week ending Dec 27

BEA: Real GDP increased at 4.3% Annualized Rate in Q3 - From the BEA: Gross Domestic Product, 3rd Quarter 2025 (Initial Estimate) and Corporate Profits (Preliminary) Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 4.3 percent in the third quarter of 2025 (July, August, and September), according to the initial estimate released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the second quarter, real GDP increased 3.8 percent. Due to the recent government shutdown, this initial report for the third quarter of 2025 replaces the release of the advance estimate originally scheduled for October 30 and the second estimate originally scheduled for November 26. The increase in real GDP in the third quarter reflected increases in consumer spending, exports, and government spending that were partly offset by a decrease in investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, decreased. ... Compared to the second quarter, the acceleration in real GDP in the third quarter reflected a smaller decrease in investment, an acceleration in consumer spending, and upturns in exports and government spending. Imports decreased less in the third quarter. Real final sales to private domestic purchasers, the sum of consumer spending and gross private fixed investment, increased 3.0 percent in the third quarter, compared with an increase of 2.9 percent in the second quarter. The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 3.4 percent in the third quarter, compared with an increase of 2.0 percent in the second quarter. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index increased 2.8 percent, compared with an increase of 2.1 percent. Excluding food and energy prices, the PCE price index increased 2.9 percent, compared with an increase of 2.6 percent. PCE increased at a 3.5% annual rate, and residential investment decreased at a 5.1% rate. The initial Q3 GDP report, with 4.3% annualized increase, was above expectations.

Donald Trump hails tariffs as GDP shows economic growth -- President Trump on Tuesday touted the latest data showing a robust expansion of the U.S. economy, crediting tariffs for the unexpected growth.“The TARIFFS are responsible for the GREAT USA Economic Numbers JUST ANNOUNCED…. Pray for the U.S. Supreme Court!!!” the president wrote in a statement on Truth Social.In the third quarter, the economy grew by 4.3 percent with an increase in exports and consumer spending, according to data released by the Commerce Department. The quarter’s gross domestic product — the output of goods and services — rose from its 3.8 percent growth rate in the April-June quarter, according to The Associated Press. Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Northlight Asset Management, told AP, “there isn’t as much need to worry about a slowing economy” if growth rates persist at this level. However, the fate of new trade rates remain uncertain as the Supreme Court weighs the legality of the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs.The high court must evaluate if the president has the authority to set foreign trade rates without consulting Congress under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Justices heard oral arguments in the case in November. Dozens of companies have sued the White House requesting refunds for tariffs, citing unexpected business deficits, should the Trump administration lose the Supreme Court case.

WHOOSH, Went the Economy in Q3. The Fed Needs to Watch Out, Economy Is Running Hot by Wolf Richter -- Today’s GDP report, delayed by the government shutdown, was the “initial” report for the third quarter. Data collection for it occurred before the government shutdown. It replaces the “advance estimate,” which got canceled due to the shutdown at the time, and the “second estimate” (originally scheduled for November 26). So this release is essentially the “second estimate” and includes the revisions that would have been part of the second estimate. And WHOOSH went the economy in Q3. Gross Domestic Product, the broadest measure of the economy, grew by an annual rate of 4.3% in Q3, adjusted for inflation, after the 3.8% growth in Q2, and the -0.7% decline in Q1, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis today. By comparison, in the years between the Great Recession and the pandemic (so excluding recessions), average quarter-to-quarter GDP growth was 2.5% annual rate. The average 20-year quarter-to-quarter GDP growth, including recessions, was 2.2% annual rate. The decline in Q1 had been driven by an explosion of imports due to tariff frontrunning. Imports deduct from GDP; exports add to GDP. But that frontrunning of tariffs in Q1 and other trade shifts due to tariffs caused a dramatic improvement of the trade deficit in Q2 and Q3, from the horrible levels of Q1, contributing substantially to the high growth rates in both quarters. Consumers also pitched in and spent hand over fist, despite their allegedly very sour mood as depicted by these silly consumer sentiment surveys. Consumer spending, adjusted for inflation jumped by 3.5%, the highest since the red-hot quarters last year. Government consumption expenditure and investment (federal, state, and local) also rose, after two quarters of declines. But Gross private domestic investment deducted 3 basis points from GDP growth, with fixed investment adding only 19 basis points (as residential fixed investment continued its plunge, while other fixed investment rose), and with change in private inventories deducting 22 basis points from GDP growth. So this time, no help from the investment department. The core of the private US economy, “Final sales to private domestic purchasers,” excludes the above complications of exports, imports, government spending, and changes in inventories. This measure rose by an annual rate of 3.0% in Q3, adjusted for inflation, the best growth rate since Q4 2023. So at the core, the US economy continues to hum along at solid growth rates. Here is overall GDP growth, adjusted for inflation. Not adjusted for inflation, “current-dollar GDP” grew by an annual rate of 8.2% to $31.1 trillion, after the 6.0% growth in Q2. This “nominal GDP” represents the actual size of the US economy in current dollars and forms the basis for the Debt-to-GDP ratio and similar GDP-based ratios. The chart shows current dollar GDP, expressed in seasonally adjusted annual rates. You can see the sharp acceleration over the past two quarters, following the dip in Q1:

• Consumer spending rose by an annual rate of 3.5% in Q3, adjusted for inflation, to $16.6 trillion. This growth rate added 2.39 percentage points to the GDP growth of 4.3%. Consumer spending accounted for 69% of the US economy. The spending growth was spread across goods and services:
  • Services: +3.7%.
  • Durable goods: +1.6%
  • Nondurable goods: +3.9%.
    The blue columns show the growth rates (left axis), the red line shows the dollars (right axis), all in seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR):
• Private fixed investment, which excludes changes in inventory, rose by only 1.0% annualized and adjusted for inflation, after having jumped by 4.4% and 7.1% in the prior two quarters. Of which:
  • Nonresidential fixed investments: +2.8%:
    • Structures: -6.3%
    • Equipment: +5.4%.
    • Intellectual property products (software, movies, etc.): +5.4%.
  • Residential fixed investment: -5.1%.
    Private fixed investment accounted for 18% of the US economy.
• Government consumption expenditures and gross investment rose by 2.2% annualized, adjusted for inflation, after two quarters of declines. Federal government spending rose by 2.9% annualized, after two quarters of declines, on a jump in national defense spending, while nondefense spending continued to decline for the third quarter in a row:
  • National defense: +5.8%
  • Nondefense: -1.1%
    The increase in federal government spending added 19 basis points to the 4.3% of total GDP growth. This does not include interest payments, and it does not include transfer payments directly to consumers (the biggest part of which are Social Security payments), which are counted in GDP when consumers and businesses spend these funds or invest them in fixed investments.State and local government spending rose by 1.8%, the slowest growth rate since Q4 2022. Combined, federal, state, and local government consumption and investment accounted for 17% of the US economy. The majority (61%) of government spending came from state and local governments. Federal government spending accounted for 39% of total government spending.
• The Trade Deficit improves. Imports dropped by 4.7% in Q3, to $3.66 trillion annualized after having already plunged by 29% in Q2, more than undoing the entire historic tariff-frontrunning spike in Q1. Imports are a negative in GDP, and when imports drop, they improve GDP.
  • Imports of goods: -7.5% to $2.93 trillion
  • Imports of services: +6.3% (includes US tourists spending overseas) to $721 billion.
• Exports jumped by 8.8% in Q3 from Q2, to $2.70 trillion. Exports are a positive in GDP.
  • Exports of goods: +7.4% to $1.77 trillion.
  • Exports of services: +11.2% to $933 billion (includes foreign tourists spending in the US).
    “Net exports” (exports minus imports) improved further to an inflation-adjusted trade deficit of $957 billion, the least bad trade deficit since Q4 2023, and a level first seen in Q3 2021.

The core of the private US economy: “Final sales to private domestic purchasers,” included in the GDP report today, is a measure of the private US economy. It excludes exports, imports, government consumption expenditures, government gross investment, and changes in inventories. It covers about 87% of GDP and represents the core of the private US economy. Final sales to private domestic purchasers rose by an annual rate of 3.0% in Q3, the best growth rate since Q4 2024, to $21.0 trillion.

US Government Interest Payments to Tax Receipts, Average Interest Rate on the Debt, and Debt-to-GDP Ratio in Q3 2025 by Wolf Richter --A crucial issue of the US government fiscal situation: What portion of tax receipts are eaten up by interest payments on the monstrous federal debt?At the peak of the last fiscal crisis in the early 1980s, the ratio of interest-payments to tax receipts had exceeded a hair-raising 50%. It was a crisis because the 10-year Treasury yield was over 10% for six years in a row and went over 15% for a time; and the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was over 10% for 12 years in a row and went over 18% for a time. Tax receipts by the federal government jumped by $38 billion (+4.4%) in Q3 from Q2 and by $137 billion (+17.9%) year-over-year, to a record $902 billion. This includes $87 billion from net tariffs in Q3 (blue line in the chart below). A growing economy generates more taxable income and higher tax receipts. Growing asset prices generate capital-gains taxes, but they’re very volatile. The year 2022 was lousy for stocks, and so tax receipts in Q1 and Q2 2023, when capital gains taxes for 2022 were paid, fell from the spike during the free-money pandemic years. And most of the tariff revenue is new, starting in Q2.Interest payments by the federal government on its monstrous Treasury debt rose by $10 billion (+3.3%) in Q3 from Q2, to $300 billion (red in the chart below). Interest payments don’t occur in a vacuum. They occur in the context of tax receipts – what’s there to pay for them. This measure of tax receipts was released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis as part of its Q3 National Accounts data yesterday. It tracks the tax receipts that are available to pay for general budget expenditures, such as defense spending, interest payments, etc. Excluded are receipts that are not available to pay for general budget expenditures and are not included in the general budget, primarily Social Security and disability contributions that go into Trust Funds, out of which the benefits are then paid directly to the beneficiaries of the systems. Tariffs are now a substantial contributor to tax revenues. In Q3, they added $87 billion to the tax receipts ($902 billion) that were available to pay for the interest expense and other general-budget expenses (chart through November, data via Monthly Treasury Statement): Interest payments as a percent of tax receipts:Interest payments in Q3 ate up 33.2% of the tax receipts available to pay for them. The ratio declined for the fourth consecutive quarter, driven down by the increase in tax receipts that outran the increase in interest payments. The ratio was also helped by the average interest rate on the debt, which has remained roughly unchanged since mid-2024 – after surging in 2022 through early 2024 with the Fed’s rate hikes (Treasury bill rates) and QT (rates on long-term Treasury securities). More in a moment. The recent high of the ratio occurred in Q3 2024, at 37.5%, which had been the worst ratio since 1996, when the ratio was already on the downtrend from the crisis times in the 1980s. The magnitude and speed of this spike from the low point in Q1 2022 to Q3 2024 was unprecedented in modern US history:The average interest rate on the Treasury debt — now much higher than the historic low at the beginning of 2022 of 1.58% — has stabilized since mid-2024, and in November was 3.35%, same as in July, according to Treasury Department data.New interest rates enter the interest expense when old Treasury securities mature and are replaced with new securities at the new interest rate, and when additional Treasury securities are issued to fund the deficits.The $6.7 trillion in Treasury bills (terms between 1 month and 12 months) are constantly getting rolled over as they mature. T-bill interest rates, as sold at auction, track the Fed’s expected policy rates. As the Fed cut its policy rates, the interest rate that the government paid to sell new T-bills fell – lower interest costs for the government, and lower yields for investors.But longer-term securities by definition are slow to cycle out of the debt, so changes in long-term interest rates filter only slowly into the debt as old maturing debt is replaced with new debt that comes with the new interest rates. The interest rates at which the government can sell long-term Treasury securities have lurched up and down over the past three years, but within a range.Total Treasury debt at the end of Q3 was $37.6 trillion – though it’s now already $38.4 trillion. Nominal GDP in Q3 jumped to $31.1 trillion annual rate, as per the GDP data yesterday (WHOOSH, Went the Economy in Q3. The Fed Needs to Watch Out, Economy Is Running Hot).So the debt-to-GDP ratio rose to 121.0% in Q3. But the ratio for Q1 and Q2 had been held down by the effects of the debt ceiling, which prevented the debt from ballooning. In Q3, after the debt ceiling was raised in early July, the debt made up for it and spiked.But the debt-to-GDP ratio was down a hair from Q4 2024 (121.3%).The long-term view is troubling. Each crisis causes the debt-to-GDP ratio to explode. But the recession in the early 2000s started a new trend: exploding the debt-to-GDP ratio without ever bringing it back down, not even a little bit, afterwards. It just kept rising until the next crisis, when it exploded again.The lockdown during the pandemic was unique in that GDP collapsed and the debt exploded and the ratio when straight up in Q2 2020. As the economy reopened, and GDP bounced off, while the growth of the debt slowed somewhat to still very high growth rates, the ratio backed off but has remained in nosebleed territory.Once upon a time, the debt-to-GDP ratio was below 40%:A default on this debt is not in the cards. The US, by controlling its own currency, cannot default on debt issued in its own currency because it can always “print” itself out of trouble (Fed buys some of the debt).But in an inflationary environment, printing money to service an out-of-control debt and deficit could cause inflation to spiral out of control, wreak havoc on the economy, and lead to years of wealth destruction and lower standards of living. Everyone knows this.So the top option on the official wish list seems to be to trim the annual deficits a little – including through tariffs – to where economic growth (as per nominal GDP) and modest inflation (3%-5%) outrun the growth of the debt, which would gradually over the years whittle away at the problem. This wish list item assumes that no recession and no other crisis blow this scenario apart.

Strong 7Y Treasury Sale Sends Yields To Session Low In Final 2025 Auction --After two poor, disappointing coupon auctions earlier this week, when global yields were surging thanks to the circus that is Japan, we have come to the final note auction of the year, and yes... this one was not quite as bad. The sale of $44BN in 7Y notes priced at a high yield of 3.930%, up from 3.781% in November and the highest since July. That said, the auction stopped through the 3.933% When Issued by 0.3bps, and followed 4 consecutive tailing auctions. The bid to cover was 2.509, up from 2.459 last month and the highest since July, if just below the six-auction average of 2.520. Unlike the week's previous coupon auctions, which saw a slide in foreign demand, the internals were stronger and Indirects took down 59.04%, up from 56.65% and the highest since August's 77.5%. And with Directs rising to 31.6%, just shy of a record high, Dealers were left with just 9.34%, the lowest since July. Overall, this was a stronger auction than the subpar fare observed earlier this week, which is handy since this was also the final auction of the year, helping push yields down to session lows. Of course, we now have an entirely new year to look forward to and with an onslaught of deficit-funding debt on deck, far more ugly auctions on deck.

Democrats renew government shutdown threat as tensions flare with Trump Senate Democrats are raising the threat of another government shutdown in late January as tensions with President Trump escalate over a series of recent maneuvers by the White House that Democrats say need a forceful response from Capitol Hill. Senate Democrats walked away from a potential deal to fund a broad swath of the federal government, including the departments of Defense, Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services, which make up roughly two-thirds of the discretionary budget, before Congress adjourned for the Christmas recess. Democrats cited Trump’s threat to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., a leading government-funded center for atmospheric and climate research, as the reason they couldn’t advance a five-bill spending package before Christmas. Had the legislation passed the Senate this past week, it would have given Congress a good chance of funding up to 85 percent to 90 percent of the federal government through September of next year and taken the threat of another shutdown off the table. Instead, the shutdown threat remains very much alive, even though Democrats aren’t yet revealing their strategy ahead of the Jan. 30 government funding deadline. Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), who was involved in negotiations to get the spending package through the Senate, said that Democrats want to preserve their “leverage” by keeping the threat of another shutdown on the table. “They want some leverage for the end of January,” Hoeven told The Hill, adding that he got the sense that Democrats weren’t ready to pass the funding package, even if funding for the atmospheric and climate center in Colorado didn’t blow up into a major issue. Senate Democratic progressives aren’t ruling out the possibility that they will attempt to use the next funding deadline to demand major concessions from Trump. “I’m not going to speculate,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who added that Democrats want to pass the regular appropriations bills but will wait to see what happens over the next several weeks. A Democratic senator who requested anonymity to talk about the likelihood of a shutdown said that passing the five-bill spending package, which stalled in the Senate Thursday, would be critical to avoiding a shutdown. The failure to advance the measure is a red flag warning that the chances of a shutdown are growing, lawmakers say. Senators left Washington for a two-week Christmas recess without even reaching an agreement on voting on amendments to the funding package when they return in January, which means that Senate consideration of the legislation could be delayed until late in the week of Jan. 5 or later. A second Democratic senator who requested anonymity to discuss party strategy said the White House seems to be goading Democratic senators to trigger another shutdown. The lawmaker said White House budget director Russell Vought’s announcement on social media Tuesday that the administration would move to dismantle the atmospheric and climate research center — which provides data critical to assessing climate change — was a serious affront to Democrats, and the timing of it destroyed any chances of passing the funding package before Christmas.

Jeffries says House ‘will pass’ ObamaCare subsidies extension ‘with a bipartisan majority’ -House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) predicted Sunday that an extension of subsidies offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will pass the House with backing from both sides of the aisle. “House Democrats are going to continue to fight to get this extension through the Congress on our side. It will pass with a bipartisan majority,” Jeffries told host Jonathan Karl on ABC News’s “This Week.” The ACA credits, which expire on Dec. 31, are set to be a subject of intense negotiations on Capitol Hill once both chambers return in the new year. Earlier this week, four House Republicans joined 214 Democrats in signing a discharge petition bringing a three-year extension of the subsidies to the floor.While House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) declined to bring the bill up for a vote before the lower chamber adjourned, the proposal will be one of the first orders of business come January. If it passes, that will put pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and his caucus to reverse course and back an extension, Jeffries noted. A three-year extension of the ACA subsidies — backed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — failed in the upper chamber earlier this month because of opposition from the majority of the GOP. If the credits are not extended, gross benchmark premiums will increase by an annual average of 7.9 percent from next year through 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The CBO also projects that without a permanent extension of the subsidies, the number of uninsured individuals will increase by an average of 3.8 million annually from 2026 to 2034.

Jasmine Crockett: 'I see the government shutting down' in January Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) said Tuesday she predicts the government will shut down in January and that lawmakers will not pass any appropriations bills to keep the government funded before the funding deadline. “I see the government shutting down,” Crockett said in her livestream “Crockett’s Quarterly Update” on Facebook. “One of the reasons that I am going to be a little bit more absent than I would like to be in my district, especially in January, is because we are going to have to stay in D.C. and if the government shuts down, I won’t be able to get out,” she said. Crockett, who earlier this month announced her campaign to take Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-Texas) seat, said she does not view the likelihood of a shutdown happening as “partisan.” “There is just one group of people that [couldn’t] care less about doing what they’re supposed to do, which is to govern,” she said on the stream in a criticism of Republicans. After the government reopened this fall, Crockett said lawmakers had 12 appropriations bills to pass to keep the government open during the fall. The most recent shutdown began Oct. 1 and lasted 43 days, becoming the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Congress has not passed any appropriations bills since the government reopened with the passage of a continuing resolution. That CR was a spending package to keep the government funded and running until Jan. 30.

Deal on ObamaCare subsidies faces uphill battle despite GOP optimism - A key GOP senator is expressing optimism that Republicans and Democrats will agree to a deal that would extend expiring health care subsidies, but the effort faces an uphill climb in winning the backing of leaders in both parties. Without a deal, health insurance premiums are projected to spike by double digits next month, yet Senate leaders John Thune (R-S.D.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) each have reasons to shy away from backing a bipartisan deal. At the same time, failure to pass a bipartisan deal to rein in rising premiums could set the stage for another government shutdown in February if liberals on Capitol Hill seize the initiative and demand concessions on health in exchange for funding the government. “I actually think there’s the outline of a deal there,” said Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (La.), a lead Republican negotiator in the bipartisan health care talks. “The outline of the deal would be to extend the enhanced premium tax credits for a period of time and to put in health savings accounts and give the enrollee the choice of which to take,” he told The Hill. He cautioned, however, that specifics of a deal still need to be negotiated. “Now, that’s high-level, because [there are] details we’ve got to work out,” Cassidy said. “I do think there’s potential for a deal there.” “I think we can do it,” he added. A Republican senator who requested anonymity to discuss the negotiations said Thune has appeared to shift on the issue of extending enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits after four House Republicans signed a discharge petition to force a House vote on a Democratic proposal to extend the subsidies for three years. The Democratic proposal, which Senate Republicans defeated last month, now appears likely to pass the lower chamber and come back to the Senate. Thune says a straight three-year extension of the enhanced subsidies isn’t going anywhere in the Senate but he offered that a House-passed bill could be used as a “vehicle” to pass a bipartisan compromise to address rising health insurance premiums in 2026. “I think a straight-up extension is a waste of money,” Thune said before the recess. “But if there are reforms and both sides sit down and agree on what that looks like and then there’s a transition that gives people the option of putting money into a [health savings account] … then there could be a path forward.”

US says talks with Russia, Ukraine in Miami ‘constructive, productive’ - Al Jazeera - US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has hailed talks on ending Moscow’s war in Ukraine as “productive and constructive”, after holding separate meetings with Ukrainian, European and Russian negotiators in the state of Florida. The talks in Miami on Sunday were the latest in a series of meetings between the US, Russia and Ukraine on a 20-point plan touted by US President Donald Trump to end the nearly four-year-old war. Despite the optimism from the US, there have been no clear signals of imminent resolutions to key hurdles, including on the issue of the territory Russia has seized during the conflict. Witkoff, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev on Saturday, held talks on Sunday with officials from Ukraine and Europe. He then held separate talks with the Ukrainian delegation, led by senior official Rustem Umerov. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also joined the meetings. Witkoff, in a joint statement with Umerov, called Sunday’s talks “productive and constructive”, saying they focused on a “shared strategic approach between Ukraine, the United States and Europe”. “Particular attention was given to discussing timelines and the sequencing of next steps,” they said. Witkoff and Umerov said that bilateral discussions between Ukrainian and US officials on Sunday focused on developing and aligning positions on four key documents: the 20-point plan, a “multilateral security guarantee framework,” a “US Security guarantee framework for Ukraine”, and an “economic & prosperity plan”. In a separate X post that ‍used some of ⁠the same language, Witkoff said his talks with Dmitriev were also “productive and constructive”. “Russia remains fully committed to achieving peace in Ukraine,” Witkoff said in the post. “Russia highly values the efforts and support of the United States to resolve the Ukrainian conflict and re-establish global security.” Earlier on Sunday, Putin’s top foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, said that the changes requested by Ukraine and its European allies to the framework put forth by the US were not improving prospects for peace. Ushakov said that Dmitriev was due to return to Moscow on Monday and would report to Putin on the outcome of his talks. “After that, we will formulate the position with which we will proceed, including in our contacts with the Americans,” he said. Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, sees Europe as “pro-war” and argues that its participation in the talks only hinders them. Separately on Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin was ready to talk with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, after the latter said Europe should reach out to the Russian president to end the war. Putin has “expressed readiness to engage in dialogue with Macron”, Peskov told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. “Therefore, if there is mutual political will, then this can only be assessed positively.” Macron’s office welcomed the Russian statement. “It is welcome that the Kremlin has publicly agreed to this approach. We will decide in the coming days on the best way to proceed,” it said. Trump first shared his plan consisting of 28 points to end the war in Ukraine last month, triggering immediate criticism from European leaders who said it echoed the Kremlin’s demands. Zelenskyy has since said that Ukraine and its European allies have shared their own version of a 20-point plan, which was based on the initial plan put forward by the White House. One of the key sticking points between Russia and Ukraine remains Russia’s demand to retain some of the land it has captured in Ukraine since launching its full-scale invasion after years of fighting in Ukraine’s east. Zelenskyy has described the talks as “constructive” and said they were “moving at a fairly rapid pace”. He nevertheless cautioned that “much depends on whether Russia feels the need to end the war for real”. He also hailed this week as “historic” for Ukraine, thanking Europe for pledging $100bn of funding over the next two years.

Putin aide contradicts Witkoff, calling Miami talks ‘rather unconstructive’-- A top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday contradicted U.S. claims that three days of peace talks in Miami went well, calling several of Washington’s proposals meant to end Russia’s war with Ukraine “rather unconstructive.” Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s top foreign policy aide, said most of the peace plan proposals the U.S. offered were put forward by Ukraine and Europe and would not suit Russia, Kremlin state news agency TASS reported. That assessment came after special envoy Steve Witkoff said Sunday that he, along with President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and White House senior adviser Josh Gruenbaum, “held productive and constructive meetings” with Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev to advance the Trump administration’s peace plan for Ukraine. Russian state news media reported that Dmitriev arrived in Miami on Saturday and immediately went into a meeting with Witkoff and Kushner. “Russia remains fully committed to achieving peace in Ukraine,” Witkoff said following the meeting, painting the talks in a positive light. “Russia highly values the efforts and support of the United States to resolve the Ukrainian conflict and re-establish global security.” Dmitriev also initially framed the discussions as positive, telling reporters Sunday that talks were “proceeding constructively” and would continue into Monday, according to TASS. Witkoff, Kushner and Gruenbaum also held a separate series of meetings with a Ukrainian delegation in Florida — which they also said were “productive and constructive” — with “key European National Security Advisors” joining the talks.

Russia Captures Another Ukrainian Town While Zelensky Still Insists On Altering Trump Peace Plan - Russian forces continue their steady battlefield gains this week, but Kiev is still seeking to grasp at establishing some sort of leverage at the negotiating table, as the Trump peace plan is still being pushed in back-and-forth US dialogue with Moscow representatives. Over the past some 24 hours, Russian troops have captured the settlement of Zarechnoye in the southeast Zaporozhye Region, according to the defense ministry (MoD). "Battlegroup East units kept advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and liberated the settlement of Zarechnoye in the Zaporozhye Region," the MoD said Wednesday according to TASS.The military further issued a grim figure, claiming that the Ukrainian army lost over 1,400 troops in a single day across all front line areas. Additional armor and combat vehicles were also reportedly destroyed.After weeks ago Ukraine finally lost the strategic logistics hub of Pokrovsk, it's been setback after setback for Kiev from there. The pace of Russia's advance has only steadily increased. Reuters conveys Ukraine's response, which seeks to frame it as a strategic retreat: Ukrainian forces have pulled out of the embattled eastern town of Siversk, Kyiv's military said on Tuesday, as Russian troops wage a battlefield offensive aimed at threatening key cities critical to Ukraine's defences in the east. Sloviansk is a northern anchor of the so-called "fortress belt" of cities in Ukraine's heavily industrialised Donbas region, which Russia has demanded Kyiv cede before it ends its war. "The invaders were able to advance due to a significant numerical advantage and constant pressure from small assault groups in difficult weather conditions," Ukraine's General Staff said in a statement. It said it had withdrawn soldiers to preserve lives and resources, adding that they had, however, inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. And yet, President Volodymyr Zelensky is still pressing for a fresh meeting with President Donald Trump to discuss "sensitive issues" - given Washington and Moscow seem closer than ever to reaching common understanding on the peace deal, after the Miami meetings. Zelensky has laid out that territorial control of Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland remains unresolved. The US plan hinges on Ukraine giving up territory, specifically in the east where its forces are clearly on the backfoot. "We are ready for a meeting with the United States at the leaders’ level to address sensitive issues. Matters such as territorial questions must be discussed at the leaders' level," said Zelensky in comments released by his office on Wednesday. Russia is currently reviewing the latest draft from the US side, after marathon talks in Florida, and a response is soon expected from President Putin.

Tulsi's Assessment That Putin Doesn't Want To Conquer All Of Ukraine Is Absolutely Correct -- Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard responded to a report from Reuters alleging that “Putin has not abandoned his aims of capturing all of Ukraine and reclaiming parts of Europe that belonged to the former Soviet empire”.Tulsi condemned that as a “lie” to undermine Trump’s peace efforts and thus risk a possible hot Russian-US war.She also claimed that “Russia’s battlefield performance indicates it does not currently have the capability to conquer and occupy all of Ukraine, let alone Europe.”Her assessment is absolutely correct for the reasons that’ll now be explained.For starters, Putin authorized the special operation after diplomacy failed to neutralize Ukrainian-emanating threats from NATO, ergo why Russia was compelled to resort to force. Unlike what many “Non-Russian Pro-Russians” nowadays claim on social media, “The ‘War Of Attrition’ Was Improvised & Not Russia’s Plan All Along”, occurring only because the UK and Poland unexpectedly sabotaged spring 2022’s peace deal.Unprecedented support from NATO led to the aforesaid “war of attrition” and resultant stalemate along large parts of the front for protracted periods of time.As was assessed as early as that summer in July 2022, “All Sides Of The Ukrainian Conflict Underestimated Each Other”, which is why this support caught Russian planners off guard but also why it failed to inflict a strategic defeat upon Russia too. These 20 constructive critiques of Russia’s special operation from November 2022 are also relevant to this day too.Even if Russia achieves a long-awaited breakthrough across the front, whatever territory it steamrolls into beyond that of the four disputed regions would likely only be for leverage for coercing Ukraine into complying with more of Putin’s demands for peace in exchange for withdrawing from there. Expanding Russia’s territorial claims through the holding of referenda in new regions would require controlling a significant amount of their land with an equally significant amount of people still there to participate.Neither can be taken for granted, especially that locals won’t flee as refugees either deeper into Ukraine or across the front lines into Russia, hence the unreliability of this scenario. The strategic consequences could also be disproportionately severe if this ever unfolds since Trump could be provoked into escalating US involvement in the conflict after feeling like Putin disrespected him by doing this amidst their peace talks or possibly even manipulated him by supposedly only participating in them to buy time.Trump has slammed Biden for the US’ complete loss of Afghanistan so he’s unlikely to let Putin conquer all of Ukraine in the political fantasy that this one day becomes possible. An escalation of US involvement in response could see it approve NATO allies’ entrance into Ukraine for drawing a “red line” as far east as possible and threaten direct “retaliation” against Russia if those forces are attacked en route. Putin has done his utmost to avoid World War III up until this point so he’s unlikely to suddenly risk it in that event. There’s also the threat of a terrorist insurgency all across Western Ukraine if Russian forces ever reach that far, which could be costly for the Kremlin in terms of lives, treasure, and opportunities, something that Putin would likely seek to avoid as well. Bearing all this in mind, from the military difficulties to the disproportionately severe strategic consequences of claiming territory beyond the disputed regions, Tulsi is therefore absolutely correct in assessing that Putin doesn’t want to conquer all of Ukraine.

Vance Warns European Nukes Could Fall Into Hands Of Islamist Extremists Within 15 Years -Vice President JD Vance has issued a stark warning that unchecked mass migration from Muslim-majority countries into Europe risks placing nuclear arsenals under the influence of Islamist politicians, posing a severe danger to American interests. In an interview with Unherd, Vance urged that open borders policies are eroding Europe’s cultural foundations, potentially leading to catastrophic national security fallout for the U.S. and its allies.Vance emphasized America’s deep-rooted connections to Europe, stating, “We have much greater cultural, religious, and economic ties with Europe than we do with anywhere else in the world. That is just the nature of things.”He directly tied moral and cultural decay to security risks, noting, “I think there are ways in which the moral conversation does absolutely bleed into America’s national-security interests.”Highlighting the nuclear dimension, Vance pointed out, “France and the United Kingdom have nuclear weapons. If they allow themselves to be overwhelmed with very destructive moral ideas, then you allow nuclear weapons to fall in the hands of people who can actually cause very, very serious harm to the United States.”He spotlighted existing gains by radical elements, saying, “I think there are, for example, Islamists-aligned or Islamist-adjacent people who hold office in European countries right now. Right now, maybe at an extremely low level, right? They’re winning mayoral elections, or they’re winning municipal elections.”Vance projected a grim timeline, warning, “It’s not inconceivable to imagine a scenario where a person with Islamist-adjacent views could have very significant influence in a European nuclear power. In the next five years? No. But 15 years from now? Absolutely. And that is very much a very direct threat to the United States of America.”

Republicans divided on whether Trump should topple Venezuela’s Maduro with military force - Republican lawmakers are divided over whether President Trump should escalate military pressure on Venezuela to oust President Nicolás Maduro, with some Republicans warning that “regime change” has a history of backfiring on the United States. Senate Republicans largely support Trump’s aggressive targeting of Venezuelan speedboats suspected of smuggling drugs, but some warn that attacking Maduro’s regime more directly, either by striking targets on land or putting “boots on the ground,” could go too far. “I’m certainly following the situation closely. I support what the president’s done. I think the question is how forceful we should do this,” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) said. “I think we just have to be very careful when we’re dealing with regime change. It seems to backfire a lot.” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he believes the administration is pursuing regime change in Venezuela and declared, “I’m opposed to it.” Paul argued the Trump is being arbitrary in striking Venezuelan boats suspected of drug smuggling while pardoning the former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, who was sentenced to 45 years in prison for partnering with cocaine traffickers to smuggle drugs into the United States. Trump pardoned Hernández earlier this month. “They let go of a guy that was in prison for 40 years at a very high level distributing narcotics, and then they’re blowing up these other people. It’s the whole danger of what we’ve gotten away from is — at one point in time, Congress was supposed to declare war under the Constitution. We’ve gotten away from that,” Paul said. Paul said presidents are getting around Congress’s authority to declare war by themselves declaring “war against people we designate to be terrorists.” “Now they’re designating the government terrorists,” he said. Tensions in the region increased over the weekend when the U.S. Coast Guard attempted to intercept an oil tanker headed toward Venezuela to pick up a shipment of crude oil. U.S. forces have already seized two oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela amid a massive buildup of U.S. naval forces in the Caribbean Sea aimed at putting pressure on Maduro. A Republican senator who requested anonymity to comment frankly on Trump’s aggressive pressure against Maduro said the Trump administration seems intent on ousting Maduro even though Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio told senators in a briefing last week that’s not their goal. “I do not want to put ground troops in Venezuela. I don’t want to have another Afghanistan or Iraq,” the senator said. “I’m not in favor of U.S.-directed regime change.” Rubio last week addressed Senate Republicans’ growing concerns that Trump may be planning a more aggressive intervention in Venezuela to oust the Maduro regime, which many Republicans say has held onto power illegitimately. “Marco said repeatedly that regime change is not the policy of the United States; it was not the focus of the anti-narcotrafficking policy,” the senator said. Several other senators confirmed Rubio assured lawmakers on Capitol Hill during a classified briefing that the administration is not pursuing regime change. But those claims were undercut by comments White House chief of staff Susie Wiles made to journalist Chris Whipple in an interview for Vanity Fair indicating regime change is Trump’s goal. “He wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle,” Wiles said, going on to suggest that if Trump wants to order land strikes, he would need Congress’s authority. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) says there’s “a lack of clarity” from the administration about its national security goals for the region. “The briefing … helped somewhat, but there’s still a lack of clarity … aside from the drug issue of why we’re involved in this country’s leadership,” she said.

US Military Blows Up Another Alleged Drug Boat in the Waters of Latin America - The US military has blown up another alleged drug boat in the waters of Latin America, according to a statement released by US Southern Command on Monday.“On Dec. 22, at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a low-profile vessel” in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, SOUTHCOM said. The command claimed the vessel was being operated by “Designated Terrorist Organizations” and that it was “engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” but offered no evidence for the assertions. It said the strike killed a “narco-terrorist,” a term the Trump administration uses to justify executing people without trial for an alleged crime that doesn’t receive the death penalty in the US.Photo of the strike released by SOUTHCOM.The bombing brings the total number of people extra-judicially executed since the campaign started in early September to 105. A total of 29 strikes have been launched, and 30 boats have been blown up, including 11 in the Caribbean and 20 in the Eastern Pacific.The bombing campaign started in the Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela on September 2 as part of the US pressure campaign aimed at ousting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and expanded into the Eastern Pacific at the end of October.The Pentagon has never shown any evidence to back up its claims about what the boats it has bombed are carrying and has acknowledged to Congress that it doesn’t know all of the identities of the people it has been killing.

More Than 100 People Killed by US Bombing Campaign Against Alleged Drug Boats - The US bombing campaign against alleged drug-running boats in the waters of Latin America has killed more than 100 people, according to the numbers released by the Trump administration and the US military.The latest strikes were announced by the US Southern Command on December 18 and targeted boats in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. According to SOUTHCOM, the strikes killed five “narco-terrorists,” a term the administration uses to justify executing people at sea without a trial for a suspected crime that doesn’t receive the death penalty in the US.Video of the latest strikes released by SOUTHCOM. The bombings bring the total number of people extra-judicially executed since the campaign started in early September to 104. A total of 28 strikes have been launched, and 29 boats have been blown up, including 11 in the Caribbean and 18 in the Eastern Pacific.The bombing campaign began off the coast of Venezuela and started as part of the Trump administration’s pressure campaign aimed at ousting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and recently escalated into a blockade on tankers entering and leaving Venezuelan ports.The Pentagon has never shown any evidence to back up its claims about what the boats it has bombed are carrying and has acknowledged to Congress that it doesn’t know the identities of the people it has been killing.

Trump Says US Will Keep Seized Venezuelan Oil and Tankers -President Trump said on Monday that the US will “keep” the Venezuelan oil and two tankers that it seized off the coast of Venezuela as his administration is escalating a blockade on the country.“We’re going to keep it. Maybe we’ll sell it. Maybe we’ll keep it. Maybe we’ll use it in the strategic reserves,” Trump told reporters on Monday after announcing new “Trump class” US Navy battleships. “We’re keeping the ships, also.”So far, the US has seized two ships near Venezuela, and its forces attempted to capture a third, but itfled northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, which Trump said the US is still pursuing. One of the seized tankers was under US sanctions, but that doesn’t give the US the legal right to board and capture a vessel on the high seas.Trump officials have used legalistic language to justify the seizures and forced transfer of the cargo — actions that amount to theft — in an apparent effort to obscure the fact that enforcing a blockade is traditionally considered an act of war, which would require congressional authorization under the US Constitution.The second ship that the US seized, the Centuries, was carrying Venezuelan oil reportedly owned by a China-based company, and Beijing has strongly condemned the US seizure. “By arbitrarily seizing other countries’ vessels, the U.S. has seriously violated international law,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian.“China stands against unilateral illicit sanctions that lack basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council, and against any move that violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, infringes upon other countries’ sovereignty and security, and constitutes unilateralism and bullying,” Lin added.Russia has also backed Venezuela in the face of increasing US aggression against the country. On Monday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Sergey Lavrov spoke with his Venezuelan counterpart, Yvan Gil, and the two diplomats condemned recent US actions.“The ministers expressed their deep concern over the escalation of Washington’s actions in the Caribbean Sea, which could have serious consequences for the region and threaten international shipping,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a readout of the call. “The Russian side reaffirmed its full support for and solidarity with the Venezuelan leadership and people in the current context.”

China blasts US seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers: ‘Grossly violates international law’ -- China on Monday accused the U.S. of violating international law in seizing oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela, appearing to take the side of Caracas as Washington looks to take a third oil tanker this month. “The U.S. practice of arbitrarily seizing other countries’ vessels grossly violates international law,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters, according to Bloomberg, adding that Beijing opposes anything that “infringes upon other countries’ sovereignty and security, and all acts of unilateralism or bullying.” Lin added that Venezuela “has the right to independently develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries,” and Beijing supports Caracas in “defending its own legitimate rights and interests.” The comments come as the U.S. on Sunday sought to seize a third oil tanker in an effort to cut off funding for the government of President Nicolás Maduro. But the effort in the Caribbean Sea by the U.S. Coast Guard was thwarted when the tanker, the Bella 1, refused to submit and sailed away. Washington last year placed sanctions on the ship for transporting Iranian oil. The Trump administration has already seized two tankers loaded with Venezuelan oil, with the U.S. military on Saturday stopping and boarding the Centuries, a Panamanian-flagged vessel reportedly meant for a Chinese trader. Washington has said they were verifying the validity of the ship’s registration and it’s unknown how long the vessel will be held. Prior to that, on Dec. 10, the U.S. seized the tanker Skipper, which was also transporting Venezuelan oil. President Trump on Monday told reporters the U.S. will keep the vessels that were seized off the coast of Venezuela, as well as the oil on board. “We’re going to keep it. Maybe we’ll sell it. Maybe we’ll keep it. Maybe we’ll use it in the strategic reserves,” Trump said of the oil.

US Pursuing Third Tanker Near Venezuela as Trump Escalates Blockade - US forces tried to board a third oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela as the Trump administration continues to escalate its declared blockade of the country, an action traditionally considered an act of war under international law.Sources told Bloomberg that the US was still in pursuit of the Bella 1 tanker, which was en route to Venezuela to be loaded with oil before it was boarded by US forces. The outlet initially reported that US forces had boarded the tanker.US officials told The New York Times that the Bella 1 refused to be boarded by the US and has fled to the northeast, into the Atlantic Ocean. One official described the situation to the paper as an “active pursuit.” US officials said the vessel is under US sanctions, though that doesn’t give the US the right to seize the ship in international waters.The attempted boarding of the Bella 1 came after the US seized another tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Saturday, called the Centuries, which is also Panamanian-flagged. Notably, the Centuries is not under US sanctions, and its seizure marked an escalation of the US blockade, as President Trump initially declared a blockade on all “sanctioned” tankers entering and leaving Venezuelan ports.According to the Times, the Centuries was carrying Venezuelan oil belonging to an established China-based oil trader with a history of transporting Venezuelan crude to Chinese refineries. The report also said that the US didn’t have a seizure warrant from the US Department of Justice to take possession of the ship, as it did with the first tanker it boarded earlier this month.“In a pre-dawn action early this morning on Dec. 20, the US Coast Guard with the support of the Department of War apprehended an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela,” US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X announcing the seizure.“The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region. We will find you, and we will stop you,” she added.Noem’s statement suggests that any tanker carrying Venezuelan oil could be boarded and seized by US forces. Following the seizure, Venezuela’s government strongly condemned the action as theft.Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said in a statement that Venezuela “denounces and rejects the theft and hijacking of a new private vessel transporting oil, as well as the forced disappearance of its crew, committed by military personnel of the United States of America in international waters.”Trump administration officials are leaning on legal language to justify what would otherwise be considered theft on the high seas, an apparent attempt to frame the blockade as something other than an act of war, which under the US Constitution requires congressional authorization.

Holding Pattern: Coast Guard Awaits Special Forces Unit To Execute Venezuela-Linked Tanker Seizure - U.S. Coast Guard forces remain in a holding pattern this week, awaiting the arrival of specialized teams to assist in the interdiction and seizure of the Venezuela-linked oil tanker Bella 1. Reuters reports that the Coast Guard is awaiting one of two specialist units, known as Maritime Security Response Teams (MSRTs), which can board the tanker by rappelling from helicopters under hostile conditions. MSRT units are called in for non-compliant vessels, hostile crews, or situations involving weapons, sanctions evasion, or national security threats. Regular Coast Guard boarding operations are not equipped to handle such situations. Earlier this month, President Trump ordered a "blockade" of sanctioned oil shipments to disrupt Venezuela-Cuba-China flows, aiming to pressure and create instability in Caracas that would ultimately lead to further economic ruin across Cuba. "There are limited teams who are trained for these types of boardings," Corey Ranslem, chief executive of maritime security group Dryad Global and previously with the U.S. Coast Guard, told Reuters. The problem with a limited number of MSRT units is that it will complicate President Trump's gunboat diplomacy, as hundreds of dark tankers are operating to ensure 900,000 barrels per day of Venezuelan crude flows to Asia.

US Moves Additional Troops and Special Operations Aircraft to the Caribbean as It Escalates Against Venezuela - The US has moved a number of special operations aircraft and multiple cargo planes carrying troops to the Caribbean this week, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, as the Trump administration continues to escalate against Venezuela. The report, citing US officials and flight-tracking data, said at least 10 CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft assigned to special operations forces flew into the region Monday night from Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. C-17 cargo planes from Fort Stewart in Georgia and Fort Campbell, which is located on the Tennessee-Kentucky border, also arrived in Puerto Rico. The latest deployments come as the US has begun enforcing a blockade on Venezuela that so far has involved the seizure of two tankers carrying Venezuelan oil, a major escalation in the US’s effort to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. “He can do whatever he wants, it’s alright, whatever he wants to do,” President Trump said on Monday, referring to Maduro. “If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough.” Also on Monday, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that Maduro needs to be “gone,” one of the most explicit statements from a Trump administration official about the desire for regime change. “We’re not just interdicting these ships, but we’re also sending a message around the world that the illegal activity that Maduro’s participating in cannot stand, he needs to be gone,” she said. Noem announced the second tanker seizure over the weekend, involving the capture of a ship carrying Venezuelan oil owned by a Chinese company. The US tanker seizures have been strongly condemned by China as a severe violation of international law. Trump officials have tried to frame the tanker seizures as some sort of law enforcement operation, but the US has no legal right to capture ships in international waters regardless of whether the vessels are under US sanctions. Trump has said the US plans to “keep” the oil and the tankers, which amounts to outright theft.

Trump deploys quick-strike specialized military forces within range of Venezuela - The Defense Department on Monday deployed aircraft designed to transport special-operations forces, troops and equipment as part of an ongoing military buildup in the Caribbean that could signal imminent strikes against the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The White House and Pentagon isn’t commenting on the developments, but President Trump on Monday touted “a massive armada formed” in the Caribbean and suggested the United States would begin to deploy land forces to the region as well, declaring “soon we will be starting the same program on land.” The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that at least 10 CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, which are used to transport special forces, arrived in the Caribbean theater from Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. The Journal also reported that C-17 cargo planes from Fort Stewart and Fort Campbell Army bases arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday. The deployment of the aircraft signals that elite U.S. units will be participating in the buildup of forces against Maduro. Cannon Air Force base is home to the 27th Special Operations Wing and the Special Operations Aviation Regiment, which have the expertise to conduct deep infiltration missions while the 75th Ranger Regiment, which is based in Fort Stewart, Ga., is capable of seizing airfields to establish a base of operations for a broader deployment of troops. Fort Campbell, which straddles Kentucky and Tennessee, is home to the 101st Airborne Division, which also has quick-strike capability. A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on the matter. A spokesperson for the U.S. Southern Command declined to comment “due to operational security concerns.” “Due to operational security concerns, we do not disclose details on the movement of defense personnel and assets,” said Steven McLoud, a media relations officer for the U.S. Southern Command. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed senators last week on military actions off the coast of Venezuela and repeatedly assured lawmakers that the Trump administration is not seeking regime change through military action. But Trump on Monday declined to say what his endgame is in the region, only warning that Maduro would face severe consequences if he “plays tough.” “If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’ll ever be able to play tough,” Trump told reporters. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles indicated in an interview with journalist Chris Whipple that the president wants to force Maduro from power.

Russia Urges US Not to Commit ‘a Fatal Mistake’ by Invading Venezuela (+UN Security Council) The Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation issued a statement urging the US government not to proceed with its escalation of aggression against Venezuela and to avoid committing “a fatal mistake” that would jeopardize regional peace. In a statement released on Thursday, December 18, the Russian Foreign Ministry added that it remains attentive to the “continuous and deliberate escalation of tension against our friend, Venezuela.” “We hope that the Donald Trump administration will adopt a rational and pragmatic approach and will not make a fatal mistake and will refrain from continuing to slide toward a situation that threatens unpredictable consequences for the entire Western Hemisphere,” the official document stated. Russia stated that it has “special concern” about the decisions taken by the US president regarding the total blockade of vessels entering and leaving Venezuela in order to prevent the country from trading its oil, a measure that poses “a threat to international navigation.” In the context of the imperialist aggression faced by the Venezuelan people, Russia recalled the words of Liberator Simón Bolívar: “every people has the right to choose their own rulers, and other nations must respect that choice.” In light of the events of recent days, Russia reaffirmed its solidarity with the people of Venezuela and the government of President Nicolás Maduro. It also emphasized the need to take “appropriate” steps to find solutions to existing problems and discrepancies, respecting the norms of international law. In this regard, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia calls on “all parties to exercise restraint in order to avoid an unpredictable evolution of the situation.” The spokesperson for the Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the United Nations, Laura Miklic, announced that the emergency meeting requested by Venezuela at the UN Security Council has been scheduled for coming Tuesday, December 23. “I confirm that the Security Council presidency has scheduled a meeting on Venezuela on Tuesday, December 23,” she said on Thursday, December 18. The permanent representative of Venezuela to the United Nations, Samuel Moncada, had urgently requested this meeting from the presidency of the Security Council, which is held by Slovenia, following the latest declaration of a total naval blockade against Venezuela and threats of military attacks made by the US government.

Tense UN Meeting Sees Russia, China Blast US 'Cowboy Behavior' Against Venezuela -- A Tuesday UN Security Council session quickly grew tense and members squared off over what's happening off the coast of Venezuela, scene of apparent preparations for some kind of US military action. Russia and China issued common condemnation of Washington, blasting a campaign of intimidation against Caracas which goes against the principles of the United Nations, and is based on "cowboy behavior". The emergency session of the UNSC was formally requested by Venezuela and immediately backed by China and Russia. Additionally the Chinese side complained that the US is currently "infringing upon other countries' sovereignty, security, and legitimate rights and interests, seriously violate the UN Charter and international law, and threaten peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean." Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro initially submitted a formal appeal to all 193 UN member states and Caribbean leaders, calling out the US "escalation of extremely serious aggression" and urging the UN to act. The the American side wasn't having it, with US Ambassador Mike Waltz responding by saying, "The United States will do everything in its power to protect our hemisphere, our borders, and the American people." "Maduro's ability to ‌sell Venezuela's oil enables his fraudulent claim to power and ‍his narco-terrorist ‍activities," Waltz said before the 15-member council. "The people of Venezuela, ⁠frankly, ‌deserve better." The US administration's rhetoric has grown increasingly in favor of admitting the end goal is regime change, also connected with Trump's earlier declaration of "total and complete blockade" of sanctioned oil vessels sailing to and from Venezuela. The American President has insisted that Maduro is using oil money to finance "drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping" and so it would be "smart" for him to step down.

White House Orders Venezuelan Oil "Quarantine" As Gunboat Diplomacy Drives Dark Fleet Tanker Into Atlantic -The Trump administration has ordered the U.S. military to enforce a two-month "quarantine" of Venezuelan oil, signaling an intensification of gunboat diplomacy aimed at fostering regime instability in Caracas, with potential spillover effects that could ripple across the Caribbean into Cuba."While military options still exist, the focus is to first use economic pressure by enforcing sanctions to reach the outcome the White House is looking (for)," a U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday afternoon, speaking on condition of anonymity.The U.S. Coast Guard has already intercepted two Venezuelan crude tankers this month and is prepared to seize another dark fleet tanker, but the vessel Bella-1 was chased away.Sources familiar with the sanctioned Bella-1 told Bloomberg that the tanker retreated into the Atlantic after being pursued by U.S. Coast Guard forces. The tanker failed to comply with instructions to move to calmer waters for boarding.Bella-1's decision to evade closely monitored Venezuelan waters underscores how the Trump administration's U.S. blockade, widely viewed as gunboat diplomacy, has already disrupted Venezuela–Cuba–China oil flows. The blockade is set to further tighten financial pressure on President Nicolás Maduro's government by constraining crucial oil revenues. Beijing has already condemned Trump's gunboat diplomacy. According to analytics firm Kpler, Caracas has shipped nearly 900,000 barrels per day this year and relies on 400 dark-fleet tankers to transport the crude, much of which is bound for China.

White House orders military to focus on 'quarantine' of Venezuela oil - The Hindu - The White House has ordered U.S. military forces ​to focus almost exclusively on enforcing a “quarantine” of Venezuelan oil for at ‌least the next two months, a U.S. official told Reuters, indicating Washington is currently ​more interested in using economic rather than military means to pressure Caracas. “While military options still exist, the focus is to first use economic pressure by enforcing sanctions to reach the outcome the White House is looking (for),” the official said on Wednesday (December 24, 2025), speaking on condition of anonymity. While U.S. President Donald Trump has been publicly coy about his precise aims regarding Venezuela, he has privately pressured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to flee the nation, Reuters has reported. Mr. Trump said ​on Monday (December 22) it would be smart for Mr. Maduro to leave power. “The efforts so ⁠far have put tremendous pressure on Maduro, and the belief is that by late January, Venezuela will be facing an economic calamity unless it agrees to make significant concessions to the U.S.,” the official said. Mr. Trump has accused the South ⁠American country of flooding the U.S. with drugs, and his administration has for months been bombing boats originating in South America that it alleges were carrying drugs. Many nations have condemned the attacks as extrajudicial killings. Mr. Trump has also frequently threatened to start bombing drug infrastructure on ‌land, and has authorised covert Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) activity directed at Caracas. So far this month, ‌the U.S. Coast Guard has intercepted two tankers in the Caribbean Sea, both fully loaded with Venezuelan crude. The comments by the White House official ‍on Wednesday (December 24) come after Reuters reported that the Coast Guard was waiting for additional forces to carry out a third seizure, first attempted on Sunday (December 21), against an empty sanctioned vessel known as the Bella-1. Venezuela’s ‍U.N. Ambassador Samuel Moncada said on Tuesday (December 22), “The threat is not Venezuela. The threat is the U.S. government.

Israel Has Killed Over 400 Palestinians in Gaza Since Trump-Backed 'Ceasefire' Went Into Effect - Gaza’s Health Ministry said on Saturday that Israeli forces have killed at least 401 Palestinians and wounded 1,108 since the US-backed ceasefire was supposed to go into effect, as Israel continues violating the deal.The Health Ministry’s statement came a day after the Israeli military bombed a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza City’s Tuffah Neighborhood. Israeli shelling hit the school when families were gathered there to celebrate a wedding, and the attack killed six people, including a four-month-old baby and his father.Israel continued launching attacks in Gaza on Sunday, killing at least three people in Gaza City’s Shujaiyya neighborhood, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA. If confirmed by the Health Ministry, it would bring the total number of people killed during the so-called ceasefire to 404. Four-month-old Ahmed al-Nather’s uncle holds his covered body during the funeral of Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike on Friday, according to medics, at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, December 20, 2025. REUTERS. Three women were also killed in Gaza on Sunday when a building damaged by Israel’s bombing campaign collapsed in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, which has become a common occurrence due to strong winds amid harsh winter weather. Another two Palestinians were missing under the rubble after the building collapsed, according to WAFA.Babies have also died due to cold, as many families are living in flimsy tents that were flooded in recent heavy rain. The US and Israel are not allowing reconstruction to take place in the Hamas-controlled side of Gaza, where virtually all civilians are living, and Israel has maintained restrictions on aid entering the Strip.“Children are losing their lives because they lack the most basic items for survival. Babies are arriving to the hospital cold, with near-death vital signs: even our best efforts are not enough. They say the war has ended, but people are still having to fight for their lives,” Bilal Abu Saada, the nursing team supervisor at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, said in a press release from Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

Arab Nonprofit Stirs Pot With Times Square Ad On Christianity's Holiest Day -- On the holiest day of the Christian calendar, the nonprofit Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) purchased a gigantic Times Square advertisement in New York City declaring, "Jesus is Palestinian." This inflammatory and divisive rhetoric is nothing more than an attempt by the Arab nonprofit to stir up the Christian nation with their own narrative. Adeb Ayoub, National Executive Director of ADC, told The New York Post that the nonprofit has been renting ad space in Times Square this year, with rotating weekly messages. "There's a lot more similarities between Arabs and Muslims and Christians in this country than others want to allow us to believe and there are similarities and there is a fear of culture, shared religion," Ayoub said. NYPost's report continued: "Most of the Americans in this country are Christian and the birthplace of Christianity is Palestine. If people wanna go back and forth and debate it, then great, the billboard sparked debate. At least you're having a conversation about it. Otherwise, we're silenced and our voices and positions don't come out." When asked whether his group is disputing that Jesus was Jewish, Ayoub said that "Jesus lives within all of us" and that the subject was "up for interpretation." He added that Jewish groups he claims have waged a digital war against him since the Spring are free to promote their own views about Jesus.

