week ending Mar 29

Fed's Kugler watches pickup in prices, inflation expectations --Federal Reserve Gov. Adriana Kugler expressed support for holding interest rates steady for "some time," while highlighting a move up in some measures of Americans' inflation expectations.

Uptick in goods inflation underscores Fed uncertainty --A key inflation reading showed price growth leveling off slightly above the Federal Reserve's target, but details of the report underscore the central bank's reluctance to lower interest rates. The personal consumption expenditures index showed headline inflation flat at 2.5%, but the details of the report explain the Federal Reserve's reluctance to adjust interest rates.

Trump's pressure on the Federal Reserve sets up potential Jerome Powell showdown -- President Trump is zeroing in on the Federal Reserve and setting up a fight with its leader, Jerome Powell. The president is eager for the Fed to speed up planned interest rate cuts and ease pressure on the economy amid deepening concern about his trade agenda. The Fed, in turn, is preparing for a potential price shock driven by Trump’s tariffs, which would delay any rate cuts, even if the economy weakens. Trump has shown so far only mild annoyance with the Fed. While he badgered the central bank after it held off on rate cuts Wednesday, he has held off on direct threats. But as the White House takes aim at the independence of agencies, Powell is unlikely to bow to being forced out, even if tensions with the White House were to hit a critical point before his term is up next year. Ian Katz, director at Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners, said he doesn’t expect Trump to try to fire Powell, given the turmoil it could cause for markets. Even so, Katz warned, “given how aggressive Trump has been in asserting as authority so far this term, you can’t rule out anything.” Trump has taken aggressive steps to increase his control of the federal government and reshape it in line with his political whims. The Trump administration has pushed vast cuts to major agencies, ousting thousands of nonpolitical employees. The Trump administration has also imposed new rules on independent agencies, requiring them to submit proposed regulations to the White House for review before publication. Trump and top economic officials have said their attempts to influence the Fed are limited to its regulatory oversight of big banks, not its control of monetary policy. But the president has nonetheless nudged the Fed toward cutting interest rates amid increasing concern about the economy. Trump has doubled down on pressuring the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, arguing that the costs of food — specifically, eggs — and gas are down, so the central bank can make cuts. “Groceries, generally, prices are coming down, and energy prices are coming down. And, I hope the Fed lowers interest rates, and then you’re going to see interest rates coming down,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting Monday, after posting on Truth Social multiple times that interest rates should be cut. But when the Fed announced Wednesday that it would keep rates steady at a range of 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent, Powell said Trump’s tariff plans would likely halt the bank’s progress in bringing down inflation. “I do think with the arrival of the tariff inflation, further progress may be delayed,” Powell said. He pointed out that a new Fed economic forecast released the same day “doesn’t really show further downward progress on inflation this year, and that’s really due to the tariffs coming in.” Powell has also described economic uncertainty as “unusually elevated,” which poses a challenge to the Fed as it attempts to get ahead of potential price increases. Trump, meanwhile, is steaming ahead with plans to impose new reciprocal tariffs next month. The president has been referring to April 2, when he has vowed to match tariffs that trading partners put on products from the U.S. in an effort to promote fairness, as “liberation day.” Trump’s back-and-forth tariff orders have deepened concern about the state of the U.S. economy, which could have eventually led the Fed to cut interest rates at a quicker pace. The Fed is expected to cut interest rates twice this year, and projected two cuts Wednesday after holding rates steady. But Raphael Bostic, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, said in a Monday interview with Bloomberg News that Trump’s tariffs will delay those efforts. He now only supports one cut this year after previously calling for two. “The appropriate path for policy is also going to be pushed back,” Bostic said.

Q4 GDP Growth Revised up to 2.4% Annual Rate --From the BEA: Gross Domestic Product, 4th Quarter and Year 2024 (Third Estimate), GDP by Industry, and Corporate Profits - Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 (October, November, and December), according to the third estimate released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 3.1 percent. The increase in real GDP in the fourth quarter primarily reflected increases in consumer spending and government spending that were partly offset by a decrease in investment. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, decreased. ... Real GDP was revised up 0.1 percentage point from the second estimate, primarily reflecting a downward revision to imports. Here is a Comparison of Third and Second Estimates. PCE growth was revised down to 4.0% from 4.2%. Residential investment was revised up from 5.4% to 5.5%

US Treasury Could Default As Soon As August, CBO Warns - Earlier this week we pointed out the striking plunge in the Treasury's cash balance which had averaged around $800 billion for the past 18 months, and which plunged by $480 billion in the past month.Regular readers are aware of the reason for this plunge: ever since the US hit the debt ceiling in the last days of the Biden administration, the US Treasury has been unable to issue new debt and so has been forced to draw down its cash to fund day to day operations.Obviously, there is a limit to how much longer this can continue: after all, once the cash balance hits 0, the Treasury will have to start prioritizing payments, and eventually, it may even have to delay payments of interest or repayments of principal... better known as default.Which brings us to the latest report from the Congressional Budget Office published this morning which warned that the federal government could run out of enough money to pay all of its bills on time as soon as August if lawmakers fail to raise or suspend the debt limit,to wit:The Congressional Budget Office estimates that if the debt limit remains unchanged, the government’s ability to borrow using extraordinary measures will probably be exhausted in August or September 2025. The projected exhaustion date is uncertain because the timing and amount of revenue collections and outlays over the intervening months could differ from CBO’s projections. (source)On Monday, the Bipartisan Policy Center said that according to public data the Treasury will be forced to start defaulting on obligations sometime between mid-July and early October.The CBO also cautioned that if the government’s borrowing needs are "significantly greater than CBO projects, the Treasury’s resources could be exhausted in late May or sometime in June, before tax payments due in mid-June are received or before additional extraordinary measures become available on June 30." The date is uncertain because of the unpredictable nature of tax receipts, and Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, said earlier this month that it could come as early as mid-May.

John Thune, Mike Johnson seek breakthrough on stalled Trump agenda -- Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and key committee chairs from the Senate and House will meet Tuesday in hope of reaching a breakthrough on President Trump’s stalled agenda, including border security, energy and tax reform. Thune told reporters he is hoping the Senate will act on a budget resolution in the next three weeks that would lay the groundwork for moving a package later this year to secure the border, expand domestic oil and gas drilling, boost defense spending by at least $100 billion and extend Trump’s expiring 2017 tax cuts. “I want to get it done this work period,” he told reporters Monday. Tuesday’s meeting will include Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent, along with Thune and Johnson. The Speaker has set a goal of getting that “one big, beautiful bill” to Trump’s desk by the end of April or — at the latest — by Memorial Day, but Thune has privately told Senate colleagues that ambitious timeline is unrealistic, and that getting it passed by the end of July is a more attainable target. House Republican leaders are running out of patience with divisions among Senate Republicans over how to craft a budget resolution and released a statement Monday morning calling for the Senate to take up and immediately pass the resolution it passed Feb. 25. “The American people gave us a mandate and we must act on it. We encourage our Senate colleagues to take up the House budget resolution when they return to Washington,” Johnson said in a joint statement with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and other House lawmakers Monday morning. Thune later in the day pushed back on the pressure from the House, emphasizing that the Senate would follow its own process, keeping in mind that any package that comes to the floor needs 51 votes to pass. “It’s a process,” he said, reminding his colleagues that “at some point, the House is going to need us.” “If we’re going to win, we got to play on both sides of the ball,” he said. “It’s a bicameral process. That’s the nature of the beast.” Asked if the Senate would take up the House-passed budget resolution as Johnson is urging, Thune replied, “The Senate is going to do what we can get 51 votes for here in the Senate, and hopefully what they can get 218 for in the House.” “In the end, we have to come together. We obviously have to be able to pass the same budget resolution in order to unlock reconciliation. And so we will at some point [reach an] agreement on what that looks like,” he said. The reconciliation process is critical because it will allow the legislation to dodge a Senate filibuster, ensuring that Democrats cannot block the measure in the upper chamber. But the measure will also have to meet various rules required for budget reconciliation packages. The House proposal calls for cutting taxes by $4.5 trillion and reducing federal spending by $2 trillion over the next decade, but several Senate Republicans are balking at an instruction calling for $880 billion in mandatory spending cuts that they fear would hit Medicaid hard. It would be difficult for the committees charged with finding those spending cuts to do so without cutting Medicaid, an entitlement increasingly used by GOP voters. Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said last month that the House-passed budget would need “a major overhaul” before it could pass the Senate. Graham and Crapo have faulted the bill for not making an extension of the Trump tax cuts permanent, something Senate Republicans say could be accomplished by using a special budgetary baseline to project the costs of the bill. Crapo says that if the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is scored as “current policy,” extending the tax cuts permanently would not count as adding to the deficit, since they would be considered merely an extension of the status quote. But conservatives in the House and some Republicans in the Senate, including Sens. Bill Cassidy (La.) and Todd Young (Ind.), have questions about this approach. Critics argue that merely scoring $4.5 trillion in tax cuts as current policy would not erase their impact on future revenues and deficits.

Wyden advises Democrats against helping Republicans with debt ceiling -- Sen. Ron Wyden (R-Ore.) on Monday said Democrats shouldn’t help Republicans tackle the debt ceiling this Congress, after a recent forecast warned the government was at risk of defaulting during the summer. “The economic agenda for Trump and Republicans is about running up the debt and inflicting pain on working families to make billionaires like Elon Musk even wealthier,” the Finance Committee ranking member said in a statement on Monday. “Democrats should not make their job any easier by helping them raise the debt ceiling,” he said. His statement came in reaction to a projection released by the Bipartisan Policy Center, a prominent think tank, earlier on Monday. In the recent report, the group warned that the so-called “X-Date” would likely arrive between mid-July and early October. Congress last suspended the debt ceiling, which caps how much money the Treasury can owe to pay the country’s bills, as part of a bipartisan deal struck between former President Biden and GOP leadership in 2023. The deal staved off the threat of national default through early 2025. Then-Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in January that the government would have to implement “extraordinary measures” after the government was expected to reach the new limit later that month. Republicans have had ambitious hopes of using a special maneuver known as budget reconciliation to handle the debt ceiling, along with extending President Trump’s signature tax cuts set to expire this year, without Democratic support. The debt ceiling timeline could present another wrinkle to those plans, however, particularly as some Republicans already warn the agenda could face delays because of internal GOP divisions.

US Officials Meet With Ukrainian Delegation Ahead of Talks With Russia - On Sunday, US officials met with a Ukrainian delegation led by the country’s defense minister. American representatives are scheduled to meet with Russian officials on Monday. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed the meeting in Saudi Arabia. “We are implementing the President of Ukraine’s directive to bring a just peace closer and to strengthen security. The agenda includes proposals to protect energy facilities and critical infrastructure,” he wrote on X. “Today, we’re working through a number of complex technical issues – our delegation includes energy experts as well as military representatives from the naval and air components.”Following several hours of discussions with Americans, Umerov said, “We have concluded our meeting with the American team. The discussion was productive and focused – we addressed key points, including energy.” He continued, “President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s goal is to secure a just and lasting peace for our country and our people – and, by extension, for all of Europe. We are working to make that goal a reality.”The Americans met with Ukrainian officials ahead of meeting with a Russian delegation that will also take place in Riyadh. American and Ukrainian officials could meet again on Monday. The American delegation includes members of the special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg’s staff, State Department official Michael Anton, and aides to the national security adviser, Mike Waltz. Washington reportedly sidelinedKellogg himself from talks after a request from Moscow.President Trump is attempting to push Kiev and Moscow to enter a limited ceasefire in hopes it will lead to a broader deal to end the war. Last week, Russia and Ukraine agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. However, it is unclear when that truce will take effect, and so far, the attacks have continued.Trump has claimed that he is the only person who can secure a deal between Kiev and Moscow. He said on Saturday, “I don’t think there’s anybody in the world that is going to stop [Russian President Vladimir Putin] except me,” adding, “We’ve had some very rational discussions, and I just want to see the people stop getting killed.”

White House says Russia, Ukraine agree to ‘eliminate the use of force’ in Black Sea -- The White House announced Tuesday it came to an agreement with Ukraine and Russia to “eliminate the use of force” in the Black Sea, as well as end strikes on energy facilities, marking one of the more significant steps the Trump administration has seen toward a stop in fighting. The agreement will “ensure safe navigation” and “prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes” in the Black Sea, a critical waterway for Ukraine’s exports. The announcement did not include a start date for the truce.Russian state media TASS said the Kremlin was in favor of restarting talks about the Black Sea Initiative, which was a proposed deal in 2022.The White House’s announcement comes two days into the latest round of shuttle diplomacy in Saudi Arabia. U.S. officials have held a series of meetings with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators.Earlier Tuesday, Russian officials said there was no ceasefire deal yet, with negotiations focused on two limited ceasefire agreements after Russian President Vladimir Putin declined a broader 30-day ceasefire.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Russia is still analyzing the results of the talks, but the details would “certainly” not be made public, though dialogue between the countries would continue.

McConnell: US headed for ‘Russia wins, America loses’ headline on Ukraine deal -- Former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) warned in a speech Thursday that U.S. negotiators trying to end the war in Ukraine are headed for a “Russia wins, America loses” headline if they agree to a deal that achieves only “illusory peace.” McConnell made his comments in reaction to recent events, notably President Trump’s public scolding of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House and a Kremlin statement that the Trump administration’s foreign policy pivot on the war “largely coincides with our vision.” “When American officials court the favor of an adversary at the expense of allies … When they mock our friends to impress an enemy … They reveal their embarrassing naivete,” McConnell said in remarks Thursday while accepting the Star of Ukraine Award, the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation’s highest honor. “Unless we change course, the outcome we’re headed for today is the one we can least afford: a headline that reads ‘Russia wins, America loses,'” he said. “An illusory peace that shreds America’s credibility, leaves Ukraine under threat, weakens our alliances, and emboldens our enemies,” he said. McConnell invoked failed efforts to appease Nazi Germany before World War II, quoting President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s warning that “no man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it.”

US soldiers died in Lithuanian while training - Four U.S. soldiers who went missing while training in Lithuania have died, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Wednesday. Speaking to reporters during a trip to Warsaw, Rutte said he had received word of the deaths of the four American troops.“This is still early news so we do not know the details. This is really terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones,” Rutte said, as reported by The Associated Press. The news comes only hours after it was initially reported the four American soldiers were missing. U.S. Army Europe and Africa said that the missing troops were part of the Army’s 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division and were in a training area close to the Lithuanian city of Pabradė, a town less than 6 miles west of the border with Belarus.

Journalist included in Yemen war plans group chat with Vance, Hegseth, Waltz --Atlantic journalist says Trump officials included him in war plans group chat -- Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, was apparently included in a Trump administration group chat on Signal in which top officials debated and then discussed details of attacks against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The initial invite to the group apparently came from national security adviser Mike Waltz. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly sent the group details including weapons used, targets, and timing — two hours ahead of the attacks, which began March 15. Others in the group were Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. In the stunning report, Goldberg claimed Waltz connected with him on Signal on March 11 and, two days later, he was invited to join a chain called the “Houthi PC small group,” in which they discussed strikes against the Houthi militant group in Yemen — seemingly unaware of the journalist’s presence in the group. He wrote that he initially had strong doubts the text group was real, “because I could not believe that the national-security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans.” Goldberg also said he “could not believe that the national security adviser to the president would be so reckless as to include him in the discussions with senior U.S. officials.” He said he realized the text chain could be real after the person who was supposedly Hegseth messaged to the group that the first detonations in Yemen would be felt in two hours, at 1:45 p.m., which was in line with what took place.

Pete Hegseth Sent Secret War Plans to Journalist by Accident - Trump administration officials accidentally included a high-profile journalist in a group chat in which they discussed sensitive U.S. military plans for strikes against Yemen earlier this month. In a piece for The Atlantic published online Monday, Jeffrey Goldberg, the magazine's editor-in-chief, wrote that he had been invited to the group chat with top members of the White House national security team, seemingly by accident, and added that he'd "never seen a breach quite like this." The Pentagon referred Newsweek to the National Security Council when asked for comment on the apparent security lapse. The NSC did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but a spokesperson for the agency previously confirmed to Goldberg the Signal group chat "appears to be an authentic message chain." Later, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared to confirm to CNN the veracity of Goldberg's story while saying the national security team still had the full backing of the president. "As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective," Leavitt said. "President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz." The Atlantic story about the apparent security breach made waves across Washington on Monday and members of Congress—on both sides of the aisle—and former national security staffers acknowledged an egregious mistake had been made. "If House Republicans won't hold a hearing on how this happened IMMEDIATELY, I'll do it my damn self," Representative Pat Ryan, a Democrat from New York who sits on the Armed Services Committee, wrote in a social media post.

Atlantic journalist pushes back on Hegseth comments: ‘He was texting war plans’ - Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, pushed back on comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the journalist’s access to a group chat with information about an attack on Houthi rebels from top Trump administration officials.When asked about Goldberg’s access to the chat, Hegseth told reporters Monday, “Nobody was texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that.”CNN’s Kaitlan Collins noted the comments from Hegseth in an interview with Goldberg Monday night.“I want to start by getting your reaction to what we heard from Secretary Hegseth there, saying that ‘Nobody was texting war plans.’ Given you were privy to this group chat, is that how you saw it?” Collins asked. “No, that’s a lie. He was texting war plans,” Goldberg responded. “He was texting attack plans. When targets were going to be targeted; how they were going to be targeted; who was at the targets; when the next sequence of attacks was happening.” Hegseth on Monday also called Goldberg “a deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist who’s made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again.”Goldberg gained access to a group chat featuring Trump administration figures such as Hegseth and national security adviser Mike Waltz, in which they discussed plans for an attack against Houthi rebels. The Atlantic journalist detailed his experience as a part of the chat in a Monday report that rattled Washington.

John Bolton blasts Trump officials for using Signal to conduct government business - Former national security adviser John Bolton went after multiple Trump administration officials on Monday for reportedly using the messaging app Signal to conduct government business. “I couldn’t imagine anybody would use Signal,” Bolton told CNN’s Kasie Hunt on “The Arena.” “You know, some of the guests have commented that Signal’s highly encrypted. I’ll just say this, if you think Signal is equivalent to U.S. government secure telecommunications, think again.” The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, said in a new report that he had been given access to a group chat on Signal featuring top Trump administration officials including Vice President Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in which they talked about recent attacks targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen. Goldberg said he had doubts originally that the Signal group was real because he did not think “the national-security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans.” “How can you conduct official government business over a nonofficial channel?” Bolton said on “The Arena.” “Maybe there’s some in extremis situation, when you’re — you’re on Samoa or something, and there aren’t any official channels. But … they were, they were in Washington, probably in their offices.” Multiple Democrats went after Hegseth after Goldberg’s access to the group chat was revealed. “There is no world in which this information should have been shared in non-secure channels,” Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a Marine veteran, said online. “Hegseth is in so far over his head that he is a danger to this country and our men and women in uniform.”

GOP leaders express concern over Trump administration's handling of classified material - Congressional Republicans on Monday aired concerns about the Trump administration’s handling of classified material after a report showed top officials used an unauthorized messaging platform to discuss planned attacks against Houthi rebels in Yemen, calling the episode “embarrassing” and “inconceivable.” But even as some called for investigations into the incident, leaders stopped short of demanding any action to be taken against the officials involved. Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg reported Monday that national security adviser Mike Waltz had seemingly inadvertently added him to a Signal group that that included several other top-level national security officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The officials proceeded to lay out detailed war plans to attack the rebels ahead of the March 15 military operation. “We’re very concerned about and we’ll be looking into it on a bipartisan basis,” Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said, adding that the panel “definitely” plans to investigate the situation. “It’s definitely a concern,” Wicker added. “It appears that mistakes were made.” A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council confirmed the veracity of the discussions to Goldberg, who was on the thread alongside Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Hegseth, who laid out the war plans in detail hours before the mission was completed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said he expects lawmakers to “run it to ground” and determine what exactly happened. What alarmed lawmakers more than anything was the officials’ use of Signal, an encrypted messaging application commonly used by them to discuss sensitive topics, instead of secure government communications channels. Senate and House members with requisite clearances are able to view classified information in their respective sensitive compartmented information facilities located in the basement of the Capitol, but Signal is known as a no-go zone for them. “No, I do not share classified information on Signal,” said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a Senate Intelligence Committee member. “I do use Signal on sensitive issues but I do not use it [for classified information].” >

Hakeem Jeffries calls for investigation of top Trump officials after Atlantic report - House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is calling for Congress to investigate top Trump administration officials in the wake of a bombshell revelation that The Atlantic’s top editor was included in a group chat discussion detailing the Pentagon’s plans to strike Yemen. Jeffries said the details of the breach, outlined by The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg on Monday, reveal a “reckless” administration — one stocked with an “unqualified” Cabinet — that poses a threat to national security in the name of defending it. Congress, he said, has a role in getting to the bottom of the incident. “There should absolutely be a congressional investigation so that we can understand what happened, why did it happen, and how do we prevent this type of national security breach from ever happening again,” Jeffries told reporters Monday in the Capitol, shortly after The Atlantic piece was published. “This is reckless, irresponsible and dangerous.” Jeffries did not mention any of the top officials involved in the breach. But he went after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth without naming him, characterizing the secretary as “the most unqualified person ever to lead the Pentagon in American history.” And he accused President Trump of prioritizing loyalty over experience and talent. “We were promised that Donald Trump was going to hire the very best. It’s all phony,” Jeffries charged. “This whole Trump administration is filled with lackeys and incompetent cronies.” The Atlantic’s bombshell report featured allegations that Goldberg, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, had received an invitation to join a group chat on Signal from someone identifying themselves as Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser. Signal is an encrypted app, but it’s not a platform typically used by top government officials to discuss topics as sensitive as military plans, and Goldberg said he was initially skeptical of the legitimacy of the messages. As the discussion evolved, however, he said it became more clear that he was, indeed, a part of a highly confidential discussion about the Pentagon’s plans for missile strikes against Houthi forces in Yemen. The chat also appeared to feature Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Hegseth, who sent the group details — including weapons systems and targets — for impending strikes on Yemen on March 15. The National Security Council (NSC) verified the authenticity of the chat on Monday afternoon and said it was looking into the incident.

House Republican on war plans chat: ‘There’s no doubt that Russia and China saw this stuff’ --Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said there’s “no doubt” that Russia and China were monitoring the U.S. officials’ devices used for a war plan text chat. “I will guarantee you, 99.99 percent with confidence, Russia and China are monitoring those two phones,” Bacon told CNN’s Manu Raju. “So I just think it’s a security violation, and there’s no doubt that Russia and China saw this stuff within hours of the actual attacks on Yemen or the Houthis.” National security adviser Mike Waltz reportedly invited The Atlantic’s top editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, into the Signal group, in which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared secret war plans. Bacon, a former Air Force brigadier general and a member of the House Armed Services committee, said he always was concerned about Hegseth, an Army veteran who was a longtime Fox News host. The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Defense and National Security newsletter Bacon called the group chat, which also included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President Vance, among others, a “gross error.” “They intentionally put highly classified information on an unclassified device,” he told CNN. “I would have lost my security clearance in the Air Force for this and for a lot less.”

Top Intel Democrat Mark Warner calls for Pete Hegseth and Mike Waltz to resign -- Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, criticized the Trump administration for using a Signal group to discuss plans for carrying out bombing in Yemen, calling on officials to resign and saying others would have been fired for the same actions. Warner said national security adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not “conduct hygiene 101” in failing to realize there was a journalist on the group chat after The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added. “There’s plenty of declassified information that shows that our adversaries, China and Russia, are trying to break into encrypted systems,” Warner said of the messaging app ] Signal during his opening remarks of the Senate panel’s annual worldwide threats hearing. “If this was the case of a military officer or an intelligence officer and they had this kind of behavior, they would be fired,” he added. “This is one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly towards classified information, that this is not a one-off or a first-time error.” Warner noted that “classified information should never be discussed over an unclassified system.”

Vance Cautioned Against Bombing Yemen, Calling it a 'Mistake' - Vice President JD Vance cautioned against bombing Yemen before the US restarted its airstrikes on the country, calling it a “mistake,” and suggested delaying the attack by one month, according to a leaked Signal conversation between administration officials. Jeffrey Goldberg, a reporter for The Atlantic, was included in the Signal thread, apparently by accident, which is how he obtained the conversation.An account believed to be Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared details of the March 15 airstrikes on Yemen two hours before they happened, and the White House confirmed that the Signal conversation appeared to be authentic.A day before the airstrikes, an account labeled “JD Vance” expressed misgivings about the idea of targeting the Houthis. “Team, I am out for the day doing an economic event in Michigan. But I think we are making a mistake,” the Vance account said. Vance framed his opposition to the airstrikes based on President Trump’s policies toward Europe, which have involved pressuring the Europeans to pay more for their own militaries to be less reliant on the US. Vance pointed out that only a small percentage of US shipping goes through the Suez Canal compared to European trade.The message said: “3 percent of US trade runs through the suez. 40 percent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesn’t understand this or why it’s necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message.”Vance continued, “I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. There’s a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.”An account believed to be Joe Kent, President Trump’s nominee to lead the National Counterterrorism Center, replied to Vance, saying, “There is nothing time sensitive driving the time line. We’ll have the exact same options in a month.”Hegseth responded to Vance by saying the messaging to the American people about the war would focus on President Biden failing to deter Yemeni attacks and the Houthis being “Iran funded.” Iran is aligned with the Houthis, but it’s unclear how much support they give to the group, and US officials have acknowledged the Houthis wouldn’t take orders from Tehran and have their own weapons supply.“VP: I understand your concerns – and fully support you raising w/ POTUS. Important considerations, most of which are tough to know how they play out (economy, Ukraine peace, Gaza, etc). I think messaging is going to be tough no matter what – nobody knows who the Houthis are – which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1) Biden failed & 2) Iran funded,” Hegseth said.Hegseth also disputed the idea that the strikes could wait, saying he wanted it to happen before the Gaza ceasefire fell apart and before Israel attacked Yemen. The US launched the March 15 airstrikes just a few days after the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, announced they would reimpose their blockade on Israeli shipping in response to Israel’s ceasefire violations, which included imposing a full blockage on all goods entering Gaza. “Waiting a few weeks or a month does not fundamentally change the calculus. 2 immediate risks on waiting: 1) this leaks, and we look indecisive; 2) Israel takes an action first – or Gaza cease fire falls apart – and we don’t get to start this on our own terms. We can manage both. We are prepared to execute, and if I had final go or no go vote, I believe we should,” Hegseth said.Hegseth also claimed bombing Yemen wasn’t really “about the Houthis” and suggested the messaging would focus on protecting shipping. “This [is] not about the Houthis. I see it as two things: 1) Restoring Freedom of Navigation, a core national interest; and 2) Reestablish deterrence, which Biden cratered. But, we can easily pause. And if we do, I will do all we can to enforce 100% OPSEC [operations security]. I welcome other thoughts,” he said.National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who added Goldberg to the chat, made his argument for bombing Yemen, saying it would “have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes” and that the administration would figure out a way to get Europe to pay. “Per the president’s request we are working with DOD and State to determine how to compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans,” he said.Vance said that he would agree with whatever Hegseth’s decision was. “If you think we should do it let’s go. I just hate bailing Europe out again,” he said.The first round of US airstrikes on Yemen killed at least 53 people, including five children and two women, according to Yemen’s Health Ministry. Administration officials celebrated the strikes in the chat, including Waltz, who sent a fist emoji, a flame emoji, and an American flag emoji.

Trump brushes off group chat controversy as Democrats rail at Cabinet --President Trump offered the rare acknowledgment of a slipup by his Cabinet on Tuesday as Washington was gripped by the fallout from a stunning group chat-gone-public. Democrats assailed two members of Trump’s Cabinet during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing over why in the world officials were discussing a planned military attack on a militant group in Yemen over the Signal platform, and how a journalist could have been let into the discussion. Trump described the episode as a glitch in the morning while attacking The Atlantic and its Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who apparently was invited to the chat by a staffer working for the president’s national security adviser, Michael Waltz. Yet while Trump defended his team and signaled there would be no punishment, he also made it clear he saw the episode as a mistake that should not be repeated. “It’s just something that can happen, it can happen,” Trump told reporters late on Tuesday. “You can even prepare for it, it can happen. Sometimes people are hooked in and you don’t know they’re hooked in. … It’s not a perfect technology, there is no perfect technology.” He said Waltz should not apologize, but that in the future, a meeting like the one to discuss a military strike on the Houthis that included Waltz, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and many others should be held in person. 'Proud' Benzema calls time on international career with France “No, I don’t think he should apologize. I think he’s doing his best. It’s equipment and technology that’s not perfect and probably he won’t be using it again,” Trump said, to which Waltz responded, “Yes, sir.”

Atlantic editor suggests he’s open to sharing Hegseth’s full war plans texts publicly --Jeffrey Goldberg, the top editor of The Atlantic, said he could be open to sharing more details from a Signal group chat he was mistakenly added to by top U.S. officials that contained secret war plans. “I get the defensive reaction,” Goldberg said Tuesday during an interview with The Bulwark. “But my obligation, I feel, is to the idea that we take national security information seriously.” Goldberg published a bombshell report Monday outlining how he was added to a group chat on the encrypted messaging app that included top U.S. intelligence and military officials earlier this month relating to the U.S. government’s plans to strike Houthi targets in Yemen. Goldberg reported he saw in a message, sent to the group by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, specific weapons systems, human targets and other top secret information before he left the chat. He did not publish the specific information as part of his report, citing national security concerns. The White House has denied war plans were texted to the group, and Hegseth on Monday denied the reporting as well, calling Goldberg “a deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist who’s made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again.” “Maybe in the coming days, I’ll be able to say, ‘OK, I have a plan to have this materiel vetted publicly,'” Goldberg told The Bulwark on Tuesday. “But I’m not going to say that now.” During a hearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe contended that the Signal chat in question did not include classified information.

Full Signal Chat Reveals US Officials Celebrated Bombing a Residential Building in Yemen - The full Signal chat between Trump administration officials discussing bombing Yemen revealed that top US officials celebrated an airstrike that flattened a residential building, which likely killed many civilians.Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was included in the chat, apparently by accident, and published its full contents on Wednesday after Trump administration officials insisted it didn’t contain classified information. But the chat did include details about when the strikes on Yemen would start on March 15.After the US bombings started, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who added Goldberg to the chat, said one of the strikes targeted a “top missile guy” for the Houthis after he entered a building where his girlfriend lived.“The first target – their top missile guy – we had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriend’s building, and it’s now collapsed,” Waltz said. Vice President JD Vance, who previously warned against bombing Yemen in the chat, replied to Waltz by saying, “Excellent.” Other administration officials celebrated the destruction of the residential building, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, US Middle Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard previously opposed US intervention against the Houthis in Yemen, which she called “genocidal” during President Trump’s first term in office. But she has supported the new bombing campaign in Yemen, which hasn’t been authorized by Congress, and replied to the news of the residential building being hit by saying, “Great works and effects!”The Trump administration’s bombing campaign against Yemen has had a heavy civilian toll. The Yemen Data Project said in a report on Tuesday that at least 25 civilians were killed in just the first week, more than were killed by US-UK strikes on Yemen from January 2024 to 2025 under the Biden administration.The US launched the bombing campaign after the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, announced they would reimpose a blockade on Israeli shipping in response to Israel violating the Gaza ceasefire by cutting off the entry of aid and all other goods into Gaza. The Houthis had ceased their attacks on Israel and shipping in the region when the Gaza truce went into effect on January 19 but warned they would resume if Israel violated the deal.In his argument against bombing Yemen in the Signal chat, Vance framed his opposition as related to Europe, which is far more reliant on Red Sea shipping than the US. “3 percent of US trade runs through the suez. 40 percent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesn’t understand this or why it’s necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message,” Vance said.Vance ultimately agreed to go along with the bombing campaign and said in the chat that he would pray for its success as it started. Since the US airstrikes on Yemen started on March 15, the region has exploded. Israel restarted its genocidal war in Gaza a few days later, and the Houthis began targeting US warships and firing missiles at Israel.

Houthis Target Israel With Missile as US Pounds Yemen - Yemen’s Houthis fired another missile at Israel on Sunday, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claiming it intercepted at least one projectile. The Houthis have repeatedly voiced support for Palestinians during the war in Gaza, targeting Israel-linked shipping in the Red Sea and launching missiles at the country. There were no reports of damage or injuries linked to the attack, whichreportedly prompted “millions” of Israelis to take shelter on Sunday morning, per the IDF. Two missiles were said to have landed in uninhabited areas, in addition to the one shot down.“Following the alerts that were activated a short time ago in several areas of the country, the Air Force intercepted one missile launched from Yemen. The missile was intercepted before it crossed into the country’s territory,” Israel’s military wrote in Hebrew in a social media post.The attack briefly shut down air traffic at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport near the city of Lod, Palestine Chronicle reported. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said Sunday’s attack was successful, and noted that US warships in the Red Sea were also targeted with missiles and drones.The Houthis have launched at least five attacks on Israel since the IDFrenewed its offensive in Gaza last Tuesday, which broke a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal with Hamas, as well as a brief lull in fighting which has claimed some 50,000 Palestinian lives, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The Israeli operations have included ground forces in addition to new rounds of airstrikes. The attempted Houthi attack on Sunday came just one day after the group accused Washington of targeting the airport in the major coastal city of al-Hodeida, and days after the United States said it would deploy a second carrier strike group to the Red Sea, led by the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier. The Houthis said US strikes had killed at least 79 people and wounded more than 100, among them women and children.US Central Command (CENTCOM) recently confirmed that it was carrying out “continuous operations” against the Houthis, who President Donald Trump has declared would be “annihilated.”At least one Houthi projectile reportedly broke up over Saudi airspace on Sunday. A few days earlier, the United States approved a sale to Riyadh for 2,000 laser-guided Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) II missiles, which can be used for air defense.

US Launches Multiple Airstrikes on Yemen's Northern Saada Province - The US launched eight airstrikes on the outskirts of the northern Yemeni city of Saada and hit other sites in the Saada province on Monday night, “severely” injuring at least two people, Yemen’s SABA news agency has reported.The strikes came a day after the US bombed a residential area of the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, killing at least one person and wounding 13 others, according to Yemen’s Health Ministry. Since unleashing massive airstrikes on Yemen on March 15, the US has continued daily bombings, and the Houthis have launched attacks against US warships and fired multiple missiles at Israel.The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, fired another missile at Israel on Monday, marking the sixth such attack within the past week. Israeli media reported the missile was intercepted, and shrapnel landed in the city of Beith Shemesh. No casualties were reported.According to the Israeli news site Ynet, the US has asked Israel not to respond to the Houthis attacks and said that US forces will handle the retaliation. The Houthis have shown no sign of backing down in the face of US airstrikes, and their message has been that they will meet “escalation with escalation.”The Houthis have maintained the only way to stop their attacks now would be a real ceasefire in Gaza and a lifting of Israel’s blockade.The US began bombing Yemen again after the Houthis announced they would start targeting Israeli shipping again after Israel imposed a total blockade on food, fuel, and all other goods entering Gaza, a major violation of the ceasefire deal it signed in January.The Houthis began launching missiles at Israeli territory in response to Israel restarting its genocidal war and unleashing massive airstrikes on Gaza.

US Killed 25 Civilians in First Week of Renewed Bombing Campaign in Yemen - US airstrikes on Yemen killed at least 25 civilians and wounded 28 others in just the first week of the Trump administration’s renewed bombing campaign against the Houthis, according to the Yemen Data Project (YDP). The YDP released a report on Tuesday analyzing 38 strikes on Yemen the US launched from March 15 to March 21 and found that 55% of the bombings hit non-military targets. The report said the US attacks marked the heaviest and deadliest week of bombing in Yemen since the final months of the US-backed Saudi-UAE air war on the country in early 2022.The report found that more civilians were killed in the first week of the Trump administration’s bombing campaign than were killed in the 12 months of US- UK strikes on Yemen that were conducted under the Biden administration from January 2024 to January 2025.The YDP report said the deadliest US strike in the first week of President Trump’s bombing campaign hit a residential area in Yemen’s northern Saada province, killing 10 civilians, including four children. Another 11 civilians were injured, including two children.The YDP said 21 out of the 38 recorded US strikes hit non-military, civilian targets. “Civilian targets hit included: a medical storage facility, a medical center, a school, a wedding hall, residential areas, a cotton gin facility, a health office, Bedouin tents, and Al-Eiman University,” the report reads.Only one of the strikes was confirmed to hit a Houthi military target, and in 16 of the strikes, the target couldn’t be identified. The YDP recorded US strikes every night in Yemen between the hours of 7 pm and 6 am from March 15 to 21, and the US has continued daily strikes on the country this week.The US began bombing Yemen on March 15, a few days after the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, announced they would re-impose a blockade on Israeli shipping in response to Israel’s violation of the Gaza ceasefire deal. Since the US started the airstrikes on Yemen, the Houthis have launched attacks on US warships in the region and began firing missiles at Israel in response to Israel restarting its bombing campaign on Gaza.President Trump is threatening the Houthis with “annihilation,” but the year-long US bombing campaign launched by President Biden did not stop the Yemeni group, and a brutal US-backed Saudi-led war on Yemen from 2015 to 2022 also failed to remove them from power. The Houthis have maintained that a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the Israeli blockade would be the only way to stop their attacks.

More US Airstrikes Hit Yemen's Northern Saada Province - Yemeni media reported more US airstrikes on northern Yemen’s Saada on Tuesday night as the US continues its daily bombing campaign on the country.A local official told the Yemeni news agency SABA that two US airstrikes targeted the Sahar district in Saada. Early Wednesday morning Yemen time,Al Masirah TV reported three more US strikes in the same area.Yemen’s Health Ministry also released a statement that said recent US airstrikes that targeted Saada hit a cancer hospital for the second time, injuring two people.The US has launched dozens of airstrikes on Yemen since March 15, which has provoked multiple Houthi attacks on US warships in the region. The Yemen Data Project released a report on Tuesday that said US airstrikes on Yemen from March 15 to March 21 killed at least 25 civilians.The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, have also been launching missile attacks on Israel in response to Israel restarting large-scale airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli news site Ynet, the US has asked Israel not to respond to the Houthis’ attacks and said that US forces will handle the retaliation. The Trump administration began bombing Yemen again after the Houthis announced they would start targeting Israeli shipping again after Israel imposed a total blockade on food, fuel, and all other goods entering Gaza, a major violation of the ceasefire deal it signed in January.The Houthis have controlled the Yemeni capital of Sanaa since 2014 and govern an area where 80% of Yemen’s population lives. A brutal US-backed, Saudi-led war on Yemen from 2015 to 2022 failed to remove the Houthis from power, and it involved a blockade, an air campaign, and a ground campaign. Despite the group’s resilience, President Trump is threatening the Houthis with “annihilation.”

US Launches 15 Airstrikes Around Yemen's Capital Sanaa - The US continued to pound Yemen with airstrikes on Wednesday night,with Al Mayadeen reporting 15 US airstrikes on the southern and northeastern outskirts of the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. An Al Mayadeen correspondent reported that some of the strikes hit targets near the Sanaa International Airport. Earlier in the day, Yemen’s Al Masirah TV reported 17 US strikes in the northern Saada province and two in the Amran province. On Wednesday morning, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sareeannounced attacks on the US aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman. Saree said that the attack lasted for “several hours.” Since the US restarted its bombing campaign in Yemen on March 15, the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, have launched frequent attacks on the USS Harry Truman. US officials have downplayed the attacks, and the US military hasn’t been reporting each one.So far, there have been no reports of casualties in the Wednesday US airstrikes around Sanaa, but the Trump administration’s bombing campaign has had a heavy toll on civilians. According to the Yemen Data Project, at least 25 civilians were killed in just the first week, and more than 55% of the strikes hit non-military targets.

US Bomber Deployment to Diego Garcia Suggests Heavier Airstrikes on Yemen Could Be Coming - The US has significantly increased the presence of heavy bombers at its base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, signaling the US could launch heavier airstrikes on Yemen.According to open-source reports, the US has sent five B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and at least seven C-17 transport aircraft to Diego Garcia. The US is also deploying an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East.The additional US firepower in the region could be used to ramp up airstrikes on Yemen as the Houthis have been undeterred by the daily US bombings that started on March 15, and President Trump has threatened the group with “annihilation.” Since the US started bombing Yemen again, the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, have said they will meet “escalation with escalation” and have claimed many attacks on the US aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman. The Houthis also began firing missiles at Israel again in response to Israel restarting the large-scale bombing of Gaza.The increased US bomber presence could also serve as a threat to Iran. The Trump administration has been increasing sanctions on Iran and threatening potential military action if a deal isn’t reached on its nuclear program, even though US intelligence agencies have reaffirmed there’s no evidence Iran is working toward a nuclear weapon.There are other risks of escalation in the region, including in Lebanon, where Israel has flouted a ceasefire deal by continuing to occupy southern Lebanon and launch airstrikes on the country. Iraqi Shia militias could also restart attacks on US bases in response to US support for Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

State Department Approves First Sale of Laser-Guided Missiles to Saudi Arabia - Continuing a trend of selling large amounts of weaponry to Saudi Arabia, the State Department has delivered certification informing Congress of their intention to sell a package of 2,000 laser-guided APKWS II missiles and assorted parts to the Saudis for an estimated cost of $100 million.The missiles are made by BAE Systems, and cost roughly $22,000 each, which was described as a more “cost effective” solution for shooting down drones like the type used by the Houthis in neighboring Yemen.The Saudis invaded Yemen in 2015, and a decade later the Houthis retain much of the north of the country. The Houthis have carried out hundreds of attacks against Saudi territory since, using both attack drones and ballistic missiles.Since launching the Yemen war, the Saudis have dramatically increased their military spending, with large amounts going to buying US-made equipment. Their defense budget for 2025 is $78 billion, which is 7.1% of the oil-rich nation’s GDP. This is the fifth highest military budget in the world, ahead of the United Kingdom.The APKWS II, which stands for “Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System,” is used to transform otherwise standard rockets into precision, laser-guided missiles. The APKWS II achieved operating capacity for the US in 2012, and was used substantially in both the Iraq and Afghan wars after that. It is generally fired from fixed-wing aircraft or certain attack helicopters, though there is also an ability to launch it from ground vehicles.The US has exported to APKWS II kits to other nations in the past, including Ukraine, Britain and the Czech Republic. This will be the first time such precision weapons are sent to Saudi Arabia.US exports to the Saudis have generally been in the form of more conventional missiles and bombs, which have killed many thousands of people in Yemen since 2015. Human rights concerns have led to pressure for the US to sell less offensive weaponry to Saudi Arabia, though last year theBiden Administration lifted a ban on such weapons, and the Trump Administration seems every bit as eager to sell the Saudis whatever they want for the ongoing conflict.

NSA Waltz Demands Iran Give Up Entire Nuclear Program, Including Civilian Enrichment - While continuing to closely tie the recent US attacks on the Houthis in Yemen to Iran, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz confirmed that the Trump Administration is demanding “full dismantlement” of Iran’s nuclear program, including its capacity to enrich uranium for civilian use.Waltz made the comments on CBS’ Face the Nation, and when asked what full dismantlement meant and to clarify the distinction between it and the verification deal the US had with Iran before President Trump pulled out of it in 2018, he made it clear this is far broader, covering everything, including enrichment, “weaponization,” and strategic missile programs.Iran’s enrichment program, which is under IAEA monitoring, has no military component in the first place. Enrichment was purely for making fuel rods for the Bushehr nuclear power plant along Iran’s coast and for making somewhat higher enriched fuel for its medical isotope reactor. Iran has a long history of having a substantial nuclear medicine program, and supplied its own isotopes for that.The long-abandoned nuclear deal was meant to give Iran a design to produce isotopes without 20% enriched uranium through a heavy-water reactor. Like most of the promises to Iran under the deal this was never honored, and Iran is left with the old research reactor. Higher levels of enrichment were also done to try to encourage new negotiations, thoughIran promised the IAEA that they would not go above 60% levels, and weapons-grade uranium is a minimum of 90%. Waltz’ new demand is not that Iran goes back down to 20% or anything, it’s to stop enrichment entirely. It’s unclear in the context if Iran is even allowed to keep it’s power plant, though without the ability to enrich uranium to make their own fuel, it would be effectively useless in fairly short order.Beyond that, Waltz demanded Iran scrap its “weaponization” program, which will be a challenge because Iran does not have one, and US intelligence assessments have repeatedly said Iran hasn’t decided to try to make such a weapon though such assessments never seem to inform the content of US demands.He also demanded Iran get rid of its entire strategic missile program, which sinse they haven’t even attempted to create nuclear warheads would exclusively impact conventional weapons in Iran’s arsenal. Though presented as something to do with nuclear dismantlement, it is effectively unrelated in the case of these missiles.Waltz confirmed that the US had received multiple responses from Iran regarding the demands, which were initially submitted through a letter. He declined to discuss what the responses were in any way, but said there was an ongoing “back and forth” and that “all options are on the table.” He further vowed Iran would face consequences if they didn’t submit to the demands. nThe latest US demands are by far the furthest they’ve gone in demands for nuclear concessions from Iran, but they once again appear founded in the same false narrative that the program has a military component, even though US intelligence has consistently confirmed it does not.The refusal to disclose what Iran’s response to the demands has been so far is likely based in part on avoiding talking about how Iran doubtless reiterated that they don’t have such a program to give up. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly responded in part, by rejecting the idea of direct talks with President Trump on the matter. Khamanei has previously expressed openness to direct talks with the US, but since Trump was the one who tore up the previous nuclear deal, he has said that there is no value in talking with a party they can’t count on to fulfill their commitments.Russia issued a statement on Friday which appears to reject the basis of the US demands, saying Iran has every right to have a peaceful nuclear program for civilian purposes. Western European nations have previously given lip-service to past US demands to restrict Iran, but it is unclear if even they will go along with the idea that Iran isn’t allowed to enrich uranium to civilian levels. Beyond Israel, the Trump Administration might be alone given the severity of this latest demand.

US Intelligence Says Iran Is 'Not Building a Nuclear Weapon' - US intelligence agencies have reaffirmed that there’s no evidence Iran is developing nuclear weapons or that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reversed his 2003 fatwah that banned the production of weapons of mass destruction.“The IC continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003,” Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. Gabbard’s comments were based on the annual threat assessment, which is released by the ODNI with input from all US intelligence agencies. The report did note that there have been more calls inside Iran to reverse the ban on nuclear weapons, which have grown in response to Israeli aggression in the region. “In the past year, there has been an erosion of a decades-long taboo on discussing nuclear weapons in public that has emboldened nuclear weapons advocates within Iran’s decisionmaking apparatus,” the report reads. “Khamenei remains the final decision maker over Iran’s nuclear program, to include any decision to develop nuclear weapons.” The threat assessment comes amid increasing US sanctions and threats of military action over Iran’s nuclear program. Iranian officials have rejected the idea of talks with the US in the face of President Trump’s “maximum pressure campaign,” but have said the door is open for indirect negotiations.The hype over Iran’s nuclear program revolves around the enrichment of some uranium at 60%, the highest level Iran has achieved but still lower than the 90% needed for weapons-grade. Iran first took the step to enrich at 60% in response to a 2021 Israeli sabotage attack against its Natanz nuclear facility, which was meant to sabotage talks between the Biden administration and Tehran. Iran is still a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and has told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it won’t enrich uranium beyond the 60% level.Iran Says It's Open to Indirect Talks With the US - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday that Tehran was open to the idea of indirect talks with the US but rejected direct negotiations in the face of increasing US sanctions.“The way is open for indirect negotiations,” Aragchi said, according to AFP, adding that there would be no direct talks until “there is a change in the other side’s approach toward the Islamic republic.”Iranian leaders have repeatedly dismissed the idea of talks with the US in response to President Trump re-imposing his “maximum pressure campaign” against Tehran and increasing military threats from US officials. But Aragchi’s comments suggest Iran is still open to diplomacy through mediators.His remarks came a day after US National Security Advisor Mike Waltzdemanded that Iran give up its entire civilian nuclear program, which would be a non-starter for negotiations with Iran.While there’s much hype from US officials about Iran’s nuclear program,there’s no evidence Tehran has decided to build a bomb, and President Trump has acknowledged that Iranian leadership doesn’t desire nuclear weapons.President Trump recently sent a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which reportedly gave Iran a two-month deadline to reach a deal with the US. According to Axios, if an agreement isn’t reached by then,the chance of US and Israeli military action against Iran will increase significantly.The chances of war with Iran are also rising as President Trump is blaming Tehran for attacks launched by Yemen’s Houthis in the wake of the US restarting its bombing campaign on Yemen.

