes are on the RFK testimony. RFK Jr.’s upcoming testimony on May 12 is mainly triggered by the Executive Budget released a few weeks ago. But I expect (and hope) he’ll be asked about far more than budget line items. The public deserves answers on several fronts: how proposed cuts will actually impact community’s health, his role—or lack thereof—in responding to the measles outbreak, lack of transparency, and more. Here’s what you can do if you’re concerned about health cuts.

Flu activity in the US has reached low levels --US flu activity is low and declining further, according to the latest FluView update today from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).The percentage of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI), or respiratory illness, dropped slightly from 2.1% the previous week to 1.9% last week (see CDC graph at left). The number of patients hospitalized for flu dropped from 2,336 to 2,008. As with the previous week, no state reported moderate, high, or very high ILI activity.Test positivity for flu is down to 2.9%, from 3.6% the previous week. Hospitalizations and deaths are both down.The CDC confirmed only 1 new flu-related pediatric death today, raising the number for the 2024-25 season to 227. The death occurred in January and was caused by the H1N1 strain. The 227 US pediatric deaths are the most since 2009-10, when the CDC reported 288 pediatric deaths.Meanwhile, COVID-19 levels remain low, according to CDC data updates today. Wastewater detectionslast week remained generally low, but Louisiana recorded high levels. The percentage of overall deaths caused by COVID last week stayed steady, at 0.6%, compared with 0.2% for flu. In its update on the three leading respiratory illnesses—flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)—the CDC notes that, nationally, flu (2.9%), COVID (2.9%), and RSV (0.9%) test positivity stayed about the same. Wastewater levels for COVID are low, while for influenza A and RSV they are very low.

Texas announces more measles cases, including first in Dallas area -- The Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) today reported eight more measles cases since its last update on May 9, including the first two from Dallas that are linked to the large outbreak in West Texas. Also, the TDSHS said cases in the Dallas area now linked to the large outbreak centered in Gaines County are from Collin and Rockwall counties. Collin County is just northeast of Dallas and is home to Plano, and Rockwall County is about 32 miles northeast of Dallas. Last week, officials said they removed Garza and Lynn counties from the list of active transmission counties, because two incubation periods have passed since the last patients were infectious.The new cases reported today lift the Texas outbreak total to 717 from 32 counties. The state has also reported 15 cases in various counties that aren't part of the West Texas outbreak. In other Texas measles developments, a research team based at Baylor College of Medicine described how they detected the measles virus in Houston wastewater samples before illnesses were detected in two travelers. They reported their findings in the American Journal of Public Health.The wastewater surveillance program, which also involved the Houston Health Department and researchers from two other universities, detected measles in samples collected on January 7 from two Houston water treatment facilities, well before investigations confirmed two measles infections in travelers on January 17. The travelers lived in the same area serviced by the water treatment plants. Researchers said that, for comparison, 821 wastewater samples from the same area were negative in monitoring over the 31 previous months.

Kansas measles total grows to 56, with most cases part of outbreak -The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) today announced 8 more measles cases, bringing the state's total to 56, of which 54 are part of an outbreak in the southwestern part of the state.The outbreak cases—like those in New Mexico and Oklahoma—have been linked to the large outbreak in West Texas. Kansas's outbreak cases are in eight counties. So far, two people have been hospitalized. Among the 54 outbreak patients, 48 were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. Of the state's overall cases, 45 patients are children. Officials said the most recent public exposure locations were an auto parts store in Cimarron, a library in Hutchinson, and the Wichita national airport. Elsewhere, health officials in Seattle-King County said yesterday they were notified about a measles case in a Canadian resident who had visited several locations in King and Snohomish County while infectious. Canada, like the United States, is experiencing a large outbreak, with cases reported in four provinces, mostly Ontario and Alberta. Canada's latest update listed 1,506 total measles cases, including 329 new ones.The patient traveled through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and visited several locations in Renton, Bellevue, Seattle, Everett, and Woodinville while contagious. Officials added that the case isn't linked to any earlier local measles cases. Officials reported two earlier similar cases in in nonresidents who had traveled through King County, as well as five cases in Washington residents.

Enterovirus infections linked to severe respiratory illness in children without asthma - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and seven US pediatric medical centers report a notable association between Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) and severe respiratory illness in children without prior medical conditions. Children with nonasthma or reactive airway disease (RAD) comorbidities demonstrated an increased likelihood of severe outcomes when hospitalized.Severe respiratory illness linked to Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) in children has gained attention in recent years. While EV-D68 typically presents with asthma-like symptoms, severe cases have been associated with acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a neurologic condition causing limb weakness with unpredictable recovery.A nationwide outbreak of EV-D68 in 2014 raised concerns about its impact on pediatric respiratory health as AFM cases spiked concurrently. Yet, systematic surveillance remains limited, with data largely drawn from single sites or short-term outbreak investigations. In the study, "Enterovirus D68–Associated Respiratory Illness in Children," published inJAMA Network Open, researchers conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the epidemiology and clinical severity of EV-D68-associated respiratory illness in US children from 2017 to 2022 using a systematic, multi-site surveillance network.Data from 976 children with laboratory-confirmed EV-D68 was collected across sevenacademic medical centers within the New Vaccine Surveillance Network, including Cincinnati, Houston, Kansas City, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Rochester, and Seattle. Research staff collected respiratory specimens using nasal and throat swabs. EV-D68 testing occurred through real-time PCR assays conducted at each site. Researchers identified 976 cases of EV-D68-associated respiratory illness in children under 18 years, with more than half requiring hospitalization. Among the 536 hospitalized children, 339 received supplemental oxygen, and 87 were admitted to intensive care units. Children with nonasthma underlying conditions had significantly higher odds of severe outcomes. Odds of receiving supplemental oxygen were more than twice as high in this group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.72; 95% CI, 1.43–5.18), and ICU admission was three times more likely (aOR, 3.09; 95% CI, 1.72–5.56). No significant association emerged between asthma history and increased severity outcomes.No significant association emerged between asthma history and severe outcomes, though asthma-related discharge diagnoses were common among hospitalized children without prior asthma history.

Mpox activity escalates in Sierra Leone Cases continue to climb sharply in Sierra Leone, and the head of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC) said the surge is a major focus of the outbreak response, partly to prevent the virus from spreading to other West African countries.At Africa CDC's weekly update today, Director-General Jean Kaseya, MD, MPH, said 611 cases were reported in the most recent week, up from 483 the previous week. The country's hot spots are six districts in West Area Urban and West Area Rural states, which include Freetown, the country’s capital. Of confirmed cases, males account for 68% in the outbreak driven by clade 2b, which is the strain circulating globally.Kaseya said the country has good test coverage and a good testing rate, but contact tracing has been a challenge, with only two contacts identified on average for each case. Vaccination is under way, with more than 30,000 people immunized in the past 2 weeks.Mpox activity in Sierra Leone made up 58.2% of all cases in Africa last week, with cases in the four mainly affected countries contributing 98.1% of cases. Besides Sierra Leone, the other hard-hit countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, and Burundi. Cases in "Burundi and Uganda were up slightly last week, but show an overall continued decline," Kaseya said. "We are still in the middle of this public health emergency of continental security"Cases have stabilized in the DRC, a finding that Africa CDC said should be interpreted with caution due to low but increasing testing coverage. Much of the country's activity had been occurring in the conflict areas of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and as the situation calms down, vaccination is resuming, as is the deployment of outbreak response teams.

Researchers report mpox DNA, live virus on surfaces and in air from patients' rooms A study conducted in UK hospitals found mpox virus (MPXV) clade 1b DNA in 73% of surface samples and 7% of air samples from infected patients' rooms, as well as live virus in 19% of surface samples that underwent viral isolation.Scientists at the UK Health Security Agency sampled the rooms and anterooms of seven of the first eight mpox clade 1b patients admitted for clinical observation at centers dedicated to airborne high-consequence infectious diseases from October 2024 through January 2025.The virus is spread primarily through intimate contact with an infected person but may also be transmitted via contaminated objects.The findings were published yesterday in Eurosurveillance. Of the 7 patients, 4 were men; all were aged 60 years or younger. Four patients had traveled to non-UK regions endemic for clade 1b MPXV, and three were infected by household members in the United Kingdom.The researchers sampled rooms during patient occupation or about 16 hours after patient release. One sampled room was occupied by two cohabiting infected patients (Cases 2 and 3), and a room occupied by another patient (Case 5) was sampled twice 6 days apart. All rooms were cleaned daily.The team sampled the same surfaces in all rooms and collected air samples both before and during a bed-linen change, but minor departures were made to account for different room arrangements (eg, the absence of a sink in one room). Certain samples with detectable MPXV DNA were used for virus isolation.MPXV DNA was detected in 66 of 90 surface samples (73%). Swabs from frequently touched surfaces often contained MPXV DNA (eg, bathroom tap handles, which were positive in all seven samples). Likewise, swabs from shower handles and toilet flushes contained detectable MPXV DNA from six of seven sampling episodes.Samples obtained from the rooms of Cases 2, 3, and 4, who all had mild illnesses, often had no or only low levels of MPXV DNA. "In addition, all three cases were female and acquired mpox via household transmission which may contribute to the observed severity score; however, it is also important to note that these sampling events were performed post patient discharge which may also contribute to the lower levels of DNA observed," the authors wrote. More frequent and higher levels of MPXV DNA, however, were seen for Cases 1, 5, and 8, who had moderate or severe infections and were in the isolation room during sampling.

Analysis ties resistant pathogens to 10% increase in mortality risk from bloodstream infections --A study of positive blood cultures over a 5-year period found that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was associated with a 10% relative increase in the risk of death among patients with bacteremia, Canadian researchers reported today in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Using linked microbiologic data from 114 hospital, community, and public health laboratories in Ontario, a team led by researchers from the University of Toronto and Public Health Ontario developed a cohort of patients with positive blood cultures from 2017 through 2021. They focused their analysis on pathogens responsible for at least 150 bloodstream infections and at least 20 associated deaths, and selected antibiotics for which susceptibility results were reported in at least 10% of episodes, with a resistance proportion from 1% to 99%. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. A total of 83,962 bacteremia episodes caused by 30 pathogens were identified, with 11 eligible pathogen-antibiotic combinations. Overall 30-day mortality was 17.1%. The most common pathogens were Escherichia coli (30.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (17.6%), and Klebsiella spp. (10.0%). The average patient age was 70 years, and 54.9% were male. Across the 110 pathogen-antibiotic combinations studied, any resistance was associated with a 47% increased risk of 30-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32 to 1.65) in unadjusted analyses. But after adjusting for age, sex, healthcare exposures, comorbidities, and co-resistance, the increased risk of 30-day mortality was 10% (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.16). The risk was 18% higher for resistance to antibiotics commonly used for empiric treatment (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.26). Attributable mortality due to AMR over the study period was 896 deaths, or 1.2 per 100,000 population per year.

Drug-resistant fungus Candida auris reported in these 17 states– The deadly and drug-resistant fungus Candida auris is under close surveillance as health experts work to calm its spread. Candida auris, also called C. auris, was first identified in the U.S. less than 10 years ago. Since then, the number of cases have increased every year. In 2025, new cases of Candida auris are about on track with the same time last year, according to data reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, some states are seeing far more cases than others. Of the 1,052 cases reported to the CDC so far in 2025, about a quarter are in Texas. The Lone Star State has had 241 cases of Candida auris as of late April (the latest available data from the CDC). Other states seeing the fungus in large numbers include Michigan (185), Ohio (125), Virginia (99) and Arizona (98). Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wisconsin have also all reported new cases this year. The CDC has considered the fungus “an urgent antimicrobial resistance threat” because it has developed ways to defeat the drugs that are designed to kill it. When antifungal medications aren’t effective, the fungus can spread more easily and infections can be hard or even impossible to treat. People with a healthy immune system may be able to fight off infection on their own, but Candida auris mainly spreads in health care settings, where people are sick and vulnerable. People with catheters, breathing tubes, feeding tubes and PICC lines are at the highest risk because the pathogen can enter the body through these types of devices. The fungus can survive on surfaces, like countertops, doorknobs, or even people’s skin, for a long time before spreading to vulnerable patients. “It’s really good at just being, generally speaking, in the environment,” Melissa Nolan, an assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of South Carolina, told Nexstar.“ So if you have it on a patient’s bed for example, on the railing, and you go to wipe everything down, if in whatever way maybe a couple of pathogens didn’t get cleared, then they’re becoming resistant. And so over time, they can kind of grow and populate in that hospital environment.” In the past, the CDC estimated that “based on information from a limited number of patients, 30–60% of people with C. auris infections have died. However, many of these people had other serious illnesses that also increased their risk of death.”

Testing ties Listeria outbreak to ready-to-eat sandwiches - A Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has hospitalized 10 people in two states has now been linked to ready-to-eat food from California-based Fresh & Ready foods that were served at the institutions, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a May 10 investigation update.Eight cases are in California and two in Nevada, but the CDC said the true number is likely higher, because some people recover without medical care. No deaths have been reported.The CDC said it first investigated the outbreak in 2024, which involved people who were hospitalized before they got sick, suggesting food served in the institutions was the likely source. However, there wasn't enough information to tie the illness to a specific food. Officials reopened the investigation after the outbreak strain was found in environmental samples collected in late March from Fresh & Ready Foods. State and local health officials interviewed six patients about foods they ate in the month before they became ill. Trace-back records revealed that ready-to-eat foods from the company were served in at least three of the facilities. On May 10 the company voluntarily recalled certain ready-to-eat foods, which included sandwich and snack items distributed during the last half of April for vending and break rooms in corporate offices, medical buildings, and healthcare facilities in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington state. They were sold under the Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go, and Fresh Take Crave Away brands.

Saudi Arabia confirms 9 MERS cases, including hospital cluster The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday reported nine new MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) cases from Saudi Arabia, two of them fatal, which include a hospital cluster of seven cases in Riyadh. The cases are Saudi Arabia's first since March, when the WHO reported four cases, which occurred between September 2024 and February 2025. One of the patients is an adult from Hail in the west central part of the country who is older than 65 years and whose symptoms began on February 20. The patient was hospitalized and died 3 days later from his or her illness. Investigators found that the patient had indirect contact with camels. The second patient is an adult from Riyadh who is younger than 65 and whose symptoms began on March 31. The patient was hospitalized on April 6 and died from his or her illness. Health officials found that the patient, who is not a healthcare worker, had no known contact with camels or camel products. The index patient in the Riyadh hospital cluster is an older adult whose symptoms began on April 3 and was hospitalized on April 6. He or she has since recovered, and follow-up found no known exposure to camels or camel products. Contact tracing and testing found infections in six of the hospital's healthcare workers, but only two had mild, nonspecific symptoms, with illness onsets on April 11 and April 16. All were adults younger than age 65, and all recovered from their infections. Of the nine patients, five were men and four were women. In its statement, the WHO said the new cases don't change its overall risk assessment for MERS-CoV, which remains moderate for both the regional and global levels. "These cases show that the virus continues to pose a threat in countries where it is circulating in dromedary camels and spilling over into the human population," the agency said.

Angola sees over 20,000 cholera cases since January: ministry -Angola has recorded over 20,000 cases of cholera since January in an outbreak that has killed more than 600 people, the health ministry said Tuesday. The African nation has struggled with high poverty rates and poor sanitation despite its oil wealth. "Since the beginning of the outbreak, a cumulative total of 20,050 cases were reported," the ministry said in a daily status report which said there had been 612 deaths. There were 233 cases and three deaths in the last 24 hours, it said. About one-third of all cases were in Luanda province around the capital. The age range of those affected is between two and 100, the ministry said. Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through food and contaminated water. It causes severe diarrhea, vomiting and muscle cramps and can kill within hours when not attended to, though it can be treated with simple oral rehydration and antibiotics. Angola has for decades faced recurrent cholera outbreaks, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with peaks during the rainy seasons. The first case this year was reported in January, and the disease rapidly spread to most of the country's 21 provinces.

CDC issues Indian Ocean travel warning over chikungunya outbreaks -- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning people planning to travel to the Region of the Indian Ocean to practice enhanced precautions against chikungunya.The Level 2 travel notice comes in response to chikungunya outbreaks in Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion, Somalia, and Sri Lanka. It urges travelers visiting the area to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants to protect against mosquitoes, which spread the virus, and recommends vaccination. The CDC says pregnant women should reconsider travel to the area.Spread by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictusmosquitoes, chikungunya causes fever, severe joint pain, rash, and fatigue. While most cases are self-limited, the disease can affect neurologic and cardiovascular systems, leading to poor outcomes, including death. Yesterday the World Health Organization said Reunion island has had more than 47,500 confirmed chikungunya cases, 12 deaths, and more than 170,000 consultations for suspected chikungunya, while Mayotte has detected its first locally transmitted cases in 19 years.Although there are two Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved chikungunya vaccines, the FDA and CDC last week recommended a pause in the use of Valneva's live-attenuated vaccine (Ixchiq) in people ages 60 and older. The pause was ordered while the agencies investigate five hospitalizations for cardiac or neurologic events in older people after receiving Ixchiq.

China reports more H9N2 and H10N3 avian flu cases - China has reported eight more H9N2 avian flu infections in people from four different areas, along with another H10N3 avian flu case in a resident of Guangxi province, the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said today in its weekly avian flu update. The patients infected with H9N2 had illness-onset dates from April 1 to April 19. Four are children from Hunan province: two 5-year-old boys, a 7-year-old girl, and a 1-year-old girl. Two are 1-year-old girls from Guizhou province, and the others are a 1-year-old girl from Yunnan province and a 67-year-old man in the city of Chongqing. The report didn't say how the patients were exposed to the virus, but past H9N2 cases typically involve contact with poultry or poultry environments. Children have been the most affected group. Infections are typically mild, but some severe or fatal cases have been reported.The latest cases push China's H9N2 total for the year to 18.China's latest H10N3 infection is its first since December 2024. The patient is a 68-year-old woman from Guangxi province whose symptoms began on April 13. The report did not say how the woman was likely exposed to the virus.China has now reported five H10N3 infections in humans over the past few years. Most were severe.

With nearby CWD cases, Rockingham County, Virginia, added to watch list --Rockingham County, Virginia, is now part of Virginia's chronic wasting disease (CWD) management area (DMA) 2 after West Virginia detected cases within 10 miles of the county border, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) notes on its website.During the 2024-25 deer-hunting season, 8,801 deer in Virginia were tested, and 109 of them (1.2%) were positive for CWD, a fatal neurodegenerative disease of cervids such as deer, moose, and elk. No cases were found outside of the state's four DMAs.Rockingham County is in northwestern Virginia, near Grant County, West Virginia, which reported its first case in March 2025. Since CWD was first identified in Virginia in 2009, it has been confirmed in Carroll, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Floyd, Frederick, Loudoun, Madison, Montgomery, Prince William, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Shenandoah, Tazewell, and Warren counties, the DWR said.The department conducts CWD surveillance and develops management strategies with the help of hunters, taxidermists, and processors, among other groups."One important management strategy is to prevent artificially concentrating deer at point sources like feeding sites," the DWR wrote. "As such, it is illegal to feed deer in Virginia for any reason year-round in all counties within 25 miles of a known CWD-positive deer." CWD is caused by abnormally folded infectious proteins called prions, which spread via saliva, feces, and urine shed by infected deer, as well as through prion-contaminated soil. The disease hasn't been shown to pose a risk to humans or domestic animals, but public health agencies advise hunters to have their animal tested before consuming the meat.