Report: Netanyahu To Ask Trump To Support Another Attack on Iran - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to ask President Trump to support another US-Israeli war on Iran, according to an NBC News report from Saturday. The report said that Netanyahu will stress Israel’s concern over Iran’s production of ballistic missiles and will present Trump with options for the US to join or assist Israel with an attack on Iran. Israeli officials are also warning that Iran is reconstituting its nuclear sites that were bombed by the US during the war in June, but that was not their immediate concern.According to a report from Israel Hayom, Israeli officials are preparing an “intelligence dossier” on Iran to present to Trump. Netanyahu’s office has said the meeting will take place at Mar-a-Lago on December 29, though President Trump suggested last week that it wasn’t finalized, saying, “We haven’t set it up formally, but he’d like to see me.” Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, has been warning that another war with Iran was likely since Israel didn’t achieve all of its goals during its previous attack on the country, pointing to the fact that Iran’s missile strikes forced Israel to agree to a ceasefire quickly.“The June war resulted in mutual deterrence, a situation Iran can accept, but one that is intolerable for Netanyahu and his legacy. Ultimately, the conflict was neither a victory for Israel nor for Iran,” Parsi wrote in Responsible Statecraft on Sunday, responding to the NBC report.“It is precisely this balance of terror that prompts Israel to seek a new round – Israel’s military doctrine does not allow for any of its regional foes to deter it or challenge its military dominance. Iran’s missile program currently does exactly that,” Parsi added. “And this is precisely why Trump must say no to Netanyahu. Because Israel’s objective is not security in the conventional sense, but rather absolute dominance.”

Amb Huckabee: Iran "Didn't Get The Full Message" - US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on Monday that Iran "didn’t get the full message" following the US airstrikes that targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in June, comments that came as Israel is pushing for the US to support another attack on the country. "Iran, I don’t know if they ever took [President Trump] seriously until the night that the B-2 bombers went to Fordow," Huckabee said in an interview with Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, referring to one of the underground Iranian nuclear facilities bombed by the US. "I hope they got the message, but apparently they didn’t get the full message because … they appear to be trying to reconstitute and find a new way to dig the hole deeper, secure it more," Huckabee added, referring to reports that say there’s been activity at the bombed nuclear sites. Huckabee made the comments when asked if the US would support another attack on Iran if Israel determined "further military action was necessary" based on Iran’s work on its civilian nuclear program and ballistic missile program. According to a report from NBC News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will ask President Trump to back another attack on Iran over Israeli concerns about Iran's ballistic missiles, which were effective at striking Israeli territory during the 12-Day War. "It’s hard for me to tell you what the US would do because that’s a policy decision that’ll be made at the White House," Huckabee said. "All I can do is point to you what the president has said repeatedly, and he consistently has said Iran is never going to enrich uranium."

At Least Five Killed by Large-Scale US Airstrikes Targeting ISIS in Syria - At least five people were killed by major US airstrikes that were launched in Syria on Friday against ISIS targets, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). “The operation left at least five individuals torn pieces, including the leader of a cell and his members who were responsible for launching drones toward the eastern Euphrates region,” the SOHR said.The strikes were launched in response to a December 13 attack that killed two US National Guard members and an American civilian interpreter in Palmyra, central Syria. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called the airstrikes a “declaration of vengeance,” but the gunman who killed the three Americans was a member of Syria’s security forces, and ISIS never took responsibility for the attack.US Central Command said the strikes involved firing more than 100 munitions at over 70 targets in central Syria, and Jordanian aircraft assisted in the strikes, which has since been confirmed by Jordan. CENTCOM said that since the Palmyra attack, the US and “partner forces conducted 10 operations in Syria and Iraq resulting in the deaths or detention of 23 terrorist operatives.”The SOHR also said that a raid carried out by the US-led coalition on Thursday, a day before the airstrikes, killed one member of an ISIS cell, a woman believed to be the wife of a suspect, and a 14-year-old boy who was hit by a stray bullet during a firefight.The escalation of US military operations in Syria signals the Trump administration is doubling down on its Syria policy, which includes supporting the new Syrian government, which is led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander who was once an ally of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the founder of ISIS.

US Confirms It Launched Airstrike During Battle in Somalia Over Village Captured By al-Shabaab - US Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed on Friday that its forces launched an airstrike near Nuur Dugle, a village in southern Somalia that al-Shabaab captured after a battle with US-backed forces, on December 18.“The airstrikes occurred in the vicinity of Nuur Dugle, Somalia, approximately 215 km northeast of Mogadishu,” AFRICOM said in a press release.Somali media initially reported that al-Shabaab took the village on December 18 after fierce fighting and that there were unconfirmed reports of a US airstrike. Al-Shabaab-affiliated media claimed that the group killed 11 government fighters, but the number hasn’t been confirmed by the Somali government.The Somali Guardian reported that the loss of Nuur Dugle marked a strategic defeat for the US-backed government since it cut off a supply line connecting Mogadishu and central Somalia, according to the Somali Guardian. According to Hiraan Online, the capture of Nuur Dugle means that al-Shabaab has taken control of most of Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region.Al-Shabaab continues to make advances against the US-backed government despite an unprecedented number of US airstrikes in Somalia this year. The attack near Nuur Dugle marks at least the 117th US airstrike in the country this year, nearly double the previous annual record for US bombings in the country, which President Trump set at 63 during his first term in 2019.A little more than half of the US airstrikes targeted an ISIS affiliate in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland region, but the number of airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab still marks a major escalation, as the US launched just 10 airstrikes in Somalia in 2024. The US has been involved in Somalia for decades and has been fighting al-Shabaab since the George W. Bush administration backed an Ethiopian invasion in 2006 that ousted the Islamic Courts Union, a Muslim coalition that briefly held power in Mogadishu after taking the city from CIA-backed warlords.

US Launches More Airstrikes in Somalia as Trump Continues Record-Shattering Bombing Campaign - US Africa Command announced on Monday that its forces launched airstrikes in Somalia’s Puntland region on December 19 as the Trump administration continues bombing the country at a record pace, an air war that receives virtually no media coverage in the United States.AFRICOM said the strikes targeted the small ISIS affiliate about 28 miles to the southeast of the Gulf of Aden port city of Bosaso in a remote mountain region where the US has been backing local Puntland forces in their fight against militants based in caves.The command offered no other details about the strikes as it stopped sharing casualty estimates and assessments on civilian harm earlier this year. “Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security,” AFRICOM said.AFRICOM said its forces launched “airstrikes” but didn’t specify how many. Counting the action as two airstrikes brings the total number of US airstrikes in the country this year to at least 119, an unprecedented number. According to New America, an organization that tracks the air war, the 119 airstrikes launched this year are more than were conducted in Somalia during the administrations of Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush combined.Somali media reports suggest that there were more US airstrikes against al-Shabaab in southern Somalia on Monday, but AFRICOM typically takes a few days to confirm its bombings. Al-Shabaab captured a strategic town in southern Somalia as the group continues to make gains despite the unprecedented number of US airstrikes.In recent months, there have been civilian casualties in operations conducted by the US and US-backed forces in southern Somalia. Last week, local media reported that more than 30 civilians were killed by an attack on a village near Mogadishu that was carried out by a US-trained Somali government force.On November 15, US airstrikes and US-backed Somali ground forces targeted the village of Jamame, which is near Kismayo. The attack killed at least 11 civilians, including seven children, according to a report from Drop Site News.A US airstrike in Somalia’s northern Sanag region, west of Puntland, that was launched on September 13, also killed a civilian clan leader who was known for his peace efforts, according to family members, local officials, and a committee that investigated the airstrike. AFRICOM claimed he was an al-Shabaab weapons dealer, but has provided no evidence to back up the assertion.

US launches strike against ISIS in Nigeria -The United States on Thursday launched strikes against ISIS in Nigeria, President Trump announced, citing the targeting of Christians in the region. “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a statement that the strikes killed multiple “ISIS terrorists.” “AFRICOM conducted a strike at the request of Nigerian authorities in Soboto State killing multiple ISIS terrorists. Lethal strikes against ISIS demonstrate the strength of our military and our commitment to eliminating terrorist threats against Americans at home and abroad,” it said. AFRICOM Commander, Gen. Dagvin Anderson, said in a statement that the U.S. military is working with Nigerian and regional partners to increase “counterterrorism cooperation efforts related to on-going violence and threats against innocent lives.” Trump on Thursday pointed to his November statement, in which he threatened military action in Nigeria if the country did not take steps to stop violence directed at Christians. “I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” he wrote on Thursday. “The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.” “May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues,” he continued. Nigeria said on Thursday that the country remains “engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorist and violent extremism,” which led to the strikes. It said “all counter-terrorism efforts are guided by the “primacy of protecting civilian lives, safeguarding national unity and upholding the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity.”“Terrorist violence in any form whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security,” Nigeria’s foreign minister said in a statement.Trump in November labeled the African nation a “country of particular concern” (CPC) because of religious violence. The designation outlines a plan for the president to consult with the designated government, draft a foreign policy action plan, and consult with Congress about implementation — within 90 days. The Trump administration also began to conduct daily surveillance flights over Nigeria under the direction of Nigerian National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Reuters reported. “The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end,” Hegseth wrote in a Thursday post on X.

Trump says US struck Islamic State targets in Nigeria after group targeted Christians (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that the U.S. launched a “powerful and deadly” strike against Islamic State forces in Nigeria, after spending weeks accusing the West African country’s government of failing to rein in the persecution of Christians. In a Christmas evening post on his social media site, Trump did not provide details or mention the extent of the damage caused by the strikes. A Defense Department official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss details not made public, said the U.S. worked with Nigeria to carry out the strikes, and that they’d been approved by that country’s government. Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the cooperation included exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination in ways “consistent with international law, mutual respect for sovereignty and shared commitments to regional and global security.” Trump said the airstrikes were launched against Islamic State militants “who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” Residents and security analysts have said Nigeria’s security crisis affects both Christians, predominant in the south, and Muslims, who are the majority in the north. “Terrorist violence in any form, whether directed at Christians, Muslims or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security,” Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Nigeria is battling multiple armed groups, including at least two affiliated with the Islamic State — an offshoot of the Boko Haram extremist group known as the Islamic State West Africa Province in the northeast, and the less-known Lakurawa group prominent in the northwestern states like Sokoto where the gangs use large swathes of forests connecting states as hideouts. Security analysts said the target of the U.S. strikes could be the Lakurawa group, which in the last year has increasingly become lethal in the region, often targeting remote communities and security forces. “Lakurawa is a group that is actually controlling territories in Nigeria, in Sokoto state and in other states like Kebbi,” said Malik Samuel, a Nigerian security researcher at Good Governance Africa. “In the northwest, there has been the incursion of violent extremist groups that are ideologically driven,” he said, blaming the incursion on the near absence of the state and security forces in hot spots. Nigeria’s government has previously said in response to Trump’s criticisms that people of many faiths, not just Christians, have suffered attacks at the hands of extremists groups. Trump ordered the Pentagon last month to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria to try and curb the so-called Christian persecution. The State Department recently announced it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in killing Christians there. And the U.S. recently designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act. Trump said the U.S. defense officials had “executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing” and added that “our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.” Nigeria’s population of 220 million is split almost equally between Christians and Muslims. The country has long faced insecurity from various fronts including the Boko Haram extremist group, which seeks to establish its radical interpretation of Islamic law and has also targeted Muslims it deems not Muslim enough.

Philippines To Get Up To $3.5 Billion in US Military Aid - The $901 billion 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), signed by President Trump last week, includes up to $3.5 billion in military aid for the Philippines as the US continues to build up its forces and allies in the Asia-Pacific to prepare for a potential future war with China.The aid for Manila includes $500 million in Foreign Military Financing, a State Department program that provides foreign governments with funds to purchase US weapons, to be distributed over the next five years for a total of $2.5 billion.“This bipartisan bill will significantly increase US security assistance to the Philippines and profoundly strengthen and modernize the defense and deterrence capabilities of our Alliance,” Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) said in a joint statement on the inclusion of the $2.5 billion for Manila in the 2026 NDAA.The NDAA also includes an offer to the Philippines of a $1 billion loan repayable over 17 years. The significant boost in US military aid for the Philippines comes amid growing tensions in the South China Sea between Manila and Beijing over disputed rocks and reefs, an area where the US is deeply involved, frequently sails warships, and conducts military drills.Since the first Trump administration, the US has openly stated that the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty applies to attacks on Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, meaning the US is committing to going to war if the maritime dispute between China and the Philippines turns hot. The US frequently reaffirms its commitment following incidents in the South China Sea between Chinese and Philippine boats. “The United States condemns China’s October 12 ramming and water cannoning of a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel close to Thitu Island in the South China Sea. We stand with our Philippine allies as they confront China’s dangerous actions, which undermine regional stability,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement after an incident in October.

Trump’s appointment of envoy to Greenland sparks new tension with Denmark | The Hill The leaders of Denmark and Greenland insisted Monday that the United States won’t take over Greenland and demanded respect for their territorial integrity after President Donald Trump ‍​announced ​the appointment of a ‌special envoy to the semi-autonomous territory. Trump’s announcement on Sunday that Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry would be the envoy prompted a new flare-up of tensions over Washington’s interest in the vast territory of Denmark, a NATO ally. Denmark’s foreign minister told Danish broadcasters that he would summon the U.S. ambassador to his ministry. ”We have said it before. Now, we say it again. National borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said in a joint statement. “They are fundamental principles. You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security.” “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the U.S. shall not take over Greenland,” they added in the statement emailed by Frederiksen’s office. “We expect respect for our joint territorial integrity.” Trump called repeatedly during his presidential transition and the early months of his second term for U.S. jurisdiction over Greenland, and has not ruled out military force to take control of the mineral-rich, strategically located Arctic island. In March, Vice President JD Vance visited a remote U.S. military base in Greenland and accused Denmark of under-investing there. The issue gradually drifted out of the headlines, but in August, Danish officials summoned the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen following a report that at least three people with connections to Trump had carried out covert influence operations in Greenland. “We need Greenland for national security,” Trump told reporters on Monday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, when asked about Landry’s appointment. “And if you take a look at Greenland, you look up and down the coast you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.” On Sunday, Trump announced Landry’s appointment, saying on social media that “Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country’s Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World.” The U.S. president on Monday said Landry approached him about being appointing as an envoy. “He’s a deal guy. He is a deal-maker type guy,” Trump said. Landry wrote in a post on social media after Trump announced the appointment that “it’s an honor to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the U.S.” The governor will continue to serve in his elected position in Louisiana. The Trump administration did not offer any warning ahead of the announcement, according to a Danish government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The official also said Danish officials had expected Trump to signal an aggressive approach to Greenland and the Arctic in the U.S. administration’s new national security strategy and were surprised when the document included no mention of either. Deputy White House press secretary Anna Kelly said Monday that Trump decided to create the special envoy role because the administration views Greenland as “a strategically important location in the Arctic for maintaining peace through strength.” Danish broadcasters TV2 and DR reported that in comments from the Faroe Islands Monday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said he would summon the U.S. ambassador in Copenhagen, Kenneth Howery, to his ministry. Greenland’s prime minister wrote in a separate statement that Greenland had again woken up to a new announcement from the U.S. president, and that “it may sound significant. But it changes nothing for us here at home.” Nielsen noted that Greenland has its own democracy and said that “we are happy to cooperate with other countries, including the United States, but this must always take place with respect for us and for our values and wishes.”

Trump unveils ‘Golden Fleet’ class of Navy battleships named for himself -- President Trump announced on Monday a new class of battleships as part of the U.S. Navy’s “Golden Fleet.” The president said that he approved a plan for the Navy to start construction of the two battleships, which will be equipped with guns, missiles, hypersonic weapons and high-powered lasers. Trump trumpeted the ships as being built with “all steel” as opposed to aluminum. Trump said the timeline of building the ships would be about two and a half years. When asked if the new class of ships is developed to counter China, Trump said they are intended to counter “everybody.” “They’ll be the fastest, the biggest and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built,” Trump said, standing alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a Mar-a-Lago public appearance. The new battleships, which will anchor the “Golden Fleet,” will weigh more than 30,000 tons, and the military is expected to have between 20 and 25 as part of the effort to bolster the U.S. Navy. The new vessels will mark an upgrade to the Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The first ship in the so-called Trump-class will be the USS Defiant, which will carry a nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missile, according to Phelan. The Navy secretary said the Defiant will be the “largest, deadliest and most versatile and best looking warship anywhere on the world’s oceans.” Adm. Daryl Caudle, the Chief of Naval Operations, said in the Friday video that the U.S. small surface combatant inventory is at one-third of what the Navy needs.

House Democrats demand details on Marco Rubio's role in Salvadoran prisoner deal - House Democrats are demanding more details about Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s dealings with the Salvadoran government as the country agreed to imprison more than 200 men in its most notorious detention facility. A Tuesday letter from the top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary committees asks a series of questions about the arrangement, as well as the return shortly thereafter of high-level MS-13 figures who were slated to be witnesses in U.S. trials. The request follows reporting that Rubio negotiated the return of the witnesses directly with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele as President Trump prepared to sign the Alien Enemies Act in March. “In this discussion, you reportedly promised that the United States would terminate its informant arrangements with certain high-ranking members of MS-13 in U.S. custody who had been cooperating with law-enforcement so that the men could be turned over to El Salvador, preventing them from testifying in federal courts,” ranking members Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) wrote in the letter obtained by The Hill. “In exchange, President Bukele would receive and detain Venezuelan nationals and other deportees from the United States,” they continued. “This quid pro quo was arranged in spite of the reported objection of officials from the Department of Justice, who warned that terminating the informant agreements risked undermining years of work and U.S. law-enforcement agencies’ ability to engage informants in the future.” The letter asks for an accounting of how many MS-13 gang members were sent to El Salvador under the arrangement, including whether any other informants were sent back to the Central American country beyond the nine already reported. Bukele has been dogged by allegations he has dealt directly with the gang as he worked to turn around the country’s crime rate, including promises on prison privileges, blocking extradition to other countries, and other political protections. Reports that gang members in U.S. custody were returned to El Salvador reignited scrutiny of Bukele’s dealings with MS-13, including questions about the fate of the men. The letter asks whether the State Department sought assurance the informants would not be subject to any “cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment” once back in El Salvador. “We remain deeply concerned that you would prioritize protecting President Bukele’s reputation over delivering justice for American victims of MS-13 crimes by agreeing to give up informants under U.S. protection whose knowledge and testimony is integral to ongoing federal investigations into MS-13 leadership, operations, and ties with President Bukele’s administration,” it reads. The Trump administration has faced significant pushback for sending more than 200 men to a Salvadoran megaprison, including both Venezuelan and Salvadoran citizens.

CBS censors “60 Minutes” report on torture of immigrant detainees - Only three hours before it was set to be broadcast Sunday night, a “60 Minutes” report on the CECOT torture prison in El Salvador, used by the Trump administration to detain migrants from Venezuela, was blocked by the new pro-Trump executive in charge of CBS News, Bari Weiss. This act of blatant censorship outraged the staff of the long-running program. The reporter who narrated the segment and interviewed survivors of the torture, Sharyn Alfonsi, sent out an internal memo Sunday blasting the decision as “corporate censorship” and a “betrayal” of sources who had “risked their lives” to testify about conditions in the prison. A bootleg copy of the program segment has been made available by a Canadian journalist, though it and other versions posted were subsequently taken down, evidently by YouTube, which is owned by Google. The content makes clear why it was pulled, as it demonstrates the direct responsibility of the US government for the torture of prisoners, including regular violent beatings, sexual assault and brutal conditions. Most of the immigrants had no criminal record and were not gang members, despite the incessant slanders from Trump, Stephen Miller and other fascists in the White House. CECOT was the location where the Department of Homeland Security, in violation of a court order, sent more than 200 detained migrants, most of them Venezuelan, including Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland construction worker married to a US citizen and father to three US citizen children. Garcia was returned to the United States under court order and was released last week, pending further efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport him. The leaked version of the “60 Minutes” segment is devastating. The courage of the men who testified is remarkable, as is the compassion of the students and human rights advocates who helped them, and the determination of Alfonsi and her team of journalists to bring this information to the public. The segment exposes the blatant lying and inhuman callousness of the Trump administration, particularly Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who traveled to El Salvador soon after the Venezuelans were imprisoned there to make television appearances on the supposed success of Trump’s anti-migrant policy. In her internal email protesting the decision to cancel the “60 Minutes” broadcast, later leaked to the media, Alfonsi wrote, “In my view, pulling it now after every rigorous internal check has been met is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.” She particularly objected to the insistence by Weiss that the segment on CECOT must include an on-camera response from Stephen Miller or another top Trump administration spokesman on the deportation campaign. (Weiss actually supplied Miller’s contact details to the “60 Minutes” team). Alfonsi pointed out that the network had sought interviews with the White House, Department of Homeland Security and State Department, only to be rebuffed. “Their refusal to be interviewed is a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story,” she wrote. “If the administration’s refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a ‘kill switch’ for any reporting they find inconvenient. … Government silence is a statement, not a VETO… “If the standard for airing a story is that ‘the government must agree to be interviewed,’ then the government effectively gains control over the 60 Minutes broadcast. We go from an investigative powerhouse to a stenographer for the state.” Weiss gave only the lamest justification to network staff after killing the broadcast, claiming it was only a delay to do more reporting, and promising the story would eventually run on “60 Minutes.” In a newsroom call at 9 a.m. Monday—leaked to other media outlets and then released by CBS—Weiss claimed that there was nothing new in the segment compared to reporting several months ago by the New York Times. This is an outright lie, since the “60 Minutes” segment incorporates the findings of a Human Rights Watch report issued in November, which extensively documented torture at CECOT. Both the testimony of the former prisoners, and the evidence uncovered by a student team of human rights researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, are new and important. Weiss did not explain why the network had been promoting the segment on Friday, after five separate reviews by corporate lawyers and executives, only to abruptly cancel it and run a different segment in its place. But it is clear that the story was killed after the Trump White House reacted with hostility to the announcement Friday of the impending broadcast. Although the exact details of the censorship order are not yet known, the new owner of CBS, David Ellison, is the son of mega-billionaire Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle and a heavy backer of Trump. The Ellisons installed Weiss as editor-in-chief in October, in large measure to ensure a right-wing, pro-Trump and pro-Israel slant to the network. They also purchased Weiss’s stridently Zionist internet publication, The Free Press, for $150 million, a staggering sum for her, but pocket change for Ellison, whose fortune is estimated at $238 billion, making him the fifth-richest oligarch on the planet.

Bari Weiss stirs controversy with decision to pull "60 Minutes" segment - Bari Weiss, CBS’s new editor in chief, is facing widespread blowback across the media for a decision to pull a “60 Minutes” segment she argues was not ready for publication, while a top journalist at the network contends the decision was based on political pressure and capitulation to the Trump administration. The controversy comes as Paramount, CBS’s parent company, is under a microscope over its relationship with the administration while it seeks to expand its media empire and retool the network’s editorial direction. CBS abruptly announced it would not run the segment, which was set to highlight conditions inside the notorious Salvadoran prison where the Trump administration has deported Venezuelan migrants, after promoting it in the days prior. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, who reported the piece for CBS, hours later wrote to colleagues at the network saying her bosses had pulled the segment for what she argued were insufficient reasons. “Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices,” Alfonsi wrote in her note, which was shared with multiple media outlets. “It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it now—after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.” Alfonsi’s pushback on her bosses is an extraordinary step for a top journalist working at one of the nation’s leading news programs. Her condemnation of top brass comes as the network has invited scrutiny since President Trump won reelection. Trump has in recent days criticized “60 Minutes” and CBS’s new ownership directly, arguing the outlet is treating him unfairly, despite speculation that new Paramount boss David Ellison is seeking favor with the president. Weiss, hired to run CBS News after Paramount purchased her outlet The Free Press, has been given a mandate to reshape the network’s editorial coverage toward a more centrist viewpoint. News of the segment’s cancellation rippled across the media and political ecosystems overnight Sunday. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill who are often critical of Trump and his allies seized on the incident, arguing it was further evidence that the administration’s efforts to intimidate news outlets are working. “What is happening to CBS is a terrible embarrassment and if executives think they can build shareholder value by avoiding journalism that might offend the Mad King they are about to learn a tough lesson,” Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) wrote on the social platform X. “This is still America and we don’t enjoy bulls— like this.” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said the decision hurts the network’s reputation. “A free press isn’t free if stories get shelved just because the powerful won’t talk,” Khanna said in a social media post of his own. “CBS pulling the CECOT story on Venezuelan deportees sent to El Salvador’s brutal prison erodes trust. We are losing trust that government and media serve us, not the elite.” Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), a Republican and leading Trump critic, posted screenshots of him canceling his membership to Paramount+, the company’s direct-to-consumer streaming service. “State owned media,” the former congressman wrote in a string of social media posts blasting the network. However, CBS’s new top leader is not backing down from a decision she says was necessary to maintain fairness to the administration. Weiss defended her decision to pull the segment by saying it lacked proper context and comment from administration officials. “I look forward to airing this important piece when it’s ready,” she said in a statement on Sunday issued to The New York Times. “My job is to make sure that all stories we publish are the best they can be.” Weiss added, “Holding stories that aren’t ready for whatever reason — that they lack sufficient context, say, or that they are missing critical voices — happens every day in every newsroom.” The CBS News boss further addressed the decision in a morning call, according to CNN’s Brian Stelter. “I held a ’60 Minutes’ story because it was not ready,” Stelter quoted Weiss as saying. “While the story presented powerful testimony of torture at CECOT, it did not advance the ball—the Times and other outlets have previously done similar work. The public knows that Venezuelans have been subjected to horrific treatment at this prison. To run a story on this subject two months later, we need to do more. And this is ’60 Minutes.’ We need to be able to get the principals on the record and on camera.”

Bari Weiss defends 60 Minutes decision in memo to CBS News staff - CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss defended her decision to hold a “60 Minutes” segment she thought was not ready for publication, telling her staff in a memo on Wednesday her goal is to win back viewers’ trust. “Right now, the majority of Americans say they do not trust the press. It isn’t because they’re crazy,” Weiss said in her memo, reported by several news outlets. “To win back their trust, we have to work hard. Sometimes that means doing more legwork. Sometimes it means telling unexpected stories. Sometimes it means training our attention on topics that have been overlooked or misconstrued,” she continued. “And sometimes it means holding a piece about an important subject to make sure it is comprehensive and fair.” The new top editor’s decision to pull the segment — which was set to highlight conditions inside the notorious Salvadoran prison where the Trump administration has deported Venezuelan migrants — drew sharp backlash this week, including from the segment’s own correspondent, who called the move “political.” But Weiss, in her message to the news staff, attributed the widespread blowback to a “slow news week.” “In our upside-down moment, this may seem radical,” she said about her decision to hold the piece. “Such editorial decisions can cause a firestorm, particularly on a slow news week. And the standards for fairness we are holding ourselves to, particularly on contentious subjects, will surely feel controversial to those used to doing things one way. But to fulfill our mission, it’s necessary.” CBS News announced the change to the episode just hours before it was set to air on Sunday. An editor’s note on the “60 Minutes” account on the social platform X notified the public that the broadcast lineup had been updated and that the “Inside CECOT” report would “air in a future broadcast.” In a statement released Sunday, Weiss said, “I look forward to airing this important piece when it’s ready,” The New York Times reported. “My job is to make sure that all stories we publish are the best they can be. Holding stories that aren’t ready for whatever reason — that they lack sufficient context, say, or that they are missing critical voices — happens every day in every newsroom,” she said. The Times reported the decision was made after Weiss “requested numerous changes to the segment.” NPR, meanwhile, reported that Weiss said the segment could not air without first getting an on-the-record statement from the Trump administration.But Sharyn Alfonsi, who reported the piece, rejected suggestions that the decision to pull the segment was an editorial one, saying in a note to colleagues, “Our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices.”“It is factually correct. In my view, pulling it now—after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision, it is a political one,” she continued.

Stephen Miller calls for firing of '60 Minutes' producers - White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller on Tuesday urged CBS News to fire the producers of “60 Minutes” for launching a “revolt” against Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, who recently pulled a segment focused on Venezuelan men deported to the El Salvadoran CECOT prison. “They know that these are monsters, who got exactly what they deserved. Because under President Trump, we are not going to let little girls get raped, and murdered anymore,” Miller said during an appearance on Fox News’s “Jesse Waters Primetime.” “And every one of those producers at ’60 Minutes’ engaged in this revolt, fire them. Clean house, fire them. That’s what I say, Charlie,” he told guest host Charles Hunt. Weiss has defended her decision to pull Sharyn Alfonsi’s piece, alleging it was not “ready” to air. Alfonsi said the piece needed comment from Trump administration “principals” like Miller. On Tuesday, Miller said he was unaware that CBS reached out to request a comment from him. “I don’t remember anybody reaching out to me, of course as you know people put things into comms inboxes and general feedback comments but I don’t remember getting anything,” Miller said. “But more fundamentally this is another pathetic ’60 Minutes’ hatchet job, they’re trying to tell sob stories about Tren de Aragua gang members who drill holes in people’s hands…” Miller continued, citing the murder of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old killed in Texas in 2024, allegedly at the hands of two men in the country illegally.

Trump Admin Bans Anti-Free Speech EU Globalists From Entering US - Modernity.news Steve Watson details below that the Trump administration has slapped visa bans on former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton and four other ‘anti-disinformation’ activists, accusing them of coercing American social media companies to censor viewpoints they dislike.The move signals a zero-tolerance policy toward extraterritorial censorship, especially after the EU’s recent assaults on Elon Musk’s X.Secretary of State Marco Rubio laid it out clearly: “For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose. The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.” Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Sarah B. Rogers stated “These sanctions are visa-related. We aren’t invoking severe Magnitsky-style financial measures, but our message is clear: if you spend your career fomenting censorship of American speech, you’re unwelcome on American soil.” The list includes Thierry Breton, who notoriously threatened Elon Musk over hosting a 2024 interview with Donald Trump on X. Others barred are Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), who worked with Democrats like Amy Klobuchar to “kiII Musk’s Twitter”; Joan Donovan, founder of The Critical Internet Studies Institute; Kate Starbird, co-founder of the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public; and Jim Davey, co-founder of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.

DHS triples ‘exit bonus’ for migrants who self-deport before new year -The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is offering migrants living in the U.S. illegally a $3,000 stipend to voluntarily self-deport by the end of the year. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday that DHS is tripling the so-called exit bonus for migrants who register to self-deport through the CBP Home app before the end of the year. The department will also provide a free ticket and will forgive any civil fines or penalties owed for overstaying visas or otherwise failing to leave the country. “If you voluntarily want to go home now to your country, if you’re in this United States of America illegally, we will give you $3,000 through the holidays to send you home. We’ll buy you a ticket, give you $3,000 to go home — and that includes people that have not been detained, maybe have interacted with us, are detained and don’t have criminal charges against them,” Noem said in an interview on Fox News’s “Fox & Friends.” “Raise your hand. We’ll help you get home, we’ll facilitate it, and you might get the chance to come back to this country the right way someday,” she continued. “If you wait until we interdict you and detain you and arrest you and have to deport you ourselves, you’ll never get the chance to come back.” Amid the Trump administration’s aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration, DHS has pitched self-deportation as a “dignified” way of leaving the country with the possibility of returning one day through legal mechanisms. The program, which launched in May, provides migrants the chance to “return home as regular travelers—without arrest, detention, or restraints. It’s a safe, orderly alternative that provides assistance and flexibility, not fear,” according to the website. Using the CBP Home app, according to DHS, “allows illegal aliens to plan their return, including having an opportunity to depart in a timely manner – allowing illegal aliens to wrap up work, school, and personal matters and organize their return in an orderly and lawful way.” When the program launched, offering a $1,000 stipend, DHS noted the app would decrease deportation costs by about 70 percent. The agency said at the time that the average cost to arrest, detain and remove a migrant from the U.S. is $17,121.

Palau signs memo with Trump administration to take 75 migrants from US - - Palau, a small archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean, signed a memo of understanding with the Trump administration to take up to 75 “third-country nationals,” in exchange for $7.5 million in foreign aid. The agreement would allow migrants who have never been charged with a crime “to live and work in Palau, helping address local labor shortages in needed occupations,” according to a statement from the office of Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. Whipps said his country would “have to agree on a case-by-case basis as to individuals who will be arriving in Palau under the arrangement,” noting each person would be screened by the country’s national working group. The U.S. Embassy in Koror, Palau’s capital, issued a similar statement, confirming details of the agreement. “The United States deeply appreciates Palau’s cooperation in enforcing U.S. immigration laws, which remains a top priority for the Trump Administration. In this regard, the United States granted $7.5 million to address the needs of relevant Palau public services,” the U.S. embassy statement read.

Judge rejects Trump administration challenge to New York’s ‘Green Light Law’ - A federal judge on Tuesday rejected the Trump administration’s bid to block New York’s so-called Green Light Law, which allows the state to issue driver’s licenses to people without requiring proof that they’re in the country legally. U.S. District Judge Anne Nardacci in Albany ruled that the Trump administration failed to support its claims that certain provisions of the state law are preempted by federal law, impermissibly regulate the federal government, or impermissibly discriminate against the federal government. The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit in February, challenging the constitutionality of the state law, saying it violates the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which states federal laws take precedence over state laws, and asking the court to block enforcement of the statute. The lawsuit named the state of New York, as well as its governor, Kathy Hochul (D), and its attorney general, Letitia James (D), as defendants. The DOJ, in the lawsuit, challenged three specific provisions of the law, including one that prevented the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) from disclosing an applicant’s records or information to “any agency that primarily enforces immigration law or to any employee or agent of such agency” without a court order or warrant. Another provision required anyone with access to DMV records to certify they wouldn’t disclose the information. And the contested provision required the DMV to inform an applicant within three days of getting requests for information or records from federal immigration authorities. Nardacci acknowledged that the lawsuit touches on the politically salient issue of immigration enforcement, but she stressed in the ruling that her job is not to evaluate the policy itself, just whether the plaintiffs successfully proved it violates the Supremacy Clause. “The Court’s role is not to evaluate the desirability of the Green Light Law as a policy matter, but rather to assess whether Plaintiff’s well-pled allegations, accepted as true, establish that the challenged provisions of the Green Light Law violate the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause,” she wrote. “The Court concludes that Plaintiff has failed to state such a claim,” she added. The law was initially enacted as part of an effort to improve public safety, since people without licenses would sometimes drive without taking a road test first.

Federal Judge Upholds New York's Driver's Licenses For Illegals - A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed the Trump administration’s challenge to New York’s Green Light Law, upholding the state’s issuance of driver’s licenses to individuals without requiring proof of legal U.S. residency. U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci (Biden) in Albany determined that the Trump administration, which challenged the law under President Donald Trump’s enforcement of immigration laws, failed to back its claims that the state law usurps federal law or that it unlawfully regulates or unlawfully discriminates against the federal government. The Justice Department filed the lawsuit against the state over the law in February, naming Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state’s attorney general, Letitia James, as defendants. “As I said from the start, our laws protect the rights of all New Yorkers and keep our communities safe,” James said in a statement on Dec. 19. “I will always stand up for New Yorkers and the rule of law.” Nardacci stated that her job was not to evaluate the desirability of the Green Light Law as a policy matter. Rather, she said in a 23-page opinion, it was to assess whether the Trump administration’s arguments established that the law violates the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which grants federal laws precedence over state laws. The administration, she wrote, has “failed to state such a claim.” The Green Light Law was framed as improving public safety on the roads, as people without licenses sometimes drove without one or without having passed a road test. The state also makes it easier for holders of such licenses to get auto insurance in an attempt to minimize accidents involving uninsured drivers. Under the law, people without a valid Social Security number can submit alternative forms of ID, such as valid passports and driver’s licenses issued in other countries. Applicants must still obtain a permit and pass a road test to qualify for a “standard driver’s license.” The program does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses. The Justice Department’s lawsuit sought to strike down the law as “a frontal assault on the federal immigration laws, and the federal authorities that administer them.” It noted a provision that requires the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles commissioner to notify people who are in the country illegally when a federal immigration agency has requested their information.

Supreme Court rejects Trump's bid to send National Guard to Chicago -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday dealt a rare blow to President Donald Trump by rejecting his bid to overrule a lower court order and allow the deployment of National Guard troops to the Chicago area over the objections of local and state leaders. The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to intervene in the case in October after a District Court judge blocked the president's plans to send troops to aid in an immigration crackdown. The court on Tuesday declined Trump's request. "Today is a big win for Illinois and American democracy," Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a post on X. "This is an important step in curbing the Trump Administration's consistent abuse of power and slowing Trump's march toward authoritarianism," Pritzker continued. U.S. presidents can deploy the National Guard under certain authorities, but guardsmen are typically not permitted to engage in civilian law enforcement. Trump's attempts to send troops to mostly blue cities to fight crime have tested the bounds of presidential authority and led to a series of lawsuits.Citing the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the military from engaging in domestic law enforcement unless explicitly authorized by the Constitution or Congress, the court found Trump lacked the authority to deploy troops to Illinois in this case. "At this preliminary stage, the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois," the unsigned order states. The order is not final, but for now bars the Trump administration from sending National Guard troops to Chicago. Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch offered dissenting opinions. Justice Brett Kavanaugh authored a concurring opinion.Trump has sent National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Portland in recent months, despite objections from local leaders. Those deployments have resulted in several lawsuits, including a legal challenge from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and Trump foil, and local officials in D.C.

In “Uncertain and Heavy Times,” Greater Columbus Shows Up for Immigrants | ColumbusFreePress.com - In Central Ohio, the federal government has unleashed untrained individuals from outside the community, who think they are unaccountable. But greater Columbus has responded in one voice. From the grassroots, which quickly organized itself in sophisticated ways, to civic leaders and faith-based institutions, Columbus is sending a unified message: Immigrants are welcome, ICE is not.Read on for quotes from leaders; more examples of ICE brutality; and resources keeping the community safe.From disrupting ICE agents’ sleep, to documenting abuses and holding them to the Constitution, Central Ohio activists, lawyers, and organizers are mobilized around the clock. People are showing up to defend their neighbors’ right to pray. Community-serving organizations likeOur Helpers are delivering food to people hunkering down at home, starting with over 100 families today. They are accepting financial donations, and volunteers are coming out of the woodwork to help. Said Anisa Liban, Board Secretary with Our Helpers, “Today was about more than packing meals for delivery; it was about showing up for our neighbors. With the help of more than 35 volunteers across Central Ohio, over 100 families received meals this morning, and this is only the beginning.”The Ohio Immigrant Hotline has been flooded with calls from people offering support to immigrants. The National Lawyers Guild-Ohio Chapter set up a tip line to report rights abuses. Hundreds attended an organizing meeting at PSL Columbus’ Liberation Center. There was a massive protest yesterday. We are all coordinated and working together to keep the community safe. ICE agents from outside the state are acting like vigilantes, causing chaos and car accidentswhile racially profiling people who live, work, study, and pay taxes in Ohio. Shanna Harrell, a resident of Glen Echo, opened her front door to discover ICE and police cruisers after an ICE-induced car chase ended on her street. The person that ICE was stalking had ejected themselves from the vehicle. “Most of all, I'm truly saddened and angry that someone may have been disappeared in my own front yard,” she said. “We know very little, but a couple of neighbors witnessed the incident. Hopefully, they captured video and photos of the person as they were being taken into custody, so their family may be informed. We are living in uncertain and heavy times.” Additional examples of ICE excesses, outlined below, were gathered from reports to the Ohio Immigrant Hotline.

• Cars containing ICE agents are driving around Columbus and the suburbs, following drivers and turning on flashing lights when they spot someone of darker skin. If the person doesn’t immediately stop, ICE pursues them at high speeds, putting everyone in the community at risk.
• Rather than looking for specific individuals, as the government claims, ICE is stalking stereotypical places where immigrants gather, like international stores, construction sites, apartment complexes, schools, and houses of worship. They are demanding proof of citizenship from anyone who is not white.
• Some people ICE arrested have driver’s licenses and legal work permits, and have lived in the country for years, if not decades. They include people with U.S. citizen spouses and other family members. Few are specifically targeted by name, or have criminal histories. The vast majority have been arrested for simply being out in the community, working and taking care of their families.
• Local jails that do not have ICE contracts appear to be serving as temporary holding facilities, until individuals can be transported to the Corrections Center of Northern Ohio, Butler County, or other jails. Jails operated by the counties of Knox, Morrow, Greene, and Fairfield, as well as the Tri-County Regional Jail, may be holding individuals for ICE until they can be sent to jails with long-term ICE contracts.

Notably, Morrow County lost its ICE contract in 2020 after its mismanagement led to the death of a Dayton father, Oscar Lopez, and the jail became the first 100% COVID-positive facility in the United States. In an order from a lawsuit brought by the ACLU of Ohio, U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison, a Trump-appointee, wrote,“Morrow’s inability to control the spread of infection, its demonstrated failures at monitoring detainees’ symptoms, and its poor conditions create an unconstitutionally acceptable environment.” The fact that Morrow appears to be back in the ICE business is deeply troubling. When people arrive at Butler for booking, they are being told they cannot have access to lawyers or medication, including for chronic and potentially fatal illnesses. Unfortunately, medical neglect has been a problem that the Ohio Immigrant Alliance and others have documented in ICE jail the entire year, especially at Butler. Currently, deaths in ICE detention nationwide are at a 20-year high. Imam Fouad complained of chest pains and was denied medical treatment in the Moshannan Valley Processing Center. He died on December 14. The Butler County Jail already has one lawsuit pending from the last time it held immigrants for ICE, due to racism and violence. It is recklessly hurtling toward another.

Two hospitalized after ICE officers shoot driver during operation in Maryland -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on Wednesday shot a migrant who drove a van toward them while fleeing an immigration enforcement operation, resulting in a crash that injured his passenger, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS said in a statement that ICE officers were conducting a targeted operation in the Baltimore suburb of Glen Burnie, Md., when they approached a van and asked the driver, whom they identified as Tiago Alexandre Sousa-Martins, to turn off the engine. When Sousa-Martins refused to comply and threatened to harm agents, federal officials drew their weapons, the DHS said. “The driver refused and attempted to flee, then weaponized his vehicle and began ramming his van into several ICE vehicles. He then drove his van directly at ICE officers, attempting to run them over,” the agency added in the statement. “Fearing for their lives and public safety, the ICE officers defensively fired their service weapons, striking the driver. Sousa-Martins then wrecked his van between two buildings, injuring the passenger,” the statement continued. The driver and the passenger were both taken to a local hospital and were expected to recover, the DHS said Wednesday. ICE officers did not have any severe injuries. The DHS said the driver and the passenger are living in the country illegally and that the incident is under investigation.

Trump administration rejects Colorado's disaster aid request - President Trump has denied disaster aid to the state of Colorado in the wake of wildfires and flooding. The office of Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) announced the denial in a Sunday statement. He accused the president of playing “political games” and urged him to reconsider. “Coloradans impacted by the Elk and Lee fires and the flooding in Southwestern Colorado deserve better than the political games President Trump is playing,” Polis said in the statement. “I call on the President’s better angels, and urge him to reconsider these requests. This is about the Coloradans who need this support, and we won’t stop fighting for them to get what they deserve. Colorado will be appealing this decision,” he said. Under the Stafford Act, a president can unlock additional federal assistance by declaring a major disaster. The Trump administration, however, has sought to shrink federal disaster assistance to states — and has denied some requests for disaster aid. While other presidents have turned down some disaster requests, Trump’s denials come as his administration is expected to try to downsize the Federal Emergency Management Agency and spend less federal money on disaster response.

Federal judge blocks Trump administration's homeland security funding cut to Democratic states - (AP) — A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to reallocate federal Homeland Security funding away from states that refuse to cooperate with certain federal immigration enforcement. U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy’s ruling on Monday solidified a win for the coalition of 12 attorneys general that sued the administration earlier this year after being alerted that their states would receive drastically reduced federal grants due to their “sanctuary” jurisdictions.In total, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency reduced more than $233 million from Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. The money is part of a $1 billion program where allocations are supposed to be based on assessed risks, with states then largely passing most of the money on to police and fire departments.The cuts were unveiled shortly after a separate federal judge in a different legal challenge ruled it was unconstitutional for the federal government to require states to cooperate on immigration enforcement actions to get FEMA disaster funding.) In her 48-page ruling, McElroy found that the federal government was weighing states’ police on federal immigration enforcement on whether to reduce federal funding for the Homeland Security Grant Program and others.“What else could defendants’ decisions to cut funding to specific counterterrorism programming by conspicuous round numbered amounts — including by slashing off the millions-place digits of awarded sums — be if not arbitrary and capricious? Neither a law degree nor a degree in mathematics is required to deduce that no plausible, rational formula could produce this result,” McElroy wrote.The Trump-appointed judge then ordered the Department of Homeland Security to restore the previously announced funding allocations to the plaintiff states.

FCC blacklists foreign-made drones over security, spying concerns -- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) banned new foreign-made drones from being sold in the U.S. on Monday, citing national security concerns. In a notice, the FCC said it was adding uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and their critical components made in foreign countries to its covered list. Such a distinction bars such products from being sold or imported in the U.S., as they “pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons,” the commission noted. The order does not apply to technology that has already been sold in the U.S. Noting that the U.S. is co-hosting the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2026 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028, as well as the “growing need to protect U.S. airspace” from cartels, terrorist groups and foreign governments, the FCC said that allowing foreign-made UAS and component parts to be sold in the U.S. “undermines the resiliency of our UAS industrial base, increases the risk to our national airspace, and creates a potential for large-scale attacks during large gatherings.” The decision is in accordance with Section 1709 of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which called for an analysis of the national security risks posed by certain technologies, including those sold by DJI — a Chinese company that holds a majority of the drone industry’s market share. A spokesperson for DJI told The Hill that it is “disappointed” by the FCC’s decision, and that “no information has been released regarding what information was used” in adding its drones and component parts to the covered list. “As the industry leader, DJI has advocated for an open, competitive market that benefits all U.S. consumers and commercial users, and will continue to do so,” the spokesperson added. “DJI products are among the safest and most secure on the market, supported by years of reviews conducted by U.S. government agencies and independent third parties.”

Toyota Will Export American-Made Vehicles To Japan Next Year To Please The Trump Administration -- Toyota said it will start selling three U.S.-built models in Japan in 2026 — the Camry, Highlander, and Tundra — produced in Kentucky, Indiana, and Texas. The move is widely seen as part of Toyota’s effort to ease tensions with President Donald Trump over U.S. tariffs on Japanese vehicles and parts, according to Yahoo Finance.“Toyota will be able to meet the diverse needs of a broad range of customers, while also helping to improve Japan–US trade relations,” the company said. Yahoo writes that Toyota has been actively courting Trump’s favor, including Chairman Akio Toyoda’s high-profile appearance at a NASCAR event in Japan wearing a MAGA hat and a shirt with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Earlier this year, Toyoda also suggested allowing U.S. automakers to sell cars in Japan through Toyota’s domestic dealer network — a proposal that fed into a trade deal calling on Japan to “open their country” to American vehicles. Other Japanese automakers may follow Toyota, but analysts expect limited impact. Bloomberg Intelligence’s Tatsuo Yoshida said: “All three models under discussion are large by Japanese standards, and left-hand drive remains a major psychological and practical barrier for most consumers.” He added, “Producing right-hand-drive versions in the U.S. for the Japanese market could unlock some demand, but even then vehicle-size constraints would cap volumes.” Large vehicles traditionally struggle in Japan due to narrow roads and parking. Meanwhile, Toyota and the Japanese government are exploring regulatory changes to make imports easier, and NHK reported that those efforts are now moving forward.

Jim Beam to halt production at main distillery; Democrat blames Trump tariffs -Jim Beam, the Bourbon company, is stopping its main distillery’s production this year. “We plan to pause distillation at our main distillery on the James B. Beam campus for 2026 while we take the opportunity to invest in site enhancements,” the James B. Beam Distilling Co. said in a statement to The Hill on Thursday, referencing a distillery in Clermont, Ky. The company also said the distillery’s visitor center is set to stay open and that it is “always assessing production levels to best meet consumer demand.” In a post on the social platform X, Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.) decried the news of the production stoppage. “It’s hard to overstate just how devastating Trump’s tariffs are for America’s signature spirit,” McGarvey said in his post. “Thousands of Kentuckians power the bourbon industry — we will all feel the impact of this.” Within the last year, President Trump’s tariff policy has rattled markets around the globe, strained relationships with allies like Canada and the European Union and increased economic uncertainty. A report from this fall found that U.S. liquor exports to Canada decreased 85 percent in 2025’s second quarter, with the report noting the “adverse impact” of trade tensions. On Sunday, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said that Trump would probably support legislation to give $2,000 tariff rebate checks to Americans next year. “I would expect that in the new year, the president will bring forth a proposal to Congress to make that happen,” Hassett said on CBS News’s “Face the Nation.” The National Economic Council director said the measure’s success would come down to what Congress does about it. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said in November that the U.S. “can’t afford” a proposal like that. The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment on McGarvey’s post.

Italy Slaps Apple With $116 Million Fine Over Double-Consent Requirement On Apps -Italy's version of the Federal Trade Commission fined Apple, Inc. nearly $116 million over what it says were overly-restrictive privacy rules that required third-party app developers to obtain user consent for data collection and tracking when it comes to delivering targeted advertising. Italy's watchdog authority - the AGCM, said on Monday that Apple and its subsidiaries abused its "super-dominant" market position by requiring said consumer protections. The fine stems from a May 2023 joint investigation by the AGCM, European Commission, Italian Data Protection Authority (GPDP in Italian), and other national competition authorities into the restrictions from Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework. AGCM claims that in April 2021, Apple began requiring app developers to obtain user consent in addition to previously existing consent requirements that had been granted through Apple's own consent prompt. This double-consent requirement violates article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union."Third-party app developers are required to obtain specific consent for the collection and linking of data for advertising purposes through Apple’s ATT prompt," said the AGCM. "However, such prompt does not meet privacy legislation requirements, forcing developers to double the consent request for the same purpose."As the Epoch Times notes further, in an executive summary of the investigation’s findings, the Italian Competition Authority of Rome lauded Apple’s efforts to safeguard user privacy within its operating system.However, the GPDP said, making developers obtain double user consent was “excessive” and “burdensome” and ultimately led to a reduction of opt-in rates by users for data tracking on third-party apps. That action, in turn, hampered app developers’ ability to compete with Apple and deliver targeted advertising, which resulted in higher commissions paid to Apple by developers, as well as additional revenue through a higher volume of targeted ads.“Given that user data are a key input for personalized online advertising—since higher-quality and larger volumes of data improve the ability to identify users who may be genuinely interested in the advertised product, service or app—the restrictions imposed by the ATT policy on the collection, linking and use of such data are capable of harming developers whose business model relies on the sale of advertising space, as well as advertisers and advertising intermediation platforms,” the AGCM wrote.

US Court Upholds Trump's $100k H-1B Visa Fee -- A US federal judge on Tuesday upheld President Donald Trump’s $100,000 fee to process H-1B visa applications, acknowledging it could “inflict significant harm on American businesses and institutions of higher education.” In a 56-page opinion, US District Judge Beryl Howell wrote that the president has “broad statutory authority” to address “a problem he perceives to be a matter of economic and national security.”The $100,000 application fee announced in September gave companies just 36 hours notice before it went into effect, triggering chaos and confusion over how it would work and who would be hit.The H-1B fee is part of a larger immigration crackdown by Trump, who has unleashed a massive push against migrants since returning to the White House — though until now it had not targeted the visa on which Silicon Valley relies heavily.Trump argued that the H-1B visa system was being abused to replace American workers with people willing to work for less money.The United States awards 85,000 H-1B visas per year on a lottery system. India accounts for around three-quarters of the recipients.Tech entrepreneurs — including Trump’s former ally Elon Musk — have warned against targeting H-1B visas, saying that the United States does not have enough homegrown talent to fill important tech sector job vacancies. The lawsuit was brought by the US Chamber of Commerce, a pro-business lobbying group, and the Association of American Universities, which represents 69 US-based research universities. Together, the plaintiffs claimed the affected workers “contribute enormously to American productivity, prosperity and innovation.” The Chamber is typically Republican-friendly, spending more than $76 million for lobbying in 2024 alone and nearly $6 million to back Republican political groups and candidates with direct contributions, according to OpenSecrets.org. At least two additional lawsuits against the $100,000 H-1B visa application fee remain ongoing.

Senate Democrats urge Trump to reverse 'unprecedented' ambassador recall -- Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are urging President Trump to reverse the “unprecedented” decision to recall nearly 30 top career diplomats, leaving more than half of all U.S. ambassador posts vacant. In a letter to the president on Wednesday, the senators warned that recalling the chiefs of mission in at least 29 countries could create a “vacuum in U.S. leadership” on the world stage, noting 80 ambassadorial posts were already vacant before the latest move.“We write with urgent concern surrounding the unprecedented decision to recall nearly 30 career U.S. ambassadors,” the senators wrote. “This vacuum in U.S. leadership poses a significant threat to our national security and unnecessarily risks the safety of U.S. citizens and businesses overseas,” they added. “We ask you to reconsider this decision before it damages America’s credibility and the ability to advance U.S. interests abroad.” The letter was signed by Senate Foreign Relations ranking member Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), along with fellow Democratic Sens. Chris Coons (Del.), Chris Murphy (Conn.), Tim Kaine (Va.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Cory Booker (N.J.), Brian Schatz (Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Tammy Duckworth (Ill.) and Jacky Rosen (Nev.). At least 29 top diplomats were informed last week that their tenures would end in January, The Associated Press reported Monday, noting all of them had taken up their posts during the Biden administration but had survived the purge of mostly political appointees in the early months of the Trump administration. The recalled ambassadors are not losing their foreign service jobs and will be offered other assignments when they return to Washington. The State Department would not confirm the number of recalled ambassadors in a statement to The Hill, but it defended the shake-up as a “standard process in any administration.” The State Department noted that an ambassador is “a personal representative of the president and it is the president’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda,” the AP reported. The senators expressed concern that, after the latest recall, more than 100 U.S. embassies around the world will lack a U.S. ambassador, creating a void for U.S. adversaries like China and Russia to strengthen their ties with “the foreign leaders that we will have effectively abandoned, allowing our adversaries to expand their reach and influence to limit, and even harm, U.S. interests.” They stressed the “unprecedented” nature of the decision, saying nonpartisan diplomats are critical “now more than ever.”