US Intelligence Assessment Blames Syrian Government for Recent Alawite Massacre - A new Department of National Intelligence (DNI) threat assessment has been released. Such assessments are required annually under the Intelligence Authorization Act in 2021. Though most of the assessment centers on Russia and China, and is largely unchanged from last year, a small section on Syria shows covers quite a bit of recent news.It reports on the rise of Sunni Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who seized power back in December, noting HTS was historically tied to al-Qaeda. While mentioning their talk of unity in Syria, they note that they also risk extending the period of instability in the country.The most noteworthy part is this month’s massacre of Alawite and Christian civilians in northwestern Syria, as the assessment notes that the HTS-led government forces and other jihadist groups working with them engaged in “violence and extrajudicial killings” in the northwest. They put the death toll at “over 1,000” in the assessment, but most reports indicate it at well over 1,500, potentially by quite a bit, as the number continues to rise. The violence against the Alawites and Christians reflects the Sunni Islamist government’s general hostility toward them, stemming in part from former President Assad and his family being Alawites. The massacres and other violence have led many Alawites to flee to northern Lebanon, and the remaining ones are extremely concerned about what their future holds. Exactly how many Christians were caught up in the massacre is still unclear, as is why they ended up targeted in the first place. Both are religious minorities living in the same region, however, and some Islamists at times appear to conflate the two, colloquially referring to the Alawites as “Christians.”Alawites are a somewhat secretive off-shoot of Shia Islam, not Christians, but the general lack of understanding of what they believe may be leading some groups to lump the two minorities together, at least for the sake of hostility. Alawite rituals also have some things in common with Christian rituals, which may add to the sense that they’re both roughly the same sort of outsiders. During the Ottoman era, both Alawites and Christians at times faced persecution as religious minorities, and living in close proximity they likely did cooperate on some level for their own protection. Though the DNI assessment confirming that the HTS government forces engaged in the massacres surprises no one, because that’s what all the media reports have said from the beginning. It is, however, noteworthy that the US government is acknowledging that fact, as previously they’ve been open to working with the HTS, going so far as to offer them sanction relief (albeit minor) in return for certain concessions.It may also be worth noting that the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, was strongly opposed to arming and supporting HTS back when she was in Congress (the group was known as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham at the time). Gabbard (then D – HI) introduced a bipartisan bill called the Stop Arming Terrorists Act (SATA) in 2017 which aimed to forbid the US government from arming HTS, as well as other al-Qaeda factions and ISIS. There was a Senate version of SATA introduced by Sen. Rand Paul (R – KY). Neither version ever came to the floor for a vote, and indeed the Senate version never even got a second co-sponsor beyond Sen. Paul. Such bills were rather controversial at the time for the very idea of not arming al-Qaeda factions inside Syria, as the CIA was doing exactly that. Gabbard’s opposition to arming the HTS at the time may well be informing the DNI’s willingness to admit what the HTS is doing now, even though doing so is potentially embarrassing for the rest of the intelligence community, since US provided arms and intelligence played at least a partial role in HTS seizing power in Syria.

US Issues Demands to Syria Government, Offers Minor Sanctions Relief in Return - While the US loudly applauded the regime change in Syria back in December, their interaction with the new Islamist government in Damascus has been fairly limited. It is now being reported that the US sent Syria a list of demands, and offered “partial sanctions relief” if they complied. A lot of the details are still emerging on this offer, but the demands include disposing of all chemical weapons, forbidding foreign jihadist fighters from senior government positions, and appointing a liaison to the US to help them look for Austin Tice.The chemical weapon demand may be a difficult one to comply with at a satisfactory level. The Assad government had already disavowed chemical weapons over a decade ago, and in 2017 the US accused them of a chemical attack, one which the Assad government insisted never happened.The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirmed in 2013 that Syria had destroyed critical equipment at all 23 of their chemical weapon sites. The last of their chemical weapon stockpile was removed from Syria by the UN in June of 2014. Between that and Israel hitting what they claimed were “chemical weapons sites” in Syria in December, it’s not at all clear what the US even thinks the Syrian government might have anymore, and the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) convincing the US they’re giving up “everything” will be no small task since the US never believed Assad or the OPCW the last time they disarmed.Barring foreign jihadists from senior positions would likely require a substantial re-juggling of the HTS government as well, depending on how “senior” is defined. The HTS has included a lot of foreign jihadists in high ranking positions in their new defense ministry.De facto President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the HTS, has the most senior position there is in Syria. Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) was a top leader in al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), so it’s unthinkable he wouldn’t be considered a jihadist as well. The same is true of effectively all the HTS leadership, whether foreign or not.Austin Tice is a freelance journalist who went missing in 2012. The HTS appointing a liaison to help the US look for him is the easiest ask of the publicly reported demands, though actually finding him so many years after he disappeared in Damascus is going to be a challenge.The “sanctions relief” offered in return looks incredibly minor, only including a two-year exemption allowing transactions with Syrian government institutions and a report that the US would issue a statement in support of Syria’s territorial integrity. Though a statement of territorial integrity might be of some value to Syria since Israel is actively invading and occupying their territory, history suggests such a US statement would have little backing behind it, and presumably would not include any direct criticism of the ongoing Israeli incursions.

Lebanon Contacts US, France as Israel Escalates Attacks, Threatens Beirut - Lebanese officials, including President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam have been in “intensive contact” with the US and French government in recent days, as Israel escalates its airstrikes against southern Lebanon and threatens attacks on the capital city of Beirut.The US and France are meant to be the guarantors of the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, though Israel has launched hundreds of attacks during that period and says it has the US’s blessing to attack as they wish.France is probably more likely to step in over the recent attacks than the US, as the Trump Administration has threatened to back further Israeli escalation. French officials have also been more comfortable criticizing Israel for ceasefire violations than the US has been.A handful of rockets were fired from southern Lebanon toward the Israeli village of Metula late last week. There were reportedly as many as six rockets, half were intercepted and the other half fell harmlessly, at least one of them before it crossed the border. The Lebanese Army found and dismantled the “primitive rocket launchers” apparently used.No group has claimed credit for the attack, and Hezbollah denied involvement. Hezbollah generally has more than just “primitive” launchers, so it may well be some other faction. Israel, however, blamed Hezbollah and escalated attacks across the south.At least eight Lebanese were reported killed in the Israeli strikes, with casualties reported in Ayta ash-Shaab and the coastal city of Tyre. Attacks were also reported in Kfar Kela, a village immediately across the border from Metula. Israeli DM Israel Katz insisted that Beirut will face the same fate as Metula, and after scores of attacks on residential areas of metro Beirut during the Israeli invasion in late 2024, there is concern that new airstrikes will happen there as well. So far though, the strikes are confined to the south, with Israeli artillery attacking Shebaa on Monday morning.Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri says he believes Israel’s escalation is designed to try to force Lebanon to agree to a new plan of normalization. The opposition to normalization is pronounced because of repeated Israeli attacks and Israeli forces actively occupying five military outposts in the south, as well as occupying the Shebaa Farms region, which Lebanon claims as its own.Lebanese officials have said no normalization is possible while all those problems remain. While Israeli officials sometimes speak of the potential for normalization, it is never linked to actually resolving any of these issues, with Katz saying recently the intention is to remain in those military outposts for the long term.

Pentagon changed course for Musk visit after report about him viewing China war plans: Officials - --Tech billionaire Elon Musk was slated to visit the Pentagon on Friday and attend a meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that would touch on China, among other things, two United States officials confirmed to ABC News -- but that plan changed after The New York Times reported Musk would be briefed on potential China war plans. Musk visited the Pentagon on Friday -- but instead of meeting with the Joint Chiefs, Musk met with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and staffers, a U.S. official said. The meeting between Musk and the Joint Chiefs was to be at the unclassified level and attended virtually by Adm. Sam Paparo, the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, one official said. But some time between the publication of The New York Times story on Thursday and Musk's visit to the Pentagon Friday morning, the visit turned into just a meeting with Hegseth. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth welcomes Elon Musk to the Pentagon, in Washington, Mar. 21, 2025. U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech/DoD The New York Times reported that Musk would receive a briefing from senior military leaders about a top-secret military plan for potential war with China. The publication said the meeting was canceled because of its initial report. Musk, Hegseth and President Donald Trump denied the report -- with Trump asserting that Musk would not be briefed on a war plan with China. "I don't want to show that to anybody. But certainly, you wouldn't show it to a businessman who is helping us so much. He's a great patriot ... But I certainly wouldn't want -- you know, Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible perhaps to that. But it was such a fake story," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday.

South Africa president says persecution of whites a ‘false narrative’ as Musk repeats genocide claim (AP) — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Monday the claim that white people are being persecuted in his country is a “completely false narrative.” It was his latest attempt to push back against allegations made by U.S. President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and some white minority groups in South Africa. South African-born Musk, who has regularly accused South Africa’s Black-led government of being anti-white, repeated a claim this weekend in a social media post that some of the country’s political figures are “actively promoting white genocide.” Ramaphosa said in his weekly message to the nation that South Africans “should not allow events beyond our shores to divide us or turn us against each other.” “In particular, we should challenge the completely false narrative that our country is a place in which people of a certain race or culture are being targeted for persecution.” Ramaphosa did not mention names, but his denial was a reference to the allegations by Trump and others that South Africa is deliberately mistreating a white minority group known as Afrikaners by encouraging violent attacks on their farms and introducing a law designed to seize their land. The allegations were central to an executive order issued by Trump last month cutting funding to South Africa to punish the government, while offering Afrikaners refugee status in the U.S. Afrikaners are descendants of mainly Dutch and French colonial settlers who first came to South Africa more than 300 years ago. They were at the heart of the apartheid government that systematically oppressed non-whites, although South Africa has been largely successful at reconciling its many racial groups after apartheid ended in 1994. In his post on X, influential Trump adviser Musk cited a political rally last Friday in South Africa where Black leaders of a far-left opposition party sang a song that has the lyrics “Kill the Boer, the farmer.” Boer is a word that refers to an Afrikaner. “Very few people know that there is a major political party in South Africa that is actively promoting white genocide,” Musk wrote. He linked to a video of the rally. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X late Monday that the song “is a chant that incites violence. South Africa’s leaders and politicians must take action to protect Afrikaner and other disfavored minorities. The United States is proud to offer those individuals who qualify for admission to our nation amid this continued horrible threat of violence.”

Pentagon Kills Off HR IT Project After 780% Budget Overrun, Years Of Delays - After blowing deadlines and budgets for years, the Pentagon has finally pulled the plug on a troubled project to overhaul its outdated civilian HR IT systems.Like many government projects before it, the US Defense Civilian Human Resources Management System (DCHRMS) promised big things when it was kicked off nearly a decade ago. According to a memo [PDF] signed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth late last week, the program was intended to streamline a large portion of the DoD's legacy HR IT systems, but it's being axed after officials concluded pouring more funds into it would be "throwing more good taxpayer money after bad."DCHRMS started in 2018 with a planned development timeline of one year and a budget of $36 million, "but instead it's taken eight years and is currently $280 million over budget - that's 780 percent over budget," Hegseth said in a video announcing the DCHRMS and other spending cuts. "We're not doing that anymore."That's not to say the DoD is giving up on modernizing its civilian HR systems - the memo noted that the Pentagon still wants a new solution, with Hegseth directing officials to develop a fresh plan within 60 days to achieve the project's original goals.While the headline item in the memo is the cancellation of DCHRMS, Hegseth ordered cuts to additional programs, contracts, and grants too.The memo mentioned the cancellation of more than $360 million in grant programs "in areas of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and related social programs, climate change, social science, COVID-19 pandemic response" and the like, stating these efforts were not aligned with the DoD's current priorities.We've reached out to the Defense Department to get a more complete list of the programs being terminated, but Hegseth did single out a couple in the video. In particular, he pointed to a $6 million grant for decarbonizing the emissions from US Navy ships and a $9 million university grant to develop "equitable AI and machine learning models." "I need lethal machine learning models," Hegseth said. "Not equitable machine learning models." The memo also directed the cancellation of $30 million in contracts with Gartner and McKinsey for analysis products and what Hegseth described as "unused licenses" from "external consulting services." The move echoes the ongoing scrutiny of federal consulting contracts, such as reviews of deals involving Accenture, IBM, and Deloitte.

Trump Invokes Wartime Emergency Powers in Order To Prioritize US Mineral and Industrial Production - President Trump has faced more than a few controversies with his broad use of executive orders since retaking office in January. It looks like a new issue may be being stirred up with one of his most recent, invoking wartime emergency powers to dramatically increase US mineral output, and also citing the increase in industrial production with those minerals as part of the process.The Executive Order, signed Thursday, cites Section 301 of the US legal code, and delegates substantial authority to several departments, including the Department of Defense, to prioritize increasing domestic “mineral production” to the maximum possible extent.The order explicitly cites uranium, gold, copper and potash as minerals to be prioritized for mining purposes. It also empowers the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC) to pick out any more minerals they think are also important, some media reports suggest coal would be among those added. They are also to ask miners for ideas to eliminate regulatory “bottlenecks.” Picking minerals and lifting regulations is just the start. Then, the Secretary of the Interior is to identify all federal lands that have those minerals on them, and then revise land use policy to prioritize mineral production and mining on those lands.The order includes a requirement that any federal agency giving loans to businesses stop requiring them to comply with Regulation S-K part 1300. This regulation requires disclosures of several factors in a mining operation to qualify for a loan, including whether the company’s business model is economically viable, and whether the mining company has any experience in operating such mines.Those disclosure requirements are to be ignored under this executive order, so long as the loan is expected to increase domestic mineral production. It also empowers the Secretary of Defense to create a dedicated fund to fund the increase in domestic mineral production.That gets us to the production of a lot of minerals, apparently with gold and copper a big focus. It doesn’t end there though as the executive order defines mineral production not just as the process of getting the minerals out of the ground, but using them for manufacturing.The order specifically includes the domestic production of certain derivative goods that are to be counted within, and includes things seemingly unrelated to national security, like smartphones and electric vehicles. Since gold is used in contacts for electronics, it could include nearly anything that the administration wants.The Small Business Administration is further ordered to submit a plan to enhance financing of new businesses involved in any aspect of mineral production, which includes the manufacturing of final goods as well as intermediaries. It envisions them creating recommendations for legislation that would enhance “private-public capital activities” to this end.The executive order was quickly and loudly endorsed by the National Mining Association, who declared it as a bold way to counter China in the dominance of global mineral production. The focus on smartphones, semiconductors and electric vehicles is also likely representative of this order being in part about competing with China.But Canada is clearly also part of this, as the potash production is mentioned quite early in the order. The US imports over 90% of the potash used annually, and the overwhelming majority of that comes from Canada. This has fueled concerns that the Trump tariff plans against Canada could unduly burden American farmers, as there are few alternative international sources for potash anywhere near the size of Canada’s production.Whether opening up federal land will do anything about that is unclear, but doubtful. The US has relatively little potash to mine, and curbing mining regulations will likely do little to meaningfully increase production. Certainly, that production will not be increased to anywhere near the amount US farmers use annually.

Energy secretary heads to mineral-rich Greenland - A delegation of top Trump officials is heading to mineral-rich Greenland — including Energy Secretary Chris Wright — even as officials blast the move as “highly aggressive.” The trip comes as President Donald Trump moves critical minerals to the forefront of his international policy agenda and assembles a team — tied to the National Energy Dominance Council — to boost domestic mining and processing to counter China. Vice President JD Vance’s wife Usha is leading the delegation to Greenland this week with her son to learn about the Danish territory’s history and culture, according to the White House. They are also slated to attend a national dogsled race on March 29. The Energy Department confirmed in an email that Wright is traveling with the group but stopped short of providing details around the timing and what role energy and minerals will play in the trip. Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring the Arctic land, which has vast deposits of oil, gas and critical minerals, even though the rugged, ice-covered island has consistently stymied ambitious mining firms and some of the world’s largest oil companies. “We strongly support your right to determine your own future, and if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America,” Trump told Greenlanders during a joint address to Congress earlier this month. “I think we’re going to get it. One way or the other, we’re going to get it.” But Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede in an interview with Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq on Sunday criticized the trip.“The only purpose is to show a demonstration of power for us, and the signal is not to be misunderstood,” Egede told the newspaper. Egede is also quoted in the article as saying the “very aggressive American pressure against the Greenlandic society is now so serious that the level cannot be raised” and that the “American dream of annexing our country will not come true.” On Sunday, Vance blasted Denmark for “not doing its job” and “not being a good ally.” “So you have to ask yourself: How are we going to solve that problem, solve our own national security?” Vance said during an interview with Fox News. “If that means that we need to take more territorial interest in Greenland, that is what President Trump is going to do, because he doesn’t care about what the Europeans scream at us.”Denmark is a NATO ally of the United States, and northwestern Greenland already houses the U.S. Pituffik military base, which falls under the Pentagon’s Space Force.Before the president began his second term in January, a visit by Trump’s eldest son heightened concerns in Greenland about possible U.S. ambitions. Donald Trump Jr. told its residents, “we’re going to treat you well” — weeks before the territory’s March 11 elections that centered on possible independence from Denmark.Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, told the Associated Press that the “U.S. has a vested security interest in the Arctic region, and it should not be a surprise the national security adviser and secretary of Energy are visiting a U.S. space base to get first-hand briefings from our service members on the ground.”Greenland is also in the process of political transition. The pro-business Demokraatit party, which favors a slow path to independence, won a surprise victory in the recent elections, outpacing the two left-leaning parties that formed the last government.

Trump says Greenland officials invited US delegation. Greenland says that's not true.- -Greenland's government flatly denied a claim made by President Donald Trump that officials from the island invited a U.S. delegation led by Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President JD Vance, to visit the Arctic territory this week.Vance and her son are expected to land in Greenland on Thursday, alongside Trump's National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. The Vances will watch a dogsled race and "celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity," the second lady said in a statement. Waltz and Wright plan to visit a U.S. military base.Some officials in Greenland, including outgoing Prime Minister Múte B. Egede, have described the trip as a "provocation" and "highly aggressive," given Trump's stated desire to acquire the Danish territory."We are now at a level where this cannot in any way be characterized as a harmless visit from a politician’s wife," Egede said Monday. "The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us." Trump told reporters on Monday that the visit was no such thing. "It's purely friendship," he said, and insisted that officials in Greenland had in fact invited the American delegation.

Ahead of Usha Vance visit, Danish PM calls US pressure on Greenland ‘unacceptable’ - Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, called the U.S.’s recent pressure on Greenland “unacceptable” Tuesday prior to a visit from second lady Usha Vance later this week.“I have to say that it is unacceptable pressure being placed on Greenland and Denmark in this situation. And it is pressure that we will resist,” the prime minister said to broadcasters from her country, Reuters reported.Vance’s office announced Monday that the second lady is going to Greenland on Thursday alongside her son and a U.S delegation. During her time in Greenland, Vance is going to “visit historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland’s national dogsled race.”“Ms. Vance and the delegation are excited to witness this monumental race and celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity,” the second lady’s office previously said.Greenland’s prime minister, Múte Bourup Egede, criticized Vance and the delegation’s upcoming Greenland trip as being part of a “very aggressive” pressure campaign for the U.S. to take control of the autonomous Danish territory.“Until recently, we could safely rely on the Americans, who were our allies and friends, and with whom we liked to work closely,” Egede said to a Greenlandic newspaper Sunday. “But that time is over, we have to admit that, because the new American leadership is completely and utterly indifferent to what we have stood together on so far, because now it is only a matter of them taking over our country over our heads.”

Putin Reacts to Trump's 'Serious' Greenland Plans Ahead of Vance Visit - Russian President Vladimir Putin said he views U.S. ambitions to annex Greenland as "serious" amid President Donald Trump's push to assert control over the island. "We are talking about serious plans on the American side with regard to Greenland," Putin said Thursday at an Arctic forum in Murmansk, a city in northern Russia. Newsweek reached out to the State Department on Thursday afternoon for comment. On Tuesday, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the United States would "go as far as we have to go" to gain control of Greenland ahead of Vice President JD Vance's visit to the Arctic island, a trip that has drawn criticism from Greenlandic and Danish officials. On the second day of the policy forum, Putin addressed the audience about Trump's push for Greenland. "It can look surprising only at first glance, and it would be wrong to believe that this is some sort of extravagant talk by the current U.S. administration," Putin said, according to the Associated Press. The Russian president pointed to the 1860s, when Washington first proposed annexing both Greenland and Iceland, though Congress ultimately rejected the plan. Putin argued that the plans have historical roots and "it's obvious that the United States will continue to systematically advance its geostrategic, military-political and economic interests in the Arctic," per the AP. He voiced Russia's concern over the broader trend, adding, "We are certainly concerned about NATO members describing the Far North as the region of possible conflicts." Finland and Sweden have both joined the alliance in recent years. While insisting that Russia "has never threatened anyone in the Arctic," Putin said he will continue to monitor recent developments and "mount an appropriate response by increasing our military capability and modernizing military infrastructure." Putin also left the door open for diplomacy, suggesting that cooperation in the Arctic with "friendly" states, which may include "Western countries," remains possible. He maintained that time for joint projects will come soon.

JD Vance expected to criticize Danish government on what had been second lady’s cultural visit to Greenland --Only days after second lady Usha Vance’s trip to Greenland was announced, a visit to see the dogs and mushers is out. Instead, she will visit a US military installation miles away from any civilian population center – with her husband, Vice President JD Vance, tagging along and expected to take aim at the island’s Danish government, according to a senior White House official. What the White House initially characterized as a visit by the second lady to learn more about the culture of the island, which President Donald Trump openly talks about annexing, quickly became contentious – with the leader of the semiautonomous Danish territory Múte Egede describing it as “highly aggressive.” As JD Vance watched the outrage over his wife’s trip grow, he decided to join her, the senior White House official told CNN. “It was a combination of a little bit of commotion from Danish leaders combined with Vance wanting to go for a while,” said the official, who added that the vice president argued that if Danish and island leaders were going to get “worked up” over his wife’s visit, they could get worked up over him, and his entourage, traveling to the territory. “I decided I didn’t want her to have all that fun by herself and so I’m going to join her,” Vance said in a video announcing his participation earlier this week. Vance’s 11th-hour decision elevates the US delegation visit, with the vice president becoming the highest-ranking US official to visit Greenland, and in so doing, traveling further north than any senior American leader has ever gone on an official visit, the White House official said. But the shortened trip also carries a more overtly militaristic tenor and keeps the American visitors sequestered away from any planned protests. The Vances, who are leaving early Friday and returning late that night, will visit the US Space Force outpost at Pituffik, on the northwest coast of Greenland 1,000 miles from the capital of Nuuk, forgoing Usha Vance’s original plans and any semblance of a cultural exchange. The vice president is expected to receive a private briefing regarding how the Space Force has helped boost US national security interests and speak to the press. Vance’s first trip abroad – to conferences in Paris and Germany – was notable for his tough rhetoric about Europe, a viewpoint reinforced by his texts revealed this week in a private Signal chat about military action in Yemen. His message on this second trip overseas is expected to strike a similar tone. “Unfortunately, Danish leaders have spent decades mistreating the Greenlandic people, treating them like second class citizens and allowing infrastructure on the island to fall into disrepair. Expect the Vice President to emphasize these points as well,” the senior White House official said. The stop at the base highlights some of the rationale behind the Trump administration’s ambitions for Greenland: its strategic importance in the frozen upper latitudes, where competition with Russia and China is fierce. And the visit to the American military base high above the Arctic Circle will largely avoid any potentially embarrassing incidents between the Vances and either members of the public or government officials, many of whom openly spoke out against Usha Vance’s original plans. Protests had been planned in the capital Nuuk, where about a third of Greenlanders live, and Greenland’s second largest city Sisimiut, where a dog sled race is taking place. “Trump’s talk of annexation and the visit of the Vances has united Greenlanders in defiance, with Greenlanders rallying together to protest,” Dwayne Ryan Menezes, director of the UK-based think tank Polar Research and Policy Initiative, told CNN in an email. “The Vances clearly realised that if they visited Nuuk or Sisimiut, the strategy would backfire even more than it has: it would be a PR disaster, as all footage would likely feature protestors with placards of the sort we saw earlier this month (Yankee Go Home, and Make America Go Away), and would expose to the US electorate the misinformation they were fed about how enthusiastically Greenlanders wished for Greenland to join the US,” he said. The White House official pushed back on that assertion, telling CNN, “The itinerary changes had nothing to do with any potential protests.” The official argued that Usha Vance’s original plans were scrapped because her itinerary was not compatible with her husband’s schedule. Her visit to Nuuk, for example, was off the table because Greenland is still forming its government after recent elections and does not have the officials in place to receive him, the White House official said. Meanwhile, the dogsledding race was in a remote part of Greenland, and installing the vice president’s full security footprint wasn’t possible on just a few days’ notice, they added. But the change in plans also appeared to remove the possibility of an overt diplomatic spat between the US and Denmark, whose leaders said they hadn’t offered any official invitation to Usha Vance and pointed out the island is in the middle of a delicate political season as it tries to form its new administration. A new coalition is expected to be announced Friday. “There needs to be a space in which politicians can negotiate to form a government,” said Ulrik Pram Gad, senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies. “And if you, as a foreign power, impose yourself on that process, that is felt as aggression.” Gad added that Vance going to Pituffik Space Base “from a Greenlandic perspective, is a lot less aggressive, because that’s a place where Greenlanders are used to American officials. It’s far away from anyone Greenlandic, basically.” Usha Vance has largely remained above the political fray since her husband took office, assembling a small team of staff, transitioning her three children to life at the Naval Observatory, and settling into the public role, for which she will have her own platform and responsibilities. Her original visit to Greenland for the dogsled race appeared to originate with an invitation from American Daybreak, a group founded by Tom Dans, who worked on Arctic issues in the first Trump administration. “As a sponsor and supporter of this event I encouraged and invited the Second Lady and other senior Administration officials to attend this monumental race. This visit was always intended to be purely personal in nature and in the spirit of the friendship between our two nations,” Dans wrote on X, describing himself as “very disappointed by the negative and hostile reaction” to the visit. Organizers for the race said they didn’t invite Usha Vance specifically, but that anyone could attend. But residents in Sisimiut planned to silently demonstrate her visit by turning their backs to her motorcade, according to Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq. “In general, I think most Greenlanders are relieved that the unofficial visit to Sisimiut and Nuuk was cancelled. Personally, I think it is a big win for Greenland,” said Jakob Nordstrøm, who runs a local pilot business in Nuuk. “Most Greenlanders welcome tourists from the United States, but obviously this was not a tourist visit,” Nordstrøm said. American officials have downplayed the role potential protests played in altering plans for the trip. One person close to JD Vance said he had wanted to go to the island since Donald Trump Jr. returned from a visit earlier this year and “raved about how cool it was.”

U.S. officials went door-to-door in Greenland to find anyone who wanted to be visited by the Vances. They found no one. -- No one wants to talk to Usha Vance—at least no one in Greenland.US officials have reportedly been traveling around the Danish-controlled territory looking for locals who wanted to receive a visit from the Second Lady, according to a report from Danish TV 2.Greenlanders' response? No thanks. Residents aren't the only ones snubbing the Second Lady ahead of her high-profile visit to the island; Tupilak Travel, which is based in Greenland's capital city, Nuuk, initially said it would host Usha Vance, but pulled out on Thursday. In a post on Facebook, the company said that the US Consulate called and asked if it wanted the visit, and the company initially said yes, but then backed out.“After closer consideration, however, we have now informed the consulate that we do not want her visit, as we cannot accept the underlying agenda and will not be part of the press show that, quite, of course, comes with it. No thanks to nice visit… Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders," the company said.The cancellation comes on the same day that Vice President JD Vance announced thathe would join his wife's upcoming trip to Greenland.“There was so much excitement around Usha’s visit to Greenland this Friday, that I decided that I didn’t want her to have all that fun by herself, and so I’m going to join her,” Vance said in a video posted to X. Vance, the Second Lady, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Christ Wright are scheduled to depart for Greenland on Friday, though those plans could change by the time the delegation departs.The U.S. delegation was also scheduled to attend the Avannaata Qimusserua, one of the world's largest dog-sledding events, but that visit has been cancelled as well, according to USA Today.As it currently stands, the American visitors will only be visiting the U.S. Space Force Base at Pituffik.Greenlanders and Danish authorities aren't pleased about the trip. Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen accused the US of exerting "unacceptable pressure" on Greenland through its planned visit.“I have to say that it is unacceptable pressure being placed on Greenland and Denmark in this situation. And it is pressure that we will resist,” Frederiksen told Danish broadcasters DR and TV2 on Tuesday. “You cannot make a private visit with official representatives from another country, when the acting Greenlandic government has made it very clear that they do not want a visit at this time,” Frederiksen went on to say the US delegation's arrival is "clearly not a visit that is about what Greenland needs or wants."“President Trump is serious. He wants Greenland. Therefore, [this visit] cannot be seen independently of anything else,” Frederiksen said.Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants to buy Greenland or obtain it through other means, including potential military action. Thanks to climate change driven by human burning of fossil fuels, new shipping corridors are opening up in the Arctic Circle as sea ice melts. Trade routes between Asia and Europe or Asia and the U.S. are approximately 40 percent shorter through the Arctic than by way of the Suez or Panama Canals, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. Currently, only five countries have territory in the Arctic Circle: Canada, Russia, Norway, Denmark, by way of the semiautonomous Greenland, and the U.S. via Alaska. If the U.S. controls Greenland, it would be a major expansion of the nation's control over Arctic shipping routes.Trump has gone so far as to say that the island is "very, very important" for U.S. “military security."In addition to its potential military and economic strategic benefits, the Arctic may also have as of yet untapped fuel resources. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Arctic holds 13 percent of undiscovered oil resources and 30 percent of undiscovered natural gas, primarily all offshore. Greenland itself is rich with rare earth minerals, which are essential components in the production of cellphones, batteries, and other consumer technologies.

Trump says US will 'go as far as we have to' to get control of Greenland - -- President Donald Trump said the U.S. will "go as far as we have to go" to get control of Greenland, ahead of a planned visit to the Arctic island by Vice President JD Vance that has prompted criticism from Greenland and Denmark. Vance, second lady Usha Vance and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will lead the U.S. delegation to visit the Pituffik military space base in the northwest of the island, having scaled back plans for a broader and longer visit. The American group was originally planning to visit the Greenlandic capital, Nuuk, and a dog sled race. Trump showed no indication of softening his ambition to take control of the island, which is an autonomous territory but part of the Kingdom of Denmark. "We need Greenland for national security and international security," Trump said, taking reporters' questions in the Oval Office. "So we'll, I think, we'll go as far as we have to go," he continued. "We need Greenland. And the world needs us to have Greenland, including Denmark. Denmark has to have us have Greenland. And, you know, we'll see what happens. But if we don't have Greenland, we can't have great international security." Trump added, "I view it from a security standpoint, we have to be there." Trump also said that he understood "JD might be going," referring to the vice president, but did not offer any details about the trip. Vance is expected to travel to Greenland on Friday. Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede earlier this week called the upcoming visit by U.S. officials part of a "very aggressive American pressure against the Greenlandic community" and called for the international community to rebuke it. After the U.S. announced that the visit would be pared back to only include the Pituffik base, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the decision was "wise." Trump has repeatedly -- in both his first and second terms -- raised the prospect of the U.S. obtaining Greenland, whether through purchase or other means. During his March speech to a joint session of Congress, Trump said the U.S. would acquire the strategic territory "one way or the other."

Vance slams Denmark’s handling of Greenland security -- Vice President Vance on Friday slammed Denmark as failing to prioritize Greenland’s security, escalating rhetoric between Washington and Copenhagen amid President Trump’s claims to take over the island. Vance made his remarks from the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, part of a hotly watched trip that came after a “heritage” tour of the island led by second lady Usha Vance was canceled amid protest from officials in Nuuk and Copenhagen. “What Denmark’s security umbrella has meant is, effectively, they’ve passed it all off to brave Americans and hope that we would pick up the tab,” Vance said. Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, but Copenhagen is responsible for the island’s foreign policy and security. In January, Denmark announced more than $2 billion in defense spending in the Arctic, a nod to increasing attention on Greenland’s importance. A NATO ally, Denmark announced earlier this year it is on track to spend three percent of its gross domestic product on defense, higher than the alliance’s benchmark of two percent. Trump has not backed off his intent to acquire the island. In remarks at the White House on Friday, Trump said the U.S. has to have Greenland, for international security.

Control over Greenland: A long-standing goal of American imperialism - The visit by a high-level US delegation to Greenland underscores the seriousness with which American imperialism is pursuing the seizure of the Arctic island and the sharpening tensions this is fuelling between Washington and its former European allies. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Second Lady Usha Vance, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright were due to arrive Thursday for their uninvited visit. After the embarrassing leaked Signal discussion on a military assault on Yemen, Waltz’s attendance was withdrawn. Officials from Greenland, a self-governing territory, and the Danish government have refused to meet with the Americans. In unusually strong language, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told broadcaster TV2 on Tuesday, “I have to say that it is unacceptable pressure being placed on Greenland and Denmark in this situation. And it is pressure that we will resist.” She added, “It is clear that when you make a visit in this way, and the Greenlandic politicians clearly say that they do not want the visit, you cannot interpret it as respectful.” The White House responded by announcing later Tuesday that Vice President J.D. Vance would join the party visiting Greenland, which would focus on a stop at the US Pituffik military base on the island’s northwest coast. The US correspondent for Denmark’s public broadcaster DR described the move as a “diplomatic declaration of war.” Former President Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio in New York, September 11, 2024. [AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura] In January, US President Donald Trump threatened to use economic force against a nominal ally to secure control over Greenland from Denmark. Coinciding with his stated intention to seize the Panama Canal and make Canada the 51st state, Trump’s expansionist plans point to a new stage in the breakdown of inter-state relations under conditions of a rapidly intensifying redivision of the world among the imperialist powers. Many of the conflicts that plunged the globe into two world wars in the 20th century are resurfacing with a vengeance. Greenland is a case in point. Washington’s interest in seizing Greenland is not new. It has enjoyed a military presence on the island for over eight decades. Lying approximately halfway between Washington and Moscow, US military and geostrategic planners view Greenland as critical for waging war against Washington’s geostrategic rivals, including Russia and China. The American oligarchy and its political mouthpieces consider the island a stepping stone to US imperialism’s dominance of the western hemisphere, a substantial source of natural resources and a gateway to new Arctic trade routes opening due to climate change. The European powers are no less determined to maintain their dominance over the island to secure their access to the Arctic.

Vance in Greenland: ‘We do not think military force is ever going to be necessary’ --JD Vance in a speech from a U.S. base in Greenland said Friday the U.S. is not likely to use military force in President Trump’s pursuit of taking over the territory. Vance also said the U.S. respects Greenland’s sovereignty, despite Trump’s repeated comments that America would take ownership of the Arctic island away from Denmark. “We do not think military force is ever going to be necessary,” Vance said in response to a reporter’s question on whether there are military plans to take over the island. “What we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose, through self determination, to become independent of Denmark, and then we’re going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there.” Vance made his remarks from the Pituffik Space Base, an American military installation that is a critical front line in missile defense, missile warning and space surveillance. It is located in the northwestern part of Greenland. Trump has repeatedly discussed acquiring Greenland, arguing it would strengthen U.S. security and combat threats ranging from Russia’s access to the Arctic to China’s attempts to make inroads in the region. “We need Greenland for international security. We have to have Greenland,” Trump said in remarks from the White House on Friday.

Trump admin rejects Mexico's Colorado River water request in first since 1944 -- The Trump administration has denied a special request from Mexico for the delivery of Colorado River water to the city of Tijuana — marking the first such denial in 81 years. Justifying the decision, the U.S. State Department blamed Mexico for failing to abide by the terms of a historic water partnership accord signed between the two nations in 1944. “Mexico’s continued shortfalls in its water deliveries under the 1944 water-sharing treaty are decimating American agriculture —particularly farmers in the Rio Grande valley,” the department announced on the social platform X, via its Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. “As a result, today for the first time, the U.S. will deny Mexico’s non-treaty request for a special delivery channel for Colorado River water to be delivered to Tijuana,” the agency added. The 1944 treaty, which focused on the “utilization of waters of the Colorado and Tijuana rivers and of the Rio Grande,” also created the joint International Boundary and Water Commission, which is responsible for managing shared water deliveries according to a five-year distribution cycle. Under the agreement, the U.S. sends Colorado River water to Mexico, which is entitled to 1.5 million acre-feet of the resource each year. The historic flow of the Colorado River extended from the headwaters in Colorado to the Gulf of California in the Mexican state of Sonora — but that flow now tapers near the border.As a basis of comparison, U.S. Colorado River basin states are entitled to 15 million acre-feet, and the average American household consumes about 1 acre-foot of water annually.

US pauses green card processing for some refugees and asylees --The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it is pausing review of green card applications for some refugees and asylees, leaving in limbo those who came to the U.S. after fleeing unrest. The directive from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would impact refugees already approved to come to the United States, as well as those who were granted asylum after petitioning for the protection in immigration court. While both groups are thoroughly vetted, DHS said it would press pause on those seeking to become lawful permanent residents for “additional screening.” “To better identify fraud, public safety or national security concerns, USCIS is placing a temporary pause on finalizing certain Adjustment of Status applications pending the completion of additional screening and vetting,” DHS said in a statement, pointing to two different executive orders by Trump. One of the orders referenced calls for the administration to “vet and screen to the maximum degree possible all aliens who intend to be admitted, enter, or are already inside the United States, particularly those aliens coming from regions or nations with identified security risks.” The directive could impact a wide swatch of migrants, from those who came to the U.S. following the exit from Afghanistan to those who first raised asylum claims at the border.

GOP chairman: ‘You can’t impeach a judge just because you disagree with their opinion’ --Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the 91-year-old chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pushed back Thursday against calls by President Trump and some House Republicans to impeach federal judges who rule against Trump’s agenda. “You can’t impeach a judge just because you disagree with their opinion,” Grassley told Fox News when asked about calls to impeach lower-court judges who have blocked elements of Trump’s agenda, such as the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador. Grassley is working on legislation to restrict district-level federal judges from issuing nationwide injunctions and plans to hold a hearing April 2 to explore “legislative solutions to the bipartisan problem of universal injunctions.” “We’ve got to be a legislative body. I know the president is irritated with some of these judges and I don’t blame him, but you can’t impeach a judge just because you disagree with an opinion,” he said. Trump this month called for the impeachment of James Boasberg, the U.S. district judge for the District of Columbia, after he ordered a temporary stop to the deportation of alleged gang members. He slammed the judge as a “Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge, a troublemaker and agitator who was sadly appointed by Barack Hussein Obama.” Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) introduced an article of impeachment against Boasberg, charging him with “abuse of power.” The legislation has 22 House GOP cosponsors.

Trump administration moves to eliminate USAID, firing remaining employees - The Trump administration is moving to formally end the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), notifying the remaining employees they will be terminated and the agency will be merged with the State Department. The move will fully absorb all remaining USAID functions into the State Department effective July 1, and according to a reduction in force notice to remaining staff, will “obviate” the need for an independent USAID. By Sept. 2, USAID’s operations will have been substantially transferred to State or otherwise wound down, the notice stated. Jeremy Lewin, a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer who joined USAID last week, said the State Department “will seek to retire USAID’s independent operation, consistent with applicable law.” “As Secretary Rubio has said, following congressional consultations, the State Department intends to assume responsibility for many of USAID’s functions and its ongoing programming,” Lewin wrote. “It will also obviate the need for USAID to continue operating as an independent establishment. Accordingly, the Department will seek to retire USAID’s independent operation, consistent with applicable law.” Lewin wrote that the State Department will administer USAID’s “remaining lifesaving and strategic aid programming.” It’s not clear which specific USAID programs would survive the transfer. The unilateral closing of an agency established by Congress is likely to draw immediate legal challenges. According to a memo to Congress obtained by CNN, just 900 employees remain at an agency that once employed 10,000. USAID employees will be terminated either on July 1 or Sept. 2, with those in the later group responsible for “winding down” the agency.

Trump touts major Hyundai investment in US, including Louisiana steel plant --South Korean automaker Hyundai announced Monday it will invest $20 billion in the United States, including on a new steel plant in Louisiana. President Trump touted the news at the White House, crediting it to his election victory in November and his aggressive use of tariffs to target imports. “This investment is a clear demonstration that tariffs very strongly work,” Trump said. “And I hope other things also, but the tariffs are bringing them in at levels that have not been witnessed. The president said Hyundai will invest $5.8 billion on a new steel plant in Louisiana. The plant will create roughly 1,500 jobs, the officials said. That Louisiana investment is part of a broader plan to spend roughly $20 billion over the next four years in the United States, Hyundai officials said. Trump was joined at the White House by Hyundai Chair Euisun Chung and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R), as well as members of the Louisiana congressional delegation, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R). The announcement comes as companies overseas brace for a fresh round of tariffs from the Trump administration. The president has for weeks said his administration will impose reciprocal tariffs beginning April 2 on other nations that have duties on U.S. goods.

UAE Commits to $1.4 Trillion Investment in US Economy - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pledged around $1.4 trillion in investments in US businesses over the next 10 years, according to the White House. The spending will send new money into “AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and American manufacturing.”Announced on Friday – soon after the Emirati National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed visited Washington to meet with high-level US officials – the massive project will “substantially increase the UAE’s existing investments” in the United States, the White House said.The spending includes a $25 billion deal between UAE investment fund ADQ and its US partner, Energy Capital Partners, which will put money into energy and data infrastructure.Another UAE state-owned energy firm, XRG, also said it would invest in US natural gas p roduction and exports, and announced “additional plans to make substantial investments in US assets across gas, chemicals, energy infrastructure and low carbon solutions.” “These significant investments underscore the close ties between the United States and the United Arab Emirates,” the White House continued in its statement. Some of the deals that make up the $1.4 trillion project were not disclosed by the Donald Trump administration. Earlier this year, Emirati businessman Hussain Sajwani vowed to invest $20 billion into the US economy “over a very short period of time,” saying he would build new data centers across the Midwest and Sunbelt, including in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio and Texas. Trump said the latest talks with Abu Dhabi underscored efforts to advance “economic and technological futures” between our two countries, while Sheikh bin Zayed “praised President Donald Trump’s leadership and economic policies, noting their significant role in stimulating foreign direct investment and fostering robust economic partnerships.”

Trump escalating US economic war with looming “reciprocal tariffs” - At the beginning of next month US President Donald Trump’s economic war against the rest of the world will be intensified when he receives a report on the imposition of so-called “reciprocal tariffs.” The designation creates the impression that US tariffs will be imposed on goods from countries that have higher tariffs than are applied to their exports to the US. Countries, such as India, along with others which have a higher tariff regime aimed at trying to protect their domestic markets, will be hit hard. But they are not the central target. The new regime is aimed at major economies, in particular the European Union but many others as well. The US is set to take action via tariffs in response to any domestic policies which are deemed to adversely impact on the profits of its corporations. This includes measures such as the value added tax (VAT) in the EU, regulations in Europe and elsewhere covering the social media and high-tech giants, subsidies, state assistance and social services such as the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). This means that the US tariffs so far—the 25 percent impost on steel and aluminium, the 20 percent tariff on Chinese goods and the 25 percent tariff on Mexican and Canadian goods—are just preliminary skirmishes, initial forays in the war to be unveiled when economic officials report back to Trump on April 2. How extensive the escalation will be remains to be seen due to the vast set of calculations which have to be made, both of a technical and political character, but there is no doubt about the eventual intended scale of the operation. It is spelled out very clearly in the executive order issued by Trump on February 13 to set it up. That document states that the administration will “work strenuously” to determine the “reciprocal tariff” to be imposed on any country in response to measures that are deemed to adversely impact the US. This will include:

• Tariffs imposed on US goods.
• Unfair taxes imposed on US goods, including a VAT.
• Costs to the US arising from non-tariff barriers or measures and “harmful acts” such as subsidies and “burdensome regulatory requirements.”
• Policies that cause exchange rates to deviate from their market value to the detriment of the US.

Then, just to make sure that all bases are covered, the order says that action will be taken against “any other practice” that US officials deem to impose “any unfair limitation in market access or any structural impediment to fair competition with the market economy of the United States.” The order says it will consider all measures that disadvantage the US, whatever they are called, and “regardless of whether they are written or unwritten.”

Trump announces new tariffs on imported cars and parts - President Trump said on Wednesday that he will impose 25% tariffs on imported cars and car parts starting next week, using his national security powers to take the action."I think our automobile business will flourish like it's never flourished before," Trump said in remarks from the Oval Office.The United Auto Workers union praised the move, saying it could mean more shifts for workers at plants with spare capacity.The latest policy is yet another example of the president's tariff-centric second-term economic agenda. Thus far, Trump has imposed tariffs on Chinese goods, steel and aluminum, and some goods from Canada and Mexico.Mexico is by far the largest exporter of auto parts to the U.S., followed by Canada, China, Japan, and South Korea, according to Commerce Department data. The list of the biggest vehicle exporters is similar: Mexico far outstrips other countries, followed by Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Germany.The tariffs under the USMCA, a trade agreement ratified during Trump's first term, would be more complicated. Cars imported under the USMCA will be tariffed only on their non-U.S. content, the White House said. In addition, the administration is still deciding how to tariff auto parts imported under the USMCA, an administration official told reporters.The tariffs not only on cars but car parts could have complex effects on the automobile supply chain. As NPR has reported, car parts can cross borders multiple times as a car is assembled. Auto industry analysts told NPRearlier this month that they expect these tariffs to raise car prices for U.S. consumers."The tariffs imposed today will make it more expensive to produce and sell cars in the United States, ultimately leading to higher prices, fewer options for consumers, and fewer manufacturing jobs in the U.S.," said Jennifer Safavian, CEO of Autos Drive America, a group that represents companies including BMW, Hyundai, and Toyota.Trump also plans a wave of what he calls "reciprocal tariffs" to be announced on April 2, which he has called Liberation Day. The taxes on imports have caused plummeting stock markets and consumer confidence, and have left businesses and consumers uncertain about what they want to invest in.