USDA suspends southern border livestock imports over New World screwworm threat - US Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretary Brooke Rollins yesterday suspended the import of live cattle, horses, and bison across the United States’ border with Mexico due to the rapid northward spread of New World screwworm (NWS), which can cause cattle loss and has also been linked to sporadic infections in people. NWS is spread by a parasitic fly (Cochliomyia hominivora) that attacks healthy tissue through wounds or orifices, typically in livestock, wildlife, pets, and sometimes people. The fly deposits larvae that burrow deep into the wound (myiasis), which can cause severe damage or death. The disease was eradicated in the United States using sterile insect technique. Since 1994, the United States and Panama have collaborated on a project to drop millions of sterile flies over a jungle area at the Panama-Colombia border to keep the fly from spreading northward. In 2023, detections surged dramatically in Panama, with subsequent detections in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and in November 2024, Mexico. The areas are north of the where the parasite has been contained in South America, according to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).The USDA warned that NWS was recently detected at remote farms with minimal cattle movement as far north as Mexico’s Oaxaca and Veracruz states, about 700 miles from the US border. Rollins said the US and Mexico have worked in good faith to control NWS, but despite the efforts, “there has been unacceptable northward advancement of NWS and additional action must be taken to slow the northern progression of this deadly parasitic fly.”“The protection of our animals and safety of our nation’s food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance. Once we see increased surveillance and eradication efforts, and the positive results of those actions, we remain committed to opening the border for livestock trade,” Rollins said. “This is not about politics or punishment of Mexico, rather it is about food and animal safety.”In a related development, Mexico in April reported its first human myiasis case from NWS, a 77-year-old woman from Chiapas state in southern Mexico, according to Reuters, which cited the country’s health ministry. In recent months, Nicaragua has confirmed at least 30 human NWS cases, with at least 28 reported from Costa Rica, according to a BMJ report.

North Korea's illegal wildlife trade threatens endangered species, study finds - North Korean defectors who took part in the study reported that the North Korean state receives wild animals and their body parts from state-sanctioned hunters and local communities.The study found this includes species which are legally protected in North Korea, including long-tailed gorals—hoofed mammals resembling a goat—and Eurasian otters. These species have been used domestically, for example, furs in the manufacture of winter clothing, but they are also reported to be used as a tradable resource.This is in keeping with North Korea's use of natural resources such as timber and coal, but also illegal trade in weapons and narcotics, to generate revenue.The study also details that the North Korean state operates wildlife farms, including animals such as otters, pheasants, deer, and Asiatic black bears. North Korea is believed to have first started farming bears for their bile in the 20th century, before the practice spread to China and South Korea. Bear bile has been used in various traditional Asian medicines, including traditional Korean medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.Bear bile farming has been widely condemned by conservationists and animal welfare campaigners for perpetuating the demand for endangered species and the unnecessary suffering of farmed animals.North Korea and the threats it faces are poorly known. The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which divides North and South Korea, is home to a wide range of species and is an important over-wintering site for migratory species like cranes. In addition, the report identifies economic hardship as a major driver of the black market wildlife trade in North Korea. A wide range of animals are reported to be hunted and trapped for meat, for use in traditional medicine, to protect crops or domestic livestock, or for sale on the black market.

Mouse memory hinges on a nine-letter protein fragment exclusive to neurons --Healthy mouse neurons in the hippocampus. When the nine-letter microexon is excluded from the DAAM1 protein, the neurons form fewer connections with other cells. Cells have a trick called splicing. They can cut a gene's message into pieces and decide which fragments to keep. By mixing and matching these fragments, a single gene can produce many different proteins, giving tissues and organs more options to thrive and evolve. Out of all tissues, splicing is most prevalent in the brain. Researchers at the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) have discovered that one such fragment, a "microexon" just nine amino acids long, is inserted into the DAAM1 protein exclusively in neurons and nowhere else in the body. The inclusion of the microexon is critical for healthy neuronal development, with effects rippling all the way up to memory function. The findings are published in Nature Communications. DAAM1 makes a protein that helps cells maintain their shape and enables their movement. When the team deleted the nine-letter microexon in mice, the animals were healthy at birth, but their adult brain cells had half of the usual "learning spines," protrusions known to be important for learning and retrieval of memories. Fewer spines mean fewer new synaptic connections, dulling the circuitry that underlies learning and recall. Experiments with the mice confirmed that deleting the microexon caused animals to remember roughly 40% less in some standard memory tasks. "The neurons look almost normal under the microscope, yet their ability to communicate and therefore process information was strongly impacted. Neurons can't build bridges as effectively, and the messengers can't do their job," Further evidence of the importance of the microexon comes from looking at how evolutionarily conserved it is. The study found that sharks, which split from the ancestors of humans hundreds of millions of years ago, carry the same sequence. "When the very same nine amino acids turn up in both sharks and humans, you're looking at a molecular part so useful that evolution has refused to tinker with it for nearly half a billion years. That level of conservation tells us this microexon is a critical cog that helps neurons wire memories,"

Chimpanzees use medicinal leaves to perform first aid, scientists discover -- Scientists studying chimpanzees in Budongo Forest, Uganda, have observed that these primates don't just treat their own injuries, but care for others, too—information which could shed light on how our ancestors first began treating wounds and using medicines.Although chimpanzees elsewhere have been observed helping other community members with medical problems, the persistent presence of this behavior in Budongo could suggest that medical careamong chimpanzees is much more widespread than we realized, and not confined to care for close relatives."Our research helps illuminate the evolutionary roots of human medicine and health care systems," said Dr. Elodie Freymann of the University of Oxford, first author of the article in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. "By documenting how chimpanzees identify and utilizemedicinal plants and provide care to others, we gain insight into the cognitive and social foundations of human health care behaviors."The researchers spent four months observing each community, as well as drawing on video evidence from the Great Ape Dictionary database, logbooks containing decades of observational data, and a survey of other scientists who had witnessed chimpanzees treating illness or injury.Any plants chimpanzees were seen using for external care were identified; several turned out to have chemical properties which could improve wound healing and relevant traditional medicine uses.During their direct observational periods, the scientists recorded 12 injuries in Sonso, all of which were likely caused by within-group conflicts. In Waibira, five chimpanzees were injured—one female by a snare, and four males in fights. The researchers also identified more cases of care in Sonso than in Waibira."This likely stems from several factors, including possible differences in social hierarchy stability or greater observation opportunities in the more thoroughly habituated Sonso community," said Freymann.The researchers documented 41 cases of care overall: seven cases of care for others—prosocial care—and 34 cases of self-care. These cases often included several different care behaviors, which might be treating different aspects of a wound, or might reflect a chimpanzee's personal preferences. "Chimpanzee wound care encompasses several techniques: direct wound licking, which removes debris and potentially applies antimicrobial compounds in saliva; finger licking followed by wound pressing; leaf-dabbing; and chewing plant materials and applying them directly to wounds," said Freymann "All chimpanzees mentioned in our tables showed recovery from wounds, though, of course, we don't know what the outcome would have been had they not done anything about their injuries. "We also documented hygiene behaviors, including the cleaning of genitals with leaves after mating and wiping the anus with leaves after defecation—practices that may help prevent infections."

Court orders FWS to consider protections for Joshua trees - A federal judge ordered the Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday to consider Endangered Species Act protections for Joshua trees, ruling in favor of environmental advocates who challenged a Biden-era rejection of the listing proposal. U.S. District Judge Wesley Hsu of the Central District of California sided with WildEarth Guardians, which filed a lawsuit in 2024 after FWS decided against protections for two Joshua tree species. Hsu, a Biden appointee, found FWS failed to properly consider climate change and other threats in its 2023 determination.“Although the Court does not expect the Service to predict the future with absolute certainty, the Service provides no explanation as to why it did not use current trends and standards regarding greenhouse gas emissions as a basis for its decision, when this data currently is available and the Service states in its [species status assessment] the regulations are unlikely to alter the trajectory of climate change impacts,” Hsu wrote in his decision.

Destructive floods claim over 100 lives in South Kivu, DR Congo -(video) Over 100 people were killed in Kasaba Village, South Kivu Province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, after the Kasaba River overflowed following heavy rainfall between May 8 and 9, 2025. The resulting floods damaged more than 150 homes, injured multiple residents, and devastated the surrounding area. Heavy rains struck the South Kivu Province in eastern DR Congo between May 8 and 9 leading to severe floods as the Kasaba River overflowed, claiming over 100 lives in the Kasaba Village. There are varying reports of the fatalities. The provincial government, temporarily based in Uvira, reports 62 deaths, while Fizi’s Civil Society puts forth a much higher toll of 109 confirmed fatalities and many more reported missing. Meanwhile, 104 deaths have been confirmed by rescue operatives, while some local reports state that 119 bodies were recovered following the flooding. Most of the victims include children and elderly residents who were caught in the flooding while asleep. The floodwaters tore through the village carrying boulders, trees, and mud, causing widespread damage and leaving multiple injured and damaging hundreds of homes in the area. Local authorities confirmed that the flood caused 30 injuries and destroyed over 150 homes, along with the fatalities. The spokesperson for the provincial government of South Kivu, Didier Kabi, has warned of the growing risk of waterborne diseases in the region as rainfall continues. An emergency response team has been dispatched to the area by the provincial Ministry of Health and Humanitarian Action. Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi has reached out to national authorities to coordinate a large-scale humanitarian response. The floods have damaged multiple agricultural fields in the area, threatening the livelihoods of many families. Schools and other institutions remain closed across the region as many are left homeless. Kasaba’s isolation along Lake Tanganyika, accessible only by water and without internet, has hindered rescue and communication efforts.

Floods claim at least 7 lives in Mogadishu, Somalia - At least 7 people were reported dead in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, after heavy rain on Friday, May 9, 2025. Floodwaters rose to waist height, causing widespread damage to roads and city infrastructure. At least 7 people have been reported dead due to floods in Mogadishu in the Banadir region following heavy rains on Friday, May 9. The death toll could be higher, with some reports indicating 10 fatalities. At least 9 houses have collapsed due to the floods in the city. State-run news agency SONNA reported that floodwaters rose to waist height after 8 hours of constant rain on Friday night, overwhelming the city’s drainage system with a rainfall total exceeding 115 mm (4.5 inches). Emergency evacuations were conducted in multiple neighborhoods amid the rising floodwaters. Many roads in the city were cut off due to the floodwaters, with at least six major routes having suffered significant damage, according to the regional administration of Mogadishu. The Governor of Banadir Region and Mayor of Mogadishu, H.E Mohamed Ahmed Amiin, issued an emergency statement in response to the flooding on Saturday, May 10. “The torrential rains in Mogadishu and its outskirts have led to serious consequences, and we have taken every possible measure to address the situation,” said Governor Amiin. “A comprehensive report detailing the impact of the floods will be released soon, and immediate relief aid will be delivered to those affected.” The mayor added that emergency response teams are actively working to manage the effects of the floods, and have deployed water pumps and suction trucks to drain flood-prone areas. The Minister of Defence, Jibril Abdirashid Haji, visted the region on Saturday, to inspect the flood hit areas and damaged roads, including the ones near the KM4 and Iskuul Buluusiyo. He pledged government response and support for the affected citizens.

126-year-old rain record broken in Charleston as heavy rain spreads across Southeast - Charleston, South Carolina, set a new daily rainfall record on Sunday, May 11, 2025, after a moisture-laden storm system brought prolonged periods of heavy rain to the region. The event marked the highest recorded precipitation for that date at Charleston International Airport, with widespread impacts extending across the Southeast and mid-Atlantic. Flash flood threats are expected to persist through Wednesday, May 14, according to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC). The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that Charleston International Airport in South Carolina, the city’s official climate station, recorded 50.5 mm (1.99 inches) of rainfall on Sunday, May 11. This surpassed the previous daily record for that date, 49 mm (1.93 inches), set in 1952. On the same day, downtown Charleston also saw a new daily rain record, receiving 52.3 mm (2.06 inches) and breaking the 126-year-old record of 39.8 mm (1.57 inches) set in 1899. The rainfall caused flash flooding and rendered multiple roads impassable across the city. Localized street flooding was reported, with several vehicles stranded in submerged areas. The NWS issued flash flood warnings, advising residents to avoid travel on water-covered roads due to the risk of rapid water level rises. Heavy rainfall associated with the Gulf storm also affected parts of Florida. At the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in Panama City, 19.05 mm (0.75 inches) of rain fell within just eight minutes between 03:56 and 04:04 local time on Sunday. This corresponds to a rainfall rate of 143 mm (5.63 inches) per hour. The two-hour total from 03:00 to 05:00 LT reached 57.4 mm (2.26 inches).

Miami sets new rainfall record as flash floods batter southern Florida - Flash floods struck southern Florida on Monday, May 12, 2025, as a strong Gulf storm brought record-breaking rainfall, including 110.5 mm (4.35 inches) in Miami, surpassing a record set in 1943. The 12-hour rainfall total from 00:00 to 12:00 local time (LT) on Monday reached 106.4 mm (4.19 inches) at Miami International Airport. Hollywood/North Perry Airport received 92 mm (3.62 inches), while Homestead recorded 50.8 mm (2 inches) and Fort Lauderdale 44.2 mm (1.74 inches). Floodwaters quickly overwhelmed streets in low-lying areas of Miami, including Northeast 10th and 14th Avenues. Downtown Miami also experienced flooding, disrupting morning traffic.The slow-moving storm system drenched Charleston, South Carolina, with record-breaking rain on Sunday, May 11. A high-end EF-1 tornado also passed through Langley in Aiken County on Monday. Data from the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Columbia indicate this was the fifth-strongest tornado recorded in their forecast area so far this year and the first since March 16. The tornado produced peak winds of 169 km/h (105 mph), consistent with the upper threshold of the EF-1 classification and equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The twister downed multiple power lines and trees, damaged outbuildings, and tore roofs from several homes. One person was reportedly trapped in his home following the storm. On Tuesday, May 13, the storm system is forecast to move through the Mid-South and into the Great Lakes region on Wednesday, May 14.

Flash Flood Emergency in Maryland, 12-year-old missing in Virginia floodwaters – (videos) A Flash Flood Emergency was issued for parts of western Maryland on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, as floods forced over 200 people to evacuate three schools in Allegany County. Meanwhile, a 12-year-old boy in Albemarle County, Virginia, was reported missing after being swept away by floodwaters from a nearby creek. A Flash Flood Emergency was issued for western Maryland on Tuesday, May 13, as heavy rain brought flash floods to parts of the Northeast. The emergency affected Westernport, where about 130 mm (5 inches) of rain fell during the afternoon, with rainfall rates between 25 and 50 mm (1 to 2 inches) per hour. The floods forced evacuations at three schools in Allegany County. More than 200 people from Georges Creek Elementary and Westernport Elementary schools were evacuated to Mountain Ridge High School and a church in Westernport. Westmar Middle School was also evacuated later in the day. In addition to rescues at the school, there were reports of stranded residents in homes, businesses, and cars. The Allegany County Department of Emergency Services reported that 21 rescue boats and swift water teams, along with personnel from 24 agencies across nine counties in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, were actively assisting with relief efforts. YouTube video The agency reported that rivers and streams in the area were extremely high but had not yet exceeded flood levels as of 23:00 local time (LT) on Tuesday. However, the Potomac River was expected to exceed flood levels by Wednesday morning, May 14. Multiple roads across Allegany County were rendered impassable due to floodwaters, including Laurel Run Road. County officials urged citizens to avoid all flooded roadways and not attempt to drive through standing water. Meanwhile, a 12-year-old boy was reported missing on Tuesday evening after being swept away by floodwaters in northwest Virginia. Albemarle County Fire Rescue and the local police responded to reports of the child being swept away by floodwaters from a creek near the Newton Road and Valley Green Drive area. Following more than three hours of water operations, first responders paused the search due to limited visibility in the overnight hours and the safety of all those involved. The search will resume during daylight hours on Wednesday.

One person killed in Virginia as flash floods strike Mid-Atlantic - A 12-year-old boy was found deceased near Newton Road in Albemarle County at approximately 08:45 local time (LT) on Wednesday, May 14, after flash floods struck parts of the Mid-Atlantic on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, prompting Flash Flood Emergencies in multiple counties and evacuations in areas including Westernport, Maryland. The boy had been reported missing on Tuesday, May 13, after being swept away by floodwaters from a nearby creek. Multiple agencies, including Albemarle County Fire Rescue and the Albemarle County Police Department, responded to the report at 17:30 LT and conducted search and rescue operations. The flooding was part of a broader severe weather system that brought heavy rainfall to the Mid-Atlantic on Tuesday, prompting Flash Flood Emergencies in parts of Virginia and Maryland. Allegany County, Maryland, was the first to be placed under a Flash Flood Emergency as waters rose rapidly near Westernport on Tuesday. Persistent storms dropped between 63.5 and 127 mm (2.5 and 5 inches) of rain within a few hours on Tuesday afternoon in areas including Westernport, Luke, and Barton in Allegany County, Maryland. The flooding prompted dozens of water rescues, and evacuations were conducted at three schools as water submerged roads and entered buildings. Flash Flood Emergencies were also issued for Greene and Madison counties in Virginia, with around 127 mm (5 inches) of rainfall reported in the area by Tuesday evening. Georges Creek overflowed its banks, rising to major flood stage and cresting at 3.78 m (12.41 feet) within one hour, placing numerous buildings and roads in Westernport at risk of flooding. In Greene County, individuals were rescued from two vehicles trapped in rapidly rising water, according to the local sheriff’s office. Authorities closed roads due to flooding and fallen trees.

Bryce Fire in Arizona rapidly spreads to 1 170 ha (2 900 acres) - The Bryce Fire near Fort Thomas, Arizona, has burned 1 172 ha (2 896 acres) and remains 25% contained as of May 11, 2025. No structures have been reported damaged, but pre-evacuation notices have been issued for nearby residents. The Bryce Fire started on May 7, about 4.8 km (3 miles) west of Pima along US-70 in Graham County, Arizona. Initially reported at 65 ha (160 acres) with 80% containment by May 8, the fire spread rapidly due to high winds on May 9. By May 11, it had grown to 1 172 ha (2 896 acres), burning through dense tamarisk stands in the Gila River bottom near Eden. Containment remains at 25%, with the fire exhibiting extreme behavior, including torching and long-range spotting. About 240 personnel, including hotshot crews, hand crews, engines, water tenders, and bulldozers, were assigned, with firefighters employing both direct and indirect tactics, such as constructing dozer lines and preparing River Road as a holding feature. Overnight firing operations along River Road have helped protect homes and infrastructure in Fort Thomas. Ad ends in 15 Aviation support includes helicopters dropping water buckets and water-scooping aircraft drafting from San Carlos Reservoir. Single-engine air tankers were grounded on May 9 after proving ineffective. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect, and officials have warned that unauthorized drones could disrupt aerial operations. The fire has damaged multiple power and gas lines, though no structures have been reported destroyed. On May 11, temperatures reached approximately 35 °C (95 °F) with southeast winds of 34–42 km/h (21–26 mph) and gusts up to 60 km/h (37 mph). A Fire Weather Watch was issued for May 12 and later upgraded to a Red Flag Warning due to continued gusty winds. The invasive tamarisk vegetation produces intense flames and thick black smoke, complicating suppression efforts. The Graham County Sheriff’s Office has issued “SET” pre-evacuation notices for homes between Eden Road and Fort Thomas on the north side of US-70, as well as for residences in the Gila River corridor. Some residents have voluntarily evacuated, but no mandatory evacuations are in effect. US-70 remains open between Fort Thomas and Safford, though drivers have been cautioned about possible closures and drifting smoke.

Over 140 structures destroyed as wildfires scorch more than 8 094 ha (20 000 acres) in Minnesota - Wildfires in Minnesota have destroyed at least 140 buildings and scorched over 8 094 ha (20 000 acres) of land since May 11, 2025, prompting evacuations, road closures, and air quality alerts. The Camp House Fire, located about 3.2 km (2 miles) northeast of Brimson in St. Louis County, was first reported on May 11. It has since grown to an estimated 4 768 ha (11 778 acres), with containment remaining at 0 %, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Authorities report the fire is burning in mixed forest vegetation, including large areas of spruce budworm-killed timber, which is contributing to intense fire behavior and complicating suppression efforts due to the challenging terrain. Mandatory evacuations have been issued by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. Road closures are in effect at multiple points, including the intersections of Highway 16 and County Highway 44, Highway 16 and Brimson-Toimi Road (6205 Road), and County Highways 44 and 355. More than 200 personnel are assigned to the incident, including Minnesota DNR teams, Superior National Forest resources, local fire departments, and mutual aid responders. Aircraft are supporting suppression efforts in the remote and mountainous terrain. The Jenkins Creek Fire has burned more than 2 751 ha (6 800 acres) and remains active. Cadotte Lake Campground has been evacuated and closed. Multiple road closures are in place, and a shelter has been opened at the Fredenberg Community Center by St. Louis County Public Health and the Red Cross. The Munger Shaw Fire has burned approximately 647 ha (1 600 acres) and is slowly spreading north. Several road closures are in effect, and some evacuations are under review to determine if they should remain in place. The National Weather Service (NWS) reports that high temperatures and low dewpoints are expected to continue on Wednesday, May 14, creating conditions favorable for the spread of current and potential new fires. Southerly winds are forecast to shift to the southeast, spreading smoke from the fires across northern St. Louis County and into Lake County. An Air Quality Alert is in effect for those areas today.