DOJ Sues DC Over 'Unconstitutional' Ban On AR-15, Other Firearms - The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is suing the District of Columbia over its ban on the popular AR-15 and "many other firearms protected under the Second Amendment." In announcing the lawsuit, the DOJ called DC's move an "unconstitutional incursion into the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens seeking to own protected firearms for lawful purposes." The lawsuit cites District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) and New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen (2022), which protects the right of law-abiding citizens to possess firearms “in common use today” for lawful purposes, especially self-defense in the home, and claims that DC has established a “pattern and practice” of ignoring Heller. DC law criminalizes possession of any unregistered firearm and categorically prohibits registration of many semi-automatic rifles (including the AR-15 platform), pistols, and shotguns defined as “assault weapons” based primarily on cosmetic features (e.g., threaded barrels, pistol grips) rather than function or firing mechanism. "D.C. Defendants have engaged, and continue to engage, in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives people of rights secured and protected by the Constitution," Attorney Generl Pam Bondi said in a statement that geography doesn't determine which constitutional rights are protected. "Washington, D.C.’s ban on some of America’s most popular firearms is an unconstitutional infringement on the Second Amendment—living in our nation’s capital should not preclude law-abiding citizens from exercising their fundamental constitutional right to keep and bear arms," she stated.

Interior energy boss exits, unexpectedly - The Interior Department confirmed Friday that Leslie Beyer, who has led the agency’s energy programs on public lands and waters since her Senate confirmation in September, has left the agency.Beyer served as assistant secretary for land and minerals management, one of Interior’s most critical leadership positions. The role oversees all of Interior’s energy and mining offices, including the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.The position will now be filled temporarily by Lanny Erdos, the department’s director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Interior did not provide a reason for Beyer’s abrupt exit, but said in a statement that the agency wished “her every success as she embarks on new opportunities” and spends “more time with her family and school age children.”Beyer’s departure was first publicized in an Interior secretarial order posted online Friday that named Erdos as the acting assistant secretary.Before joining the Trump administration, Beyer worked for several energy companies and was the head of the Energy Workforce & Technology Council, an oil and gas trade association in Houston.“We are deeply grateful for the hard work and expertise Leslie Beyer brought to Interior during our successful first year,” the department said in its statement to POLITICO’s E&E News, nodding to the Trump administration’s push to bolster fossil fuel development.“The Department of the Interior has unleashed American energy potential, tripling coal leasing benchmarks, approving fifty-six percent more oil and gas permits compared to this period during the last administration, and restored access to Alaska’s vast reserves,” the statement said. “Through bold leadership by President Trump, we have reformed and streamlined processes, delivered record revenues, lowered energy costs for families, and created thousands of jobs across the country.”Erdos is a former coal company executive and was a regulator at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. He also served as OSMRE director during the first Trump administration.

USDA lost more than 20,000 employees this year, internal watchdog finds -More than 20,000 employees have left the Agriculture Department in the first half of the year largely due to the Trump administration’s deferred resignation program, according to a new report obtained by POLITICO. The departures cut across all 50 states and U.S. territories and took place between Jan. 12 and June 14, USDA’s Office of Inspector General found in an analysis expected to be published later Monday. The Forest Service, which oversees millions of acres of federal land and manages fire prevention efforts, lost 5,860 workers and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which helps farmers with soil health and other conservation practices, lost 2,673 workers — the highest number of exits across all of USDA’s agencies. States like Rhode Island, Maryland, Alaska and Vermont were disproportionately affected by employee layoffs and resignations, though California and Texas saw the most departures, the report noted. The Trump administration has sought to overhaul Biden-era climate-smart agriculture programs, federal nutrition programs and wildfire policy, including by weighing a potential move of the Forest Service’s headquarters. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is expected to reveal details of a major reorganization in 2026 that will likely lead to further employee departures and could affect USDA services.

We dodged a vaccine disaster (for now). And a quick virus weather report before the break. Katelyn Jetelina | Your Local Epidemiologist - Last Thursday, I was in a vaccine policy meeting talking about something that has become increasingly fragile: how to protect access to vaccines for Americans who want them, given increasing uncertainty and destruction from the federal government. In the middle of the conversation, my phone started buzzing. Text after text said the same thing: tomorrow, RFK Jr. would move the U.S. childhood vaccination schedule to the Danish schedule. A press conference was scheduled for Friday at 4 p.m.Over the next four hours, I was the most worried I have ever been about access to childhood vaccines in the United States. Introducing a completely different vaccine schedule into our system overnight would not have been a minor tweak; it would have been disastrous.Then the press conference was canceled. A few days later, Politico reported why: legal and political concerns. HHS was not confident that changing the childhood vaccine schedule to match Denmark’s would hold up in court, and it would be politically risky. (Duh. More than 80% of Americans support routine childhood vaccinations.) So, for now, Americans dodged a bullet. But I have no doubt this idea will resurface in a different form, so it’s worth understanding what it was all about.Denmark’s childhood vaccine schedule includes fewer vaccines than ours. They don’t routinely vaccinate children against chickenpox, RSV, rotavirus, hepatitis A or B, meningococcal, flu, or Covid-19.This can look appealing to some. But what makes this work in Denmark is everything beneath the surface: universal healthcare, 46 weeks of paid parental leave, near-universal prenatal screening, centralized medical records, and reliable follow-up.Because of this system, disease burden is low. Take the Hepatitis B infant dose. Denmark screens nearly 100% of pregnant women and follows up reliably to help prevent transmission. In the U.S., 12–18% of pregnant women aren’t tested, and only 35% of those who test positive complete follow-up care. Before the U.S. universal birth-dose recommendations, thousands of U.S. babies were infected annually by family members who didn't know they carried the virus.Our broader recommendations exist precisely because our system has gaps. What is safe and effective in Denmark does not translate to the U.S. context. I’ve written about this before here. The childhood vaccine schedule is not just a list of shots. It determines which vaccines kids need for school, what insurance must cover, and which vaccines families can get for free through Vaccines for Children—a program that pays for vaccines for more than half of U.S. children. It also affects which vaccines are covered by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). This program was designed to compensate people who experience rare but real vaccine-related injuries, while sparing families from lengthy lawsuits against manufacturers or health care providers and safeguarding vaccine supply and access. If a vaccine is removed from the routine schedule, that safety net can disappear, liability risks increase, and manufacturers may discontinue production because it becomes too costly. Taken together, changes like these could cause supply chain problems, leave states with massive unexpected bills (~$600 million to $2 billion), increase liability for doctors and hospitals, and create widespread confusion. And confusion alone is enough to lower vaccination rates. Influenza-like illnesses—coughs, fevers, and sore throats—are on the rise across the country, with particularly high levels in New York, New Jersey, Colorado, and Louisiana. Soon, much of the map will be lit up in red/purple with very high rates. This increase is mostly driven by the flu, which is already making the rounds. Unfortunately, two more pediatric flu deaths were reported this week. Covid-19 levels are still relatively low nationwide but are slowly creeping up, especially in the Northeast and Midwest. Based on patterns from the past five years, Covid usually peaks in the first week of January. This year, the wave may arrive a bit later than usual. RSV is also rising, but the season appears to be milder than in previous years. According to the Center for Forecasting Analytics (CFA), hospitalizations from flu, Covid-19, and RSV combined are expected to be roughly the same as last year. The new flu variant may make this season feel heavier, but the mild RSV season and low Covid levels are good news.

The nearly 80-year-old law that could hamper RFK Jr.’s drive to remake vaccine schedule - As the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has broad powers to shape federal vaccine policy. In June, he fired all 17 members of an influential panel on immunization policy, then handpicked their replacements. In August, he fired the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after they clashed over vaccines.But even Kennedy’s authority has limits.Making a unilateral decision to scrap the US pediatric immunization schedule and replace it with recommendations from Denmark, as Kennedy was reportedly ready to do last week, requires far more than a press conference, legal experts told CIDRAP News.Kennedy and other agency heads must obey the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), a law passed by Congress that requires federal officials to follow an open, deliberative process when issuing rules and regulations, said Lawrence Gostin, JD, founding director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University.“As a matter of law, Secretary Kennedy has final authority to make federal policy,” Gostin said. “But he must follow a reasoned process.” Kennedy’s announcement was canceled at the last minute. Although the HHS office of public affairs blamed a scheduling conflict, Politico has reported that Kennedy backed off from a plan to overhaulthe vaccine schedule—which had been described to the press as an “announcement regarding children’s health”— after advisers told him it was legally and politically risky.In an email to media, HHS suggested the press conference would be rescheduled, noting that it was “postponing our children's health announcement to after the first of the new year.”A spokesman for HHS declined to confirm that Kennedy planned to overhaul the vaccine schedule at the press conference. “Unless you hear it from HHS directly, this is pure speculation,” spokesman Andrew Nixon said.Kennedy, a long-time anti-vaccine activist, has made no secret of his eagerness to revamp the immunization schedule. After President Trump issued a memo earlier this month directing HHS to align the vaccination schedule with that of countries such as Denmark, Kennedy posted on X, “Thank you, Mr. President. We’re on it.”But Kennedy needs to proceed cautiously to prevent any policy changes from being dismissed by a judge, said Dorit Reiss, PhD, a law professor at the University of California Law, San Francisco. According to the APA, courts can “hold unlawful and set aside agency action, findings, and conclusions found to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.” Simply holding a press conference to announce that the United States will now recommend Denmark’s vaccine schedule would leave the Trump administration “very, very vulnerable to an arbitrary and capricious claims,” Reiss said. “Short videos simply don't do it.”For six decades, vaccine recommendations have been formulated by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which normally votes on national recommendations after reviewing medical evidence and soliciting input from experts and the public. The CDC director can accept or reject those recommendations.The CDC’s recommendations are not mandates. Even if Kennedy were to switch the current vaccine recommendations to match those of Denmark, states would not have to follow along. Although CDC recommendations carry great weight, states make individual decisions about school vaccine requirements, Gostin said.A court is likely to take a dim view of any federal vaccine policy changes that don’t go through the ACIP, Reiss said.If the administration wants to follow Denmark’s example, “they need to address the major issues and explain why they are changing from a schedule developed in a deliberative manner over years.”And Trump’s memo carries little to no legal weight, Reiss added.“The president's memo is not cover, because the will of the president is not enough to justify a change of position under Supreme Court jurisprudence,” Reiss said. “The agency also has to justify the decision on the merits.” Numerous lawsuits filed against the Trump administration in recent months claim that he and federal agency heads have violated the APA.The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other medical groups, for example, filed a law suit against Kennedy in July claiming that he violated the APA when he issued a directive removing the COVID-19 vaccine from the CDC immunization schedule for children and pregnant women.“The concerns and legal issues all come back to whether he followed a process and looked at evidence,” said Richard H. Hughes IV, JD, MPH, who teaches vaccine law at George Washington University and represents the AAP and other plaintiffs in their lawsuit against Kennedy.Numerous medical societies and public health groups have criticized Kennedy and the ACIP for more recent changes to the vaccination schedule, such as removing a recommendation to routinely vaccinate all newborns against hepatitis B. Scientists and public health advocates predict that decision will allow many children to suffer and die needlessly from a vaccine-preventable illness.Neither Kennedy “nor the ACIP is taking the proper steps to evaluate the full range of evidence that is normally reviewed prior to recommendation changes,” Hughes said. “All of that is textbook ‘arbitrary and capricious’ under the Administrative Procedure Act.”But that doesn’t mean that Kennedy can’t find other ways to alter the vaccine schedule, Gostin noted.“If he follows a deliberative process, the ultimate decision is his,” Gostin said.Although the APA could be interpreted to mean that Kennedy needs to work with the ACIP to change vaccine recommendations, “that is not a high bar for Kennedy since he handpicked ACIP's members,” Gostin said.Justifying a change to vaccine recommendations would be easier than changing federal regulations, a process that typically takes months and includes proposals and opportunities for public comments, Gostin said. Kennedy “would have even more onerous procedures to follow if he proposed a legal regulation,” Gostin said.

Why ‘very large’ tax refunds are coming in 2026, according to officials Thanks to a number of changes to the tax code under the One Big Beautiful Bill, Trump administration officials are projecting Americans will enjoy the largest tax refund ever in 2026. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) said in an early December memo citing an analysis by financial services company Piper Sandler that 2026 was shaping up to be “the largest tax refund season.” “Because of the changes within the Big Beautiful Bill most taxpayers should expect to see a larger refund in 2025, but how much they receive will really depend on the specifics of their tax situation,” Adam Brewer, tax attorney with AB Tax Law, told Nexstar. While many changes are set to take place in 2026, affecting the following year’s returns, there are notable changes for 2025, including: a higher standard deduction, a higher cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions, an additional $6,000 deduction for seniors, no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and no tax on car loan interest, among others. “The administration and Congress picked winners and losers. As a result, not all income is taxed equally,” Brewer said. “If your income is based largely on overtime or tips, then you could be paying much less income tax than your co-worker who is a salaried employee even if you earn roughly the same amount.” When can Social Security beneficiaries expect their January 2026 payments? Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent echoed Smith in a recent interview with a local Philadelphia NBC station, saying that Americans are set to receive “very large refunds.” “The bill was passed in July. Working Americans didn’t change their withholding, so they’re going to be getting very large refunds in the first quarter,” Bessent said. “I think we’re going to see $100 [billion]-$150 billion of refunds, which could be between $1,000 and $2,000 per household.” Bessent added that once withholding levels adjust, they’ll see a bump in take-home pay. To be clear, a larger refund doesn’t mean taxpayers are increasing their income. Rather, the refund money was just over-withheld during the year, and is being returned to the taxpayer. Still, not all American taxpayers are projected to benefit from the Trump administration’s signature bill. According to multiple analyses by nonpartisan, independent think tanks, the bill overwhelmingly favors some of the highest earners and businesses in the country. A Congressional Budget Office analysis found that those in the top 10 percent would see an additional $12,000, while those in the poorest 10% would lose $1,600 annually, while also cutting Medicaid and food assistance.

Wall Street Journal rips Mitt Romney over 'tax the rich' proposal -The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board went after former Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) over his “tax the rich” proposal in a New York Times op-ed. “The rich who favor higher taxes pitch this as an act of civic virtue. But paying higher taxes on income or capital gains is no great sacrifice for them because they’re already rich. Mr. Romney made his fortune at Bain Capital, and good for him,” the editorial board wrote in its opinion published Sunday. “He can afford to pay more now, but would the 28-year-old Mitt still on the make have thought so? Raising taxes makes it harder for others to get rich,” the editorial board continued. Romney argued in his Times op-ed published Friday that “it’s time for rich people” like him to pay more taxes prior to the Social Security benefits cut estimated in nine years. The former Republican presidential candidate said that political ads from when he ran in 2012 claimed his policy ideas were going to push “grandma off a cliff.” “Today, all of us, including our grandmas, truly are headed for a cliff: If, as projected, the Social Security Trust Fund runs out in the 2034 fiscal year, benefits will be cut by about 23 percent,” Romney wrote. “The government will need trillions of dollars to make up the shortfall.” “And on the tax front,” he added later, “it’s time for rich people like me to pay more.” Romney’s comments are notable for a Republican, with party members often pushing for lower taxes. However, he has been known to buck his party in recent years, including by voting to convict President Trump for inciting the attack at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Cannon keeps Jack Smith’s Trump classified records report sealed for now - U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday lifted restrictions on the release of former special counsel Jack Smith’s findings from his investigation into President Trump’s handling of classified records — but she gave the president a 60-day window to challenge her order. Cannon did not immediately lift her order barring the Justice Department from sharing the volume of Smith’s report reviewing his probe into Trump’s alleged record mishandling with four top lawmakers, but she said it would “automatically expire” Feb. 24. However, she selected the date in alignment with Trump and his co-defendants’ request for a minimum 60-day period to seek relief from such an order. The judge, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, also rejected two nonpartisan watchdog groups’ bids to compel the release of the report, which covers the Mar-a-Lago investigation. Cannon said the idea that American Oversight and Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute could intervene in a criminal case because of their Freedom of Information Act interests is “unsupported by law and unprecedented in scope.” She also rejected the notion that the report is a judicial record subject to broader public access. Scott Wilkens, senior counsel at the Knight First Amendment Institute, vowed to appeal. olicy, and to receive personalized offers and communications via email, on-site notifications, and targeted advertising using my email address from The Hill, Nexstar Media Inc., and its affiliates “This is an extraordinarily significant report about one of the most important criminal investigations in American history,” he said in a statement. “There is no legitimate reason for the report’s continued suppression and the First Amendment requires its release.”

Jeffrey Epstein survivors slam Justice Department over file release - More than a dozen Jeffrey Epstein survivors bashed the Justice Department for its handling of the release of files related to the deceased sex offender, calling for congressional oversight as they accused the department of failing to comply with the law. “This law, enacted by a nearly unanimous vote in the House and unanimously in the Senate, and signed by the President, was clear. It afforded no permission for delayed disclosure,” the 18 survivors wrote in an open letter. The Justice Department on Friday released just a fraction of the files, despite being required by law to release all unclassified documents related to Epstein by Dec. 19. Though permitted to make redactions to protect victims’ identities as well as materials that might be used in future criminal cases, the survivors said the Justice Department failed to redact all names and photos while being overzealous in shielding other materials. “Instead, the public received a fraction of the files, and what we received was riddled with abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation,” they wrote. “At the same time, numerous victim identities were left unredacted, causing real and immediate harm. No financial documents were released. Grand jury minutes, though approved by a federal judge for release, were fully blacked out – not the scattered redactions that might be expected to protect victim names, but 119 full pages blacked out,” the letter continued. “We are told that there are hundreds of thousands of pages of documents still unreleased. These are clear-cut violations of an unambiguous law.” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, defended the delay in posting all the records as part of the need to protect victims. He said the need to “comply with other laws like redacting information, that very much trumps” the need to meet the deadline in the statute. “The same complaints that we’re hearing yesterday and even this morning from Democrats and from others screaming loudly from a hill about lack of production on Friday, imagine if we had released tons of information around victims. That would be the true crime. That would be the true wrong,” Blanche said. He said the department has been in communication with survivors and that the department took down some photos when flagged by those claiming to be victims. “When we hear from victims’ rights groups about this type of photograph, we pull it down and investigate,” he said. But the group who penned the Monday letter said they had received no communication from the Justice Department. “There has been no communication with survivors or our representatives as to what was withheld from release, or why hundreds of thousands of documents have not been disclosed by the legal deadline, or how DOJ will ensure that no more victim names are wrongly disclosed,” they wrote. “While clearer communication would not change the fact that a law was broken, its absence suggests an ongoing intent to keep survivors and the public in the dark as much as possible and as long as possible.” The group called on Congress to take action.

Lawmakers hammer DOJ over Epstein files release -- Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are tangling over potential consequences for Department of Justice (DOJ) officials after the department failed to share every document tied to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as required under law. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), the bipartisan duo who led the effort to force a vote on the bill to release the files, are launching an “inherent contempt” push for Attorney General Pam Bondi, threatening to fine her until the full tranche is released. Khanna went further, suggesting the delayed and incomplete release could even be grounds for impeachment. But while the bill to release the files garnered near-unanimous support in Congress, lawmakers may splinter on how aggressively to push back on the DOJ. Khanna argued that the delayed release of the files has only fueled frustration among Epstein victims and MAGA supporters, suggesting they could secure backing for weighty consequences. “Impeachment is a political decision, and is there the support in the House of Representatives? I mean, Massie and I aren’t going to just do something for the show of it, but my sense is, just looking at the initial reactions from people in MAGA, from survivors, is that this release is going to cause as much grief for Pam Bondi as the earlier releases. Susie Wiles said she whiffed. This isn’t building more trust,” Khanna told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Friday. The law passed by Congress allows for redactions to protect victims, but it otherwise gave the DOJ 30 days to publicly share all unclassified records related to Epstein. That set the deadline for Dec. 19 — last Friday. Even before DOJ released a partial tranche, however, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche set off a firestorm by announcing the department wouldn’t be sharing the full files, telling Fox News that the volume of information was simply too large for attorneys to redact victim identities within the 30-day deadline. Blanche said the department would release “several hundred thousand” documents on Friday, “and then over the next couple weeks, I expect several hundred thousand more.” That pushed Reps. Robert Garcia (Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (Md.), the top Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and Judiciary Committee, respectively, to say they would be “examining all legal options” to force the DOJ to comply with the law. And Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Monday introduced legislation that would direct the Senate to “initiate legal action” against DOJ for failing to meet the deadline. But even among congressional Democrats and a few Republicans who have highlighted the Epstein files, there have been questions about how far to go. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) called both impeachment and inherent contempt conversations “premature” during a Sunday appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “We have tools in appropriations bills and other tools to force compliance if somebody is dragging their feet, and I’d rather focus on those tools, then get into discussions about contempt and impeachment,” he added.

Bill Clinton demands all Epstein Files are released - Bill Clinton has insisted all of the Epstein files are released after he figured prominently in the latest batch of photos. In a statement released through his spokesperson, the former President said: ‘What the Department of Justice has released so far, and the manner in which it did so, makes one thing clear: someone or something is being protected. Clinton’s spokesman Angel Ureña added: ‘We do not know whom, what or why. But we do know this: We need no such protection.’ He urged Donald Trump to instruct Attorney General Pam Bondi to ‘immediately release any remaining materials referring to, mentioning, or containing a photograph of Bill Clinton’. He accused the Department of Justice of ‘selective releases to imply wrongdoing about individuals who have already been repeatedly cleared by the very same Department of Justice, over many years.’ It came after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Justice Department’s decision to release just a fraction of the Jeffrey Epstein files by the congressionally mandated deadline as necessary to protect survivors of sexual abuse by the disgraced financier. Blanche pledged that the Trump administration eventually would meet its obligation required by law. But he stressed that the department was obligated to act with caution as it goes about making public thousands of documents that can include sensitive information. Friday’s partial release of the Epstein files has led to a new crush of criticism from Democrats who have accused the Republican administration of trying to hide information. Blanche called that pushback disingenuous as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to struggle with calls for greater transparency, including from members of his political base, about the government’s investigations into Epstein, who once counted Trump as well as several political leaders and business titans among his peers. ‘The reason why we are still reviewing documents and still continuing our process is simply that to protect victims,’ Blanche told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” ‘So the same individuals that are out there complaining about the lack of documents that were produced on Friday are the same individuals who apparently don’t want us to protect victims.”

Dems acknowledge Clinton’s ties to Epstein aren’t ‘a good look’ - Democrats largely acknowledge that former President Clinton’s association with Jeffrey Epstein isn’t the best of circumstances — particularly for a politician whose personal life has been tabloid fodder. The release of thousands of files late last week revealed a number of photographs of Clinton and Epstein, the convicted child sex offender. The images released included Clinton swimming in a pool near Ghislaine Maxwell, who assisted Epstein in running the sex trafficking operation, and another photo of the two men side by side. “It’s not a good look,” one Democratic strategist said. “It does suggest a certain acceptance and permission-making for the environment that allowed for someone like Epstein to exist.” Democratic strategist Joel Payne agreed, saying that the Epstein controversy is “a story about a guy who obviously abused women and children and behaved in a grotesque way and someone who had access to the most powerful people in the world.” “Anyone tied to that, that’s not a good place to be in terms of public regard,” Payne said. Clinton’s team pushed for transparency, asking for the Justice Department to release all that it has on Epstein. For Clinton — who spent the final years of his two-term presidency dealing with ramifications of his sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, then a White House intern, followed by the rise of the #MeToo Movement in late 2017 — it was yet another blemish on his personal life. Even so, Democrats say, the politics of this moment aren’t lost on them. President Trump has frequently made a foil out of political rivals including Bill and Hillary Clinton, dating back to before his first presidency. And the focus on Bill Clinton in the Epstein saga is just the latest chapter in his ongoing “obsession” — as one Democratic strategist put it — with the former first couple. “He knows he and the Republican Party have looked terrible in this process so he’s looking to deflect,” one Democratic consultant said. “The Clintons are the most convenient foil here.” In recent days, White House aides have piled on, targeting Clinton for his involvement with Epstein. “Oh my!” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on social platform X, posting the photo of Clinton in the swimming pool. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung also weighed in on X, noting “Stock Willy! @Bill Clinton just chillin, without a care in the world. Little did he know…” While Clinton and Epstein had known each other since the early 1990s, the former president has never been accused of misconduct stemming from that association. The two ran in similar social circles and Clinton flew — together with staff and Secret Service agents — on Epstein’s plane, the "Lolita Express", in his postpresidency, flying to Europe, Africa and Asia for work done for the Clinton Foundation during the early 2000s. On those trips, Clinton said that he would take “an hour or two” to talk politics and economics with Epstein. “That was the extent of our conversations,” Clinton wrote.

Justice Department releases more Jeffrey Epstein files, some Trump-related -The Justice Department released thousands of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein overnight, including files that reference President Trump. The big batch of Epstein files includes nearly 30,000 additional pages of documents. Some, the Justice Department warned in a statement early Tuesday, “contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election.” “To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already,” the statement continued, adding that it released the documents out of a “commitment to the law and transparency.” While Trump was mentioned sparingly in the first document release, the latest batch includes ample references to the president and his relationship with the sex offender. In one email from 2020, released in the latest tranche of documents, an unidentified Manhattan assistant U.S. attorney alerted the recipient that new flight records “reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein’s private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware), including during the period we would expect to charge in a Maxwell case.” Trump is listed as a passenger on at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996, the federal prosecutor said in the newly released email, including on “at least four flights on which Maxwell was also present.” The prosecutor said on one flight in 1993, Trump and Epstein were listed as the only two passengers on a flight. On another flight, the prosecutor said, the two men were joined by a third passenger: an unnamed 20-year-old. On two other flights, according to the email, two additional passengers “were women who would be possible witnesses in a Maxwell case.” The latest file release includes a postcard that Epstein sent to Larry Nassar — the former sports doctor convicted of sexually abusing female gymnasts — while they were both in prison. Epstein told Nassar that “Our president also shares our love of young, nubile girls.” “When a young beauty walked by, he loved to ‘grab snatch,’ whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system. Life is unfair,” Epstein wrote.

Trump says New York Times a ‘serious threat’ to national security after Epstein piece - President Trump on Tuesday condemned a New York Times report outlining his proximity to Jeffrey Epstein amid the disgraced financier’s illegal activities tied to an underground sex trafficking ring.“The Failing New York Times, and their lies and purposeful misrepresentations, is a serious threat to the National Security of our Nation,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “Their Radical Left, Unhinged Behavior, writing FAKE Articles and Opinions in a never ending way, must be dealt with and stopped. THEY ARE A TRUE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE! Thank you for you attention to this matter,” he added. The president has adamantly denied all accusations on wrongdoing linked to Epstein and signed a law last month requiring the release of all information tied to the disgraced financier’s estate. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal attorney who is helping to oversee the release of the files, said materials involving the president will be included in the data dump.However, the Times’s report asserted the president’s closeness to Epstein has been improperly characterized.“The president has tried to minimize their friendship, but documents and interviews reveal an intense and complicated relationship. Chasing women was a game of ego and dominance. Female bodies were currency,” reads the subhead on an atricle published by the outlet last week.The White House has tried to downplay the Times’s reporting and articles from other outlets by creating a “media bias” tracker to flag stories it deems as unfair or containing unbalanced reporting. In October, Trump’s legal team also refiled its lawsuit against The New York Times for defamation.It comes after a federal judge dismissed a previous filing, saying the suit was too long and needed to be whittled down.

Trump knocks release of Clinton photos in Epstein files dump: ‘I think it’s a terrible thing’ -- President Trump said it’s a “terrible thing” that photos of former President Clinton and other high-profile people were published when the Department of Justice (DOJ) released files related to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “I don’t like the pictures of Bill Clinton being shown. I don’t like the pictures of other people being shown,” Trump said Monday at a press conference, when asked if he was surprised by the number of Clinton photos. “I think it’s a terrible thing.”“I think Bill Clinton’s a big boy. He can handle it. But you probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago, many years ago, and they’re, you know, highly respected bankers and lawyers and others,” he added.Clinton was in several of the pictures the DOJ released Friday, after Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law late last month. One image shows the former president in a hot tub with an unidentified person, while another shows a woman, whose identity is also hidden, sitting on his lap. He has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection to Epstein and his alleged sex-trafficking ring, which reportedly included minors. A Clinton spokesperson, Angel Ureña, said Friday on the social platform X the former president was among those who “knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light.”Ureña echoed concerns of many Democrats and a handful of Republicans who have criticized the slow release of documents on Epstein, saying what the DOJ has released “makes one thing clear: someone or something is being protected.”“We do not know whom, what or why,” the spokesperson continued. “But we do know this: We need no such protection.” Trump on Monday said he’s “always gotten along with Bill Clinton,” adding, “I respect him. I hate to see photos come out of him.”“This is what the Democrats, mostly Democrats, and a couple of bad Republicans, are asking for,” he said. “There are photos of me, too. Everybody was friendly with this guy, either friendly or not friendly, but they were, you know, he was around. He was all over Palm Beach and other places.”“This whole thing with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has,” the president added.Trump’s past friendship with Epstein has been well documented, and the two men have been photographed together in the past. A picture published Friday shows Epstein holding a check that had the president’s name on it.Trump, who also has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection to Epstein, has previously said he threw Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago resort because the financier “took” young women working in the spa there. Since Friday, the DOJ has released two other batches of documents related to the case. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the slow rollout was necessary because of the redactions needed to protect witnesses.

Epstein’s co-conspirators remain protected in new DOJ file release - The release on Tuesday of more than 11,000 additional documents in the Justice Department’s “Epstein files” is a continuation of the state-orchestrated coverup of Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal enterprise and its wealthy and powerful participants, including President Donald Trump. The chaotic dump of material into the public domain—riddled with redactions, unexplained anomalies and overt political spin—expresses the crisis of the American ruling class and its determination to shield its own from exposure and accountability. According to media tallies, the latest batch consists of upwards of 11,000 separate files totaling nearly 30,000 pages, making it the largest single release to date under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The documents span court records, FBI and DOJ communications, emails, news clippings, spreadsheets, photos and “hundreds of video files,” together with materials related to Epstein’s 2019 death in federal custody. The release was accompanied by an extraordinary but unsurprising political disclaimer from the DOJ posted on social media at 7:34 a.m.:Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already. The tranche comes on top of earlier data sets which included thousands of investigative photos of Epstein’s New York and Virgin Islands properties, travel images, call logs, police files, and grand jury presentations and interview transcripts. On a purely quantitative level, the state acknowledges that the overall archive will ultimately amount to “several hundred thousand” documents revealing that what is being presented to the public remains partial, selective and tightly managed. Jeffrey Epstein with billionaire Richard Branson.The large volume and unstructured character of Tuesday’s release, without coherent explanation, indexing or contextual analysis, is clearly intended to overwhelm and confuse. Tens of thousands of pages are posted in bulk, packed with duplicative material, press clippings, procedural minutiae and, crucially, heavy redactions that render key documents unintelligible. This method mirrors a broader pattern in the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files: dump data without clarity, substitute legalistic verbiage for substantive disclosure, and then weaponize the chaos by declaring that “nothing of significance” has been found. The combination of data overload and opacity functions as censorship, allowing Trump’s lackeys in the DOJ to claim formal “compliance” with the law while laying the basis for plausible deniability by the participants in the criminal network as well as its protectors. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon (left, green jacket) seated across a desk from convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein inside his New York City penthouse office. [Photo: House Oversight]For example, Trump responded to questions at an event at Mar‑a‑Lago in Palm Beach, Florida on Monday about the Epstein files release. Speaking about photos and documents that put well‑known figures in Epstein’s orbit, Trump complained that “highly respected bankers and lawyers and others” had their lives “ruined” because they were falsely associated with Epstein just by attending a party or ending up in a photograph with him. Among the most widely discussed items in the new release is the document purporting to be a 2019 letter from Epstein, who was then jailed at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, to disgraced USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. An letter alleged to be sent by Epstein to convicted sex offender Larry Nassar.The letter, which was attributed to Epstein, glorifies his shared abuse of girls with Nassar. It opens by telling Nassar that they “shared one thing … our love & caring for young ladies and the hope they’d reach their full potential,” then adds that “our president also shares our love of young, nubile girls,” followed by a vulgar line about him liking to “grab snatch” when “a young beauty walked by,” in contrast to Epstein and Nassar “snatching grub in the mess halls of the system.” In a belated public statement at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, the Justice Department claims the FBI has since determined that the Nassar letter is a “fake,” while simultaneously choosing to include the images of the letter in Tuesday’s release and acknowledging that it processed through the system after Epstein’s death. These facts raise more questions than they answer. Why was such an anomalous, posthumous document retained, circulated and analyzed for years, only to be declared “fake” just when it was made public? Who generated the letter, how did it enter the mail stream, and what does its presence in the MCC mail room weeks after Epstein’s death indicate about thoe handling—and potential manipulation—of evidence related to his detention and demise? Despite the politically motivated spin from the DOJ, important new facts are emerging from the latest batch and are being discussed widely in the press and on social media. These include concrete references to at least ten “co‑conspirators” identified by federal investigators; evidence that Trump flew on Epstein’s jet far more frequently than previously admitted; and documentary traces of investigative activity around figures like Ghislaine Maxwell, Leslie Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands and long‑time employer and financial sponsor of Epstein, and Jean‑Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent closely linked to Epstein and accused by multiple women of supplying underage girls. These references starkly contradict the claim that redactions are solely to “protect victims.” Significant new information includes: Emails from July 2019 among FBI and DOJ officials repeatedly refer to “10 co‑conspirators,” apparently an internal list of individuals whom federal agents were actively trying to locate, subpoena and interview in the weeks surrounding Epstein’s federal indictment. Follow‑up exchanges show that at least six of these ten had been located and served with grand jury subpoenas, while four remained “outstanding,” including “a wealthy businessman in Ohio.” A later internal email from May 2020 describes a seven‑page memo on “co‑conspirators we could potentially charge” drafted “the Monday after Epstein’s death,” and an 86‑page “co‑conspirator update memo” completed in December 2019, along with a “corporate prosecution memo” that was “never discussed.” A separate “DAG meeting” briefing from November 2020 states that prosecutors were in active plea negotiations with another “Epstein co‑conspirator” who had “scheduled hundreds of sexual massages with minors,” and might plead guilty to an obstruction‑related charge.Yet in the files released to the public, the names of seven of these ten co‑conspirators remain redacted, even where contextual clues make clear that they are high‑profile political and financial figures rather than vulnerable victims. This is in direct conflict with the DOJ’s assertion that redactions are limited to “survivors’ personal identifying information” and a narrow set of legally protected categories. The continued protection of these and other figures through redaction is about shielding the wealthy and powerful—from Wall Street billionaires to members of the European aristocracy and political establishment—whose association with Epstein was not incidental but structurally embedded in his operation.

Chuck Schumer calls on DOJ to release details on Jeffrey Epstein co-conspirators -- Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) on Tuesday called on the Justice Department to release more details about 10 possible co-conspirators associated with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Schumer, who is pushing the Senate to sue the Justice Department for not fulfilling a Friday deadline to publicize all documents and records related to Epstein, said he wants more information about the 10 people whom federal investigators considered Epstein’s possible co-conspirators.“Buried in the Epstein files is an email disclosing the Department of Justice was looking into at least 10 possible Jeffrey Epstein co-conspirators. The Department of Justice needs to shed more light on who was on the list, how they were involved, and why they chose not to prosecute,” Schumer said in a statement.“Protecting possible co-conspirators is not the transparency the American people and Congress are demanding,” he said.Redacted emails released by the Justice Department reveal that federal agents tried to contact several people they viewed as potential co-conspirators after arresting Epstein in 2019 on sex trafficking charges.Most of the names in the emails were redacted, but three were not: Ghislaine Maxell, Epstein’s partner who was convicted of sex-trafficking in 2021; Leslie Wexner, a billionaire whose money Epstein helped manage; and Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling scout, who was suspected of scouting women for Epstein and later killed himself in jail. Wexner cut off contact with Epstein after he was indicted in Florida for sex trafficking in 2007 and a lawyer for the business magnate told The New York Times that he was not a target of a federal investigation or viewed as a co-conspirator.

Larry Summers listed as backup executor in 2014 version of Epstein’s will -- Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers was previously listed as a successor executor in convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s will, deepening his connection to the late millionaire. The Justice Department’s release of thousands of documents linked to Epstein featured a 2014 will, in which Summers was named as the fourth in line to gain authority over the disgraced financier’s estate. The primary executors included Darren K. Indyke, David Mitchell and former Barclay’s executive James E. Staley. Summers would have assumed the role of successor if any of the three “fail[ed] to qualify or cease[d] to act,” according to the document published by The Harvard Crimson. Eventually, Epstein updated his will in 2019 to exclude both Summers and Staley from controlling his affairs while serving prison time. The convicted sex offender died behind bars by suicide in August 2019. A spokesperson for Summers told The Guardian, “Mr. Summers had absolutely no knowledge that he was included in an early version of Epstein’s will and had no involvement in his financial matters or the administration of his estate.”The former Treasury Department secretary and previous president of Harvard University has largely retreated from “public commitments” following scrutiny over his ties to Epstein.“I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused. I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein,” Summers said in a statement obtained by NewsNation, The Hill’s sister company. He voluntarily resigned as a member of the American Economic Association and also stepped away from his teaching role at Harvard following his departure from OpenAI.

Stunner: DOJ Finds A Million More Epstein Documents - Will Take 'Weeks' To Review - In a stunning development, the embattled Department of Justice chose Christmas Eve to announce it had discovered more than a million more documents with potential links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Already in violation of a legislatively-mandated Dec 19 deadline to release all such files -- and facing demands for an audit of its handling of the process -- the DOJ says the enormous new tranche of documents will require "weeks" of additional work before they can be posted. “We have lawyers working around the clock to review and make the legally required redactions to protect victims, and we will release the documents as soon as possible,” the DOJ said. “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks. The Department will continue to fully comply with federal law and President Trump’s direction to release the files.” The DOJ said the documents come from the Southern District of New York and the FBI. Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who's been the Capitol Hill's leading voice on Epstein-file declassification, indicated the staggering volume of newly-acknowledged documents gives new reason to question the lack of additional prosecutions beyond Epstein and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell: Today the DOJ claims the Epstein-Maxwell file exceeds 1.7 million documents. And they still expect you to believe this involves only two guilty people.

Epstein files: DOJ restores Trump photo after backlash -The Department of Justice on Sunday restored online a photo from the Jeffrey Epstein files that contained images showing President Donald Trump after backlash over its removal. The photo, which contained two separate images showing Trump, had been removed by the DOJ from public view after being published on the department's website on Friday. The photo showed an array of items on and in Epstein's desk or credenza One of the photos showed Trump with a group of women, while the other was a well-known image showing him with his wife, Melania, Epstein and Epstein's now-convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. "The Southern District of New York flagged an image of President Trump for potential further action to protect victims," the DOJ said in a post on the social media site X. "Out of an abundance of caution, the Department of Justice temporarily removed the image for further review. After the review, it was determined there is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph, and it has been reposted without any alteration or redaction." The DOJ did not say what it meant by the Southern District of New York. The SDNY can refer both to the federal judicial district that includes Manhattan and the U.S. Attorney's Office in that district, which prosecutes federal criminal cases. On Saturday, congressional Democrats questioned the removal of the photo. "This photo, file 468, from the Epstein files that includes Donald Trump has apparently now been removed from the DOJ release," Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said in a post on X. "@AGPamBondi is this true? What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public." Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche early Sunday said the image was removed from the website after learning there were concerns about women in the photo, "so we pulled that photo down.""It has nothing to do with President Trump," said Blanche on NBC's "Meet the Press.The disappearance of the image and more than a dozen other files over the weekend came despite a law signed by Trump that required the agency to make public all of the Epstein files by Friday.The image went live on the DOJ's website on Friday, and disappeared from the webpage several hours later. The photograph showed a collection of framed and unframed photos that included Trump and other high-profile figures such as former President Bill Clinton and Pope John Paul II."When we hear from victims' rights groups about this type of photograph, we pull it down and investigate," Blanche said.

Epstein files: Latest batch from DOJ includes a personal letter, emails and heavily redacted documents - The Department of Justice on Tuesday released another batch of files related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The latest documents appear to contain court records, emails and some heavily or completely redacted files. In a Tuesday morning post on X, the DOJ announced the latest drop and claimed to have released "nearly 30,000 more pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein." The post also refers to claims made against President Donald Trump in the latest release. "Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election," the post states. "To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already." Trump, who was largely unmentioned in the initial batch of files released by the DOJ on Friday, is a former friend of Epstein's and has long denied any wrongdoing related to the disgraced New York financier. Epstein died by suicide while in detention in 2019. Included in the latest batch from the DOJ is a handwritten letter Epstein, while detained in the Manhattan Correctional Center, wrote to convicted sex offender Larry Nassar that appears to reference Trump. In the letter, which appears similar to one described in a 2023 Associated Press report, Epstein says, "Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls." Trump was president when the letter was written.

Donald Trump’s attempted takeover of DC golf courses sets off controversy- President Trump is eyeing a takeover of the Washington, D.C., public golf system, but local golf officials and elected leaders are vowing not to cede control of the city’s affordable courses. The administration earlier this fall sent a notice of default to the National Links Trust, the local public-private nonprofit that has overseen and operated D.C.’s three municipal golf courses since 2020. The notice, first reported by The Washington Post, came only five years after the nonprofit signed a 50-year lease with the National Park Service, which reports to the president through the Department of the Interior and owns the land the three courses are built on. When the lease was signed, the goal was to redesign and renovate the historic sites where the courses sit, using money from private donors and the district government. The Links Trust’s mission from its inception has been to maintain affordability and access for D.C.’s local golf scene, a unique undertaking in an area known across the country for its elite country clubs and private courses, including one of the president’s signature facilities in Northern Virginia. The administration has not said specifically why the Links Trust is in default or how it could address concerns about its operating plans. Trump’s efforts are widely seen as a first step by the president to take over the courses for potential redevelopment and put his mark on the D.C. golf scene permanently — just as he did last week by renaming the Kennedy Center after himself. “These are historic, important public courses that have a rich history of affordability and access,” said Charles Allen, a member of the D.C. council and avid golfer. “It concerns me to have the Trump administration terminate the lease for, let’s be honest, made-up reasons. It seems to be about a grab of the land for the wealthy and well connected.” A source at the National Links Trust emphasized to The Hill that the organization is open to working with the administration to address its concerns. In its only public statement, it said it “respectfully disagree[s] with the characterization that we are in default of our lease.” “In the five years since signing the lease, National Links Trust has worked hand in hand with the National Park Service through the extensive permitting and compliance processes required for these comprehensive renovation projects,” the company said. The crown jewel of the D.C. public golf system is East Potomac Golf Links, a sprawling and player-friendly property that sits at the tip of Hains Point, offering tee box views of the Washington Monument and Potomac River. Greens fees, which can fluctuate at public courses based on demand and time of year, rarely top more than $50 for 18 holes there. That’s a price that is often less than half the cost of many other county-owned public courses in neighboring Maryland and Virginia. Trump, who owns more than a dozen world-renowned golf courses and resorts around the globe, has spoken openly about his admiration for the East Potomac property specifically, telling The Wall Street Journal in recent days, “If we do them, we’ll do it really beautifully.” “President Trump is a champion-level golfer with an extraordinary eye for detail and design, and his vision to renovate and beautify DC’s public golf courses will bring much needed improvements that American citizens will be able to enjoy,” a White House spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill.

Ohio Democrat sues to remove Trump’s name from Kennedy Center - Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to remove President Trump’s name from the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Beatty, an ex-officio board member for the center, said in the complaint that adding the president’s name to the venue is a “flagrant violation” of the Constitution. “Congress intended the Center to be a living memorial to President Kennedy and a crown jewel of the arts for all Americans, irrespective of party. Unless and until this Court intervenes, Defendants will continue to defy Congress and thwart the law for improper ends,” the lawsuit reads. Beatty is being represented by Norman Eisen, who served as a White House ethics counsel during the Obama administration, along with Nathaniel Zelinsky, his co-counsel of the Washington Litigation Group, according to The New York Times. The Ohio Democrat added that the Trump administration falsely claimed board members “unanimously” voted to change the name to include Trump on a call last week. However, Beatty said participants’ microphones were muted and they were not given a chance to address their concerns. On Friday, the Kennedy Center updated its signage on the outside of the building to include the president’s name. Critics, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), have argued the move is illegal. However, the center’s interim President Richard Grenell pushed back on that argument. “It’s now a bipartisan space reflecting the new era. Donald Trump saved it,” Grenell wrote on social media.

Kennedy Center concert canceled over Trump name change - The Kennedy Center’s annual Christmas Eve jazz concert was canceled Wednesday after its longtime host declined to perform in protest of the recent changes to the performing arts center’s name. Chuck Redd, who’s hosted the holiday “Jazz Jams” since 2006, said he made the decision after seeing President Trump’s name added to the building, which was named after former President Kennedy and serves as a living tribute to the assassinated president. “When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert,” Redd told The Associated Press in an email on Christmas Eve. Trump’s handpicked board members of the Kennedy Center voted on Dec. 18 to rename the building to honor both presidents, a move that has drawn fierce backlash from Democrats and members of the Kennedy family. Many experts also contest the legality of the move, noting the building was named by Congress and can only be renamed by the same legislative body. Despite questions over the move, the performing arts center swiftly began updating its signage, changing its name on the website and, on Friday, adding Trump’s name to the outside of the center. The building’s facade now reads, “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”

‘South Park’ writer Toby Morton owns Trump–Kennedy Center websites— A “South Park” writer anticipated President Donald Trump would rename the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts after himself, so he bought domain names connected to the Trump-Kennedy Center. Writer Toby Morton told The Washington Post that in August, he bought the “trumpkennedycenter.org” and “trumpkennedycenter.com” domains.“As soon as Trump began gutting the Kennedy Center board earlier this year, I thought, ‘Yep, that name’s going on the building,’” Morton told the Post.The writer, whose credits also include “MadTV,” buys political domains and turns them into satirical websites as a form of activism, The Post reported. Morton said he was paying attention to news that the president would take over the performing arts center after removing existing board members, installing close Trump allies and hosting the Kennedy Center Honors as a satirical protest to raise awareness.“The rest followed on schedule,” he told The Washington Post. The writer said once news broke that he bought the domain names, he received responses that were “overwhelmingly positive.” I’ve received a large number of messages from creatives, writers, designers, and performers offering to contribute and help elevate what comes next,” he told USA Today. He added, “That enthusiasm is shaping the direction of the upcoming site, which will focus squarely on Trump’s narcissism, branding impulses, and the broader cultural implications of attaching his name to institutions that were meant to be civic, not personal.”

Trump wishes 'Merry Christmas to all, including the radical left scum' --President Trump knocked his political opponents as “Radical Left Scum” in a Christmas message in which he boasted about his administration’s accomplishments during the first year of his second term.“Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical Left Scum that is doing everything possible to destroy our Country, but are failing badly,” Trump wrote Wednesday in on the social platform X. “We no longer have Open Borders, Men in Women’s Sports, Transgender for Everyone, or Weak Law Enforcement. What we do have is a Record Stock Market and 401K’s, Lowest Crime numbers in decades, No Inflation, and yesterday, a 4.3 GDP, two points better than expected. Tariffs have given us Trillions of Dollars in Growth and Prosperity, and the strongest National Security we have ever had,” he continued.“We are respected again, perhaps like never before. God Bless America!!!” he added.

Lawler: Vance, Rubio more likely to run with one other than compete in 2028 - Will Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio run against each other in the 2028 Republican primary? Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said Monday he does not see it happening. Lawler told host Kasie Hunt on CNN’s “The Arena” that “frankly, I think it’s more likely that you’ll have a Vance-Rubio ticket than anything else.” The New York Republican stopped short of throwing his full support behind Vance, but he said the vice president has a “leg up” on the competition and would be a “formidable candidate” if he decides to run. “It’s going to be a robust 2028 cycle,” Lawler added. “I know many of the players involved and considering it, and like and respect many of them. But of course, it’s always healthy to have debate and discussion.” Vance has not said whether he will seek the presidency but has left the door open to a run. Erika Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA and widow of Charlie Kirk, endorsed the vice president on Thursday. “We are going to get my husband’s friend, JD Vance, elected as 48 in the most resounding way possible,” Erika Kirk said at Turning Point USA’s “AmericaFest” conference in Phoenix.

Tennessee Dem looks to turn pipeline fight into House victory - - A Memphis state lawmaker who rose to national prominence protesting against gun violence is hoping to elevate that battle — and his environmental justice fights — to the U.S. House.Justin Pearson, a Tennessee state House member representing a Memphis district since 2023, is best known for being one of the “Tennessee Three,” a trio of Democrats who protested against gun violence on their chamber’s floor that year. He and state Rep. Justin Jones were expelled from the body by their colleagues, but subsequently reinstated by their local governments.Before that, Pearson was known for pushing to protect communities of color from the often unequal impacts of pollution and climate change. Now Pearson, 30, is challenging incumbent Rep. Steve Cohen, a 10-term Democrat who represents Memphis and Tennessee’s 9th District. Pearson launched his campaign in October, arguing that Cohen is no longer up to the task of representing the city and its needs, especially as anger builds against President Donald Trump for actions like sending National Guard troops to the city. “Our city is under occupation by the federal government and a tyrant. Thirty-eight percent of our children are underneath the poverty line. We’re in need of 55,000 units of affordable housing. And our city, as beloved and beautiful as it is, is struggling. And he has given all that he could,” Pearson said of Cohen in an interview.“And when that’s the truth, it just becomes time for a new vision, a new direction, a new energy. And that’s what I am providing to the people in our district: A new vision, new direction, a new energy that helps us to do better and get further than we currently are.”Pearson founded Memphis Community Against the Pipeline — now known as Memphis Community Against Pollution — in 2020 to protest the Byhalia pipeline, a proposed oil conduits that opponents say threatened a major freshwater supply for Memphis. It was ultimately canceled.The progressive Democrat has since pushed successfully for the closure of Sterilization Services of Tennessee, a South Memphis plant that emitted ethylene oxide. He is now working against Colossus, a major data center by xAI, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, whose gas turbines operated for nearly a year without air pollution permits. Pearson’s brother, KeShaun, now leads MCAP.Pearson is making environmental justice a major part of his campaign platform, which includes increasing affordable housing, Medicare for All and new efforts to get resources and benefits to military veterans.

"It's Utilities Versus Rent" - Data Centers Send Energy Prices Soaring -- The surge in data center construction to power today’s AI and cloud computing demands has sent electricity prices skyrocketing over the last few years. And, as Bloomberg reports, it is only getting worse. With electricity costs now as much as 267% higher compared to five years ago in some parts of the US, fingers are being pointed directly at data center activity for blame. And while some - especially generously funded lobbies - are eager to dissemble and distort, claiming that on the contrary, electricity prices are barely keeping up with inflation and that data centers have little to no impact on electrical bills, the map below shows that more than 70% of the nodes that recorded pricing increases are located within 50 miles of significant data center activity. Take Nicole Pasture: the Baltimore resident said her utility bills are up 50% over the past year. She is also a judge who rules on rental disputes in the city’s district court and sees people struggling with their power bills. “It’s utilities versus rent,” she said. “They want to stay in their home, but they also want to keep their lights on.” New data center construction projects are announced weekly, sometimes every day. Some of the construction timelines have upwards of 100 MW of new data center demand being built only two years from groundbreaking. This has to be contrasted against the rate of new energy generation construction, with the recent vite among PJM Interconnection stakeholders resulting in a failure to even select a plan for how to add data centers to the grid. “The voting reflects the nearly impossible challenge of trying to ensure resource adequacy and control ratepayer costs, while also allowing data center development in a market that is already short on generation supply and faces a 5-to-7 year timeline to bring on new large-scale generating resources,” Jon Gordon, a director at Advanced Energy United, a clean energy trade group, said in a bulletin on the meeting. While some utilities have been able to pass the burden of higher electricity costs onto the owners of the large loads, most of the costs of expanding grid capacity inevitably find their way to consumers. According to Bloomberg, in northern Virginia, Dominion Energy cited data center demand, inflation and higher fuel costs when asking regulators to raise its customer bills by about $20 a month for the average residential user over the next two years. Dominion also forecasts peak demand would rise by more than 75% by 2039 with data centers. It would be just 10% without. And it's only getting worse: with hundreds of gigawatts of future power demand from data centers built by companies like Oracle and Microsoft, Goldman writes that "eight out of the 13 US regional power markets are already at or below critical spare capacity levels."

Naval Reactors For AI Data Centers - Commerce Scretary Lutnick appeared on Fox News, discussing new energy for data centers. As we have noted previously, energy prices continue to spike near data center facilities across the US. Lutnick claimed data centers are going to provide additional power generation and capacity to the grid along with the construction of their facilities to lower the energy prices, but so far this has not been the case.The additional costs of infrastructure to the wider grid that come with higher demand are not covered in the higher rates paid by the hyperscalers. Many of the costs extend to equipment outside of the immediate vicinity of the new power consumer, such as upgrades and maintenance to upstream transformers and powerlines. Maybe the rest of the US should copy what Texas does...And while multiple companies and developers are working on solutions for on-site, "behind-the-meter" power for AI data centers - with little practical success to date - one power developer has formally proposed an idea that has been informally discussed for years. HGP Intelligent Energy, a Texas power developer, is proposing to use reactors from US Navy submarines and aircraft carriers to power a data center project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The company claims redirecting two retired naval reactors could produce about 450-520 MW of power in what would be the fastest way to add new baseload power to the grid while the commercial nuclear industry struggles to get back on its feet.The likelihood of this proposal being accepted by the US government is extremely low unless custody of the reactors is retained by the DoE, which is what HGP currently recommends in their proposal. Naval reactors have multiple differences compared to traditional commercial reactors, most notably the extremely high enriched uranium content, which is over 90%, compared to traditional reactors which are less than 5%In addition to concerns about proliferation of weapons grade uranium, there are also concerns of how the reactors can operate after they are removed from their submarines or carriers. The reactors are either removed from their vessels and decommissioned due to no longer being able to operate as designed at their old age, or sometimes due to the decommissioning of their host vessel. There are likely multiple headaches with operating the reactor in its aged status with respect to reactor physics and material integrity. Just sticking lower enriched fuel inside a reactor designed for highly enriched fuel could prove difficult, as the geometry of the core alone may not allow for proper operation.

Largest Acquisition In Nvidia History: Jensen Pays $20BN For AI Chip Startup In Bid For Google's TPU Tech-- Just before the market close on Friday, Nvidia unveiled its largest ever acquisition (which however was structured as a licensing deal to avoid anti-trust concerns) when it agreed to buy Groq - pardon license all of Grok's assets and acquire its entire executive team - a designer of high-performance artificial intelligence accelerator chips, for $20 billion in cash. In reality what the deal is really about is Grok's TPU expertise, and specifically the knowledge inside CEO Jonathan Ross' head, who helped launch Google's TPU, the search giant's custom Application-Specific Integrated Circuit. The news was first reported by CNBC, citing Alex Davis, CEO of Disruptive, which led the startup’s latest financing round in September. Davis, whose firm has invested more than half a billion dollars in Groq since the company was founded in 2016, said the deal came together quickly (that part is true: the deal likely came together in the days following the recent dramatic ascent of Google's Gemini and TPU architecture, not to mention stock price, as explained below). Groq raised $750 million at a valuation of about $6.9 billion in September. Investors in the round included Blackrock and Neuberger Berman, as well as Samsung, Cisco, Altimeter and 1789 Capital (where Donald Trump Jr. is a partner). Groq said at the time it would use the funds to expand its data center capacity. Instead, the participating funds are about to 3x their money in 3 months, an unprecedented venture return, thanks to Nvidia's massive cash hoard. Groq said in a blog post on Wednesday that it’s “entered into a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Nvidia for Groq’s inference technology,” without disclosing a price. Clearly, however, this is much more than just a licensing agreement since Groq founder and CEO Jonathan Ross along with Sunny Madra, the company’s president, and other senior leaders “will join Nvidia to help advance and scale the licensed technology,” the post said. As Bloomberg explains, sharing a slightly different perspective on how the deal is structured or rather wants to be structured, the world’s largest publicly traded company paid for the right to use Groq’s technology and will integrate its chip design into future products. Some of the startup’s executives are leaving to join Nvidia to help with that effort, the companies said. Groq will continue as an independent company with a new chief executive, existing finance chief Simon Edwards as CEO, it said Wednesday in a post on its website, which of course it will only pretend to be for regulatory and anti-trust reasons: Nvidia will have stripped all the good stuff, i.e., the TPU IP. It’s data center business, which offers outsourced computing, will continue, the company said in the post. Davis told CNBC that Nvidia is getting all of Groq’s assets, though its nascent Groq cloud business is not part of the transaction. Groq said “GroqCloud will continue to operate without interruption.” The deal represents by far Nvidia’s largest purchase ever. The chipmaker’s biggest acquisition to date came in 2019, when it bought Israeli chip designer Mellanox for close to $7 billion. At the end of October, Nvidia had $60.6 billion in cash and short-term investments, up from $13.3 billion in early 2023.