Trump to impose 25% tariff on all imported vehicles and foreign-made auto parts - President Donald Trump and the White House announced a series of sweeping tariffs on foreign-made cars and auto parts Wednesday, a prelude to the April 2 “Liberation Day” duties that are expected to hit a wide variety of goods made by many of the largest U.S. trading partners. Many details remained unclear about the tariffs, which still sparked criticism from foreign governments and hit shares in automakers. Trump’s initial statements about the tariffs were quickly updated by an administration official and a fact sheet posted on the White House website. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump initially said he was imposing a 25% tariff on all cars coming into the country. The White House later clarified that foreign auto parts would also be taxed at the 25% rate even if the vehicles they go into are assembled domestically. However, companies that import vehicles under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will get special consideration until the Commerce Department establishes a process for levying the 25% duties, the White House said. USMCA-compliant auto parts will remain tariff-free until the commerce secretary, in consultation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, establishes a process to apply tariffs to their non-U.S. content. Trump said he expects auto companies to relocate to the U.S. and build new sites or expand existing ones. He hit out at companies that have opened facilities in Canada and Mexico in recent decades, at what he said was the expense of U.S. workers. “If you build your car in the U.S., there’s no tariff,” he said. Collection of the tariffs will begin April 3, and Trump said they would be “permanent.” He asserted that the U.S. could end up collecting as much as $100 billion from tariff revenues. Shares of the top U.S. automakers fell sharply in after-hours trading on the announcement, with General Motors down more than 7%, Ford off 4.6% and Stellantis lower by 4%. Shares of Asian automakers also fell during trading on Thursday, Reuters reported, with Japanese automakers Nissan, Toyota and Honda closing down 2.2%, 2.7% and 3%, respectively. In South Korea, Hyundai Motor and Kia both fell about 4%. Jennifer Safavian, president and CEO of Autos Drive America, a trade group that represents U.S. operations of international automakers, said in a statement: “The tariffs imposed today will make it more expensive to produce and sell cars in the United States, ultimately leading to higher prices, fewer options for consumers, and fewer manufacturing jobs in the U.S.” Foreign leaders and automakers also criticized the tariffs. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said his government was “putting all options on the table” to respond, while the German Association of the Automotive Industry said the tariffs sent “a disastrous signal for free, rules-based trade.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the tariffs a “direct attack” on Canadian workers and said he was considering additional retaliatory tariffs. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she deeply regretted the U.S. decision and that the European Union “will continue to seek negotiated solutions, while safeguarding its economic interests.” In a post on his Truth Social platform early Thursday, Trump said, “If the European Union works with Canada in order to do economic harm to the USA, large scale Tariffs, far larger than currently planned, will be placed on them both.” The American Automotive Policy Council, which represents Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, said that while it was committed to increasing U.S. automotive production, “it is critical that tariffs are implemented in a way that avoids raising prices for consumers.” Eight of the top 10 “most American” vehicles with U.S.-based parts and assembly are foreign-owned companies, according to Cars.com. Its full list of the most American-made brands can be found here.

Global Automakers React to Trump’s 25% Tariff on Imported Cars - Ignoring diplomatic efforts and investment pledges, President Trump said he would impose tariffs that are expected to deal a blow to American neighbors and allies in Asia and Europe. Mexico deployed thousands of National Guard troops to the border to deter migrants from reaching the United States. South Korea said it would invest $21 billion in expanding U.S. manufacturing. Japanese officials descended on Washington, offering to invest $1 trillion in the United States and buy more American natural gas. None of that was enough to prevent one of those countries’ biggest tariff concerns from becoming a reality on Wednesday, when President Trump declared that automobiles and car parts imported to the United States would face a 25 percent tariff starting on April 3. Mexico, Japan and South Korea, along with Canada, account for about 75 percent of U.S. vehicle imports. Beyond direct exports, Japanese and South Korean automakers also manufacture many of the vehicles in Mexico and Canada that ultimately land in the American market, leaving them particularly exposed to the tariffs. The tariffs will also hit Europe, particularly Germany, whose three largest carmakers make up nearly three-quarters of the European Union’s automotive exports to the United States. In the near term, Mr. Trump’s new tariffs are expected to scramble foreign automakers’ production operations and drag on their earnings. Shares in Japan’s Toyota Motor, Honda Motor and Nissan Motor all fell about 2 percent in Asia trading on Thursday. The stock prices of South Korea’s Hyundai Motor and Kia, as well as Mazda Motor and Subaru — two smaller Japanese manufacturers particularly dependent on U.S. sales — fell between 3 and 6 percent. Shares in Germany’s Volkswagen, Europe’s largest automaker, fell 1.5 percent. Other German carmakers like Mercedes-Benz and BMW dropped 2 to 3 percent in European trading. However, if the tariffs are prolonged — or even permanent, as Mr. Trump has said they will be — they will likely have far-reaching and damaging effects on the economies of the United States’ North American neighbors and key allies in Europe and Asia. For Japan and South Korea, automobiles are the top export to the United States. Mexico, in addition to cars, produces tens of billions of dollars worth of automobile parts each year that are exported to its northern neighbor. In Canada, auto manufacturing and auto parts are the country’s second-biggest export by value. Last year, European automakers’ shipments across the Atlantic were worth more than $40 billion. Image President Trump on Wednesday declared that automobiles and car parts imported to the United States would face a 25 percent tariff starting on April 3.Credit...Doug Mills/The New York Times For countries heavily affected by Mr. Trump’s tariffs, economists warned that the new taxes on cars could significantly curb economic growth this year. In the longer term, the tariffs could prompt a carving out of domestic production in countries where the industrial base is heavily reliant on automakers and their supply chains. In recent years, Japanese and South Korean automakers, as well as European brands — which account for 18 percent of U.S. car imports — have become increasingly reliant on the American market. That is in part because of stagnant demand in their home countries, but also because they are facing heightened competition from local competitors in the world’s biggest car market, China. This dynamic helps to explain why some of the countries fought intensely to try to secure exemptions from the tariffs. Japanese officials and lobbyists have argued their case in Washington, highlighting substantial Japanese investment in the United States and warning that tariffs would raise prices for American consumers. In a meeting with Mr. Trump last month, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Japan would aim to increase investment in the United States to about $1 trillion by buying more products like American liquefied natural gas. In Mexico, officials deployed about 10,000 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in response to Mr. Trump’s persistent condemnation of illegal migration to the United States. They also handed over to the United States dozens of top cartel operatives and worked to crack down on fentanyl production. Hyundai in South Korea said earlier this week it would invest $21 billion in expanding U.S. manufacturing. After Mr. Trump praised the announcement as a sign that his policies were working to create more American jobs, many in the industry were looking to see if Hyundai’s pledge would sway the president’s tariff calculus. It apparently didn’t. Peter Navarro, the senior counselor to the president on trade and manufacturing, singled out Japan, South Korea and Germany, when speaking to reporters on Wednesday. Those countries, he said, had undermined the ability of U.S. companies to sell their cars overseas. Japanese brands shipped 1.37 million vehicles to the United States last year, while South Korean automakers exported 1.43 million. In addition, 821,000 light vehicles sold in the United States last year were assembled in the European Union, according to JATO, a research firm. Conversely, U.S. automakers have a minimal presence in Japan, South Korea and Germany — a reality that has vexed Mr. Trump since his first term as president. Still, foreign officials, who felt they were willing to negotiate with the Trump administration, were stunned by the Wednesday announcement. “Japan has made significant investments in America and created a significant number of jobs. We do not do this for all countries,” Japan’s prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, said during a meeting at Parliament. Mr. Ishiba said he was “strongly requesting” that the 25 percent tariff on automobile imports not be applied to Japan. While Canadian officials have been in close touch with their American counterparts since Mr. Trump’s election in November, Canada was given no advance warning or details of the president’s announcement. “This is a direct attack,” Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, said at a campaign stop. In Mexico, Francisco González, the executive director of the country’s National Auto Parts Industry Association, said that he was “shocked” by the tariff announcement. Earlier this week, the incoming U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, had told Mr. Trump he was “encouraged” by the increase in support he had seen from the Mexican government. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said that the bloc would continue to try to negotiate with the Trump administration “while safeguarding its economic interests.” The organization that represents German automakers said the tariffs would be “a dire signal for free and rule-based trade” that will have “negative consequences especially for consumers, including in North America.” For now, companies and officials are left to consider their options and come up with new plans. In Canada, Mr. Carney had promised help for workers and auto-related industries if Mr. Trump did, in fact, go ahead with tariffs, including a 2 billion Canadian dollar ($1.4 billion) fund to reshape the sector for a future without the United States. A number of car companies in Asia have been trying to accelerate shipments to the United States before the tariffs Mr. Trump was threatening would take effect. Those automakers are also beginning preparations to ramp up production to the extent they can at the manufacturing plants they operate inside the United States. However, Michael Robinet, a vice president at the automotive intelligence provider S&P Global Mobility, said that few automakers outside of America’s big three brands — General Motors, Ford Motor and Stellantis — have excess production capacity in the United States. That means that if they want to make more vehicles, they would have to build new factories, which would take years to complete. For now, Mr. Robinet said, the tariffs would mean chaos for automakers and higher prices for consumers in the United States. “There’s a belief from some in the government that automakers will simply absorb the added costs,” Mr. Robinet said. However, automakers’ margins are ill-equipped to handle that burden, he said. “Vehicle prices will go up without doubt,” he said, “it’s just a matter of how and when and how much.”

How will Donald Trump's new auto tariffs affect car prices? -- President Trump is imposing 25 percent tariffs on auto imports, which is expected to drive up prices for American consumers and squeeze automakers that depend on global supply chains. The tariffs will impact popular foreign brands like Toyota and Honda but also American car manufacturers like Ford and General Motors, which rely on imported parts and assemble many of their vehicles in Canada and Mexico. That means car shoppers should prepare for higher prices at the dealership.“It’s reasonable to expect that vehicle prices will rise, which presents an added challenge to an industry that is already grappling with ongoing affordability concerns,” Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at Edmunds, said in a statement.The White House claims the tariffs will “protect America’s automobile industry,” which it says has been undermined by “excessive imports.”Half of the cars, SUVs and light trucks Americans bought in 2024 were imports, according to a fact sheet published by the Trump administration. When you factor in car parts, the White House said “only 25% of the vehicle content can be categorized as Made in America.Last month, the average transaction price for a new vehicle was $47,373, up more than 20 percent from just before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Edmunds. If the tariffs are fully passed onto consumers, the average auto price on an imported vehicle could jump by $12,500, a sum that could feed into overall inflation, The Associated Press reported. Cox Automotive, a research firm, estimates that the tariffs will add $6,000 or more to the cost of a typical vehicle assembled in Canada or Mexico.”Half of all the affordable vehicles sold in the U.S. are dependent on Mexico and Canada,” Cox Automotive chief economist Jonathan Smoke said on a conference call Wednesday. If the tariffs move forward as planned, Smoke said by mid-April, they will disrupt “virtually all North American vehicle production” and lead to 30 percent fewer cars being made. He warned that some car models, particularly affordable ones, could be completely eliminated if the tariffs persist.“Bottom line: lower production, tighter supply and higher prices are around the corner,” Smoke added.

Doug Ford: Canada to 'maximize the pain' on US after latest Trump tariff threat --Ontario Premier Doug Ford argued the Trump administration’s looming tariffs will carry harsh impacts for American businesses and consumers while lauding Canada’s plan for retaliation against the additional taxes.Ford told reporters that the Great White North can push back with “$65 billion of tariffs that we have on the table that we can launch towards the U.S. — we have to run through every tariff and minimize the pain for Canadians, maximize the pain for Americans.”“I feel terrible for the Americans, but it’s one person, it’s President Trump that’s creating this chaos,” he added. The Ontario premier said Trump launched an early “attack” with his threat to levy 25 percent tariffs on auto imports and parts from Canada this week. That comes in addition to reciprocal tariffs the administration said will begin April 2. “We have two options here: Either we roll over as a country and he runs us over 15 times and gets what he wants, or we feel a little bit of pain and we fight like we’ve never fought before,” Ford said. His rhetoric now echoes Trump’s approach to global tariff policies with compromise to short term convenience for long-term gains.“This will be the Golden Age of America! Will there be some pain? Yes, maybe (and maybe not!),” the president wrote on Truth Social last month. “But we will make America great again, and it will all be worth the price that must be paid,” he continued at the time. “We are a country that is now being run with common sense — and the results will be spectacular!!!”Ford’s tariff strategy was recently tested as Canada imposed a tax on energy imports to three American states. The effort was later recanted after the premier met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Despite that withdrawal, Ford confirmed the nation would oppose the dissection of stable trade agreements. “I’ve spoken with Prime Minister [Mark] Carney. We agree Canada needs to stand firm, strong and united,” Ford wrote in a Wednesday post on the social platform X. “I fully support the federal government preparing retaliatory tariffs to show that we’ll never back down,” he said.

Trump floats reducing tariffs on China to secure TikTok deal -- President Trump on Wednesday floated reducing tariffs on China to get a TikTok divestiture deal done as the April 5 deadline nears. “With respect to TikTok, and China is going to have to play a role in that, possibly in the form of an approval, maybe, and I think they’ll do that,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday. “Maybe I’ll give them a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done.” “Because every point in tariffs is worth more than TikTok,” he continued. The remarks followed Trump’s announcement that he is imposing a 25 percent tariff on foreign-made vehicle imports amid his larger trade war against other nations. Trump’s 10 percent tariff on imports from China took effect last month, and he increased the tariff amount by another 20 percent earlier this month. The president’s suggestion comes less than two weeks ahead of the April 5 deadline requiring TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance to divest from the U.S. arm of the application amid national security concerns. That deadline was set under an executive order signed by Trump in January, extending the Jan. 19 deadline by 75 days.

Kash Patel says FBI plans to reorient assets from Washington to field offices - FBI Director Kash Patel said Sunday the agency plans to “reorient” its assets in Washington by relocating them to field offices in other parts of the country. “We’re going to reorient our assets in Washington. We’re going to look at it strategically, as we’ve been doing the last month, and send our agents and analysts and SOS operatives into the field to take on this violent crime explosion that has occurred over these last four or five years,” Patel said Sunday evening on Fox News. “To make sure that every state and every county — be it in my hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, or up in Montana or in Kansas or Iowa or Maine — is all safe and secure,” he added Last month, Patel informed managers at the FBI that 1,500 personnel would be transferred from the Washington headquarters to offices around the country, including around one-third being placed in an Alabama office. FBI staff members were reportedly told during a meeting that about 1,000 personnel and agents would be dispatched into offices nationwide, including 500 in the agency’s Huntsville, Ala., campus. Patel said the reorganization “will include streamlining our operations at headquarters while bolstering the presence of field agents across the nation.” Up Next - GOP senators warn Trump agenda will be slowed by internal divisions Patel, among President Trump’s most controversial agency heads, was confirmed with a 51-49 vote in the Senate last month. A former Department of Justice prosecutor who also served during Trump’s first term, Patel gained much of his fame spreading right-wing conspiracies.

Noem says she plans to ‘eliminate FEMA’ - Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she planned to “eliminate” the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during a televised cabinet meeting on Monday. While giving a status report on border security, Noem added, “and we’re going to eliminate FEMA.” She did not elaborate. “That’s great, great job,” President Trump said — appearing to respond to her broader status update. Her comment comes after Trump has been highly critical of the emergency management agency, having suggested in the past that he would consider cutting it. “I’ll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA or maybe getting rid of FEMA. I think, frankly, FEMA’s not good,” Trump said in January. However, a recent White House executive order stopped short of getting rid of the agency, instead calling for a review of disaster response policies. That order calls on the Homeland Security secretary to propose changes and ensure that “state and local governments and individuals have improved communications with Federal officials and a better understanding of the Federal role.” FEMA coordinates disaster response in the immediate aftermath of storms and also helps with longer-term recovery . Democrats pushed back on Noem’s comment, saying that getting rid of FEMA would be abandoning communities in need. “The Trump Administration’s grand plan for victims of natural disasters is to abandon them—and it’s a complete non-starter,” said Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) in a written statement. “This rash decision will harm ongoing disaster recovery efforts, and make it impossible to respond after the next natural disaster,” he added.

Noem blindsides FEMA by vowing to eliminate the agency - Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency were blindsided Monday when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said during a televised Cabinet meeting, “We’re going to eliminate FEMA.”Her comments added to the uncertainty that has surrounded the disaster agency since President Donald Trump proclaimed in January that he was thinking about disbanding FEMA, only to signal last week that he might keep it after narrowing the government’s responsibility when responding to emergencies. On Monday, Noem didn’t offer additional details about the future of the agency, leaving FEMA officials and others baffled by her remark in the White House.“We heard about it on TV like everyone else,” a FEMA official told POLITICO’s E&E News. The official was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. Noem made the seemingly unscripted comment after Trump asked her to talk about “what’s happening and how well we’ve done at the border.”

Social Security chief Leland Dudek backs out of ‘shutting down’ agency - The head of the Social Security Administration (SSA) said Friday that he wouldn’t be “shutting down the agency” after a federal judge backed up a temporary restraining order issued against Elon Musk’s government cost-cutting panel. SSA chief Leland Dudek, an appointee of President Trump responsible for implementing cuts from Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), said Friday that the court had clarified its position on its restraining order and that the agency would continue working. “I am not shutting down the agency,” Dudek said in a statement. “SSA employees and their work will continue under the [temporary restraining order].”Dudek has indicated he’s not the one running the show at the SSA, but is rather following orders.“I am receiving decisions that are made without my input. I have to effectuate those decisions,” Dudek said in notes on a meeting he took with legal aide attorneys, as reported by The Washington Post earlier in March.Dudek described the DOGE team that’s calling the shots at Social Security as “outsiders who are unfamiliar with nuances of SSA programs” but said he and his colleagues “have to let them see what is going on at SSA,” according to the meeting notes that were obtained by the Post.

Acting Social Security chief now says he won't shut down agency after DOGE ruling - The acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration now says he is "not shutting down the agency" after earlier suggesting he might do so in the wake of a judge's ruling limiting the Department of Government of Efficiency's access to sensitive agency data.Leland Dudek, the acting head of the agency, said in a statement Friday he received "clarifying guidance" about the judge's temporary restraining order related to DOGE activities."Therefore, I am not shutting down the agency," he said in the statement. "President Trump supports keeping Social Security offices open and getting the right check to the right person at the right time. SSA employees and their work will continue under the [temporary restraining order]." In an order Thursday, U.S. District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander blocked the agency from granting personnel affiliated with DOGE access to agency systems containing personally identifiable information.In a series of interviews on Thursday and Friday, Dudek appeared to suggest that the judge's ruling blocking DOGE from accessing SSA data would force him to pause Social Security payments and block all employees from the agency's systems.“My anti-fraud team would be DOGE affiliates. My IT staff would be DOGE affiliates,” he said to Bloomberg News on Thursday. “As it stands, I will follow it exactly and terminate access by all SSA employees to our IT systems.”He continued, “Really, I want to turn it off and let the courts figure out how they want to run a federal agency."And in a separate Washington Post interview, he doubled down, suggesting "everything in the agency" deals with personally identifiable information, known as PII.“Everything in this agency is PII,” Dudek said. “Unless I get clarification, I’ll just start to shut it down. I don’t have much of a choice here.”

DOGE cuts to Social Security staff and services sends benefits system into chaos -- As the staff and service cuts by the Trump administration to the Social Security Administration (SSA) begin to take effect, those dependent on the benefits program are feeling the impact in the form of website crashes, excessive call waiting times and long lines at department offices. US retirees, their survivors, the poor and disabled—73 million people, or approximately 21.5 percent of the US population—receive monthly checks from the SSA worth a total of $1.5 trillion annually. As of February 2025, the average monthly Social Security benefit for 65.8 million retired workers is approximately $1,980.86. For 4.5 million disabled workers, who received Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the average monthly benefit is around $1,580. Changes to the SSA systems began immediately after Elon Musk publicly attacked Social Security and claimed in a podcast on February 28 that the longstanding and vital government program is “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.” On the same day, the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk leads, announced plans to reduce the SSA staff by 7,000 employees, a reduction of 12 percent. Other changes announced include the shutdown or consolidation of 47 SSA field offices across the country. Of these, 26 offices are scheduled to close in 2025. For some people, the closure of the offices will mean traveling distances of 100 miles or more to the next closest SSA location. Meanwhile, DOGE has announced the closure of six out of 10 regional SSA offices. Among the immediate actions, for example, is the closure of the field office in Forrest City, Arkansas, on April 25, 2025. Arkansas is the fourth poorest state in the US by median household income behind Mississippi, West Virginia and Louisiana. The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that the SSA website crashed 10 times in the last three weeks, “because the servers were overloaded, blocking millions of retirees and disabled Americans from logging into their online accounts.” Meanwhile, the Post report said, staff reductions have meant that “office managers have resorted to answering phones in place of receptionists because so many employees have been pushed out. … And the phones keep ringing. And ringing.” The Post report continues: The turmoil is leaving many retirees, disabled claimants, and legal immigrants needing Social Security cards with less access or shut out of the system altogether, according to those familiar with the problems. In an interview, Independent Senator Angus King of Maine told the Post: What’s going on is the destruction of the agency from the inside out, and it’s accelerating. I have people approaching me all the time in their 70s and 80s, and they’re beside themselves. They don’t know what’s coming. Unable to get answers from the SSA, Americans dependent upon Social Security benefits are flooding congressional offices and advocacy organizations with angry phone calls. The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) has reported that it is getting 2,000 calls a week since early February, double its usual amount, from people concerned about their benefits.

Judge blocks 3 agencies from disclosing troves of sensitive personal data to DOGE --A federal judge on Monday indefinitely blocked the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) access to troves of sensitive personal data from three federal agencies, the latest roadblock to its efforts to slim down the federal bureaucracy.U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman barred the Department of Education, Department of the Treasury and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from disclosing the personal identifying information of about 2 million plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging DOGE’s access to any of the advisory board’s affiliates.She noted that the Privacy Act of 1974 was enacted to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of personal information collected by the government, citing Congress’s concern at the time that a single bureaucrat or institution could assemble “every detail of our personal lives” in an instant. “Those concerns are just as salient today,” the judge wrote in a 68-page opinion. “No matter how important or urgent the President’s DOGE agenda may be, federal agencies must execute it in accordance with the law. That likely did not happen in this case.”Six Americans sued the agencies over DOGE’s access to personally identifiable information they gave the government while collecting veterans benefits, applying for student loans and working as federal employees. Five union organizations, whose members’ personal data is also stored within the systems DOGE accessed, joined the lawsuit. Altogether, the plaintiffs amount to about 2 million people. They contend that DOGE’s actions violate the Privacy Act, which was passed in response to the Watergate scandal and provides safeguards against breaches of privacy. In court filings, they accused the agencies of “abandoning their duties as guardians and gatekeepers” of the sensitive information of millions of Americans.Though the plaintiffs initially sought a universal injunction against the agencies, which would have blocked DOGE’s access to everyone’s sensitive personal data at the agencies, the judge’s relief was more tailored, focusing only on the challengers.Boardman previously issued a temporary restraining order preventing DOGE from accessing the data from the Education Department and the OPM, but she declined at the time to extend the block to Treasury data, citing a different federal judge’s preliminary injunction effectuating the same relief plaintiffs sought against that agency.

Appeals panel clears path for Trump firings of MSPB, NLRB leaders -A federal appeals panel on Friday halted the reinstatement of two independent agency members fired by President Trump, clearing the path for the president to remove them from their positions. The court’s emergency stay stops Gwynne Wilcox, a member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and Cathy Harris of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) — both Democratic appointees — from continuing in their posts for now. It marks a victory for Trump as he seeks to expand his presidential powers and reshape aspects of the federal bureaucracy. The legal battle is likely destined for the Supreme Court. A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard their cases together after two Obama-appointed federal district judges determined that their firings were unlawful. The appeals panel ruled 2-1 to grant the Trump administration’s emergency motions a stay of the lower judges’ decisions, with each judge expressing their reasoning in an opinion. Judge Justin Walker, an appointee of President Trump, wrote in a concurring opinion that the Constitution’s framers vested in the president “full responsibility for the executive power.”

‘Borrowers have zero power’: Trump moving student loans to SBA sparks concern, confusion --President Trump moving student loans from the Education Department to the Small Business Administration (SBA) is rattling those affected, who say it is prime evidence that the White House has no real plan for its efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. Trump signed an executive order last Thursday seeking to wind down the Education Department, and he said student loans would move to the SBA the next day — the same day that agency announced it was cutting 40 percent of its workforce. While advocates have been displeased with the student loan system for a long time, they worry more problems would be created than solved by taking the biggest program the Education Department controls and giving it to an agency that is seeing a sweeping reduction in force. “Borrowers right now are already having to experience an unprecedented level of chaos and uncertainty,” said Aissa Canchola Bañez, policy director for Student Borrower Protection Center. Moving student loans, she added, to the SBA, which “has no background of familiarity with the student loan program, with the rights afforded to student loan borrowers under the Higher Education Act — it will only make things worse for borrowers.” The president, who also announced that programs for students with disabilities would be shifting to the Health and Human Services Department, has offered no follow-up details on logistics for student loan borrowers, but the move was cheered by both the Department of Education and the SBA.

Enviros sue Interior, NOAA, CEQ for records on endangerment finding - The Environmental Defense Fund has filed a second lawsuit seeking to force more agencies to divulge details about the Trump administration’s efforts to revoke a cornerstone of U.S. climate policy.The lawsuit says the Trump administration is withholding details about plans to revoke a scientific determination that serves as the foundation for climate rules. The Interior Department is among the agencies an environmental group alleges has withheld records on the endangerment finding. Francis Chung/E&E News The lawsuit filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia calls on the Interior Department, NOAA and the White House Council on Environmental Quality to release information related to the administration’s plans to strike down the 2009 endangerment finding, which gives agencies authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. EDF said the latest lawsuit comes after the three agencies failed to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request — a situation the lawsuit said is “completely lacking in transparency, in contrast with the extensive public process that EPA undertook to develop and adopt the endangerment finding.” The lawsuit comes three weeks after EDF filed a similar challenge against EPA, arguing that the agency had failed to produce any records relating to efforts to revoke the finding that climate pollution endangers public health and welfare.

Trump administration to nominate acting director to lead CDC -The White House has signaled that it will nominate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acting director Susan Monarez, PhD, to lead the agency, CBS News reported today, citing sources familiar with the decision. A Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) official also confirmed that Monarez will be nominated. Her nomination follows the White House withdrawal of its original nominee, David Weldon, MD, after it became clear that he didn’t have the votes to clear Senate confirmation. Monarez was named as acting CDC director in January, following the change in presidential administration. She previously served as deputy director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health within the HHS. She has also held several other roles in government, including with the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Security Council, both within the executive branch. Her work has included strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance and she has led projects to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve health outcomes. CBS reported that others reportedly considered for the nomination were Michael Burgess, MD, a former Texas congressman, and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, MD. Her nomination comes as the CDC grapples with a large measles outbreak, continued H5N1 avian flu circulation in animals with occasional jumps to people, staffing cuts, and other uncertainties due changing Trump administration priorities.

5 high-level CDC officials are leaving in the latest turmoil for the public health agency (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was rocked by five high-level departures on Tuesday in the latest turmoil for the nation’s top public health agency.The departures were announced at a meeting of agency senior leaders. The Atlanta-based CDC has two dozen centers and offices. The heads of five of them are stepping down, and that follows three other departures in recent weeks. This means close to a third of the agency’s top management is leaving or left recently.The departures — described as retirements — were not announced publicly. The Associated Press confirmed the news with two CDC officials who were not authorized to discuss it and spoke on condition of anonymity.The announcements come a day after the White House announced it is nominatingSusan Monarez to be CDC director. But it’s not clear how much, if any, influence that had on the leaders’ decision to leave. The Trump administration earlier this month withdrew its nomination of former Florida congressman Dr. David Weldon just before a Senate hearing.CDC employees — including the organization’s leaders — have been bracing themselves for moves by the Trump administration to lay off staff and possibly dramatically reorganize the agency. White House officials are reviewing a work force reduction proposal for CDC and other federal health agencies that was submitted earlier this month. Its contents have not been disclosed.

HHS hit with massive cuts under new Kennedy plan --Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. today announced plans to cut an additional 10,000 federal health jobs among the 82,000 employees who currently work at HHS. With these cuts and previous layoffs, the agency will have roughly 62,000 employees. HHS has 28 divisions, which will be consolidated to 15 divisions under the restructuring. Kennedy said the restructuring was an effort to limit the bureaucracy that was hindering Americans' health. Regional offices will also be reduced, from 10 to 5.Notably, the Food and Drug Administration will see 3,500 jobs cut, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will lose 2,400 staff, the National Institutes of Health will see 1,200 jobs cut, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is expected to lose 300 employees. HHS said the reorganization will not diminish Medicare and Medicaid services. "HHS has more than 100 communication offices and more than 40 IT [information technology] departments," Kennedy said in a video message explaining the cuts. "In many cases they don’t even talk to each other."Throughout the 6-minute video, Kennedy said HHS is full of “fiefdoms” with infighting and misplaced contributing to a decline in public health as more Americans suffer from chronic diseases. "As part of President Trump's DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] workforce reduction initiate, we are going to streamline HHS to make our agency more efficient and more effective," Kennedy said. "We are going to eliminate an entire alphabet soup of departments and agencies, while preserving their core functions by merging them into a new organization called the Administration for a Health America, or AHA."Though Kennedy acknowledged this will likely be a "painful period," he promised the cuts would be aimed at administrators, and AHA would increase the number of scientists and frontline health providers. He said the cuts will help save tax payers nearly $2 billion per year, and will help HHS become the envy of the world.Contained within AHA will be the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), responsible for national disaster and public health emergency response, will move to the CDC.Within hours of the announcement, Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York said the cuts will likely be challenged in court, and many could be illegal. The HHS plan comes just 1 day after President Donald Trump canceled $11.4 billion in grants allocated to state health departments during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump administration revokes state and local health funding -- The Department of Health and Human Services is canceling tens of billions of dollars in federal grants that state and local health departments were using to track infectious diseases, health disparities, vaccinations, mental health services and other health issues. The stop-work notices began arriving late Monday night or early Tuesday morning and were effective immediately, sending officials scrambling. “The end of the pandemic provides cause to terminate COVID related grants and cooperative agreements. These grants and cooperative agreements were issued for a limited purpose; to ameliorate the effects of the pandemic. Now that the pandemic is over, the grants and cooperative agreements are no longer necessary as their limited purpose has run out,” one of the notices described to The Hill said. Much of the funding has already been spent, but the federal government said it expects to recover the money starting 30 days after the termination notices were sent. The Department of Health and Human Services said the grants, totaling $11.4 billion, were primarily used for COVID-19 response, including testing, vaccination and hiring community health workers. The department said the grants also funded a program established in 2021 to address COVID-19 health disparities among high-risk and underserved patients. The agency did not say how it planned to recover money already appropriated by Congress.

Trump administration axes COVID funding for state, community health departments - Money that had been allocated to state and community health departments and other groups for COVID-19 response is being cancelled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cancellation of $11.4 billion in grants awarded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, first reported by NBC News, is the latest in a series of funding cuts that have been implemented at federal health agencies by the Trump administration since January. The funds were primarily being used by states to support COVID testing and vaccination, as well as an initiative to put more trained community health workers in communities that have been most affected by COVID-19 and an effort to address COVID-19 health disparities. Termination notices began on March 24, according to an official with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). "The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago," an HHS spokesperson said in an email to CIDRAP News. "HHS is prioritizing funding projects that will deliver on President Trump's mandate to address our chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again." Among those affected by the cuts is the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), which had $226 million in COVID-related grants terminated. In a statement, MDH Commissioner of Health Brooke Cunningham, MD, PhD, called the action "sudden and unexpected." "It will take time to figure out all of the impacts of this action, but these cuts are a tremendous loss—made worse by the uncertainty and chaos that our federal partners have introduced into this process," Cunningham said.In Illinois, state health officials said they had been notified that the CDC was rescinding $125 million in promised funding for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and 97 local health departments to help respond to COVID and other infectious diseases, including measles and H5N1 avian flu. IDPH said the funding had been targeted for technology to track the spread of diseases, wastewater surveillance, and strengthening local health departments."While IDPH has been preparing for anticipated federal budget cuts, the termination of this awarded funding will have a debilitating impact on our efforts to protect the health of Illinoisans," IDPH Director Sameer Vohra, MD, said in a news release. "If allowed to stand, this funding cut will set back critical upgrades to our public health labs, technology used to track infectious diseases like H5N1 avian flu and measles, vaccination efforts, and our ongoing work to better prepare for the next public health emergency." The termination of COVID funding isn't limited to state and community health departments. Science reports that COVID-19–related research grants made by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) are in the process of being terminated. A National Institutes of Health (NIH) program that promised to spend $577 million on efforts to develop new drugs to treat COVID-19 is also terminated, according to reporting by Nature.HHS also announced this week that it is closing the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice, according to Politico. The move comes despite a commitment made by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at his confirmation hearing that he would continue efforts to better understand and mitigate the impact of long COVID. Roughly 17 million Americans reported having long-COVID symptoms in March 2024.

Fake CDC vaccine site linked to anti-vax nonprofit once headed by RFK -An imposter US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine safety site hosted by a nonprofit once led by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been taken down after a watchdog noticed it being staged.E. Rosalie Li, MA, founder of InfoEpi Lab on Substack, reported the clone on Friday after learning of the faked site, which was nearly identical to the official CDC vaccine safety site but cited misinformation about vaccines and autism. The URL realcdc.org was redirecting to the staging site chdstaging.org, a domain that Li said is hosted by the antivaccine organization Children's Health Defense (CHD), which Kennedy led until he launched his presidential bid in 2023. Realcdc.org was activated on January 24 and is managed through the same Cloudflare (content-delivery network) host as the one hosted by CHD.The shadow site used CDC logos, links to active CDC social media accounts, the same fonts, formats, and similar language, as well as purported parent testimonials about their child's negative experience with vaccines (with titles such as "Mother of 3: I will never vaccinate again").The site was taken down on Saturday evening at Kennedy's direction after the New York Times asked about it and social media posts about it proliferated, the Times reported. "Secretary Kennedy has instructed the Office of the General Counsel to send a formal demand to Children’s Health Defense requesting the removal of their website," HHS said in a statement to the Times. "At H.H.S. we are dedicated to restoring our agencies to their tradition of upholding gold-standard, evidence-based science." At Kennedy's behest, the CDC is planning a large study to re-evaluate any link between vaccines and autism, a connection that Kennedy has publicly supported for years, despite a plethora of evidence to the contrary.

"The Country's Largest COVID Fraud": Somali Immigrants Allegedly Stole $250 Million From Child Nutrition Program - Nearly all of the 70 people charged in a massive $250 million fraud case targeting federal child nutrition programs in Minnesota are Somali immigrants, according to the Washington Free Beacon. Between March 2020 and January 2022, they allegedly stole funds meant for feeding children, funneled through a nonprofit called Feeding Our Future. So far, 37 have pleaded guilty, and 7 have been convicted; the rest await trial. The scam involved fake meal counts, rosters, and invoices submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education. “Feeding Our Future” acted as a sponsor for daycares and other sites, making it easy to file false claims during the COVID-era program expansion. Minnesota, home to about 100,000 Somali immigrants—mostly in the Twin Cities—has long attracted refugees with “some of America’s most generous welfare and charity programs,” according to journalist Kelly Riddell. She also quoted professor Ahamed Samatar, who said, “Minnesota is exceptional in so many ways but it’s the closest thing in the United States to a true social democratic state.” The FBI’s Minneapolis office has also dealt with terror-related concerns in the community, which has seen recruitment by ISIS and al-Shabab. Between 2020 and 2022, Aimee Bock and a group of mostly Somali immigrants stole $250 million in federal nutrition funds through a scheme centered on the nonprofit Feeding Our Future. The group submitted fake meal counts and rosters to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), which had loosened oversight under COVID “waivers.” In 2021 alone, Feeding Our Future funneled nearly $200 million to sham sites and vendors. The Washington Free Beacon says that despite red flags, MDE backed off after accusations of racism. But in April 2021, a whistleblower tipped off the FBI. Surveillance footage later revealed empty food sites that supposedly fed thousands daily. The scheme collapsed in January 2022 when federal agents conducted Minnesota’s largest-ever fraud raid. Bock, Feeding Our Future’s founder, certified inflated claims from over 250 sites. Though she pocketed $1.9 million, many of her co-conspirators spent millions on luxury items and properties across the U.S., Turkey, and Kenya. “The fraud in this case is gross, disgusting, and despicable,” the report states. Bock’s fake nonprofit included a board of unaware bartenders and a small-engine mechanic. “Yeah, big shoes,” one deadpanned in court when shown his name atop an organizational chart. The fraud ran so deep that 21 sites on a 1.8-mile stretch of Minneapolis’s Lake Street claimed to serve as many children as the city’s public schools.

FCC chair launches investigation into Disney over DEI -- Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr announced Friday on social platform X that he is opening an investigation into Disney, the parent company of ABC, over potential violations of the FCC’s equal employment opportunity regulations through the company’s efforts that promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).“For decades, Disney focused on churning out box office and programming successes. But then something changed,” Carr wrote in a letter to Disney that he also posted online. “Disney has now been embroiled in rounds of controversy surrounding its DEI policies.”The Walt Disney Co. said it received Carr’s letter and will cooperate.“We are reviewing the Federal Communications Commission’s letter, and we look forward to engaging with the commission to answer its questions,” a Disney spokesperson told The Hill.The FCC last month launched a similar probe into Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal, over DEI concerns.Letters that Carr sent to both companies note the FCC wants to ensure that the companies “are not promoting invidious forms of discrimination.”Since President Trump took office in January, his administration has pushed to curb DEI efforts that swelled in government and private businesses in recent years. He signed executive orders to end DEI programs across federal agencies and pull federal funding from recipients, including colleges, that promote DEI.In his letter to Disney, Carr wrote that the FCC’s enforcement arm would follow up with the company, which he suggested may have altered names of its DEI initiatives without changing policies.“In recent years, Disney made DEI a key priority for the company’s businesses and embedded explicit race- and gender-based criteria across its operations,” he wrote. “Although your company recently made some changes to how it brands certain efforts, it is not clear that the underlying policies have changed in a fundamental manner – nor that practices complied with relevant FCC regulations.” Disney, in particular, has faced conservative backlash over what’s been perceived as the company’s “woke” priorities in filmmaking and other endeavors, including the recent remake of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” which opened this month with a disappointing box office take.

Senators weigh Trump Interior, EPA, science nominees - The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has been busy pushing President Donald Trump’s nominees since EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin was confirmed.Earlier this month, the panel sent two more EPA picks to the floor, and this week members will question additional candidates: Brian Nesvik to lead the Fish and Wildlife Service, Jessica Kramer to head EPA’s water office and Sean Donahue for EPA general counsel.Nesvik continues the not-always-followed tradition of Westerners being tapped to oversee FWS and its 500-plus national wildlife refuges.He would replace Martha Williams, who joined the Biden administration after running Montana’s Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Nesvik, too, has run a state agency — in his case, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Trump on pulling Stefanik nomination: ‘We don’t want to take any chances’ -- President Trump said Friday he asked Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) to withdraw as his pick for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations because he did not want to risk losing her congressional seat, calling it “politics 101.” “We don’t want to take any chances, so I went to Elise and I said, ‘Elise, do you mind?’” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “We don’t want to take any chances. It’s as simple as that. It’s basic politics. It’s politics 101. She’s very popular. She’s going to win.” “I really appreciate her doing it,” Trump added. “She’s doing me a big favor when she does it, because she was all set to go to the United Nations, and she would have dealt with Putin, and Zelensky and everybody else, and she would have been very effective. But we don’t want to take any chances, because it is tight.” Trump’s announcement has thrown Stefanik’s future into flux and has raised questions about how concerned Republicans should be if her solidly Republican district is at risk. Trump won Stefanik’s district by 30 percentage points last November. Stefanik has represented her district since 2015. Republicans have a historically tiny House majority, where every vote matters as they aim to advance Trump’s ambitious legislative agenda on taxes and spending cuts along party lines. Currently, there are 218 House Republicans and 213 House Democrats, with four vacancies — meaning House Republicans can only afford to lose two Republicans on any party line vote, assuming full attendance.

MoveOn warns Schumer, Jeffries of deep problems with base --- The liberal group MoveOn has warned Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) about “deep problems” with their base regarding the Democratic Party’s response to President Trump. Politico reported that the group wrote a letter to the two leaders, saying that Democratic lawmakers have been “inactive” in Congress. The memo features results from a survey of MoveOn’s members, highlighting the challenges Democratic lawmakers encounter from their progressive supporters. The survey revealed that 78 percent of participants feel that congressional Democrats are not fully committed to opposing Trump, while 49 percent indicated they are less inclined to volunteer or contribute to Democratic efforts due to the party’s inadequate response to Trump. The letter further warned that grassroots volunteers and donors would stop helping the Democratic Party if this inaction continues. “Nothing about this moment is normal,” the letter says, arguing that Democrats must deal wit the threat that “President Trump, his administration, and unelected billionaire Elon Musk pose to our society.” “It is no exaggeration to say that lives will be destroyed due to their destruction–cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, cancer research funding, USAID programs for children and families, and much more,” it adds. The group called for a collective effort to challenge “rampant corruption and mitigate as much harm as possible to the American people, our rights, and our freedoms.” “We should tell people what President Trump and Musk are doing to people’s lives on every platform available, full stop. That includes engaging with the massively effective right-wing digital ecosystem. But outside of their turf, we need to reach people where they’re at, and with messengers who cut through the noise,” the letter said. MoveOn further said that its members are not “going down without a fight” and are “ready to work with those who are right there with them.” Earlier this month, Pass the Torch, another grassroots Democratic group that called for former President Biden to step out of the 2024 presidential race, called for Schumer to resign as minority leader. The two groups are part of a chorus of angry voices within the Democratic Party after Schumer and other Democrats voted with Republican senators to advance the House GOP’s spending bill.

‘Incendiary’ devices found at Tesla showroom in Austin (KXAN) — Devices that were deemed “incendiary” were found at a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas, on Monday morning, the city’s police department said.Austin police said officers responded to a call about suspicious devices at the showroom around 8 a.m. and the bomb squad was called out to investigate.The devices were “determined to be incendiary” and were taken by police without incident, the Austin Police Department said. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also responded to the scene, an agency spokesperson told Nexstar’s KXAN.There have been numerous instances of vandalism aimed at Tesla showrooms and cars throughout the nation in the past few weeks, ranging from cars being defaced to cars or even Tesla chargers set on fire. In one instance, the Associated Press reported an Oregon man was arrested after he was accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a store in Salem. It prompted the Justice Department last week to investigate, with Attorney General Pam Bondi saying, “The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism.” Devices that were deemed “incendiary” by Austin Police were found at the northwest Austin Tesla showroom on March 24, 2025. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)About a hundred protesters gathered each of the last two weekends outside the Austin showroom to voice their displeasure with Tesla CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump. Those protests were not violent and didn’t result in any arrests.A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed it was investigating this incident, along with others recently reported. The FBI recommended the public read the PSA released Friday on those incidents and how the public can “exercise vigilance and to look out for suspicious activity in areas occupied by Tesla dealerships or Tesla-related entities.”

Man drives car into protesters outside a Tesla dealership, nobody hurt, sheriff says --A man drove his car into protesters outside a Tesla dealership in Palm Beach County, Florida, but did not injure any of those who had gathered to demonstrate against billionaire Elon Musk and President Donald Trump over the weekend, according to law enforcement.The planned protest was one of a slew across the U.S. at businesses associated with Tesla, the company led by Musk, in response to the billionaire’s work with the Trump administration in cutting federal funding and the workforce.Attacks on property carrying the logo of Elon Musk’s electric-car company are cropping up across the U.S. and overseas. Several more violent incidents includeCybertrucks being set on fire in Seattle and shots fired at a Tesla dealership in Oregon.The protest on Saturday was interrupted when Andrew Dutil drove his vehicle onto the sidewalk full of protesters at a slow speed, forcing people to scramble out of the way to avoid the being hit, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Dutil was arrested and faces an assault charge, according to court records. An attorney who could speak on Dutil’s behalf wasn’t immediately listed in court records.

Musk clarifies post about $1M giveaways to Wisconsin Supreme Court voters -Tech billionaire Elon Musk clarified a previous post he made on social media Friday about a trip he’s making to Wisconsin ahead of a high-stakes state Supreme Court race next week. In his original post, Musk announced that he would be heading to Wisconsin to give a talk Sunday night to people who had voted in the election. “I will also personally hand over two checks for a million dollars each in appreciation for you taking the time to vote. This is super important,” he wrote. That post was later deleted after experts suggested he would be violating Wisconsin state law, which says that that anyone who “Offers, gives, lends or promises to give or lend, or endeavors to procure, anything of value, or any office or employment or any privilege or immunity to, or for, any elector, or to or for any other person, in order to induce any elector to” go or not go to the polls, or vote or not vote, is illegal. Musk later clarified his plan in a new post on his social platform X. “On Sunday night, I will give a talk in Wisconsin. To clarify a previous post, entrance is limited to those who have signed the petition in opposition to activist judges. I will also hand over checks for a million dollars to 2 people to be spokesmen for the petition.” Musk’s super PAC, America PAC, circulated a petition last week that reads: “Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas. By signing below, I’m rejecting the actions of activist judges who impose their own views and demanding a judiciary that respects its role—interpreting, not legislating.”The super PAC pays Wisconsin voters who sign it $100 and appears to implicitly knock liberal candidate Susan Crawford, who’s running against conservative candidate Brad Schimel to fill a vacancy on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.

Wisconsin AG sues to stop Elon Musk's check handout --Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul sued Elon Musk on Friday over his proposal to pay two individuals $1 million for voting in the state’s Supreme Court race. “The Wisconsin Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that elections in Wisconsin are safe, secure, free, and fair. We are aware of the offer recently posted by Elon Musk to award a million dollars to two people at an event in Wisconsin this weekend,” Kaul said in a statement to The Hill. Kaul’s case was assigned to Brad Schimel’s liberal opponent: Susan Crawford. A spokesperson for Crawford told The Hill that she will recuse herself from the case. The lawsuit follows Musk’s announcement that he will visit the Badger State in support of Schimel on Sunday. “I will also personally hand over two checks for a million dollars each in appreciation for you taking the time to vote. This is super important,” Musk wrote Friday morning ahead of his visit. Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin immediately labeled Musk’s plan as a violation of state law. The Tesla CEO, who has spent millions of dollars on the race, which will decide the ideological balance of the court, later deleted the post and clarified his intentions.

FBI warns of possible Outlook, Gmail cyberattacks - The FBI is warning users of popular email services such as Outlook and Gmail that they could be subject to cyberattacks by ransomware called Medusa, which has impacted more than 300 victims from a number of sectors, including technology, legal, medical and manufacturing. Medusa, a ransomware-as-a-service that was first identified in June, was spotted as recently last month, according to an advisory released last week by the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). “Both Medusa developers and affiliates—referred to as ‘Medusa actors’ in this advisory—employ a double extortion model, where they encrypt victim data and threaten to publicly release exfiltrated data if a ransom is not paid,” the agencies said in the March 12 advisory. Medusa developers normally recruit initial access brokers in marketplaces and cybercriminal forums, paying them between $100,000 and $1 million with an opportunity to solely work for a hacking organization. Those brokers are known to use common techniques like phishing campaigns and exploiting unpatched software vulnerabilities, according to the advisory. “The ransom note demands victims make contact within 48 hours via either a Tor browser-based live chat, or via Tox, an end-to-end encrypted instant-messaging platform,” the agencies wrote. “If the victim does not respond to the ransom note, Medusa actors will reach out to them directly by phone or email.” A victim was extorted three times in one case, according to an FBI investigation. The victim was contacted by another Medusa actor who contended that the main hacker stole the ransom amount and asked for another payment. The FBI, CISA and MS-ISAC outlined some steps users can take to protect themselves from Medusa ransomware. Users should protect all accounts with passwords, ideally having longer passcodes that are changed often. Multifactor authentication should be in place. Copies of sensitive data, in the form of hard drives, the cloud and storage devices, should be developed for recovery. Users should also have offline back-ups of data that ideally are encrypted. The operating systems of devices should be up to date.Additionally, users should not ignore the opening of phishing links or attachments, according to Ryan Kalember, the chief strategy officer at security firm Proofpoint.“That is often the first reaction, and it is not ideal,” he told The Washington Post. “When you fall for something, the attacker still has some window of time where they have to figure out what they’ve just got and whether it’s even worth taking advantage of.”