Intense volcanic activity continues at Fuego volcano, Guatemala - YouTube video -Explosive eruptions continued at Guatemala’s Fuego volcano in recent days, producing ash plumes up to 4.8 km (15 750 feet) and incandescent material rising 100–300 m (330–980 feet) above the crater. Guatemala’s Fuego volcano exhibited sustained eruptive activity on May 10, according to a bulletin from the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH). The volcano produced five to eight weak to moderate explosions per hour, with ash-and-gas columns rising to altitudes of 4 500–4 800 m (14 760–15 750 feet) and drifting up to 30 km (18 miles) west and southwest. The explosions were accompanied by rumbling sounds, shock waves, and acoustic emissions lasting 1–2 minutes. Nighttime observations showed incandescent material ejected 100–300 m (330–980 feet) above the crater. The Fuego Volcano Observatory (OVFGO) documented partial collapses along the crater’s perimeter, which triggered small avalanches of volcanic debris. Ashfall affected several downwind communities, including Panimache I and II, Morelia, Santa Sofía, El Porvenir, and La Asunción. Authorities warned residents and tourists that rainfall could generate lahars along ravines descending from the volcano. YouTube video Between April 27 and 28, six to eight weak explosions per hour were observed. Ash plumes rose up to 800 m (2 620 feet) above the summit and drifted 15 km (9.3 miles) southwest. Incandescent material was ejected 100–200 m (330–650 feet) above the crater, and minor avalanches reached vegetated areas on the volcano’s flanks. Fuego is one of Central America’s most active stratovolcanoes, located approximately 35 km (22 miles) southwest of Guatemala City. It has a long record of frequent explosive eruptions since the early 16th century. Its current activity consists primarily of Strombolian-style explosions, ashfall, and occasional lava and pyroclastic flows.

Ongoing ash emissions from White Island volcano impact local airspace, New Zealand - Persistent steam, gas, and minor volcanic ash emissions from Whakaari/White Island, New Zealand, have led to several flight cancellations over Tauranga on May 11 and 12, 2025. GNS Science confirmed that near-continuous emission of steam, gas, and minor volcanic ash was observed rising from the volcano’s active vent during recent observations and gas flights. Due to this ongoing volcanic activity, the Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 3 and the Aviation Color Code at Orange. Aerial observations and satellite analysis on May 6 showed the ongoing release of ash within the steam and gas plume. Depending on meteorological conditions, the plume appeared as either a vertical column or a trailing haze visible from the Bay of Plenty coast and from regional webcams located in Whakatāne and Te Kaha. “Local weather conditions have a significant impact on how the activity appears when viewed from the Bay of Plenty coast,” GeoNet Duty Volcanologist Oliver Lamb noted. Under calm conditions, the volcanic plume can rise to 300–600 m (1 000–2 000 feet) above the volcano, but as the wind speed increases, the plume height decreases, and a long hazy plume can be seen trailing off downwind for tens of kilometers. Despite the visibility of the ash plume, only minor ash fall has been noted on or near the island itself.

Ashfall blankets Kagoshima City after eruption at Sakurajima volcano, Japan - (video) Three eruptions were recorded at Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, on May 15, 2025, with ash plumes reaching heights over 4 200 m (13 800 feet) above sea level. Ashfall was reported in Kagoshima City, reducing visibility on city roads. The first eruption took place at 01:14 UTC (10:14 JST) on May 15, sending an ash plume over 2 400 m (8 000 feet) above sea level that drifted southeast. The second eruption occurred at 02:35 UTC (11:35 JST), producing an ash plume that rose over 4 200 m (14 000 feet) above sea level and drifted southeast. This was followed by a third eruption at 12:38 UTC (21:38 JST), generating an ash plume that rose over 3 600 m (12 000 feet) above sea level and moved eastward. Ashfall was confirmed in Kagoshima City, with videos showing reduced visibility on roads due to suspended ash. Light ashfall may also reach Miyazaki Prefecture depending on wind conditions. The Alert Level for Sakurajima remains at Level 3 on Japan’s five-tier scale, restricting access within a 1 km (0.62 miles) radius of the summit due to ongoing explosive activity. Sakurajima, a stratovolcano within the Aira Caldera, is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes. The Aira Caldera, located in the northern part of Kagoshima Bay, formed approximately 22 000 years ago following a massive eruption that produced the Ito pyroclastic flow.

Major X1.2 solar flare erupts from Sun’s west limb - A major solar flare measuring X1.2 erupted from Active Region 4086 at 15:38 UTC on May 13, 2025. The event started at 15:25 and ended at 15:44 UTC. This is the seventh X-class solar flare of the year and the first since March 28, tying for the third strongest with the X1.2 flare on January 3. A large coronal mass ejection (CME) was produced during the event. However, the region is located at the Sun’s west limb, so the Earth-directed component is not expected. While the location of Region 4086 does not favor Earth-directed CMEs, the location is well-connected to Earth via interplanetary magnetic field lines, increasing the probability of a solar proton event (SPE). Western limb eruptions, particularly those beyond W60, are known to efficiently accelerate and channel high-energy protons toward Earth, potentially triggering elevated radiation levels in space and polar aviation routes. Radio frequencies were forecast to be most degraded over the Atlantic Ocean, the Americas, and parts of Europe and Africa at the time of the flare.

Major X2.7 solar flare erupts from Active Region 4087 - (video) A major solar flare measuring X2.7 erupted from Active Region 4087 at 08:19 UTC on May 14, 2025. The event began at 08:04 and ended at 08:31 UTC. This is the 8th X-class solar flare of the year and the strongest to date. It currently ranks as the 15th most powerful flare of Solar Cycle 25, exceeding the X2.56 event observed on February 16, 2024. This is also the second X-class flare within the past 24 hours, following an X1.2 flare at 15:38 UTC on May 14 from a region near the Sun’s west limb. A coronal mass ejection (CME) was produced by the flare, but its trajectory is not expected to be Earth-directed. The source region is currently located near the eastern limb, limiting geoeffective potential. This may change in the coming days as the region rotates further into an Earth-facing position. A 10cm Radio Burst (TenFlare), lasting 1 minute with a peak flux of 390 sfu, was recorded during the flare. This indicates a short-duration electromagnetic burst at the 10 cm wavelength, more than double the baseline radio background. Such bursts can produce significant radio noise, potentially affecting radar, GPS, and satellite communication systems, although the interference is typically short-lived. The same region produced an M5.4 solar flare at 03:25 UTC and an M1.2 at 07:45 UTC today. Radio frequencies were forecast to be most degraded over the Middle East and parts of the Indian Ocean at the time of the flare, with shortwave radio blackouts possible across sunlit regions in that sector.

China’s CO2 emissions plunged as clean energy production grew - China’s carbon emissions fell during the last 12 months as growth in clean energy weakened coal-fired power generation and outpaced rising electricity demand.It’s the first time nonemitting sources of energy drove declines in China’s climate pollution, according to a new analysis by Lauri Myllyvirta at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.“Electricity supply from new wind, solar and nuclear capacity was enough to cut coal-power output even as demand surged, whereas previous [carbon] falls were due to weak growth,” said the analysis, which was published in Carbon Brief.Drawing on a mix of government and industry data, it found that China’s emissions declined 1.6 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period a year earlier. It also found that emissions fell 1 percent over the last 12 months.

Revoking EPA climate rule could trigger carbon boom - Plans by the Trump administration to scrap a landmark climate rule threaten to increase carbon pollution by making it easier to build natural gas power plants and sustain some coal facilities. Analysts said the demise of the EPA regulation for existing coal and new gas power plants, finalized last year, would not bring the green energy transition to a screeching halt. But by extending the lives of some coal-fired power plants and removing emissions requirements for new gas plants, President Donald Trump’s rollbacks could add to U.S. climate pollution and push the world closer to what scientists say are dangerous levels of warming. “Rescinding the greenhouse gas rule is likely to significantly increase CO2 emissions by shifting generation away from gas and renewables, while increasing generation from existing coal units,” said Martin Ross, director of electricity modeling at Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability. Advertisement Trump has been here before. EPA discarded former President Barack Obama’s planned emissions standards on power plants during Trump’s first term. But carbon dioxide levels from power plants continued to fall, as the combination of cheap natural gas and renewables pushed a wave of coal plants into retirement. U.S. power sector emissions have fallen by roughly a quarter over the past decade, according to EPA data. The difference this time is that demand for electricity is skyrocketing, fueled by the technology industry’s race to build data centers for artificial intelligence. Tech companies have traditionally been large buyers of renewable energy, but they have begun looking to natural gas to meet their power needs. Orders for new gas turbines are surging. The country’s emissions trajectory will hinge in large part on where Big Tech finds its power, analysts said. Wind, solar and batteries remain among the cheapest sources of electricity, but their future has been complicated by Trump’s trade war and his pledge to end clean energy subsidies. “Tech companies all have clean energy goals, but the economic imperative for them is to get their AI stuff online as fast as they can,” said Arne Olson, an emissions modeler at Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc. “It’s existential for them.” If the country can’t build energy sources fast enough to keep up with demand, it will likely turn to existing power plants that seldom run today. They are mostly coal plants and older, inefficient natural gas facilities, Olson said. “If we can’t rebuild fast enough, then we’re going to see increased emissions,” he said. “The evidence seems to point to can’t-build-fast-enough, so quite likely emissions are going to go up in the near term.” The White House regulatory office is currently reviewing EPA’s proposed repeal of the Biden-era carbon rule. EPA is also expected to propose a revision soon to a key scientific finding — the endangerment finding — that could take Clean Air Act regulations for greenhouse gases off the table entirely. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has promised that the Trump deregulatory agenda will support “all forms of energy, including clean beautiful coal.” The agency’s rules would have required coal plants operating past 2038 to install carbon capture and sequestration by 2032, a provision that some industry observers predicted would force the country’s remaining coal units into retirement. “The CCS requirement for existing coal is sort of the final nail in the coffin for coal,” said Ross of Duke University. Now that requirement is gone. Coal generation was up 20 percent through the first three months of 2025, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, thanks to a colder winter, higher natural gas prices and robust power demand. Mining companies praised the EPA rollback, saying it would help the coal industry supply the country’s growing power needs. “We continue to see substantial U.S. coal demand many years into the future,” Peabody Energy CEO Jim Grech told financial analysts Tuesday. Even without the regulations, EIA thinks coal will play a smaller role in America’s future power mix. The U.S. had just under 170 gigawatts of coal-fired power capacity last year, according to EIA’s 2025 Annual Energy Outlook. In a world in which the power plant carbon rule remained in effect, coal would all but exit the grid by 2032, when the rule’s strictest standards based on carbon capture would take effect. Without the rule, a diminished set of coal-based units is expected to linger on the grid almost indefinitely, declining from about 80 GW in 2032 to just below 60 GW in 2050, according to EIA. Coal’s market woes are underscored by the recent closure of the Cholla coal plant in Arizona. Trump called for keeping Cholla open last month. But the company that operates the plant, Pinnacle West, told investors last week it had no plans to bring Cholla back online, noting it was uneconomical. The situation with gas is more complicated. EPA’s rule would have required gas plants that began construction after May 2023 to install CCS by 2035 or run at less than 40 percent of their capacity. The agency projected that most utilities would choose the latter. EIA anticipates that rescinding the power plant rule could have a modest effect on the amount of gas that’s added to the grid. It expects that an additional 8GW of gas will be built in 2032, a rounding error compared with the 248 GW of combined-cycle gas it estimates will be available nationwide that year. But there are signs that a gas boom is building. Siemens Energy, one of the world’s largest gas turbine makers, said Thursday that it had set a new quarterly record for turbine orders in the first three months of the year. The announcement followed similar news from GE Vernova, which has reported surging turbine orders in recent months. GE Vernova is building a gas plant with carbon capture in the United Kingdom, but it does not expect similar facilities to be built in the U.S. in the near term, the company’s chief executive, Scott Strazik, told investors in December. “In the U.S., this is going to happen more in chapters,” he said. “Build now, this decade unabated. Think through adding the carbon capture in the next decade when it makes sense.” How much gas actually makes it onto the grid is unclear. The backlog for getting a new turbine is several years long. Developers also face siting challenges for new pipelines and power plants. And while large data centers have begun looking to fossil resources for power, most still prefer carbon-free generation, Clements said.

Hawaii urges insurers to sue oil industry for climate damages - Hawaii lawmakers are encouraging insurance companies to sue the oil and gas industry for climate damages, even as the Trump administration seeks to block states from enacting climate policy. The first-of-its-kind state resolution — which supporters hope can be replicated elsewhere — calls on insurers to pursue claims against polluters who “knowingly engaged in misleading and deceptive practices” regarding the connection between their products and climate change. Hawaii state Sen. Chris Lee (D), who sponsored the resolution, said he hopes it will help transfer some climate costs from ratepayers to companies that profited as they contributed to global warming. “We’re trying to get climate effects addressed by those folks who are knowingly contributing to the problem, rather than the average family who is paying quite significantly,” he said.

Colorado high court boosts Boulder’s climate case against Exxon - Colorado’s Supreme Court delivered a win Monday to local governments that are suing the fossil fuel industry for the costs of dealing with climate change, allowing one of the oldest cases in the country to be heard in state court. In a 5-2 decision, the judges rejected Exxon Mobil’s bid to overturn a lower court decision that gave the city and county of Boulder a green light to have their lawsuit against the companies litigated in state court, where the plaintiffs think they have a better chance of winning. The win for the local governments comes as the Trump administration has targeted similar climate lawsuits across the country, with the Justice Department going to court earlier this month against Hawaii and Michigan in an effort to block the states from pursuing litigation. The majority opinion in Colorado, written by Justice Richard Gabriel, rejected the industry’s contention that the lawsuit against Exxon and Suncor Energy involves global greenhouse gas emissions and should be barred by federal law.

Solar Power Surge Sinks Europe’s Electricity Prices Deep Below Zero -- A sunny weekend in northwest Europe plunged power prices in the region to hundreds of euros below zero on Sunday afternoon as solar generation soared. Spot power prices in Belgium sank to as low as -$302 (-266 euros) per megawatt-hour (MWh) between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, according to data from Epex Spot SE cited by Bloomberg. During the same hour, power prices in Netherlands plunged to -$215.60 (-189.90 euros), while prices in Germany dropped to -$147.40 (-129.81) per MWh. Negative power prices, while beneficial for some consumers in some countries, generally discourage investments in new capacity as renewable power generators don’t profit from below-zero prices.The more frequent occurrences of negative prices amid soaring solar output aren’t conducive to increased investment in generation only, and highlight the need of energy storage solutions to store the excess power and discharge it at evenings when it’s most needed.Solar generation capacity and output in Europe have surged this decade, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine cut off many EU countries from Russian pipeline gas deliveries. The EU aims to ditch Russian gas dependence by 2027 and has been racing to build renewable energy capacity.However, without adequate and proportionate battery storage buildout, Europe risks even more frequent negative price events that are loss-making for renewable energy generators.Overall, electricity prices in Europe are falling this spring from two-year highs in the winter of 2025 as natural gas prices fall and renewable power generation jumps. The end of the winter, the recovery of wind power generation, and the rise in solar output in the springtime have now more than halved Europe’s wholesale spot power prices compared to the highs seen early this year.Solar output in Europe is soaring and is set to boom in the summer. But the volatile gas market could begin pushing power prices up later this year with the coming of the next winter.

DOE’s wind, solar, hydrogen offices on chopping block, leaked doc says -The Energy Department is considering axing federal programs aimed at bolstering solar and wind technology and helping integrate renewables into the grid to comply with drastic cuts in President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2026 budget request, according to documents viewed by POLITICO’s E&E News.DOE is mulling zeroing out hundreds of millions of dollars for sub offices within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, including Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies, Renewable Energy Grid Integration, Solar Energy Technologies, and Wind Energy Technologies, according to the document.The document offers a window into what changes may be afoot as DOE moves to align its spending with Trump’s budget request, yet Congress will ultimately have to sign off. Bipartisan senators earlier this week grilled Trump’s nominees over the spending cuts and demanded to know how they would lead agencies facing such challenges.DOE did not immediately respond when asked about the document or plans to cut the programs, but two career officials within DOE — granted anonymity because they fear retribution — confirmed the document was authentic.

NOAA seeks to reassign employees to fill ‘critically understaffed’ weather service offices -- The Trump administration is seeking to reassign other employees to “critically understaffed” offices in the National Weather Service (NWS), according to an internal document. The move to reassign these other employees comes after the administration fired hundreds of people at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including some staff at the NWS. The service is now looking to staff 76 positions, including meteorologists in disaster-prone areas such as Houston and Miami, according to the document, which was reviewed by Science Committee Democratic staff.In particular, it’s looking for staffers from other parts of NOAA to fill the holes in the weather service. “This Reassignment Opportunity Notice will non-competitively fill vacancies in critically understaffed operational locations across the National Weather Service,” the document states. The scramble comes as hurricane season begins next month.

Thai officials seize over 200 tons of electronic waste illegally imported from the US | The Hill (AP) — Thai officials said Wednesday they seized 238 tons of illegally imported electronic waste from the United States at the port of Bangkok, one of the biggest lots they’ve found this year. The waste, which came in 10 large containers, was declared as mixed metal scrap but turned out to be circuit boards mixed in a huge pile of metal scrap, said Theeraj Athanavanich, director-general of the Customs Department. It was found Tuesday in a random inspection. A U.N. report last year said electronic waste is piling up worldwide. Some 62 million tons of electronic waste was generated in 2022 and that figure is on track to reach 82 million tons by 2030, the report said. It said only 22% of the waste was properly collected and recycled in 2022 and that quantity is expected to fall to 20% by the end of the decade due to higher consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles, and inadequate management infrastructure. Theeraj said Thai authorities are looking to press charges including falsely declaring imported goods, illegally importing electronic waste and planning to return the waste to its country of origin. “It’s important that we take action on this kind of goods,” he said. “There are environmental impacts that are dangerous to the people, especially communities around factories that might import these things for processing, then recycling.” Electronic waste creates huge health hazards. Many components are laden with lead and mercury, cadmium and other toxins. Recyclers are after gold, silver, palladium and copper, mainly from printed circuit boards, but lax controls mean that facilities often burn plastics to release encased copper and use unsafe methods to extract precious metals. Thailand passed a ban on the import of a range of electronic waste products in 2020. The Cabinet in February approved an expanded list of the banned waste.

‘Shock and awe’: Trump’s mining blitz ramps up public land fights - President Donald Trump is driving a 21st-century gold rush that’s supercharging conservation battles on public lands across the West.While individual conflicts grab day-to-day attention, it’s the rapidly growing cumulative total that’s astonishing even longtime environmental activists concerned about the effect of mining coal and critical minerals on federal land and wildlife.The effort is focused on spurring new projects and, with the help of Republicans on Capitol Hill, opening up areas that the Biden administration made off-limits to mining. The Trump administration is also swiftly advancing mines that were already in the pipeline, in many cases envisioned under former President Joe Biden as vital for a renewable energy future. Under Trump, the priority is no longer digging up minerals to feed construction of electric vehicle batteries and renewables, but instead to bolster supply chains for technology like artificial intelligence, as well as military applications.“What’s scary about this time around with the administration is that it’s so much more coordinated,” said Sam Zeno, a senior policy analyst for conservation policy at the liberal Center for American Progress, about the mining projects already moving forward.Marc Fink, an attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, added that Trump’s team seems to be making a strategic choice. “It’s kind of the shock-and-awe approach of this whole administration, to throw so much stuff out there that it’s hard for the public to know what to focus on,” Fink said. Trump officials contend the U.S. must get into mining to keep the nation secure and that the Biden administration stifled the industry, despite its own rhetoric about bolstering domestic supply chains. During a March interview with CNBC, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said that the nation can produce minerals “cleaner, smarter, safer, healthier” compared to competitors like China, which currently dominates mining and processing of valuable materials. China is also heavily invested in Africa and Indonesia, where some mines have been tied to human rights abuses and environmental degradation. “We’re not solving any global environmental problems, we’re just offshoring it and creating dependence on major power adversaries,” Burgum said. “We need to bring that mining and refining of critical minerals back to the U.S. for national security purposes.” The administration has already pushed forward a regulatory shakeup. In March, Trump inked an executive order that calls on federal officials to inventory mineral-rich federal lands where digging up critical minerals is to be prioritized. A month later, the Interior Department proposed cutting environmental reviews for certain projects down to a month or less, a process that some experts warn is rife with legal risks for both developers and regulators. Interior said Monday that it would complete within 14 days the environmental review to reopen a Utah uranium and vanadium mine.The Trump administration has also added 20 proposed hardrock and coal mines and exploratory bids to a FAST-41 transparency list, providing public data about the pace and contents of environmental reviews and permitting.In California, the Bureau of Land Management recently approved Australia-based Dateline Resources’ plan to continue mining — and explore for rare earth elements — inside the Mojave National Preserve, which conservation groups argue is a protected area that’s home to several endangered species such as the Mojave Desert tortoise.In Arizona, the Trump administration has vowed to advance the proposed Resolution Copper mine despite ongoing litigation. Some members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe have warned the project will decimate land they consider sacred and are asking the Supreme Court to block the mine.“They’re purporting to move forward with as many projects as they can, as quickly as they can,” said Aaron Mintzes, senior policy counsel for Earthworks. “It’s not clear to me how many will be successful.”