Ex-WSJ reporter who exposed Theranos fraud sues AI giants over alleged book piracy | New York Post - A Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter whose work helped bring down Theranos is now taking on Silicon Valley’s biggest AI players — accusing them of looting his books to build billion-dollar chatbots. John Carreyrou, the journalist behind the Wall Street Journal’s exposé of disgraced blood-testing startup Theranos, sued six major artificial intelligence companies Monday in California federal court, alleging they illegally used copyrighted books to train their AI systems. Carreyrou, author of the bestselling tome “Bad Blood,” filed one single lawsuit alongside five other writers against Google, Elon Musk’s xAI, OpenAI, Meta Platforms, Anthropic and Perplexity.5John Carreyrou, the New York Times journalist behind the Wall Street Journal’s exposé of disgraced blood-testing startup Theranos, sued six major artificial intelligence companies Monday in California federal court. The complaint accuses the companies of pirating books and feeding them into large language models that power popular chatbots — without permission or compensation.The case marks the first copyright lawsuit to name xAI as a defendant, expanding a growing legal assault by authors and publishers over how artificial intelligence systems are trained. Carreyrou, who’s now at the New York Times, and the other plaintiffs argue that the AI industry has built its core technology on stolen intellectual property, drawing massive investments and reaping profits while creators receive nothing.A spokesperson for Perplexity said the company “doesn’t index books.”The other defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to Reuters. The Post has reached out to them. The lawsuit comes amid a wave of copyright cases targeting AI developers for scraping text, images and other works from the internet to train their models.

Gamers risk losing crypto to new malware scam​ | Cybernews -- Experts at Kaspersky have discovered that the Stealka stealer is disguised as game cracks, cheats, and mods. In addition to hijacking accounts and stealing crypto, it can also run a crypto miner on victims' devices. According to the findings, Stealka also targets the settings and databases of browser extensions for crypto wallets, putting users of Binance, Coinbase, Crypto.com, Trust Wallet, MetaMask, Phantom, Exodus, and others at risk, in addition to password managers and 2FA services. "Wallet configurations may contain encrypted private keys, seed-phrase data, wallet file paths, and encryption parameters. That’s enough to at least make an attempt at stealing your cryptocurrency," Kaspersky warned. The malware is distributed via platforms such as GitHub, SourceForge, Softpedia, and sites.google.com, among others. Potential victims must manually run the file to activate the malware. Security experts have already found malware designed for Roblox players, while also noting that the same method is being used for Microsoft Visio, a diagramming and vector graphics application. For example, in the case of Roblox, the malware is disguised as "a blazing-fast, keyless script executor built specifically for Roblox players on PC." According to Kaspersky, attackers sometimes create entire fake websites that appear quite professional. However, in other cases, the criminals post strangely looking sites that are easier to spot as potentially dangerous. "<...> the attackers are offering a download for Half-Life 3, while at the same time claiming it’s not actually a game but some kind of "professional software solution designed for Windows," the cybersecurity company said, adding that the attackers use popular search terms to lure users into downloading the same malware, while also pretending that it's been scanned by antivirus engines. The experts warned that this malware endangers more than a hundred browsers where users store their sensitive autofill information, such as credentials, addresses, and payment card details, which can be used to hijack various accounts. Furthermore, access to cookies and session tokens can enable criminals to bypass two-factor authentication and hijack accounts without requiring the password.

SEC Says Cryptocurrency Scam Took $14M From Retail Investors -- An investment scam allegedly took $14 million from retail investors by connecting with them on social media and convincing them to fund accounts on fake crypto asset trading platforms. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) outlined the scam in a Monday (Dec. 22) press release announcing that it filed charges against three purported crypto asset trading platforms and four so-called investment clubs. The regulator filed the charges against the platforms Morocoin Tech, Berge Blockchain Technology, and Cirkor, and the clubs AI Wealth, Lane Wealth, AI Investment Education Foundation, and Zenith Asset Tech Foundation, according to the release. The SEC’s complaint alleges that the clubs operated on WhatsApp, used social media ads to solicit investors to join the clubs, gained investors’ confidence in group chats, and lured them to open and fund accounts on the platforms. It alleges that the clubs and platforms then offered “Security Token Offerings” that in fact did not exist and misappropriated at least $14 million from U.S.-based investors. The regulator’s complaint charges the defendants with violating anti-fraud laws, seeks permanent injunctions and civil penalties against all the defendants, and seeks disgorgement with prejudgment interest against the three platforms. “This matter highlights an all-too-common form of investment scam that is being used to target U.S. retail investors with devastating consequences,” The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) said in April that cryptocurrency fraud led to at least $9.3 billion in losses reported in 2024, a 66% increase over the previous year. These losses stemmed from investment scams, extortion, sextortion and fraudulent activity involving cryptocurrency ATMs and kiosks. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said in March that consumers reported losing more money to investment scams than any other category of fraud in 2024. Consumers reported losing $5.7 billion to investment scams last year, a 24% increase over 2023. Digital risk protection platform CTM360 said in July that it identified more than 17,000 fake news sites used by scammers to promote investment fraud. These sites are promoted through fake news articles posted through ad platforms or social media, are designed to look like legitimate news outlets, and publish fabricated stories designed to lure readers into scams. The Justice Department said in June that it filed a civil forfeiture complaint targeting $225.3 million in cryptocurrency that it said was connected to the theft and laundering of funds from victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes.

Nomani Investment Scam Surges 62% Using AI Deepfake Ads on Social Media -- The fraudulent investment scheme known as Nomani has witnessed an increase by 62%, according to data from ESET, as campaigns distributing the threat have also expanded beyond Facebook to include other social media platforms, such as YouTube.The Slovak cybersecurity company said it blocked over 64,000 unique URLs associated with the threat this year. A majority of the detections originated from Czechia, Japan, Slovakia, Spain, and Poland.Nomani was first documented by ESET in December 2024 as leveraging social media malvertising, company-branded posts, and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered video testimonials to deceive users into investing their funds in non-existent investment products that falsely claim significant returns.When victims request payout of the promised profits, they are asked to pay additional fees or provide additional personal information, such as ID and credit card information. As is typical of investment scams of this kind, the end goal is financial loss. It doesn't end there, for the fraudsters attempt to scam them again by making use of Europol- and INTERPOL-related lures on social media that promise assistance with getting their stolen funds back -- only to lose more money in the process. ESET said the scam has since received some notable upgrades, including making their AI-generated videos more realistic in an effort to make it harder for prospective targets to spot the deception."Deepfakes of popular personalities, used as initial hooks for phishing forms or websites, now use higher resolution, have significantly reduced unnatural movements and breathing, and have also improved their A/V sync," the company noted.The fabricated content has been found to often leverage topical events or personalities who are more widely seen in the public discourse to lend more credibility to the scheme. In one case observed in Czechia, a bogus news article falsely claimed the government was investing through one of its scam cryptocurrency platforms and generating substantial returns. To ensure that their malicious ads are not caught by the platform's systems, the threat actors make sure that the campaigns are run only for a few hours. Another important change involves redirecting users to benign cloaking pages instead of external phishing forms in case they don't meet the targeting criteria."To further lower their footprint, attackers increasingly abuse legitimate tools offered by the social media ad framework, such as forms and surveys instead of external webpages, to harvest victims' information," ESET said.Improvements have also been observed in the templates used to generate phishing pages, with signs pointing to the use of AI tools to write the HTML code. This assessment is based on the presence of checkboxes in source code comments. Furthermore, GitHub repositories hosting such templates for investment scams have come from Russian and/or Ukrainian users.Despite these changes, the number of detections for Nomani in the second half of 2025 dropped, an indication that the attackers are likely being forced to revamp their tactics in the face of increased law enforcement efforts to combat such scams.

Musk cuts off 2,500 Starlinks tied to a $7.5B US fraud network -- SpaceX has quietly taken one of the most consequential steps yet in the global fight against online fraud, cutting connectivity to 2,500 Starlink terminals that investigators say powered a sprawling cybercrime machine worth billions of dollars. The move severs a critical digital lifeline for scam compounds across Southeast Asia that preyed on victims around the world while trapping workers in brutal conditions. It also thrusts Elon Musk and his satellite network into the center of a debate over how far private tech companies should go in policing transnational crime. The decision followed mounting pressure from governments, anti-scam advocates, and human rights groups who warned that Starlink's low-cost, high-speed connections had become the preferred tool for fraud syndicates operating in lawless border zones. By targeting a cluster of 2,500 devices tied to a $7.5 billion U.S. fraud network, SpaceX has signaled that it is willing to treat connectivity as leverage, not a neutral utility, when its infrastructure is weaponized against consumers. For years, criminal outfits in Southeast Asia quietly upgraded from patchy local internet to satellite broadband, turning remote compounds into industrial-scale "fraud farms" that could run around the clock. I see Starlink's role in this shift as both technological and geographic: its small dishes and portable terminals gave syndicates in Myanmar and neighboring states a way to operate far from cities, beyond the easy reach of regulators, while still maintaining the bandwidth needed for video calls, fake trading apps, and high-pressure social engineering. Reporting has detailed how Criminal outfits used Musk's broadband beacons to run cyber-slavery scams across Southeast Asia, exploiting Starlink's global footprint to reach victims in the United States and beyond.Those victims were not losing pocket change. According to U.S. investigators and regional authorities, the network of scam centers linked to these terminals helped fuel a fraud economy that siphoned roughly $7.5 billion from Americans and other targets through romance scams, fake crypto investments, and bogus trading platforms. One account described how Musk’s company ultimately cut off internet to thousands of scammers who had stolen billions from Americans, underscoring how central Starlink had become to the fraudsters' daily operations. In effect, the same technology marketed to connect rural schools and disaster zones was repurposed as the backbone of a global con. The turning point came when Myanmar's military authorities moved against one of the region's most notorious scam hubs, a complex known as KK Park near the border that had become synonymous with cyber-slavery. State media in Myanmar announced a raid on KK Park in Oct, followed by a weekslong demolition of the compound that officials framed as part of a new "zero tolerance" policy for cyberscams. Yet even as the buildings were torn down, investigators warned that the fraud economy was resilient and that scammers were already seeking new locations and new ways to get online, highlighting the centrality of connectivity to their business model.SpaceX's move to disable the 2,500 terminals was closely tied to that crackdown. The company said it cut Starlink services at scam compounds in Myanmar after the military shut down the major online scam operation known as KK Park and released hundreds of workers who had been held there. The announcement made clear that the decision was not a one-off gesture but a targeted response to documented abuse of the network, with the company stressing that the terminals had been operating in violation of its acceptable use policy and local law. By acting after the raid on KK Park, SpaceX aligned its action with Myanmar's own enforcement push, even as critics questioned whether the country's broader "zero tolerance" rhetoric matched conditions on the ground described in Myanmar scam compounds.

SEC Targets Crypto Platforms in Social Media Scam Crackdown - Federal regulators in the US have delivered a devastating blow to crypto fraud schemes preying on social media users.The Securities and Exchange Commission launched an enforcement wave targeting three purported cryptocurrency trading platforms and four investment clubs in a coordinated crackdown on social media-driven crypto manipulation.The charges are against “purported” crypto asset trading platforms Morocoin Tech Corp., Berge Blockchain Technology Co. Ltd., and Cirkor Inc. and investment clubs AI Wealth Inc., Lane Wealth Inc., AI Investment Education Foundation Ltd., and Zenith Asset Tech Foundation. The SEC alleges that they defrauded retail investors out of more than $14 million in an elaborate investment confidence scam.These enforcement actions come as regulatory pressure reaches fever pitch, with data revealing the SEC imposed a record-shattering $4.98 billion in cryptocurrency penalties throughout 2024 alone. That’s more than double the previous year’s total, signaling an all-out regulatory war on digital asset fraud.But the scope of deception investigators uncovered goes far beyond simple investment scams—it reveals a sophisticated ecosystem designed to systematically exploit every social media user who’s ever been curious about crypto.Behind the glossy crypto advertisements flooding social feeds lies a disturbing reality that enforcement documents are only now exposing. Operations were using automated trading bots that generated “quadrillions of transactions and billions of dollars of artificial trading volume each day,” investigators discovered.These weren’t amateur scammers operating from basements—they were sophisticated “market makers” providing what regulators describe as “market-manipulation-as-a-service.” The schemes specifically targeted retail investors through social media platforms, creating false appearances of active trading markets to lure victims into purchasing worthless crypto assets.California’s Department of Financial Protection and Innovation has been tracking these elaborate cons, with recent analysis from two weeks ago documenting how platforms issued fabricated margin calls, resulting in individual losses of $5,000 or more. The sophistication is staggering: one platform called AstraX operated a completely fake trading environment while maintaining professional-looking websites and customer service teams.Something even more sinister emerges from the evidence. These schemes exploit social media’s built-in trust mechanisms in ways law enforcement never anticipated. Users receive investment advice from accounts that appear legitimate, complete with testimonials, success stories, and professional trading interfaces—all completely fabricated to separate victims from their money. The enforcement revelations paint a worrying picture of how vulnerable everyday social media users have become to crypto fraud. Former compliance workers at major exchanges told investigators they “could hardly keep pace with savvy criminals” who exploit cryptocurrency’s efficiency compared to traditional money laundering methods, analysis published five weeks ago reveals.The criminals have essentially weaponized social media algorithms against users. Sophisticated targeting ensures crypto scam ads reach people most likely to invest, while AI-generated testimonials and fake trading results create compelling narratives that bypass normal skepticism. One former exchange compliance officer described the challenge: “Crypto offers criminals a financial system that’s very efficient compared to the old days when a cartel would have to stuff cash into the back of a Cadillac.”Regulators are fighting back. The SEC established “Project Crypto” as a comprehensive regulatory framework designed to match criminal innovation with appropriate oversight, initiatives launched six weeks ago demonstrate. Commissioner Hester Peirce leads the Crypto Task Force that has developed new frameworks for treatment of crypto assets under federal securities laws.The numbers tell the story: the SEC brought 33 cryptocurrency-related enforcement actions throughout 2024, with monetary penalties reaching unprecedented levels. The agency’s specialized Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit continues focusing on combating cyber-related misconduct and protecting retail investors from bad actors in the emerging technologies space, demonstrating regulators’ commitment to cleaning up digital asset markets before more social media users fall victim to these increasingly sophisticated schemes.

How a Circle K became a hub for crypto scams | CNN -Just inside the front door of a Circle K convenience store, the district manager glared at a small kiosk. Yet another elderly victim had just fed thousands of dollars into the device after being tricked by a scammer. “I hate these machines,” the manager told police in Niceville, Florida, according to body-camera footage of the September incident. “I’d like to get them out of the stores.” He’s not alone. Thousands of Americans, many of them retirees on limited budgets, lost more than a quarter of a billion dollars this year to scams that fooled them into using crypto ATMs – machines that turn cash into hard-to-recover cryptocurrency. And scores of those victims were fleeced by scammers inside stores owned by Circle K, one of the crypto ATM industry’s biggest corporate partners. A joint investigation by CNN and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists found that Circle K has made millions by renting space to crypto ATMs – even amid mounting evidence that the machines are playing a key role in international fraud schemes that exasperate local police called repeatedly to the same stores. CNN and ICIJ reviewed more than 150 cases of crypto ATM scams at Circle K stores and spoke to 17 employees who said they witnessed – and sometimes tried to prevent – the fraud while at work, including one who saw a man attack a machine with a sledgehammer to try to retrieve his stolen money. Some said they have discussed the problem with management but have seen little response. “Circle K policy is, ‘It’s not our machine, it’s not our problem,’ but I see it all too often,” Debbie Joy, an assistant manager in Port Orange, Florida said during a city council meeting in April in which she received an award for stopping one of the scams in progress. Even some of Circle K’s own staffers have been duped into taking thousands from their stores’ safes and feeding the money into crypto ATMs, police reports show. At one location in Indiana, store managers went so far as posting a prominent sign behind the register cautioning employees. “Scam Alert,” it reads: “Don’t save money in the register to drop in the Bitcoin machine.” Circle K has alerted staffers repeatedly in emails and trainings about crypto ATM scams, multiple employees told CNN and ICIJ. “While we train and educate our employees to recognize common and emerging financial scams, they do not handle or oversee customer transactions at self‑service cash ATMs or Bitcoin Depot terminals available in our stores, which are owned and managed solely by third parties,” a Circle K spokesperson said. Despite all those warnings, the chain’s owner this year re-upped its deal with crypto ATM firm Bitcoin Depot. That arrangement pays Circle K rent, which can generate thousands in revenue at each store annually. Critics and victims, including one who sued the chain last year, say Circle K is putting profits over safety.

Deepfakes, Scams, and AI Voice Fraud: How to Verify If a Call, Video, or Email Is Real -- The rise of artificial intelligence has transformed how people create and consume digital content. At the same time, it has also given cybercriminals advanced tools to deceive the public. In recent years, deepfakes, AI scams, and AI voice fraud have become major threats to individuals, organizations, and even governments. As these technologies grow more sophisticated, knowing how to verify calls, verify videos, or confirm the legitimacy of an email is becoming essential to protect privacy, money, and trust.Deepfakes are hyper-realistic digital manipulations that replace one person's face or voice with another using artificial intelligence, especially through Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). Initially developed for research and entertainment, this technology can now produce videos that are nearly indistinguishable from authentic recordings.Deepfakes have surfaced across multiple industries, sometimes for creative purposes, such as digital filmmaking or voice preservation, but also as tools for deception. Bad actors can use deepfakes to spread misinformation, create fake endorsements, or impersonate public figures. How can you tell if a video is a deepfake? One indicator lies in subtle visual inconsistencies. Facial movements might appear stiff, blinking patterns can be unnatural, and lighting or shadows may look mismatched. Audio distortions, syncing errors, or robotic speech may also expose a manipulated clip.Still, with the latest AI models, manual detection is becoming increasingly difficult, highlighting the demand for reliable verification tools. AI voice fraud, also known as voice cloning or audio deepfakes, leverages machine learning to mimic someone's speech patterns, accent, and tone. Scammers record brief samples of a person's voice, sometimes from public videos or social media, and train an AI model to generate speech that sounds convincingly human. These scams typically start with an unexpected phone call. The victim may hear what sounds like a loved one, boss, or company representative urgently requesting money or confidential information. Because the voice sounds authentic, the target may respond emotionally rather than rationally. This type of deception has led to financial losses in both corporate and personal settings.The main red flags include calls demanding immediate action, shaky audio quality that seems "too perfect," and numbers that do not match official sources. Being conscious of these signs helps identify voice-based fraud attempts before significant harm occurs.Traditional phishing and scam tactics rely mostly on social engineering, emails pretending to be from legitimate institutions or fraudulent links that steal credentials. AI scams, on the other hand, improve these old tactics through automation and personalization.Algorithms can craft emails with grammar and tone customized for the target or simulate conversations through chatbots and synthetic voices.Some examples include:

• Deepfake job interviews: Scammers impersonate hiring managers or candidates using fake video and audio.
• Voice impersonation calls: Fraudsters pretend to be company executives or family members to pressure quick payments.
• Fake celebrity or influencer videos: Used to promote misleading investments or products.
• Synthetic identity fraud: AI-generated profiles on social media or dating platforms designed to gain trust and extract information.

This evolution from static messages to realistic multimedia deception makes it harder to rely solely on instinct. Each form of communication, calls, videos, or emails, now demands analytical verification.While detecting AI-generated content is challenging, users can still apply verification techniques to reduce their risk exposure.

How can you verify if a call is real?

• Hang up and call back using an official company number or a known contact.
• Never act immediately when confronted with urgent messages involving money or sensitive information.
• Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to confirm identity through secure communication channels.
• Check call origins if available, many modern call apps display verified business caller IDs.

How do you verify if a video is real?

• Inspect video frames closely for visual anomalies such as inconsistent lighting or unnatural skin textures.
• Use AI detection tools like Deepware Scanner or Microsoft Video Authenticator, which analyze media for digital manipulation.
• Compare with trustworthy sources, for instance, cross-reference with verified news outlets or official uploads from the person or group depicted.
• Review metadata where possible, which may indicate whether a video was altered or re-encoded.

How do you verify emails for authenticity?

• Examine the sender's address carefully, small character changes in domain names may reveal spoofing.
• Hover over links before clicking to check their true destinations.
• Avoid downloading attachments from unknown senders or unexpected messages.
• Be cautious with urgent or emotional language, especially if the message pressures immediate compliance or secrecy.

By combining these verification practices, users gain a multi-layered defense against AI-driven deception.

India’s ED uncovers fake crypto sites in money laundering probe -India’s financial crime watchdog is widening its crackdown on crypto-related fraud. In the fresh move, ED carried out coordinated searches across three states. These raids were linked to a case involving fake investment platforms that allegedly duped investors in India and overseas.The Enforcement Directorate reportedly raided 21 residential and office locations across Karnataka, Maharashtra and New Delhi. This was part of a money laundering investigation. The searches were conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case was registered against 4th Bloc Consultants and several other individuals. According to the ED, the probe comes out of an FIR and intelligence inputs shared by the Karnataka state police. The authorities have described it as an organised and multi-year financial fraud operation. The accused allegedly ran a network of fake crypto investmentplatforms that closely looked like actual trading websites. The platforms under investigation used to promise unusually high returns. However, they targeted both Indian residents and foreign nationals. The scammers lure them with claims of quick and regular profits through digital assets. Investigators highlighted that the operators used photographs of well-known personalities and so-called crypto experts without permission to build credibility. The report added that several early investors were paid small returns to establish trust before larger sums were asked for. These tactics mirror classic multi-level marketing and pig-butchering scams. The ED said the group relied heavily on social media platforms to promote the schemes. This includes Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Telegram. However, referral bonuses were offered to expand the investor base. This takes a dark turn as funds were allegedly routed through a web of crypto wallets, shell companies and foreign bank accounts.Officials have marked that the proceeds of crime were moved using peer-to-peer (P2P) crypto transfers. The scammers also used hawala channels before converting them into cash or parking them in bank accounts. It added that some funds were also used directly for crypto transactions.Authorities also traced movable and immovable assets in India and abroad. These assets were allegedly acquired using the funds gathered from fraud. The ED had stated that the syndicate had been operating since at least 2015. No arrests have been announced so far.In a public advisory, the agency issued a warning for investors against engaging with several websites suspected to be part of the scam network. This includes goldbooker.com, cryptobrite.com, hawkchain.com, cubigains.com, bitminerclub.com and others. It has urged immediate cessation of any related activity. Meanwhile, digital assets are not legal tender in the country. The global crypto is dealing with high selling pressure. The cumulative crypto market cap remained under the $3 trillion mark as Bitcoin price looked stuck below $88,000. BTC is running down by 7% on a year-to-date (YTD) basis.

Chinese Crypto Scammers on Telegram Are Fueling the Biggest Darknet Markets Ever | WIRED -- WHEN BLACK MARKETS for drugs, guns, and all manner of contraband first sprang up on the dark web more than a decade ago, it seemed that cryptocurrency and the technical sophistication of the anonymity software Tor were the keys to carrying out billions of dollars worth of untouchable, illicit transactions online.Now, all of that looks a bit passé. In 2025, all it takes to get away with tens of billions of dollars in black-market crypto deals is a messaging platform willing to host scammers and human traffickers, enough persistence to relaunch channels and accounts on that service when they’re occasionally banned, and fluency in Chinese.The ecosystem of marketplaces for Chinese-speaking crypto scammers hosted on the messaging service Telegram have now grown to be bigger than ever before, according to a new analysis from the crypto tracing firm Elliptic. Despite a brief drop after Telegram banned two of the biggest such markets in early 2025, the two current top markets, known as Tudou Guarantee and Xinbi Guarantee, are together enabling close to $2 billion a month in money-laundering transactions, sales of scam tools like stolen data, fake investment websites, and AI deepfake tools, as well as other black market services as varied as pregnancy surrogacy and teen prostitution.The crypto romance and investment scamsregrettably known as “pig butchering”—carried out largely from compounds in Southeast Asia staffed with thousands of human trafficking victims—have grown to become the world’s most lucrative form of cybercrime. They pull in around $10 billion annually from US victims alone, according to the FBI. By selling money-laundering services and other scam-related offerings to those operations, markets like Tudou Guarantee and Xinbi Guarantee have grown in parallel to an immense scale.“When you consider illicit use of crypto assets, there really isn’t anything larger right now,” says Tom Robinson, Elliptic’s cofounder and chief scientist.In fact, these criminal trading zones aren’t simply the biggest online black markets of the moment, but the biggest in history. AlphaBay was once the biggest dark-web market for drugs, stolen data, and hacking tools. Described by the FBI as 10 times the size of the original Silk Road dark-web drug market at its peak, AlphaBay facilitated more than $1 billion in transactions over its two and a half years online. Hydra, a Russian dark-web market that also offered money-laundering services to cryptocurrency thieves and ransomware groups, did more than $5 billion in transactions over its seven years of operation.By comparison, Huione Guarantee, the Chinese-language, Telegram-based market used largely by crypto scammers, facilitated a stunning $27 billion in transactions from 2021 to 2025, according to Elliptic, dwarfing every online black market before it, even as it operated in full public view on Telegram’s messaging platform. Elliptic has called itsimply “the largest illicit online marketplace to have ever operated.”WIRED reached out on Telegram to administrators of both Tudou Guarantee and Xinbi Guarantee for comment but didn’t receive a response.In May, Telegram seemed to finally take action, banning Huione Guarantee—which had rebranded as Haowang Guarantee—after it was named as a money-laundering operation by the US Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. But since then, Tudou Guarantee, in which Haowang Guarantee owns a stake, has grown to fill that same position. Elliptic now measures its transactions at $1.1 billion a month, close to Haowang’s $1.4 billion a month. The second-biggest crypto scam market, Xinbi Guarantee, has meanwhile grown to $850 million a month—despite also being banned in May and relaunching—adding up to more total market volume than ever. And those two black markets are just two of around 30 that Elliptic tracks, together carrying out tens of billions of dollars in annual transactions. When WIRED wrote to Telegram in June to point out how these markets had rebuilt their criminal empires in plain sight—in fact, a WIRED reporter had even been present in a Telegram channel where Elliptic shared its findings about Tudou Guarantee’s and Xinbi Guarantee’s rebound with Telegram corporate contacts—the company responded that it had decided not to ban the markets again, arguing that they offered an outlet for Chinese users looking for financial freedom from “capital controls” that “often leave citizens with little choice but to seek alternative avenues for moving funds internationally.” “We assess reports on a case-by-case basis and categorically reject blanket bans—particularly when users are attempting to circumvent oppressive restrictions imposed by authoritarian regimes,” Telegram’s June statement to WIRED continued. “We remain unwavering in our commitment to safeguarding user privacy and defending fundamental freedoms, including the right to financial autonomy.” But Elliptic and other scam-industry analysts have rejected that argument, pointing out that the vast majority of activity in markets like Tudou Guarantee and Xinbi Guarantee is criminal. Aside from scam-related services, they also sell prostitution—posts on Xinbo include suggestions of sex trafficking of minors in posts advertising “lolita” or “young girl” sex workers. The scam operation customers they service, too, are widely documented to use forced laborers in often brutal, modern slavery compounds.“They have the ability to shut down a scam economy and the trafficking of human beings. Instead, they’re hosting Craigslist for crypto scammers,” says Erin West, a former Santa Clara County, California, prosecutor who now leads the Operation Shamrock anti-scam organization. “These are bad guys enabling bad-guy business on their bad-guy platform.”Aside from Telegram, the cryptocurrency Tether also plays a key role in scam markets—the popular “stablecoin” is the preferred tool for all of the markets’ money-laundering transactions. Unlike most crypto, Tether has a centralized structure that would allow the company—also called Tether—that backs that digital currency to seize or freeze funds at will, yet it has rarely interfered with the vast money flows it enables. Neither Telegram nor Tether responded to WIRED’s requests for comment on their roles in enabling Tudou Guarantee and Xinbi Guarantee’s black market transactions.Tether and Telegram’s efforts to combat the ballooning scam industry’s use of their tools is comparable to Southeast Asian law enforcement’s minimal, often performative shows of raiding scam compounds, only to allow them to rebuild and resume operation, argues Jacob Sims, a visiting fellow at Harvard’s Asia Center who focuses on transnational crime. “There is impunity on all levels that prevents any meaningful disruption,” says Sims.Sims argues that only focused and cooperative international government and law enforcement pressure, comparable to the global effort to combat terrorism or drug trafficking, will change that lax approach, including from companies that are facilitating the scam epidemic.The response to this ballooning scam industry “hasn’t risen to that level of coordination and urgency yet,” Sims says. “And it needs to before we see this thing prioritized at the level that is actually commensurate with the damage it’s causing.”

Coinbase shoots for crypto's 'AWS moment' -While the GENIUS Act gave regulatory clarity to stablecoins, Coinbase is betting the law will push banks to adopt digital assets and related technology more broadly.

• Key insights: Coinbase has introduced a series of new products and collaborations with banks.
• What's at stake: Banks are warming to crypto and enabling technology following the passage of the GENIUS Act earlier this year.
• Forward look: Coinbase is also developing a protocol for agentic commerce.

The cryptocurrency company has entered partnerships with big banks and payment giant Klarna in recent days. Coinbase exec Brett Tejpaul says the GENIUS Act is creating an opportunity to sell a broad range of digital asset technology.

BankThink Congress must create legal clarity for decentralized blockchains - Banks are beginning to engage with decentralized finance. But until lawmakers create a foundation for allowing legally recognized entities like LLCs and nonprofits to govern these networks, adoption will be incomplete, writes Gergory Schneider. From stablecoins to tokenized deposits, banks are no longer just watching from the sidelines; they are actively exploring the next generation of financial infrastructure built on decentralized networks — blockchain-based systems operated and maintained by many independent participants rather than a single company. As a result, financial institutions now have a growing stake in the operation, governance and security of these networks. But until lawmakers create a foundation for allowing legally recognized entities like LLCs and nonprofits to govern these networks, compliance burdens will hinder full adoption.

BankThink Long-awaited Bank Secrecy Act reform may finally be on the way - For some time, it has been widely recognized that the Bank Secrecy Act, or BSA, is in dire need of reform. The current BSA framework is rooted in 20th-century concepts and approaches, which are not only inefficient and costly to administer, but largely ineffective. It requires banks to devote substantial but finite resources ostensibly to identifying illicit activity while, in reality, chasing down large numbers of false positives and ensuring technical compliance with a slew of regulations. Consequently, the costs of compliance are exorbitant, but the amount of illicit activity that is identified represents only the tip of an iceberg. The case for BSA reform could hardly be more compelling. It is long past time to revisit the regulatory regime implementing the Bank Secrecy Act. In a good sign, key elements of the Trump administration seem to be in alignment on reform.

Dems in Congress sharpen criticism of SBA immigration rules --Democratic senators are attributing a recent decline in lending activity to a Trump administration regulation that puts new restrictions on borrowers with foreign ownership.

• Key insight: Critics have not been satisfied by the Small Business Administration's latest immigration-related move. The agency loosened its citizenship and residency requirements to allow businesses with 5% foreign ownership to receive SBA-backed capital.
• Expert quote: "While the recent change may not be considered perfect by some, it does expand eligibility slightly, so should be regarded as a good thing." — National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders President and CEO Tony Wilkinson
• Supporting data: Lending under the SBA's flagship 7(a) program is down 30% year over year since September, though the 2025 results were impacted by the 43-day government shutdown.

The June 1 rules also required businesses to be 100%owned by citizens, U.S. nationals or green card holders, superseding the previous majority-ownership requirement.

CFPB: Earned wage access is not credit -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in an advisory opinion said that "covered" earned wage access products should not be considered an extension of credit under the Truth in Lending Act. It also said that expedited delivery fees and tips should not be considered finance charges.

• Key insights: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in an advisory opinion said that "covered" earned wage access products should not be considered an extension of credit under the Truth in Lending Act.
• What's at stake: Whether EWA should be considered credit is a core question framing state and federal regulation and advocacy.
• Forward look: The advisory opinion also said that expedited delivery fees and tips should not be considered finance charges.

Democratic AGs file suit demanding CFPB funding --A group of 22 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against acting Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Russell Vought, the bureau and the Federal Reserve, arguing that the administration's position that the CFPB cannot be funded is wrong.

• Key insight: A group of 22 state attorneys general — all Democrats — filed a lawsuit against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Reserve and acting CFPB director Russell Vought, challenging the administration's position that the Fed can only fund the CFPB when the Fed itself is profitable.
• Expert quote: "The failure to request funding will cripple or entirely shut down the CFPB's Consumer Response System to Plaintiffs' detriment. Much of the damage will be irreversible." — lawsuit
• Forward look: The suit mirrors arguments made by the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents CFPB employees, in their separate suit challenging Vought's efforts to radically reduce the agency's workforce.

A group of 22 Democratic Attorneys General filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the administration's legal view that the law does not allow the Federal Reserve to fund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau when the central bank is not profitable.

It's all on the line for the CFPB in 2026 - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will face an existential crisis in 2026 between the Trump administration's efforts to shut down the agency and the employee union and consumer advocates who want to stop them.

• Key Insight: Acting Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Russell Vought claims the CFPB will run out of money in early January, an issue that may be moot if the Federal Reserve System returns to profitability.
• Supporting Data: The Trump administration's strategy of eliminating the bureau is at odds with the agency's aggressive regulatory agenda.
• Expert Quote: "I think that you're seeing a hollowing out of the CFPB," said one banking expert. "But the shell remains."

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is hanging by a thread, with the bureau's continued existence being called into question in three separate legal cases that could take up to six months to play out. Acting CFPB Director Russell Vought and President Trump have made no secret about wanting to shut down the agency, which was created after the 2008 financial crisis to enforce 18 specific consumer protection laws previously overseen by other agencies.

With pennies scarce, Treasury weighs in on rounding prices - The Treasury Department issued guidance on how merchants can round cash transactions to the nearest nickel. Banks and retailers have been calling for more clarity from the government amid a penny shortage that stems from the Trump administration's abrupt decision to halt production of the one-cent coins.

• Key insight: The Treasury Department has issued guidance on rounding prices to the nearest nickel, which industry groups had said was necessary amid a penny shortage induced by the Trump administration's decision to halt production of the one-cent coins.
• What's at stake: The abrupt cancellation of the penny sparked confusion among banks, businesses and consumers.
• Forward look: Banks are still calling for the Federal Reserve to resume accepting pennies at many coin terminals across the country, saying that the Fed's decision to stop accepting the coins at many locations has contributed to the penny shortage.

UPDATE: This story now includes a statement from the National Retail Federation.

ICE First Look at Mortgage Performance: Seasonal and Calendar Factors Drive Rise in November Delinquencies --From Intercontinental Exchange: ICE First Look at Mortgage Performance: Seasonal and Calendar Factors Drive Rise in November Delinquencies - Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. ... today released the November 2025 ICE First Look at mortgage delinquency, foreclosure and prepayment trends. “While the topline delinquency numbers show a sharp increase, we’ve seen comparable spikes in prior years when November ended on a Sunday and scheduled payments didn’t post until early December,”. “Overall performance was in line with what historical patterns would suggest. That said, December data will be important to watch to confirm how quickly borrowers recover from this temporary uptick.” Key takeaways from this month’s findings include:
• Delinquencies rose: The number of past-due mortgages rose by 275,000 from October to 2.3 million in November, pushing the national delinquency rate to 3.85% — the highest level in over four years.
• Inflow of newly delinquent borrowers: 609,000 borrowers who were current on payments in October became delinquent in November, marking the largest single-month inflow since May 2020. Rolls from 30- to 60-day and 60- to 90-day delinquency bands also increased sharply.
• Delinquencies aligned with historical calendar effects: November’s delinquency rate increase was in line with prior years when the month ended on a Sunday, which last occurred in 2014 (+61 bps), 2008 (+112 bps), and 2003 (+57 bps) — all of which exceeded this year’s 50 basis point increase.
• Prepayments declined: After reaching a 3.5-year high in October, prepayment activity retreated in November, falling 18% month over month.
• Foreclosure activity mixed: Foreclosure activity dipped in November due to seasonal and calendar effects. However, foreclosure starts (+25%), sales (+25%) and active foreclosure volumes (+21%) all remain well above last year’s levels.
Here is a table from ICE.

MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest Weekly Survey - From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey -Mortgage applications decreased 5.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending December 19, 2025. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 5.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 6 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 6 percent from the previous week and was 110 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 6 percent compared with the previous week and was 16 percent higher than the same week one year ago. “Overall mortgage application volume fell last week, despite the slight decline in mortgage rates,” “MBA expects the trends of a softening job market, sticky inflation, elevated home inventories, and steady mortgage rates will persist into the new year.” “Purchase application volume last week was 16 percent higher than a year earlier. We are forecasting continued, modest growth in terms of home sales in 2026.” ... The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($806,500 or less) decreased to 6.31 percent from 6.38 percent, with points decreasing to 0.57 from 0.62 (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 16% year-over-year unadjusted. The second graph shows the refinance index since 1990. The refinance index increased from the bottom as mortgage rates declined, but is down from the recent peak in September.

Housing December 22nd Weekly Update: Inventory Down 2.3% Week-over-week -Altos reports that active single-family inventory was down 2.3% week-over-week. Inventory usually declines sharply during the holiday season.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 13.5% compared to the same week in 2024 (last week it was up 13.7%), and down 5.7% compared to the same week in 2019 (last week it was down 5.6%). Inventory started 2025 down 22% compared to 2019. Inventory has closed most of that gap, however inventory will still be below 2019 levels at the end of 2025.This second inventory graph is courtesy of Altos Research. As of December 19th, inventory was at 758 thousand (7-day average), compared to 775 thousand the prior week. Mike Simonsen discusses this data and much more regularly on YouTube.

Final Look at Housing Markets in November and a Look Ahead to December Sales --Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Final Look at Housing Markets in November and a Look Ahead to December Sales - A brief excerpt: After the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) releases the monthly existing home sales report, I pick up additional local market data that is reported after the NAR. This is the final look at local markets in November.
There were several key stories for November:
• Sales NSA are down 0.5% YoY through November, and sales last year were the lowest since 1995!
• Sales SAAR (seasonally adjusted annual rate) have bounced around 4 million for the last 3 years.
• Months-of-supply is above pre-pandemic levels.
• The median price is up 1.2% YoY, and with the increases in inventory, some regional areas will see further price declines - and we might see national price declines sometime in 2026.
The median price is up 1.2% YoY, and with the increases in inventory, some regional areas will see further price declines - and we might see national price declines sometime in 2026.
Sales averaged close to 5.42 million SAAR for the month of November in the 2017-2019 period. So, sales are about 24% below pre-pandemic levels. ... In November, sales in these markets were down 6.5% YoY. Last month, in October, these same markets were up 2.3% year-over-year Not Seasonally Adjusted (NSA). The NAR reported sales were down 7.0% YoY in November, very close to this market sample. Important: There was one fewer working days in November 2025 (18) as in November 2024 (19). So, the year-over-year change in the headline SA data was more than the change in NSA data (there are other seasonal factors). ... More local data coming in January for activity in December!

Industrial Production Increased 0.2% in November; Declined 0.1% in October - From the Fed: Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization - This release includes preliminary estimates for industrial production (IP) and capacity utilization for both October and November as well as revised estimates for May through September. IP rose 0.2 percent in November after ticking down 0.1 percent in October. On average, IP rose 0.1 percent per month across October and November, the same as the rate of increase in September and a somewhat slower average pace than the past 12 months. Manufacturing output was flat in November after dropping 0.4 percent in October. There were swings in both mining and utilities output over October and November, though, on net, both sectors posted gains. At 101.8 percent of its 2017 average, total IP in November was 2.5 percent above its year-earlier level. Capacity utilization was 76.0 percent in November, a rate that is 3.5 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2024) average. This graph shows Capacity Utilization. This series is up from the record low set in April 2020, and close to the level in February 2020 (pre-pandemic). Capacity utilization at 76.0% is 3.5% below the average from 1972 to 2023. This was close to consensus expectations. The second graph shows industrial production since 1967. Industrial production increased to 101.8. This is at the pre-pandemic level. Industrial production was close to consensus expectations.

Initial Jobless Claims Once Again Show No Signs Of Labor Market Stress - The number of Americans filing for first time jobless benefits tumbled to 214k (from 224k) in the week ending Dec 20th. This is the same level of claims seen back in Nov 2021 and shows absolutely no stress in the labor market (like ADP showed a rebound in hiring) while JOLTS, Payrolls, and surveys all suggest pain... Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania are the states with the biggest decline in jobless claims while Rhode Island and Massachusetts saw a small rise in jobless claims... Continuing jobless claims rebounded from the shutdown/Thanksgiving seasonal SNAFU but remain well off YTD highs... Graphics Source: Bloomberg. Not exactly the kind of data that supports more rate-cuts...

Southern Local BOE keeping eye on legislation -– The Southern Local School District is keeping a close eye on legislation which could negatively impact the future of its finances. District Treasurer Greg Sabbato informed leaders at the Dec. 9 regular session that the Ohio Statehouse had several bills either under consideration or heading to Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature. “We are tracking several bills that have passed in the House and the Senate that will impact Southern Local specifically,” Sabbato said. “There are probably about 15 bills that will impact the way we get funded in our community and the way the state funds us.” The official estimate is that the legislation would be passed and could affect the district’s general fund, and Sabbato added that it could mean a $445,000 loss from the state foundation. “That has not been finalized but we believe that’s going to be the impact of those bills. I just wanted to keep the board and community apprised of what’s going to happen,” he said. “It’s kind of a moving target, and as we all know there’s a referendum to completely eliminate any sort of real estate taxes. We anticipate that to go on the ballot in November of 2026.” Should the referendum be passed, he said it contains a constitutional clause to eliminate all real estate taxes in Ohio, which includes townships, fire departments, and schools. He added that if the referendum passes, state leaders would be responsible for determining an alternative method to fund schools and local services. “That unknown is what is worrying me, and a lot of my colleagues,” he said.

Acting Texas comptroller asks if schools with ties to CAIR, China can be barred from school choice program— Starting in early February, eligible families will be able to apply for the new Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, which will provide $10,474 per child to pay for pre-approved private school tuition and expenses for the 2025-26 school year.Meanwhile, as the application window approaches, the Comptroller of Public Accounts’ office is busy approving private schools that are eligible to enroll students who receive the funds, but Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock said he would like clarification on eligibility. In a letter to the Office of Attorney General Ken Paxton dated Dec. 12, Hancock asked if his office should reject schools that are affiliated with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) or that are affiliated with the Chinese government.According to Senate Bill 2 — which authorized the Texas government to create the TEFA program with a $1 billion budget — private schools may be eligible for mandatory pre-approval if they meet the following criteria:

1. Are accredited by an accreditation agency approved by the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission or the Texas Education Agency;
2. Administer annual “nationally norm-referenced” tests for grades 3-12;
3. Have maintained a physical campus for two consecutive years.

In his letter, Hancock asked Paxton if schools could be barred from the program for being “based at an address that have hosted publicly advertised events organized by the Council on American-Islamic Relations,” even if the school otherwise meets the eligibility requirements. The question comes after Governor Greg Abbott, who has endorsed Hancock for re-election, declared CAIR a “foreign terrorist organization” and a “transnational criminal organization,” in November. At the time, CAIR said the “proclamation has no basis in law or fact,” and their Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin chapters have since sued Abbott and Paxton over the move.In addition, Hancock said one accredited school that applied for the program “may be owned or controlled by a holding group linked to foreign adversaries seeking influence over U.S. education, specifically, an adviser to the Chinese communist government.”

Homeless youth say they need more from schools, social services -Twenty-year-old Mikayla Foreman knows her experience is meaningful. Dealing with homelessness since 18 and currently living in a shelter, Foreman has managed to continue her academic journey, studying for exams this month in hopes of attaining a nursing degree. But Foreman believes there were intervention points that could’ve prevented her from experiencing homelessness in the first place.“If someone in school had understood what I was going through, things could’ve been very different,” she said in an interview with Stateline.As more cities impose bans, fines or jail time for adults living on the streets, young people who have been homeless say they face unique problems that could have been addressed earlier. Through more than 400 interviews and survey responses, young people across the country recently told researchers how earlier guidance and intervention might have made a difference for them. The research suggests the country is missing its biggest opportunity to prevent youth homelessness — by intervening well before a young person reaches a shelter and years before they are chronically homeless.The report, from Covenant House and the University of California, Berkeley, finds that the pathways into youth homelessness are different from those of adults experiencing temporary or chronic homelessness. A young person coming out to their family, or becoming pregnant, or experiencing untreated trauma can create conflicts that push them into homelessness. A lot of that doesn’t show up in current data.The survey responses offer the nation’s schools and social services agencies the chance to get ahead of youth homelessness, researchers say, not only by intervening earlier, but also by pinpointing and responding to the diversity of needs among teenagers and young adults who might be close to losing their housing.Advocates say there are multiple intervention points — in school, in child welfare organizations and inside family dynamics — where the worst outcomes can be avoided. States such as California, Florida, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington have explored some of those intervention points in policies that range from guaranteed income pilot programs to youth-specific rental assistance and campus housing protections. Hawaii has made its youth drop-in and crisis-diversion program permanent, and Oregon and Washington have expanded rental assistance and education-centered supports for vulnerable youth. Florida now requires colleges to prioritize housing for homeless and foster students.“With young people, we have opportunities to intervene much further upstream — in schools, in families, in child welfare — before anyone has to spend a single night on the streets. That’s simply not the case with older adults,” said David Howard, former senior vice president for Covenant House and a co-author of the new research, in an interview with Stateline.“Even at 18, 20 or 24 [years old], young people are still developing,” Howard said. “Their vulnerabilities look very different from middle-aged adults, and the support systems they need are different too.”One of the key points of intervention for potentially homeless youth is school. Public schools across the country have increasingly reported more homeless students since the COVID-19 pandemic. And homelessness has many various regional factors outside of individual circumstances, such as climate-driven homelessness. More than 5,100 students in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina became homeless as a result of hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.“Homelessness is multifaceted and lots of us slip through the cracks because the system isn’t designed for our reality,” said Foreman, a former Covenant House resident who helped conduct the new research.Foreman’s insights and lived experience were included in the study, which showed that youth homelessness rarely begins with an eviction or job loss — frequent causes of homelessness among adults.The top three reasons that young people experience homelessness for the first time, according to respondents, were being kicked out of their family homes, running away, and leaving an unsafe living situation such as one affected by domestic violence. Other instigators included being unable to afford housing, aging out of foster care, being kicked out of or running away from foster care, and moving away from gang violence.

Former classmate of Brown shooting suspect remembers him as ‘very bitter’ — Professor Scott Watson, a former friend and classmate of Brown University shooting suspect Claudio Neves Valente, says the alleged shooter was “very bitter” during their days at the Ivy League school.Valente, 48, a Portuguese national, is also the suspect in the murder of an MIT professor whom he studied alongside in Portugal.Watson told NewsNation that he met Valente while studying at Brown University in a doctoral program in physics. Watson said he lost contact with the suspected gunman after Valente withdrew from the program in 2003.“He was very bitter,” Watson remembered. “He thought he knew more than everybody else. The sad part about that is he did … he could have already had a PhD.“We had another classmate who was Brazilian, and as you know, Portugal had a slave colony in Brazil,” the professor said. “So, he would refer to this student, as he walked in, as ‘the slave.’ And one day it escalated to a fighting match that I had to break up.”Watson also told NewsNation that he did not know Nuno F. Gomes Loureiro, but suggested his motive may have been due to a “rivalry” between Valente and the MIT professor. “I have a strong guess. He really hated Providence. He really hated his school and he also, I don’t want to say professors’ names, but he was trying to get an adviser,” he said.

‘Don’t ignore it’: Brown University custodian says he reported gunman multiple times before shooting — “Really simple. Go with your gut feeling.” That’s what Brown University custodian Derek Lisi is saying after he noticed and reported a suspicious person on campus numerous times before last weekend’s deadly shooting. Lisi told Nexstar’s WPRI that he remembers seeing the alleged gunman more than a dozen times canvassing the Barus and Holley building and surrounding areas before the Dec. 13 attack.“We interact with the students all the time,” Lisi said. “This hits close to home because it’s our workplace. We spend more time there than we do at home because of the shift that we work.”Lisi works at the Engineering Research Center, which is a short walk from Barus and Holley, and often goes through the latter on his way to take out the trash. He recalled seeing the shooter — later identified as Claudio Manuel Neves Valente — at about 6:20 p.m. the day before Thanksgiving, and then just after 8 p.m. on Dec. 1. “Something kept telling me, ‘Don’t ignore it. Don’t ignore it,'” he said. Lisi said he reported the individual as suspicious to Event Staff Services LLC, or ESS — a third-party security vendor for Brown — on three separate occasions.When he warned them Dec. 1, a staff member of that security company told him they were only present to cover an event. Lisi said the university’s Department of Public Safety might have been notified, but he doesn’t know if any other action was taken.ESS did not respond to multiple requests for comment. According to the Boston Globe, David Madonna, the company president, said investigating reports of suspicious people is not its job.

Oklahoma instructor loses teaching duties for failing Bible-based gender essay --The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”The university said in a statement posted Monday on X that its investigation found the graduate teaching assistant had been “arbitrary” in giving 20-year-old junior Samantha Fulnecky zero points on the assignment. The university declined to comment beyond its statement, which said the instructor “will no longer have instructional duties.”Through her attorney, the instructor, Mel Curth, denied Tuesday that she had “engaged in any arbitrary behavior regarding the student’s work.” The attorney, Brittany Stewart, said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press that Curth is “considering all of her legal remedies.”Conservative groups, commentators and others quickly made Fulnecky’s failing grade an online cause, highlighting her argument that she’d been punished for expressing conservative Christian views. Her case became a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over academic freedom on college campuses as President Donald Trump pushes to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and restrict how campuses discuss race, gender and sexuality.

Eating high-fat cheese could lower dementia risk, study suggests— New research from Europe suggests daily consumption of high-fat cheese may result in a lower risk of developing dementia, although researchers say it’s too early to gorge on the gorgonzola just yet. An observational study published Dec. 17 in the journal Neurology found people who ate 50 grams or more of high-fat cheese enjoyed a lower risk of dementia compared with people eating less than 15 grams. Similarly, people who consumed 20 grams or more of high-fat cream daily had a lower risk of dementia compared with those who abstained.The conclusions were based on a comparison of dietary information collected from nearly 28,000 Swedish adults in the 1990s with subsequent health records, including dementia diagnoses, from roughly the last 10 years.The obvious shortcoming is that the study was reliant on dietary information that may have changed over the years, although researchers say they did an analysis on a subset of the group to see whether their eating habits shifted. “Our research suggests that people who ate more high-fat cheese had a slightly lower risk of developing dementia later in life,” senior study author Emily Sonestedt of Lund University in Sweden told CNN.

Study supports de-escalation of broad-spectrum antibiotics in certain sepsis patients - New research suggests that de-escalating patients with community-onset sepsis but no indication of a multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) from broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy is safe and appropriate.In a study conducted at 67 hospitals in Michigan and involving nearly 37,000 patients, researchers found that sepsis patients who were de-escalated from antibiotics that provide coverage for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PSA) on day 4 had similar rates of 90-day all-cause mortality as those who were continued on those antibiotics. De-escalation from broad-spectrum antibiotics was also associated with fewer days of antibiotics and shorter hospitalizations.But the proportion of patients who were de-escalated varied widely across the 67 hospitals, even though the practice is recommended by sepsis management guidelines when no MDROs are identified.The findings were published yesterday in JAMA Internal Medicine. The authors of the study say the findings support guideline recommendations and wider use of antibiotic de-escalation when warranted.

We dodged a vaccine disaster (for now). And a quick virus weather report before the break. Katelyn Jetelina | Your Local Epidemiologist - Last Thursday, I was in a vaccine policy meeting talking about something that has become increasingly fragile: how to protect access to vaccines for Americans who want them, given increasing uncertainty and destruction from the federal government. In the middle of the conversation, my phone started buzzing. Text after text said the same thing: tomorrow, RFK Jr. would move the U.S. childhood vaccination schedule to the Danish schedule. A press conference was scheduled for Friday at 4 p.m.Over the next four hours, I was the most worried I have ever been about access to childhood vaccines in the United States. Introducing a completely different vaccine schedule into our system overnight would not have been a minor tweak; it would have been disastrous.Then the press conference was canceled. A few days later, Politico reported why: legal and political concerns. HHS was not confident that changing the childhood vaccine schedule to match Denmark’s would hold up in court, and it would be politically risky. (Duh. More than 80% of Americans support routine childhood vaccinations.) So, for now, Americans dodged a bullet. But I have no doubt this idea will resurface in a different form, so it’s worth understanding what it was all about.Denmark’s childhood vaccine schedule includes fewer vaccines than ours. They don’t routinely vaccinate children against chickenpox, RSV, rotavirus, hepatitis A or B, meningococcal, flu, or Covid-19.This can look appealing to some. But what makes this work in Denmark is everything beneath the surface: universal healthcare, 46 weeks of paid parental leave, near-universal prenatal screening, centralized medical records, and reliable follow-up.Because of this system, disease burden is low. Take the Hepatitis B infant dose. Denmark screens nearly 100% of pregnant women and follows up reliably to help prevent transmission. In the U.S., 12–18% of pregnant women aren’t tested, and only 35% of those who test positive complete follow-up care. Before the U.S. universal birth-dose recommendations, thousands of U.S. babies were infected annually by family members who didn't know they carried the virus.Our broader recommendations exist precisely because our system has gaps. What is safe and effective in Denmark does not translate to the U.S. context. I’ve written about this before here. The childhood vaccine schedule is not just a list of shots. It determines which vaccines kids need for school, what insurance must cover, and which vaccines families can get for free through Vaccines for Children—a program that pays for vaccines for more than half of U.S. children. It also affects which vaccines are covered by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). This program was designed to compensate people who experience rare but real vaccine-related injuries, while sparing families from lengthy lawsuits against manufacturers or health care providers and safeguarding vaccine supply and access. If a vaccine is removed from the routine schedule, that safety net can disappear, liability risks increase, and manufacturers may discontinue production because it becomes too costly. Taken together, changes like these could cause supply chain problems, leave states with massive unexpected bills (~$600 million to $2 billion), increase liability for doctors and hospitals, and create widespread confusion. And confusion alone is enough to lower vaccination rates. Influenza-like illnesses—coughs, fevers, and sore throats—are on the rise across the country, with particularly high levels in New York, New Jersey, Colorado, and Louisiana. Soon, much of the map will be lit up in red/purple with very high rates. This increase is mostly driven by the flu, which is already making the rounds. Unfortunately, two more pediatric flu deaths were reported this week. Covid-19 levels are still relatively low nationwide but are slowly creeping up, especially in the Northeast and Midwest. Based on patterns from the past five years, Covid usually peaks in the first week of January. This year, the wave may arrive a bit later than usual. RSV is also rising, but the season appears to be milder than in previous years. According to the Center for Forecasting Analytics (CFA), hospitalizations from flu, Covid-19, and RSV combined are expected to be roughly the same as last year. The new flu variant may make this season feel heavier, but the mild RSV season and low Covid levels are good news.