Resorts World casino in Las Vegas fined $10.5M in money-laundering case -(AP) — Nevada gaming regulators have issued a $10.5 million fine against the Resorts World casino on the Las Vegas Strip over allegations of illegal gambling, many of which centered on a bookmaker with ties to the interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani. The fine settles a complaint that the state Gaming Control Board filed last year accusing one of the largest casinos on the Strip of welcoming people with ties to illegal bookmaking and people with a history of gambling-related felony convictions, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The fine, issued on Thursday, is the second-largest handed down by the Nevada Gaming Commission, which has authority over disciplinary action. As part of the settlement agreement, Resorts World and its parent company neither admit to nor deny the allegations. But the casino agreed to make changes to its leadership and implement stricter protocols for preventing money laundering, the newspaper reported. Resorts World did not immediately respond Friday to requests for comment from The Associated Press. Many of the allegations centered on Mathew Bowyer, a Southern California bookmaker who took thousands of sports bets from the former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani. Bowyer has pleaded guilty in federal court in Santa Ana, California, to running an illegal gambling business and is awaiting sentencing. The Nevada Gaming Control Board alleged that Resorts World allowed Bowyer to play 80 separate days over about 15 months, while repeatedly failing to verify his source of funding. Bowyer lost over $6.6 million during that time, while the casino extended gifts, discounts and flights on its private jet, according to the complaint. The complaint originally listed 12 counts against Resorts World — six related to Bowyer — including failing to distance from suspected illegal bookmakers, failure of casino hosts to report suspected illegal bookings and hosts referring prospective customers to suspected illegal bookmakers. Other counts were related to hundreds of thousands of dollars in credit to others with histories of illegal gambling convictions or organized crime — one of whom was convicted of conducting an illegal gambling business and another who was convicted in a large-scale internet gambling operation.

Charlie Javice, college financial aid startup founder, found guilty of defrauding JPMorgan -- Charlie Javice, the woman accused of swindling JPMorgan Chase into acquiring her now-shuttered college financial aid company, was found guilty on Friday. Federal prosecutors accused Javice, 32, of "falsely and dramatically" inflating the number of her company's customers to entice JPMorgan Chase into buying it. The company, Frank, was supposed to make it easier to file for financial aid through the government's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).She was indicted in 2023 on charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy, two years after JPMorgan Chase bought her startup for $175 million. Javice could face a maximum of 30 years in prison on the charges of wire fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy. Securities fraud carries a slightly lower maximum sentence of 20 years.Jennifer Roberts, head of Chase consumer banking, told CNBC at the time of the 2021 acquisition that the goal in buying Frank was to expand its connection to college students and have "lifelong, engaged relationships" with the rising consumer base.However, the deal began to unravel after the financial institution attempted to obtain information on the purported 4.25 million Frank users, finding that Javice only had verifiable data for about 300,000, prosecutors said.

Donald Trump Jr. calls crypto the future of finance -- Donald Trump Jr. said it wasn't until his father became heavily involved in politics that he realized how much his family had benefited from the traditional financial system. The president's son spoke at a panel alongside the co-founders of the Trump-backed World Liberty Financial the day after it launched a new stablecoin.

SEC drops case against Kraken in latest crypto reversal - Kraken is off the hook after the Securities and Exchange Commission dropped its civil enforcement action against the cryptocurrency exchange. The SEC had sued the cryptocurrency exchange for allegedly operating as an unregistered securities exchange, broker, dealer and clearing agency. The case was dropped with prejudice.

Barr welcomes regulatory rethink but Fed needs to supervise The Federal Reserve's former top regulator welcomes the Trump administration's efforts to reform bank oversight — as long as the central bank gets to keep its supervisory authorities. The Federal Reserve governor said it is healthy to examine the regulatory architecture, but stressed the importance of the central bank having insight into the banking system.

BankThink The FDIC should take a deliberate, phased approach to reform -- The financial industry stands at a pivotal moment. Regulatory shifts are being proposed, technologies are evolving at breakneck speed and the threat of financial crime looms larger than ever. In this complex landscape, the role of regulators, such as the FDIC, is critical — not only to enforce compliance but also to inspire confidence and stability in an ever-changing environment. The acting chairman of the agency had laid out an ambitious agenda for revamping regulations and encouraging innovation, but there are dangers in trying to do too much, too soon.

FDIC will eliminate reputational risk from bank supervision -- The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. aims to eliminate reputational risk from all supervision, the second bank regulator to do so as the Trump administration seeks to curb what it calls the debanking of lawful businesses. Acting Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chair Travis Hill said the agency would eliminate reputational risk from all supervision, release more guidance on cryptocurrencies and refocus bank supervision.

Banks move for speedy end to Fed stress test lawsuit-- The banking trade groups suing the Federal Reserve over its stress testing practices would like the lawsuit wrapped up in time to apply the corresponding changes to the next exam cycle. The banking industry groups suing the Federal Reserve over its stress testing practices filed a motion for a summary judgment in the case, arguing that a quick resolution could ensure changes are made prior to the 2026 stress testing cycle.

BankThink Banks need relief from restrictive leverage capital requirements --A lot has changed in the past four years: Alex Ovechkin has scored more than 130 goals and even the Washington Commanders have made it to the NFL playoffs. Current leverage-based capital requirements are outdated, counterproductive and urgently need reform to better serve U.S. taxpayers, capital markets, consumers, businesses and the economy.

OCC's Rodney Hood announces restructured financial inclusion unit --Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney Hood announced a restructuring of the OCC's Office of External Relations and Strategic Partnerships. A new Office of External Relations and Strategic Partnerships will continue the work of helping banks develop affordable credit for consumers lacking a credit score using untraditional methods of determining creditworthiness, the agency's acting head said.

Bank regulators fight for desks as OCC returns to NYC tower - Regulators of major U.S. banks may be forced to compete for desks as the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency pulls staff back to a Times Square skyscraper — without enough space for all of them. Places to work at the 7 Times Square location "will be available on a daily first-come, first-serve basis," the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency told employees who supervise major U.S. banks.

Wall Street Bonus Pool Hits Record On Capital Market Rebound Average Wall Street bonuses have hit a new record high as capital markets—frozen over the past several years—began thawing in 2024, with further improvement expected this year. A new report released by the office of New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli shows that Wall Street's bonus season, which runs through March, hit a record $47.5 billion—up 34% from previous year—with the average bonus payout soaring to a fresh record high of $244,700, a 31.5% jump from the previous year. "The record-high bonus pool reflects Wall Street's very strong performance in 2024," DiNapoli wrote in a report. The big bonus payouts follow capital market improvements last year. Dealogic data shows that companies going public raised $39.32 billion in 2024, more than in 2022 and 2023, but below the Covid mania peak in 2021. This year, capital markets are expected to receive further tailwinds from President Trump's relaxed regulations and potential for interest rate cuts in the second half of the year. "Deregulation will make it easier for earlier-stage companies to gain traction and grow in their specific business markets," Ross Carmel, a partner at IPO-focused law firm Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel, told Investopedia at the start of the year. Carmel said, "If they trade well post-IPO, I expect other mature companies will follow suit and go public in 2025." Returning to the comptroller's report, he explained: "This financial-market strength is good news for New York's economy and our fiscal position, which relies on the tax revenue it generates." "However, increasing uncertainty in the economy amid significant federal policy changes may dampen the outlook for parts of the securities industry in 2025," he warned. DiNapoli pointed out that Wall Street accounts for 19% of taxes collected by NY State and 7% by NYC. These bonuses are expected to generate $600 in revenue for the state and $275 million for the city. DiNapoli added that Wall Street securities employment topped 201,500 workers last year, the highest annual level in three decades, exceeding the previous peak in the Dot Com mania. NYC's share of securities industry jobs nationally has slid to 18% from 33% in 1990 as Wall Street firms moved to Florida, Texas, and other Red States to escape violent crime and taxes in NYC. Earlier this month, NYSE Group President Lynn Martin told Bloomberg at the Invest conference in New York that first-time share sales could hit $50 billion: "We're still gearing up for an active second quarter from an IPO perspective which, depending on how those deals go, we think will inform the way the rest of the year will progress." Here's the IPO pipeline... The only way capital market improvement can be derailed and bonuses stagnate is if market volatility remains elevated and interest rates rise. Loading...

OCC to explore alternative credit metrics - Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney Hood on Monday said his agency would explore potential ways banks can use financial technology, instead of traditional credit models, when evaluating borrowers who have historically struggled to obtain loans. Hood discussed using fintech to evaluate self-employed borrowers' creditworthiness, saying alternative credit models could promote financial inclusion.

Federal judge blocks Trump from dismantling Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (AP) — A federal judge agreed Friday to block the Trump administration from dismantling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an agency that was targeted for mass firings before the court’s intervention. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson agreed to issue a preliminary injunction that maintains the agency’s existence until she rules on the merits of a lawsuit seeking to preserve the agency. The judge said the court “can and must act” to save the agency from being shuttered. Jackson ruled that, without a court order, President Donald Trump’s administration would move quickly to shut down the agency that Congress created in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. “If the defendants are not enjoined, they will eliminate the agency before the Court has the opportunity to decide whether the law permits them to do it, and as the defendants’ own witness warned, the harm will be irreparable,” Berman Jackson said in her order. During a March 10 hearing, Jackson heard testimony about the chaos that erupted inside the agency after government employees were ordered to stop working last month. The bureau’s chief operating officer, Adam Martinez, said the agency was in “wind-down mode” after Trump fired its previous director, Rohit Chopra, on Feb. 1. Trump installed a temporary replacement who ordered the immediate suspension of all agency operations, cancelled $100 million in contracts and fired 70 employees. Martinez said the agency’s current leaders have adopted a more methodical approach than they initially did last month, when representatives of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency arrived at its Washington headquarters. CFPB is responsible for protecting consumers from financial fraud and deceptive practices. It processes consumer complaints and examines banks to protect student loan borrowers. The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents more than 1,000 workers at the bureau, sued on Feb. 9 to block mass firings. Plaintiffs’ attorneys argue that the administration doesn’t have the constitutional authority to eliminate an agency that Congress created by statute. “The defendants’ unlawful action will have immediate consequences for the Americans that the CFPB was designed by Congress to protect,” the lawyers wrote.Government lawyers have said the plaintiffs are seeking to impermissibly place the CFPB in a “judicially managed receivership,” with the court overseeing its day-to-day operations. Jackson started her 112-page ruling by quoting Trump and his allies’ own words about the bureau. Trump’s billionaire adviser, Elon Musk, posted “CFPB RIP” on X, his social media platform, and added an emoji of a tombstone. White House budget director Russell Vought said it has been “a woke and weaponized agency against disfavored industries and individuals for a long time.” Trump called it “a very important thing to get rid of.” “In sum, the Court cannot look away or the CFPB will be dissolved and dismantled completely in approximately thirty days, well before this lawsuit has come to its conclusion,” Jackson wrote.

Republicans lay out vision for revamped CFPB under Trump — Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee outlined what they believe a reformed Consumer Financial Protection Bureau would look like under the leadership of President Donald Trump, even as the administration tries to gut the agency. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., who chairs the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions, called the CFPB under the Biden administration and former Director Rohit Chopra an "Orwellian predator."

CFPB retreats from classifying BNPL like credit cards -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said in a court filing that it plans to reverse its interpretive rule tightening standards for Pay in 4 buy now/pay later loans.

CFPB's payday rule goes into effect in test of Trump policy --The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's payday lending rule is going into effect, eight years after it was finalized. After eight years of delay, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau could still make last-minute changes to the payday rule, which sweeps in the buy now/pay later industry.

Small-business revenue dropped in 2024, Fed survey finds - In a troubling sign for the U.S. economy, a plurality of small businesses reported a drop in revenue last year, the first such decline since the earlier stages of the pandemic. For the first time in four years, more small businesses reported a drop in income than an increase, according to a survey by the 12 regional Federal Reserve banks.

SBA moves to increase lender fees in flagship program --The Small Business Administration, saying that it needs to shore up the finances of its flagship 7(a) loan guarantee program, has implemented a rare midyear fee hike. The midyear fee hike was necessary to reverse a revenue shortfall in the agency's 7(a) program, according to Administrator Kelly Loeffler.

Regulators plan to withdraw overhauls to anti-redlining rules -Bank regulators are backing down from the fight over their recent reforms to the Community Reinvestment Act.The Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency say they will move to rescind a 2023 reform to the Community Reinvestment Act, citing litigation concerns about the rule.

Policy and 2025 Housing Outlook – McBride - I started the year taking Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s approach to the impact of policy: I’d wait to see what was implemented before changing my outlook. Now we know a little more. Although there is still significant uncertainty, it appears that tariffs will stay (and likely increase in early April). Deportations will likely pickup. And net legal immigration will slow sharply. On immigration and deportations, Goldman Sachs economists wrote in February:We expect net immigration to slow further to 750k per year, well below the pace of the last three years but only moderately below the normal pre-pandemic pace. This would consist of 750k net authorized immigrants per year and zero net unauthorized immigrants, with roughly 500k deportations per year offsetting a similar number of asylum seekers and other entrants. … In a more extreme risk scenario where the immigration crackdown creates a climate in which unauthorized immigrants are afraid to go to work or employers are afraid to employ them, the economic consequences would be more serious because unauthorized immigrants already in the US account for 4-5% of the total workforce and 15-20% in some industries. Abruptly losing these workers could be very disruptive for many of these industries and have a larger inflation impact.We are also seeing a sharp decline in international tourism that will impact hotels and the travel industry. However, my focus is on housing.A few impacts:

• • Tariffs will lead to higher costs. I spoke to a contractor last week who hasn’t seen any price increases yet, but he said he had received “warning letters” from key suppliers about likely price increases. The uncertainty around tariffs also makes it more difficult to bid projects.
• • Less immigration will lead to less household formation. This suggests less demand for housing, especially for rentals.
• • An immigration crackdown would lead to fewer workers in construction. This would push up costs for construction. This would also lead to more rental vacancies.
• This suggests higher costs for construction and less demand for housing.

On regulations, the NAHB reported this month:[B]uilders are starting to see relief on the regulatory front to bend the rising cost curve, as demonstrated by the Trump administration's pause of the 2021 IECC building code requirement and move to implement the regulatory definition of ‘waters of the United States’ under the Clean Water Act consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision.However, most regulations are at the state and local level, so any regulatory relief will likely be minor.And another factor is the recent stock market volatility. Ten percent corrections are common, a further sell-off will have a negative wealth effect for potential home buyers. Some buyer hesitancy - due to the market volatility - might be the reason Lennar reported they “Didn't see typical seasonal pickup after February" for new home sales. Finally, it is difficult to ascertain the 2025 impact of DOGE, but it appears negative for employment this year.

MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey - From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Mortgage applications decreased 2.0 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending March 21, 2025. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 2.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 2 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 5 percent from the previous week and was 63 percent higher than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 1 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 1 percent compared with the previous week and was 7 percent higher than the same week one year ago. “Purchase applications saw the strongest weekly pace in almost two months and were 7 percent higher than a year ago. Last week’s purchase activity was driven primarily by a 6 percent increase in FHA applications, as the combination of loosening housing inventory and slowly declining mortgage rates have presented this segment of buyers with more opportunities,” . “Additionally, VA purchase applications saw a modest increase over the week. Overall applications declined, however, as refinance applications were down 5 percent to its lowest level in a month.” , “Markets remained focused on potential trade policy changes, while the Fed held the funds rate its current level, resulting in the 30-year fixed rate averaging 6.71 percent last week.” ... The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($806,500 or less) decreased to 6.71 percent from 6.72 percent, with points decreasing to 0.60 from 0.64 (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 7% year-over-year unadjusted. Red is a four-week average (blue is weekly). Purchase application activity is up about 24% from the lows in late October 2023 and is only 3% above the lowest levels during the housing bust. The second graph shows the refinance index since 1990.The refinance index declined after increasing sharply the previous two weeks and remains very low.

Housing March 24th Weekly Update: Inventory up 1.9% Week-over-week, Up 30.3% Year-over-year -- Altos reports that active single-family inventory was up 1.9% week-over-week.Inventory is now up 7.0% from the seasonal bottom in January and is increasing seasonally.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 30.3% compared to the same week in 2024 (last week it was up 29.3%), and down 19.5% compared to the same week in 2019 (last week it was down 20.5%). The gap to more normal inventory levels has closed significantly! This second inventory graph is courtesy of Altos Research. As of March 21st, inventory was at 668 thousand (7-day average), compared to 656 thousand the prior week. Mike Simonsen discusses this data regularly on Youtube

Realtor.com Reports Active Inventory Up 29.2% YoY -- On a weekly basis, Realtor.com reports the year-over-year change in active inventory and new listings. On a monthly basis, they report total inventory. For February, Realtor.com reported inventory was up 27.5% YoY, but still down 22.9% compared to the 2017 to 2019 same month levels. Now - on a weekly basis - inventory is up 29.2% YoY. Realtor.com has monthly and weekly data on the existing home market. Here is their weekly report: Weekly Housing Trends View—Data for Week Ending March 22, 2025 .
• Active inventory climbed 29.2% from a year ago
The number of homes actively for sale remains significantly higher than last year, continuing a 72-week streak of annual gains. This year-over-year inventory growth gives buyers more choices and encourages more competitive pricing among sellers. However, the inventory level is still below pre-pandemic norms, and supply constraints in many markets continue to limit buyer flexibility.
• New listings—a measure of sellers putting homes up for sale—increased 8.2%
New listings were up 8.2% compared with this time last year, marking the 11th straight week of annual growth.
• The median list price was unchanged year-over-year
The national median list price was unchanged from a year ago, continuing a 43-week streak where prices have either remained flat or declined compared with the same time last year. Rather than signaling a turnaround, this stability suggests that prices are holding steady as the market adjusts to higher borrowing costs and a growing number of listings.
Here is a graph of the year-over-year change in inventory according to realtor.com. Inventory was up year-over-year for the 72nd consecutive week. New listings have increased recently but remain below typical pre-pandemic levels. Median prices are mostly unchanged year-over-year.

Case-Shiller: National House Price Index Up 4.1% year-over-year in January - S&P/Case-Shiller released the monthly Home Price Indices for January ("January" is a 3-month average of November, December and January closing prices). This release includes prices for 20 individual cities, two composite indices (for 10 cities and 20 cities) and the monthly National index. From S&P S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index Records 4.1% Annual Gain in January 2025 - The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, reported a 4.1% annual return for January, up from a 4% annual gain in the previous month. The 10-City Composite saw an annual increase of 5.3%, up from a 5.2% annual increase in the previous month. The 20-City Composite posted a year-over-year increase of 4.7%, up from a 4.5% increase in the previous month. New York again reported the highest annual gain among the 20 cities with a 7.7% increase in January, followed by Chicago and Boston with annual increases of 7.5% and 6.6%, respectively. Tampa posted the lowest return, falling 1.5%. ... The pre-seasonally adjusted U.S. National and 20-City Composite Indices presented slight upward trends in January, with both posting 0.1% increases. The 10-City Composite posted a monthly return of 0.2%. After seasonal adjustment, the 20-City and 10-City Composite Indices posted month-over-month increases of 0.5%. The U.S National posted a month-over-month increase of 0.6%. “The National Composite Index posted a 4.1% annual gain, with the bulk of appreciation—4.8%—occurring in the first half of the year. Prices declined 0.7% in the second half, as high mortgage rates and affordability constraints weighed on buyer demand and market activity. “Among the 20 metro areas tracked by the Composite 20, New York City led annual gains with a 7.7% rise, followed closely by Chicago (7.5%) and Boston (6.5%). Tampa was the only market to post a year over-year decline, falling 1.5%. However, the second half of the year told a different story: San Francisco posted the largest six-month decline at 3.4%, followed by Tampa at 3.2%. Only four of the 20 cities managed to eke out price increases during this period—New York, Chicago, Phoenix, and Boston—highlighting broad-based cooling. “Rising mortgage rates throughout the year elevated monthly payment burdens, which, combined with already high home prices, pushed affordability to multi-decade lows in many regions. This likely contributed to subdued activity in the back half of the year, with both buyers and sellers exercising caution. Inventory constraints also remain a challenge, particularly in legacy metro areas, where limited new construction continues to restrict supply. The first graph shows the nominal seasonally adjusted Composite 10, Composite 20 and National indices (the Composite 20 was started in January 2000). The Composite 10 index was up 0.5% in January (SA). The Composite 20 index was up 0.5% (SA) in January. The National index was up 0.6% (SA) in January. The second graph shows the year-over-year change in all three indices. The National index NSA was up 4.1% year-over-year. Annual price changes were slightly higher than expectations.

Newsletter: Case-Shiller: National House Price Index Up 4.1% year-over-year in January - Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Case-Shiller: National House Price Index Up 4.1% year-over-year in January Excerpt: S&P/Case-Shiller released the monthly Home Price Indices for January ("January" is a 3-month average of November, December and January closing prices). January closing prices include some contracts signed in September, so there is a significant lag to this data. Here is a graph of the month-over-month (MoM) change in the Case-Shiller National Index Seasonally Adjusted (SA). The MoM increase in the seasonally adjusted (SA) Case-Shiller National Index was at 0.57% (a 7.0% annual rate), This was the 24th consecutive MoM increase in the seasonally adjusted index. On a seasonally adjusted basis, prices increased month-to-month in 19 of the 20 Case-Shiller cities (prices declined in Tampa seasonally adjusted). San Francisco has fallen 5.1% from the recent peak, Tampa is down 1.5% from the peak, and Denver down 0.7%.

Inflation Adjusted House Prices 0.8% Below 2022 Peak; Price-to-rent index is 7.4% below 2022 peak --Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Inflation Adjusted House Prices 0.8% Below 2022 Peak. Excerpt: It has been over 18 years since the housing bubble peak. In the January Case-Shiller house price index released this week, the seasonally adjusted National Index (SA), was reported as being 78% above the bubble peak in 2006. However, in real terms, the National index (SA) is about 12% above the bubble peak (and historically there has been an upward slope to real house prices). The composite 20, in real terms, is 3% above the bubble peak. People usually graph nominal house prices, but it is also important to look at prices in real terms. As an example, if a house price was $300,000 in January 2010, the price would be $440,000 today adjusted for inflation (47% increase). That is why the second graph below is important - this shows "real" prices. The third graph shows the price-to-rent ratio, and the fourth graph is the affordability index. The last graph shows the 5-year real return based on the Case-Shiller National Index. ... The second graph shows the same two indexes in real terms (adjusted for inflation using CPI). In real terms (using CPI), the National index is 0.8% below the recent peak, and the Composite 20 index is 1.2% below the recent peak in 2022. The real National index and the Composite 20 index increased slightly in real terms in January. It has now been 32 months since the real peak in house prices. Typically, after a sharp increase in prices, it takes a number of years for real prices to reach new highs (see House Prices: 7 Years in Purgatory)

NAR: Pending Home Sales Increase 2.0% in February; Down 3.6% YoY - From the NAR: Pending Home Sales Advanced 2.0% in February Pending home sales improved 2.0% in February according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The Northeast and West experienced month-over-month losses in transactions – with a larger decrease in the West – while the Midwest and South saw gains, which were greatest in the South. Year-over-year, contract signings dropped in all four U.S. regions, with the Midwest undergoing the greatest reduction. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)* – a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings – grew 2.0% to 72.0 in February. Year-over-year, pending transactions declined 3.6%. An index of 100 is equal to the level of contract activity in 2001. "Despite the modest monthly increase, contract signings remain well below normal historical levels," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "A meaningful decline in mortgage rates would help both demand and supply – demand by boosting affordability, and supply by lessening the power of the mortgage rate lock-in effect." ... The Northeast PHSI fell 0.9% from last month to 62.8, down 2.5% from February 2024. The Midwest index inched up 0.7% to 73.3 in February, down 4.7% from the previous year. The South PHSI jumped 6.2% to 86.0 in February, down 3.4% from a year ago. The West index contracted by 3.0% from the prior month to 55.9, down 3.5% from February 2024. Note: Contract signings usually lead sales by about 45 to 60 days, so this would usually be for closed sales in March and April.

GOP revives plan to ban China, Iran from buying most property in Ohio - -- Ohio Republicans are pushing to ban “foreign adversaries” from buying land near critical infrastructure, citing national security risks like espionage or cyberattacks. But one Northeast Ohio Democrat warns the proposal could also stop foreign born athletes and doctors working in Cleveland from buying homes.“This is a safety issue for Ohioans,” said state Rep. Angela King, a Celina Republican, during Tuesday’s House Public Safety Committee hearing. King is co-sponsoring House Bill 1. The bill, much like Senate Bill 88, would ban people and companies from countries on the federal foreign adversary list from buying property within 25 miles of Ohio’s critical infrastructure. This would ban people from China, Cuba, Russia, North Korea, Venezuela and Iran from buying near:

• military bases
• water treatment plants
• electricity plants
• natural gas pipelines
• broadband infrastructure
• railroads
• dams

“Few if any areas of the state would not be within 25 miles of one or the other of these types of properties,” according to analysis by the Legislative Services Commission.HB 1 would let current owners who fall into this camp keep what they have, but SB 88 would force them to sell at no more than the price they originally paid. State Rep. Juanita Brent, a Cleveland Democrat, suggested that the bills could stop foreign born Cleveland Guardians players or Cleveland Clinic doctors from owning homes in Ohio. She asked how the bills might impact “those here legally on visas or green cards. Is there any willingness to work with them?” “This does not impact leases, so they can rent,” King replied.

New Home Sales Increase to 676,000 Annual Rate in February - The Census Bureau reports New Home Sales in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 676 thousand. The previous three months were revised down, combined. Sales of new single-family houses in February 2025 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 676,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 1.8 percent above the revised January rate of 664,000 and is 5.1 percent above the February 2024 estimate of 643,000. The first graph shows New Home Sales vs. recessions since 1963. The dashed line is the current sales rate. New home sales were slightly below pre-pandemic levels. The second graph shows New Home Months of Supply. The months of supply decreased in February to 8.9 months from 9.0 months in January. The all-time record high was 12.2 months of supply in January 2009. The all-time record low was 3.3 months in August 2020. This is well above the top of the normal range (about 4 to 6 months of supply is normal)."The seasonally-adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of February was 500,000. This represents a supply of 8.9 months at the current sales rate." Sales were close to expectations of 680 thousand SAAR, however sales for the three previous months were revised down, combined.

Newsletter: New Home Sales Increase to 676,000 Annual Rate in February - Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: New Home Sales Increase to 676,000 Annual Rate in February Brief excerpt: The Census Bureau reported New Home Sales in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 676 thousand. The previous three months were revised down, combined. ... The next graph shows new home sales for 2024 and 2025 by month (Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate). Sales in February 2025 were up 5.1% from February 2024. New home sales, seasonally adjusted, have increased year-over-year in 20 of the last 23 months. This is essentially the opposite of what happened with existing home sales that had been down year-over-year every month for 3+ years (existing home sales have been up year-over-year for the last 4 or the last 5 months).

Update: Lumber Prices Up 15% YoY -This is something to watch again. Here is another monthly update on lumber prices. NOTE: The CME group discontinued the Random Length Lumber Futures contract on May 16, 2023. I switched to a physically-delivered Lumber Futures contract that was started in August 2022. Unfortunately, this impacts long term price comparisons since the new contract was priced about 24% higher than the old random length contract for the period when both contracts were available. This graph shows CME random length framing futures through August 2022 (blue), and the new physically-delivered Lumber Futures (LBR) contract starting in August 2022 (Red). On March 26, 2025, LBR was at $678.00 per 1000 board feet, up 15% from a year ago. There is somewhat of a seasonal demand for lumber, and lumber prices frequently peak in the first half of the year. We didn't see a significant runup in the Spring period of 2023 or 2024 due to the housing slowdown. The recent increase might be due to tariffs. This is the highest price since the pandemic related shortages.

Hotels: Occupancy Rate Increased 1.0% Year-over-year - From STR: U.S. hotel results for week ending 22 March - The U.S. hotel industry reported positive year-over-year comparisons, according to CoStar’s latest data through 22 March. ...
16-22 March 2025 (percentage change from comparable week in 2024):
• Occupancy: 66.0% (+1.0%)
• Average daily rate (ADR): US$165.48 (+1.8%)
• Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$109.22 (+2.8%)
The following graph shows the seasonal pattern for the hotel occupancy rate using the four-week average. The red line is for 2025, blue is the median, and dashed light blue is for 2024. Dashed purple is for 2018, the record year for hotel occupancy. The 4-week average of the occupancy rate is tracking below last year and is lower than the median rate for the period 2000 through 2024 (Blue). The 4-week average will mostly move sideways until the summer travel season. We might see a hit to occupancy during the summer months due to less international tourism.

TSA: Airline Travel up 3% YoY - This is something to watch with less international travel. Here are the daily travel numbers from the TSA. This data is as of March 23, 2025. This data shows the 7-day average of daily total traveler throughput from the TSA (Blue).Air travel is up about 2.6% YoY. The red line is the percent of 2019 for the seven-day average. Air travel - as a percent of 2019 - is up about 9% from pre-pandemic levels.

March Vehicle Forecast: Sales Increase to 16.6 million SAAR, Up 5.9% YoY - From WardsAuto: U.S. Light-Vehicle Sales Heading for Long-Time-High Gain in March (pay content). Brief excerpt: Deliveries appear to have accelerated sharply in the middle of the month, creating momentum that could cause sales to overshoot the forecast. Conversely, overall inventory is relatively lean – and could atypically decline at the end of March from February - so the acceleration could slow before the end of the month after enough stock is pulled from dealer lots. This graph shows actual sales from the BEA (Blue), and Wards forecast for March (Red). On a seasonally adjusted annual rate basis, the Wards forecast of 16.6 million SAAR, would be up 3.8% from last month, and up 5.9% from a year ago.

Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims Decrease to 224,000 -- The DOL reported: In the week ending March 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 224,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 223,000 to 225,000. The 4-week moving average was 224,000, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,750 from 227,000 to 228,750. The following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since 1971. The dashed line on the graph is the current 4-week average. The four-week average of weekly unemployment claims decreased to 224,000. The previous week was revised up. Weekly claims were close to the consensus forecast.

NYC's 'couch-surfing' runaways found vulnerable to exploitation in report - They move through New York and other big cities like shadows. Often at loose ends, they blend in on crowded city sidewalks and perhaps catch a few winks on a friend's sofa or a park bench. They take risks for food and money, incurring violence, fraud, and deception. In dispassionate government reports, these adolescents are referred to as "unaccompanied homeless youth," but are known colloquially to many as "runaways"—youngsters who have left unstable, unaccepting or abusive families. In New York City, with its sky-high costs, they search for clean clothes, meals, a shower, and a warm bed. What types of social services would help these highly vulnerable people lead safer and more productive lives? Meredith Dank, a clinical associate professor at the Marron Institute of Urban Management shed light on that question with a recent study, "Understanding the Needs of Unstably Housed Youth In New York City," conducted in partnership with social scientists from several universities. The researchers surveyed nearly 400 adolescents between December 2021 and July 2023, conducting focus-group interviews with a subset of the sample. The great majority of study participants were then between 18 and 21, and nearly all US-born and raised in New York City. They had been without a stable address for a year or more. The runaways and homeless told the researchers that they most needed both short- and long-term types of housing with supportive services, caseworkers, legal aid, mental health counseling, crisis intervention services, and—last but hardly least—cash. Some said they occasionally stayed with their relatives, while others practiced "couch surfing," or borrowing space on a friend's sofa for the night. They braved the elements in all kinds of weather to avoid the city's congregate shelters for the homeless as much as possible. "Youth may engage in unsafe behaviors to have their needs met, such as having sex in exchange for food and a place to stay or running drugs to earn money, making them vulnerable to further exploitation," the report states. And in New York and many other US cities, "the dearth of affordable housing and a lack of living-wage youth employment opportunities make it especially difficult for youth to find and remain in stable, safe housing."

Parents of Texas child who died from measles urge no vaccinations - The parents of an unvaccinated Texas child who died from the measles told an anti-vaccine group they would not recommend other parents give their children the measles shot. © AP “Don’t do the shots,” a woman identified as the girl’s mother said through an interpreter during an interview with the organization Children’s Health Defense. The woman added there are doctors who can help, and the disease is “not as bad as they’re making it out to be.” The prominent anti-vaccine group, which was founded and previously chaired by current HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., posted a video interview on March 17 with a couple identified as the parents of the child who died. “We would absolutely not take the MMR,” the mother said, because the couple have four other children who contracted measles and survived. “The measles wasn’t that bad, they got over it pretty quickly.” The interview comes as the Texas outbreak has sickened more than 300 people since January, surpassing the number of cases reported nationwide last year. Almost all the cases to date are among unvaccinated individuals or in individuals whose vaccination status is unknown. The child was the first recorded measles death in the U.S. in a decade. Measles was officially eliminated in 2000 due to a highly effective vaccination program, but vaccinations have waned, and a 2019 outbreak threatened that status. Most measles cases in the U.S. are initially introduced by an unvaccinated person exposed during international travel who then brings the virus back to spread among undervaccinated communities at home. In Texas, the outbreak has centered among a large Mennonite community in Gaines County, where vaccination rates are historically low. In the interview, the girl’s father said measles “are good for the body,” and can help boost a person’s immune system. It’s a claim not supported by science, but one repeated recently by Kennedy in a Fox News interview. “And there’s a lot of studies out there that show that if you actually do get the wild infection, you’re protected later. It boosts your immune system later in life against cancers, atopic diseases, cardiac disease, etc,” Kennedy said earlier this month. The current outbreak represents a significant test for Kennedy, who for the first time has had to reckon his past as a longtime critic of vaccines with his new leadership of the federal health establishment.

Florida Considers Easing Child Labor Laws To Make Up For Fewer Illegal Workers With an eye on offsetting the loss of illegal-immigrant labor, the Florida legislature is considering a bill that would ease the state's child labor laws. A bill that advanced from a committee on Tuesday would make it legal for children as young as 14 to work graveyard shifts on school nights. The hours at issue are those between 11pm and 6:30 am. The controversial bill was given the blessing of the Florida Commerce and Tourism Committee by a narrow 5-4 vote, and now faces the scrutiny of two more committees before it can receive a vote of the Senate. Governor Ron DeSantis has backed the proposal, saying an easing of child labor laws can help fill employers' needs as the state makes it increasingly difficult for illegal immigrants to work there. Last year, Florida started to allow 16- and 17-year-old home-schooled and virtually-schooled children to work anytime at all. The new bill would extend that freedom to 14- and 15-year-olds. However, it would also let 16- and 17-year-olds in traditional schools work any hour of the day. It would also allow them to work more than an 8-hour-day on a school night, and more than 30 hours a week while schools are in session. The move comes in the wake of a statewide crackdown on the use of illegal immigrants. A 2023 Florida law compels employers with 26 or more workers to confirm their immigration status by using the federal E-Verify system -- under threat of $1,000 daily fines for non-compliance. That internet-based system cross-checks the information the employees put on "Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification." The loss of illegal labor has some people worried about the effect on the Sunshine State's economy. DeSantis has argued that loosening restrictions on younger workers is a big part of solution. “Why do we say we need to import foreigners -- even import them illegally --- when teenagers used to work at these resorts, college students should be able to do this stuff,” DeSantissaid during a panel discussion last week with Tom Homan, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "What’s wrong with expecting our young people to be working part-time now? I mean, that’s how it used to be when I was growing up,” added DeSantis. Some have expressed concern that teenagers will be put in tougher situations at work, as they won't be able to point to a state law as a reason for being available to labor into the wee hours. “The teens who will be most harmed by this bill are low-income young people or those without documented status who are compelled by their situation to work,” Nina Mast of the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute told the Miami Herald. She argued that the legislature is "essentially trying to legalize violations that employers are already committing.” In the committee hearing, the bill's sponsor, Tampa Republican Jay Collins, argued that “This is a parental rights thing. Parents know their kids best." Dismissing visions of teens slaving away in hazardous envionments, he said, "Ultimately, we’re not talking about ‘The Jungle’ by Upton Sinclair. We’re talking about them working at Publix, at Piggly Wiggly or jobs within the industry." There's another dynamic to consider: If families are so hard-pressed that they need their children to work night jobs, lacking the opportunity for legal employment may help push desperate adults and children into illegal activity -- from thievery to prostitution and drug sales.

2,300 teachers slated for layoffs in California - Thousands of California educators and support staff are expected to lose their jobs before the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, with more than 2,300 school employees having received pink slips last week. State law requires districts to send pink slips for the coming academic year by March 15, with final layoff notices given by May 15. While some of the initial pink slips this year may be rescinded, it is likely that the majority or recipients will ultimately lose their jobs. The layoffs are the direct product of schools being starved of funds at both the state and federal level, caused by the Trump administration’s cuts to federal education spending and by the Biden administration’s ending of pandemic relief funding last year. But this current state of affairs is also the product of a decades-long bipartisan attack on public education. California governor Gavin Newsom, who is being primed for leadership of the national Democratic Party while courting outright fascists on his podcast, This is Gavin Newsom, has also played a significant role in these cuts. Newsom has included an $8.8 billion cut to statewide education funding in his last budget proposal. Of California’s school districts, San Francisco Unified is one of the hardest hit, with 395 staff members being let go on top of early retirement buyouts offered to 300 veteran teachers. The San Francisco district has been struggling to close a $113 million deficit with preliminary layoff notices also sent to 164 teachers’ aides and 278 staff and administrators. The district is one of the largest in the state of California, serving 49,500 students. The nearby Berkeley Unified School District sent notices to 180 employees that they could soon lose their jobs, while the Oakland Unified School District announced it will issue 97 pink slips to teachers and central office staff. The district is also expected to revisit a 2023 vote to close several schools, which it had been compelled to reverse after massive working class opposition. Nearly 300 teachers are also likely to be let go in the Santa Ana Unified district of Orange County. The cuts in Santa Ana have led to massive protests by educators and working class parents and community members who see the cuts as part of the Trump administration’s war on immigrants in a district where an overwhelming number of students, parents and teachers are Spanish-speaking. A primary aim of the Trump administration is to either sharply reduce or entirely eliminate from California secondary schools the estimated 300,000 undocumented students, and the nearly one million more with at least one undocumented parent. The inevitable declining enrollment numbers and consequent reduction in funding can be seized upon to make further cuts and layoffs while converting schools into nothing more than job training and political indoctrination centers.

Federal Agents Arrest Tufts Student as Part of Crackdown on Pro-Palestine Speech - On Tuesday, ICE agents arrested a PhD student at Tufts University, a private university in Massachusetts, an arrest that appears to be part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestine speech. Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish citizen in the US on an F-1 student visa, was arrested outside of her apartment and is now in federal custody. Her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, said she has not been able to contact her.“We are unaware of her whereabouts and have not been able to contact her. No charges have been filed against Rumeysa to date that we are aware of. We hope Rumeysa will be released immediately,” Khanbabai said.Khanbabi said that “based on patterns we are seeing across the country, her exercising her free speech rights appear to have played a role in her detention,” referring to the targeting of foreign students who are critical of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. Ozturk has been targeted by the Canary Mission, a pro-Israel group thatdoxxes students and professors who are critical of Israel. The Canary Mission’s page on Ozturk lists only one example of her “anti-Israel activism,” the co-authoring of an op-ed that called for Tufts University to divest from Israel and “acknowledge the Palestinian genocide.”According to The New York Times, Tuft administrators were notified that Ozturk’s visa has been revoked and said they weren’t given a reason. “If ICE detained Ozturk based on her op-ed or activism, it’s a worrying escalation in an already fraught environment for college students here on student visas,” Tyler Coward, lead counsel for government affairs at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), said in a statement, according to the Times.Ozturk is being held at a detention facility in Louisiana despite an order from a judge that she shouldn’t have been moved out of Massachusetts.

Watch: Masked ICE officials detain Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk (AP) — A Turkish national and doctoral student at Tufts University has been detained by U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents without explanation, her lawyer said Wednesday. Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, had just left her home in Somerville on Tuesday night when she was stopped, lawyer Mahsa Khanbabai said in a petition filed in Boston federal court.Video obtained by The Associated Press appears to show six people, their faces covered, taking away Ozturk’s phone as she yells and is handcuffed.“We’re the police,” members of the group are heard saying in the video. A man is heard asking, “Why are you hiding your faces?” Khanbabai said Ozturk, who is Muslim, was meeting friends for iftar, a meal that breaks a fast at sunset during Ramadan.“We are unaware of her whereabouts and have not been able to contact her. No charges have been filed against Rumeysa to date that we are aware of,” Khanbabai said in a statement. Ozturk has a visa allowing her to study in the United States, Khanbabai said.Neighbors said they were rattled by the arrest, which happened at 5:30 p.m. on a residential block.“It looked like a kidnapping,” said Michael Mathis, a 32-year-old software engineer whose surveillance camera captured the arrest. “They approach her and start grabbing her with their faces covered. They’re covering their faces. They’re in unmarked vehicles.”Tufts University President Sunil Kumar said in a statement that the school learned that authorities detained an international graduate student and the student’s visa had been terminated.“The university had no pre-knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event,” Kumar said. Kumar did not name the student, but university spokesperson Patrick Collins confirmed that Ozturk is a doctoral student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley called the arrest “a horrifying violation of Rumeysa’s constitutional rights to due process and free speech.” “She must be immediately released,” Pressley said in a statement. “We won’t stand by while the Trump Administration continues to abduct students with legal status and attack our fundamental freedoms.” Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell called the video “disturbing.”“Based on what we now know, it is alarming that the federal administration chose to ambush and detain her, apparently targeting a law-abiding individual because of her political views,” she said. “This isn’t public safety, it’s intimidation that will, and should, be closely scrutinized in court.”

US immigration Gestapo abduct Alabama doctoral student Alireza Doroudi - Early Tuesday morning US immigration police kidnapped a doctoral student studying at the University of Alabama from his home. As of this writing, 22-year-old Iranian citizen Alireza Doroudi is listed as detained on the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website, but there is no record of where he is actually located. Alabama student newspaper The Crimson White first reported that Doroudi was abducted from his home, located just off the Tuscaloosa campus, at around 5:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. The paper, citing a text message chain that included other Iranian students studying on the campus, reported that Doroudi first entered the United States in January 2023 on an F-1 student visa. The message thread noted that Doroudi’s visa was revoked six months later, prompting Doroudi to immediately contact the “International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at the University of Alabama. ISSS replied with confidence, stating that his case was not unusual or problematic and that he could remain in the U.S. legally as long as he maintained his student status.” After being reassured by university officials that the apparent revocation of his visa would not be an issue, Doroudi continued his studies on campus. There has been no evidence provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that Doroudi was a leader, or even participated, in anti-genocide protests on campus, and he has not been accused of a crime. The only “crime” Doroudi is alleged to have committed is a minor traffic violation, according to The Crimson White, which reported that in November 2023 Doroudi was cited for speeding. He pled guilty and paid the $267 fine. Despite not being accused of a crime, Doroudi’s whereabouts were unknown for nearly 24 hours. ICE locator on March 27, 2025 as of 7:10 p.m. EST does not list a location for Alireza Doroudi. On Thursday afternoon, The Crimson White, and other news outlets, confirmed that Doroudi is currently being incarcerated at the Pickens County Jail in Alabama. The jail is a common waypoint in the inhumane deportation journey, which typically leads to a detention facility in Louisiana, before the prisoner is forced onto a plane to some overseas destination. Officials at the Department of Homeland Security refused to comment on Doroudi’s case until Thursday evening, at which point they sent a message to news outlets stating: ICE HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) made this arrest in accordance with the State Department’s revocation of Doroudi’s student visa. Without providing any supporting evidence, DHS stated, “This individual posed significant national security concerns.” Doroudi is one of hundreds, if not thousands, of students and immigrants who have been disappeared or abducted by US immigration police in the first three months of the Trump administration.

Columbia’s capitulation to Trump: Academia bows before dictatorship - The International Youth and Students for Social Equality condemns the craven capitulation by Columbia University to the demands of the Trump administration to impose a regime of censorship on the campus. The university’s administration announced on Friday a list of sweeping measures, including: banning masks on campus; hiring 36 “special officers” armed with powers to remove individuals and make arrests; and placing the Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies departments, as well as the Center for Palestine Studies, under the oversight of a senior vice provost appointed by the university. In addition, the university announced the adoption of a new definition of antisemitism that includes criticism of Israel and “certain double standards applied to Israel,” a formulation designed to conflate anti-Zionism with antisemitism and suppress opposition to the crimes of the Israeli state. The actions taken by Columbia have vast implications for free speech and democratic rights, not only on its own campus but across the entire system of higher education in the United States. As WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North wrote in a statement on X: An American Trumpian version of what the Nazis called Gleichschaltung—the official subordination of intellectual and cultural life to Nazi ideology—is being implemented by leading “liberal” American universities. These measures were not forced on the university through political coercion or court order. They were adopted by the university itself, voluntarily, in order to win Trump’s support for the restoration of $400 million in federal funding he withheld to force these changes. Columbia is acting as a willing accomplice, working hand in glove with the state to target students protesting against the US-backed genocide in Gaza.

Ohio higher ed overhaul to ban diversity efforts and regulate classroom discussion heads to governor • Ohio Capital Journal *A controversial bill to overhaul Ohio higher education, ban diversity and inclusion efforts, prohibit faculty from striking, and regulate classroom discussion is heading to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk for his signature. The Ohio Senate concurred with changes made to Senate Bill 1 by the Ohio House during Wednesday’s session. The vote was 20-11 with only two Republicans voting against it, state Sens. Louis W. Blessing III, of Colerain Township, and Thomas F. Patton, of Strongsville, voting against it. DeWine has previously said he would sign S.B. 1 into law. DeWine will have 10 days to sign the bill into law or veto it once he receives it. If DeWine vetoes the bill, lawmakers would need a 3/5 vote from each chamber to override it. S.B. 1 would set rules around classroom discussion, create post-tenure reviews, put diversity scholarships at risk, create aretrenchment provision that block unions from negotiating on tenure, shorten university board of trustees terms from nine years down to six years, and require students take an American history course, among other things. For classroom discussion, the bill would set rules around topics involving “controversial beliefs” such as climate policies, electoral politics, foreign policy, diversity and inclusion programs, immigration policy, marriage, or abortion. S.B. 1 would only affect Ohio’s public universities. State Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, introduced S.B. 1, which passed the Ohio Senate last month and the Ohio House last week.“I am delighted, of course, as I always believed this is a great bill for the state of Ohio, for students and for higher education, so I’m delighted that we’ve been able to get past this next hurdle and send the bill to the governor’s desk,” Cirino said. S.B. 1 has received significant pushback. More than 1,500 people have submitted opponent testimony against the bill. Hundreds of students around the state have protested against the bill. Students and faculty have said they would leave Ohio if the bill becomes law.

