Fed's Bostic says current uncertainty calls for patience on rate policy (Reuters) - Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic said on Tuesday a strong economy gives the U.S. central bank time to weigh how tariffs will impact inflation and growth, while remaining open to the possibility of a single interest rate cut at some point later this year. "I continue to believe the best approach for monetary policy is patience," Bostic said in an essay released by his regional Fed bank. In a "broadly healthy" economy, "we have space to wait and see how the heightened uncertainty affects employment and prices. So, I am in no hurry to adjust our policy stance." Speaking with reporters in a conference call, Bostic noted that in central bank forecasts released by the Fed in March he had penciled in a single rate cut for this year. "I still think there's space for that, and a lot of it will depend on how the uncertainty resolves itself," he said. But Bostic also noted in the call that inflation is still above the Fed's 2% target and underlying prices are still higher than he'd like. He said it's "a tough call" whether the Fed would be cutting rates right now if all the trade uncertainty was out of the picture, noting he's "very cautious about jumping to cuts at this point." Bostic, who does not hold a vote on the central bank's rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee this year, said in the essay the challenges of predicting what's next for interest rate policy are tied to the huge shifts in trade policy. "There is a great deal of uncertainty out there, making it quite difficult to forecast the economy with confidence." The Fed is expected to hold its benchmark interest rate steady in the 4.25%-4.50% range at its next policy meeting on June 17-18, as officials watch the economy to see how it responds to the Trump administration's erratic implementation of a huge range of import tax increases. The tariffs are broadly expected to drive up inflation and push employment down, but how much that happens is unclear. The outlook is further occluded by the President Donald Trump's rapid shifts and pauses, although his retreat from some of the most draconian tariff increases has lowered what had been mounting prospects the U.S. economy would fall into a downturn. Bostic said in his essay that there are many ways the tariffs could play out, and it's possible they might simply drive one-time price increases that the central bank can look through. He said that so far, there's little evidence tariffs have pushed inflation up and that the data seen on the economy has been pretty good despite gloomy sentiment measures. Bostic wrote "the labor market still appears broadly healthy," while adding there are some signs of weakness emerging, such as workers finding it is taking longer to get a new position. He added, "so far, these signs have had limited influence on aggregate labor market outcomes."
Fed Governor Lisa Cook sees tariffs raising inflation, complicating rate policy -Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook expressed concern Tuesday with the progress on inflation, saying recent lower readings could reverse after tariffs work their way through the economy.In addition, Cook said she expects President Donald Trump's moves on trade policy could take a toll on the labor market, though she noted that the economy for now is in relatively good shape."I do not express views on the Administration's policies. But I do study the economic implications, which appear to be increasing the likelihood of both higher inflation and labor-market cooling," the policymaker said in a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. On inflation, Cook noted that progress has been made, with core inflation at 2.5% and headline at 2.1% in April, according to a report last week that uses the Fed's preferred measure. However, economists largely expect the tariffs to push costs higher. Fed officials generally view tariffs as one-off occurrences for prices, but the broad range of the Trump levies could change the equation."Price increases tied to changes in trade policy may make it difficult to achieve further progress in the near term," Cook said. "The recent post-pandemic experience with high inflation could make firms more willing to raise prices and consumers more likely to expect high inflation to persist."Indeed, a survey-based measure of inflation points to a significant spike over the next year. Market-based measures, however, indicate more muted expectations further out.Cook's comments come two weeks ahead of the Fed's next policy meeting on June 17-18. Market expectations overwhelmingly indicate the central bank will be on hold again regarding interest rates, and most statements from policymakers since the last meeting back that up. Traders expect the next Fed cut to come in September.Cook did not specify when she thinks the Fed can ease again, saying current policy is set in a place where she and her colleagues can respond to threats on either side of the Fed's mandate for full employment and low inflation."I see the U.S. economy as still being in a solid position, but heightened uncertainty poses risks to both price stability and unemployment," she said. "When making decisions, I think it has been valuable to remain a student of economic history. Our recent past has provided some useful lessons for decision-making during periods of high uncertainty and elevated risks to our dual-mandate goals."Earlier in the day, Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic said he expects just one rate cut this year as "most of the [inflation] measures are still flashing red." However, in a speech over the weekend, Fed Governor Christopher Waller said he expects tariffs to be on the lower end of expectations, with impacts in the second half of the year that nonetheless could allow the Fed to enact "good news" rate cuts before the end of 2025.
Fed's Goolsbee says tariffs could boost inflation quickly, take longer to slow economy (Reuters) - Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee on Tuesday said higher inflation from U.S. import tariffs could become evident quickly, but he said it would take longer to see a tariff-induced economic slowdown. With business CEOs signaling they plan to pass on to consumers some if not all of the increased costs from tariffs, higher prices could show up in inflation data in a month, or "certainly within a couple of months if it's going to affect prices in a significant way," Goolsbee said at an event held by the Corridor Business Journal in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. If the higher costs then lead to an economic slowdown, "that one won't show up in the data for a while." Timing aside, President Donald Trump's trade policies are likely to push the economy in what Goolsbee called a "stagflationary direction," referring to a combination of stagnating economic growth and rising inflation. "Employment goes down, prices go up from tariffs, and there's not an automatic playbook of what does the central bank do if both sides get worse at the same time," Goolsbee said. Once the dust clears on tariff policy, if the economy looks like it did before the Trump administration announced a slew of bigger-than-expected tariffs on April 2, the short-term interest rates that the Fed controls can go "a fair bit below where they are today," Goolsbee said. "But with the uncertainty, I can't express that with too much confidence because who knows, if we wake up tomorrow and the tariffs are going back to 50% on the world, there is a lot of domestic production that is going to suffer and we have to figure out how to deal with that," he said.
Fed's Kugler not ready to look past tariff inflation — At least one Federal Reserve official expects tariffs to lead to higher inflation, and she is worried the effects could be long lasting. The Federal Reserve Board governor said higher import tariffs could have a "persistent" impact on inflation.
Trump says Fed's Powell must lower interest rate - Truth Social post (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday redoubled his calls for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to lower interest rates, noting that payroll processing firm ADP reported that job creation slowed in May. "ADP number out. 'Too Late' Powell must now lower the rate. He is unbelievable. Europe has lowered nine times," Trump said in a Truth Social post. ADP reported on Wednesday that U.S. private payrolls increased far less than expected in May, increasing by only 37,000 jobs last month after a 60,000 rise in April that was revised downward. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast private employment increasing 110,000 following a previously reported gain of 62,000 in April. Wednesday's ADP data came ahead of a more comprehensive employment report that will be released on Friday by the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Trump, a Republican, has hammered Powell for months in often personal attacks, with his calls for the Fed chair's resignation weighing on U.S. stocks and financial markets. Trump's repeated attacks have raised questions about the continued independence of the U.S. central bank under the Trump administration, although the U.S. president last month said he would not remove the Fed chair before his term ends in May 2026.
Solid hiring in May undermines calls for Fed rate cut --Employment continued to expand in May, underscoring the Federal Reserve's view that the economy remains on stable footing. The U.S. economy added 139,000 jobs, a healthy clip that counters the president's calls for a rate cut to bolster the labor market.
Bowman confirmed as top regulator at Fed — Michelle Bowman has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be the Federal Reserve vice chair for supervision. The Senate voted to confirm Federal Reserve Gov. Michelle Bowman's nomination to be the vice chair for supervision at the central bank in a 48-46 party-line vote.
Bank of Canada Keeps Rates At 2.75% As Expected, As It Waits To See Impact Of Trump Tariffs - The Bank of Canada held interest rates steady at 2.75% for a second straight meeting - matching economist and market estimates - but warned there may be a need to cut borrowing costs if the economy weakens more and inflation remains contained as US tariffs strike. The central bank provided slight forward guidance by saying it will continue to assess the timing and strength of both the downward pressures on inflation from a weaker economy and the upward pressures on inflation from higher costs. Also, the central bank said it is "proceeding carefully, with particular attention to the risks and uncertainties facing the Canadian economy. These include: the extent to which higher US tariffs reduce demand for Canadian exports; how much this spills over into business investment, employment and household spending; how much and how quickly cost increases are passed on to consumer prices; and how inflation expectations evolve". BOC officials said they held borrowing costs steady as they gain more information on Trump's trade conflict, which they called “the biggest headwind facing the Canadian economy” as it slams exports and adds to uncertainties for consumers and businesses. At the same time, policymakers said the economy held up stronger than expected in the first quarter, and flagged a recent surge in core inflation measures.
Fed's Waller backs change to 'dot plot' economic outlook -As the Federal Reserve examines its approach to communications, one official said the central bank should consider changes to its quarterly forecasts. Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller said changes to the Federal Open Market Committee's quarterly economic projections could lead to clearer communication with markets and market participants.
Fed's Beige Book: "Economic activity has declined slightly" -- Fed's Beige Book: Reports across the twelve Federal Reserve Districts indicate that economic activity has declined slightly since the previous report. Half of the Districts reported slight to moderate declines in activity, three Districts reported no change, and three Districts reported slight growth. All Districts reported elevated levels of economic and policy uncertainty, which have led to hesitancy and a cautious approach to business and household decisions. Manufacturing activity declined slightly. Consumer spending reports were mixed, with most Districts reporting slight declines or no change; however, some Districts reported increases in spending on items expected to be affected by tariffs. Residential real estate sales were little changed, and most District reports on new home construction indicate flat or slowing construction activity. Reports on bank loan demand and capital spending plans were mixed. Activity at ports was robust, while reports on transportation and warehouse activity in other areas were mixed. On balance, the outlook remains slightly pessimistic and uncertain, unchanged relative to the previous report. However, a few District reports indicate the outlook has deteriorated while a few others indicate the outlook has improved. Employment has been little changed since the previous report. Most Districts described employment as flat, three Districts reported slight-to-modest increases, and two Districts reported slight declines. Many Districts reported lower employee turnover rates and more applicants for open positions. Comments about uncertainty delaying hiring were widespread. All Districts described lower labor demand, citing declining hours worked and overtime, hiring pauses, and staff reduction plans. Some Districts reported layoffs in certain sectors, but these layoffs were not pervasive. Two Districts noted that, for many of their contacts, hiring plans had not changed since the start of the year. Wages continued to grow at a modest pace, although many Districts reported a general easing in wage pressures. A few Districts indicated that higher costs of living continued to put upward pressure on wages. Prices have increased at a moderate pace since the previous report. There were widespread reports of contacts expecting costs and prices to rise at a faster rate going forward. A few Districts described these expected cost increases as strong, significant, or substantial. All District reports indicated that higher tariff rates were putting upward pressure on costs and prices. However, contacts' responses to these higher costs varied, including increasing prices on affected items, increasing prices on all items, reducing profit margins, and adding temporary fees or surcharges. Contacts that plan to pass along tariff-related costs expect to do so within three months.
Fed 'Beige Book' economic report cites declining growth, rising prices -The U.S. economy has contracted over the past six weeks as hiring has slowed and consumers and businesses worried about tariff-related price increases, according to a Federal Reservereport Wednesday.In its periodic "Beige Book" summary of conditions, the central bank noted that "economic activity has declined slightly since the previous report" released April 23."All Districts reported elevated levels of economic and policy uncertainty, which have led to hesitancy and a cautious approach to business and household decisions," the report added.Hiring was "little changed" across most of the Fed's 12 districts, with seven describing employment as "flat" amid widespread growth in applicants and lower turnover rates."All Districts described lower labor demand, citing declining hours worked and overtime, hiring pauses, and staff reduction plans. Some Districts reported layoffs in certain sectors, but these layoffs were not pervasive," the report said.On inflation, the report described prices as rising "at a moderate pace.""There were widespread reports of contacts expecting costs and prices to rise at a faster rate going forward. A few Districts described these expected cost increases as strong, significant, or substantial," it said. "All District reports indicated that higher tariff rates were putting upward pressure on costs and prices." There were disparities, however, over expectations for how much prices would rise, with some businesses saying they might reduce profit margins or add "temporary fees or surcharges.""Contacts that plan to pass along tariff-related costs expect to do so within three months," the report said.The report covers a period of a shifting landscape for PresidentDonald Trump's tariffs.In early May, Trump said he would relax so-called reciprocal tariffs against China, which responded in kind, helping to set off a rally on Wall Street amid hopes the duties would not be as draconian as initially feared.However, fears linger over the inflationary impact as well as whether hiring and the broader economy would slow because of slowdowns associated with the tariffs.Tariffs were mentioned 122 times in Thursday's report, compared to 107 times in April.Regionally, Boston, New York and Philadelphia all reported declining economic activity. Richmond, Atlanta and Chicago were among the districts reporting better growth.In New York specifically, the Fed found "heightened uncertainty" and input prices that "grew strongly with tariff-inducted cost increases. Richmond reported a slight increase in hiring despite Trump's efforts to trim the federal government payroll.
As Treasury market is poised to grow, fragilities mount --For the past five years, the Treasury market has been a point of concern for financial regulators, market participants, academics and other observers. Earlier this spring, it looked to many like those fears might come to a head. The Treasury market experienced unexpected volatility in April after President Trump announced sweeping tariffs, but recovered after the moves were delayed. Some see that as proof of resilience in the market, but others say it highlights vulnerabilities.
CBO Finds Big Beautiful Bill Raises US Deficit By $2.4 Trillion, Saddles Next President With Fiscal Drag -The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is out with its official scoring of the Big Beautiful Bill in its current form - and it's ugly (keep in mind that the White House just called out the CBO a 'partisan and political' institution stacked with Democrats). For starters, the bill would boost total projected deficits from $1.7 trillion to $2.3 trillion over 10 years, and would nearly double the primary (non-interest) deficit - largely attributed to a $3.8 trillion drop in tax revenue. CBO out with its score of the Big, Beautiful, Budget-Buster: sees it raising US deficit by $2.4 trillion over 10 years, almost identical to what CRFB said ($2.3 trillion). This is mostly due to $3.7TN in lower tax revenues, offset by $1.25TN in lower spending pic.twitter.com/4OoxaBJjEHAnd as a reminder, Goldman points out that the Big Beautiful Bill has tax cuts front-loaded, spending cuts back-loaded (after 2029),so the next president is stuck with the fiscal drag. Update (1238ET): White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought has hit back over the Congressional Budget Office's scoring of the 'Big Beautiful Bill' - writing on X: OMB just reviewed the new CBO score of the One Big Beautiful bill. It confirms what we knew about the bill at House passage. The bill REDUCES deficits by $1.4 trillion over ten years when you adjust for CBO's one big gimmick--not using a realistic current policy baseline. It includes $1.7 trillion in mandatory savings, the most in history. If you care about deficits and debt, this bill dramatically improves the fiscal picture.
Trump, GOP lash out at CBO over tax plan projections -Republicans are using Congress’s official budget scorer as a whipping boy, as they argue a major package of President Trump’s tax priorities is costless, despite multiple projections placing the plan’s price tag at trillions of dollars over the next decade.While the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has not yet released its final estimate of House Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” as it advances on Capitol Hill, Republicans have increased attacks on the nonpartisan office over its cost projections of the party’s tax cuts plan — which seeks to permanently lock in expiring provisions in Trump’s 2017 tax plan, along with a host of other add-ons.The CBO sometimes gets projections correct, but they’re always off every single time when they project economic growth,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) argued during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet The Press” on Sunday, asserting the bill “is going to reduce the deficit.”“They always underestimate the growth that will be brought about by tax cuts and reduction in regulations,” he said, while touting Trump’s 2017 tax plan as bringing “about the greatest economy in the history of the world, not just the U.S.”Trump also fumed about the CBO in a Friday post on Truth Social, while accusing the office of “purposefully” underscoring economic growth projections of his tax cuts.“The Democrat inspired and ‘controlled’ Congressional Budget Office (CBO) purposefully gave us an EXTREMELY LOW level of Growth, 1.8 percent over 10 years — how ridiculous and unpatriotic is that!” he wrote on social media.“I predict we will do 3, 4, or even 5 times the amount they purposefully ‘allotted’ to us (1.8 percent) and, with just our minimum expected 3 percent growth, we will more than offset our tax cuts (which will, in actuality, cost us no money!),” he wrote.The CBO won’t release a final growth projection for the GOP bill until later this week. However, the agency projected earlier this year that real gross domestic product (GDP) would grow at an average rate of 1.8 percent annually over the next decade if current law remains unchanged.
Trump’s 'big, beautiful bill' heads for showdown with Senate parliamentarian - House-passed legislation to enact President Trump’s agenda is headed for a showdown with the Senate parliamentarian as Democrats plan to challenge key elements of it, including a proposal to make Trump’s expiring 2017 tax cuts permanent. Senate Democrats are warning ahead of the fight that if Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) makes an end run around the parliamentarian to make Trump’s tax cuts permanent, it would seriously undermine the filibuster and open the door to Democrats rewriting Senate rules in the future. Senate Republicans argue it’s up to Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to set the budgetary baseline for the bill. They say it’s not up to the parliamentarian to determine whether extending the 2017 Trump tax cuts should be scored as adding to the deficit. If Graham determines that extending Trump’s tax cuts should be judged as an extension of current policy and therefore is budget-neutral, it would allow Republicans to make the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent, which is a top priority of Thune and Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). Democrats expect Senate Republicans to do just that, most likely by putting the question to a vote in the Senate, which Republicans control with 53 seats. That’s what Thune did before the Memorial Day recess to set a new Senate precedent to allow Republicans to repeal California’s electric vehicle (EV) mandate under the Congressional Review Act. Democrats will attempt to force the parliamentarian to rule that making the Trump tax cuts permanent would add to federal deficits beyond 2034 — beyond the 10-year budget window — and therefore violate the Senate’s Byrd Rule. Such a ruling, if upheld on the Senate floor, would blow up Thune and Crapo’s plan to make the 2017 tax cuts permanent. They would have to add language to sunset those tax cuts to allow the bill to pass the Senate with a simple-majority vote. Democrats are warning that another effort to circumvent the parliamentarian would open the door to a rewriting of the filibuster rule when their party recaptures control of Washington.
Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' losing momentum in Senate - The sprawling bill to enact President Trump’s “big, beautiful” agenda is losing momentum in the Senate in the face of blistering attacks from Elon Musk and outspoken opposition from conservatives. Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) warned colleagues at a special conference meeting Wednesday afternoon that there are two likely “no” votes against the bill within the Senate GOP conference, which means just one more defection would threaten to derail the legislation, according to a senator who attended the meeting. “Crapo just said, ‘I think [there] are two of us who are pretty definite no’s,’ which means we can’t lose anybody else,” the source said. Crapo did not name names, but colleagues assumed he was talking about conservative Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). Paul says he will vote against the bill because it includes language to raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion, extending the federal government’s borrowing authority past the 2026 midterm election. Johnson, meanwhile, has called for Senate GOP colleagues to scrap the House-passed bill and move a smaller measure that would focus on extending the 2017 Trump tax cuts, securing the border and banking on the spending cuts identified by House committee chairs. “What I am rock-solid on is that I can’t accept this as the new normal,” he said of projections that the annual federal deficit will reach $2.2 trillion in 2025 and grow to $2.7 trillion by 2035. “We have our chance to reverse this,” he said of growing deficits. “I will not be responsible for continuing this.” Paul and Johnson are stepping up their criticism of the bill just as Musk is urging lawmakers to “KILL” the legislation, warning it will blow up the deficit. “Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL,” Musk posted on his social platform X. The Congressional Budget Office projected Wednesday that the 1,116-page bill passed by the House will add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade.
Kill (The) Bill: Musk Goes Ballistic Against GOP Tax And Spending Package -- Let's be honest, Elon Musk has been made a fool of by the GOP. After assembling the DOGE team and spending months finding egregious levels of waste, fraud and abuse within the US government - i.e. what Trump supporters voted for - House and Senate Republicans gave Musk a little pat on the head, then proceeded to roll out President Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' - that codified exactly zero of DOGE's findings, raises the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, and relies on ambitious economic projections to achieve what the White House insists is $1.4 trillion in savings (while the Congressional Budget Office projects deficits of $1.7 - $2.3 trillion over the next decade). Needless to say, Musk is livid. On Tuesday, Musk posted to X, "I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination." His post was immediately met with support from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who said "We can and must do better." I agree with Elon. We have both seen the massive waste in government spending and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake. We can and must do better. https://t.co/LwPNJZv5zo — Rand Paul (@RandPaul) June 3, 2025 This sent the White House scrambling to do damage control - with Budget Director Russ Vought sending Congress a request for a $9.4 billion clawback for unspent foreign aid funding - which if you're Musk, after what DOGE has uncovered, is a huge slap in the face. On Wednesday, Musk continued to rage on X - posting: "Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! Kill the Bill." - followed by a 'Kill Bill' movie poster featuring Uma Thurman. Call your Senator,Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 4, 2025 Musk's solution? A new spending bill that doesn't jack the debt ceiling by $5 trillion dollars while "massively" growing the deficit. A new spending bill should be drafted that doesn’t massively grow the deficit and increase the debt ceiling by 5 TRILLION DOLLARS
What do Musk and Tesla want from the Republican megabill? - The single biggest donor in last year’s elections stands to lose billions of dollars because the Republicans he helped bankroll are now poised to scrap energy policies that support his electric car and energy business. But Elon Musk has repeatedly pointed to deficit concerns when going on an online blitz starting Tuesday against the GOP’s “big beautiful bill,” breaking his allegiance to President Donald Trump and stunning congressional leaders who are trying to pass a tax cut, energy and security spending package with razor-thin majorities. Still, lawmakers and other observers are questioning Musk’s motives. And the billionaire himself has provided some clues he’s not happy with how the GOP bill would hurt his bottom line. “Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL,” Musk wrote on X, the social media platform he owns, on Wednesday. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has worked to rebut Musk, at one point Tuesday suggesting the Tesla CEO was miffed about the legislation scrapping Biden-era rules meant to promote the use of electric vehicles. “It’s part of the Green New Deal. And I know that has an effect on his businesses, and I’ll admit that,” Johnson said. “But for him to come out and pan the whole bill is, to me, just very disappointing.” On Wednesday, Johnson would not address Musk’s potential motives. “Everybody can draw their own conclusions about that,” the speaker said. “Look, I don’t subscribe [motivation] to anybody.” Musk’s public displeasure with the megabill started showing last week as he was preparing to leave his position as a special federal worker tasked with cutting spending. Musk amplified a post from Tesla Energy, a part of his business empire focused on solar and batteries, against the House-passed bill’s rollback of renewable energy credits from the Democrats’ 2022 climate law. “Abruptly ending the energy tax credits would threaten America’s energy independence and the reliability of our grid,” the company wrote. Murk also amplified a post saying “slashing solar energy credits is unjust.” “There is no change to tax incentives for oil & gas, just EV/solar,” Musk wrote. And even though Musk had said he didn’t want federal incentives for his EV business, POLITICO and other outlets — citing anonymous sources — have said the billionaire was lobbying to protect those very credits. “Tesla certainly stands to lose a perverse incentive to manufacture cars people aren’t willing to pay for,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). “Or we’ll find out who’s actually willing to pay for them if they are not subsidized. But frankly, I’ve never been lobbied by Tesla or Elon personally.”
Marshall calls Musk feud a ‘little side circus show’ as Senate focuses on passing Trump bill -Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) on Thursday referred to the feud between tech billionaire Elon Musk and President Trump as a circus sideshow as the Senate focuses on passing Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.”“This is a little speed bump, it’s a little side circus show,” Marshall told NewsNation’s Blake Burman on “The Hill.” “We are absolutely locked in on passing the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’”On Thursday, Trump and Musk’s relationship quickly fell apart in a very public way. In an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the president told reporters that he was “very surprised” and “very disappointed” in Musk, who has recently mounted a campaign against the president’s signature policy bill.In response, Musk claimed on social media that he was behind the president’s November 2024 election victory. He also alleged in a mid-afternoon post on X that Trump had ties to convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein.“We’ll prevent the largest tax increase in American history,” Marshall said of the “big, beautiful bill.” “We’re going to kick illegal aliens off of Medicaid. So, there’s so many great things in this bill that we have to get it through.”
Freedom Caucus warns it will ‘not accept’ Senate changes on green energy tax credits - The conservative House Freedom Caucus said Friday it would “not accept” changes that “water down” its cuts to green energy tax credits as the Senate weighs whether to alter parts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The House version of the “big, beautiful bill” would make drastic changes to tax cuts for low-carbon energy sources passed in the Democrats’ 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Climate-friendly energy projects, including wind and solar, would only be able to qualify for the credits under the House bill if they begin construction within 60 days of the bill’s enactment. This brief window would likely make many projects ineligible for the credits, and it is expected to significantly hamstring the development of new renewable power. In a post Friday on social media, the Freedom Caucus warned the Senate against loosening that restriction or others included in the bill. “We want to be crystal clear: if the Senate attempts to water down, strip out, or walk back the hard-fought spending reductions and IRA Green New Scam rollbacks achieved in this legislation, we will not accept it,” said the post, which was attributed to the Freedom Caucus’s board. “The House Freedom Caucus Board will stand united holding the line. The American people didn’t send us here to cave to the swamp — they sent us here to change it,” it added. The Senate has been widely expected to consider changes that could slow the rapid elimination of the tax credit passed under the House version of President Trump’s “big beautiful bill.”
Ukraine plays surprise card in Trump’s ceasefire push - Ukraine claimed it destroyed dozens of Russia’s long-distance and nuclear-capable bombers with explosive drones smuggled across the border, although open-source reporting has not confirmed all of Ukraine’s claims. The stunning military maneuver counters Trump’s narrative that Ukraine is on the brink of defeat, but it “doesn’t change everything,” said Oleksiy Goncharenko, a member of Ukraine’s Parliament in the opposition European Solidarity party.“I hope maybe after such operation Russians will also realize that they also need a ceasefire. Maybe from this point of view it will help. For the moment, it’s a great operation, but I don’t feel it immediately changes a lot,” he told The Hill. Volodymyr Dubovyk, professor of international relations at Odesa Mechnikov National University, said that while Ukrainians are worn down from three years of war, they are not prepared to swallow Russia’s conditions for a ceasefire — such as recognizing Russian sovereignty over occupied territories and restrictions on their military. “Exhaustion in Ukraine is very real,” he said. “But at the same time, people are not having any appetite for capitulation and surrender, because, after all, so much being lost already, so many lives lost — what for? Then to give to Russia what it wanted from the very beginning? That doesn’t make sense for a lot of Ukrainians.” Trump has neither criticized nor endorsed Ukraine’s cross-border operation, but he said it was discussed during his call Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he said promised a Russian response to the attacks. On Tuesday, Ukraine’s internal security service also announced it had carried out a special operation bombing Kerch Bridge, the main artery connecting Russia to the occupied Crimean Peninsula and a Putin pet project.The symbolism of these attacks has boosted spirits across Ukraine but doesn’t address wider concerns about the future of the war. There’s also the looming challenge of dwindling U.S. support to Ukraine.
Steve Bannon says Lindsey Graham should be arrested for Ukraine diplomacy -MAGA insider and former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon said Monday that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of Kyiv’s strongest backers in Congress, should be “arrested” if he doesn’t stop traveling overseas and “stirring it up” in Ukraine. Bannon expressed his frustration over Ukraine’s stunning drone attack on Russia’s strategic bombing fleet, which destroyed 40 aircraft deep inside Russian territory, giving Ukrainian forces a potential morale boost.Bannon said the White House should condemn the military strike and crack down on Graham’s diplomacy. The senator applauded Ukraine’s resourcefulness in pulling off a successful attack Sunday.“The White House has to condemn this immediately and pull all support and tell Lindsey Graham to come home or we are going to put you under arrest when you come home. You’re stirring it up,” Bannon said Monday on his “War Room” podcast.He accused Graham, who met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, of working behind President Trump’s back.“Lindsey Graham’s over there saying, ‘Hey, forget Trump. I got the House and the Senate. We’re going to pass it. You’re going to see something in a couple of days,’” Bannon said, referring to legislation Graham has sponsored to sanction Russia and countries that buy its products.“He’s stirring it up over there,” he said.
NATO risks nuclear catastrophe with attack on Russian airports -- The destruction of strategic bombers deep inside Russia by the Ukrainian secret service SBU shows that NATO will stop at nothing to escalate the war with Russia, even if it means provoking a nuclear catastrophe. On Sunday, around 120 Ukrainian drones, which had previously been smuggled into the country, attacked four Russian military airfields in a coordinated operation. Two of the airfields—Belaya in Eastern Siberia and Olenia near the Finnish-Russian border—are thousands of kilometers away from Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky personally boasted on X about the “absolutely brilliant success” and announced that it had been a long-planned coup: “One year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective implementation.” The SBU released videos of the attacks. According to its information, more than 40 combat and reconnaissance aircraft were destroyed, about 34 percent of Russian bombers capable of launching cruise missiles. Well-informed Russian bloggers estimate a lower number, but even according to their information, around a dozen aircraft went up in flames. It is inconceivable that NATO was not informed and closely involved. Such a complex operation, prepared over a long period of time, cannot be carried out without reconnaissance data that only the US has at its disposal. Military and intelligence officials from NATO and Ukraine are in constant, close contact, and President Zelensky exchanges information with the heads of government of NATO countries on an almost daily basis. The action was obviously designed to humiliate and provoke the Russian government. The following day, the second round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine took place in Istanbul, which ended after only an hour without any significant results. In Moscow, the attack will be interpreted as a NATO attack on strategic targets within Russia, and the regime will respond accordingly. Official sources have so far remained cautious. The Russian Ministry of Defense merely stated that “some aviation equipment had caught fire” and that “all terrorist attacks” had been repelled. But bloggers close to the Russian military are calling the attack “Russia’s Pearl Harbor.” In December 1941, the Japanese air force destroyed parts of the American Pacific Fleet in the Hawaiian port. The following day, the US declared war on Japan and entered World War II. The widely read channel “Dva Majora” accused NATO of “directly undermining the nuclear strategic balance” and “reducing our country’s nuclear protection.” The Telegram channel “Rybar,” with 1.3 million subscribers, called for an end to talks with Ukraine and a “new level of escalation of the conflict.” The newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets, the second largest in the country, described June 1 as a “black day for Russia’s long-range and military transport aircraft” and called for the same “determination and harshness” against Ukraine as Israel has shown against Hamas. President Putin will respond to the growing pressure, and NATO’s experienced strategists know this very well. Attacks on NATO targets outside Ukraine that have a similar strategic significance to the destroyed Russian bombers cannot be ruled out. The danger of further escalation and expansion of the war in Ukraine, including the use of nuclear weapons, is greater than ever before. What is prompting NATO to take this risk? Why is it continuing to escalate a war that has already cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers? The history of the war in Ukraine itself provides an answer. This was never the “unprovoked Russian war of aggression,” as portrayed by the media. The Russian oligarchs, who had become rich by plundering the social property of the Soviet Union and whose interests Putin represents, always sought admission into the circle of capitalist “great powers.” Putin himself was therefore celebrated with a standing ovation by the German Bundestag in 2001. But neither the US nor the major European powers wanted to share with the Russian oligarchs. Driven by mounting economic and financial crises and the pursuit of raw materials, markets and profits, they broke one agreement after another that they had made since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and pushed further and further eastward economically and militarily. After NATO had annexed all of Eastern Europe and the former Baltic Soviet republics, it also reached out to Ukraine and Georgia, aiming to destroy Russia.
Trump Breaks Silence On Brazen Ukraine Drone Op In Lengthy Putin Call After two days of deafening silence from the White House on Ukraine's Sunday massive drone assault, dubbed 'Operation Spider's Web' - which took out many key Russian aircraft, including long-range strategic bombers and likely even Russia's extremely rare A-50 Radar Plane - President Trump has finally reacted publicly.The president revealed he has held a phone call with President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, which significantly lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes. Trump warned that peace is not very close on the horizon and that the two leaders covered several pressing issues in their conversation."We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides." Trump went on to call it a good conversation, however "not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace."That's when Trump clarified that "President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields."The Russian leader's words are consistent with Dmitry Medvedev's ominous words issued the day prior, wherein the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said "retribution is inevitable". Medvedev had warned of what's coming:"Our Army is pushing forward and will continue to advance. Everything that needs to be blown up will be blown up, and those who must be eliminated will be." Below: Ukraine on Wednesday released additional footage of strikes on four Russian air fields, including what could be two A-50 aircraft in Ivanovo...Trump didn't reveal much further in the way of details, after the White House in a Tuesday briefing again affirmed that President Trump did not have foreknowledge of the Ukrainian cross-border operation. (But did US intelligence? very likely so.)
Putin Tells Trump He Has To Respond to Ukrainian Drone Attack - President Trump said on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him that Moscow would have to respond to the Ukrainian drone attack that targeted airfields deep inside Russia.“I just finished speaking, by telephone, with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia. The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.“We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields,” the president added.The Ukrainian drone attack was launched by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) using drones that were launched from trucks near the Russian airfields, and at least 13 aircraft were hit, including Tu-95 strategic bombers, which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons. While the CIA is deeply involved with the SBU, officials are claiming the US didn’t provide intelligence for the attack. According to the Kremlin, Trump also told Putin he was not informed of the plan. “Donald Trump reiterated that the Americans had not been informed about this in advance,” said Putin aide Yury Ushakov.The Ukrainian drone attack came a day after Russian and Ukrainian officials held their second round of direct peace talks in Istanbul on Monday. While the two sides agreed to a major prisoner swap, it didn’t appear that they made progress on a ceasefire, as they remain very far apart on terms for a peace deal.Trump also said that he discussed Iran with Putin. “I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement. President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion,” he said.
Trump Suggests Ukraine and Russia Should 'Fight for a Little While' - President Trump on Thursday suggested that Russia and Ukraine shouldmaybe “fight for a little while” as the recent efforts for a peace deal appear to be making little progress.Trump made the comments to reporters in the Oval Office while hosting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and compared the war in Ukraine to a fight between children.“Sometimes you see two young children fighting like crazy,” he said. “They hate each other, and they’re fighting in a park, and you try and pull them apart. They don’t want to be pulled. Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart.” Trump said he made the analogy in his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week. “I said, ‘President, maybe you’re going to have to keep fighting and suffering a lot,’ because both sides are suffering before you pull them apart, before they’re able to be pulled apart,” he said.After the call with Putin on Wednesday, Trump said that the Russian leader told him Moscow would have to respond to the Ukrainian drone attack on Russian airfields, and said there would likely not be “immediate peace.”In his remarks on Thursday, Trump suggested he could sanction both Russia and Ukraine if a peace deal isn’t reached. “When I see the moment where it’s not going to stop … we’ll be very, very tough,” he said. “And it could be on both countries, to be honest. It takes two to tango.”
Witkoff Says Hamas's Response To Gaza Ceasefire Proposal Is 'Totally Unacceptable' - US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has rejected Hamas’s response to a US-Israeli Gaza ceasefire proposal, calling it “totally unacceptable.” Hamas responded to the 13-point proposal by offering amendments, including a guarantee for a permanent ceasefire, a change to the timeline on the release of Israeli captives, and reinserted language that said Hamas would cede power to an independent Palestinian committee. “I received the Hamas response to the United States’ proposal. It is totally unacceptable and only takes us backward,” Witkoff wrote on X on Saturday. “Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week.” Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official based in Turkey, rejected Witkoff’s characterization, saying that Hamas had agreed to an earlier US proposal that was then changed by Israel. “We did not reject Mr. Witkoff’s proposal. We agreed with him on a proposal, which he deemed acceptable for negotiation. We then received the other party’s response (the Israelis) through Mr. Witkoff, which rejected all that we had agreed upon with him,” Naim told Drop Site News. Under the Israeli proposal that Hamas received, the Palestinian group would release 10 Israeli captives and the bodies of 18 Israelis within the first week of a 60-day truce. Hamas wanted a stronger guarantee that the 60-day truce would be upheld and proposed releasing the 10 hostages and 18 bodies throughout the ceasefire and completing it on the 60th day. “Witkoff’s insistence on releasing all the captives in the first week shows ill intention. Based on previous experience, the Israelis will simply return to full-scale war and sabotage the rest of the agreement,” a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations told Middle East Eye. Since Hamas’s main demand has been a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal, its proposal included stronger language to that end. It says that on the first day of the ceasefire, “indirect negotiations will begin under the auspices of the mediators guaranteeing the permanent ceasefire.” Regarding long-term plans for Gaza, the Hamas proposal says an “independent technocratic committee will immediately assume management of all affairs of the Gaza Strip upon the start of the agreement’s implementation, with full authority and responsibilities,” meaning Hamas would no longer be the governing authority, although the group would remain armed. According to Drop Site, the language about the committee taking over Gaza was included in the original US proposal but was removed from the Israeli one. The Palestinian source speaking to Middle East Eye said Hamas feels “betrayed” by Witkoff since he didn’t uphold previous agreements. “First, when Israel violated the US-guaranteed deal on 2 March by imposing an embargo on aid and then resuming full-scale war on 18 March – with the full support and cover of Witkoff and the US administration,” the source said. “And second, when Hamas released an American-Israeli soldier, Edan Alexander, in good faith, expecting humanitarian relief and a shift in the negotiating approach – which clearly did not happen,” the official added. Hamas has said it’s ready to continue indirect negotiations with Israel to reach a deal. In the meantime, the US continues to fully back Israel’s genocidal assault on the Gaza Strip.
US Vetoes UN Resolution Calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza - The US on Wednesday vetoed a resolution at the UN Security Council that called for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza, the release of Israeli captives, and the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into the besieged Palestinian territory.The US was the only member of the 15-member Security Council that didn’t vote in favor of the ceasefire. The resolution was introduced by the 10 non-permanent members of the Council: Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Panama, Pakistan, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Slovenia.“We believe this text reflects the consensus shared by all Council members that the war in Gaza has to come to an immediate halt, all hostages must be immediately and unconditionally released, and civilians in Gaza must not starve and must have full and unimpeded access to aid,” the 10 nations said in a joint statement.The US and the four other permanent members — Russia, China, the UK, and France — all have veto power on the Security Council. The Biden administration vetoed several Gaza-related resolutions at the Security Council, but Wednesday’s vote marked the first time the new Trump administration used its veto power to block a Gaza ceasefire resolution on behalf of Israel.Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said in a post on X after the vote that he wanted to thank President Trump and the “US administration for standing shoulder to shoulder with Israel and vetoing this one-sided resolution in the UN Security Council.”Dorothy Shea, the acting US ambassador to the UN, said that “any product that undermines our close ally Israel’s security is a nonstarter.” She also claimed the resolution would hurt diplomatic efforts that have failed to make progress due to Israel’s refusal to end its genocidal war by committing to a permanent ceasefire.
US-Backed Gaza Aid Foundation Taps Christian Zionist Leader as New Director - Rev. Johnnie Moore, an American evangelical Christian leader andstaunch Zionist, has been named as the new executive director of the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF).The GHF’s aid scheme in Gaza has been widely condemned by humanitarian organizations as not nearly sufficient to feed the desperate population of Gaza, and its aid distribution points have turned into death traps, as many Palestinians seeking food have been killed by Israeli forces while making the trek to the sites.Due to the controversy over the aid scheme, the GHF’s previous executive director, Jake Wood, resigned right before the organization began operating in Gaza. Wood said it was “clear that it is not possible to implement this plan while also strictly adhering to humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon.”Moore has been defending the GHF in a series of posts on X and hasbacked Israel’s claim that it wasn’t responsible for the Sunday massacre of 31 aid seekers near a distribution point in Rafah, despite evidence to the contrary. He has also expressed support for President Trump’s proposal for the US to take over Gaza, which would involve the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian population, a plan the Israeli governmentsays it intends to carry out.“President Trump always sees war through the eyes of its human cost, & he thinks creatively — never bound by conventional wisdom. He stops wars & makes peace,” Moore said in a post on X that included a video of Trump discussing his Gaza plan.“The USA will take full responsibility for future of Gaza, giving everyone hope & a future,” Moore added. Moore has served as an advisor to Trump, and according to Haaretz, he is a “key conduit” between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and American evangelicals who support Israel.
Israeli Military Admits To Shooting Palestinians Near Gaza Aid Site, 27 Reported Killed - Gaza’s Health Ministry said Tuesday that at least 27 people were killed when Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians attempting to collect aid near a distribution site in southern Gaza.The Israeli military admitted that it opened fire at Palestinians near the distribution sites, claiming it targeted “suspects” who were approaching IDF troops. The statement did not allege that the Palestinians were armed. Axios later reported that the IDF acknowledged it fired at civilians.“Earlier today, during the movement of the crowd along the designated routes toward the aid distribution site—approximately half a kilometer from the site—IDF troops identified several suspects moving toward them, deviating from the designated routes,” the IDF said in a statement.“The troops carried out warning fire, and after the suspects failed to retreat, additional shots were directed near individual suspects who advanced toward the troops,” the statement added.
Zen And The Art Of New York Times Headline Writing -- Caitlin Johnstone - The New York Times has just published one of the most insane headlines I have ever seen it publish, which is really saying something. “Gaza’s Deadly Aid Deliveries,” the title blares. If you were among the majority of people who only skim the headline without reading the rest of the article, you would have no idea that Israel has spent the last few days massacring starving civilians at aid sites and lying about it. You would also have no idea that it is Israel who’s been starving them in the first place.The headline is written in such a passive, amorphous way that it sounds like the aid deliveries themselves are deadly. Like the bags of flour are picking up assault rifles and firing on desperate Palestinians queuing for food or something. The sub-headline is no better: “Israel’s troops have repeatedly shot near food distribution sites.” Oh? They’ve shot “near” food distribution sites, have they? Could their discharging their weapons in close proximity to the aid sites possibly have something to do with the aforementioned deadliness of the aid deliveries? Are we the readers supposed to connect these two pieces of information for ourselves, or are we meant to view them as two separate data points which may or may not have anything to with one another? The article itself makes it clear that Israel has admitted that IDF troops fired their weapons “near” people waiting for aid after they failed to respond to “warning shots”, so you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out what happened here. But in mainstream publications the headlines are written by editors, not by the journalists who write the articles, so they get to frame the story in whatever way suits their propaganda agenda for the majority who never read past the headline.
GOP Rep Introduces Resolution Labeling ‘Free Palestine’ Slogan as 'Anti-Semitism' - Colorado GOP Congressman Gabe Evans introduced a non-binding resolution on Friday that labels ‘Free Palestine’ as “an antisemitic slogan.” The bill seeks to limit immigration of people who oppose Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine and Tel Aviv’s genocidal onslaught in the besieged Gaza Strip. The bill is expected to be voted onsome time next week.The bill reads, “Whereas, while shouting ‘Free Palestine,’ an antisemitic slogan that calls for the destruction of the state of Israel and Jewish people, Mohammed Sabry Soliman attacked the peaceful demonstrators with homemade Molotov cocktails.”The term “Free Palestine” refers to the desire to end the nearly 60 -years-long brutal Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, illegal per international law. It also implies support for ending Israel’s apartheid regime, replacing it with either a two-state solution or a single state with equal rights, including the right to vote, for all citizens currently living under the rule of the Israeli government.The introduction of the bill follows a terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado by 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national who was living in the United States on an expired nonimmigrant visa. He had applied for asylum subsequent to his visa’s expiration. Over a dozen people were injured after the assailant threw Molotov cocktails at attendees at a small pro-Israel demonstration.
Human Rights Watch Calls for War Crimes Probe Into US Bombing of Yemen Fuel Port - Human Rights Watch on Wednesday called for the recent US bombing of the Ras Issa Fuel Port in Hodeidah, Yemen, to be investigated as a war crime due to the massive civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.The US launched airstrikes against the port on April 17, killing 84 civilians and injuring 150 more. The monitoring group Airwars was able to identify the 84 civilians by name. The dead included 49 port workers, several truck drivers, two civil defense workers, and three children.When the US announced the attack on the port, it did not allege that it was hitting a military target. US Central Command justified the bombing of vital civilian infrastructure by saying the Houthis, who govern an area where about 70% to 80% of Yemenis live, “profit” off fuel that enters the port. According to HRW, the Ras Issa port is one of three ports in Hodeidah where 70% of Yemen’s commercial imports and 80% of its humanitarian assistance pass through.“The applicable international humanitarian law during the fighting in Yemen prohibits deliberate, indiscriminate, or disproportionate attacks on civilians and civilian objects,” HRW said.“When used by an armed force or non-state armed group, port facilities and oil storage tanks can be valid military objectives. However, attacking the port fuel depot because it is an “economic source of power of the Houthis” or provides them revenue would make virtually any entity that provided economic benefit subject to military attack,” HRW added. From March 15 until President Trump declared a ceasefire with the Houthis on May 6, the US military said it launched over 1,000 strikes on Yemen. The bombing campaign took a significant toll on civilians, killing more than 200, according to the Yemen Data Project.
Trump Contradicts Report That Says US Offer Allows Iran To Enrich Uranium - President Trump on Monday contradicted a report from Axios that said the US had delivered a proposal to Iran that would allow Tehran to enrich uranium at a low level for its civilian nuclear program.“The AUTOPEN should have stopped Iran a long time ago from ‘enriching,'” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Under our potential Agreement — WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!”Other US officials have been publicly demanding that Iran eliminate its enrichment program altogether, a condition Tehran has made clear is a non-starter. But the Axios report said the US is showing flexibility on the issue.Sources told Axios that the offer put forward by US envoy Steve Witkoff describes “preliminary ideas” to be discussed in the next round of negotiations.Under the outline, Iran would not be allowed to build any new enrichment facilities and must “dismantle critical infrastructure for conversion and processing of uranium.” Iran would also have to halt new research and development on centrifuges and would not be able to develop enrichment capabilities beyond those necessary for civilian purposes.Once the agreement is signed, Iran would have to limit its uranium enrichment to 3% for an undetermined period of time. The 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, capped Iranian nuclear enrichment at 3.67%.According to the Witkoff proposal, the idea of a deal would be to establish a regional enrichment consortium. In exchange, Iran would receive sanctions relief once the US and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were satisfied with its progress.Other media reports conflicted with what Axios reported, including onefrom The New York Times, which said the US proposal demanded Iran immediately cease uranium enrichment. Sources told the Times that the US called for the establishment of a regional consortium to produce nuclear power, which would include Saudi Arabia and other Arab states. Reuters also reported that the US proposal included the demand for Iran to stop enriching uranium and cited Iranian sources who said Tehran was poised to reject the offer. “In this proposal, the US stance on enrichment on Iranian soil remains unchanged, and there is no clear explanation regarding the lifting of sanctions,” a source told the outlet. Exploring a deal that allows Iranian uranium enrichment puts the Trump administration at odds with virtually every Republican in Congress and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both the hawks in the US and Israel are demanding that any deal must eliminate Iran’s enrichment program altogether, a condition they’re likely pushing knowing it would sabotage diplomacy and bring the US and Iran closer to war.While President Trump has been pursuing diplomacy with Iran, he has also been threatening to bomb the country if a deal isn’t reached. The threats have continued even though US intelligence agencies recently reaffirmed that there’s no evidence Tehran is building a bomb or that Khamenei has reversed his ban on the development of nuclear weapons.
Iran Says US Nuclear Proposal Contains 'Many Ambiguities and Questions' - \On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the US’s proposal for a nuclear deal contains “ambiguities and questions,” comments that come amid a series of conflicting reports about the US offer.“The written proposal we received from the US contains many ambiguities and questions. Many issues in this proposal are not clear,” Aragchi said during a visit to Lebanon.The Iranian diplomat said that Tehran would respond to the proposal soon. “We will provide an appropriate and considered response in the coming days, based on our principled positions and with the interests of the Iranian people in mind,” he said.The US and Iran have been at odds over the issue of Iran’s civilian nuclear enrichment program. Publicly, the US has been demanding that it’s eliminated altogether, a condition Tehran has made clear is a non-starter.The New York Times reported on Tuesday that the US proposal would allow Iran to enrich uranium at low levels for an interim period until new nuclear facilities are set up by a consortium of regional countries, including Saudi Arabia and other Arab states. But the plan ultimately involves Iran ending uranium enrichment on its soil and puts Tehran in a position where its nuclear fuel supply could be cut off.“Continuing enrichment on Iranian soil is our red line, and this is an undeniable fact that now seems to be accepted by all countries. Enrichment has become a matter of national pride and a source of honor for Iranians,” Aragchi said on Tuesday. A day earlier, President Trump said any deal with Iran wouldn’t allow nuclear enrichment, which appeared to contradict a report from Axiosthat said a US proposal would allow enrichment at low levels.
Iran's Khamenei Criticizes US Nuclear Proposal, Vows Tehran Won't Stop Uranium Enrichment - On Wednesday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei criticized the US’s nuclear proposal and vowed Tehran would never get rid of its uranium enrichment program, saying the issue was none of the US’s “business.” “A nuclear industry without enrichment capabilities is useless because we would then be dependent on others to obtain fuel for our power plants,” Khamenei said in a televised speech marking the 36th anniversary of the death of his predecessor, Ayatollah Khomeini.“Thousands of nuclear scientists and researchers have been trained in Iran. Should we disappoint them, make them unemployed and take away their hope in our country’s future? The rude, insolent US leaders want this. In the current nuclear talks that are being mediated by Oman, the US proposal is 100% against the spirit of ‘We can,'” Khamenei said.“To the American side and others we say: Why are you interfering and trying to say whether Iran should have uranium enrichment or not? That’s none of your business,” the Iranian leader added.According to media reports, the US proposal would allow Iran to enrich uranium at low levels for an interim period before the establishment of new nuclear facilities that will be run by a consortium of countries, including Saudi Arabia and other Arab states.Iranian officials have made clear they wouldn’t go for a deal that doesn’t allow uranium enrichment on its own soil. But according toAxios, the proposal doesn’t specify where the nuclear facilities would be established, and an Iranian source suggested Tehran could be open to a deal that allows the consortium to operate in Iran.Also on Wednesday, President Trump accused Iran of “slow walking” its response to the US proposal, comments he made after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.“It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!” he said.US and Iranian officials are expected to hold another round of negotiations this weekend. Trump gave Tehran a deadline of June 12 to reach a nuclear deal, and the talks are being conducted under the threat that the US will bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities if an agreement isn’t reached despite US intelligence agencies concluding that Iran isn’t working toward a nuclear bomb.Israel, which has a secret nuclear weapons program and a stockpile of nuclear warheads, has also been threatening to attack Iran as a way to sabotage the diplomacy between Washington and Tehran.
US Pulls 500 Troops Out of Syria, 1,500 Remain - The US has pulled about 500 troops out of Syria in recent weeks, bringing the total number of US servicemen in the country to about 1,500.The drawdown is part of a plan that the Pentagon announced in April to bring the total number of US troops in Syria to under 1,000. For years, the Pentagon claimed there were only 900 US troops occupying Syria, but the Biden administration revealed late last year that the real number was 2,000.US officials told Fox News that as part of the recent drawdown, the US left three bases in Syria and either closed them or handed the facilities over to the US-backed Kurdish-led SDF.
US Blesses Idea of Syrian Military Integrating Foreign Islamist Fighters - The position of the United States on the Islamist Syrian government has been complex since the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took power in December. The HTS, after all, was effectively al-Qaeda’s Syria branch up until it distanced itself from the parent group, with al-Qaeda’s blessing, and started trying to present itself as a more palatable group with effectively the same ideology.The US has very publicly warmed to HTS in recent weeks though, with President Trump praising HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly know as al-Qaeda in Iraq’s Abu Mohammed al-Jolani) as an “attractive” and “tough guy.” Keeping the HTS purely internal to Syria was seen as a key though, contrasting them to international Islamist movements with global aspirations. It was insisted that HTS exclude foreign Islamist fighters, despite many of the group’s high-ranking members actually being foreign Islamists.Yet US officials are now confirming that they have blessed a planwhereby the HTS will directly integrate several thousand foreign Islamist fighters into the Syrian Army. The army is even creating a new division, the 84th Division, which will be made up of some 3,500 jihadist fighters, mainly Uyghurs. Many of the Uyghurs are from the Turkestan Islamic Party, which is designated by China as a terrorist group. China had reportedly been pushing Syria to ban the group, though the strategy of the HTS seems to be just claiming the party no longer exists and have its members fully integrated into the military.Looming large in this US-endorsed plan is the massacre of huge numbers of Syria’s Alawite minority, violence which began in March but has continued to this day. The HTS has tried to present the incidents as unrelated to their ongoing crackdown against Alawite militias in the same area at the same time, but the Alawites told a very different story.Indeed, to the extent it wasn’t uniformed Syrian Defense and Interior Ministry personnel dragging Alawites into the street and shooting them, which was heavily reported as well, the killers were described consistently as foreign Islamists, including Uyghurs. If the massacres continue to rage, and every indication is that they will, it will be increasingly difficult for the HTS to try to claim it’s not plainly their own newly integrated membership carrying out the sectarian killings.
US Military Announces Operations It Conducted Against ISIS in Iraq and Syria - US Central Command on Wednesday announced that it supported a series of operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria from May 21 to May 27, as US troops remain involved in combat in the two countries.CENTCOM said that from May 21 to May 22, it supported the US-backed Kurdish-led SDF in eastern Syria’s Deir Ezzor province, which resulted in the capture of one ISIS fighter.In Iraq, CENTCOM said it backed Iraqi forces in the northern part of the country in operations launched from May 21 to May 27 that resulted in the killing of two ISIS militants and the capture of one “ISIS leader.” The command claimed the operations in Iraq also resulted in the “clearance and destruction of multiple locations, confiscation of small arms weapons and munitions, recovery of material for further exploitation.”
US defense secretary delivers war-mongering speech in Singapore - The Trump administration’s Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dramatically escalated the decade-long US confrontation with China in a provocative speech on Saturday at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the annual premier Indo-Pacific military forum. Hegseth’s war-mongering remarks, delivered to a gathering of defense ministers, government leaders, and military generals, had three major prongs. First, he declared that a war with China, ostensibly over Taiwan, was “potentially imminent.” Second, he demanded that Asian countries massively increase their military spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP)—requiring the expenditure of tens of billions of dollars—to join a US offensive against Beijing. Third, he insisted that Asian governments must not try to balance between the US and China. They must “choose” to line up with Washington. As has always been the case for US imperialism, Hegseth presented the US-led military acceleration as one of “deterrence” in the interests of peace and stability. In reality, successive US governments—both Republican and Democrat—have aggressively escalated the conflict with China since the Obama administration announced the US military and strategic “pivot to Asia” in 2011. Repeated US administrations have designated China, because of its sheer economic growth, as an existential threat to the global hegemony that the US asserted after defeating its German and Japanese rivals in World War II. While speaking of deterrence, Hegseth threatened China with the prospect of an all-out war, almost certainly a nuclear war, that would have catastrophic consequences for the region in which billions of people live, and for the globe as a whole. Hegseth, a former military officer who took part in the US occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq, invoked the “warrior ethos” of the US armed forces. He said that “if deterrence fails, and if called upon by my Commander in Chief, we are prepared to do what the Department of Defense does best—fight and win—decisively.” Hegseth asserted that recent increases in the intensity of Chinese military exercises around Taiwan showed Beijing was “rehearsing for the real deal.” He stated: “We are not going to sugarcoat it—the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent.” Any attempt by China to conquer Taiwan “would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world.” That is a threat now overshadowing the population of the entire region and the world. Hegseth asserted: “It’s public that [Chinese President] Xi has ordered his military to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027.” In fact, the record shows that Beijing has declared its intent to seek a “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan, which was a Chinese province before it was occupied by the US-backed Kuomintang regime in 1949.
Hegseth Says US Ready to 'Fight and Win' a War With China Over Taiwan - The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday slammed US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for a “Cold War mentality” in response to his remarks about China at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, which included him warning that the US is ready to “fight and win” a war over Taiwan.During his speech on Saturday, Hegseth took aim at China over a range of issues, including Taiwan and the South China Sea. “China seeks to become a hegemonic power in Asia. No doubt. It hopes to dominate and control too many parts of this vibrant and vital region,” he said.Hegseth accused China of wanting to “fundamentally alter the region’s status quo” and said Beijing’s “behavior towards its neighbors and the world is a wake-up call.”Regarding Taiwan, Hegseth claimed that it was “public” that Chinese President Xi Jinping had ordered his forces to be prepared for an invasion by 2027. However, that claim is based on comments from US officials and has never been confirmed by Beijing. In 2023, Xi reportedlyraised the issue with President Biden, saying there were “no such plans.”The claim that China will be ready to invade by 2027 has helped the Pentagon secure more funding from Congress for its military buildup in the Asia Pacific, and Hegseth is also looking to prioritize the region. According to The Washington Post, Hegseth sent out a memo in Marchthat ordered the Pentagon to put its focus on preparing for a war with China over Taiwan despite the obvious risk of nuclear war.In his speech on Saturday, Hegseth said the US was “reorienting toward deterring aggression by Communist China.” While pushing the claim that China will be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, Hegseth also suggested it could happen sooner.“Any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world. There’s no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real,” he said. “And it could be imminent. We hope not. But it certainly could be.”Hegseth said the US would focus on deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, although recent US efforts to increase support for Taipei have only raised tensions in the region and led to an increase in Chinese military activity around the island. Hegseth said that if deterrence fails, the US would be ready to fight.“But if deterrence fails, and if called upon by my Commander in Chief, we are prepared to do what the Department of Defense does best – fight and win — decisively,” Hegseth said.US military officials have been openly preparing for a war with China over Taiwan for years now, but for the US secretary of defense to make such comments in a Southeast Asian nation marks a significant provocation toward Beijing.“Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation, vilified China with defamatory allegations, and falsely called China a ‘threat.’ The remarks were filled with provocations and intended to sow discord,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.“No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the US itself, who is also the primary factor undermining the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific,” the ministry added.