The nearly 80-year-old law that could hamper RFK Jr.’s drive to remake vaccine schedule - As the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has broad powers to shape federal vaccine policy. In June, he fired all 17 members of an influential panel on immunization policy, then handpicked their replacements. In August, he fired the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after they clashed over vaccines.But even Kennedy’s authority has limits.Making a unilateral decision to scrap the US pediatric immunization schedule and replace it with recommendations from Denmark, as Kennedy was reportedly ready to do last week, requires far more than a press conference, legal experts told CIDRAP News.Kennedy and other agency heads must obey the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), a law passed by Congress that requires federal officials to follow an open, deliberative process when issuing rules and regulations, said Lawrence Gostin, JD, founding director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University.“As a matter of law, Secretary Kennedy has final authority to make federal policy,” Gostin said. “But he must follow a reasoned process.” Kennedy’s announcement was canceled at the last minute. Although the HHS office of public affairs blamed a scheduling conflict, Politico has reported that Kennedy backed off from a plan to overhaulthe vaccine schedule—which had been described to the press as an “announcement regarding children’s health”— after advisers told him it was legally and politically risky.In an email to media, HHS suggested the press conference would be rescheduled, noting that it was “postponing our children's health announcement to after the first of the new year.”A spokesman for HHS declined to confirm that Kennedy planned to overhaul the vaccine schedule at the press conference. “Unless you hear it from HHS directly, this is pure speculation,” spokesman Andrew Nixon said.Kennedy, a long-time anti-vaccine activist, has made no secret of his eagerness to revamp the immunization schedule. After President Trump issued a memo earlier this month directing HHS to align the vaccination schedule with that of countries such as Denmark, Kennedy posted on X, “Thank you, Mr. President. We’re on it.”But Kennedy needs to proceed cautiously to prevent any policy changes from being dismissed by a judge, said Dorit Reiss, PhD, a law professor at the University of California Law, San Francisco. According to the APA, courts can “hold unlawful and set aside agency action, findings, and conclusions found to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.” Simply holding a press conference to announce that the United States will now recommend Denmark’s vaccine schedule would leave the Trump administration “very, very vulnerable to an arbitrary and capricious claims,” Reiss said. “Short videos simply don't do it.”For six decades, vaccine recommendations have been formulated by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which normally votes on national recommendations after reviewing medical evidence and soliciting input from experts and the public. The CDC director can accept or reject those recommendations.The CDC’s recommendations are not mandates. Even if Kennedy were to switch the current vaccine recommendations to match those of Denmark, states would not have to follow along. Although CDC recommendations carry great weight, states make individual decisions about school vaccine requirements, Gostin said.A court is likely to take a dim view of any federal vaccine policy changes that don’t go through the ACIP, Reiss said.If the administration wants to follow Denmark’s example, “they need to address the major issues and explain why they are changing from a schedule developed in a deliberative manner over years.”And Trump’s memo carries little to no legal weight, Reiss added.“The president's memo is not cover, because the will of the president is not enough to justify a change of position under Supreme Court jurisprudence,” Reiss said. “The agency also has to justify the decision on the merits.” Numerous lawsuits filed against the Trump administration in recent months claim that he and federal agency heads have violated the APA.The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other medical groups, for example, filed a law suit against Kennedy in July claiming that he violated the APA when he issued a directive removing the COVID-19 vaccine from the CDC immunization schedule for children and pregnant women.“The concerns and legal issues all come back to whether he followed a process and looked at evidence,” said Richard H. Hughes IV, JD, MPH, who teaches vaccine law at George Washington University and represents the AAP and other plaintiffs in their lawsuit against Kennedy.Numerous medical societies and public health groups have criticized Kennedy and the ACIP for more recent changes to the vaccination schedule, such as removing a recommendation to routinely vaccinate all newborns against hepatitis B. Scientists and public health advocates predict that decision will allow many children to suffer and die needlessly from a vaccine-preventable illness.Neither Kennedy “nor the ACIP is taking the proper steps to evaluate the full range of evidence that is normally reviewed prior to recommendation changes,” Hughes said. “All of that is textbook ‘arbitrary and capricious’ under the Administrative Procedure Act.”But that doesn’t mean that Kennedy can’t find other ways to alter the vaccine schedule, Gostin noted.“If he follows a deliberative process, the ultimate decision is his,” Gostin said.Although the APA could be interpreted to mean that Kennedy needs to work with the ACIP to change vaccine recommendations, “that is not a high bar for Kennedy since he handpicked ACIP's members,” Gostin said.Justifying a change to vaccine recommendations would be easier than changing federal regulations, a process that typically takes months and includes proposals and opportunities for public comments, Gostin said. Kennedy “would have even more onerous procedures to follow if he proposed a legal regulation,” Gostin said.

COVID Rising in 31 States Ahead of the Holidays. Know These Signs -COVID-19 infections are rising across the United States, amid surges in other winter illnesses. The uptick in COVID comes as the country faces a severe flu season and outbreaks of norovirus, which are expected to worsen after the holidays. Earlier this year, U.S. saw a late summer coronavirus wave fueled by the highly contagious XFG "Stratus" variant. After a lull this fall, COVID is picking up steam again.As of Dec. 16, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 31 states, stable in 15 states, and declining in only one state.Stratus is still driving the overwhelming majority of cases in the U.S. Like most Omicron subvariants, it's highly transmissible.As people increasingly travel and gather indoors, experts are warning that COVID-19 will have ample opportunities spread. What's more, very few Americans have gotten the updated COVID shot, which offers protection.As of Dec. 13, only 15.8% of adults and 7.5% of children in the U.S. have received the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 infections, along with flu and other respiratory viruses, are expected to keep rising in the coming weeks, experts say.COVID-19 cases are increasing again, but rates are still relatively low at this point compared to past winter waves. During the week ending Dec. 13, the level of COVID-19 viral activity in wastewater was “low” nationally, according to the latest data from the CDC. However, 15 states are reporting "high" or "moderate" activity, mainly in the Midwest. Data from WastewaterSCAN, a program that monitors viruses through municipal wastewater systems run by Stanford and Emory University, shows SARS-CoV-2 concentrations are in the “high” category nationally. Levels are up 21% since November, a WastewaterSCAN spokesperson tells TODAY.com.“Clearly, influenza has taken a big jump up this last week ... but COVID has been moving up in a more gradual way,” Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, tells TODAY.com.The weekly test positivity rate, an early indicator of the spread of COVID-19, is 3.6% as of Dec. 6, up 0.5% from the previous week. Last year during this time, it was 5.5%, per CDC data.The Pandemic Mitigation Collective’s COVID forecasting model, estimates that there are over 700,000 new daily infections in the U.S. as of Dec. 22, and that there will be “rapid increases” in transmission between now and Dec. 31. COVID hospitalizations are slowly starting to increase, especially among people 65 and older, Schaffner says. While the rise in COVID infections is concerning, it's not unexpected for this time of year, Schaffner says.COVID-19 can surge throughout the year, but tends to cause two distinct, big waves: one in the winter and another in the late summer. These surges are driven by a number of factors — new COVID variants emerging, waning immunity, and peaks in travel and indoor social gatherings.The Midwest and Northeast are currently seeing the biggest increase in COVID cases.As of the latest CDC data per Dec. 18, 15 states are reporting “high” or "moderate" levels of COVID viral activity in wastewater: Arizona Connecticut Kansas Kentucky Maine Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nebraska New Hampshire New Mexico Ohio Oklahoma South Dakota and West Virginia. According to the CDC, the most common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Fever or chills
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Congestion
• Shortness of breath
• New loss of sense of taste or smell
• Headache or muscle aches
• Nausea or vomiting, diarrhea

The type and severity of symptoms COVID-19 can vary. Some groups are at higher risk of developing severe illness and complications, says Schaffner. These include people who are over the age of 65, immunocompromised, or have underlying medical conditions.However, anyone can still wind up in the hospital with COVID-19 — even "young, healthy people," says Schaffner.If you have any COVID-like symptoms, it's important to know what you're infected with so you can get prompt treatment. Antiviral medications, such as Paxlovid, can help reduce the severity of illness, Schaffner adds.The symptoms of COVID-19 can look very similar to the flu and colds. "Even infectious disease physicians such as myself, I don't think we can reliably distinguish the illness just by talking to a patient. That's why testing is so important," explains Schaffner.

Study finds that despite broad COVID vaccine availability, COVID still deadlier than flu in hospitalized patients - While the mortality gap between COVID-19 and influenza has narrowed since the onset of the pandemic, COVID continues to carry a substantially higher short-term risk of death than seasonal flu despite the availability of a COVID vaccine, according to a large population-based cohort study from South Korea. For the study, published last week in theInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases, Korean researchers drew on data from national health insurance claims to compare 30-day all-cause mortality among more than 15 million people diagnosed as having COVID or influenza from July 2022 to December 2023. A COVID diagnosis was associated with 76% higher odds of death within 30 days than influenza. Overall, 0.20% of patients with COVID died, compared with 0.016% of those with influenza, a roughly 12.5-fold difference in crude mortality. Among hospitalized patients, COVID was linked to a substantially greater risk of death in those receiving mechanical ventilation (1.88-fold higher). The mortality gap was especially pronounced among adults aged 18 to 64 years (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.93), hospitalized patients (aOR, 2.55), and those who had a heart attack (aOR, 2.24), chronic lung disease (aOR, 1.94), or diabetes (aOR, 1.81). Adults aged 65 and older also had increased risk, though the relative odds were lower than those of the 18- to 40-year cohort (aOR, 1.95). One possible explanation for the age-related differences, note the authors, is Korea’s prioritization of COVID vaccines for older adults and those in high-risk groups. They also cite differences in coverage between the two vaccines and differences in vaccine uptake as contributing factors. Among adults 65 and older, uptake for influenza vaccines was 82.5% in 2023-24 but only 45% for COVID.

South Carolina now has 156 measles cases, as states see highest activity in 30 years -- South Carolina health officials announced nine new measles cases today in an Upstate outbreak, bringing the outbreak total to 153 and the statewide total to 156 for the year.“Five of the new cases were known household exposures, two resulted from a previously reported school exposure, the source of one is unknown and one is still being investigated,” officials said in a press release. “There are currently 249 people in quarantine and seven in isolation.” Since October, the outbreak in the Upstate region has been growing, with cases seeded in several elementary schools with large unvaccinated student populations.Of all the cases, 145 have been in unvaccinated people, three partially vaccinated with one of the recommended two-dose MMR sequence, one vaccinated, and four with unknown vaccine status.Utah now has 142 measles cases, including 101 in the Southwest Utah health region. Utah County now has 16 cases. The six new cases reported yesterday were in Utah County among children under age 18.State epidemiologists have said this is the highest measles activity seen in more than 30 years. The United States likely surpassed 2,000 measles cases this week, according to a tracker from Johns Hopkins University. Though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has yet to update case counts this week, Johns Hopkins estimates 2,010 cases since January 1, 2025.

European report calls on countries to update strategies on sexually transmitted infections -- A new report by European health officials indicates outdated national strategies and gaps in testing are hindering European countries’ efforts to stem a continent-wide surge in sexually transmitted infections (STIs). From 2014 through 2023, gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia cases rose by 300%, 90%, and 180%, respectively, among gay and bisexual men who have sex with men in European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries. There’s also been a more recent 200% increase in gonorrhea among women aged 20 to 24. The dramatic increases in STIs led the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) to develop a monitoring system to help EU/EEA countries respond to the outbreaks. The report presents data from an online monitoring questionnaire submitted to 29 EU/EEA countries in 2024 related to four main thematic areas: national STI strategies, prevention, testing, and treatment.“The purpose of this report is to provide public health decision-makers at national and European level with an overview of the situation in the EU/EEA in terms of responses to STI epidemics to inform action and policies,” the report states. The report found that while 18 of the 29 countries have a national strategy for STI prevention and control, only 10 have updated that strategy within the past five years, which could mean those strategies don’t account for post-COVID pandemic behavior changes or the latest epidemiologic trends. Data on testing showed that in 13 countries, individuals still face out-of-pocket costs, while seven countries require patients under age 18 to have parental consent to access testing—a requirement that could potentially discourage adolescents from seeking help. The report also found significant data gaps on STI prevention and treatment. Only four countries, for example, were able to submit data on the proportion of pregnant women screened for syphilis, which is important for prevention of congenital syphilis. Data on condom use and STI treatment among different populations was lacking. “To effectively curb these epidemics, countries are encouraged to update their national strategies, remove barriers to testing, and strengthen surveillance data on STIs and data on coverage of interventions to better target and improve prevention efforts,” the ECDC said in a news release.

Mpox infection early in pregnancy linked to poor fetal outcomes, study suggests - A prospective cohort study from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) suggests that mpox infection during pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester, is associated with a high risk of fetal loss. The study, published late last week in The Lancet, pooled data from four studies conducted between December 2022 and June 2025 in one DRC region where mpox clade 1b is in circulation and two regions in which mpox clade 1a is endemic. Researchers followed 89 pregnant women with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed mpox who were hospitalized for mpox during their pregnancy. Among the 69 participants with known pregnancy outcomes, 51% experienced an adverse outcome at one point in pregnancy. Nearly half (45%) of the pregnancies ended in fetal loss, including spontaneous abortion (52%), missed abortion (13%), and stillbirth (35%). Of the 38 live births, four infants had congenital mpox-like skin lesions, and one of them died within hours of birth. No maternal deaths or preterm births were reported. Adverse outcomes were more frequent when mpox infection occurred during the first trimester. Adverse outcomes occurred in 94% of pregnancies during the first trimester, compared with 59% in the second trimester (risk ratio [RR], 0.6) and 17% in the third (RR, 0.2). Several other factors were linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including high viral load in skin lesions (RR, 3.5), genital lesions (RR, 1.9), sexual contact with someone with a suspected case of mpox (RR, 1.6), and HIV infection (RR, 2.0). Observed rates of fetal loss in the current study exceed general pregnancy-loss risk estimates for the region and resemble historical data on pregnancy outcomes associated with other viruses. “Therefore, vertical transmission and adverse pregnancy outcomes seem to be a key characteristic of orthopoxvirus infections,” Ubom and Oiwoh write.

Quick takes: Lassa fever deaths spike in Nigeria, 3 new cases of H9N2 avian flu | CIDRAP

• Nigeria is seeing increasing Lassa fever activity, with 33 new cases reported in the past week and a newly calculated case-fatality rate (CFR) of 18.2%. So far in 2025, there have been a total of 9,041 suspected cases and 7 probable cases, with cumulative deaths rising to 195. The CFR is higher than the 16.5% recorded during the same period in 2024. Lassa virus is endemic in West Africa and spreads via contact with the urine or droppings of infected rodents. The virus can be transmitted person-to-person through direct contact with a sick person's blood, other body fluids, or mucous membranes, or sexual contact.
• Today for the first time since October, Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) is reporting new H9N2 avian flu cases, all three involving symptom onset in November. The patients come from Guangdong and Hubei provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and no ages have been given. In 2025, there have been 29 H9N2 cases reported from mainland China. In 2024, the country reported 11 total cases.

Raccoon roundworm now in 9 European countries, putting people at higher risk for infection Raccoon roundworm has now spread to nine European countries, raising the risk of human infection, according to a review and analysis by Goethe University researchers published in Parasitology Research.Of the 146 raccoons examined in necropsy, 66.4% were infected with the Baylisascaris procyonis roundworm. "The results show both an expansion of the roundworm's distribution area and stable infection occurrence at high levels in German raccoon populations," Sven Klimpel, of Goethe University Frankfurt, said in a university news release. The analysis revealed that, in Europe, the roundworm primarily occurs in wild raccoons in Central Europe, with extremely high infection rates in some areas. Three cases have resulted in permanent visual impairment. “It is assumed that many cases remain undetected or are misdiagnosed due to non-specific symptoms," Klimpel said. Human cases are difficult to diagnose due to a lack of specific diagnostic tests in Europe. Definitive diagnosis is currently only possible in the United States and Canada.“The actual distribution of the roundworm is likely significantly underestimated due to insufficient or absent data collection,” he added. Adult roundworms live in the small intestine of raccoons. Female roundworms produce up to 180,000 eggs daily, which contaminate the environment via feces, where they develop into infectious larvae within two weeks. People become infected by accidentally ingesting infectious eggs from contaminated soil, water, or objects. If the larvae enter the central nervous system, the disease can have severe consequences.Human infection can cause larva migrans, in which migrating larvae damage tissues and organs. "If the larvae enter the central nervous system, the disease can have severe consequences,” first author and PhD student Anne Steinhoff, MS, said. “Due to frequent hand-to-mouth contact, young children are primarily affected." Most known cases occur in North America, where the disease often leads to permanent neurologic damage or death.The raccoon roundworm arrived in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century with the first North American raccoons. Since their release or escape from fur farms, raccoons have spread across large swaths of Central Europe.

USDA says H5 avian flu detection in Wisconsin dairy herd is new spillover event - The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed last week that the recent detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a Wisconsin dairy herd represents a new spillover event from wildlife. In a December 19 update, APHIS said whole-genome sequencing confirmed that the virus detected in a Wisconsin dairy herd on December 14 is H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b genotype D1.1, which was implicated in two spillover events in dairy herds in Nevada and Arizona earlier this year. The Wisconsin spillover event is considered separate from those two previous spillovers, APHIS said. No additional infected dairy herds have been detected.Most H5N1 detections in US dairy cattle have involved the B3.13 genotype, which was initially detected in the Texas Panhandle in late 2023. Meanwhile, APHIS is reporting seven new HPAI outbreaks in US commercial and backyard poultry flocks. Two of the outbreaks are in Indiana’s hard-hit LaGrange County, with more than 32,000 birds affected at two commercial facilities. An outbreak at a commercial turkey breeder in Edmunds County, South Dakota, has affected more than 29,000 birds. Over the past 30 days, 70 US flocks (24 commercial and 46 backyard) have been confirmed as having HPAI, with 820,000 bids affected.

CWD spreads to new counties or areas in 2 US states, 1 Canadian province - Arkansas, Wisconsin, and Manitoba, Canada, have all confirmed first-time chronic wasting disease (CWD) detections in new counties or areas. A fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting cervids, CWD is caused by infectious misfolded proteins called prions, which spread through direct physical contact and environmental contamination. It can take many months for animals to show signs of infection, such as weight loss, insatiable thirst, frequent salivation, and walking in repetitive patterns. There is no vaccine or treatment for the disease. Last week, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) reported initial CWD infections in three hunter-harvested white-tailed deer in Grant and Sevier counties. Grant County is in the south-central part of the state, while Sevier County is in southwest Arkansas on the Oklahoma border. The nearest previous positive case in the state was identified more than 80 miles away from these locations. Of the two Grant County cases, one was a 2.5-year-old buck taken southwest of Sheridan, and one was a 3.5-year-old buck harvested near Grapevine. The Sevier County case was identified in a 4.5-year-old buck harvested in the De Queen Lake wildlife management area, roughly four miles from the Oklahoma border. Arkansas has conducted surveillance for the disease since 1999, testing hunter-harvested animals as well as road-killed deer and elk. The disease was first detected in Arkansas in February 2016. Since then, the AGFC has tested more than 68,293 deer and elk samples, of which 2,218 deer and 60 elk tested positive, the news release said. Oklahoma, which confirmed its first CWD case in a free-ranging Texas County deer in June 2023, will continue statewide disease-monitoring efforts and will release hunter guidance if precautions are needed. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) has announced the first positive CWD test result in a free-ranging deer in La Crosse County, in the southwest part of the state, on the Minnesota border. A hunter harvested the buck within 10 miles of the Monroe and Vernon county borders. In response, La Crosse County’s 2-year baiting and feeding ban has been extended for another 3 years, the WDNR said in the news release. Because Monroe and Vernon counties already had 3-year baiting and feeding bans for previous positive detections, this case will not affect them. Yesterday, Manitoba Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures confirmed five new CWD cases, including those in areas with no previous detections: the rural municipalities of Swan Valley West, in the northwest part of the province, and Victoria, in south-central Manitoba, in Game Hunting Areas 13A and 30. First detected in the province in 2021, a total of 35 CWD cases have been confirmed to date, including 26 mule deer (23 bucks and three does) and nine white-tailed deer (eight bucks and one doe). The provincial testing program has processed more than 2,500 samples for CWD thus far in the 2025-26 hunting season. The new cases included three mule deer (two does and one buck) and two white-tailed bucks.

Halfway through Florida's bear hunt, state officials won't say how many bears are dead --Florida's first statewide black bear hunt in a decade is more than halfway over but state wildlife leaders have offered no information on its progress, not even a death count. "Are we overkilling like in 2015?" asked Joe Humphrey, a Seminole County resident who described himself as a hunter at odds with the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission's position that a bear harvest would not harm the once threatened species. "They don't want us to know." Whatever its motivation, the DeSantis administration's approach to managing the hunt that stretches from December 6–28 is strikingly different from what was done a decade ago. In addition to rebuffing or ignoring questions from the media and conservationists, it eliminated the check-in stations where hunters had to log their kills in 2015, which provided an opportunity to make sure hunt rules were being followed, but which also became hubs for protest. This year hunters are simply supposed to inform FWC through an agency phone app if they bag a bear. Chuck O'Neal, founder of the not-for-profit conservation group Speak Up For Wildlife, said Fish & Wildlife's lack of transparency reflects the "total arrogance" of the taxpayer-funded agency, its governor-appointed board and its disdain for public opposition to the killing it calls a harvest. He called on FWC Executive Director Roger Young to halt the hunt. "It's clear this hunt was all about providing a special opportunity for hunters," O'Neal said. "It was never about accountability or weighing both sides, realizing a great majority of Floridians were and are against this hunt."

Trump to review wildlife refuges, fish hatcheries - The Trump administration said this week that it plans to “review” the nation’s wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries. The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) posted a directive on its website this week in which agency director Brian Nesvik ordered the review. It said that officials should “look for refuges or hatcheries established for a purpose that no longer aligns with the mission.”It directed two key officials, senior adviser Joshua Coursey and acting deputy director for operations David Miko, to come up with recommended changes. FWS did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill. National wildlife refuges are areas set up by the federal government to promote species conservation. The National Wildlife Refuge System includes 573 refuges and five marine national monuments. National fish hatcheries seek to promote conservation of fish and other marine life. The National Fish Hatchery System includes 71 hatcheries, seven fish technology centers and six fish health centers. The reviews were first reported by E&E News.

BLM sage grouse plans ease Biden restrictions - The Trump administration appears to be relaxing restrictions on oil and natural gas drilling, mining activity, and livestock grazing in newly finalized plans for managing the imperiled greater sage grouse across the West. The Bureau of Land Management blueprint unveiled Monday revises plans for managing the iconic Western bird on millions of acres that the Biden administration completed in November but never formally approved before President Donald Trump took office for a second term in January. The Trump administration’s revisions cover sage grouse habitat in eight Western states, changing criteria that prompt restrictive actions be taken when populations of the bird drop below a predetermined level. They also alter protected sage grouse habitat management areas in Utah and development restrictions in general habitat management areas for “major rights of way” in Nevada, among other highlights. “We are strengthening American energy security while ensuring the sage grouse continues to thrive,” said Bill Groffy, BLM’s acting director, in a statement. “Healthy sagebrush country powers our communities, sustains wildlife and supports the economies that make the West strong.”

Scientists urge governments not to wait for global plastics treaty as pollution continues to grow - Scientists are urging governments to act immediately on plastic pollution, warning that waiting for a binding Global Plastics Treaty could mean years of damaging delay while plastic waste continues to accelerate worldwide. In a new article published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Dr. Antaya March, director of the Global Plastics Policy Center at the University of Portsmouth, argues that although international negotiations on a Global Plastics Treaty remain deadlocked, countries already have the tools they need to tackle the crisis now and must use them. The latest round of negotiations under the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) ended without agreement, leaving a global treaty years away. Meanwhile, plastic pollution continues to increase across land, rivers and oceans, with growing impacts on ecosystems, economies and human health. "The treaty delay must not become an excuse for inaction," said Dr. March. "Plastic pollution is growing every year. Governments can't afford to wait for perfect global consensus when practical solutions already exist and are working in many countries." The article outlines how governments can make immediate progress through comprehensive national plastics strategies, even in the absence of a global agreement. Well-designed national plans can align ministries, coordinate stakeholders, unlock finance and prepare countries for future treaty implementation. The authors highlight that plastics should be treated not only as an environmental issue, but as a growing public health concern. A growing body of evidence links plastics and associated chemicals to cancer, respiratory disease and endocrine disruption, with potential global health-related economic costs estimated at more than US$1.5 trillion per year. Framing plastics as a health issue, the authors argue, can strengthen public understanding and political pressure for faster, more ambitious regulation.

Nanoplastics have diet-dependent impacts on digestive system health, study finds - Plastics are not inert: they gradually break into fragments over time, forming micro- and then nanoplastics (i.e., particles <1 μm in size). Nanoplastics are found in drinking water and foods packaged in plastic. This reality suggests that humans may be ingesting appreciable quantities of nanoplastics to which the gut is highly exposed. Yet, there is a limited understanding of how nanoplastics affect digestive system health. Additionally, to date, studies on this topic have employed commercial particles, which often contain additives. A team of researchers from INRAE, CNRS, and the University of Lille studied how low dietary doses of nanoplastics affected mice. In the study published in Environmental Science: Nano, the research team specifically examined how the guts and livers of mice were affected by polystyrene nanoplastics, employing model particles produced in the laboratory using a controlled process.To this end, the team's chemists employed an additive-free process that they had developed themselves to synthesize 100% polystyrene nanoplastics. It was thus possible to focus on the specific effects of the polymer in particulate form. The particles were labeled with gold so that their presence in the bodies of the mice could be detected and quantified.The team's toxicologists exposed the mice to three doses of nanoplastics—0.1, 1, or 10 mg of nanoplastics per kg of body mass per day—which were added to the mice's drinking water for 90 days. The mice received one of two diets—a standard mouse diet or a "Western-style" diet (high fat + high sugar), and the impacts of the nanoplastics on the mice's guts and livers were examined. It was found that exposure to low doses of polystyrene nanoplastics over the 90-day period had strong diet-dependent effects.Gut barrier integrity was altered, an effect that was amplified in mice consuming the Western-style diet. Gut microbiota composition was also altered, an effect that was amplified in mice consuming the standard diet.In the liver, exposure to low doses of nanoplastics disrupted fat metabolism regardless of diet, but glucose intolerance was more pronounced in mice consuming the Western-style diet. This effect was seen even though nanoplastics did not appear to cross the gut barrier. The above changes were associated with greater mass gain in the mice.The study's results illustrate that low doses of nanoplastics without chemical additives can alter gut and liver function in a diet-dependent manner.

PFAS concentrations can double with every step up the food chain -A new UNSW-led global meta-analysis shows that PFAS concentrations can double at every step up the food chain, leaving top predators—and humans—potentially exposed to higher chemical loads. A bottlenose dolphin swimming off the coast of Shanghai, China eats a fish. Before it was eaten, the fish, one of the millions of sardines that live in Chinese coastal waters, fed on smaller fish. Those smaller fish fed on plankton and algae drifting through water laced with the faintest trace of industrial chemicals—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS for short. By the time they reach the dolphin, or the eagle, or the tuna on someone's dinner plate, these chemical concentrations have magnified with every meal, and now a new meta-analysis led by UNSW researchers has revealed the scale of the problem. Studies have linked PFAS to a host of illnesses, including some cancers, although Australian health authorities say there is limited conclusive evidence linking PFAS exposure to any specific disease and that more research is needed. The authors examined 119 aquatic and terrestrial food webs across the globe, finding that top predators such as large fish, seabirds, and marine mammals can accumulate PFAS concentrations exponentially larger than the environments in which they're found. The study is published in the journal Nature Communications. "PFAS concentrations double, on average, with each step up the food chain," says study lead author Lorenzo Ricolfi, a Ph.D. candidate from the UNSW School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences. Known as "forever chemicals," PFAS are from a family of more than 12,000 man-made compounds. These chemicals are prized for their heat resistance and water-repelling properties, and are used in cleaning products, food packaging, non-stick pans, clothing, and fire-fighting equipment. Since being discovered by the American chemical company DuPont in the 1930s, PFAS are now detectable in the bloodstream of almost every human being on the planet. Unlike other chemicals, PFAS never break down, meaning that throughout the world right now, they're building up in environments, plants, and animals on land and in the ocean. For humans, sitting as we do at the top of the food chain, this means our diets can be an important pathway for PFAS exposure. "Given what we know about PFAS toxicity from other studies, these extreme accumulation rates in top predators suggest serious health risks," Ricolfi says. "This creates a cascading ecological risk: Apex predators face disproportionately high exposure even in relatively low-contaminated environments." The authors analyzed 72 different PFAS and found dramatic variation in how much concentrations magnified up the food chain. Some compounds—including chemicals marketed as safer alternatives to existing products—showed even higher magnification than the chemicals they were designed to replace. "Urgent research into health impacts of these new chemicals is needed before they become as ubiquitous and problematic as the PFAS they're replacing," Ricolfi says. Ricolfi and his co-authors want to see policy changes at the international level, where toxicity is considered but not how much the chemicals accumulate up the food chain. The authors argue compounds more prone to accumulation need greater scrutiny, particularly those that are unregulated. "Our findings demand immediate action across multiple policy fronts,"

How the global fish trade is spreading 'forever chemicals' around the world - Eating fish may well be good for you, but it carries a hidden risk of exposure to so-called "forever chemicals." A new study published in the journal Science has revealed that the global seafood trade is acting as a massive delivery system for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), industrial pollutants that persist in the environment for decades. These forever chemicals are used in many products, from nonstick cookware and cosmetics to food packaging and firefighting foams. They are extremely resistant to breaking down in the environment and have been linked to a variety of serious illnesses such as cancer and liver disease. PFAS can travel long distances around the planet in the air and through water. Once they wash into the ocean, they are absorbed by tiny organisms at the bottom of the food chain, such as plankton and algae. Because these chemicals do not break down, they accumulate in their bodies, and when small fish eat them, the toxic substances pass up the food chain. Large predatory fish, the kind that end up on our dinner plates, eat these smaller marine creatures, and as a result, the chemical concentrations build up in their tissues and organs. In their paper, the researchers set out to map how these chemicals move once they are inside the fish. They built a computer model covering 212 different species to track how toxins accumulate up the food chain and then validated this with lab tests on fish from numerous countries. Then the team combined this data with global trade records to see how the fish and PFAS travel from one country to another. One of the most significant findings was that the international fish trade acts like a global conveyor belt, redistributing PFAS from contaminated regions to consumers thousands of miles away. Before this study, it was generally assumed that forever chemicals were a local problem. If your country's rivers and seas were clean, then so were the fish. However, a nation with clean water can still be exposed to high levels of PFAS through the seafood it imports from other parts of the world. For example, researchers found that Italians buy only 11% of their fish from Sweden, yet this accounts for more than 35% of their PFAS exposure. Given that this problem doesn't respect borders, researchers argue that a unified global strategy is needed to protect public health. "Our study highlights an urgency for strengthening global cooperation and policies to facilitate the minimization of human exposure to PFAS from the consumption of marine fishes, particularly through the advancement of relevant guidelines for the international fish trade and tightened control of long-chain PFAS." There is evidence that this approach works. Global efforts to phase out PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) have helped reduce the health risk of this forever chemical in marine fish by 72% since 2009.

The stealthy, persistent hazard of thirdhand smoke - While the dangers of secondhand smoke are widely recognized, a new study led by Prof. Sun Yele at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has uncovered a more persistent and stealthy hazard lurking in indoor environments: thirdhand smoke. This residue—left on surfaces long after a cigarette is extinguished—does not merely create a stale odor, but is a dynamic source of continuous air pollution. The study was recently published in Building and Environment. Thirdhand smoke refers to the toxic mixture of chemicals that adhere to walls, furniture, carpets, curtains and other surfaces once tobacco smoke dissipates. Unlike secondhand smoke, which is inhaled directly, this residue can continuously re-emit pollutants into the air and undergo chemical transformations over time, posing a long-term exposure risk. For the first time, the research team mapped the real-time evolution of thirdhand smoke in indoor settings. Using advanced air monitoring technologies, the team tracked both fine particles and invisible gases released from contaminated surfaces. The findings reveal a notable distinction between secondhand and thirdhand smoke. While secondhand smoke particles dissipate rapidly, thirdhand smoke maintains a stable, low-level presence in the air for prolonged periods. More importantly, the chemical "fingerprint" of the particles changes—indicating the residue becomes more nitrogen-rich and potentially more harmful over time. Additionally, the study identifies how homes trap this pollution. Porous materials such as wool carpets or fabric upholstery act as deep "reservoirs," absorbing tobacco chemicals. These reservoirs then slowly release pollutants, making them resistant to simple ventilation and extending contamination for hours or even days. The research outlines a three-stage release pattern: an initial burst of gases, followed by a multi-hour phase of steady release of nicotine-related compounds, and finally a long, slow "tail" phase of other chemicals. "The key takeaway is that thirdhand smoke is not a static stain; it is an active, ongoing source of pollution in a room," said Prof. Sun, the study's corresponding author. "A smoking session may end, but the release of hazardous compounds persists, exposing people to low levels of toxins long afterward. This turns our homes into environments of chronic, low-dose exposure."

Social media users in the Central Valley are freaking out about unusual fog, and what might be in it - A 400-mile blanket of fog has socked in California's Central Valley for weeks. Scientists and meteorologists say the conditions for such persistent cloud cover are ripe: an early wet season, cold temperatures and a stable, unmoving high pressure system. But take a stroll through X, Instagram or TikTok, and you'll see not everyone is so sanguine. People are reporting that the fog has a strange consistency and that it's nefariously littered with black and white particles that don't seem normal. They're calling it "mysterious" and underscoring the name "radiation" fog, which is the scientific descriptor for such natural fog events—not an indication that they carry radioactive material. An X user with the handle Wall Street Apes posted a video of a man who said he is from Northern California drawing his finger along fog condensate on the grill of his truck. His finger comes up covered in white. "What is this s— right here?" the man says as the camera zooms in on his finger. "There's something in the fog that I can't explain ... Check y'all ... y'all crazy ... What's going on? They got asbestos in there." Another user, @wesleybrennan87, posted a photo of two airplane contrails crisscrossing the sky through a break in the fog. "For anyone following the dense Tule (Radiation) fog in the California Valley, it lifted for a moment today, just to see they've been pretty active over our heads ..." the user posted. Scientists confirm there is stuff in the fog. But what it is and where it comes from, they say, is disappointingly mundane. The Central Valley is known to have some of the worst air pollution in the country. And "fog is highly susceptible to pollutants," said Peter Weiss-Penzias, a fog researcher at UC Santa Cruz. Fog "droplets have a lot of surface area and are suspended in the air for quite a long time—days or weeks even—so during that time the water droplets can absorb a disproportionate quantity of gases and particles, which are otherwise known as pollutants," he said. He said while he hasn't done any analyses of the Central Valley fog during this latest event, it's not hard to imagine what could be lurking in the droplets. "It could be a whole alphabet soup of different things. With all the agriculture in this area, industry, automobiles, wood smoke, there's a whole bunch" of contenders, Weiss-Penzias said. Reports of the fog becoming a gelatinous goo when left to sit are also not entirely surprising, he said, considering all the airborne biological material—fungal spores, nutrients and algae—floating around that can also adhere to the Velcro-like drops of water. He said the good news is that while the primary route of exposure for people to this material is inhalation, the fog droplets are relatively big. That means when they are breathed in, they won't go too deep into the lungs—not like the particulate matter we inhale during sunny, dry days. That stuff can get way down into lung tissue. The bigger concern is ingestion, as the fog covers plants or open water cisterns, he said. So make sure you're washing your vegetables, and anything you leave outside that you might nosh on later.

Road salt remains in waterways months after winter storms - The Allegheny Front Road salt used last winter, and possibly decades ago, is still contaminating waterways. In many cases, the levels exceed federal standards for maintaining healthy aquatic life and safe drinking water, according to a recent citizen-science survey. During the first two weeks of October, hundreds of volunteers fanned out across the region to test salt levels in 1,200 locations, mostly small streams. Led by Stroud Water Research Center, the citizen scientists, from dozens of partner groups, wanted to know how much of the road salt spread during past winter storms remains months, or even years later. The results were stark. Of more than 700 locations sampled, 61% exceeded aquatic life thresholds set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Sixty-four “hotspots” had levels greater than 230 milligrams per liter, a guideline set by the EPA at which water begins to taste salty. Sixty percent of samples blew past the accepted healthy drinking water standard for those on a low-salt diet of 50 milligrams per liter. The nationwide effort was coordinated locally by the Stroud Center in Chester County. Known as the “Fall Salt Snapshot,” it marked the first time this type of data was collected during several weeks in October, rather than the annual winter salt snapshot conducted in January. The winter snapshot has revealed some local waterways that were twice as salty as seawater. “We’re addicted to what road salt gives us,” said John Jackson, a senior scientist at Stroud. “It’s cheap and it really makes it possible to drive fast and safely in the winter.” But Jackson said environmental and health costs have not been part of the conversation. “If we continue to use road salt at the rate we’re using it, then every winter we’re going to take freshwater out of the ground as a normal cycle and replace that fresh water with saltwater. That’s what we’ve been doing for 50 years. That’s why our streams are salty in July and August, September, October, November, December, before we ever apply any more salt.” The amount of road salt used each year in the U.S. has doubled since 1975, according to Penn State, resulting in a current annual estimated use of 15-32 million metric tons of road salt. Pennsylvania’s streams are often fed by groundwater more than rain water, making them vulnerable to damage by salt that has run off and accumulated in aquifers. That salt depletes the oxygen in the waterways, which affects aquatic life, especially the insects that provide food for fish, like mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies, said John Barbis, a board member of Valley Forge Trout Unlimited, which participated in the project. “Most people perceive that when salt is applied to the road during a snowstorm or an ice storm, rain comes in, washes it down into the stream, and then that’s rushed out to a bigger stream, and then down to the ocean, and it disappears,” Barbis said. “That’s only part of the story. What may be the bigger part of the story is that a lot of that salt gets deposited on the ground, and when the rain washes it, not necessarily into the stream but into puddles and other areas, and then that salt-laden water can soak into the earth, it now seeps down into the groundwater.” Months, years or even decades later, that salty ground water will feed small streams. Barbis pointed to data from some streams in the Exton area that are near large shopping centers. “Those areas have salt concentrations that are probably three to four times above what we would normally expect from regular groundwater,” Barbis said. Both Jackson and Barbis say their groups don’t advocate for the elimination of road salt. “Because we need to get around, we need the roads safe after a snowstorm,” Barbis said. “But there are ways of applying salt, applying brine to the roads, doing it in a very judicious way, where we can limit how much salt is then transferred to the groundwater and then to the stream.”

Strong atmospheric river brings heavy rainfall and flooding across Southern California over Christmas – 3 YouTube videos -- A major atmospheric river swept across Southern California from late December 24, 2025, into Christmas Day, December 25, triggering widespread flash floods, evacuations, debris flows, and power outages. Multiple counties including Los Angeles and Ventura were put under a State of Emergency. Rainfall totals reached 75–150 mm (3–6 inches) in coastal and valley areas, with up to 250 mm (10 inches) in higher terrain of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, prompting officials to urge residents to avoid travel. Over 150 mm (6 inches) of rainfall was recorded in mountainous areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Flash flooding, debris flows, and power outages affected multiple communities as officials urged residents to avoid travel until conditions improved. This atmospheric river produced sustained rainfall from late December 24 into Christmas Day, with rates locally exceeding 25 mm (1 inch) per hour. Coastal and valley areas received around 75–150 mm (3–6 inches), while higher terrain recorded up to 250 mm (10 inches). Soils across much of the region were already saturated due to multiple atmospheric rivers impacting the U.S. West Coast since early this month. Flash Flood Warnings and High Wind Warnings were issued across Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Diego counties. Gusts reached 65–95 km/h (40–60 mph) in exposed coastal and foothill locations, downing trees and power lines. Over 30 000 customers reported power outages at the peak of the storm in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Burn scar zones, including areas affected by the 2022 Woolsey and 2023 Eaton fires, were struck by mudslides that blocked roads and damaged property. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Shasta counties. “A series of atmospheric rivers has brought high-intensity rainfall and strong winds statewide to already saturated soils, heightening the risk of flooding, landslides, debris flows, and rapidly rising creeks and rivers. Recently burned areas in Southern California, including the Airport, Bridge, Line, Palisades, and Eaton Fire burn scars, face an increased threat of mudslides and debris flows as heavy rain continues,” the governor said. YouTube videoFifty-five fire engines, 10 swift water rescue teams, five hand crews, five dozers, four loaders, three helicopters, an incident management team, an Urban Search and Rescue Team, and over 300 personnel were pre-deployed to protect communities and support local response efforts. Emergency crews across Southern California carried out multiple water rescues overnight as fast-rising runoff inundated low-lying neighborhoods. In Los Angeles County, fire officials responded to stranded motorists on the 101 Freeway near Studio City and closed several sections of Mulholland Drive due to slope instability. Evacuation warnings were issued for portions of Malibu, Topanga Canyon, and the Santa Barbara foothills, where rainfall intensity reached critical thresholds for debris flows. Portions of I-5 north of Los Angeles were temporarily closed due to flooding and snow accumulation at higher elevations near Tejon Pass. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department issued an Evacuation Order for the communities north of Highway 2 to Palmdale Road west of Sheep Creek Road to the Los Angeles County line. An Evacuation warning was issued for Wrightwood earlier in the day but elevated the advisory to a shelter-in-place order as flood conditions worsened. The Angeles Crest Highway, a major traffic route through the San Gabriel Mountains, was closed in two stretches due to flooding, reported Reuters. Rainfall monitoring data indicated that downtown Los Angeles received approximately 110 mm (4.3 inches) of rain within 24 hours between December 24 and 25. Snowfall was forecast above 2 100 m (7 000 feet), potentially creating additional hazards for mountain travelers, with heavy precipitation continuing into December 26.

Floods, heavy snow, and blizzards kill at least eight across 25 provinces in Iran - At least eight people have died after heavy snow, floods, and blizzards affected more than 25 provinces in Iran between December 15 and 21, 2025, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. Flooding resulted in seven fatalities in Fars, Khuzestan, and Hormozgan provinces. IRCS also reported the death of one rescuer in Jahrom, Fars Province, who lost his life while attempting to save occupants of a vehicle trapped in floodwaters. Severe weather struck parts of Iran from December 15 to 21, as floods, heavy snowfall, and blizzards affected 25 provinces, including East Azerbaijan, Fars, Khuzestan, Hormozgan, North Khorasan, Golestan, Mazandaran, Lorestan, and Yazd. Authorities reported extensive emergency response operations across both urban and rural areas. The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) said its teams assisted a total of 42 112 people during the reporting period. Among them, 13 219 individuals stranded on roads and in rural locations received food supplies as access was disrupted by snow accumulation and flooding. A major winter rescue operation was carried out at the Aminollah Defile near Bojnourd in North Khorasan Province, where blizzards and heavy snowfall trapped more than 2 000 people. IRCS teams rescued those affected, including two pregnant women. Nineteen injured individuals were transported to medical facilities, while three others received outpatient treatment at the scene. Emergency shelter was provided to 4 484 people, while 396 individuals were evacuated from high-risk locations. Response teams pumped floodwater from 492 residential units and recovered 2 152 vehicles immobilized by snow and ice. Operations involved 681 response teams, supported by 182 ambulances, 20 rescue vehicles, and additional logistical assets deployed nationwide as weather-related emergencies continued to affect multiple regions.

Snow blankets Saudi Arabia’s deserts for first time in 30 years - YouTube video - A rare widespread snowfall event affected northern Saudi Arabia in December 2025, transforming desert landscapes and mountain ranges across Tabuk and Hail into snow-covered terrain. The snowfall occurred as a sharp cold air intrusion lowered temperatures below freezing at higher elevations, with snow settling near 2 600 m (8 530 feet) and surface temperatures reported near −4°C (25°F), according to regional media reports. Such widespread snowfall over desert areas is considered exceptionally rare for the region. Snow fell across both mountainous terrain and adjacent desert plains, with accumulation reported near Jabal Al Lawz and surrounding high plateaus. The extent of snow cover, visible on rocky slopes and desert surfaces, marked the first such event across parts of Tabuk in approximately three decades, according to local reports. The National Center for Meteorology (NMC) issued advisories on Sunday, December 14, warning that the first cold wave of winter would impact large parts of the country later in the week, bringing a sharp temperature drop to northern regions along with rainfall and unstable conditions. As the cold wave progressed, further updates issued on December 17 suggested an increased likelihood of snowfall in parts of northern and central regions under continued cold conditions. The forecasts coincided with observed weather deterioration, including widespread rainfall, strong winds, and rapidly falling temperatures as the cold air mass advanced southward. With falling temperatures at higher elevations, precipitation transitioned from rain to snow in several locations. Snowfall extended beyond isolated mountain peaks and reached surrounding desert areas, an uncommon feature for winter events in the region. Local media outlets described the snowfall as historic, citing the rarity of snow settling across desert landscapes rather than remaining limited to elevated mountainous areas. At the synoptic scale, the event developed as a deep upper-level trough that extended southward over the Arabian Peninsula, allowing an unusually cold air mass to penetrate into northern Saudi Arabia. As this cold air interacted with available atmospheric moisture and dynamic uplift associated with the trough, precipitation fell as snow at elevations where temperatures dropped below freezing, briefly extending snow cover beyond the region’s typical climatological limits. Snowfall in Saudi Arabia is generally restricted to high elevations in the northwest and typically occurs during brief, localized cold episodes. While snow has been documented in mountainous areas during previous decades, the spatial extent of this event, including accumulation over desert surfaces, places it among the least frequently observed winter weather phenomena in the Kingdom. According to NMC, the most intense cold wave previously recorded in Saudi Arabia occurred in 1992, when minimum temperatures at the Hail meteorological station dropped to −9.3°C (15.3°F). Historical records further indicate that in January 1973, a strong Siberian polar outbreak penetrated deep into the Arabian Peninsula, producing snowfall across central Saudi Arabia, with accumulations of up to 20 cm (8 inches) reported in parts of Riyadh.

Scientists and data explain why Kenya’s lakes are rising as thousands face an uncertain future - (AP) — When Dickson Ngome first leased his farm at Lake Naivasha in Kenya’s Rift Valley in 2008, it was over 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from shore. The farm was on 1.5 acres (0.6 hectares) of fertile land where he grew vegetables to sell at local markets. At the time, the lake was receding and people were worried that it might dry up altogether. But since 2011, the shore has crept ever closer. The rains started early this year, in September, and didn’t let up for months. One morning in late October, Ngome and his family woke up to find their home and farm inside the lake. The lake levels had risen overnight and about a foot of water covered everything. “It seemed as if the lake was far from our homes,” Ngome’s wife, Rose Wafula, told The Associated Press. “And then one night we were shocked to find our houses flooded. The water came from nowhere.” The couple and their four children have had to leave home and are camping out on the first floor of an abandoned school nearby. Some 5,000 people were displaced by the rise in Lake Naivasha’s levels this year. Some scientists attribute the higher levels to increased rains caused by climate change, although there may be other factors causing the lake’s steady rise over the past decade. The lake is a tourism hot spot and surrounded by farms, mostly growing flowers, which have gradually been disappearing into the water as the lake levels rise. Rising levels have not been isolated to Naivasha: Kenya’s Lake Baringo, Lake Nakuru and Lake Turkana — all in the Rift Valley — have been steadily rising for 15 years. “The lakes have risen almost beyond the highest level they have ever reached,” said Simon Onywere, who teaches environmental planning at Kenyatta University in Kenya’s capital Nairobi. A study in the Journal of Hydrology last year found that lake areas in East Africa increased by 71,822 square kilometers (27,730 square miles) between 2011 and 2023. That affects a lot of people: By 2021, more than 75,000 households had been displaced across the Rift Valley, according to a study commissioned that year by the Kenyan Environment Ministry and the United Nations Development Program. In Baringo, the submerged buildings that made headlines in 2020 and 2021 are still underwater. “In Lake Baringo, the water rose almost 14 meters,” Onywere said. “Everything went under, completely under. Buildings will never be seen again, like the Block Hotels of Lake Baringo.” Lake Naivasha has risen steadily too, “engulfing three quarters of some flower farms,” Onywere said. Horticulture is a major economic sector in Kenya, generating just over a billion U.S. dollars in revenue in 2024 and providing 40% of the volume of roses sold in the European Union, according to Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Significant research has gone into the reasons behind the rising lakes phenomenon: “There are researchers who come up with drivers that are geological, others with reasons like planetary factors,” Muita said. “The Kenya Meteorological Department found that the water level rises are associated with rainfall patterns and temperature changes. When the rains are plentiful, it aligns with the increase in the levels of the Rift Valley lake waters.” Sedimentation is also a factor. “From the research I have read, there’s a lot of sediment, especially from agricultural related activities, that flows into these lakes,” says Muita. Naivasha’s official high water mark was demarcated at 1,892.8 meters (6,210 feet) above sea level by the Riparian Association in 1906, and is still used by surveyors today. That means this year’s flooding was still almost a meter (3 feet) below the high mark. It also means that the community of Kihoto on Lake Naivasha where the Ngomes lived lies on riparian land — land that falls below the high water mark, and can only be owned by the government. “It’s a mess established by the government … towards the late 1960s,” Back then, a farmer was given a “temporary agricultural lease” on Kihoto, said Wanjala. When it later flooded and the farmer packed up and left, the farmworkers stayed on the land and later applied for subdivisions, which were approved. In the 60-odd years since, a whole settlement has grown on land that is officially not for lease or sale. This also isn’t the first time it’s been flooded, said Wanjala. It’s just very rare that the water comes up this high. That’s little consolation for the people who have been displaced by this year’s floods and now cannot go home without risking confrontations with hippopotamuses.

Eruption at Piparo Mud Volcano damages roads and homes, Trinidad and Tobago - 3 YouTube videos - Activity at the Piparo Mud Volcano in Trinidad and Tobago began increasing early on December 24, 2025, and continued through Christmas, ejecting mud up to 4.6 m (15 feet) into the air and damaging roads, homes, and nearby infrastructure. Officials confirmed visible cracks, ground uplift, and frequent eruptions occurring every 10–20 seconds as assessments and safety operations remained underway. Mud explosions were reportedly occurring every 10 to 20 seconds, ejecting mud around 4.6 m (15 feet) into the air along with other gases. The eruptions were audible up to 15–30 m (50–100 feet) away from the site. The Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government said that efforts were underway to ensure public safety and that initial damage assessments were being conducted in collaboration with Disaster Management Units from multiple agencies. Multiple homes in areas around the volcano have reported cracks and wall collapses due to the increasing activity since Wednesday. “Reports indicate that the volcano’s main vent is experiencing increased activity, with visible cracks observed along the roadway in the western area. This has resulted in additional damage to one of the access roads leading into the community. Agencies on site continue to support ground assessments and public safety operations,” the min­istry said in a press release on December 24. The main road to Piparo was damaged and left impassable as it rose by 61–91 cm (2–3 feet) in some areas due to the explosions. The last major eruption at the volcano occurred on February 22, 1997, when it erupted mud and debris 61 m (200 feet) into the air, covering an area of 2.5 km² (1 mile²). This forced the evacuation of over 300 people. Thirty-one families were displaced, while some pets and livestock were killed during the incident. The volcano remained relatively dormant after that, showing occasional signs of activity until its next major burst in 2019, when it caused cracks and wall collapses affecting multiple homes in the area.

Kīlauea enters eruptive episode 39 exactly one year into ongoing summit eruption, with lava fountains rising over 420 m (1 400 feet) -- 3 YouTube webcams - Kīlauea entered eruptive episode 39 at 20:10 HST on December 23, 2025 (06:10 UTC on December 24) as lava fountains rose from twin vents on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Within about 95 minutes, fountain heights increased from 10 m (30 feet) to more than 420 m (1 400 feet), with lava flows covering 10–20% of the crater floor by 21:14 HST and a plume reaching 6 000 m (20 000 feet). Eruptive episode 39 at Kīlauea began around 20:10 HST on December 23 (06:10 UTC on December 24) following a series of brief overflows and tremor increases beneath Halemaʻumaʻu crater. This event marks exactly one year since the start of Kīlauea’s ongoing summit eruption sequence that began on December 23, 2024. HVO field logs show both the north and south vents reactivated almost simultaneously after a short pause at 19:45 HST. Initial fountains measured 10–20 m (30–70 feet) high before increasing rapidly as effusion rates rose. By 20:27 HST, both vents were producing fountains about 30 m (100 feet) high, shortly after the onset. Fountain heights doubled within minutes, and lava flows advanced across the crater floor. At 20:44 HST, HVO reported fountains reaching 200 m (700 feet), feeding large, active flows. Thirty minutes later, the south fountain climbed to 350 m (1 150 feet) while the north remained near 200 m (700 feet), with an estimated effusion rate of 750 m³/s (900 yd³/s) during the initial phase. At 21:14 HST, fountains rose to 380 m (1 250 feet) in the south and 280 m (920 feet) in the north, with lava flows covering 10–20% of the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu. By 21:44 HST, the south fountain peaked near 420 m (1 400 feet) while the north decreased to about 210 m (700 feet). As a result, a strong eruption plume rose to approximately 6 000 m (20 000 feet), drifting southwest and southeast with altitude. Over the past year, 38 discrete eruptive episodes have originated from the same north and south vents within Halemaʻumaʻu, each lasting several hours and separated by pauses of days to weeks during which the summit inflates. The most recent HVO daily update issued at 18:24 UTC on December 23 forecasted that episode 39 was likely to begin between December 24 and 25, based on increased summit inflation and sustained low-level tremor. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rates measured on December 17 were approximately 3 400 tonnes per day, elevated relative to non-eruptive levels of around 100 tonnes per day. High SO2 concentrations and the resulting volcanic smog (vog) continue to pose health hazards downwind. Lava fountains also produce Pele’s hair and other fine volcanic glass fragments that can travel over 15 km (10 miles) from the vent and cause skin or eye irritation and contamination of water catchments. As of the last available HVO message at 21:44 HST (07:44 UTC on December 24), lava fountaining and surface flows continued within Halemaʻumaʻu crater.