Dems gird for record-breaking Energy and Commerce markup - Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee could go to unprecedented lengths this week to protest Republicans’ efforts to cut energy, climate and health care programs in their party-line bill. When the committee gavels in at 2 p.m. Tuesday to mark up its portion of the GOP’s tax, energy and national security legislation, lawmakers will embark on what could be a record-setting debate over provisions targeting clean energy grants, environmental programs and especially Medicaid. Republicans will likely reject all of the Democrats’ proposed changes, but lawmakers and aides on both sides of the aisle say the minority is intent on trying to make the markup as painful as possible. Democrats could offer enough amendments to keep the markup going for more than 27 consecutive hours — the committee record set during 2017 debate over the Affordable Care Act.

Transportation secretary blasts states that want EV-charging money - Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Wednesday had harsh words for the states that sued him for withholding billions of dollars that Congress approved to build electric vehicle charging stations.Duffy criticized the attorneys general of 16 Democrat-led states and the District of Columbia for being too slow to spend the funds, which between all states totals $5 billion.“The Biden-Buttigieg Administration failed miserably to deliver EV chargers despite their promises,” Duffy said in a statement, referring to the former president and to Duffy’s predecessor as Transportation secretary, Pete Buttegieg, who is considering a run for president in 2028.The slow rollout of the charging initiative, known as the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, or NEVI, became a campaign issue last year as then-candidate Donald Trump characterized it as both inefficient and a waste of money.

Defenders of climate law tax credits outline their demands - -- Twelve House Republicans are urging congressional leaders to consider “three thoughtful changes” to legislation that would repeal or scale back a host of tax incentives from the Democrats’ 2022 climate law. The House Ways and Means Committee approved a bill Wednesday morning — after a full night of debate — that would scrap consumer credits for electric vehicle purchases and hydrogen fuel development, among other provisions. The rollbacks would help pay for an extension of the 2017 tax cuts and some of President Donald Trump’s other campaign promises. Now, companies and moderate Republicans — who have been lobbying for months to save at least some Inflation Reduction Act benefits — are urging changes before the measure gets closer to becoming law. GOP leaders want a broad tax, energy and security package ready for Trump’s signature by July.

GOP bill makes heavy cuts to green energy credits in its fine print -- Congressional Republicans’ phase-out of the tax credits for climate friendly energy sources are expected to decimate the incentives and raise U.S. emissions. While the GOP’s “big, beautiful bill,” which faces an uncertain future and a key committee vote Friday, proposes to phase out the credits over several years, analysts say the legislation’s fine print effectively cuts them entirely. “What’s in the text now is about as bad as it could be and is likely to cause a lot of project cancellations, and that has knock-on effects on the economy, on people’s energy bills and so on,” said Robbie Orvis, senior director of modeling and analysis at climate policy think tank Energy Innovation. “It’s pretty rough in terms of the outlook for clean energy,” Orvis added. One of the most significant provisions in Democrats’ 2022 Inflation Reduction Act was “technology neutral” tax credits that provide significant subsidies to any energy source that can get its planet-warming emissions below a certain threshold. The Republican bill winds down those credits, along with a separate one that specifically benefits nuclear energy, over the next six years or so. But it also adds new restrictions on who can claim those credits. The most significant of those is language that says that projects that start construction more than one year after the bill’s passage cannot qualify for the credit if they have any components, subcomponents or minerals that are built, mined or processed in China. China is a major hub for minerals processing, and it may be difficult for companies to find ones that are not refined there, especially on such a tight timeline. Derrick Flakoll, senior policy associate at BNEF, said that in effect, these requirements are similar to “a full cutoff for projects from mid-2026” because of “the ubiquity of Chinese critical minerals, Chinese intellectual property, Chinese batteries, polysilicon for solar [and] permanent magnets for offshore wind.” Constantino Nicolaou, CEO of manufacturing and installation company PanelClaw, told reporters during a solar industry press briefing that these requirements are “unworkable.” “It is so complicated for a manufacturer, it is so complicated for a developer, it’s so complicated for a financier,” Nicolaou said, particularly pointing to the subcomponent and mineral restrictions. The solar industry is lobbying heavily for changes to be made to this provision and others. Representatives from the Solar Energy Industries Association and its member companies have met with 40 congressional offices this week. Meanwhile, the GOP bill also kills something called “transferability” that makes it easier for projects to get financing. Supporters of the credits also say the timeline is particularly short because in the legislation the credit can only be claimed based on when projects actually start producing energy rather than when their construction begins. Initial analyses of the credits are coming to similar conclusions. Modeler Rhodium Group found the changes to the tax code under the GOP plan are “likely to be similar to the impact of a full repeal of the energy tax credits.” “There’s been a couple years of investments already made, stuff that’s already come onto the grid, electric vehicles that have already been bought. This doesn’t step away from those, but it does mean that going forward, you wouldn’t see the benefits of those tax credits,” said Ben King, associate director of Rhodium Group’s Energy & Climate practice. The group’s analysis found that such changes could raise household energy bills by up to 7 percent in 2035 and could also drastically raise U.S. planet-warming emissions. The group’s baseline scenario puts U.S. emissions between 31 percent and 50 percent lower in 2035 than where they were in 2005, while the policies proposed in the bill would bring emissions down by only between 23 percent and 39 percent. King said that in practice, the change in emissions that year is about equivalent to the current emissions of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania combined. Overall, Chris Seiple, vice chair of Wood Mackenzie’s Power & Renewables group, described the bill as “a sledgehammer disguised as a scalpel,” in an email to The Hill.

Trump family’s bitcoin investment gains an energy foothold - A bitcoin mining company backed by President Donald Trump’s sons announced plans to go public Monday through a merger that gives the family a foothold in the U.S. and Canadian energy business.American Bitcoin, the mining firm backed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., said Monday that it would go public on the Nasdaq through a merger with public company Gryphon Digital Mining. The combined company will operate as American Bitcoin, which lists Eric Trump as a co-founder and chief strategy officer.The merger marks a more aggressive move by the Trump family into the electricity infrastructure that enables its digital currency business. American Bitcoin started out as a subsidiary of the Miami-based energy infrastructure company Hut 8, which has a portfolio of 15 sites in the United States and Canada totaling more than 1,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Hut 8 will act as American Bitcoin’s exclusive infrastructure and operations partner, according to the companies’ announcement, and American Bitcoin previously said it would co-locate miners at Hut 8 sites.A presentation by American Bitcoin says that the new venture aims to “become a category leader in the Bitcoin ecosystem” and to achieve “mining leadership” through “Hut 8’s energy advantage, rapid execution and proven team.” The company, the presentation says, can also leverage and expand “access to low-cost power, establishing a fundamental operational advantage” to its mining business.Upon returning to Washington, Trump wasted no time standing behind tech executives pledging hundreds of billions of dollars to build data centers big enough to command the lead over China in developing artificial intelligence. And Trump has said he wants the U.S. to be the crypto capital of the world, including by opening up energy resources to boost digital mining. “If crypto is going to define the future, I want it to be mined, minted and made in the USA,” Trump said at an industry conference last July while running for his second term. The White House has framed Trump’s “energy abundance” agenda as an economic necessity for America’s powerful tech companies — largely to power an AI boom, but also for energy-hungry crypto mining and high-tech manufacturing. The White House has rolled out executive orders designed to speed permitting and bypass environmental rules to get data centers and power plants built more quickly. And the Energy Department plans to help private companies build data centers on federal land, including at national labs. Through American Bitcoin — a Hut 8 subsidiary that was briefly called American Data Center — the Trump family business venture is delving deeper into the energy space where federal policies under Trump intersect directly with access to electricity and fuels. And that comes as the energy industry is in some turmoil. On-again, off-again tariffs and the global economic implications are contributing to a slump in oil prices and pushing up costs for energy technology. Trump has put natural gas build-outs and reviving old coal plants at the center of his energy policy, while attacks on wind and solar power are pushing more of that investment to the sideline. In an April call launching American Bitcoin, Eric Trump said the winner of the bitcoin race will be “whoever can do it best and most efficiently and most pragmatically, in the cheapest energy environments.”The “mining” of digital currency requires massive amounts of computing power. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated last year that digital currency mining accounted for as much as 2.3 percent of the nation’s electricity use based on publicly available data. Plans to survey crypto companies about their energy consumption and sources of energy were halted after an industry lawsuit last year and have not been revived under the Trump administration. American Bitcoin did not detail what sources of energy it planned to use or where it would build new mining sites. The company also did not reply to a request for comment.

Toxic chlorine gas leak near Barcelona forces 160 000 residents into confinement -Over 160 000 residents were placed under confinement after a fire broke out at a chemical factory in Vilanova i la Geltrú, northeastern Spain, releasing a large plume of toxic chlorine gas on Saturday morning, May 10, 2025. The blaze broke out at a facility producing swimming pool cleaning products at around 02:20 local time (LT) on Saturday in Vilanova i la Geltru, located 48 km (30 miles) south of Barcelona, releasing a massive plume of toxic chlorine gas over the region. More than 160 000 people in five nearby towns were instructed to remain indoors due to the toxic emissions. “If you are in the zone that is affected, do not leave your home or your place of work,” the Civil Protection service announced. The Civil Protection Service reported receiving thousands of calls from concerned residents seeking updates and assistance following the fire. While no casualties were reported, several residents experienced respiratory irritation due to inhalation of toxic fumes, with some receiving medical treatment. Authorities closed roads and train stations near the affected area to prevent public access. A 500 m (1 700 feet) exclusion zone was established around the facility due to safety concerns. “It is very difficult for chlorine to catch fire, but when it does so it is very hard to put it out,” the owner of the industrial property, Jorge Vinuales Alonso, told local radio station Rac1. Although the cause of the blaze remains unclear, Alonso believes that it might have been caused by a lithium battery. The fire was brought under control, and the confinement order was lifted later in the day. Catalonia’s Interior Minister, Núria Parlón, made the announcement at a press conference at 12:15 LT on Saturday. Cleanup operations are ongoing as local authorities work to safely dispose of burnt materials and prevent the spread of toxic residues.

Gas leak leads to evacuation, power shut off — A gas leak in Tiffin led to the evacuation of residents and a temporary electricity shut-off early Thursday morning. The incident occurred around 9:50 a.m. on Walker Street when the city’s street department inadvertently struck a 3 to 5-inch gas pipe, causing a significant leak, according to a police report. Emergency crews responded swiftly, evacuating approximately 26 homes as Columbia Gas worked to contain the situation. By 10:59 a.m., Columbia Gas estimated the repair would take at least four hours. As a safety precaution, the company requested that AEP, the city's electricity provider, shut down a major transmission line. According to AEP, the shut-off affected 846 customers and restoration was expected by 4:45 p.m. At around 4:15 p.m., officials confirmed the leak had been contained, allowing evacuated residents to safely return home. Columbia Gas is still on-site to complete repairs, while AEP continues working to restore power to affected customers. In an advisory to residents, the Tiffin Fire/Rescue Division cautioned those in the impacted area to stay vigilant. "If you smell gas in your residence upon returning and have concerns, you can ask the crew on scene to inspect your home or contact Columbia Gas directly at 800-344-4077," the department stated. Ann Street between Main and Walker streets remains closed until repairs are completed.

Ohio Delays Decision to Frack Under Egypt Valley Wildlife Area -- Marcellus Drilling News - Earlier this year, an undisclosed shale driller asked the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission (OGLMC) to consider opening up an additional 4,360 acres of state-owned Egypt Valley Wildlife Area in Belmont County for shale drilling under the land (see New Request to Frack Under Another 4,743 Acres of OH Wildlife Areas). At a meeting on Monday, May 5, the OGLMC decided to delay a decision on the proposal until a future meeting. However, the May 5 meeting was not without controversy. A Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter tried to confront commission members to ask questions and was turned back by a police officer. The reporter said the officer “grabbed her arm.” A video of the event shows no such thing happening.

ODNR Says Fracking in Noble County, OH Caused Series of Earthquakes -Marcellus Drilling News -- A series of earthquakes (low level, sometimes felt, most of the time not felt) have hit Guernsey and Noble counties in eastern Ohio. According to the latest news we can find, some five quakes have hit since April 22, and another couple of quakes hit earlier in the year, in January/February. There is an existing fault line in the area, near Cambridge, known as the Burning Springs-Cambridge fault zone, formed more than 4.6 million years ago. So, earthquakes in the region are not unknown. The question is, why this most recent flurry? The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) claims it’s tied to oil and gas activity in the area.

Fracking Halted at Encino Pad in Ohio Linked to Earthquakes - Yesterday, MDN brought you the news that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is laying the blame for a series of low-level earthquakes in southeastern Ohio on fracking at a shale well in Noble County (see ODNR Says Fracking in Noble County, OH Caused Series of Earthquakes). We were/are somewhat incredulous. Most of the time, low-level quakes are tied to injection wells near active faults, not to wells being fracked. However, a new news report says ODNR has halted fracking at the suspect well while it investigates.

ODNR links earthquakes to fracking operations in Noble County - Farm and Dairy— A well pad in Noble County is standing on shaky ground after several consecutive earthquakes occurred, prompting the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to halt hydraulic fracturing operations at the pad. ODNR linked the seismic events to oil and gas operations conducted by Energy Acquisition Partners, operating as Encino Energy. The earthquakes took place on several days throughout the first week of May.According to the Ohio Seismic Network, which monitors earthquake activity, the first seismic event was detected on April 29 at roughly 10 p.m. about 2 miles southeast of Pleasant City. It was a 2.8 magnitude earthquake and was reported by 33 people. The second one occurred on May 2 at 6:43 a.m., detected about 2 miles southeast of Pleasant City. It was a 2.4 magnitude earthquake and twelve individuals reported the incident. On May 6, a 2.3 magnitude earthquake was detected roughly 2 miles southeast of Pleasant City at 4 p.m. One individual reported the incident. The latest incident took place on May 8 at 11:13 p.m., roughly 2.5 miles southeast of Pleasant City. The network had 33 individuals report the earthquake. A few media outlets reported that the earthquakes took place at Bears Pad in Noble County.According to Karina Cheung, spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the agency responsible for overseeing fracking operations, “Some of these earthquakes which occurred in Noble County, slightly surpassed magnitudes strong enough to feel.” This prompted the agency to halt operations at the well pad until further notice. This isn’t the first time that earthquakes have been linked to fracking operations in Ohio, though. Between 2011-2012, 12 earthquakes occurred at the Northstar 1 Class II injection well in Youngstown, Ohio, the first starting only two weeks after companies started pumping fracking waste fluid into the ground. The final earthquake had a magnitude of almost 4.0; ODNR subsequently shut down operations. Shortly after, the agency created its seismic section that monitors seismic activity in real-time across Ohio to determine whether seismic events are related to oil and gas operations. The first earthquake to be linked to hydraulic fracturing in Ohio — and the second in the country — occurred in 2013 in Harrison County. The quakes were 2.0 magnitude or smaller, and took place at a depth of about 10,000 feet, nearly 2,000 feet below the Utica shale that was being fracked. In 2014, a 3.0 magnitude earthquake was felt in Poland Township, Ohio as a result of hydraulic fracturing operations. Following the incident, University of Miami scientists studied the seismic activity in Poland Township and found that 77 earthquakes occurred, but only a couple were actually felt. Most recently, in 2018, University of Miami scientists published a study that found a link between hydraulic fracturing and earthquakes by measuring earthquake patterns in eastern Ohio. The researchers found that while fracking activity occurs in shallow layers of Marcellus and Utica shale, operations can cause earthquakes in deeper, mature faults.“The earthquakes we have been studying show patterns that indicate the operations are re-activating old faults instead of creating new ones,” said Miami geology professor Michael Brudzinski, co-author of the study. “In most cases, the faults we are seeing re-activated have the same type of orientation that is aligned with the overall stress field in the Earth’s crust. We say these faults are ‘optimally oriented,’ and they should have the largest stresses placed on them naturally. This means they would be stressed to a critical point such that only small changes in conditions (like that from fluid injection) would cause them to move.”

Ohio Utica's Gulfport Energy Signals Potential M&A This Year - Large Utica shale operator Gulfport Energy alerted investors that M&A could be one use of its free cash flow this year. The comment comes while Gulfport neighbors Ascent Resources and Encino Energy are reportedly in play. Both are privately held. Advisory firm Energy Advisors Group wrote recently, “With [the] higher gas price, 2025 [will be] likely more active as PE-backed firms like Ascent [Resources] and Encino [Energy are] considering exit or IPO."Another of the Utica’s Top 5 producers, Infinity Natural Resources, IPO’ed earlier this year. Ascent Resources is an Oklahoma City neighbor of Gulfport’s. Encino Energy is based in Houston.John Reinhart, Gulfport president and CEO, said on a May 7 call, “We continue to assess the landscape and remain optimistic about the opportunities to meaningfully increase our leasehold footprint to enhance resource depth and believe these opportunities rank very high as we evaluate uses of free cash flow in 2025.”He made the comment during his prepared remarks.A securities analyst noted in the subsequent Q&A, “Typically, CEOs don't state that by accident in their comments.”As the oil market is in turmoil—since WTI has fallen to $58 at press time—“A&D is probably stuck in the mud,” the analyst, Tim Rezvan with KeyBanc Capital Markets, said.“What gives you optimism that you may have an opportunity in front of you?”Reinhart said Gulfport’s deal team is looking “through the landscape in Ohio” for property and “currently assessing” what would be a fit.Historically, Gulfport develops its land acquisitions within two years, he said.“As we look at the landscape, we favor right now the dry-gas and the wet-gas areas” of the Utica, where Gulfport holds 193,000 net acres, including in the oil window.But “I would also not rule out any kind of investment pickups in the condensate window,” he said. Gulfport Energy holds 193,000 net acres in the Utica’s oily, wet-gas and dry-gas windows in Ohio among other operators, including EOG Resources and privately held Ascent Resources and Encino Energy. (Map Source: Energy Advisors Group)

Gulfport Energy Signals It Wants to Buy Another Ohio Driller - Marcellus Drilling News -- Wow, what a difference four years can make! In May 2021, Gulfport Energy, the third-largest driller in the Ohio Utica Shale (by the number of wells drilled), emerged from bankruptcy with a new board and new management (see Gulfport Energy Emerges from Bankruptcy w/New Board, CEO/CFO Gone). Later in 2021, the rumors began to swirl that Gulfport was looking to sell itself (see Big News: OH Utica Driller Gulfport Energy Looking to Sell Itself). In the spring of 2022, the rumors centered on a combo with (sale to) fellow Ohio driller Ascent Resources (see Rumor: Gulfport Energy in Talks to Merge with Ascent Resources). None of the rumors came true. In last week’s first quarter update, Gulfport CEO John Reinhart indicated his company is now looking to DO the buying, rather than be bought.