Kenya’s China orientation provokes Washington’s wrath -- Kenyan President William Ruto’s state visit to China has provoked an angry response from the United States, amid an intensifying global struggle for geopolitical dominance over Africa’s strategic resources. Ruto’s visit to Beijing in April, his third since taking office, resulted in the signing of agreements totalling $950 million spanning manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and transport infrastructure. Among the most significant were plans to extend Kenya’s standard gauge railway (SGR) to the Ugandan border, a project stalled since 2019 due to lack of funds, and the expansion of the highway linking Nairobi with the Rift Valley city of Nakuru through a public-private partnership. Beijing and Nairobi signed 20 new cooperation agreements in science, water management, e-commerce, transport, and vocational training. Key agreements include $150 million with China Wu Yi for construction, $400 million in agricultural investments led by Zonken Group in Baringo County, and $230 million from Hunan Conference Exhibition Group targeting tourism. Last week, China’s Benny Tea Industries announced a further $100 million investment in Kenya. Ruto’s visit marks a further strengthening of China’s economic role in Kenya amid escalating US-China tensions. It comes amid US President Donald Trump sweeping tariffs, aimed at subordinating global trade to Washington’s geostrategic interests. The tariffs threaten to devastate Kenya’s economy, risking an $838 million loss in exports to the US if demand falters. At a joint press briefing, Ruto praised Chinese-backed infrastructure, declaring, “We have achieved many things together,” and hailed Kenya’s Belt and Road Initiative membership as instrumental in “reshaping” the country and bolstering East African connectivity. A joint communiqué pledged “China-Africa solidarity” as a force for global “stability,” asserting a common front to defend “developing countries” and promote “inclusive globalisation.” In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Ruto defended multilateralism in a clear swipe at Washington: “We believe that multilateralism has greater safeguards and provides an even environment for trade.” Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored the elevation of ties with Kenya as a response to the “turbulent international situation”, a thinly veiled reference to the growing US-led encirclement of China. The US response was swift. Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, denounced Ruto during a hearing titled “East Africa & The Horn: At A Turning Point or Breaking Point?”. “Just last month, President Ruto declared that Kenya, a major non-NATO ally, and China are ‘co-architects of a new world order.’ That’s not just alignment to China; it’s allegiance,” Risch warned. He added, “Relying on leaders who embrace Beijing so openly is an error. It’s time to reassess our relationship with Kenya and others who forge tight bonds with China.” The message is unmistakable: Kenya must comply with US dictates or face consequences. The chosen pretext is the tattered playbook of human rights. Risch declared, “Rising abductions and torture in East Africa signal more than abuse, they expose state decay and impunity,” a barely disguised comment on the Ruto regime whose brutal crackdown on last year’s anti-IMF austerity protests left at least 63 dead, 83 abducted, and 29 still unaccounted for.
US Launches Two More Airstrikes in Somalia, Says ISIS Targeted - US Africa Command has announced two more US airstrikes in Somalia that it said targeted the ISIS affiliate in the northeastern Puntland region as the Trump administration continues to bomb the country at a record pace.AFRICOM reported a strike was launched on May 31 and another one on June 1. The command said both attacks were launched about 45 miles south of the port city of Bosaso.AFRICOM said the strikes were launched “in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia,” although Puntland is not controlled by the US-backed government. The US has been backing local Puntland forces that are fighting ISIS on the ground.The command offered no further details about the strikes, as it has stopped sharing casualty estimates or assessments of potential civilian harm in its press releases. “Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security,” AFRICOM said.Based on AFRICOM press releases, the two new airstrikes bring the total number of US strikes in the country in 2025 to 30. New America, an organization that tracks the US air war in Somalia, has recorded a total of 36 US airstrikes in Somalia this year.
US Launches Airstrike in Somalia Targeting ISIS Affiliate in Puntland - US Africa Command said in a press release on Wednesday that its forceslaunched an airstrike in Somalia on June 2 that targeted the ISIS affiliate in the northeastern Puntland region, as the Trump administration continues bombing the country at a record pace.AFRICOM said the strike occurred southeast of the port city of Bassaso and claimed it was conducted in “coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia.” However, Puntland is not controlled by the US-backed government, and the US has been backing local Puntland forces that are fighting ISIS on the ground.The command offered no other details about the strike as it has stopped sharing casualty estimates or assessments of potential civilian harm. “Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security,” AFRICOM said.Garowe Online, a media outlet based in Puntland, reported that US airstrikes on June 2 targeted four locations, suggesting it was a significant attack. The report also said that Puntland forces killed 10 ISIS fighters in recent operations.“Fresh airstrikes were carried out by the US Africa Command, allies of the Puntland government. The strikes took place in four locations between the Balade and Mirale valleys, targeting fleeing ISIS terrorists who were entering caves of hide,” an official told Garowe Online.Besides bombing ISIS in Puntland, the US has also been conducting airstrikes against al-Shabaab, which has been on the offensive against the US-backed government in southern and central Somalia. Based on AFRICOM press releases, the June 2 attack brings the total number of US airstrikes in Somalia in 2025 to 31. According to numbers from New America, an organization that tracks the US war in Somalia, Monday’s airstrike would bring the yearly total to 37.
Africa terror group could soon strike inside the US, general says The U.S. military’s top general in Africa said terrorist factions in the Sahel region have increased their presence so much in the past three years that they soon may be able to launch attacks within the United States. The region, which mainly includes Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, is “the flash point of prolonged conflict and growing instability,” U.S. Africa Command head Gen. Michael Langley told reporters Thursday. “It is the epicenter of terrorism on the globe.” “Extremist groups are gaining ground and also expanding their ambitions. Therein lies the threat to the homeland,” he added on the sidelines of the African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Sahel countries have long struggled to combat violent extremist groups, with some facing greater instability after falling to military coups, U.S. officials have warned. The military juntas in power have forced out American and French troops, including in September 2024, when the U.S. completed a withdrawal from its bases in Niger after the military seized power in 2023. At the time, defense leaders predicted the pullout would endanger counterterrorism efforts in an important regional foothold. Langley reiterated those concerns, saying that “we have lost our ability to monitor these terrorist groups closely.” He said terrorist networks affiliated with ISIS and al Qaeda thrive in the region, particularly in Burkina Faso — where the government no longer controls large swaths of its own territory — as well as Lake Chad, located at the junction of Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon in Western and Central Africa.`
Pentagon to shift Greenland oversight to U.S. Northern Command in ownership push -The Pentagon plans to move its oversight of Greenland from U.S. European Command to U.S. Northern Command, a switch that would bring the Denmark-aligned island closer to alignment with the United States. The change, first reported by Politico, comes as President Trump has repeatedly expressed an interest in taking control of the autonomous territory, where the U.S. military houses a base. Trump on the campaign trail and after taking office has said the U.S. taking control Greenland is a national security issue. Shifting the responsibility for U.S. security interests in Greenland to Northcom, the military command that oversees America’s homeland defense, would largely be symbolic but underscores Trump’s focus on the territory. The move could come as soon as this week, a Defense Department official and two people familiar with the planning told Politico. The Pentagon did not return a request for comment from The Hill.
Hegseth could be ‘on the hook’ for hundreds of millions on Qatari jet, says Raskin - The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee has warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that he could be “on the hook” for hundreds of millions of dollars for having accepted a luxury jet from the Qatari government. In a letter sent Wednesday, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) argued that Hegseth’s formal acceptance of the Boeing 747 jetliner last month — a move made so the Air Force can upgrade its security measures so it may eventually be used as Air Force One — violates the Constitution Emoluments Clause. The rule bars federal officials from accepting financial benefits from foreign governments without congressional approval.“I write now to urge and advise you to promptly mitigate these violations—and your own personal legal exposure—by either returning the plane to the Qatari government or promptly seeking Congress’s consent to accept it,” Raskin wrote.The Pentagon announced on May 21 it officially accepted the 13-year-old luxury jet previously used by the Qatari royal family, a supposed “free,” gift that could be used to supplement the aging Air Force One fleet, according to President Trump.The transfer has been criticized by U.S. lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, who say it raises ethical and corruption questions in addition to costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars to retrofit the plane into a secure and working Air Force One.
SpaceX to decommission Dragon amid Musk-Trump feud -- Elon Musk said Thursday his aerospace company SpaceX will ground Dragon, the spacecraft NASA uses to service the International Space Station amid his falling out with President Trump.“In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts,@SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately,” Musk said Thursday on X, the social media platform he purchased in 2022.Musk’s post included a screenshot of Trump’s threat to scrap billions of dollars in federal contracts and subsidies the tech mogul’s companies receive.SpaceX describes Dragon as “the only spacecraft currently flying that is capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth, and is the first private spacecraft to take humans to the space station.”The decommissioning of Dragon could pose a serious threat to the Trump administration’s ability to bring astronauts and cargo back and forth between the space station and Earth.NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens said in a post on X that the agency “will continue to execute upon the President’s vision for the future of space. We will continue to work with our industry partners to ensure the President’s objectives in space are met.” Musk’s threat was the latest salvo between the world’s richest man and the president.Growing tensions between Musk and Trump erupted into a vicious feud Thursday, with the tech mogul accusing the president of being named in classified files related to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
US Embassy Officials Warn Americans Not To Use Dating Apps To Meet People In Mexico - U.S. embassy officials in Mexico this week confirmed reports of American citizens having been kidnapped in Mexico by people they met on dating apps. Confirming those reports, the U.S. Consulate General Guadalajara said that U.S. citizens were kidnapped in the Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Nayarit areas in recent months after meeting the individuals on a dating app. “Victims and their families in the United States have at times been extorted for large sums of money to secure their release,” the Guadalajara consulate said. “Please be aware that this type of violence is not limited to one geographic area. Travelers should use caution when meeting strangers.” The officials did not name any specific dating apps but provided advice to people traveling to Mexico, saying that they should only “meet in public places and avoid isolated locations, such as residences or hotel rooms, where crimes are most likely to occur.” “Tell a friend or family member of your plans, including where you are going, details of the person you are meeting, and the app you used to meet them,” the consulate said. “Trust your instincts. If something does not feel right, do not hesitate to remove yourself from a situation. In case of emergency, call 911.”
US sanctions four International Criminal Court judges -The U.S. on Thursday said it is sanctioning four International Criminal Court (ICC) judges via a part of a prior executive order President Trump issued in February.The four judges that the U.S. said it is sanctioning are Reine Alapini-Gansou, Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, Solomy Balungi Bossa and Beti Hohler, according to a fact sheet from State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce’s office.“We do not take this step lightly. It reflects the seriousness of the threat we face from the ICC’s politicization and abuse of power,” the fact sheet reads.A part of Trump’s prior executive order restricts financial dealings in the U.S. or with Americans for “any foreign person determined by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General to have directly engaged in any effort by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute a protected person without consent of that person’s country of nationality.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained the sanctions in a Thursday statement, saying, “These individuals directly engaged in efforts by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute nationals of the United States or Israel, without consent from the United States or Israel.”The ICC condemned the State Department’s actions in a Thursday statement, calling the sanctions a “clear attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial institution.”
More white South Africans arrive in the US under a new refugee program (AP) — A second group of white South Africans has arrived in the United States under a refugee program announced by the Trump administration, officials and advocacy groups said Monday.Nine people, including families, arrived late last week, said Jaco Kleynhans, head of international liaison at the Solidarity Movement, a group representing members of South Africa’s white Afrikaner minority. The group traveled on a commercial flight to Atlanta, he said.A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy said in an email to The Associated Press that “refugees continue to arrive in the United States from South Africa on commercial flights as part of the Afrikaner resettlement program’s ongoing operations.”An initial group of 59 white South Africans arrived at Dulles International Airport in Virginia on a chartered flight last month under the new program announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in February. The Trump administration fast-tracked the resettlement of white South Africans after indefinitely suspending other U.S. refugee programs.The Trump administration said it is offering refugee status to white South Africans it alleges are being persecuted by their Black-led government and are victims of racially motivated violence. The South African government has denied the allegations and said they are a mischaracterization of the country.
DHS explains to Massachusetts governor it ‘never intended to apprehend’ high schooler - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday explained in a reply to a post by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) that it “never intended to apprehend” a high schooler. In a statement posted to the social platform X on Sunday, Healey said she was “disturbed and outraged by reports that a Milford High School student was arrested by ICE on his way to volleyball practice yesterday.”“Yet again, local officials and law enforcement have been left in the dark with no heads up and no answers to their questions.”DHS responded to Healey’s post on X a day later by saying that officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “engaged in a targeted immigration enforcement operation of a known public safety threat and illegal alien, Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira.”“Local authorities notified ICE that this illegal alien has a habit of reckless driving at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour through residential areas endangering Massachusetts residents,” the department added. “Officers identified the target’s vehicle, and initiated a vehicle stop with the intention of apprehending Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira.”ICE arrested 18-year-old Marcelo Gomes-Da Silva amid the traffic stop, DHS said in their post, referring to the teenager as “illegally present,” a “Brazilian alien,” and “the son of the intended target.”“While ICE officers never intended to apprehend, Gomes-DaSilva, he was found to be in the United States illegally and subject to removal proceedings, so officers made the arrest,” DHS said in the post.“Gomes-DaSilva remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings,” the department added.In an email to The Hill, an attorney for Gomes-DaSilva said his arrest was not necessary and that he “poses no danger to the community or risk of flight.”“ICE could have brought immigration proceedings against him without arresting him. The arrest does not protect the community. Instead, it sows fear of the government,” Miriam Conrad added.
ICE detention: Recorded calls about overcrowding, lack of food – NPR - The text message sent to NPR came in early May: … In early May, NPR began receiving desperate messages from family members of detainees in Florida. It was accompanied by a screenshot of a photo of a man with swollen red eyes, with another screenshot of his full detainee information. "Please help me. Im desperate." The woman who sent it, Maria, was texting about her brother at the Krome Detention Center in Miami. She requested their last name be withheld for fear of retaliation against her brother, who has been held in detention for more than two months. She told NPR he had a fever, a serious eye infection for almost two weeks, and says he was denied medication for both. "There are a lot of sick people there, and they aren't getting medical attention," she said in a phone interview. "They are sleeping on the floor and sometimes don't get meals.” As detention centers here and across the country fill up, NPR has received an outpouring of messages about severe overcrowding and inhumane conditions in immigration facilities across the state. More than a dozen detainees, family members and lawyers described similar issues as Maria, including detainees underfed and in ill health. Krome, which is run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has been dogged for years by allegations of inhumane conditions and investigated by the Department of Justice in 2000 on accusations of sexual abuse. This year alone, there have been two deaths at the facility: Ukrainian immigrant Maksym Chernayak and Genry Ruiz Guillen of Honduras. This morning, a group of Krome detainees assembled in the patio to form a human "SOS" sign. In a written statement, ICE told NPR that "a group of detainees at the Krome Service Processing Center (Krome) decided to stage a peaceful sit-in in the center's recreation area. There has been no injuries or use of force of any kind during this demonstration." It added, "I had a client who was at Krome," says Miami based lawyer Jeff Botelho, who adds the client recently told him that "they had been sleeping on the floor for a week or two. For food, he said they were given a cup of rice and a glass of water a day. It was very concerning." Lawyers, advocates and experts are warning that overcrowding is the new normal across the country. The federal government is holding more than 48,000 people in immigration detention, about a 20% increase since January. But deportations are not keeping pace. Experts say that's largely what's driving the overcrowding in detention centers. "There's incredible pressure to ramp up arrests inside the interior of the United States," says Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), a nonprofit immigrant advocacy group. He estimates that ICE is at 125% detention capacity. "And so far, there has been, if anything, just a slight increase in the capacity to actually deport people." ICE told NPR that "some ICE facilities are experiencing temporary overcrowding due to recent increases in detention populations. We are actively implementing measures to manage capacity while maintaining compliance with federal standards and our commitment to humane treatment. The reality is that these accusations do not reflect ICE's policies or practices."
Democrats outraged with DHS after Jerry Nadler staffer handcuffed - The simmering tensions between the Trump administration and House Democrats are threatening to boil over after agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) forced their way into the office of Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.). The incident, which happened last week, led to the brief detention of one of Nadler’s staffers by DHS agents, who said they had entered the congressman’s Manhattan office searching for “protesters.” One agent accused Nadler aides of “harboring rioters.”The episode has infuriated Nadler and other Democrats in the Capitol, who have long accused President Trump of ignoring the separation of powers and crashing through legal guardrails, particularly in his effort to deport people living in the country illegally. Recently, the administration has escalated its deportation campaign with an aggressive new strategy of arresting people at immigration courts, where claims of asylum are typically heard.On Monday, Nadler called the administration’s conduct “outrageous,” and accused DHS of “lying” about the details surrounding the episode. He’s calling for an investigation into what he considers an abuse of executive power to target political adversaries. “They barged in. And in barging in one of the offices, a very big, heavyset fellow pushed my aide — a very petite young woman — and they then said that she pushed back and they shackled her and took her downstairs,” Nadler told CNN on Monday.
Think Trump’s deportations have been bad? Wait until his civilian army gets started. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem incorrectly defined habeas corpus during a recent congressional hearing, augmenting serious doubts that top White House administration officials understand and are willing to respect the rule of law and legal rights of civilians on U.S. soil. Indeed, Noem oversees the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has been “forcibly disappearing” undocumented immigrants, international students and permanent residents off the streets. ICE officers frequently wear masks, which could help them avoid accountability for tactics like warrantless arrests, “knock and arrests” and smashing car windows. In practice, ICE operates with relatively little oversight, but in principle, it is accountable to the federal government and has been subject to extensive civil litigation in the courts. Yes, ICE is deeply flawed, but there is a real risk of something far worse. Over the past few months, Erik Prince, former head of the private military company Blackwater (now known by the name Constellis), has pitched multiple proposals to the White House to help with mass deportations. Prince has argued that achieving President Trump’s aggressive deportation goals will require the government to “supplement” ICE’s capabilities. According to one of his proposals, a new Prince company, 2USV, would train and deploy an army of as many as 100,000 armed and deputized citizens. The administration has not yet decided to implement the plan, though Trump said he “wouldn’t be opposed to it, necessarily.” As academic experts on non-state armed groups like militias and on immigration, we are alarmed at this possibility. This is because scholarly research on the type of group Prince would mobilize suggests three key patterns. First, these groups are often tasked with committing human rights violations in pursuit of the government’s political goals. Second, the current domestic political environment in the U.S. is conducive to their formation. Lastly, employing groups like this would allow federal government officials — including the president ◊ to evade accountability for illegal or inhumane tactics. Prince’s proposed “army” would be a “pro-government militia,” which the academic literature defines as an organized, armed group that is government-sponsored and not part of regular security forces.Because these groups can be kept at arms’ length from political elites, research shows that many governments around the world use these militias to “evade accountability for strategically useful violence.” Governments shift blame to such militias to retain deniability in the face of domestic pressures or international condemnation. For this reason, they are associated with significant reductions in a country’s respect for human rights, as seen in other countries throughout history, including Serbia, Argentina and Chile.
Noem ending TSA Quiet Skies traveler surveillance program -Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced Thursday she is ending the Transportation Safety Administration’s (TSA) “Quiet Skies Program,” saying it is costly, ineffective and used to target political opponents. In a press release, the DHS said “since its existence,” the traveler surveillance program “has failed to stop a single terrorist attack while costing US taxpayers $200 million a year,” adding, “The program, under the guise of ‘national security,’ was used to target political opponents and benefit political allies.” The press release said an internal investigation conducted by DHS and TSA uncovered documents, correspondence and timelines that demonstrate the “inconsistent application of Quiet Skies and watchlisting programs” to benefit political allies. Noem did not make public evidence from the internal investigation but called on Congress to investigate the matter further. “It is clear that the Quiet Skies program was used as a political rolodex of the Biden Administration—weaponized against its political foes and exploited to benefit their well-heeled friends,” Noem said in a statement.
Green card holders barred from purchasing land in Ohio? What a proposed bill says Times of India A bill proposed by Ohio lawmakers could prohibit some green card holders from certain countries from purchasing land across the state. The bill adheres to America First policy, Ohio state representative Angel King (R), one of the sponsors of the bill, told Newsweek. The existing green card holders who already have a property are can't purchase a new property within the bill's outlined 25-mile radius, King said.Introduced by Representatives King and Roy Klopfenstein, House Bill 1, seeks to limit who can be a land owner. "This is about protecting our obligation to keep our power stations, water treatment plants, and gas lines safe from surveillance and espionage," King said.The aim is to save Ohio land from foreign citizens especially from countries like China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria within 25 miles of "critical infrastructure". The bill exempts American citizens or those with dual citizenship from the ban.Under the bill, the list of land that would fall under “protected property” is long. It includes any railroad property, a dam operating by the state or federal government, and trucking terminals. The bill also includes airports, military bases and farmland. County sheriffs would be responsible for enforcing the new restrictions. If the legislation passes, individuals subject to the prohibition would be required to sell restricted property within two years.Trump signs off on US Steel-Nippon Steel merger, while doubling steel and aluminum tariffs --In a warmongering and nationalist speech, President Trump announced an increase in tariffs on imported steel to 50 percent at a rally Friday evening, celebrating his approval of the buyout of United States Steel by Nippon Steel. Earlier in the week, Trump reversed his previous opposition to the deal, which he called a “partnership.” Later Friday evening, Trump issued a tweet on social media saying he was doubling the tariffs on aluminum to 50 percent as well. Before a hand-picked audience of Republican officeholders and officials, along with a few dozen steelworkers from the US Steel Irvin Works mill just outside of Pittsburgh, Trump declared that steel was needed for a strong military. “You can’t make a military. What are we going to do, say ‘let’s go to China’ for the army tanks and boats and ships?” “A strong steel industry,” announcing his increase on steel tariffs to 50 percent, “is above all a matter of national security.” Throughout his nearly 90-minute speech, Trump repeatedly returned to this theme and made clear that he saw China as the main target of US imperialism and that tariffs were needed to restructure US industry to be able to fight a massive war against the world’s second-largest country. Significantly, Trump’s Pittsburgh speech occurred at the same time that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a speech demanding that Asian countries drastically increase their defense spending and line up with the United States against China. At the same time, Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent both claimed that China is not living up to the trade deal negotiated last month and that increased tariffs targeting China were on the way. In his talk, Trump also repeated his typical fascist talking points, attacking the Democrats as wanting to “wreck this great country,” slandering immigrants as inmates from “prisons and mental institutions” and “drug dealers and drug pushers, rapists and murderers,” and attacking judges ruling against his flagrantly unconstitutional moves as “radical liberals who hate this country.” The United Steelworkers (USW) union has been relatively quiet about Trump’s announcement. The USW’s top leadership has campaigned vigorously against the deal over the past year, promoting anti-Japanese demagogy and so-called “national security” concern. As with bureaucrats in other major unions across the US, officials from the USW are fully in line with the would-be Führer’s tariff policies, falsely presenting them as good for jobs. In fact, they are already leading to mass layoffs. USW President David McCall is a supporter of trade war, saying only that they should be targeting China instead of Canada, which has also been targeted by Trump.
After adverse court ruling, Trump steps up tariff war - In the wake of the decision last week by the US International Court of Trade that his April 2 “liberation day” reciprocal tariffs were illegal, President Trump has stepped up his tariff war against China and the rest of the world. The decision against reciprocal tariffs, introduced under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, appears headed for the Supreme Court for final adjudication, but Trump has lost no time in hiking tariffs in areas not covered by the decision. He has also made threatening noises against China following the 90-day pause in the tariff hikes against it, indicating that negotiations are proceeding too slowly. The steel and aluminium hikes were announced at a rally in Pennsylvania on Friday in support of a deal between the Japanese firm Nippon Steel and US Steel at which Trump declared he would erect a tariff “fence” around US metals production. From June 4 tariffs on aluminium and steel will be doubled from the present levy of 25 percent to 50 percent. “Nobody is going to get around that,” he said. “At 25 percent, they can sort of get over that fence. At 50 percent they can no longer get over the fence.” Touting the $15 billion deal with Nippon—which he had committed to block during his presidential campaign—Trump said it was a “blockbuster agreement” which ensured that this “storied American company remains an American company.” Across the border in Canada there have been warnings of a “catastrophe” with factory slowdowns and major job cuts in the steel industry because of the new tariff hikes. Other steel exporters to the US are making their calculations as to its effects. Canada is the largest international supplier of both steel and aluminium to the US. It accounted for nearly one quarter of US steel imports in 2023 and about a half of aluminium imports in 2024. The aluminium industry has yet to comment, with the Aluminium Association of Canada saying it was waiting for “clearer and more formal legal confirmation.” But the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) has said the new tariff threat “essentially closes the US market” to Canada and will have “unrecoverable consequences.” The Canadian steel industry, which is valued at around $11 billion, employs 23,000 workers and supports an additional 100,000 indirect jobs. A statement by the CSPA said the 50 percent tariff would cut domestic industry production in half. “A 25 percent tariff is difficult, but a 50 percent one is catastrophic,” CSPA president Catherine Cobden told the Financial Times.
China says US moves on computer chips and student visas ‘seriously violate’ tariffs truce (AP) — China criticized the U.S. on Monday over moves it alleged harmed Chinese interests, including issuing AI chip export control guidelines, stopping the sale of chip design software to China, and planning to revoke Chinese student visas. “These practices seriously violate the consensus,” the Commerce Ministry said in a statement, referring to a China-U.S. joint statement in which the United States and China agreed to slash their massive recent tariffs, restarting stalled trade between the world’s two biggest economies. But last month’s de-escalation in President Donald Trump’s trade wars did nothing to resolve underlying differences between Beijing and Washington and Monday’s statement showed how easily such agreements can lead to further turbulence. The deal lasts 90 days, creating time for U.S. and Chinese negotiators to reach a more substantive agreement. But the pause also leaves tariffs higher than before Trump started ramping them up last month. And businesses and investors must contend with uncertainty about whether the truce will last. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the U.S. agreed to drop the 145% tax Trump imposed last month to 30%. China agreed to lower its tariff rate on U.S. goods to 10% from 125%. The Commerce Ministry said China held up its end of the deal, canceling or suspending tariffs and non-tariff measures taken against the U.S. “reciprocal tariffs” following the agreement. “The United States has unilaterally provoked new economic and trade frictions, exacerbating the uncertainty and instability of bilateral economic and trade relations,” while China has stood by its commitments, the statement said.
Veteran air traffic controller weighs in on Newark chaos: 'Somebody needs to do something' - Veteran air traffic controller Jonathan Stewart affirmed to the public during a recent television appearance that it is “safe to fly,” but added that he would avoid the embattled Newark Liberty International Airport.“It’s safe to fly. I would probably avoid Newark until something else is done,” Stewart, a supervisory air traffic controller, said during his Friday night appearance on NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.” Stewart’s remarks come as the New Jersey airport has dealt with communication blackouts and ongoing staff shortages, prompting concerns from travelers and public officials. The airport, one of the largest near New York City, had at least two radar outages this month, shining a spotlight on outdated technology, and has a deficit of air traffic controllers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week that 16 new air traffic controllers were placed in training to boost staffing figures. The workers were moved to the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), where Newark airport’s operations are situated. Additionally, he said a new runway would be opened at the airport soon to combat congestion. “The concrete has been laid. I think they’re just striping. They are just striping right now,” Duffy told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday. “We have a target date of June 15 of bringing the runway online.”
Trump proposal would make it easier to fire feds - The Trump administration released a proposal Monday that it says will target federal employees who engage in “serious misconduct.” The draft rule, set for formal publication Tuesday, would expand the Office of Personnel Management’s “existing authority to take suitability actions against employees,” the proposal says. “Because employees who engage in serious misconduct while in the Federal service should not remain in Federal service, OPM should not limit its ability to take action to a limited subset of factors.”The proposal comes as part of a broader push by the administration to downsize the federal government, including moves aimed at making it easier to fire workers deemed to have engaged in misconduct and those viewed as poor performers.“For too long, agencies have faced red tape when trying to remove employees who break the public’s trust,” OPM acting Director Chuck Ezell said in a statement. “This proposed rule ensures misconduct is met with consequence and reinforces that public service is a privilege, not a right.”
Trump’s Interior budget would eliminate major programs - The Trump administration’s fiscal 2026 Interior Department budget proposal made public late Friday would slash funding and staffing across a wide array of programs, many of them with proven political appeal across party lines. The budget proposal also calls for the elimination of major programs, including the Bureau of Land Management’s onshore renewable energy program and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s offshore wind program. The U.S. Geological Survey’s entire “ecosystems” program budget likewise would drop from the fiscal 2025 level of about $293 million to zero in fiscal 2026. In an accompanying budget summary, the USGS explains that the plan would eliminate the Ecosystems Mission Area, including grants to universities that duplicate other research programs or that support “social agendas [such as] climate change research.” n
Trump proposes major cuts to environment agencies -- The Trump administration’s more detailed budget request seeks to decimate science, staffing and other programs at multiple environment-related federal agencies. Entities ranging from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the National Park Service (NPS) would see deep and specific cuts under the less “skinny” version of the administration’s budget that was released late Friday. The EPA would see a 35 percent cut to the payroll for its science staff and for staff who work on environmental programs and environmental management. NPS would see a 30 percent cut to its staff in charge of park system operations. Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would get a 28 percent cut to its operations, research and facilities staff payroll. But it’s not just staff that takes a hit. A number of offices related to energy and environmental research, as well as disaster response, are reduced or eliminated under the proposal. It completely zeroes out NOAA’s office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, for example, and also cuts federal assistance at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by 32 percent. White House budget requests are typically seen as a signal of an administration’s priorities rather than a roadmap that is likely to be realized, since Congress controls appropriations. The Trump administration, however, has signaled it is willing to go further to challenge that authority, already instituting massive layoffs at many agencies and gearing up for more.
Trump revives efforts to kill Chemical Safety Board - The Trump administration is attempting to once again eliminate the small agency charged with investigating dangerous chemical accidents and releases. According to a supplement released Friday by the Office of Management and Budget, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board would be “permanently cancelled” by the end of September 2026. The proposal to eliminate the board’s funding is “part of the Administration’s plans to move the Nation towards fiscal responsibility and to redefine the proper role of the Federal Government,” the supplement says. It’s not the first time President Donald Trump and OMB Director Russ Vought have tried to axe CSB.
White House asks for steep cuts to HHS budget -The White House is seeking $94.7 billion to fund the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in fiscal year 2026, a decrease of more than $31 billion. The proposal released late Friday provides new details that were missing from the administration’s initial release about a month ago. The latest proposal reflects HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s focus on chronic disease and desire to reshape the federal health agencies. The White House said the plan “prioritizes resources to efficiently achieve our goal to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA).” While presidential budget requests aren’t signed into law, they can serve as a blueprint for lawmakers as they begin crafting their funding legislation. Stakeholder groups and outside experts said the proposal shows a concerted effort to shift funding away from public health priorities and biomedical research. For instance, the plan calls for slashing the budget of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by nearly 40 percent from FY 2025. “You might as well gift wrap the future and hand it to China,” Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), the Senate Appropriations Committee’s top Democrat, said in a statement. It would consolidate the agency’s 27 institutes, leaving just three intact: the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Aging, with significant funding cuts. The others would be consolidated into five new institutes and centers. “This restructuring will create efficiencies within NIH that will allow the agency to focus on true science, and coordinate research to make the best use of federal funds,” according to the HHS Budget in Brief. But the organizations impacted don’t see it that way. “Returning to funding levels from two decades ago – and three decades ago when accounting for biomedical inflation – will set this nation back dramatically in our ability to reduce death and suffering from a disease that is expected to kill more than 618,000 Americans this year alone,” the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) said in a statement. “If the proposal is enacted, Americans today and tomorrow will be sicker, poorer, and die younger,” Mary Woolley, CEO of Research!America, a science advocacy nonprofit, said in a statement. Russell Vought, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said the administration wants a strong NIH and will continue to prioritize cancer research. But in a CNN interview Sunday, Vought said the agency has gotten too big and too political. “It’s more about the NIH, and the NIH has been a bureaucracy that we believe has been weaponized against the American people,” he told CNN.
CDC official resigns after Robert F. Kennedy Jr COVID vaccine recommendation change --A top coronavirus vaccine adviser to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) resigned from the agency, citing concerns that she would no longer be able to help the most vulnerable people following a change in the agency’s recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women. In an email to colleagues, Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos said the decision to leave was a “personal” one. “My career in public health and vaccinology started with a deep-seated desire to help the most vulnerable members of our population, and that is not something I am able to continue doing in this role,” she wrote in an email viewed by The Hill. She said she made her decision Friday. Her resignation was first reported by Reuters.
NIH must better track unused research funds, act on late progress reports, GAO says - In its oversight of roughly $35 billion in 65,000 external biomedical research awards in 2023, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) didn't consistently track unused funds or act when financial and progress reports from grant recipients were late, a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) reportsays.These findings, released late last week, could compromise the NIH's ability to detect misspending and ensure that its grants are awarded in appropriate amounts, the authors said. Agency couldn't provide recent staffing data In compiling the report, the GAO reviewed agency policies, documents, and data through 2023, checked NIH monitoring data, and interviewed federal officials, including those from four NIH institutes chosen based on factors such as funding, staffing, and mission. The chosen entities were the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Aging, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the National Eye Institute.The NIH is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the United States, and more than 80% of its budget funds external research on health-related topics. The report includes the 25 NIH institutes, centers, and offices that fund external research. The $35 billion in grants awards to universities and other institutions in 2023 was an increase of nearly 30% from 2014, after adjusting for inflation. In 2023, the NIH also hired about 400 people, a 20% increase over 2014. But in February 2025, President Donald Trump ordered agency leaders to prepare to fire staff on a large scale, which happened in the ensuing weeks, along with massive cuts to NIH-funded research. In March, the "GAO requested, but NIH could not provide, information about the effect of recent administration actions on oversight staffing levels," the report said.As part of its oversight of grant awards, the NIH reviews recipients' financial and progress reports to, for example, monitor progress and determine whether recipients have a plan to address problems. But the GAO found that the NIH doesn't always close out awards when recipients don't comply with policy by filing a final report within 1 year of project completion.Nearly 1,000 final progress reports (about 0.2% of awards made from 2014 through 2024) were delinquent. "NIH has made recent efforts to better ensure timely closeout, but it has not identified or addressed the factors that contribute to late reports," the authors wrote. "As a result, NIH cannot ensure that it is holding recipients accountable and identifying misspent funds."Certain grants can carry over unspent funds from one budget period to the next. "If NIH determines that some funds are not needed, it can restrict the recipient's ability to automatically carry over funds in the future," the report said. Moreover, the NIH hasn't developed an informational resource to help recipients make the best decision about carryover. Nor does it require institutions to track even large unused balances, which are common. "Without an informational resource or tracking requirement, NIH cannot be assured that it is implementing carryover practices effectively and maximizing its funding for higher-value projects," the GAO noted.Based on the report findings, the GAO recommended that the NIH identify and address factors behind delinquent final financial and progress reports in revised guidance, develop an informational resource for managing unspent funds, and require NIH institutes and centers to monitor unused balances across their award portfolios. The NIH agreed with all three recommendations.
Patel claims FBI breakthrough in Fauci investigation, warns against expectations - FBI Director Kash Patel said in an interview this week that his agency made a “breakthrough” as it continues to investigate former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key player in the U.S.’s early response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, Patel cautioned Fauci’s critics from expecting too much.“We just had a great breakthrough this week on Fauci,” Patel told podcaster Joe Rogan in an episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” released Friday, explaining the FBI had recovered phones used by Fauci early in the pandemic.“They had always been looking for phones and devices he used while he was back in Trump one [the first Trump administration] during COVID, and nobody had found it until two days ago.” “Everybody listening to us shouldn’t jump to the conclusion [that] everything’s in there,” he added. “Maybe it’s deleted, maybe it’s not, but at least we found it, and at least now we can tell people that we have been looking because it is of public importance.”President Trump and his allies have long accused Fauci of misleading the government on its handling of the pandemic and hiding the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Former President Biden granted Fauci a preemptive presidential pardon before Trump took office in January to shield the retired doctor from prosecution. Trump blasted the move at the time.
Judge temporarily halts Trump’s proclamation blocking Harvard students’ visas - A federal judge late Thursday temporarily blocked President Trump’s proclamation that blocks visas for foreign students planning to attend Harvard University until after a hearing later this month. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs’s order came swiftly after Harvard rushed to court to ask the judge to immediately block Trump’s proclamation, which he signed a day earlier. Burroughs issued her order before the government responded, saying the school would otherwise “sustain immediate and irreparable injury before there is an opportunity to hear from all parties.” The judge, an appointee of former President Obama who serves in Boston, said she would hold a June 16 hearing on whether to block Trump’s proclamation indefinitely. Trump’s proclamation marked a shift in the administration’s expanding battle with the Ivy League School over its refusal to comply with a list of demands, which include changes to its admissions and hiring policies and a stronger stance against antisemitism. Harvard first sued the administration in April for freezing more than $2 billion in federal funding. It filed a second lawsuit last month after the Department of Homeland Security revoked its certification to admit foreign students. The development prompted the school to seek emergency relief, quickly convincing Burroughs to block the revocation as the case proceeds.
Education Department pausing plan to garnish Social Security checks over defaulted loans - The Department of Education has not gone through with a plan to garnish Social Security checks over defaulted loans, a department spokesperson told The Hill.“The Department has not offset any social security benefits since restarting collections on May 5, and has put a pause on any future social security offsets,” Ellen Keast, the spokesperson, said. The department announced in April that student loan borrowers in default, or people who have not paid their loans for more than 270 days, had the chance of seeing financial consequences including stopped federal payments like Social Security and garnished wages. The changes could have impacted the lives of over 5 million borrowers.“The Trump Administration is committed to protecting social security recipients who oftentimes rely on a fixed income,” Keast said. “In the coming weeks, the Department will begin proactive outreach to recipients about affordable loan repayment options and help them back into good standing.”In March, President Trump said that he was “immediately” moving the handling of federal student loans from the Department of Education to the Small Business Administration (SBA). “I’ve decided that the SBA, the Small Business Administration, headed by Kelly Loeffler … will handle all of the student loan portfolio,” Trump said to reporters in the Oval Office at the time, saying it was a “pretty complicated deal, and that’s coming out of the Department of Education immediately.”“And also, Bobby Kennedy, with the Health and Human Services Department, will be handling special needs and all the nutrition programs and everything else,” he continued. “I think that will work out very well. Those two elements will be taken out of the Department of Education.”
Trump administration races to fix a big mistake: DOGE fired too many people --Early this spring, the Food and Drug Administration fired nearly 50 workers in the Office of Regulatory Policy — only to turn around and order them back to the office with one day’s notice.After dismissing thousands of probationary employees for fabricated “performance” issues, the IRS reversed course and told them to show up to work in late May.And some staff at the U.S. Agency for International Development, dismantled in the first days of the Trump administration by a gleeful Elon Musk and his cost-cutting team at the U.S. DOGE Service, checked their inboxes this month to find an unexpected offer: Would you consider returning — to work for the State Department?Across the government, the Trump administration is scrambling to rehire many federal employees dismissed under DOGE’s staff-slashing initiatives after wiping out entire offices, in some cases imperiling key services such as weather forecasting and the drug approval process.Since Musk left the White House last week, he and Trump have fallen out bitterly, sniping at each other in public over the cost of Trump’s sweeping tax legislation and government subsidies for Musk’s businesses. But even before that, the administration was working to undo some of DOGE’s highest-profile actions.Trump officials are trying to recover not only people who were fired, but also thousands of experienced senior staffers who are opting for a voluntary exit as the administration rolls out a second resignation offer. Thousands more staff are returning in fits and starts as a conflicting patchwork of court decisions overturn some of Trump’s large-scale firings, especially his Valentine’s Day dismissal of all probationary workers, those with one or two years of government service and fewer job protections. A federal judge in April ordered the president to reinstate probationary workers dismissed from 20 federal agencies, although a few days later the Supreme Court — in a different case — halted another judge’s order to reinstate a smaller group.Some fired federal employees, especially those at retirement age or who have since secured jobs in the private sector, are proving reluctant to return. So the administration is seeking work-arounds and stopgaps, including asking remaining staff to serve in new roles, work overtime or volunteer to fill vacancies, according to interviews with 18 federal workers across eight agencies and messages obtained by The Washington Post. A Post review found recent messy re-hirings at agencies including the Food and Drug Administration, the IRS, the State Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In some cases, the government is posting new online job listings very similar to positions it recently vacated, a Post review of USAJobs found.The ever-shifting personnel changes are yet another strain on a workforce already weary of Trump-induced uncertainty, said current and former employees, most of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.“They wanted to show they were gutting the government, but there was no thought about what parts might be worth keeping,” said one FDA staffer who was fired and rehired. “Now it feels like it was all just a game to them.”A White House official said in an interview that it is no secret Trump arrived in Washington determined to streamline the government. During that downsizing, the official acknowledged, some people were fired who shouldn’t have been. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to candidly discuss a complex issue that spans many federal agencies.“Each agency has made an appropriate determination as to who should be on the payroll in the respective agency,” the official said. “If by chance mistakes were made and critical employees were dismissed, each individual agency is working diligently to bring these people back to work to continue the adequate functions of the federal government.” In statements, some agencies also admitted to errors, while promising the government is working to fix them.“During this process,” said an Agriculture Department spokesperson, “USDA has been transparent about any mistakes that were made.”The administration has already had to race to undo its own cuts. In February, the Agriculture Department launched a campaign to rehire bird flu response workers after avian influenza sent egg prices soaring. That same month, the Trump administration fired nearly 17 percent of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s workforce, temporarily imperiling the safety and security of America’s 5,000 nuclear warheads — before hiring them back after an outcry.In recent weeks, other agencies have seen similar patterns.At the start of April, the FDA let go of thousands, including laboratory staff, librarians and those who helped manage the budget. The dismissals hit particularly hard at the Office of Drug Policy, the Office of Regulatory Policy and teams that worked on Freedom of Information Act requests and patent extensions, according to interviews with eight current and former FDA employees.But three weeks later, fired workers began getting calls on their personal cellphones — and soon, a message to their personal emails: They were all due back.The “Notice of Reduction in Force (RIF) issued to you … is officially RESCINDED [and] you will not be separated from employment,” read an email sent to terminated staff in May and obtained by The Post. “You are expected to return to duty the next business day following your receipt of this notice.”One FDA worker said she complied only because she hadn’t found other employment yet.“Being back feels like a funeral,” she said. “Morale is terrible. Everyone is stressed and feels the absence of our colleagues. … I’m looking for another job.”
- President Donald Trump said he is "very disappointed" in Elon Musk for his criticisms of the Republican policy bill, which includes many of the administration's priorities. He suggested Musk was upset that the bill removed a Biden-era electric vehicle tax break that benefited his company Tesla.
- In a tirade of over two dozen social media posts, Musk fired back and claimed that Trump "would have lost the election" without his help. Then, in a dramatic escalation of the conflict, Trump implied he could sever U.S. government ties with Musk's business, which amounts to billions in contracts and subsidies.
- Earlier in the day, Trump said he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping this morning in a nearly 1½-hour call that focused on trade. Tensions between the two superpowers escalated after each side accused the other of violating a trade truce.
The simmering tension between Trump and Musk exploded today into a public brawl between the most powerful man and the richest man in the world, filled with personal attacks and financial threats. The spat began when Trump criticized the Musk’s recent attacks on the Republican policy measure winding its way through Congress — which Trump has dubbed the “big, beautiful bill” — and quickly escalated into social media volleys. Trump suggested the U.S. government could cut its significant ties with Musk’s businesses. And Musk shot back, alleging a link between Trump and the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.“I’m very disappointed, because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. “I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot.”As the feud between Musk and Trump escalated this afternoon, Musk appeared to agree with an X user's post calling for Trump to be impeached again. "President vs Elon. Who wins? My money’s on Elon. Trump should be impeached and [Vice President] JD Vance should replace him," the user wrote.Musk quoted the tweet and simply wrote, "Yes." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment,As the feud between Musk and Trump escalated this afternoon, Trump fired back at Musk, writing on Truth Social, "I don’t mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago."Trump also defended the GOP's spending bill, which House Republicans passed last month, writing: "This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress. It’s a Record Cut in Expenses, $1.6 Trillion Dollars, and the Biggest Tax Cut ever given. If this Bill doesn’t pass, there will be a 68% Tax Increase, and things far worse than that.""I didn’t create this mess, I’m just here to FIX IT. This puts our Country on a Path of Greatness. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" he added.The latest salvo in Trump and Musk's online spat came after Mush alleged in a post on X a link between Trump and the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.During a posting spree targeting Trump over his support for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Musk also called out House Speaker Mike Johnson, asking, "Where is the Mike Johnson of 2023?"Musk was referring to a 2023 post on X in which Johnson, R-La., wrotethat current federal government spending levels were "not sustainable."In response to Musk's post, Johnson wrote this afternoon: "The Mike Johnson of 2023 is the SAME Mike Johnson who has always been a lifelong fiscal hawk — who now serves as Speaker and is implementing a multi-stage plan to get our country back to fiscal responsibility and extraordinary economic growth. Johnson also defended the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as "the LARGEST tax cut in history, the LARGEST investment in border security in a GENERATION, along with arguably the STRONGEST collection of pro-growth provisions EVER passed.""The same CONSISTENT Mike Johnson who has ALWAYS supported the America First Agenda," he added.As the feud between Trump and Musk intensified today, Trump blasted Musk in a series of posts on Truth Social and threatened to cut government ties with his companies. "Elon was 'wearing thin,' I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!" Trump wrote in one post."The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!" he added in a second post.
Musk escalates feud after Trump floats revoking his federal contracts - President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened Elon Musk’s federal contracts, a remarkable escalation in a public feud between the president and the world’s richest man, his former ally. “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,”Trump wrote on his social media platform Thursday afternoon. “I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!”The president’s relationship with Musk has deteriorated rapidly since Musk left the White House last week. The acrimony went public when Musk publicly slammed Trump’s sweeping domestic policy package on Tuesday.Musk responded to the broadside by announcing his company, SpaceX, will withdraw from service its Dragon spacecraft — which is critical to the American space program.“In light of President Trump’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately,” Musk wrote on X, the social media site he owns.Musk’s threat would deprive the U.S. of its only assured way of supplying the International Space Station and bringing on and off astronauts. If executed, NASA would instead have to rely on Russia to bring supplies and astronauts to the station. NASA had contracted with Boeing on the Starliner, a competitor to the Dragon spacecraft, but that system is temporarily out of service following problems with the craft.He’s continued to lash out at the White House in the days since — with Musk baiting Trump by name earlier Thursday, and Trump responding bychastising the Tesla CEO from the Oval Office later in the day.Still, Trump’s criticism from the White House — where the two men less than a week ago shared a laudatory sendoff for Musk — was not as pointed as the president’s barbs on social media.“Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,” Musk wrote on X Thursday. “Such ingratitude.”Musk’s companies have significant ties to the federal government, even before the Trump administration. SpaceX is one of NASA’s largest contractors. And his car company Tesla benefitted from a clean energy subsidy that is on the chopping block in Republicans’ reconciliation package.“Elon was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!” Trump posted.“Such an obvious lie. So sad,” Musk fired back. Trump has previously boosted Tesla because of his close relationship with Musk. In March, with the company’s stock at a low after public anger over job cuts fueled by Musk’s DOGE initiative, the president toured different Tesla models at a makeshift car show on the White House lawn. Trump later purchased his own Tesla, “a show of confidence and support” for Musk.Tesla’s stock tanked on Thursday, falling more than 14 percent as the two traded barbs.Trump has routinely wielded the power of the executive branch against institutions that he deems are misbehaving. He’s frozen billions in federal grants to some of the country’s top universities, Harvard chief among them, as punishment for alleged antisemitism and civil rights violations. And he’ssecured multimillion dollar deals with law firms weary of his threats to tank their business.
Trump and Musk's relationship flames out just as intensely as it started (AP) — Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s alliance took off like one of SpaceX’s rockets. It was supercharged and soared high. And then it blew up.The spectacular flameout Thursday peaked as Trump threatened to cut Musk’s government contracts and Musk claimed that Trump’s administration hasn’t released all the records related to sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein because Trump is mentioned in them.The tech entrepreneur even shared a post on social media calling for Trump’s impeachment and skewered the president’s signature tariffs, predicting a recession this year. The messy blow-up between the president of the United States and the world’s richest man played out on their respective social media platforms after Trump was asked during a White House meeting with Germany’s new leader about Musk’s criticism of his spending bill. Trump had largely remained silent as Musk stewed over the last few days on his social media platform X, condemning the president’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” But Trump clapped back Thursday in the Oval Office, saying he was “very disappointed in Musk.”Musk responded on social media in real time. Trump, who was supposed to be spending Thursday discussing an end to the Russia-Ukraine war with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, ratcheted up the stakes when he turned to his own social media network, Truth Social, and threatened to use the U.S. government to hurt Musk’s bottom line by going after contracts held by his internet company Starlink and rocket company SpaceX.“The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,” Trump wrote on his social media network.“Go ahead, make my day,” Musk quickly replied on X. Hours later, Musk announced SpaceX would begin decommissioning the spacecraft it used to carry astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station for NASA.Musk also said, without offering evidence of how he might know the information, that Trump was “in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” The deepening rift unfurled much like their relationship started — rapidly, intensely and very publicly. And it quickly hit Musk financially. After Trump started criticizing Musk, shares of his electric vehicle company Tesla plunged more than 14%, knocking about $150 billion off Tesla’s market valuation. Musk lost about $20 billion on his personal holding of Tesla.
Live updates: Musk says Trump would have lost the 2024 election without his help - The Washington Post -Elon Musk argued Thursday that President Donald Trump would have lost the 2024 election without Musk’s support, as the two increasingly sparred over Trump’s massive tax and immigration package. Musk, who until recently oversaw the cost-cutting U.S. DOGE Service, made the comment on X after Trump said in the Oval Office during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that he was “very disappointed” with Musk’s criticism of the bill. He later suggested in a social media post that the government could save money by ending contracts with Musk’s companies. On Thursday morning, Trump said he talked by phone for about 90 minutes with Chinese President Xi Jinping, mostly about trade policy, amid stalled tariff negotiations between China and the United States. Trump said trade negotiators from the two countries will meet again soon.
Trump-Musk feud explodes online, turns personal with Epstein comments and contract threats — The simmering tension between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk exploded Thursday into a public brawl between the most powerful man in the world and the richest man in the world, filled with personal attacks and financial threats. The spat began when the president criticized the Tesla CEO’s recent attacks on the Republican policy measure winding its way through Congress — which Trump has dubbed the “big, beautiful bill” — and quickly escalated into social media volleys. Trump suggested the U.S. government could cut its significant ties with Musk’s businesses. And Musk shot back, alleging a link between the president and the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and promoting a post that called for Trump’s impeachment.“I’m very disappointed because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. “I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot.”The comments — and the flurry of online retorts from both men that quickly followed — are the latest development in a remarkable break between the two. Musk donated over $250 million in support of Trump’s 2024 campaign, and after his November win, Trump invited him into his administration. Musk’s actions at the Department of Government Efficiency — instituting mass layoffs, shutting government functions and compiling data across agencies — defined the early stages of Trump’s second term, and the two showered each other with praise. But the relationship cooled as Trump’s priorities shifted to major spending legislation and Musk wound down his time at the White House.Trump suggested that Musk, who called the GOP bill a “disgusting abomination” this week, was upset that the bill cut out a tax credit meant to incentivize electric vehicle purchases. “Elon’s upset because we took the EV mandate, which was a lot of money for electric vehicles and they’re having a hard time with electric vehicles and they want us to pay billions of dollars in subsidy,” Trump said. “Elon knew this from the beginning.”Tesla is the biggest electric vehicle maker in the United States. The company’s sales have suffered in recent months, reflecting increased global competition and backlash generated by Musk’s political activities. Since leaving his White House role last week, Musk has said he is back “24/7” at his companies, including Tesla and the major government contractor SpaceX. Tesla’s stock, however, has stumbled as he’s ramped up his criticism of Trump’s signature bill. Shares are down more than 20% so far this year.Trump’s comments Thursday are his strongest yet against a man who was once his top campaign donor and one of his closest advisers. Musk, who jokingly referred to himself as “first buddy,” officially left the administration last week on a less amicable note.“I was, like, disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decrease it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,” he told CBS News during his last few days as a special government employee. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office predicted in an estimatereleased Wednesday that the House-passed legislation would add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.Reacting to Trump’s comments on X, Musk first brushed them off as “whatever,” before firing off dozens of posts blasting the GOP bill and the president himself.“Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,” he said. “Such ingratitude,” he added.Trump fired back later Thursday on Truth Social, his rival platform, claiming that Musk “went crazy” after the president “asked him to leave” his White House role. Trump also suggested the federal government could sever ties with Musk’s companies, which have billions of dollars in contracts with the federal government.In response, Musk claimed that the president was in what are known as the “Epstein files” — a reference to a trove of documents and files spread across a number of investigations and lawsuits. The Justice Department released hundreds more pages of documents this year related to the Epstein investigations. Though Trump and Epstein knew each other, there have been no new revelations about their relationship in any of those files. Trump has never been implicated in Epstein’s abuse of underage girls. He denied any wrongdoing, saying in a post last year, “I was never on Epstein’s Plane, or at his ‘stupid’ Island.” Flight logs released in 2021 as part of Epstein associate Ghislane Maxwell’s trial, however, indicated Trump flew on the plane seven times. The logs don’t include the ages of the passengers.The White House responded to Musk's claim Thursday night with press secretary Karoline Leavitt calling it "an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted."She added that Trump "is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation."The back-and-forth between Trump and Musk included the president saying, “I don’t mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago.” Soon after, Musk shared a post that said he would win in a fight over Trump and that the president should be impeached and replaced with Vice President JD Vance. “Yes,” Musk posted, quoting that post. Musk then charged that Trump’s sweeping tariffs on U.S. trading partners would “cause a recession in the second half of this year.”Steve Bannon, a senior White House adviser during Trump's first term who has clashed with Musk in recent months, called for an investigation Thursday into Musk on a variety of issues and the cancellation of all his government contracts. The dramatic spat was a far cry from their previously close relationship. Even on Musk’s last day in the White House, Trump praised his work leading the Department of Government Efficiency and said, “Elon’s really not leaving. He’s going to be back and forth, I think.” He added, “It’s his baby, and I think he’s going to be doing a lot of things. But Elon’s service to America has been without comparison in modern history.”
Musk: SpaceX will ground spacecraft used to shuttle astronauts, cargo to space station - Elon Musk said Thursday his aerospace company SpaceX will ground Dragon, the spacecraft NASA uses to service the International Space Station amid his falling out with President Trump.“In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately,” Musk said Thursday on X, the social media platform he purchased in 2022.Musk’s post included a screenshot of Trump’s threat to scrap billions of dollars in federal contracts and subsidies the tech mogul’s companies receive.SpaceX describes Dragon as “the only spacecraft currently flying that is capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth, and is the first private spacecraft to take humans to the space station.”The decommissioning of Dragon could pose a serious threat to the Trump administration’s ability to bring astronauts and cargo back and forth between the space station and Earth.NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens said in a post on X that the agency “will continue to execute upon the President’s vision for the future of space. We will continue to work with our industry partners to ensure the President’s objectives in space are met.”Musk’s threat was the latest salvo between the world’s richest man and the president. Growing tensions between Musk and Trump erupted into a vicious feud Thursday, with the tech mogul accusing the president of being named in classified files related to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Musk says Trump is named in Epstein files - Billionaire Elon Musk alleged that President Trump has ties to convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein as the part of his growing feud with the president, a fight that boiled over and turned personal on Thursday. “Time to drop the really big bomb,” Musk wrote on X, the social platform he owns. “[Trump] is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.”Minutes later, he followed up: “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”Names of powerful people previously associated with Epstein — who died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 — including Trump, Prince Andrew and former President Clinton, have been mentioned in court documents related to Epstein’s decades of sexual abuse.Trump, before he was elected in November, said he would have “no problem” releasing files relates to Epstein, something some lawmakers and many on social media have called for after Epstein’s death.The president last year denied any connection to Epstein, writing on social media, “I was never on Epstein’s Plane, or at his ‘stupid’ Island. In a statement on Thursday evening, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Thursday’s spat “an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted.”“The President is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again,” Leavitt added. A source familiar emphasized to The Hill that Trump kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his Palm Beach Golf Club years ago and noted the administration previously released Epstein files with the President’s name included. Musk for months, before and after the campaign, spoke glowingly of Trump’s character, the source emphasized, noting at one point the billionaire posted on social media saying he “loves him as much as a straight man can love a straight man.” Musk’s allegation came just minutes after Trump threatened to cancel government contractswith Musk’s companies, calling him “crazy” and escalating an explosive feud between the two former allies.Musk, the world’s richest person who was granted extraordinary access to Trump’s government after he was elected, has criticized the “big, beautiful” spending bill Trump is trying to push through Congress. The billionaire tech and media mogul suggested earlier Thursday that Trump would not have gotten elected last fall without him and called him ungrateful.
Musk endorses post calling for Trump's impeachment - Tech billionaire Elon Musk backed a call to impeach President Trump on Thursday, one of the latest swipes at the president by the billionaire in an ongoing war of words between the former allies. “President vs Elon. Who wins? My money’s on Elon. Trump should be impeached and JD Vance should replace him,” Ian Miles Cheong, a Malaysia-based right-wing writer, said in a Thursday afternoon post on Musk’s social platform X.“Yes,” Musk said in response to Cheong’s post about 20 minutes later. On Thursday, Trump and Musk’s relationship quickly fell apart in a very public way. In an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the president told reporters that he was “very surprised” and “very disappointed” in Musk, who has recently mounted a campaign against the president’s signature policy bill.In response, Musk claimed on social media that he was behind the president’s November 2024 election victory. He also alleged in a midafternoon post on X that Trump had ties to convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Musk 'Yes' On Trump Impeachment; Will 'Immediately' Decommission SpaceX Dragon & Doubles Down On Epstein Claims - The tech-bro industrial complex has to be shitting themselves as the Trump-Musk spat just hit a new gear; Elon Musk is calling for a new political party, while Trump just threatened to pull Musk's contracts. In a Thursday afternoon post to Truth Social, Trump said that Elon was "wearing thin," and that he "Asked him to leave." "I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!" Trump then 'truthed' that "The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!" "Such an obvious lie. So sad." Musk replied... Before calling Trump's bluff...This just gets better and better 🤣🤣Go ahead, make my day … https://t.co/APmy7cV8iL — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025 And is calling for a new political party...Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025 Which has an 84% 'yes' rating...Elon Musk just asked, if there is a time to create a new political party and 84% of 386k people voted yes.And you worry about your bags being down? pic.twitter.com/dQnpj0mvhk Update (1615ET): Just as the spat between Elon Musk and President Trump seemed to have reached cruising altitude, Musk hit the afterburners - claiming on X that President Trump is "in the Epstein files," adding "That is the real reason they have not been made public... Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025 Meanwhile, shares in TSLA are down 16% as the market cascades lower. Fun fact, Tesla was the most bought retail stock over the last week. Update (1725ET): As the Trump-Musk feud continues to escalate, Musk endorsed the notion that 'Trump should be impeached and JD Vance should replace him,' floated by Malaysian US political commentator Ian Miles Cheong. Yes https://t.co/rqRsX8B4Hg — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025 Earlier... Aaaand Musk just announced he'll begin decommissioning the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft 'immediately' In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately pic.twitter.com/NG9sijjkgW — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025He also doubled down on the Epstein claim... 🤨 https://t.co/ec6Je8nZKC — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025While Trump defenders such as Laura Loomer pushed back: At least there's one reasonable person on here. https://t.co/wh0ihbzTOh — Ben Smith (@semaforben) June 5, 2025Trump, meanwhile, posted what could be considered somewhat of an attempt to de-escalate - that he 'doesn't mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago," adding "This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress. It's a Record Cut in Expenses, $1.6 Trillion Dollars, and the Biggest Tax Cut ever given."