DeWine signs controversial higher education bill into law -— Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed the controversial bill - Senate Bill 1- into law Friday. The law reshapes the way higher education is allowed to operate in the state of Ohio. The law aims accomplish a litany of things, including prohibitions on usage of diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education and prohibiting faculty from going on strike. The bill's sponsor, Jerry Cirino, said it will enhance diversity of thought on campuses by moving discussions more to the center and including more conservative viewpoints. A major facet of the law would force universities and colleges to end their diversity, equity and inclusion programs and offices. These pressures are also being applied at the national level; in a February memo, the US Department of Education told all public schools they must cut all "DEI" programming or risk losing federal funding. The law also prohibits faculty from striking. Another stipulation in SB 1 is the requirement that all undergraduate students take an American Civics course that must meet certain criteria and must meet the approval of the Ohio Chancellor of Higher Education. You can read an analysis of SB 1, as well as supporter and opponent response to it, here.

‘Borrowers have zero power’: Trump moving student loans to SBA sparks concern, confusion --President Trump moving student loans from the Education Department to the Small Business Administration (SBA) is rattling those affected, who say it is prime evidence that the White House has no real plan for its efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. Trump signed an executive order last Thursday seeking to wind down the Education Department, and he said student loans would move to the SBA the next day — the same day that agency announced it was cutting 40 percent of its workforce. While advocates have been displeased with the student loan system for a long time, they worry more problems would be created than solved by taking the biggest program the Education Department controls and giving it to an agency that is seeing a sweeping reduction in force. “Borrowers right now are already having to experience an unprecedented level of chaos and uncertainty,” said Aissa Canchola Bañez, policy director for Student Borrower Protection Center. Moving student loans, she added, to the SBA, which “has no background of familiarity with the student loan program, with the rights afforded to student loan borrowers under the Higher Education Act — it will only make things worse for borrowers.” The president, who also announced that programs for students with disabilities would be shifting to the Health and Human Services Department, has offered no follow-up details on logistics for student loan borrowers, but the move was cheered by both the Department of Education and the SBA.

ADHD may be associated with an increased risk of dementia - An adult brain affected by attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD) presents modifications similar to those observed in individuals suffering from dementia.These are the findings of a study conducted by the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) and the University of Geneva (UNIGE) which shows that, compared with healthy individuals, patients with an ADHD diagnosis have more iron in certain regions of their brain along with higher levels of neurofilaments (NfL) in their blood. These markers have been consistently reported to be characteristic of old age-related dementias such as Alzheimer's disease and can be measured in its early stages.The study confirms that ADHD may be linked to an increased risk of developing dementia later in life and it provides first evidence for a neurological mechanism possibly involved. The study is published in the journal Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences.ADHD is a frequent neurodevelopmental disorder that affects about 3.5% of adults according to a 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) study. It is characterized by an inability to maintain attention along with inappropriate levels of hyperactivity and impulsivity. Although symptoms generally manifest during childhood and significantly affect educational development and social interactions, its effects can persist and adversely affect daily functioning in adult life.

National study finds one in four adults misusing prescription stimulants - -Research conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that 1 in 4 adults using prescription stimulants engaged in misuse, and nearly 1 in 10 met the criteria for prescription stimulant use disorder (PSUD). Findings show that amphetamine users were more likely to experience PSUD than those prescribed methylphenidate. Increased prescribing rates, particularly among middle-aged women, were observed, yet this demographic exhibited lower misuse rates than youngeradults.Concerns over stimulant misuse have grown as prescribing rates for these medications, commonly used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), have increased. Clinical practice guidelines for adult ADHD remain absent, leading to variations in diagnosis and treatment. Questions about appropriate use persist as research indicates both the protective benefits of ADHD pharmacotherapy and its potential risks, including misuse, overprescription, and development of use disorders.In the study, "Prescription Stimulant Use, Misuse, and Use Disorder Among US Adults Aged 18 to 64 Years," published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey study to understand patterns of prescription stimulant use and misuse among adults.Stimulant prescribing trends from 2019 through 2022 were examined using pharmaceutical databases that captured 93% of outpatient prescriptions dispensed in U.S. retail pharmacies. Additional data on stimulant misuse, PSUD prevalence, and associated behavioral health conditions were drawn from the NSDUH survey results. Survey responses from 83,762 adults aged 18 to 64 years were analyzed.Results indicate that 25.3% of adults using prescription stimulants reported misuse, with 9.0% meeting the criteria for PSUD. Among those with PSUD, 72.9% used only their own prescribed stimulants, and 87.1% were prescribed amphetamines. Analysis revealed that amphetamine users were 3.1 times more likely to misuse their medication than those prescribed methylphenidate, with a 2.2 times greater likelihood of developing PSUD.Prescriptions for stimulants increased across all demographics, with the most substantial rise occurring among women aged 35 to 64 years. Misuse of prescription stimulants was more common among individuals with depression, suicidal ideation, or concurrent substance use disorders. Women aged 35 to 64 years exhibited a lower prevalence of misuse than younger adults, with rates of 13.7% compared to 36.8% among women aged 18 to 25 years.According to the study authors, "Our results underscore the importance of developing and implementing clinical practice guidelines for adult ADHD and strengthening evidence-based clinician training programs on adult ADHD diagnosis and multimodal care. Moreover, our findings highlight the need for prevention and intervention of prescription stimulant misuse, diversion, or PSUD regardless of misuse status and the reasons for prescribing stimulants."

Survey highlights differences in medical beliefs among frequent antibiotic users --The results of an online survey suggest that frequent antibiotic users have different cognitive beliefs and views about medicine and are more distrustful of science than nonusers, according to a research letter published late last week in JAMA Network Open. Conducted by researchers at the University of Utah in March and April 2024, the survey presented adult respondents 64 years and younger with a scenario describing symptoms of a viral respiratory infection for which antibiotics are not indicated, then asked their antibiotic preference. The survey also asked respondents to report their demographics and cognitive beliefs, such as whether they preferred an active versus passive approach to healthcare. The 581 respondents (mean age, 42.6; 57.1% female) were classified as nonusers (no antibiotic use in the previous 12 months) and frequent users (antibiotics taken three or more times in the previous 12 months). Compared with nonusers, frequent antibiotic users were younger (ages 50 to 64 years vs 18 to 33 years: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16 to 0.53), had more comorbid conditions (aOR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.29), needed more health literacy support (aOR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.28 to 1.87), preferred to act rather than watch and wait in uncertain medical situations (aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.41), and had greater disbelief in science (aOR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.50). Respondents with frequent antibiotic use were more likely than nonusers to want antibiotics for a viral respiratory infection (aOR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.26-2.16) but did not differ in their concern about adverse effects. "These findings suggest important differences in cognitive beliefs and antibiotic preferences between nonusers and high antibiotic utilizing adults," the study authors wrote. "Educational materials and interventions to promote appropriate antibiotic use should be tailored to the specific needs and concerns of patients who frequently use antibiotics."

Fake CDC vaccine site linked to anti-vax nonprofit once headed by RFK -An imposter US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine safety site hosted by a nonprofit once led by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been taken down after a watchdog noticed it being staged. E. Rosalie Li, MA, founder of InfoEpi Lab on Substack, reported the clone on Friday after learning of the faked site, which was nearly identical to the official CDC vaccine safety site but cited misinformation about vaccines and autism. The URL realcdc.org was redirecting to the staging site chdstaging.org, a domain that Li said is hosted by the antivaccine organization Children's Health Defense (CHD), which Kennedy led until he launched his presidential bid in 2023. Realcdc.org was activated on January 24 and is managed through the same Cloudflare (content-delivery network) host as the one hosted by CHD.The shadow site used CDC logos, links to active CDC social media accounts, the same fonts, formats, and similar language, as well as purported parent testimonials about their child's negative experience with vaccines (with titles such as "Mother of 3: I will never vaccinate again").The site was taken down on Saturday evening at Kennedy's direction after the New York Times asked about it and social media posts about it proliferated, the Times reported. "Secretary Kennedy has instructed the Office of the General Counsel to send a formal demand to Children’s Health Defense requesting the removal of their website," HHS said in a statement to the Times. "At H.H.S. we are dedicated to restoring our agencies to their tradition of upholding gold-standard, evidence-based science." At Kennedy's behest, the CDC is planning a large study to re-evaluate any link between vaccines and autism, a connection that Kennedy has publicly supported for years, despite a plethora of evidence to the contrary.

Even mild COVID-19 can cause imbalance in cardiovascular system, study finds - People who have had COVID-19, even mild cases, tend to have cardiovascular imbalances in the short and medium term and need to undergo rehabilitation. This was the finding of a study of 130 volunteers conducted at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) in Brazil. According to data published in the journal Scientific Reports, participants tested up to six weeks after infection showed a dramatic decrease in heart rate variability (HRV), i.e., the time variation between each heartbeat. Those tested between two and six months or between seven and 12 months after infection showed gradual improvements, but without reaching the level of the control group (consisting of people not infected with SARS-CoV-2). HRV is considered a good indicator of health because it signals the heart's ability to adapt to physiological demands. Thus, the lower the index, the worse the heart rate adjustments and adaptation to environmental stressors (situations of flight, distress and fear) and physiological stressors (systemic inflammation, characteristic of COVID-19, for example). "This study reinforces the need for rehabilitation programs even for people who have had mild COVID-19 and haven't been hospitalized. The participants were on average 40 years old and some had risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. Apparently, COVID-19 increased this cardiovascular imbalance and, consequently, the risk of disease," says Audrey Borghi Silva, coordinator of the Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy Laboratory (LACAP) at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar). The impact of COVID-19 on cardiac autonomic control has been demonstrated in several studies. "Our research helps to confirm this impact and shows that it can also occur in young or middle-aged people who have had mild COVID-19 and haven't had to be hospitalized," says Aldair Darlan Santos-de-Araújo, a researcher at UFSCar and first author of the article. In addition to lower heart rate variability, the researchers observed a predominance of the sympathetic nervous system over the parasympathetic nervous system in volunteers infected with SARS-CoV-2. These are the two sides of the autonomic nervous system, which controls the body's involuntary functions such as blood pressure and body temperature. While, among other functions, the parasympathetic system slows down the heart when necessary, it is the sympathetic system's job to increase the heart rate in situations of danger and fear, for example. "Proper cardiovascular function requires a balance between these two mechanisms, and what we observed is that the negative impact of COVID-19 infection in these individuals caused an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system," says Santos-de-Araújo. "The observed pattern—of reduced heart rate variability and a predominance of the sympathetic nervous system [or reduced parasympathetic activity]—indicates not only reduced global autonomic modulation but also suggests a greater likelihood of adverse cardiovascular outcomes." In addition, the researchers point out that the results suggest a possible transitional phase in cardiac autonomic recovery since the individuals studied in the group with the longest recovery time since diagnosis showed better behavior of this sympathetic-parasympathetic balance. "This transient effect can be seen more clearly in the group assessed earlier [up to six weeks after infection], which had worse heart rate variability, which improved progressively over time but did not reach the levels seen in the group of uninfected participants," explains Santos-de-Araújo. The study also showed that dyspnea (shortness of breath) was the most common symptom among individuals with worse cardiac autonomic modulation, but it was not the only one. "In the group of individuals monitored in the period closest to infection, we observed a higher percentage of cough [47%], fatigue [50%], headache [56%], ageusia [loss of taste, 53%], anxiety [62%], runny nose [50%], and a higher prevalence of unvaccinated individuals [44%]," says Santos-de-Araújo.

Vaccination cuts the risk of long COVID 27%, review suggests -- COVID-19 vaccination reduced the risk of experiencing prolonged symptoms by about 27% in fully vaccinated adults who were later infected, estimates a European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) systematic review of 12 studies.The researchers identified 11 studies on whether COVID-19 vaccination lowers the risk of long COVID, or post-COVID condition (PCC) and 1 study designed to determine whether vaccination reduces both the risk and duration of persistent symptoms. Published after October 2021, the studies used the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of long COVID and were conducted in Europe and similar regions. The WHO defines long COVID as symptoms 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection that last for at least 2 months. Six studies of adults overall found that full vaccination before infection significantly reduced the odds of developing long COVID compared with no vaccination. "These studies represented a range of recruitment settings (including both community and hospital settings), time period of infection (and consequently SARS-CoV-2 variant), as well as acute COVID-19 disease severity," the study authors wrote. "In addition, two of the three studies which did not find that vaccination reduced PCC had small sample sizes, particularly where symptoms were assessed in sub-group analyses." The researchers also conducted a meta-analysis using four comparable studies on whether COVID-19 vaccination lowers the risk of long COVID to quantify the pooled effect of vaccines. A random-effects model estimated the pooled adjusted odds ratio at 0.73, suggesting that full COVID-19 vaccination before infection could reduce the risk of long COVID by 27% relative to no vaccination in adults. But there weren't enough well-designed studies to determine whether vaccination lowers the odds of long COVID for children or immunocompromised adults.The researchers didn't identify any longitudinal studies that examined the persistence of COVID-19 symptoms in a defined long-COVID cohort at multiple time points, but one small study of hospitalized adults indicated that vaccination may reduce the duration of major physical symptoms but not major neuropsychologic symptoms at 12 and 18 months after hospital release.

Early use of sotrovimab may protect against long COVID --UK and US researchers determine that, in patients at high risk for severe COVID-19, the benefits of early treatment with the monoclonal antibody sotrovimab may extend beyond the acute phase of COVID-19 and contribute to the prevention of long-COVID symptoms. The findings are published in the journal Infection.Researchers used data from the US National COVID Cohort Collaborative to compare outcomes and long COVID status among high-risk patients who received sotrovimab treatment from May 26, 2021, to April 5, 2022, and high-risk patients with COVID-19 diagnosed from May 26, 2021, to March 26, 2022, who did not receive any treatment for COVID-19 during the acute phase. In total 9,504, sotrovimab-treated and 619,668 untreated patients were included in the analysis.Long COVID was defined as a diagnosis of 1 or more of 26 potential symptoms at 30 days or more after the first COVID-19 diagnosis. The average treatment effect in the treated hazard ratio among those who received sotrovimab was 0.92 (95% confidence interval, 0.89 to 0.96), suggesting the antibody was protective against long COVID, with treated patients having an 8% decreased risk of developing long COVID compared with untreated patients.Only treatment within 10 days of COVID-19 diagnosis was associated with lower risk, the authors said.COVID symptoms prolonged in adults, kids living on Arizona tribal land, data suggest --Three months after COVID-19 infection, 40% of adults and 16% of children living on the Navajo Nation or White Mountain Apache Tribal lands in Arizona still had symptoms, suggests a study published last week in PLOS Global Public Health.A Johns Hopkins University-led team used nasal swab and antibody testing, electronic health records, and interviews to track the COVID-19 symptoms of 258 Indigenous adults and 84 children who tested positive from February 2021 to August 2022, with 3 months of follow-up."When adjusted for age, persons classified as American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) were 1.6 times more likely to become infected, 2.4 times more likely to be hospitalized, and 2.0 times more likely to die because of COVID-19 than non-Hispanic White Americans, even among individuals with lower levels of co-morbidities," the researchers wrote.In total, 82.9% of adults and 42.9% of children completed the COVID-19 vaccination series before they were infected. The vast majority (98.4% of adults, 90.5% of children) had mild, symptomatic infections, and 57.8% and 39.3%, respectively, reported at least six symptoms. A total of 39.8% of adults and 15.9% of children still had symptoms at 3 months, meeting the criteria for long COVID, or post-COVID condition (PCC). The most common symptoms were fatigue, cough, headache, nasal congestion, and muscle pain. Long-COVID risk factors for adults enrolled during Omicron predominance were older age and hospitalization during acute infection, while vaccination was protective. A multivariable analysis also found that COVID-19 vaccination was tied to a lower risk of long COVID (risk ratio, 0.56).Nearly all (95.2% of adults and 66.7% of children) had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, indicating COVID-19 vaccination and/or previous infection.

Study links social inequalities to long COVID - A new study from researchers at King's College London suggests that those from disadvantaged backgrounds, including lower-income households, are more likely to report persistent COVID-19 symptoms, or long COVID. The research was published last week in BMJ Public Health.The study showed that lingering symptoms could not be explained by pre-existing health conditions, but instead linked to social disadvantages including low education levels, low-income housing, and sex, with women more likely to report persistent COVID symptoms than men.The study also suggests that in addition to experiencing more severe illness in the acute state, disadvantaged people may also take longer to recover from infections.Nathan Cheetham, PhD, first author of the paper, said in a press release from King's College, "Inequalities in health between people who are more or less advantaged within society aren’t new, but this study is the first to look at the association between multiple socio-demographic factors and recovery from COVID-19." The study was based on 3,882 participants in two UK cohorts: the COVID Symptom Study Biobank and TwinsUK. Participants were given questionnaires that asked if they still had symptoms after having COVID-19. Across a series of questionnaires, participants were asked: "Thinking about the last or only episode of COVID-19 you have had, have you now recovered and are back to normal?" They could choose the following response options: "Yes, I am back to normal," or "No, I still have some or all my symptoms." Overall, recovery rates were 81% in the TwinsUK cohort, and 69% in the COVID Symptom Study Biobank cohort. They ranged from 74% to 90% and from 55% to 80% in the two cohorts, respectively. For both cohorts the median age group was 50 to 59 years old, most individuals were female, White, and were employed immediately before the COVID-19 pandemic. "General health was self-rated prior to the COVID-19 pandemic as 'excellent' or 'very good' by just over half in both cohorts," the authors wrote. "At the time of reporting COVID-19 recovery status, most individuals were over a year, and a large proportion over 2 years, since the start of their COVID-19 infection." The predicted probability of recovery was lowest in females who had the lowest education and highest deprivation level in both studies. In the COVID Symptom Study Biobank the probability was 55.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 44.0% to 65.1%). In the TwinsUK cohort, the probability was 73.9% (95% CI, 61.1% to 83.0%). Educated men from the lowest deprivation level had the highest chances of full recovery, at 79.1% in the COVID Symptom Study Biobank (95% CI, 71.8% to 85.1%), and 89.7% in the TwinsUK cohort (95% CI, 82.5% to 94.1%). "To put our results into context of other illnesses, sociodemographic factors including income, isolation, social support, race/ethnicity, education and local area deprivation have also been found to be social determinants of recovery from mental illness, poor general physical health, and following hospitalisation in critical care," the authors concluded. "Such results suggest that social factors likely play a significant role in recovery from illness in general, not only in the case of COVID-19."

Tests show emotional, behavioral problems in adolescents with long COVID - A clinical survey of 85 pediatric long-COVID patients in Bavaria, Germany, reveals high levels of fatigue, loss of motivation, difficulty concentrating and maintaining attention, worsened mood, and greater anxiety. To holistically describe long-COVID symptoms and identify risk factors for post-infection neurocognitive and emotional problems, University of Regensburg researchers analyzed clinical data from COVID-19 survivors aged 12 to 17 years who had symptoms for at least 4 weeks. The average patient age was 12.5 years, 61.2% were girls, and the average interval from infection to examination was 5.7 months. From December 2021 to June 2023, the children were given a neuropsychological evaluation made up of infection-specific interviews, psychopathologic exams, questionnaires on emotional well-being and behavioral problems, and computerized tests measuring concentration, attention, and memory. Participants also underwent neurologic, pneumological, gastrointestinal, and cardiac testing. The findings were published yesterday in BMC Infectious Diseases. Most children had elevated levels of fatigue (82.4%), loss of motivation (72.9%), impaired concentration and attention (71.8%), and worsened mood (53%), and 31.8% reported more anxiety. The most common diagnoses were post-COVID adjustment disorder (38.8%) and post-COVID attention-deficit disorder (23.5%). Disturbances in attention and memory, drive and psychomotor activity, affect, circadian disturbances, and worries and compulsions were common. Over half of the adolescents (54.2%) were strongly advised to undergo further psychiatric assessment, 30.2% were urged to undergo further diagnostic testing, and 12.5% were told to seek other help, such as psychotherapy, further somatic assessment, weight control, and specialized diagnostics for chronic fatigue syndrome or occupational therapy. Few (3.1%) received no recommendations. In total, 14.1% of participants received no psychiatric diagnosis, while 8.3% had a psychiatric diagnosis unrelated to COVID-19, and 56.5% had a confirmed and 21.1% had a suspected post-COVID psychiatric diagnosis, respectively. Of all participants, 28.2% had a preexisting psychiatric diagnosis. A coexisting psychiatric condition such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, or different kinds of phobia before COVID-19 infection was diagnosed in 20% of those with a psychiatric post-COVID diagnosis. "The psychopathological examination resulted in 83.5% of patients being rated as abnormal, therefore clearly surmounting the point prevalence of mental illness among children and adolescents (15%)," the researchers wrote. Risk factors for abnormal psychopathologic exams were older age and pre-existing medical conditions, while a pre-existing allergy was a risk factor for a post-COVID adjustment disorder, and preexisting mental illness and obesity predisposed to a post-COVID attention-deficit disorder.

Trump administration axes COVID funding for state, community health departments - Money that had been allocated to state and community health departments and other groups for COVID-19 response is being cancelled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cancellation of $11.4 billion in grants awarded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, first reported by NBC News, is the latest in a series of funding cuts that have been implemented at federal health agencies by the Trump administration since January. The funds were primarily being used by states to support COVID testing and vaccination, as well as an initiative to put more trained community health workers in communities that have been most affected by COVID-19 and an effort to address COVID-19 health disparities. Termination notices began on March 24, according to an official with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). "The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago," an HHS spokesperson said in an email to CIDRAP News. "HHS is prioritizing funding projects that will deliver on President Trump's mandate to address our chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again." Among those affected by the cuts is the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), which had $226 million in COVID-related grants terminated. In a statement, MDH Commissioner of Health Brooke Cunningham, MD, PhD, called the action "sudden and unexpected." "It will take time to figure out all of the impacts of this action, but these cuts are a tremendous loss—made worse by the uncertainty and chaos that our federal partners have introduced into this process," Cunningham said.In Illinois, state health officials said they had been notified that the CDC was rescinding $125 million in promised funding for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and 97 local health departments to help respond to COVID and other infectious diseases, including measles and H5N1 avian flu. IDPH said the funding had been targeted for technology to track the spread of diseases, wastewater surveillance, and strengthening local health departments."While IDPH has been preparing for anticipated federal budget cuts, the termination of this awarded funding will have a debilitating impact on our efforts to protect the health of Illinoisans," IDPH Director Sameer Vohra, MD, said in a news release. "If allowed to stand, this funding cut will set back critical upgrades to our public health labs, technology used to track infectious diseases like H5N1 avian flu and measles, vaccination efforts, and our ongoing work to better prepare for the next public health emergency." The termination of COVID funding isn't limited to state and community health departments. Science reports that COVID-19–related research grants made by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) are in the process of being terminated. A National Institutes of Health (NIH) program that promised to spend $577 million on efforts to develop new drugs to treat COVID-19 is also terminated, according to reporting by Nature.HHS also announced this week that it is closing the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice, according to Politico. The move comes despite a commitment made by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at his confirmation hearing that he would continue efforts to better understand and mitigate the impact of long COVID. Roughly 17 million Americans reported having long-COVID symptoms in March 2024.

COVID impact survey: New doctors less likely to opt for rural practice, more likely to report poor job market --Newly graduated New York physicians' likelihood of practicing in rural areas, as well as their base salaries, declined amid the COVID-19 pandemic—especially for primary care doctors—which could constrain healthcare access in those areas.The findings come from a Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute–led study published in Medical Care.The researchers used annual data from the 2010-2022 Survey of Residents Completing Training in New York to retrospectively analyze the job market for 31,925 graduating medical residents and fellows, including base salary in 2022 dollars.Of the 31,925 participants, 16,612 (52.0%) had accepted a job offer. Their odds of receiving an offer rose 1.6 percentage point from 2010 to 2022, from 86.6% vs. 88.2%, but the proportion reporting a good job market fell from 55.8% to 44.1%, without a significant change in accepting an offer from before to during the pandemic.We found that the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with concerning changes in new physician job market outcomes, especially substantial reductions in new physicians' likelihood of entering rural practice and compensation.The likelihood of practicing in a rural area decreased 82%, from 3.4% to 0.62%, reversing prepandemic gains, and average base salary declined $23,569, from $288,257 to $264,687. Similarly, the probability of receiving job-related incentives dropped 4%, from 69.2% to 66.3%, as did salary satisfaction (86.5% to 84.1% [-3%]).New primary care doctors saw larger reductions in rural practice rates and compensation than physicians in other specialties. Noncitizen medical graduates experienced the largest salary reductions, which the researchers said underscores vulnerabilities in this group."We found that the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with concerning changes in new physician job market outcomes, especially substantial reductions in new physicians' likelihood of entering rural practice and compensation," lead author Tarun Ramesh, an MD candidate and research fellow at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, said in an institute news release.

CDC foodborne illness snapshot highlights heavy burden, successes -- In its first comprehensive update on foodborne illness since 2011, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate 2019 case numbers, hospitalizations, and deaths caused by seven major pathogens, reflecting both changes in surveillance methods and successes in reducing, for example, toxoplasmosis deaths and Clostridium perfringens infections. This report is a departure from the 2011 paper, which considered 31 pathogens and examined foodborne illnesses caused by other organisms. It also reflects the 2013 introduction of culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs), which have increased the odds of identifying pathogens that might otherwise have gone undetected.The 2011 paper was based on average yearly data primarily from 2000 to 2008, while the more recent report used data mainly from 2016 to 2019. The findings, informed by reports to public health departments and surveillance data, were published this week in Emerging Infectious Diseases.Craig Hedberg, PhD, a professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Minnesota and codirector of the Minnesota Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence, told CIDRAP News that the report underscores the critical nature of strong foodborne illness surveillance."Our foodborne disease surveillance system is really based on having strong surveillance at the state and local health levels, with coordination with the federal agencies, CDC, FDA [Food and Drug Administration], and USDA [US Department of Agriculture]," he said. "There have been in the past month various cuts and rescissions of cuts," he added. "What is really critical is that we can't afford to cut the budgets for our foodborne disease surveillance activities. Doing that would really undermine our ability to track and prevent these diseases down the road."After adjusting for underreporting and underdiagnosis, Campylobacter spp, C perfringens, invasive Listeria monocytogenes, norovirus, nontyphoidal Salmonella serotypes, and Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli(STEC) caused roughly 9.9 million domestically acquired foodborne illnesses in 2019. Together withToxoplasma gondii, these pathogens led to 53,300 hospitalizations and 931 deaths. Most illnesses and hospitalizations were caused by norovirus (about 5.5 million illnesses and 22,400 hospitalizations), followed by Campylobacter spp (1.9 million and 13,000, respectively), and nontyphoidalSalmonella (1.3 million and 12,500). STEC led to 3,150 hospitalizations, followed by invasive L monocytogenes(1,070), T gondii (848), and C perfringens (338). Salmonella infection was the leading cause of death, killing 238 people, trailed by Campylobacter spp (197), norovirus (174), invasive L monocytogenes (172), STEC (66), T gondii (44), and C perfringens (41).Of Salmonella-related illnesses, 23% were estimated to be caused by serotype Enteritidis, followed by Newport (14%), Typhimurium (11%), I 4,[5],12:i:- (7%), and Javiana (7%). More STEC illnesses were caused by all non-O157 serogroups (76%) than by STEC O157 (24%). L monocytogenes caused 920 non–pregnancy-associated and 148 (74 mothers, 74 infants) pregnancy-related hospitalizations and 166 nonpregnancy-associated deaths and 6 pregnancy-linked deaths, all among infants.

Chewing gum releases microplastics into mouth: researchers -Gum gets some of its chewiness from polymers similar to those used in car tires. Chewing gum releases hundreds of tiny plastic pieces straight into people's mouths, researchers said on Tuesday, also warning of the pollution created by the rubber-based sweet. The small study comes as researchers have increasingly been finding small shards of plastic called microplastics throughout the world, from the tops of mountains to the bottom of the ocean—and even in the air we breathe. They have also discovered microplastics riddled throughout human bodies—including inside our lungs, blood and brains—sparking fears about the potential effect this could be having on health. "I don't want to alarm people," Sanjay Mohanty, the lead researcher behind the new study which has not yet been peer-reviewed, told AFP. There is no evidence directly showing that microplastics are harmful to human health, said Mohanty of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The pilot study instead sought to illustrate yet another little-researched way that these mostly invisible plastic pieces enter our bodies—chewing gum. Lisa Lowe, a Ph.D. student at UCLA, chewed seven pieces each of 10 brands of gum, before the researchers then ran a chemical analysis on her saliva. They found that a gram (0.04 ounces) of gum released an average of 100 microplastic fragments, though some shed more than 600. The average weight of a stick of gum is around 1.5 grams. People who chew around 180 pieces of gum a year could be ingesting roughly 30,000 microplastics, the researchers said. This pales in comparison to the many other ways that humans ingest microplastics, Mohanty emphasized. For example, other researchers estimated last year that a liter (34 fluid ounces) of water in a plastic bottle contained an average of 240,000 microplastics. The most common chewing gum sold in supermarkets is called synthetic gum, which contains petroleum-based polymers to get that chewy effect, the researchers said. However packaging does not list any plastics in the ingredients, simply using the words "gum-based". "Nobody will tell you the ingredients," Mohanty said. The researchers tested five brands of synthetic gum and five of natural gum, which use plant-based polymers such as tree sap. "It was surprising that we found microplastics were abundant in both," Lowe told AFP.

UK publishes priority pathogens list - The UK Health Security Agency (HSA) today published a new priority pathogens tool—outlining pathogen families that pose the biggest risk to public health—to help support funding of research and development into new diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments. The list contains 24 pathogen families, providing rankings of high, moderate, or low regarding pandemic and epidemic potential. The HSA said its scientists took into account transmission routes and disease severity.In a statement, the agency said the ratings aren't intended as a detailed threat assessment and don't indicate which pathogen is most likely to trigger then next pandemic, but rather which ones require increased scientific investments and study. The rankings also highlight which pathogens need increased diagnostics and vaccine development and which may be exacerbated by changing climate or antimicrobial resistance. Officials said the tool will be updated, based on scientific developments.Pathogens with high pandemic potential include coronaviruses, the Orthomyxoviridae group that includes avian flu, the Paramyxoviridae group that includes Nipah virus, and the Picornaviridae that includes enterovirus D68. Scientists contacted by Britain's Science Media Centre, an independent group that works to provide evidence-based clarity on scientific topics, had mixed reviews about the new tool. Some said it brings useful information together in one place, and Catrin Moore, DPhil, MBA, MPH, an infectious disease and global health specialist with the University of London, said she would like to know more about how the HAS's methodology, the papers it used, and the diagnostics it identified. Jose Vazquez-Boland, DVM, PhD, chair of infectious diseases at the University of Edinburgh, said the priority list comes with a risk, given that other important pathogens might be receive insufficient or no funding when funding and resources are increasingly scarce. "In my opinion, the bacterial pathogens list is rather limited and predictable," he said.

Non-adherent treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea common in primary care --A study yesterday in the Annals of Family Medicine indicates that many patients with chlamydia and gonorrhea infections aren't receiving guideline-adherent treatment in primary care settings. The study, conducted by researchers at Stanford University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a large convenience sample representing the US primary care population, found that roughly 30% of chlamydia and gonorrhea patients did not receive any treatment for their infections. Among those treated, only 14.0% of chlamydia and 38.7% of gonorrhea patients received the CDC-recommended first-line antibiotic. The study also found that treatment rates and receipt of timely treatment varied by patient race and ethnicity, gender, and age.The authors of the study say the relatively large population of untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea infections is problematic because they could result in severe long-term health consequences for patients and contribute to ongoing transmission of the sexually transmitted infections (STIs).The authors note that the incidence of chlamydia and gonorrhea, which are two of the most common STIs, has risen dramatically in the United States over the past two decades. According to CDC data, the annual incidence of chlamydia rose 22% and gonorrhea rose 98% from 2009 to 2022. "Because of the high prevalence of these and other STIs in the United States, considerable public health resources are committed to STI-related care," they wrote. At the same time, STI screening, diagnosis, and treatment has been increasingly performed in primary care settings. But research on what STI treatment looks like in primary care settings, rather than sexual health clinics, has been limited.From 2018 through 2022, the researchers identified 6,678 cases of chlamydia and 2,206 cases of gonorrhea confirmed by a positive test. Of these cases, 5,028 (75.3%) chlamydia episodes and 1,535 (69.6%) gonorrhea episodes were treated within 30 days of the positive test result. Women had substantially higher treatment rates than men for both infections (chlamydia, 78.4% vs 67.2%; gonorrhea, 78.9% vs 51.4%), non-Hispanic White patients had the highest treatment rates of all racial/ethnic groups (76.8% for chlamydia and 73.5% for gonorrhea), and suburban residents had the highest treatments rates for both infections overall (77.5% and 83.5%, respectively).For all treated chlamydia infections, 14.0% of patients received doxycycline—the CDC's recommended treatment—alone or with another antibiotic. Most chlamydia patients (83.9%) received azithromycin. For all treated gonorrhea infections, only 38.7% received CDC-recommended ceftriaxone alone or in combination with another antibiotic.The study authors say the observed preference for antibiotics that don't adhere to treatment guidelines could be driven by several clinical considerations. For example, a single dose of azithromycin for chlamydia infections may be preferred over a 7-day course of doxycycline because of concerns about patient adherence. For gonorrhea, azithromycin may have been chosen because it can be taken orally, whereas ceftriaxone is injected.

Study casts more doubt on benefits of CMS sepsis bundle -Another study is raising questions about whether compliance with a federally mandated hospital protocol aimed at improving sepsis care and management is associated with better outcomes.The study, published this week in JAMA Network Open, found that sepsis patients who received care that was noncompliant with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Management Bundle (SEP-1) tended to be older, have more comorbidities, and have more complex clinical presentation than those who received compliant care. When those factors were accounted for, SEP-1 compliance was no longer associated with improved mortality.The study comes on the heels of a systematic review and meta-analysis, published last month in theAnnals of Internal Medicine, that found no evidence that SEP-1 compliance was associated with improved mortality.Sepsis occurs when the immune system overreacts to an infection, triggering a chain of events that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. More than 1.7 million American are treated for sepsis each year, and an estimated 250,000 die from it. Implemented in 2015 by CMS, SEP-1 is a bundle of measures that includes administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics to all patients with possible sepsis within 3 hours of recognition. Other elements of SEP-1 include rapid infusion of fluid, blood cultures, lactate measurement, vasopressors for fluid-refractory hypotension, and re-evaluation of volume status. SEP-1 was adopted based on evidence that bundle compliance was associated with lower mortality rates. In 2023, CMS announced it was transitioning SEP-1 from a pay-for-reporting to a pay-for-performance measure. That means hospitals will be rewarded for SEP-1 compliance.But the authors of the new study say the findings cast more doubt on the mortality benefit and raise the question of whether hospitals should be penalized for not complying with a one-size-fits-all approach that may not improve outcomes and doesn't account for the complexity of sepsis patients."The lack of an association between SEP-1 compliance and mortality after adjusting for these factors raise concerns that CMS's decision to transition SEP-1 to a pay-for-performance measure may not catalyze meaningful gains in sepsis survival," lead study author Chanu Rhee, MD, MPH, of the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, said in a press release from the institute.

Analysis of global flu death rates reveals overall decline but spikes in certain groups -- From 1990 to 2019, global death rates from influenza declined significantly overall but rose in older adults and those living in certain regions, Zhejiang University researchers in China reported this week in Epidemiology & Infection.The study evaluated global trends in deaths from flu-related lower respiratory infections (LRIs) from 1990 to 2019 using data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study. The investigators analyzed data on annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC) to assess age-standardized death rates (ASDRs)."In 2019, lower respiratory infections (LRIs) accounted for approximately 2.6 million global fatalities, which ranked as the fourth leading cause of death and the second leading cause of disability-adjusted life-years," the study authors noted.Globally, the ASDR of flu-related LRIs was 3.29 per 100,000 people in 2019 but was higher in the African region (6.57/100,000), among adults aged 70 years and older (29.88/100,000), and in males (4.00/100,000 vs 2.78/100,000 in females). The sex difference can be attributed to a higher rate of common infectious diseases among males, potential variations in immune responses, and behaviors such as smoking and alcohol use, the authors said.The ASDR of flu-related LRIs fell significantly from 1990 to 2019 (AAPC, -1.88%) but was notably higher among adults aged 70 years and older from 2017 to 2019 (AAPC, 2.31%) and in the Western Pacific region (AAPC, 6.48%).Death rates of children aged 5 years and younger (11.06/100,000) and adults aged 70 years and older (50.61/100,000) were both highest in the African Region. The Americas (34.39/100,000) and Western Pacific (33.71/100,000) regions also had a higher death rate among adults aged 70 years and older. The death rate among children aged 5 years and younger showed a significant decrease (-4.49%), but in many countries and territories, the rate in older adults remained stable or demonstrated an increasing trend.The death-rate ratio of adults aged 70 years and older and children younger than 5 years climbed globally, from 1.63 in 1990 to 5.34 in 2019, with the Western Pacific Region experiencing the largest increase (1.83 in 1990 to 12.98 in 2019).The age-related differences in death rates may be due to a higher prevalence of malnutrition, chronic diseases, reduced antibody levels, and inflammatory responses in older adults. "This emphasizes the importance of implementing timely prevention and intervention measures specifically targeting these high-risk groups," the investigators wrote.The regional increases in deaths among older adults could have been influenced by low vaccine uptake in this age-group, possibly due to vaccine hesitancy, weak healthcare infrastructure, limited access to vaccination services, or suboptimal vaccine efficacy in the hardest-hit areas.

Tennessee confirms first measles case of the year --- Late last week Tennessee reported its first measles case of the year, in a mid-state resident whose exposure is still under investigation, according to the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). "The individual became infected with measles in early March and is recovering at home. Public health officials are working to identity other locations and persons potentially exposed to the virus," the TDH said in a news release. Meanwhile, Kansas now has 10 measles cases so far this year, all in children who were unvaccinated or under vaccinated according to an update today from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.All cases involve children 17 years or younger, with nine patients being unvaccinated and one patient only partially vaccinated against measles. So far, no patient has been hospitalized or died from the infection.The cases occurred in Grant, Morton and Stevens counties, and it is not known if the patients had contact with other measles patients. "Due to the highly contagious nature of measles, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area in Kansas and in surrounding counties, especially among those that are unvaccinated," Kansas officials said.As of March 20, the country had 378 confirmed measles cases so far this year in 15 jurisdictions: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York state, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont and Washington state.

Texas measles outbreak grows as officials warn of rising activity in North America --A measles outbreak that began in West Texas and spread to neighboring states continues to grow. The Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) said today 327 cases have been identified since late January, an increase of 18 cases since late last week.Only 2 patients in the Texas outbreak were fully vaccinated for measles, while 325 were unvaccinated against the highly contagious virus, or their vaccine status is unknown.So far 40 people have been hospitalized in the Texas outbreak, and 1 unvaccinated child has died from her infection. Gaines County is the epicenter of the outbreak, with 226 cases reported. Fifteen counties in Texas have reported cases.Neighboring New Mexico added 1 more measles case to its outbreak total, which now stands at 43."Measles is primarily a disease of people who are not immunized, and most residents in the outbreak area are protected from measles disease even if they are exposed to the virus. We expect to continue to identify new measles infections associated with this regional outbreak in New Mexico and Texas," New Mexico Health said on its website.New Mexico's outbreak has been contained in Lea and Eddy counties.Oklahoma also has 9 measles cases linked to the West Texas outbreak, 7 confirmed and 2 probable.Yesterday the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) posted a rapid risk assessment on measles in the Americas. PAHO said the overall risk in countries with low vaccine coverage is high, and that cases have risen 5.5-fold compared to the same time period in 2024.From January 1 to March 15 of this year, 507 measles cases were confirmed in the Americas region, compared to 91 cases reported in the same period in 2024.The four countries reporting the most cases are the United States (301 as of March 15; now 378), Canada (173 cases), Mexico (22), and Argentina (11).

DC warns of major measles exposure; HHS names Geier to study autism and vaccines -- A Minnesotan visiting Washington, DC, has been confirmed to have measles, while the Washington Postreports David Geier, an outspoken vaccine critic, will be heading up a new federal effort to study autism and vaccines. Both news comes as new CDC research shows routine childhood immunizations remained below prepandemic levels 3 years after the COVID-19 pandemic began.Minnesota’s first measles case-patient in 2025 was traveling Washington, DC, when diagnosed as having measles, and officials said the person may have exposed countless others to the highly infectiousvirus, including passengers on an Amtrak train. The Washington Post reported the person was not contagious when he or she flew from Minneapolis to Dulles International Airport. The patient was fully vaccinated against the virus. The United States is now approaching 400 measles cases this year, spurred by an ongoing outbreak among mostly unvaccinated children in West Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Yesterday the New York Times reported doctors in West Texas said they seeing children with signs of liver damage due to ingesting too much vitamin A in an effort to prevent and cure measles. Vitamin A, typically found in cod liver oil, has been falsely promoted by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as a way to prevent measles. Last night, it was reported Kennedy’s HHS has hired David Geier to study a purported link between vaccines and autism according to the Washington Post. Geier, who has been disciplined for practicing medicine without a license, has long claimed vaccines cause autism, and has published several papers with his father, physician Mark Geier, on the topic.David Geier does not have a medical degree or any advanced science degree.In a statement given to the Washington Post, Alison Singer, president of the Autism Science Foundation said, "It seems the goal of this administration is to prove that vaccines cause autism, even though they don’t. They are starting with the conclusion and looking to prove it. That’s not how science is done." In related research news, a study today in Pediatrics shows that, more than 3 years after the COVID-19 pandemic started, coverage for selected routine childhood immunizations remained below prepandemic levels. The study was based on infants born between January 1, 2018 and May 31, 2023, with at least at least one medical visit between 9 and 12 months at 1 of 8 Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) health systems. The authors evaluated coverage with 2 doses of RV, DTaP, and PCV vaccines at 5 months, and completion of recommended doses by 12 months. Coverage for 2 doses of all 3 vaccines at 5 months was 87.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 86.9 to 88.7) in February 2020 and had dropped to 80.8% (95% CI, 79.8 to 81.8) in October 2023. In January 2020 vaccine series completion at 12 months was 92.3% (95% CI, 91.6 to 92.9) and 89.6% (95% CI, 88.8 to 90.3) in October 2023.

WHO alert on US measles outbreak adds new genetic details -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said today that the United States has notified it of an ongoing measles outbreak according to International Health Regulations (IHRs), given that it is an unusual event with potentially significant health impact. As of March 20, officials have confirmed 378 cases in 17 states, with three distinct outbreaks and two deaths reported. About 90% of the infections are linked to the three outbreaks. Also, cases linked to the outbreak centered in Texas have also been reported in New Mexico. Separately, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has now reported 23 cases in six counties, including 20 in unvaccinated people. Also, the Ohio Department of Health is now reporting 10 cases in an outbreak centered in Ashtabula County, which resulted in a case and exposures in Knox County. None of the patients were vaccinated.The WHO said the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 128 measles genetic sequences. Texas submitted 92 identical sequences that belong to the D8 genotype. Ten identical sequences have been reported from New Mexico, and one sequence matching the Texas outbreak virus has been reported from Kansas. Five distinct B3 genotype sequences have been reported from eight other states. "The source of this outbreak is unknown. Currently, there is no evidence of decreased vaccine effectiveness or changes in the virus that would result in increased severity," the WHO said. The agency said the risk to the Americas region is high because of persistent circulation from imported cases and an increase in susceptible populations owing to low vaccination coverage due to pandemic immunization interruptions, vaccine hesitancy in some groups, and lack of access to health services for vulnerable groups.

‘Disappointed but not surprised’: Measles cases explode in 19 states, new outbreak confirmed– Measles cases nationwide jumped dramatically this week, according to new numbers reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday. Nearly half of states are now reporting cases of the highly contagious virus, which can spread “like a forest fire” through unvaccinated or undervaccinated communities.At least 483 cases are now confirmed in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington, according to the CDC.At the beginning of the month, the number of confirmed cases was just 164.Minnesota and Tennessee are the newest states to detect measles, and a new outbreak of at least 10 linked cases was confirmed in Ohio this week. “Given the measles activity in Texas, New Mexico, and other states around the country, we’re disappointed but not surprised we now have several cases in Ohio and known exposure in some counties,” said Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff. “This disease can be very serious, even deadly, but it is almost entirely avoidable by being properly vaccinated.” Measles is considered one of the most contagious viruses in the world.

Drug-resistant gonorrhea cases rising in England - UK health officials say cases of drug-resistant gonorrhea are rising in England, including extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains. According to provisional data published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 17 cases of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhea were reported from January 2024 to March 20, 2025, compared with 16 in all of 2022 and 2023. The first case of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhea in England was detected in 2015. Nine cases of XDR gonorrhea, which is also resistant to azithromycin, were reported over the same period, compared with five XDR cases in 2022 and 2023. In England and elsewhere, ceftriaxone is the guideline-recommended first-line antibiotic, and the last remaining effective antibiotic option, for gonorrhea infections. Azithromycin is the second-line treatment and sometimes used in combination with ceftriaxone. UKHSA says most cases are linked to travel to or from the Asia-Pacific region, where ceftriaxone resistance is common, and that transmission of resistant gonorrhea within England has been limited so far."Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, which could make it untreatable in future," Katy Sinka, MSc, head of the sexually transmitted infection section at UKHSA, said in a news release. If left untreated, it can cause serious problems like pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.

Tuberculosis cases in the US rose to their highest levels in more than a dozen years (AP) — Tuberculosis continued to rise again in the U.S. last year, reaching its highest levels in more than a dozen years. More than 10,300 cases were reported last year, an 8% increase from 2023 and the highest since 2011, according to preliminary data posted this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Both the number of cases and the rate of infections rose. Rates were up among all age groups, and 34 states reported an increase.CDC officials say the rise is the mainly due to international travel and migration. The vast majority of U.S. TB cases are diagnosed in people born in other countries. Other illnesses that weaken the immune system and allow latent TB infections to emerge may also be at play.Outbreaks in several states have contributed to recent TB trends, including a recentone in the Kansas City, Kansas area. The Kansas TB rate jumped 148% last year, according to the new CDC data. Alaska and Hawaii continue to have the highest case rates.Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that usually attack the lungs, and is spread through the air when an infectious person coughs or sneezes. If not treated properly, it can be fatal. In the late 1800s, TB killed one out of every seven people living in the United States and Europe. But the development of antibiotics and public health efforts succeeded in treating infections and tracking down those they infected, leading to cases falling for decades.The new CDC statistics are not a count of how many people were newly infected, but rather of how many people developed a cough or other symptoms and were diagnosed.

PAHO warns of increase in yellow fever cases - Yellow fever cases in the Americas are increasing, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said yesterday in an epidemiologic alert.Officials have confirmed 131 cases this year in four countries, 53 of them fatal, for a 40% case-fatality rate. This is roughly 70 more cases than PAHO reported in early February."In 2024, yellow fever cases were mainly reported throughout the Amazon region of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Peru. In 2025, however, cases have also been detected in the state of Sao Paulo in Brazil and the department of Tolima in Colombia, regions outside the Amazon region of both countries," PAHO said in the alert.Brazil has 81 confirmed cases, 31 of which have been fatal. Only 1 of the confirmed case-patients had a history of yellow fever vaccination.Colombia has 31 confirmed cases, including 13 deaths. “All cases had a history of exposure in areas at risk for yellow fever, in the context of work activities that included agriculture, and had no documented history of vaccination against yellow fever,” PAHO said. Peru has 18 cases and 8 deaths so far in 2025, all in unvaccinated people, while Bolivia has confirmed 1, in an unvaccinated man.