Infinity's Balancing Act in Appalachia: Ohio Oil or Marcellus Gas —The Utica Shale in Appalachia might not be the flashiest play in the U.S., but its consistency has its rewards, said Zack Arnold, CEO and president of Infinity Natural Resources. “You may have oil in West Texas. They may have gas in the northeast part of Pennsylvania. But for us to have true oil returns and true gas returns separated by about a two-hour truck drive gives us a lot of flexibility,” said Arnold, who spoke at Hart Energy’s SUPER DUG Conference & Expo on May 15. The close location of the Utica and Marcellus allows Infinity to adjust depending on how the market reacts. It’s an adjustment that has become useful over the past two years. Natural gas prices struggled under $2/MMBtu at the Henry Hub for much of 2024. This year, oil prices have shown volatility with ongoing trade disputes and OPEC’s announcement that it was increasing production. “That flexibility and that balance has really allowed us to grow our company year-over-year. Even if gas prices languished last year and oil prices are weak this year, it gives us a lot of growth opportunity to continue to develop,” Arnold said. In first-quarter 2025, the company reported total net daily production of 26,500 boe/d, with about 31% oil and 55% in liquids. So far this year, complications from ongoing political battles have not been an overbearing problem for Infinity, and in some cases inadvertently helped the company’s bottom line. Infinity bought its steel for the year before the tariffs kicked in, Arnold said, so the company is insulated on an expense that accounts for less than 5% of its annual budget. At the same time, one of the biggest costs for any company is fuel, and the price has gone down slightly through the year with the price of oil. “A lot of times in a lower oil price environment like we're seeing today, the savings we see just in buying diesel fuel will offset whatever we're going to see as an increase because of the tariffs,” he said.

Shell to Produce Polyethylene from Recycled Plastic Feedstock at Pennsylvania Facility -- Shell Polymers plans to use pyrolysis oil derived from recycled plastics to manufacture polyethylene resin at its complex in Monaca, Pennsylvania. The recycled feedstock will be supplied by Freepoint EcoSystems, which operates an advanced recycling facility in Hebron, Ohio. In a statement, Shell described the agreement with Freepoint as a “landmark feedstock agreement.” Laura Chamorro, Shell’s commercial general manager, said the deal enhances the company’s ability to deliver advanced recycling and mass-balanced products certified by ISCC Plus. “We are committed to helping our customers access certified, flexible solutions that support their sustainability goals,” Chamorro said. The partnership also bolsters Shell’s offerings in mass-balanced products, which company officials see as key to expanding sustainable options in the U.S. plastics market. Freepoint’s Hebron plant is expected to be fully operational later this year. Once online, the facility is projected to recycle approximately 200 million pounds of plastic annually, producing up to 130 million pounds of pyrolysis oil for use as feedstock. In April, Freepoint delivered its first shipment of pyrolysis oil to a Shell refining site in Norco, Louisiana. Shell’s Monaca plant, located near Pittsburgh, began operations in 2022 and was the first major U.S. resin production facility built outside of Texas or Louisiana in more than four decades. The complex has an annual production capacity of about 3.5 billion pounds of polyethylene. Positioned near the Marcellus and Utica shale fields, the facility typically uses natural gas liquids from those formations as feedstock. Officials noted that the Monaca site is strategically located within range of over 70% of the North American polyethylene processing market, giving it a competitive advantage for distribution and logistics. Freepoint is also expanding internationally. In May 2024, the company announced plans to construct its first pyrolysis facility outside the United States. The new plant, to be located in the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal region of Belgium, is expected to recycle roughly 180 million pounds of plastic annually. Shell and Freepoint say their partnership marks a significant step toward advancing the circular economy for plastics, providing a scalable solution to reduce plastic waste and increase the use of recycled materials in manufacturing. The use of pyrolysis oil in resin production aligns with Shell’s broader sustainability goals and industry efforts to incorporate more recycled content into plastic products, particularly in response to growing demand for environmentally responsible packaging and materials.

Jet fuel leak in Pennsylvania contaminates drinking water and prompts investigations - (video) A jet fuel leak from Sunoco Pipeline’s Twin Oaks Pipeline in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, confirmed on January 31, 2025, has contaminated at least 38 private wells, prompting lawsuits and investigations. The leak, undetected for months, was first reported by residents in 2023. u Sunoco Pipeline L.P. confirmed a jet fuel leak in its Twin Oaks Pipeline in Upper Makefield Township’s Mt. Eyre Manor neighborhood, Bucks County, on January 31. Residents had reported unusual tastes and odors in their well water since 2023. The pipeline transports jet fuel from a terminal near Philadelphia to the Newark Terminal in New Jersey. Federal authorities suggested the leak may have persisted for up to 16 months before detection. Kristine Wojnovich, a resident of Washington Crossing, first contacted Sunoco in 2023 after detecting an oily odor and taste in her water. Initial testing by the company found no fuel and attributed the issue to potential bacterial contamination. However, her well was later found to contain approximately 15 gallons of jet fuel, believed to have accumulated since September 2023. She is now suing Sunoco and plans to relocate. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) confirmed contamination in at least 38 private wells. Energy Transfer, Sunoco’s parent company, initially reported seven affected wells on January 31. Residents in the area rely on private wells for drinking and cooking water. Sunoco contractors continue daily skimming operations to remove fuel from the contaminated wells. YouTube video Sunoco excavated and repaired the affected pipeline section on February 2, allowing operations to resume shortly afterward. By May 1, Energy Transfer had distributed bottled water and installed 112 water filtration systems in affected homes at no cost. The company stated it remains committed to cleanup and long-term restoration efforts in the neighborhood. The Pennsylvania DEP issued a Notice of Violation to Sunoco on February 18, followed by an enforcement order on March 6 requiring the company to provide clean water and implement a remediation plan. On May 2, the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a Consent Order mandating pressure reductions and additional testing. These measures are intended to address ongoing safety risks. The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office has launched a criminal investigation into the incident. This follows PHMSA data showing that Sunoco Pipeline reported more fuel spills in 2024 than any other U.S. pipeline operator. The investigation is focused on potential environmental violations related to the leak.

NRG Buys 18 Gas-Fired Power Plants, Including 5 in PA, for $12B -Marcellus Drilling News -- A map showing the location of the power plants being purchased by NRG (click for larger version) NRG Energy agreed to acquire LS Power’s portfolio of natural-gas power plants in a deal valued at roughly $12 billion, including debt, that will expand NRG’s footprint in Texas and along the East Coast. NRG said the acquisition would give it 18 more natural-gas-fired facilities in nine states—including five in Pennsylvania and one in Ohio—doubling its generation capacity to about 25 gigawatts (GW). The PA acquisition includes the Springdale natural gas power station in Allegheny County, the Armstrong plant in Indiana County, the Gans plant in Fayette County, the Chambersburg plant in Franklin County, and the Ironwood plant in Lebanon County

PJM Approves 6 New Gas-Fired Power Plants, 32 Gas-Fired Expansions -Marcellus Drilling News - In December, MDN told you that the country’s largest electric grid, PJM Interconnection, which covers all or parts of 13 states, including PA, OH, and WV, proposed changes to how it decides which new power plants can connect to the system first. The new policy *favors* adding natural gas-fired power over other types of power like unreliable solar and wind (see New PJM Policy Favors Gas-Fired Power Over Solar & Wind). The change comes in response to the rapidly increasing demand for more electricity from data centers and artificial intelligence computing. PJM’s gas-favoring policy change rankled the environmental left. According to green grifters, the PJM proposal unfairly allows gas-fired projects to “jump the queue” ahead of unreliable renewables. Good news: On May 2, PJM announced it had selected 51 projects (out of 94) for fast-track approval

22 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Apr 27 - May 4 - Marcellus Drilling News -- For the week of April 28 - May 4, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica was down two from the previous week. Last week, 22 new permits were issued in the M-U. In the Keystone State (PA), 10 new permits were issued. The top permittee was NFG's Seneca Resources, which had four permits in Tioga County. PennEnergy Resource received two permits in Butler County. Expand Energy (SWN) received two permits in Lycoming County. Finally, both Coterra Energy and EQT (Rice Drilling) received a single permit, in Susquehanna and Washington counties, respectively. ASCENT RESOURCES | BELMONT COUNTY | BUTLER COUNTY | CARROLL COUNTY | COTERRA ENERGY (CABOT O&G) | ENCINO ENERGY | EQT CORP |EXPAND ENERGY | HARRISON COUNTY | JEFFERSON COUNTY (OH) | LYCOMING COUNTY | PENNENERGY RESOURCES | SENECA RESOURCES |SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY | SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY | TIOGA COUNTY (PA) | WASHINGTON COUNTY

Infinity Natural Resources Adds Second Rig to Drill in PA Marcellus - Marcellus Drilling News -- Infinity Natural Resources (INR), headquartered in Morgantown, WV, focuses 100% on the Marcellus/Utica. The company went public earlier this year with a $265 million ($20/share) initial public offering, giving INR a $1.18 billion market capitalization (see INR IPO Does Better than Expected, Stock Trading Pops 10% Higher). INR issued its second public quarterly update yesterday. Among the bits of news is that INR recently contracted a second drilling rig to drill four natural gas wells in the Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale, which are expected to be turned online to sales this summer.

New WV Law Makes it Easier, Cheaper to Plug Orphaned Wells - Marcellus Drilling News - West Virginia has more than 21,000 abandoned and orphaned oil and gas wells. Plugging them to prevent environmental problems is a thorny issue, as it is in other states like Pennsylvania and Ohio (and Texas, and Oklahoma, etc.). Regulatory hurdles make it expensive. A WV bill not previously on our radar made its way through the legislature and was signed yesterday by Governor Patrick Morrisey: House Bill (HB) 3336. The bill (now law) makes it cheaper and faster to plug abandoned and orphaned oil and gas wells in the Mountain State.

Data center growth has sparked a natural gas 'gold rush' - Nuclear generation may be a long-term solution for the data center energy crunch, but in the short term renewables and natural gas are poised to be king. For those playing in this space, that means the race is on to lock down hyperscaler contracts and stake a claim in the energy land grab. “As far as data centers, we call it kind of the gold rush,” Energy Transfer’s Co-CEO Mackie McCrea said during the company’s earnings call this week. According to a recent report from the International Energy Agency, data centers are expected to drive 10% of global electricity demand growth through 2030, but 20% in advanced economies. To help meet this rising tide, natural gas generation is expected to grow by anywhere from 175TWh to 290TWh, with production mostly concentrated in the U.S. Judging from their earnings calls, domestic companies are already getting into the growth mindset. Take Energy Transfer, for example. The energy provider has assets in 44 U.S. states. Its natural gas pipelines are clustered in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas but stretch from Arizona in the West to Michigan, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania in the East.McCrea said on its earnings call the company has identified approximately 150 data center opportunities in Texas alone and expects to make some deal announcements in the next four to six weeks. He also called out demand in “a couple” other unnamed states where it expects to strike deals in the coming months and highlighted “Arizona as a very significant growth area for data centers, really a growth area for natural gas demand.”But it’s not taking the opportunity in front of it for granted. Co-CEO Tom Long noted competition for the wave of data center-related projects has been fierce. Then there’s Williams and Company, which has natural gas lines running through Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Washington in the West and from Texas to New York in the central and eastern U.S.Even with supply chain constraints, incoming CEO Chad Zamarin said on the company’s earnings call that it is “certainly reasonable” the company will be able to bring around a gigawatt worth of power online for data center use by the end of 2027.“The Salt Lake area and the Idaho area are getting pretty hot in terms of power demands for data centers in those markets, and we absolutely are going to be a part of providing those solutions,” Zamarin said. EQT, which draws its natural gas from the Marcellus Shale basin in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, similarly said it is focused on data center deals. It is particularly looking at in-basin opportunities following the cancellation of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project, which would have allowed it to transport natural gas down to Virginia and North Carolina."Without that pipeline, people that want that power are going to move back closer into our basin," EQT Toby Rice said. "So, I mean that's the high-level theme that's taking place....We've got a lot of shots on goal. So we've got a lot of conversations that are taking place right now."Indeed, Fierce has previously pinpointed Ohio as one of several secondary data center hubs that are emerging as primary hubs running low on space and power for new builds. Western Pennsylvania, specifically the area around Pittsburgh, is also an increasingly popular focal point for new construction.

FERC Extends Lake Charles LNG In-Service Date as Energy Transfer Pursues FID -- FERC has granted a three-year extension for the proposed Lake Charles LNG export project, a key step for developer Energy Transfer LP (ET) to reach a final investment decision (FID) later this year. Last month, ET’s terminal development unit asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for more time to place its 16.45 million ton/year (Mt/y) capacity project into commercial service. Along with inflationary pressures and ongoing negotiations with contractors, representatives for the company told FERC regulatory uncertainty during the Biden administration further delayed the project. “The applicants assert that the FID requires that all Commission authorization remain in full force and effect during construction of the projects; thus, it requests a three-year extension, until December 31, 2031, to complete the projects and place them into service,” FERC staff wrote.

Venture Global Exports Record LNG Volume as All Trains at Plaquemines Phase One Nearly Online --Venture Global LNG Inc. CEO Mike Sabel said Tuesday the company expects to have the first phase of its Plaquemines export project in Louisiana completely online and being commissioned by the end of May as U.S. liquefaction capacity continues to grow rapidly. Plaquemines made its first LNG late last year and currently has 22 of its smaller, modular liquefaction trains producing the super-chilled fuel. Sabel said during a call to discuss financial results that the first phase’s 24 trains would be up and running by the end of the month. The second phase would include another 12 trains that are expected to be brought online by the end of this year, when the facility is forecast to reach peak capacity.

Woodside Looks to Push Louisiana LNG Commercial Service to Late 2029 Woodside Energy Group is seeking an extension from federal regulators to place its Louisiana LNG project into commercial service, potentially shifting another wave of U.S. feed gas demand to the end of the decade. Natural Gas Intelligence's (NGI) spot Texas Eastern W. LA daily natural gas price graph showing historical market volatility. Developers of the project sited in Calcasieu Parish, LA, requested an eight-month extension from FERC to complete the 16.5 million ton/year (Mt/y) first phase of Louisiana LNG by Dec. 31, 2029. Woodside sanctioned the estimated $17.5 billion first phase at the end of April after acquiring the terminal and related pipeline project last year. However, representatives for the company told Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff that its contractor advised more time would be needed to complete the project as it completes offtake and equity agreements.

Rising LNG Feed Gas Demand, Oil Market Oversupply Push Up 2026 Natural Gas Prices — The Offtake --A look at the global natural gas and LNG markets by the numbers

• $5/MMBtu: An oversupply of crude oil later this year and falling West Texas Intermediate crude oil (WTI) prices are expected to put pressure on associated gas production and increase natural gas prices in 2026, according to Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. The firm raised its forecast average gas price next year by $1 to $5/MMBtu, citing “meaningful oversupply” of crude oil markets in the second half of this year that could push WTI below $55/bbl. Meanwhile, commissioning of Gulf Coast LNG terminals is expected to continue tightening U.S. gas supplies through the decade.
• 11.8 Bcf/d: While producers have disclosed plans to cut costs and lower rig counts in the Permian Basin, stronger natural gas prices could sustain a buildup in the Marcellus Shale, according to East Daley analytics. As average Henry Hub prices rise and hold above $3, analysts with East Daley wrote the rig count in northeastern Pennsylvania has doubled from five at the beginning of the year to 10 at the end of April. The firm reported the sample production rate from the region at 11.8 Bcf/d with 10 rigs operating.
• 4.6 Mt/y: NextDecade Corp. disclosed its plans to reach a final investment decision on a fourth train at Rio Grande LNG later this year after successfully marketing a significant portion of its capacity. In a 10-Q filing earlier in the month, NextDecade representatives wrote the project has “sufficient commercial support” after securing 4.6 million tons/year (Mt/y) of Train 4’s 5.4 Mt/y capacity under long-term offtake deals. NextDecade plans to launch the funding process with lenders and investors during the summer after receiving a price refresh from Bechtel Corp.
• 100 MMcf/d: Eni SpA has achieved first gas at the Merakes East field off the coast of Indonesia, boosting its possible LNG production in East Asia. The Merakes East development, 80% owned by Eni, is expected to contribute 100 MMcf/d of gas production that will be transported via subsea connection to the Jangkrik Floating Production Unit. The development is a part of Eni’s long-term partnership with Indonesia and other producers to extend the life of the Bontang LNG export terminal.

China Unlikely to Resume U.S. LNG Purchases Despite Tariff Reprieve – Three Things to Know About the LNG Market - NO. 1: Venture Global LNG Inc. is urging FERC to reauthorize its CP2 export project so it can better work toward a final investment decision (FID). Image showing a comprehensive market analysis of the European Union’s gas storage levels with graphs representing trends in inventories, highlighting key insights into energy market dynamics and gas data projections for the near future. In a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel said the company needs the “Commission to act” and reauthorize construction of the project by June 26. FERC approved the 20 million tons/year CP2 project last June. However, it rescinded the order in November to more closely study the facility’s impact on air quality. That study was completed last week.

US natgas prices drop 4% on rising output, lower flows to LNG export plants — U.S. natural gas futures fell about 4% on Monday on a rise in output in recent days coupled with a decline in gas flows to liquefied natural gas export plants. The price drop came despite forecasts for more demand this week than previously expected. Gas futures for June delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 14.9 cents, or 3.9%, to settle at $3.646 per million British thermal units. On Friday, the contract closed at its highest since April 9. But, with futures up about 29% over the prior two weeks, speculators last week boosted their net long futures and options positions on the New York Mercantile and Intercontinental exchanges for the first time in nine weeks, according to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Commitments of Traders report. Analysts said mostly mild weather should keep heating and cooling demand low in coming week, allowing utilities to continue injecting more gas into storage than normal for this time of year. Gas stockpiles were already about 3% above the five-year (2020-2024) normal. Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states fell to 103.7 billion cubic feet per day so far in May, down from a monthly record of 105.8 bcfd in April. On a daily basis, gas output was on track to slip to a preliminary 103.4 bcfd on May 12, down from a one-week high of 104.4 bcfd on May 10 and up from a 10-week low of 102.7 bcfd on May 6. That compares with a daily record high of 107.4 bcfd on April 18. Looking ahead, analysts said the roughly 11% drop in U.S. crude futures so far in 2025 should prompt drillers to cut back on oil production. Any decline in oil production would ultimately reduce the amount of gas pulled out of the ground that is associated with that oil output. About 37% of U.S. gas production comes from associated gas, according to federal energy data. Over time, analysts said any reduction in associated gas output should increase gas prices. Meteorologists projected temperatures in the Lower 48 states would remain mostly warmer than normal through May 27. With warmer weather starting to boost air conditioning use, LSEG forecast average gas demand in the Lower 48, including exports, will rise from 97.0 bcfd this week to 98.2 bcfd next week. The forecast for this week was higher than LSEG's outlook on Friday. The average amount of gas flowing to the eight big LNG export plants operating in the U.S. fell to 15.1 bcfd so far in May, down from a monthly record of 16.0 bcfd in April. The LNG feedgas decline so far this month was mostly due to reductions for maintenance at Cameron LNG's 2.0-bcfd plant in Louisiana and Cheniere Energy's LNG 3.9-bcfd Corpus Christi plant under construction and in operation in Texas, and a one-day outage at Freeport LNG's 2.1-bcfd plant in Texas on May 6.