Scoop: Musk spurs Democrats to ask DOJ if Trump is in Epstein files --House Democrats are asking the Department of Justice and FBI whether it is true, as Elon Musk now claims, that President Trump is in the Epstein files, Axios has learned. It's the starkest example to date of how the highly public feud between the president and his onetime lieutenant is playing right into the hands of the Trump's political opponents.Trump "is in the Epstein files," Musk wrote Thursday in a post on X, adding, "That is the real reason they have not been made public." The Tesla CEO also called for Trump to be impeached, a position that even many Democrats are reluctant to take. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel first obtained by Axios, Reps. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) and Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) asked that they "immediately clarify whether this allegation is true." The lawmakers asked for a timeline of the DOJ's declassification and publication of the Epstein files, an explanation for why they haven't turned over any new documents since February. And they requested a description of Trump's role in reviewing the files, a list of personnel involved in their release and an answer for why files previously released to Congress contained "significant redactions." Lynch is the acting ranking member of the House Oversight Committee and Garcia is the top Democrat on the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets. "Oversight Democrats are engaged in another baseless stunt that bears no weight in fact or reality," White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement to Axios."These are the same left-wing lunatics who neglected their oversight duties regarding the Biden administration's lawless actions and concocted hoax after hoax on President Trump during his first term. No one takes them or their petty letters seriously." The FBI declined to comment on the matter. The DOJ did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment on Thursday evening. Bondi released more than 100 pages of documents related to the Epstein case in February as part of a Trump administration push to provide more transparency into a wide array of high-profile cases.The files were substantially redacted, however, and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), the chair of the declassification task force, has accused Bondi of "stonewalling" her demands for more files. "We agree with their conclusion that the release of these documents is long overdue," Lynch and Garcia wrote.Musk's allegation "implies that the President may be involved in determining which files should be released and whether files will be withheld from the public if he personally chooses," the two Democrats wrote.They noted that Trump and Epstein's relationship has been well-documented. "Any attempts to prevent the appropriate release of the Epstein files to shield the President from truth and accountability merits intense scrutiny by Congress and by the Department of Justice," they added.
Democrats ask Bondi for Epstein files after Musk's Trump allegation --Two senior House Democrats are asking Attorney General Pam Bondi for the timeline of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) declassification and release of the convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein’s files after tech billionaire Elon Musk accused President Trump of being named in the documents. Musk, amid a heated, public feud with Trump that intensified Thursday after the tech mogul relentlessly bashed the president’s “big, beautiful bill” in recent days, accused the president of being named in the Epstein files, claiming that is the reason why not all of the documents have been made public. “This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Thursday. “The president is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again.” Now, Democratic Reps. Stephen Lynch (Mass.), the acting ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and Robert Garcia (Calif.), the top Democrat on the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, asked Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel in a Thursday night letter to “immediately clarify whether this allegation is true and respond to this letter with the requested information and documentation.” Apart from the release of the files, the House lawmakers also asked about Trump’s alleged role in reviewing the documents and his role in determining the “DOJ’s ability to declassify and make public said documents.” The duo also requested a list of all personnel involved in the release of the files and to elaborate why the documents previously released to the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets had “significant redactions.”
Epstein, Israel, ISIS, Palantir --Caitlin Johnstone --Amid the inevitable giant ego clash between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, Musk tweeted that the president “is in the Epstein files,” saying “That is the real reason they have not been made public.” As we have discussed previously, it is a known fact that Trump is on the Epstein flight logs and has been obstructing the release of the Epstein files. It is also a known fact that Jeffrey Epstein worked with Israeli intelligence and was running a sexual blackmail operation, and that Trump has been bending over backwards to give Israel everything it wants while stomping out American free speech that is critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza.“I’ve known Jeff [Epstein] for fifteen years. Terrific guy,” Trump said in 2002. “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”There’s no reason to take seriously anything Elon Musk says during a textbook case of narcissistic collapse, but for the record if anyone in Washington is likely to have been blackmailed by Epstein it’s Donald John Trump.I keep meaning to talk about how the Trump administration is reportedly granting oligarch Peter Thiel’s odious company Palantir a central role in amassive authoritarian expansion in government surveillance powers which would see American data compiled and tracked across multiple government agencies.For those who don’t know, Palantir is a CIA-backed surveillance and data mining tech company with longstanding ties to both the US intelligence carteland to Israel, and has already been playing a crucial role in both the US empire’s sprawling surveillance network and Israeli atrocities against Palestinians. This is being framed by the political/media class as a Trump policy, but it’s obviously a US empire policy. These sweeping surveillance powers are intended to remain in place long after Trump is gone, regardless of who happens to be in office.
Watch Live: House DOGE Subcommittee Exposes "Public Funds, Private Agendas: NGOs Gone Wild" -Around 2 p.m. ET, the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) will hold a hearing titled "Public Funds, Private Agendas: NGOs Gone Wild." Under the Trump administration, the NGO-industrial complex has been exposed as nothing more than a money pit for how Democrats have funneled billions in taxpayer dollars into mysterious nonprofits that advance nation-destroying policies, such as disastrous open borders and the Green New Deal scam. "Radical, left-wing Democrats have bankrolled NGOs to advance their destructive agenda at the expense of American taxpayers. From the Green New Deal scam to facilitating mass illegal immigration and the resettlement of illegal aliens across the United States, NGOs have expended billions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars in pursuit of agendas that most Americans oppose," Subcommittee Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA.) wrote in a statement. Greene continued, "Thankfully, the Trump Administration and DOGE are taking action to unmask these schemes and claw back those funds. Congress must also act to shut down the pipeline that keeps this money laundering machine running." "Our DOGE Subcommittee is going to expose the NGO scam and continue bringing long-overdue transparency and accountability to those who abuse taxpayer dollars," she emphasized. Watch Live: Accountability In Real-Time (House hearing video)
Jackson, Sotomayor dissent as Supreme Court turns away Black dancer’s discrimination appeal The Supreme Court on Monday turned away a Black dancer’s appeal in her discrimination lawsuit against several Houston clubs, drawing dissent from two of the high court’s liberal justices. Chanel Nicholson filed suit against the clubs in August 2021, claiming they maintained a policy that limited the number of Black dancers who could work the same shift, in violation of federal law prohibiting racial discrimination in making and enforcing contracts.Nicholson said she was denied work repeatedly due to the quota, including in 2014, 2017 and 2021. However, her case was dismissed by a district court that concluded the applicable statute of limitations clock began ticking in 2014; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit affirmed the decision. She asked the justices to decide when the statute of limitations starts to run in a claim of “pattern or practice” of racial discrimination. They declined to hear her case. But Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in a dissenting opinion, joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, that their fellow justices got it wrong by refusing to consider Nicholson’s appeal. The appeals court panel determined the more recent discriminatory acts against Nicholson were the “continued effects” of past race-based exclusion and, thus, not actionable on their own — a holding Jackson said “flouts this Court’s clear precedents.” “We have long held that ‘[e]ach discrete discriminatory act starts a new clock for filing charges alleging that act,’ regardless of whether similar instances of discrimination have occurred in the past,” she wrote. “Because the Fifth Circuit’s contrary ruling was patently erroneous, this Court should have granted Nicholson’s petition and summarily reversed the judgment.”
Supreme Court sides with straight woman in decision that makes it easier to file ‘reverse discrimination’ suits — The Supreme Court on Thursday sided with a straight woman in Ohio who filed a “reverse discrimination” lawsuit against her employer when her gay boss declined to promote her. The ruling will make it easier to win such suits in some parts of the country. Despite the politically divisive debate playing out over workplace diversity efforts – a fight that has been fueled by President Donald Trump – a unanimous coalition of conservative and liberal justices signed onto that decision. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a member of the court’s liberal wing, wrote the opinion for the court.The woman at the center of the suit, Marlean Ames, is challenging a requirement applied in five appeals courts that when members of a “majority” group raise discrimination claims they must demonstrate “background circumstances” to pursue their suit. A plaintiff might meet that requirement, for instance, by providing statistical evidence documenting a pattern of discrimination against members of a majority. Ames couldn’t do that and so she lost in the lower courts. But Jackson said the Supreme Court’s past cases made clear that the requirements needed to bring a successful lawsuit under federal anti-discrimination law “do not vary based on whether or not the plaintiff is a member of a majority group.” The “background circumstances” rule, Jackson wrote, “flouts that basic principle.”Ames started working for Ohio’s state government in 2004 and steadily rose through the ranks at the Department of Youth Services. She claims that in 2017, she started reporting to a gay boss and was passed over for a promotion that was offered to another gay woman.The background circumstances requirement was rooted in the notion that it is unusual for an employer to discriminate against a member of a majority group. But neither federal anti-discrimination law nor Supreme Court precedent speak to creating one set of requirements for a majority employee to file a discrimination suit and a different set for a minority employee. During oral arguments in the case in late February, it was clear Ames had widespread support from the justices.Citing the “background circumstances” requirement, the Cincinnati-based 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for Ohio. Federal appeals courts based in Denver, St. Louis, Chicago and Washington, DC, applied that same standard, according to court records.The decision doesn’t necessarily mean that Ames – or other employees – will ultimately win their lawsuits. Rather, it wipes out a hurdle in such cases that barred some plaintiffs from demonstrating employers acted with discriminatory motive.“We wanted to make sure that the same laws and standards apply to everyone,” Xiao Wang, who represented Ames and who is the director of the University of Virginia School of Law Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, told CNN. “This Supreme Court ruling makes it easier for courts to root out unlawful discrimination in the workplace.”
Brett Kavanaugh signals Supreme Court will soon decide rule on AR-15 bans - The Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up a case that involves whether possessing AR-15’s is protected by the Second Amendment, but the court’s conservatives are signaling they soon will. Only three justices — Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch — voted to hear a challenge to Maryland’s ban on possessing AR-15s, barely falling short of the four votes required to take up a case. But Justice Brett Kavanaugh sent a strong signal that he will provide that crucial fourth vote in a future case once the issue percolates more in the lower courts. “In my view, this Court should and presumably will address the AR–15 issue soon, in the next Term or two,” Kavanaugh wrote in a three-page written statement. Kavanaugh, President Trump’s second appointee to the court, called Maryland’s law “questionable.” But he stressed the issue is currently being considered by several appeals courts that are weighing other states’ bans. “Opinions from other Courts of Appeals should assist this Court’s ultimate decisionmaking on the AR–15 issue,” Kavanaugh wrote. The constitutionality of such laws has become a flash point in the legal battles over gun control. The Supreme Court has issued multiple expansions of Second Amendment rights in recent years but has yet to settle how those rulings apply to AR-15 bans.
Bondi accused of 'serious professional misconduct' in Florida Bar complaint -Attorney General Pam Bondi is accused of “serious professional misconduct” in a Florida Bar complaint, the Miami Herald has reported.Bondi’s record as the head of the Justice Department is being slammed by close to 70 law professors, attorneys and former Florida Supreme Court justices via a Florida Bar ethics complaint filed Thursday, according to the Herald. In the complaint, the group alleges that Bondi has breached ethical duties in her current role and that “serious professional misconduct that threatens the rule of law and the administration of justice” has been carried out by the attorney general, the Herald reported.Bondi is from Florida and previously served as the Sunshine State’s first female attorney general. A “Pamela Jo Bondi” is listed as a member of the Florida Bar “in Good Standing.”A few months ago, Democrats pressed Bondi amid her confirmation hearing over her ability to push back against Trump, who had repeatedly stated he would come for his enemies and that he has the “absolute right” to do what he wants with her department. Bondi is also stated in the complaint to have “sought to compel Department of Justice lawyers to violate their ethical obligations under the guise of ‘zealous advocacy,’” according to the Herald.
Trump Bedminster bashes authorities after it is flagged for 18 health violations - Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey is bashing local health authorities after it was flagged for 18 health violations following an early May inspection. The Somerset County Department of Health in its food inspection report from May 6 faulted the club, saying there was not proper separation of raw meats from ready-to-eat foods, which made products susceptible to contamination. It also noted that food contact surfaces were not properly cleaned and sanitized. The club argued the health report was politically motivated. “Never before have we witnessed such visceral hostility from the health department. This is clearly nothing more than a politically motivated attack,” David Schutzenhofer, general manager of Trump National Bedminster, said in a statement to The Hill. “We operate one of the most immaculate golf facilities in the country, and we take immense pride in our standards of cleanliness, safety, and hospitality,” he added. The inspector on site gave the location a C rating, flagging its operations as conditionally satisfactory in addition to a labeling the food establishment under its risk 4 category. “At the time of the inspection the establishment was found not to be operating in substantial compliance with this chapter and was in violation of one or more provisions of this chapter,” the report says.
AI dominates discussion as judge considers Google's search monopoly - A federal judge grappled Friday with the way artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the internet, as he weighed what penalties Google will ultimately face for illegally monopolizing search. Google and the Department of Justice (DOJ) presented their closing arguments following a three-week hearing to determine the proper remedies after the tech giant was found to have improperly maintained its search monopoly through a series of exclusive agreements. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta peppered both sides with questions over eight hours Friday, focusing heavily on what AI means for Google and the search market. The DOJ has argued that Google’s dominance over search gives it a leg up in the AI race. It has pushed for more forward-looking remedies, including forcing the company to sell its Chrome browser. Google has contested this assertion, underscoring the competition it faces in the AI space from the likes of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, xAI’s Grok, and DeepSeek. It has suggested a much more limited set of remedies that would bar the company from entering into the exclusive agreements the court deemed anticompetitive. Stay Mehta appeared skeptical of Google’s proposed remedies, noting they “could have all closed up shop” if he simply needed to issue an injunction blocking the company’s exclusive agreements with device manufacturers and browsers. However, the judge didn’t seem entirely convinced by the DOJ’s wide-reaching proposal either, pushing the government to explain how AI fits into the search case.
How the AI rush is reshaping electric utilities - As electricity demand from the tech sector and manufacturing skyrockets, utilities are facing a stark reality: We’re going to need a bigger fleet.And the pressure to add new generation quickly — and without imposing unrealistic costs on consumers — has the industry thinking about deal-making. “There is a noticeable acceleration,” said Pavel Molchanov, an investment strategy analyst focusing on the utility sector for Raymond James. “You can go back as far as you want and there have always been mergers and acquisitions in the electric power industry. But it is certainly accelerated by the universal recognition that the next decade and beyond will be a time of growth in electric power.” Already this year, several power producers have reached into the market to vastly expand their gas fleets. Houston-based NRG, for example, said it would add 18 gas-fired power plants to nearly double the size of its current fleet in a $12 billion cash-and-stock deal with LS Power Equity Advisors. That came just months after NRG purchased six gas plants capable of producing 738 megawatts from Rockland Capital.Texas-based Vistra announced just days later its own deal to secure seven gas generators totalling 2,600 MW of capacity across five states from Lotus Infrastructure Partners.“We believe natural gas fired generation will continue to play an ever-increasing role in the reliability, affordability, and flexibility of U.S. power grids for years to come,” said Vistra CEO Jim Burke in a statement on the $1.9 billion deal. He added that the “attractive portfolio” of new gas assets would allow Vistra to meet growing power demand.In January, Baltimore-based Constellation said it would acquire Calpine Corp. in a $16.4 billion transaction, combining Constellation’s nation-leading nuclear fleet with Calpine’s fleet of 79 power generators that total some 27,000 MW of power. Canadian company Capital Power in April purchased two gas plants from LS Power for $2.2 billion, making it one of five North American independent power producers to have more than 10,000 MW of natural gas capacity.Earlier this month, TXNM, the parent company of New Mexico’s largest utility, announced its acquisition by private equity firm Blackstone. The move, CEO Pat Collawn said, is designed to use an infusion of private capital to help TXNM build a lot more capacity without forcing customer bills to rise significantly.The operations may all have different details, but they share a common goal: getting as much reliable power on the grid as quickly as possible. And with supply chains for generation of all kinds, but especially gas, running behind schedule, Morningstar utilities analyst Travis Miller said that’s forcing utilities to look anywhere they can.“Utilities that need to serve load right away are going to have to do it with existing assets, whether it’s theirs or someone else’s,” Miller said. “The recent moves are an attempt to be one of the first available suppliers for any kind of new load.”Utilities are facing unprecedented demand growth. A May report from consulting firm ICF projects that U.S. electricity demand will grow 25 percent by 2030 and 78 percent by 2050, compared with 2023 numbers. Meeting that, ICF said, would require utilities to double the pace of new generation.
California Passes Bill To Accept Crypto For State Payments California has taken a step closer toward embracing crypto after a bill allowing state departments to accept digital currencies sailed through the state’s lower house with a unanimous vote and is now headed for the Senate. Assembly Bill 1180 (AB 1180), which passed the California State Assembly on June 2 with a 68-0 vote on its third reading, would require the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) to develop rules permitting state fees and transactions under the Digital Financial Assets Law (DFAL) to be payable in crypto.The DFPI is California’s regulatory agency tasked with overseeing financial services and protecting consumers while promoting responsible innovation. Individuals and entities conducting crypto business activities in the state must obtain a license from the DFPI. JUST IN: California Assembly passes bill to allow the state to receive payments in Bitcoin and digital currencies. It passed 68-0, and now heads to the Senate.pic.twitter.com/3JWXlpuEWhIf AB 1180 clears the Senate and is signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, the bill would become effective on July 1, 2026.According to the bill’s sponsor, Democratic Assemblymember Avelino Valencia, a pilot program would run until Jan. 1, 2031, when it would become fully operational.If AB 1180 is passed, California could join the likes of Florida, Colorado and Louisiana that have accepted crypto payments for certain obligations in recent years.California’s bill would require the DFPI to submit a report by Jan. 1, 2028, detailing all crypto transactions processed, in addition to any technical and regulatory challenges encountered.
Bitcoin Becomes Safe Collateral: JPMorgan To Offer Loans Financed With Crypto Assets -Less than 8 years ago, when bitcoin was trading at $4,000 (compared to $104,000 today), Jamie Dimon demonstrated once again that he may be an ok big bank CEO (after all, without TARP JPMorgan would not exist today), but he is a terrible visionary when he warned his traders that anyone caught trading bitcoin"would be fired." Fast forward to today, then, when not only will Jamie (who at almost 70 should really be thinking succession) not fire anyone at JPM for trading the best performing asset of the millennium, if not all time, but according to Bloomberg JPM will soon allowtrading and wealth-management clients use some cryptocurrency-linked assets as collateral for loans, a major step by the biggest US bank to make inroads into an industry President Donald Trump has pledged to support.According to the report, the firm will start providing financing against crypto exchange-traded funds, beginning with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), in the coming weeks, people familiar with the matter said. The move marks the latest effort involving crypto among the biggest US banks after the Trump administration started removing regulatory barriers.Just as importantly, JPMorgan - which until now refused to add crypto to the calculation of net worth - will also begin taking wealth-management clients’ crypto holdings into account when assessing their overall net worth and liquid assets, the people said, asking not to be named as the plans aren’t public. That means cryptocurrencies will be given similar treatment to stocks, cars or art when calculating how much a client can borrow against their assets.Which, incidentally, is precisely what we predicted last November when we said that Bitcoin is about to become "safe collateral."Cantor Fitzgerald is discussing receiving support from Tether for its planned multibillion-dollar program to lend dollars to clients who put up Bitcoin as collateral: BBG JPMorgan was one of the first major banks to start using blockchain technology for services like payments, and counts crypto exchanges like Coinbase among its clients. Which is ironic because its CEO remains a vocal crypto skeptic, and while he won't fire the firm's bitcoin traders, he said as recently as the firm’s investor day in May that he’s “not a fan” of Bitcoin, but that JPMorgan would allow clients to buy it. “I don’t think we should smoke, but I defend your right to smoke,” Dimon said at the time. “I defend your right to buy Bitcoin, go at it.”
World Liberty Financial to invest in Trump's meme coin World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture launched by President Trump and his sons, plans to invest in the president’s meme coin, seemingly resolving a dispute between the two crypto firms tied to the Trump family. Eric Trump — who helps run World Liberty Financial alongside Donald Trump Jr. — announced Friday that the $TRUMP token had “aligned” with the company and would no longer being moving forward with a crypto wallet, which had caused the rift between the two firms. “Although their meme wallet isn’t moving forward, they remain focused on building the most exciting MEME on earth – $Trump,” Eric Trump wrote in a post on the social platform X. “Moreover, we’re proud to announce that World Liberty Financial plans to acquire a substantial position in $TRUMP for their Long-Term Treasury,” he continued. “We share a bigger vision for crypto, patriotism, and long-term success. Stay tuned for more to come!” The team behind the meme coin initially announced Tuesday that they were launching a crypto wallet alongside Magic Eden, a nonfungible token marketplace. However, the announcement sparked confusion as the president’s sons denied involvement in the project. “The Trump Organization has zero involvement with this wallet product. @EricTrump and I know nothing about it,” Donald Trump Jr. wrote on X, teasing a separate World Liberty Financial wallet. “This project is not authorized by @Trump. @MagicEden I would be extremely careful using our name in a project that has not been approved and is unknown to anyone in our organization,” Eric Trump added.
Buyer With Ties to Chinese Communist Party Got V.I.P. Treatment at Trump Crypto Dinner - The Trump White House has repeatedly sounded an alarm about visitors with ties to China’s Communist Party coming to the United States, arguing that they are a potential security threat.But the administration appears to have literally left the door open to a member of a Chinese government group when it went along with a plan to give the biggest purchasers of President Trump’s digital currency access to the president and the White House.Mr. Trump launched a so-called memecoin, a type of cryptocurrency, just days before his inauguration. To bolster sales, the president’s business partners created a contest in April, offering the coin’s top buyers a tour of the White House and a private dinner with Mr. Trump at his Virginia golf club.One of those buyers was He Tianying, who is a member of theChinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, according togovernment documents in China examined by The New York Times.That government group, referred to as the C.P.P.C.C., is an advisory body that seeks to broaden the Communist Party’s influence and solicit support from influential people in Chinese society.Mr. He, who was registered at the Trump event as a resident of Hong Kong, advises the Chinese government through his role as a delegate of the Fangshan C.P.P.C.C., a district of Beijing. He is listedas a member of the organization’s science and technology committee. The Times could find no indication that Mr. He is a member of the Communist Party, and the government body he serves on is fairly low level.There were no restrictions on who could buy the Trump memecoin — which was marketed like a collectible baseball card — including foreign nationals. But the winning buyers were given the opportunity for close proximity to the president. It is not clear why Mr. He wanted to attend.Still, at a time when the administration is seeking to scrutinize and revoke the visas of Chinese students with ties to the Communist Party, the incident illustrates inconsistencies in the Trump administration’s approach to how it handles Chinese nationals, as well as potential weaknesses in the background checks the Trump administration did on the guests who bought his memecoin.Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said in an interview that the dinner was a private event and that government officials were not closely involved. “As the White House has always maintained, this was not an official White House event,” she said.Once a crypto skeptic, Mr. Trump has done an about-face and declared himself a digital coin enthusiast, raising ethical concerns and blurring the line between his personal business ventures and the presidency. His family’s company has issued its own cryptocurrency, and he has also heavily promoted the memecoin, known as $TRUMP.The memecoin dinner engendered strong criticism from Democrats, government watchdogs and even some Republicans about the appearance of monetizing the presidency for personal gain. The event was arranged by the president’s business partners to directly enrich the first family, even as Mr. Trump spoke that evening behind a stand emblazoned with the presidential seal. Bidders competed to accumulate the largest holding of the coin over several weeks. The top 220 won a dinner with Mr. Trump, and the top 25 also got a “V.I.P.” tour of the White House.The buyers used self-adopted nicknames that disguised their identities, but The Times obtained copies of several pages of an official sign-in sheet for the dinner and over the past two weeks has been examining the biographies of many of the attendees.Mr. He, using the nickname Sky, owned $3.7 million worth of the memecoin, public transaction records show, at the time the contest ended. He was ranked as the seventh-largest buyer of the cryptocurrency, which entitled him to a gold-colored V.I.P. wristband for the event.The day after the dinner at Mr. Trump’s golf club, Mr. He was observed by a reporter from The Times entering the White House for the tour that had been set up by Mr. Trump’s business partner Bill Zanker, who created the Trump memecoin.Bill Zanker, Mr. Trump’s business partner, created the Trump memecoin.Credit...Jason Andrew for The New York TimesMr. Zanker and the Trump family share in the revenues from the memecoin business, which has already totaled at least $320 million, according to an estimate by Chainalysis, a crypto forensics group. After the tour, Mr. He, using a social media account under his Sky pseudonym, posted a series of photos from the dinner and White House tour, which he electronically modified to cover his face. The Times was able to establish his identity through publicly available information, including photos and biographical information on his company website.
Tesla reclaims 52 scam domains from Russian crypto grifter - Tesla is now the proud owner of 52 Tesla-themed phishing domains created by a Russian crypto scammer after it successfully appealed to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).As reported by Domain Name Wire, WIPO panelist WiIliam A. Van Caenegem transferred ownership of the domains from the Russian national Ekaterina Tkachenko to Elon Musk’s electric car firm on May 27.The domain names were similar to Tesla’s but included keywords such as “bitcoin,” “coin,” “bonus,” “Trump,” and “Musk,” to name a few. The landing pages featured a picture of Elon Musk and promised to double investors’ money if they sent a small amount of crypto to a specified address. Caenegem concluded that Tkachenko had acted “in bad faith” by using trademarked names and ordered the domain transfer. By the time the complaint was filed, antivirus software had mostly blocked access to all the sites. The US recently sanctioned a Philippines-based tech firm that allegedly bought thousands of domain names in bulk and sold them on to crypto scammers behind over $200 million in US victim losses.Like Tkachenko’s, these domain names were intentionally similar and allowed cyber criminals to quickly swap to other domain names after legitimate providers took the others down.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell Stresses Need for Crypto Regulation, Signals No Rush To Cut Rates - At a time when both the crypto industry and broader markets are navigating uncertainty, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered a closely watched speech that struck a balance between caution and openness.Speaking in Washington on Monday, Powell addressed some of the financial system’s most pressing concerns—from persistent inflation clouding rate cut hopes to the growing call for regulatory clarity in digital assets.His remarks didn’t offer surprises but signals, particularly for crypto markets looking for direction in an environment shaped by policy shifts, economic headwinds, and renewed geopolitical tensions.During his keynote at the Fed’s Division of International Finance 75th Anniversary Conference, Powell devoted a notable portion of his remarks to the crypto industry, an area the central bank has increasingly monitored as it edges closer to the financial mainstream.Acknowledging the “turmoil” that has plagued digital asset markets, from fraud to instability, Powell reiterated the Fed’s position: the U.S. needs comprehensive and consistent regulation that encourages innovation without compromising financial stability.He argued that clearer guidelines would help legitimize the space, weed out bad actors, and give both institutional and retail participants greater confidence in engaging with blockchain-based assets.The comments arrive as federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), continue grappling with how to define—and regulate, various parts of the crypto economy, from stablecoins to decentralized platforms. Beyond crypto, Powell addressed monetary policy and inflation, a top market concern. Despite rising hopes for interest rate relief earlier this year, the Fed chairscuttled any expectations of an imminent pivot.Economic data remains mixed, but with inflation still above target, Powell made it clear that the Fed is prepared to hold rates steady until sustained progress.Adding weight to the Fed’s position, the OECD released a revised economic outlook projecting U.S. GDP growth to slow from 2.8% in 2024 to 1.6% in 2025 and 1.5% in 2026.The organization also cited potential risks from President Trump’s proposed tariffs, warning they could further dampen growth and policy visibility.Bitcoin (BTC) briefly dipped below $103,000 over the weekend but bounced back above $105,000 following his remarks.As of June 3, BTC was trading at $105,319, up 0.5% on the day.While crypto assets remain sensitive to macro signals, Powell’s willingness to engage seriously with the regulatory future of digital assets offered a sliver of optimism to an industry often clouded by enforcement actions and legal ambiguity. Still, broader market uncertainty, ranging from trade policy to geopolitical flare-ups, continues to weigh on risk appetite, keeping crypto largely rangebound in the near term.
Bowman's reform agenda targets ratings, supervision, capital - In her first speech since being confirmed as the Federal Reserve's vice chair for supervision, Michelle Bowman outlined a set of ambitious pursuits that would overhaul bank regulation and examination.Bank ratings, examination practices and capital requirements are all poised for reforms under the Federal Reserve's new chief regulator.
Stablecoin bill undermines state banking authority, group says — A group representing state legislatures is criticizing the Senate stablecoin bill championed by congressional Republicans, arguing that a provision added to the bill after it passed through the Senate Banking Committee will undermine the rights of states to determine which financial institutions operate there. The National Conference of State Legislatures asked that leading lawmakers strike a provision in the Senate stablecoin bill that they say would preempt state authority to bar state-chartered special purpose depository institutions from operating in their state.
BankThink: The Senate's stablecoin bill risks repeating past legislative mistakes - The GENIUS Act, in its current form, fails to account for the substantial risk of stablecoin runs and blocks regulators from imposing necessary oversight. It also lacks measures to prevent their use in illicit transactions, write Brooksley Born and Simon Johnson. In 2000, various forms of over-the-counter derivatives were emerging fast into the financial mainstream, and Congress passed the Commodity Futures Modernization Act, or CFMA, which purported to encourage financial innovation in a way that would benefit all Americans. In retrospect, the CFMA facilitated the rapid growth of weakly regulated derivative markets that played a major role in creating global financial fragility and systemic risk. Let's now be honest: The CFMA was a legislative mistake, contributing directly to the severity of the global financial crisis of 2008. The GENIUS Act, in its current form, fails to account for the substantial risk of stablecoin runs and blocks regulators from imposing necessary oversight. It also lacks measures to prevent their use in illicit transactions.
J.D. Vance wants a free market for crypto. What about everything else? - Vice President J.D. Vance is not ignorant about the power of the free market. He's just very selective about when that principle ought to apply."What you shouldn't have is a dictatorial government that tells certain industries they're not allowed to do what they need to do," Vance said in an interview with Newsmax last week. "You've gotta let these people make decisions on their own. And that's sort of been our approach."When I saw that clip on Twitter, I did a double-take. At first, I thought it must be some fake AI video—but, no, that's the real Vance saying real words about the value of a laissez faire approach to economic policy.The problem is that Vance applies that thinking in a very narrow way. In the Newsmax interview, he was talking about the Trump administration's approach to regulating cryptocurrency. As he explained, "Our approach in the Trump administration is to say, let people innovate, let people figure this stuff out on their own. If the critics of Bitcoin are right—I happen to think they're wrong—that will eventually win out in the marketplace." That's exactly right. Like all currencies, bitcoin only has as much value as its users are willing to bestow upon it. The same is true for every other piece of cryptocurrencies—including the many junk coins that probably shouldn't be worth the bits they are printed on. It is the collective consciousness of the market that will decide whether bitcoin succeeds or fails in the long run, and the government ought not to put its thumb on that scale.Vance's position on bitcoin is made more noteworthy because of how far out of step it seems with his stated views—and those of the Trump administration, more generally—on a range of other important economic issues. From trade to immigration (which is an economic issue, yes) to minutiae like where American consumers buy their toasters andhow many dolls American kids get to play with, the Trump administration is demandingmore dictatorial government that tells industries exactly what to do. Just last week, Vance wrote a letter to The Wall Street Journal praising President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his willingness to do the exact opposite of letting people make decisions on their own. "One needn't look far in American history for examples of lawmakers wielding the market to the betterment of our people," he wrote.As economist Thomas Sowell points out in a response to Vance's letter, "FDR's greatest contribution to military production in World War II was putting an end to his incessant interventions in the economy, which had created prolonged uncertainty that needlessly extended the Great Depression of the 1930s."Just as it did then, more central planning now will make Americans poorer.The benefits of the free market should not be reserved exclusively for people who invent and use cryptocurrency. You've gotta let people make economic decisions on their own, Vance says. Exactly. The Trump administration should let Americans hire who they want and buy what they want, regardless of where in the world those workers and products might originate. And it should do that for the same reason that it makes sense to leave crypto alone: So that innovation can occur, markets can work, and consumers get access to the widest range of options possible.
Solon Man Loses $500,000 in Cryptocurrency Scam Amid Rise in Similar Fraud Cases | Cleveland Scene -- By all accounts, it seemed to S.W. that Kristina Tian was a reliable investment partner to send money to last summer. It was July 22, 2024, when Tian reached out via LinkedIn. She immediately touted her credentials: a degree from Stanford, a high position at Mucker Capital. You should invest with me, Tian told S.W. She even sent S.W. screenshots over WhatsApp of her booming investment portfolio. S.W. seemed sold. In the following week, they wired $495,079 total, through eight separate transfers, into a cryptocurrency wallet. Which all seemed legit to S.W. “After the request was processed successfully and funds were returned to S.W.,” a court document filed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday reads, “S.W. was convinced that the investment platform was legitimate and continued with additional investments.” A week later, on July 30, a call from the FBI’s Cleveland office confirmed it wasn’t: S.W. was mired in a cryptocurrency scam—often called “pig butchering” or a “pump and dump”—that could have, if the FBI didn’t intervene, bilked them out of $1.5 million of their savings. They were, after all, prepared to send even more money. The Solon resident's case is a part of what the FBI is calling an alarming rise in similar cryptocurrency scams, episodes of wire fraud and money laundering that dupe unsuspecting, would-be investors into exhanges that begin practically anywhere in the digital world—from LinkedIn to Coffee Meets Bagel to Facebook Messenger. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that, in 2024, tens of thousands of victims were scammed out of $5.8 billion in private assets, those that were “siphoned overseas,” the complaint reads, mostly to criminals in East Asia. And the scams are creeping more and more close to home. In 2023, a woman in Mentor was duped out of $663,352 of her life savings after developing a relationship with a "friend" who began texting her out of the blue from "Seattle." A complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in February laying out the similar situation. The problem is, from the investigator’s point of view, that crypto wallets are, by design, tough to track down due to multiple levels of encryption on the blockchain. And reports of fraud don’t usually make it to the federal level until people like S.W. have been “locked” out of investment accounts they once believed were totally legitimate. By then, any money in the form of crypto that’s not frozen is already in the hands, and wallets, of the scammer thousands of miles away. With no hope, as S.W. found out after confronting “Kristina Tian” on WhatsApp, of getting their money back. “I feel for you,” “Kristina” wrote to S.W. on WhatsApp. “You’re a good pig, just not fat enough.” They added, “But thank you for giving me half you half of your savings.”
Musician made $3M selling NFTs and lost it all to taxes and a crypto crash relives ‘crypto tax nightmare’ in new song -Non-fungible token (NFT) artist Jonathan Mann, the musician behind the “Song A Day” project, has turned his crypto tax ordeal into a cautionary musical tale. In a new track shared on X, Mann recounted how he made $3 million selling his entire back catalog as NFTs, only to see it vanish as the market crashed during the Terra ecosystem collapse.“This is the story of how I made three million dollars and lost it,” Mann sings. “And how I owed the IRS more money than I made in 10 previous years.” Mann said it all began on Jan. 1, 2022, when he sold 3,700 songs at $800 each, netting him roughly $3 million — all in Ether (ETH). Excited but unprepared, Mann and his wife decided to hold onto the crypto, hoping ETH prices would increase. “We didn’t have a plan,” Mann admitted in the song. Things took a turn when ETH’s value declined in January 2022, and the couple was unsure about how much to sell or when. To add to their woes, the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) came knocking at their door. As Mann explained in the song, his earnings from selling NFTs are taxed as income. This means that tax is based on the value of the ETH when received, regardless of whether the crypto asset later crashes in value. Because of this, even though their $3 million in ETH went down in price, their tax bill remained the same. To avoid selling their crypto at a loss, Mann said they took out a loan through the lending protocol Aave, using some of the ETH as collateral. But disaster struck as the market started to crash, driven by the Terra collapse. The incident triggered a cascade of liquidations across the ecosystem, which included Mann’s loan. In a flash, 300 ETH disappeared. “A lifetime of work erased in a moment,” he lamented. Scrambling to find a way out, Mann spent months combing through transactions with his accountant to determine how much they owed — they found out it was $1,095,171.79. With the threat of potential liens on their home and risks of losing his wife’s retirement account, Mann turned to one last option: selling a rare Autoglyph NFT he purchased back in crypto’s early days. The musician said he attempted to sell the NFT through X but did not get a good reception. However, he found a broker with a client who offered $1.1 million for the NFT. Mann said that he accepted the deal to pay for the IRS taxes. Because of the losses incurred in the Aave loan, Mann did not owe capital gains taxes on the Autoglyph sale. “It felt so bittersweet to be done,” he sings at the end. Despite the ordeal, Mann continues writing daily songs and selling them as NFTs, still hopeful he’ll one day earn another $3 million.
'Bitcoin Family' hides crypto codes etched onto metal cards on four continents after recent kidnappings - A wave of high-profile kidnappings targeting cryptocurrency executives has rattled the industry — and prompted a quiet security revolution among some of its most visible evangelists. Didi Taihuttu, patriarch of the so-called "Bitcoin Family," said he overhauled the family's entire security setup after a string of threats. The Taihuttus — who sold everything they owned in 2017, from their house to their shoes, to go all-in on bitcoin when it was trading around $900 — have long lived on the outer edge of crypto ideology. They travel full-time with their three daughters and remain entirely unbanked. Over the past eight months, he said, the family ditched hardware wallets in favor of a hybrid system: Part analog, part digital, with seed phrases encrypted, split, and stored either through blockchain-based encryption services or hidden across four continents. "We have changed everything," Taihuttu told CNBC on a call from Phuket, Thailand. "Even if someone held me at gunpoint, I can't give them more than what's on my wallet on my phone. And that's not a lot." CNBC first reported on the family's unconventional storage system in 2022, when Taihuttu described hiding hardware wallets across multiple continents — in places ranging from rental apartments in Europe to self-storage units in South America. As physical attacks on crypto holders become more frequent, even they are rethinking their exposure. This week, Moroccan police arrested a 24-year-old suspected of orchestrating a series of brutal kidnappings targeting crypto executives. One victim, the father of a crypto millionaire, was allegedly held for days in a house south of Paris — and reportedly had a finger severed during the ordeal.In a separate case earlier this year, a co-founder of French wallet firm Ledger and his wife were abducted from their home in central France in a ransom scheme that also targeted another Ledger executive.Last month in New York, authorities said, a 28-year-old Italian tourist was kidnapped and tortured for 17 days in a Manhattan apartment by attackers trying to extract his bitcoin password — shocking him with wires, beating him with a gun, and strapping an Apple AirTag around his neck to track his movements.The common thread: The pursuit of crypto credentials that enable instant, irreversible transfers of virtual assets. "It is definitely frightening to see a lot of these kidnappings happen," said JP Richardson, CEO of crypto wallet company Exodus. He urged users to take security into their own hands by choosing self-custody, storing larger sums on hardware wallets, and — for those holding significant assets — exploring multi-signature wallets, a setup typically used by institutions. Richardson also recommended spreading funds across different wallet types and avoiding large balances in hot wallets to reduce risk without sacrificing flexibility. That rising sense of vulnerability is fueling a new demand for physical protection with insurance firms now racing to offer kidnap and ransom (K&R) policies tailored to crypto holders. But Taihuttu isn't waiting for corporate solutions. He's opted for complete decentralization — of not just his finances, but his personal risk profile. As the family prepares to return to Europe from Thailand, safety has become a constant topic of conversation. "We've been talking about it a lot as a family," Taihuttu said. "My kids read the news, too — especially that story in France, where the daughter of a CEO was almost kidnapped on the street." Now, he said, his daughters are asking difficult questions: What if someone tries to kidnap us? What's the plan? Though the girls carry only small amounts of crypto in their personal wallets, the family has decided to avoid France entirely. "We got a little bit famous in a niche market — but that niche is becoming a really big market now," Taihuttu said. "And I think we'll see more and more of these robberies. So yeah, we're definitely going to skip France." Even in Thailand, Taihuttu recently stopped posting travel updates and filming at home after receiving disturbing messages from strangers who claimed to have identified his location from YouTube vlogs. "We stayed in a very beautiful house for six months — then I started getting emails from people who figured out which house it was. They warned me to be careful, told me not to leave my kids alone," he said. "So we moved. And now we don't film anything at all."
Crypto news: Why shocking and violent “wrench attacks” are going to get worse - Late last month, a shoeless and injured cryptocurrency investor fled from a posh Manhattan townhouse and approached the NYPD with a mortifying story: He’d just escaped 17 straight days of torture, having been held in SoHo and peed upon, forced to smoke crack, pistol-whipped, shocked with a Taser, cut with a saw, and dangled over a ledge. All because two fellow crypto enthusiasts, whom he personally knew, desired access to his multimillion-dollar Bitcoin fortune—and were willing to do anything to make him give up the password to his virtual wallet.With the information provided by this battered trader—a 28-year-old Italian named Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan—the authorities quickly took the accused culprits, John Woeltz and William Duplessie, into custody. Per police reports, Carturan and Woeltz had ties to an unnamed New York crypto hedge fund; the latter had often “picked on” the former and, eventually, a disagreement over money led Carturan to fly back to Italy. Woeltz, who’d been spending time with Duplessie partying hard and splurging generously—including on that 17-floor, $30,000-a-month SoHo townhouse—persuaded Carturan to return to NYC early last month and allegedly hired an off-duty NYPD officer to pick him up from the airport on May 6.(It’s unknown whether the cop knew what was about to happen.) According to Carturan’s account, he only escaped after agreeing to give up the passkey to his Bitcoin wallet, claiming it was stored on his laptop; when his tormenters left him behind to fetch the computer, Carturan bolted from the premises.The NYC torture scheme was just the latest example of a “wrench attack,” where a thief employs brutal physical violence in order to gain access to a target’s virtual cryptocurrency stashes. The phrase hails from a 2009 strip from the popular webcomic xkcd, making the point that any common thief could break into a user’s encrypted software simply by battering the owner with a $5 wrench “until he tells us the password.”It’s not a new phenomenon—but these days, it’s a troublingly common one. On the same day Carturan left his captors, the crypto-crime watchdog group TRM Labs put out a report on the recent uptick in wrench attacks, noting that such acts “have escalated in both frequency and severity,” typically involving “high levels of violence that are extremely traumatic for the victims to endure.” Ari Redbord, a former federal prosecutor who now heads global policy for TRM Labs, gave me a blunt explanation for this surge: “We’ve seen the price of Bitcoin double in the last year or so. Criminals tend to go where the money is. These aren’t cybercriminals. These aren’t hackers. They don’t need sophisticated tools.”A few days later, longtime software engineer and Bitcoin maximalist Jameson Lopp gave a detailed presentation on the escalation in wrench attacks at the Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas. After kicking off with a reference to that xkcd comic, Lopp deployed various graphs of reported wrench attacks over the years, noting that such assaults are still relatively rare compared with other crypto-related crimes (such as hacking or phishing), but that they do tend to spike whenever Bitcoin’s value balloons rapidly, like during the crypto craze of 2021. This year, Bitcoin’s value has reached all-time highs—and 2025 is on pace to see a record amount of wrench attacks worldwide. Lopp emphasized that the total number will still be “relatively small” But the details common to these crimes are terrifying enough to warrant extra caution for crypto holders: home invasions, kidnapping, drugging. And, Lopp warned, “a decent number of these also involve torture.”Bitcoin Conference attendees likely found Lopp’s presentation valuable, not least because many crypto investors are reportedly growing more fearful. The Wall Street Journal recently spoke with anonymous “members of the crypto community” who “say they are turning their Instagram profiles private and are trying to remove their physical addresses, and those of their families, from public records.” Other crypto enthusiasts are also training in hand-to-hand combat—perhaps not incidental to the fact that, as Lopp stated, many wrench-attack survivors lacked adequate home-security or self-defense tools.Again, such events are rare. But for those who go through them, they’re scarring. Just last week, two Russian crypto executives were kidnapped by Chechens in Buenos Aires and forced to pay $43,000 in ransom before the perpetrators fled. A few weeks before that, a 30-year-old American tourist in London was drugged by a man who claimed to be his Uber driver; the kidnapper only let him out once the American gave up his crypto-wallet passkey. In late November, a Las Vegas–based investor left a local crypto conference and was kidnapped by three armed and masked robbers right as he reached home; they extorted him for $4.8 million worth of tokens, then abandoned him in a desert area 26 miles from the Nevada border. That same month, WonderFI CEO Dean Skurka was kidnapped in Toronto, held for a $1 million ransom, then freed when the sum was paid.
Democrat bill pushes back on beneficial ownership rollback -- Congressional Democrats offered a bill Friday requiring the Treasury Department to apply the anti-money-laundering requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act more fully and help educate small businesses on how to comply with reporting of beneficial ownership information.
Wells Fargo sheds asset cap, ending seven years of handcuffs --The San Francisco-based bank was long hamstrung by a regulatory order that kept it under $1.95 trillion of assets. Now Wells can hit the gas on business lines it had kept idle.
Wells shed its asset cap — but it isn't clear why -- In 2018, the Federal Reserve Board's total growth restriction on Wells Fargo established a new tool for dealing with large banks with broken compliance cultures. The first-of-its-kind growth restriction established a new precedent for how regulators can address a broken bank culture. With scant information about why the cap was lifted, the action provides little clarity on what Wells did right — or what the Fed did wrong.
FDIC's Hill criticizes Biden-era approach to bank mergers — The Biden administration had a "misguided" hostility toward mergers overall that affected bank deals, acting Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chair Travis Hill said Tuesday. The acting chair argued for a simplified capital hike, criticized past approaches to bank mergers and signaled movement on the FDIC board could be coming soon. In the context of U.S. bank capital requirements, a dual-stack approach requires large banks to calculate their capital requirements using both a standardized method and a more advanced method and must hold the higher of the two capital levels. A single-stack approach would use just one method for calculating capital requirements, potentially simplifying the process.
Trump-era OCC eyes lighter capital rules to boost lending -- Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney Hood signals rollback of key safeguards like the supplemental leverage ratio, aligning with administration's push to ease bank capital demands and spur credit. Hood confirmed that the Trump administration plans to revise capital requirements for banks, aiming to ease what he described as excessive regulations that could constrain credit.
Markets may shrug off Trump's trade tactics, but not banks -President Donald Trump's trade policy injected volatility into markets earlier this spring, but some Wall Street investors have become skeptical of whether the most drastic tariffs proposed will materialize. Some Wall Street investors are beginning to doubt whether the harshest outcomes of President Trump's tariff threats will materialize. But in the absence of certainty, banks still face real challenges in M&A and long-term strategy.
Market structure bill gets off to rocky start at hearing -- House lawmakers discussed the recently introduced market structure bill, with Democrats expressing concerns that the bill could enable banks to evade securities laws.
Citi scraps pro-gun-safety policy amid conservative pressure Citigroup is scrapping a pro-gun-safety policy and updating certain policies to bar discrimination based on political affiliation — moves that come as conservative groups flex their power in Washington, D.C. The megabank is also updating certain policies to bar discrimination based on political affiliation. "We appreciate the concerns that are being raised regarding 'fair access' to banking services," a Citigroup executive wrote in an internal memo.
BankThink: Banks and businesses deserve clarity on the legal treatment of cannabis -The STATES 2.0 Act, currently pending in Congress, would go a long way toward giving banks confidence that they can provide services to legal cannabis businesses without putting themselves in jeopardy, write Terry Mendez, of Safe Harbor Financial, and Michael Bronstein, of the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp.A bipartisan bill recently reintroduced in Congress could mark a turning point for the cannabis industry's long-standing challenges with federal tax policy and access to banking. The Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States 2.0 Act — commonly referred to as the STATES 2.0 Act — seeks to reconcile federal law with the growing number of states that havelegalized marijuana in some form.The STATES 2.0 Act, currently pending in Congress, would go a long way toward giving banks confidence that they can provide services to legal cannabis businesses without putting themselves in legal jeopardy.
CFPB, bank lobby ask court to strike down open banking rule -The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has asked a federal court to vacate its own open banking rule because it believes the rule exceeds the bureau's authority and is arbitrary and capricious in its scope. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Bank Policy Institute filed twin motions for summary judgement to strike down a 2024 agency rule for being arbitrary and capricious and exceeding statutory authority.
Senate Republicans seek to cut off CFPB funding -Senate Republicans are seeking to cut off a key funding source for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) as part of a mammoth package to advance President Trump’s tax agenda and spending cuts. Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee said the legislative text unveiled Friday would block CFPB’s ability “to fund itself” by significantly limiting its funding structure.Currently, as part of its funding structure, the CFPB receives transfers from the central bank not exceeding a cap set at 12 percent of the Federal Reserve System’s total operating expenses in 2009.However, the proposal offered by Senate Republicans on Friday would reduce that cap to zero. The measure goes further than the House version of Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” which seeks to reduce the cap to 5 percent. The GOP-led Senate committee said Friday the move would not “affect the Bureau’s existing ability to request funds from Congress” and would result in about $6.4 billion in savings over 10 years.
Senate banking budget bill overhauls CFPB funding --The Senate Banking Committee's contribution to the "big, beautiful bill"would cut funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and eliminate the Office of Financial Research — just two of many provisions included in the legislation. The Banking Committee's portion of the Senate budget bill would eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's ability to request funding from the Federal Reserve, a move that goes further than House Republicans' version of the bill.
Q1 Update: Delinquencies, Foreclosures and REO --We will NOT see a surge in foreclosures that would significantly impact house prices (as happened following the housing bubble) for two key reasons: 1) mortgage lending has been solid, and 2) most homeowners have substantial equity in their homes. With substantial equity, and low mortgage rates (mostly at a fixed rates), few homeowners will have financial difficulties. But it is still important to track delinquencies and foreclosures. This graph shows the nominal dollar value of Residential REO for FDIC insured institutions based on the Q1 FDIC Quarterly Banking Profile released last week. Note: The FDIC reports the dollar value and not the total number of REOs.The dollar value of 1-4 family residential Real Estate Owned (REOs, foreclosure houses) was up 5% YOY from $742 million in Q1 2024 to $784 million in Q1 2025. This is historically extremely low. Fannie Mae reported the number of REOs decreased to 5,236 at the end of Q1 2025, down 11% from 5,895 at the end of the previous quarter, and down 34% year-over-year from 7,971 in Q1 2024. Here is a graph of Fannie Real Estate Owned (REO). This is very low and well below the pre-pandemic levels. REOs are a lagging indicator. REOs increase when borrowers struggle financially and have little or no equity, so they can’t sell their homes - as happened after the housing bubble. That will not happen this time.It is important to note that loans in forbearance are counted as delinquent in the various surveys but not reported to the credit agencies.Here is a graph from the MBA’s National Delinquency Survey through Q1 2025.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. Loans in forbearance are mostly in the 90-day bucket at this point, and that has declined recently. From the MBA: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. ...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. emphasis addedBoth Fannie and Freddie release serious delinquency (90+ days) data monthly. Freddie Mac reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate in April was 0.57%, down from 0.59% March. Freddie's rate is up year-over-year from 0.51% in April 2024, however, this is close to the pre-pandemic level of 0.60%. Freddie's serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 4.20% following the housing bubble and peaked at 3.17% in August 2020 during the pandemic.Fannie Mae reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate in March was 0.55%, down from 0.56% in March. The serious delinquency rate is up year-over-year from 0.49% in April 2024, however, this is below the pre-pandemic lows of 0.65%. The Fannie Mae serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 5.59% following the housing bubble and peaked at 3.32% in August 2020 during the pandemic. This graph shows the recent decline in serious delinquencies: ICE reported that active foreclosures are still very low but have increased recently. have decreased and are near the records. From ICE: ICE June Mortgage Monitor report
- A wider scope shows that while mortgage performance still remains historically strong, delinquency and foreclosure metrics are gradually trending higher on a year-over-year basis
- Foreclosure starts (+13%), sales (+9%), and active inventory (+4%) all rose YoY for the second consecutive month
- April’s 6,500 foreclosure sales marked the largest single-month volume in 15 months, with VA sales, which account for the bulk of the recent rise, hitting their highest level since 2019
The bottom line is there will not be a huge wave of foreclosures as happened following the housing bubble. The distressed sales during the housing bust led to cascading price declines, and that will not happen this time.
Fannie and Freddie: Single Family Serious Delinquency Rates Decreased in April; Fannie Multi-Family Delinquency Rate Highest Since Jan 2011 (ex-Pandemic) --Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Fannie and Freddie: Single Family Serious Delinquency Rates Decreased in April. Excerpt: Freddie Mac reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate in April was 0.57%, down from 0.59% March. Freddie's rate is up year-over-year from 0.51% in April 2024, however, this is close to the pre-pandemic level of 0.60%.Freddie's serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 4.20% following theFreddie's serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 4.20% following the housing bubble and peaked at 3.17% in August 2020 during the pandemic.Fannie Mae reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate in March was 0.55%, down from 0.56% in March. The serious delinquency rate is up year-over-year from 0.49% in April 2024, however, this is below the pre-pandemic lows of 0.65%.The Fannie Mae serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 5.59% following the housing bubble and peaked at 3.32% in August 2020 during the pandemic.These are mortgage loans that are "three monthly payments or more past due or in foreclosure". Mortgages in forbearance are being counted as delinquent in this monthly report but are not reported to the credit bureaus. For Fannie, by vintage, for loans made in 2004 or earlier (1% of portfolio), 1.39% are seriously delinquent (down from 1.41% the previous month). For loans made in 2005 through 2008 (1% of portfolio), 1.98% are seriously delinquent (down from 2.01%). For recent loans, originated in 2009 through 2023 (98% of portfolio), 0.50% are seriously delinquent (unchanged from 0.50%). So, Fannie is still working through a handful of poor performing loans from the bubble years.June ICE Mortgage Monitor: Home Prices Continue to Cool = Here is the ICE June Mortgage Monitor report (pdf). Press Release: ICE Mortgage Monitor: Record Levels of Home Equity and Falling Rates Drive Highest HELOC Withdraws Since 2008 Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. … today released its June 2025 Mortgage Monitor report. The analysis of mortgage, real estate and public records data shows U.S. mortgage holders carried a record $17.6 trillion in home equity entering the second quarter of 2025, with $11.5 trillion considered “tappable” — that is, available for borrowing while maintaining at least a 20% equity cushion. Despite subdued withdrawal rates in recent years, early 2025 data points to shifting borrower behavior. First-quarter second lien equity withdrawals rose 22% year over year to nearly $25 billion — the largest first quarter volume in 17 years — suggesting increased interest in home equity access amid improving loan affordability. “Equity levels remain historically high, and now we’re seeing the cost of borrowing against that equity drop meaningfully,” said Andy Walden, Head of Mortgage and Housing Market Research at ICE. “The monthly payment needed to withdraw $50,000 via a home equity line of credit (HELOC) has fallen by more than $100 since early 2024. If the Fed moves forward with anticipated rate cuts, borrowing against home equity could become even more attractive in the second half of the year.” … Other highlights from the June 2025 Mortgage Monitor include:
- 48 million mortgage holders have tappable equity, with the average homeowner sitting on $212K.
- Mortgaged homes are, on average, only 45% leveraged, suggesting ample cushion for equity access.
- Lenders are becoming more aggressive with their HELOC rate offerings, with the spread to prime falling to the lowest levels since 2022.
- Equity withdrawals — including cash-out refinances — totaled $45 billion in the first quarter of 2025, the highest first quarter volume since 2022.
- Borrowers tapped just 0.41% of available tappable equity in the first quarter of 2025, still below long-term averages, indicating further room for growth.
“In our latest ICE Borrower Insights Survey, roughly 25% of homeowners said they are considering a home equity loan or HELOC in the next year. It’s periods like these — where both demand and affordability trends converge — that represent a critical opportunity for housing finance professionals to earn homeowners’ repeat business,” said Tim Bowler, President of ICE Mortgage Technology. Here is a graph of the national delinquency rate from ICE. Overall delinquencies decreased in March and are below the pre-pandemic levels. Source: ICE McDash
- Overall, mortgage delinquencies held relatively steady in April with the national delinquency (DQ) rate rising by just 1 basis point (bp) to 3.22% in the month
- A wider scope shows that while mortgage performance still remains historically strong, delinquency and foreclosure metrics are gradually trending higher on a year-over-year basis
- The national DQ rate is up 13 bps (4.1%) YoY and while serious delinquencies (SDQs) ‒ loans 90+ days past due but not in foreclosure ‒ improved seasonally in April, they were up 14% YoY, continuing a six-month streak of 10%+ increases
- Foreclosure starts (+13%), sales (+9%), and active inventory (+4%) all rose YoY for the second consecutive month
- April’s 6,500 foreclosure sales marked the largest single-month volume in 15 months, with VA sales, which account for the bulk of the recent rise, hitting their highest level since 2019
- Hurricane-related SDQs fell 5,300 to roughly 18K, from November’s peak of 58K, driving 30% of the -3.7% overall improvement
This graph shows ICE’s estimate of the National inventory deficit (change from 2017 - 2019 levels).
- The number of homes available for sale is up +30% from the same time last year, with shortage from pre-pandemic levels having fallen to -16%, down from -36% at this time last year, the lowest deficit since early 2020
- That deficit was cut by 4 percentage points in April alone, marking one of the largest single-month gains since 2022
- At the current rate of improvement, inventory would return to pre-pandemic levels nationally by mid-2026
- 37 of the 100 largest markets have already seen their inventory levels normalize, with Denver now surpassing TX and FL markets for the largest inventory surplus, with 90% more homes for sale compared to its 2017-2019 April average
- Inventory growth has largely come from a slowing of sales volumes, although new listings have slowly begun to return as well
- Through the first 4 months of 2025, new listings have run 15% below their 2017-2019 averages, and while that’s still below ‘normal’ levels, it’s an improvement from the -22% deficit we averaged early last year
This graph illustrates the significant regional differences with inventory growth. The Northeast and Upper Midwest still have low levels of inventory. Meanwhile, prices are falling in part of Florida and Texas - and other cities with inventory above 2017 - 2019 levels. Here is the year-over-year in house prices according to the ICE Home Price Index (HPI). The ICE HPI is a repeat sales index. ICE reports the median price change of the repeat sales. The index was up 2.0% year-over-year in April, down from 2.4% YoY in March. The early look at the May HPI shows a 1.6% YoY increase
- Improved inventory levels are providing more options and a softer price dynamic for homeowners shopping this spring
- Annual home price growth cooled to a revised +2.0% in April from +3.6% at the start of the year, with ICE’s Home Price Index suggesting price growth cooled further to +1.6% in May, the slowest growth rate in nearly two years
- May data also shows home prices rose by a modest 0.1% in the month on a seasonally adjusted basis, which would mark the softest single-month growth since late 2023, when mortgage rates climbed above 7.5%
- If recent seasonally adjusted gains persist, the annual home price growth rate is poised to cool further
- Single family prices were up by +1.9% in May from the same time last year, with condos down -0.7% as signals of a softer condo market grow louder
- Condo prices are now down from last year in half of all major U.S. markets, with the largest declines along Florida’s Gulf Coast, plus Stockton CA, Austin, Memphis and Denver
There is much more in the mortgage monitor.
MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey -- From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey -Mortgage applications decreased 3.9 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 30, 2025. This week’s results included an adjustment for the Memorial Day holiday. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 3.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 15 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 4 percent from the previous week and was 42 percent higher than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 4 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased 15 percent compared with the previous week and was 18 percent higher than the same week one year ago. “Most mortgage rates moved lower last week, with the 30-year fixed rate declining to 6.92 percent and staying in the 6.8 to 7 percent range since April,” “Mortgage applications decreased over the week, but continue to exhibit annual gains, with purchase applications running 18 percent ahead of last year’s place. Government purchase applications were little changed over the week driven by a slight increase in FHA purchase applications. Refinance activity fell across both conventional and government segment and the overall average refinance loan size was the smallest since July 2024, as potential borrowers hold out for larger rate drops.” ... The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($806,500 or less) decreased to 6.92 percent from 6.98 percent, with points decreasing to 0.66 from 0.67 (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.
Housing June 2nd Weekly Update: Inventory up 2.1% Week-over-week, Up 32.8% Year-over-year -- Altos reports that active single-family inventory was up 2.1% week-over-week. Inventory is now up 28.7% from the seasonal bottom in January and is increasing. Usually, inventory is up about 16% 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 32.8% compared to the same week in 2024 (last week it was up 32.4%), and down 14.6% compared to the same week in 2019 (last week it was down 15.5%). This is the highest level since 2019. 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 30th, inventory was at 804 thousand (7-day average), compared to 787 thousand the prior week. Mike Simonsen discusses this data regularly on Youtube
Construction Spending Decreased 0.4% in April- From the Census Bureau reported that overall construction spending decreased:Construction spending during April 2025 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,152.4 billion, 0.4 percent below the revised March estimate of $2,162.0 billion. The April figure is 0.5 percent below the April 2024 estimate of $2,163.2 billion. During the first four months of this year, construction spending amounted to $660.2 billion, 1.4 percent above the $651.3 billion for the same period in 2024.Private spending decreased and public spending increased:Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,638.9 billion, 0.7 percent below the revised March estimate of $1,650.8 billion...In April, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $513.5 billion, 0.4 percent above the revised March estimate of $511.3 billion.This graph shows private residential and nonresidential construction spending, and public spending, since 1993. Note: nominal dollars, not inflation adjusted.Private residential (red) spending is 8.9% below the peak in 2022.Private non-residential (blue) spending is 1.4% below the peak in February 2025.Public construction spending (orange) is at a new peak.The second graph shows the year-over-year change in construction spending. On a year-over-year basis, private residential construction spending is down 4.8%. Private non-residential spending is up 1.0% year-over-year. Public spending is up 5.5% year-over-year.This was below consensus expectations and spending for the previous two months were revised down significantly.
Update: Lumber Prices Up 17% YoY --This is something to watch again. Here is another monthly update on lumber prices. NOTE: The CME group discontinued the Random Length Lumber Futures contract on May 16, 2023. I switched to a physically-delivered Lumber Futures contract that was started in August 2022. Unfortunately, this impacts long term price comparisons since the new contract was priced about 24% higher than the old random length contract for the period when both contracts were available. This graph shows CME random length framing futures through August 2022 (blue), and the new physically-delivered Lumber Futures (LBR) contract starting in August 2022 (Red). On May 30, 2025, LBR was at $593.00 per 1,000 board feet, up 17% from a year ago.There is somewhat of a seasonal demand for lumber, and lumber prices frequently peak in the first half of the year.Last year, prices bottomed in July at $449.00 per 1,000 board feet.Note that the pickup in early 2018 was due to the Trump lumber tariffs in 2017. There were huge increases during the pandemic due to a combination of supply constraints and a pickup in housing starts. The recent year-over-year increase might be due to the tariffs.
Trade Deficit decreased to $61.6 Billion in April --The Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported: The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $61.6 billion in April, down $76.7 billion from $138.3 billion in March, revised. April exports were $289.4 billion, $8.3 billion more than March exports. April imports were $351.0 billion, $68.4 billion less than March imports. Exports increased and imports increased in April. Exports were up 8.6% year-over-year; imports were up 3.4% year-over-year. Imports increased sharply earlier this year as importers rushed to beat tariffs. Exports likely increased in April as foreign importers rushed to beat retaliatory tariffs. The second graph shows the U.S. trade deficit, with and without petroleum. The blue line is the total deficit, and the black line is the petroleum deficit, and the red line is the trade deficit ex-petroleum products. Note that net, exports of petroleum products are positive and have been increasing. The trade deficit with China decreased to $17.2 billion from $20.1 billion a year ago.
Light Vehicles Sales Decrease to 15.65 million SAAR in May -Wards Auto released their estimate of light vehicle sales for May: U.S. Light-Vehicle Sales Growth Slows in May After March-April “Tariff” Surge (pay site). Although sales in May dropped to a level more in line with – in fact, slightly below - pre-tariff expectations after spiking above trend in the prior two months due to consumers trying to get ahead of potential tariff-related price increases, part of the cooling off was caused by the drain on inventory from the March-April surge. The drop in inventory, which at the end of last month was down year-over-year for the first time in nearly three years, helped explain a 10% decline in incentive spending in May from April, as there was less pressure to move stock off dealer lots despite the sharp slowdown in demand. That dynamic likely continues not just in June, but into Q3, as most automakers do not currently appear anxious to raise production levels enough to fully replace declining stock levels.This graph shows light vehicle sales since 2006 from the BEA (blue) and Wards' estimate for April (red). Sales in May (15.65 million SAAR) were down 9.4% from April, and down 1.1% from May 2024. Sales in May were well below the consensus forecast.The second graph shows light vehicle sales since the BEA started keeping data in 1967.This "beat the tariff" induced surge in buying happened in March and April. Now comes the payback ...
Wholesale Used Car Prices Decreased in May; Up 4% Year-over-year --From Manheim Consulting today: Wholesale Used-Vehicle Prices Increased in April Wholesale used-vehicle prices (on a mix, mileage, and seasonally adjusted basis) were lower in May compared to April. The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index (MUVVI) declined to 205.2, representing a 4% increase from the same time last year and a 1.4% decline from April levels. The seasonal adjustment slightly lowered the decline seen in the month, as non-seasonally adjusted values fell more than usual following the strong increase in April related to the tariff announcement. The non-adjusted price in May decreased by 1.5% compared to April, resulting in an unadjusted average price that was 4% higher year over year. This index from Manheim Consulting is based on all completed sales transactions at Manheim’s U.S. auctions.The Manheim index suggests used car prices decreased in May (seasonally adjusted) and were up 4% YoY.
Heavy Truck Sales Down 8% YoY in May == This graph shows heavy truck sales since 1967 using data from the BEA. The dashed line is the May 2025 seasonally adjusted annual sales rate (SAAR) of 446 thousand. Heavy truck sales really collapsed during the great recession, falling to a low of 180 thousand SAAR in May 2009. Then heavy truck sales increased to a new record high of 570 thousand SAAR in April 2019. Note: "Heavy trucks - trucks more than 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight." Heavy truck sales declined sharply at the beginning of the pandemic, falling to a low of 288 thousand SAAR in May 2020. Heavy truck sales were at 446 thousand SAAR in May, down from 457 thousand in April, and down 7.9% from 484 thousand SAAR in May 2024. Year-to-date (NSA) sales are down 4.6%. Usually, heavy truck sales decline sharply prior to a recession and sales were OK in May. As I mentioned yesterday, light vehicle sales declined in May to 15.65 million SAAR. We are starting to see some payback from the "beat the tariffs" surge in March and April. The second graph shows light vehicle sales since the BEA started keeping data in 1967. Light vehicle sales were at 15.65 million SAAR in May, down 9.3% from April, and down 1.1% from May 2024.
ISM® Manufacturing index Decreased to 48.5% in May The PMI® was at 48.5% in May, down from 48.7% in April. The employment index was at 46.8%, up from 46.5% the previous month, and the new orders index was at 47.6%, up from 47.2%.From ISM: Manufacturing PMI® at 48.5% May 2025 Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in May for the third consecutive month, following a two-month expansion preceded by 26 straight months of contraction, “The Manufacturing PMI® registered 48.5 percent in May, 0.2 percentage point lower compared to the 48.7 percent recorded in April. The overall economy continued in expansion for the 61st month after one month of contraction in April 2020. (A Manufacturing PMI® above 42.3 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy.) The New Orders Index contracted for the fourth month in a row following a three-month period of expansion; the figure of 47.6 percent is 0.4 percentage point higher than the 47.2 percent recorded in April. The May reading of the Production Index (45.4 percent) is 1.4 percentage points higher than April’s figure of 44 percent. The index continued in contraction in March for the third straight month after two months of expansion preceded by eight months of contraction. The Prices Index remained in expansion (or ‘increasing’) territory, registering 69.4 percent, down 0.4 percentage point compared to the reading of 69.8 percent in April. The Backlog of Orders Index registered 47.1 percent, up 3.4 percentage points compared to the 43.7 percent recorded in April. The Employment Index registered 46.8 percent, up 0.3 percentage point from April’s figure of 46.5 percent.“The Supplier Deliveries Index indicated a continued slowing of deliveries, registering 56.1 percent, 0.9 percentage point higher than the 55.2 percent recorded in April. (Supplier Deliveries is the only ISM® Report On Business® index that is inversed; a reading of above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries, which is typical as the economy improves and customer demand increases.) The Inventories Index registered 46.7 percent, down 4.1 percentage points compared to April’s reading of 50.8 percent. “The New Export Orders Index reading of 40.1 percent is 3 percentage points lower than the reading of 43.1 percent registered in April. The Imports Index plunged into extreme contraction in May, registering 39.9 percent, 7.2 percentage points lower than April’s reading of 47.1 percent.”This suggests manufacturing contracted in May. This was below the consensus forecast and new export orders were weak and prices very strong.
ISM® Services Index decreased to 49.9% in May - The ISM® Services index was at 49.9%, down from 51.6% last month. The employment index increased to 50.7%, from 49.0%. Note: Above 50 indicates expansion, below 50 in contraction. From the Institute for Supply Management: Services PMI® at 49.9% May 2025 Services ISM® Report On Business® The Services PMI® indicated slight contraction at 49.9 percent, below the 50-percent breakeven point for only the fourth time in 60 months since recovery from the coronavirus pandemic-induced recession began in June 2020. The report was issued today by Steve Miller, CPSM, CSCP, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Services Business Survey Committee: “In May, the Services PMI® registered 49.9 percent, 1.7 percentage points lower than the April figure of 51.6 percent. The Business Activity Index was ‘unchanged’ in May, registering 50 percent, 3.7 percentage points lower than the 53.7 percent recorded in April. This is the index’s first month out of expansion territory since May 2020. The New Orders Index dropped into contraction territory in May, recording a reading of 46.4 percent, a decrease of 5.9 percentage points from the April figure of 52.3 percent. The Employment Index returned to expansion after two months in contraction; the reading of 50.7 percent is 1.7 percentage points higher than the 49 percent recorded in April and is the second straight month-over-month gain. “The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 52.5 percent, 1.2 percentage points higher than the 51.3 percent recorded in April. This is the sixth consecutive month that the index has been in expansion territory, indicating slower supplier delivery performance. (Supplier Deliveries is the only ISM® Report On Business® index that is inversed; a reading of above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries, which is typical as the economy improves and customer demand increases.) “The Prices Index registered 68.7 percent in May, a 3.6-percentage point increase from April’s reading of 65.1 percent; the index has elevated 7.8 percentage points in the last two months to reach its highest level since November 2022 (69.4 percent). This is the first time the index has recorded this high of a two-month increase since a 9.2-percentage point gain in February and March 2021. The May reading is also its sixth in a row above 60 percent. The Inventories Index returned to contraction territory in May, registering 49.7 percent, a decrease of 3.7 percentage points from April’s figure of 53.4 percent. This is the second time the index has contracted in 2025. The Inventory Sentiment Index expanded for the 25th consecutive month, registering 62.9 percent, up 6.8 percentage points from April’s figure of 56.1 percent and its highest reading since July 2024 (63.2 percent). The Backlog of Orders Index registered 43.4 percent in May, a 4.6-percentage point decrease from the April figure of 48 percent, indicating contraction for the ninth time in the last 10 months and its lowest reading since August 2023 (41.8 percent). “Ten industries reported growth in May, down one from the 11 industries reported in April. The Services PMI® has contracted in only four of the last 60 months dating back to June 2020. The May reading of 49.9 percent is 2.4 percentage points below the 12-month average reading of 52.3 percent.” “May’s PMI® level is not indicative of a severe contraction, but rather uncertainty that is being expressed broadly among ISM Services Business Survey panelists. The average reading of 50.8 percent over the last three months still indicates expansion in that time period, but it is a notable shift of 2 percentage points below its average of 52.8 percent over the previous nine months. The New Orders Index moved into contraction territory for the first time in nearly a year. Tariff impacts are likely elevating prices paid by services sector companies, with the Prices Index hitting its highest level since November 2022, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ CPI indicated that prices had increased 7.1 percent as compared to November 2021.
Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims Increase to 247,000 -The DOL reported: In the week ending May 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 247,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 240,000 to 239,000. The 4-week moving average was 235,000, an increase of 4,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 250 from 230,750 to 230,500. The following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since 1971. The dashed line on the graph is the current 4-week average. The four-week average of weekly unemployment claims increased to 235,000. The previous week was revised down. Weekly claims were higher than the consensus forecast.
BLS: Job Openings Increased to 7.4 million in AprilFrom the BLS: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary The number of job openings was little changed at 7.4 million in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, both hires and total separations were little changed at 5.6 million and 5.3 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.2 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.8 million) changed little.The following graph shows job openings (black line), hires (dark blue), Layoff, Discharges and other (red column), and Quits (light blue column) from the JOLTS. Note: The difference between JOLTS hires and separations is similar to the CES (payroll survey) net jobs headline numbers. This report is for April; the employment report this Friday will be for May. Note that hires (dark blue) and total separations (red and light blue columns stacked) are usually pretty close each month. This is a measure of labor market turnover. When the blue line is above the two stacked columns, the economy is adding net jobs - when it is below the columns, the economy is losing jobs. The spike in layoffs and discharges in March 2020 is labeled, but off the chart to better show the usual data. Jobs openings increased in April to 7.39 million from 7.20 million in March. The number of job openings (black) were down 3% year-over-year. Quits were down 6% year-over-year. These are voluntary separations. (See light blue columns at bottom of graph for trend for "quits").
Job openings showed surprising increase to 7.4 million in April -Employers increased job openings more than expected in April while hiring and layoffs also both rose, according to a report Tuesday that showed a relatively steady labor market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey showed available jobs totaled nearly 7.4 million, an increase of 191,000 from March and higher than the 7.1 million consensus forecast by economists surveyed by FactSet. On an annual basis, the level was off 228,000, or about 3%.The ratio of available jobs to unemployed workers was down to 1.03 to 1 for the month, close to the March level.Hiring also increased for the month, rising by 169,000 to 5.6 million, while layoffs rose by 196,000 to 1.79 million.Quits, an indicator of worker confidence in their ability to find another job, edged lower, falling by 150,000 to 3.2 million."The labor market is returning to more normal levels despite the uncertainty within the macro outlook," wrote Jeffrey Roach, chief economist at LPL Research. "Underlying patterns in hirings and firings suggest the labor market is holding steady."The report comes just a few days ahead of the BLS nonfarm payrolls count for May.With other signs, particularly sentiment data, showing that hiring is softening, economists expect job growth of 125,000, down from the 177,000 in April but still indicative of a solid labor market. The unemployment rate is expected to hold steady at 4.2%.In other economic news Tuesday, the Commerce Department reported that new orders for manufactured goods fell more than expected in April. Orders fell 3.7% on the month, more than the 3.3% Dow Jones forecast and indicative of declining demand after swelling 3.4% in March as businesses sought to get ahead of President Donald Trump's tariffs.Shipments also fell, down 0.3%, while unfilled orders were relatively flat and inventories edged down 0.1%.
ADP: Private Employment Increased 37,000 in May --From ADP: ADP National Employment Report: Private Sector Employment Increased by 37,000 Jobs in May; Annual Pay was Up 4.5% -“After a strong start to the year, hiring is losing momentum,” said Dr. Nela Richardson, chief economist, ADP. “Pay growth, however, was little changed in May, holding at robust levels for both job-stayers and job-changers.” This was well below the consensus forecast of 120,000. The BLS report will be released Friday, and the consensus is for 130,000 non-farm payroll jobs added in May.
Private sector hiring rose by just 37,000 in May, the lowest since 2023, ADP says Private sector job creation slowed to a near standstill in May, hitting its lowest level in more than two years as signs emerged of a weakening labor market, payrolls processing firm ADP reported Wednesday. Payrolls increased just 37,000 for the month, below the downwardly revised 60,000 in April and the Dow Jones forecast for 110,000. It was the lowest monthly job total from the ADP count since March 2023. The report comes two days before the more closely watched nonfarm payrolls count from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is expected to show a gain of 125,000 and the unemployment rate steady at 4.2%. While the two reports often differ, occasionally by large margins, the ADP count provides another snapshot of the jobs picture at a time when questions are being raised over broader economic conditions. "After a strong start to the year, hiring is losing momentum," said Nela Richardson, chief economist for ADP. Following the release, President Donald Trump called on the Federal Reserve and Chair Jerome Powell to lower interest rates. "ADP NUMBER OUT!!! 'Too Late' Powell must now LOWER THE RATE. He is unbelievable!!! Europe has lowered NINE TIMES!" Trump said on his Truth Social site. Goods-producing industries lost a net 2,000 positions for the month, with natural resources and mining off 5,000 and manufacturing down 3,000, offset by a gain of 6,000 in construction. On the services side, leisure and hospitality (38,000) and financial activities (20,000) provided some signs of strength. However, declines of 17,000 in professional and business services, 13,000 in education and health services, and 4,000 in trade, transportation and utilities weighed on the total. Companies employing fewer than 50 workers saw a loss of 13,000 while those with 500 or more employees reported a drop of 3,000. Mid-size firms gained 49,000. Regarding wages, annual pay grew at a 4.5% rate for those remaining in their positions and 7% for job changers, both little changed from April and still "robust" levels, Richardson said.
May Employment Report: 139 thousand Jobs, 4.2% Unemployment Rate -From the BLS: Employment Situation Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 139,000 in May, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment continued to trend up in health care, leisure and hospitality, and social assistance. Federal government continued to lose jobs. ... The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for March was revised down by 65,000, from +185,000 to +120,000, and the change for April was revised down by 30,000, from +177,000 to +147,000. With these revisions, employment in March and April combined is 95,000 lower than previously reported. The first graph shows the jobs added per month since January 2021.Total payrolls increased by 139 thousand in May. Private payrolls increased by 140 thousand, and public payrolls decreased 1 thousand (Federal payrolls decreased 22 thousand). Payrolls for March and April were revised down by 95 thousand, combined.The second graph shows the year-over-year change in total non-farm employment since 1968. In May, the year-over-year change was 1.73 million jobs. Employment was up solidly year-over-year. The third graph shows the employment population ratio and the participation rate. The Labor Force Participation Rate decreased to 62.4% in May, from 62.6% in April. This is the percentage of the working age population in the labor force. The Employment-Population ratio decreased to 59.7% from 60.0% in April (blue line). The fourth graph shows the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2% in May from 4.2% in April. This was slightly above consensus expectations; however, March and April payrolls were revised down by 95,000 combined.
US job growth slows as tariff uncertainty leaves businesses in limbo (Reuters) - U.S. job growth slowed in May amid uncertainty about the Trump administration's import tariffs, but solid wage growth should keep the economic expansion on track and potentially allow the Federal Reserve to delay resuming its interest rate cuts. The ebbing labor market momentum reported by the Labor Department on Friday was underscored by sharp downward revisions that showed 95,000 fewer jobs were added in March and April than previously estimated over the two-month period. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2% for the third consecutive month because 625,000 people dropped out of the labor force, suggesting a lack of confidence in the jobs market. Surveys have shown that consumers are less optimistic about their prospects of finding a job in the event of being laid off. Economists say President Donald Trump's flip-flopping on import duties has hampered businesses' ability to plan ahead. Opposition to Trump's tax-cut and spending bill from conservative Republicans in the U.S. Senate and tech billionaire Elon Musk has added another layer of uncertainty for companies. "Cracks in the façade of labor market resilience are now starting to show and the longer the tariff uncertainty and government spending cuts continue, the worse the labor market reports are bound to be," Nonfarm payrolls increased by 139,000 jobs last month after a downwardly revised rise of 147,000 in April, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said. Economists polled by Reuters had expected the survey of establishments to show 130,000 jobs added after a previously reported gain of 177,000 in April. The payrolls count for March was slashed by 65,000 to 120,000. Economists said factoring in the sharp downgrades to March and April data, payrolls last month rose by a meager 44,000 jobs. The revisions lowered the three-month average of employment gains to 135,000 from 155,000 in April. The economy needs to create roughly 100,000 jobs per month to keep up with growth in the working-age population. That number could drop as Trump has revoked the temporary legal status of hundreds of thousands of migrants as part of his administration's immigration crackdown. Employment gains remained concentrated in the healthcare sector, which added 62,000 jobs that were spread across hospitals, ambulatory services and skilled nursing care facilities. Leisure and hospitality payrolls rose 48,000, driven by hiring at restaurants and bars, which some economists welcomed as a sign of the economy's resilience. Social assistance employment increased by 16,000 positions. Construction payrolls rose 4,000, though there were job losses among residential specialty trade contractors. Economists attributed those losses to work opportunities drying up because of tariffs. There were also moderate employment gains in financial activities, transportation and warehousing as well as wholesale trade sectors. But federal government payrolls decreased by 22,000 and are down 59,000 since January amid an unprecedented campaign by the White House to drastically reduce the government's footprint. The mass firings have been blocked by a federal judge. Reinstated workers put on paid leave are counted as employed. The same applies to those who have accepted buyout offers. Manufacturing shed 8,000 jobs, mostly in machinery production. There were also job losses at retailers. Temporary help employment, a harbinger for future hiring, tumbled by 20,200 positions. The share of industries reporting employment gains dropped to a 10-month low of 50.0% from 51.8% in April. Job growth mostly reflects worker hoarding by businesses, anchoring the labor market and economy through higher wages. Average hourly earnings increased 0.4% after gaining 0.2% in April. In the 12 months through May, wages rose 3.9%, matching April's advance. Stocks on Wall Street were trading higher. The dollar gained versus a basket of currencies. U.S. Treasury yields rose. A bar chart that ranks the number of jobs added or lost in the most recent month by sector. Employers' reluctance to lay off workers could keep the U.S. central bank on the sidelines until the end of the year. Financial markets expect the Fed will leave its benchmark overnight interest rate unchanged in the 4.25%-4.50% range at a policy meeting later this month, before resuming its policy easing in September. "The policy uncertainty that has made firms cautious to hire has also made them cautious to let go of workers," "With inflation expected to move up in the coming months, we suspect the Fed will need to see more marked, and sustained weakness in employment before reacting to deteriorating labor market conditions." Labor market fissures were also evident in the household survey from which the unemployment rate is derived. Household employment decreased by 696,000 jobs, a result of the decline in the labor force that some economists linked to Trump's immigration crackdown. Household unemployment increased by 71,000. The labor force participation rate dropped to 62.4% from 62.6% in April, with the decline occurring mostly among the prime-age group. The employment-to-population ratio, viewed as a measure of an economy's ability to create employment, dropped to 59.7% from 60.0% in April. Though the number of people working part-time for economic reasons fell, there was an increase in those holding part-time positions as the only option available. While the median duration of unemployment dropped to 9.5 weeks after surging to 10.4 weeks in April, there were more people out of work for less than five weeks. The government corrected some estimates in the household survey for April, which were related to the introduction of a redesigned survey sample. While these corrections did not affect the unemployment rate, labor force participation rate or employment-population ratio, they added to concerns about data quality amid cuts in staff. "The unemployment rate would have risen to 4.3% if not for the decline in labor force participation," "The participation decline is disguising what was marginal deterioration in employment and the labor market in May."
May jobs report: about as poor as an expansionary report could be - Even before the new Administration took office in Washington, my focus had been on whether the economy would have a “soft” or “hard” landing, i.e., recession. That has only intensified by the utter chaos of tariff-palooza! So my focus now is looking for “hard” vs.”soft” data indicating its impact. This month’s employment report was ambiguous on that score, but otherwise was about as poor as a jobs report could be and still be expansionary.Below is my in depth synopsis.
- 139,000 jobs added. Private sector jobs increased 140,000. Government jobs declined by -1,000. The three month average was an increase of +135,000, about average for this year, but above the lowest average last summer.
- The pattern of downward revisions to previous months continued this month. March was revised downward by another -65,000, and April was revised downward by -30,000, for a net decrease of -95,000.
- The alternate, and more volatile measure in the household report, declined by -696,000 jobs. On a YoY basis, this series increased 2,109,000 jobs, or an average of 176,000 monthly.
- The U3 unemployment rate was unchanged at its repeated 12 month high of 4.2%. Since the three month average is 4.2% vs. a low of 3.933% for the three month average in the past 12 months, or an increase of 0.267%, this means the “Sahm rule” remains un-triggered.
- The U6 underemployment rate was unchanged at 7.8%, down -0.2% from its 3+year high in February.
- Further out on the spectrum, those who are not in the labor force but want a job now rose sharply by 319,000 to 5.991 million, its highest level since July 2021.
- the average manufacturing workweek, one of the 10 components of the Index of Leading Indicators, rose 0.1 hour to 41.0 hours, but remains down -0.6 hours from its 2021 peak of 41.6 hours.
- Manufacturing jobs decreased by -8,000. This series had been in sharp decline, but even with this month’s decline it has generally leveled off in the past eight months.
- Within that sector, motor vehicle manufacturing jobs rose 400.
- Truck driving ended its two month rebound, declining -900.
- Construction jobs increased another 4,000.
- Residential construction jobs, which are even more leading, rose 3,600 to yet another post-pandemic high.
- Goods producing jobs as a whole declined -5,000 from their 17 year high set last month. These jobs typically decline before any recession occurs. But on a YoY% basis, these jobs are only 0.2%, which is very anemic although not necesarily recessionary.
- Temporary jobs, which have declined by over -550,000 since late 2022, declilned again this month, by -20,200, setting a new post-pandemic low.
- the number of people unemployed for 5 weeks or fewer increased 264,000 to 2,451,000, just below its 12 month high of 2,465,000 last August.
- Average Hourly Earnings for Production and Nonsupervisory Personnel increased $.12, or +0.4%, to $31.18, for a YoY gain of +4.0%, which is an average YoY gain for the past 12 months. Importantly, this continues to be well above the 2.3% YoY inflation rate as of last month.
- The index of aggregate hours worked for non-managerial workers rose a small 0.1% to a new record high. This measure is also up 1.1% YoY, about average for the past two years.
- The index of aggregate payrolls for non-managerial workers also rose 0.5%, and is up 5.2% YoY, about average for the past 12 months. This is also well above the inflation rate, meaning a continuation in the ability of households to increase consumption.
- Professional and business employment declined -18,000. These tend to be well-paying jobs. This series peaked in May 2023, bottomed in October 2024, and is up less than 0.2% since then. It remains lower YoY by -0.4%, which in the past 80+ years - until now - has almost *always* meant recession. This is vs. last spring when it was down -0.9% YoY.
- The employment population ratio declined -0.3% to 59.7%, vs. 61.1% in February 2020.
- The Labor Force Participation Rate declined -0.2% to 62.4%, vs. 63.4% in February 2020.
SUMMARY: Although the headline numbers were positive to neutral, this was about as poor a report as could be during an expansion. To begin with, the only reason the unemployment and underemployment rates did not go up was that the labor force participation declined significantly. The employment/population ratio also declined. Further out on the spectrum, those not in the labor force but who want a job increased to over a 3 year high. And the number of those laid off for fewer than 5 weeks also increased.Additionally, most leading sectors declined, including manufacturing, trucking, temporary help, and even goods-producing jobs as a whole. Professional and business employment also declined, as did government employment. The pattern of downward revisions to previous months also continued. Aside from the headline jobs number, the only bright spots were the slight increase in the manufacturing work week, and the continued rise in construction, and specifically residential construction jobs. Average and aggregate earnings for nonsupervisory workers also held up well. It continues to be very surprising how well construction employment is holding up. If those turn down in sync with manufacturing, and real aggregate payrolls stall, almost all the ducks would be lined up to signal a recession is likely in the next few months.
Comments on May Employment Report – Bill McBride -The headline jobs number in the May employment report was slightly above expectations, however, March and April payrolls were revised down by 95,000 combined. The participation rate and the employment population ratio decreased, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2%.Earlier: May Employment Report: 139 thousand Jobs, 4.2% Unemployment Rate Since the overall participation rate is impacted by both cyclical (recession) and demographic (aging population, younger people staying in school) reasons, here is the employment-population ratio for the key working age group: 25 to 54 years old. The 25 to 54 years old participation rate decreased in May to 83.4% from 83.6% in April. The 25 to 54 employment population ratio decreased to 80.5% from 80.7% the previous month. Both are down slightly from the recent peaks, but still near the highest level this millennium. The graph shows the nominal year-over-year change in "Average Hourly Earnings" for all private employees from the Current Employment Statistics (CES). There was a huge increase at the beginning of the pandemic as lower paid employees were let go, and then the pandemic related spike reversed a year later. Wage growth has trended down after peaking at 5.9% YoY in March 2022 and was at 3.9% YoY in May. The number of persons working part time for economic reasons decreased in May to 4.62 million from 4.69 million in April. This is above the pre-pandemic levels. These workers are included in the alternate measure of labor underutilization (U-6) that was unchanged at 7.8% from 7.8% in the previous month. This is down from the record high in April 2020 of 22.9% and up from the lowest level on record (seasonally adjusted) in December 2022 (6.6%). (This series started in 1994). This measure is above the 7.0% level in February 2020 (pre-pandemic). This graph shows the number of workers unemployed for 27 weeks or more. According to the BLS, there are 1.46 million workers who have been unemployed for more than 26 weeks and still want a job, down from 1.67 million the previous month. This is down from post-pandemic high of 4.171 million, and up from the recent low of 1.056 million. This is above pre-pandemic levels. Summary: The headline jobs number in the May employment report was above expectations, however, March and April payrolls were revised down by 95,000 combined. The participation rate and employment population ratio increased, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2%. This was a solid employment report; however, we've seen significant downward revisions of previous reports for several months in a row. The March report revised down the previous two months by 48,000, the April report had 58,000 in downward revisions, and the May report (today) had 95,000 in downward revisions.
Jackson, Sotomayor dissent as Supreme Court turns away Black dancer’s discrimination appeal The Supreme Court on Monday turned away a Black dancer’s appeal in her discrimination lawsuit against several Houston clubs, drawing dissent from two of the high court’s liberal justices. Chanel Nicholson filed suit against the clubs in August 2021, claiming they maintained a policy that limited the number of Black dancers who could work the same shift, in violation of federal law prohibiting racial discrimination in making and enforcing contracts.Nicholson said she was denied work repeatedly due to the quota, including in 2014, 2017 and 2021. However, her case was dismissed by a district court that concluded the applicable statute of limitations clock began ticking in 2014; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit affirmed the decision. She asked the justices to decide when the statute of limitations starts to run in a claim of “pattern or practice” of racial discrimination. They declined to hear her case. But Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in a dissenting opinion, joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, that their fellow justices got it wrong by refusing to consider Nicholson’s appeal. The appeals court panel determined the more recent discriminatory acts against Nicholson were the “continued effects” of past race-based exclusion and, thus, not actionable on their own — a holding Jackson said “flouts this Court’s clear precedents.” “We have long held that ‘[e]ach discrete discriminatory act starts a new clock for filing charges alleging that act,’ regardless of whether similar instances of discrimination have occurred in the past,” she wrote. “Because the Fifth Circuit’s contrary ruling was patently erroneous, this Court should have granted Nicholson’s petition and summarily reversed the judgment.”
Supreme Court sides with straight Ohio woman who alleged 'reverse discrimination' by gay employer - The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously ruled in favor of an Ohio woman who wants to bring an employment discrimination claim against the state, alleging she was passed over for a job on the basis of her heterosexual orientation.Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson delivered the opinion.The plaintiff, Marlean Ames, alleges her employer, the Ohio Department of Youth Services, denied her a promotion and later demoted her, in both cases selecting gay candidates instead who were less qualified. Her supervisor at the time was also gay.Ames had worked for the Department for more than 15 years and received sterling performance reviews.Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and sexual orientation.In order to bring a case in federal court, plaintiffs must initially present a prima facie case -- Latin for "on the face of it" -- a legal term to indicate that there are sufficient facts to support a claim.Justice Jackson, writing for the court, said that Ames had been unfairly held to a higher legal standard as a member of a majority group."The question in this case is whether, to satisfy that prima facie burden, a plaintiff who is a member of a majority group must also show 'background circumstances to support the suspicion that the defendant is that unusual employer who discriminates against the majority,'" Jackson wrote, quoting the decision from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals."We hold that this additional 'background circumstances' requirement is not consistent with Title VII’s text or our case law construing the statute. Accordingly, we vacate the judgment below and remand for application of the proper prima facie standard."The ruling means Ames' lawsuit can move forward, but it does not necessarily mean she will succeed in her case against her former employer.
John Cornyn says Ken Paxton impeachment allegations 'tip of the iceberg' Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in an interview published Friday suggested the allegations that fueled Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s (R) impeachment inquiry — which ultimately failed — were “just the tip of the iceberg.” Speaking to The New York Times, Cornyn placed emphasis on the importance of character as he vies for reelection next year in the Senate GOP primary against Paxton. “I’m willing to bet my career and my future and this job on my belief that character does matter still,” Cornyn said, suggesting Paxton believed instead “that he can get away with a whole litany of misbehavior and corruption that should disqualify him from the job.” Paxton was acquitted in the Texas state Legislature’s impeachment inquiry in September 2023, which alleged he had “used, misused, or failed to use his official powers in a manner calculated to subvert the lawful operation of the government of the State of Texas and obstruct the fair and impartial administration of justice.” The allegations particularly suggested Paxton was inappropriately helping Nate Paul, one of his donors. “John Cornyn is peddling a new fake lie every week because he’s down 20 points and trying to process the fact that his 40-year political career is coming to an end,” Paxton said in a statement responding to Cornyn’s interview with the Times. “His pathetic attacks can’t change the fact that he worked with Joe Biden to take away our gun rights, said President Trump’s ‘time has passed him by,’ and called the border wall ‘naïve,’” he added, a nod to Cornyn’s involvement in a bipartisan gun safety bill that was signed into law by former President Biden and that sparked criticism among some Texas Republicans.
Beer Distribution Data Signals "Rough Start" To Summer Drinking Season | ZeroHedgeThe growing prioritization of mental health and wellness—amplified across social media platforms by prominent health influencers—appears to be accelerating a "sobriety revolution" among younger generations. This behavioral shift is increasingly translating intoreduced alcohol consumption and presents a structural headwind for beer brands, as Gen Z, in particular, redefines norms around drinking. Often labeled the "sober-curious" generation, Gen Z has distanced itself from risky behaviors like alcohol consumption, with drinking rates steadily declining in recent years. This trend was evident in Goldman's latest survey of beer distributors, which reported weaker-than-expected beer demand over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Goldman analysts, led by Bonnie Herzog, found that beer trends over the Memorial Day holiday weekend largely underperformed. This data was based on feedback from her beer distributor contacts (representing ~50 beer distributors or >230,000 retail outlets/~46% of total US outlets that sell alcohol). Herzog largely attributed sliding beer demand to "a challenging macro environment, which appears to be the primary drag on beer trends—as consumers have less disposable income and are prioritizing non-discretionary purchases. Additionally, recent policy changes (e.g., government stance on immigration) and adverse weather conditions further pressured consumption patterns."Sure, a challenging macro backdrop usually squeezes household budgets—but historically, that kind of financial misery fuels more drinking, not less. The real culprit behind the beer slowdown? A generational shift of sober-curious youngsters, supercharged by wellness influencers with large followings on social media, is single-handedly rewiring consumption habits.
Republicans suggest PBS 'grooming' children with 'Sesame Street' Pride post – A group of congressional Republicans accused PBS on Monday of “grooming” children after “Sesame Street,” one of the nonprofit TV network’s flagship programs, shared a social media post recognizing Pride Month. “On our street, everyone is welcome. Together, let’s build a world where every person and family feels loved and respected for who they are. Happy #PrideMonth!” the longtime children’s education show wrote in a post early Sunday on the social platform X. The post, uploaded at midnight on June 1, the official start of LGBTQ Pride Month, included an illustration of “Sesame Street’s” colorful cast of puppets holding hands, their outstretched arms arranged in the order of a rainbow. The Republican Study Committee (RSC), a coalition of GOP House members whose membership is not public, responded to the post with a meme of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and the words “I am once again asking PBS to stop grooming children.” Representatives for PBS, “Sesame Street” and Sanders did not immediately return requests for comment. The RSC did not respond to an email asking for additional comment on the post. The group’s accusation comes amid a broader battle between PBS and Congress and the White House over the broadcaster’s federal funding, which President Trump threatened last month in an executive order. PBS sued the Trump administration over the order, which claims it and the nonprofit radio network NPR produces “biased and partisan news coverage.” NPR is also challenging Trump’s order.
How Wall Street cashes in on charter schools - The American public school system is under siege. In just four months of his second term, Donald Trump has dealt devastating blows to an already underfunded system. He has vowed to close the Department of Education and cut $12 billion from education, while eliminating jobs and terminating essential educational programs. As part of this drive to privatize public education, Donald Trump and the Republican Party are promoting a comprehensive plan to expand charter schools. Central to this initiative is a $60 million increase to the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) budget for fiscal year 2025, which raises its total funding to $500 million. This is the only K-12 program to be granted increased funding under the President’s proposed budget. Charter schools have become a key mechanism for corporate interests to plunder the resources of public schools. Academica, a prominent for-profit private education company headquartered in Miami, Florida, exemplifies this. While Academica itself operates as a for-profit entity, the over 200 charter schools it serves across the United States are legally owned by nonprofit entities, each governed by volunteer boards. Academica manages the “back office” processes for these schools—strategic board support, human resources, budgeting, and accounting—creating a funnel for public money to flow into private hands. At the core of Academica’s profit-extraction strategy is its connection to real estate. The company’s owners have significant tax-exempt real estate assets that support the charter schools they oversee. By 2010, Fernando Zulueta, CEO of Academica, and his brother Ignacio managed over $115 million in Florida tax-exempt real estate, earning approximately $19 million annually in lease payments from the schools. Audits by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of the Inspector General uncovered extensive “related party transactions” between Academica and its associated real estate firms, leasing school buildings and providing security services. These leases often come at inflated rates. For the 2012-2013 school year, Academica-managed schools that paid rent to Academica-owned properties spent an average of 17.7 percent of total expenses on rent ($1,214 per student), which is significantly higher than the 11.5 percent ($816 per student) paid to unrelated landlords. In Dade County alone, this overpayment totaled more than $4.1 million annually—funds that were diverted from classroom instruction. Compounding this, Academica and other Education Management Organizations (EMOs) utilize “sweeps contracts,” in which virtually all revenue, public and private, is funneled to the for-profit management company. This company then directly provides services or contracts them out to related firms, embedding profit within administrative expenses under the pretense of necessary expenditures. Academica’s revenue in 2011 reached $158 million, and by the 2023-24 period, the company received $12 million from Nevada taxpayers alone. Federal and state investigations have scrutinized its operations, uncovering conflicts of interest, including multi-million dollar contracts awarded to contractors on school boards and documented political connections. The Academica model illustrates a structural loophole: while charter schools are required to operate as non-profits under the law, their contractual relationships with for-profit management companies (often controlled by the same individuals) enable the extraction of massive private profits. This “non-profit facade” facilitates a sophisticated legal shell game that undermines accountability and diverts public funds from education. Academica is not an anomaly; its strategies reflect common practices throughout the charter school sector. Real estate investors with direct connections to charter management companies often acquire properties at low prices and then lease them at inflated rates to charter schools—often exceeding 20 percent of school budgets—extracting substantial profits from taxpayer funds. The public frequently pays twice: first for school construction or acquisition, and again through inflated lease payments. In some instances, properties are sold to schools at inflated prices after mortgages are settled, further benefiting private owners.
DHS explains to Massachusetts governor it ‘never intended to apprehend’ high schooler - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday explained in a reply to a post by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) that it “never intended to apprehend” a high schooler. In a statement posted to the social platform X on Sunday, Healey said she was “disturbed and outraged by reports that a Milford High School student was arrested by ICE on his way to volleyball practice yesterday.”“Yet again, local officials and law enforcement have been left in the dark with no heads up and no answers to their questions.”DHS responded to Healey’s post on X a day later by saying that officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “engaged in a targeted immigration enforcement operation of a known public safety threat and illegal alien, Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira.”“Local authorities notified ICE that this illegal alien has a habit of reckless driving at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour through residential areas endangering Massachusetts residents,” the department added. “Officers identified the target’s vehicle, and initiated a vehicle stop with the intention of apprehending Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira.”ICE arrested 18-year-old Marcelo Gomes-Da Silva amid the traffic stop, DHS said in their post, referring to the teenager as “illegally present,” a “Brazilian alien,” and “the son of the intended target.”“While ICE officers never intended to apprehend, Gomes-DaSilva, he was found to be in the United States illegally and subject to removal proceedings, so officers made the arrest,” DHS said in the post.“Gomes-DaSilva remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings,” the department added.In an email to The Hill, an attorney for Gomes-DaSilva said his arrest was not necessary and that he “poses no danger to the community or risk of flight.”“ICE could have brought immigration proceedings against him without arresting him. The arrest does not protect the community. Instead, it sows fear of the government,” Miriam Conrad added.
FBI seeks tips on gender-affirming care for minors -The FBI is urging people to report health care providers who may be assisting transgender minors with gender-affirming care, as part of the Trump administration’s mission to “protect children.”“As the Attorney General has made clear, we will protect our children and hold accountable those who mutilate them under the guise of gender-affirming care,” the FBI’s official account wrote on the social platform X on Monday, urging followers to “report tips of any hospitals, clinics or practitioners performing these surgical procedures on children” to its phone and web tip lines.According to the independent KFF policy tracker, youth gender-affirming care has been outlawed in 27 states — starting with Arkansas in 2021. Seventeen states are facing legal challenges over the restrictions, so they have been temporarily put on hold.Gender-affirming care covers any medical, mental health and nonmedical services for transgender and nonbinary people, but all of the restrictions that states have adopted include surgical procedures.President Trump signed an executive order just hours after his return to office in January recognizing male and female as the only two sexes and directing federal agencies to cease promotion of the concept of gender transition. He issued another order a week later meant to broadly restrict access to gender-affirming care for transgender children and teenagers younger than 19.
Kent State University to close LGBTQ Center, Women's Center and Multicultural Center --Kent State University is closing its LGBTQ+ Center, Women’s Center and Student Multicultural Center because of a new state law banning diversity efforts that is set to take effect at the end of the month. Kent State’s LBGTQ+ Living-Learning Community will cease to exist because of Senate Bill 1 going into effect, according to a statement from KSU. Kent State’s Stark Campus will also close its LGBTQ Resource Center.“Although the centers are closing, the Division of Student Life remains deeply committed to fostering student success, student belonging and ensuring continued access to resources, benefits students have consistently associated with the centers,” Senior Vice President for Student Life Eboni Pringle said in a statement Monday. Senate Bill 1 also prohibits faculty strikes, regulates classroom discussion of “controversial” topics, creates post-tenure reviews, puts diversity scholarships at risk, creates a retrenchment provision that blocks unions from negotiating on tenure, shortens university board of trustees terms from nine years down to six years, and requires students take an American history course, among other things. S.B. 1 has affected other public and community colleges in Ohio, where some are taking administrative action and others are attempting to fight the measure.
- Ohio University is closing its Pride Center, the Women’s Center and the Multicultural Center.
- Ohio State University is closing its Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Student Life’s Center for Belonging and Social Change.
- The University of Toledo is suspending nine undergraduate programs in response to S.B. 1.
- Miami University announced it will close the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence and the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion.
- Youngstown State University faculty are collecting signatures to get areferendum on the November ballot to block S.B. 1.
“A sin and a stain on Ohio:” New law forces Kent State to shut LGBTQ, women’s centers - cleveland.com --Kent State University, long recognized as a welcoming institution, is being forced to close several identity-based resource centers that have provided crucial support to vulnerable student populations, a move theToday in Ohio podcast labeled as heartless. “we learned this week that Kent State is going to shut down several identity based centers on its campus effective June 27. This includes the LGBTQ center, the Women’s center, and the Student Multicultural Center,” said Courtney Astolfi during the podcast discussion.The university cited compliance with Senate Bill 1 as the reason for the closures. The controversial legislation, championed by Senator Jerry Cirino, bans diversity, equity, and inclusion-based hiring and enrollment practices at state universities and takes effect on June 27.Podcast host Chris Quinn said the bill goes way beyond outlawing discrimination, taking aim to undermine students who are not heterosexual white men.“If you just think about LGBTQ issues, right, that there’s obviously persecution... So you’re going to school, you’re going to a strange place. It’s the first time you’re leaving home and you know there’s persecution. And in this office, you had a safe space to go -- to go and talk and to maybe get some support,” Quinn said. “This isn’t discrimination. It’s not giving people jobs based on attributes. It’s just having an office where people can go to be supported when they’re feeling vulnerable. And Kent State has to close it down.”University officials appear to be closing these centers reluctantly, keeping them open until the last possible day before the law takes effect. According to Astolfi, one Kent State official acknowledged that “these centers have been powerful sources of connection, support and growth” and expressed that “their heart’s going out to students. They said they acknowledge the emotional and personal impact this is going to have on Kent State folks.” In an effort to mitigate the damage, Kent State is seeking alternative ways to support affected students. “Their Division of Student life is still trying to provide that welcoming environment and they’re going to boost their financial support for miscellaneous student organizations, hundreds of them,” Astolfi said.Quinn characterized Senate Bill 1 as “a sin” and “a stain on Ohio,” expressing hope that voters might eventually have an opportunity to repeal the legislation, though he acknowledged that current efforts to put the issue before voters don’t appear to be gaining significant traction.The Kent State situation exemplifies the tension between state legislation and university efforts to create inclusive environments for diverse student populations. As universities across Ohio grapple with implementing Senate Bill 1, the closures at Kent State may be just the beginning of a broader transformation of campus support services.
Education Department Says Columbia University Fails To Meet Accreditation Standards -The Department of Education said on June 4 that Columbia University violated a federal civil rights law and thus failed to meet accreditation standards amid allegations of widespread discrimination against Jewish students on campus.2021. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch TimesIn a Wednesday press release, the department informed Columbia that it had violated Title VI, a federal civil rights law, following an Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigation that was initiated in early February.The OCR “notified Middle States Commission on Higher Education (the Commission) that its member institution, Columbia University, is in violation of federal antidiscrimination laws and therefore fails to meet the standards for accreditation set by the Commission,” the release states.Following widespread pro-Palestinian protests on campus last year after terrorist group Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the department is accusing Columbia of acting “with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students on its campus.”
Judge temporarily halts Trump’s proclamation blocking Harvard students’ visas - A federal judge late Thursday temporarily blocked President Trump’s proclamation that blocks visas for foreign students planning to attend Harvard University until after a hearing later this month. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs’s order came swiftly after Harvard rushed to court to ask the judge to immediately block Trump’s proclamation, which he signed a day earlier. Burroughs issued her order before the government responded, saying the school would otherwise “sustain immediate and irreparable injury before there is an opportunity to hear from all parties.” The judge, an appointee of former President Obama who serves in Boston, said she would hold a June 16 hearing on whether to block Trump’s proclamation indefinitely. Trump’s proclamation marked a shift in the administration’s expanding battle with the Ivy League School over its refusal to comply with a list of demands, which include changes to its admissions and hiring policies and a stronger stance against antisemitism. Harvard first sued the administration in April for freezing more than $2 billion in federal funding. It filed a second lawsuit last month after the Department of Homeland Security revoked its certification to admit foreign students. The development prompted the school to seek emergency relief, quickly convincing Burroughs to block the revocation as the case proceeds.
Education Department pausing plan to garnish Social Security checks over defaulted loans - The Department of Education has not gone through with a plan to garnish Social Security checks over defaulted loans, a department spokesperson told The Hill.“The Department has not offset any social security benefits since restarting collections on May 5, and has put a pause on any future social security offsets,” Ellen Keast, the spokesperson, said. The department announced in April that student loan borrowers in default, or people who have not paid their loans for more than 270 days, had the chance of seeing financial consequences including stopped federal payments like Social Security and garnished wages. The changes could have impacted the lives of over 5 million borrowers.“The Trump Administration is committed to protecting social security recipients who oftentimes rely on a fixed income,” Keast said. “In the coming weeks, the Department will begin proactive outreach to recipients about affordable loan repayment options and help them back into good standing.”In March, President Trump said that he was “immediately” moving the handling of federal student loans from the Department of Education to the Small Business Administration (SBA). “I’ve decided that the SBA, the Small Business Administration, headed by Kelly Loeffler … will handle all of the student loan portfolio,” Trump said to reporters in the Oval Office at the time, saying it was a “pretty complicated deal, and that’s coming out of the Department of Education immediately.”“And also, Bobby Kennedy, with the Health and Human Services Department, will be handling special needs and all the nutrition programs and everything else,” he continued. “I think that will work out very well. Those two elements will be taken out of the Department of Education.”
Study reveals decline in mental health among US mothers - A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine reveals a troubling decline in mental health among mothers in the United States.Researchers at Columbia University and the University of Michigan found the percentage of mothers reporting “excellent” mental health dropped sharply from 2016 to 2023.Using data from nearly 200,000 mothers in the National Survey of Children’s Health, a nationally representative survey of households with children, researchers tracked health trends among women with children under 18 years old. Most of the mothers were over 30. Notable findings included a drop in the percentage of mothers reporting “excellent” mental health, from 38 percent in 2016 to 26 percent in 2023. Reports of “excellent” physical health also declined, from 28 percent to 24 percent. Additionally, the number of mothers rating their mental health as “fair/poor” increased from 5.5 percent to 9 percent.“Although high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality have been well documented, national data on the health status of mothers beyond pregnancy and the first year postpartum is lacking,” said Jamie Daw, an assistant professor of health policy and management at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health. The study revealed that the decline in mental health started before the COVID-19 pandemic and was observed across nearly every socioeconomic subgroup examined.
Antibiotic taken during pregnancy doesn't increase infant birth weight, trial finds - A randomized controlled trial involving nearly 1,000 women in Zimbabwe found that a daily dose of a broad-spectrum antibiotic during pregnancy did not significantly increase infant birth weight, an international group of researchers reported yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine. But women who received prophylactic (preventive) trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole had fewer preterm births than those who received a placebo, a finding the study authors say needs to be further explored. The trial, conducted by researchers with Queen Mary University of London and the Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research in Zimbabwe, enrolled pregnant women from a district in Zimbabwe where preterm births are high and at least 15% of the population has HIV. Because prematurity and low birth weight are among the adverse events associated with maternal infection and inflammation, the investigators hypothesized that prophylactic use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, which is widely used in people with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, might reduce infection and inflammation and result in improved birth outcomes."New approaches to prevent small-for-gestational-age status and prematurity are needed to reduce childhood mortality, prevent stunting, and improve lifelong health," the study authors wrote.The women were randomized 1:1 to receive a 960-milligram daily dose of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or placebo from at least 14 weeks' gestation to delivery. The primary outcome was birth weight. Secondary outcomes included duration of gestation and preterm birth. Investigators also analyzed adverse outcomes.Of the 993 women enrolled for the study (median age, 24.5 years; 131 with HIV), 495 were assigned to the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole group and 498 to the placebo group. The first dose of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was received at a median of 21.7 weeks' gestation. Birth outcomes were assessed for 950 women.In the intention-to-treat analysis, there was no significant difference in birth weight between the two groups. The mean birth weight in the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole group was 3,040 grams (6.7 pounds), compared with 3,019 grams (6.66 pounds) in the placebo group (mean difference, 20 grams; 95% confidence interval [CI], -43 to 83). Analysis of women with HIV found a small increase in birth weight among infants in the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole group.Analysis of secondary outcomes showed the duration of gestation was 39.3 weeks in the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole group and 38.9 weeks in the placebo group (mean difference, 0.5 weeks; 95% CI, 0.2 to 0.7). The percentage of women with preterm births was 6.9% in the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole group and 11.5% in the placebo group (difference, -4.6 percentage points; 95% CI, -8.3 to -1.0), representing a 40% relative reduction in preterm births (relative risk, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.91).The reduction in preterm births was even greater among women with HIV. Only 2% of births in the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole group were preterm, compared with 14% in the placebo group. But the investigators say that, since the number of women with HIV in the study was small, the results "should be viewed as hypothesis-generating."The number of serious adverse events was similar between the two groups, with 31 in the women who received trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 33 in those who received placebo, including 2 deaths.
What would making America healthy really mean? - Katelyn Jetelina, Your Local Epidemiologist - This week, the dismantling of science and our health infrastructure continued—at a pace that’s both gobsmacking and grimly impressive. Just over the past few days, we’ve seen:
- Vaccine policy-making stripped of its checks and balances
- Federal scientists blocked from publishing peer-reviewed research
- A federal budget that proposes to cut Medicaid, SNAP, and other essential services
- The continued shutdown of federal health communications teams, like at the National Cancer Institute yesterday
- The halting of biosecurity preparedness, like cutting flu vaccine research
- And the MAHA report, released with fanfare last week, has some good ideas and intent, but it is incomplete and built on “studies” that aren’t even studies (possibly written by ChatGPT). It’s unclear whether scientists, public health professionals, or physicians with strong scientific research and writing skills were involved.
This week, the National Cancer Institute posted an Instagram announcement announcing the pause of cancer research information. NIH later removed this announcement because it received so much attention. It’s hard to keep up. And even harder to stay grounded in this magnetic storm. But when I step back, I keep asking myself: What are we doing? Right now, people in the health ecosystem—federal scientists, researchers, students, community providers, and public health workers—aren’t being empowered to innovate, reform, or build something better. They’re jobless, paralyzed by uncertainty, or forced to defend a flawed system from becoming even more deeply flawed. This is not how we create a healthier, more resilient future. It’s how we stay stuck, spinning our wheels. And we don’t have time for that. Americans are getting sicker, health systems keep failing patients, the workforce is stretched to a breaking point, and families are not supported. Life expectancy is falling. Bills are piling up. But going back to the status quo won’t save us either. Which leads me to a second question: What do we want? A radical transformation and rethinking of systems grounded in principles is needed to achieve the vision for the future we all deserve. Empowering people with the tools they need to stay healthy, like access to vaccination records or STD testing. It means strengthening systems that shape health, like clean air and water. It means integration of services for accessibility, instead of fragmentation or disinvestment. It means being transparent, like allowing scientists to speak freely. It means being responsive, like protecting Medicaid when Americans support it. It means being fact-driven—grounded in data and lived experiences. It means an accountable health ecosystem, with both efficiency and effectiveness. Our leaders need to hear that this is the future we want and expect them to build. So again I ask: What are we doing? And when will America start doing better? Not for politics, not for performance or bottom lines, not to prove some point, but to truly move the needle for the health of Americans. From where I stand, I see wreckage and short-term gain at the expense of long-term health. I also see the need for a vision grounded in American principles born from imagination, innovation, hope, and most importantly, execution to achieve the health ecosystem Americans need and deserve.
RFK Jr. fires ‘opening salvo’ on vaccine status quo - Public health experts say Robert F. Kennedy Jr is exactly who they thought he was. The Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary — who is also the nation’s most well-known vaccine skeptic — is remaking the agency in his image, casting doubt on the benefits of vaccines, and erecting new barriers that will make it harder for people who want shots to get them, like requiring new vaccines to be tested against placebos. During his confirmation hearings and other recent congressional testimony, Kennedy sought to distance himself from the anti-vaccine movement. He argued he is simply seeking good data about vaccine safety. He assured lawmakers he would not take away anyone’s vaccines and specifically pledged to Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) that he would not make any changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) vaccine advisory panel. While testifying at a House Appropriations Committee hearing on May 14, Kennedy said his views on vaccines were “irrelevant.” “I don’t want to seem like I’m being evasive, but I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me,” he told lawmakers, after being asked whether he would vaccinate his own children today against measles. Yet in the past week, Kennedy made an end run around the traditional process to change the recommendations about who should get a COVID-19 vaccine. He threatened to bar government scientists from publishing in leading medical journals, and his office revoked hundreds of millions of dollars pledged to mRNA vaccine maker Moderna to develop, test and purchase shots for pandemic flu. Kennedy has been critical of mRNA vaccines, and HHS said the funding was canceled because of concerns about the safety of “under-tested” mRNA technology. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, said the public should take Kennedy at his word. “He’s right. We shouldn’t trust him,” Benjamin said. “He’s unbridled. He’s out of control, and so I am fearful that he will do more to undermine vaccine access and quality in the United States.” Kennedy has a long history of opposition to vaccines. He petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2021 to revoke the emergency use authorizations of the COVID-19 vaccines and threatened to sue the agency if it authorized COVID vaccines for children. His latest moves to change the COVID vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women are raising serious concerns about the potential to pull back on even more vaccines. “What I see is COVID has provided this natural starting point … to sort of have that opening salvo in a bigger, longer-term effort to reconstruct, undermine vaccine policy,” said Richard Hughes IV, an attorney at Epstein Becker Green and former vice president of public policy at Moderna.