Live hantavirus is carried by more than 30 New Mexico small mammal species - Ever since 1993, when a deadly disease outbreak in the Four Corners first revealed the presence of hantavirus in North America, New Mexicans have been warned to be on the lookout for deer mice, which harbor the microbe and can spread it through their droppings. A few human cases, usually presenting with severe cardiopulmonary symptoms, typically occur in New Mexico each year—almost all in the northwestern quadrant of the state—and even with advanced treatment about 35% of patients die. But now, University of New Mexico researchers have found that more than 30 species of rodent and other small mammals endemic to the Southwest actually carry the virus, including ground squirrels, chipmunks, gophers, rats and even house mice. In a study published in PLOS Pathogens, a team led by Steven Bradfute, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Center for Global Health, reported that genomic material from the sin nombre virus—the prevalent hantavirus strain in the U.S.—was present in about a quarter of the more than 1,500 small mammals collected throughout New Mexico between 2019 and 2023. The most likely way people get infected is when they breathe in aerosolized droppings excreted by the animals, he said. To determine whether species other than deer mice might spread the disease, the team was able to isolate live hantavirus from their salivary glands and lung tissue. "There are a lot of deer mice, and they carry the virus, but there are a lot of other rodents that also carry the virus and they can shed live virus," Bradfute said. "So, they're very much potential vectors as well." One puzzle yet to be solved, he said, is why the reported human hantavirus cases in New Mexico remain concentrated in the Four Corners region, even though mammals elsewhere in the state have now been shown to carry the live virus. "One possibility is the genetic sequence of the virus is different in the northwest, versus the southeast," Bradfute said. "We are in the middle of testing that, although the hantaviruses are notoriously difficult to sequence. Our preliminary results don't suggest there's a huge difference between the different regions, but we still need to wait for the full sequence to be completed." Another possibility is that there are cases in southeastern New Mexico, but they're just not being recognized, he said. "We are looking at that question by looking at antibodies in humans from different regions. We've just started a project with that, but we don't have the data yet." In addition, there could be something about the viral transmission from rodents to humans that is more efficient in northwestern New Mexico than in the southeast, Bradfute said. "That could be due to how well the particles are aerosolized and how stable the virus is. I think that's plausible because it is geographically quite different in those two areas."

Cambodia reports third fatal human H5N1 case of the year - Cambodia’s health ministry yesterday reported its third human H5N1 avian flu case of the year, a 3-year-old boy, according to statement posted on the group’s Facebook page. In an updated second statement, the ministry said the boy died from his infection, according to a translation posted by Avian Flu Diary, an infectious disease news blog.The boy is from Kratie province in the East-central part of the country. Before he died, he was hospitalized with severe symptoms that included fever, cough, and breathing difficulties. Investigators discovered the family raised chickens, and five of the birds had died and others were sick. The family had cooked dead chickens for eating.Of Cambodia’s three H5N1 cases this year, all were fatal. The most recent patient was a 2-year-old boy from Prey Veng province who had been exposed to the family’s sick chickens.Cambodia experienced a dramatic uptick in human H5N1 cases at the end of 2023. Some have involved a novel reassortant that combines genes from an older 2.3.2.1c clade known to circulate in Southeast Asia with internal genes from the newer 2.3.4.4b clade that has spread globally. The older clade still circulates in Cambodian poultry, with sporadic infection reported in people.

RFK, Jr. Wants to Let Bird Flu Spread on Poultry Farms. Why Experts Are Concerned --With H5N1 avian influenza spreading in poultry flocks, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is pushing a new plan: let the virus rip. Kennedy recently told Fox News that by letting the highly pathogenic bird flu spread through flocks, farmers could “identify the birds, and preserve the birds, that are immune to it.” But poultry experts say that, in addition to causing an unimaginable poultry death toll, this plan wouldn’t work. “No, not for this disease,” says Rocio Crespo, a poultry veterinarian at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. “This is crazy.” Farmers must currently cull infected flocks to contain the disease before it spreads. They’re financially compensated for the culled birds by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The policy is supported by science because highly pathogenic avian influenza is so deadly on its own, killing 90 to 100 percent of chickens in three or four days, says Matt Koci, an immunologist and virologist at North Carolina State University’s poultry science department. The disease overwhelms birds, Crespo says. “It’s devastating,” she says. “It’s a disease that attacks every single organ.”As a result, the chickens never develop the antibodies that would beat back the flu and give them the ability to survive a second encounter with the virus —they die too quickly. That means there is little for scientists to study to develop treatments or uncover some genetic secret to resistance, Koci says. Genetic resistance in chickens and turkeys “is not a thing,” he says.Even with avian diseases that are slower-acting than highly pathogenic bird flu, scientists have struggled to find a key to genetic resistance. Huaijun Zhou, a professor of animal science at the University of California, Davis, worked on a project on Newcastle disease, another viral illness that is also nearly always fatal in poultry but that some infected birds can survive for weeks. “We didn’t find any magic bullet,” Zhou says.There were genetic variants in chickens that allowed the birds to survive longer with Newcastle disease. Yet each one had a tiny effect, and it took a combination of hundreds of them to make a noticeable difference in survival. “It’s just the nature of the disease,” says Zhou, adding that the bird flu’s high mortality rate makes success even less likely.Kennedy’s remarks belie a lack of knowledge about the way poultry breeding works, Koci says. The chickens that provide meat and eggs are not in the breeding population: they’re the product of parent generations that are bred to maximize disease resistance and meat or egg production. Wiping out the working offspring of these breeders wouldn’t do anything to alter the next generations of chickens coming down the line.Another problem with the let-it-rip strategy would be the inability of farmers to sell chicken products internationally because the policy might lead importers to ban American products. The resulting mass poultry death would also make today’s egg prices look like a great deal.

Study finds influenza A antibodies not uncommon in US cattle -A large study to gauge how susceptible US dairy and beef cattle are to influenza A viruses found that they are susceptible to human seasonal flu strains as well as swine influenza viruses, researchers based at the University of Missouri reported yesterday in mSphere. The new study is part of an effort to flesh out the extent of previous influenza A infection in cattle. Until the H5N1 outbreak in US dairy cows, cattle weren’t typically considered a natural host of influenza A viruses. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) targeting the influenza A virus, the investigators tested 1,724 cattle blood samples collected from 15 states, though the majority were from Missouri, since January 2023. The samples were from more than 30 different cattle breeds.Overall, nearly 34% of the blood samples were seropositive for influenza A, including 78 samples from 2024, and 508 from 2023.None of the samples were positive for H5N1 avian influenza, which the group said was surprising. Positive samples were tested by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, which revealed 45 were positive for 2009 H1N1 and H3N2 seasonal flu strains and swine H3N2 and H1N2 viruses. Some were positive for two or three of the influenza A viruses.The seropositive samples were detected every month of the year, though the positivity rate was higher in the winter and spring. Both cattle sexes were affected, with no significant difference in the male and female cattle.The group said the findings underscore the importance of monitoring influenza A in cattle, given that reassortment of viruses from different species can occur in cattle, which could lead to novel influenza A viruses that could pose a threat to animals or people. In H5N1 outbreak developments, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today reported three more detections in dairy cattle, all from Idaho, raising the national total since March 2024 to 993 across 17 states.Idaho has now reported 44 outbreaks, including 9 in the past 30 days.Also, APHIS yesterday reported 24 more H5N1 detections in mammals, including 11 in domestic cats. Most of the samples were collected in 2025. The infections in domestic cats were reported from six states, including Colorado (2), Texas (4), Kansas (1), Oklahoma (1), California (1), and New York (1). Also, the virus was found in a bobcat from Connecticut. New detections were reported in skunks from Colorado and Kansas, a red fox from Pennsylvania, three black bears from New Jersey, a house mouse from Indiana, and a bottlenose dolphin from Florida.

What the World’s First Case of Bird Flu in Sheep Means for the Virus’s Spread | Scientific American --The H5N1 bird flu virus has been found in a single sheep in England. This is the first time the virus has been detected in sheep, scientists say, expanding the list of animals that it can infect. Agricultural authorities say no other sheep were infected, and the risk to people remains low. But scientists added that the appearance of the virus in another species has underscored the need for caution. On March 24 the U.K.’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and its Animal and Plant Health Agency announced that bird flu had been detected in a single sheep in Yorkshire, England. The sheep was in an area where the virus had been confirmed in captive birds, so testing was already going on. According to the announcement, the single sheep was culled to prevent further spread and to permit more extensive testing of the animal. Discovery of H5N1 in a sheep enlarges the list of nonbird animals now known to be susceptible to the virus. In the U.S. that list includes cows, pigs, domestic and wild cats, coyotes, bears, rodents, raccoons, opossums and marine mammals. Seventy people in the U.S. have also been infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and one of them died. Although the risk to humans remains low, and person-to-person transmission is not known to have happened, the virus’s ability to infect different kinds of animals highlights that the microbe can evolve and adapt to infect new hosts, scientists say. As it spreads, it warrants careful and continued scrutiny, officials say. “Current evidence suggests that the avian influenza viruses we’re seeing circulating around the world do not spread easily to people—and the risk of avian flu to the general public remains very low,” said Meera Chand, emerging infection lead at the U.K. Health Security Agency, in Monday’s announcement. Chand also said, however, that “globally, we continue to see that mammals can be infected with avian influenza” and that health agencies will continue to search for human infections.

Virginia deer is Manassas National Battlefield Park's first CWD case -- Chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing after a recent reduction of the white-tailed deer herd at Manassas National Battlefield Park has revealed a case in the Prince William County, Virginia, part of the park, according to a news release from the National Park Service (NPS) yesterday.The deer was the first detection of the fatal neurologic disease in the park."Manassas National Battlefield Park and other national parks in the area reduce deer populations to protect and restore native plants, promote healthy and diverse forests, and preserve historic landscapes," the NPS said. "Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia national parks conducting deer reduction operations participate in CWD monitoring programs for wildlife health." Results from these parks were negative for CWD until 2024, when deer at three nearby national parks in Maryland and West Virginia—Antietam National Battlefield, Monocacy National Battlefield, and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park—tested positive. -"The NPS will continue to participate in monitoring of collected deer for CWD and will destroy venison testing positive for CWD, according to NPS guidelines," the news release said.CWD, which affects cervids such as deer, elk, and moose, is classified under the umbrella of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, which are caused by prions, or infectious misfolded proteins that can persist in the environment for years. The disease was first identified in 1967 in a mule deer at a Colorado research facility and was subsequently detected in a wild elk in 1981. Since that time, CWD has been found in 36 US states, five Canadian provinces, Finland, Norway, South Korea, and Sweden.

BLM ramped up wild horse removals. Costs soared. - It costs the Bureau of Land Management more than $100 million a year to house, feed and provide medical care for the wild horses and burros currently in corrals and off-range pastures across the West and Midwest. That eye-popping price tag is the result of a strategy to regularly round up and remove a portion of mustangs off federal rangelands, which is meant to control the population and protect increasingly sensitive lands from being overrun by growing herd sizes. By one key measure, the approach — initially implemented by the first Trump administration and continued under former President Joe Biden — is a success. The number of free-roaming wild horses and burros on federal land is now at the lowest level in nearly a decade, making it easier for the bureau to protect soils, vegetation and already scarce water resources the animals need to survive. But at a time when the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency are looking for cuts across the federal budget, the huge expense of caring for the 68,143 wild horses and burros held by BLM as of January underscores just how tough it can be for agencies to find savings. Even as BLM approaches the maximum number of animals that can be kept at its facilities, the bureau believes there are still nearly 50,000 excess horses and burros on the range. Other policy choices — such as dramatically ramping up fertility control measures — come with their own complications, while likely also requiring congressional buy-in. “In short, the current situation is not sustainable, and there are no easy, viable, quickly implementable solutions,” said Dean Bolstad, the former division chief of the wild horse and burro program who retired from BLM during Trump’s first term in 2018. This is the third year the cost to care for and feed wild horses — often considered an enduring symbol of the West — is likely to top $100 million, consuming roughly two-thirds of BLM’s $142 million annual budget for the program in fiscal 2025. While BLM adopts out 5,000 to 7,000 wild horses in its care annually, the agency rounds up and removes close to three times that number in some years. Many advocates for wild horses have decried BLM’s roundups — which often involve using helicopters to gather the animals and can result in some horses being fatally injured. While they acknowledge some herd management areas are overcrowded, they support leaving them on the range and controlling populations with birth control. Suzanne Roy, executive director of American Wild Horse Conservation, wants to see BLM adopt a strategy of on-range fertility control treatments that would eliminate the enormous costs of holding so many animals. “The agency must shift to real solutions: humane large-scale fertility control to stop the influx of horses to holding facilities, and for captive horses, promoting responsible adoptions, utilizing cost-effective long-term pastures, and returning them to wild habitats” once populations have been reduced to sufficient numbers, Roy said. As it stands now, she said, BLM’s wild horse and burro program “is a runaway fiscal disaster, wasting taxpayer dollars on mass roundups that don’t work.”

Reducing traffic in Barcelona by 25% would prevent around 200 premature deaths a year linked to pollution: Study - A 25% reduction in motorized traffic in the city of Barcelona would have significant health benefits. A study carried out by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation, estimates that this reduction in the number of vehicles could lead to a 17.6% reduction in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels. This improvement in air quality would prevent almost 200 premature deaths per year, and if the electrification of the port is completed, the number of avoidable deaths would rise to 228 per year. The study, published in the journal Health & Place, has been carried out in collaboration with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS), which has developed a technology that allows the modeling of traffic emissions and other sources throughout the city and the resulting pollution levels at the level of census tract, based on the evolution of a series of variables, including car activity, meteorology and urban geometry, among others. Following the methodology used in health impact studies, the team established a baseline scenario set in 2019. From this, three hypothetical scenarios were established, each with different levels of traffic reduction but with one thing in common: the implementation of the 2018–2024 Urban Mobility Plan, which included measures such as the creation of superblocks and green corridors, the creation of a low-emission zone and tactical urban planning measures. For the first simulation, a conservative scenario was defined in which it was not possible to reduce the number of private vehicles in the city, but it was possible to remove the most polluting vehicles from circulation. In this case, the models estimated that there would be a 5.9% reduction in NO2 levels. This reduction would prevent 67 premature deaths related to nitrogen dioxide each year. The benefits associated with this scenario would be evenly distributed across the city. The second scenario simulated a 25% reduction in the number of private cars on the road, resulting in a 17.6% reduction in NO2 concentrations and the prevention of 199 deaths per year. In this case, the reduction in mortality would be concentrated especially in the city center, which is in fact the area with the highest pollution levels, as well as areas to the northwest. The third scenario considered emissions from ports. It is estimated that maritime traffic contributes to around 7% of NO2-related mortality in the city. The Port of Barcelona currently has a plan to electrify its docks to reduce emissions from ships while they are in port, which is expected to be completed in 2030. Therefore, the combined impact of a 25% reduction in private traffic and the electrification of the port was simulated, resulting in a 19.4% reduction in NO2 levels and 228 preventable deaths per year. This combination of factors would be particularly beneficial in reducing mortality in the southern areas of the city, the ones closest to the coast. The starting point for all the analyses was the city's mortality data supplied by the City Council and the NO2 levels for all the scenarios estimated by the models according to the variables introduced. The relationship between NO2 levels and the number of preventable deaths was obtained from previous studies."Although the preventable mortality we estimate is significant, none of the scenarios proposed in our study would be able to comply with the new NO2 limits proposed by the European Union in its new air quality directive, which will come into force in 2030. This suggests that we must do more and do it more effectively in order to improve the air quality in our city," says Ana Ramos, ISGlobal researcher and first author of the study.

Monsanto parent ordered to pay $2B in Roundup lawsuit damages - The company behind Roundup weedkiller herbicide was ordered to pay more than $2 billion in a man’s cancer lawsuit. According to his attorneys, John Barnes developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using Monsanto’s Roundup for two decades.The case resulted in a $2.065 billion verdict, Barnes’s lawyers said. The Associated Press reported that Bayer, the parent company for Monsanto, was ordered to pay $65 million to compensate Barnes and an additional $2 billion in punitive damages by a Georgia jury. Monsanto is appealing the ruling. Thousands of cases have alleged that Roundup causes cancer. Monsanto has maintained that it does not. “We believe that we have strong arguments on appeal to get this verdict overturned and the excessive and unconstitutional damage awards eliminated or reduced,” said a statement from the company. “The Company remains committed to trying cases, having secured favorable outcomes in 17 of the last 25 trials. Our track record demonstrates that we win when plaintiffs’ attorneys and their experts are not allowed to misrepresent the worldwide regulatory and scientific assessments that continue to support the products’ safety. Damages in cases that have reached final judgments have been reduced 90% overall compared with the original jury awards,” it added.

California banned polystyrene: So why is it still on store shelves? - Styrofoam coffee cups, plates, clamshell takeout containers and other food service items made with expanded polystyrene plastic can still be found in restaurants and on store shelves, despite a ban that went into effect on Jan. 1. A Smart and Final in Redwood City was brimming with foam plates, bowls and cups for sale on Thursday. Want to buy these goods online? It was no problem to log on to Amazon.com to find a variety of foam foodware products—Dart insulated hot/cold foam cups, or Hefty Everyday 10.25" plates—that could be shipped to an address in California. Same with the restaurant supply shop KaTom, which is based in Kodak, Tennessee. Smart and Final and KaTom didn't respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Amazon said the company would look into the matter. The expanded polystyrene ban is part of a single-use plastic law, Senate Bill 54, that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law in 2022 but bailed on earlier this month. And while the full law now sits in limbo, one part remains in effect: a de facto ban on so-called expanded polystyrene, the soft, white, foamy material commonly used for takeout food service items. Nick Lapis, director of advocacy for Californians Against Waste—one of the many stakeholder organizations that worked with lawmakers to craft SB 54—said the law had been written in a way that ensured the polystyrene ban would go into effect even if the rest of the package failed. "So, it's still in effect whether or not there are regulations for the rest of the bill," he said. CalRecycle, the state's waste agency, is tasked with overseeing and enforcing the law. Asked why Styrofoam food service products are still widely available, CalRecycle spokesperson Melanie Turner said in an email that her agency is in the process of identifying businesses producing, selling and distributing the products in the state and considering "ways to help them comply with the law." SB 54 called for plastic and packaging companies to reduce single-use plastic packaging by 25% and ensure that 65% of that material is recyclable and 100% either recyclable or compostable—all by 2032. The law also required packaging producers to bear the costs of their products' end-life (whether via recycling, composting, landfill or export) and figure out how to make it happen—removing that costly burden from consumers and state and local governments. In December, representatives from the plastic, packaging and chemical recycling industry urged the governor to abandon the regulations, suggesting they were unachievable as written and could cost Californians roughly $300 per year to implement—a number that has been hotly contested by environmental groups and lawmakers, who say it doesn't factor in the money saved by reducing plastic waste in towns, cities and the environment. Their pressure campaign—joined by Rachel Wagoner, the former director of CalRecycle and now the director of the Circular Action Alliance, a coalition for the plastic and packaging industry—worked. Newsom let the deadline for the bill's finalized rules and regulations pass without implementation and ordered CalRecycle to start the process over. However, the bill's stand-alone styrofoam proviso—which doesn't require the finalization of rules and regulation—makes clear that producers of expanded polystyrene food service ware "shall not sell, offer for sale, distribute, or import into the state" these plastic products unless the producer can demonstrate recycling rates of no less than 25% on Jan. 1, 2025, 30% by Jan. 1, 2028, 50% by Jan. 1, 2030 and 65% by 2032.And on Jan. 1, that recycling target hadn't been met and is therefore banned. (Recycling rates for expanded polystyrene range around 1% nationally). Neither CalRecycle nor Newsom's office has issued an acknowledgment of the ban—leaving plastic distributors, sellers, environmental groups, waste haulers and lawmakers uncertain about the state government's willingness to enforce the law. "I don't understand why the administration can't put out a statement saying that," said Lapis. "At this point, silence from the administration only creates additional legal liability for companies that don't realize they are breaking the law."

Trump admin rejects Mexico's Colorado River water request in first since 1944 -- The Trump administration has denied a special request from Mexico for the delivery of Colorado River water to the city of Tijuana — marking the first such denial in 81 years. Justifying the decision, the U.S. State Department blamed Mexico for failing to abide by the terms of a historic water partnership accord signed between the two nations in 1944. “Mexico’s continued shortfalls in its water deliveries under the 1944 water-sharing treaty are decimating American agriculture —particularly farmers in the Rio Grande valley,” the department announced on the social platform X, via its Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. “As a result, today for the first time, the U.S. will deny Mexico’s non-treaty request for a special delivery channel for Colorado River water to be delivered to Tijuana,” the agency added. The 1944 treaty, which focused on the “utilization of waters of the Colorado and Tijuana rivers and of the Rio Grande,” also created the joint International Boundary and Water Commission, which is responsible for managing shared water deliveries according to a five-year distribution cycle. Under the agreement, the U.S. sends Colorado River water to Mexico, which is entitled to 1.5 million acre-feet of the resource each year. The historic flow of the Colorado River extended from the headwaters in Colorado to the Gulf of California in the Mexican state of Sonora — but that flow now tapers near the border.As a basis of comparison, U.S. Colorado River basin states are entitled to 15 million acre-feet, and the average American household consumes about 1 acre-foot of water annually.

Thunderstorms sweep through Louisiana after dropping baseball-sized hail in Texas - (video) Severe thunderstorms swept through the southern United States and the Gulf Coast early March 24, 2025, after passing over Texas and causing widespread damage, obstructing roadways with downed power lines, tree limbs, and other debris. Traffic alerts were issued in multiple areas, including Lafayette, as hazardous conditions developed, while thunderstorm warnings extended from New Orleans and Baton Rouge in Louisiana to Mobile in Alabama and Tallahassee in Florida. Wind gusts of up to 126 km/h (78 mph) were reported at the Baton Rouge Airport. Strong winds caused part of a large tree in East Baton Rouge to fall onto a school bus in Zachary early on March 24. A school spokesperson confirmed that no children were inside the bus at the time of the incident, and no injuries occurred. The roof of the bus was completely crushed due to the fallen tree. YouTube video The storms began moving into the southeastern United States on the night of March 23 after producing severe weather conditions across Texas, including Kerrville, where baseball-sized hail damaged multiple vehicles and covered the roads in white. Severe weather is expected to continue in the region throughout the week. Moisture is forecast to accumulate over southern Texas by the night of March 26 into the morning of March 27 as a subtropical system arrives in the area. Widespread showers and thunderstorms are forecast by the morning of March 27, with an increasing risk of heavy rainfall.

Intense hailstorm batters Dallas-Fort Worth region, damaging cars and houses, Texas - Intense hailstorms battered much of northern Texas from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, March 25–26, 2025, causing damage to multiple vehicles and homes. Quarter- to egg-sized hail and strong wind gusts were reported across the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex, affecting cities such as Mesquite, Balch Springs, Hutchins, Allen, McKinney, and Sherman. The hail has reportedly damaged multiple vehicles across the region, with many reporting window damages as well. The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Fort Worth received nearly 50 hail reports, with the largest—measuring 51 mm (2 inches)—reported in Allen, while Dallas saw hail up to 45 mm (1.75 inches). YouTube video

As many as 6 hurricanes forecast to strike US this season --A new AccuWeather forecast predicts the U.S. could be bracing for a 2025 Atlantic hurricane season on par with last year’s, which brought six named storms directly to U.S. soil. This year, according to the forecast released Thursday, experts say three to six named storms could directly impact the United States.The 30-year historical average, from 1990 to 2020, saw an average of four storms make landfall each Atlantic hurricane season, which begins at the start of June and runs through the end of November.“Everyone needs to start planning and preparing for hurricane season. Climatology, weather patterns, water temperatures, and many other factors all point to yet another active Atlantic hurricane season with more tropical storms and hurricanes forming, compared to the historical average,” AccuWeather chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement.“We expect fewer named storms this year compared to last year,” he continued, adding, however, that “the total number of storms is not truly what defines a hurricane season; it is the impacts to land and populated areas.”“It only takes one landfall to create a devastating season,” Porter added. Overall, the 2025 AccuWeather forecast predicts 13 to 18 named storms in the 2025 season, including seven to 10 storms expected to strengthen into hurricanes, three to six of which will be deemed “major hurricanes.”

Intense thunderstorms hit Odisha, India, leaving 2 dead, 67 injured and over 600 homes damaged - Severe thunderstorms brought heavy rain and destructive hail to Odisha, India, on Saturday, March 22, 2025, leaving at least two dead and 67 injured, and damaging over 600 homes across multiple districts. The storm caused significant damage to infrastructure and crops, displacing many residents and raising concerns about food insecurity for local farmers ahead of the harsh summer months. The weather event was caused by a type of localized storm known as Kalbaisakhi, common in eastern and northeastern India during the summer months. Also referred to as a Nor’wester, Kalbaisakhi is known for producing sudden, violent storms with strong winds, lightning, and hail across parts of India and Bangladesh. Two people died due to lightning strikes in Ganjam and Puri districts on Saturday, while 67 others were injured by a hailstorm in Mayurbhanj district. Although the initial reports stated 40 injuries, the numbers rose as more people began reporting damage and injuries late Saturday. Seven of the injured were in serious condition and were admitted to the district headquarters hospital in Mayurbhanj. Approximately 600 houses were damaged due to the hailstorm in the district. In many areas, including Ganjam district, heavy rain from the storm caused waterlogging, especially in parts of Berhampur town. A Class 10 student died on Saturday after being struck by lightning near Narayanpur in Patrapur block of Ganjam district. He was returning home from Bamakei when the incident occurred. A man in Puri district died on Saturday after being struck by lightning while helping his parents drain rainwater from a paddy field in Gobardhanpur village. Relief and rehabilitation operations have been launched in the Bisoi and Bangiriposhi blocks, the two worst-affected areas in the Mayurbhanj district, according to District Collector Hema Kanta Say.

At least 49 dead, over 700 000 affected as floods continue across Bolivia - At least 49 people have died, and more than 700 000 have been affected by floods since the beginning of the year in Bolivia, with the Beni Department the latest declaring a State of Emergency. The Department of Beni declared a State of Disaster on March 24, 2025, due to intense flooding across the region. The declaration was made to seek immediate assistance for the affected communities and activate emergency resources from the central government of Bolivia. According to the decree, the State of Disaster was declared due to flooding threatening food security in the region and severely disrupting transportation, requiring immediate attention and assistance for the affected communities. Heavy rainfall has caused multiple rivers to overflow across the country in recent weeks. A 45-minute downpour on March 24 led to flooding in the La Paz region, with floodwater accumulating in front of the Mayor’s office. The rainfall also caused the Orkojahuira, Choqueyapu, Huayña Jahuira, and Irpavi rivers to overflow. La Paz Mayor Iván Arias stated that the alert will remain in effect until March 27, as similar downpours may recur. Intense rainfall also caused the Quirusillas River to overflow in the Santa Cruz Valley, affecting nine communities and destroying their corn crops. Crop production in at least six towns was impacted. The floods also damaged multiple roads in the region, significantly hindering transportation. Since the beginning of the year, persistent rainfall has led to continuous flooding across the country, leaving at least 49 people dead. The towns of Reyes, Borja, Rurrenabaque, and Riberalta in the Beni Department of northern Bolivia have been among the worst affected. The floods have affected more than 700 000 people, destroyed 708 homes, and led 81 municipalities to declare a State of Disaster. Authorities have deployed over 4 000 personnel to assist affected populations.

Entire settlements submerged as historic floods batter Queensland, Australia - (3 YouTube videos) Heavy rains beginning on March 23, 2025, have caused historic flooding across Queensland, Australia, with the town of Stonehenge submerged after the Thomson River exceeded the 1974 flood levels on March 27. Major flood warnings remain in effect as several rivers continue to rise dangerously. The Thomson River at Stonehenge rose to 7.4 m (24.2 feet) at approximately 12:00 local time on Thursday, March 27, and continued to rise throughout the afternoon. The river exceeded the major flood level of 5 m (16.4 feet) and the 1974 flood level of 6.88 m (22.6 feet), marking one of the most severe floods in the region’s history. The Thomson River is forecast to reach up to 8 m (26 feet) on Friday, March 28. Floodwaters are also impacting the town of Judah, located along the river, where levels may exceed 8.5 m (28 feet) on Friday. Videos shared on social media today showed severe flooding in the town of Stonehenge, which was completely inundated following continuous heavy rainfall. Several areas have recorded over 600 mm (23.6 inches) of rainfall since Sunday, resulting in extensive flooding throughout the state. Rain continues to fall across extensive areas of the region, cutting off towns and forcing residents to seek higher ground as floodwaters reach unprecedented levels. The town of Adavale, located north of Quilpie, was inundated overnight, with floodwaters submerging homes, overturning tanks and vehicles, and sweeping away unsecured objects. On the morning of March 27, an emergency alert was issued for the region, prompting the deployment of swift water rescue teams to Charleville to aid in evacuations. Residents were evacuated to nearby towns, including Quilpie and Charleville. Major flood warnings have been issued for rivers in western and northern Queensland. In the state’s outback region, the Georgina River, Thomson River, Barcoo River, Bulloo River, and Cooper Creek are all undergoing significant flooding. The Barcoo River downstream of Isisford continues to rise, having reached 12.68 m (42 feet) on Thursday afternoon, with projections to hit 13.5 m (44 feet) by Friday morning. Major flood warnings are active, as significant flooding has already impacted areas like Wahroongha and Glenlock.

Beijing records earliest 30°C (86°F) day in 66 years - Beijing recorded its earliest 30°C (86°F) temperature in 66 years on March 22, 2025, as an early heat wave spread across northeastern China. The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) reported that the daytime temperature in Beijing’s Haidian District reached 30°C (86°F) on March 22, marking the earliest occurrence of such a temperature in the city since 1959. The temperature at Nanjiao Observatory in the capital city’s Daxing District rose to 28.9°C (84°F) on the afternoon of March 22, marking the fourth consecutive day of setting a new high for the year. At 15:16 local time (LT), the Haidian Observatory recorded a temperature of 30°C (86°F). The temperature measured at Nanjiao Observatory broke the historical record for extremely high temperatures in late March, with the previous record measured at 28.8°C (83.8 °F) on March 31, 2002. Beyond Beijing, most of China is experiencing early and prolonged heat due to the influence of warm high pressure, with current temperatures across the country noticeably higher than usual. Northern regions are expected to see record-breaking highs from March 22 to March 25, while southern regions may experience higher temperatures on March 25 and March 26. Zhao Wei, chief forecaster at the Beijing Meteorological Observatory, said that the highest temperature is expected to drop to 12°C (53.6°F) on Friday, with a minimum temperature as low as 3°C (37.4°F). Zhao also stated that after the recent temperature fluctuations, temperatures in Beijing are not expected to rise again until the end of March, with highs surpassing 20°C (68°F) around April 4.

Tokyo experiences hottest March day on record - Record-breaking temperatures were measured in Japan on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, with 143 stations either tying or breaking the record for the hottest March day on record. Tokyo recorded a temperature of 25.9°C (78.6°F) on Wednesday, marking the third consecutive day the city reached 25°C (77°F)—the first occurrence of this in March since records began in 1876. It was also the hottest March day on record for Tokyo. Hiroshima reached 24.2°C (75.6°F) on March 26, setting a new record since 1879, while Okayama recorded 26.2°C (79.2°F), the highest since 1891. In Choshi, the mercury rose to 25.1°C (77.2°F), the warmest since 1887. Miyazaki witnessed a high of 29.9°C (85.8°F), surpassing previous records set since 1886. Wakayama also saw a new high for March, with temperatures reaching 24.6°C (76.3°F), the hottest since 1880. Additionally, Kagoshima recorded a temperature of 28.6°C (83.5°F), breaking its previous record set in 1883.

Dozens of fires rage in southern Chile - - Dozens of fires fueled by strong winds raged across southern Chile Monday, destroying thousands of hectares of forest and farmland and damaging several homes, according to authorities. "We are facing a very complex situation and all material resources as well as all brigades have been mobilized to combat these fires," Interior Minister Alvaro Elizalde told reporters in Santiago. The regions of Nuble, Biobio, Araucania and Los Rios were affected by the fires, which started Sunday afternoon and spread rapidly due to strong winds. Authorities have not reported deaths or injuries. "I have asked that the entire government be mobilized... and that we stand with the affected people and their families," President Gabriel Boric said at an event in Punta Arenas. He said about 100 people had to be given temporary housing as firefighters battled 27 different blazes. The forest service and the National Disaster Prevention Service (Senapred) reported more than 4,000 hectares going up in flames. In recent years, Chile has been hit by massive fires during the southern summer, affecting both forested and urban areas. In February 2024, several fires developed simultaneously around the city of Vina del Mar, northwest of Santiago, causing 137 deaths and razing entire neighborhoods in Chile's deadliest inferno in recent history.

S. Korea authorities deploy choppers, troops to battle wildfire -South Korean authorities said Monday they would deploy dozens of helicopters and thousands of firefighters and soldiers as they struggle to control multiple wildfires in the southeast, which have been burning for days. Four people have been killed so far, with officials warning that high winds and rising temperatures were hindering efforts to put out the blazes. In Uiseong, nearly 7,000 hectares (17,000 acres) of land has been affected and around 600 people evacuated, Lim Sang-seop, head of the Korea Forest Service, told a press briefing. "A total of 57 wildfire fighting helicopters are to be deployed to extinguish the fire," he said, adding that more than 2,600 firefighting personnel—including soldiers—would be mobilized "to respond with all their might". The fire had been partly contained but was still burning as of Monday afternoon. An AFP photographer in Uiseong saw the sun obscured by thick black smoke, while helicopters were used to douse the flames. The forest agency has issued "severe" fire warnings, its highest level, in multiple locations, including North and South Gyeongsang provinces, Busan and Daejeon. A major wildfire claimed four lives over the weekend in Sancheong county, in South Gyeongsang province, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) southeast of Seoul. That fire was also partly contained by Monday—but still burning. The government declared a state of emergency in the affected regions, citing "the extensive damage caused by simultaneous wildfires across the country". Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was reinstated as acting president earlier Monday, visited the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, urging authorities to work together "until the wildfires are completely extinguished". "It is a truly heartbreaking incident," he said, adding that he would meet people affected by the fires later Monday. The leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, urged authorities to "mobilize all means at their disposal to quickly and safely suppress the fires" and take further measures to prevent any additional wildfires.

Wildfires in South Korea claim 4 lives, displace over 1 500 people - -(2 videos) More than 30 wildfires have erupted across South Korea since March 21, 2025, claiming four lives and burning through more than 6 300 ha (15 568 acres) of residential and forest land. Multiple wildfires burning across South Korea have claimed at least four lives, injured six, and forced over 1 500 people to evacuate to temporary shelters, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. Three of the four people who died were firefighters, and one was a public servant, according to Yonhap news agency. The fires have burned over 6 300 ha (15 568 acres) of residential and forest land since March 21. Over 9 000 personnel and 105 helicopters were deployed to suppress the fires, which are primarily affecting the southeastern region of the country and have damaged residential buildings and a temple, according to authorities. YouTube video The country has seen over 30 wildfires erupting since March 21, including the one in Sancheong County, which continues to burn. The fires have been concentrated in the southeastern regions, specifically Sancheong and Ulju in South Gyeongsang Province and Uiseong in North Gyeongsang Province. As of March 24, the Sancheong fire is 85 % contained, Uiseong is at 60 %, and Ulju is at 83 % containment. YouTube video South Korea declared a state of disaster in the southern regions on March 22 to facilitate the mobilization of resources to contain the fires and designated Sancheong as a special disaster zone. The fires continue to burn in multiple areas of country with more detailed damage reports being expected to come up once they are fully contained.

South Korea struggles to contain deadly wildfires - Deadly wildfires in South Korea worsened overnight, officials said Tuesday, as dry, windy weather hampers efforts to contain one of the country's worst-ever fire outbreaks. More than a dozen different blazes broke out over the weekend, with the safety minister reporting thousands of hectares burned and four people killed. "The wildfires have so far affected approximately 14,694 hectares (36,310 acres), with damage continuing to grow," acting Interior and Safety Minister Ko Ki-dong said. The extent of damage would make the fires collectively the third-largest in South Korea's history. The largest was an April 2000 blaze that scorched 23,913 hectares (59,090 acres) across the east coast. More than 3,000 people have been evacuated to shelters, Ko said. At least 11 people have been seriously injured. "Strong winds, dry weather, and haze are hampering firefighting efforts," Ko told a disaster and safety meeting. The government is "mobilizing all available resources," he said. In Uiseong, the sky was full of smoke and haze, AFP reporters saw. Workers at a local temple were attempting to move historical artifacts and cover up Buddhist statues to protect them from possible damage. The Korea Forest Service said the containment rate for the fire in Uiseong decreased from 60% to 55% by Tuesday morning. More than 6,700 firefighters have been deployed to battle the wildfires, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, with nearly two-fifths of the personnel dispatched to Uiseong. The government declared a state of emergency in four regions, citing "the extensive damage caused by simultaneous wildfires across the country." In Daegu and the North Gyeongsang region, "the air is extremely dry and strong winds are blowing, creating the risk that even a small spark could quickly spread into a large wildfire," an official from the local meteorological administration said. The fire in Uiseong was reportedly caused by an individual visiting a family grave. "The wildfire is believed to have been caused by an individual who was visiting an ancestral grave and accidentally started the blaze," Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. "Most wildfires are caused by human negligence and the public should strictly follow wildfire prevention guidelines," he added. South Korea's neighboring Japan was also experiencing wildfires, with hundreds of firefighters battling a blaze in Imabari city of western Ehime region since Sunday. Another wildfire, which also started on Sunday, was affecting the city of Okayama, burning around 250 hectares and damaging six buildings. Japan saw the country's worst wildfire in more than half a century early this month. It engulfed about 2,900 hectares—around half the size of Manhattan –- and killed at least one person.

Deadliest wildfires in South Korean history leave at least 24 people dead - YouTube video- At least 24 fatalities have been reported as of March 26, 2025, in the deadliest wildfires in South Korean history. The fires have burned through tens of thousands of acres and destroyed national treasures such as a 1 300-year-old temple in Uiseong. . The blazes have destroyed more than 200 structures, including the 1 300-year-old Gounsa Temple in Uiseong. More than 27 000 people have been forced to evacuate, according to official statements on March 26, 2025. Most of the fatalities were people in their 60s and 70s. One of the fatalities was a pilot who died after a helicopter crash during firefighting efforts in Uiseong, one of the hardest-hit areas. The aircraft had no other crew members. At least 26 people have been injured, with 12 in critical condition. As of March 26, the Sancheong fire burned through 1 708 ha (4 221 acres) of land and was 77 % contained, while the blaze in Ulju scorched 681 ha (1 683 acres) and was 74 % contained. Thirteen helicopters and more than 1 200 personnel are responding to the fires. The crisis remains critical and is described as “rewriting the record books for the worst wildfires in our nation’s history,” according to acting president Han Duck-soo. On March 25, the national fire agency raised the crisis to the highest fire response level—the first time this alert has been issued this year. Wildfires are relatively uncommon in South Korea, and fatalities from them are rare. The current wildfires, which have killed 18 people in recent days, are the deadliest in the country’s history.

Study reveals key linkages between westerly wind bursts and El Niño development - El Niño, a climate phenomenon marked by warming sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, is known to trigger extreme weather events worldwide, from droughts and floods to disruptions in agriculture and ecosystems. Despite its global impact, the mechanisms behind El Niño remain complex and not fully understood, making accurate predictions challenging.A study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences has uncovered important connections between Westerly Wind Bursts (WWBs)—sudden disruptions of the easterly trade winds—and sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) in the western-central equatorial Pacific. These findings offer new insights into how El Niño events develop, particularly during different phases of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle.Led by Prof. Wenjun Zhang, the team used reanalysis datasets and climate models to analyze the behavior of WWBs during two types of El Niño events: cyclic (transitioning from La Niña to El Niño) and noncyclic (transitioning from normal conditions to El Niño).The study found that WWBs are more frequent in the western-central equatorial Pacific during the spring of developing noncyclic El Niño events, coinciding with localized warming of sea surface temperatures. In contrast, WWBs do not become active until the summer in cyclic El Niño events.The research also revealed that the occurrence of WWBs is closely tied to atmospheric deep convection, which is driven by underlying SSTAs in the western-central equatorial Pacific. Even small temperature changes in this region can trigger significant atmospheric responses due to its high backgroundsea surface temperatures. During noncyclic El Niño events, warmer SSTs enhance WWBs in the spring, while colder SSTs associated with La Niña suppress WWBs in cyclic events.

Arctic sea ice hits record low for its usual peak growth period -- Arctic sea ice had its weakest winter buildup since record-keeping began 47 years ago, a symptom of climate change that will have repercussions globally, scientists said Thursday.The Arctic reaches its maximum sea ice in March each year and then starts a six-month melt season. The National Snow and Ice Data Center said the peak measurement taken Saturday was 5.53 million square miles (14.33 million square kilometers)—about 30,000 square miles (80,000 square kilometers) smaller than the lowest previous peak in 2017. That's a difference about the size of California." Warming temperatures are what's causing the ice to decline,'' ice data scientist Walt Meier said. "You know, sea ice in particular is very sensitive... 31 degrees is ice skating and 33 degrees it's swimming."Jennifer Francis, a scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center in Cape Cod, said this is yet another ringing alarm bell in the form of a broken record."Disappearing sea ice is a particularly worrisome story because it's truly an early warning system alerting us about a variety of hard-to-see changes," Francis said in an email. Scientists said warming conditions in the Arctic—the region is warming four times faster than the rest of the world—affect weather elsewhere. Pressure and temperature differences between north and south shrink. That weakens the jet stream, that moves weather systems along, making it dip further south with cold outbreaks and storms that often get stuck and rain or snow more, according to the snow and ice center and Francis."The warming winter atmosphere above the Arctic Circle does impact large-scale weather patterns that do influence for those of us outside the Arctic," said Julienne Stroeve, an ice scientist at the University of Manitoba. Of the smaller sea ice, Stroeve also noted that it's not only that there's less of it. The remaining ice is thin enough for more of it to melt quickly this summer, Stroeve said. She cautioned that a record low area in the winter doesn't guarantee a record small area in the summer.

Six new species discovered beneath Antarctic seafloor after iceberg A-84 break-off - (news video) An international team exploring the seafloor after iceberg A-84 broke off the George VI Ice Shelf in January 2025 discovered a previously unseen ecosystem, raising questions about how life adapts to some of the harshest environments on the planet. Since the area became accessible, at least six new species have been identified in the region. An international team aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too), operating in the Bellingshausen Sea, rapidly altered their research plans to study an area that was, until January 2025, covered by ice. On January 13, 2025, an iceberg roughly the size of Chicago—designated A-84—broke off the George VI Ice Shelf, one of the major floating extensions of the Antarctic Peninsula ice sheet. By January 25, a research team reached the newly exposed seafloor, becoming the first to study an area that had remained inaccessible to humans until now. The expedition marked the first detailed, comprehensive, and interdisciplinary study of the geology, physical oceanography, and biology beneath such a large area once covered by a floating ice shelf. The calved ice measured approximately 510 km² (197 mi2), revealing an equivalent area of seafloor. “We seized the moment, changed our expedition plan, and proceeded to observe what was happening in the depths below,” said expedition co-chief scientist Dr. Patricia Esquete of the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and the Department of Biology (DBio) at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. “We didn’t expect to find such a thriving ecosystem. Based on the size of the animals, the communities we observed have likely existed for decades, possibly hundreds of years.” The vessel arrived at the area within a day. A submersible robot was lowered more than 1 000 m (3 281 feet) underwater to explore and livestream the region to scientists. Almost immediately, researchers began observing previously unseen lifeforms. YouTube video “The first thing we saw was a huge sponge with a crab on it,” said Esquete. “That was already quite surprising because one question we had was, ‘Will there be any life at all?’” According to the institute, the remotely operated vehicle explored the seafloor for eight days. It also discovered large corals and additional sponges that were supporting species, such as icefish, giant sea spiders, and octopuses. Octopus found under the Antarctic. Image credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute Esquete stated that researchers are now examining how the ecosystem has received enough energy to function. Dr. Jyotika Virmani, Executive Director of Schmidt Ocean Institute, suggested that ocean currents might be transporting nutrients to the area.

Explosive eruption at Etna volcano, Aviation Color Code raised to Red, Italy - A rapid increase in volcanic tremor was recorded at Mount Etna, Italy on March 24, 2025, followed by explosive activity at the Southeast Crater. The eruption occurred after tremor levels rose significantly, prompting authorities to raise the Aviation Color Code to Red at 10:18 UTC. Volcanic tremor at Mount Etna began increasing around 04:30 UTC on March 24, 2025, reaching high values by 07:00 UTC. The centroid of the tremor source was located in the area of the Southeast Crater, at an elevation between 2 900 m and 3 000 m (9 514 feet to 9 843 feet) above sea level. The tremor remained elevated throughout the morning and stabilized at high levels by approximately 08:40 UTC. Initially, infrasound activity was absent due to unfavorable weather, which impaired signal detection. However, modest infrasound signals were detected from around 08:30 UTC, gradually increasing in intensity over the next hour. Ground deformation monitoring networks, including both clinometric and GNSS systems, reported no significant variations in recorded parameters during the same period. An exception was observed at the DRUV dilatometer station, which recorded a significant shift starting at 09:25 UTC. Improved weather conditions over the summit later allowed visual confirmation of volcanic activity. Surveillance cameras from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Etna Observatory (INGV-OE) observed explosive events at the Southeast Crater beginning at 10:22 UTC, while forecast data showed the resulting eruptive plume dispersing northeast of the crater. As a result of this activity, the Aviation Color Code was raised from Green to Yellow at 07:07 UTC, to Orange at 07:53 UTC, and ultimately to Red at 10:18 UTC, with strong strombolian activity observed and ash cloud moving NE. Mount Etna is located above the city of Catania in Sicily, Italy, and has documented volcanic activity dating back to 1500 BCE. It is the highest and most voluminous volcano in Italy, composed mainly of basaltic lava flows. The Mongibello stratovolcano, formed during the late Pleistocene and Holocene over an older shield volcano, features the prominent Valle del Bove caldera, measuring 10 km by 5 km (6.2 miles by 3.1 miles). Lava flows have historically extended to the base of the volcano and reached the sea on the southeast flank.

Violent M7.7 earthquake hits Sagaing, Myanmar — high casualties, extensive damage expected - A powerful earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.7 hit Myanmar at 06:20 UTC (12:50 LT) on March 28, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. The quake was followed by a strong aftershock measuring M6.4 just 12 minutes later. The epicenter was located 16 km (10 miles) NNW of Sagaing (population 78 739), 17 km (11 miles) WNW of Mandalay (population 1 208 099), and 55 km (34 miles) W of Pyon Oo Lwin (population 117 303), Myanmar. 7 000 people are estimated to have felt violent shaking, 2 866 000 severe, 3 606 000 very strong and 6 551 000 moderate. The USGS issued a Red alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Past red alerts have required a national or international response. Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are informal (metal, timber, GI etc.) and unreinforced brick masonry construction. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards, such as landslides, that might have contributed to losses. Estimated economic losses are 2–30% GDP of Myanmar. Liquefaction triggered by this earthquake is estimated to be extensive in severity and (or) spatial extent. The number of people living near areas that could have produced liquefaction in this earthquake is extensive. Landslides triggered by this earthquake are estimated to be significant in number and (or) spatial extent. This is the second M6+ earthquake of the day, following M6.1 near Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago at 00:34 UTC.