Disaster after disaster: Do we have enough raw materials to 'build back better?' - This Christmas Day marks 21 years since the terrifying Indian Ocean tsunami. As we remember the hundreds of thousands of lives lost in this tragic event, it is also a moment to reflect on what followed. How do communities rebuild after major events such as the tsunami, and other disasters like it? What were the financial and hidden costs of reconstruction?Beyond the immediate human toll, disasters destroy hundreds of thousands of buildings each year. In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan damaged a record 1.2 million structures in Philippines. Last year, earthquakes and cyclones damaged more than half a million buildings worldwide. For communities to rebuild their lives, these structures must be rebuilt.While governments, non-government agencies and individuals struggle to finance post-disaster reconstruction, rebuilding also demands staggering volumes of building materials. In turn, these require vast amounts of natural resource extraction.For instance, an estimated 1 billion burnt clay bricks were needed to reconstruct the half-million homes destroyed in the Nepal earthquake. This is enough bricks to circle the Earth six times if laid end to end. How can we responsibly source such vast quantities of materials to meet demand? Sudden spikes in demand have led to severe shortages of common building materials after nearly every major disaster over the past two decades, including the 2015 Nepal earthquake and the 2019 California wildfires. These shortages often trigger price hikes of 30%–40%, which delays reconstruction and prolongs the suffering of affected communities. Disasters not only increase demand for building materials but also generate enormous volumes of debris.For example, the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake produced more than 100 million cubic meters of debris—40 times the volume of the Great Pyramid of Giza.Disaster debris can pose serious environmental and health risks, including toxic dust and waterway pollution. But some debris can be safely transformed into useful assets such as recycled building materials. Rubble can be crushed and repurposed as a base for low-traffic roads or turned into cement blocks .The consequences of poor post-disaster building materials management have reached alarming global proportions. After the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, for example, the surge in sand demand led to excessive and illegal sand mining in rivers along Sri Lanka's west coast. This caused irreversible ecological damage to two major watersheds, devastating the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and fisherpeople.Similar impacts from the overextraction of materials such as sand, gravel, clay and timber have been reported following other major disasters, including the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China and Cyclone Idai in Mozambique in 2019. If left unaddressed, the social, environmental and economic impacts of resource extraction will escalate to catastrophic levels, especially as climate change intensifies disaster frequency.After a disaster hits, it leaves an opportunity to build back better. Rebuilding can boost resilience to future hazards, encourage economic development and reduce environmental impact. The United Nations' framework for disaster management emphasizes the importance of rebuilding better and safer rather than simply restoring communities to pre-disaster conditions.Disaster-affected communities should be rebuilt with the capacity to cope with future external shocks and environmental risks. Lessons can be learned from both negative and positive experiences of past disasters. For example, poor planning of some reconstruction projects after the Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004) in Sri Lanka made the communities vulnerable again to coastal hazards within a few years. On the other hand, the community-led reconstruction approach followed after the Bhuj earthquake, India (2001), has resulted in safer and more socio-economically robust settlements, standing the test of 24 years.

Earth's frozen regions are sending a clear warning about climate change—but politicians are ignoring it - "We cannot negotiate with the melting point of ice." That's the message from more than 50 leading scientists who study Earth's frozen regions, published in the latest annual State of the Cryosphere report.In the past year alone, the vast polar ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are likely to have shed around 370 billion tons of ice, with a further 270 billion tons from the 270,000 mountain glaciers around the world, some of which are disappearing altogether.In February 2025, global sea ice extent reached a new all-time minimum in the 47-year satellite record. Elsewhere, perennially frozen ground (called permafrost) continues to thaw, releasing additional greenhouse gas emissions each year that are roughly equivalent to the world's eighth-highest-emitting country.The warning lights from the cryosphere have been flashing red for several years, and governments ignore this at their peril.Melting ice is driving an acceleration in the rate of sea-level rise, which has doubled to 4.5mm per year over the last three decades. If this acceleration continues, sea-level rise will reach around 1cm per year by the end of this century—a rate so high that many island and coastal communities will be forced to move.The loss of mountain glaciers will affect billions of people who rely on their meltwater for agriculture, hydropower and other human activities; and the damage caused to infrastructure by Arctic permafrost thaw has been estimated to cost US$182 billion (£137 billion) by 2050 under our current emissions trajectory. As cryosphere scientists who regularly attend the UN's climate summits, we have noticed recent efforts to downplay, confuse and dilute some of the latest scientific findings, especially from the cryosphere. We find this alarming.At Cop30, observations about the complete loss of glaciers in two countries (Slovenia and Venezuela) were removed from the final draft text. Other shocking scientific findings about "irreversible changes to the cryosphere" were diluted to a rather vague "need to enhance observations and address gaps in the monitoring of the hydrosphere and the cryosphere."This tactic to obfuscate the science is not new, but has been increasingly used over recent years, during which the indicators of climate change and its consequences on the cryosphere have become increasingly obvious to scientists.While the final overarching summary text from Cop30—the Mutirão decision—references the IPCC as the source of the best available science, and contains some strong language around the need to limit warming to 1.5°C, rather than 2°C, these look like empty words when the same document fails to even mention "fossil fuels." Emissions from fossil fuels will result in 2.6°C of warming by 2100, without urgent action.Indeed, the final text from Cop30 is the first to explicitly reference a temperature "overshoot," reiterating the need "to limit both the magnitude and the duration of any temperature overshoot." Most scientists agree that overshoot is now inevitable, but that 1.5°C increase remains the legal and ethical imperative for a long-term global temperature target.However, some scientists—including ourselves—would argue that even this is too high, committing us to losing around half of the world's mountain glaciers and several meters of sea-level rise from the polar ice sheets.

Iowa Court Halts CO₂Pipeline Lawsuit Pending Summit Permit Review - An Iowa judge has paused a legal challenge to Summit Carbon Solutions’ CO₂ pipeline while regulators review proposed changes to the project’s permit and storage requirements. (P&GJ) — An Iowa district court has paused a legal challenge to Summit Carbon Solutions’ carbon dioxide pipeline permit while state regulators review proposed changes to the project, according to KCRG. The ruling requires the Iowa Utilities Commission to first decide whether Summit can amend its permit to revise conditions tied to where captured carbon dioxide would be transported and stored. The lawsuit, filed by landowners, counties and environmental groups, challenges the commission’s June 2024 decision granting Summit a conditional permit that included eminent domain authority. After South Dakota enacted a law prohibiting eminent domain for CO₂ pipelines, Summit sought to amend its Iowa permit to remove requirements tied to approvals in South Dakota and North Dakota. Instead, the company asked that construction be barred until it secures access to one or more permitted sequestration sites. Summit also requested that the court halt proceedings until the commission rules on the amendment. Polk County District Court Judge Scott Beattie agreed, finding that judicial review should wait until regulators determine whether the permit will be modified. In his decision, Beattie wrote that continuing the case while the permit is under revision would require the court to evaluate outdated conditions, as reported by KCRG.

CO2 soon to be buried under North Sea oil platform - --In the North Sea where Denmark once drilled for oil, imported European carbon dioxide will soon be buried under the seabed in a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project nearing completion. CCS technology is one of the tools approved by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) to curb global warming, especially for reducing the CO2 footprint of industries like cement and steel that are difficult to decarbonize. But the technology is complex and costly.Led by British chemicals giant Ineos, the Greensand project 170 kilometers (105 miles) off the Danish coast consists of a deep, empty reservoir beneath a small, wind-swept oil platform in the North Sea. In its first phase due to begin in the next few months, Greensand is slated to store 400,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. It's "a very good opportunity to reverse the process: instead of extracting oil, we can now inject CO2 into the ground," Mads Gade, Ineos's head of European operations, told AFP.CCS technology is a key tool for reducing the CO2 footprint of cement and steel industries. Liquefied CO2 sourced mainly from biomass power plants will be shipped from Europe via the Esbjerg terminal in southwestern Denmark to the Nini platform above an empty oil reservoir, into which it will be injected. "The reason why the North Sea is seen as a vault for CO2 storage is because of the enormous amounts of data that we have collected through over 50 years of petroleum production," said CCS coordinator Ann Helen Hansen at the Norwegian Offshore Directorate (Sodir). This area of the North Sea is teeming with depleted oil and gas fields like Nini, as well as deep rock basins.According to Sodir, the Norwegian part of the North Sea alone theoretically has a geological storage capacity of around 70 billion tonnes (70 Gt) of CO2. On the British side, the figure is 78 Gt, according to the British government. In Denmark, the geological institute has no overall data, but the Bifrost project, led by TotalEnergies, estimates it could store 335 million tonnes of CO2.By comparison, the European Union's greenhouse gas emissions amounted to about 3.2 Gt last year. Under the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), the EU has set a legally binding target to have a storage capacity of at least 50 million tonnes per year by 2030. Installations are gradually being put in place. Greensand plans to increase its carbon dioxide injection capacity to up to eight million tonnes per year by 2030. In neighboring Norway, the world's first commercial CO2 transport and storage service, dubbed Northern Lights, carried out its first CO2 injection in August into an aquifer 110 kilometers off Bergen on the western coast. Its owners—energy giants Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies—have agreed to increase annual capacity from 1.5 to five million tonnes of CO2 by the end of the decade. And in Britain, authorities have just launched a second tender, after already awarding 21 storage permits in 2023. A first injection of CO2 is expected in the coming years. Imported European carbon dioxide will soon be buried under the seabed. But customers are still nowhere to be found. For industrial actors, the cost of capturing, transporting and storing their emissions remains far higher than the price of purchasing carbon allowances on the market. And even more so when it involves burying them at sea. To date, the Northern Lights consortium has signed only three commercial contracts with European companies to store their CO2. The consortium would probably never have seen the light of day without generous financial support from the Norwegian state. While it supports the use of CCS for sectors that are hard to decarbonize, the Norwegian branch of Friends of the Earth says CCS has been used as an excuse to avoid having to exit the oil era. "The idea that the region responsible for the problem could now become part of the solution is a very seductive narrative," said the head of this environmental NGO, Truls Gulowsen. "But that's not really what we're seeing. Fossil fuels and climate emissions from the North Sea are far larger than anything we could ever put back there with CCS."

Auburn U Study Finds Hydrogen is WORSE Than CO2 for Global Warming - Marcellus Drilling News -- A big, fat, red flag has just been waved by researchers at Auburn University and Stanford University regarding the future of hydrogen as a nirvana energy source. A new study published in the esteemed scientific journal Nature suggests that embracing a “hydrogen economy” will require a deeper scientific understanding of the global hydrogen cycle to support a climate-safe, sustainable hydrogen economy. Unlike greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), hydrogen itself does not trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere. Through interactions with other gases, however, hydrogen indirectly heats the atmosphere roughly 11 times faster than carbon dioxide during the first 100 years after release, and approximately 37 times faster during the first 20 years. Oh, oh, that certainly doesn’t fit the environmental left’s narrative!

Overlooked hydrogen emissions are heating Earth and supercharging methane | Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability -- New research shows rising hydrogen emissions since 1990 have indirectly intensified climate change and amplified the impact of methane. Limiting leaks from future hydrogen fuel projects and cutting methane emissions will be key to securing benefits from hydrogen as a clean-burning alternative to oil and gas. Rising global emissions of hydrogen over the past three decades have added to the planet’s warming temperatures and amplified the impact of methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases, according to new research published Dec. 17 inNature.Authored by an international consortium of scientists known as the Global Carbon Project, the study provides the first comprehensive accounting of hydrogen sources and sinks. “Hydrogen is the world’s smallest molecule, and it readily escapes from pipelines, production facilities, and storage sites,” said Stanford University scientist Rob Jackson, senior author of the Nature paper and chair of the consortium. “The best way to reduce warming from hydrogen is to avoid leaks and reduce emissions of methane, which breaks down into hydrogen in the atmosphere.” Unlike greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide and methane, hydrogen itself does not trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere. Through interactions with other gases, however, hydrogen indirectly heats the atmosphere roughly 11 times faster than carbon dioxide during the first 100 years after release, and around 37 times faster during the first 20 years. The main way hydrogen contributes to global warming is by consuming natural detergents in the atmosphere that destroy methane. “More hydrogen means fewer detergents in the atmosphere, causing methane to persist longer and, therefore, warm the climate longer,” said lead study author Zutao Ouyang, an assistant professor of ecosystem modeling at Auburn University, who began the work as a postdoctoral scholar in Jackson’s lab in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. In addition to extending the heat-trapping life of methane, hydrogen’s reactions with nature’s detergents also produce greenhouse gases such as ozone and stratospheric water vapor, and affect cloud formation. The researchers estimate hydrogen concentrations in the atmosphere increased by about 70% from preindustrial times through 2003, then briefly stabilized before picking up again around 2010. Between 1990 and 2020, hydrogen emissions increased mostly because of human activities, the authors found. Major sources include the breakdown of chemical compounds including methane, which itself has been rapidly building up in the atmosphere because of growing emissions from fossil fuels, agriculture, and landfills. It’s a vicious cycle: Because methane breaks down into hydrogen in the atmosphere, more methane means more hydrogen. More hydrogen, in turn, means methane emissions stick around longer, doing more damage.“The biggest driver of hydrogen increase in the atmosphere is the oxidation of increasing atmospheric methane,” said Jackson, the Michelle and Kevin Douglas Provostial Professor at Stanford. Since 1990, the authors estimate the annual emissions from this source of hydrogen has grown by about 4 million tons, to 27 million tons per year in 2020. Other important hydrogen sources since 1990 include leakage from industrial hydrogen production and the process of nitrogen fixation, which farmers harness to grow legume crops like soybeans. Natural sources of hydrogen, such as wildfires, varied from year to year without a consistent trend across the 1990-2020 period.

Christmas: The End of the Climate Cult - Finally, thankfully, the global warming craze is dying out. To paraphrase Monty Python, the climate parrot may still be nailed to its perch at the recent COP summit in Belém, Brazil – or at Harvard and on CNN – but elsewhere it’s dead. It’s gone to meet its maker, kicked the bucket, shuffled off this mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. By failing to pledge a cut in fossil fuels, COP achieved less than nothing, the venue caught fire, the air-conditioning malfunctioned – and delegates were told on arrival not to flush toilet paper. Bill Gates’s recent apologia, in which he conceded that global warming “will not lead to humanity’s demise,” after he closed the policy and advocacy office of his climate philanthropy group is just the latest nail in the coffin. In October, the Net Zero Banking Alliance shut down after JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs led a stampede of other banks out the door. Shell and BP have returned to being oil companies, to the delight of their shareholders. Ford is about to cease production of electric pickups that nobody wants. Hundreds of other companies are dropping their climate targets. Australia has backed out of hosting next year’s climate conference.According to analysis by the Washington Post, it is not just Republicans who have given up on climate change: the Democratic party has stopped talking about it, hardly mentioning it during Kamala Harris’s campaign for president last year. The topic has dropped to the bottom half of a table of 23 concerns among Swedish youths. Even the European Parliament has voted to exempt many companies from reporting rules that require them to state how they are helping fight climate change.It has been a long, lucrative ride. Predicting the eco-apocalypse has always been a profitable business, spawning subsidies, salaries, consulting fees, air miles, best-sellers and research grants. Different themes took turns as the scare du jour: overpopulation, oil spills, pollution, desertification, mass extinction, acid rain, the ozone layer, nuclear winter, falling sperm counts. Each faded as the evidence became more equivocal, the public grew bored or, in some cases, the problem was resolved by a change in the law or practice. But no scare grew as big or lasted as long as global warming. I first wrote a doom-laden article for the Economist about carbon dioxide emissions trapping heat in the air in 1987, nearly 40 years ago. I soon realized the effect was real but the alarm was overdone, that feedback effects were exaggerated in the models. The greenhouse effect was likely to be a moderate inconvenience rather than an existential threat. For this blasphemy I was abused, canceled, blacklisted, called a “denier” and generally deemed evil. In 2010, in the pages of the Wall Street Journal I debated Gates, who poured scorn on my argument that global warming was not likely to be a catastrophe – so it is welcome to see him come round to my view.The activists who took over the climate debate, often with minimal understanding of climate science, competed for attention by painting ever more catastrophic pictures of future global warming. They changed the name to “climate change” so they could blame it for blizzards as well as heat waves. Then they inflated the language to “climate emergency” and “climate crisis,” even as projections of future warming came down.“I’m talking about the slaughter, death and starvation of six billion people this century. That’s what the science predicts,” said Roger Hallam, founder of Extinction Rebellion in 2019, though the science says no such thing. “A top climate scientist is warning that climate change will wipe out humanity unless we stop using fossil fuels over the next five years,” tweeted Greta Thunberg in 2018. Five years later she deleted her tweet and shortly after that decided that Palestine was a more promising way of staying in the limelight. Scientists knew that pronouncements like this were nonsense but they turned a blind eye because the alarm kept the grant money coming. Journalists always love exaggeration. Capitalists were happy to cash in. Politicians welcomed the chance to blame others: if a wildfire or a flood devastates your town, point the finger at the changing climate rather than your own failure to prepare. Almost nobody had an incentive to downplay the alarm.Unlike previous scares, climate fear has the valuable feature that it can always be presented in the future tense. No matter how mild the change in the weather proves to be today, you can always promise Armageddon tomorrow. So it was that for four long decades, climate-change alarm went on a long march through the institutions, capturing newsrooms, schoolrooms and boardrooms. By 2020 no meeting, even of a town council or a sports team, was complete without a hand-wringing discussion of carbon footprints. The other factor that kept the climate scare alive was that reducing emissions proved impossibly difficult. This was a feature, not a bug: if it had been easy, the green gravy train would have ground to a halt. Reducing sulfur emissions to stop acid rain proved fairly easy, as did banning chlorofluorocarbons to protect the ozone layer. But decade after decade, carbon dioxide emissions just kept on rising, no matter how much money and research was thrown at the problem. Cheers!Switching to renewable energy made no difference, literally. Here’s the data: the world added 9,000 terawatt-hours per year of energy consumption from wind and solar in the past decade, but 13,000 from fossil fuels. Not that wind and solar save much carbon dioxide anyway, their machinery being made with coal and their intermittency being backed up by fossil fuels.Despite trillions of dollars in subsidies, these two “unreliables” still provide just 6 percent of the world’s energy. Their low-density, high-cost, intermittent power output is of no use to data centers or electric grids, let alone transport and heating, and it effectively poisons the economics of building and running new nuclear and gas generation sites by preventing continuous operation. Quite why it became mandatory among those concerned about climate change to support these unreliables so obsessively is hard to fathom. Subsidy addiction has a lot to do with it, combined with a general ignorance of thermodynamics. Now the climate scare is fading, a scramble for the exits is beginning among the big environmental groups. Donations are drying up. Some will switch seamlessly to trying to panic us about artificial intelligence; others will follow Gates and insist that they never said it was the end of the world, just a problem to be solved; a few will even try declaring victory, claiming unconvincingly that promises made at the Paris climate-change conference a decade ago have slowed emissions enough to save the planet. Bjørn Lomborg, the Danish economist who is president of the Copenhagen Consensus and has fought a lonely battle against climate exaggeration for decades, recently explained the shift in public opinion: “The shrillness of climate doom also wears down voters. While climate is a real and man-made problem, constant end-of-the-world proclamations from media and campaigners massively overstate the situation.” A key figure in the collapse of the climatocracy is Chris Wright, the pioneer of extracting shale gas by hydraulic fracturing who was appointed by Trump as Energy Secretary this year. Wright commissioned a review of climate science by five distinguished academics that set out just how non-frightening the facts of climate change are: slowly rising temperatures, mainly at night in winter and in the north, correspondingly less in daytime in summer and in the tropics where most people live, accompanied by a very slow rise in sea level showing no definite acceleration, minimal if any measurable change in the average frequency and ferocity of storms, droughts and floods – and record low levels of deaths from such causes. Plus a general increase in green vegetation, caused by the extra carbon dioxide. Melissa, the category-5 hurricane that devastated Jamaica last month, killed around 50 people. In the past – before global warming – hurricanes like that killed tens if not hundreds of thousands. In total, weather events killed just 2,200 people globally in the first half of this year, a record low, whereas indoor air pollution caused by poor people cooking over wood fires because they lack access to gas and electricity kills three million a year. So yes, Gates, influenced by Lomborg and Wright, is correct to say that getting cheap, reliable, clean energy to the poor is by far the more urgent priority. Only a few western European ministers sneer, but even some of them (the British being an exception) quietly admit that they need to find a way to climb down off their green high horses.Fortunately, they now have convenient cover for doing so: artificial intelligence. We would love to go on subsidizing wind and solar, say the Germans privately, but if we are to have data centers, we need lots more reliable and affordable power so we will now build gas – and maybe even some nuclear – turbines. Likewise, throughout the tech world of the American west coast, emoting about climate suddenly seems like a luxury belief compared with the need to sign contracts with firm power suppliers, mostly burning natural gas – or get left behind in the AI race. The world’s gas glut is impossible to overstate: thanks to fracking, we have centuries’ worth of cheap gas. The tech bros are piling into nuclear, too, but that won’t address the needs for extra power until well into the next decade – and the need is now. The climatastrophe has been a terrible mistake. It diverted attention from real environmental problems, cost a fortune, impoverished consumers, perpetuated poverty, frightened young people into infertility, wasted years of our time, undermined democracy and corrupted science. Time to bury the parrot.

Southeast Asia's greenhouse gas emissions demand urgent regional action -- A new regional assessment shows that Southeast Asia is a major net source of greenhouse gases, with land-use change and rising fossil fuel use overwhelming natural carbon sinks, reservoirs that store carbon-containing chemical compounds for a long period. A comprehensive assessment of Southeast Asia's greenhouse gas balance carried out by an international team of researchers led by Hiroshima University, shows that the region is a significant source of climate-warming gases. The leading causes are deforestation, damage to peatland, fires, and a rapid rise in fossil fuel use. The study, published in the journal Global Biogeochemical Cycles, highlights how difficult it will be for countries in the region to reach climate neutrality. It stresses the need for countries to work together as soon as possible.

Fossil-fuel propaganda is stalling climate action; here's what we can do about it --2025 has been a year of setbacks for Canada's climate policy. In November, the federal and Alberta governments signed a memorandum of understanding to remove strict climate policies in the province and to support the construction of a new pipeline from Alberta to northern British Columbia. The government also canceled the federal carbon tax this year, while ending funding for home energy-efficiency programs and delaying sales mandates for zero-emission vehicles. These steps have pushed Canada even further from meeting its climate goals, which were already too weak to limit global warming to 1.5 C, as outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement.What's behind these changes and why is Canadian progress on tackling climate change so slow? Put simply, it's because climate action threatens the profits of the fossil-fuel industry, and they've spent the past 50 years doing everything they can to prevent it.While the industry has used many tools in this endeavor, perhaps its most effective has been its propaganda machine—a global network of foundations, think tanks and lobbyists known as the Climate Change Counter Movement. In our newly published study, we review the academic and non-academic literature to map how this movement has used its influence to delay climate action in Canada.For years, the movement's main strategy was to deny that climate change was happening or to claim that humans weren't causing it. However, as summers got hotter and wildfires, floods and hurricanes became increasingly common, this narrative became less convincing.The propaganda machine then adopted a new tactic. Rather than denying climate science, it exploited legitimate debates about how climate policy should be designed to sow confusion, cause political deadlock and suggest policies that don't threaten their profits.Three examples of these new narratives are particularly widespread in Canada: fossil-fuel solutionism (that fossil fuels can be part of efforts to tackle climate change), "whataboutism" and appeals to well-being.Together, they uphold the claim that fossil fuels are a necessary and unavoidable part of everyday life and that Canadian fossil fuels are less carbon-heavy than those produced in the rest of the world, meaning that supporting the Canadian fossil-fuel industry would supposedly reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.These arguments are logically flawed—fossil fuels are incompatible with a world below 1.5 C warming. They're also based on a falsehood, because oil from the Canadian oilsands is roughly 21% more polluting than conventional crude oil.Another common argument is that fossil fuels are essential to the Canadian economy, but this narrative overstates the costs of transitioning away from fossil fuels and understates the enormous costs of allowing climate change to continue unmitigated. While these narratives do originate from elite members of the Climate Change Counter Movement, our case study found evidence that they're already being repeated by members of the general public and might even explain why many Canadians falsely believe that a clean energy future could include fossil fuels.

Trump administration pauses 5 offshore wind farm projects The Trump administration has suspended the authority of five major offshore wind farms to keep building in federal waters, yet another escalation of the administration’s attacks on the wind energy industry. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a post on the social platform X that five leases, all on the East Coast, were being paused due to “national security concerns.” “Due to national security concerns identified by @DeptofWar, @Interior is PAUSING leases for 5 expensive, unreliable, heavily subsidized offshore wind farms!” Burgum wrote. “ONE natural gas pipeline supplies as much energy as these 5 projects COMBINED. @POTUS is bringing common sense back to energy policy & putting security FIRST!” he added. A press release from the Interior Department particularly cited potential radar interference known as “clutter” from wind turbines. The department said that blade movement “obscures legitimate moving targets and generates false targets in the vicinity of the wind projects.” The five offshore wind projects whose leases were halted are: Vineyard Wind 1, Revolution Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW), Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind. The projects are located near New England, Virginia and New York. Together, these projects would be expected to generate enough electricity to power up to about 2.5 million homes, according to their project websites. Their pause comes as the administration has repeatedly sought to hamper renewable energy — especially offshore wind. This has included the issuance of “stop work orders” to halt construction of several offshore wind farms. President Trump has repeatedly lambasted the renewable energy source. He has feuded with wind in both a political and business capacity, including opposing their presence near a Trump golf course. The administration first sought to halt Empire Wind’s construction but later reversed itself after discussions with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D). Meanwhile, after the Trump administration issued a stop work order to the nearly complete Revolution Wind, a federal judge preliminarily allowed its construction to move forward in September. The suspension of the leases represents a further escalation of that effort — and another mechanism through which construction of wind power can be halted. Dominion, which is behind the Virginia project, said in a statement that its project “is essential for American national security and meeting Virginia’s dramatically growing energy needs.” “Stopping CVOW for any length of time will threaten grid reliability for some of the nation’s most important war fighting, AI, and civilian assets. It will also lead to energy inflation and threaten thousands of jobs,” said the statement, shared by spokesperson Jeremy Slayton. Slayton noted that the company got a 90-day stop work order. The statement said that the project has been in the works for 10 years, has been in “close coordination” with the military and has had two pilot turbines operating for five years without national security impacts. Regarding Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind, company Ørsted released a statement saying it “is evaluating all options to resolve the matter expeditiously” including legal action.

Interior pins shutdown of wind projects on ‘emerging national security risks’ - The Trump administration escalated its offensive against offshore wind Monday by slamming its costs and effectiveness — but also by ramping up concerns about national security. The Interior Department said it was suspending leases for five projects currently under construction off the East Coast because of recent classified reports from the Defense Department. In a statement, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the move addressed “emerging national security risks.” He pointed to a “rapid evolution” of adversaries’ technologies and concerns about radar “clutter.” National security analysts were skeptical about what new security information might have come to light about offshore wind. The five projects under construction were approved during the Biden administration in consultation with military officials, and several U.S. allies in Europe have large offshore wind projects. Legal experts also questioned whether the pause will withstand legal scrutiny. It “boggles the mind” that “all of a sudden the secretary of Interior learned something that everybody missed over the last 15 years,” said Dave Belote, a retired Air Force colonel and wind energy consultant. He said wind developers generally agree to pay for a radar software upgrade to edit out turbine interference once a project is operational, while also agreeing to shut down a project’s operations if military officials believe a threat in the vicinity needs to be investigated further. From 2010 to 2012, Belote directed the Defense Department’s siting clearinghouse that aimed to ensure renewable energy projects were compatible with military operations. Monday’s move from the Trump administration affects five projects: Vineyard Wind 1 and Revolution Wind off the coast of New England; Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind 1 off New York; and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind. As of September, half of Vineyard Wind 1 was operational. Interior said it would work with the developers to determine whether the identified problems could be mitigated. The Department of Defense, which President Donald Trump previously renamed the Department of War, did not respond to a request for comment about the pause. An Interior spokesperson declined to comment beyond Monday’s announcement. “The Department of War has come back conclusively that the issues related to these large offshore wind programs create radar interference that creates a genuine risk for the U.S., particularly related to where they are in proximity to our East Coast population centers,” Burgum told Fox Business on Monday morning. Throughout the day, Burgum also released a series of posts on social media slamming the costs of offshore wind energy. Wind advocates — including Democratic members of Congress — pushed back against the administration’s claims that wind energy is too expensive and unreliable. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) called the move “stupid and shortsighted.”“Clutter” or “interference” occurs when unwanted reflections or indicators appear on radar systems, obscuring objects that operators are looking to identify. While wind turbines have long been known to affect radar systems, national security experts said those impacts can be mitigated by additional operator training or other types of surveillance technology. Lasse Hirsch, who served in the Royal Danish Navy and now is a partner at a consulting firm focused on offshore energy infrastructure and national security called Heimdal Critical Infrastructure, said radar issues are real but “manageable.” He said it was “too easy” for the administration to raise national security concerns without specifying them. “It’s like giving me a fine on the motorway without telling me how I have been speeding,” he said. In a statement, the Danish energy giant Ørsted, which is developing Sunrise Wind and Revolution Wind with Skyborn Renewables, said it was “evaluating all options to resolve the matter expeditiously,” including through engaging with federal agencies “as well as the evaluation of potential legal proceedings.” The company said federal officials on Monday instructed the developer to halt activities on its leases for the next 90 days. Equinor, the Norwegian developer of Empire Wind 1, said in a statement Monday that the company is “engaging with relevant authorities to better understand this matter.” “Empire plans to continue to work with BOEM and other federal agencies to continue to implement all necessary mitigation for the project,” the statement said. A spokesperson for Vineyard Wind did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Pennsylvania joins lawsuit seeking Trump administration release of EV charger funds - --New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania are suing the Trump administration over funding for electric vehicle chargers, as part of a coalition of 17 Democratic attorneys general, and Gov. Josh Shapiro. They are alleging the White House is acting unlawfully by withholding funds approved by Congress. “Without any notice or explanation, the United States Department of Transportation just quietly refused to approve any new funding under the programs which had already been appropriated by Congress and awarded to the states,” said New Jersey Attorney General Michael Platkin. “This is consistent with how this administration has treated congressional appropriations. They’re not optional. They’re laws,” said Platkin. And the Constitution says that only under limited circumstances can the president, after money has been appropriated by Congress and passed into law, can he restrict those funds from going to their intended recipients.” New Jersey is waiting on $16 million from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program and the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator Program. Both programs are part of the Biden-era bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Congress passed in 2022. Platkin said the funds would create new jobs and provide EV drivers greater access to the roads.“At a time, again, when we’re trying to make energy costs go down,” Platkin said. “We’re trying to make people’s lives easier and more affordable. This makes no sense. It’s illegal, but it also just makes no sense.”The 20-year contract locks in a fixed price meant to insulate the city from rising costs. But the price is higher than what the city initially sought.The lawsuit alleges the Trump administration’s actions violate the Constitutional separation of powers and the Administrative Procedure Act.Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a statement that the funds would support “EV construction projects in Pennsylvania and … new, good paying jobs.”“I will not let the federal government break their word at the expense of Pennsylvanians,” Shapiro said.Pennsylvania was awarded funds to construct three charging stations along I-78 and I-81. The joint project involving Maryland, New Jersey and West Virginia was awarded $18.6 million.The effort was part of former President Joe Biden’s effort to tackle climate change.

Happy Together – A Renewed Push for Tighter Gas-Electric Coordination as Potential Crises Loom - There are widely differing views about how much U.S. demand for electricity may rise over the next few years due to the emergence of AI and large-scale data centers and how much that may impact demand for natural gas. But there’s across-the-board agreement that (1) the electric and gas sectors are more intertwined and interdependent than ever and (2) electric-grid reliability will suffer if more isn’t done to ensure gas-fired plants get the fuel they need when they need it. Now, after years of mostly tinkering around the edges, real action on gas-electric coordination looks to be at hand, thanks to a new push by Energy Secretary Chris Wright and the National Petroleum Council (NPC). In today’s RBN blog, we discuss highlights from a new NPC report and why we think it matters. The NATGAS Appalachia weekly report provides the data and insights to monitor the northeast natural gas market’s twists and turns and identify the risks and opportunities along the way, including tracking supply-demand trends, outbound capacity and their impact on takeaway pipeline utilization, and regional prices. We’ll start with the big picture on power. The economics of coal- vs. gas-fired generation may still shift month to month and year to year, but natural gas is the undisputed king of power, accounting for well over 40% of the electricity produced in the U.S. in recent years (brown layer in Figure 1 below). Coal, with a roughly 16% share (teal layer) isn’t even #2 or #3 nowadays — those spots now go to hydroelectric and other renewables (blue and orange layers, respectively), with a combined 21%, and nuclear (light-green layer), with 18%. Petroleum (fuel oil/diesel; yellow layer) brings up the rear, with less than 1%. Contrast that with the U.S. generation split back in 2001, when coal accounted for 51% of total production, nuclear was the runner-up at 21% and gas finished third at only 17%.

AI energy demand by the numbers — and how it might affect the planet - First came predictions of skyrocketing electricity consumption from data centers. Now, it’s starting to materialize. The question is what it means for the grid and the planet. Commercial electricity demand, a proxy for data center power consumption, is up 2 percent through the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same time last year, according to a review of federal data by POLITICO’s E&E News. That follows a 3 percent increase in 2024. That’s a seismic shift for the U.S. power sector, whose electricity demand was flat for much of the last two decades. And that is expected to spike even higher as the Trump administration and technology companies try to outpace China in the race to develop artificial intelligence. The consulting firm Grid Strategies predicts that peak electricity demand nationwide could grow 166 gigawatts by 2030. That’s the equivalent of adding 15 New York Cities over the next five years. “We’re now seeing in the data what we’ve all been talking about the last couple years,” said Rob Gramlich, chief executive of Grid Strategies. He estimated that data centers would account for 55 percent of the growth in U.S. electricity demand over the next five years. Surging power requirements from data centers have become a political flash point this year as the cost of electricity climbs for voters. The climate impacts of the shift have received less attention but are nonetheless significant. Data centers could drive climate pollution down if tech companies build zero-emission technologies like solar, wind and nuclear. But planet-warming emissions could spike if data centers are powered by fossil fuels. The climate stakes are especially high because the power sector has been the main driver behind falling U.S. emissions in recent years, as the country swapped old coal plants in favor of natural gas facilities and renewables. Analysts say it’s too early to quantify the impact of data centers on the grid and the climate. Power generation trends today are influenced by larger economic factors, like the price of natural gas and the weather, which can drive electricity demand up or down. Even so, 2025 offers some hints about how data centers could help green the electric sector or set it back. Data center hot spotsAs the U.S. shipped more natural gas abroad this year, and a hot summer and a cold winter pushed up demand for power, utilities fired up old coal plants that were idling on the sidelines. Coal generation nationally is up 13 percent, or 64 terawatt-hours, through September, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration figures. At the same time, solar generation exploded thanks to the generous tax credits created during the Biden administration. Solar production grew 29 percent, or nearly 70 TWh. Natural gas generation, meanwhile, is down almost 4 percent, or 54 TWh, because of higher prices. The result was a 2 percent rise in carbon dioxide from power plants through September, compared to the same period in 2024, according to EPA data. “Having a lot of load growth is certainly creating more emissions,” said Johannes Pfeifenberger, an analyst who tracks the power sector at the Brattle Group, a consulting firm. “Even if we add a lot of renewables, we need to produce power when the renewables aren’t producing. That is just a challenge of growth.” Data-center development remains a largely regional story. Just 10 states accounted for 85 percent of U.S. commercial load growth through three quarters of 2025, according to EIA, or 23 TWh. Eight of those states are hot spots for data-center construction. (The exceptions are Massachusetts and New York, which boasted large increases in commercial load but have seen limited data-center development.) In Ohio, a data-center hot spot where commercial power consumption was up 11 percent, coal generation rose 23 percent or 5.2 TWh. Solar was up 93 percent or almost 3.4 TWh. Meanwhile, gas generation fell by 6 percent or almost 4 TWh. In Oklahoma, coal generation was up 58 percent, or 2.7 TWh, marking another hotbed for data centers where commercial electricity demand rose 10 percent. Solar was up 70 percent or 0.2 TWh. And then there is Texas. The Lone Star State is ground zero for the country’s data center boom. Its commercial load grew 5.2 TWh through September, the largest absolute increase in the country. It has also long burned more coal than any other state, even though the carbon-intense fuel generates less of Texas’ electricity than natural gas, wind and, as of this year, solar. Texas coal generation was up 8 percent through September, or nearly 3.7 TWh. But that figure was eclipsed by new solar generation, which grew a whopping 32 percent or 14.5 TWh. The divergent trends show how the data center boom could unfold. “Clean energy, they’re being supported with tailwinds from data centers and load growth,” Gramlich said. “But there is demand for power. So again, I think older power plants are staying online longer than planned and I think new plants are coming in, and that’s mainly gas.” Commercial electricity demand is not a perfect measure of how much power data centers are consuming. EIA classifies other sectors of the economy as users of commercial electricity, like hospitals, office space and retail buildings like malls. In 2024, it estimated that computing accounted for 8 percent of total commercial electricity consumption. A deeper examination of the numbers reveals important nuances. For instance, EIA does not differentiate between data center load and cryptocurrency operations. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which serves 90 percent of the state, breaks them into separate categories. Cryptocurrency operations accounted for 4 TWh of new demand through September, according to ERCOT. Data centers, by contrast, are responsible for just 0.13 TWh of additional demand. Nor is commercial electricity consumption the only part of the economy that’s pushing up demand. Residential power demand grew even more during the first three-quarters of 2025, increasing 2 percent, or 27 TWh, over 2024 levels. The increase is primarily a reflection of the weather, with a cold winter and a hot summer pushing up demand for power. “I would offer that weather remains the undefeated champion of electricity demand,” said EIA analyst Glenn McGrath. “Data centers have clearly driven up average commercial sector growth, but when looking at changes within certain time frames and in certain regions, I think weather is the predominant factor. The natural variability of demand over the course of the year makes isolating the effects of things like data centers harder to see.” The data center energy load that has materialized so far is only a fraction of what is expected. ERCOT has fielded requests for 225 gigawatts of electricity by 2030 from large consumers that want to connect to its grid. Data centers also present unique challenges beyond the sheer quantity of electricity they require. They tend to consume power around the clock, pushing up the minimum amount of energy required by the grid. That is a boon for fuels like coal that tend to have less flexibility to ramp generation up and down, said Pfeifenberger of the Brattle Group. Data centers can also exacerbate peak events, adding to the amount of power needed during high demand hours and requiring more power generation to come online. The ultimate impact to the grid and planet will depend on whether new data centers can be flexible by ramping down when demand peaks, said Michael Caravaggio, who studies the utility industry at the Electric Power Research Institute, a nonprofit. Data centers that switch to backup generators or use less electricity or during peak periods limit the amount of new generation that needs to be built, he said. “That relieves a lot of load and provides a lot of potential room,” Caravaggio said. It remains to be seen if 2025 is an outlier or a harbinger of things to come. Some trends seen this year could peter out, while others could accelerate. Solar installations are on pace to nearly match last year’s record levels and are expected to set new records in 2026 and 2027, when developers can still qualify for the Biden-era tax credits. But installations are expected to slump when the tax credits expire in 2028. At the same time, technology companies are turning to gas to meet their generation needs. GE Vernova, the turbine-maker, said this month that it has booked contracts to make turbines capable of producing 80 gigawatts of new capacity over several years, up from around 50 GW in the first quarter of 2025. The composition of all the new energy in the U.S. will go a long way toward determining the climate impact of data centers. Jeremy Fisher, an analyst who tracks the power sector at the Sierra Club, noted that the load growth observed so far is tiny compared to what is projected to come online in the coming years. Even so, the rate of demand growth from data centers has already caught up to the pace of renewable energy installations — and could soon exceed it. “We are inevitably driving up substantial amounts of emissions on the system,” he said.

"It's Utilities Versus Rent" - Data Centers Send Energy Prices Soaring -- The surge in data center construction to power today’s AI and cloud computing demands has sent electricity prices skyrocketing over the last few years. And, as Bloomberg reports, it is only getting worse. With electricity costs now as much as 267% higher compared to five years ago in some parts of the US, fingers are being pointed directly at data center activity for blame. And while some - especially generously funded lobbies - are eager to dissemble and distort, claiming that on the contrary, electricity prices are barely keeping up with inflation and that data centers have little to no impact on electrical bills, the map below shows that more than 70% of the nodes that recorded pricing increases are located within 50 miles of significant data center activity. Take Nicole Pasture: the Baltimore resident said her utility bills are up 50% over the past year. She is also a judge who rules on rental disputes in the city’s district court and sees people struggling with their power bills. “It’s utilities versus rent,” she said. “They want to stay in their home, but they also want to keep their lights on.” New data center construction projects are announced weekly, sometimes every day. Some of the construction timelines have upwards of 100 MW of new data center demand being built only two years from groundbreaking. This has to be contrasted against the rate of new energy generation construction, with the recent vite among PJM Interconnection stakeholders resulting in a failure to even select a plan for how to add data centers to the grid. “The voting reflects the nearly impossible challenge of trying to ensure resource adequacy and control ratepayer costs, while also allowing data center development in a market that is already short on generation supply and faces a 5-to-7 year timeline to bring on new large-scale generating resources,” Jon Gordon, a director at Advanced Energy United, a clean energy trade group, said in a bulletin on the meeting. While some utilities have been able to pass the burden of higher electricity costs onto the owners of the large loads, most of the costs of expanding grid capacity inevitably find their way to consumers. According to Bloomberg, in northern Virginia, Dominion Energy cited data center demand, inflation and higher fuel costs when asking regulators to raise its customer bills by about $20 a month for the average residential user over the next two years. Dominion also forecasts peak demand would rise by more than 75% by 2039 with data centers. It would be just 10% without. And it's only getting worse: with hundreds of gigawatts of future power demand from data centers built by companies like Oracle and Microsoft, Goldman writes that "eight out of the 13 US regional power markets are already at or below critical spare capacity levels."

Naval Reactors For AI Data Centers - Commerce Scretary Lutnick appeared on Fox News, discussing new energy for data centers. As we have noted previously, energy prices continue to spike near data center facilities across the US. Lutnick claimed data centers are going to provide additional power generation and capacity to the grid along with the construction of their facilities to lower the energy prices, but so far this has not been the case.The additional costs of infrastructure to the wider grid that come with higher demand are not covered in the higher rates paid by the hyperscalers. Many of the costs extend to equipment outside of the immediate vicinity of the new power consumer, such as upgrades and maintenance to upstream transformers and powerlines. Maybe the rest of the US should copy what Texas does...And while multiple companies and developers are working on solutions for on-site, "behind-the-meter" power for AI data centers - with little practical success to date - one power developer has formally proposed an idea that has been informally discussed for years. HGP Intelligent Energy, a Texas power developer, is proposing to use reactors from US Navy submarines and aircraft carriers to power a data center project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The company claims redirecting two retired naval reactors could produce about 450-520 MW of power in what would be the fastest way to add new baseload power to the grid while the commercial nuclear industry struggles to get back on its feet.The likelihood of this proposal being accepted by the US government is extremely low unless custody of the reactors is retained by the DoE, which is what HGP currently recommends in their proposal. Naval reactors have multiple differences compared to traditional commercial reactors, most notably the extremely high enriched uranium content, which is over 90%, compared to traditional reactors which are less than 5%In addition to concerns about proliferation of weapons grade uranium, there are also concerns of how the reactors can operate after they are removed from their submarines or carriers. The reactors are either removed from their vessels and decommissioned due to no longer being able to operate as designed at their old age, or sometimes due to the decommissioning of their host vessel. There are likely multiple headaches with operating the reactor in its aged status with respect to reactor physics and material integrity. Just sticking lower enriched fuel inside a reactor designed for highly enriched fuel could prove difficult, as the geometry of the core alone may not allow for proper operation.

FERC delivers firm guidance on electricity to AI industry - Federal energy regulators on Thursday opened new pathways for data center developers to tap into electricity from “co-located” power plants — putting artificial intelligence companies on more sure footing as they seek to build infrastructure.The order approved unanimously by the five-member Federal Energy Regulatory Commission applies only to PJM Interconnection, the grid operator that coordinates electricity flows to 67 million customers in 13 states. Observers viewed FERC’s action as a critical start of a process designed to ease the way for electricity contracts to power the booming AI industry.“It has become persistently difficult and expensive to build new grid infrastructure in this country, both generation and transmission,” said Commissioner David Rosner. “A business-as-usual approach will not work to meet growing demand while also keeping prices reasonable and power reliable.The co-location issue erupted in November 2024, when FERC rejected PJM’s request to allow an Amazon data center in Pennsylvania to increase the power it pulls from the nearby Susquehanna nuclear plant. The proposal raised fears that major power plants will divert electricity to serve technology giants, shrinking supply available to the public and raising utility bills.The ruling will still require PJM to implement the order, and the advocates for a wide variety of approaches were still sorting through complex details. But FERC’s decision Thursday gives a green light to specified co-location arrangements. And it attempts to cut down on the data center capacity that could end up relying on the regional grid during periods of stress and power shortages. How the new rules will impact the AI transformation and whether policy aimed at PJM will apply to other regional grid operators was not clear, industry and trade group officials said Thursday. While FERC acted on the co-location issue, it is just beginning work on a broader rulemaking called for by the Department of Energy to speed up the process of connecting AI data centers to the grid. FERC does not regulate policy for adding new power plants to the grid, the responsibility of the states. But its oversight of interstate transmission rules and rates offers opportunities to speed up development of data centers and power sources.Caitlin Marquis, managing director at Advanced Energy United, a group supporting carbon-free power, said PJM’s current rules lack clarity about how technology companies requiring a lot of power can build or sign on to their own electricity generation.“Co-location can create some certainty for new large loads that want to contract with new generation to reduce some of the financing and project risk,” Marquis added. “That could make it easier for projects to get built.”PJM’s leadership has been criticized by governors, various grid sector factions, consumer advocates and environmental groups for moving too slowly on each sides’ separate agendas.PJM has been in a state of turmoil and indecision for months. PJM President and CEO Manu Asthana is leaving his job at the end of this year with no permanent replacement appointed. PJM’s industry members voted two people off the board earlier this year, and governors in the region have demanded representation on PJM’s board.

Data centers fight uphill battle on energy messaging - Data centers are facing a significant backlash from the public and some policymakers over their energy usage, but the companies backing the projects may not be doing enough to push back. Technology giants fueling the data center boom like Google, Meta and Amazon have been active in state utility regulatory proceedings and local government fights where they want to build facilities. They’ve also bolstered their Washington lobbying on the issue. The companies argue projects are paying their fair share for electricity and any burdens they bring to the electric grid, and can even reduce prices for other customers. But as the industry increasingly faces charges that data centers are harmful to the electric grid, are the main cause of skyrocketing electricity bills and use polluting energy sources, the companies’ rebuttals don’t seem to be getting through. “Whatever they’re doing right now is clearly not working from a communications and lobbying perspective,” said Nate Mason, a former energy analyst at the State Department who has studied the effects of data centers on the electric grid and argued that they can bring numerous benefits. GET FULL

Ohio Board Approves “Behind the Meter” Power Plant Near Columbus - Marcellus Drilling News -- Back in February, MDN told you that a company called PowerConneX had pre-applied to build a 120-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant at a 49-acre site in New Albany, Licking County (near Columbus) that will host a data center (see New Power Plant/Data Center Proposed in Columbus, OH Suburb). Instead of connecting to the local grid, the power plant will be “behind the meter”—providing 100% of its power to a local data center. The company filed the full, official application in June, expanding the capacity of the power plant to 216 MW. According to news we’re just hearing about now, the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) approved the expanded application at its Nov. 20 board meeting.

13 Kids Join Challenge Against Homer City Gas-Fired Power Plant -- Marcellus Drilling News -- In April, Knighthead Capital Management, Homer City Redevelopment (HCR), and Kiewit Power Constructors Co. announced a plan to convert the former Homer City Generating Station, previously the largest coal-fired power plant in Pennsylvania (Indiana County, 50 miles east of Pittsburgh) into a more than 3,200-acre natural gas-powered data center campus, designed to meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (see Largest Gas-Fired Power Plant in the U.S. Coming in Western Pa.). The new gas-fired plant attached to the project will be THE LARGEST gas-fired power plant in the country, capable of producing up to 4.5 gigawatts (4,500 MW) of electricity. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently approved an air quality plan for the new facility (see PA DEP Signals Air Plan Approval for $10B Homer City Power Plant). Last week we told you that PA radicalized green groups (Clean Air Council, PennFuture, and Sierra Club) have officially appealed the DEP’s permit approval (see PA Green Groups Appeal DEP Permit for Homer City Gas-Fired Power). You can now add to the lawfare campaign a group of 13 children, represented by Our Children’s Trust, who are challenging the project.

Trump, atoms, AI and the Texas data center gusher - — On a 5,800-acre swath of dusty plains outside the barbed-wire fence of the Pantex nuclear weapons plant, crews are piling up mounds of dirt for a colossal monument to Donald Trump’s presidency — possibly the biggest he won’t own. It’s here that Fermi America — a startup led by former Texas governor and U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Dallas billionaire Toby Neugebauer — is developing what would be the world’s largest private energy grid and AI campus. It includes the most ambitious build-out of legacy nuclear reactors in half a century. Canals for power lines and chain-link fences for an electricity substation are the first tangible signs of Fermi’s Donald J. Trump Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus.The project was hatched near the start of Trump’s second term and is riding the political and policy trends the White House has created to encourage energy and artificial intelligence “dominance.” Almost a year later, the AI bonanza has reshaped the U.S. economy. Tech investors are speculating and trading on debt for projects of enormous scale, complexity and cost. States eager for economic development dollars are fast-tracking electricity expansions that could raise household costs.The venture Fermi named Project Matador would host more than 18 million square feet of data centers packed with supercomputers and powered with nuclear, gas and solar plants generating more electricity than 15 states use at their peak. Neugebauer and Perry say it would also place Fermi on the front lines of a U.S. national security priority: dominating China for AI supremacy.The Bureau of Land Management has approved a multistate power line project originally planned to carry renewable energy across the desert Southwest but now being billed as a necessary upgrade to an aging and increasingly overstressed regional power grid. The 214-mile-long Cross-Tie power line is projected to carry about 1,500 megawatts of electricity — enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes — across mostly federal tracts between central Utah and east central Nevada.BLM’s record of decision approving the project, issued last week, calls for routing the 500-kilovolt high-tower line across about 174 miles of bureau rangelands, mostly following existing power lines. The Forest Service issued a separate final approval for an 8-mile section of the line that will cross the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

DOE orders 2 Indiana coal plants to continue operating - The Department of Energy ordered two Indiana coal plants on Tuesday to postpone retirement and continue operating, expanding President Donald Trump’s campaign to aid fossil fuels. The orders for R.M. Schahfer and F.B. Culley mark the third and fourth times DOE has used its emergency powers this year to prevent coal plants from closing. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the move was necessary to ensure reliable power in the Midwest as electricity consumption rises because of data center construction. Both facilities had been slated to shut down by the end of this month. “The Trump Administration remains committed to swiftly deploying all available tools and authorities to safeguard the reliability, affordability, and security of the nation’s energy system,” Wright said in a statement. “Keeping these coal plants online has the potential to save lives and is just common sense. Americans deserve reliable power regardless of whether the wind is blowing or the sun is shining during extreme winter conditions.” That justification was questioned by environmentalists and consumer advocates who argued that DOE’s moves would drive up electricity prices while failing to improve reliability. They pointed to a Michigan utility that reported earlier this year that a similar order for a massive coal plant in its service territory had cost ratepayers $80 million. “The federal government’s order to force extremely expensive and unreliable coal units to stay open will result in higher bills for Hoosiers who are already reeling from record-high rate increases in 2025. We can’t afford this costly and unfounded federal overreach,” said Ben Inskeep, program director at the Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana. Trump ran on a pledge to revive the coal industry during his first presidential campaign, only to see a wave of coal plants shut down once he reached the White House. The president has pushed to prevent that from happening again during his second term. The Federal Power Act gives DOE the authority to order power plants to run for 90 days in the event of a grid emergency.DOE has made frequent use of that power this year. Its first order, in May, went to J.H. Campbell days before the massive plant in Michigan was scheduled to close. The department has extended the order twice. Then, last week, Wright ordered TransAlta’s Centralia Generating Station in Washington state to stay open, despite years of planning by the company to shutter it this month. DOE has also ordered a Pennsylvania oil plant to delay retirement.The administration announced its latest order late Tuesday. The move to keep R.M. Schahfer open is particularly notable. Closing the 800-megawatt coal plant was central to Northern Indiana Public Service Co.’s plan to shutter its coal fleet and replace it with a combination of solar and gas facilities. The plant was originally set to close in 2022, but the utility pushed the date back because of delays in bringing new solar facilities online. Coal plant closures have roiled Indiana politics before. Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican, issued an executive order in April calling on state utility regulators to consider extending the life of every coal-fired power plant in Indiana. Braun warned that up to 9 gigawatts of coal-fired generation was slated to retire or transition to another fuel by 2038. The utility has sent mixed signals over its plans for Schahfer. In August, it asked EPA officials to extend the deadline for storing coal ash in an unlined pond at the plant through 2031, arguing that it would help meet the administration’s reliability goals. The company noted that operating the plant past its retirement date would require “significant capital investment.” “Granting this extension would enable us to address the Department of Energy’s recent reliability findings and align with the Administration’s stated objectives of supporting baseload generation,” wrote Fred Gomos, senior director of environmental policy and sustainability at NiSource, the parent company of Northern Indiana Public Service Co. But even as the utility, known as NIPSCO, positioned itself to keep Schahfer open, it was publicly signaling that it was preparing to shutter the plant. The chief executive of NiSource, Lloyd Yates, told financial analysts in October that the company was committed to “advancing coal plant retirements,” even as it monitored the Trump administration’s moves. The company is also planning to close its 540MW Michigan City coal plant in 2028. Last month, a NIPSCO executive told POLITICO’s E&E News that it plans to install 2,600 MW of gas generation on the site of Schahfer to serve new data centers operated by Amazon.com. The company did not offer details about the effects of the DOE order on those plans.

EOG Utica Oil Well Results Increase Interest in Mahoning County Marcellus Drilling News --The EOG Resources-owned Wehr Spring Valley Farm well in Ellsworth may signal a resurgence in the oil and gas industry in Mahoning County, Ohio. Producing 40,489 barrels of oil in its first quarter, the well significantly outperformed neighboring sites, validating predictions that the Utica play would yield oil as it moves north. Regional leaders and attorneys attribute this success to advanced drilling technologies, specifically improved surfactant chemistry and closer fracturing stages. This production spike in the Wehr well has revitalized local interest in mineral rights and spurred infrastructure investments, such as Vallourec’s $48 million pipe mill expansion, highlighting the region’s growing economic potential.