CDC official resigns after Robert F. Kennedy Jr COVID vaccine recommendation change --A top coronavirus vaccine adviser to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) resigned from the agency, citing concerns that she would no longer be able to help the most vulnerable people following a change in the agency’s recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women. In an email to colleagues, Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos said the decision to leave was a “personal” one. “My career in public health and vaccinology started with a deep-seated desire to help the most vulnerable members of our population, and that is not something I am able to continue doing in this role,” she wrote in an email viewed by The Hill. She said she made her decision Friday. Her resignation was first reported by Reuters.Viewpoint: Eroding trust by making COVID vaccine decisions with no transparency - The threat to Americans' access to lifesaving vaccines has arrived. In the past, vaccine use recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while not always free from criticism, were based on a thorough, public review of relevant evidence as part of the "evidence to recommendation framework." The recommendations serve as guidance—to the frontlines of healthcare, to state-based immunization programs, and to the American public. Any resulting "mandates" are dictated by the states, not the federal government. Federal vaccine recommendations also provide guidance about insurance coverage for vaccines. Without that endorsement, insurers may choose to drop a vaccine in their scope of benefits, thereby limiting a patient's choice by eliminating affordable and convenient access. On May 27, flanked by the leaders of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced in a 58-second video posted to X that the COVID vaccine had been removed from the CDC's recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women. One headline splashed, "CDC removes COVID vaccine recommendation for healthy children and pregnant women." In reality, the secretary took this unilateral action without CDC leadership present, without CDC advisory engagement, and without informing the CDC in advance. None of the evidence that went into Secretary Kennedy's recommendations was either presented or available—contrary to HHS's slogans of "radical transparency" and "gold standard science," and in contrast to the open, public process that has been used to date, which allowed everyone to see how recommendations were developed. Announcing such a consequential shift in public health policy via social media abandoned the deliberative, evidence-based process to determine vaccine use that healthcare providers, insurers, state health departments, and, most important, the American people expect and deserve: an intentional process specifically designed to build trust. Indeed, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is scheduled to meet in a month to make recommendations on the very question of who should get a COVID vaccine. They had previously hinted their intent to review the evidence on whether to recommend routine boosters in healthy children at the upcoming meeting, where they would share the data and, with opportunity for input from the public, have experts publicly deliberate the important questions at hand. The ACIP discussion would have focused on the facts about COVID vaccines—what the science says about who may benefit and who may be harmed—and whether the vaccine is cost effective. The American people instead got an announcement video less than a minute long. This action raises the concern that it could be how vaccine policy—and other health policies and recommendations—will be made going forward. This is a precedent sure to undermine the public's trust. And undermining the public's trust in vaccines has been Kennedy's professional goal for nearly a decade. In response, professional societies that many patients and physicians turn to for independent guidance—the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)—issued statements criticizing both the process and the content of the new recommendations.The announcement spurred confusion. The previous week, in the New England Journal of Medicine, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary told Americans something different. In that May 20, 2025 article (see Figure 2 in that article), and in a subsequent public discussion on YouTube, Makary reassured the public that pregnant women—who face substantially higher risks of severe illness, hospitalization, and even death from COVID-19—would still have access to vaccination. He pledged that the vaccine would be available to people who have health conditions that make them vulnerable to severe disease related to COVID infection. Pregnancy is on that list of conditions that he provided. In a Face the Nation appearance after Kennedy's announcement, Makary said that women need to consult with their providers, but he didn't indicate what evidence should inform the discussion. If HHS has new information, it should make it public. With the dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (its mutating variants, changes in disease severity, and virus transmissibility) and the recent appearance of a new variant (NB.1.8.1B) that the World Health Organization believes may be affecting disease patterns around the world, a public discussion of the data is more important than ever. And it needs to happen soon, well in advance of respiratory virus season. ACIP should lay out the data at its next meeting—currently scheduled for June 25 through 27—and provide its recommendations to help inform the very clinicians and patients charged with decision making, even if it's after the fact of Kennedy's unprecedented actions.
Covid summer and confusion, measles, cucumber recall, maternal health declining, and a curious MAHA report - by Katelyn Jetelina, Your Local Epidemiologist -- This week’s edition of The Dose is a bit packed—partly because we took last week off, and partly because, well, a lot is happening. We’re covering everything from Covid-19 (variants, summer wave concerns, and vaccine eligibility confusion) to a Salmonella outbreak tied to cucumbers, the MAHA report, and more. A lot is happening in the Covid-19 world. Here are updates for you:
- 1. Transmission and a summer wave. Covid-19 levels in the U.S. remain low—but if history is any guide, that may not last. We’ve seen waves every summer, and cases are rising in parts of the Western Pacific, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Mediterranean.Waves are started by a number of complex factors, including new variants. Last week, the WHO added a new strain, NB.1.8.1, to its variant monitoring watchlist. This variant is another descendant of Omicron. So far, it has a growth advantage of ~65% (compared to Omicron’s 500% advantage), which means it would cause a wave but not a tsunami.This may be the one that helps jump-start a summer wave. But while this variant has been detected in the U.S., it’s still at low levels. Time will tell.
- 2. Covid vaccine formula for this fall.*** Last week, the FDA’s vaccine advisory committee (VRBPAC) recommended updating the Covid-19 vaccine strain for this fall to a strain called LP.8.1, which is new, though it cast the recommendation as a preferential one, which leaves room for Novavax to continue to use JN. If this will happen, though, is a big question with recent talks about the need for placebo trials. The WHO had a different recommendation: Use the same vaccine formula as last year.
- 3. Eligibility for Covid-19 vaccines is a confusing mess from the political ping-pong match. At first, the political appointee to FDA said one thing in an opinion piece on NEJM, then RFK Jr. said another on X, then the CDC overrode (or negotiated, it’s unclear) what the policy should be by publishing the vaccine schedule.As of now:
- 65+ are eligible.
- Under 65 with certain health conditions are eligible. (Although this is very unclear right now, and largely depends on how FDA changes the licenses.) BUT (and this is important): Recommendations are self-attestation at pharmacies. This means pharmacists are not permitted to ask for proof of underlying conditions.
- Everyone else, including kids and pregnant women, may get the vaccine if they and their clinician agree it’s appropriate (called shared clinical decision-making). This was a really important change that the CDC overrode RFK Jr. on. While there is a legitimate debate around annual boosters, there is clear evidence on the importance of a primary vaccine series for kids and for immunity passed to babies from pregnant mothers.
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Note: Insurance may not cover your vaccine under this category. Unfortunately, some payers have a long history of not covering shared clinical decision-making, so I would expect variability in coverage.
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Later this month, the official meeting of external expert advisors (ACIP) should clarify things when they meet as scheduled. But this isn’t guaranteed; RFK Jr. could cancel or delay their ability to do this at any moment.Out of all of this, my biggest concern remains: The damage is already done. A wave of confusion due to unilateral political decision-making instead of established evidence-based processes, resulting in whiplash headlines, likely hurts trust, sows immense confusion, and in turn, reduces vaccine uptake.
- 4. Some good news. FDA approved Moderna’s next-gen Covid-19 vaccine, with three improvements:
- Sharper immune response. Instead of the whole spike protein, this vaccine only includes the pieces of the spike protein that change quickly and are the key targets for antibodies (the RBD and NTD). This workaround gets rid of the conserved parts so that the immune system has to pay attention to the parts of spike that change. In clinical trials, the updated vaccine gave better antibody responses and had higher effectiveness than Spikevax, particularly in older adults.
- Smaller dose, more supply. The dose needed is much lower (10 vs. 50 micrograms), so we can vaccinate more people with the same amount of vaccine liquid in a vial. Note: The side effect profile for those who react badly to this vaccine (e.g., a fever for a few days) doesn’t change.
- Easier storage. It can be stored in standard refrigerators—not ultracold freezers—making it far more accessible in clinics and pharmacies.
It’s unclear when this vaccine will become available because the CDC still needs to approve it.
FDA approves Moderna's new COVID-19 vaccine - Vaccine maker Moderna announced late last week that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its next-generation COVID-19 vaccine.Marketed under the name mNexspike (mRNA-1283), the updated shot targets a portion of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for virus neutralization, allowing for a dose that's one-fifth the size of Moderna's original COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax (mRNA-1273). Company officials have also characterized the updated shot as potentially refrigerator-stable vaccine that could be more easily distributed and administered in a wider range of settings.Moderna said the approval was based on the results of a phase 3 randomized controlled trial involving 11,400 participants ages 12 and older, which found that a 10-microgram (μg) dose of mNexspike demonstrated a 9.3% higher relative vaccine efficacy (rVE) compared with a 50-μg dose of Spikevax, with a 13.5% higher rVE in adults ages 65 and older. The safety profiles of the two vaccines were similar, the company added."The FDA approval of our third product, mNEXSPIKE, adds an important new tool to help protect people at high risk of severe disease from COVID-19," Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, said in a companypress release. "COVID-19 remains a serious public health threat, with more than 47,000 Americans dying from the virus last year alone."Moderna said it expects to have mNexspike available for the 2025-26 respiratory virus season, alongside Spikevax. But, under the new COVID-19 vaccine framework outlined recently by FDA Commissioner Martin Makary, MD, MPH, and Vinay Prasad, MD, MPH, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, mNexspike is approved for use only in adults 65 and older and people aged 12 to 64 years with at least one condition that puts them at higher risk for severe disease.
Analysis: COVID vaccine averted almost 13,000 deaths in seniors in Belgium in 3 years A new analysis published late last week in Vaccine concludes that COVID-19 vaccination averted 12,806 COVID-19 deaths among Belgians aged 65 years and older from 2021 through 2023. Vaccines have been available to Belgians in that age-group since January 2021.That represents a 54% reduction in mortality, which was seen across subgroups broken down by age, including Belgians 65 to 79 years and those80 years and older. From January 2021 and January 2023, a total of 11,033 COVID-19 deaths were reported through the national epidemiologic surveillance system among the population aged 65 years and older in Belgium, the authors said. The authors estimated deaths averted by taking into account the vaccine efficacy (VE) for each variant of concern (VOC) during the 2-year study period, and matching that information with national data on vaccine coverage and the number of reported COVID-19 deaths from the epidemiological surveillance over time. Overall, vaccines averted the highest rate of deaths during the period dominated by the Delta variant, with 68% of deaths averted. Vaccines averted only 31% of deaths during the Alpha period and 54% of deaths during Omicron.
MIS-C patients catch up with controls by most measures within 2 years, data suggest -Two years after hospitalization for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), most patients' neurologic and psychological test scores were similar to those of controls, but those who had been admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) and experienced reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) tended to have diminished executive function (high-level thinking skills), concludes a study published yesterday in JAMA Network Open.Boston Children's Hospital researchers led the study of 59 pediatric patients diagnosed from August 2020 to August 2021 and 36 siblings, half-siblings, or cousins who served as controls. The team administered interviews, surveys, and neuropsychological evaluations and neurologic exams 6 to 12 months and 18 to 24 months after patients were released from US or Canadian hospitals. Participants were aged 5 to 20 years at release.The study was a follow-up to one the same group conducted in 2021 and 2022 and included 86% of those participants."Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection," the authors wrote. "Inflammation and multiorgan dysfunction are hallmarks, including acute neurologic symptoms, such as mental status change, seizures, and neuroinflammation." In year 2, MIS-C patient outcomes were comparable to those of controls, except that they had more somatic symptoms such as headache and stomach pain (Behavior Assessment Scale for Children [BASC-3] average somatization score, 52.1 vs 46.5, respectively; average difference, 5.2). MIS-C patient scores were better at follow-up than initially, a trend not seen in controls. Eight of 13 children with MIS-C (62%) who had abnormal neurologic exams in year 1 had normal results by year 2. Among MIS-C patients, higher disease severity during hospitalization was associated with worse executive function in year 2 (National Institutes of Health List Sort Working Memory Test score, -7.3 points per ICU admission vs none; -5.8 points per LVEF category change; and verbal fluency switching score, -0.8 points). Comparing year 2 with year 1, executive function scores improved in patients with MIS-C (NIH List Sort Working Memory Test average difference, 6.0 and Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System color-word interference switching subtest average difference, 1.1). The MIS-C group also had fewer internalizing symptoms (BASC-3 internalizing problems difference, -3.6), reflecting less anxiety, depression, and somatization (physical manifestations of stress) in year 2. Parent-reported psychosocial quality of life also improved (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory [PedsQL] Generic Core Scale average difference, 4.7), and sleep disturbance lessened (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System [PROMIS] sleep disturbance average difference, -3.1). Among the 13 MIS-C patients who had an abnormal neurologic exam in year 1 and were reexamined in year 2, 5 still had abnormal findings, primarily those involving motor skills.Fewer MIS-C patients than controls had returned to their pre-COVID baselines for energy (26% vs 11%, respectively; appetite, 16% vs 0%; sleep, 33% vs 6%; cognition, 29% vs 6%; mood, 28% vs 14%) by 2 years. Beck Youth Inventory anxiety and self-concept scores were comparable between MIS-C patients and controls, as were total sleep and activity scores. Data newly obtained in year 2, including sleep and daily activity and parent and child mental health, suggested that greater daily activity was tied to fewer parent-reported somatic symptoms (BASC-3 somatization average difference, -0.8), while higher parent self-reported stress, anxiety, or depression on the DASS-21 was linked to worse scores on the child’s BASC-3 behavioral symptoms index (average difference, 10.2).
Long-COVID diagnoses fairly common in Medicare claims -- A recent study in The Journal of Gerontology analyses Medicare data from 3,588,671 Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed as having COVID-19 from October 2021 to March 2023 and finds that 3.9% of beneficiaries—or about 140,000 people—were diagnosed with long COVID after experiencing symptoms for at least 1 year. The authors also estimated the risk of developing long COVID based on the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered prior to the index date, using Medicare Part B claims and pharmacy records. "In both unadjusted and fully adjusted models, a greater number of COVID-19 vaccine doses was associated with a reduced relative rate of Long COVID compared to no COVID-19 vaccine dose," the authors wrote. Overall, beneficiaries with four or more COVID-19 vaccine doses had a 39% lower adjusted rate of long COVID relative to beneficiaries without a prior dose (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60 to 0.62). "Long COVID diagnoses were relatively common, occurring in nearly 1 in 25 Medicare beneficiaries, but especially in those with certain chronic conditions and without prior COVID-19 vaccine doses," the authors concluded.
Dataset shows national decline in MMR vaccine uptake since peak of COVID Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have produced a new county-level US dataset showing a national decline in the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination rate among children since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a research letter published yesterday in JAMA.The study comes as the United States is facing one of the largest measles outbreaks in the post-elimination era, with more than 1,100 cases reported since the first of the year. And it coincides with the third month of vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s tenure as secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services. “This open, high resolution dataset provides a critical resource to explore and better understand the country’s vaccination landscape and its implications for the risk of measles spread,” said senior author Lauren Gardner, PhD, in a press release from Johns Hopkins. Gardner is the director of the university's Center for Systems Science and Engineering.The dataset considered annual county-level vaccination rates for kindergarten-age children during the 2017-2018 and 2023-2024 school years. In states in which that data wasn’t available, the authors used the most comparable proxy, either 2-dose MMR vaccination rates for kindergarten through grade-12 students or 5- to 6-year-old's completion rates for a combined vaccine series that included the 2-dose MMR vaccine.“Across the 2,066 counties in 33 states with both prepandemic and postpandemic vaccination rates, the county-level mean (SD [standard deviation]) vaccination rate decreased from 93.92% (5.71%) prepandemic to 91.26% (6.95%) postpandemic, a mean decline of 2.67% (5.27%),” the authors wrote.Of the 2,066 counties, 1,614 (78%) showed a decline in MMR coverage. Only four states out of the 33 included in the study, California, Connecticut, Maine, and New York, reported an increase in county-level vaccination rates for MMR.
Ohio deer samples reveal COVID-19 Alpha variant more than 1 year after last human case - Sampling free-ranging white-tailed deer (WTD) in northeastern Ohio in 2023 has identified six SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Alpha strains—the latter of which hadn't been seen in Ohioans for more than a year, according to a study published yesterday in Emerging Infectious Diseases.Ohio State University–led researchers collected nasal swabs from deer culled at 10 sites from January to March 2023. WTD are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The same group published a similar analysis in 2021. The swabs underwent real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and genomic sequencing, and positive samples were sent to a lab for virus isolation, characterization, and other experiments. Half of samples at 1 site tested positive. In total, 12.3% of 519 swabs tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Four of the 10 sites yielded positive samples, with prevalences of 6.5% to 50.0%, the latter of which was from a site next to a highly populated residential area. Viral isolation of 58 of the 64 positive samples produced 12 SARS-CoV-2 Omicron isolates. Whole-genome sequencing of 36 positive samples revealed that 86.1% were Omicron BQ.1.1, BQ.1.1.63, BQ.1.1.67, BQ.1.23, and XBB.1.5.35, which were still circulating in people. And five samples taken from a single site were Alpha B.1.1.7, which was last identified in Ohio more than 1 year earlier. The B.1.1.7 viruses amassed mutations at twice the rate of those in people."An apparent decrease in SARS-CoV-2 detections in North America WTD after emergence of the Omicron variant in humans in late 2021 led to speculation that the highly mutated and human-adapted Omicron variant could have reduced capacity to infect other species," the authors wrote. "Instead, we found evidence in northeast Ohio of extensive deer-to-deer transmission of >2 Omicron lineages (XBB.1.5.35 and BQ.1.1) that each spread between 2 sampling sites separated by interstate highways," they added. "Evidence of sustained transmission of the Alpha variant in WTD, alongside more recent introductions of Omicron lineages in WTD, highlights the need for continued surveillance to monitor the long-term dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in WTD and the associated zoonotic risks." They wondered if deer can become a reservoir for displaced variants.
GAO to HHS: Fix 'persistent deficiencies' in infectious-disease testing before next pandemic The latest report from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) makes four recommendations and details nearly 100 ways the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) could improve federal diagnostic testing during a public health crisis such as a pandemic. It follows a May 2023 report that noted a lack of progress toward HHS emergency-preparedness goals. GAO added HHS to its High-Risk List in January 2022, partially because of "persistent deficiencies in HHS's ability to perform its role of leading the nation's preparedness for, and response to, public health emergencies, including extreme weather events, infectious disease outbreaks, pandemics, and intentional acts." To help HHS better lead the country's testing efforts, which requires coordination with public and private organizations, GAO reviewed HHS documents, interviewed HHS officials, and convened a roundtable of 19 experts identified by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The goal was to make recommendations and suggest steps to improve diagnostic testing development, deployment, guidance, and data collection. "Pandemic threats are ever-present, with factors such as increasing animal-to-human disease transmission risk through farming practices, wildlife trade, and habitat loss in recent decades contributing to the threat," the report noted. "In addition, other infectious disease public health threats, such as mpox, could develop pandemic potential through genetic mutations increasing transmissibility or virulence," it added. "Widespread diagnostic testing for diseases with pandemic potential can help reduce potential death rates." Examples of actions HHS should take are:
- Encourage diagnostic test research and development before a public health crisis.
- Expand the number of organizations able to perform diagnostic testing.
- Broaden communication of testing guidance.
- Increase standardization of diagnostic test data collection.
Multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers grows The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said a multistate Salmonellaoutbreak linked to whole cucumbers has grown from 26 to 45 cases in the past 2 weeks. Three more states are now affected in the outbreak, raising the number of states reporting cases to 18.Illnesses started on dates ranging from April 2 to May 10, 2025. The investigation is ongoing.The recalled cucumbers, grown by Bedner Growers Inc., should no longer be on store shelves. The contaminated produce was distributed by Fresh Start Produce Inc. from April 29 to May 19, 2025, and sold to stores, restaurants, and other facilities.“If you have any whole cucumbers in your home and can't tell where they are from, throw them out,” the CDC said.Of the 45 cases, no deaths have been reported, but 16 people have required hospitalization. Florida and Georgia have the most case-patients, with each state reporting seven.Both Bedner Growers and Fresh Start Produce are located in Florida, and at least eight case-patients reported taking a cruise ship departing from Florida in the 7 days before they became ill.“Three people traveled on the same ship. Sick people were aboard 6 different cruise ships that departed the United States between March 30 and April 12,” the CDC said.
Tomatoes sold in 3 states now labeled deadly by FDA - Tomatoes distributed in three southern states are now the subject of a possibly deadly recall, according to the Food and Drug Administration.The recall, first announced by the FDA on May 2 for potential salmonella contamination, has now been upgraded to the most severe warning the federal agency issues. Williams Farms Repack LLC, based in Lodge, South Carolina, said the affected tomatoes were packaged and sold to wholesalers and distributors between April 23-28 under the name H&C Farms Label, the FDA reported. In a notice published online May 28th, the FDA labeled this a Class I recall − the highest recall risk level issued by the agency, as it can potentially cause serious health complications or lead to death. According to the FDA, freezing and drying may prevent the growth of bacteria, but do not kill salmonella. The bacteria can live for several weeks in dry environments and for several months in wet environments.As of the recall date, no deaths or illnesses had been reported, the FDA said. Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and fatal infections in children, the elderly, and other people with weakened immune systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most people infected with salmonella start developing symptoms 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product. Diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps are the main symptoms.
Most freshwater game fish in Southern California carry invasive parasites capable of infecting humans, study finds -- More than 90% of popular freshwater game fish in Southern California contain an introduced parasite capable of infecting humans, according to a new study by researchers at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography.The parasites found in the study—two species of flatworms called trematodes—typically cause gastrointestinal problems,weight loss or lethargy when they infect humans. In some rare and severe cases, the parasites have caused strokes or heart attacks.The findings, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, suggest that these parasites pose a previously unrecognized public health risk in the United States."Americans don't usually think about parasites when they eat freshwater fish because it hasn't historically been an issue here," said Ryan Hechinger, an ecologist and parasitologist at Scripps and the study's senior author. "But these trematodes have now been widely introduced in the U.S. and that means that doctors and the public should be aware."Hechinger emphasized that there is "no need to panic" as the risks posed by these parasites are easy to mitigate: Fully cooking fish or freezing any intended to be eaten raw for at least one week should kill the trematodes, per Food and Drug Administration guidelines.But a social media survey included in the study suggested that people in the U.S. are likely consuming freshwater fish without taking these precautions, which can dramatically increase the odds of infection.The study identified two species of parasitic trematodes—Haplorchis pumilio and Centrocestus formosanus. These trematodes have historically infected people in Southeast Asia and likely arrived in the U.S. more than a decade ago inside the bodies of one of their hosts: an invasive aquatic snail commonly known as thered-rimmed melania or Malaysian trumpet snail (Melanoides tuberculata). The invasive snail has spread to 17 American states and Puerto Rico.The trematode's life cycle involves parasitizing three hosts: first a red-rimmed melania snail, then a fish and then, finally, a warm-blooded vertebrate, like a bird or a human, that consumes the infected fish.Previous work led by Hechinger showed that the red-rimmed melania and its associated trematode parasites are widespread in California.
Flu, RSV linked to higher odds of secondary bacterial infection -A retrospective analysis of patients at Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals found that influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is associated with increased risk of secondary Streptococcus pneumoniae infection but COVID-19 isn't, researchers reported late week in Clinical Infectious Diseases.The study, led by researchers with the VA Western New York Healthcare System, analyzed data on patients who received care and were tested for S pneumoniae at VA hospitals from January 2015 through March 2025. Patients positive for S pneumoniae were assessed for evidence of prior flu, RSV, and COVID-19 infections. The primary outcome was development of S pneumoniae infection within 30 days after a positive test for flu, RSV, or COVID-19.Of the 188,172 patients (mean age, 70 years; 96% male) included in the study, 8,165 (4.3%) were positive for S pneumoniae. The incidence of S pneumoniae in patients varied with respiratory viral testing for COVID-19, RSV, and influenza. Among all patients, there were 14,506 cases of positive COVID-19, of which 336 (2.3%) subsequently had S pneumoniae infection, along with 1,349 cases of RSV and 4,504 cases of influenza, of which 132 (9.8%) and 452 (10.0%) involved subsequent positive tests for S pneumoniae, respectively. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, both flu (odds ratio [OR], 2.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.15 to 2.64) and RSV (OR, 2.50; 95% CI, 2.07 to 2.99) more than doubled the odds of subsequent S pneumonia infection. But prior COVID-19 infection decreased the odds by 44% (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.62). Current smokers (OR, 1.09; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.16) and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR, 1.36; 95% CI 1.28 to 1.45) were also associated with increased odds of subsequent S pneumoniae. The study authors say flu or RSV may increase the risk of S pneumoniae infection by damaging the bronchi and lung epithelium, which may create more attachment sites for bacteria. But why COVID-19 was associated with reduced S pneumoniae risk is unclear.
Colorado announces another measles case linked to Turkish Airlines flight --Yesterday, Colorado announced a seventh measles case linked to a Turkish Airlines flight. The latest case-patient is a vaccinated adult Denver resident who was a passenger on Turkish Airlines flight 201, which arrived at Denver International Airport (DIA) on May 13. So far, four of the people who contracted measles were passengers on the May 13 flight, and three were at DIA during the exposure period on May 14, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said. In other US measles developments, New York's Putnam County has reported a measles case in a person who is no longer contagious. The person contracted the virus while traveling abroad. “Currently this is a single case of measles,” said Putnam County Health Director Rian Rodriguez, MPH, in a press release. In international developments, the UK's Health Security Agency warns that with measles activity increasing in England, especially in kids under 10, there could be a summer surge in virus activity.In England, 109 measles cases were reported in April, and 86 were documented in May. Most people infected have been under 10 years old and unvaccinated.
US measles total jumps by 80, fueled by travel and more outbreaks In its weekly measles update the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today reported 80 more measles cases, the biggest jump since late April, putting the United States on pace to easily reach the highest annual number of cases since it achieved measles elimination status in 2000.Cases have now reached 1,168. In a shift, most of the new cases appear to be linked to travel and an increasing number of outbreaks rather than the large outbreak centered in West Texas. The United Kingdom’s Health Security Agency (HSA) this week warned that summer travel could trigger another measles surge in England amid the backdrop of rising global cases over the last year and ongoing outbreaks in part of England, including London.The CDC said 34 states have now reported cases, which likely reflects the first from South Dakota. Also, its total reflects three more outbreaks, putting the total for the year at 17. Of cases reported so far, 89% are linked to outbreaks. This year’s number of outbreaks has now passed the 2024 total of 16, which were responsible for 69% of last year’s measles infections. Of cases reported this year, 95% have been in people who were unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status. Children ages 5 to 19 years old are the most affected group, making up 38% of infections, followed closely by adults (33%) and children younger than 5 (29%). The Virginia Department of Health yesterday announced the state’s third case of the year, which involves a child younger than 4 years old from the state’s northwest region who was exposed to a family member whose illness was confirmed in late May, a teen who had traveled internationally. Similarly, the Georgia Department of Public Health today reported a new case linked to exposure to a sick family member who acquired his or her measles infection outside the country. Canada has been battling an even bigger measles outbreak this year, with activity that began in undervaccinated communities in southwestern Ontario. In its latest update earlier this week, the Public Health Agency of Canada reported 244 new cases for the previous week, putting the country’s total at 2,755, of which nearly 2,000 are from Ontario. Yesterday, Ontario health officials announced the country's first measles death of the year, a premature infant who was born to an unvaccinated mother.In a statement, Kieran Moore, MD, MPH, MSc, Ontario’s chief medical officer, said the baby contracted measles before birth and that measles may have played a contributing role in the premature birth death. He also said the infant faced other serious medical complications that weren’t related to the virus.
PAHO warns of pertussis rises, vaccination gaps in Americas countries The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on May 31 issued an epidemiological alert about a rise in pertussis cases in a number of countries in the Americas, which comes in the wake of a sustained decline in pertussis vaccine coverage that gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic period.The average global pertussis case total declined sharply during the pandemic, reaching a historical low in 2021. Since then, cases have been on a steady rise. In the Americas, cases in 2012 were at their highest point in a decade, then fell progressively until 2022, but began rising again in 2023 with about 4,100 cases in the region. In 2024, the Americas logged nearly 44,000 cases. After the pandemic, pertussis vaccination showed a partial rebound in the Americas, though coverage varies between and within countries.PAHO focused on seven Americas countries that are seeing rising cases in 2025, with the United States reporting the most cases, 10,062 as of late April. Five deaths were reported, four of them in children younger than 1 year old. States with the highest case numbers are Washington, Oregon, and California, and the most affected age group are children ages 11 to 19 years old.Other countries reporting rises this year include Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Paraguay.
Study finds non-prescription antibiotic use high in young children in poorer countries More than one third of children younger than 5 years old in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) receive antibiotics without a prescription, researchers reported today in JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance. In a systematic review and meta-analysis, Ethiopian researchers examined 12 observational studies that addressed antibiotic use without a prescription in children under 5 in LMICs. While the widespread use of antibiotics without a prescription in LMICs is well-documented, no prior systematic review and meta-analysis has been conducted on antibiotic use without a prescription in children under 5 in LMICs, a population that's known to commonly receive antibiotics for community infections that may be self-limiting or caused by viruses. The 12 cross-sectional studies had a combined sample size of 8,773 participants and were conducted in Africa (6), Asia (3), and South America (3). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic use without a prescription was 33.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 27.4% to 39.2%), with the highest pooled estimate found among studies from Africa (39.9%; 95% CI, 35.6% to 44.1%) and lowest in studies from South America (28.6%; 95% CI, 24.2% to 33.0%). Among individual countries, the highest prevalence was in Nigeria (46.7%), and the lowest was in China (14.5%). The analysis also found the most common sources for non-prescription antibiotics were community pharmacies, which is similar to findings from previous studies. Antibiotic use without a prescription is considered a major contributing factor in the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and it is among the issues that the World Health Organization (WHO) has said should be addressed by antimicrobial stewardship programs. But while stewardship programs have become well-established in developed nations, they haven't been as successfully implemented in LMICs. The study authors say the findings imply that LMICs should"strengthen their regulatory systems, prevent childhood infections, increase healthcare accessibility, improve health insurance coverage, and enhance awareness of the public concerning the impact of antibiotic use without prescription." "The results of this study will be crucial for the WHO, the health ministries of the respective countries, regulatory systems and other non-governmental organizations working in child health," they concluded
Study finds elevated macrolide resistance in African children following mass azithromycin program -New research conducted by British and African scientists suggests that mass azithromycin distribution is linked to persistent, elevated macrolide resistance in one of the communities where it's been tested. In a study published yesterday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, a team led by researchers with the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme and University College London reported that macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniaeremained elevated in children in a community in Malawi more than 3 years after they received twice-yearly doses of azithromycin—a macrolide antibiotic—as part of a randomized controlled trial. Furthermore, macrolide-resistant S pneumoniaewas also elevated in the children from the village who received placebo and in those born after the trial was conducted.That trial, dubbed MORDOR (Macrolides Oraux pour Réduire les Décès avec un Oeil sur la Résistance), was conducted in rural villages in Malawi, Niger, and Tanzania to assess the impact of mass drug administration (MDA) with azithromycin on childhood mortality. The results showed a 13.5% reduction in all-cause mortality among children aged 1 to 59 months who received the antibiotic compared with those who received placebo, with the largest impact seen in younger children. Based on those results and subsequent trials, the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020 conditionally recommended MDA for children ages 1 to 11 months in high-mortality regions. Since then, MDA programs have expanded in sub-Saharan Africa. But there has long been concern about the potential for promoting macrolide resistance, particularly inS pneumoniae, which is a leading cause of pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis in children in the region. The authors of the current study say their findings highlight the need for ongoing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance in MDA programs."Without timely detection and intervention, these trends could become difficult to reverse," they warn.
Analysis shows mpox lurked in Nigeria for 8 years before igniting global 2022 outbreak -A new gene-tracking study in Nature shows that mpox spread among people in Nigeria for 8 years before it sparked a global outbreak in 2022. Using genomic tracing, researchers from Nigeria, the United States, Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Belgium estimate that the ancestor of the clade 2 mpox virus (mpxv) that ignited an international outbreak beginning in May 2022 first emerged in southern Nigeria in August 2014 and spread to 11 Nigerian states before human infections were detected in 2017. In light of the findings, the authors write, "We need improved surveillance in the wildlife population in the forest systems to better understand the transmission and maintenance of MPXV in animal hosts," as well as better human surveillance."We could have very easily prevented the 2022 multi-country outbreak if countries in Africa were given better access to therapeutics, vaccines, and surveillance technologies," says first author Edyth Parker, PhD, MPhil, a researcher with the Institute of Genomics and Global Health and with the International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science, in a Scripps Research news release. "In a vulnerably connected world, we cannot neglect epidemics until they get exported to the Global North."Because the clade 2 virus had an unexpected number of genetic mutations, the authors of the study hypothesized that it might have been circulating in Nigeria much longer than previously thought. So the international team of investigators pooled virus samples and lab methods, generating a genomic dataset three times larger than any previous mpox dataset, according to the release.The researchers analyzed 118 viral genomes from human mpox cases in Nigeria and Cameroon from 2018 to 2023. All were clade 2b, which is now endemic in West Africa. Just 9 of the samples were from Cameroon.They found that 105 of the 109 viruses from Nigeria were the result of human-to-human virus spread, with the other 4 caused by zoonotic transmission, or mpox spread from animals to people. In contrast, all 9 cases in Cameroon were the result of zoonotic spillover.Using a phylogenetic tree created from the genomic analysis, the scientists estimated that the ancestor of outbreak strain emerged in animals in November 2013 in Nigeria and first infected people in southern Nigeria in August 2014. They also showed that southern Nigeria was the main source of subsequent cases of mpox in people, as that is where human-to-human spread was sustained, even though the disease transmitted throughout Nigeria.
Sierra Leone battles intense mpox activity as Ethiopia reports first death -Mpox activity in Africa continues at a brisk pace, with concerns about rising cases in newly affected countries such as Sierra Leone and the outbreak turning deadly in Ethiopia, a top official from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said yesterday at the group’s weekly briefing. Ngashi Ngongo, MD, PhD, MPH, who leads Africa CDC's mpox incident management team, said that, as of May, the number of lab-confirmed cases (17,845) has nearly reached the total reported for all of 2024. Different countries are at different stages of the outbreak, a complex situation complicated by the involvement of different clades and transmission patterns. Ngongo said the outbreak in Sierra Leone is still very concerning and is driving illnesses, with the country making up 53% of cases in the most recent reporting week. High population density and tourism are major contributors to virus spread, and test positivity is as high as 100% in seven of the country’s districts, a sign that surveillance is still in a passive mode, Ngongo said. Though 94% of Africa's cases last week were in four of the hardest-hit countries, he said upward trends continue in some of the newly affected countries, such as Togo and Ethiopia. Africa CDC's mpox emergency committee met last week to assess if the situation still warrants a public health emergency of continental concern, and the World Health Organization mpox emergency committee met yesterday for the fourth time to assess the African developments. In vaccine developments, the Democratic Republic of the Congo last week received 100,000 Jynneos doses from France and 1.5 million doses of the LC16 vaccine from Japan. Also, Sierra Leone is slated to receive 20,000 doses from the United Arab Emirates today. Ethiopia confirmed its first mpox cases in late May, with 3 infections reported, and last week the total rose sharply, to 40 cases, 17 of them confirmed. New cases reflect northward spread beyond the initial illnesses, which were detected on the border with Kenya. Ngongo said the patient who died is an infant, and though the clade hasn’t been confirmed yet, it's possible that it involves 1b, which has been circulating in neighboring Kenya.
African countries endorse coordinated plan to battle cholera outbreaks - Leaders from 20 African countries hit by recent cholera outbreaks met yesterday in a high-level meeting called by Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and agreed on a continental approach to managing the outbreaks, similar to the approach used to battle mpox outbreaks in the region.The meeting comes as cholera outbreaks worsen in some of the hot spot countries, including South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Angola, and Sudan. So far, African countries have reported about 130,000 cholera cases this year, about 2,700 of them fatal. African countries currently bear 60% of the world’s cholera burden, but outbreaks across the region are more deadly, with African countries reporting 93.5 % of the world’s deaths from the disease. As African countries grapple with cholera, they are still in the heat of battle against multiple other infectious disease threats, including mpox, which has a similarly large footprint across the continent. Africa CDC’s mpox emergency committee met last week to assess the latest developments and determine if the event still warrants a public health emergency of continental concern. Also, the World Health Organization (WHO) mpox emergency committee is meeting today for the fourth time to make a similar assessments about Africa’s mpox outbreaks.At yesterday’s virtual meeting, which was also attended by Africa’s global health partners, leaders agreed to adopt the incident management support team (IMST), a tactic that was used successfully to coordinate the region’s response to mpox outbreaks. They also agreed to enhance cross-border surveillance, establish presidential task forces on cholera in their countries, mobilize domestic resources, and enforce accountability frameworks.H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, foreign minister from Djibouti who chairs the African Union Commission, said in an Africa CDC statement that the region’s goal is to eliminate cholera by 2030. “This requires a continental shift—strong national leadership, domestic investment, integrated national actions, and regional coordination,” he said.Ramping up oral cholera vaccine production in Africa was also a major topic. Jean Kaseya, MD, MPH, Africa CDC’s director-general, said Africa needs 54 million doses of oral cholera vaccine (OCV) each year, but receives barely half of that amount.
Largest diphtheria outbreak in Europe in 70 years transmitted along migration routes -In 2022, Europe experienced the biggest diphtheria outbreak in the region in 70 years, and authors writing yesterday in theNew England Journal of Medicine have traced the outbreak strain to known migration routes and migrant communities in European countries—and not necessarily to patients' countries of origin.Moreover, the authors identify a genetic link between the 2022 strain and an epidemic in Germany this year, suggesting the bacterium that causes the disease is circulating undetected in Western Europe. Mass vaccination had largely eliminated diphtheria in Europe, and between 2016 and 2020, an annual average of 27 diphtheria cases caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae were reported in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA), according to a news release from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).But from January to November 2022, 362 cases were identified in 9 European countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, as well as the United Kingdom. Those sickened were largely migrants who had relocated to Europe: Germany (118 patients) and Austria (66 patients) had the largest case counts.The median age of the patients was 18 years at the time of data collection; 176 patients (48.6%) were 16 to 20 years of age, and 355 (98.1%) were male, the authors wrote. The vast majority of the patients (96.1%) had a recent migration history, close contact with migrant populations, or a recent date of entry into the reporting country. Roughly half of all patients (48.1%) were reported to be residents of a migrant center.bA total of 19 countries of origin were reported among case-patients; 222 patients (83.5%) were reported to have originated from Afghanistan or Syria. In addition, 28 transit countries were reported"Although several patients migrated from Africa or through eastern Europe, most followed a migration route through the western Balkans," the authors wrote.Of 436 patients with clinical data, 268 (77.5%) had cutaneous diphtheria, 53 (15.3%) had respiratory diphtheria (11 [3.2%] had a pseudomembrane), and 9 (2.6%) had both respiratory and cutaneous symptoms. Isolates collected from patients showed four genetic clusters."Our analysis illustrates that closely related diphtheria clones were detected in multiple European countries, which tells us that people who left their home countries without the disease contracted diphtheria on their way to the destination country where they were diagnosed," said Andreas Hoefer, PhD, at ECDC and one of the co-authors of the study.
Testing migrants for key infectious diseases may speed diagnosis, cut risk of spread --Instituting routine testing of migrants for certain infectious diseases leads to earlier diagnoses and treatment, improving health outcomes and lowering the risk of onward community spread, suggests an observational UK study published late last week in eClinicalMedicine. The researchers gauged the efficacy of testing migrants for tuberculosis (TB) with an interferon gamma release assay, HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV) with surface antigen testing, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) with antibody testing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. The team tested patients when they first registered with general practices (GPs) in Leicester and analyzed test positivity rates, numbers of new diagnoses, and other healthcare data from 2016 to 2019."While some testing for infectious disease may take place at the discretion of individual GPs currently, this is neither the norm and typically happens in silo," senior author Manish Pareek, of the University of Leicester, said in a university news release. Of 4,004 migrants referred for testing, the test positivity rate was 0.5% for HIV, 3.3% for HBV, 0.2% for HCV, and 19.4% for TB. Among the 437 TB patients, 7% had active disease, and 92% had latent infections. In total, 55% of active TB, 99% of latent TB, 61% of HBV, 35% of HIV, and 83% of HCV infections were new diagnoses. Of these patients, 98% of new latent TB patients were offered drugs to prevent active illness; 94% of them began treatment, and 95% of them completed it. All six newly diagnosed HIV patients, 97% of 71 new HBV patients, and all five new HCV patients completed follow-up.
Quick takes: Polio in 6 nations, tularemia cases in Nebraska, more H5N1 in US poultry | CIDRAP
- New polio cases were reported in six countries this week, according to the latest update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Pakistan reported a case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) with onset of paralysis on May 7, bringing its WPV1 case total this year to 11. Five other countries reported circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases: Ethiopia (8), Yemen (3), Chad (2), Angola (1), and Niger (1).
- Public health officials in Nebraska this week said they've received reports of three human cases of tularemia in the southwestern part of the state, a much higher number than normal. Tularemia is caused by a bacterium (Francisella tularensis) spread via tick and deer-fly bites or contact with infected animals. Symptoms include fever, headache, swollen glands, and skin ulcers at the site of the bite. "This is a concerning number of cases for this tickborne disease," Melissa Propp RN, of the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department, said in a press release. "Only 6 cases of tularemia were reported to us during the past 10 years, so getting three cases in a month is unusual."
- The US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service yesterday reportedan outbreak of H5N1 avian flu at a commercial table egg pullet operation in Maricopa County, Arizona. It's the state's fourth commercial operation affected by the outbreak over the last 30 days. Since the start of the US outbreak on February 8, 2022, highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in 1,706 flocks in 50 states and 1 territory, affecting more than 174 million birds.
Concerns Mount as Asian Tick With Fatal Bite Amasses In 5 States - The Asian longhorned tick, aptly named for the long protrusions from its mouthparts, is an invasive species that originates from East Asian countries like China, Japan, and Korea. However, they have been spreading rapidly through the United States, prompting pest alerts. They were first discovered on domestic soils somewhat recently. In the last few years, they have been found in 21 different states. The invader can cause a plethora of issues for people, pets, livestock, and even local habitats. Recently, they’ve been gaining traction, particularly in five states – Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.While most domestic tick species reproduce by mating before a female can lay her eggs, this isn’t the case with the Asian longhorned tick. These invasive creatures can lay up to 2,000 eggs without needing to mate. Male ticks do exist, but populations seem to have a dominant female presence, which reproduces asexually. This means that they have an unparalleled ability to multiply quickly in new environments before conservation groups even notice their presence. In the past few months, this has been the case in these five states, and their population has become difficult to uproot and exterminate. Livestock see some of the worst effects from these ticks. Farmers are noticing the damage they are doing, as severe infestations can number up to a million just in one pasture. The ticks can be deadly to livestock, and cows have been killed as a result of the creatures’ bites. They suck the blood of their host, which raises anxiety and weakens the animal, especially in vulnerable groups like adolescents and the elderly. Pesticides have eradicated them historically, but with how much they populate, they return the following year, making them an extremely difficult problem to deal with. Livestock aren’t the only ones in danger. The longhorned tick can carry bacteria and transmit severe diseases to its hosts, including humans. In Asia, the tick causes fevers, bleeding, and, in some cases, even death. In 2023, an Asian longhorned tick in Connecticut was found to be carrying the bacteria Ehrlichia chaffeensis, which causes fever, headaches, and muscle pain in those infected. These ticks are still largely unresearched, meaning that they could be carrying all sorts of other diseases that pose a danger to humans that we aren’t aware of yet. The risk of infection only gets higher as their population sweeps across state lines. These ticks are taxing farmers in affected regions. These ticks weaken and infect livestock, sometimes even resulting in death, meaning that they have a huge impact on milk production. In other countries like New Zealand and Australia, infestation has dropped milk production by 25% in some cases. U.S. farmers are facing similar challenges, facing a lower yield of meat and milk and having to spend more on pest control efforts that are only temporary solutions. The infestation can go unnoticed for up to months, meaning that its normally already made a large impact before reactive measures are taken.
Scientists develop 'mosquito STD' to combat malaria- A team of researchers including a University of Maryland entomologist has successfully turned the pesky mosquito's sex life into its downfall. By creating what amounts to a sexually transmitted disease specifically for mosquitoes, the scientists unveiled a potentially powerful new weapon in the global fight against malaria. Published in the journal Scientific Reports earlier this year, the team's study reveals how this innovative approach exploits mosquito mating behavior to deliver a deadly fungal infection to female mosquitoes—the ones responsible for biting and spreading disease to humans. The researchers' invention could have wide-ranging implications for controlling malaria, which kills over 600,000 people annually, with children under five in sub-Saharan Africa bearing the heaviest burden. In recent years, progress in fighting malaria has slowed as mosquitoes developed resistance to chemical treatments and mosquito-borne parasites became more resistant to antimalarial drugs. "It's essentially an arms race between the mosquitoes and us," explained study co-author Raymond St. Leger, a Distinguished University Professor of Entomology at UMD. "Just as they keep adapting to what we create, we have to continuously develop new and creative ways to fight them." One reason combating mosquitoes—and the deadly diseases they can carry—is so difficult is due to how quickly the pests adapt to control methods. As traditional indoor mosquito repellents like bed nets or spraying improved in efficacy over time, mosquitoes learned to avoid them by heading outside and lying in wait to feed instead. To target these hard-to-reach mosquitoes, the researchers engineered a naturally occurring fungus called Metarhizium to produce insect-specific neurotoxins that kill when injected into a female mosquito's body. By spraying male mosquitoes with fungal spores, scientists could ensure the spread of the fungus to the female mosquitoes the males mated with. In tests conducted in Burkina Faso in West Africa, the team found that nearly 90% of the female mosquitoes died within two weeks of mating with males carrying the modified fungus, compared to only 4% mortality in the group without the modified fungus. Though the modified Metarhizium fungus is deadly to female mosquitoes, it is harmless to humans.
Bangladesh notifies WHO of 2 recent human H5N1 avian flu infections -In its latest zoonotic flu update, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Bangladesh has notified it of two new human H5N1 avian flu infections, which appear to be the country’s first since 2015.Both patients are children from Khulna division in the country’s southwest. Both are boys who have recovered from their infections.In one of the cases, H5N1 was detected in a sample collected from the child in April 2025. Bangladeshi officials notified the WHO on May 4. The month before the patient got sick, an H5N1 outbreak in poultry was reported from the same district where the child lives.The other case was detected retrospectively in a sample collected from the child in February 2025. WHO was notified of the case on May 27. In both instances, genetic sequencing conducted by Bangladesh’s Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research revealed the older 2.3.2.1a clade, which is known to circulate in birds in India and Bangladesh.The same clade was found during the investigation into a fatal H5N1 case reported in an Indian child in April, an 2021 fatal infection in an Indian child who had an underlying health condition, and a 2024 illness in an Australian child who had recently visited India and had a severe illness but recovered.During a twice yearly deliberation on flu virus vaccine strains for pandemic preparedness, a WHO advisory group recommended 2.3.2.1a as one of its two picks, given ongoing circulation in birds and poultry in Bangladesh and India, despite the more recent introduction of the 2.3.4.4b global clade. Also, the advisory group noted that 2.3.2.1a had turned up in captive tigers, a captive leopard, and domestic cats in India.
H5N1 avian flu strikes another Arizona layer farm The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) hasconfirmed a third H5N1 avian flu outbreak at a large layer farm in Arizona, affecting nearly 1.4 million birds.Since the middle of May, the virus has hit three of the state’s large layer farms, all in Maricopa County, leading to a loss of more than 5 million birds. The outbreak wiped out about 95% of the birds at Hickman Family Farms’ facilities, and has shuttered all of the company’s West Valley farms, according to a local media report.Ostriches at a farm in British Columbia embroiled in a controversy over culling were infected with a novel H5N1 reassortant that included the D1.3 genotype, according to a recent statement from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The reassortant hadn’t been detected before in Canada, but was identified in March in a serious infection in an Ohio poultry worker. The outbreak at the ostrich farm was initially reported earlier this spring, and the company has not adhered to Canada’s rules about culling and quarantine, amid a public uproar over the federal laws that require that the birds be destroyed.
Bird flu can live in raw milk for more than a week: Study -The bird flu virus can remain infectious in raw milk for over a day at room temperature and more than a week when refrigerated, according to a new, non-peer-reviewed research from a group of UK scientists. The study, published in medRxiv, examined the stability of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in raw cow and sheep milk, with researchers simulating storage conditions common in dairy settings.“High viral titres were detected in milk from infected cows, raising concerns about onwards human infections,” the authors wrote.Scientists emphasized that pasteurization effectively kills the virus, but unpasteurized milk poses a potential risk of infection, both through occupational exposure in dairies and the consumption of raw milk.To test how long the virus remains infectious, scientists incubated the virus in pasteurized milk at room temperature and at 39.2 F, simulating both ambient dairy conditions and refrigerated storage. They also tested sheep’s milk using a lab strain of avian flu.Scientists stressed that these results represent a “worst-case scenario” and are meant to provide an “upper-bound” estimate of how long H5N1 might survive in milk. They urged continued precautions to reduce zoonotic transmission risks.Bird flu has devastated poultry and dairy farms, and sent the price of eggs soaring in the U.S. since it was first detected in North America in late 2021.
Study finds live avian flu virus in raw milk for more than 1 day at room temperature, 1 week in fridge - Researchers conducting a lab study published on the preprint server medRxiv detected infectious flu viruses in raw cow and sheep milk for over a day at room temperature and more than a week when refrigerated.The results of the non–peer-reviewed research highlight the risk of contracting H5N1 avian flu from consuming unpasteurized dairy products and from occupational exposure in dairies, the UK investigators said.After the emergence of H5N1 in US dairy cattle in late 2023, "high viral titres were detected in milk from infected cows, raising concerns about onwards human infections," they wrote. "Although pasteurisation was shown to effectively inactivate influenza viruses in milk, unpasteurised milk still poses a risk of infection, both from occupational exposure in dairies and from the consumption of raw milk." H5N1 has been detected in more than a thousand US cattle herds, other mammals, dozens of dairy workers, and several people with no direct contact with infected animals.The team assessed the stability of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) and other influenza A and D viruses by incubating them in pasteurized cows' milk at room temperature to represent exposure in dairies and at 4°C [39.2°F] to simulate exposure to refrigerated raw milk. They also conducted similar experiments with a lab strain of avian flu in sheep's milk."Although the survival of influenza viruses in milk was variable, we consistently found that under laboratory conditions substantial viral infectivity remained over periods when people might reasonably be exposed to infected milk—for over a day at room temperature and for more than 7 days when refrigerated," the authors wrote. "Our results highlight the zoonotic risk of H5N1 HPAIV in raw milk from infected animals and reinforce the importance of taking measures to mitigate this risk," they added. "Our experiments aimed to model the 'worst case scenario' for the persistence of viral infectivity in milk and should be seen as providing an upper-bound estimate for viral survival under real-world conditions."
Genetic diversity highlights increasing threat of H9N2 avian influenza -A new study published in Nature Microbiology has uncovered significant genetic and antigenic diversity among H9N2 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) circulating in poultry across China, highlighting the growing public health risk posed by H9N2 AIVs. Although H9N2—first identified in China in 1994—has been targeted by ongoing vaccination strategies, it has remained the dominant subtype in poultry. Its persistence, along with increasing reports of human infections in recent years, has become a growing public health concern.Previously, the molecular basis for the virus's cross-species transmission and zoonotic potential remained largely unclear. Now, however, a collaborative team led by Prof. Bi Yuhai and Prof. George F. Gao (Gao Fu) from the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with Prof. Shi Weifeng of Ruijin Hospital at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, has conducted a comprehensive investigation into the virus's genetic evolution, antigenic variability, and adaptive mutations.Their findings offer crucial insights concerning the virus's molecular mechanism for mammalian adaptation and evasion of human MxA gene-mediated innate immune responses. .. To better understand its evolutionary trajectory, the team developed a novel clade classification system for BJ94 viruses based on genetic distances and phylogenetic relationships. They also launched an online classification platform to enable global researchers to track and study H9 AIV evolution.Using this framework, they identified ten hemagglutinin (HA) sub-subclades currently co-circulating among poultry, each exhibiting distinct antigenic variations. These differences may explain why the existing vaccines have been unable to curb the epidemic of H9N2 AIVs.Additionally, the researchers found a rising prevalence of key mutations associated with increased infectivity and pathogenicity in mammals. Between 2021 and 2023, 99.46% of H9N2 isolates carried the HA-L226 mutation linked to human receptor binding; 96.17% contained the NP-N52 mutation associated with resistance to the human MxA antiviral protein; and 32.61% had the PB2-V627 mutation known to enhance polymerase activity in human cells.Experiments demonstrated that strains harboring these mutations preferentially bound to human-type receptors, replicated efficiently in human cells, and were capable of direct contact and aerosol transmission in guinea pigs and ferrets—key indicators of zoonotic potential.
Northern Idaho CWD cases in deer now tally 6, after 3 more detections - Idaho reports three new chronic wasting disease (CWD) cases in white-tailed deer in the Panhandle Region. Idaho Fish and Game (IFG) said the infections were identified during the 2024 deer-hunting season in the Unit 1 CWD-Management Zone, which includes Coeur d'Alene, east of Spokane, Washington. The new detections push the total number of CWD-positive free-ranging deer in northern Idaho to six since the first identification in July 2024. In total, 936 white-tailed deer were tested for CWD in Unit 1 during the 2024 hunting season, a large increase from 2023. "Relative to many other states, the current estimated prevalence rate (less than 1%) of the disease in the management zone is low," IFG wrote. "Low prevalence rates suggest that Fish and Game in collaboration with hunters detected the disease early. Early detection of CWD is critical, as it creates opportunities to take action to slow the rate of spread of the disease." CWD, which affects cervids such as deer, elk, and moose, is caused by infectious misfolded proteins called prions. The fatal neurodegenerative disease spreads through cervid-to-cervid contact and environmental contamination. There is no vaccine or cure.
Zimbabwe to cull elephants and distribute meat to people -Zimbabwe will cull dozens of elephants and distribute the meat for consumption to ease the ballooning population of the animals, its wildlife authority said Tuesday.The southern Africa country is home to the second-biggest elephant population in the world after Botswana. The cull at a vast private game reserve in the southeast would initially target 50 elephants, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) said in a statement.It did not say how many of the animals would be killed in total or over what period.An aerial survey in 2024 showed the reserve, the Save Valley Conservancy, had 2,550 elephants, more than triple its carrying capacity of 800, ZimParks said.At least 200 have been translocated to other parks over the past five years."Elephant meat from the management exercise will be distributed to local communities while ivory will be state property that will be handed over to the ZimParks for safekeeping," it said.Zimbabwe is unable to sell its stockpile of tusks due to a global ban on ivory trading.Tuesday's announcement came a day after four people were arrested in the capital Harare with more than 230 kilograms (500 pounds) of ivory for which they were allegedly seeking a buyer.In 2024, Zimbabwe culled 200 elephants as it faced an unprecedented drought that led to food shortages. It was the first major cull since 1988.The move to hunt the elephants for food has drawn sharp criticism, particularly as the animals are a major tourism draw.
Feds stick with ‘threatened’ status for key scarlet macaw population - The Fish and Wildlife Service said Monday that it’s sticking with the current Endangered Species Act status of the scarlet macaw, a foreign bird with a colorful plumage and a complicated history.Capping a review compelled by prior litigation, the federal agency announced it will retain the northern distinct population segment of the southern subspecies of scarlet macaw as a threatened species under the ESA. The decision reaffirms a 2019 listing.“The scarlet macaw’s historical range and population have been reduced and fragmented over the last several decades primarily because of habitat destruction and collection of wild birds for the pet trade,” the Fish and Wildlife Service stated.The agency’s decision not to increase the scarlet macaw’s ESA protection level was decried by Jennifer Best, wildlife law program director of Friends of Animals.
Alcohol consumption in avian species: Birds may be drinking on the wing, but in moderation -A paper published in Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology examines alcohol consumption in avian species.In "The proof is in the plumage: a method for detecting dietary ethanol exposure in birds by testing for ethyl glucuronide in feathers," authors investigated whether birds that eat sugar-rich foods—like fruit and nectar—might regularly consume alcohol produced by natural fermentation. Alcohol naturally results from the fermentation of sugary foods like fruit and nectar. Avian inebriation may reduce survival and reproductive success, including—but not limited to—increased predation risk due to impaired flight performance as well as injury or death due to accidental collisions during flight. The authors hypothesized that detection and levels of a byproduct of alcohol metabolism called ethyl glucuronide (EtG) would vary among species with different dietary specializations, specifically suggesting that nectarivores and frugivores would have higher levels of EtG than other dietary groups. Ethyl glucuronide stays in the body after alcohol breaks down. Using chemical analysis, the authors tested feathers and liver samples from 17 bird species, largely determined by what samples they could obtain from salvage specimens donated to the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology in Berkeley, California..As expected, hummingbirds (i.e., predominantly nectar feeders) often had EtG in their feathers, suggesting that sugar-rich foods like nectar may ferment and produce ethanol. "Artificial nectar feeders (like those in people's yards) might be a source of ethanol if the sugar water ferments. This might explain high EtG levels in Anna's Hummingbirds from urban areas," the authors note. However, EtG was also present in birds with other diets, like seeds, insects, and other animals.The results suggest that avian exposure to ethanol is not restricted to species with diets specialized in sugary foods. Therefore, the authors conclude, "exposure of animals to ethanol could be much more widespread than has been previously recognized."
French Smart Hive Sheds Light on Fukushima's Nuclear Impact on Bees - A pair of French scientists are exploring the impact of ionizing radiation on pollinators. Their research has taken them to Fukushima, Japan, site of the infamous 2011 nuclear disaster, to investigate how radioactivity might affect the cognitive abilities of these insects. First and foremost, it’s important to recognize that pollinators like bees and hornets possess numerous cognitive abilities, enabling them, for example, to navigate space or recognize colors. However, we know that environmental pollution and other human-made substances can disrupt the cognition of these insects. So, what about radioactivity? This topic was explored in an article published by CNRS Le Journal on May 16, 2025. The magazine spoke with Olivier Armant from the Ecology and Ecotoxicology of Radionuclides lab at the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR) and Mathieu Lihoreau, an ethologist at the Animal Cognition Research Center (CRCA) of the Toulouse Integrative Biology Center (CBI). Armant is investigating the ecological effects of ionizing rays, particularly on the wildlife and plant life in the contaminated Fukushima area in Japan. Lihoreau, on the other hand, is deeply interested in bee intelligence and the factors that could impair it. The two researchers are now collaborating with Japan, using a system developed with the Toulouse-based startup BeeGuard (described below). This involves a concept of a connected hive that allows for real-time monitoring of the biological activity of certain bee species in a radioactive environment. For the scientists, these studies could shed light on bees’ learning and memory capacities and could also be valuable in ecotoxicolog The scientists believe that radioactive residues present in nectar could impair bees’ cognitive abilities. For instance, the insects might be unable to associate a reward with a color (or scent). Consequently, they might visit flowers of various species instead of focusing on one, thus failing to deliver the correct pollen to the appropriate plants. Over the long term, this could jeopardize the survival of the colonies and, more broadly, the pollination service crucial to the balance of ecosystems. While this remains a hypothesis, similar conclusions exist concerning certain pesticide-laden areas. After several tests in the Toulouse region, the connected hive was deployed in Fukushima’s contaminated zone as part of two field operations in 2023 and 2024. The sites were selected based on the soil contamination levels with cesium 137, and local hornets were also included in the cognition study. In the hive, there’s a Y-shaped maze with two paths lit by LEDs of different colors. However, only one of the colors leads to a reward, namely sweet water. According to experts, a healthy bee needs about ten attempts to find the correct path. Finally, while the study’s results have not yet been published in a scientific journal, the two French researchers are already concerned. Indeed, they have reported a decline in cognitive performance in Fukushima’s contaminated zone. However, although correlations exist, there’s currently no proof of a causal link involving radioactive contamination. Moreover, since the area is now uninhabited, this decline in cognition cannot be attributed to the presence of pesticides.