Glowing spiral seen over Europe after SpaceX launch stirs public curiosity - (two videos) A large glowing spiral appeared in the night sky over parts of Western Europe on March 24, 2025, following the launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket for the NROL-69 mission. The phenomenon, which captivated observers across the continent, was caused by frozen exhaust released from the rocket’s second stage during its deorbit burn. The large glowing spiral appeared in the night sky over parts of Western Europe on March 24, 2025, following the launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket carrying the NROL-69 mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The launch took place at 17:48 UTC from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. After successfully deploying its classified payload into orbit, the rocket’s second stage initiated a routine deorbit burn, venting its remaining propellant into space. The exhaust—consisting primarily of water vapor and carbon dioxide—rapidly froze in the cold upper atmosphere, forming a diffuse cloud of ice crystals. While the second stage continued to spin, the released material expanded outward in a spiral pattern. Although it was dark on the ground, sunlight still illuminated the upper atmosphere at those altitudes, reflecting off ice crystals to create a glowing spiral visible for several minutes before fading. The phenomenon was observed in multiple countries across Europe, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, and Sweden, extending as far south as Croatia and its neighboring countries. In many locations, the spiral appeared as a glowing vortex moving slowly across the sky, generating widespread curiosity and confusion among observers. Such spirals have occurred after previous Falcon 9 launches, including over Norway in March 2024 following the Transporter-10 rideshare mission, and over New Zealand in 2022. These events are characteristic of the fuel-dumping process performed by the rocket’s second stage during deorbit procedures and pose no danger to observers on the ground. Social media platforms were flooded with photos and videos, with many users speculating about its origin—ranging from rocket activity to more exotic theories. While experienced skywatchers quickly identified the pattern as a result of a rocket fuel dump, others expressed concern and awe, with some describing the sight as “unsettling” or “otherworldly.”

Asteroid 2025 FV12 flew past Earth at 0.2 LD - A newly discovered asteroid designated 2025 FV12 flew past Earth at a distance of 0.26 LD / 0.00079 AU (118 518 km / 73 644 miles) from the center of our planet at 01:31 UTC on March 28, 2025. This was the first of two asteroid flyby’s within 1 lunar distance today. Asteroid 2025 FV12 was first observed at Catalina Sky Survey, Arizona, on March 27 — about 17 hours before the flyby. The object belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids and has an estimated diameter between 2.4 and 5.5 m (7.9–18 feet). This is the 40th known asteroid to fly past Earth within 1 lunar distance (LD) since the start of the year and the 14th so far this month. It is also one of two asteroids that passed within 1 LD of Earth today, occurring approximately 12 hours before 2025 FB8, which passed at a distance of 0.3 LD. Three such asteroids flew past us on March 24, with the closest being 2025 FK3 at 0.3 LD.

Asteroid 2025 FY6 flew past Earth at just 0.05 LD on March 23 - A newly discovered asteroid designated 2025 FY6 flew past Earth at just 0.05 LD / 0.00015 AU (21 944 km / 13 636 miles) at 19:29 UTC on March 23, 2025. Asteroid 2025 FY6 is the 38th known asteroid to fly past Earth within 1 LD since the start of the year and the 12th so far this month. It is also the second-closest asteroid flyby of the year, after 2025 BP6 on January 26 at 0.025 LD. It was first observed at the Kitt Peak-Bok, Arizona, at 08:20 UTC on March 23 — approximately 11 hours before the close approach. The object belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids and has an estimated diameter between 1.7 and 3.9 m (5.6–12.8 feet). asteroid 2025 fy6 orbit diagram march 23 2025 bg

Earth-directed CME from March 21 triggers G3 - Strong geomagnetic storm watch - A coronal mass ejection (CME) launched from the Sun on March 21, 2025, is expected to impact Earth early on March 23, prompting a G3 – Strong geomagnetic storm watch issued by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). The CME was associated with an M1.2 solar flare from Region 4028 at 15:34 UTC. This CME originated from the southwestern quadrant of the Sun and followed a shock signature observed at 15:47 UTC on March 21. The post-event analysis confirmed the CME has an Earth-directed component, with expected arrival by early March 23. As a result, geomagnetic storming is anticipated to intensify, with G3 – Strong levels possible on March 23. The SWPC forecasts continued active to unsettled conditions on March 24 as coronal hole high-speed stream (CH HSS) influences begin to subside. Under G3 – Strong geomagnetic storm conditions, power systems may experience voltage irregularities, and protective devices could trigger false alarms due to induced currents. In space, satellites in low Earth orbit may face increased atmospheric drag and surface charging, which could affect their orientation and operational stability. Navigation systems such as GPS may experience intermittent disruptions, including loss of signal lock and increased range errors. High-frequency (HF) radio communications may also be affected, becoming unreliable or intermittent. Additionally, auroras could be visible at much lower latitudes than usual, with possible sightings as far south as Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Oregon in the United States.

Large coronal hole facing Earth, G2 - Moderate geomagnetic storm - Earth is currently experiencing heightened solar wind conditions and geomagnetic storming due to the passage of a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) ahead of a high-speed stream from a large coronal hole in the southern hemisphere. The arrival of CIR was felt since late March 25 but solar wind speeds remained below 500 km/s until a sharp increase around 13:30 UTC today. Geomagnetic K-index of 6 (G2 – Moderate geomagnetic storm) threshold was reached at 13:58 UTC. Under G2 conditions, the area of impact is primarily poleward of 55 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude. Power grid fluctuations are a possibility, with high-latitude power systems potentially experiencing voltage alarms due to induced currents. In space, satellites may face orientation irregularities, and there is an increased likelihood of drag affecting low Earth-orbit satellites. HF (high frequency) radio propagation may experience fading at higher latitudes. Additionally, the aurora could be visible as far south as New York, Wisconsin, and Washington state, providing a rare visual treat for observers in these areas.

Major X1.1 solar flare erupts near the east limb, large CME produced - A major solar flare measuring X1.1 erupted from a region located near the Sun’s east limb at 15:20 UTC on March 28, 2025. The event started at 14:57 and ended at 15:43 UTC. A Type IV radio emission was detected at 15:14 UTC. This type of emission occurs in association with major solar eruptions and is typically linked to strong coronal mass ejections and solar radiation storms. Additionally, a 10cm Radio Burst (TenFlare) lasting 24 minutes and with a peak flux of 380 sfu was associated with this event. Ad ends in 6 A 10cm radio burst indicates that the electromagnetic burst associated with a solar flare at the 10cm wavelength was double or greater than the initial 10cm radio background. This can be indicative of significant radio noise in association with a solar flare. This noise is generally short-lived but can cause interference for sensitive receivers including radar, GPS, and satellite communications. Images acquired by NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) show a large CME was produced during the eruption. While the location of the region doesn’t favor Earth-directed CMEs, we’ll have to wait for updated coronagraph imagery for any meaningful analysis.

Tracking net-zero carbon debt: Who is responsible for overshoot of the 1.5°C climate limit? - What is a fair way forward after the 1.5°C warming limit of the Paris Agreement has been breached? In a new study, IIASA researchers explore the concept of "net-zero carbon debt"—a measure for assessing who bears greater responsibility for minimizing the climate overshoot. Research shows that we are on course to exceed the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C limit within a decade, exacerbating already heated international climate negotiations—some countries have achieved their wealth by polluting for decades and others argue for the same space to escape poverty and develop. Navigating this new context demands a transparent system that accounts for both historical and future emissions, ensuring each region shoulders its fair share of responsibility for climate action. To inform efforts toward minimizing the magnitude and duration of the overshoot, in a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, IIASA researchers explored the concept of a net-zero carbon debt. Using this measure, researchers can track which regions bear greater responsibility for the climate overshoot as it progresses, while explicitly accounting for past inaction. If a region is expected to accumulate net-zero carbon debt, it will need to compensate—either by supporting emissions reductions elsewhere in the world or by removing additional carbon from the atmosphere. "As we near the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C limit, the question is not just about when we will exceed it, but also how we collectively deal with the consequences in the subsequent period," "To guide efforts that minimize overshoot and establish who should pay for harms caused during this period, we measure who is responsible and to what extent under a range of scenarios and approaches." Calculating a region's net-zero carbon debt involves comparing historical and projected CO2 emissions in a region to its fair share of the remaining carbon budget for staying below 1.5°C. Any excess emissions by the time it reaches net-zero CO2 count as its carbon debt. Applying this approach to deep mitigation scenarios assessed in the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report reveals distinct regional patterns. Some regions consistently accumulate debt due to past inaction, others accumulate debt depending on the timing of their net-zero CO2 targets this century, and some only if they delay net-zero CO2 beyond 2100. To highlight the implications of carbon debt accumulation, the authors of the study assessed carbon drawdown obligations and changes in lifetime exposure to extreme heat waves under current global climate ambitions. Results show that every ton of net-zero carbon debt will not only increase the burden of emission reduction (and removal) on younger generations, but also worsen the climate impacts they will have to endure due to their region's excess emissions.

U.S. Supreme Court Kills Fossil Fuel Lawsuit by Oregon Kids --Marcellus Drilling News - On March 24, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from a group of kids pushing for federal action on climate change since filing their lawsuit, Juliana v. United States, in 2015. Represented by Our Children’s Trust, the 21 youths argued that the government’s energy policies violated their constitutional rights to life, liberty, and security by exacerbating climate change. The case faced repeated setbacks in federal courts, with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue, leading to a lower court’s dismissal of the case. The Supreme Court’s decision not to take up the appeal centered on this procedural issue of standing, effectively ending the long-running litigation. The nonprofit behind the suit had asked the Court to delay its decision pending another case on standing, but the justices proceeded, closing a significant chapter in youth-led climate activism.

Enviros sue Interior, NOAA, CEQ for records on endangerment finding - The Environmental Defense Fund has filed a second lawsuit seeking to force more agencies to divulge details about the Trump administration’s efforts to revoke a cornerstone of U.S. climate policy.The lawsuit says the Trump administration is withholding details about plans to revoke a scientific determination that serves as the foundation for climate rules. The Interior Department is among the agencies an environmental group alleges has withheld records on the endangerment finding. Francis Chung/E&E News The lawsuit filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia calls on the Interior Department, NOAA and the White House Council on Environmental Quality to release information related to the administration’s plans to strike down the 2009 endangerment finding, which gives agencies authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. EDF said the latest lawsuit comes after the three agencies failed to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request — a situation the lawsuit said is “completely lacking in transparency, in contrast with the extensive public process that EPA undertook to develop and adopt the endangerment finding.” The lawsuit comes three weeks after EDF filed a similar challenge against EPA, arguing that the agency had failed to produce any records relating to efforts to revoke the finding that climate pollution endangers public health and welfare.

Ocean dumping—or a climate solution? A growing industry bets on the ocean to capture carbon -- From the grounds of a gas-fired power plant on the eastern shores of Canada, a little-known company is pumping a slurry of minerals into the ocean in the name of stopping climate change. Whether it's pollution or a silver bullet that will save the planet may depend on whom you ask. From shore, a pipe releases a mixture of water and magnesium oxide—a powdery white mineral used in everything from construction to heartburn pills that Planetary Technologies, based in Nova Scotia, is betting will absorb more planet-warming gases into the sea. "Restore the climate. Heal the ocean," reads the motto stamped on a shipping container nearby. Planetary is part of a growing industry racing to engineer a solution to global warming using the absorbent power of the oceans. It is backed by $1 million from Elon Musk's foundation and competing for a prize of $50 million more. Dozens of other companies and academic groups are pitching the same theory: that sinking rocks, nutrients, crop waste or seaweed in the ocean could lock away climate-warming carbon dioxide for centuries or more. Nearly 50 field trials have taken place in the past four years, with startups raising hundreds of millions in early funds. But the field remains rife with debate over the consequences for the oceans if the strategies are deployed at large scale, and over the exact benefits for the climate. Critics say the efforts are moving too quickly and with too few guardrails. "It's like the Wild West. Everybody is on the bandwagon, everybody wants to do something," said Adina Paytan, who teaches earth and ocean science at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Planetary, like most of the ocean startups, is financing its work by selling carbon credits—or tokens representing one metric ton of carbon dioxide removed from the air. Largely unregulated and widely debated, carbon credits have become popular this century as a way for companies to purchase offsets rather than reduce emissions themselves. Most credits are priced at several hundred dollars apiece. The industry sold more than 340,000 marine carbon credits last year, up from just 2,000 credits four years ago, according to the tracking site CDR.fyi. But that amount of carbon removal is a tiny fraction of what scientists say will be required to keep the planet livable for centuries to come. Those leading the efforts, including Will Burt, Planetary's chief ocean scientist, acknowledge they're entering uncharted territory—but say the bigger danger for the planet and the oceans is not moving quickly enough. "We need to understand if it's going to work or not. The faster we do, the better." Most climate models now show that cutting emissions won't be enough to curb global warming, according to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The world needs to actively remove heat-trapping gases, as well—and the ocean could be a logical place to capture them. Money has already poured into different strategies on land—among them, pumping carbon dioxide from the air, developing sites to store carbon underground and replanting forests, which naturally store CO2. But many of those projects are limited by space and could impact nearby communities. The ocean already regulates Earth's climate by absorbing heat and carbon, and by comparison, it seems limitless. Most companies looking offshore for climate solutions are trying to reduce or transform the carbon dioxide stored in the ocean. If they can achieve that, Burt said, the oceans will act "like a vacuum" to absorb more gases from the air. Planetary is using magnesium oxide to create that vacuum. When dissolved into seawater, it transforms carbon dioxide from a gas to stable molecules that won't interact with the atmosphere for thousands of years. Limestone, olivine and other alkaline rocks have the same effect. Other companies are focused on growing seaweed and algae to capture the gas. These marine organisms act like plants on land, absorbing carbon dioxide from the ocean just as trees do from the air. The company Gigablue, for instance, has begun pouring nutrients in New Zealand waters to grow tiny organisms known as phytoplankton where they otherwise couldn't survive. Still others view the deepest parts of the ocean as a place to store organic material that would emit greenhouse gases if left on land. Companies have sunk wood chips off the coast of Iceland and are planning to sink Sargassum, a yellowish-brown seaweed, to extreme depths. The startup Carboniferous is preparing a federal permit to place sugarcane pulp at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, also referred to as the Gulf of America as declared by President Donald Trump. Fishing communities have opposed another climate project led by Subhas of the Woods Hole research center that has generated 10 months of conversation and debate. The project as proposed last spring would have poured 66,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide solution into ocean waters near Cape Cod. Woods Hole later proposed downsizing the project to use less than 17,000 gallons of the chemical, with federal approval still pending. In two separate reviews, the Environmental Protection Agency said it believes the project's scientific merit outweighs the environmental risks, and noted it doesn't foresee "unacceptable impacts" on water quality or fishing. But fifth-generation fisherman Jerry Leeman III wants to know what will happen to the lobster, pollock and flounder eggs that float in the water column and on the ocean surface if they are suddenly doused with the harsh chemical. "Are you telling all the fishermen not to fish in this area while you're doing this project? And who compensates these individuals for displacing everybody?" he said.

Can geothermal energy meet the moment? - A new darling of renewable energy is emerging in President Donald Trump’s America.It’s located deep in the fiery depths of the Earth’s core.Geothermal is rapidly gaining popularity in the U.S. since Trump’s election, despite generating less than 1 percent of electricity on the grid in recent years.Federal staffers say the industry has the support of the Trump team — a stark contrast from the administration’s antagonistic stance toward the two largest sources of renewable energy in the U.S., wind and solar.“They’ve been very clear that geothermal is going to be a major emphasis,” said a DOE career staffer who was granted anonymity to speak freely to POLITICO’s E&E News.Geothermal energy involves drilling deep into earth to harness heat to generate power. It’s a potentially zero-carbon fuel more prevalent in some areas of the western United States, where high temperatures are close to the Earth’s surface. It could also prove vital in meeting new power demand forecasts that are daunting policymakers.For now, geothermal is too expensive to compete with other energy sources, such as coal and natural gas. But new breakthroughs are changing the game for the industry.Producers are now using horizontal drilling and fracking, two oil and gas drilling techniques that have transformed the fossil fuel sector in recent decades. Leaders in the geothermal industry, such as Fervo Energy’s Tim Latimer, say the new drilling systems will slash costs and allow operators to go much deeper in the Earth’s core to unlock heat previously thought unreachable at competitive prices.So-called enhanced geothermal systems will not only expand the geography of where energy can be produced beyond the easy-to-access spots,= but could also help bring the overall cost down by creating a larger market, experts say. Fervo recently received grant money from DOE.A January article in the journal Nature Review, meanwhile, found that enhanced geothermal could be cost competitive with the national average cost of electricity generation by 2030. That fits with the Biden administration’s target of $45 per megawatt hour of geothermal electricity by 2035.In the waning months of 2024, the previous administration kicked off a grant program to use oil and gas drilling expertise in the geothermal sector to slash costs.Amid the enthusiasm, geothermal’s emergence is raising some ethical issues. Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s company Liberty Energy invested in Fervo. Wright resigned from Liberty, a fracking services firm, after his confirmation.

Trump Invokes Wartime Emergency Powers in Order To Prioritize US Mineral and Industrial Production - President Trump has faced more than a few controversies with his broad use of executive orders since retaking office in January. It looks like a new issue may be being stirred up with one of his most recent, invoking wartime emergency powers to dramatically increase US mineral output, and also citing the increase in industrial production with those minerals as part of the process.The Executive Order, signed Thursday, cites Section 301 of the US legal code, and delegates substantial authority to several departments, including the Department of Defense, to prioritize increasing domestic “mineral production” to the maximum possible extent.The order explicitly cites uranium, gold, copper and potash as minerals to be prioritized for mining purposes. It also empowers the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC) to pick out any more minerals they think are also important, some media reports suggest coal would be among those added. They are also to ask miners for ideas to eliminate regulatory “bottlenecks.” Picking minerals and lifting regulations is just the start. Then, the Secretary of the Interior is to identify all federal lands that have those minerals on them, and then revise land use policy to prioritize mineral production and mining on those lands.The order includes a requirement that any federal agency giving loans to businesses stop requiring them to comply with Regulation S-K part 1300. This regulation requires disclosures of several factors in a mining operation to qualify for a loan, including whether the company’s business model is economically viable, and whether the mining company has any experience in operating such mines.Those disclosure requirements are to be ignored under this executive order, so long as the loan is expected to increase domestic mineral production. It also empowers the Secretary of Defense to create a dedicated fund to fund the increase in domestic mineral production.That gets us to the production of a lot of minerals, apparently with gold and copper a big focus. It doesn’t end there though as the executive order defines mineral production not just as the process of getting the minerals out of the ground, but using them for manufacturing.The order specifically includes the domestic production of certain derivative goods that are to be counted within, and includes things seemingly unrelated to national security, like smartphones and electric vehicles. Since gold is used in contacts for electronics, it could include nearly anything that the administration wants.The Small Business Administration is further ordered to submit a plan to enhance financing of new businesses involved in any aspect of mineral production, which includes the manufacturing of final goods as well as intermediaries. It envisions them creating recommendations for legislation that would enhance “private-public capital activities” to this end.The executive order was quickly and loudly endorsed by the National Mining Association, who declared it as a bold way to counter China in the dominance of global mineral production. The focus on smartphones, semiconductors and electric vehicles is also likely representative of this order being in part about competing with China.But Canada is clearly also part of this, as the potash production is mentioned quite early in the order. The US imports over 90% of the potash used annually, and the overwhelming majority of that comes from Canada. This has fueled concerns that the Trump tariff plans against Canada could unduly burden American farmers, as there are few alternative international sources for potash anywhere near the size of Canada’s production.Whether opening up federal land will do anything about that is unclear, but doubtful. The US has relatively little potash to mine, and curbing mining regulations will likely do little to meaningfully increase production. Certainly, that production will not be increased to anywhere near the amount US farmers use annually.

Oregon planning for big data center as tech companies swarm region - Toledo Blade Northwest Ohio is looking at an explosion of data centers in the next two years as technology companies and site selectors zero in on the region as a potential crossroads for the energy sources required to power the facilities. Oregon is set to be an early beneficiary of the frenzy as the city is in talks with a site selector about a billion-plus dollar facility that could provide the city and school with an additional $5 million in tax revenue each year, Mayor Mike Seferian said. The proposed data center will be located on 168 acres of land near Corduroy and Wynn roads and have as many as eight buildings at several hundred thousand square feet each. The city of Oregon purchased the parcels for an industrial site for $9 million a year ago, but, when the deal fell through, site selector Capacity LLC approached the city and said it was interested in developing the site into a data center. In November, city council approved a $17.4 million purchase agreement for the property and set into motion the due diligence period for the development. A view of the future data center site in Oregon. In the background are, from left, the Cliffs direct-reduced iron plant, the Cenovus Toledo Refinery, and the former Bay Shore plant of Toledo Edison. Capacity isn’t the only company that’s waiting in line for data centers in the region. Mayor Seferian said there are other companies on standby, waiting to see if the deal falls through. He doesn’t think that’s likely. “I’m nearly at 99 percent belief that this is going to happen here,” Mayor Seferian said. “We’re both at 100 percent go, and everything that we think can be delivered for their needs, we believe will happen — and they believe it will happen. “I bet you there will be communities around us that will be envious to think that we just hit the Powerball lottery,” Mayor Seferian said. But neighboring communities may not need to wait long for their shot at hitting the jackpot. Site selectors are actively looking for new places to put the notoriously power-hungry facilities that reduce reliance on stressed electrical grids. Gary Thompson, executive vice president at the Regional Growth Partnership, said the abundance of energy and natural gas pipelines in northwest Ohio is a key factor that has site selectors swarming the area. “Certainly within the next 12 months, we will see data centers erupting in northwest Ohio. ... There are other data center projects and people that are in the area trying to assemble sites and figure out their plans.” Mr. Thompson said. “These folks are in our market and they’re conducting their studies, and I think you’ll see a few of these move forward within the next 12 months.” “To pique a data center’s interest, really the only thing we need to talk about is power,” Mr. Thompson said. Data centers are essentially buildings full of computer servers that form the infrastructure necessary to support every aspect of the internet. They run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and technology companies prioritize zero downtime and require several layers of backup to keep the servers online. The energy demands of the always-online facilities have created problems across the country, and even in Ohio. In January, a long-term load forecast by grid operator PJM warned that capacity shortages because of “proliferation of data centers” could come as soon as June, 2026. Natural gas pipelines that run through northwest Ohio provide readily available supplies for energy generation, reducing the reliance of the facilities on power from the electric grid. Mr. Thompson said the grid in the area is also built to withstand large amounts of electricity transmission from coal power plants that have now gone offline, freeing space for new users. “From our strategy standpoint, we are not trying to take down existing power off the grid,” Mr. Turner said. “If we’re bringing in a large load, we need to bring in large generation, and we need to work with the utility and alleviate concerns within the community.” The Oregon facility will use three clusters of 12 natural gas generators, which will eventually generate 828 megawatts of power, according to Capacity’s website. While exact details of the site are yet to be determined, Mr. Turner said, construction costs are anticipated to exceed $1 billion.

Data Center Consumption, Electrification Tied to Surging U.S. PowerGen, Says FERC -- The increasing pivot to electrification, linked to industrial demand and the hyper growth of data centers, must be addressed to ensure the nation’s grid remains stable, according to FERC. (a map of US coal-fired power plants set to retire in 2025) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff on Thursday presented the annual State of the Markets to the commissioners. Some material had been metered out by regional transmission organizations (RTO) and independent system operators (ISO) over the past few months. The findings, FERC Chairman Mark Christie noted, are “consistent with reports we have been regularly receiving” from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and RTO/ISO sources.

$9.6M Renovation Coming to Salt Fork State Park, Thx to Fracking - Marcellus Drilling News --Last week, MDN told you that fracking has begun under the park, and literally nobody noticed (see Drilling Begins Under Salt Fork State Park – “No Signs of Fracking”). The radical left has been stroking out over the prospect of drilling under (not on) Salt Fork and other state-owned parks and lands. The Big Green-backed Save Ohio Parks protested in Columbus earlier this month, wearing and using fossil fuels to protest fossil fuels and drilling under Ohio’s parks (see Antis Rally at OH Statehouse to Protest Fossil Fuels They Were Wearing). With the din of irrational antis now dying down comes word that Salt Fork State Park, Ohio’s biggest start park (in Guernsey County), is getting a $9.6 million makeover courtesy of the money the state received from the shale frackers who are now fracking underneath the park.

CPP Wants to Invest Another $12.5B into Oil, Gas -- CPP Investments’ door is to oil and gas investment stories as the giant Canada Pension Plan wants to double its energy portfolio to $50 billion in the coming years.“Our $25 billion [energy] portfolio is half renewables and low-carbon and half traditional energy,” Bill Rogers, a CPP Investments managing director and its global head of sustainable energies, said at the recent CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston.“And as we double to $50 billion [in energy], we'll look to maintain that diversification.”Based in London, Rogers joined CPP from Macquarie Group and began his career atShell Oil and McKinsey & Co.Its money is long-hold, unlike traditionally build-and-flip private equity investment funds, he said.“We're quite unusual,” Rogers said.Also, it’s hands-on, unlike pension funds, institutional funds and others. “As a half-trillion-[U.S.]-dollar fund, we can hire our own team investing in private and public equity,” Rogers said.Launched in 1999 with CA$12.1 million that has grown to CA$700 billion as of year-end 2024, “we are a young pension fund; our liabilities are quite backdated. So we have a lot more inflows, which means that we're investing for long-term capital growth.” Most pension funds invest through managers. “They may be directly investing in public markets, but they'll be investing through the VCs [venture-capital shops], private-equity firms and infrastructure funds.” Some of CPP’s current oil and gas holdings include $1.3 billion in Utica Shale oil-focused Encino Acquisition Partners, including an additional $300 million last spring. Also in Appalachia, it has a more than $1 billion, 35% stake in a midstream joint venture with Williams Cos. in the Utica and Marcellus shales.In the Rockies, CPP’s Crestone Peak Resources merged with Extraction Oil & Gas andBonanza Creek in 2021, forming Civitas Resources. CPP held a 16.5% stake in the stock, according to Civitas’ most recent DEF 14A filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.CPP invested more than $800 million in Denver-based gas pipeline operator Tallgrass Energy in August.In U.S. oilfield services, its VoltaGrid Technologies provides in-field power to well-completion pressure-pumping operations.In western Canada, it holds positions in oil and gas producer Teine Energy and in pipeline company Wolf Midstream, which holds 100% of Access pipeline.Offshore Ireland, in a joint venture with Canada’s Vermilion Energy, its Nephin Energy operates the Corrib gas field and is Ireland’s largest gas producer. “Our CEO likes to say that divestment is a short on human ingenuity,” Rogers said.

SRBC Renews Water Use Permits for 34 Marcellus/Utica Shale Pads - Marcellus Drilling News - The highly functional and responsible Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), unlike its completely dysfunctional and irresponsible cousin, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), continues to support the shale energy industry by approving water withdrawals and consumptive use for responsible and safe shale drilling. The SRBC published a notice in the March 22 Pennsylvania Bulletin that the Commission renewed 34 general water use permits in January for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Wyoming counties.

SRBC Stops Creek Water Withdrawals for 18 Shale Gas Projects - On March 27, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) online Hydrologic Conditions Monitor showed low stream flows have triggered restrictions on 18 shale gas water withdrawal points in Bradford, Potter, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Wyoming counties. Another 17 shale gas withdrawals are approaching restrictions. Of the water withdrawal points regulated by SRBC, only shale gas development water withdrawals currently have restrictions because they take water from smaller streams.

DEP: US Interior Dept. Withdraws Orphan Oil & Gas Well Regulatory Improvement Grant Program To Help Prevent Future Well Abandonments, A Severe Problem In PA - On March 20, the Department of Environmental Protection told the Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board the US Department of the Interior has "withdrawn" the Orphan Oil and Gas Well Regulatory Improvement Act Grant Program designed to help states strengthen their programs, in particular to prevent future oil and gas well abandonments.Under the program, states were eligible for two types of Regulatory Improvement Grants--

• -- Plugging Standards Grants: Intended to incentivize states to implement standards and procedures designed to ensure that wells located in the state are plugged in an effective manner that protects groundwater and other natural resources, public health and safety, and the environment.
• -- Program Improvement Grants: Intended to incentivize states to implement other improvements to state programs designed to reduce future orphaned well burdens, such as financial assurance reform, alternative funding mechanisms for orphaned well programs, and reforms to programs relating to well transfer or temporary abandonment.

Final guidance on the federal program was just issued on January 15, 2025. Kris Shiffer, Director of DEP’s Bureau of Oil and Gas Planning, Program Management, said, "We did get word, I think within the last month, currently, right now DOI has withdrawn Regulatory Improvement Grant guidance and is not accepting Regulatory Improvement Grant applications pending further review of that program."He said the Regulatory Improvement Grant Program "deals with two $20 million grant opportunities where we strengthen our plugging program as well as our oversight from a regulatory perspective, whether it be policy changes, SOP [operating procedure] changes, rulemaking changes, legislative changes that we help to improve the program.""So we'll wait to see if that opens up or if there's any changes to be made associated with that one," added Shiffer.“So regardless of the money on the table so to speak, as part of that grant opportunity, there's always improvements that we're trying to make and look at in terms of doing, whether it be, speaking with the legislators, whether it'd be speaking with the Governor's Office, whether it be speaking with the industry members, whether it be with the different work groups that we have going on,” said Shiffer. “There's always improvements that we always want to make as a program. I'm a big believer in trying to say, Pennsylvania has the number one program across the nation. We're leading the way in terms of other states looking for us for opportunities and ideas, and I firmly believe that,” said Shiffer.Kurt Klapkowski, DEP Deputy Secretary for Oil and Gas Management, added, “I think we've got a lot of room to make administrative changes, things that wouldn't necessarily require regulations or statutory changes, although we would certainly be interested in those types of changes if it seemed like that was the best approach to get to those places. “But the idea of cutting off the future abandonment, improper abandonment of wells so that we're not ever sort of handing this off to the taxpayer as now it's your problem kind of a thing.“And that can take a lot of different forms. That can be how we look at permit transfers. “That could be how we do enforcement and oversight of abandonment, how do we do oversight and enforcement of our reporting requirements? “And in Kris's bureau, we've created a new compliance section in our data management and compliance division that's really taking a hard look at those issues across the state.”Continuing Conventional Well Abandonment ProblemIn 2024, DEP issued 860 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.In 2023, DEP issued 512 violations to conventional well owners for abandonment.So far in 2025, DEP issued 96 violations to 36 conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning their wells. Read more here.Growing Shale Gas Well AbandonmentsIn 2024, 47 violations were issued or continued to 12 shale gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells. In 2023, DEP issued or continued 20 violations to 10 shale gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells. Read more here.So far in 2025, DEP issued 39 violations to 10 shale gas drilling companies for abandoning and not plugging their well, most drilled in the early days of shale gas development in Pennsylvania-- 2009 to 2013. Read more here. In September 2021, environmental groups submitted rulemaking petitions to the Environmental Quality Board to increase well plugging bonding amounts for conventional and unconventional shale gas wells to what it costs taxpayers to plug oil and gas wells abandoned by their owners. Read more here.In response, the General Assembly passed and Gov. Wolf signed into law legislation in July 2022 that took away the EQB’s authority to increase bond amounts for conventional oil and gas wells for 10 years. Read more here.DEP has yet to report to the Environmental Quality Board on whether it recommends the Board accept the rulemaking petition increasing bonding amounts for shale gas wells.DEP has been trying to get the conventional oil and gas industry interested in other concepts to handle their well plugging financial responsibilities.In October 2023, DEP and One Nexus presented the concept of a “life insurance” policy for covering well plugging liability to conventional well owners at DCED’s PA Grade Crude [Oil] Development Advisory Council, but the industry would have none of it. Read more here.In November 2021, the Post-Gazette reported DEP records show the agency has less than $15 per well available to plug the over 100,500 active conventional oil and gas wells that now have permits because of woefully inadequate well plugging bonding requirements. Read more here.Conventional oil and gas wells drilled before April 18, 1985, which is most of them, cannot be required to have any well plugging bond by law.

22 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Mar 17 – 23 -- Marcellus Drilling News --For the week of Mar 17 – 23, the number of permits issued in the Marcellus/Utica to drill new shale wells dropped by nine from the previous week. Last week, 22 new permits were issued, with 16 going to the Keystone State (PA). PennEnergy Resources took the lion’s share with 11 permits for a single pad in Butler County. PA General Energy received four permits for a single pad in Lycoming County. Range Resources got one new permit in Washington County. ASCENT RESOURCES | BUTLER COUNTY | CNX RESOURCES | ENERGY COMPANIES | EOG RESOURCES | HARRISON COUNTY | LYCOMING COUNTY | MONONGALIA COUNTY | PENNENERGY RESOURCES | PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL ENERGY | RANGE RESOURCES CORP | WASHINGTON COUNTY

Antero Resources Continues as WV’s Largest Producer with 3.4 Bcfe/d - Marcellus Drilling News -- Antero Resources, which is 100% focused on the Marcellus/Utica with over 500,000 net acres under lease and the largest M-U driller and producer in West Virginia, shoots to produce 3.4 billion cubic feet equivalent per day (Bcfe/d) of natural gas in the Mountain State. The company recently reported net production averaging 3.43 Bcfe/d in 4Q24, up ever so slightly from 3.42 Bcfe/d in 4Q23 (see Antero to Drill 50-55 New Wells, Spend $100M on New Leases in 2025). From the quarterly update, we learned that Antero plans to drill 50-55 new wells and complete 60-65 wells this year. Those numbers were recently reaffirmed in an interview with Antero VP Conrad Baston by WV News. Bringing 60 wells online annually keeps production humming along in the 3.4 Bcfe/d range. Read More

Hope Gas Ending “Farm Taps” May Impact Conventional Wells, Too -- Hope Gas, a large local utility company that provides gas service to more than 131,000 residential, industrial, and commercial customers in thirty-seven West Virginia counties, filed a rate case with the state Public Service Commission (PSC) in August 2024 looking to convert customers who use a “farm tap” gas system to either propane fuel or electric heat for their homes (see WV’s Hope Gas Seeks to End “Farm Taps” for 600 Customers). The change would affect around 600 customers, removing them from the ability to use local natural gas. Conventional drillers now say they may be affected too, with no one to sell their local gas to and a lack of pipelines to connect their production to other markets.

WV Supremes Rule Lower Court Erred in New Trial re Injection Well --Marcellus Drilling News --Here’s an interesting lawsuit that never appeared on our radar. It involves a lease in Fayette County, West Virginia, and the right to establish an injection well in an old conventional well on the leased property. The party leasing and using the old injection well, Webb Construction, was later sued by the party leasing out the property, North Hills Group, after new board members over at North Hills. The lawsuit accused Webb of improperly using the old well as an injection well without first trying to see if the well could be rejuvenated as a productive gas well and building a pipeline to the well that leaked wastewater on North Hill’s property. A Fayette Circuit Court jury in 2022 found in favor of Webb and against North Hills, dismissing all claims against Webb. North Hills asked the judge to grant a new trial to overturn the jury verdict, which the judge did. North Hills won in the new trial. Read More

EQT CEO Tells West Virginia: It’s Time to Build More Pipelines -Marcellus Drilling News -Toby Rice, CEO of EQT Corporation, took part in a presentation by natural gas industry leaders at the West Virginia Capitol on Wednesday. The group was briefly joined by Gov. Patrick Morrisey, who was there to promote an expansion of electric microgrids in the state to power data centers. Morrisey is pushing legislature, House Bill 2014, to do just that (see WV Gov. Backs Energy Bill to Attract Data Centers, Use Coal & Gas). Rice told those at the rally that if the state is serious about building more gas-fired power, it’s going to need new pipelines

MVP Case Against Radicalized Protesters Advances in Federal Court - On Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia (Roanoke Division) ruled in two of five cases before it in which Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), which is now majority-owned by EQT Corporation, sued radical protesters who blocked the construction of the pipeline in Roanoke County, Virginia. The court dismissed one count in the two cases (count #4) against the protesters, which the media focused on. The media doesn’t want to talk about the fact that there are five other counts, far more serious than the dismissed count, that the court is allowing to advance. These protesters are in a world of legal hurt over their illegal blocking of MVP construction.

Why Democrats joined Trump’s pipeline push - A once-dormant debate over natural gas pipelines in the Northeast is back — courtesy of President Donald Trump.The idea of building pipelines roiled the region a decade ago. The controversy all but disappeared amid political opposition, as officials in New York and other states ramped up climate targets and rejected permits for planned pipeline projects.Then, Trump returned to office and revived the debate in a social media post.“Every other State in New England, plus Connecticut, wants this, in order to help the Environment, and save BIG money,” he wrote this month on Truth Social, his social media platform.Energy Secretary Chris Wright chimed in with his own prediction that construction could begin this year on a pipeline into New York.Analysts doubt it would happen so soon. But there are key differences between the debate now and the last time pipelines were a high-profile issue in the Northeast, including indications that Democrats might support them.In Massachusetts, Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat who fought a major pipeline project as attorney general, is under pressure to address skyrocketing heating bills after a cold winter.In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, signaled that he’s open to new pipelines in his State of the State address and by telling a local media outlet that natural gas could be an area of compromise with Trump. And in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul, another Democrat, green-lighted the expansion of a pipeline in February that would increase the flow of gas into the state.The moves reflect the realities facing state leaders who are trying to find a way to meet their climate goals even as they combat some of the highest energy prices in the country, said Marc Montalvo, the CEO of Daymark Energy Advisors, a Massachusetts-based consulting firm. “I think that there is a certain kind of pragmatism that is trying to eat its way in,” he said. “I don’t know ultimately where that will go.” The revival comes at a critical moment in the Northeast. The region banked heavily on offshore wind and increased hydropower from Quebec to slash climate pollution and limit its exposure to spikes in natural gas prices.But those initial clean energy projects are only now nearing the finish line after years of regulatory reviews, legal battles and, in the case of one high-profile offshore wind project, a major construction accident in which a huge blade crashed into the ocean. The prospect of future projects, meanwhile, have been clouded by Trump’s trade war with Canada and his opposition to offshore wind. The result is a region that remains more reliant than ever on natural gas, but with limited pipeline capacity to meet its power and heating needs. Gas accounts for roughly half the power generation in New England and New York. It’s also the top heating source in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York, according to theU.S. Energy Information Administration.The gas industry and conservative activists have long argued that the best way to reduce costs is to increase pipeline capacity between gas-rich Pennsylvania and its neighbors to the Northeast. Project 2025, the conservative policy blueprint, calls for changes to the Clean Water Act, which was used by former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, to block pipelines in 2016 and 2020. A poll commissioned by a foundation aligned with a conservative group in Massachusetts found that 47 percent of Bay State respondents supported new pipeline construction, compared to 37 percent who opposed it. A new study supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently concluded that expanding pipeline capacity would lower natural gas prices by 27 percent in Boston and 17 percent in New York.“Truly, when you get into the Northeast, the states’ ability to block pipelines has been pretty chronic, particularly in the New York City market,” Alan Armstrong, chief executive of Williams Cos., told Bloomberg. “I would say that I think what’s going to fix that is people being really upset about their utility bills.”Williams, a major energy infrastructure company with a focus on gas, proposed building two pipelines — the Northeast Supply Enhancement and the Constitution pipeline — that were rejected by Cuomo. Kinder Morgan, another energy company, proposed building the Northeast Energy Direct pipeline through Massachusetts and New Hampshire before pulling the plan in the face of widespread opposition in 2016. Environmentalists say those arguments ignore the economic and environmental costs of building gas infrastructure. Connecticut preemptively ended a campaign to expand local gas distribution lines in 2022 due to the financial and environmental costs, while high gas bills in Massachusetts this winter owe in part to costs stemming from fixing and maintaining old distribution pipes, they say. In 2018, leaky distribution pipes led to a series of gas explosions in Massachusetts that killed one person, injured dozens more and damaged more than 100 buildings. The Acadia Center, an environmental group, estimates that natural gas transmission capacity into New England has increased 40 percent since 2014. But those expansion projects have failed to provide consumers with financial relief, said Jamie Dickerson, the group’s senior director for the climate and clean energy program. “If the concern is the rising cost of folks’ gas bills — which, obviously, it rightly is — I think the logical step is to get off gas and diversify your energy supply and not to double down more on the fuel that’s been sort of driving bills up this winter,” Dickerson said. New York and New England states were able to achieve deep emission cuts in the early 2000s by phasing out old coal, oil and natural-gas-fired power plants. But power plant emissions have steadily climbed in recent years as the region has run out of coal plants to retire and as clean energy projects have been delayed. Gas stepped in to fill the void. New England power plants released 27 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2024, the highest level since 2016, according to EPA data. (The lowest was 22 million tons in 2019.) New York has seen its power sector emissions rise from 24 million tons in 2019 to 31 million tons last year.Gas is the primary reason for higher emissions. Gas plant climate pollution in New York grew from 23 million tons in 2019 to nearly 31 million tons last year, EPA data shows. In New England, gas emissions grew from 20 million tons to 25 million tons over that period. Oil plant emissions, by contrast, were down 515,000 tons in New York and up 151,000 tons in New England over that time. “The idea that we would go backwards on our climate goals, put in more polluting gas plants and further expand our reliance on gas heating is just completely backwards,” said Shannon Laun, vice president of the Conservation Law Foundation’s Connecticut chapter.

Venture Global Starts Regulatory Process for Third Phase at Plaquemines Project — Venture Global LNG Inc. has started the pre-filing process at FERC for the third phase of its Plaquemines LNG facility after announcing the expansion plans earlier this month. The company is in the process of commissioning the first phase. It is in the process of installing trains for the second phase, which is expected to be up and running next year. A third phase would add 18.6 million tons/year (Mt/y) of capacity to the facility in Louisiana, boosting its output above 45 Mt/y. The company told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in its pre-filing request that it could file a formal application for project authorization by September, which would put it on track for approval by September 2026. The expansion would include 24 smaller modular liquefaction trains, a marine berth and a gas-fired power plant. Management expects to make a final investment decision after its proposed CP2 LNG facility in Louisiana enters commercial service, which is expected in mid-2027.

Feds approve offshore gas terminal under orders from Trump - Department of Transportation officials have awarded a license to an offshore natural gas export facility, reversing themselves under orders from President Donald Trump.DOT’s Maritime Administration, or MARAD, last year denied Delfin LNG a license for its floating export terminal off the coast of Louisiana, saying it was too different than the project it had given preliminary approval years before.But the “Unleashing American Energy” order Trump signed on the first day of his term had arcane language tucked into it ordering MARAD to take another look at the project, and explicit instructions on what not to look at. MARAD’s brief statement announcing the reversal did not offer any reasons except to say that it “is being issued in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order” on energy.

Delfin LNG Agrees to Supply Germany’s SEFE Following Key Permitting Decision - Germany’s state-owned LNG trading firm has signed on as a tentative customer for Delfin LNG LLC’s offshore export project in the wake of its approval by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD). Map showing Delfin LNG project. Securing Energy for Europe GmbH (SEFE) disclosed a heads of agreement for 1.5 million tons/year (Mt/y) from Delfin LNG for 15 years starting in 2027. Designed to consist of up to 3 floating LNG units connected to existing onshore pipeline infrastructure through a deepwater port 50 miles south of the Louisiana coast, Delfin LNG could add 13 Mt/y of export capacity. Related Tags

US natgas prices slide 2% to 3-week low on record output, mild weather (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures slid about 2% to a three-week low on Monday on record output and forecasts for milder weather and lower demand over the next two weeks than previously expected. Front-month gas futures for April delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 6.6 cents, or 1.7%, to settle at $3.914 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), their lowest close since February 28. Lower gas demand expected in coming weeks should allow utilities to keep adding fuel to storage this month. Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states has risen to 106.0 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) so far in March from a record 105.1 bcfd in February. Meteorologists projected temperatures in the Lower 48 states would remain mostly warmer than normal through April 8. With seasonally milder weather coming, LSEG forecast average gas demand in the Lower 48, including exports, will slide from 107.9 bcfd this week to 104.0 bcfd next week. The forecast for next week was lower than LSEG's outlook on Friday. The amount of gas flowing to the eight big operating U.S. LNG export plants rose to an average of 15.8 bcfd so far in March from a record 15.6 bcfd in February, as new units at Venture Global's 3.2-bcfd Plaquemines LNG plant under construction in Louisiana enter service. Gas traded around $13 per mmBtu at both the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) benchmark in Europe and the Japan Korea Marker (JKM) benchmark in Asia. In Canada, meanwhile, the Maran Gas Roxana LNG vessel was heading for the 1.8-bcfd LNG Canada export plant under construction in British Columbia to deliver cargo from Australia to cool down the plant as part of its commercialization. Once LNG Canada enters service, likely in mid-2025, Canadian gas exports to the U.S. will likely decline as Canadian energy firms have another outlet for their fuel and start selling more to other countries, traders have said. For now, the U.S. is the only outlet for Canadian gas. Canada exported about 8.6 bcfd of gas via pipelines to the U.S. in 2024, up from 8.0 bcfd in 2023 and an average of 7.5 bcfd over the prior five years (2018-2022), according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data. That compares with a record 10.4 bcfd in 2002.

Gas Prices Edge Up on Strong LNG Demand, Waha Prices Fall Below Zero Again | Pipeline and Gas Journal - (Reuters) — U.S. natural gas futures edged up about 1% on Wednesday on record gas flows to liquefied natural gas export plants and raised demand forecasts for the next two weeks, with price gains capped by record output and forecasts for mild weather through mid-April. On its second to last day as the front-month, gas futures for April delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 2.1 cents, or 0.5%, to settle at $3.861 per million British thermal units (MMBtu). On Tuesday, the contract closed at its lowest since February 28 for a second day in a row. Futures for May, which will soon be the front-month, were trading down about 1% at around $3.86 per MMBtu. Despite forecasts for more demand, traders noted that mild weather should allow utilities to keep adding fuel to storage. Some analysts said gas stockpiles were on track to increase in March for the first time since 2012 and only the second time in history. Gas stockpiles remained about 7% below normal levels for this time of year after extremely cold weather in January and February forced energy firms to pull large amounts of gas out of storage, including record amounts in January. In the spot market, gas prices at the Waha Hub in the Permian shale in West Texas turned negative for the second time this month due to pipeline maintenance that trapped gas associated with oil production in the basin. With Permian oil production hitting record highs every year since at least 2016, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, energy firms have had a hard time building gas pipes fast enough to keep up with soaring associated gas output. Permian gas production has also hit record highs every year since at least 2018. Pipeline constraints have caused next-day Waha prices to turn negative a record 49 times in 2024. Waha prices averaged below zero 17 times in 2019, six times in 2020 and once in 2023.

US natgas prices climb 2% on decline in daily output, record LNG flows (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures climbed about 2% on Thursday on a decline in daily output, record flows to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants and forecasts for more demand this week than previously expected. On its last day as the front-month, gas futures for April delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 8.9 cents, or 2.3%, to settle at $3.950 per million British thermal units (mmBtu). Sign up here. Futures for May , which will soon be the front-month, were trading up about 1.5% to around $3.93 per mmBtu. Prices rose despite a report showing last week's storage build was bigger than expected and forecasts for lower demand next week than previously expected. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said energy firms added 37 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas out of storage during the week ended March 21. That was bigger than the 25-bcf build analysts forecast in a Reuters poll and compares with a decrease of 30 bcf during the same week last year and a five-year average draw of 31 bcf for this time of year. Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states rose to 106.0 billion cubic feet per day so far in March from a record 105.1 bcfd in February. On a daily basis, however, output was on track to drop 2.3 bcfd over the past three days to a preliminary one-month low of 104.9 bcfd on Thursday. Traders noted preliminary data was often changed later in the day. Meteorologists projected temperatures in the Lower 48 states would remain mostly warmer than normal through April 11. With seasonally milder weather coming, LSEG forecast average gas demand in the Lower 48, including exports, will slide from 108.8 bcfd this week to 103.3 bcfd next week. The forecast for this week was higher than LSEG's outlook on Wednesday, while the forecast for next week was lower. Gas flowing to the eight big operating U.S. LNG export plants rose to an average of 15.8 bcfd so far in March, from a record 15.6 bcfd in February, as new units at Venture Global's (VG.N), opens new tab 3.2-bcfd Plaquemines LNG plant under construction in Louisiana entered service.