US natgas prices fall 4% to one-week low on forecast for less demand — U.S. natural gas futures fell about 4% to a one-week low on Wednesday on a smaller-than-expected output decline this week and forecasts for lower-than-expected demand next week, due in part to a reduction in gas flows to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants during the spring maintenance season. Gas futures for June delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 15.5 cents, or 4.3%, to settle at $3.492 per million British thermal units, their lowest close since May 6. Despite a heat wave coming to Texas this week, analysts said heating and cooling demand should remain low across much of the rest of the country in coming weeks, allowing utilities to keep injecting more gas into storage than normal for this time of year. Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states fell to 103.7 billion cubic feet per day so far in May, down from a monthly record of 105.8 bcfd in April. On a daily basis, gas output was on track to drop from a record 107.4 bcfd on April 18 to a preliminary 11-week low of 102.4 bcfd on Wednesday. That decline, however, was less than projected on Tuesday. Analysts have noted that preliminary data is often revised later in the day. Meteorologists projected temperatures in the Lower 48 states would remain mostly warmer than normal through May 29. After hitting 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2 Celsius) on Tuesday, AccuWeather meteorologists forecast temperatures in Houston, the biggest city in Texas, would reach 95 F on Wednesday, breaking the May 14 record high of 91 F set in 1961, and would keep hitting the 90s F every day from May 13-26. The normal high in the city at this time of year is 86 F. As homes and businesses crank up their air conditioners in Texas, LSEG forecast average gas demand in the Lower 48, including exports, will rise from 96.4 bcfd this week to 97.0 bcfd next week. The forecasts for next week were lower than LSEG's outlook on Tuesday. The average amount of gas flowing to the eight big LNG export plants operating in the U.S. fell to 15.1 bcfd so far in May, down from a monthly record of 16.0 bcfd in April. The LNG feedgas decline so far this month was mostly due to reductions for maintenance at Cameron LNG's 2.0-bcfd plant in Louisiana and Cheniere Energy's LNG 3.9-bcfd Corpus Christi plant under construction and in operation in Texas, and a one-day outage at Freeport LNG's 2.1-bcfd plant in Texas on May 6. LNG gas flows to the Corpus Christi facility were on track to drop to a two-month low of 1.5 bcfd on Wednesday, down from 1.6 bcfd on Tuesday and an average of 2.0 bcfd during the prior seven days, according to LSEG data.

Coast Guard to conduct controlled burn in Plaquemines Parish—The Coast Guard is scheduled to oversee an in-situ burn for crude oil discharge near Garden Island Bay on Wednesday.The operation is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and could continue into Thursday if necessary.This is due to the initial report of the oil discharge on April 26.As of Sunday, May 4, more than 100,000 gallons of oily water has been recovered. In-situ burning involved the controlled burning discharge of oil and is one way to reduce environmental impact.Observations of oil should be made to the National Response Center at 800-424-8802. Individuals or businesses directly impacted by the incident can contact 1-866-601-5880 for assistance and information.

EPA rejects request to ban toxic chemical at oil refineries -EPA on Monday denied a petition from environmental groups seeking a ban on the use of hydrogen fluoride at oil refineries under the Toxic Substances Control Act.The chemical, also known as HF, is used at around a quarter of refineries in the U.S. for alkylation, which increases a fuel’s octane levels. But it’s highly toxic, and accidental releases and near-misses in recent years have prompted environmentalists and the federal Chemical Safety Board to urge refineries still using HF to switch to alkylation methods using other substances. In a response sent to the Natural Resources Defense Council and other groups on Monday, EPA called the petition “deficient. The groups named prior incidents at refineries involving HF, such as the 2019 explosion at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions facility that released 2.5 tons of HF, in making their case. But the groups “did not establish the likely duration, intensity, frequency, and number of exposures of HF involving such releases,” the agency said in its response.

Colorado tribe calls out state, petroleum company for pipeline spill - Southern Ute Indian Tribe leadership recently urged the state of Colorado and a Texas energy company to step up the monitoring and cleanup of a five-month-old fuel spill on the southwestern Colorado tribe's land.Tribal leadership called the response by both the state and the company "inadequate." In a May 5 social media post, it criticized the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for not sending any personnel to the area in the months since the spilled happened. It also blamed the company for what it claimed was the lack of a contingency plan in the event the spill advances through groundwater to the near Animas River. "We will not stand by while our ground and surface water, Tribal resources, and the health of our Tribal Members are put at risk," stated Southern Ute Chairman Melvin J. Baker in the post. "Enterprise must treat this with the seriousness and urgency it deserves—not just from a regulatory standpoint, but from a moral and environmental one. Failure to move now will impact our water rights, wildlife, cultural sites, and properties for years to come. It is our duty as leaders and original stewards to protect the land that has been home to our ancestors since time immemorial and will be home for our future generations to come." The spill occurred on Dec. 5. Beginning on that day, a spill at an Enterprise Products pipeline near the intersection of La Plata County Road 219 and Riverview Ranch Road (about four miles south of Durango) was reported by an unidentified person at 4:50 p.m. The pipeline was clamped and leak stopped at 3:40 p.m. on Dec. 7, according to an early CDPHE report. An estimated 544 barrels, or 23,000 gallons, of fuel was released.Southern Ute Indian Tribe land near Durango. A Texas-based petroleum company is paying a contractor to monitor groundwater contamination following a fuel spill in December 2024. Three days after the first report of the leak, a groundwater measurement taken 275 feet south-southwest of the leak site detected concentrations of benzene, tuloene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes at 13 micrograms per liter. Four days later, the same test well measured 300 micrograms per liter. Pond water at a nearby property also detected those four elements, plus acetone and styrene. But, according to that early CDPHE report about that pond, "None of the concentrations exceed their most protective EPA or CDPHE water standard."In the months since, however, a dozen residences have had high contamination readings in the their water wells. Water must now be hauled in, according to the tribe, and stored in cisterns installed by Enterprise Products. Filtration systems are also being provided. The contamination has now migrated away from the leak site. The tribe - which is doing its own monitoring beyond the several monitoring wells drilled by a remediation team hired by the energy company - said a spring within .3 mile of the Animas River is now showing increased measurements of benzene. "If the spill were to reach the nearby Animas River in elevated concentrations, the danger to plant, animal, and human life in the local area and potentially downstream along the river could be widespread," the tribe stated on its social post. "Despite this, Enterprise still does not have a site-specific contingency plan in place to protect the Animas River."According to CDPHE documents, Enterprise Products is required to publicly post monthly bulletins about the spill's monitoring data, submit quarterly reports to the CDPHE, and provide a contingency plan to the state for dealing with contamination reaching the Animas River. That deadline for that contingency plan was April 30. Leaders of the Southern Ute Tribe learned of the contingency plan's delay during a meeting the next day. "[T]he response from Enterprise has lacked the urgency and transparency this situation demands to minimize impacts and risk to the Animas River and Tribal resources," the tribe stated.

Treasury Department sanctions over 20 companies it says gave Iranian oil to China - The Treasury Department announced on Tuesday that it has sanctioned a network of more than 20 companies it says have supplied Iranian oil to China. The department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned nearly two dozen firms on Tuesday that it says have assisted in dispatching billions of dollars’ worth of oil to Beijing for Iran’s armed forces general staff and Sepehr Energy, its primary commercial affiliate. “Today’s action underscores our continued focus on intensifying pressure on every aspect of Iran’s oil trade, which the regime uses to fund its dangerous and destabilizing activities,” Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. “The United States will continue targeting this primary source of revenue, so long as the regime continues its support for terrorism and proliferation of deadly weapons,” Bessent added. The department imposed sanctions on Huangdao Inspection and Certification Co., stating they have been providing oil cargo inspection services to ships already sanctioned for carrying Iranian oil. CCIC Singapore PTE, an export company, was also on the list. The OFAC said CCIC Singapore PTE has assisted Sepehr in delivering inspections needed before the oil is transferred to China and in helping it hide where the oil originated. Qingdao Linkrich was also slapped with sanctions, with OFAC stating that it helped Sepehr Energy-chartered vessels with discharge and arrival at Qingdao Port in China. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the revenue from the sale of the oil funds helped in the development of “ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), nuclear proliferation, and Iran’s terrorist proxies, including the Houthis’ attacks on Red Sea Shipping, the U.S. Navy, and Israel.”

Pemex patches up pipeline in the aftermath of oil spill offshore Mexico - Mexico’s state-owned petroleum heavyweight Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) has undertaken repair work at a pipeline, which is connected to its oil platform off the coast of Mexico, to address leaks and prevent hydrocarbon presence on the North American country’s coast.The Mexican giant has confirmed the completion of works related to reported leaks from the pipeline that transports crude oil from the Akal-C platform to the Dos Bocas Maritime Terminal (TMDB), which were contained by installing two metal clamps, concluding the work on May 6.As a result, the controlled operation of the pipeline began, enabling the firm to monitor the state of the repairs without finding any traces of oil in the completed segments. This subsea pipeline leak is said to have released an estimated 300 barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico.The company has tackled the presence of hydrocarbons observed on the coast of the municipality of Paraíso, Tabasco, covering the 7 kilometers that were originally impacted. In addition, the company claims that 15 points with hydrocarbon presence were analyzed, of which 14 were treated, and one was estimated to be completed on May 9. “Containment measures continue with the support of vessels and the installation of barriers in the Mecoacán Lagoon and near the Dos Bocas Maritime Terminal to prevent any additional arrivals on the coast,” emphasized Pemex.The firm is also working on the Zama oil project off the coast of Tabasco state, whose development is expected to require a $4.5 billion injection of capital, covering the planning of two offshore platforms, 68 kilometers of pipelines and cables, alongside a new onshore facility.

Sempra Moves to Realign Mexico Natural Gas Assets as ECA LNG Nears Completion - Sempra’s Energía Costa Azul (ECA) LNG is ready to enter pre-commissioning activities, signaling a coming leap in Mexican natural gas export capacity early next year.After more than five years of construction, the 3.25 million ton/year (Mt/y) capacity project is on track to reach commercial operations by next spring, CFO Karen Sedgwick said during a 1Q2025 call with analysts Thursday (May 8). But, before cargoes begin leaving Mexico’s Pacific Coast, ECA could begin raising feed gas demand from the United States by the end of the year as equipment comes online.

‘Significant Interest’ for Cedar LNG Capacity, Says Pembina CEO - - Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline Corp. is benefiting from natural gas and liquids growth across Canada, with growing confidence that the Cedar LNG project underway on the west coast could be expanded. Map of Western Canada with Pembina Pipeline's natural gas infrastructure and nearby LNG export facilities. Pembina’s executive team led by CEO Scott Burrows discussed the midstream giant’s outlook during the first quarter conference call. As the U.S. tariff war upends geopolitical dynamics with Canada, the country’s exploration and production companies, in partnership with the midstream operators, are looking to extend their outreach overseas. And the prolific natural gas produced in northeastern British Columbia (BC) “needs an egress solution,” Burrows said.

No Rest for Canada’s Top Natural Gas E&Ps as Major Export Terminal Nears -- Exploration and production (E&P) stalwarts Tourmaline Oil Corp. and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. both said they generated record natural gas production in the first quarter and expect to maintain momentum to support an expected jump in LNG export demand.Natural Gas Intelligence's (NGI) spot NOVA/AECO daily natural gas price graph showing historical market volatility. Calgary-based Tourmaline, Canada’s largest natural gas producer, said output rose 10% year/year in the first quarter to average 2.94 Bcf/d, marking a high point for the company as it braces for ongoing demand increases in North America and globally. “The expectation for power, LNG and industrial gas – demand is as stable as ever,” Tourmaline CEO Michael Rose said during an earnings call with analysts on Thursday.

Nigerian oil producer Oando completes pipeline repairs after spills (Reuters) - Nigerian oil producer Oando has completed repairs on its pipeline in the oil-rich Bayelsa state after four oil spill incidents caused by sabotage in recent weeks, the company said on Tuesday.The company activated emergency responses immediately after each spill, shutting down affected wells, halting crude delivery and deploying containment measures. Joint investigations were conducted with government regulators and community representatives, it said in a statement. Oando, which now owns former Eni unit Nigerian Agip Oil Co, said it plans a sectional replacement of the pipeline to further reduce future risks.

Goldman: Trump Wants Oil Prices in the $40-50 Range U.S. President Donald Trump likes crude oil prices in the range of $40 to $50 per barrel, Goldman Sachs analysts have said, following an analysis of his social media posts on the topic.The president’s “inferred preference for WTI appears to be around $40 to $50 a barrel, where his propensity to post about oil prices bottoms,” the team wrote, also noting that Trump “has always been focused on oil and on US energy dominance, having posted nearly 900 times,” on the topic, Bloomberg reported, citing parts of the Goldman report.Crude oil is currently trading at over $66 per barrel ofBrent crude and some $63 per barrel of West Texas Intermediate following news of progress on the trade talks between the U.S. and China that could see a quicker instead of slower end to the tariff hysteria that has gripped market since April.The U.S. president “tends to call for lower prices (or celebrate falling prices) when WTI is greater than $50,” the Goldman analysts also wrote in their report, adding that “In contrast, President Trump has called for higher prices when prices are very low (WTI less than $30) often in the context of supporting US production.”The dominant opinion at the moment is that even $50 is too low for U.S. shale drillers to keep drilling, let alone boost that drilling. This has prompted some commentators to suggest that Trump’s quest for lower prices at the pump had put him on a sort of a collision course with his oil industry supporters and donors.Oil prices are currently trading at the highest in two weeks, after the U.S. and China struck an agreement for a 90-day trade ceasefire and a significant reduction in mutual tariffs, which brightened the outlook for oil demand. On the flip side, traders anticipate the EIA to report a significant build in crude oil inventories after the API estimated one, at 4.3 million barrels, on Tuesday.

Inside Trump’s Hardball Strategy to Control Global Oil Prices There is one critical economic reason and one crucial political one why sitting U.S. presidents want to keep oil prices at the lower rather than higher end of historical averages. The economic rationale centres on the close correlation between oil prices and the wider health of the U.S. economy. Historical data highlights that every US$10 per barrel (pb) or so change in the price of crude oil results in around a 25-30 cent change in the price of a gallon of gasoline, and for every 1 cent that the average price per gallon of gasoline rises, more than US$1 billion or so per year in consumer spending is lost. The political reason is that since 1896, the sitting U.S. president has won re-election 11 times out of 11 if the economy was not in recession within two years of an upcoming election. However, sitting U.S. presidents who went into a re-election campaign with the economy in recession won only one time out of seven. The same pattern broadly applies to the re-election chances of candidates of any sitting president’s party in U.S. mid-term elections as well, the outcome of which affects the ability of the incumbent leader to push ahead with their legislative agenda for the last two years of their presidency. In any event, the statistics make sober reading for incumbent U.S. presidents and the senatorial, congressional and gubernatorial candidates of their party when considering how to handle domestic and international policies related to the oil price. Consequently, it is not surprising -- as Bob McNally, the former energy adviser to former President George W. Bush put it – that, “Few things terrify an American president more than a spike in fuel [gasoline] prices.” Trump’s view when he began his first term as president on 20 January 2017 was that the oil price needed to trade in a US$40-45 per barrel (pb) of Brent to US$75-80 pb range – ‘The Trump Oil Price Range’. The floor was seen as the price at which most U.S. shale oil producers could make a decent profit, and the ceiling was seen as being most advantageous for U.S. economic growth. However, at that point the Saudis were still trying desperately in 2017 to repair the appalling damage its 2014-2016 Oil Price War had done to its own finances and to those of its OPEC brothers, so they embarked on coordinated production cuts (with Russia as the new-found member of the expended ‘OPEC+’ cartel) to push the oil price higher. Harking back to the original 1945 U.S.-Saudi Arabia agreement that balanced oil against security as also examined inmy latest book, Trump said: “OPEC and OPEC nations are, as usual, ripping off the rest of the world, and I don’t like it. Nobody should like it.” He added: “We defend many of these nations for nothing, and then they take advantage of us by giving us high oil prices. Not good. We want them to stop raising prices. We want them to start lowering prices and they must contribute substantially to military protection from now on.” Following Trump’s direct and clear warnings to Saudi Arabia’s Royal Family in the third quarter of 2018 of the catastrophic consequences if the Kingdom continued to keep oil prices higher than the US$80 per barrel Brent price ceiling, Saudi Arabia increased production and oil prices came down again. That period was the only part of Trump’s presidency that saw his Oil Price Trading Range breached to the upside. That said, the ceiling of this range is well below the recent levels that Saudi Arabia has needed to fully restore its finances to where they were before the onset of the 2014-2016 Oil Price War. This pricing discrepancy prompted Saudi Arabia to launch another oil price war in 2020 using the same strategy that had previously failed in 2014-2016 and towards the same aim of setting back the seemingly inexorable advance of the U.S. shale oil sector. Trump’s reaction to this was even more aggressive than before, with a telephone call made on 2 April (according to a very senior source in the White House spoken to by OilPrice.com at the time) in which he very clearly told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that unless OPEC started cutting oil production – so allowing oil prices to rise (above the danger zone for U.S. shale oil producers) – that he would be powerless to stop lawmakers from passing legislation to withdraw U.S. troops from Saudi Arabia. It was also made very clear by Trump that the next time the Saudis tried the same thing it would be the end of the 1945 Agreement between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. This, said Trump, would involve the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. military assistance from the Kingdom, without further notice. Following that, Saudi Arabia and OPEC gradually cut oil production to bring prices back up. As of now, Saudi Arabia’s 2025 fiscal breakeven price per barrel of the Brent crude benchmark is a minimum of US$90.9, according to IMF figures. So bad are the real-world ramifications of this that several ‘Vision 2030’ projects – aimed at reducing the Kingdom’s dependence on oil -- have either been suspended or radically reduced in size, including the flagship Neom City development. Initially-costed at US$1.5 trillion the linear city project located has been cut back in size from 106 miles long to just 1.6 miles long. A deficit on both the current account and budget are still in place, and according to economic data sources Saudi Arabia’s public debt jumped 16% to over US$324 billion last year. “This gap between the spot Brent price and the level the Saudis need to breakeven fiscally looks set to run and with retaliatory options cut off now Trump’s in power, it looks like they’ll have to keep going to the debt markets to fill it,” a senior source in the European Union’s energy security complex exclusively told OilPrice.com last week. “This is likely to make it [Saudi Arabia] even more reliant on the U.S. over time, given the dominance of the country in the global bond markets,” he added. On top of all this, Trump ordered the ‘No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels’ (NOPEC) Bill be made fully ready to be passed into law at minimal notice, as a further deterrent to be used against Saudi Arabia. The NOPEC Bill would make it illegal to artificially cap oil production or to set prices, as OPEC does under the leadership of the Kingdom. The Bill would also immediately remove the sovereign immunity in U.S. courts for OPEC as a group and for every one of its individual member states. This would leave Saudi Arabia open to being sued under existing U.S. anti-trust legislation, with its total liability being its estimated US$1 trillion of investments in the U.S. alone. The U.S. would then be legally entitled to freeze all Saudi bank accounts in the U.S., seize its assets in the country, and halt all use of U.S. dollars by the Saudis anywhere in the world (oil is denominated in U.S. dollars, of course). It would also allow the U.S. to go after Saudi Aramco and its assets and funds, as it is still a majority state-owned production and trading vehicle. This would mean that Aramco could be ordered to break itself up into smaller, constituent companies that are not deemed to break competition rules in the oil, gas, and petrochemicals sectors or to influence the oil price.

Oil prices jump over 3% on US-China tariff reductions - Oil prices rose more than $2 in Asian trading on Monday after the US and China said they would ease some of their tariff measures, lifting market sentiment that the world’s two largest crude users may be moving toward resolving their trade dispute. Brent crude futures climbed $2.11, or 3.3%, to $64.14 a barrel by 0714 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were trading at $63.14 a barrel, up $2.12, or 3.47%, from Friday’s close. Both sides said on Monday they would suspend 24% of additional ad valorem tariffs on goods from the other country for an initial period of 90 days, in a joint statement following trade talks in Geneva over the weekend. Both benchmarks rose more than $1 on Friday and gained over 4% last week for their first weekly gains since mid-April, after a US trade deal with Britain swelled investors’ optimism that economic disruptions from US tariffs on trading partners may be avoided. The United States and China had ended trade talks on a positive note on Sunday, with US officials touting a “deal” to reduce the US trade deficit, while Chinese officials said both had reached “important consensus”. Positive talks between the world’s two largest economies could help boost crude demand as trade, currently disrupted by massive tariffs levied by both countries, is restored between them. Toshitaka Tazawa, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities, said that OPEC’s plan to raise output capped gains. Tazawa was referring to plans by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, to accelerate output hikes in May and June that will add more crude to the market. However, a Reuters survey found that OPEC oil output edged lower in April. Additionally, talks between Iranian and US negotiators to resolve disputes over Tehran’s nuclear programme ended in Oman on Sunday with further negotiations planned, officials said, as Tehran publicly insisted on continuing its uranium enrichment. A US-Iran nuclear deal could alleviate concerns about lower global oil supply, which could also pressure oil prices. Last week, US energy firms cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating to their lowest since January, energy services firm Baker Hughes said on Friday.