Chinese Nationals Caught Smuggling "Agroterrorism" Fungus Into America's Breadbasket In a plot that reads like a Tom Clancy novel crossed with a dystopian agribusiness nightmare, two Chinese nationals, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, have been slapped with federal charges for allegedly smuggling a biological ticking time bomb into the U.S. The weapon? Fusarium graminearum, a fungus dubbed a "potential agroterrorism weapon" by scientific literature, capable of wreaking havoc on America's wheat, barley, maize, and rice crops while poisoning humans and livestock with its toxic byproducts. The stage? Detroit Metropolitan Airport, where Liu's clumsy attempt to sneak the pathogen past Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers unraveled faster than a cheap yuan store sweater. The Department of Justice dropped the hammer on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, charging Jian and Liu with conspiracy, smuggling, false statements, and visa fraud. Jian, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Michigan's Molecular Plant-Microbe Interaction Laboratory, and her boyfriend Liu, a researcher at Zhejiang University in China, allegedly conspired to bring this crop-killing fungus to a U.S. lab for "research." But let's cut through the academic veneer: Fusarium graminearum isn't your garden-variety mold. It causes "head blight," a disease that can devastate staple crops, costing global agriculture billions annually. Worse, its toxins induce vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive issues in humans and animals. In the wrong hands, it's a bioweapon straight out of a Pentagon threat assessment.
Louisiana passes bill to ban 'chemtrails' - A bill that would ban "chemtrails" has passed in the Louisiana state House of Representatives, clearing the way for it to go to the state Senate. Republican state Representative Kimberly Landy Coates defended the bill, which passed 58 votes to 32. The existence of chemtrails is a conspiracy theory which claims that the government or another secretive organization is using commercial or military aircraft to release chemicals or metals into the atmosphere, visible in the white lines aircraft leave behind in the sky. People have claimed these are used for a range of things from weather modification to mind control. The scientific consensus, as explained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is that the white lines observed behind aircraft are contrails — condensation trails — which form when hot exhaust from jets meets cold, humid air at high altitudes. The EPA states these are a natural result of flight and pose no risk to weather patterns. Federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), have publicly denied undertaking or planning any weather modification experiments such as those described by chemtrail advocates. Despite this, some lawmakers in different states have advanced legislation about so-called chemtrails and health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. has spoken about them.
Record Sargassum influx inundates Caribbean shores, impacting tourism and ecosystems – (2 videos) Sargassum levels in the Atlantic basin hit a record 37.5 million metric tons in May 2025, the most recorded since monitoring began. The sharp increase has inundated coastlines, affected tourism, and raised health concerns across parts of the Caribbean. This brown algae blocks sunlight to coral reefs, smothers seagrass beds, and releases a foul odor and harmful gases. In Martinique, gases containing hydrogen sulfide and ammonia led to the temporary closure of a school. The Sargassum mass grew from 31 million metric tons (34.2 million short tons) in April to 37.5 million metric tons (41.3 million short tons) in May 2025, an increase of nearly 21 percent. Every monitored area except the Gulf of America saw seaweed levels surpass previous records. Most of the Sargassum is concentrated in the western tropical Atlantic, near where the Amazon River flows into the ocean. While the exact cause of the increase is unclear, factors such as nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff, rising water temperatures, and shifts in wind, currents, and rainfall may contribute. Large mats of Sargassum support an important habitat for marine animals, such as shrimp and sea turtles, in open ocean waters. However, when the seaweed drifts toward the coast, it blocks sunlight that coral reefs rely on. If it sinks, it can smother reefs and seagrass beds. When it washes ashore, the marine life within it either dies or is consumed by birds.
Rising hydrogen sulfide emissions threaten communities around the Salton Sea, California - The Salton Sea in California has been shrinking steadily since 2003, leading to a rise in toxic hydrogen sulfide gas emissions. A recent study found that these emissions frequently exceed safety limits, especially in communities along the lake’s shoreline, putting residents’ health at increasing risk. California’s largest lake, the Salton Sea, is drying up, and it’s bringing a surge in hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissions that are affecting the health of surrounding communities. A new study links the lake’s worsening water quality to the release of this toxic gas, deepening the environmental challenges of the region. Situated in the Colorado Desert, the lake has turned hypersaline and hypereutrophic after decades of agricultural runoff and shrinking freshwater inflows. Its water levels have been dropping by about 0.2 m (7.87 inches) a year since 2003, concentrating pollutants and uncovering stretches of dry lakebed (playa) that release dust and noxious gases into the air. Researchers analyzed long-term datasets from multiple monitoring programs, including the original water quality records from the Bureau of Reclamation and air quality data from the South Coast Air Quality Management District. They found that H2S levels frequently exceed state standards, particularly during the summer months when water column stratification leads to anoxic conditions in the lake’s bottom layers. This environment allows sulfate-reducing bacteria to thrive, producing hydrogen sulfide that can be released to the atmosphere during mixing events. Wind patterns have a major influence on where hydrogen sulfide travels. When the wind blows from the southeast, communities northwest of the Salton Sea are more likely to be exposed to higher levels of the gas. One of the study’s key findings is the gap between where emissions occur and where they’re detected. Standard land-based monitors often miss spikes in hydrogen sulfide that are picked up by sensors placed over shallow water. In some cases, these water-based sensors recorded much higher levels than those on shore during the same time. The study shows that current monitoring likely falls short of capturing the full scale of hydrogen sulfide exposure. In a two-month stretch in 2024, a community-run sensor logged more than 170 hours of readings above the safety limit, while the closest state-operated monitor registered only four.
Two hospitalized as lightning strikes 14 people in Mustang Park, Texas - Lightning struck a group of people at Mustang Park on Lake Benbrook, North Texas, on Sunday evening, June 1, according to the Cresson Fire Department. At least 14 people were struck by lightning just before 18:30 local time (LT) on Sunday. Two of the victims were hospitalized, while the others were treated at the scene. Ad ends in 25 Lightning struck the region as thunderstorms moved through, with the National Weather Service (NWS) issuing a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the area at around 18:55 LT on Sunday. A tree and a vehicle were also damaged by the lightning. - Storms continued moving across the state through Monday, June 2, with apple-sized hail reported in some areas on Monday night. On Tuesday, storm activity is expected to increase through the afternoon into the night. The storms are forecast to subside overnight, with some lingering showers on Wednesday morning before intensifying again in the afternoon. Large hail is expected to be the main threat during this period.
Dust storm causes fatal multi-vehicle crashes on US 395 near Connell, Washington - A dust storm with near-zero visibility contributed to two crashes on US 395 near Connell, Washington, on May 31, 2025, resulting in one death and five injuries, according to the Washington State Patrol. The first crash was reported at 16:18 local time (LT) and involved two northbound vehicles at milepost 60. Troopers stated that a 2020 Kia Optima driven by a 64-year-old man from Pasco struck the rear of a 1992 Freightliner truck that was slowing for traffic. The cause of the collision was listed as driving too fast during low visibility amid a dust storm. The driver of the Kia was injured, and his vehicle was destroyed. He was transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. The 53-year-old truck driver from Sandpoint, Idaho, was reported uninjured. Just over two hours later, at 18:29 LT, a multi-vehicle chain-reaction crash occurred at the same location. Investigators reported that six northbound vehicles were involved, including three trucks and three passenger vehicles. The initial impact occurred when one vehicle struck another, triggering a series of rear-end collisions. A 29-year-old man from Spokane was pronounced dead at the scene following the crash. Four others were injured, including an 83-year-old woman from Spokane who was transported to Kadlec Regional Medical Center. Three additional individuals sustained minor injuries but were not hospitalized. Northbound US 395 was fully closed following the crashes. Both incidents were attributed to excessive speed during a dust storm with limited visibility.The dust storm was visible on the road from several miles away, according to a comment by Malena Grail on a post by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. She said the dust storm looked like a brush fire from a distance. Another eyewitness described her experience of narrowly escaping the crash. “We almost crashed right into it. Visibility was zero. I slowed down because all of a sudden it was dark, and I saw a car on the side of the road. Then bam—right in front of me, cars and trucks were on fire. I was just a few feet away by the time I stopped,”
Over 1 500 seek medical help as dust storm hits Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran - A powerful dust storm swept through Sistan and Baluchestan on June 1, 2025, causing over 1 500 people to seek medical help and prompting the closure of government offices and major roads. Victims reported breathing difficulties, heart problems, eye irritation, and other injuries. Most cases were reported in the cities of Zabol, Zahak, Hamoon, Hirmand, and Nimroz. An Orange alert was issued for the affected regions and is expected to remain in place until June 3. According to Hossein Shahdadi, head of Zabol University of Medical Sciences, around 1 380 people were treated without needing to be admitted, while 164 required hospitalization. The low visibility from the dust storm caused two multi-vehicle crashes, Shahbadi added. At least 36 people suffered minor injuries, while 10 others were hospitalized. In Zabol, the storm reached wind speeds of 97 km/h (60 mph), with visibility dropping to around 1 200 meters (0.75 miles) due to blowing dust. All government offices across the Sistan region were shut through June 1 by the Sistan and Baluchestan Governorate due to the storm. However, health, medical, and emergency services will remain operational during this period. Northern Sistan and Baluchestan traffic authorities have shut down major routes, including the Dashtak–Zabol road, as sandstorms made driving conditions hazardous.
Intense supercell produces multiple tornadoes and flooding west of Lubbock, Texas - with YouTube videos - A powerful supercell thunderstorm produced multiple tornadoes across eastern New Mexico and West Texas on June 5, 2025, prompting tornado warnings and emergency alerts for Lubbock County and Texas Tech University. While the tornadoes passed west and northwest of the city, the storm caused significant flooding, power outages, and property damage in the Lubbock area. One injury was reported in Hockley County. A supercell thunderstorm travelled over 130 km (80 miles) from eastern New Mexico, producing multiple tornadoes as it approached Lubbock County on June 5. The storm, which formed near Causey, New Mexico, maintained its intensity, prompting the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue tornado warnings, including a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” warning, for Lubbock and Texas Tech University as the system neared the metropolitan area with over 250 000 residents. Texas Tech University activated emergency protocols as the supercell closed in. University officials instructed students to seek shelter and avoid windows to ensure safety. The rapid response aimed to protect the campus community from the approaching tornado threat. The supercell produced a significant tornado west of Lubbock, observed near Reese Center, and north of Morton. The tornado evolved from a rope-like to a wedge-shaped vortex, with its path primarily affecting rural areas in western Lubbock County and Hockley County, limiting direct structural damage within the City of Lubbock. YouTube video As the storm reached Lubbock, it became rain-wrapped, complicating efforts to track the tornado’s exact location. The combination of heavy rainfall, hail, and winds exceeding 130 km/h (80 mph) created hazardous conditions. Flash flooding turned roads into streams, prompting warnings about dangerous driving conditions. Emergency response teams worked through the night, conducting search and rescue operations. Crews assisted stranded motorists and searched for potential storm victims across Lubbock. Despite the storm’s intensity, only one injury was reported by evening. YouTube video Significant property damage occurred across Lubbock, with structures impacted by both the tornado and straight-line winds. Thousands of residents lost power due to downed lines, disrupting daily activities. Utility crews were deployed to restore electricity in the affected areas. Lubbock County experienced twin tornadoes, marking the start of the severe weather outbreak on June 4. NWS confirmed at least one touchdown, with radar showing strong rotational signatures. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Watches on June 5, covering the Southern Plains. Favorable atmospheric conditions, including instability and wind shear, supported the supercell’s persistence. Forecast models indicated ongoing risks for severe weather in the region.
Interior official: States must reach Colorado River deal or face federal action -— A top Interior Department official said Friday that he expects the seven states that share the Colorado Basin to strike agreement on a new long-term management plan by next spring, but raised the threat of federal intervention if those negotiations fail.Scott Cameron, a senior adviser to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, said that a final plan to govern the drought-ravaged waterway and expected shortages will be unveiled by spring 2026.“We are hopefully confident,” said Cameron, who also serves as acting assistant secretary for water and science, in remarks to the 45th Annual Colorado Law Conference on Natural Resources at the University of Colorado. “But it’s not a done deal until it’s a done deal,”Cameron also said: “Make no mistake, the time for action is now. We do not have a lot of time to waste, people. The primary responsibility lies with the states.”
Allegheny National Forest will increase logging by millions of board feet - The Allegheny National Forest is set to ramp up logging by more than 10% this year as part of a push from President Donald Trump to boost domestic lumber supplies. The move has sparked fierce debate between environmentalists and pro-logging groups who disagree on cutting trees to reduce wildfire risks or improve forest health — two reasons cited in new federal guidance. In the coming fiscal year, the state’s only national forest is set to sell 45 million board feet, an over 12% increase from this fiscal year, said Alisen Downs, public affairs specialist for the Allegheny National Forest. The federal government’s fiscal year begins Oct. 1.It’s the first step in reaching the national 25% increase called for in a memo sent to regional foresters and deputy chiefs, which required the creation of five-year regional strategies. Allegheny National Forest has proposed a five-year plan starting next fiscal year, Downs said.“I think a slow and steady progress toward that increase is probably the best approach,” said Julia McCray, executive director of the Allegheny Forest Alliance, which includes local officials and people from the timber industry.“Making sure that everything is well planned out and that it is accomplished efficiently [and] successfully is going to take a more planned approach,” she added.While next year’s logging will be an increase from the over 39 million board feet sold for harvest in 2023-24 and the 40 million planned for this year, it’s not an historic high. In 2020-21, almost 50 million board feet were harvested. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a spending bill that would require the Forest Service to increase the average amount harvested between fiscal years 2020 and 2024 by 25%, so long as it’s in line with forest plans, which are blueprints created by the Forest Service guiding how the lands are managed.For Allegheny National Forest, that’s capped at an annual harvest of 54.1 million board feet, as defined by its ongoing 2007 forest management plan.
Wildfires in Canada force over 25 000 to evacuate as smoke spreads over much of the United States - (videos) Over 25 000 residents across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta have been evacuated due to dozens of out-of-control wildfires. Smoke from the fires is affecting air quality across much of the central and eastern United States, including the Midwest, Great Lakes, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions, prompting health advisories and air quality alerts in multiple states. Satellite image showing smoke from Canadian wildfires covering much of the United States on June 1, 2025. As of June 1, 17 000 residents of Manitoba have been evacuated due to 22 active wildfires burning across the province. The city of Flin Flon, located 644 km (400 miles) northwest of Winnipeg, accounts for over 5 000 evacuees, with officials concerned about potential wind shifts pushing fires toward the town. Manitoba declared a state of emergency on May 29, marking the largest evacuation in recent history. Two fatalities were reported in a small community affected by the fires. In Saskatchewan, around 8 000 people have been displaced, with Premier Scott Moe warning that this number could rise to 10 000. The community of Pelican Narrows saw 4 000 residents evacuated, while Sturgeon Landing and other northern First Nations communities also faced mandatory evacuation orders. Hot, dry weather continues to fuel fire growth, straining firefighting resources. The province declared a state of emergency to mobilize support for affected areas. Alberta reports 1 300 evacuees from Swan Hills, northwest of Edmonton. In Manitoba, the Pimicikamak Cree Nation saw intensified evacuations on May 31, with five flights transporting residents to Winnipeg. Chief David Monias reported that the wildfire crossed a main road, leaving the area filled with smoke and ash. Evacuation centers have been opened across the province, including in Winkler, 19 km (12 miles) from the United States border. Winnipeg’s public buildings are accommodating evacuees due to full hotels. Saskatchewan’s firefighting efforts include 220 level-three firefighters and 410 Indigenous firefighters from northern First Nations. Water bombers from Yukon, Quebec, Alaska, and Oregon are supporting aerial suppression operations. The fire near Flin Flon, which began in Creighton, Saskatchewan, on May 27, has crossed into Manitoba, complicating containment efforts. Heavy smoke and a drone incursion have intermittently grounded water bombers. Indigenous communities, particularly in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, face significant challenges due to limited transportation infrastructure. The Canadian Armed Forces are assisting with evacuations in remote areas, with federal support approved on May 29, for Manitoba’s Pimicikamak and Mathias Colomb Cree Nations. YouTube video Manitoba’s Indigenous leaders report that hotel rooms in receiving cities are full, with evacuees sleeping in hallways or on floors. Grand Chief Kyra Wilson called for prioritizing evacuee accommodations. The total area burned in Manitoba and Saskatchewan exceeds 688 000 ha (1.7 million acres), with Manitoba reporting 171 718 ha burned against a ten-year average of 51 763 ha (127 909 acres). Saskatchewan has seen 206 wildfires in 2025, compared to a five-year average of 125. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre raised the national preparedness level to 5 on May 29, indicating extreme wildfire activity. A total of 1 267 active fires are burning across Canada, with 96 classified as out of control. The United States has deployed an air tanker and 150 firefighters to Alberta to assist.
Canadian wildfire smoke causes ‘very unhealthy’ conditions in U.S. Midwest, even reaches Europe (AP) — Smoke from Canadian wildfires carried another day of poor air quality south of the border to the Midwest, where conditions in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan were rated “very unhealthy” Tuesday. The fires have forced more than 27,000 Canadians in three provinces to flee their homes, and the smoke has even reached Europe. The smell of smoke hung over the Minneapolis-St. Paul area on Tuesday morning despite rain that obscured the full measure of the dirty air. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an alert for almost the entire state into Wednesday, but the Twin Cities area got the worst of it in the Midwest on Tuesday. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources warned that air quality in a band from the state’s southwest corner to the northeast could fall into the unhealthy category through Thursday morning. The agency recommended that people, especially those with heart and lung disease, avoid long or intense activities and to take extra breaks while doing strenuous actions outdoors. Smoky conditions that have reached the U.S. periodically in recent weeks extended as far east Tuesday as Michigan, west into the Dakotas and Nebraska, and as far to the southeast as Georgia. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow map showed a swath of red for “unhealthy” conditions across the eastern half Minnesota into western Wisconsin and northern Iowa. The map also showed purple for “very unhealthy” across much of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, where the Air Quality Index numbers of 250 and were common, though conditions started to improve slightly by late morning. The Air Quality Index — AQI — measures how clean or polluted the air is, focusing on health effects that might be experienced within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. It is based on ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Particulates are the main issue from the fires The index ranges from green, where the air quality is satisfactory and air pollution poses little or no risk, to maroon, which is considered hazardous. That level comes with health warnings of emergency conditions where everyone is more likely to be affected, according to AirNow. While Minnesota officials warned on Monday that conditions in the northwest part of the state could reach the maroon category on Tuesday, conditions there were generally yellow, or moderate. There were a few scattered locations in the Twin Cities area that temporarily hit maroon on Tuesday morning. But by midday Tuesday, most of the remaining maroon spots in the region were on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Canada is having another bad wildfire season, and more than 27,000 people in three provinces have been forced to evacuate. Most of the smoke reaching the American Midwest has been coming from fires northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg in Manitoba. Winnipeg hotels opened Monday to evacuees. More than 17,000 Manitoba residents have been displaced since last week, including 5,000 residents of the community of Flin Flon, nearly 400 miles (645 kilometers) northwest of Winnipeg. In neighboring Saskatchewan, 2,500 residents of the town of La Ronge were ordered to flee Monday, on top of more than 8,000 in the province who had been evacuated earlier. In Saskatoon, where the premiers of Canada’s provinces and the country’s prime minister met Monday, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said all of Canada has come together to help the Prairie provinces. Two people were killed by a wildfire in mid-May in Lac du Bonnet, northeast of Winnipeg. Canada’s wildfires are so large and intense that the smoke is even reaching Europe, where it is causing hazy skies but isn’t expected to affect surface-air quality, according the European climate service Copernicus. The first high-altitude plume reached Greece and the eastern Mediterranean just over two weeks ago, with a much larger plume crossing the Atlantic within the past week and more expected in coming days, according to Copernicus. “That’s really an indicator of how intense these fires are, that they can deliver smoke,” high enough that they can be carried so far on jet streams, said Mark Parrington, senior scientist at the service. The fires also are putting out significant levels of carbon pollution — an estimated 56 megatonnes through Monday, second only to 2023, according to Copernicus.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires reaches Europe - (animation) Multiple wildfires erupted in Canada throughout May 2025, affecting the provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. Fire activity intensified in the latter half of the month, resulting in the formation of Pyrocumulonimbus clouds (pyroCb) over the affected areas. Multiple satellites confirmed that smoke from the Canadian wildfires began crossing the Atlantic by mid-May, reaching the Mediterranean by May 18. By May 19, smoke plumes were reported over Greece and the eastern Mediterranean. Observations by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) showed the plume most clearly at an altitude of 9 000 m (29 528 feet). A second, significantly larger smoke plume was observed crossing North America and moving into the Atlantic during the last week of May. CAMS analyses of total aerosol optical depth showed the long-range plume transport reaching northwestern parts of Europe on June 1. Part of the plume crossed the Azores before recirculating around the North Atlantic. Additional smoke plumes are forecast to reach Europe during the first week of June.
Canadian wildfire smoke continues to worsen air quality in several US states Smoke from raging wildfires in Canada continues to bring potentially dangerous air quality conditions to parts of the northern United States, with hazy skies in the East. As of Thursday, there are 200 active wildfires burning in Canada, with 103 of these considered to be "out of control," meaning fires that are being observed and assessed, but not immediately suppressed, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. The smoke from the flames will create potentially dangerous air quality conditions from Nebraska to Michigan on Thursday, including the cities of Chicago; Milwaukee; Omaha, Nebraska; and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Among the major cities in the world, Chicago has the second-worst air quality on Thursday. While the general public will not be impacted, sensitive groups -- those who have asthma, are pregnant and the elderly -- may be at risk and should avoid time outdoors while these alerts are in place. Haze over the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic will be visible on Thursday and Friday, but will only be visible when there is a break in the clouds due to incoming showers. A "milky" sky is expected through the end of the week in these areas, especially in the Northeast. As of Thursday, the areas of Canada with the most fires include British Columbia with 67 and Alberta with 50, according to the CIFFC. Last week, the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba declared state of emergencies due to the fires, with around 17,000 residents already evacuated, according to The Associated Press. The combination of dry conditions and "little-to-no precipitation" will continue to feed the flames and make it difficult for officials to manage the fires, Saskatchewan Public Safety said on Sunday. In regard to the ferocity and speed of these fires, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said on Wednesday he had "never seen anything like it." Moe said these flames are "encroaching" on communities, with several buildings in the town of La Ronge burning down on Tuesday and Wednesday. During a press conference on Monday, Saskatchewan Public Safety discouraged any nonessential travel due to the significant fire activity. Aircraft and dozens of personnel from other Canadian provinces and the United States -- including Arizona, Oregon and Alaska -- are being sent to help fight the wildfires, Moe said. Moe said last week there has been a "significant lack of moisture" in the northern parts of the province, causing "over 200 wildfires" in Saskatchewan this spring.
Maps show how far smoke from Canadian wildfires has spread - The Washington Post -Smoke from hundreds of wildfires in Canada has spread over 5,000 miles across the Atlantic over the last week — reaching as far as parts of Russia. Western Greenland and the Arctic Archipelago have also experienced smoky skies — over 1,500 miles away from fires in Manitoba. Long-range transport of smoke has also been affecting the color of sunrises and sunsets in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Another smoke plume is forecast to arrive in the same region from this weekend into early next week, also affecting France and Germany. “The fact that we are able to observe the smoke in Europe, is a reflection of the scale of the fires and impacts they have been having in Manitoba and Saskatchewan,” wrote the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). In the United States and Canada, moderate-to-high smoke concentrations will continue in some areas, bringing poor air quality to parts of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin, as well as Ontario and Quebec, Canada, on Friday. Across Canada, fires have burned more than 6 million acres so far this year, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center, burning mostly in forested areas. Separate fires in eastern Russia have recently caused smoke to fill the skies in parts of China, northern Japan and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. Where smoke will be through the weekend Air quality alerts due to wildfire smoke were in effect for several areas early Friday, including northern Minnesota, eastern Nebraska, northeastern Illinois, eastern Wisconsin, parts of Michigan and northern Indiana. Unhealthy air quality was reported in some of these areas Friday morning, spanning from near Chicago to Detroit in the United States, to Windsor, Toronto, Belleville and Ottawa in Canada.
Hazy sky to persist as Canadian wildfire smoke and Saharan dust invade US --The haze is here to stay. Rounds of smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires, as well as dust blowing off Sub-Saharan Africa, will continue to envelop portions of the United States into the summer, say AccuWeather meteorologists.Recent rounds of smoke blowing across the northern and eastern U.S. over the last week resulted in a hazy sky, poor air quality and vibrant sunrises and sunsets. While the smoke has mostly retreated back into Canada as of late this week, additional episodes are expected through the summer, with the first expected early next week.Meanwhile, the Saharan dust will result in similar effects in the South, mostly in Florida and areas surrounding the Gulf and southwestern Atlantic. A recent round of dust blowing off of Africa will also have the effect of putting a temporary lid on potential tropical development.Wildfires burning in western Canada have produced smoke that, carried by steering winds, has reached the eastern U.S., raising growing concerns about poor air quality.The 2025 Canadian wildfire season is off to a quick start, and the result has been plumes of thick smoke pouring into the U.S. since May. Because of how Canada manages these fires, mostly burning unabated in unpopulated areas, the smoke will continue to flow south in cycles through the summer, warn AccuWeather meteorologists.According to data released by the Canadian government earlier this week, over 1,700 fires have burned so far in the country. While this number is not unusual, the size of the fires has been, covering an area that's over 360 percent of the historical average for this time of year, mostly in the prairies of central Canada.From last week into early this week, plumes of smoke dimmed the sky and led to poor air quality in Midwestern locales before heading south and east. That smoke has now mostly retreated or dissipated from the lower 48 states."Pockets of smoke and haze are expected to hover over portions of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes this weekend," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. "However, the density and overall aerial coverage of the smoke will continue to decrease."Multiple storms moving across the Midwest and East—in association with clouds, rain and changes in the wind direction—have led, and will continue to lead, to the dissipation of smoke in many areas. However, this break from the smoky conditions will be fleeting."Between Sunday and Monday, a cold front diving out of Canada is expected to bring a resurgence of smoky skies," said Buckingham. "This will likely target many of the same areas that experienced smoky skies this past week, especially across the northern Plains and Midwest."
Cities Most at Risk for Rise in Heart Attacks as Canadian Wildfires Burn - Some residents of several major cities in the Midwest could face an increased risk of heart attack and stroke as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to descend into the United States this week. "Exposure to particulate matter air pollution causes inflammation in the lungs. This can manifest as worsening of respiratory symptoms, particularly in people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease," Dr. Scott Budinger, the chief of pulmonary and critical care in the Department of Medicine at Northwestern University, told Newsweek. "[E]ven more importantly, exposure to particulate matter air pollution acutely increases the risk of heart attacks or strokes," he added. The widespread drift of wildfire smoke from Canada into U.S. metropolitan areas carries significant public health implications. Medical research has documented an association between exposure to fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) and acute increases in heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events. Vulnerable groups, particularly people living with coronary artery disease, histories of heart attacks or strokes, and chronic respiratory illness, are at elevated risk. With urban centers housing millions, the threat is not only environmental but medical, affecting emergency room capacities and potentially increasing mortality rates. Previous wildfire smoke events, such as those seen in 2023, have already demonstrated the potential for widespread air quality degradation and related health emergencies across city populations. Smoke from Canadian wildfires has degraded air quality across the Upper Midwest for over a week. The smoke has even reached the U.S. Gulf Coast, where it had less of an impact on physical health. At least eight states were under air quality alerts on Thursday morning, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) AirNow map showing the current Air Quality Index as "unhealthy" in areas such as Chicago, Illinois, and Lansing and Grand Rapids, Michigan. This AQI is unhealthy for everyone to breathe. The less severe but still impactful Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups AQI was much more widespread, stretching across parts of Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and into the Northeast, including Maine and New York. Wildfire smoke contains high concentrations of PM2.5—fine particulate matter that can enter the lungs and bloodstream. Exposure is linked to worsening symptoms in those with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but acute cardiovascular risks, including heart attacks and strokes, may be even more pronounced. City populations face greater danger when air pollution is trapped near the surface during stagnant weather conditions. In some instances, people were asked to monitor themselves for symptoms such as coughing during the poor air quality event. If coughs persist for more than seven days or are accompanied by shortness of breath, people should visit their doctor or seek more urgent care if necessary. People are urged to remain indoors and keep their windows closed to prevent exposure.
Flash floods kill over 150 in Mokwa, Nigeria - Flash floods triggered by torrential rains and a dam collapse struck Mokwa, Niger State, central Nigeria, from May 28 to 29, 2025, reportedly killing at least 150 people and displacing over 3 000. The event caused widespread destruction in the commercial hub, with rescue operations ongoing and the death toll expected to rise, according to state emergency officials. Torrential rains in Mokwa began late on May 28 and continued into May 29, triggering severe flooding. The Niger River overflowed due to a dam collapse, inundating residential areas. The flooding was reported to be the worst in 60 years, impacting the Miffin and Angwan Haus districts. The death toll increased from 110–115 on May 30 to 150 by May 31, with bodies still being recovered downstream, and from collapsed buildings. More than 50 children from a school remain missing. A family of 12 has only four members accounted for. Ad ends in 9 More than 3 000 people were displaced, with 265 houses completely destroyed and 500 households affected. Two major bridges collapsed, disrupting transportation and rescue operations. Local media reported that at least 5 000 people have been left homeless in the region. More than 10 000 ha (24 710 acres) of rice fields and crops were destroyed, affecting regional food supply chains. Mokwa, a key commercial hub for agricultural trade, is facing significant economic losses. Traders from southern Nigeria rely on Mokwa for beans, onions, and other produce. The destruction is affecting livelihoods across Niger and Kwara States, with damages estimated in the billions. On May 29, President Bola Tinubu activated the National Emergency Response Centre and deployed federal agencies. Relief materials and temporary shelters were provided. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) described the flood as one of the worst in the century. Rescue operations involve police, military, and emergency personnel, with 78 people hospitalized, according to Red Cross chief Gideon Adamu. The Niger State Emergency Management Agency is leading the response but faces challenges in reaching inaccessible areas. Operations are ongoing as floodwaters remain in some locations.
Remnants of Cyclone Alvin cause widespread flooding across the State of Mexico -(videos) Remnants of Cyclone Alvin brought heavy rainfall to the State of Mexico on May 31, 2025, flooding streets in Cuautitlán Izcalli, Toluca, and other cities. The storm caused significant traffic disruptions, property damage, and overwhelmed local drainage systems. Heavy rainfall associated with the remnants of Cyclone Alvin caused flooding in multiple areas of the State of Mexico on May 31. Affected municipalities included Chalco, Ecatepec, Cuautitlán Izcalli, Coacalco, and Toluca. Los Reyes La Paz reported severe waterlogging in several neighborhoods, with streets and major roads inundated. Floodwaters, mixed with debris, inundated the Mexico-Puebla federal highway near the La Paz Metro station and the seafood overpass, leaving multiple vehicles stranded. Similar flooding was reported on the highway connecting Tultitlán with Cuautitlán and along the Mexico-Toluca highway. Ad ends in 9 In Central de Abasto, Toluca, floodwaters exceeded 0.5 m (1.6 feet) in depth. At least two vehicles were submerged, and numerous businesses reported property and goods damage.
Over 70 dead as highest pre-monsoon rains in 125 years hit Karnataka, India - (videos) Karnataka saw the highest pre-monsoon rainfall in 125 years during May 2025, with 219 mm (8.62 inches) of rain–nearly three times the monthly average–causing widespread damage and the loss of 71 lives, according to the state government. In a statement issued on Saturday, the CMO said the total rainfall from March 1 to May 31–considered the pre-monsoon period–was 286 mm (11.26 inches), which is 149% higher than the seasonal average of 115 mm (4.53 inches). The heavy rainfall has taken a significant toll on lives and property across the state. At least 71 people have lost their lives due to rain-related incidents since April. 48 deaths were caused by lightning, nine by falling trees, five due to house collapses, four by drowning, four in landslides, and one due to electrocution. Emergency compensation of INR 500 000 (approximately USD 5 840) has been disbursed to the families of the deceased. The rainfall also caused widespread damage to housing and agriculture. A total of 2 068 houses were affected, with compensation already provided for 1 926 cases, including 75 fully damaged and 1 851 partially damaged homes. In addition, 702 animals perished due to the extreme weather; compensation has been issued in 698 cases so far. Over 15 000 ha (37 066 acres) of crops have been damaged. This includes approximately 12 000 ha (29 650 acres) of agricultural crops and 3 500 ha (8 650 acres) of horticultural crops. Five teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been stationed in the state. Four of whom have been deployed to Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada districts. A fifth team is stationed in Bengaluru. Additionally, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire services, and other emergency teams remain on standby.
Floods and landslides kill over 30 in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Meghalaya - (videos) At least 30 people have lost their lives across northeast India due to heavy rainfall and flash floods between Friday and Sunday, May 30 and June 1, 2025, according to official reports. The fatalities have been reported in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Meghalaya. Arunachal Pradesh recorded the highest number of casualties, with nine deaths, followed by six in Meghalaya and five each in Mizoram and Assam. One fatality was reported in both Tripura, Sikkim and Nagaland. Authorities have yet to release details regarding the remaining two deaths. The death toll is preliminary and expected to rise as the situation continues to unfold. Some reports already indicate higher tolls of up to 35. next stay In Arunachal Pradesh, a massive landslide triggered by incessant rains killed seven people — including two women and two children — on National Highway 13 in the East Kameng district on Saturday, May 31. More than 60 000 people have been affected, and over 10 000 are already displaced. Assam has also been severely affected. Continuous rainfall has led to deadly landslides in the Kamrup Metropolitan district, claiming five lives between Saturday and Sunda. Three women were killed in the Bonda area near Guwahati, confirmed Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has been coordinating relief and rescue efforts in the region. One person was killed, two injured, and eight others went missing when a vehicle in which 11 tourists were travelling plunged into the Teesta river in Mangan district, Sikkim, on Thursday night, May 29. The vehicle plunged more than 305 m (1 000 feet) into the river near Munsithang along the Lachen-Lachung highway. Nearly 1 500 tourists were stranded in various parts of north Sikkim on Saturday as the main road was blocked due to landslides triggered by incessant rains, officials said. Mangan’s SP Sonam Detchu Bhutia said 115 tourists are stranded in Lachen and 1 350 tourists in Lachung. Multiple roads have been damaged or destroyed, including National Highway 17, isolating villages in the region and hampering rescue efforts. Authorities are on high alert as rescue and relief operations continue across 12 affected districts in Assam. The region is experiencing record-breaking rainfall — Guwahati recorded 111 mm (4.37 inches) of rain, the highest in a single day in 67 years, causing rivers like the Brahmaputra to swell. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange alerts for parts of Assam, and orange and yellow alerts for other northeastern states, including Meghalaya, Manipur, and Mizoram.
Severe weather outbreak brings giant hail, flash floods, and rare June blizzards to Europe - A Level 3 severe weather outbreak is sweeping across Europe with destructive hail, damaging winds, flash floods, and potential tornadoes impacting multiple countries on June 4, 2025. Iceland’s northern fjords, including Þverárfjall and Eyjafjörður, saw an unseasonal snowstorm with hurricane-force winds, creating blizzard conditions on Tuesday, June 3. The Icelandic Meteorological Office reported heavy snow and near-zero visibility, with mountain passes like Fljót drifting over. The National Commissioner of Police declared a public safety uncertainty phase, closing roads and stranding thousands as airlines and ferries cancelled departures. According to forecaster Birgir Höskuldsson, heavy snowfall at low elevations is forecast to persist through June 4. In L’Hôpital-le-Grand, along the Loire River’s western bank in France, a supercell storm struck on June 3, producing hailstones 5–6 cm (2–2.3 inches) in diameter. Residents described an “enfer blanc” (white hell) as hail piled up like a winter blanket, damaging vehicles, shattering windshields, and covering a horticultural greenhouse. Tiles were torn from roofs, and more severe storms are expected with heavy rain and 80 km/h (50 mph) winds in eastern France on June 4. Parents sheltered children indoors as transport and power services were disrupted. Northeastern Slovenia’s Goričko region, known as Europe’s ‘hail alley,’ was hit by a supercell thunderstorm on June 3, with hailstones larger than tennis balls (6–7 cm) striking Lucova, Šulinci, and Gornji Petrovci. ARSO reported nearly every roof damaged, with skylights at a school shattered and crops flattened. Village officials used backhoes to clear hail, while a mayor requested aid to protect orchards. Fallen trees and burst drains overwhelmed relief teams, with recovery expected to take days.
Iron from steel and coal manufacturing is changing the North Pacific ecosystem: Study Iron released from coal combustion and steel production is altering the ecosystem in a critical part of the North Pacific, a new study has found. About 39 percent of dissolved iron in the uppermost layer of the ocean is rooted in human industrial activity, according to the study, published on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Iron is essential for the growth of microscopic phytoplankton in the ocean, but industrial emissions contain aerosolized iron, which quickly dissolves in the ocean and disrupts nutrient balances, the authors noted. These airborne metals, they explained, can flow to distant lands or oceans before getting scrubbed from the atmosphere via rain. “This is an example of the large-scale impact that human pollution can have on marine ecosystems that are thousands of miles away from the source,” lead author Nick Hawco, an assistant professor in oceanography at the University of Hawaii Manoa, said in a statement. Hawco and his colleagues sampled oceanic water and phytoplankton samples across the North Pacific Transition Zone — an area just north of Hawaii — on four expeditions between 2016 and 2019. They also evaluated the properties of iron in these waters to identify whether the unique “signature” of industry-generated iron was present. The scientists observed that the phytoplankton in the region tend to be iron-deficient during the spring and that a surge in iron supply boosts their seasonal bloom. But that burst also causes these microscopic marine algae to deplete other nutrients more rapidly, which then leads to a crash later in the season, according to the study.
Videos show people fleeing as Mount Etna erupts, Italy - (videos) Footage captured on June 2, 2025, shows people fleeing as an eruption at Mount Etna’s Southeast Crater produces pyroclastic flow and an ash plume up to 6.5 km (21 325 feet). The eruption was preceded by a gradual increase in volcanic tremor amplitude beginning at 22:00 UTC on June 1, with high values recorded by 00:50 UTC. A sudden shift in monitored parameters occurred at 00:39 UTC, followed by visible Strombolian explosions at approximately 01:50 UTC. In response, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Etna Observatory (INGV-OE), progressively raised the Aviation Color Code, from Green to Yellow at 01:23 UTC, Orange at 02:02 UTC, and to Red from 03:32 to 06:39 UTC, citing increasing seismic amplitude and ongoing explosive activity. Satellite data initially detected no volcanic ash, but cloud observations indicated water vapor and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions drifting southwest. At 06:59 UTC, the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) reported a weak ash plume reaching 5.5 km (18 000 feet), moving at approximately 20 km/h (12 mph). By 09:18 UTC, plume altitude increased to 6.5 km (21 300 feet), prompting INGV-OE to raise the Aviation Color Code back to Red. At 09:24 UTC, surveillance imagery confirmed a pyroclastic flow on the northern flank of the Southeast Crater, likely generated by structural collapse. Preliminary analysis indicates the flow remained confined within the Valle del Leone. Simultaneously, explosive activity transitioned into sustained lava fountaining. Video footage recorded during the eruption shows individuals in the vicinity of Mount Etna reacting to the sudden pyroclastic flow. Some are seen walking or running away from the advancing ash cloud produced by the pyroclastic flow, while others pause to film or ascend to higher ground for a clearer view. The dense column of volcanic ash rises rapidly behind them, partially obscuring the summit area as it expands. There are no reports of casualties.
Powerful eruptions send giant boulders down the Fuego volcano, Guatemala - videos -Powerful eruptions at Guatemala’s Fuego Volcano sent massive pyroclastic flows and a huge boulder down its slopes, forcing evacuations of nearby villages on June 5, 2025. The flows traveled as far as 7 km (4.3 miles), carrying thick ash clouds and volcanic debris. Officials have warned of the deadly risks from heat and toxic gases from the eruption. Flows moved through the Las Lajas, Ceniza, and Seca ravines, traveling as far as 7 km (4.3 miles) from the crater, carrying dense ash clouds and volcanic debris with moderate to strong force. As a result of increased activity, local authorities evacuated nearby communities. YouTube video From May 27 through June 3, Fuego volcano maintained a steady state of eruption, with near-constant activity reported by the National Institute for Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH). The volcano produced regular explosions, approximately 3 to 7 per hour, generating gas-and-ash plumes rising up to 1.1 km (3 600 feet) above the crater. The plumes drifted as far as 30 km (18.6 miles) toward the northwest, west, and southwest. The volcano exhibited multiple explosions on June 4 following a period of increased activity that began on May 27. According to local agencies, between five and eight explosions were recorded, each accompanied by loud sounds lasting from 1 to 13 minutes. Gas and ash columns reached up to 4 800 m (15 750 feet) above sea level, drifting west and northwest. Overnight into the early hours of June 4, incandescent material was ejected up to 150 m (492 feet) above the crater.
Lahars, pyroclastic flows, and ash from Fuego eruption force evacuations, close schools - YouTube video - Increased volcanic activity at Fuego in Guatemala forced the evacuation of an estimated 700 people from several villages in Chimaltenango on June 5, 2025. Heavy rains worsened conditions by triggering lahars that blocked roads and hampered emergency efforts. Authorities have closed schools, shut down roads, and issued an orange alert. Increased activity at Fuego volcano on June 5 forced the evacuation of about 700 people from the villages of Panimaché I, Panimaché II, and Morelia, all located in the municipality of San Pedro Yepocapa, Chimaltenango. Heavy rains have intensified the flow of lahars, blocking important roads around the volcano and making evacuation/emergency access difficult. Classes have been called off at 43 schools across Chimaltenango, Escuintla, and Sacatepéquez as a safety measure ordered by the Ministry of Education. Authorities have also shut down National Route 14 as a precaution. Ongoing pyroclastic flows of varying strength continue to move down the ravines of the volcano, traveling as far as 7 km (4.3 miles). A lava flow of about 1.2 km (0.75 miles) moving from the crater into the Ceniza ravine, with glowing material clearly visible, has also been observed. Bursts of incandescent material were seen being ejected more than 300 m (984 feet) above the crater, accompanied by weak to moderate rumbling sounds lasting up to five minutes. Emergency crews, including Immediate Response Teams, Strategic Intervention units, departmental delegates, and field staff, were deployed to affected areas starting last night. A shelter has been set up at the Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa sports center in Escuintla to assist evacuees. A warning has been issued to the Civil Aviation Authority to take precautions with air traffic near the volcano, as ash could spread up to 50 km (31 miles) northwest, west and southwest at altitudes between 3 000 and 4 800 m (9 843 to 15 091 feet). The ash cloud may continue to grow depending on wind conditions and eruption intensity, hence pilots are urged to check upcoming ash dispersion forecasts.
Asteroid 2008 DG5 to fly past Earth at 9.1 lunar distances on June 5 - A large asteroid designated 2008 DG5 will fly past Earth at a distance of 9.1 LD (0.023 AU; 3.4 million km / 2.1 million miles) at 23:57 UTC on June 5, 2025. This will be its closest approach to Earth between 1956 and 2125. 2028 DG5 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids and has an estimated diameter between 300 and 700 m (984 to 2 297 feet). It was discovered at the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona on February 28, 2008. This object is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) due to its large size and its minimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) with Earth. An asteroid is designated as potentially hazardous if it has an absolute magnitude (H) of 22.0 or brighter and comes within 0.05 astronomical units (7.4 million km/4.6 million miles) of Earth’s orbit. “The large asteroid passes Earth 15 times between 1956 and 2125. The approach in June 2025 will be the closest of them all. However, at over nine times as far away as the Moon, even this pass is no cause for concern,” Juan Louis Cano of ESA’s Planetary Defence Office said. Its next approach to our planet will take place on September 18, 2032, at a distance of 0.099 AU.
S1 - Minor solar radiation storm in progress following M8.1 solar flare - An S1 – Minor solar radiation storm began at 17:00 UTC on May 31, 2025. The storm is linked to a long-duration M8.1 solar flare from Active Region 4100 at 00:05 UTC on May 31, associated with a strong Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME). Minor A minor solar radiation storm (S1) is currently in progress, following a long-duration M8.1 solar flare from Active Region 4100, resulting in a full halo CME. Proton flux counts started rising around 08:00 UTC today and reached the S1 threshold at 17:00 UTC. S1 events are the lowest on the NOAA solar radiation storm scale and typically cause only minor effects. During such events, shortwave radio users in polar regions may notice brief fades at lower frequencies, but no other significant impacts are expected for satellites, aviation, or ground-based infrastructure.For most users, S1 events will go unnoticed, though polar radio operators and HF communication users may experience short-term signal degradation. Active Region 4100 has remained a focus for forecasters, producing several M-class solar flares in recent days. The M8.1 flare observed earlier on May 31 was the most energetic since M8.9 on May 25. SWPC expects the active conditions to persist, with a continued likelihood of additional M-class flares and a slight chance for X-class events through June 2. S1 – Minor solar radiation storm conditions could persist or recur over the coming days if strong solar activity continues. Elevated solar wind speeds from a coronal hole high speed stream are also influencing the near-Earth environment, maintaining an active geomagnetic field level. CME produced by the M8.1 flare is expected to impact Earth on June 1, bringing the potential for strong to severe geomagnetic storming across high and mid-latitudes.SWPC forecasters now predict that geomagnetic storm conditions are likely to reach G4 – Severe levels on both June 1 and June 2, with a decrease to G2 – Moderate levels expected on June 3, as the CME interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere.
CO2 levels hit new seasonal peak at NOAA site in Hawaii - Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide made history last month by climbing to their highest seasonal peak available in historical records, a team of researchers reported.For the first time ever, these levels surpassed 430 parts per million (ppm) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, which is considered the global benchmark site for tracking atmospheric carbon dioxide.The 430.2 ppm calculation for May marked a 3.5 ppm increase over May 2024’s reading of 426.7 ppm, according to scientists from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the the University of California, San Diego, who worked together with colleagues at NOAA.“Another year, another record,” Ralph Keeling, director of the Scripps CO2 Program, said in a statement. “It’s sad.”At an elevation of 11,141 feet above sea level, the observatory is located on the slopes of the Mauna Loa volcano and produces measurements that reflect the average state of the atmosphere for the Northern Hemisphere.Carbon dioxide, the scientists explained, acts like a blanket — trapping heat and warming the lower atmosphere, as well as altering weather patterns and fueling extreme weather events.The surge in CO2 concentrations is also contributing to acidification and causing changes in ocean chemistry that affect the survival of marine organisms, according to the researchers.
Democratic NY lawmakers are targeting transportation emissions - — Democratic state lawmakers and environmental advocates are pushing a controversial policy to promote low-carbon fuels in the waning days of the Albany legislative session.The concept has been kicking around Albany for years, and the debate over it remains contentious. The renewed push behind a low-carbon fuel standard is facing an uphill battle in the Assembly, but supporters are now pressing for the market-based policy as the Trump administration moves to erase California’s clean car rules, which New York adopted.“New York has to lead,” said Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters, at an Albany press conference this week. “We cannot let four years go by without taking real action to transition away from fossil fuels, and Washington, D.C., is not going to help.” The state’s climate law requires a dramatic ratcheting down of greenhouse gas emissions, including an 85 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2050. New York is not expected to meet the near-term 40 percent reduction target by 2030.
EPA’s new AI tool disagrees with Zeldin on climate change - EPA has a new generative artificial intelligence tool. And it believes climate change is dangerous. That puts it at odds with the Trump administration, which aims to sideline climate change research and data to make it easier to repeal regulations. Closer to home, the AI tool threatens to provide answers that contradict the agency’s leader, Administrator Lee Zeldin, who is preparing to release a draft finding in the near future that contends greenhouse gases pose no risk to the public, as he tries to revoke the endangerment finding, a 2009 scientific declaration that underpins most EPA climate regulations. The agency’s Office of Mission Support released the internal tool for staff May 22, saying in a memo obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News that it was intended to help “modernize the agency and gain new efficiencies.” The office also set some rules for use, including telling staff not to “use the tool as the sole performer of an inherently government function or as the decisionmaker in any EPA activities,” and to check its answers for “accuracy and bias.” “Recognize that output from the tool may be convincing, but it may be wrong,” said OMS, the agency’s administrative office. The Trump administration has used AI heavily. But this particular tool was developed mostly under then-President Joe Biden, not President Donald Trump. EPA told E&E News that work on it began in the previous administration and a pilot tool was rolled out last autumn before it was made available to all staff last month. Ann Dunkin, who served as chief information officer at the Department of Energy under Biden, said the fact the tool was for internal use and utilized only EPA data indicated that it was a Biden-era artifact. “What the departments and agencies are trying to do is experiment with AI and figure out how it can help and how it can make people more productive. And that’s what’s going on here,” she said. The Biden administration maintained inventories of AI tools, which showed 17 models in use at EPA last year. The memo introducing the tool last month stated that it has “been in the works for some time.” But the tool itself answered questions submitted by three agency employees, who were granted anonymity to avoid retribution. It explained its own origin by stating that it was “developed by OpenAI, and it is integrated into Microsoft products and services, such as Azure OpenAI Service.” Beth Simone Noveck, a professor of experiential AI at Northeastern University, said that seemed to indicate EPA had a contract with Microsoft for an AI language model that had been customized for use in agency work. The tool’s views on climate science are conventional — if not always accurate. For example, one EPA staffer shared an exchange in which the tool appeared to say the power sector is the largest source of U.S. climate pollution. In fact, it’s second to transportation.
Trump proposes major cuts to environment agencies -- The Trump administration’s more detailed budget request seeks to decimate science, staffing and other programs at multiple environment-related federal agencies. Entities ranging from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the National Park Service (NPS) would see deep and specific cuts under the less “skinny” version of the administration’s budget that was released late Friday. The EPA would see a 35 percent cut to the payroll for its science staff and for staff who work on environmental programs and environmental management. NPS would see a 30 percent cut to its staff in charge of park system operations. Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would get a 28 percent cut to its operations, research and facilities staff payroll. But it’s not just staff that takes a hit. A number of offices related to energy and environmental research, as well as disaster response, are reduced or eliminated under the proposal. It completely zeroes out NOAA’s office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, for example, and also cuts federal assistance at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by 32 percent. White House budget requests are typically seen as a signal of an administration’s priorities rather than a roadmap that is likely to be realized, since Congress controls appropriations. The Trump administration, however, has signaled it is willing to go further to challenge that authority, already instituting massive layoffs at many agencies and gearing up for more.
Trump’s Interior budget would eliminate major programs - The Trump administration’s fiscal 2026 Interior Department budget proposal made public late Friday would slash funding and staffing across a wide array of programs, many of them with proven political appeal across party lines. The budget proposal also calls for the elimination of major programs, including the Bureau of Land Management’s onshore renewable energy program and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s offshore wind program. The U.S. Geological Survey’s entire “ecosystems” program budget likewise would drop from the fiscal 2025 level of about $293 million to zero in fiscal 2026. In an accompanying budget summary, the USGS explains that the plan would eliminate the Ecosystems Mission Area, including grants to universities that duplicate other research programs or that support “social agendas [such as] climate change research.”
Trump revives efforts to kill Chemical Safety Board - The Trump administration is attempting to once again eliminate the small agency charged with investigating dangerous chemical accidents and releases. According to a supplement released Friday by the Office of Management and Budget, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board would be “permanently cancelled” by the end of September 2026. The proposal to eliminate the board’s funding is “part of the Administration’s plans to move the Nation towards fiscal responsibility and to redefine the proper role of the Federal Government,” the supplement says. It’s not the first time President Donald Trump and OMB Director Russ Vought have tried to axe CSB.
Ship Carrying 800 EVs Abandoned In Pacific After Fire Breaks Out - On Tuesday, the Morning Midas—a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vehicle carrier—was abandoned by its crew in the central Pacific Ocean following an onboard fire, according to a Bloomberg report. The vessel was transporting approximately 3,000 vehicles, including an estimated 800 electric vehicles (EVs). The fire’s origin has not been confirmed, though lithium-ion battery ignition remains a possible cause given the cargo profile and previous mid-sea incidents involving EVs (see here & here). Morning Midas had departed China in late May with a scheduled port call in Mexico, according to Bloomberg data. The US Coast Guard evacuated all 22 crew members from the RoRo carrier to a nearby merchant vessel earlier today. Coast Guard sea-based assets are en route to the incident area.The ship’s manager, Zodiac Maritime, confirmed that smoke was billowing from the deck. A company spokesperson said salvage support teams are en route.Insurance giant Allianz has long emphasized the need to strengthen safety protocols for all maritime shipments involving lithium-ion batteries given the proliferation of green tech around the world.
Fire on ship carrying hundreds of EVs forces crew to evacuate - The Washington Post - A cargo ship carrying hundreds of electric vehicles from China to Mexico this week burned so stubbornly that the ship’s fire suppression system was unable to contain it, forcing the evacuation of 22 crew members who escaped to a nearby commercial vessel. The ship, called the Morning Midas, was in the Pacific Ocean about 1,200 miles from Anchorage when crew members saw smoke in a section of the vessel containing EVs, according to an emailed statement from Zodiac Maritime, the ship’s London-based manager. The ship is carrying roughly 3,000 vehicles, including about 800 EVs, the company said. The crew tried to put out the fire, but it reignited after the CO2 in the ship’s firefighting system was “exhausted” by the initial attempt to control the blaze, according to Steve Roth, chief of media relations for the Coast Guard. The boat was still ablaze as of midmorning Wednesday, Roth said. It’s another case of EVs morphing into infernos, a chronic safety and public relations headache for the fast-growing industry. Although the initial cause is not yet known, fire safety experts said the presence of so many vehicle batteries on board would almost certainly worsen the situation beyond what the cargo ship’s fire suppression systems could reasonably handle. The incident “does sound consistent with a failure in electric vehicles, especially the deployment of the CO2 system and the reignition,” said Sean DeCrane, a director with the International Association of Fire Fighters. EV fires are notoriously hard to put out, resisting the effects of traditional foam-based fire extinguishers and small amounts of water. This is because battery fires spread through the excessive accumulation of heat from one battery cell to another, and from one battery to the next, said Rich Meier of Florida-based Meier Fire Investigation. Permanently extinguishing this sort of fire, according to experts, requires lowering the heat; a carbon dioxide-based system like the one used on the Morning Midas would have starved the fire of oxygen and prevented it from spreading to other materials, but it wouldn’t have stopped the batteries from overheating. There is also the potential for battery fires to spread from one EV to another in a chain reaction, Meier said. “The prevailing wisdom is that it takes 10,000 gallons of water to put out a single lithium-ion EV fire. … When you multiply that by the number of vehicles on a ship, you may sink the ship before you put the fire out,” Meier said.
Trump’s coal frenzy clashes with market realities - President Donald Trump’s mad dash to unleash more mining and burning of “beautiful clean coal” across the U.S. is running face-first into unfavorable market realities.The president has vowed to reverse Biden-era policies, rev up U.S. mining, and keep aging coal-fired power plants alive. But hundreds of miners have been laid off in states like West Virginia in recent weeks, prices remain low and a growing number of small, metallurgical coal producers across the U.S. continue to declare bankruptcy.Last week, Core Natural Resources laid off 200 miners in West Virginia at a metallurgical coal mine. The announcement arrived after Coronado Global Resources laid off workers at its coal mine in the state. Miners were also laid off at Alpha Metallurgical Resources’ mine in Boone County last year. At the same time, companies like Corsa Coal Corp. and Coking Coal, LLC, have declared bankruptcy, and some say the industry will continue to face turbulence. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we see several other producers either go out of the market or … you’ll see substantial cutbacks, layoffs,” Randall Atkins, founder of Kentucky-based Ramaco Resources, which mines both coal and rare earths, told POLITICO’s E&E News. “There are plenty of others that are not in good shape. There are more companies out there that are teetering.”\\
Britain prepares to go all-in on nuclear power — after years of dither - Philip Hunt, the unassuming Labour peer put in charge of rejuvenating U.K. nuclear energy, has a favorite joke about how slowly the industry moves. Hunt — who was first an energy minister from 2008-2010 and retired from his second stint in government just last month — liked to roll out the gag at Westminster receptions, according to one industry figure who saw him in action. “I came back after 14 years,” the minister would say, “and everything was exactly as I left it.” It was a way to bash the Conservatives’ decade-and-a-half in power, but also an admission of the glacial pace of the nuclear world.
Governor DeWine Announces Nearly $60 Million in Brownfield Remediation Grants —Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik today announced nearly $60 million in state support to help clean up and redevelop 51 hazardous brownfield sites in 27 counties. The Department of Development is awarding the funding as part of the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program. Today’s announcement includes approximately $57.7 million for 43 cleanup/remediation projects and $1.7 million for eight assessment projects.OH Landowners Say Injection Wells Leaked, Ruined 55 Oil Wells -- Marcellus Drilling News - Two conventional oil producers in Southeast Ohio say dozens of their wells have been flooded with industrial waste (brine) from the fracking industry. They claim that nearby injection wells that handle frack waste/brine are leaking. State regulators agree that injection wells, at least at some locations, are leaking. Not only have these leaks (if true) affected oil wells, but there’s a concern they may be contaminating area water wells.
New Permits Near OH Earthquake Site Require Seismic Monitoring - Marcellus Drilling News - A few weeks ago, 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 an Encino Energy shale well in Noble County (see ODNR Says Fracking in Noble County, OH Caused Series of Earthquakes). We were somewhat incredulous. We can count on one hand the number of verified instances when fracking itself (not injection wells) has caused earthquake activity. Yet it appears to be so in this instance, with all future fracking at this site blocked (see Fracking Halted at Encino Pad in Ohio Linked to Earthquakes). The ODNR is now saying, “Any future permits to drill a well that may be issued in the area of this seismicity will include seismic monitoring terms and conditions.”