Ellsworth oil and gas well increases interest in Mahoning County — When Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber President and CEO Guy Coviello was asked if the amount of oil and gas produced in the third quarter of this year by a new horizontal oil and gas well in Ellsworth is good news for the area’s oil and gas industry, he offered two thumbs up. “The numbers are starting to prove what we predicted a few years ago — that the Utica play will move north and be rich in oil,” he said. The EOG Ohio-owned well is called the Wehr Spring Valley Farm and is at the corner of state Route 45 and Leffingwell Road. It generated 40,489 barrels of oil and 203,299 MCF of natural gas during the third quarter of this year, its first quarter of production, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. For comparison, there are 10 other horizontal oil and gas wells in Mahoning County. None of them produced more than 339 barrels of oil in the third quarter, and none produced more than 39,899 MCF of natural gas in the third quarter. Horizontal wells began to be developed in the Mahoning Valley about a dozen years ago. But neither Mahoning nor Trumbull County has seen the kind of high production numbers as Columbiana County wells have seen in recent years. Coviello said the Regional Chamber predicted that good production would come north from Columbiana County because of reports from Cleveland State University and “strategic decisions made by companies like Encino Energy. A lot of this is the result of new exploration and production technology.” EOG in recent months purchased the oil and gas rights in the Mahoning and Columbiana areas that were previously held by Encino. The new Ellsworth well is one of those leases. Coviello added, “This is why we have been focused on helping the industry with favorable public policy, talent expansion and housing. A lake-to-river pipeline along Route 11 and permitting reform are essential elements to maximizing the play.” He noted that the Youngstown-Warren area has “already begun seeing the benefits” of increased oil and gas production in the region with the recent expansion” at Vallourec pipe mill in Youngstown. Last month, Vallourec broke ground on a $48 million investment in a new premium steel pipe threading line to serve the oil and gas industry. Mike Chadsey, director of external affairs for the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, was asked about the production numbers at the Ellsworth well and said, “The industry continues to be encouraged by the production reports from Mahoning County and the Mahoning Valley overall. The continued investment and activity show that producers in the area are expanding the area of the Utica.” Nils Johnson of the Law Offices of Johnson and Johnson of Canfield has worked with landowners and energy companies in the Mahoning Valley for many years. He said this week that production numbers at the Ellsworth well and technology improvements have increased interest in Mahoning County oil and gas. That includes property owners and those who want to buy mineral rights. “Our phones are ringing off the hook, as it should be,” he said. In the past couple weeks, property owners have been approached about leasing their mineral rights for oil and gas exploration, he said. Johnson described two ways in which oil and gas companies have improved the ways they hydraulically fracture their horizontal wells in order to improve the amount of oil and gas being produced in wells such as the Wehr Spring Farm well and others in the region. One has been in the “surfactants that make the water more slippery” in the fracking process, Johnson said. He called it the “secret sauce, the frack fluids that are injected to break open the rock, have been improved greatly. If you inject regular water into shale, there are clays in the shale that will swell and clog everything up,” he said. “So there are things called clay stays and surfactants that make the water more slippery that are added. And they adjust these (formulas). And over time they get better and better at it. So they have kind of figured out the secret,” he said. The Richard Wheeler blog on the sunitausa.com website stated in August that the chemistry behind hydraulic fracturing “often gets overlooked,” saying that “Surfactants are key additives that control viscosity, reduce surface tension and improve fluid recovery.” They help unlock hydrocarbons from tight formations and boost well productivity, he said. Johnson said another way gas and oil companies have improved production from horizontal wells is by changing the “spacing” of stages of fracturing. Instead of “completing the wells every 600 or 700 feet, it’s now every 200 for 300 feet,” Johnson said. While the production numbers have soared in Columbiana and other counties to the south, the production numbers from horizontal wells in Mahoning County over the past decade have “kind of condemned Mahoning County” from an oil and gas perspective, Johnson said. Earlier Mahoning County results “weren’t very good. But with the upgrade in technology, a lot of these that seem to have been condemned are springing back to life,” he said. There is a horizontal well in Ellsworth adjacent to the new Wehr Spring Valley Farm well called the Hendricks well. It produced 343 barrels of oil in the third quarter and 6,295 MCF of natural gas, according to ODNR data. Johnson said he believes the results at the Hendricks well historically are among the reasons Mahoning County has not been viewed as favorably as some other areas for oil and gas production. He said he believes the Spring Valley Farm results may be changing that. Johnson said he believes improved methods Hillcorp Energy Co. is employing at horizontal wells it owns in the area helped production numbers at those wells. “This technology — the experimentation with what frack fluids to use and and how close do you put the stages of the frack process — everybody is upping their game, and that always happens when you move into a new basin and start trying to develop a new rock,” Johnson said. He said Encino and Hillcorp have been using new methods for several years. He mentioned Encino wells in Hanover and Knox townships in western Columbiana County that have had success using new hydraulic fracturing methods. The wells he referenced produced natural gas of 200,000, 130,000, 179,000, 151,000, 192,000, 155,000, 147,000 and 164,000 MCF of natural gas in the third quarter, according to a ODNR database. Each well’s oil production was in the 11,000 barrels and less range. He said such wells are located near wells whose production was “not very good, but they used new fracks and so forth and did pretty well,” adding “This (Utica / Point Pleasant Shale) is one of the big oil and gas fields in the world.” Johnson said that when a shale play, such as the Utica and Point Pleasant in eastern Ohio, is “developed, it takes time until the geology is understood.” He said, “They run tests and try to determine which frack fluids are going to work best, and that takes a while to work out how much horsepower you need to hit it with,” he said. Johnson showed a map from the EOG website while discussing the distribution of dry natural gas production areas in the easternmost part of Mahoning County and “wet” gas on the westernmost parts of the county. The map shows four regions designated by four colors moving east to west with dry gas first, then a section “starting to make some fluids,” with the next section producing “volatile oil,” and the fourth section having “heavier oil.” Johnson said his advice to property owners considering oil and gas leases is to talk to a knowledgeable attorney and work with neighbors because “that gives you negotiating clout. And if you have a big enough block, they can’t force you to pool.”

June Road well pad fire was brief, contained --The Great Trail Fire District of Malvern was dispatched to a reported explosion with fire on a well pad on June Road at 7 a.m. Dec. 16. Fire units arrived to find an active fire on the well pad. Great Trail Fire District Chief Ralph Castellucci said additional departments were requested immediately upon dispatch as a precaution. Three departments were initially called but were turned around after crews assessed the situation and confirmed all personnel were safely off the well pad. Firefighters coordinated with personnel on site, and information sharing and personnel accountability were established with EOG Resources Inc., which was actively fracking on the pad at the time of the incident. Company protocols shut down the equipment, Castellucci said. The fire was allowed to burn down and was contained to a vapor tank. The wellheads were not involved in the fire and officials reported minimal damage to equipment on the well pad. “The fire largely burned itself out within approximately 15 minutes,” Castellucci said. “Crews were on scene for about an hour to check conditions, conducting overhaul operations and extinguishing a few remaining smoldering areas. Most of the fire had already gone out on its own.” Emergency Management Director Tom Cottis said reports he saw on the internet describing a major explosion or a fire burning for hours were inaccurate. He said the incident was a brief “flash fire” during the fracking process, one of the most vulnerable stages of operations, and that built-in safety systems worked as designed. “There was a flash and there was a visible column of smoke,” Cottis said. “But it was not a major explosion and it was not a prolonged fire.” Cottis said the appearance of the fire was intensified by snow on the ground, which reflected light and made the flames appear larger and brighter from a distance. Lucas said that effect led to additional calls the following night when residents mistook a routine flare stack for another fire. “From where the caller was, it was right on the horizon line, so it did look like something was on fire, when in reality it was a flare stack doing what it’s supposed to do,” Lucas said.

Ohio Tax Commissioner Putting New O&G Pipelines at Risk - Marcellus Drilling News -- Marcellus Drilling News -- The Ohio Tax Commissioner is facing a lawsuit from Rover Pipeline over an aggressive property tax assessment that inflates the project's market value. The dispute centers on the state treating $2.2 billion in weather-related construction overruns and an unrealistic "infinite lifespan" assumption as value-adding assets. Critics argue that this approach violates constitutional principles of fair market valuation, under which taxes should reflect what a willing buyer would pay rather than total development costs.

Tracking oil and gas waste in Pennsylvania is still a ‘logistical mess’ - The Allegheny Front --How much toxic oil and gas waste is produced in Pennsylvania every year, and where does it end up? Despite state efforts to track it, there’s no way to know for sure. For more than a decade, regulators have been aware of significant problems with their tracking system for the large volumes of waste created by Pennsylvania’s booming fracking industry. Eleven years ago, reporters at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette found that nine Pennsylvania landfills had reported accepting tens of thousands of tons of oil and gas waste more than industry operators said were being sent there. Two years ago, a University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University study found the same unexplained gaps, this time totaling more than 800,000 tons. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection promised to investigate the discrepancies and look into updating its reporting standards for companies. But an Inside Climate News analysis of state records from 2017 to 2024 found that the problem persists. The analysis revealed discrepancies totaling almost 1.4 million tons. Some landfills in the southwestern part of the state report receiving far more oil and gas waste than Pennsylvania operators say was sent. Among the handful of landfills required to tell the state how much oil and gas waste they accept, the collective total reported from 2017 to 2024 in their annual reports was 3.1 million tons. That’s around 80 percent more than the 1.7 million tons Pennsylvania oil and gas operators said they sent to those locations. One theory is that some of the discrepancies, especially at landfills in the southwestern corner of the state, could be caused by large volumes of waste coming from Ohio and West Virginia and being disposed of in those landfills. That would not be included in reports from oil and gas operators in Pennsylvania. Another possibility is that Pennsylvania operators are underreporting the amount of waste they are sending to landfills, just as was found in the Post-Gazette’s investigation in 2014 and the universities’ in 2023. The state’s outdated, disconnected and largely unaudited systems mean that no one—including DEP—knows how much oil and gas waste there is or where all the waste is going, said David Hess, who served as the agency’s secretary from 2001 to 2003 and has closely monitored environmental news in Pennsylvania since then. Without accurate tracking, he said, it’s far more difficult to enforce regulations around spills, leaks, transport and dumping on roads or in public waterways. Contaminants in this waste can include radioactive material, heavy metals and carcinogenic chemicals. “It could be dumped right next to somebody’s house and they would not even know,” Hess said. “It is very important to track where this goes.” He added: “If you don’t actually do the audits and find out where this stuff is actually going, if for no other reason than to keep the operators honest, it becomes very difficult to say with a straight face that you’re really effectively regulating this stuff. Because you just don’t know.” For months, Inside Climate News has been asking DEP to clarify how it tracks oil and gas waste. Although a spokesperson, Neil Shader, confirmed that the agency does review landfills’ annual operations reports and audits landfills’ oil and gas waste numbers “as needed,” DEP did not respond to questions about the state’s different systems for tracking this waste or the large volume discrepancies in the records. Shader said that the agency does not regularly audit landfills’ records unless there is an investigation or enforcement action underway. As fracking in Pennsylvania enters its third decade, the volume of waste in the state’s landfills keeps getting bigger. Operators reported producing almost 8.8 million tons of solid waste between 2017 and 2024 and sending about 6.3 million tons of that to landfills in the state. All told, the operators say they’re producing a little over a million tons a year of solid oil and gas waste. For comparison, residents and businesses in all of Allegheny County produce about 900,000 tons of waste annually. Most of Pennsylvania’s oil and gas waste goes to landfills within the state, the weight equivalent of dumping two Empire State Buildings every year. Inside Climate News found the largest discrepancies at Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill, Imperial Landfill and Arden Landfill in the southwestern corner of the state. Together, these three landfills accounted for about 98 percent of the almost 1.4 million-ton total discrepancies. They are close to the borders with Ohio and West Virginia, suggesting that waste from those two states might account for much of the difference.

Twenty years into fracking, Pennsylvania has yet to reckon with its radioactive waste - When John Quigley became the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in 2015, he knew that he would be busy trying to keep up with the consequences of the state’s rapid increase in natural gas production. But when reports landed on his desk that trucks carrying oil and gas waste were tripping radioactivity alarms at landfills, he was especially concerned. Ten years after the alarms first unsettled Quigley, fracking in Pennsylvania has continued to grow, generating huge volumes of oil and gas waste and wastewater in the process. Seventy-two percent of the solid waste ends up in landfills within state borders, and a truck carrying it sets off a radioactivity alarm every day on average, an Inside Climate News analysis found.Radioactive elements such as radium, uranium and thorium in rocks deep underground come to the surface as a byproduct of oil and gas drilling. Experts have long worried about the potential health and environmental impacts of this waste. Radium exposure is linked to an increased risk for cancer, anemia and cataracts.New research from the University of Pittsburgh suggests that the wastewater created by fracking the Marcellus formation, the ancient gas deposit beneath Pennsylvania, is far more radioactive than previously understood. And there is also evidence that some of it is getting into the environment: Researchers have found radioactive sediment downstream from some landfills’ and wastewater treatment plants’ outfalls.But the state has barely shifted its approach to regulating the waste. “Nothing material has been done,” said Quigley, who left in 2016. “Nothing has really changed.” In 2023, radioactivity alarms were triggered more than 550 times at Pennsylvania landfills because of oil and gas waste, according to an analysis of landfills’ annual operations reports conducted by Inside Climate News. The vast majority of this waste was disposed of on-site; landfills rejected the waste only 11 times. Radium-226 was the most common isotope cited as the reason for the alarm. DEP issued a new guidance document for solid waste facilities and well operators that handle radioactive materials in 2022, with some of the changes specifically aimed at the fracking industry. Landfills have been required to submit a Radiation Protection Action Plan to the state since 2001, covering protocols for worker safety, monitoring and detection and records and reporting, and DEP may require sites to test regularly for the long-lasting radium-226 and radium-228 if they have received large volumes of radioactive oil and gas waste. But DEP has fallen behind on many other aspects of regulating this waste. In 2021, then-Gov. Tom Wolf said the state would require regular radium testing of landfills’ leachate, a liquid byproduct created when rainwater passes through waste, accumulating contamination. Wolf’s announcement came more than five years after DEP had recommended adding radium to leachate testing requirements. But leachate testing results from 2021 through 2024 acquired by Inside Climate News via a right-to-know request do not contain results for radium. In an email, DEP spokesperson Neil Shader said the agency does not currently require landfills to test for it. He did not explain why the policy has not yet been implemented. “DEP is still finalizing a policy around radiological material in leachate,” he said.Understanding the scope of the problem is difficult because Pennsylvania’s tracking of oil and gas waste and leachate remains disorganized and piecemeal, an Inside Climate News investigation found. Landfills are supposed to turn away waste that is too radioactive based on the total volume of waste they have already accepted that quarter. If the volume estimates are inaccurate or misreported, it could mean that some sites are exceeding the allowable amounts.Meanwhile, DEP’s last comprehensive study of radioactivity in oil and gas waste is more than nine years old, even though the agency said at the time that follow-up investigations were needed. DEP confirmed to Inside Climate News that it is studying the radioactivity of landfill leachate but offered no timeline for publication.The Marcellus Shale Coalition, an industry trade group, maintains that the solid waste and wastewater generated by fracking in Pennsylvania is well managed and poses no health risks to the public or workers. Landfill employees face less danger from oil and gas waste than someone getting a routine CT scan, the group argues, and landfill permits contain restrictions on how much oil and gas waste they can accept in any given year.

The ‘toxic cocktail’ brewing in Pennsylvania’s waterways - The Allegheny Front - Off a back road in the hilly country south of Pittsburgh, a tributary to the Monongahela River runs through overgrown vegetation and beneath an abandoned railroad trestle, downstream from the Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill. On a cool day in late July, it was swollen with rain. Tire tracks through the dense brush were puddled with muddy water. Environmental scientist Yvonne Sorovacu and local watershed advocate Hannah Hohman visit the landfill site regularly to collect water samples and record signs of contamination. The water here, which flows downhill from the landfill’s discharge point, is often coated with stiff globs of foam, Sorovacu said. The water upstream of the outfall is clear.Over the course of more than a decade, as Pennsylvania’s fracking industry took off, the Westmoreland landfill accepted hundreds of thousands of tons of oil and gas waste and wastewater, toxic and often radioactive byproducts that contain elements and heavy metals from deep inside the earth and synthetic chemicals used in the drilling process. That melange can include radionuclides like radium, uranium and thorium as well as harmful substances like arsenic, lead and benzene.After years of violations at Westmoreland, scientists and residents are keeping a close watch on the landfill, monitoring for any signs that runoff has made its way into public waterways. But oil and gas waste is going to landfills across the state, often with far less scrutiny. At least twenty-two other landfills currently take Pennsylvania oil and gas waste, and some also accept it from other states.Oil and gas companies operating in Pennsylvania reported creating nearly 8.8 million tons of solid waste between 2017 and 2024, an Inside Climate News analysis of state records found. That works out to an annual average that tops the waste produced by every resident and commercial enterprise in Allegheny County, where Pittsburgh is located.According to Pennsylvania oil and gas operators, about 6.3 million tons of this waste went to landfills in the state. But the true amount of oil and gas waste reaching the state’s landfills is likely much larger, an Inside Climate News investigation found.And mounting evidence suggests that this ever-increasing volume is harming the streams, creeks and rivers where Pennsylvanians fish, swim, kayak and source drinking water.In one case, at Max Environmental Technologies Bulger in southwestern Pennsylvania, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified the radioactive element radium, a common contaminant in oil and gas waste, as one of the likely causes of the pollution in nearby creeks. In a 2023 study, scientists from the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University found elevated levels of radium in the sediment downstream of the outfall at five of the landfills taking the industry’s waste.Scientists have also discovered radium build-up in freshwater mussels’ bodies and shells downstream of facilities that have treated oil and gas waste.Four of the landfills taking oil and gas waste are out of compliance with their permits, an Inside Climate News review found.Another seven have been out of compliance with the Clean Water Act for six months or more in the last five years.Thirteen are discharging wastewater or stormwater into waterways the EPA classified as “impaired,”too polluted or otherwise degraded to meet water-quality standards. State regulators have been aware of these issues for years, but little has changed in the way the waste is handled, transported or disposed of. In 2020, then Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the publication of a grand jury investigation into fracking, which concluded that Pennsylvania had failed in its responsibility to protect the public from the environmental and health impacts of the industry. One of the grand jury’s eight recommendations for the state government called for clearer labeling of fracking waste during transport.“Our government and the shale gas industry currently have no long-term sustainable solution to managing the toxic waste generated by fracking operations,” the panel wrote. “At the very least, the industry should be required to more safely and responsibly transport this waste around the Commonwealth.” In Pennsylvania, contamination from fracking is layered on top of earlier waves of pollution from coal mining, manufacturing and oil drilling. One of the most prevalent sources of contamination is abandoned mine drainage, a type of pollution that comes from coal mines; like a number of other landfills in Pennsylvania, Westmoreland was built on top of a shuttered mining operation. Despite decades of clean-up efforts, more than 5,500 miles of streams in Pennsylvania are still affected by abandoned mine drainage, with devastating consequences for aquatic wildlife. Acid mine drainage, a type of abandoned mine pollution, is the second leading cause of stream pollution in Pennsylvania.There’s been little research into what this jumble of pollutants might mean for the environment.“When you’re mixing these things together into some kind of toxic cocktail, what are the impacts going to be on Pennsylvania’s waters?” said John Quigley, who previously served as the head of both the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “The cumulative impacts of this could be horrendous.” Westmoreland did not respond to requests for comment. Max Environmental Technologies, which owns two landfills, said in a statement that its Bulger location is currently closed and its Yukon locationis not accepting oil and gas waste right now.When reached for comment about threats to the environment posed by fracking waste, the Marcellus Shale Coalition, a gas industry trade group, said that existing state and federal laws as well as companies’ safety practices “have proven to be protective of public health and the environment, and our members remain committed to operating safely, transparently, and responsibly.”Sorovacu and Hohman saw that one side of the stream near Westmoreland was a reddish color on the July day they were collecting samples. “You can see the historic acid mine drainage here,” said Sorovacu, who works for Protect PT, a local grassroots environmental group that has been monitoring the landfill for years. “All of our waterways are impacted by legacy [pollution], but this stream does have drainage from the landfill, so it’s one that we’re concerned about,” she said. “It’s never only one thing.” As if to emphasize her point, the other side of the stream was a chalky white as it poured from a culvert on the opposite bank. Aluminum-heavy drainage from the coal mine beneath the landfill was a likely culprit, she said. The color acted almost like a visual calling card for water coming from the landfill.

Chart Toppers: Frac Spreads Get a Modest December Boost, But the Stocking Isn’t Full --Frac spreads have strengthened modestly so far in December 2025, averaging $2.15/MMBtu—up 13% from November but still 47% below December 2024 levels. Propane remains the largest single contributor at $0.85/MMBtu, followed by natural gasoline at $0.74/MMBtu. While both are down from year-ago levels, they continue to dominate the overall spread. Normal butane and isobutane provide additional support at $0.41/MMBtu and $0.27/MMBtu, respectively. The ethane frac has continued to recover but remains negative, contributing –$0.13/MMBtu. Overall, modest gains in heavier NGL values are supporting the frac spread, but economics remain well below year-ago levels.

Green County, PA, OKs Phase 1 of New Data Center with 910-MW Plant -- Marcellus Drilling News -- The Greene County Planning Commission recently voted 8-1 to approve Phase 1 of “Project Hummingbird,” a massive data center complex proposed for the former Robena Mine site in Monongahela Township. This initial phase focuses on land grading, reclamation, and site preparation for a “power island” featuring two natural gas turbines totaling 910 megawatts (MW) and a water treatment plant. The plant will use Marcellus/Utica gas to power it.

Hochul signs bill to repeal gas subsidies - -- Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill Friday to repeal subsidies for gas infrastructure. The bill signing delivers a minor win for environmental advocates after the Hochul administration sparked their ire by approving a new gas pipeline and delaying implementation of a building electrification law. But the bill was signed with a provision delaying implementation for one year. “It’s simply unfair, especially when so many people are struggling right now, to expect existing utility ratepayers to foot the bill for a gas hookup at a brand new house that is not their own,” Hochul (D) said in a statement. The NY HEAT Act would get rid of the state’s 100-foot rule, which requires utilities to connect a new building to an existing gas main if it is within that perimeter. The cost of the connection is then passed on to all ratepayers.

Trump Pauses 5 Offshore Wind Deals; Connected to Constitution Pipe? -- Marcellus Drilling News -- A big announcement from the Trump Department of the Interior (DOI). Yesterday, the DOI announced an immediate pause on all large-scale offshore wind project leases currently under construction in the United States. There are five such projects along the East Coast, including one off the coast of New York State. The DOI said the decision stems from “national security risks” identified by the Department of War in classified reports, specifically concerning radar interference known as “clutter” caused by massive turbine blades. Trump previously negotiated a deal with NY Governor Kathy Hochul to allow two pipeline projects—the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project and the Constitution Pipeline—in return for building the offshore Empire Wind 1 project (see White House Claims NY Gov. “Caved” on Pipelines, Hochul Says No). Our immediate thought is to question whether this pullback on the wind project is somehow connected to the pipeline deal.

Indian Chemical Co. Starts Up in W. Virginia Using M-U Butane - Marcellus Drilling News -- Natural gas liquids (NGLs) include “heavier” hydrocarbons that come out of the ground along with methane (CH4). The most prevalent NGL by volume is ethane (C2H6). Another common NGL is propane (C3H8). And yet another is butane (C4H10). Depending on the location, all of those NGLs are produced in abundance in the Marcellus/Utica region. So, it should not come as a surprise that manufacturing plants that use NGLs as feedstock would decide to locate facilities in the region to leverage low-cost NGLs. India-based Thirumalai Chemicals Ltd. (TCL) is moving into pre-commissioning and startup activities at its new manufacturing facility in West Virginia (near Moundsville, Marshall County) and is progressing toward startup operations.

Antero CEO Explains Decision to “Double Down” on West Virginia -- Marcellus Drilling News -- Two weeks ago, MDN brought you the news that Antero Resources, the country’s fifth-largest natural gas producer and largest producer in West Virginia, had cut a deal to buy WV driller and midstreamer HG Energy II for a combined (upstream & midstream) $3.9 billion (see Antero Resources Buys HG Energy II in Deal Worth $3.9 Billion). The deal will add a massive 385,000 net acres to Antero’s existing ~475,000 net core Marcellus acreage position, bringing with it another 850 MMcfe/d in production. The same day we told you that Antero was selling its considerable Ohio Utica assets for $1.2 billion (see NOG & INR Partner to Buy Antero Resources’ Ohio Utica for $1.2B). In an unusual move, Antero CEO Michael Kennedy published a newspaper column to explain the company’s decision to “double down” on WV.

FERC approves changes to Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate route - Pittsburgh Business Times - FERC approved changes in the certificate of public convenience and necessity for Southgate .. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has signed off on significant changes.

FERC clears path for revised MVP Southgate natural gas project -- A controversial proposed natural gas pipeline in North Carolina has passed the latest hurdle to move forward, receiving approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. FERC announced Thursday it has approved an amendment to change the route, pipe diameter and gas-carrying capacity for the Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate project. This means Southgate would extend the pipeline from Pittsylvania County, Virginia into Rockingham County, North Carolina. Opponents to Southgate say the project needed a new application, not an amendment, because the pipeline’s proposed route, size and impact have changed drastically since FERC issued the original Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity in 2020. Jessica Sims, Virginia field coordinator at Appalachian Voices, said Southgate will harm Virginia and North Carolina waterways and communities. “The project necessitated, at the very least, an environmental impact statement. Ideally, this totally revamped project should require a new application to fully consider its impacts,” Sims said. “FERC required neither and has failed impacted communities in its Southgate decision.” Southgate has been a subject of debate since it was proposed in 2018. North Carolina’s DEQ denied a water quality permit for the project in 2020, NC Newsline previously reported. The controversy has continued in recent months. Earlier this year, environmental advocates mounted a challenge to the methane gas pipeline. In October, a FERC analysis found the project potentially redundant. “Right now, people want to see lower electric bills and know their drinking water is safe,” said Steph Gans, assistant director at Clean Water for North Carolina. “This decision does the opposite; it will raise bills and pollute water.” These concerns come about as a rival pipeline undergoes a permitting process at the same time. The Williams Companies expansion of their Transco pipelines, called the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project, expects to receive a decision from FERC on a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity in early February. FERC’s October analysis said the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project could eliminate needs for Southgate, NC Newsline previously reported. “We conclude the Transco System Alternative would be technically and economically feasible and practical,” FERC staff wrote in the document. In the meantime, the North Carolina DEQ’s Division of Air Quality issued permit modifications for two compressor stations associated with the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project on Thursday. Transco plans to upgrade two existing compressor stations along the pipeline — one in Mooresville and one in Lexington. “The leading preference is that neither [pipeline is] built because of the level of emissions that they would bring, and that’s locking us into decades more of fossil fuel infrastructure,” Sims told NC Newsline. “Neither project serves the communities through which it passes.”Shawn Day, a spokesperson for MVP Southgate, said the amended project is necessary to meet public demand for natural gas and its construction and operation will not have a significant environmental impact.He pointed out that in the October environmental assessment, FERC’s “staff analysis here does not consider non-environmental aspects of the project objectives, such as supply diversity and other market issues, which could affect the ultimate viability of the system alternative.” Representatives for FERC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “We look forward to securing all necessary authorizations to build this important project, to provide homes and businesses across North Carolina with the affordable, reliable and lower-carbon energy needed to power modern life,” Day wrote in an email. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will issue its decision on a clean water permit within the next two months, followed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, according to the amendment.

North Carolina Grants Water Permit for Transco Gas Pipeline Expansion (P&GJ) — The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources has issued a water quality certification with conditions for Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC’s proposed natural gas pipeline expansion in North Carolina. The certification covers the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project, which includes upgrades to existing pipeline infrastructure and the installation of new 42-inch-diameter pipe. The project includes about 4.4 miles of pipeline in Rockingham County, known as the Eden Loop, and roughly 24.1 miles in Guilford, Forsyth and Davidson counties, known as the Salem Loop. Because construction will disturb wetlands, waterways and streambanks, Transco applied for a Clean Water Act Section 401 Individual Water Quality Certification, along with riparian buffer authorizations for the Jordan Lake and Randleman Lake watersheds. The authorizations are required where vegetation must be maintained along waterways and would be removed during construction. “Safeguarding water quality and North Carolinians' health remains paramount to the department,” DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson said. “That's why DWR's certification for the pipeline expansion project included conditions to protect wetlands and streams.” According to DWR, the review considered more than 1,000 public comments and testimony from two public hearings held in early September. The certification requires Transco to implement a series of environmental protections during and after construction, including oversight by an environmental inspector, limits on construction right-of-way at water crossings, and restoration of disturbed streams and wetlands to pre-construction conditions. The company must also monitor restored wetlands and streams quarterly for at least three years. While Transco is not required to fully offset all impacts through off-site restoration, it has agreed to purchase mitigation credits to compensate for impacts to riparian buffers in the Jordan and Randleman lake areas. DWR noted that while public comments raised broader concerns about economic need, emissions and pipeline safety, the agency’s authority under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act is limited to evaluating impacts on water quality.

U.S. House Passes SPEED Act for Speedier Permitting of Pipelines - Marcellus Drilling News -- On July 25, 2025, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) introduced the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act to streamline federal environmental reviews for energy and infrastructure projects, addressing delays blamed for hindering U.S. construction (seeBipartisan SPEED Act for Permitting Reform Introduced in Congress). The bipartisan bill aims to accelerate permitting by limiting the scope of environmental impact reviews to immediate project effects, excluding downstream impacts like carbon emissions from fossil fuel use, and imposing a 150-day deadline for legal challenges. The bill passed the House last week, although its future in the Senate is far less certain

Cheniere Completes Train 4 at Corpus Christi Stage 3 LNG Project - Cheniere Energy has reached substantial completion on Train 4 at its Corpus Christi Stage 3 LNG project, keeping the multi-train expansion on track as additional units move toward completion in 2026. (P&GJ) — Cheniere Energy has reached substantial completion on Train 4 at its Corpus Christi Liquefaction Stage 3 project in Texas, marking another milestone in the company’s ongoing LNG expansion. Cheniere said Bechtel, the project’s engineering, procurement and construction contractor, transferred care, custody and control of Train 4 to the company on Dec. 19. The Stage 3 project consists of seven midscale trains with combined capacity of more than 10 million tonnes per annum and remains ahead of schedule and on budget, Cheniere said. The company expects the remaining three trains to reach substantial completion in 2026.

US natural gas futures climb on rising export demand --US natural gas futures rose four per cent on Tuesday, boosted by record gas flows to liquefied natural gas export plants and forecasts for more demand than previously expected over the next two weeks. Front-month gas futures for January delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 15.3 cents, or four per cent, at $4.105 per million British thermal units by 08:59 AM ET. Prices ended 0.5 per cent lower on Monday. "The demand for LNG is very strong and they're keeping those numbers near record high. So, that's definitely supporting the market right now," Average gas flows to the eight large US liquefied natural gas export plants have risen to 18.5 bcfd so far this month, up from a monthly record high of 18.2 bcfd in November. On a daily basis, LNG export feedgas was on track to rise to 18.6 bcfd on Tuesday from an average of 18.1 bcfd last week due to increases at facilities including Cameron LNG's two-bcfd plant in Louisiana, Freeport LNG's 2.2-bcfd plant in Texas and Venture Global's 1.6-bcfd Calcasieu plant. LSEG projected average gas demand in the lower 48 states, including exports, would rise from 127.9 bcfd this week to 136.0 bcfd over the next two weeks. The forecast for next week was higher than LSEG's outlook on Monday. Meanwhile, meteorologists forecast weather across the country will remain mostly warmer than normal through January 7, keeping the amount of gas needed to heat homes and businesses lower than usual for this time of year. "We saw the significant sell off due to the warm up that we're experiencing right now. But, as we go to later January, the weather models are turning colder again and that's causing some short covering," Financial firm LSEG said average natural gas output in the lower 48 US states climbed to a record high of 111.1 billion cubic feet per day in December, surpassing November's monthly record of 109.6 bcfd. The Trump administration suspended leases on Monday for five large offshore wind projects that are under construction off the US East Coast over what it called national security concerns. Suspending offshore wind projects reduces expected renewable generation, which means power grids would likely rely more on natural gas for electricity. Dutch and British gas contracts fell earlier on Tuesday, with some weather forecasts indicating a potentially quicker end to a cold spell, and as supply remains stable. Meanwhile, Myanmar is expected to resume liquefied natural gas imports next year after taking delivery of half a cargo last month, ending a more than four-year hiatus in shipments, data and analytics firm Kpler said. (Reporting by Anmol Choubey in Bengaluru; editing by Barbara Lewis)

Bundle Up: Natural Gas Prices Surge Anew — WSJ - Natural gas futures shot 11% higher on fresh forecasts calling for colder temperatures than earlier weather reports had predicted. January gas futures added 44.3 cents per million British thermal units Tuesday to settle at $4.408. The daily gain reclaimed a big chunk of this month's unseasonal swoon and put prices for the heating and power-generation fuel back roughly to where they started the heating season at the end of October. Gas prices took off in November and hit their highest levels since fuel markets spiked following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In early December, forecasts for warmer-than-normal temperatures sparked a selloff. The latest forecasts, however, call for a return to seasonally chilly temperatures in enough places to change the math for energy traders. This time of year they gauge demand by adding up the number of heating degree days, a population-weighted measure of temperatures below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. One weather model that traders watch has added more than 50 heating degree days to its outlook in recent days, though another model predicts warmer weather than that, according to analysts at NatGasWeather.com. "For now, the markets are believing the colder (model) and are up sharply as a result," the trading firm said.

US nat gas futures edge down in volatile trading after hitting high -- US natural gas futures edged down on Wednesday in thin pre-holiday trading, after touching a near two-week high, supported by forecasts for colder weather and robust gas flows to liquefied natural gas export plants. Front-month gas futures for January delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange were down 16.6 cents, or 3.8 per cent at $4.242 per million British thermal units, after hitting their highest level since December 11 at $4.593 earlier in the session. Prices rose more than 11 per cent on Tuesday, marking the contract's sharpest daily rise since October 30. Meteorologists forecast a slight drop in temperatures nationwide through January 8, with heating degree days increasing from 358 on Tuesday to 377 on Wednesday, still below the normal level of 447, but forecasters anticipate colder weather in the days ahead. "The market's a little on edge and that's why it's trading up the last day or so," said Thomas Saal, adding that lower volumes due to the Christmas holiday have contributed to some volatility. Trading volume remains thin at just 19,541 lots so far, reflecting light liquidity in the January 2026 contract during the holiday period. Average gas flows to the eight large US liquefied natural gas export plants have risen to 18.4 bcfd so far this month, up from a monthly record high of 18.2 bcfd in November. "The LNG exports have helped support the market," Saal said. LSEG projected average gas demand in the lower 48 states, including exports, would rise from 127.9 bcfd this week to 136.4 bcfd over the next two weeks. The forecast for next week was higher than LSEG's outlook on Tuesday. Financial firm LSEG said average natural gas output in the lower 48 US states climbed to a record high of 109.8 billion cubic feet per day in December, surpassing November's monthly record of 109.6 bcfd. US energy firms this week added oil and natural gas rigs for the first time in three weeks, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report on Tuesday. Dutch and British gas contracts rose slightly on Wednesday morning amid thin trading ahead of a long Christmas holiday as forecasts of a cold spell are expected to boost demand. In other news, Russia's leading tanker group Sovcomflot received the first Russian-built ice-class tanker for liquefied natural gas from Zvezda Shipyard with plans to get two more next year, Interfax reported on Wednesday, citing the company's CEO.

Back in the Saddle – Gulf of Mexico Oil Production Nears New High, But Will Growth Continue? | RBN Energy --Crude oil production in the U.S.’s portion of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is poised to top 2 MMb/d for the first time in six years — and only the third time ever. New floating production units (FPUs) and subsea tiebacks keep coming online. And a newcomer to the U.S. GOM, U.K.-based Harbour Energy, just announced a multibillion-dollar deal to acquire LLOG Exploration, a leading Gulf player. As we’ll discuss in today’s RBN blog, a lot is happening in the U.S.’s second-largest oil production area.Way back in January, production started at Shell and Chevron’s Whale FPU (green platform icon in Figure 2 below) in the GOM’s Alaminos Canyon about 200 miles south of Houston. Shell, which operates the project and holds a 60% ownership interest — Chevron owns 40% — discovered oil at the site in 2017 and announced a final investment decision (FID) on Whale in July 2021 (see Last Great American Whale). Shell has said the location has about 480 MMbbl of recoverable reserves, 15 planned wells, and a targeted production peak of 100 Mb/d.Then, in April, Shell also began producing oil at Dover, the second subsea tieback connecting new wells to the Shell-operated Appomattox platform (yellow icon) in the Gulf’s Mississippi Canyon about 170 miles southeast of New Orleans. (Shell holds a 79% stake in Appomattox; a unit of INEOS owns the other 21%.) Wells linked to Shell’s fully owned Dover tieback are estimated to have about 45 MMbbl of potentially recoverable reserves; production from the wells is expected to peak at 20 Mb/d. Also in April — and also in the Mississippi Canyon — Chevron (operator; 60% stake) started production at the Ballymore subsea tieback it owns with TotalEnergies (40%). The three wells that Ballymore links to the Chevron-operated Blind Faith FPU (red icon) are expected to produce up to 75 Mb/d; the recoverable resources at the Ballymore site are estimated to total about 150 MMbbl.Beacon Offshore Energy in July announced the start of production at the Shenandoah floating production system (FPS; light-blue icon), a “regional host facility” it operates in the Walker Ridge area (between the Alaminos and Mississippi canyons) about 150 miles off the coast of Louisiana. Beacon, which shares ownership of the development with Navitas Petroleum and HEQ Offshore, said in October that it had ramped up the output from Shenandoah’s four Phase 1 wells to the targeted 100 Mb/d within only 75 days of first production. Two Phase 2 wells are under development and expected to come online next year.Beacon also has taken FID on Shenandoah South, a nearby resource whose two planned wells — to be connected to the Shenandoah FPS by a 3-mile subsea flowline and riser — are slated for startup in 2028. The FPS’s rated capacity is 120 Mb/d (and 140 MMcf/d) and a 20-Mb/d expansion is planned.Next up for first oil this year was the Salamanca FPU, a newly refurbished platform (orange icon in Figure 2 and photo above; also see February’s Back to Life) in the Keathley Canyon 250 miles southwest of Louisiana that initiated production from the first well at the Leon-Castile fields in September. Four more wells are under development and expected to start up over the next several months. LLOG Exploration is the operator and primary owner of the FPU, whose capacity is 60 Mb/d (and 40 MMcf/d); the co-owners are Repsol and O.G. Oil & Gas. (More on LLOG Exploration and its prospective acquirer in a moment.)A handful of other tieback projects have been completed in recent months or are slated to commence in 2026, each with the potential to add thousands or tens of thousands of barrels a day of additional production in the Gulf. These and the projects we discussed above are expected to help GOM producers offset the natural decline in production from their older offshore wells and maintain the region’s output at or near 2 MMb/d through 2026.Longer-term plans are in the works, too. For example, BP earlier this year initiated construction of its Kaskida floating production platform in the Keathley Canyon (dark-blue icon in Figure 2). The 80-Mb/d facility and the six wells in the project’s first phase are expected to come online in 2029. BP followed up that move by taking FID in September on the nearby Tiber-Guadalupe project (purple icon), which also will feature an 80-Mb/d floating production platform. The recently sanctioned project will include six wells in the Tiber field and a two-well tieback from the Guadalupe field. (Additional wells may be drilled later.) First-phase production is expected to start in 2030.We should note that the Trump administration has taken a number of steps to facilitate expanded oil and gas development in the Gulf. Among other things, Section 50102 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act the president signed into law on July 4 mandates that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) hold no fewer than 30 GOM lease sales by 2040. The first sale, held on December 10, generated just over $300 million in high bids for 181 blocks across 80 million acres in federal waters in the GOM. (The states control the waters near their coastlines.) A second federal lease sale is planned for March 11. More generally, the administration has moved to pare back regulatory hurdles on oil and gas production and encourage the development of energy-related infrastructure.Finally, as we mentioned in the introduction to today’s blog, London-based Harbour Energy said December 22 that it has reached a deal to acquire privately held LLOG Exploration for $3.2 billion — $2.7 billion in cash plus $500 million of Harbour stock. The acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of Q1 2026, would mark the British company’s entry into the U.S. portion of the GOM and complement its assets (most of them under development) in Mexico’s part of the Gulf. (More on that in a moment.) Harbour also owns and operates offshore production assets in Norway and the U.K. as well as onshore assets in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale play.

E&Ps Struggle to Maintain Reserve Life Under the Cash-Return Model | RBN Energy --In the upstream oil and gas world, “reserve life” — calculated via the Reserve Life Index (RLI) — is one of the simplest and most widely cited metrics. The calculation is straightforward: divide a company’s proved reserves by its current annual production and you get an estimate of how long those reserves will last. But behind that neat little ratio lies a web of technical, financial and strategic forces that can make RLI a surprisingly nuanced measure of an E&P’s long-term outlook. In today’s RBN blog, we analyze the reserve-life trends of the 39 E&P companies we cover U.S. Gulf Coast Crude Oil Infrastructure Map. At its core, reserve life starts with the size and quality of the rock. Reservoirs with strong porosity, permeability and pressure profiles generate higher recoveries, while effective secondary and tertiary recovery techniques can stretch reserves for decades. Deep offshore basins, like the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), are notorious for short RLIs because the reservoirs have very high decline rates. That is the primary reason most E&Ps left the Gulf decades ago, although production there is on the rise (see Back in the Saddle). Shale reservoirs also have much higher decline rates than conventional resources. A short RLI creates a reinvestment treadmill that makes it very difficult to manage the capital demands on the company. The recent emphasis on shale production means that 90% of capital investment since 2019 has gone to offsetting declines rather than adding to supply. Conversely, a longer RLI makes the pace of reinvestment more manageable.But geology is not the only factor. The weighting of total proved reserves between proved developed and undeveloped makes a huge difference. (Proved reserves are the estimated quantities of oil and natural gas that geological and engineering data demonstrate — with reasonable certainty — can be economically produced from known reservoirs under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations as of a specific evaluation date. Proved undeveloped reserves require significant future capital before they can be produced. Companies with vast undeveloped reserves generally have a longer RLI than companies with far fewer undeveloped reserves.) In addition, the pace at which a company develops its acreage is equally important: An aggressive drilling program that drives reserve additions higher will push RLI higher, as reserves are added at a faster clip than production. Conversely, a cash-return model (where E&Ps prioritize generating free cash flow and returning cash to shareholders over production growth) can reduce reserve life as reserves are reduced at a faster rate than production drops. This is illustrated in Figure 1 below, which plots the reinvestment rate and reserve life between 2014-24 for our universe of companies. The RLI (blue bars and left axis) averaged 12.8 years in 2014-15 before gradually falling to 9.9 years in 2024 as the reinvestment rate (orange line and right axis) was reduced from 104% of cash flow in 2014-15 to only 50% in 2024. In addition, commodity prices play a big role. Under Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules, proved reserves must be economic at a mandated price deck. (The SEC price deck is the unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month prices for each month in the prior 12-month period, ending on the reporting date.) When prices rise, more locations qualify as “proved,” reserves expand and RLI increases. When prices fall, marginal volumes fall off the books and RLI is reduced. That means RLI often reflects market conditions as much as operational performance.Then there’s corporate strategy. M&A activity can reshape reserve life overnight. Cost inflation, operating efficiency, infrastructure constraints and reservoir revisions can also tug the metric in one direction or another. In this blog we will review the reserve life and reinvestment rates of our three peer groups: the Oil-Weighted, Diversified and Gas-Weighted E&Ps.

US drillers add oil, gas rigs for first time in three weeks, Baker Hughes says (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week added oil and natural gas rigs for the first time in three weeks, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report on Tuesday. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, rose by three to 545 in the week to December 23. , , Baker Hughes released the rig count report a few days early due to the Christmas Day holiday. Despite this week's rig increase, Baker Hughes said the total count was still down 44 rigs from this time last year, marking a 7.5% drop. Baker Hughes said the number of oil rigs rose by three to 409 this week, while gas rigs were unchanged at 127. The oil and gas rig count declined by about 5% in 2024 and 20% in 2023, as lower U.S. oil and gas prices over the past couple of years prompted energy firms to focus more on boosting shareholder returns and paying down debt rather than increasing output. Even though analysts forecast U.S. spot crude prices would decline for a third year in a row in 2025, the U.S. Energy Information Administration projected crude output would rise from a record 13.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2024 to around 13.6 million bpd in 2025. On the gas side, EIA projected that a 63% increase in spot gas prices in 2025 would prompt producers to boost drilling activity this year after a 14% price drop in 2024 caused several energy firms to cut output for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic reduced demand for the fuel in 2020. EIA projected gas output would rise to 107.7 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2025, up from 103.2 bcfd in 2024 and a record 103.6 bcfd in 2023.

AG files lawsuit against Texas oil, gas well operators - Three Texas men used shell companies to pocket revenues from hundreds of New Mexico oil and gas wells while leaving the state with cleanup costs for abandoned properties, Attorney General Raúl Torrez alleges in a new lawsuit. The suit describes a complex asset-stripping scheme in which profitable wells were placed in certain companies while non-productive wells remained in other companies that filed for bankruptcy. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in 1st Judicial District Court in Santa Fe on behalf of New Mexico and the state Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources Department. The suit names as defendants Everett Willard Gray, Marquis Fred Gilmore and Robert Stitzel, all of Midland, Texas, and 15 "shell companies" they operated. Messages left by the Journal this week at companies owned by the three men were not immediately returned. The 72-page lawsuit asks a judge to require the owners and the companies to plug and remediate inactive wells, set aside money for future remediation and compensate New Mexico for costs already spent to clean up abandoned wells. "Now, unless this civil action is successful, most remaining wells on private and State land will need to be plugged and remediated at the State's expense," the suit said. “New Mexicans are suffering from adverse health risks and bear the brunt of environmental harms caused by these companies failing to uphold their agreed-upon duty to responsibly plug oil and gas wells when they are no longer in production,” Torrez said in a statement. The scheme began when the three men acquired hundreds of low- and non-producing oil and gas wells in New Mexico through Remnant Oil Operating LLC and Remnant Oil Company LLC, the suit alleges. The men "drove Remnant into bankruptcy," then attempted to keep Remnant's best wells, the suit alleges. The three attempted to "dump the worst and their environmental liabilities on the State," it said. After the plan failed, Stitzel and Gilmore created Acacia Operating LLC and Gray created Solis Partners to receive the best of Remnant's wells, the suit alleges. The scheme unraveled in December 2024 when New Mexico sued Acacia Operating LLC, demanding the company plug and remediate six wells on state land, according to the suit. "Right on schedule and according to plan, Acacia filed for bankruptcy soon afterwards and is currently in the process of liquidation," the suit states. The men "are once again seeking to walk away from the plugging and remediation costs for which Acacia is now liable," it said.

South Texas Gateway Achieves Its Largest Weekly Crude Export Volume on Record --Crude oil exports from the U.S. Gulf Coast (USGC) rose to just over 4 MMb/d last week, roughly 200 Mb/d above the 2025 year-to-date (YTD) average. The largest export region in the Gulf by volume - Corpus Christi - is home to Gibson's South Texas Gateway (STG) terminal. As discussed in our Crude Voyager Report, loadings from STG increased 240% to record its highest weekly volume on record of 1.1 MMb/d (far right blue bar on chart below), more than triple the volume seen over either of the prior two weeks. Seven cargoes were lifted from STG, with Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) loading activity up from just one VLCC per week to four.While week-to-week volatility in export volumes is not unusual, the recent spike coincides with a notable infrastructure development. Gibson has completed a new connection between the South Texas Gateway terminal and Plain's Cactus II Pipeline, which transports crude from the Permian Basin to Corpus Christi. Although official flow data from T-1 reports will be released at a later date, Gibson has indicated that the connection is designed to improve terminal connectivity and provide up to 700 Mb/d of incremental supply, a development that could support higher and more consistent crude export volumes.

U.S. oil output rose to record high in September - – U.S. oil production rose by 44,000 barrels per day to a record 13.84 million barrels per day in September, driven by a sharp increase in New Mexico and Alaska. The 0.3% rise represented the fourth consecutive month of record output, Energy Information Administration data shows. Production also showed growth in Oklahoma but remained flat in Texas and other key producing states, as oil prices remain low. The price Wednesday of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude oil was at $59.46, down 12.3% from $67.79 a barrel at the beginning of 2025. U.S. crude oil output is up by 407,000 barrels, or 3.0%, since the beginning of the year, driven by technological advancements and efforts by the Trump administration to immediately increase domestic energy production. The U.S. has been the world’s top crude oil producer since 2018. The average price of a gallon of regular grade gasoline on Monday was $3, about 5 cents lower than a year ago, according to AAA. In New Mexico, the second-ranked oil producing state behind Texas, output in September reached 2.351 million barrels per day, representing 17.5% of all U.S. production in the month. New Mexico oil production rose by 50,000 barrels a day, or 2.2%, in September, the data shows. Over the first nine months of 2025, crude oil production in the state increased by 240,000 barrels a day, or 11.4% Productivity gains have been touted by ExxonMobil, the largest producer in the Permian Basin, which spans west Texas and southeast New Mexico. The company has cited success from a proprietary technology it uses in its fracking operations in a portion of the Permian Basin located in New Mexico. The productivity of wells drilled by Exxon in southeast New Mexico has increased by 21% compared to other wells drilled in the same area, industry consulting and analytics firm RBN Energy reported in a blog post. In December 2024, Exxon announced plans to double its production in the Permian Basin to 2.3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2030. Exxon's proppant – a material that opens channels so that oil and natural gas can flow more freely – has increased well productivity, said Pierre Conner, who leads the Tulane Energy Institute in New Orleans. “Exxon is using petroleum coke for the proppant. There continues to be technical advancements like this and others that provide the energy companies a better chance of success and reduces risk in their drilling activities,” Conner said. In Alaska, the fifth-ranked oil-producing state, output in September increased by 31,000 barrels per day, or 8.0%, to 418,000 barrels a day as a new field ramped up output. The ConocoPhillips Nuna project on the North Slope began production in December 2024 and now delivers about 20,000 additional barrels to the market. Repsol, a multinational oil company based in Spain, expects to begin production in early 2026 at the Pikka field on Alaska’s North Slope, with daily output expected to reach 80,000 barrels. In Oklahoma, the state with the sixth-highest crude oil production in September, output rose by 14,000 barrels a day, or 2.5%, to 414,000 barrels per day during the month, according to government data. Other key oil producing states like Texas, North Dakota and Colorado saw September output levels that were little changed from August. In Texas, crude oil production was down by 30,000 barrels a day to 5.801 million barrels a day, and output has nearly flatlined in the last six months. In North Dakota and Colorado, the third and fourth largest U.S. oil producing states, output was little changed at 1.155 million barrels a day and 469,000 barrels a day, respectively. Crude oil output in the federal offshore gulf region, located in the Gulf of America, reached 1.983 million barrels per day in September, the most since February 2020. Offshore production in the Gulf is expected to grow rapidly during the next two years due to technological advancements, a more favorable regulatory and investment environment and a shift away from onshore shale production. Eric Smith, a professor at the Tulane Energy Institute with expertise in offshore energy, said the vast majority of new oil production in the Gulf will occur in deep water, where it is relatively expensive to drill. Technical advancements and improved operational efficiencies now make vast, previously unreachable oil reservoirs in the Gulf accessible to the largest energy companies, Smith said.

Energy Transfer Upsizes $5.6 Billion Texas-to-Arizona Gas Pipeline to Meet Demand - Energy Transfer plans to upsize the Transwestern Desert Southwest expansion after strong open season demand, increasing pipeline capacity and reinforcing natural gas supply to fast-growing markets in Arizona and New Mexico. (P&GJ) — Energy Transfer plans to increase the capacity of its proposed Transwestern Pipeline Desert Southwest expansion after strong customer demand emerged during a recent open season. The project, which will move natural gas from the Permian Basin to markets in Arizona and New Mexico, will be upsized by increasing the mainline diameter from 42 inches to 48 inches. The change raises potential throughput to as much as 2.3 billion cubic feet per day, depending on final compression configuration. Energy Transfer said demand growth in the Desert Southwest — including population growth and the potential retirement or conversion of coal-fired power plants — drove the decision to expand the project’s scope. “Transwestern’s Desert Southwest pipeline expansion is an important critical source of natural gas,” said Ted Geisler, APS President and CEO. “We look forward to Energy Transfer enhancing this project to enable greater resources across the region.” “Natural gas generation is an important part of SRP’s all-of-the-above approach to ensuring reliability and affordability for our customers,” said Bobby Olsen, SRP Associate General Manager and Chief Power System Executive. “The Transwestern Desert Southwest Pipeline expansion will help enable us to meet the region’s growing power needs and strengthen Arizona’s energy infrastructure.” “We applaud the announcement of additional pipeline capacity along the Desert Southwest expansion project,” said Patrick Ledger, CEO of Arizona G&T Cooperatives. “This infrastructure is urgently needed to power the growth and business development taking place in rural Arizona.” As a result of the upsizing, the project’s estimated cost has increased to about $5.6 billion, excluding allowance for funds used during construction. Energy Transfer said the change will raise its total growth capital spending in 2026 by roughly $200 million. The company continues to target an in-service date in the fourth quarter of 2029.

$5.6B Texas-to-Arizona gas pipeline upsized to meet demand - – A natural gas pipeline from Permian Basin in west Texas to the Phoenix, Arizona area will get a capacity boost 50% larger than originally planned to meet strong market demand, oil and gas transportation company Energy Transfer announced. A 48-inch diameter pipe will be used in the construction of the Transwestern Desert Southwest pipeline instead of the 42-inch pipe previously announced in August, Energy Transfer said in a statement. The change will expand the pipeline’s maximum capacity from 1.5 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas to 2.3 billion cubic feet a day. The increase follows strong interest from Arizona utilities to secure additional long-term supplies of natural gas to power artificial intelligence data centers and advanced industrial operations, which prompted Energy Transfer to commit to an investment of $5.6 billion, up $300 million from the $5.3 billion announced in August. “Transwestern’s Desert Southwest pipeline expansion is an important critical source of natural gas,” said Ted Geisler, president of Arizona Public Service, the state's largest electric utility. “We look forward to Energy Transfer enhancing this project to enable greater resources across the region." Most of the additional gas supplies will go to the Phoenix area and central Arizona to power the fast-growing AI data center market and industrial users. Arizona is home to 164 data centers, ranking seventh among all states, according to the online tracking platform Data Center Map. Arizona Public Service, the pipelines’ anchor customer in Arizona, will use additional gas to power electricity plants serving data centers and industrial users, Geisler said in an Aug. 6 earnings call. Arizona Public Service has almost 4.5 gigawatts of committed high-load customer demand in its interconnection queue and an additional 20 gigawatts of uncommitted, potential large-load customers, Geisler said in an interview with Utility Dive in August. For perspective, Geisler said, consider that Arizona Public Service set a peak demand record of about 8.5 gigawatts on July 9, up 300 megawatts from the previous year’s peak. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, generating 20 gigawatts of electricity at gas-fired electricity plants would consume about 1.482 billion feet of natural gas in 2023, the last year for which data is available. Arizona Public Service announced in November it plans to build a new 2-gigawatt natural gas power plant in Gila Bend, southwest of Phoenix, designed in part to supply Arizona’s data center market. The Desert Sun Power plant is expected to come online in 2030 or 2031, following the completion of the Transwestern Pipeline in late 2029. Arizona Public Service plans to pay for the second phase of plant construction by requiring large-load customers to sign long-term contracts at rates that cover the capital costs associated with building the additional power generation.