Oil Prices Jump on US-China Tariff Reduction -- Oil futures rallied Monday morning after the U.S. and China agreed to temporarily slash tariffs on mutual goods trade. Over the next 90 days, the U.S. will tax imports from China by 30%, and China will tariff imports from the U.S. by 10%. NYMEX-traded WTI for June delivery was up $2.09 barrel (bbl) to trade near $63.11 bbl, and ICE Brent for July delivery rose $2.08 bbl to $65.98 bbl. June RBOB gasoline futures gained $0.0536 to $2.1620 gallon, while the front-month ULSD futures contract was up $0.0655 to $2.1319 gallon. The U.S. dollar index strengthened by 1.217 points to 101.385. The 90-day pause to the trade-prohibitive reciprocal 115% in additional tariffs was negotiated over the weekend in Switzerland. This followed reports of a near-total drought in Chinese container ships bound for the U.S. Oil prices have suffered from the escalating trade war, dropping more than 20% in early April. Despite today's jump, crude oil futures are still priced some 12% lower than at the

Oil prices settle up at 2-week high as US, China ease tariffs (Reuters) - Oil prices rose about 1.5% to settle at a two-week high on Monday, after the U.S. and China agreed to temporarily slash tariffs, raising hopes of an end to the trade war between the world's two biggest economies. Brent crude futures rose $1.05, or 1.6%, to settle at $64.96 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 93 cents, or 1.5%, to settle at $61.95. Both benchmarks notched their highest settlements since April 28. The U.S. and China tapped the brakes on tariffs, sending Wall Street stocks, the U.S. dollar and crude prices sharply higher on hopes the world's two biggest oil consumers can end a trade war that has stoked fears of recession. "This was a larger-than-expected de-escalation and represents an upgrade to the outlook, though the negotiation process will likely remain challenging," analysts at bank ING said in a note. U.S. Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler said the trade deal could make it less necessary for the Fed to cut interest rates to stimulate the economy. This pressured oil prices in early trading, since lower rates can boost oil demand. In April, oil prices fell to a four-year low as investors worried the U.S.-China trade war could depress economic growth and oil demand. Also, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided to boost oil output by more than previously expected. In Saudi Arabia, the biggest producer in OPEC, oil giant Aramco (2222.SE), opens new tab said it expects oil demand to remain resilient this year and sees further upside if the U.S. and China resolve their trade dispute. In Iraq, OPEC's No. 2 producer, crude exports were on track to decline to around 3.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in May and June, which would be a significant reduction from previous months. Oil prices gained support after Norwegian energy firm Equinor (EQNR.OL), opens new tab said it temporarily halted output from the Johan Castberg oilfield in the Arctic Barents Sea to make repairs. In the Black Sea, Black Sea CPC Blend exports via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium system were on track to ease to 1.5 million bpd in May from 1.6 million bpd in April. In Mexico, PMI, trading arm of state-owned energy company Pemex, anticipates a reduction in crude exports this year as more will be sent to local refineries, especially the new Olmeca refinery. Ongoing talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program could pressure crude prices, since Iran is OPEC's No. 3 producer and any nuclear deal could reduce sanctions on Iran's exports. Russian crude supply could also increase on global markets if U.S.-brokered talks result in peace between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he was ready to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin in Turkey on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump told him publicly to immediately accept the Kremlin leader's proposal of direct talks. Trump raised the prospect of joining talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey. Russia was the world's No. 2 oil producer in 2024, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. A deal between Russia and Ukraine could reduce sanctions on Moscow and boost the amount of oil Russia can export. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned Pakistan that New Delhi would target "terrorist hideouts" across the border again if there were new attacks on India and would not be deterred by what he called Islamabad's "nuclear blackmail". India is the world's third biggest consumer of oil.

Oil Prices Decline Amid Supply Concerns - Oil prices fell on Tuesday from their highest level in two weeks, affected by concerns over rising supplies, despite earlier optimism regarding the easing of the U.S.-China trade war after both countries temporarily reduced tariffs. Brent crude futures dropped by 22 cents, or 0.3%, to $64.74 per barrel by 02:48 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude declined by 18 cents, or 0.3%, to $61.77. Both benchmark crudes had closed up by about 1.5% on Monday, marking their highest closing since April 28. These gains come during a volatile period for global oil markets. The United States and China agreed to a significant reduction in tariffs for at least 90 days, which led to a sharp rise in Wall Street stocks, the U.S. dollar, and crude oil prices on Monday. Analysts at ING stated in an email to clients: “While the easing of trade tensions between China and the U.S. is helpful, there is still a lot of uncertainty about what will happen over the next 90 days. This uncertainty may continue to create headwinds for oil demand.” However, the underlying divisions that led to the dispute remain unresolved, including the U.S. trade deficit with China and President Donald Trump’s demand for more action from Beijing to combat the U.S. fentanyl crisis. Markets are also focusing on increased supply as a key factor behind weaker oil prices. ING analysts added: “Although demand has been a major concern for the oil market, the increased supply from OPEC+ means the oil market is likely to remain well supplied for the rest of the year.” They noted that the adequacy of supply will depend on whether OPEC+ follows through with its plans to significantly increase output in May and June. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has boosted oil production more than expected since April, and May output is likely to rise by 411,000 barrels per day. Meanwhile, analysts’ opinions are divided on U.S. crude oil inventories. A Reuters poll indicated that U.S. crude stockpiles likely fell last week, but Walter Chancellor, energy strategist at Macquarie, expects a rise in U.S. crude inventories by 7.6 million barrels.

Oil Futures Rise on Trade Optimism, Inflation Report -- Oil futures continued to climb Tuesday morning, extending gains made Monday after the U.S. and China agreed to temporarily slash tariffs on mutual goods trade. A lower-than-expected U.S. inflation report also supported the move higher. NYMEX-traded WTI for June delivery was up $0.76 barrel (bbl) to trade near $62.71 bbl, and ICE Brent for July delivery rose $0.68 bbl to $65.64 bbl. June RBOB gasoline futures gained $0.0030 to $2.1361 gallon, while the front-month ULSD futures contract was up $0.0197 to $2.1308 gallon. The U.S. Dollar Index softened by 0.274 points to 101.325. The U.S. Consumer Price Index for April, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Tuesday morning, was up 0.2% month-on-month and 2.3% year-on-year, slightly below expectations of 0.3% and 2.4%, respectively. This deceleration, however, was largely due to dropping energy prices. The core CPI, which excludes volatile categories like food and energy, increased 2.8% year-on-year in April, unchanged from March.

The Market Was Supported by the U.S.-China Agreement to Cut Tariffs - The oil market on Tuesday remained supported by the U.S.-China agreement to cut tariffs for at least 90 days. While the market rallied about 4% on Monday, the market on Tuesday initially remained cautious over whether the pause in the U.S.-China trade war will lead to a longer-term deal. However, the crude market found some support from a better than expected inflation report and news that the White House announced Saudi Arabia’s plans to invest $600 million in the U.S. amid President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia. The crude market, which posted a low of $62.90 in overnight trading, rebounded and retraced its previous losses. It was supported by the CPI report, which showed that U.S. inflation in April was 2.3%, the smallest year over year gain in four years. Leading Wall Street firms have to cut forecasts for a U.S. recession in the coming months. The market posted a high of $63.88 in afternoon trading. The June WTI contract traded in a sideways trading range ahead of the close and settled up $1.72 at $63.67. The July Brent contract settled up $1.67 at $66.63. The product markets were higher, with the heating oil market settling up 6.02 cents at $2.1713 and the RB market settling up 3.29 cents at $2.1660. U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran is the most destructive force in the Middle East, contrasting Iran’s action with what he described as positive developments on the Arabian Peninsula. Earlier, the State Department said the U.S. imposed sanctions on a shipping network it says has sent millions of barrels of Iranian oil to China, days after Iran and U.S. negotiators concluded a fourth round of nuclear talks in Oman. It said the network facilitated the shipment of oil worth billions of dollars to China on behalf of Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff and its front company, Sepehr Energy. The top aide to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said the Ukrainian President will only attend talks if Russia’s Vladimir Putin is also there for talks to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he wanted to negotiate an unconditional 30-day ceasefire face-to-face with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin at this week’s talks in Istanbul because only the Russian leader could enact such a pause. S&P Global Commodity Insights reported that according to its latest OPEC+ survey, Saudi Arabia pumped 8.95 million b/d in April. Goldman Sachs estimates around $3-$4/barrel of upside risk to its Brent and WTI oil price forecast of $60/barrel and $56/barrel, respectively for the rest of 2025 and $56/barrel and $52/barrel respectively in 2026 due to the recent trade de-escalation. Saudi Arabia’s crude oil supply to China will hold steady in June after reaching the highest level in more than a year in the previous month, following OPEC+ decision to increase output. Saudi Aramco will ship about 48 million barrels to China in June, the same as in May, which was the highest amount since at least 2024.

Oil ticks lower on inventory boost despite trade truce - Oil prices pulled back during Asian trade on Wednesday as traders weighed signs of rising United States crude inventories, although markets held near two-week highs.By 3:20 pm AEST (5:20 am GMT) Brent crude futures fell by $0.44 or 0.7% to US$66.19 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dipped $0.39 or 0.6%, to US$63.28.Both benchmarks gained more than 2.5% in the previous session.The retreat followed a rally sparked by Monday’s agreement between the U.S. and China to ease their tariff dispute. The U.S. agreed to cut tariffs from 145% to 30%, while China lowered its duties on U.S. goods from 125% to 10%, pausing their trade war for at least 90 days.Traders are also digesting preliminary data from the American Petroleum Institute showing U.S. crude inventories rose by 4.29 million barrels for the week ended 9 May, well above expectations of a 2.4 million barrel draw.Official figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration are expected later Wednesday (Thursday AEST).Geopolitical developments are also in focus as President Donald Trump commenced a high-profile Gulf trip. Speaking at an investment forum in Riyadh on Tuesday, he announced that the U.S. would lift long-standing sanctions on Syria and revealed a US$600 billion investment pledge from Saudi Arabia.Simultaneously, the U.S. imposed new sanctions on roughly 20 companies accused of assisting Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff and its front company, Sepehr Energy, in shipping oil to China.

WTI Rebounds From Overnight Dip But 'Drill, Baby, Drill' Remains Elusive --Oil prices are marginally lower this morning after four straight sessions of gains driven by tariff optimism, following a bigger than expected build in crude stocks reported by API overnight. The rise in stocks comes as OPEC+ readies to add another 411,000 barrel per day tranche of supply to the market as it unwinds 2.2-million barrels per day of voluntary production cuts. The new supply is likely to check prices as Saudi Arabia looks to regain market share and respond to a U.S. call for lower prices, even as U.S. President Donald Trump began the first presidential trip of his current term with a visit to Riyadh on Tuesday. "While OPEC officials maintain that the US played no role in the decision to accelerate the phase -in of the voluntary barrels, the oil price environment has provided a beneficial backdrop to the Presidential visit from the Washington standpoint, All eyes now on the official data for confirmation of builds...API

• Crude +4.29mm
• Cushing -850k
• Gasoline -1.37mm
• Distillates -3.68mm

DOE

• Crude +3.45mm
• Cushing -1.07mm
• Gasoline -1.02mm
• Distillates -3.16mm

The official data echoed API's report with a sizable crude build but draws at the Cushing Hub and in products... Graphs Source: Bloomberg. In a week when the Trump administration proposes a major bill to refill the SPR, total crude stocks rose around 4mm barrels (including 528k barrels to the SPR)...US crude production rose very modestly last week but along with the rig count is basically unchanged since President Trump's election...OPEC released its May Monthly Oil Market Report on Wednesday, sticking with its forecast for 2025 demand growth of 1.3-million barrels per day, higher last week's estimate from the Energy Information Administration for demand growth of one-million bpd this year. The International Energy Agency will release its monthly outlook on Thursday.The cartel also lowered its estimate from production growth for countries outside of OPEC+ by 100,000 bpd to 0.8-million bpd.WTI is rallying back from overnight weakness...

The Market Remained Cautious Amid the Uncertainties Around Global Trade Negotiations - The oil market posted an inside trading day as the market remained cautious amid the lingering uncertainties around global trade negotiations. The market traded to its high of $63.68 in overnight trading as the market remained supported by a de-escalation in the trade war between the U.S. and China, the softer inflation data and new sanction on Iranian oil. However, the market gave up its gains in early morning trading and posted a low of $62.75 in anticipation of the EIA’s oil inventory report showing builds in crude stocks for the week ending May 9th after the API late Tuesday afternoon reported a crude stock build of over 4 million barrels on the week. The market was also pressured by OPEC maintaining its forecast for global oil demand growth as it prepares to accelerate its output hikes for a second month in June and lowered its supply growth estimates from countries outside of OPEC+. The market later bounced off its low and traded in a sideways trading range during the remainder of the day. The June WTI contract settled down 52 cents at $63.15 and the July Brent contract settled down 54 cents at $66.09. Meanwhile, the product markets ended the session higher amid the draws in product stocks, with the heating oil market settling up 3.48 cents at $2.2061 and the RB market settling up 40 points at $2.17. The U.S. Treasury Department said the U.S. issued new Iran-related sanctions on Wednesday. The sanctions target individuals and entities in China and Iran.French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, said the European Union approved a 17th sanctions package on Russia, adding that the bloc would now turn to working on further, tougher sanctions in coordination with the United States.OPEC cut its forecast for growth in oil supply from the United States and other producers outside the OPEC+ group this year and said it expected lower capital spending following a decline in oil prices. In its monthly report, OPEC said supply from non-OPEC+ countries will increase by about 800,000 bpd in 2025, down from last month’s forecast of 900,000 bpd. A slowdown in supply growth outside OPEC+ would make it easier for OPEC+ to balance the market. While the United States is still expected to drive supply growth, OPEC expects U.S. total oil output to increase by about 300,000 bpd this year, down from a previous forecast of 400,000 bpd. It left its forecasts for global oil demand growth unchanged in 2025 and 2026 at 1.3 million bpd and 1.28 million bpd, respectively.Platts reported that despite the increases in quotas in April by OPEC+, overall production by the group stayed flat at 41.01 million b/d. Platts survey found that serial overproducers Iraq and Kazakhstan both cut output in April by 20,000 b/d and 30,000 b/d, respectively.IIR Energy said U.S. oil refiners are expected to shut in about 714,000 bpd of capacity in the week ending May 16th, increasing available refining capacity by 560,000 bpd. Offline capacity is expected to fall to 227,000 bpd in the week ending May 23rd. The EPA reported that U.S. generated 592 million biodiesel blending credits in April, up from 573 million in March. It also reported that the U.S. generated 1.16 billion ethanol blending credits in April, down from 1.21 billion in March.

Oil prices plunge over 3% on hopes of U.S.-Iran nuclear deal - Oil prices declined sharply on Thursday, dropping by nearly $2 per barrel amid growing expectations of a U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement that could lead to the easing of sanctions and the return of more Iranian crude to global markets. Brent crude fell by $1.98, or 3%, to $64.11 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped $2, or 3.2%, to $61.15. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Washington was nearing a nuclear deal with Tehran, indicating that Iran had “sort of” agreed to the terms. A senior Iranian official, in an interview with NBC News, said Iran was open to a deal in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Such a development could potentially allow up to 800,000 barrels per day of Iranian oil to re-enter the market, putting downward pressure on prices. In parallel to the diplomatic talks, the U.S. continued to apply sanctions on Iran, targeting domestic missile component production and a network of companies involved in shipping Iranian oil to China. These actions followed the fourth round of negotiations in Oman focusing on Iran’s nuclear program. Adding to market concerns, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported a surprise increase in crude inventories. Stockpiles rose by 3.5 million barrels to 441.8 million last week, contrary to expectations of a drawdown, intensifying fears of an oversupplied market. Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency revised its oil demand growth forecast for 2025 to 740,000 barrels per day, a slight upward adjustment driven by improved economic projections and lower oil prices supporting consumption. However, the agency warned that economic challenges and record electric vehicle sales are expected to slow demand growth to 650,000 barrels per day for the remainder of the year, down from nearly one million in the first quarter. OPEC and its allies, collectively known as OPEC+, have been steadily increasing supply, though OPEC recently lowered its forecast for non-OPEC+ supply growth, particularly from the United States and other producers outside the alliance.

Oil Prices Sink 4% on Hints of U.S.-Iran Deal -Oil prices dipped by 4% early on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States were close to a nuclear deal with Iran, while a top Iranian officials hinted at Tehran abandoning uranium enrichment if the U.S. lifts the economic sanctions. In Asian and early European trade on Thursday, the U.S. oil benchmark, WTI Crude, was down by 4.12% at $60.58 a barrel, while the international benchmark, Brent Crude, was falling by 3.80% on the day and traded at $63.52 per barrel. Oil came under pressure late on Wednesday after the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) confirmed a crude oil inventory increase of 4 million barrels during the week ending May 9. On Tuesday, the American Petroleum Institute (API) reported a surprise build in US crude oil inventories of 4.287 million barrels in U.S. crude oil inventories with draws in gasoline and distillate stocks.The slide in oil prices intensified early on Thursday, after President Trump said“We're in very serious negotiations with Iran for long-term peace.” “We're getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this... there (are) two steps to doing this, there is a very, very nice step and there is the violent step, but I don't want to do it the second way,” President Trump told a pool of reporters during his tour of the Middle East. Meanwhile, Ali Shamkhani, a top political, military, and nuclear adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told NBC News that Iran is ready to sign a nuclear deal with the United States under certain conditions, including the U.S. lifting the sanctions on Tehran. These comments came hours after the U.S. Treasury slapped additional sanctions on Iran, designating nearly two dozen firms operating in multiple jurisdictions in virtually every aspect of Iran’s illicit international oil trade.

Oil prices settled down 2% on expectations for US-Iran nuclear deal (Reuters) - Oil prices settled lower on Thursday on expectations for a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal that could result in sanctions being eased and more barrels released onto the global market. Brent crude futures settled down $1.56, or 2.36%, to $64.53 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled down $1.53, or 2.42%, to $61.62. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the U.S. was getting close to securing a nuclear deal with Iran, and Tehran had "sort of" agreed to the terms. An Iranian official told NBC News in an interview published on Wednesday that Iran was willing to agree to a deal with the U.S. in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. "(Any) immediate sanctions relief stemming from a nuclear agreement could unlock an additional 0.8 million barrels per day of Iranian crude for the global market – an undeniably bearish development for prices," SEB analyst Ole Hvalbye said. Washington issued sanctions on Wednesday to target Iranian efforts to domestically manufacture components for ballistic missiles, the U.S. Treasury Department said, following Tuesday's sanctions on some 20 companies in a network that it said has long sent Iranian oil to China. The sanctions followed a fourth round of U.S.-Iran talks in Oman aimed at addressing disputes over Iran's nuclear programme. "We are swinging between President Trump zeroing out Iran to bringing them into the community of nations, so the threat to supply is in both directions, with either some Iranian barrels continually snuck onto the market or we get the full benefit of Iranian production, that is what is swinging the price," Elsewhere, Russia's Vladimir Putin spurned a challenge to meet face-to-face with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Turkey on Thursday, dealing a blow to prospects for a peace breakthrough. Zelenskiy said Putin's decision to send what he called a "decorative" lineup showed the Russian leader was not serious about ending the war. Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency lifted its oil demand growth forecast in 2025 to 740,000 barrels per day, up 20,000 bpd from the previous report, citing higher economic growth forecasts and lower oil prices supporting consumption. The IEA said economic headwinds and record sales of electric vehicles are expected to reduce demand growth to 650,000 bpd for the remainder of the year, from growth of nearly 1 million bpd in the first quarter. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers, known as OPEC+, has been increasing supply, although OPEC on Wednesday trimmed its forecast for growth in oil supply from the U.S. and other producers outside the wider OPEC+ group this year. Weighing on prices, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Wednesday showed crude stockpiles rose by 3.5 million barrels to 441.8 million barrels last week, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.1 million-barrel draw. Black Sea CPC Blend crude oil exports are pencilled in at 1.6 million to 1.7 million bpd in June, several trading sources with knowledge of the month's loadings told Reuters. At that level, loadings will be higher than the approximately 1.5 million bpd scheduled for export in May.