Ohio budget proposal links fracking royalties to state parks' bottom lines -- WOSU Public Media - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) was poised to benefit from more than $30 million in bonus royalty payments from drilling under state parks, but the latest version of House Bill 96 ties that money to the agency’s already-existing budget instead. The Senate on Tuesday released language that would cut ODNR’s parks and recreation budget—financed by tax revenue in the General Revenue Fund—by 50% in fiscal year 2026 and 13% in fiscal year 2027, according to Legislative Service Commission documents. Then, it would redirect the royalties to fill those holes. Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) said in an interview Thursday his caucus was accounting for General Revenue Fund shortfalls, like those coming from cutting state income taxes, by shifting the additional money over. Before this, the royalty payments from private companies were said to be additional money for the Division of Parks and Watercraft. “It’s moving the royalties generated from fracking on public lands, which are, by the way, public lands,” Cirino said. “They don’t belong to ODNR. They belong to the people of the state of Ohio.” In early 2023, Gov. Mike DeWine signed a law clearing hurdles for drilling companies to obtain leases to extract resources from public lands and parks, although drilling under them has been legal since 2011. GOP lawmakers have said it was done to increase natural gas accessibility and bolster tax revenue. A large cohort of opponents have decried the decision since. In December, the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission advanced the bid for Infinity Natural Resources to drill under almost 1,000 acres of Salt Fork State Park. Matt Misicka, executive director of the Ohio Conservation Federation, said he sees this version of HB 96 differently than Cirino does. Misicka worries that with lower tax revenue levels this two-year budget cycle, future lawmakers might not restore tax revenue funding when the royalties go dry. “Any time you lose [General Revenue Fund money], it’s awful hard to get it back,” he said in an interview Thursday. “Oil, gas, these are finite resources for any given well, right?” Cirino rebuffed that idea. “We’re in the thick of it right now, where justifications can be made for additions to GRF [General Revenue Funds], we’re doing it all the time, so I think that’s a that’s a false narrative,” he said. An ODNR spokesperson said Thursday evening the agency was reviewing the proposal.
EOG to acquire Utica Shale operator Encino Acquisition Partners for $5.6 billion -S&P Global - US upstream shale maven EOG Resources agreed May 30 to acquire Encino Acquisition Partners from Encino Energy and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for $5.6 billion, expanding EOG's existing Utica Shale Basin footprint and adding a sizable wedge of oil, gas and liquids-rich production. The pending transaction, by an acquirer well-known for shunning large acquisitions, attracted EOG because it met the company's "strict criteria for acquisitions: high-quality acreage with exploration upside, competitive with current inventory, and an attractive price," EOG CEO Ezra Yacob said during a webcast to outline the deal. The Encino deal "significantly" expands EOG's contiguous liquids-rich acreage, while also adding premium-priced gas exposure, and increases working interest of its properties in the play, Yacob said in a statement. It also expands the company's core acreage in the volatile oil window, which averages 65% liquids production, by 235,000 net acres for a combined contiguous position of 485,000 net acres. The acquisition also boosts EOG's scale in the Utica, where for the past few years, it has worked to turn the Utica into one of EOG's core operations. "It's not often that a transformative event like this comes along for a company," Yacob said during the webcast. Post-close, which is slated for second-half 2025, "we will have increased production by over 200,000 [b/d of oil equivalent], doubled the acreage position in [our] Utica's volatile oil window, added a tremendous option on low-cost gas with exposure to new markets, increased our regular dividend 5%, realized immediate accretion across financial metrics, and executed the transaction without using any equity while maintaining a pristine balance sheet," he said. The Encino acquisition combines two large, premier acreage positions in the Utica, creating a third foundational play for EOG alongside the company's Delaware Basin and Eagle Ford assets, he added. "Encino's acreage improves the quality and depth of our Utica position, expanding EOG's multi-basin portfolio to more than 12 billion barrels of oil equivalent net resource," he said. The acquisition adds Encino's 675,000 net core Utica acres to EOG's portfolio, bringing its Utica position to a combined 1.1 million net acres in the play and representing more than 2 billion barrels of oil equivalent net resource. Encino also adds 235,000 boe/d of production to EOG's existing 1.09 million b/d of equivalent oil output during the first quarter. In the volatile oil window, which averages 65% liquids production, Encino will add 235,000 net acres, while in the natural gas window, Encino brings 330,000 net acres along with existing natural gas production with firm transportation that's exposed to premium end-markets, EOG said. Encino's Utica production of 235,000 boe/d will be added to EOG's existing 40,000 boe/d in the play, for pro forma 2025 production of 275,000 boe/d, consisting of 25% oil, 30% NGLs and 45% natural gas.
EOG Digs Into the Utica With $5.6B Encino Buy | Hart Energy -- EOG Resources’ $5.6 billion acquisition of Encino Acquisition Partners shocked the market after it was announced on May 30, but analysts expect investors to come around once they evaluate the assets and the opportunity.“We believe investors will warm up to the deal as they assess the scale and benefits EOG can extract over a 1.1 million net-acre position in Ohio,” said Tim Rezvan atKeyBanc Capital Markets.Investors showed little immediate reaction to the purchase from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Encino Energy. By early afternoon, EOG’s stock was down about $1 at $108.98 per share.The deal, expected to close in the second half of this year, is 10% accretive on an annualized basis to EOG’s 2025 earnings and 9% accretive on an annualized basis for both cash flow from operations and free cash flow, Chairman and CEO Ezra Yacob told investors during a conference call following the announcement.“After closing, we will continue to have the strongest balance sheet in our peer group underscoring our relentless focus on capital discipline,” he said.CPP and Encino established EAP in 2017 to acquire high quality oil and gas assets with an established base of production in mature basins across the Lower 48. "“We are pleased with EAP’s success and the strong returns this investment has delivered,” said Bill Rogers, head of sustainable energies at CPP.The investment group is active globally and holds net assets worth some $26.4 billion (CA$36.3 billion).EOG’s acquisition has industrial logic, Rezvan said, given the price and the contiguous acreage. Likely year-end leverage of 0.3x is manageable.“There has been marketplace chatter about Encino’s owners seeking an exit strategy for several years, and EOG is one of a few operators to be able to digest a $5.6 billion acquisition,” he said.Leo Mariani, managing director at Roth Capital Energy Group, estimated EOG paid about $5,000 per undeveloped acre for Encino, assuming a price close to $15,000 per flowing boe for production with more than half of Encino’s acreage undeveloped.“This is a good value, in our opinion, compared to what others have recently paid for more competitive basins in North America,” he said.“However, the basin is still in the early days of proving out the competitiveness of the volatile oil window with other premier shale plays.”Rezvan, an admitted bull on Utica Shale productivity, noted some market reticence about the play. He said more data points should improve the sentiment.“The combination of attractive pricing, overlapping acreage and a thoughtful marketing portfolio from Encino all validate the acquisition to us. Lastly, EOG’s low cost of capital and ability to use scale to drive down well costs should not be overlooked as tangible synergies,” Rezvan said. This time last year, KeyBanc produced a deep dive on the Utica, highlighting EOG’s increasing activity there. In June 2024, about 577 wells had been drilled in the play, and KeyBanc said it would be “premature to judge a play, especially with an O.G. shale operator like EOG Resources entering” and stepping up activity.The analysts leaned in on well data and found promising results.“Clients have been skeptical that high initial oil cuts in the volatile oil window of the Utica hold up, with some dismissive comments that oil cuts ‘fall off a cliff,’” Rezvan wrote.“Our work refutes that bear-case thesis. We see decline rates that compare favorably with those from four other oily shale plays, which we believe debunks the bear case on EOG’s ongoing Utica development.”
Ingenious OH Law Blocks “Sue and Settle” by Environmentalists - Marcellus Drilling News -Last week, MDN told you about House Bill (HB) 15, which makes significant changes to state energy policy to encourage the development of more in-state electric generation by making it easier (and more cost-effective) to build gas-fired power (see OH Passes Bill (Now Law) to Encourage More Gas-Fired Power Plants). The bill was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine. We touted the aspects of the bill that aim to boost power generation, specifically dispatchable power (natural gas), in Ohio while improving affordability for ratepayers and increasing reliability within the state’s electrical grid. What we missed and now bring you is that the bill (now law) shuts down a favorite lawfare tool of the radical environmental movement known as “sue and settle.”
Explosion, smoke reported at Shell plant in Beaver County - The Allegheny Front An explosion was reported at Shell’s ethane cracker in Beaver County Wednesday afternoon. A company spokeswoman stated that smoke was seen coming off of a furnace unit at the plant around 2:20 p.m. She said the incident was managed by site personnel, and the smoke dissipated. The company dispatched a team from an air monitoring company to the site, and state and local agencies have been notified.A video posted by the group Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community appeared to show smoke coming out of the facility. The group said a worker reported an explosion at the plant via its tipline. Shell opened the plant in 2022, after receiving a record $ 1.65 billion state tax credit to build it. The plant produces plastic from ethane, a component of natural gas. More recently, the company has discussed selling the plantand other chemical production sites in the past few months. In 2023, Shell received a $10 million fine from the state Department of Environmental Protection for violating air quality laws. In a statement, DEP spokesman Neil Shader said Shell notified the agency of a fire at “ethane cracking furnace #5” at the plant. Shader said there was “a possible release of an unknown amount of 1,3-butadiene and benzene” —both hazardous air pollutants and known carcinogens. “DEP expects Shell to calculate the amount of these emissions, if any, and report its findings to DEP,” Shader said.Shell reported evacuating 15 employees and reported one minor heat-related injury among its employees.
35 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV May 26 – Jun 1 - Marcellus Drilling News - For the week of May 26 – Jun 1, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica increased significantly from the previous week. There were 35 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, up 11 from 24 two weeks ago. A whopping 27 new permits were issued in the Keystone State (PA) after issuing only four permits two weeks ago. EQT and its drilling subsidiary Rice Drilling received 10 permits, all of them in Greene County, spread across two pads. Spain-based Repsol received the second most permits, five, for a single pad in Tioga County. ANTERO RESOURCES | ASCENT RESOURCES | BELMONT COUNTY | BKV/BANPU | BUTLER COUNTY | CHESAPEAKE ENERGY | COTERRA ENERGY (CABOT O&G) | ENCINO ENERGY | EQT CORP | EXPAND ENERGY | GREENE COUNTY (PA) | HARRISON COUNTY | HARRISON COUNTY | LAUREL MOUNTAIN ENERGY | REPSOL | SULLIVAN COUNTY | SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY | TIOGA COUNTY (PA) | WASHINGTON COUNTY |WYOMING COUNTY (PA)
Expand Energy - SW App Crew Drills the Longest Well and Longest Lateral in the U.S. – Europétrole --The SW App Drilling team recently celebrated achieving several records on the BW Edge MSH 210H, which the crew referred to as a ‘postcard well’ for its near picture-perfect status. Most notably, this well featured the U.S.’s longest lateral to date at more than five miles. Rig EDC 41: A Record-Breaking Well":
- Longest lateral in U.S. Land (27,657 feet)
- Longest well in U.S. Land (34,507 feet)
- Longest single bit/BHA run in U.S. Land (30,368 feet)
- 48-hr footage world record (21,314 feet)
- Expand Energy 24-hr footage record (12,370 feet)
- Expand Energy footage per day record (2,774 feet/day)
Ultra-long laterals enable Expand Energy to access significantly more subsurface acreage from fewer surface locations, minimizing the environmental footprint and operational impact. This is particularly valuable in regions like Appalachia, where surface access is limited. By reaching premium reservoir targets from a distance, we not only optimize resource recovery but also enhance capital efficiency and well economics — both of which are vital in today’s market conditions. “Breaking records is the outcome of relentless preparation, innovation and collaboration,” said Sebastian Ziaja, SW App Senior Drilling Engineer. “With support from leadership, our Drilling and Asset teams work months in advance to engineer optimal well designs. Once execution begins, seamless coordination among our Drilling team, rig crews and service providers drives top-tier performance. It’s a collective effort rooted in trust, expertise and a shared commitment to excellence.” Operational records are typically maintained and managed by drilling service providers and industry partners. These groups verify records achieved across the U.S., offering third-party confirmation to maintain transparency and consistency for benchmarking. Ziaja added, “Ultimately, record-setting performance reflects Expand Energy’s commitment to operational excellence and long-term value creation.”
Tenney introduces the 'Freedom to Frack Act' which would withhold some federal grants to NY – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today reintroduced the Freedom to Frack Act to withhold certain federal grants from states that issue statewide hydraulic fracturing bans. Much of Central New York, Western New York, and the Southern Tier lie above the Marcellus Shale and the deeper Utica Shale formations. These tremendous resources alone could support the state’s energy needs for decades and create hundreds of thousands of jobs for New Yorkers. Unfortunately, despite this, in 2014, New York implemented a statewide ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking). The ban was then officially established in 2015 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and codified in 2020 by the New York State Legislature. New York’s statewide fracking ban directly opposes environmental science and basic economics. American natural gas is the cleanest in the world, and its exportation has been the single greatest force behind the reduction in global CO2 emissions. The ban has also been a disaster for New York’s economy, as despite its abundant natural resources, New Yorkers pay some of the highest prices in the country for energy. While Pennsylvania has become the second largest natural gas producer in the United States, New York continues to fall behind. Albany Democrats must reverse course on their disastrous fracking ban so New Yorkers can rightfully take advantage of the liquid gold lying beneath their feet. “President Trump has taken bold action to unleash American energy production through multiple Executive Orders, and it’s time for states like New York to follow suit. I introduced the Freedom to Frack Act to push back against Albany’s anti-science, politically motivated ban on hydraulic fracturing,” Tenney said. “States that refuse to comply with these federal energy directives should face the consequences, including the loss of federal funding. Albany’s baseless, anti-American energy policies have blocked access to valuable local resources for too long. By lifting these restrictions, we can stimulate economic growth, create thousands of good-paying jobs, and fully unlock the potential of American energy.”
DC Circuit upholds FERC decision on Mountain Valley expansion - A federal appeals court Friday upheld a decision by federal regulators that granted developers more time to complete a natural gas pipeline expansion in Virginia and North Carolina.The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission “reasonably found that [Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC] had satisfied the good cause standard in seeking an extension” for the MVP Southgate project, Senior Judge Harry Edwards wrote in an opinion for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.Given that developers focused their “efforts on securing authorization” for the main, 303-mile Mountain Valley pipeline project, “MVP made a good faith effort to meet the original Southgate deadline,” said Edwards, a Carter appointee. The MVP Southgate project, approved by FERC in June 2020, was originally conceived as a 75-mile extension to the mainline Mountain Valley project. That main pipeline started operating last year and connects West Virginia with southern Virginia. MVP Southgate would continue on into North Carolina.
Henry Hub Price Volatility in 2026 Seen Rising With LNG Feed Gas Demand — The Offtake - A look at the global natural gas and LNG markets by the numbers
- $4.75/MMBtu: The likelihood of average Henry Hub prices rising above $4/MMBtu this year is decreasing, according to commodity researchers with Bank of America. However, the upside in 2026 is growing as LNG feed gas demand continues to surge. In a recent note, researchers wrote that flagging gas-to-power demand and hefty storage rates could keep 2025 prices to around $3.75, but could lift exponentially by the following summer. The bank increased its guidance for average prices in 2026 to $4.75.
- 13.3 Bcf: U.S. feed gas demand from LNG export terminals has been trending near a yearly-low with ongoing maintenance at Cheniere Energy Inc. facilities. Wood Mackenzie data showed feed gas nominations at 13.3 Bcf Wednesday, slightly up from the beginning of the week because of upswings from the Corpus Christi and Freeport facilities. Sabine Pass LNG maintenance is scheduled to continue through June 26.
- 8.74 Mt: U.S. LNG exports fell in May as European buyers slowed intake of Gulf Coast cargoes during the month. Natural gas exports from the United States fell more than 3% month/month to 8.74 million tons (Mt) in May, according to Kpler data. Europe’s imports of U.S. gas was trending above last year’s rate during the first quarter, but began to decrease in April as traders weighed geopolitical risk from tariffs and the war in Ukraine.
- 33%: LNG exports from Trinidad and Tobago could be rising to the highest point in six years as utilization of Atlantic LNG rises. Export volumes from the Caribbean nation rose to 0.72 Mt in May, a more than 33% increase over last month, according to Kpler. Predictive data shows June exports could reach 1.08 Mt by the end of the month, marking the highest monthly export rate since March 2019.
Site Work Begins at Venture Global’s CP2 LNG Ahead of 2027 First Export Target --Venture Global LNG Inc. is mobilizing construction crews and starting site work at the CP2 export facility in Louisiana, starting the clock on another wave of potential natural gas demand on the Gulf Coast within the next two years. Chart and map of Lower 48 LNG export facilities tracking daily natural gas feedstock flows to sites for market intelligence. The Virginia-based LNG developer disclosed Tuesday it had given the greenlight to contractors to begin preparation work after FERC delivered a final order and notices to proceed at the end of May. “With all federal approvals now in hand we are excited to announce that we have launched on-site work for this project, which is expected to deliver reliable low-cost LNG to the world starting in 2027,” CEO Mike Sabel said.
Sempra’s Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 Clinches Worldwide Natural Gas Export Permit From DOE -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has granted its first final non-free trade agreement (NFTA) export authorization for a proposed LNG project since closing out a Biden-era study last month. DOE disclosed Friday it had approved Sempra Infrastructure’s request to export LNG cargoes to countries without a trade agreement with the United States from its 13.5 million ton/year (Mt/y) capacity Port Arthur Phase 2 project in Texas. CEO Justin Bird said DOE’s NFTA authorization “marks another milestone” helping push the project closer to a final investment decision (FID).
U.S. Feed Gas Demand Hits Lowest Point Since December — Feed gas deliveries at U.S. LNG export facilities continue to flow at some of the lowest levels in months as maintenance work continued and periodic outages cut into demand. Infographic titled “North America LNG Export Flow Tracker” showing U.S. LNG export facility deliveries from May 27 to June 5, 2025. A bar chart highlights daily total feed gas volumes ranging from 13.21 to 15.47 million Dth, with June 5 registering 13.93 million Dth. A summary table lists operational data by facility, including Corpus Christi, Freeport, Cameron, Sabine Pass, and others, detailing daily deliveries, operational capacity, and utilization rates. A U.S. map shows LNG terminal locations, and a note clarifies that volumes are based on dekatherm data from NGI, Wood Mackenzie, and pipeline EBBs. Two trains at Cheniere Energy Inc.’s Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Louisiana, along with the Creole Trail Pipeline that feeds it, are offline for planned work that started at the end of May. The maintenance is expected to completed by the last week of June. One of three trains at Cameron LNG has also been offline since May for annual maintenance. It’s unclear when the unit will return to service. Historically, similar work at Cameron has lasted roughly a month. Unplanned outages at Freeport LNG on the upper Texas coast and declines at Cheniere’s Corpus Christ LNG in South Texas have also periodically cut into feed gas demand since last month. In a filing with state regulators this week, Freeport LNG Development LP said Train 2 at the facility tripped offline Tuesday, but was restarted by Wednesday.
US natgas prices jump 7% to 3-week high on lower output, higher demand — U.S. natural gas futures jumped about 7% to a three-week high on Monday on a drop in output and forecasts for warmer weather and higher demand this week than previously expected. Analysts said gas prices also gained some support from a 3% increase in U.S. oil futures after OPEC+ kept its output increase unchanged. Gas futures for July delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 24.7 cents, or 7.2%, to settle at $3.694 per million British thermal units, their highest close since May 9. Even though gas futures rose 3% last week, speculators cut their net long futures and options positions on the New York Mercantile and Intercontinental exchanges for a second week in a row to their lowest since December 2024, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Commitments of Traders report showed. Analysts, meanwhile, forecast gas stockpiles - already about 4% above the five-year (2020-2024) average - rose by more than usual for a seventh week in a row during the week ended May 30. Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states fell to 104.0 billion cubic feet per day so far in June, down 105.1 bcfd in May and a monthly record high of 105.8 bcfd in April. Analysts noted output data from early in the month was often revised. Energy traders said output reductions over the past month or so were primarily due to normal spring maintenance on gas pipelines. Energy firms usually work on gas pipes and other equipment in the spring and autumn when demand for the fuel for heating and cooling is low. But, some analysts also noted that several energy firms have cut spending on oil drilling due to a 13% decline in oil prices so far this year. That drop in oil drilling also reduces the amount of gas pulled out of the ground that is associated with that oil production. About 37% of U.S. gas production comes from associated gas, according to federal energy data. Meteorologists projected weather across the Lower 48 states would remain mostly warmer than normal through June 17. LSEG forecast average gas demand in the Lower 48, including exports, will rise from 97.4 bcfd this week to 99.9 bcfd next week. The forecast for this week was higher than LSEG's outlook on Friday, while its forecast for next week was lower. The average amount of gas flowing to the eight big LNG export plants operating in the U.S. fell to 14.1 bcfd so far in June, down from 15.0 bcfd in May and a monthly record high of 16.0 bcfd in April. Energy traders said LNG feedgas reductions over the past month or so was primarily due to normal spring maintenance, including about three-weeks of planned work at Cheniere Energy's LNG 4.5-bcfd Sabine Pass plant in Louisiana from around May 31-June 22. Gas was trading around $12 per mmBtu at both the Dutch Title Transfer Facility benchmark in Europe and the Japan Korea Marker benchmark in Asia.
US natgas prices edge up to 3-week high as output declines — U.S. natural gas futures edged up about 1% to a three-week high on Tuesday as a drop in output in recent weeks offset forecasts for less demand and lower gas flows to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants over the next two weeks. Gas futures for July delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 2.8 cents, or 0.8%, to settle at $3.722 per million British thermal units, their highest close since May 9 for a second day in a row. In Canada, where wildfires were raging across the country, spot gas prices at the AECO hub in Alberta fell to an eight-month low of just 6.3 cents per mmBtu in a sign that gas was trapped in the nation's biggest gas-producing province. That compares with average AECO prices of $1.41 per mmBtu so far this year, 96 cents in 2024 and $2.28 over the prior five years (2019-2023). Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states fell to 104.0 billion cubic feet per day so far in June, down 105.2 bcfd in May and a monthly record high of 106.3 bcfd in March. On a daily basis, output was on track to drop to a preliminary three-month low of 102.9 bcfd on Tuesday, down from a 104.3 bcfd on Monday and an average of 105.3 bcfd over the prior seven days. Analysts noted preliminary data was often revised later in the day. Energy traders said output reductions over the past month or so were primarily due to normal spring maintenance on gas pipelines. Energy firms usually work on gas pipes and other equipment in the spring and autumn when demand for the fuel for heating and cooling is low. But, some analysts also noted that gas output could also be down as several energy firms cut spending on oil drilling due to a 13% decline in oil prices so far this year. That drop in oil drilling also reduces the amount of gas pulled out of the ground associated with that oil production. About 37% of U.S. gas production comes from associated gas, according to federal energy data.
U.S. Gas Prices Near 3-Week High Despite Weaker Demand (Reuters) — U.S. natural gas futures held near a three-week high on Wednesday as lower output offset forecasts for weaker demand over the next two weeks than previously expected. Energy traders noted much of the demand decline will come from lower gas flows to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants during planned maintenance. Gas futures for July delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 0.6 cents, or 0.2%, to settle at $3.716 per million British thermal units. On Tuesday, the contract closed at its highest level since May 9 for a second day in a row. In Canada, spot gas prices at the AECO hub in Alberta have traded near an eight-month low this week (6 cents per MMBtu on Tuesday and 10 cents on Wednesday) in a sign that wildfires had reduced demand in Alberta and trapped some of the fuel in the nation's biggest gas-producing province. AECO prices have averaged $1.41 per MMBtu this year, 96 cents in 2024 and $2.28 over the prior five years (2019-2023). Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states has fallen to 103.9 billion cubic feet per day so far in June, down from 105.2 Bcf/d in May and a monthly record high of 106.3 Bcf/d in March. On a daily basis, output was on track to drop to a preliminary three-month low of 103 Bcf/d on Wednesday, down from 103.4 Bcf/d on Tuesday and an average of 105.3 Bcf/d over the prior seven days. The decline on Tuesday was less than previously forecast. Analysts noted preliminary data is often revised later in the day. Gas exports from Canada to the U.S., meanwhile, were on track to rise to 8.8 Bcf/d on Wednesday, up from 8.0 Bcf/d on Tuesday and 7.9 Bcf/d on Monday. That reading compares with a recent highs of 9.1 Bcf/d on May 22 and May 23 and an average of 8.6 Bcf/d over the past two weeks (May 21-June 4), according to LSEG data. Gas exports from Canada to the U.S. were around 8.2 Bcf/d in June 2024 and averaged 7.3 Bcf/d during the month over the past five years (2020-2024). They set a record high for the month of June of 9.7 Bcf/d in 2022. LSEG forecast average gas demand in the Lower 48, including exports, will rise from 94.8 Bcf/d this week to 97.1 Bcf/d next week. Those forecasts were lower than LSEG's outlook on Tuesday. The average amount of gas flowing to the eight big U.S. LNG export plants has fallen to 13.5 Bcf/d so far in June, down from 15 Bcf/d in May and a monthly record high of 16 Bcf/d in April. Energy traders said LNG feedgas reductions over the past month or so were primarily due to normal spring maintenance, including work at Cheniere Energy's plants. . Analysts have noted that gas flows to Sabine would likely remain reduced for about three weeks of maintenance from around May 31-June 22.
US natgas prices climb 3% to 4-week high on forecasts for demand to spike in late June — U.S. natural gas futures climbed about 3% to a four-week high on Friday on expectations hot weather will soon prompt businesses crank up air conditioners, boosting demand for gas-fired power even as some liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants exit maintenance outages. Gas futures for July delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 10.7 cents, or 2.9%, to settle at $3.784 per million British thermal units, their highest close since May 9. For the week, the contract was up about 10% after gaining about 3% last week. Prices jumped this week even though gas stockpiles were about 5% above normal levels for this time of year and analysts forecast energy firms would make a record-tying triple-digit injection for a seventh week in a row this week. The last time energy firms added 100 bcf or more gas into storage for seven weeks in a row was in June 2014, according to federal energy data going back to 2010. Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states fell to 104.8 billion cubic feet per day so far in June from 105.2 bcfd in May and a monthly record high of 106.3 bcfd in March. The reduction so far this month, however, was smaller than previously projected. LSEG forecast average gas demand in the Lower 48, including exports, will rise from 95.4 bcfd this week to 97.7 bcfd next week and 100.4 bcfd in two weeks. The forecasts for this week and next were similar to LSEG's outlook on Thursday. The average amount of gas flowing to the eight big U.S. LNG export plants fell to 13.8 bcfd so far in June, down from 15.0 bcfd in May and a monthly record high of 16.0 bcfd in April. Traders said LNG feedgas reductions since April were primarily due to spring maintenance, including work at Cameron LNG's 2.0-bcfd plant in Louisiana and Cheniere Energy's LNG 4.5-bcfd Sabine Pass in Louisiana and 3.9-bcfd Corpus Christi in Texas, and short, unplanned unit outages at Freeport LNG's 2.1-bcfd plant in Texas on May 6, May 23, May 28 and June 3. With maintenance reducing flows to Sabine, the nation's biggest LNG export plant, and as new units enter service at Venture Global LNG's VG 3.2-bcfd Plaquemines in Louisiana, the country's newest plant, the amount of gas expected to flow to each facility was on track to reach around 2.8 bcfd on Friday - a 23-month low for Sabine and an all-time high for Plaquemines. Energy traders have noted that LNG maintenance would likely continue through early- to mid-June at Cameron and late-June at Sabine.
Trump’s ethane restrictions threaten oil industry output - President Donald Trump’s latest salvo in his trade war with China is a direct hit on a portion of the oil and gas industry that could more broadly damage his plans to boost U.S. fossil fuels.The Commerce Department is restricting exports of ethane to China, telling companies that their cargoes pose an unacceptable risk of being diverted to a “military end use.” The department has already denied permission to export three shipments, which totaled 2.2 million barrels of the gas.That could throw sand into the gears of the entire oil and gas production stream. Ethane and other natural gas liquids — or NGLs — come up with the crude oil and natural gas most people associate with pump jacks. That means Trump’s export controls could clog up flows all the way back to U.S. oil fields.“Those NGLS need a home,” said George Fatula, a partner in the Washington office of the Bracewell law firm who focuses on energy matters. “It has to go somewhere, and this is making it more difficult and complicated to find that somewhere.”
Hey, Hey, What Can I Do - 'Unacceptable Risk' Label Could Disrupt U.S. Ethane, Butane Exports -After dodging the huge tariffs on exports of U.S. LPG and ethane to China — at least until August 12 — a new wrinkle has emerged. Enterprise Products Partners said in a filing May 29 that the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has flagged its exports of butane and ethane to China as a security risk; specifically, that they pose an “unacceptable risk of use in or diversion to a military end use.” Details about the licenses and how they will apply are limited at this point, but it appears they will be required for these exports to continue. In today’s RBN blog, we examine the potential impact on the ethane and butane markets. In its 8-K filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Enterprise indicated that it is unable to determine, as yet, whether it will be able to acquire such licenses for its exports in a reasonable amount of time, if at all. (An 8-K filing is a mandatory disclosure that public companies must file with the SEC to inform their shareholders and the public about major, unscheduled material events or corporate changes.) There has been no direct word from the other ethane exporter, Energy Transfer, nor exporters of butane, including Targa Resources and Phillips 66 (P66). However, it is reasonable to assume that they received similar letters from the BIS regarding their exports. The location of LPG (propane and butane) and ethane export terminals and the products they export are shown in Figure 1 below. (For more on U.S. LPG and ethane exports, see Hot To Go!) The BIS decision has the potential to ruin the U.S. ethane market and disrupt global flows. The U.S. is the sole source of long-distance ethane exports to China. In the short term, there are no markets that could replace China’s ethane imports nor are there markets that can take most of the U.S. ethane previously destined for China. The impact on the butane market is less severe, as only 5% of U.S. butane exports head to China and the smaller volume can easily be diverted to other countries. For example, butane that would typically head to China from the U.S. could instead be sent to India, and the volume destined for India from, say, the Middle East would then go to China. Just as was the case with the tariffs, however, this issue may disappear once lobbying efforts get traction. After all, this BIS order seemingly takes the energy industry in the opposite direction of “Drill Baby Drill” for producers. It will certainly hamper the ability of companies, especially Energy Transfer and Enterprise, to maximize revenue and profit from existing and planned infrastructure. (For more on U.S. export trends for propane, butane and ethane, including port of origin, destination and volume, see our NGL Voyager report.)
At least 2,000 gallons of oil spilled in Baltimore Harbor as cleanup efforts under way - ABC News At least 2,000 gallons of oil have spilled into the Baltimore Harbor as cleanup efforts are currently underway, officials said.Maryland leaders are expected to give an update early Thursday morning on the status of the ongoing response to the diesel fuel spill in Baltimore’s Harbor East where approximately 2,000 gallons of oil spilled in the harbor.Officials say a Johns Hopkins Hospital pipeline is the cause of the leak, but an investigation is currently underway to determine the exact cause.At least 2,000 gallons of oil have spilled into the Baltimore Harbor as cleanup efforts are currently underway, officials said. Responders have deployed pollution response equipment, including containment boom, and are actively working to remove all recoverable product from the waterway, according to ABC News’ Baltimore affiliate WMAR. Coast Guard personnel remain on scene monitoring cleanup activities to ensure compliance with federal environmental response standards and adequate protection of the environment, WMAR said. The spill is currently contained in the marina at the South Central Avenue Bridge in Harbor East, in an area roughly 100 yards by 250 yards.
Federal environmental review says Line 5 tunnel would reduce oil spill risk (MPRN)— Public comment is now open on a federal environmental review of the Line 5 tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released on Friday its draft report that describes the environmental effects of building a tunnel under the lakebed. The report says the tunnel would reduce the risk of an oil spill, and the Army Corps supports the continued operation of Line 5, citing the need for crude oil in the "foreseeable future."Sean McBrearty is with Oil and Water Don't Mix, a group that supports shutting down Line 5. At a recent rally against the tunnel, he called on the state of Michigan to reject the project. "We're not going to ask people who have been fighting this pipeline for a decade to waste their time providing comments into a sham federal process, where the public's interests and comments will not be heard anyway."Enbridge says the Army Corps has been working on this "rigorous and comprehensive" review for more than five years. The Detroit District is conducting a 30-day public comment period on the DEIS from May 30 to June 30, 2025. The public and concerned parties are welcome to provide comments using the following methods:
- The Line 5 Tunnel EIS website at https://www.line5tunneleis.com/comment-here-new/.
- Virtual public meetings:
- Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 1-4 p.m., link
- Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 5-8 p.m., link
- Written comments (post marked by June 30, 2025) mailed to:
- Line 5 Tunnel EIS
- 6501 Shady Grove Road, P.O. Box 10178
- Gaithersburg, MD 20898
It's Tricky - Chevron's Diminished Role in Venezuela Complicates Plans for U.S. Refiners Seeking Heavy Crude -Exports of Venezuelan crude to the U.S. have moved lower in recent months, a trend that seems likely to continue with the May 27 expiration of Chevron’s permit to operate there. But while a limited extension of that permit appears likely, if not yet official, the development adds new challenges for Gulf Coast refiners that process heavy crude. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll update the situation in Venezuela, assess what it means for Chevron, and discuss the outlook for the heavy crude-capable Gulf Coast refiners. [...] The first Trump administration imposed economic sanctions on Venezuela in August 2017, which resulted in lower oil production and reduced exports to the U.S. The Trump administration followed that up with an April 2020 order for Chevron to wind down production in Venezuela, although exports to the U.S. had reached zero by that time. The Biden administration later reversed that order and eased sanctions further in October 2022, allowing Chevron to increase production for sales to the U.S. Imports began again in January 2023. However, as we discussed in You Can’t Always Get What You Want, the second Trump administration announced in February that it was ending Chevron’s license to operate in Venezuela — effectively eliminating the company’s ability to extract and export oil. .Venezuela has long been a critical supplier of heavy crude to Gulf Coast refineries, ranking as high as first in some years in the late 1990s, before the imposition of sanctions shut off the flow in mid-2019. The reinstatement of Chevron’s license by the Biden administration allowed it to pull back into a distant third place (behind Canada and Mexico) in 2024. Venezuelan imports into PADD 3 (Gulf Coast) averaged 211 Mb/d in 2024 and reached 285 Mb/d in December, according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). But exports dropped to 156 Mb/d in April according to Kpler and are expected to continue falling as the Chevron license to operate there expired on May 27. It has been widely reported that the U.S. will be issuing a new license to Chevron, although it would be extremely limited in scope, mimicking a similar license granted during the first Trump administration. Our understanding is that Chevron won’t be able to operate oil fields in Venezuela or export Venezuelan crude, although it will be able to retain its stakes in joint ventures and maintain a minimal workforce in the country. Venezuelan crude is generally heavy, with API gravities ranging from 8.5 degrees (extra-heavy crude in the Orinoco Belt) to 24 degrees for lighter varieties like Leona crude, although it does produce some lighter grades (30-35 API). Sulfur content for heavy and light crudes ranges from 1.5% to 2.7%, which categorize them as sour crudes. To process the heavy Venezuelan crude grades generally requires refineries to have deep conversion capability (primarily in the form of delayed cokers), although simpler asphalt refineries also have an appetite for the heaviest grades, particularly Boscan. Reduced heavy crude production in the U.S. (primarily California) and from other traditional suppliers in the Western Hemisphere (especially Mexico and Brazil) has led to narrower light-heavy differentials and smaller margin advantages for the coking refineries, and there are a number of other important developments — aside from the changes in Venezuela — that will continue to stress the supply/demand balance for heavy crude:
- Tighter Heavy Sour Market: The reduction of Venezuelan barrels will tighten the heavy sour crude market and Gulf Coast refiners will have to again look for other options, including Canada, Mexico, Colombia and elsewhere. Of course, this results in Gulf Coast refineries that had relied on Venezuelan crude facing higher costs and logistical challenges to source their crude from more-distant suppliers.
- Less Crude from Mexico: The U.S. is getting less heavy crude from Mexico, whose production has been declining for about two decades due to the depletion of its major oil fields. Pemex, Mexico’s state-owned oil company, has faced significant budget deficits and debt in recent years, which has limited its ability to make investments to sustain production. It has also recently struggled to maintain the quality of its oil production. In May, it said its crude exports could be as low as 527 Mb/d in 2025, which would be the lowest in several decades.
- Rising Sour Crude Differentials: The reduction in Venezuelan supply has led to higher prices and narrower discounts for alternative heavy sour crudes, such as Canadian grades, as refiners compete for a shrinking pool of suitable feedstock.
- Trade and Tariffs: Tariffs are very much a part of the conversation (see Everybody Hurts). With declines in Venezuelan and Mexican imports and strong growth in the oil sands of Alberta, Canadian crude over the past few years has become the most significant source of heavy oil for U.S. refiners. In March, the Trump administration proposed 10% tariffs on Canadian crude and 25% on Mexican crude oil. Tariffs were implemented very briefly and then paused; goods that fall under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement, including crude oil, are not subject to the tariffs. Of course, there is always the chance the Trump administration could change this policy.
- Canadian Exports: The startup of the 580-Mb/d Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX) in late May 2024 directed more Canadian barrels toward the West Coast and Asia and away from Midcontinent and Gulf Coast refineries (see Both Sides Now), further tightening heavy crude supply in those regions. Currently, more than 400 Mb/d of Canadian crude is being shipped from British Columbia to refineries on the U.S. West Coast and Asia.
Chevron to cut 800 job in Texas -Chevron has announced it will lay off nearly 800 employees in Midland County, Texas, US, as part of a broader plan to reduce its global workforce by up to 20% by the end of 2026. The job cuts, slated for 15 July, are said to be a response to the need for cost-cutting and business simplification. The lay-offs in Texas, where Chevron holds significant operations in the Permian Basin, the leading US oilfield, underscore the company’s strategic adjustments amid challenging industry conditions. In February, Chevron disclosed its workforce reduction plans, which have since become more pressing due to recent operational setbacks. The revocation of Chevron’s licence in Venezuela and the uncertain future of its $53bn acquisition of Hess due to an arbitration dispute have added to the company’s pressures. Chevron had also previously announced the lay-off of at least 600 employees in California, effective 1 June, as reported in a March filing. Despite these challenges, Chevron remains proactive in seeking new opportunities. This month, the company expressed its intent to explore and develop significant oil and gas assets in Indonesia, targeting blocks with potential reserves of around 15 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas.Djoko Siswanto, the chairman of Indonesia’s upstream oil and gas regulator, SKK Migas, confirmed Chevron’s interest.However, Chevron, along with other multinational oil and gas companies, recently exited its Red Sea oil and gas concession blocks in Egypt after failing to locate any discoveries.. The Egyptian Petroleum Ministry has stated that these companies are reallocating their resources to other areas within Egypt, particularly the Mediterranean. Chevron was awarded its first oil and gas exploration concessions in the Red Sea alongside Shell and Mubadala Investment Company in 2019.
Large flames coming from tank battery in Wanette, Oklahoma -- Large flames are burning after a tank battery caught fire Friday morning in Wanette. Sky 5, which is the only news helicopter in the air on weekday mornings, shows a big fire and plumes of smoke coming from a tank battery near Skelly Road and Highway 39.Pilot Chase Rutledge says fire crews have responded to the scene and have blocked off the highway. The fire started after storms moved through the area. It's unknown if severe weather started the fire.This fire is the second that's sparked in about a week at that location. On May 29, another tank battery fire started after storms moved through the area.The Wanette Fire Department said at the time of that the first fire that one home had to be evacuated, and crews let the fire burn itself out.
US Oil Drillers See Sharp Decline in Activity - The total number of active drilling rigs for oil and gas in the United States fell yet again this week, according to new data that Baker Hughes published on Friday, following a 3-rig decrease last week, and a 10-rig decrease the week before that.The total rig count in the US fell by 4 to 559 rigs, according to Baker Hughes, down 35 from this same time last year.The number of oil rigs fell by 9 to 442 after falling by 4 during the previous week—and down by 50 compared to this time last year. The number of gas rigs rose by 5 this week, to 114 for a gain of 16 active gas rigs from this time last year. The miscellaneous rig count stayed the same at 3.The latest EIA data showed that weekly U.S. crude oil production rose again this week, from 13.401 million bpd to 13.408 million bpd. The figure is 223,000 bpd down from the all-time high reached during the week of December 6, 2024.Primary Vision’s Frac Spread Count, an estimate of the number of crews completing wells, rose during the week of May 30 to 190, compared to 186 in the week prior. The count is now 25 below where it was on March 21.WTI is trading up on the day—but still below what many Permian players say is their breakeven. Drilling activity in the basin fell by 3, to 275—a figure that is 35 fewer than this same time last year. The count in the Eagle Ford also sank by 3, to 40 active rigs. Rigs in the Eagle Ford are 11 below where they were this time last year.At 11:55 p.m. ET, the WTI benchmark was trading up $1.18 per barrel (+1.86%) on the day at $64.55, up more than $4 per barrel from last Friday’s price. The Brent benchmark was trading up $1.10 (+1.68%) on the day at $66.44— up nearly $3 per barrel from last Friday as US-China trade talks and Canadian wildfires near oil installations boost market sentiment.
Judge nixes suit over Colorado oil and gas leasing permits - A federal judge in Colorado has dismissed a conservation group’s challenge to federal drilling permits for extracting publicly owned oil and gas from wells on adjacent private and state lands. Judge Daniel Domenico on the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado said the Center for Biological Diversity lacked standing to bring its case challenging the Interior Department’s approval of so-called Fee/Fee/Fed wells in Colorado’s Pawnee National Grassland.The type of extraction associated with these wells involves boring horizontally beneath the surface of state or private land — sometimes across miles — to tap federal oil and gas.The Center for Biological Diversity had alleged that the proliferation of oil and gas development in northeastern Colorado — without the federal government imposing measures to mitigate environmental harm — impaired its members’ enjoyment of the grassland.
Supreme Court hands big win to fossil fuels, agency power - The Supreme Court last week reshaped how the federal government thinks about fossil fuel infrastructure. While environmental groups frequently describe projects ranging from coal mines to pipelines as “carbon bombs,” the high court said in an 8-0 ruling that may not be the case — finding in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County that the projects themselves are not responsible for the upstream or downstream pollution for fuel or other products they simply transport or produce. The justices narrowed the scope of environmental reviews taken by agencies when they determine whether to approve an infrastructure project — and the grounds upon which such reviews can be challenged. The ruling is a blow to those fighting to protect the environment and a win for developers and fossil fuel companies, making it more difficult to challenge a project on its climate or environmental grounds, or even to get information about its environmental impacts. “It is going to grease the wheels for … fossil energy approvals,” said Travis Annatoyn, who was an attorney at the Interior Department during the Biden administration. “I think it’s going to make a difference,” added Annatoyn, who is now with the law firm Arnold & Porter. “You will see courts take a more hands-off approach to reviewing technical analysis.” Frequently, opponents of projects approved by the federal government sue to get them overturned, arguing that the analysis underlying their approval was insufficient under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). But the justices determined Thursday that government agencies do not need to consider a project’s upstream or downstream impacts, that courts should defer to an agency’s judgment about where to draw the line when considering a project’s indirect impacts, and that courts cannot block agency projects based on the outcome of a potential future project. What that means in practice is that a court cannot rule that an agency’s environmental analysis is insufficient because it did not consider whether it will spur more emissions or pollution when fossil fuels are burned.
Big Deal - Supreme Court's Ruling on Uinta Basin Railway Is a Big Win for Energy Infrastructure Projects -- Midstream developers have complained for decades that federal courts reviewing agency approvals for their infrastructure projects have cast too wide a net — that is, instead of requiring agencies to simply analyze the specific environmental impacts of the project in question, the courts have been insisting regulators also examine the effects of the upstream and downstream activities the project would enable. As we discuss in today’s RBN blog, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that under the all-important National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, it’s up to regulators to set the boundaries of their environmental review and that courts should defer to their judgment as long as they fall within a “broad zone of reasonableness.” The project at the center of the case — formally known as Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado‚ is as quirky as they come in the energy space: A proposal to build an 88-mile short-line railroad in northeastern Utah whose primary purpose would be to transport at least two 110-car unit trains of waxy crude a day from the epicenter of Uinta Basin production to interconnections with two long-haul rail lines. As we’ll get to in a moment, while the high court’s ruling eliminates a major hurdle for the $2-billion-plus Uinta Basin Railway, it remains to be seen whether the project will actually proceed to financing and construction.What is clear, however, is that the long-running case provided the Supreme Court’s conservative majority an opportunity to further narrow the scope of NEPA by limiting the extent to which federal regulatory agencies need to consider indirect or cumulative environmental impacts. When combined with the changes Congress made to NEPA via its passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, the high court’s new ruling should make the advancement of energy infrastructure projects through the regulatory and legal gauntlet at least a little easier and less time-consuming. For interstate natural gas projects, this means that environmental reviews at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) could be limited to the levels FERC has attempted in the past but were often rebuffed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (aka the DC Circuit Court). It could also avoid the constant permit reversals that were experienced by the developers of Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP).Let’s unpack that. The key issue before the Supreme Court in the Uinta Basin Railway case was whether the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) was required under NEPA to consider the environmental impacts not only of the proposed railway itself but also a host of other potential effects, including the increase in upstream oil and gas production the project would enable and the refining of the waxy crude in downstream refineries. In August 2023, the DC Circuit Court sided with Eagle County, CO, which had argued that the STB had failed to factor in (among other things) the environmental harm that could come from a waxy-crude train derailment along the Colorado River. The DC Circuit Court vacated the STB’s December 2021 approval of the railway project, finding that the scope of the board’s review was too limited. On May 29, the Supreme Court ruled 8-0 (with Justice Neil Gorsuch recusing) that the STB’s review of the project was appropriate and sufficient and that the DC Circuit was wrong to require that the board expand its analysis to include potential upstream and downstream impacts not directly related to the railway project itself. But while the high court was unanimous in supporting the STB’s approval of the project, they split 5-3 on whether to rule more broadly on how regulatory agencies should approach environmental reviews and the degree to which the courts should defer to the agencies’ judgment.The five more conservative members of the court voting on the matter (Chief Justice Roberts, plus justices Alito, Thomas, Kavanaugh and Barrett) said that NEPA only requires agencies to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) and leaves it to those agencies to determine the appropriate breadth of its assessment as regulators see fit. Writing for the majority, Justice Kavanaugh said, “When assessing significant environmental effects and feasible alternatives for purposes of NEPA, an agency will invariably make a series of fact-dependent, context-specific, and policy-laden choices about the depth and breadth of its inquiry — and also about the length, content, and level of detail of the resulting EIS. Courts should afford substantial deference and should not micromanage those agency choices so long as they fall within a broad zone of reasonableness.” He added, “Some courts have strayed and not applied NEPA with the level of deference demanded by the statutory text and this Court’s cases. Those decisions have instead engaged in overly intrusive (and unpredictable) review in NEPA cases. Those rulings have slowed down or blocked many projects and, in turn, caused litigation-averse agencies to take ever more time and to prepare ever longer EISs for future projects. The upshot: NEPA has transformed from a modest procedural requirement into a blunt and haphazard tool employed by project opponents (who may not always be entirely motivated by concern for the environment) to try to stop or at least slow down new infrastructure and construction projects.” The high court’s three more liberal members (Justices Sotomayor, Kagan and Jackson), in turn, agreed that federal agencies are entitled to some deference on how they scope their reviews, but warned against what they saw as the other justices’ efforts to suggest NEPA does not require full assessments of a project’s environmental impacts. The Supreme Court’s ruling in the Uinta Basin Railway case came in the wake of two other recent actions — one legislative (in 2023) and the other judicial (in 2024) — that, with this new ruling, have the effect of making it at least somewhat easier to advance energy infrastructure projects. As we discussed in Rescue Me, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023’s primary purpose was to increase the federal government’s debt ceiling, but it also amended NEPA to:
- Require an EIS to be prepared only if an agency action has a “reasonably foreseeable significant effect on the quality of the human environment,” and allow for the use of a less-intensive environmental assessment (EA) when an agency action “does not have a reasonably foreseeable significant effect.”
- Designate a lead agency when two or more agencies are involved in a review in order to reduce confusion and delays.
- Allow project applicants to prepare their own environmental reviews under the supervision of a federal agency, which is intended to streamline the process for developers.
- Set a two-year limit for preparing and finalizing an EIS and a one-year limit for an EA. (The lead agency can extend the timeline in consultation with the project applicant.)
- Limit the evaluation of a project’s environmental impacts to a single document of no more than 150 pages for an EIS (expandable to 300 pages for a complex project) and 75 pages for an EA.
It should be noted that FERC already used a number of these approaches — but was often second-guessed by the appellate court.
Pipeline spill in northwest North Dakota releases over 3 million gallons of brine • A pipeline failure in northwest North Dakota caused an estimated 73,000 barrels, or nearly 3.1 million gallons, of brine to spill in Williams County, the Department of Environmental Quality reported this week. Continental Resources staff discovered the spill about 1:35 p.m. Monday about 16 miles northeast of Williston and notified state regulators, said Marty Haroldson with the Division of Water Quality. “This would be a larger spill,” Haroldson said Wednesday. Brine, or produced water, is a waste byproduct of oil production that can be destructive to land. The spill contaminated grassy land near the site of the pipeline failure, Haroldson said. Brine also contaminated an unnamed tributary that eventually flows into Stony Creek. The spill did not reach Stony Creek and has had no known impacts to drinking water sources, Haroldson said. An incident report indicates that trucks began removing fluid from the site earlier this week and crews blocked culverts and set up berms to contain the contamination. Crews were working to excavate the pipeline to repair it, according to the incident report. A Continental Resources representative did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday. Department of Mineral Resources Director Nathan Anderson said the pipeline has been shut down and drained of fluid. The pipeline, installed in 2015, is made of high density polyethylene and had a monitoring system, Anderson said. The cause of the spill is under investigation. Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Mineral Resources staff are inspecting the site and will be overseeing the investigation and cleanup.
Trump officials are visiting Alaska to discuss a gas pipeline and oil drilling - (AP) — The Trump administration is sending three Cabinet members to Alaska this week as it pursues oil drilling in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and reinvigorating a natural gas project that’s languished for years.The visit by Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin comes after Trump signed an executive orderearlier this year aimed at boosting oil and gas drilling, mining and logging in Alaska. It also comes amid tariff talks with Asian countries that are seen as possible leverage for the administration to secure investments in the proposed Alaska liquefied natural gas project.Their itinerary includes a meeting Sunday with resource development groups and U.S. Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski in Anchorage before heading to Utqiagvik, an Arctic town on the petroleum-rich North Slope where many Alaska Native leaders see oil development as economically vital to the region.The federal officials also plan to visit the Prudhoe Bay oil field Monday — near the coast of the Arctic Ocean and more than 850 miles (1,368 kilometers) north of Anchorage — and speak at Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy's annual energy conference Tuesday in Anchorage.While it's not unusual for U.S. officials to visit Alaska during warmer weather months, Dunleavy's office said the officials' visit is significant. Dunleavy, a Trump ally, said he is thankful for an administration that “recognizes Alaska's unique value.”Government and industry representatives from a number of Asian countries, including Japan, are expected to participate in a portion of the trip, reflecting pressure from the U.S. to invest in the pipeline — despite skepticism and opposition from environmental groups.In Alaska, some environmentalists criticized the agenda for Dunleavy's conference. Highlighting fossil fuels alongside renewable or alternative energy make “energy sources of the past look more legitimate at a conference like this," said Andy Moderow, senior policy director with the Alaska Wilderness League.“I think we should be looking at climate solutions that work for Alaskans, not trying to open up places that industry is taking a pass on, namely the Arctic refuge,” he said.Trump has long taken credit for provisions of a 2017 tax law championed by Alaska's congressional delegation that called for two oil and gas lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge's coastal plain by late 2024.The first one remains the subject of ongoing litigation, with the main bidder a state corporation that saw its seven leases later canceled by then-President Joe Biden's administration. A judge in March ruled Biden's administration overstepped, and the Interior Department, in line with Trump's executive order, is working to reinstate the leases.There weren't any bids in the second sale, held under Biden and blasted by the state as overly restrictive.Debate over drilling in the refuge — home to polar bears, musk ox, birds and other wildlife — has long been a flashpoint. Indigenous Gwich’in leaders consider the coastal plain sacred land, noting its importance to a caribou herd they rely upon.Many North Slope Iñupiat leaders who support drilling in the refuge felt their voices were not heard during the Biden era. During the Trump officials' visit, they also hope to make a case for additional development in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, which Trump has advocated, and for being included in planning decisions.Nagruk Harcharek, president of Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat, an advocacy group whose members include leaders from the region, called the officials' visit “a step in the right direction.”
Canada Confirms Work Has Begun on 559-Mile Prince Rupert Gas Pipeline (Reuters) — British Columbia's Environmental Assessment Office has determined that work on the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission natural gas pipeline project has been substantially started, the provincial government said on June 5. The decision means a 2014 environmental assessment certificate for the project will remain in effect indefinitely, unless suspended or cancelled under the Environmental Assessment Act, the B.C. government said in a press release. The 900-kilometer (559-mile) PRGT project will run from Hudson's Hope in northeastern B.C. to Lelu Island near Prince Rupert on Canada's Pacific Coast. It was acquired from TC Energy by the Nisga'a First Nation and the Western LNG in March 2024 to supply natural gas to the proposed 12 million tonnes per annum Ksi Lisims liquefied natural facility. The 2014 environmental assessment certificate required that the project show substantial progress by November 25, 2024. The B.C. Environmental Assessment Office launched a review process late last year to examine whether work had started, considering site inspections, documentation from PRGT and input from local First Nations. The government statement said compliance and enforcement officers will continue to monitor the PRGT project throughout construction and operation to ensure it meets all environmental requirements.
Alberta's wildfires disrupt some 7% of Canada's oil production (Reuters) - Wildfires burning in Canada's oil-producing province of Alberta have affected more than 344,000 barrels per day of oil sands production, or about 7% of the country's overall crude oil output, according to Reuters calculations. At least two thermal oil sands operators south of the industry hub of Fort McMurray evacuated workers from their sites over the weekend and shut production as a precaution. Canadian Natural Resources said it evacuated workers from its Jackfish 1 location and shut in approximately 36,500 bpd of bitumen production.Cenovus Energy said it evacuated non-essential personnel from its Christina Lake oil sands site, and shut in approximately 238,000 bpd of production.The company said on Sunday it is not aware of any damage to its infrastructure and anticipates a full restart of its Christina Lake operations in the near term. MEG Energy said on Friday it had evacuated workers from its Christina Lake site. While production at the site continues, the company said on Saturday that the fires caused a power outage that is delaying startup of its Phase 2B operations, which represent approximately 70,000 barrels per day of production.Wildfires have also affected some of Alberta's conventional oil-and-gas production. A blaze burning near the town of Swan Hills in the northern part of the province forced Aspenleaf Energy to shut in about 4,000 bpd of production last week.Canada produces about 4.9 million barrels of oil per day.Alberta has 49 active fires and there are 24 active fires in Manitoba and 16 in Saskatchewan, according to provincial data.In parts of Minnesota and North Dakota, air quality reached unhealthy levels on Monday, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow page. In 2023, Canadian wildfires blanketed much of the U.S. East Coast in smoke, forcing millions of Americans to stay indoors.Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said on Monday that some 400,000 hectares (988,422 acres) have now burned in the province, up from about 9,000 as of last week.She said nearly 5,000 people have been evacuated, adding that the government is restarting its emergency management cabinet committee out of concerns the situation in the province is worsening."We've got to be able to respond in a way that is going to be rapid," Smith told reporters in Saskatoon.The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre says that as of June 1, a total of 1.4 million hectares have burned so far across Canada. Last week, Manitoba urged 17,000 people to evacuate due to fires in the province's remote north. Wildfires have hit oil and gas production in Canada several times in the past decade.Last year, Suncor Energy (SU.TO), opens new tab, Canada's second-largest oil sands producer, temporarily curtailed production at its Firebag complex due to a nearby blaze.In May of 2023, companies shut in at least 319,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, or 3.7% of Canada's total production, as more than 100 wildfires burned in Alberta.In 2016, thousands of oil sands workers were evacuated as a monster wildfire destroyed part of the community of Fort McMurray, forcing companies to reduce their oil output by a million barrels per day.
Shell approves offshore gas development near Trinidad & Tobago -- Shell has reached a final investment decision on its Aphrodite gas field offshore Trinidad & Tobago, the UK supermajor said on Tuesday. Development of Aphrodite is still subject to regulatory approvals, according to Shell. Once approved, it is expected to start production in 2027 at peak rates of about 18,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day, or 107 million cubic feet per day of gas. The undeveloped gas field will build on existing infrastructure in Trinidad & Tobago’s prolific East Coast Marine Area (ECMA), which is home to Shell’s largest gas-producing fields in the country, including Dolphin, Starfish, Bounty and Endeavour. Aphrodite’s gas network will include a single subsea tieback to existing infrastructure in the Shell-operated Barracuda network. Gas will be rerouted to Shell’s Dolphin A platform to send to domestic markets via the National Gas Company of Trinidad & Tobago (NGC) and foreign markets via liquefied natural gas shipped from Atlantic LNG. Aphrodite will also serve as a gas backfill for Trinidad’s Atlantic LNG facility, according to Shell. “By increasing the gas supply to Atlantic LNG, the project will not only serve to fortify the domestic gas market, it will also boost the local petrochemical and power-generation industries,” Shell senior vice president Adam Lowmass said in a statement. Shell will be operator of Aphrodite with a 100% interest. The field was discovered in 2022.
Trinidad's Atlantic LNG increases production in May -Exports of liquefied natural gas from Trinidad and Tobago's flagship Atlantic LNG export facility increased by 43 per cent in May compared to April, according to LSEG preliminary ship tracking data. Trinidad is Latin America's largest LNG exporter and its flagship plant, Atlantic LNG, is jointly owned by Shell and BP with a capacity to produce 12 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of the gas. In May, Atlantic exported 0.83 mtpa of LNG, up from 0.58 MT in April, LSEG data showed. Similar to the US, Europe bought the majority of cargoes sold by Atlantic, while the rest went to Asia and Latin America. BP has made Trinidad and Tobago one of its focus areas for growth of its upstream production and in May announced first gas from its Mento following April's announcement of first gas from its Cypre development, both offshore Trinidad.