PHMSA Grants Emergency Permit for Santa Ynez Pipeline Segments - PHMSA has issued an emergency special permit for segments of the Santa Ynez Pipeline System, allowing Sable Offshore to operate under enhanced integrity and safety requirements. (P&GJ) — The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued an emergency special permit allowing Sable Offshore Corp. to implement enhanced integrity management practices on portions of the Santa Ynez Pipeline System. PHMSA approved the permit on Dec. 23 for interstate pipeline segments 324 and 325, according to the company. The permit authorizes Sable Offshore to operate the affected segments under specific conditions while applying additional integrity and operational measures beyond standard regulatory requirements. The agency’s Letter of Decision outlines the approved integrity management practices and operating conditions tied to the emergency permit. The documentation is available through the Federal Docket Management System under docket number PHMSA-2025-1502. Emergency special permits are issued by PHMSA when an operator demonstrates that alternative safety measures can provide an equivalent or greater level of pipeline safety under defined conditions.

Sable Gets Federal Nod for Controversial California Pipeline - — A federal regulator approved the restart of Sable Offshore Corp.’s contested California oil pipeline that leaked 3,000 barrels of crude along the Santa Barbara coastline a decade ago. Article content Sable’s shares rose about 30% Tuesday after it said its plan was signed off on by the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials and Safety Administration. The move follows last week’s determination by the regulator that portions of the key oil conduit, the Las Flores Pipeline System, is under the domain of the federal government and not California. State environmental groups are poised to push back. Houston-based oil driller Sable Offshore Corp. has been trying to restart production at a cluster of offshore drilling rigs in a state prone to energy supply crunches, but has been hamstrung by local opposition. Sable acquired the assets from Exxon Mobil Corp. last year, but the onshore pipe network that feeds crude to refineries hasn’t yet been permitted to reopen. The development comes amid a bigger clash between local and federal officials over how to supply energy in the US. President Donald Trump’s administration is actively boosting crude oil production through deregulation and is proposing to open new areas off the coasts of Florida, Alaska and California to crude drilling. California residents and environmental groups, on the other hand, are fiercely protective of their ecosystems, and are seeking to avoid a repeat of the 2015 Refugio spill which coated beaches in oil, dented tourism, and killed scores of birds and marine mammals. In the letter, PHMSA approved the restart of lines CA-324 and CA-325, conduits built in the 1980s that transport offshore oil once it has reached land from pump stations on the California coast to destinations further inland. Line CA-324, previously known as line 901, was responsible for the 2015 Refugio oil spill under its previous operator, Plains All American. “This pipeline was shut down because it was spewing oil into the ocean and onto our beaches, killing wildlife, disrupting the fishing, tourism and recreation jobs that are critical to our coastal economy and way of life,” said Monique Limón, the incoming California Senate leader. “It is clear this reclassification is yet another attempt by this administration to circumvent state law, putting millions of Californians at risk.” Limón, who also represents the district that includes Santa Barbara, is working with state agencies and Governor Gavin Newsom to ensure the state’s laws are followed to prevent another oil spill, she said. Oil and gas groups, including the nation’s largest trade group, The American Petroleum Institute, have previously hailed Trump’s plans for offshore crude drilling. Meanwhile, professional golfer Phil Mickelson has touted Sable’s plans and continues to do so even after allegations by Hunterbrook Media that Sable executives selectively disclosed information to investors, including Mickelson.

Alaska LNG Secures All Federal Permitting as Development Push Continues - Glenfarne Group LLC, backer of the revived Alaska LNG project, has received the necessary federal permits and is working to attract customers to make the export facility a reality. At A Glance:

• Permitting completed ahead of schedule
• Biological opinions, other permits updated
• 11 Mt/y of tentative offtake deals signed

Alberta Gas Storage Still Plentiful for Christmas -- Gas storage in the Western Canadian province of Alberta, the region in Canada with the greatest amount of storage capacity, fell to 471 Bcf as of December 23 (blue line and text in chart below). Based on data from RBN’s Canadian NatGas Billboard, this latest reading is just 6 Bcf less than last year and a plentiful 76 Bcf higher than the five-year average. The year-on-year deficit is the first for the current heating season after a very mild November which has since transitioned to several weeks of below average temperatures to date in December. Despite the recent cold, storage levels remain very high by historic standards with the latest storage reading the second highest for this time of year. Very robust gas production in Western Canada has offset higher Alberta demand from cold and record gas use in the oil sands, a modest increase in gas exports from the province and, so far, a very erratic and lower than expected gas intake to LNG Canada. Factoring in RBN’s outlook for Alberta gas balances, we expect that the province’s gas storage will exit this year around 460 Bcf (red text in chart below) with a March 2026 exit of 313 Bcf (red underlined text). This would be, respectively, 9 Bcf and 32 Bcf below year ago levels, but 77 Bcf and 40 Bcf higher than the five-year average, suggestive of still very comfortable storage entering the 2026 injection season.

Japan placing high hopes on LNG project in western Canada - Japan is banking on a Canadian project that started full-scale operations in November to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) used for thermal power generation and city gas production. Since the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 disrupted LNG networks and supply chains, Japan has scrambled to secure LNG procurement sources for its economic security. With the LNG Canada project in the western province of British Columbia, Japan can take advantage of its location and the reduced risk of stalled shipping. This is the first time for Japan to import LNG from Canada on a full-scale basis. Mitsubishi Corp. holds a 15-percent stake in LNG Canada and has the right to sell 2.1 million tons of LNG per year to Japan and other Asian countries. Other shareholders include Shell Plc of Britain, Petronas of Malaysia, PetroChina Co. of China, and Korean Gas Corp. of South Korea. Total development costs reached about $14 billion. The project is capable of producing 14 million tons of LNG a year. The first shipment was made on June 30. Natural gas produced in inland regions of Canada is transported through a 670-kilometer pipeline to the Pacific coast, where it is cooled to liquid form and shipped on LNG carriers. LNG Canada now has two production lines in operation. Mitsubishi expects the project to begin generating several tens of billions of yen in profits from the business year starting in April 2026. During a news conference on Nov. 4, Mitsubishi President Katsuya Nakanishi said the company is carefully considering additional investments to increase production capacity. One company source said capacity could double. LNG Canada’s export terminal faces the Pacific Ocean, meaning it takes about 10 days to transport LNG to Japan. In comparison, it takes between 16 and 30 days to ship LNG from the Middle East and the U.S. Southeast region. Along with the lower transportation costs, the Canada LNG project has fewer geopolitical risks. Shipments can avoid the Straits of Hormuz, which is surrounded by Middle East conflicts, and the Panama Canal, where passage restrictions can be imposed due to low water levels. Both waterways are strategically important ocean shipping routes called “choke points.” “We, the government, have high hopes. It means a lot not having to go through the choke points,” In addition to the geopolitical advantages, Canada is a friendly nation to Japan. Before the war in Ukraine, Japan relied on Russia for about 10 percent of its LNG imports, most of which came from the Sakhalin-2 project in the Russian Far East. Mitsubishi and Mitsui & Co. also hold stakes in the Sakhalin-2 project. But after Japan imposed economic sanctions against Russia, President Vladimir Putin’s administration put pressure on Japan by changing the project’s operator and taking other measures. LNG procurement costs soared in the spot market on global concerns over the LNG supply from the gas-rich country. “We had thought it would be OK if we diversified procurement sources, but we were at risk of power outages even if only 10 percent (of LNG) didn’t reach Japan,” the source added.

Falling TTF Prices Mask Rapid Drawdown in EU Gas Storage as Winter Advances - Despite a precipitous drop in international natural gas prices, the European Union (EU) could exit winter with storage levels at the lowest point in five seasons as some U.S. LNG cargoes shift to Asia. Chart showing global natural gas futures settles through 2029, comparing Henry Hub, JPN/KOR LNG, and TTF prices in $/MMBtu, with forward curves and tables detailing 12-month strip values and calendar-year pricing for 2027–2029 as of Dec. 19, 2025. At A Glance:
EU storage estimated at 5-year low
U.S. netbacks favor Asia
Growing LNG supply eases security concerns

Egypt says gas deal with Israel ‘purely commercial without political dimensions’ - Egypt on Thursday called a major gas deal with Israel "purely commercial without political dimensions." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a $35-billion natural gas deal with Egypt on Wednesday, raising controversy over the Egyptian stance regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “The gas deal is a purely commercial deal concluded on the basis of purely economic and investment considerations and does not involve any political dimensions or understandings,” Diaa Rashwan, chairman of Egypt’s State Information Service, said in a statement. Rashwan reaffirmed that Egypt's support for the Palestinian cause “remains firm and has not and will not change.” “Egypt supports the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, rejects forced displacement, and adheres to the two-state solution,” he said. “The gas deal is a commercial contract subject to market rules and the mechanisms of international investment, away from any political use or interpretation,” he added. The Egyptian official stressed that the parties of the agreement are “well-known international commercial companies that have been operating in the energy sector for years,” including the US-based Chevron, in addition to Egyptian companies specialized in receiving, transporting, and trading gas, “without any direct government intervention in concluding these contracts.” Under the agreement, partners will sell 130 billion cubic meters of gas to Egypt through 2040 in exchange for about $35 billion. This deal adds to a series of Israeli natural gas supplies to Egypt over the past five years.

Türkiye's gas imports up 3.9% in October -- Türkiye's natural gas imports increased by 3.9% in October compared to the same month in 2024, according to data from Türkiye's energy watchdog on Tuesday. Natural gas imports in October rose to around 4.10 billion cubic meters (bcm) from approximately 3.95 bcm in the same month of 2024, Türkiye's Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) said in its latest monthly natural gas market report. Russia was the largest natural gas supplier to Türkiye, providing 1.63 bcm, while Azerbaijan and Iran followed with 996 million cubic meters (mcm) and 820 mcm, respectively. During the period, Türkiye imported 363 mcm of LNG from Algeria, 100 mcm from Senegal and 95 mcm from the US. Meanwhile, the country's total gas consumption rose by 11.6% to approximately 3.51 bcm, compared to the same month last year. Industrial natural gas consumption rose 3.7% to 1.21 bcm during the period. Gas use at power plants increased 26.7%, reaching 1.09 bcm. Household consumption also edged up, rising 22.9% to 534 mcm during the same period. The natural gas storage volume in October expanded by 13.4% to around 5.88 bcm, compared to 5.16 bcm in October 2024.

Spot market natural gas prices for Friday, Dec. 26 - The trade volume on Türkiye's spot natural gas market showed an increase of 9.6% to around 17.3 million lira on Friday, Türkiye's Energy Exchange Istanbul (EXIST) data showed on Saturday. Total trade on Thursday amounted to about 15.8 million lira. On Friday's spot market, 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas cost 14,377.43 Turkish liras, while the cumulative natural gas trade volume amounted to around 1.24 million cubic meters. Türkiye received about 277.01 million cubic meters of pipeline gas on Friday.

Reliance resumes Russian oil imports - Reliance Industries has restarted buying discounted Russian crude oil. The company is sourcing barrels from suppliers not under sanctions. These shipments are heading to its refinery in Gujarat. This move is expected to limit a drop in India's overall Russian oil imports this month. Reliance had paused purchases after US sanctions were imposed on Russian producers.

Russia's Gazprom supplied 38bcm of gas to China via Power of Siberia pipeline in 2025 -- Russia's gas corporation Gazprom supplied 38.8 billion cubic metres of gas to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline this year, the company's CEO, Alexei Miller, said on Thursday, up by nearly a fifth from the previous year. "By the end of 2025, we have not only reached our gas supply target for China of 38 billion cubic metres, but more importantly, we will supply China with almost 800 million cubic metres more than our contractual obligations," Miller said at a meeting held to summarise the company's preliminary results of the year. A source familiar with the data told Reuters on Monday that Russia's pipeline exports of natural gas to China were expected to reach around 38.6-38.7 billion cubic metres this year, up from 31bcm in 2024 and exceeding the pipeline's planned annual capacity of 38bcm. Miller said in October that supplies via the Power of Siberia would exceed 38bcm this year. Russia began pumping gas from eastern Siberia to China in late 2019 via the Power of Siberia 1 pipeline.

FG Boosts Security Beef-up at Ogoniland Oil Wells After Spill - The Federal Government has ordered the immediate beefing up of security at all dormant oil wells in Ogoniland, Rivers State, to prevent interference and acts of sabotage. The government also vowed to identify and prosecute those linked to the massive oil spill at the Yorla Oil Field in the Kpean community, Khana Local Government Area of the state. The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, disclosed this on Monday when he led a Federal Government delegation to assess the extent of devastation at the spill site in Kpean, Ogoniland. Recall that a massive oil spill ravaged the oil field in September, destroying farmlands and vegetation in the area. However, a civil society group, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, led by its Executive Director, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, had alleged that the spill was caused by equipment failure. But Ribadu, during the visit, said the incident was a clear case of sabotage and appealed to residents to protect their wealth and that of the nation. He said, “We have seen the devastation. It is extensive and terrible, and anyone who sees it will truly feel bad. It is unfortunate. Those in charge have done a good job in controlling it and stopping the spill.

Rayong oil spill lawsuit dismissed - Bangkok Post - A lawsuit seeking environmental rehabilitation and 5 billion baht in compensation from Star Petroleum Refining Plc and PTT Global Chemical Plc over a crude oil spill that occurred in waters off Rayong in early 2022 has been dismissed. The Rayong Provincial Court dismissed the lawsuit on Monday that was filed by a small-scale fisheries association in Rayong and 832 fishermen. The court ruled that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing to demand court-ordered environmental rehabilitation and said the evidence failed to prove the spill caused losses to marine resources or income damage as claimed. The plaintiffs had asked the court to compel the defendants to restore marine ecosystems, breeding grounds, and coastal environments, while also seeking substantial damages under the Environmental Quality Promotion and Preservation Act 1992. However, the court said no law empowered the plaintiffs to bring such a claim in this form, though it noted they retain the right to appeal. On whether the defendants were liable for individual damage claims, the court acknowledged that Star Petroleum Refining was in possession of hazardous crude oil and could be held responsible if it was proven that the spill harmed the fishermen's livelihoods. However, the court found no convincing evidence to support the plaintiffs' assertions. It said there was no reliable data showing reductions in marine species, income losses, or tourism decline attributable to the spill. Scientific assessments by Chulalongkorn University marine experts also indicated no measurable drop in marine abundance, species diversity, or breeding capacity linked to the incident, the ruling said. The court further ruled that the company's use of chemical dispersants was conducted under state-approved procedures and thus did not constitute unlawful action, while the PTTGC bore no operational responsibility over the offshore buoy system where the spill occurred. Accordingly, the court dismissed the case and ordered that the litigation costs be borne as per procedure. However, the association and affected fishermen announced they will appeal to seek justice and reaffirm community rights to protect and rehabilitate Rayong's marine environment.

Iraq seeks to increase OPEC oil production quota by 300,000 bpd - Iraqi News - – Iraq is aiming to increase its oil production quota within the OPEC+ alliance by up to 300,000 barrels per day (bpd), a move that could generate up to $10 billion in additional annual revenue. Mazhar Mohammed Saleh, the Financial Advisor to the Prime Minister, confirmed today, Tuesday (December 23, 2025), that the proposal comes at a critical financial juncture for the country. Saleh noted that Recent statements by Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani reflect Iraq’s need to balance internal financial stability with the constraints of the global oil market. As the second-largest producer in OPEC, Iraq possesses an actual production capacity that exceeds its current ceiling. With rising operational commitments in the national budget and slow growth in non-oil revenues, the push for a higher quota has become a priority. The proposed increase is expected to be gradual, ranging from 150,000 to 300,000 bpd. Saleh emphasized that this volume would not threaten global market balance if integrated into the collective production adjustments of OPEC+. According to current global price averages, this production hike could provide:
• Minimum Revenue: Approximately $4 billion annually.
• Maximum Revenue: Up to $10 billion annually.
Such funds would significantly reduce the federal budget deficit and decrease the government’s reliance on high-cost alternative financing tools. OPEC+ Approval and Structural Reforms Saleh clarified that gaining approval for a quota adjustment remains dependent on collective consensus within OPEC+, particularly among major producers who prioritize price stability. Iraq’s chances are favorable but conditional on strict adherence to previous production ceilings and presenting the increase as part of a collective market management strategy. However, the Financial Advisor warned that increasing oil production is not a permanent solution to fiscal challenges. He stressed that sustainable economic health depends on deep structural reforms, diversifying income sources, and reducing the nation’s extreme vulnerability to oil price cycles through the government’s comprehensive economic reform policies.

China overtakes OPEC+ as the main oil price maker (Reuters) - Conventional wisdom in the crude oil market is that producers such as OPEC+ largely determine the price by altering output levels to achieve a desired outcome.That shibboleth was challenged in 2025 by China, which used its status as the world's biggest oil importer to provide an effective price floor and ceiling by either increasing or decreasing the volume of crude it sent to storage tanks.Production cuts in 2022 by OPEC+, which groups the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia, did shore up prices. Those gains faded once it began reversing the cuts in April this year. Now, facing alooming oil glut, OPEC+ has decided to sit tight and hold production levels steady in the first quarter of next year.That leaves China to mop up the excess.What China does in 2026 is now the biggest known unknown in crude markets. Other participants are likely to set their strategies in response to Beijing.China doesn't release public information on its strategic or commercial stockpiles, making it challenging not only to assess physical flows, but also to determine what policies are likely to be followed. What was clear in 2025 is that China was buying more crude than it needed for domestic consumption and exports of refined products. China does not disclose the volumes of crude flowing into or out of its strategic and commercial stockpiles, but an estimate can be made by subtracting refinery throughput from the total crude available from imports and domestic output. It is worth noting that not all of the surplus crude was likely to have been added to storage, with some being processed in plants not captured by the official data. For the first 11 months of 2025, the surplus crude amounted to about 980,000 barrels per day (bpd), given that imports and domestic output combined were 15.80 million bpd, while refinery processing amounted to 14.82 million bpd. The surplus has been built up since March and came after refiners made a rare draw on inventories in January and February, when processing rates exceeded available crude by about 30,000 bpd. There is a solid correlation between the volume of surplus crude and the price of oil, with China adding barrels when prices dip but cutting back when they rise. This was in evidence in September, when the surplus crude dropped to 570,000 bpd after hitting 1.10 million bpd in August. Cargoes arriving in September would largely have been arranged at the time of the Israel-Iran conflict in June, when crude prices were elevated. Global benchmark Brent futures spiked to a six-month high of $81.40 a barrel on June 23. With prices easing since June, China's refiners resumed buying excess crude, with a surplus of 1.88 million bpd seen in November, the biggest since April and up from 690,000 bpd in October. It could be argued that China's storage flows are the main reason that crude prices were locked in a fairly narrow range in the second half of 2025, with Brent anchored either side of $65 a barrel. The key question for 2026 is whether China will, and can, continue to buy excess crude when prices drop, effectively providing a floor. Estimates vary as to how much crude China already has stored, with a range from around 1 billion barrels to as much as 1.4 billion barrels. If the assumption is that a country should have 90 days of import cover, and China's base imports are around 11 million bpd, then 1 billion barrels would be sufficient. But at least 700 million barrels are likely commercial inventories, implying a strategic reserve closer to 500 million barrels.That in turn suggests that Beijing may wish to add about another 500 million barrels to the strategic stockpile, though the timeline is uncertain. China is building more storage, with state oil companies including Sinopec and CNOOC adding at least 169 million barrels across 11 sites in 2025 and 2026. Assuming a storage flow of somewhere around 500,000 to 600,000 bpd, this would add in the region of 200 million barrels over the course of a year. If Beijing does continue to add to strategic inventories at this rate, it would imply that much of the forecast surplus of supply in 2026 will simply go into Chinese tanks. If this does happen, then it is likely that crude prices will once again enjoy a Chinese-supported floor, but also a cap as China will simply trim imports if prices rise too high. Of course, there are a number of "ifs" in the above paragraphs, but the recent history suggests that China will continue to build inventories in 2026, and probably into 2027 as well. What is also clear is that China is quite prepared to use inventory flows as a pricing mechanism. Given China's seaborne crude imports of around 10 million bpd are about a quarter of the global seaborne total, it is possible that Beijing's policies are now the most important factor in oil markets.

Crude Oil: US–Venezuela Tensions Put a Geopolitical Floor Under Prices - Crude prices edged higher in early Asian trading as geopolitical risk reentered the pricing equation through rising tensions between Washington and Caracas, reminding investors that supply security remains fragile even in a broadly well-supplied market. The latest catalyst was the U.S. boarding of a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker docked in Venezuela over the weekend, the second such action in recent weeks, underscoring a more assertive enforcement posture toward sanctioned Venezuelan exports. Front-month WTI crude traded about half a percent higher near $56.79 a barrel, while Brent rose a similar amount to around $60.77, a modest move that nonetheless reflects how sensitive prices remain to disruption risk at the margin. The immediate market reaction was restrained rather than explosive, which is telling in itself. Global oil balances have been cushioned by ample inventories and steady non-OPEC supply, limiting the upside response to isolated geopolitical events. However, the direction of travel matters more than the size of the initial move. By physically interdicting tankers linked to sanctioned flows, the U.S. is signaling that Venezuelan barrels, already constrained by years of sanctions and underinvestment, face renewed logistical and legal friction. Even small interruptions can tighten prompt supply conditions, particularly for refiners that rely on heavier crude grades similar to those produced in Venezuela. For investors, the key issue is not the single tanker involved but the precedent it sets. Enforcement actions raise uncertainty around how much Venezuelan oil can reliably reach international markets and at what cost. That uncertainty tends to support front-month prices and steepen near-term spreads as traders price a higher probability of short-term disruptions. The measured price response suggests that markets are balancing this risk against still soft demand growth and the absence of a broader escalation that would materially alter global supply totals. Looking ahead, the base case is that oil prices remain range-bound with a modest geopolitical premium, as enforcement actions continue but stop short of meaningfully reducing aggregate exports. In this scenario, WTI and Brent find support on dips but struggle to sustain rallies without confirmation of tighter physical balances. The risk scenario is a sharper escalation in U.S. actions or retaliatory moves that disrupt shipping lanes or insurance availability for Venezuelan crude, which could amplify supply concerns and trigger a more pronounced upside reaction. Investors will be watching closely for further enforcement measures, shipping data, and any official signals that indicate whether this pressure campaign is intensifying or stabilizing, as those developments will determine whether geopolitical risk remains a background factor or moves decisively to the forefront of oil pricing.

Oil Prices Climb as U.S. Intercepts Venezuelan Tankers, Geopolitical Risks Mount -- The oil market traded higher on Monday on increasing geopolitical risk with the U.S. intercepting an oil tanker in the international waters off the coast of Venezuela and tensions in Russia’s war against Ukraine remaining high. The U.S. Coast Guard pursued an oil tanker near Venezuela in what was the second such operation over the weekend and the third in less than two weeks. This followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement last week of a “total and complete” blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers. Also, while U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said that talks between U.S., European and Ukrainian officials in Florida over the weekend had focused on aligning positions and added that they had been productive, the top foreign policy aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin said that changes made by the Europeans and Ukraine to U.S. proposals had not improved prospects for peace. The market was also supported by reports of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian ships at a Black Sea port. The oil market posted a low of $56.60 on the opening before it continued to trend higher. The market rallied to a high of $58.13 early in the morning. The market later retraced some of its gains and settled in a sideways trading range during the remainder of the session. The February WTI contract settled up $1.49 at $58.01 and the February Brent contract settled up $1.60 at $62.07. The product markets ended the session higher, with the heating oil market setting up 3.62 cents at $2.1581 and the RB market settling up 3.4 cents at $1.7422.The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela in what would be the second such operation this weekend and the third in less than two weeks, if successful. British maritime risk management group Vanguard, along with a U.S. maritime security source, identified the vessel as Bella 1, a very large crude oil carrier that was added last year to the sanctions list of the U.S. Treasury Department, which said the vessel has links to Iran. According to TankerTrackers.com, Bella 1 was empty when it was approaching Venezuela on Sunday.China’s Foreign Ministry said the United States’ seizure of another country’s ships was a serious violation of international law, after the U.S. intercepted a China-bound oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast. On Saturday, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a second oil tanker in international waters off the Venezuelan coast, days after President Donald Trump announced a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. The tanker, Centuries, loaded in Venezuela under the false name “Crag” and was carrying some 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey crude oil bound for China.According to tracking data and sources, tanker loading in Venezuela fell on Monday, with most ships moving oil cargoes only between domestic ports following U.S. action against two more ships and as state-run energy company PDVSA struggles to recover from a cyberattack. As of Monday, PDVSA had delivered a 1.9 million-barrel cargo of heavy crude to the Aruba-flagged sanctioned vessel Azure Voyager at the Jose port, but no other supertanker bound for Asia was scheduled to load soon. The number of loaded tankers that have not departed has increased in recent days, leaving millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil stuck in ships, while customers demand deeper discounts and contract changes to take risky voyages beyond the country’s waters.On Sunday, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said talks held between U.S., European and Ukrainian officials over the last three days in Florida aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine were productive and focused on aligning positions.

Oil settles higher on risk of disruptions to Venezuela, Russia supply (Reuters) - Oil prices settled higher on Monday after the U.S. Coast Guard tried to intercept an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela a day earlier, and Ukraine damaged two vessels and piers in Russia, raising the risk of oil supply disruptions.Brent crude futures gained $1.60, or 2.7%, to settle at $62.07 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose $1.49, or 2.6%, to settle at $58.01 a barrel.The U.S. Coast Guard tried to intercept an oil tanker on Sunday that U.S. officials said is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion, the third such operation this month. The pursuit followed U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement last week of a blockade of oil tankers under sanctions entering and leaving Venezuela.Market participants see a risk of disruption to Venezuelan oil exports because of the U.S. embargo, having previously downplayed the risk, said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.Venezuelan crude accounts for 1% of global supply, and most of it is bought by China. Beijing on Monday said the U.S. seizure of another country's ships is a serious violation of international law, after the U.S. on Saturday intercepted aChina-bound oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.Oil prices were also rising because of reports of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian ships at a Black Sea port, oil trading advisory firm Ritterbusch and Associates said in a note.A Ukrainian drone attack damaged two vessels, two piers and sparked a fire in a village on the Black Sea coast in Russia's Krasnodar region, regional authorities said on Monday. The Black Sea region is vital for Russia's energy exports."We expect further consolidation this week amid reduced holiday volumes and a continued standoff between deteriorating oil fundamentals and a need to maintain some geopolitical risk premium related to Ukraine/Russia and Venezuela," Ritterbusch and Associates said.U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that talks between U.S., European, and Ukrainian officials in Florida over the past three days to end Russia's war in Ukraine had focused on aligning positions. Those meetings and separate talks with Russian negotiators had been productive, he said.However, the top foreign policy aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin said changes made by the Europeans and Ukraine to U.S. proposals had not improved prospects for peace.

Oil Prices Ease as Markets Await Potential U.S. Move on Venezuela -- Oil prices edged lower in early trading on Tuesday after rising more than 2% in the previous session, as the United States said it may sell Venezuelan crude it has seized, while increased Ukrainian attacks on Russian ships and ports heightened concerns over supply disruptions. Brent crude futures slipped 11 cents, or 0.18%, to $61.96 a barrel by 01:00 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 13 cents, or 0.22%, to $57.88 a barrel. Both benchmarks had climbed more than 2% at settlement in the previous session, with Brent posting its best daily performance in two months, while WTI recorded its largest single-day gain since November 14. As part of its pressure campaign on Venezuela, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States may either retain the oil it has seized off the Venezuelan coast in recent weeks or possibly sell it. “Maybe we’ll sell it, maybe we’ll keep it,” Trump said, adding that it could also be used to replenish the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. He also stated that it would be wise for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to step down. In a note dated Monday, Barclays said that even if Venezuelan oil exports were to fall to zero in the near term, global oil markets are likely to remain adequately supplied in the first half of 2026. However, Barclays estimates that the global oil surplus will narrow to 700,000 barrels per day in the fourth quarter of 2026, and that any prolonged disruption could tighten the market, eroding the recent build in inventories. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine exchanged attacks on each other’s facilities in the Black Sea, a vital export route for both countries. Russian forces shelled Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa late on Monday, damaging port facilities and a vessel, marking the second attack on the area in less than 24 hours. Authorities said on Monday that a Ukrainian drone attack damaged two vessels, two berths, and sparked a fire in a town in Russia’s Krasnodar region.

Oil ticks higher on tension fears but faces pressure from oversupply forecasts - Oil prices barely moved on Tuesday, caught between fears of conflict and forecasts of too much supply. Brent crude rose just 6 cents to $62.13 a barrel by press time, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) ticked up 2 cents to $58.03, right after a 2% surge on Monday, when Brent posted its biggest daily jump in two months, and WTI hit its strongest single-day rally since November 14. Traders are stuck between chaos on the seas and barrels stacking up. Ukrainian attacks on Russian vessels and piers have rattled markets, raising the risk of disruptions. But at the same time, analysts at Barclays on Tuesday warned of too much supply heading into early 2026, even though they admit the glut might ease to around 700,000 barrels per day by the fourth quarter if disruptions continue. President Donald Trump on Monday confirmed that the U.S. will hold onto the crude oil and ships it seized off the coast of Venezuela. “We’re going to keep it,” Trump said in Palm Beach, right after launching a new class of battleships named after himself. He didn’t stop there. “Maybe we’ll sell it, maybe we’ll keep it, maybe we’ll use it in the strategic reserve,” Trump said, adding, “We’re keeping the ships also.” That’s the new line in Washington’s blockade of sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela. He’s putting more pressure on President Nicolas Maduro and using oil as leverage. See also Yen tops 140 per dollar ahead of US-Japan finance talks According to Kpler, the U.S. seized a massive tanker on December 10 hauling over 1 million barrels of Venezuelan crude. A second ship was intercepted last weekend. Trump confirmed a third vessel is now being pursued. “It’s moving along. We’ll end up getting it,” he said. “It came from the wrong location. It came out of Venezuela, and it was sanctioned.” Venezuela, which has the largest proven oil reserves on the planet and helped found OPEC, is still exporting roughly 749,000 barrels a day, Kpler said. Over half of that oil is headed to China. Meanwhile, the price at the pump keeps dropping in the U.S. The average cost of unleaded gas has stayed under $3 per gallon for most of December, the lowest since 2021, according to AAA. The group said this December could be the cheapest since 2020, back when the pandemic brought demand to a halt. Fuel costs have dropped about 7% since last month and 43% from the mid-2022 high when prices were near $5 a gallon after inflation took off. That’s good news for drivers, and there’s a lot of them. AAA expects a record-breaking 122 million Americans to travel at least 50 miles between December 20 and January 1. Out of that, 110 million will drive.

Crude Prices Edge Higher as Geopolitical Tensions Offset Venezuelan Supply Questions - The crude oil market traded higher on Tuesday as the market weighed geopolitical risks and stronger than expected U.S. economic growth. The potential sales of Venezuelan crude seized by the U.S. were countered by increased supply disruption fears amid the continuing attacks between Russia and Ukraine. On Monday, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. may keep or sell the oil it seized off the coast of Venezuela as part of U.S. measures that include a blockade of oil tankers under sanctions entering and leaving Venezuela. Late Monday, Russian forces struck Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa and damaged port facilities and a ship while Ukrainian drone attacks damaged two vessels and piers. The market traded mostly sideways before it breached its previous high and gradually traded to a high of $58.51 ahead of the close. The February WTI contract settled up 37 cents at $58.38 and the February Brent contract settled up 31 cents at $62.38. The product markets ended the session higher, with the heating oil market settling up 3.25 cents at $2.1906 and the RB market settling up 10 points at $1.7432. On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said it would be smart for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to leave power, and added that the United States could keep or sell the oil it had seized off the coast of Venezuela in recent weeks. ​​​​​​According to company documents and shipping data, Venezuela’s state -run oil company PDVSA has started filling up tankers with crude and fuel oil it has in storage as inventories increase amid moves by the U.S. to seize Venezuela-linked ships. The emerging backlog, as PDVSA produces about 1.1 million bpd of crude, is quickly filling the company’s onshore tanks, especially at the Jose terminal, which receives extra heavy oil from the country’s main output region, the Orinoco Belt. PDVSA began draining part of those inventories to oil tankers over the past weekend. On Monday evening, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said oil cargo deliveries for Chevron to export would continue even amid the dispute with Washington. Chevron has repeatedly said that its operations in Venezuela “continue without disruption and in full compliance with laws and regulations applicable to its business.” Vortexa reported Monday that crude oil stored on tankers that have been stationary for at least 7 days fell -7% w/w to 107.15 million bbl in the week ended December 19. Kpler is projecting EU countries will probably import some 4.62 million mt of diesel/gasoil this December, the lowest monthly total since February when the EU imported some 4.506 million mt. Barclays said the oil markets are expected to remain well supplied in the first half of 2026, but added that the oil surplus will shrink to only 700,000 bpd in the fourth quarter of 2026 and that prolonged disruption could tighten the market further. Baker Hughes said U.S. energy firms this week added oil and natural gas rigs for the first time in three weeks. The oil and gas rig count increased by three to 545 in the week ending December 23rd. Baker Hughes said the number of oil rigs increased by three to 409 this week, while gas rigs were unchanged at 127. The EIA announced that its weekly petroleum stocks report for the week ending December 19th will be released on Monday, December 29th at 10:30 A.M. due to the closure of the Federal government for the Christmas holiday.

Oil holds near flat on US-Venezuela tensions, Fed cut bets -- Oil prices saw limited gains on Wednesday amid supply concerns stemming from heightened tensions between the US and Venezuela, as well as stronger-than-expected US economic growth data. International benchmark Brent crude was trading at $61.97 per barrel at 09.50 a.m. local time (0650 GMT), up 0.01% from the previous close of $61.96. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also increased by 0.01% to $58.40, compared to $58.39 in the prior session. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said his country has received "overwhelming support" at the UN Security Council following US seizures of Venezuelan oil tankers. US President Donald Trump on Dec. 16 ordered a "total and complete blockade" on all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, citing allegations that the country is financing narcotics-related terrorism. While Venezuela accounts for a relatively small share of global oil supply, analysts say markets remain highly sensitive to any potential supply disruptions amid broader geopolitical risks, providing support to prices. Strong US growth data also lent support to prices. According to preliminary figures, the US economy expanded at an annualized rate of 4.3% in the third quarter, exceeding expectations and marking the fastest pace of growth since the third quarter of 2023. Industrial production rose 0.2% in November after a 0.1% decline the previous month. The stronger-than-expected growth has helped ease concerns over an economic slowdown by signaling resilient consumer spending and economic activity in the world’s largest oil consumer. Meanwhile, as the process to select a new Federal Reserve (Fed) chair continues, US President Donald Trump argued that the newly released "great" economic data was the result of tariffs, adding that the figures would improve further and claiming there was no inflation. Moreover, referring to the next Fed chair, Trump said, "Anybody that disagrees with me will never be the Fed Chairman!" While the remarks have reinforced expectations of interest rate cuts, they have also raised questions over rising political pressure on the Fed in the period ahead. The comments have strengthened concerns that such pressure could undermine the central bank's institutional independence and credibility. In money markets, traders are pricing in an 86% probability that the Fed will keep interest rates unchanged in January, while expectations point to a total of two rate cuts over the course of the year. Comments from Trump have reinforced expectations that the Bank might adopt a more accommodative policy stance, which typically supports oil prices by weakening the dollar and improving risk appetite. However, concerns that rising political pressure could undermine the Fed's independence are adding uncertainty to the outlook, limiting the extent of gains in crude. On the other hand, expectations of rising US crude inventories have weighed on prices. The American Petroleum Institute estimated that commercial crude stocks rose by 2.4 million barrels last week, compared with market expectations for a draw of 9.3 million barrels. The surprise build has reinforced perceptions of weaker demand in the US, pressuring prices.

Oil prices rose slightly as the market assessed supply risks Oil prices rose on Wednesday for the sixth consecutive day, driven by strong US economic growth and the risk of supply disruptions from Venezuela and Russia, although prices were on track for their steepest annual decline since 2020, Reuters reports, writes UNN. Details Brent crude futures rose 15 cents, or 0.2%, to $62.53 a barrel by 09:08 GMT (11:08 Kyiv time), while US West Texas Intermediate crude added 18 cents, or 0.3%, to $58.56. Both contracts have risen about 6% since December 16, when they fell to near a five-year low. "Over the past week, we've seen a combination of position closures in sluggish markets after last week's collapse failed to materialize, as well as increased geopolitical tensions, including the US blockade of Venezuela, and support from yesterday's GDP data," said IG analyst Tony Sycamore. US data showed that the world's largest economy grew at its fastest pace in two years in the third quarter, driven by strong consumer spending and a sharp rebound in exports. Nevertheless, Brent and WTI crude oil prices are forecast to fall by approximately 16% and 18% respectively this year – sharp declines since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic undermined oil demand. "Despite these supply-related risks, oil prices, ... are forecast to show their largest annual decline since 2020, as supply is expected to exceed demand," said MUFG analyst Sujin Kim. A Haitong Futures report stated that the most significant factor driving oil prices was disruptions to exports from Venezuela, and the ongoing attacks by Russia and Ukraine on each other's energy infrastructure also supported the market. More than a dozen loaded vessels are in Venezuela, awaiting new instructions from their owners after the US seized the supertanker Skipper earlier this month and struck two more vessels over the weekend. Last week, US President Donald Trump announced a "blockade" of all sanctioned vessels entering or leaving Venezuela to increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Meanwhile, US crude oil inventories rose by 2.39 million barrels last week, gasoline inventories increased by 1.09 million barrels, and distillate inventories by 685,000 barrels, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute data.

Oil Futures Steady in Shorter Pre-Holiday Session (DTN) -- Oil futures held steady in Wednesday's, Dec. 24, abbreviated session ahead of the Christmas holiday, as traders focused on upbeat U.S. GDP data and geopolitical concerns that had underpinned sentiment over the past week. Weekly inventory data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) showing builds across the board in crude, gasoline and distillates did not appear to have much of an immediate impact. Crude oil futures tumbled more than 2% by Friday's close, reversing a steady morning session. NYMEX WTI crude futures contract for February delivery was up $0.10, or 0.2%, at $58.47 bbl. Front-month ICE Brent futures contract rose $0.05, or 0.1%, at $62.43 bbl. NYMEX front-month RBOB futures climbed $0.0033, or 0.2%, to $1.7465 gallon. However, the front-month ULSD futures contract bucked the uptrend, sliding by $0.0025, or 0.1%, to $2.1881 gallon. The U.S. economy posted its best quarterly growth in two years during this year's third quarter, expanding by an annualized 4.3% versus Wall Street's forecast of 3.3%, data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis showed Tuesday, Dec. 23. Oil futures have been bullish in the past five sessions, underpinned by news of U.S. seizures of Venezuelan oil cargoes and reciprocal attacks between Ukraine and Russian forces. Late Tuesday, the API reported that U.S. commercial crude oil stocks rose by 2.4 million bbl during the week ended December 19, after a 9.3 million bbl draw the prior week. Official inventory data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, typically due on Wednesdays, will be delayed until Dec. 29 due to the Christmas break.

Oil Holds Steady in Thin Christmas Eve Trade | Rigzone -Thin volume on Christmas Eve left oil markets little changed as traders continued to weigh this year's twin forces of escalating geopolitical tensions and the expected global supply overhang. West Texas Intermediate futures edged down 3 cents to settle near $58 a barrel, narrowly snapping a five-day winning streak. Investors continue to watch for signs of supply interruptions out of Venezuela as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on the nation. The US was still in pursuit of a third oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, though nearly half a dozen tankers laden with crude have departed from the South American nation's coast since Washington intensified efforts to curb oil revenues that help sustain Nicolás Maduro's regime. The turmoil in the Caribbean is the "focal point going into the holiday weekend," said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president for trading at BOK Financial Securities Inc. "While the the blockade and sanctions are not decreasing world supplies, they may be delaying them, lending a bullish tilt to prices." WTI, the US benchmark, is still on track for its biggest annual decline since 2020, with virtually all of the world's major oil traders foreseeing a glut next year after producers in and outside OPEC+ increased supplies. But concerns about disruptions, especially from OPEC+ members Russia and Venezuela, have helped keep a floor under prices. Russian crude is building up at sea, with the volume jumping 48% since the end of August. The US actions against Venezuela may be raising concerns among shippers and buyers of Russian barrels, who worry their cargoes could also be targeted. In the US, an industry report showed crude stockpiles increased by 2.4 million barrels last week, with storage of gasoline and distillate both rising. Official data is set to be released on Dec. 29, on delay. Trading ceased early on Wednesday and markets will be closed on Thursday for Christmas. WTI for February delivery slid 3 cents to settle at $58.35 a barrel in New York. Brent for February settlement fell 14 cents to settle at $62.24 a barrel.

Oil prices rose slightly as the market assessed supply risks -Oil prices rose on Friday after the US increased economic pressure on Venezuelan oil supplies and launched airstrikes against militants in Nigeria. Brent futures rose to $62.30 and WTI to $58.41 amid low market activity due to the Christmas holidays and expectations of an annual price decline. Oil prices rose slightly as the market assessed supply risks Oil prices rose slightly on Friday after the US increased economic pressure on Venezuelan oil supplies and launched airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwestern Nigeria at the request of the government in Abuja, UNN reports with reference to Reuters. Brent crude futures rose 6 cents, or 0.1%, to $62.30 a barrel at 04:56 GMT (06:56 Kyiv time). US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also rose 6 cents to $58.41. Both Venezuela and Nigeria are major oil producers. Although Nigerian oil fields are predominantly located in the south of the country, the airstrikes have increased geopolitical risks. The White House has ordered its armed forces to focus on "quarantining" Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months, indicating that Washington is now more interested in using economic rather than military means to pressure Caracas. "Due to business closures for the Christmas holidays, market activity remained relatively low at the end of the year," "The main factor affecting oil prices was supply disruptions." Nevertheless, oil prices are heading for their steepest annual decline since 2020, as investors assess US economic growth and the risk of supply disruptions, particularly in Venezuela. Brent and WTI oil prices are expected to fall by approximately 16% and 18% respectively this year, which would be the sharpest decline since the COVID-19 pandemic hit oil demand, as supply is expected to exceed demand next year. Oil supplies from Kazakhstan via the Caspian Pipeline will be cut by a third in December, reaching their lowest level since October 2024, after a drone damaged facilities at the CPC's main export terminal, two market sources said on Wednesday. The US Energy Information Administration is scheduled to release official inventory data on Monday, later than usual due to the Christmas holidays. This data should provide insight into demand in the world's largest oil consumer.

Oil Futures Drop Amid Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Progress (DTN) -- Crude oil futures tumbled more than 2% by Friday's close, reversing a steady morning session. The drop followed reports of significant progress in Ukraine peace talks, fueling expectation that lifted Russian sanctions could add millions more barrels to an already oversupplied market. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida this weekend to finalize a U.S.-led 20-point peace framework, according to the reports. The peace plan was "90% ready" and includes significant concessions, such as the creation of demilitarized zones and "special economic zones" in the contested Donbas region, Zelenskyy was quoted saying. The proposal marks a shift in Kyiv's stance as it appears willing to accept at least some of Moscow's demands to end the nearly four-year conflict caused by Russia's invasion. Meanwhile, Reuters reported Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed today his willingness to swap some territory controlled by Russian forces in Ukraine. A lifting of U.S. and European sanctions on Russia's oil trade could free up embargoed crude cargoes that are now trapped at sea. The International Energy Agency has forecast the global crude oil glut in 2026 at 3.84 million barrels per day (bpd), excluding the additional Russian supply. Crude futures pared almost all of the advances they had made for the week, with the progress in peace talks. The NYMEX WTI futures contract for February delivery settled Friday's session down $1.61, or 2.8%, at $56.74 barrel (bbl). For the week, it rose 0.1%. The ICE Brent contract for February fell $1.60, or 2.6%, to $60.64 bbl, while posting a weekly increase of 0.3%. So far this year, WTI and Brent have dropped more than 17%, putting them on track to their sharpest annual loss since 2020, the year of the coronavirus outbreak. The front-month ULSD contract slid $0.0515, or 2.4%, on the day to $2.1061 gallon. RBOB futures contract for January shipments dipped $0.0507, or 2.9%, to $1.6964 gallon.

Oil falls 2% on looming supply glut, hopes of Ukraine peace deal (Reuters) - Oil prices settled more than 2% lower on Friday as investors weighed a looming global supply glut, while also keeping an eye on a potential Ukraine peace deal ahead of talks this weekend between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump. Brent crude futures settled down $1.60 or 2.57% to $60.64 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled down $1.61 or 2.76% to $56.74. While supply disruptions have helped oil prices rebound in recent sessions from their near five-year low on December 16, they are on track for their steepest annual decline since 2020. Brent and WTI are down 19% and 21% respectively on the year, as rising crude output caused concerns of an oil glut heading into next year. "Geopolitical premiums have provided near-term price support, but have not materially shifted the underlying oversupply narrative," Aegis Hedging analysts said in a note on Friday. The global oil supply next year will exceed demand by 3.84 million barrels per day, according to figures from the Paris-based IEA's December oil market report. Investors are watching for developments in the Russia-Ukraine peace process and the possible impact on future oil prices, as a peace agreement could lead to the removal of international sanctions against Russia's oil sector. Zelenskiy will discuss territorial issues, the main stumbling block in talks to end the war, with Trump in Florida on Sunday, as a 20-point peace framework and a security guarantees deal near completion. Announcing the meeting, Zelenskiy said that "a lot can be decided before the New Year." The Ukrainian president also told Axios he would be willing to call a referendum on an agreed peace framework if Russia agrees to a ceasefire. A foreign policy aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to members of the U.S. administration after Moscow received U.S. proposals about a possible Ukrainian peace deal, the Kremlin said on Friday. For the oil price, "the negatives remain of elevated global oil storage, and slight progress on Ukraine-Russia peace talks," said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial. The White House also ordered its military forces to focus on a "quarantine" of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months, indicating Washington is currently more interested in using economic rather than military means to pressure Caracas. "The global impact to crude prices looks minimal at this time," Kissler said of U.S. actions to intercept sanctioned oil tankers leaving and entering Venezuela. Despite headline risk pertaining to Venezuela, the broader market remains focused on the growing global surplus, according to Aegis Hedging analysts.

Saudi Arabia urges Yemen’s separatists to leave 2 governorates as the anti-rebel coalition strains (AP) — Saudi Arabia on Thursday called on Emirati-backed separatists in southern Yemen to withdraw from two governorates they now control, a move that has threatened to spark a confrontation within a fragile coalition that has been battling the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the country’s north. The statement from Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry appeared aimed at putting public pressure on the Southern Transitional Council, a separatist Yemeni force long supported by the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia backs the National Shield Forces of Yemen’s internationally backed government in the war against the Houthis. The separatists’ actions have “resulted in an unjustified escalation that harmed the interests of all segments of Yemeni people, as well as the southern cause and the coalition’s efforts,” the ministry said. “The kingdom stresses the importance of cooperation among all Yemeni factions and components to exercise restraint and avoid any measures that could destabilize security and stability.” Meanwhile, the Houthis buried four of their fighters, including the group’s top missile and drone commander who was presumed killed in March, in the first round of U.S. airstrikes to hit the rebels in March. The Southern Transitional Council moved earlier this month into Yemen’s governorates of Hadramout and Mahra. The Saudi statement said that mediation efforts were underway to have the council’s forces return to “their previous positions outside of the two governorates and hand over the camps in those areas” to the National Shield Forces.“These efforts remain in progress,” the ministry said. The local Hadramout governorate’s authority said that it supported the Saudi announcement and called for the Emirati-backed separatists to withdraw to positions outside the governorates. Those aligned with the council have increasingly flown the flag of the flag of South Yemen, which was a separate country from 1967-1990. Demonstrators rallied on Thursday in the southern port city of Aden to support political forces calling for South Yemen to again secede from Yemen.

Zelensky offers peace plan concessions to Putin -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday presented a new 20-point peace plan that offers concessions to Russia in an effort to end the conflict in Ukraine. The proposal slims down the 28-point peace plan proposed by the Trump administration and allots for the creation of a “fortress belt” composed of cities in the Donetsk region to protect Ukraine from further invasion from the Kremlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin has pushed to acquire all of the Donetsk region in peace negotiations and has made land cessation a requirement to end the war. Instead of ceding land, Zelensky has offered to establish a demilitarized zone on the front lines that would require Russian and Ukrainian forces to withdraw from the areas defined in the agreement. “If we establish a free economic zone here, and it envisages a virtually demilitarized zone — meaning heavy forces are removed from this area — and the distance, for example, is 40 kilometers (it could be 5, 10, or 40 kilometers) — then if these two cities, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, are our free economic zone, the Russians would have to pull back their troops accordingly by 5, 10, or 40 kilometers,” Zelensky told reporters Tuesday, according to CNN. The Ukrainian leader said voters must decide if the terms are agreeable through a referendum, which would require a 60-day process. “People could then choose: Does this ending suit us, or does it not?” Zelenksy said, per CNN. “That would be the referendum. A referendum requires at least 60 days. And we need a real ceasefire for 60 days; otherwise, we cannot hold it. In other words, the referendum would not be legitimate,” he continued. Zelensky and leaders in Europe and the U.S. have been urging Putin to agree to a ceasefire. However, the Kremlin’s attacks on Kyiv have persisted, with drone strikes taking place in recent days. “Since there is no faith in the Russians, and they have repeatedly broken their promises, today’s contact line is turning into a line of a de facto free economic zone, and international forces should be there to guarantee that no one will enter there under any guise — neither ‘little green men’ nor Russian military disguised as civilians,” Zelensky said, according to NBC News.

'We Will Remain Here': Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Visits Gaza Christians Ahead of Christmas - Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, arrived in Gaza on Friday to visit the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City as Palestinian Christians prepare to celebrate Christmas.“We will not forget what happened, but we look ahead,” Pizzaballa told parishioners at the church, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA. “We will rebuild our homes and schools, and we will rebuild our lives. We are from here, and we will remain here. In this sea of destruction, we seek to be an example to everyone of what it means to rebuild.”On Sunday, Pizzaballa, who was joined by his patriarchal vicar, Monseigneur William Shomali, presided over Mass and preached a message of hope. “In this new phase, we have to bring the spirit of Christmas, the spirit of light, the spirit of tenderness, the spirit of growth,” Pizzaballa said during his homily. The Latin Patriarchate said that Pizzaballa administered First Communion to nine children and baptized a baby during Mass on Sunday. The Italian-born cardinal also celebrated Mass on Saturday, followed by a Nativity play performed by the church’s children. The Latin Patriarchate said that Pizzaballa also visited a “number of medical and relief centers” in Gaza, including those run by Catholic charities. Photos show Pizzaballa walking through rubble-strewn streets, visiting the Al Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, and a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians on the beach.Pizzaballa also joined in prayers for Nahida Khalil Anton and her daughter, Samar Kamal Anton, two Christian women who were killed by IDF snipers on the grounds of the Holy Family Church two years ago. Seven people who attempted to help them were wounded during the attack.Pizzaballa has visited Gaza several times since Israel unleashed its genocidal campaign on the Strip, including following the Israeli tank shelling of the Holy Family Church, which killed three Christians and wounded others, including Father Gabriel Romanelli, an Argentine priest who leads the parish.Gaza’s small Christian population, which is mainly based at the Holy Family Church and the nearby St. Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church, has dwindled further due to Israel’s destruction campaign. The Latin Patriarchate said back in August that there were just 645 Catholic and Orthodox Christians left in the Gaza Strip.

Belgium joins South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at ICJ | Al Jazeera -Belgium has formally joined the case launched by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. In a statement on Tuesday, the ICJ – The Hague-based highest court of the United Nations – said Belgium had filed a declaration of intervention in the case. Other countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkiye, have already joined the proceedings. South Africa brought the case in December 2023, arguing that Israel’s war in Gaza violates the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Israel has rejected the allegations and criticised the case. While a final ruling could take years, the ICJ issued provisional measures in January 2024 ordering Israel to take steps to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza and to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian aid. The court’s orders are legally binding although it has no direct mechanism to enforce them. The ICJ also said Israel’s presence in occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and its policies amount to annexation. Israel has continued its assaults in Gaza and the occupied West Bank despite the rulings and growing international criticism while advancing plans to seize large parts of Palestinian territory. Meanwhile, the United States and several of its European allies continue to provide military and financial support to Israel. Washington has rejected the merits of South Africa’s case, and US lawmakers have criticised the country and issued threats against it. The US has also imposed sanctions on members of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Belgium was also among a group of countries that recognised the State of Palestine in September. Nearly 80 percent of UN member states now recognise Palestine. Since a ceasefire began on October 10, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said, Israel has killed at least 406 Palestinians and injured 1,118 in the enclave. Since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, the ministry said, at least 70,942 Palestinians have been killed and 171,195 wounded.

Greta Thunberg Arrested Under The UK's Terrorism Act - Climate activist Greta Thunberg has once again found herself in police custody after joining a demonstration outside the London offices of Aspen Insurance. This British firm is a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense contractor. Authorities arrested Thunberg under the UK Terrorism Act for displaying a sign in support of Palestine Action, a group the British government has classified as a terrorist organization. The arrest marks the latest chapter in Thunberg's evolution from teenage climate crusader to an adult pro-Palestinian advocate. According to the BBC, Thunberg, “was detained in the City of London after attending the scene of the early-morning demonstration on Fenchurch Street.” In a video shared by the group, she could be seen holding a sign reading "I support the Palestine Action prisoners" and "I oppose genocide". City of London Police said a 22-year-old woman was arrested for displaying a placard in support of a proscribed organisation, in this case Palestine Action, contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The force said officers were called to the area at about 07:00 GMT after hammers and red paint were used to damage a building. A man and a woman were also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after they "glued themselves nearby", police said. Specialist officers worked to release them before taking them into custody.

North Korea touts nuclear sub's construction - North Korea touted its progress in building a nuclear-powered submarine, releasing photos through state media on Thursday showing a largely completely vessel. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) released photos showing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visiting a shipyard and inspecting the massive, burgundy-colored vessel, which the North describes as an 8,700-ton-class nuclear-propelled submarine. Kim visited the shipyard to inspect the construction of the submarine and receive a report on its progress, according to KCNA, which did not say when the visit took place. The North Korean leader has described the vessel as an important step in the modernization of its Navy, to guard against what Kim sees as growing military threats led by the U.S. The development of a nuclear-powered submarine could be a worrying prospect for North Korean neighbors, since the vessel would be able to launch missiles underwater, which could be difficult to detect in advance. But questions have lingered about whether North Korea could obtain the necessary resources to build the submarines. Some experts have suggested North Korea’s recent alignment with Russia may have helped the country acquire the necessary technology, but others say North Korea likely designed its own nuclear reactor. Moon Keun-sik, a submarine expert at Seoul’s Hanyang University, told The Associated Press the latest photos released by North Korean state media suggest the vessel could be largely completed. Moon said submarines are typically built from the inside out, so the photos of the submarine suggest core components, like an engine and reactor, are likely already in place.