Oil Prices Rise on U.S.-China Trade Truce, Eye 1% Weekly Gain - Oil prices rose slightly on Friday, recovering some ground after a sharp drop in the previous session, as optimism surrounding U.S.-China trade relations offset concerns about a potential increase in Iranian oil supply. As of early Friday trading, Brent crude futures were up by 17 cents, or 0.26%, reaching $64.70 per barrel. Meanwhile, U.S. At $61.80 a barrel, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased 18 cents, or 0.29%. The gains put oil on track for a weekly rise of more than 1%, despite Thursday’s decline of over 2%. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Tehran had tentatively accepted the plan, implying that Washington was getting close to a nuclear accord with Iran. However, sources close to the negotiations noted that key issues remained unresolved. Earlier in the week, oil markets saw a boost from renewed trade optimism after the U.S. and China—two of the world’s largest oil consumers—agreed to a 90-day pause in their trade dispute. The temporary truce, which includes a rollback in tariffs, helped ease investor fears about global economic slowdown and its impact on energy demand. Still, oil market sentiment remains fragile, influenced by concerns over potential increases in supply, particularly from Iran if sanctions are lifted. Analysts also point to rising output from OPEC+ countries, which could further weigh on prices. In a client note, ANZ Bank highlighted that easing geopolitical tensions had tempered bullish momentum, while worries about rising output among oil-producing nations added to market caution. The International Energy Agency (IEA) added to supply-side concerns on Thursday, projecting that global oil production could increase by 1.6 million barrels per day this year—an upward revision of 380,000 barrels per day from its previous forecast. The adjustment comes as major producers, including Saudi Arabia and other OPEC+ members, scale back earlier output cuts. With both demand-side optimism and supply-side risks in play, traders remain cautious as the global oil market continues to navigate a complex mix of economic and geopolitical factors.

Oil Prices Steady as Quick Iran Deal Seems Less Certain (DTN) -- Oil futures steadied Friday morning after comments by Iranian officials cast doubt on the alleged progress made in negotiations with the U.S. delegation in Oman. U.S. President Trump on Thursday hinted at a possible Iran nuclear deal, which would likely see the removal of some sanctions on Iranian oil trade and bring back several hundred thousand bpd in additional supply to the market, causing prices to drop.NYMEX-traded WTI for June delivery was down $1.50 bbl to trade near $61.65 bbl, and ICE Brent for July delivery fell $1.54 bbl to $64.55 bbl.June RBOB gasoline futures softened by $0.0457 to $2.1243 gallon, while the front-month ULSD futures contract was down $0.0512 to $2.1549 gallon.The U.S. Dollar Index softened by 0.333 points to 100.540.Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi denied reports of receiving a written proposal from the U.S. According to a report by Bloomberg, the minister saw "many opposing and contradictory positions" from the U.S. delegation. This stood in contrast to comments made by U.S. President Trump on Thursday in which he claimed the two parties were "getting close to maybe doing a deal" after the fourth round of nuclear talks in Oman. The potential return of Iranian barrels added to oversupply woes caused by a global economic slowdown and OPEC+ opening the spigots. The International Energy Agency, in its most recent oil market report published Thursday, projected global oil demand to slow from 990,000 bpd in the first quarter to 650,000 bpd during the remainder of the year. At the same time, global supply is now expected to rise even faster given OPEC's commitment to rolling back output curbs. The forecasted growth in global supply this year, now at 1.6 million bpd, is more than twice the anticipated demand growth rate of 740,000 bpd.

Oil posts weekly gain but remains under supply hike pressure (Reuters) - Oil settled higher on Friday, notching a second straight week of gains on easing U.S.-China trade tensions, although prices were held back by expectations of higher supply from Iran and OPEC+. Brent crude futures settled up 88 cents, or 1.4%, at $65.41 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures closed 87 cents, or 1.4% higher at $62.49. The benchmarks posted a weekly rise of 1% and 2.4% respectively. The contracts fell by more than 2% in the previous session on the prospect of an Iranian nuclear deal, which could result in an easing of sanctions that could see Iranian crude return to the global market. "Expected increases in OPEC+ oil production along with a more probable Iranian nuclear agreement has re-surfaced the bear trade," "Near term, with geopolitical temperatures cooling, a strong seasonal travel demand will be needed in the coming months to counter the expected rises in supplies," U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday the U.S. was nearing a nuclear deal with Iran, with Tehran "sort of" agreeing to its terms. However, a source familiar with the talks said there were still issues to resolve. ING analysts wrote in a note that a nuclear deal lifting sanctions would allow Iran to increase oil output, resulting in additional supply of around 400,000 barrels per day. Investor sentiment was boosted this week by the U.S. and China, the world's two biggest oil consumers and economies, agreeing to a 90-day pause on their trade war during which both sides would sharply lower trade duties. The hefty reciprocal tariffs had raised concerns about a sharp blow to global growth and oil demand. Analysts at BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, said in a research report, however, that "while the 90-day cooling off period leaves the door open for additional progress on lowering trade barriers on both sides, the uncertainty on longer-term trade policy will limit price upside." Keeping a lid on supply additions, Kyiv and Moscow failed to agree to a ceasefire at their first direct talks in more than three years, with Russia presenting conditions that a Ukrainian source described as "non-starters". Israel struck Yemen's Red Sea ports of Hodeidah and Salif on Friday, continuing its campaign to degrade Houthi military capabilities. On the U.S. supply side, oil rigs fell by 1 to 473 this week, their lowest since January, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report on Friday. The dollar rose on Friday after the latest round of economic data showed a jump in import prices while consumer sentiment remained subdued, putting it on pace for a fourth straight weekly advance.

Kurdish PKK Will Disarm and Disband, Seeking End to Decades of Conflict in Turkey - In an announcement on Monday, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced that they have agreed to totally disarm and disband, aiming toend a multi-decade conflict with the Turkish government.Turkish President Erdogan praised the move, calling it a move toward “peace and fraternity” in Turkey. Tens of thousands of Kurds were killed in the conflict, according to the Turkish government, since the PKK began armed resistance in 1984.The dissolution of the PKK was agreed upon at a party congress meeting in northern Iraq on Friday, though the announcement, which was called “pending” at the time, only came on Monday.The PKK is labeled a terrorist organization in Turkey and has been banned in Germany (which has a large Turkish population) since 1993. The EU also has considered it a terrorist organization since 2002. Germany says its dissolution won’t change their stance of banning them.The PKK has its origins in the military coups in Turkey in 1971 and 1980. After the 1980 coup, Turkey banned Kurdish language use in public or private, and started imprisoning Kurdish speakers. They also banned traditional Kurdish clothing and even forbade giving children a Kurdish name.This fueled a violent insurgency, which was cracked down on heavily for decades. The Turkish government didn’t officially even recognize the Kurdish people as a distinct population until 1991, previously simply categorizing them as “Mountain Turks.”The PKK’s founder and leader was Abdullah Öcalan who was captured in 1999 and is still being held by Turkey. He called for the PKK to be disbanded back in February via a statement from his prison on Imrali island. He also reported submitted a statement to the party congress that met Friday and decided to disband.Öcalan said that the insurgency had reach a point that the “Kurdish issue”could be resolved through democratic politics. The end of the PKK could also have impact internationally, at least so far as the Turkish government is concerned.That’s because Turkey has tended to present Kurdish separatist movements in other countries as effectively wings of the PKK. The clearest example is in Syria, where the largest member of the Kurdish SDF bloc, the YPG, is officially considered by Turkey to be part of the PKK, and subsequently Turkey has been targeting the SDF militarily for years on this basis.

Arab Leaders Condemn Gaza Genocide, Urge Action at Baghdad Summit -The 34th Arab League Summit opened in Baghdad on Saturday amid growing regional turmoil and urgent calls to end the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.The summit, held under the theme “Dialogue, Solidarity, and Development”, convenes as the situation in Gaza reaches what Iraq’s Prime Minister described as an “unprecedented stage of genocide,” with continued Israeli bombardment, mass displacement, and a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.Attending the summit are several Arab heads of state and senior officials, including the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and UN Secretary-General António Guterres were also present, underscoring the international dimension of the crisis. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who assumed the rotating presidency of the Arab Summit, used his opening remarks to denounce the Israeli campaign in Gaza, calling for serious and united Arab action to halt the genocide and open humanitarian corridors.“The war in Gaza has reached a horrifying and unprecedented stage,” al-Sudani said, adding that Arab countries must act collectively to stop the bloodshed and ensure the delivery of aid. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi echoed these concerns, stating that Palestinians are being subjected to systematic efforts aimed at erasing their presence in Gaza. He called on US President Donald Trump to intervene and push for a ceasefire, and announced that Egypt is preparing an international conference to coordinate the reconstruction of Gaza once hostilities end.Sisi also commented on the broader implications of the Gaza crisis, urging fellow leaders to resist regional destabilization and to work together toward solutions in Libya and Sudan.

UN Agencies Condemn US-Israeli Plan To Use Aid as 'Bait' To Force Palestinians in Gaza To Head South - UN aid agencies have condemned a US-Israeli plan to use aid as “bait” to forcibly displace Palestinian civilians into a small area of southern Gaza. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee unveiled the plan on Friday, although there’s no clear timeline, and Gaza remains under a total Israeli blockade, pushing millions of civilians into starvation. Huckabee said the effort will be headed by a newly formed private foundation, and the aid distribution will be carried out by private US security contractors. He said four aid distribution sites would be established and admitted that the program would initially only feed about 1.2 million people, or about 60% of Gaza’s population.When pressed on the lack of a plan to feed the rest of the Palestinian population of Gaza, Huckabee said it would be “scaled up” over time. An Israeli official speaking to The Times of Israel said Israel hoped other countries would begin taking in Palestinians to minimize the need for aid, meaning Israel intends to use the threat of starvation to push for ethnic cleansing.The Times of Israel report also said the four aid distribution sites will be set up south of the Morag Corridor, a strip of land Israel has seized that is just north of the southern city of Rafah. Under its plans to escalate the assault on Gaza, Israel wants to “concentrate” all of Gaza’s civilian population into this tiny area.Once Palestinians are forced into a concentration camp in the south, Israelwould then pressure them to leave Gaza, although it’s unclear where they would go. “The Gazan citizens will be concentrated in the south. They will be totally despairing, understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza, and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places,” said Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.James Elder, a spokesman for the UN’s Palestinian relief agency, UNRWA, said establishing the aid distribution centers in the south would give Palestinians the “impossible choice between displacement and death.” He said the plan “contravenes basic humanitarian principles” and appears designed to “reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic.”

Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace in Gaza, End to Israeli Blockade on Aid - Pope Leo XIV called for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the Israeli blockade of aid on Sunday in his first Sunday blessing since being elected pontiff last week. “I am deeply pained by what is happening [in Gaza,” Leo said from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. “Let the fighting cease immediately, let humanitarian aid be provided to the exhausted civilian population, and may all hostages be released.”The pope also called for a ceasefire in Ukraine, saying, “I carry in my heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people. Let everything possible be done to achieve genuine, just and lasting peace as soon as possible.”Leo, the first US-born pontiff, welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan and made an appeal to world leaders for peace and an end to war. “In today’s dramatic context of a third world war fought piecemeal … I too appeal to the powerful of the world by repeating these ever-relevant words: ‘never again war!'” he said.The pope made the remarks after singing the Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven) prayer, which is recited throughout the Easter season. He closed his address with a “heartfelt appeal” to Mary Queen of Peace, “so that she may present it to the Lord Jesus and obtain for us the miracle of peace.” Leo’s comments signal he will continue the late Pope Francis’s emphasis on the issues of war and peace. Francis frequently called for peace in Gaza and was highly critical of Israel’s conduct, suggesting in his last book that there should be an investigation into whether it constitutes genocide.

Multiple Western Press Outlets Have Suddenly Pivoted Hard Against Israel -- Caitlin Johnstone -After a year and a half of genocidal atrocities, the editorial boards of numerous British press outlets have suddenly come out hard against Israel’s genocidal onslaught in Gaza. The first drop of rain came last week from The Financial Times in a piece by the editorial board titled “The west’s shameful silence on Gaza,” which denounces the US and Europe for having “issued barely a word of condemnation” of their ally’s criminality, saying they “should be ashamed of their silence, and stop enabling Netanyahu to act with impunity.”Then came The Economist with a piece titled “The war in Gaza must end,” which argues that Trump should pressure the Netanyahu regime for a ceasefire, saying that “The only people who benefit from continuing the war are Mr Netanyahu, who keeps his coalition intact, and his far-right allies, who dream of emptying Gaza and rebuilding Jewish settlements there.”On Saturday came an editorial from The Independent titled “End the deafening silence on Gaza — it is time to speak up,” arguing that British PM Keir Starmer “should be ashamed that he said nothing, especially since Mr Netanyahu has now announced new plans to expand the already devastating bombardment of Gaza,” and saying that “It is time for the world to wake up to what is happening and to demand an end to the suffering of the Palestinians trapped in the enclave.”On Sunday The Guardian editorial board joined in with a write-up titled “The Guardian view on Israel and Gaza: Trump can stop this horror. The alternative is unthinkable,” saying “The US president has the leverage to force through a ceasefire. If he does not, he will implicitly signal approval of what looks like a plan of total destruction.”“What is this, if not genocidal?” The Guardian asks. “When will the US and its allies act to stop the horror, if not now?”To be clear, these are editorials, not op-eds. This means that they are not the expression of one person’s opinion but the stated position of each outlet as a whole. We’ve been seeing the occasional op-ed which is critical of Israel’s actions throughout the Gaza holocaust in the mainstream western press, but to see the actual outlets come out aggressively denouncing Israel and its western backers all at once is a very new development.Some longtime Israel supporters have unexpectedly begun changing their tune as individuals as well.Conservative MP Mark Pritchard said at the House of Commons last week that he had supported Israel “at all costs” for decades, but said “I got it wrong” and publicly withdrew that support over Israel’s actions in Gaza.“For many years — I’ve been in this House twenty years — I have supported Israel pretty much at all costs, quite frankly,” Pritchard said. “But today, I want to say that I got it wrong and I condemn Israel for what it is doing to the Palestinian people in Gaza and indeed in the West Bank, and I’d like to withdraw my support right now for the actions of Israel, what they are doing right now in Gaza.”“I’m really concerned that this is a moment in history when people look back, where we’ve got it wrong as a country,” Pritchard added. Pro-Israel pundit Shaiel Ben-Ephraim, who had been aggressively denouncing campus protesters and accusing Israel’s critics of “blood libel” throughout the Gaza holocaust, has now come out and publicly admitted that Israel is committing a genocide which must be opposed.“It took me a long time to get to this point, but it’s time to face it. Israel is committing genocide in Gaza,” Ephraim tweeted recently. “Between the indiscriminate bombing of hospitals, starvation of the population, plans for ethnic cleansing, slaughter of aid workers and cover ups, there is no escaping it. Israel is trying to eradicate the Palestinian people. We can’t stop it unless we admit it.”It is odd that it has taken all these people a year and a half to get to this point. I myself have a much lower tolerance for genocide and the mass murder of children. If you’ve been riding the genocide train for nineteen months, it looks a bit weird to suddenly start screaming about how terrible it is and demanding to hit the brakes all of a sudden.These people have not suddenly evolved a conscience, they’re just smelling what’s in the wind. Once the consensus shifts past a certain point there’s naturally going to be a mad rush to avoid being among the last to stand against it, because you know you’ll be wearing that mark for the rest of your life in public after history has had a clear look at what you did.

Italy Breaks Ranks: ‘Enough!’ Tajani Demands Israel Halt Gaza Genocide - Italy’s Foreign Minister Tajani urgently called on Israel to halt its war on Gaza, emphasizing the intolerable suffering of Palestinian civilians and demanding a ceasefire for peace and the release of captives. In an unprecedented display of condemnation, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has issued a stark rebuke to Israel, demanding an immediate cessation of its relentless military offensive in the besieged Gaza Strip. Tajani’s forceful words reflect a growing tide of international outrage against the devastating human cost of the Israeli genocide in Gaza, which Palestinian health authorities report has claimed the lives of at least 146 people in the past 24 hours alone.“We have to tell the Israeli government, ‘That’s enough’,” Tajani declared in a statement, marking a significant departure from Italy’s previously unwavering support for Israel. “We no longer want to see the Palestinian population suffer. Stop the attacks, let’s secure a ceasefire, free the hostages, but leave in peace a people who are victims of Hamas.”Tajani’s intervention comes amidst Israel’s announcement of mobilizing to expand its operations in Gaza, a move that has triggered widespread alarm and condemnation. The minister’s words resonate with the cries of a global community witnessing the systematic destruction of Gaza, where over 53,000 Palestinians, primarily civilians, have been slaughtered since October 7, 2023.The situation in Gaza remains catastrophic, with nearly all of its 2 million residents displaced and enduring unimaginable suffering. The relentless Israeli bombardment, supported by the United States, continues to reduce homes, hospitals, and schools to rubble, creating a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions.

Israel Launches Nine Bunker Busting Missiles at Gaza's European Hospital - Israeli security officials stated that Tel Aviv launched nine bunker busting missiles into and around the courtyard of southern Gaza’s European hospital near Khan Younis on Tuesday. At least 28 people have been killed and 70 others wounded including a journalist hit with shrapnel. Nermeen Ziyad Abo Mostafa, a medical student, living in a house near the hospital posted on social media describing the terror during the attack. “My heart almost stopped, a continuous belt of fire… We started running from one corner to another, shouting at each other to gather in [one] place, I could not feel my ears from the force of the successive explosions, the fire of the bombs lit up everywhere even though it was not night,” she wrote. As The Washington Post noted, “The hospital, one of Gaza’s largest, has frequently housed displaced Palestinians along with patients and staff over the course of the war. It was knocked out of service in July after the Israeli military ordered its evacuation, then reopened in August with the help of PalMed Europe, a Paris-based nonprofit of Palestinian doctors.” Haaretz, the Israeli newspaper, reported that Shin Bet and the IDF released a joint statement asserting Tel Aviv’s strike was intended to hit a “command and control center” beneath the hospital. No evidence has been provided to support this claim, which is Tel Aviv’s standard pseudo justification offered up for attacking hospitals in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.This closely follows another strike the same day on the third floor of the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis which killed journalist Hassan Aslih, who had been repeatedly targeted by Israeli forces. Several others were wounded. Aslih was a patient at Nasser, receiving treatment for wounds he sustained in a previous strike, when he was killed today along with another patient. According to Reuters, at the time of the strike, “[on the third floor] dozens of patients and injured were being treated.”Social media footage shows large explosions taking place when the missiles made impact with the European Hospital, other videos show Palestinians attempting to rescue people buried under the sand after the bombing. The Israeli army claims the attack was also an assassination attempt on the life of Mohammed Sinwar, the brother of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar who was killed by the IDF in Rafah last October. There is, as yet, no verification on whether Mohammed Sinwar was killed in the strike or indeed was present at the hospital when it was attacked.

Israel Admits It Bombed A Hospital To Kill A Journalist For Doing Journalism - Caitlin Johnstone - The IDF has admitted to bombing a hospital in order to assassinate a prominent Palestinian journalist in Gaza, explicitly stating that they assassinated him for engaging in journalistic activities. The official Israel Defense Forces account made the following post on Twitter: “Don’t let Aslih’s press vest fool you: Hassan Abdel Fattah Mohammed Aslih, a terrorist from the Hamas Khan Yunis brigade, was eliminated along with other terrorists in the ‘Nasser’ hospital in Khan Yunis. Aslih participated in the brutal October 7 massacre under the guise of a journalist and owner of a news network. During the massacre, he documented acts of murder, looting, and arson, posting the footage online. Journalist? More like terrorist.” Documenting newsworthy acts and posting the footage online is also known as journalism. It’s the thing that journalism is. Aslih was killed in the hospital’s burn unit where he was recovering from a previous Israeli assassination attempt in which they bombed a tent near that same hospital. That’s right kids, Israel will literally assassinate a journalist by bombing a hospital, openly admit that they bombed the hospital to assassinate the journalist for engaging in journalistic activities — and then call you an antisemite if you say Israel bombs hospitals and assassinates journalists.