Record Brazil pre-salt oil and natural gas production set in April -ANP released the Monthly Bulletin of Oil and Natural Gas Production for April 2025, which contains consolidated data on national production. The month recorded a new record in pre-salt oil and gas production, with 3.734 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d). This represents an increase of 0.5% compared to the previous month and 18.3% compared to April 2024. Pre-salt production, which occurred through 164 wells, accounted for 79.7% of the national total in the month. Total production (oil + natural gas) in the country, considering pre-salt, post-salt and land, was 4.689 million boe/d. With regard to oil, 3.632 million bbl/d were extracted, an increase of 0.3% compared to the previous month and 13.7% compared to the same month in 2024. Natural gas production in April was 168.01 million m³/d. There was a 1.5% increase compared to March and a 22.9% increase compared to April 2024. In April, the use of natural gas was 97.1%. 55.36 million m³/d were made available to the market and flaring was 4.98 million m³/d. There was a 13.6% decrease in flaring compared to the previous month and a 25.5% increase compared to April 2024. The main reason for the reduction compared to March was that the FPSO Almirante Tamandaré, in April, commissioned part of the compressors, allowing the injection of natural gas to begin and consequently reducing its flaring. In the month, offshore fields produced 97.6% of the oil and 87.1% of the natural gas. The fields operated by Petrobras, alone or in consortium with other companies, were responsible for 89.76% of the total production. Production came from 6,505 wells, 538 of which were offshore and 5,967 onshore. In April, the Tupi field, in the pre-salt layer of the Santos Basin, was the largest producer, registering 783.91 thousand bbl/d of oil and 39.81 million m³/d of natural gas. The facility with the largest production was the FPSO Guanabara, in the shared Mero field, with 184 thousand bbl/d of oil and 12.10 million m³/d of natural gas.
All Signals for U.S. LNG Point to Europe as Asian Spot Buying Remains Weak --Asian LNG spot buying remains sluggish heading into the summer months and is not expected to accelerate, which is likely to keep U.S. LNG flowing into Europe as the continent works to refill storage inventories that were drained over the winter. (a graph showing Asia's historical LNG imports by month) Through May, Asia’s LNG imports fell 7% year/year to 111.8 million tons (Mt), according to Kpler. Europe’s LNG imports, meanwhile, have increased by 20% over the same time to 56.7 Mt. The Trump administration’s trade war, higher spot prices and more long-term contracts have kept a lid on Asian spot buying. But China has been the main driver of the decline in Asia, which has historically been the world’s top destination for LNG.
TTF Prices Climb Despite Weak Asian Demand as Natural Gas Supply Concerns Continue — LNG Recap --European natural gas prices bounced back on Monday after posting a weekly loss on Friday for the first time in four weeks with storage worries mounting. 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. Natural gas inventories on the continent have been steadily rebuilding, but are still at 48% of capacity, compared with 70% at this time last year. The Title Transfer Facility (TTF) prompt month contract added about 30 cents to finish higher at $11.72/MMBtu on Monday after falling nearly 7% over the course of last week. Norwegian output remained at about 10 Bcf on Monday as seasonal maintenance is underway. That’s down from typical levels of about 12 Bcf/d.
Russian LNG Exports Dip Amid Sanctions and EU Clampdown ---Liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports out of Russia fell by 3% in January through May from a year earlier, amid tighter EU restrictions on transshipment and U.S. sanctions on a new LNG project that can’t find buyers yet.Russia’s LNG shipments dipped by 3% year-over-year to 13.2 million tons in the first five months of the year, Reuters reports, citing preliminary data from LSEG. Exports to Europe slumped by 12%, while shipments in May alone declined by 14.3%, according to the data. That’s mostly the result of the EU ban on transshipment of Russian LNG for re-export to third countries from EU ports, which took effect in March this year.The EU ban doesn’t concern imports for the EU markets, but prohibits EU terminal operators from reloading Russian LNG or re-exporting it to countries outside the bloc, as Europe looks to cut Russia’s energy revenues without compromising EU gas supply.Moreover, the U.S. and EU sanctions on Russia’s Arctic LNG 2, which was billed as Russia’s flagship LNG project, have effectively frozen the start-up of the export facility in the Gydan Peninsula. The project has come under intensifying sanctions from the United States, which have put off any buyers that were previously considering buying cargoes from Arctic LNG 2. Meanwhile, Russia’s natural gas deliveries via pipeline to Europe jumped by 10.3% in May compared to April. Last month, Russia’s gas giant Gazprom sent 46.0 million cubic meters of natural gas via the only remaining route to Europe – TurkStream, per Reuters estimates based on data from Entsog, the European gas transmission group. Last month, the EU unveiled a roadmap to end dependency on Russian energy.The roadmap calls for the EU to stop all imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027 by improving the transparency, monitoring, and traceability of Russian gas across the EU markets. New contracts with suppliers of Russian gas will be prevented and spot contracts (for immediate payment) will be stopped by the end of 2025, the European Commission said.
LNG re-gasification hits record high at 1,050 mmcfd | The Financial Express - Bangladesh's liquefied natural gas (LNG) re-gasification reached its highest level ever on Monday as the regular berthing of LNG tankers to the floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) resumed, following last week's rough weather in the Bay of Bengal. The country's LNG re-gasification surged to 1,050 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) on the day, driven by the increased volume of LNG supply, according to official data. The previous highest LNG re-gasification was recorded on March 18 this year, when the country re-gasified around 1,022 mmcfd of LNG. However, LNG re-gasification dropped as low as 558 mmcfd on May 30, when berthing of LNG vessels was disrupted due to a low over the Northwest Bay and adjoining areas that intensified into a depression. At least a couple of LNG tankers were kept anchored at the pilot boarding station (PBS), around 10-12 kilometers from the FSRUs, due to rough sea conditions in the Bay of Bengal last week. The country's overall natural gas output is currently hovering around 2,889 mmcfd, boosted by the increased LNG re-gasification volume, according to Petrobangla data as of Monday. Natural gas supply to industries increased significantly as overall output ramped up, Petrobangla Chairman Md Rezanur Rahman told The Financial Express on Tuesday. He expected LNG re-gasification to continue exceeding 1,000 mmcfd until August, allowing industries to receive more gas during the period. To meet rising demand, Petrobangla has increased LNG purchases from the spot market. The LNG tankers carrying gas from Oman's OQ Trading and Gunvor Singapore Pte Ltd - which had been held at the PBS - completed berthing and ship-to-ship LNG transfers on Sunday. Another scheduled LNG vessel arrived on June 1 and completed ship-to-ship transfer by Monday, pushing re-gasification to the record level. Each of these LNG cargoes carried around 3.36 million British thermal units (MMBtu) and delivered LNG to one of the two FSRUs near Moheshkhali Island.
Nigeria’s Dangote refinery buying more and more US crude oil - Where does a giant refinery in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, go to source the raw materials it needs to make fuels for the nation of 228 million people? Try crude fields around Midland in West Texas, about 6,500 miles away. This year, the mega plant Dangote, near the commercial capital Lagos, bought a third of its crude from the US — the lion’s share of it being the grade West Texas Intermediate – Midland, ship tracking compiled by Bloomberg shows. The proportion has been almost double what it was in 2024, the ramp-up year. The cargo purchases matter because they could just as easily have been sent on tankers to Europe, helping to determine the world’s most important physical oil price, Dated Brent. The fact they’re not means fewer are available for purchase in the North Sea, slightly limiting availability of benchmark barrels. They also underscore Nigeria’s longstanding challenges to boost output in line with the country’s ambitions. Dangote’s elevated purchases “probably at the margin supported the Brent market a little,” said Sparta Commodities analyst Neil Crosby. “I expect WTI to keep flowing to Dangote to some degree in the future, but the volumes will depend on price.” To be clear, the heightened flows are logical. No two crudes are identical and the profits from running them vary depending on what fuels each one churns out. WTI offers Dangote advantages over Nigerian crudes that result in improved yields of reformate and better gasoline blending capabilities, according to Randy Hurburun, senior refinery analyst at Energy Aspects Ltd. A spokesman for Dangote said the increased use of US oil reflects the refinery’s rising processing levels and a reduction of Nigerian crude that’s available to buy. WTI Midland is by far the largest stream of six grades that set Dated, as the benchmark is known among traders. It was added to the benchmark because of concerns that the other five — North Sea grades Brent, Forties, Oseberg, Ekofisk and Troll — were slowly running out, making trading potentially more volatile. In June and July alone, Dangote is expected to take in 14 million barrels of WTI Midland, according to traders who monitor the company’s buy tenders closely. Trading giant Vitol Group was the biggest supplier of US barrels, lists of vessel bookings show. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment. The extra WTI flows to the plant also coincided with relatively weak demand for the WTI Midland in Asia in recent months due to Chinese tariffs on US crude and availability of competing supplies of Abu Dhabi’s Murban crude, Crosby said.
Venezuela Defies U.S. Sanctions as Oil Exports Hold Steady -Venezuela’s oil exports remained largely unchanged in May despite mounting pressure from the U.S. and the expiration of key licenses that once allowed limited sanctioned trade. Increased shipments to China helped offset a sharp drop in U.S.-authorized sales as state-run PDVSA scrambled to re-route barrels ahead of tightening sanctions.According to internal PDVSA documents and vessel-tracking data, Venezuela shipped 779,000 bpd of crude and refined products last month—down only slightly from April’s 783,000 bpd. While exports to U.S.-authorized firms like Chevron and Reliance came to a halt, China-bound cargoes surged to 584,000 bpd, up from 521,000 bpd in April.The resilience comes despite a hard stop to licenses that previously allowed U.S. and European firms to legally engage with Venezuela’s sanctioned oil sector. May 27 marked the final deadline for Chevron and others to wind down operations. PDVSA canceled multiple cargoes to Chevron due to payment concerns, and new shipments of Boscan heavy crude—once sent to U.S. refiners—were instead dispatched to Asia.This shift follows Venezuela’s latest controversial election, which saw President Nicolás Maduro tighten his grip on power. With turnout estimated below 15% by the opposition, the Biden administration cited the lack of credible democratic reform as a key reason for letting the licenses expire. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed last week that no further extensions would be granted. In a last-minute move, PDVSA completed a large oil swap with France’s Maurel & Prom and trading giant Vitol—the final U.S.-authorized transaction under the previous license regime. Meanwhile, fuel imports jumped to 159,000 bpd as PDVSA rushed to stockpile heavy naphtha for blending operations. With Western doors closing and sanctions tightening, Venezuela’s oil now flows more heavily through intermediaries and shadow channels—keeping barrels moving, but with far less transparency and far more risk.
Ukraine to Prosecute Russian Captain for Causing Kerch Oil Spill -The Prosecutor General of Ukraine has filed papers in court seeking to hold a Russian sea captain responsible for oil pollution resulting from the loss of a vessel in the Kerch Strait in December 2024. It is the latest in a series of efforts launched by Ukraine attempting to prosecute mariners for their role in the incidents or for operating vessels transporting grain and other materials in the Russian-occupied regions. According to the reports, Ukraine is charging the captain with spilling 1,500 tons of fuel as part of a larger oil leak from a tanker that it says was in Ukrainian waters. They did not specify the name of the tanker or the captain, but it relates to the two Russian river sea tankers lost in December 2024 in the Kerch Strait. Ukraine in the court papers is reportedly estimating the damages at $480 million. “The suspect, contrary to the usual seafaring requirements, did not take into account the weather conditions in the waters of the Azov and Black Seas, as well as in the Kerch Strait, which led to the accident," the prosecutor charges. They said the vessel was transporting 4,000 tonnes of M-100 fuel from Volgograd to Kavkaz with the accusation the fuel was to be transferred to an ocean-going shadow fleet tanker. The river sea tanker Volgoneft 212 sank in a wintertime storm in December 2024 transporting 4,300 tonnes of oil. A second tanker of the same operator, Volgoneft 239, ran aground around the same time in the area near the Kerch bridge. Ukraine reported that oil was drifting ashore at various points in the Black Sea prompting a large-scale cleanup in the winter after the incident. Environmentalists warned it would be more difficult to clean up because of winter storms. In the past, Ukraine has detained and sought to prosecute crews for entering the ports of occupied Crimea and transporting grain or other materials that it alleges were stolen from Ukraine. In the summer of 2024, they seized a cargo ship named Usko Mfu registered in Cameroon while it was sailing near the port of Reni on the Danube. The courts ordered the vessel seized and last fall Ukraine reported it was prosecuting the ship’s officers for entering Sevastopol. In April 2025, Ukraine reported seizing another cargo vessel they accursed of looting grain from Crimea. In the current case, it is unclear if the prosecutor named a specific individual. Clearly, the captain would have been charged in absentia and it is unclear if they are also attempting to file charges against the owner of the Volgoneft tankers.
India’s Russian crude oil imports surge to 10-month high in May 2025 on price discounts - The Hindu India's imports of Russian crude oil surged to a 10-month high of 1.96 million barrels per day in May, driven by continued availability at significant discounts compared to global benchmark prices, according to ship-tracking data from Kpler.India, the world's third largest oil importing and consuming nation, bought from abroad around 5.1 million barrels of crude oil, which is converted into fuels like petrol and diesel in refineries.Of this, Russia was the largest supplier, accounting for over 38 per cent of the supplies. Iraq maintained its position as the second-largest supplier, with 1.2 million bpd of sales to India.
Coast Guard initiates steps to contain oil spill from sunken ship - The Hindu -Three Indian Coast Guard (ICG) vessels Vikram, Saksham, and Samarth are relying on infrared cameras to detect the extent of the oil spill in the vicinity of the Liberian container ship MSC ELSA 3 that sank off the Kochi coast on Sunday morning. They also utilised oil spill dispersant (OSD) to contain the spread of oil from the vessel that was carrying 84.44 MT of diesel and 367.1 MT of furnace oil when it sank. These apart, a dedicated pollution control vessel is being mobilised from Mumbai to catalyse oil spill containment efforts, while a Dornier aircraft of the ICG equipped with specialised gear is positioned in Kochi for aerial assessment of the oil spill, says a defence release. To ensure safety of other vessels, all ships through the route have been diverted, and mariners warned to navigate cautiously due to floating debris and potential navigation hazards. Two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) have been deployed on-site for round the clock monitoring, while pollution response vessel Samudra Prahari and additional OPVs have been mobilised with large quantities of OSD. The vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide. The Mercantile Marine department, Kochi, issued a pollution liability warning to the vessel owners MSC under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 while the MSC appointed T&T Salvage for container recovery, oil removal, and environmental clean-up. The ICG also advised the State government to prepare for shoreline clean-up and alert local communities not to handle any cargo or debris that may wash ashore. In addition, ICG officials are in constant communication with government agencies concerned, in an advisory capacity, for shoreline clean-up operation, it is learnt.
Goldman Sachs sees OPEC+ raising oil output by 0.41 mb/d in August (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs anticipates the eight country OPEC+ oil group will implement a final 0.41 million barrels per day (mb/d) production increase in August, the bank said in a note dated Sunday. "Relatively tight spot oil fundamentals, beats in hard global activity data, and seasonal summer support to oil demand suggest that the expected demand slowdown is unlikely to be sharp enough to stop raising production when deciding on August production levels on July 6th," Goldman Sachs said in a note. OPEC+, the world’s largest group of oil producers, stuck to its guns on Saturday with another big increase of 411,000 barrels per day for July as it looks to wrestle back market share and punish over-producers. The decision likely reflects relatively tight spot fundamentals, a resilient global economy, and an ongoing shift toward a long-term equilibrium aimed at normalizing spare capacity, supporting internal cohesion, and disciplining U.S. shale production, Goldman Sachs noted. Oil prices rebounded more than $1 a barrel in early Asian trade on Monday after OPEC+ decided to increase output in July by the same amount as it did in each of the prior two months, in line with market expectation. [O/R] Goldman Sachs expects OPEC+ to maintain flat production levels from September, citing slowing global growth in third quarter and new large-scale non-OPEC projects ramping up. Goldman maintained its cautious oil price forecast, projecting Brent crude to average $60 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) $56 per barrel for the remainder of 2025. For 2026, it sees Brent at $56 and WTI at $52 per barrel. The forecast reflects expected supply growth outside of U.S. shale will drive surpluses of 1 mbpd in 2025 and 1.5 mbpd in 2026. The bank mainted its oil price forecast stating a moderate upgrade to demand offsets the increase in OPEC+ supply. Goldman Sachs further cited an upward revision of historical International Energy Agency (IEA) Africa demand estimates, stronger-than-expected European demand data, and a softer electric vehicle (EV) outlook in Western markets as contributing factors.
Oil rises as Ukraine strikes Russian bases ahead of Istanbul peace talks -- Oil prices climbed on Monday amid rising tensions after Ukraine targeted several military air bases in Russia, as Kyiv and Moscow prepared for peace talks in Istanbul. International benchmark Brent crude increased by around 2.61%, trading at $64.24 per barrel at 10.26 am local time (0726 GMT), up from $62.60 at the previous session's close. Similarly, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose by about 2.88%, reaching $62.02 per barrel, compared to $60.28 in the prior session. Prices increased as Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) on Sunday claimed to have destroyed 34% of Russian strategic bombers capable of carrying strategic cruise missiles during attacks on military air bases in Russia. Ukrainian forces attacked Russia's military airfields with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the SBU said in a statement. The SBU carried out a special operation called "Spider Web," causing $7 billion in damage to Russia's strategic aviation, the statement said. As fighting escalates in the Russia-Ukraine war, attention has shifted to talks between the two sides set for today in Istanbul. The last negotiations between the two sides were held on May 16 at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace. The next round of talks between the two parties is expected to take place at 1 p.m. local time (1000 GMT) on Monday in Istanbul's Ciragan Palace. The prospect of new US sanctions against Russia if no agreement is reached with Ukraine soon is deepening supply concerns and driving prices higher. Last week, international media reported that US President Donald Trump was expected to move forward with additional sanctions on Russia. Meanwhile, eight countries in the OPEC+ alliance, made up of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied non-OPEC producers, agreed to raise supply by 411,000 barrels per day in July. The decision, made by Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman, was in line with expectations and is easing concerns about oversupply and downward pressure on prices. Elsewhere, developments related to US tariffs on its trading partners continue to drive price volatility. President Trump said during a Friday press conference in the Oval Office that China had violated its trade agreement with the US, adding that he would speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping and hoped to resolve the issue. Trump's remarks followed his accusation of China breaching the preliminary trade agreement after talks in Geneva on May 10-11, possibly fueling the trade tensions between the world's top two economies. Fears that renewed trade tensions could dampen oil demand are curbing further price gains.
Oil gains on supply concerns as wildfires disrupt Canada supply, OPEC+ keeps output plans unchanged (Reuters) - Oil prices climbed nearly 3% on Monday on supply concerns as producer group OPEC+ decided not to accelerate plans to hike output and wildfires in Canada's oil-producing province disrupted production. Brent crude futures settled $1.85, or 2.95%, higher at $64.63 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained $1.73, or 2.85%, to $62.52. Wildfires burning in Canada's oil-producing province of Alberta have affected about 7% of the country's overall crude oil output as of Monday, according to Reuters calculations. At least two thermal oil sands operators south of the industry hub of Fort McMurray evacuated workers from their sites over the weekend and shut production as a precaution. "The wildfires in Alberta are now starting to seep in," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital in New York. Also supporting prices, the U.S. dollar (.DXY), opens new tab slipped across the board on Monday on worries that Trump's fresh tariff threats might hurt growth and stoke inflation. A weaker U.S. currency makes dollar-priced commodities such as oil less expensive for buyers using other currencies. Prices were also supported by a perception of increased geopolitical risk after Ukrainian drone strikes against Russia over the weekend, said Rystad Energy's Jorge Leon. Meanwhile, mixed signals from Iran-U.S. talks kept market participants on edge. An Iranian diplomat said on Monday Iran was poised to reject a U.S. proposal to end a decades-old nuclear dispute. Delegations from the two countries made some progress after a fifth round of talks in Rome last month. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, decided on Saturday to raise output by 411,000 barrels per day in July, the third consecutive monthly increase of that amount, as it looks to wrestle back market share and punish members that have produced more than their quotas. Sources familiar with OPEC+ talks said on Friday that the group could discuss an even larger increase. Oil traders said the 411,000 bpd increase had already been priced into Brent and WTI futures. Phil Flynn, a senior analyst with Price Futures Group, said investors had expected the oil-producing group to increase production by more than it did. "I think they were caught the wrong way." Goldman Sachs analysts expect OPEC+ to implement a final 410,000 bpd production increase in August. "Relatively tight spot oil fundamentals, beats in hard global activity data and seasonal summer support to oil demand suggest that the expected demand slowdown is unlikely to be sharp enough to stop raising production when deciding on August production levels on July 6," the bank said in a note. Morgan Stanley analysts also said they expect 411,000 bpd to be added back each month up to a total of 2.2 million bpd by October. "With this latest announcement, there is little sign that the pace of quota increases is slowing," the bank's analysts said.
Oil Prices Rise Amid Supply Concerns Linked to Iran, Russia, and Canada Oil prices rose in early Asian trading on Tuesday due to growing supply concerns, as Iran appeared poised to reject a proposed U.S. nuclear deal that would be key to easing sanctions on one of the world’s largest oil producers, while wildfires disrupted production in Canada. Brent crude futures climbed 55 cents, or 0.85%, to $65.18 a barrel by 12:00 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 59 cents, or 0.94%, to $63.11 a barrel, after gaining nearly 1% earlier in the session. Both benchmarks had risen about 3% in the previous session after OPEC+ agreed to maintain its planned production increase of 411,000 barrels per day, a figure lower than some in the market had feared and consistent with the past two months' increases. Geopolitical tensions further supported prices on Tuesday. An Iranian diplomat said on Monday that Iran was on the verge of rejecting a U.S. proposal to resolve the decades-long nuclear dispute, stating that the deal fails to serve Tehran’s interests or soften Washington’s stance on uranium enrichment. If the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks collapse, sanctions on Iranian oil would remain in place, restricting supply and supporting higher oil prices. Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to fuel supply worries and raise geopolitical risk premiums. Adding to supply fears, a wildfire in Alberta, Canada, has led to the temporary shutdown of some oil and gas production, potentially curbing output. According to Reuters calculations, the wildfires have impacted over 344,000 barrels per day of oil sands production—around 7% of Canada’s total crude oil output.
Concerns Over the Wildfires in Canada's Province of Alberta - The crude market on Tuesday continued to trade higher as supply risks offset concerns over increased OPEC+ output. The market was supported by Iran’s potential rejection of the latest U.S. nuclear proposal to end their nuclear dispute. On Monday, an Iranian diplomat said Iran was poised to reject a U.S. proposal, saying it fails to address Iran’s interests. The market was also supported by concerns over the wildfires in Canada’s province of Alberta that has shut in more than 344,000 bpd of oil sands production. Further support came from a weaker dollar, with the dollar index near six week lows amid concerns over the economic outlook due to President Donald Trump’s tariff policy. The oil market posted a low of $62.40 early in the session before it continued to trade higher and posted a high of $63.89 by mid-day. The market later settled in a sideways trading range during the remainder of the session. The July WTI contract ended the session up 89 cents at $63.41 and the August Brent contract settled up $1.00 at $65.63. The product markets ended the session higher, with the heating oil market settling up 5.54 cents at $2.0999 and the RB market settling up 2.63 cents at $2.0788. Senior Ukrainian officials visited Washington on Tuesday seeking U.S. support against Russia, as Kyiv showed its ability to fight on by setting off an explosive device under a bridge that has become a symbol of the Kremlin’s claims on Ukrainian territory. A day after talks in Istanbul that made little progress towards ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, Ukraine’s SBU security service said it hit a road and rail bridge that links Russia and Crimea below the water level with explosives. The extent of any damage was not clear but there were no immediate signs of traffic disruption. The bridge is a flagship project for Russian President Vladimir Putin, built after he annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, arrived in the United States along with Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svrydenko. Ukraine says Moscow is stalling the peace talks and President Zelenskiy’s chief of staff signaled that he would press Ukrainian demands for tougher sanctions on Russia. Bloomberg reported that according to Kayrros, which monitors global oil inventories, is estimating that crude oil inventories have grown by some 170 million barrels over the past 100 days, led in part by gains in Chinese crude stocks. RBC Capital Markets in a recent research note estimates the global crude stocks during the second quarter have grown by 1.5 million b/d faster through the middle of May compared to the same period last year.Wildfires in Alberta have shut down nearly 350,000 b/d of heavy crude oil production at the start of this week due to raging wildfires. Cenovus Energy, MEG Energy and Canadian Natural Resources are among the companies that have curtailed output due to the Caribou Lake Wildfire.
Oil rises as geopolitical concerns and weaker dollar support -Oil rose on Tuesday, in the face of rising geopolitical tensions as the war in Ukraine ramped up despite peace talks in Turkey and Iran was set to reject a U.S. nuclear deal proposal that would be key to easing sanctions on the major oil producer. Crude had gained nearly 3% on Monday after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, known as OPEC+, kept its July output hike at 411,000 barrels per day, the same as earlier months and less than some in the market had feared. Brent crude futures gained $1, or 1.55%, to close at $65.63 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 89 cents, or 1.42%, to settle at $63.41. "Risk premia have filtered back into the oil price following deep Ukraine strikes on Russia over the weekend," said analyst Harry Tchilinguirian of Onyx Capital Group. "But more importantly for the barrel count, there is the to and fro between the U.S. and Iran regarding uranium enrichment." Ukraine and Russia at the weekend ramped up the war with one of the biggest drone battles of their conflict, a Russian highway bridge blown up over a passenger train and an attack on nuclear-capable bombers deep in Siberia. Iran, meanwhile, was poised to reject a U.S. proposal to end a decades-old nuclear dispute, an Iranian diplomat said on Monday, saying it fails to address Tehran's interests or soften Washington's stance on uranium enrichment. If the nuclear talks fail, it could mean continued sanctions on Iran, which would limit Iranian supply and be supportive of oil prices. Further support came from the weak dollar. The dollar index held near six-week lows as investors weighed the outlook for U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policy and its potential to hurt growth and stoke inflation. A weaker U.S. currency makes dollar-priced commodities such as oil less expensive for holders of other currencies. "Crude oil prices continue to rise, supported by the weakening dollar," said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova. Adding to supply worries, wildfires burning in Canada's province of Alberta have affected more than 344,000 barrels per day of oil sands production, or about 7% of the country's overall crude output, according to Reuters calculations. Further price support could come if forecasts of a drop in U.S. crude inventories are realised in the latest round of weekly supply reports.
Oil prices slip as rising OPEC+ output, tariff fears weigh on outlook -Oil prices edged lower in early Asian trade on Wednesday, weighed down by a loosening supply-demand balance following increasing OPEC+ output and lingering concerns over the global economic outlook due to tariff tensions. Brent crude futures dipped 5 cents, or 0.1%, to $65.58 a barrel by 0040 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $63.32 a barrel, down 9 cents, or 0.1%. Both benchmarks climbed about 2% on Tuesday to a two-week high, supported by worries over supply disruptions from Canadian wildfires and expectations that Iran will reject a U.S. nuclear deal proposal that is key to easing sanctions on the major oil producer. ”Despite fears over Canadian supply and stalled Iran-U.S. nuclear talks, oil markets are struggling to extend gains,” said Tsuyoshi Ueno, senior economist at NLI Research Institute, adding that OPEC+ production increases were capping the upside. Ueno said hopes for progress in U.S.-China trade talks were overshadowed by profit-taking, as investors remained cautious over the broader economic fallout from tariffs. U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will likely speak this week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday, days after Trump accused China of violating an agreement to roll back tariffs and trade restrictions. As the Trump administration pressed U.S. trading partners to provide their best offers by Wednesday, the protracted negotiations and moving deadlines have led economists to scale back growth forecasts. On Tuesday, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) cut its global growth forecast as the fallout from Trump’s trade war takes a bigger toll on the U.S. economy. Meanwhile, scores of wildfires have swept across Canada since the start of May, forcing thousands of evacuations and disrupting crude oil production in the country. U.S. crude stocks fell by 3.3 million barrels in the week ended May 30, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Gasoline inventories rose by 4.7 million barrels and distillate stocks rose by about 760,000 barrels. [API/S] A Reuters poll of nine analysts estimated an average draw of 1 million barrels in crude stocks.
Oil Prices Tumble On Report That Saudis Want To 'Super-Size' OPEC Production Hikes - Crude prices are higher this morning on signs of progress in trade talks between the US and EU and the API report of a major drawdown in American crude inventories (despite product builds). Geopolitical tensions continue to drive prices more aggressively as the possibility of a Putin-Zelensky meeting came and went and Iranian peace deal talks stumble.The big question for traders is - will the official data confirm API's drawdown? API:
- Crude -3.28mm
- Cushing +952k
- Gasoline +4.73mm
- Distillates +761k
DOE
- Crude -4.30mm
- Cushing +576k
- Gasoline +5.22mm
- Distillates +4.23mm
The official data confirmed API's report with a large crude draw offset by big draws in products... Even including the 509k barrel addition to the SPR, total crude stocks fell by the most since December... Update (1130ET): Having surged overnight and extended gains on a big crude draw (and trade-talk progress with the Europeans), oil prices are tanking now as Bloomberg reports that, according to people familiar with the matter, Saudi Arabia wants OPEC+ to continue with accelerated oil supply hikes in the coming months as it puts greater importance on regaining lost market share.The kingdom, which holds an increasingly dominant position within OPEC+, wants the group to add at least 411,000 barrels a day in August and potentially September, the people said, asking not to be named because the information was private.Riyadh is keen to unwind its cuts as quickly as possible to take advantage of peak demand during the northern hemisphere summer, one person said.... ...the kingdom sees no reason to slow down — as Russia, Algeria and Oman suggested at the last OPEC+ meeting — because seasonal demand will peak in the coming months, the people said.Before the group’s most recent meeting, there had been some discussion of an even larger increase, according to people familiar with the matter. The reaction was instant, slamming WTI down 2%...We would imagine Russia will not be pleased at this outburst (or the US shale producers or the Kazakhs), but Trump might be happy with what his old friends in The Kingdom are saying (and doing).
Oil settles 1% lower after US data shows large builds in fuel stocks (Reuters) - Oil prices settled down just over 1% on Wednesday after U.S. data showed surprisingly large build in gasoline and diesel inventories, swelling fuel supplies with OPEC+ planning more output and trade tensions clouding the energy demand outlook. Brent crude futures closed down 77 cents, or 1.2%, at $64.86 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled 56 cents, or 0.9% lower at $62.85. U.S. gasoline stocks swelled by 5.2 million barrels, the Energy Information Administration said. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a rise of 600,000 barrels. Distillate stockpiles rose by 4.2 million barrels compared with expectations for a rise of 1 million barrels. Crude inventories dropped by 4.3 million barrels. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a draw of 1 million barrels. "The report is in my view bearish, due to large builds in refined products," Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst with UBS. "There was a strong increase in refinery demand for crude, resulting in a large crude draw. But post-Memorial Day, the strong supply increase with weaker implied demand resulted in large refined product inventory increases," he added. Plans by OPEC+ producers to increase output by 411,000 barrels per day (bpd) in July were also weighing on investors. On Tuesday, both benchmarks climbed about 2% to a two-week high, driven by worries about supply disruptions and expectations that OPEC member Iranwould reject a U.S. nuclear deal proposal key to easing sanctions. Russia posted a 35% decline in May oil and gas revenue, which could make Moscow more resistant to further OPEC+ output hikes, as such moves weigh on crude prices.On Tuesday, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) cut its global growth forecast as the fallout from Trump's trade policies takes a bigger toll on the U.S. economy, which would in turn impact oil demand.. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are likely to speak this week, days after Trump accused China of violating a deal to roll back tariffs and trade curbs. U.S. economic activity has declined and higher tariff rates have put upward pressure on costs and prices in the weeks since Federal Reserve policymakers last met to set interest rates, the central bank said in its latest snapshot of the economy. Geopolitical tensions continued to escalate. Russian President Vladimir Putin told Trump that he must respond to high-profile Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia's nuclear-capable bomber fleet and a deadly bridge bombing that Moscow blamed on Kyiv. "Overall, we see limited upside potential amid ongoing concerns about a supply glut and softening demand growth," analyst Ole Hansen at Saxo Bank said in a note. Meanwhile, production operations in Canada, some of which was shut-in due to wildfires, were restarting on Wednesday. Canadian Natural Resources said it has restarted its Jackfish 1 oil sands site in northern Alberta after determining wildfires in the region were a safe distance away. Wildfires in Canada had reduced the country's output by some 344,000 bpd, according to Reuters calculations on Tuesday.
Oil dips on surprise US build, Saudi price cuts - Oil prices ticked lower in Asian trade on Thursday trade, pressured by a surprise build in United States fuel stockpiles and price cuts by Saudi Arabia for July crude deliveries to Asia. By 3:05 pm AEST (5:05 am GMT), Brent crude futures fell 18 cents, or 0.3%, to US$64.68 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped 30 cents, or 0.5%, to US$62.55. The losses followed a near 1% decline in the previous session, after official data showed an unexpected rise in U.S. gasoline and distillate inventories, indicating subdued demand in the world’s largest economy. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration revealed gasoline and diesel stocks rose more than expected, rising by 5.2 million barrels versus a 1.5 million-barrel build expected.Meanwhile, data revealed a 4.3 million barrel draw in crude oil inventories - far above analyst forecasts of a 900,000-barrel decrease.Adding further pressure, Saudi Arabia's state firm Aramco, the world's leading oil exporter, reduced its official selling price for July-loading crude to Asia. The cuts brought prices to near four-year lows and came just days after Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) announced it would raise output by 411,000 barrels per day starting in July. The price reduction is widely seen as part of a strategic move by Saudi Arabia and Russia - leaders within the OPEC+ alliance - to regain market share and curb overproduction by some member states, Reuters reported. Elsewhere, tensions continued to simmer across global trade corridors. Canada prepared retaliatory measures while the European Union reported progress in trade negotiations, as new U.S. tariffs on metals disrupted global economic relations and added urgency to ongoing discussions with Washington.
Oil Futures Jump on Trump-Xi Call -- Oil futures rebounded Thursday morning following Chinese state media reporting of a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. The conversation, the first direct contact between the two leaders since President Trump took office, sparked hopes of easing trade tensions between the U.S. and China. NYMEX-traded WTI for July delivery was up $0.92 bbl to trade near $63.77 bbl, and ICE Brent for August delivery rose $0.83 bbl to $65.69 bbl. July RBOB gasoline futures gained $0.0344 to $2.0684 gallon, while the front-month ULSD futures contract added $0.0325 to $2.1026 gallon. The U.S. Dollar Index softened by 0.095 points to 98.635. U.S. tariff policy has soured global growth outlooks over the past months, leading prices lower. On Tuesday, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development cut growth forecasts for both the U.S. and global economy. U.S. GDP is expected to grow 1.6% this year, compared to 2.8% in 2024. Globally, economic growth is projected to slow to 2.9% this year, compared to 3.3% last year. Prices dropped in the previous session on reports of large builds to U.S. gasoline and diesel inventories, despite falling crude oil stocks. Commercial crude oil inventories fell by 4.3 million bbls to 436.1 million bbls last week, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data, while gasoline and diesel inventories expanded by 5.2 and 4.2 million bbls, respectively.
Oil Market Update: Recovery After Previous Losses - The crude market traded higher on Thursday, rebounding from the previous day’s losses, following reports that China’s President Xi Jinping spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump by phone. In overnight trading, the market bounced higher after the market fell more than 1% on Wednesday after the EIA report showed that U.S. gasoline and distillates stocks increased more than expected and Saudi Arabia cut its July prices for Asian crude buyers to nearly the lowest level in two months and the Bloomberg News report that Saudi Arabia is open to additional crude production hikes in a bid to increase its market share. The oil market posted a low of $62.50 in overnight trading and traded within Wednesday trading range before it breached its previous high and posted a high of $63.98 on the news that the U.S. and China agreed to more trade talks following a phone call between the two leaders. The market later erased some of its gains and settled in a sideways trading range. The July WTI contract ended the session up 52 cents at $63.37 and the August Brent contract ended up 48 cents at $65.34. Meanwhile, the product markets also ended the session higher, with the heating oil market settling up 2.44 cents at $2.0945 and the RB market settling up 2.89 cents at $2.0629.U.S. President Donald Trump said U.S. and Chinese teams will meet shortly after he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping discussed trade in a phone call on Thursday, adding that there “should no longer be any questions” on rare earth products. President Donald Trump said trade talks with China remained on track and were in good shape, adding that he expected to go to China at some point. President Trump said he expected President Xi to visit the United States as well. He added that U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick would meet with top Chinese officials.Bloomberg News reported that China has avoided buying U.S. crude for a second consecutive month as the country’s trade dispute with the U.S continues. U.S. crude oil exports in April fell by 4% on the month to 3.883 million bpd, the lowest level this year amid the absence of Chinese purchases. In the same month a year earlier, China bought 297,000 bpd from the U.S. and three times that amount in 2023. March and April mark the first time since the pandemic that China’s refiners did not purchase U.S. oil for two consecutive months.The International Energy Agency said an increase in clean energy spending is expected to drive a record $3.3 trillion in global energy investment in 2025, despite economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions. The IEA said in its annual World Energy Investment report that clean energy technologies, including renewables, nuclear, and energy storage are set to attract $2.2 trillion in investment, twice the amount expected for fossil fuels. Investment in oil and gas is expected to decline, with upstream oil investment set to fall by 6% in 2025, driven by lower oil prices and demand expectations and the first decline since the Covid crisis in 2020.
Oil settles up as US, China teams to meet following Trump, Xi trade call (Reuters) - Oil prices settled higher on Thursday, recovering from the previous day's drop, on news that the U.S. and China agreed to more trade talks following a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Brent crude futures settled up 48 cents, or 0.7%, at $65.34 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled up 52 cents, or 0.8%, at $63.37 a barrel. "If we step back from the brink of a major trade war, it will increase demand expectations for oil both in the U.S. and in China," s The official Xinhua news agency reported earlier that the talks were held at Trump's request. Trump said on social media his call with Xi focused primarily on trade and led to "a very positive conclusion." He announced further lower-level U.S.-China discussions. "We're in very good shape with China and the trade deal," he told reporters later. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Trump are also in direct communication as part of Ottawa's bid to persuade Washington to lift tariffs, Industry Minister Melanie Joly said. The news encouraged investors a day after oil fell 1% as data showed U.S. gasoline and distillate stockpiles grew more than expected, reflecting weaker demand in the world's largest economy. Geopolitical events and wildfires in Canada that threaten to reduce oil production are providing further price support, despite a potentially oversupplied market in the second half of the year with expected OPEC+ production hikes. Curbing gains on Thursday, Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, cut its July prices for Asian crude buyers to nearly the lowest level in two months. The Saudi price cut followed a move by OPEC+ last weekend to increase output by 411,000 barrels per day for July.The strategy of Saudi Arabia, OPEC's de facto leader, is partly to punish over-producers by potentially unwinding 2.2 million bpd of cuts between June and the end of October, in a bid to wrestle back market share, Reuters previously reported. In economic news, data on Wednesday showed the U.S. services sector contracted in May for the first time in nearly a year. The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits increased for the week ending May 31, marking the second straight weekly jump, the Labor Department said on Thursday, citing softening labor market conditions amid mounting economic headwinds from Trump's tariffs. The release on Friday of the U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for May could influence the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate policy, while the market's focus will also be on geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.
Oil Prices Slip Amid Mounting Global Uncertainties -- Crude oil prices dipped on Friday as volatility in the global commodity market persisted, driven by a complex mix of supply-demand imbalances and geopolitical tensions. The imbalance appears multidimensional: the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) are increasing production, even as demand weakens—particularly in China, where sluggish economic data and tariff concerns are dampening consumption outlook. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war continues to disrupt both the supply and demand dynamics of global crude, while escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly involving Israel, are also contributing to market unease. Despite these pressures, oil prices managed to remain relatively stable, buoyed slightly by developments such as renewed US-China trade communications and continued geopolitical friction in Eastern Europe. Brent crude, the international benchmark, edged up 0.04% to trade at $65.03 per barrel, compared to $65.00 in the previous session. Similarly, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained 0.06% to $62.64 per barrel, up from $62.60. Supply-side uncertainty grew further amid reports of potential new US sanctions on Russia and stalled nuclear negotiations with Iran—both of which could impact global supply chains. Meanwhile, OPEC+ reaffirmed its intention to increase output starting July, in line with previous guidance. On the demand side, weak macroeconomic signals from both the United States and China continued to weigh heavily. A notable build-up in US petroleum product inventories only added to concerns about sluggish demand in the near term. Elsewhere, a phone conversation on Thursday between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping revived cautious optimism around trade negotiations. However, analysts warn that the possibility of additional US tariffs still looms, leaving markets wary of a sustained breakthrough. In a separate development that stirred investor sentiment, tensions between President Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk surfaced after Musk openly criticized proposed tax legislation—a political spat that added to the broader climate of uncertainty in US economic policy.
Oil Rises as Solid USA Jobs Data Pushes Algos to Drop Short Bets | Rigzone - Oil rose as stronger-than-expected US jobs data eased concerns about an economic slowdown that would crimp demand, spurring algorithmic traders to reduce short positions. West Texas Intermediate climbed almost 2% to settle above $64 a barrel, notching the largest weekly gain since November. Crude followed equities higher after US job growth in May narrowly surpassed economist forecasts, allaying concerns of near-term demand deterioration. The figures also pushed economy-sensitive diesel futures to a two-week high. “Trading is relatively quiet today, with macroeconomic factors continuing to drive the narrative,” said Rebecca Babin, a senior energy trader at CIBC Private Wealth Group. “The unemployment data is easing concerns that demand will sharply decline due to tariff uncertainty.” The positive economic data spurred commodity trading advisers to ease off of their bearish tilt. The funds, which can accelerate price momentum, liquidated short positions to sit at negative 9% short in WTI on Friday, compared with 64% short on June 5, according to data from Bridgeton Research Group. The rally was supported by enduring risk-on sentiment from optimistic signs on trade talks between the US and China, the world’s largest importer of crude. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, agreed to further negotiations over tariffs and supplies of rare earth minerals. The positive signals come against the backdrop of an oil market that has been increasingly rangebound in recent weeks. Prices have traded in a $5 band since the middle of May, and a gauge of volatility for US crude futures is at the lowest since early April. Oil has been buffeted in Trump’s second term as trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies menace demand. At the same time, the OPEC+ alliance has been adding barrels back to the market at a faster-than-expected rate, further clouding an already weak outlook for the second half of the year. The number of oil rigs in the US, meanwhile, plummeted to the lowest in about four years as shale explorers anticipate weakening global oil demand. WTI for July delivery rose 1.9% to settle at $64.58 a barrel in New York. Brent for August settlement added 1.7% to settle at $66.47 a barrel.
Crude climbs on US jobs report, China talks (Reuters) - Crude rose more than $1 a barrel on Friday, posting its first weekly gain in three weeks after a favorable U.S. jobs report and resumed trade talks between the U.S. and China, raising hopes for growth in the world's two largest economies. Brent crude futures settled at $66.47 a barrel, up $1.13, or 1.73%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude finished at $64.58, up $1.21 or 1.91%. Both benchmarks settled with weekly gains after declining for two straight weeks. Brent has advanced 2.75% this week, while WTI is trading 4.9% higher. "I think the jobs report was Goldilocks," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with the Price Futures Group. "It was not too hot, not too cold but just right to increase the chances for an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve." The U.S. Labor Department's monthly employment report showed the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2% last month. Employers added 139,000 jobs, which combined with downward revisions to prior months' estimates showed a cooling in labor demand but nothing abrupt; by comparison, monthly job gains averaged 160,000 last year. A rate cut by the U.S. central bank, much desired by President Donald Trump, could boost economic growth and demand for petroleum. "This market had priced in a lot of bad options," "None of it has come to pass. OPEC+ held the line. There have been talks between China and the U.S." China's official Xinhua news agency said trade talks between Xi and Trump took place at Washington's request on Thursday. Trump said the call had led to a "very positive conclusion", adding the U.S. was "in very good shape with China and the trade deal". The oil market continued to swing with news on tariff negotiations and data showing how trade uncertainty and the impact of the U.S. levies are flowing through into the global economy. On Saturday, OPEC+, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, agreed to ramp up output by a previously announced 411,000 barrels per day (bpd) in July. The group rejected a Saudi recommendation for a bigger output hike, part of a broader strategy to win back market share for OPEC+. "The market looks balanced in 2Q/3Q on our estimates as oil demand rises in summer and peaks in July-August, matching supply increases from OPEC+," HSBC said in a note. The U.S. oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by four to 559 in the week to June 6, the lowest since November 2021, energy services firm Baker Hughes said on Friday. Oil rigs fell by nine to 442 this week, while gas rigs rose by five to 114, Baker Hughes said.
Israeli Military Admits To Shooting Palestinians Near Gaza Aid Site, 27 Reported Killed - Gaza’s Health Ministry said Tuesday that at least 27 people were killed when Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians attempting to collect aid near a distribution site in southern Gaza.The Israeli military admitted that it opened fire at Palestinians near the distribution sites, claiming it targeted “suspects” who were approaching IDF troops. The statement did not allege that the Palestinians were armed. Axios later reported that the IDF acknowledged it fired at civilians.“Earlier today, during the movement of the crowd along the designated routes toward the aid distribution site—approximately half a kilometer from the site—IDF troops identified several suspects moving toward them, deviating from the designated routes,” the IDF said in a statement.“The troops carried out warning fire, and after the suspects failed to retreat, additional shots were directed near individual suspects who advanced toward the troops,” the statement added.
Israeli Defense Minister: 'We Will Build a Jewish Israeli State' in the West Bank - Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on Friday that Israel would build a “Jewish Israeli state” in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.Katz’s comments came a day after the Israeli government approved 22 additional West Bank settlements, which are illegal under international law. The approval marked the biggest single settlement expansion in more than 30 years, according to the Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now.Katz said the settlement expansion was a response to French President Emmanuel Macron and other world leaders who have been considering recognizing a Palestinian state.“This is a decisive response to the terrorist organizations that are trying to harm and weaken our hold on this land – and it is also a clear message to Macron and his associates: they will recognize a Palestinian state on paper – but we will build the Jewish Israeli state here on the ground,” Katz said. “The paper will be thrown into the trash bin of history, and the State of Israel will flourish and prosper,” he added.
Ukraine Targets Russian Airfields in Major Drone Attack - The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted a large-scale drone attack deep inside Russian territory on Sunday that targeted several Russian airfields.The Russian Defense Ministry said the attack targeted five Russian regions, including the Amur Oblast in Russia’s far east, which is over 3,000 miles from Ukraine, and a base in the Irkutsk Oblast, over 2,500 miles from the Ukrainian border.The attack also targeted the northern region of Murmansk and the western oblasts of Ivanovo and Ryazan. The Russian Defense Ministry said that “several aircraft” caught fire in Murmansk and Irkutsk and that the attacks were launched “in the exact proximity” of the airfields in the region.The Defense Ministry said the attacks were “repelled” in the other three regions. “No casualties were reported either among servicemen or civilians. Some of those involved in the terror attacks were detained,” the ministry said.A Ukrainian official told Reuters that the SBU was able to pull off the attack by hiding explosive-laden drones inside the roofs of wooden sheds. The sheds were loaded onto trucks driven near the bases, and the roof panels were lifted off by a remotely activated mechanism, allowing the drones to fly out.Videos on social media show drones flying out of a truck near the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk. Ukrainian officials said the attack was planned for more than a year and claimed it destroyed 41 Russian aircraft, including TU-95 long-range bombers, though the number hasn’t been confirmed by the Russian side.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as a “brilliant operation” in his nightly address. ” It took place on enemy territory and was aimed exclusively at military targets – specifically, the equipment used in strikes against Ukraine. Russia suffered truly significant losses – entirely justified and deserved,” he said.
Ukraine destroys 40 aircraft deep inside Russia ahead of peace talks in Istanbul (AP) — A Ukrainian drone attack has destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep in Russia’s territory, Ukraine’s Security Service said on Sunday, while Moscow pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones just hours before a new round of direct peace talks in Istanbul. A military official, who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to disclose operational details, said the far-reaching attack took more than a year and a half to execute and was personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In his evening address, Zelenskyy said that 117 drones had been used in the operation. He claimed the operation had been headquartered out of an office next to the local FSB headquarters. The FSB is the Russian intelligence and security service. The military source said it was an “extremely complex” operation, involving the smuggling of first-person view, or FPV, drones to Russia, where they were then placed in mobile wooden houses. “Later, drones were hidden under the roofs of these houses while already placed on trucks. At the right moment, the roofs of the houses were remotely opened, and the drones flew to hit Russian bombers,” the source said. Social media footage shared by Russian media appeared to show the drones rising from inside containers while other panels lay discarded on the road. One clip appeared to show men climbing onto a truck in an attempt to halt the drones. The drones hit 41 planes stationed at military airfields on Sunday afternoon, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M aircraft, the official said. Moscow has previously used Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers to launch missiles at Ukraine, while A-50s are used to coordinate targets and detect air defenses and guided missiles. The Security Service of Ukraine said that the operation, which it codenamed “Web”, had destroyed 34% of Russia’s fleet of air missile carriers with damages estimated at $7 billion. The claim could not be independently verified. Russia’s Defense Ministry in a statement confirmed the attacks, which damaged aircraft and sparked fires on air bases in the Irkutsk region, more than 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Ukraine, as well as the Murmansk region in the north, it said. Strikes were also repelled in the Amur region in Russia’s Far East and in the western regions of Ivanovo and Ryazan, the ministry said. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was briefed on Ukraine’s attack Russia during a stop at Nellis Air Force Base and was monitoring the situation. A senior defense official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters that the U.S. was not given notification before the attack. The official said it represented a level of sophistication the U.S. had not seen before.
NATO risks nuclear catastrophe with attack on Russian airports -- The destruction of strategic bombers deep inside Russia by the Ukrainian secret service SBU shows that NATO will stop at nothing to escalate the war with Russia, even if it means provoking a nuclear catastrophe. On Sunday, around 120 Ukrainian drones, which had previously been smuggled into the country, attacked four Russian military airfields in a coordinated operation. Two of the airfields—Belaya in Eastern Siberia and Olenia near the Finnish-Russian border—are thousands of kilometers away from Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky personally boasted on X about the “absolutely brilliant success” and announced that it had been a long-planned coup: “One year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective implementation.” The SBU released videos of the attacks. According to its information, more than 40 combat and reconnaissance aircraft were destroyed, about 34 percent of Russian bombers capable of launching cruise missiles. Well-informed Russian bloggers estimate a lower number, but even according to their information, around a dozen aircraft went up in flames. It is inconceivable that NATO was not informed and closely involved. Such a complex operation, prepared over a long period of time, cannot be carried out without reconnaissance data that only the US has at its disposal. Military and intelligence officials from NATO and Ukraine are in constant, close contact, and President Zelensky exchanges information with the heads of government of NATO countries on an almost daily basis. The action was obviously designed to humiliate and provoke the Russian government. The following day, the second round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine took place in Istanbul, which ended after only an hour without any significant results. In Moscow, the attack will be interpreted as a NATO attack on strategic targets within Russia, and the regime will respond accordingly. Official sources have so far remained cautious. The Russian Ministry of Defense merely stated that “some aviation equipment had caught fire” and that “all terrorist attacks” had been repelled. But bloggers close to the Russian military are calling the attack “Russia’s Pearl Harbor.” In December 1941, the Japanese air force destroyed parts of the American Pacific Fleet in the Hawaiian port. The following day, the US declared war on Japan and entered World War II. The widely read channel “Dva Majora” accused NATO of “directly undermining the nuclear strategic balance” and “reducing our country’s nuclear protection.” The Telegram channel “Rybar,” with 1.3 million subscribers, called for an end to talks with Ukraine and a “new level of escalation of the conflict.” The newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets, the second largest in the country, described June 1 as a “black day for Russia’s long-range and military transport aircraft” and called for the same “determination and harshness” against Ukraine as Israel has shown against Hamas. President Putin will respond to the growing pressure, and NATO’s experienced strategists know this very well. Attacks on NATO targets outside Ukraine that have a similar strategic significance to the destroyed Russian bombers cannot be ruled out. The danger of further escalation and expansion of the war in Ukraine, including the use of nuclear weapons, is greater than ever before. What is prompting NATO to take this risk? Why is it continuing to escalate a war that has already cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers? The history of the war in Ukraine itself provides an answer. This was never the “unprovoked Russian war of aggression,” as portrayed by the media. The Russian oligarchs, who had become rich by plundering the social property of the Soviet Union and whose interests Putin represents, always sought admission into the circle of capitalist “great powers.” Putin himself was therefore celebrated with a standing ovation by the German Bundestag in 2001. But neither the US nor the major European powers wanted to share with the Russian oligarchs. Driven by mounting economic and financial crises and the pursuit of raw materials, markets and profits, they broke one agreement after another that they had made since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and pushed further and further eastward economically and militarily. After NATO had annexed all of Eastern Europe and the former Baltic Soviet republics, it also reached out to Ukraine and Georgia, aiming to destroy Russia.
Russia, Ukraine Agree on Prisoner Swap But No Progress on Ceasefire - Russian and Ukrainian officials held a second round of direct talks in Istanbul on Monday and agreed to move forward on another prisoner swap, but did not appear to make any progress toward a ceasefire or lasting peace deal as the two sides remain very far apart.Russia and Ukraine agreed to return the bodies of more than 12,000 soldiers, and up to 1,200 POWs from each side could also be exchanged. Each side released 1,000 POWs following the first round of talks in mid-May.During the talks on Monday, which lasted about an hour, Russia presented its terms for a peace deal, which include Ukrainian troops withdrawing from territory in the four oblasts Moscow annexed in 2022. It also requires Ukrainian neutrality, a commitment that Ukraine will remain a non-nuclear-armed state, and limits on Ukraine’s military capabilities. Ukraine’s proposal for peace does not include any of Russia’s conditions, as the two sides remain very far apart. According to Reuters, Ukraine’s outline includes no restrictions on Ukraine’s military strength, no recognition of Russian sovereignty over parts of Ukraine taken by Moscow’s forces, and reparations for Ukraine.
Key takeaways from the latest Ukraine-Russia talks in Turkey -Delegations from Russia and Ukraine wrapped up peace talks Monday in Istanbul after just more than an hour, departing the meeting with plans to swap prisoners but no breakthrough on a proposed ceasefire. Ukrainian officials and Russian state media reported the second round of negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow since March 2022 yielded pledges to return the bodies of dead soldiers to the other side, in addition to a large swap of prisoners of war (POW). nMore than a dozen people on each side attended the talks at Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace, with the Ukrainian delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and the Russian team led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The United States has led efforts to bring about an end to the war, starting with a ceasefire, but the Kremlin has been a holdout in agreeing to any end of hostilities. Weekend events seemed to move in the wrong direction. Kyiv launched a surprise drone attack on Sunday on air bases deep inside Russia, and Moscow fired 472 drones at Ukraine — the largest number of drones fired by the country since it first invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Ukraine and Russia remain deeply divided on how to bring about an end to the war, which has seen the Kremlin gain control of about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory. That includes Moscow’s hold on the southern Crimean Peninsula, which it annexed in 2014. Ukraine is insisting on a “full and unconditional ceasefire” for at least 30 days on land, in air and at sea to “end the killings now,” Umerov told reporters after the meeting. He noted that Ukraine had given Russia a truce proposal a few days ago, but Moscow had not reciprocated and instead presented its plan at Monday’s talks. Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of not wanting a quick end to the war so it can make further advances on the battlefield. Kyiv is demanding war reparations, no restrictions on its military forces after any peace deal, and that the international community not recognize Russian sovereignty over parts of Ukraine it currently claims or occupies, Reuters reported.Russia, meanwhile, said it wants a long-term settlement versus a pause in attacks, rejecting an unconditional ceasefire that doesn’t address its maximalist demands.While neither country’s ceasefire proposal has been made public, Russian state media published bullet points of what the Kremlin wants, including that the Ukrainian military withdraw from its four partly occupied regions in the southeast — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — as well as international recognition of its hold on that land as well as Crimea. Moscow also demands Ukraine not be allowed in any military alliances, a reference to NATO; limits on the size of the Ukrainian army; Russian being adopted as an official language; and that international sanctions be lifted.
Zelensky Says More Russia Talks 'Pointless' With Current Delegations Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that to continue peace talks in Istanbul between Ukraine and Russia with the current delegations is senseless, and he has again called for talks with Vladimir Putin, after complaining that the Russian leader is sending junior officials who have no decision-making capacity. "We are ready for exchanges, but to continue diplomatic meetings in Istanbul at a level that does not solve anything further, I think, is pointless," Zelensky said at a press conference, referring to the latest prisoner of war (POW) swaps.He had described just after the Monday Istanbul meeting that the delegations “exchanged documents through the Turkish side, and we are preparing a new release of prisoners of the war."They agreed to another large prisoner swap, but little else, as the Russian side has continued to press demands that Ukraine forces leave the four eastern territories annexed by Russia.But it's what preceded the talks which speaks the loudest, as Ukraine launched its 'Operation Spider's Web' deep inside Russian territory, taking out many Russian aircraft including long-range strategic bombers in what was arguably Ukraine's most successful and brazen cross-border operation to day.Over the weekend, three bridges in Russia's south were also blown up in suspected Ukrainian sabotage operations, which left trains derailed, and killed at least seven people.Following that, on Tuesday underwater explosives damaged and briefly crippled Kerch Bridge in what Ukrainian media is calling a 'message to Putin'. So clearly by the looks of it, Ukraine doesn't seem too interested in being at the negotiating table, after complaining that it won't cede to pressure from Washington on giving up territory.
Russia Launches 'Massive' Drone, Missile Attack on Ukraine - The Russian military hammered several Ukrainian cities with a large-scale missile and drone attack on Friday, claiming to have targeted the country’s arms industry. The move comes just days after Kiev’s forces carried out a major operation which crippled dozens of Russian warplanes.Russia’s Defense Ministry announced the overnight strikes in a statement on Friday afternoon, saying they were “retaliation to the Kiev regime’s terrorist attacks.”“The Russian Armed Forces delivered a massive strike by air-launched, seaborne and ground-based long-range precision weapons,” the ministry said, adding that the targets included “enterprises producing and repairing Ukraine’s armament and military hardware.”Writing on Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack left at least four people dead and some 80 injured, condemning the operation as a “cynical Russian strike on ordinary cities.” He added that Kiev, Ternopil, Lutsk and several other regions were targeted with “more than 400 drones” and at least 40 missiles, but claimed Ukrainian forces had shot down “a significant part” of them.Friday’s strikes came on the heels of other major escalations in recent days. In addition to Ukraine’s ambitious drone attack on Russian airfields last Sunday – which reportedly destroyed up to 41 aircraft, including strategic bombers – Kiev’s intelligence service said it hadtargeted Russia’s Kerch Bridge earlier this week. The span links Crimea to the Russian mainland.In the last week, Moscow has also accused Kiev of “terrorist” sabotage against railroad overpasses in the Russian regions of Bryansk and Kursk, which left seven people dead, while Ukraine’s military has reported multiple missile strikes on training sites for its troops.Despite the surge in violence, the two warring states are continuing to meet in Turkey for direct peace talks, sitting down on Monday for theirsecond round of negotiations since May 16. So far, the dialogue has made little progress toward ending the conflict, though both meetings resulted in prisoner swap deals that have freed thousands of wounded POWs.
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