US natgas prices climb 3% on record LNG flows, lower daily output (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures climbed about 3% to a one-week high on Friday on record flows to liquefied natural gas export plants and a decline in daily output. On its first day as the front month, gas futures for May delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 11.5 cents, or 2.9%, to settle at $4.065 per million British thermal units, their highest close since March 19. Sign up here. For the week, the contract was up about 2% after sliding about 3% in the prior week. Mild weather and low demand through mid-April should allow utilities to keep adding gas to storage in coming weeks with some analysts saying stockpiles were on track to increase in March for the first time since 2012 and only the second time in history. Gas stockpiles, however, were still about 5% below normal levels for this time of year after extremely cold weather in January and February forced energy firms to pull large amounts of gas out of storage, including record amounts in January. Mild weather and ample hydropower in the U.S. West caused spot power prices at the South Path 15 (SP-15) hub in Southern California to turn negative for the first time since June 2024. Power prices at SP-15 first fell into negative territory in 2024, averaging below zero on 18 days last year, according to data from financial firm LSEG going back to 2001. Next-day prices at SP-15 fell to minus $5.23 per megawatt hour. That compares with an average of $28.05 so far in 2025, $31.30 in 2024 and an average of $58.87 during the prior five years (2019-2023). At the Mid-Columbia hub in Oregon, meanwhile, next-day power prices dropped to $6.57 per MWh, their lowest since May 2023. Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states rose to 106.0 billion cubic feet per day so far in March from a record 105.1 bcfd in February. On a daily basis, however, output was on track to drop about 2 bcfd over the past four days to a preliminary one-week low of 105.2 bcfd on Friday. Traders noted preliminary data was often changed later in the day. Gas flowing to the eight big operating U.S. LNG export plants rose to an average of 15.8 bcfd so far in March, from a record 15.6 bcfd in February, as new units at Venture Global's (VG.N), opens new tab 3.2-bcfd Plaquemines LNG plant under construction in Louisiana entered service. Gas traded around $13 per mmBtu at both the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) benchmark in Europe and the Japan Korea Marker (JKM) benchmark in Asia.

Judge Rules Against Sale of Gulf of Mexico Oil Drilling Rights -- A federal district judge on Thursday ruled against a Biden administration sale of oil and gas drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico, faulting the government with failing to sufficiently analyze its possible effects on the climate and endangered whales. However, US District Judge Amit P. Mehta in Washington left open the question of what to do about the two-year-old sale, instead directing additional arguments on the best remedy. Options could include invalidating leases sold in the auction or ordering those contracts be revised to include more limitations. The sale, which Congress mandated as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, made 13,600 blocks spanning approximately 73.3 million acres available. Ultimately, 32 companies, including Chevron USA, Inc., participated in that March 29, 2023 auction, paying the government $250.6 million for 299 leases. But Mehta said the Interior Department violated the National Environmental Policy Act by insufficiently analyzing the auction. Among the problems, Mehta found, was that Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management didn’t fully consider potential energy market changes in its analysis of the potential greenhouse gas emissions that would result from activity on new oil and gas leases. Mehta also said the bureau had made a “glaring omission” in not incorporating another agency’s assessment about the habitat and location of the endangered Rice’s whale. The bureau focused its impact analysis on the species’ core habitat, even though there was “credible evidence” it could be persistently found outside the area, the judge said. Although the Inflation Reduction Act required the sale, Mehta emphasized that the Interior Department still retained discretion to set terms and impose limits on available acreage. The challenge was brought by six environmental organizations. George Torgun, an a lawyer with Earthjustice, called the ruling “a welcome moment of justice for the Gulf ecosystem and frontline communities who have been burdened by fossil fuel development in the region for decades.” The Interior Department, which is expected to open new oil and gas leasing opportunities under President Donald Trump, said in an emailed statement its policy was not to comment on litigation. Nevertheless, according to the statement, the Interior Department maintains an “unwavering commitment to conserving and managing the nation’s natural and cultural resources, upholding tribal trust responsibilities and overseeing public lands and waters for the benefit of all Americans, while prioritizing fiscal responsibility for the American people.”

E&Ps Flag 'Uncertainty' in Latest Dallas Fed Energy Survey -- “Uncertainty” was highlighted several times by exploration and production companies in the ‘comments’ section of the first quarter 2025 Dallas Fed Energy Survey, which was released this week. “The key word to describe 2025 so far is ‘uncertainty’, and, as a public company, our investors hate uncertainty,” one exploration and production company noted in an exploration and production firm segment of the comments section, which the survey outlined showed comments from respondents’ completed surveys that had been edited for publication. “This has led to a marked increase in the implied cost of capital of our business, with public energy stocks down significantly more than oil prices over the last two months,” the company added. “This uncertainty is being caused by the conflicting messages coming from the new administration,” it continued. The company went on to state that “there cannot be ‘U.S. energy dominance’ and $50 per barrel oil”. “Those two statements are contradictory. At $50 per barrel oil, we will see U.S. oil production start to decline immediately and likely significantly (one million barrels per day plus within a couple quarters),” the company added. “This is not ‘energy dominance’. The U.S. oil cost curve is in a different place than it was five years ago; $70 per barrel is the new $50 per barrel,” it went on to note. Another exploration and production company stated in the comments section that “trade and tariff uncertainty are making planning difficult”. A separate exploration and production firm noted that “the administration’s chaos is a disaster for the commodity markets”. “‘Drill, baby, drill’ is nothing short of a myth and populist rallying cry. Tariff policy is impossible for us to predict and doesn’t have a clear goal. We want more stability,” that company added. One more exploration and production company representative said, “I have never felt more uncertainty about our business in my entire 40-plus year career”. Another exploration and production business noted in the comments section, “uncertainty around everything has sharply risen during the past quarter”. “Oil prices feel incredibly unstable, and it’s hard to gauge whether prices will be in the $50s per barrel or $70s per barrel. Combined, our ability to plan operations for any meaningful amount of time in the future has been severely diminished,” that company added. A separate business stated, “the only certainty right now is uncertainty”. “With that in mind, we are approaching this economic cycle with heightened capital discipline and a focus on long-term resilience”, that company added. Another exploration and production firm warned in the comments section that “the political climate caused by the new presidential administration appears to be creating instability”. One more business said in the comments section that “global geopolitical unrest and the uncertain economic outcomes of the administration’s tariff policies suggest the need to hit the pause button on spending”. Rigzone has contacted the White House, the Trump transition team, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the American Petroleum Institute (API) for comment on the exploration and production firm segment of the comments section in the first quarter 2025 Dallas Fed Energy Survey. At the time of writing, none of the above have responded to Rigzone. In his inaugural address on January 20, which is transcribed on the White House website, U.S. President Donald J. Trump said, “we will drill, baby, drill”. In an executive order issued on the same day, which was also posted on the White House website, Trump stated that “it is … in the national interest to unleash America’s affordable and reliable energy and natural resources”. That executive order issued directives focusing on “unleashing energy dominance through efficient permitting”. The Dallas Fed conducts the Dallas Fed Energy Survey quarterly to obtain a timely assessment of energy activity among oil and gas firms located or headquartered in the Eleventh District, the Dallas Fed Energy Survey states.

Shell’s Near-Term Growth Strategy Centered on Natural Gas, Especially LNG, CEO Says --Shell plc is targeting an increase of up to 5% in LNG sales over the next five years as estimates show global demand to jump nearly 60% by 2040, CEO Wael Sawan said Tuesday. Graph showing Shell's global energy mix by 2030 versus 2023. During its capital markets day in New York City on Tuesday, Sawan and the executive team laid out the near-term strategy for the London-based supermajor. Plans would boost annual production growth overall by 1%, with oil output remaining flat at around 1.4 million b/d.

Market Sees Agua Dulce Basis Differential Closing in Years Ahead as Exports Grow -The Agua Dulce natural gas pricing point in southern Texas is gaining ground on Henry Hub as it takes the shape of an export pricing location. Natural Gas Intelligence's (NGI) spot Agua Dulce daily natural gas price graph showing historical market volatility versus South Texas natural gas exports to Mexico. Agua Dulce is a major trading hub for Mexico. Some 7.5 Bcf/d flows through the Agua Dulce’s inbound and outbound pipes, according to RBN Energy LLC. Kinder Morgan Inc.’s 2.2 Bcf/d NET Mexico pipeline flows out of the hub and connects with the Los Ramones system in Mexico. The Valley Crossing Pipeline LLC header system also moves south and supplies the 2.6 Bcf/d Sur de Texas-Tuxpan offshore pipeline, which moves gas into eastern and central Mexico.

Rubio Warns Venezuela Against Attacking Guyana, Exxon -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Venezuela that any attempt to invade Guyana or threaten Exxon Mobil Corp.’s operations in the country would be a “very bad move.” Rubio spoke less than a month after a Venezuelan patrol ship entered Guyanese waters and positioned itself near a vessel contracted by Exxon, which is operating the world’s fastest-growing major oil field off the coast of the South American country. “It would be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they were to attack Guyana or attack Exxon Mobil,” Rubio said in the capital city of Georgetown on Thursday. “Suffice it to say that if that regime were to do something such as that, it would be a very bad move. It would be a big mistake. For them.”Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro reopened a border dispute more than a century after it was settled by international arbitration as he sought to galvanize supporters for last year’s presidential election. Maduro’s military and naval arsenal dwarfs Guyana’s, which was one of the continent’s poorest countries prior to Exxon’s 2015 discovery of oil. Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has been successful in rallying the international community behind the country’s dispute with Venezuela, with the UK, France and the US pledging support. “We have a big Navy,” Rubio said. “It can get anywhere in the world.” Rubio also said the US would bolster ties with Guyana, without getting into specifics. “We have commitments that exist today with Guyana,” he said. “We want to build on those, expand on those.” Rubio also was scheduled to visit Suriname, which has sought to encourage oil exploration in offshore territory close to the Guyanese discoveries.

Suncor finds source of spill at Sarnia refinery – (Reuters) -Canada’s Suncor Energy said on Thursday it had identified and isolated the source of a hydrocarbon spill observed during regular monitoring at its 85,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Sarnia, Ontario. Suncor added that no injuries have been reported due to the incident. It did not specify whether the spill was of crude oil or fuel. The company said earlier it was responding to an incident involving the St. Clair River near the refinery, noting that community members may notice an odor. In another community alert, St. Clair Township reported a crude oil spill into the St. Clair River, which was being captured by booms deployed by Suncor and Shell. “St. Clair Township Water Distribution System is Safe to Drink. The spill is in the St. Clair River and has no impact on the Township drinking water,” St. Clair Township said. Workers from Shell Canada’s Sarnia Manufacturing Center in Corunna, a community in St. Clair, are providing mutual aid, Shell said in another community notification earlier in the day. “We are providing Shell emergency response equipment and personnel to assist.” Suncor was not immediately available for further comment.

Rupture of Ecuador SOTE pipeline spilled 25,116 barrels of oil (Reuters) - The rupture of Ecuador's SOTE crude pipeline earlier this month spilled over 25,000 barrels of oil, the country's national disaster management agency said in a statement, affecting three rivers, wildlife and at least 5,300 people. Petroecuador confirmed the spill magnitude in a separate statement on Tuesday and said that it collected 30,257 barrels of crude oil mixed with water, prior to a separation process. The rupture, which was caused by a landslide and shut the pipeline for six days, forced state oil company Petroecuador to declare force majeure. The company has resumed exports of Oriente crude but has not lifted the declaration. "EP PETROECUADOR reported that containment dikes and barriers were implemented in the Viche area and said 25,116 barrels were spilled over 80 km of affected areas," the National Secretariat for Risk Management detailed in a report published on its website Monday night. The spill affected three rivers, nine beaches and at least 294 hectares of agricultural land in the coastal province of Esmeraldas, according to the report. Petroecuador said it has allocated $4 million for contingency measures while it is maintaining ground monitoring and conducting overflights in the affected areas, doing beach cleanups and delivering provisions to the affected families.

Trade Tensions Outweigh Supply Risks as Global Natural Gas, LNG Prices Cool — LNG Recap - Global natural gas prices continued to trend downward Monday as traders honed in on the possible impacts of escalating trade wars and a tentative end to conflict in Ukraine. Chart and map of Lower 48 LNG export facilities tracking daily natural gas feedstock flows to sites for market intelligence. Fresh news about increasing tensions between the United States and China, as well as retaliatory tariffs from other trading partners, tamped down natural gas benchmarks that had previously risen the week before. On Friday, Ukrainian and Russian shelling campaigns near key gas infrastructure for Western Europe sparked a jump in the prompt Title Transfer Facility (TTF) contract. However, by Monday morning, profit-taking and geopolitical speculation halted momentum, analysts with trading firm Energi Danmark wrote in a recent note.

Europe’s Largest Natural Gas Users See LNG Keeping Market Dominance Over Russian Supplies -As reports of a ceasefire in Ukraine cool global natural gas prices, Europe’s largest chemical manufacturers are largely betting on LNG – not Russian gas – to continue governing the market. Bar chart showing European Union LNG imports by country of origin. The Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) has been on a seesaw since mid-winter, with the European Union’s (EU) storage levels dragging prices up and geopolitical news creating volatility. Reports that the Trump administration could be brokering an end to the war in Ukraine have helped fuel speculation that Russian gas supplies could return to the continent, lowering prices and perceived supply risks. However, BASF SE CFO Dirk Elvermann said the world’s largest chemicals producer is not expecting a return of Russian pipeline gas to Europe. It is instead continuing to invest in diversifying its gas supply.

TotalEnergies CEO Not Ruling Out Return Of Nord Stream Gas Pipelines --The mothballed Nord Stream gas pipelines from Russia to Germany may return to service at some point as Europe’s industry would need some Russian gas to stay competitive, TotalEnergies’ chief executive Patrick Pouyanne said on Wednesday.“I would not be surprised if two out of the four (came) back to stream, not four out of the four,” Patrick Pouyanne said at an industry event in Germany’s capital city, Berlin, as carried by Reuters.“There is no way to be competitive against Russian gas with LNG coming from wherever it is,” the executive added.Gas leaks in Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea were discovered at the end of September 2022.Nord Stream 2 was never put into operation after Germany axed the certification process following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia, for its part, shut down Nord Stream 1 indefinitely in early September of 2022, claiming an inability to repair gas turbines because of the Western sanctions.But speculation has intensified in recent weeks that a revival of the pipelines could be a part of a deal for the end of the war in Ukraine.Earlier this month, Germany’s outgoing economy and energy minister Robert Habeck said that ideas to resurrect the Nord Stream gas pipelines from Russia to Germany are the “wrong direction of discussion”.“The Ukrainians are still under the aggression of Russia. So I think talking about the potential of Nord Stream 2 or Nord Stream 1, if it's going to be repaired, is completely the wrong direction of discussion,” Habeck said.In response to reports about a resurrection of the pipelines, Germany’s Economy Ministry early this month said that it is neither willing nor planning to discuss a restart to the pipeline.

BP finalizes deal with Iraq to develop 4 oil fields in Kirkuk - – An important deal between the Iraqi Ministry of Oil and British Petroleum (BP) was signed on Wednesday under the auspices of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani. The deal covers the development of four strategic oil fields in the northern Iraqi province of Kirkuk. According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the four oil fields are Baba and Avana domes, Bai Hassan, Jambur, and Khabbaz. In addition to several Iraqi officials, the ceremony held to sign the deal was attended by the Iraqi Minister of Oil, Hayan Abdul-Ghani, and BP’s Chief Executive Officer Murray Auchincloss. As part of Iraq’s objectives to become gas self-sufficient in three years and boost oil output to eight million barrels per day, the deal is anticipated to increase the country’s production capacity by about 150,000 barrels per day, according to Attaqa News. Sources revealed in early February that BP might spend up to $25 billion over the course of the project, according to Reuters. BP will contribute between $20 billion and $25 billion under a profit-sharing arrangement that would last more than 25 years, according to the source. Following a roughly $27 billion deal with TotalEnergies in Basra, BP’s deal would be the second significant agreement between Iraq and a foreign oil corporation in many years. The deal represents an important part of the Iraqi government’s endeavor to optimize energy sector investments and increase the country’s oil output and curb gas flaring. In December 2024, BP accepted the technical criteria for the development of the Kirkuk oil fields, followed by an agreement on the contract terms, which was announced on February 25, 2025. The mega-project in northern Iraq will include plans to recover flared gas to boost the country’s electricity production. In late November, the state-owned North Oil Company (NOC) disclosed that BP representatives had met with officials in Kirkuk in an attempt to finalize a deal to start oil field development in the area. Auchincloss stated earlier that BP wants to reach an agreement in the coming months to develop Iraq’s massive Kirkuk oil reserves. According to Energy Intelligence, Auchincloss expressed his excitement about the prospect in a statement and indicated that he hopes to sign a formal agreement by the end of February. Auchincloss added that the Iraqi government offers very competitive conditions on the global market and is open to collaboration. Additionally, BP suggests investigating possible investments in local electricity generation and solar power facilities. BP is also the primary contractor at the massive Rumaila oil field in the southern Iraqi governorate of Basra, which generates about one-third of the country’s crude oil.

Gazprom gas output drops after Ukraine blocks export route to Europe - report - While Gazprom is unable to export its production via Ukraine, warm weather and slowing industrial demand have weighed on output from other Russian producers

India Turns Away Russian Oil Tanker As Sanctions Evolve – India moved on Thursday to deny entry to a Tanzanian-flagged tanker carrying Russian crude, signaling that New Delhi is ramping up scrutiny of vessels transporting oil from Russia, Reuters reported exclusively. The vessel, Andaman Skies, was en route to the Vadinar Port to deliver 100,000 metric tons (roughly 800,000 barrels) of Varandey crude oil sold by Russia’s Lukoil. Indian port authorities refused the tanker entry, citing documentation issues, particularly its seaworthiness certification,Reuters quoted unnamed sources familiar with the matter as saying. The Andaman Skies, built in 2004, is more than 20 years old and, according to Indian port regulations, requires a seaworthiness certificate from an approved classification society. While the vessel held certification from Dakar Class, an organization based in India, it is not recognized by the country’s maritime administration. Entry was refused despite the fact that the same vessel entered Indian ports as recently as December 2024.India has become the largest importer of Russian crude, with Russian oil comprising roughly 35% of its total crude imports last year. However, the country has faced increasing pressure due to U.S. and European sanctions targeting Russian oil exports, which have disrupted global shipping routes. The sanctions environment continues to evolve, and the uncertainty of the Trump administration appears to have pushed India to pay closer attention to the oil that is entering its ports. The Andaman Skies is not subject to U.S. or UN sanctions but is listed under UK and EU sanctions.The tightening regulations reflect a broader trend where Indian refiners, who buy Russian oil on a delivered basis, now rely on ships and insurers that are not sanctioned by the U.S., further complicating the flow of crude. Sources told Reuters that Lukoil and Russian insurer Soglasie did not immediately respond to inquiries, while Indian authorities declined to comment on the matter.Evolving sanctions have benefitted the U.S., with U.S. oil exports to India in February hitting their highest volumes in more than two years, jumping from 221,000 bpd in 2024 to 357,000 bpd in February, based on Kpler data cited by Reuters.

Iraq possesses over 145 billion barrels of proven oil reserves - Iraqi News – The State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) revealed on Wednesday that Iraq has the fourth-largest proven oil reserves in the world, with around 145 billion barrels. Iraq ranks second in OPEC oil production and has one of the largest oil and gas resources in the world. Its natural gas reserves, which are currently valued at $514 billion, reach 132 trillion cubic feet, while its proven oil reserves are estimated to be worth $10.6 trillion. Iraq’s oil exports in 2024 totaled almost $99 billion, demonstrating the sector’s significance to the country’s economy. The Iraqi government intends to boost its oil output from the current four million barrels per day to six million barrels per day by 2029. To reach this goal, the country is establishing several projects in different Iraqi provinces. Foreign oil companies have made significant investments in Iraq. Britain’s British Petroleum (BP) is spending $25 billion on oil field development projects, whereas France-based TotalEnergies has committed $27 billion to multiple energy projects. Chinese corporations have also made significant investments, most notably Sinopec, CNOOC, and PetroChina. Iraq has also welcomed American businesses in an effort to boost its capacity to become self-sufficient in electricity through these investments. Along with electrical interconnections with neighboring countries, Iraq has also started to implement renewable energy projects.

Oil prices decline as investors weigh Russia-Ukraine talks, US tariff concerns - Oil prices edged lower on Monday as investors evaluated the impact of US-led efforts to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine, alongside growing economic concerns tied to upcoming US tariffs. By 11:40 a.m. local time (0840 GMT), Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, slipped 0.36% to $71.46 per barrel, down from its previous close of $71.72. Meanwhile, the US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), declined 0.37% to $68 per barrel from $68.25. Traders are keeping a close watch on US-mediated peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, as a breakthrough could lead to increased Russian oil exports. Meanwhile, a US delegation is engaging with Russian and Ukrainian officials to push for a Black Sea ceasefire. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov described discussions with a US delegation in Saudi Arabia as "productive," highlighting energy-related talks, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated on Sunday in a post on X. He reaffirmed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's commitment to achieving a "just and lasting peace" for Ukraine. The talk took place ahead of planned US-Russia discussions on a possible ceasefire, though continued attacks cast doubt on any immediate progress. Meanwhile, concerns over global trade persist as the US prepares to introduce reciprocal tariffs on April 2, aligning its trade policies with other nations and adding to market uncertainty.

25% Tariffs on Countries that Buy Oil and Gas From Venezuela -- The oil market continued to trend higher on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he will impose 25% tariffs on countries that buy oil and gas from Venezuela. This followed last week’s announcement of new sanctions imposed on Iranian oil exports. The equities market also rallied on Monday on signs the Trump administration is taking a measured approach on tariffs against its trading partners. Bloomberg News and the Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration is likely to exclude a set of sector specific tariffs when it imposes reciprocal tariff measures on April 2nd. The crude market posted a low of $67.95 in overnight trading as the market weighed new U.S. sanctions on Iranian exports against talks to end the war in Ukraine. The market retraced more than 50% of its move from a high of $73.17 to a low of $64.85 as it rallied to a high of $69.33 by mid-day on the tariff news. However, the market erased some of its gains on news that OPEC+ will likely proceed with a planned oil output increase in May. The May WTI contract settled up 83 cents at $69.11 and the May Brent contract settled up 84 cents at $73.00. The product stocks ended the session higher, with the heating oil market settling up 75 points at $2.2571 and the RB market settling up 1.12 cents at $2.2066. U.S. President Donald Trump said that any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela will pay a 25% tariff on trades made with the United States, citing migration and criminal gang members in the U.S. He said this “secondary tariff” will take effect on April 2nd. China is the largest buyer of Venezuela’s oil. The U.S. Treasury Department said the U.S. gave Chevron until May 27th to wind down its oil operations and exports from Venezuela. Bloomberg News and the Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is likely to exclude a set of sector-specific tariffs while applying reciprocal levies on April 2nd. According to an administration official, the White House was still planning to unveil reciprocal tariff measures on that day, although planning remains fluid. Later on Monday, President Donald Trump said he will in the very near future announce tariffs on automobiles, aluminum and pharmaceuticals. He also stated that he may give a “lot of countries” breaks on tariffs and that he plans to announce more tariffs on automobiles in the next few days. U.S. and Russian officials held talks in Saudi Arabia on Monday aimed at sealing a Black Sea maritime ceasefire deal before a wider ceasefire. The talks follow U.S. negotiations with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. A source briefed on the planning for the talks said the U.S. side was being led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior State Department official. The White House says the aim of the talks is to reach a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, allowing the free flow of shipping, though the area has not been the location of intense military operations in recent months. The Kremlin said the talks will be “mainly to study the prospects for the possible implementation of a well-known initiative related to the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.” IIR Energy said U.S. oil refiners are expected to shut in about 1.6 million bpd of capacity in the week ending March 28th, cutting available refining capacity by 216,000 bpd. Offline capacity is expected to fall to 1.5 million bpd in the week ending April 4th.

Oil rises 1% as Trump plans tariff on countries that buy Venezuelan oil, gas (Reuters) - Oil prices gained 1% on Monday as U.S. President Donald Trump said he will impose a 25% tariff on countries that buy oil and gas from Venezuela. Price gains were capped, however, as the U.S. gave oil producer Chevron until May 27 to wind down its oil operations and exports from Venezuela. Trump had initially given Chevron 30 days from March 4 to wind down that license. The two moves taken together alleviate some pressure on Chevron while putting more pressure on other consumers of Venezuelan oil, though it is uncertain how the Trump administration will enforce the tariff. Brent crude futures rose 84 cents, or 1.2%, to $73 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 83 cents, or 1.2%, at $69.11. Also keeping a ceiling on prices, OPEC+' will likely proceed with a planned May oil output hike, sources said, while talks continued to end the war in Ukraine, which could increase supply of Russian crude to global markets. "We've got a little bit of a supply shock of Venezuela losing barrels to the world market. So that's definitely a bullish force," The U.S. on Thursday issued new sanctions intended to hit Iranian oil exports, including what the State Department said were the first U.S. measures targeting a Chinese "teapot refinery" processing the crude. Both benchmarks settled higher on Friday and recorded a second consecutive weekly gain. Wall Street also surged on Monday after signs the Trump administration is taking a measured approach on tariffs against its trading partners. Trump signalled on Friday that there will be flexibility on tariffs and that his top trade chief plans to speak with his Chinese counterpart. He said on Monday he will in the very near future announce tariffs on automobiles, aluminum and pharmaceuticals. He also urged the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates after the U.S. central bank last week kept them unchanged. Lower rates decrease the costs of borrowing, and can boost economic activity and demand for oil. Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic said he anticipates slower progress on inflation in coming months and as a result now sees the Fed cutting its benchmark interest rate only a quarter of a percentage point by the end of this year. U.S. and Russian officials were in Saudi Arabia on Monday for talks over a broad ceasefire in Ukraine, with Washington also targeting a separate Black Sea maritime ceasefire deal while a wider agreement is thrashed out. "The fear of more Russian barrels returning to the world market is probably one of the biggest negatives that we've seen," OPEC+, a group that includes OPEC and allied producers led by Russia, will likely stick to its plan to raise oil output for a second consecutive month in May, three sources told Reuters, amid steady oil prices and plans to force some members to reduce pumping to compensate for past overproduction. The group, which pumps over 40% of the world's oil, is scheduled to raise output by 135,000 barrels per day in May. OPEC+ has been cutting output by 5.85 million bpd, equal to about 5.7% of global supply, in a series of steps since 2022 to support the market.

Oil prices explode after this shocking move by US --Oil prices extended their gains for a fifth straight session on Tuesday, driven by concerns over potential supply constraints following fresh U.S. tariffs on nations importing Venezuelan crude. However, the upward momentum was tempered by reports that OPEC+ intends to proceed with an output hike in May. Brent crude futures edged up 46 cents, or 0.6%, to trade at $73.46 per barrel by 1023 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose by 41 cents, or 0.6%, to reach $69.52 per barrel. The benchmarks had already posted gains exceeding 1% in the previous session. The price rally came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on countries purchasing Venezuelan oil. Venezuela, whose economy heavily relies on crude exports, counts China—already facing multiple U.S. tariffs—as its largest buyer. "Oil firmed up on the latest tariff moves by the U.S., although gains were capped by reports of OPEC+ moving to increase output further in May," analysts at Panmure Liberum noted. In a related development, the U.S. administration on Monday extended the deadline for Chevron to wind down its operations in Venezuela until May 27. According to ANZ analysts, the withdrawal of Chevron’s licence to operate in the country could lead to a reduction in output by approximately 200,000 barrels per day. Meanwhile, sources told Reuters that the OPEC+ alliance—comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies such as Russia—remains committed to its plan of increasing oil production in May. The group is also expected to enforce output cuts on certain members to offset prior overproduction. Last week, Washington imposed additional sanctions targeting Iran’s oil exports, further adding to market uncertainty. Trump also hinted at upcoming automobile tariffs but suggested that not all levies would take effect on April 2, with some nations potentially receiving exemptions—a move that eased investor concerns on Wall Street.

Oil prices mixed as Russia-Ukraine truce offsets Venezuela supply worries (Reuters) - Oil prices diverged on Tuesday as a maritime and energy truce between Russia and Ukraine offset concerns about tighter global supply due to threatened U.S. tariffs on countries buying Venezuelan production.Brent crude futures settled 2 cents higher, or 0.03%, at $73.02 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 11 cents, or 0.16%, to $69.The United States reached deals with Ukraine and Russia to pause attacks at sea and against energy targets, with Washington agreeing to push to lift some sanctions against Moscow. Kyiv and Moscow both said they would rely on Washington to enforce the deals, while expressing skepticism that the other side would abide by them. "If there's a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, it might open the door for the reduction of sanctions on Russian oil," Trump's threat of tariffs against countries importing oil and gas from Venezuela has raised supply concerns, and both benchmarks rose more than 1% on Monday following the announcement."These secondary tariffs are an indirect sanction to degrade Venezuela's oil supply capability and hurt China's teapot refining system," said Mukesh Sahdev, Rystad Energy's global head of commodity markets, referring to China's small, independent refineries.Oil is Venezuela's main export. China, already a target of U.S. import tariffs, is its largest buyer.The Trump administration also on Monday extended a deadline to May 27 for U.S. producer Chevron to wind down operations in Venezuela.The withdrawal of Chevron's licence to operate could reduce production in the country by about 200,000 barrels per day, according to ANZ analysts.Last week, the U.S. issued new sanctions intended to hit Iranian oil exports.OPEC+, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, will likely stick to its plan to raise oil output for a second consecutive month in May, four sources told Reuters, amid steady oil prices and plans to force some members to reduce pumping to compensate for past overproduction.Executives from commodity trading houses said they expect a well-supplied oil market this year, with concerns remaining over global demand growth, Reuters reported.

The WTI Crude Oil Market Broke a Four Day Winning Streak - The WTI crude oil market traded lower on Tuesday, breaking a four day winning streak, on news that the U.S. reached separate agreements with Ukraine and Russia that may pave the way to an end of the war between Ukraine and Russia. In follow through strength seen on Monday, the market breached its previous high and retraced more than 38% of its move from a high of $76.57 to a low of $64.85. It posted a high of $69.68 by mid-morning on expectations that supply may tighten after the Trump administration on Monday announced tariffs on countries that buy Venezuelan crude. The market, however, erased its gains and sold off to a low of $68.52 on the news that truce agreements were reached with Ukraine and Russia covering the Black Sea and energy infrastructure. The market later bounced off its low and traded in a sideways trading range during the remainder of the session. The May WTI contract settled down 11 cents at $69.00, while the May Brent contract settled up 2 cents at $73.02. The product markets ended the session higher, with the heating oil market settling up 2.11 cents at $2.2859 and the RB market settling up 21 points at $2.2087. The United States said it has reached separate agreements with Ukraine and Russia to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and to implement a ban on strikes against energy facilities in the two countries. Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said a truce covering the Black Sea and energy infrastructure was effective immediately on Tuesday and that he would seek more weapons and sanctions on Russia from Donald Trump if Russia broke the deals. Russia also confirmed that Moscow agreed to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea. The Kremlin added that Russia and the U.S. also agreed to develop measures to halt strikes on Russian and Ukrainian energy facilities for a period of 30 days that started on March 18^th. China’s Foreign Ministry said the country firmly opposes the move by the United States to penalize countries that buy oil and gas from Venezuela with tariffs on trades with the United States. Trade of Venezuelan oil to China stalled on Tuesday following U.S. President Donald Trump’s order threatening tariffs on countries buying from Caracas created new uncertainty, days after U.S. sanctions targeted China’s imports from Iran. Chinese traders and refiners said they were waiting to see how the order would be implemented and whether China will direct them to stop buying, although several industry insiders said they expect flows ultimately would continue, noting the frequent shifts in Trump’s tariff threats. China is Venezuela’s largest oil buyer, directly and indirectly taking in 503,000 bpd of Venezuelan crude and fuel or 55% of its exports, that is mostly rebranded as Malaysian after transshipment.Executives from the world’s top commodity trading houses, speaking at the FT Commodities Global Summit, said they expect a well-supplied oil market this year, with concerns remaining over global demand growth. They said oil prices could continue to fall as global supply increases, including with OPEC+’s plan to unwind voluntary output cuts in coming months.

Oil prices tick higher as supply tightens -Oil prices rose during Asian trading on Wednesday as concerns over tighter supply grew following United States President Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on countries importing oil and gas from Venezuela. By 3:25 pm AEDT (4:25 am GMT), Brent crude futures were up $0.16, or 0.3%, at $73.20 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained $0.19, or 0.3%, to $69.19 per barrel. On Monday, Trump signed an executive order under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, authorising 25% tariffs on imports from any country purchasing Venezuelan crude oil or liquid fuels. Venezuela, which relies heavily on oil exports, counts China - already a target of U.S. import tariffs - as its largest buyer. The U.S. administration also extended a deadline until 27 May for U.S. energy firm Chevron to wind down its Venezuelan operations. Meanwhile, ANZ analysts noted: "Crude oil prices were relatively unchanged as traders assessed the latest efforts on a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to implement a partial truce. "The U.S. also said that Russia has agreed to develop measures for implementing a ban on striking Ukraine's energy assets. "A potential truce between Russia and Ukraine could see an easing of U.S. and European restrictions on Moscow’s oil industry." Adding to supply concerns, industry data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) showed U.S. crude inventories fell by 4.6 million barrels in the week ending March 21, significantly exceeding analysts’ expectations of a 2.5 million-barrel decline.

WTI Tops $70 - 3-Week Highs - After Across-The-Board Inventory Draws -- Oil prices are higher this morning (with WTI topping $70 for the first time in three weeks) following an across the board inventory draw reported by API overnight. Additionally, concerns over supply strained by U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela are also supporting the commodity. "Although the immediate market impact might be minimal, apart from supporting additional short covering from underinvested hedge funds, this action indicates a definite change, potentially signalling the White House's willingness to sacrifice low oil prices to achieve wider strategic objectives-isolating Iran and Venezuela and increasing pressure on China," The upside for oil prices from the U.S. actions is likely limited by coming supply additions as OPEC+ will begin to return 2.2-million barrels per day of production cuts in 18 monthly tranches starting in April, while supply from countries outside of the cartel are also on the rise. Will this morning's official data confirm the API drawdowns... API

• Crude -4.60mm (-2.50mm exp)
• Cushing -600k
• Gasoline -3.3mm
• Distillates -1.3mm

DOE

• Crude -3.34mm (-2.50mm exp) - biggest draw since Dec 2024
• Cushing -755k
• Gasoline -1.45mm
• Distillates -421k

The official data confirmed API"s report - with drawdowns across all cohorts with crude stocks dropping most since mid-December... Graphs Source: Bloomberg. Despite the 286k barrel addition to the SPR, total crude inventories still tumbled notably...

Concerns Over Tighter Global Supply Following Tariff Threats - The oil market on Wednesday remained well supported by concerns over tighter global supply following the threat of tariffs on countries buying Venezuelan crude. The market was further buoyed by the weekly crude oil inventory reports showing larger than expected draws in crude stocks. Shipping data showed loadings of Venezuela’s heavy crude at its main oil ports slowed this week after the Trump administration signed an executive order to impose a 25% tariff on trade with countries buying Venezuela’s oil. The crude market continued to trend higher as the market opened after the API reported a larger than expected draw in crude stocks of 4.6 million barrels. It posted a low of $69.06 in overnight trading before it continued to trend higher. The market was further supported by a 3.3 million barrel draw in crude stocks reported by the EIA, which pushed the market to its high of $70.22. The oil market, however, gave up some of its gains and traded below the $70.00 level during the remainder of the session. The May WTI contract settled up 65 cents at $69.65 and the May Brent contract settled up 77 cents at $73.79. The product markets ended the session in positive territory amid the draws in product stocks, with the heating oil market settling up 28 points at $2.2887 and the RB market settling up 2.41 cents at $2.2328. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on the United States on Wednesday to further sanction Moscow, which he said was clearly not pursuing a “real peace” after a night of Russian drone attacks that caused damage in several places. He said the attacks went against the spirit of the peace talks. He singled out strikes on his hometown of Kryvyi Rih and the northern region of Sumy, amid questions swirled over basic details of two ceasefire agreements that were announced by the United States on Tuesday after talks in Saudi Arabia. The United States said it agreed to separate deals with Ukraine and Russia to pause their strikes over the Black Sea and against each other’s energy targets, although it was unclear when the agreements came into force. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said they were effective immediately, but the Kremlin said the Black Sea agreements would not come into effect unless some Russian banks were linked back up with the international financial system.Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Alexander Novak, said global oil demand was seen increasing between 1 million bpd and 1.5 million bpd this year. That compares with the latest expectations from OPEC for an increase of 1.45 million bpd. He said that the OPEC+ group will monitor the oil market, which is currently stable, while it was important to keep the supply-demand balance.According to a Dallas Fed survey, activity in the U.S. oil and gas sector increased slightly in the first quarter of 2025 but uncertainty and pessimism among companies also increased. It reported that oil and gas production increased slightly in the first quarter of 2025 and costs among oilfield service firms increased at a faster pace in the first quarter of 2025 versus the fourth quarter of 2024. Companies expect a WTI oil price of $68/barrel by the end of 2025 and natural gas prices of $3.78/mmBtu. IIR Energy said U.S. oil refiners are expected to shut in about 1.6 million bpd of capacity in the week ending March 28^th, cutting available refining capacity by 216,000 bpd. Offline capacity is expected to fall to 1.5 million bpd in the week ending April 4^th.

Crude oil futures gain as US inventories decline - The Hindu Business Line --Crude oil futures traded higher on Thursday morning after the official data showed a decline in US inventories for the week ending March 21. At 9.53 am on Thursday, June Brent oil futures were at $73.18, up by 0.16 per cent, and May crude oil futures on WTI (West Texas Intermediate) were at $69.79, up by 0.20 per cent. April crude oil futures were trading at ₹6004 on Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) during the initial hour of trading on Thursday against the previous close of ₹5991, up by 0.22 per cent, and May futures were trading at ₹5984 against the previous close of ₹5975, up by 0.15 per cent. According to the US EIA (Energy Information Administration), commercial crude oil inventories in the US decreased by 3.3 million barrels for the week ending March 21. At 433.6 million barrels, US crude oil inventories were about 5 per cent below the five-year average for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 1.4 million barrels from last week and were 2 per cent above the five-year average for this time of year. Distillate fuel inventories decreased by 0.4 million barrels for the week ending March 21 and were about 7 per cent below the five-year average for this time of year. On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, President Donald Trump declared a 25% tariff on auto imports, positioning the move as a strategy to enhance domestic manufacturing within the U.S. Trump slaps 25% tariff on auto imports, risking higher prices and trade war Until 2019, India was Venezuela’s third-largest purchaser, after the US and China, importing roughly 300,000 barrels/day on an average Tightening US tariffs on Venezuela threatens crude oil trade with India Total products supplied over the last four-week period averaged 20.2 million barrels a day, up by 0.5 per cent from the same period last year. Over the past four weeks, motor gasoline product supplied in the US averaged 8.9 million barrels a day, down by 0.2 per cent from the same period last year. Distillate fuel product supplied averaged 3.9 million barrels a day over the past four weeks, up by 1.8 per cent from the same period last year. Jet fuel product supplied was up 3.9 per cent compared with the same four-week period last year. US crude oil imports averaged 6.2 million barrels per day for the week ending March 21, an increase of 810,000 barrels a day from the previous week. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced a plan to impose 25 per cent tariff on imported automobiles and parts from April 2. Market fears that such a move could impact the demand for oil, as automobile industry is one of the major consumers of oil in the market. The proposed tariff may lead to an increase in the price of the vehicles, which, in turn, may impact the sales of vehicles. A reduction in vehicle sales could impact the demand for oil. April menthaoil futures were trading at ₹927.50 on MCX during the initial hour of trading on Thursday against the previous close of ₹934.10, down by 0.71 per cent.

Oil Prices Rise On Improving Market Sentiment --Oil prices are looking to finish the week in the green, with the pessimism that dominated the markets in the early part of the year beginning to dissipate. Brentcrude for May delivery was trading at $73.67 per barrel at 11.50 am ET in Thursday’s session, flat on the day but nearly $2 higher from a week ago while the corresponding WTI contract was unchanged on the day but similarly gained $2 from a week ago to trade at $69.67 per barrel. Oil prices have now climbed about $5 per barrel from their early-month lows. A recent Dallas Fed Energy Surveyrevealed that activity in the oil and gas sector increased slightly in the first quarter of 2025 while the company outlook index decreased 12 points to -4.9, suggesting slight pessimism among energy companies. According to the latest Baker Hughes data, U.S. rig counts have continued their sideways move, falling by one w/w to 486. Rig count has remained in the 472-488 range for 41 consecutive weeks. The Permian Basin rig count fell by one w/w to 300, having previously been below 300 for just one week in the past three years. The main change was in the Texas portion of the Delaware Basin where drilling fell by three w/w to a three-year low of 62 rigs. In contrast, the U.S. gas rig count rose by two w/w to 102, with the Haynesville and Marcellus rig count unchanged at 30 and 26, respectively. Likewise, positioning across the energy complex remains mainly negative, with traders concerned about Trump’s tariffs as well as a potential return of Russian oil flows.And now commodity analysts at Standard Chartered have buttressed the growing bullish thesis, saying oil market sentiment continues to improve after the lows hit during London’s IE Week in February. StanCharts points to several catalysts driving the improving mood. First off, the supply surpluses the market feared have yet to materialize, with the outlook for Q2 and Q3 suggesting that no surplus is imminent. In contrast, oil markets could soon be facing a deficit, with StanChart predicting that global demand will exceed supply by 0.9 mb/d in Q2 and by 0.5 mb/d in Q3. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is, however, more cautious, and sees demand outstripping supply by 0.1 mb/d in Q2 and a balanced market in Q3. Both the EIA and StanChart have forecast a slight inventory draw across 2024 and 2025 combined. Last week, StanChart revealed that global oil demand remains robust, with demand in January averaging 102.77 million barrels per day (mb/d), good for a 2.19 mb/d Y/Y increase. StanChart’s figure is based on a variety of national sources and the 19 March Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI) release. Notably, the estimates from Standard Chartered align closely with those from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), which has estimated January oil demand at 102.74 million barrels per day (mb/d), with a growth rate of 1.85 mb/d. Typically, January marks the seasonal dip in global oil demand. However, Standard Chartered forecasts that demand will surpass 105.0 mb/d for the first time in June, peaking at a high of 105.6 mb/d in August 2025.Further, Standard Chartered has predicted that the dramatic slowdown in U.S. oil production growth witnessed in 2024 will continue in 2025 and 2026. According to the analysts, last year witnessed a sharp slowdown in non-OPEC+ supply growth from 2.46 mb/d in 2023 to 0.79 mb/d in 2024, primarily caused by a reduction in U.S. total liquids growth from 1.605 mb/d in 2023 to 734 kb/d in 2024. StanChart expects this trend to continue, with U.S. liquids growth expected to clock in at just 367 kb/d in 2025 before slowing down further to 151 kb/d in 2026. Meanwhile, Europe’s gas prices have pulled back to around €41/MWh from February highs near €60/MWh as traders shift focus to stockpiling for next winter. Gas price volatility remains high, with the price trajectory broadly sideways. Front-month TTF has mostly moved into the EUR 41.95-42.00 per megawatt hour (MWh) range over the past 10 trading days. EU gas inventories stood at 39.81 billion cubic metres (bcm) on 23 March, good for a y/y fall of 29.33 bcm and 12.54 bcm below the five-year average. Storage levels remain below 34% of full capacity, keeping supply risks in focus.

The Market Continued to Assess the U.S. Tariff Announcements - The oil market on Thursday posted an inside trading day as the market continued to assess the U.S. tariff announcements and concerns over global supply kept the market well supported. The market remained supported by the Trump administration announcement earlier this week regarding 25% tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan crude oil. The market also remained supported by the weekly oil inventory reports that showed larger than expected draws in crude stocks in the latest week. The market posted the day’s trading range by mid-day sold off to a low of $69.12 and later posted a high of $69.97. The market traded sideways as the market assessed the impact on oil demand from the Trump administration’s latest announcement of a 25% tariff on imported vehicles starting next week, in addition to the previous tariff announcements earlier in the week. The May WTI contract settled up 27 cents at $69.92 and the May Brent contract settled up 24 cents at $74.03. The product markets ended the session in mixed territory, with the heating oil market settling down 40 points at $2.2847 and the RB market settling up 1.36 cents at $2.2464.According to the latest Dallas Federal Reserve Bank quarterly energy survey released on Wednesday, found that producers believe they need to average $65 per barrel for drilling new wells in the various shale plays. These producers also believe Henry Hub natural gas prices will average $3.78 per MMBtu two years from now and rising to $4.83 per MMbtu five years from now. The survey respondents also noted that if crude oil prices fall to $50 power barrel, U.S. oil production will start to decline almost immediately and likely would fall by 1 million b/d or more within six months. One executive survey noted that to stimulate new oil and gas activity would require crude prices to average in the $75-$80 per barrel range while another noted the need for additional takeaway capacity for gas from the Permian basin, given earnings on gas production from the Permian is slightly negative to barely positive.Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said contacts between Russia and the United States are the beginning of a long and difficult process of restoring relations. He said it is premature to draw “far-reaching conclusions” about Russia-U.S. relations based on these contacts.Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the proposed Black Sea Initiative was a new deal, not an extension of an earlier agreement under which U.N. officials agreed to help Russia get its food and fertilizer exports to foreign markets.Sources stated that Indian port authorities denied entry to a tanker loaded with Russian crude on Thursday due to inadequate documentation. Shipping data showed the Tanzania-flagged Andaman Skies, carrying about 100,000 metric tons or 800,000 barrels of Varandey Russian oil sold by Lukoil from the northern port of Murmansk, was on course for the Vadinar Port for delivery to state refiner Indian Oil Corp before being turned away.The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis said GDP increased at an upwardly revised 2.4% annualized rate in the fourth quarter. Growth was previously estimated to be 2.3%. The economy grew at a 3.1% rate in the third quarter.

Oil Slips Despite Weekly Gain --Oil fell on concerns that the Trump administration’s tariff onslaught will reduce energy demand. West Texas Intermediate slid 0.8% to settle above $69 a barrel, retreating along with equity markets. Crude still notched its third straight weekly advance amid waning expectations of a near-term oversupply. The US is planning to impose tariffs on auto imports and so-called reciprocal levies next week, widening the global trade war. Oil traders face an uncertain outlook as they grapple with President Donald Trump’s policies and an OPEC+ plan to revive idled output. WTI futures have been rangebound for the past eight months, trading in a band of about $15 between the high $60s and low $80s. “US stocks are struggling, and longer-term demand fears are on the minds of most traders as tariffs begin to kick in on cars not manufactured in the US,” said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president for trading at BOK Financial Securities. Earlier this week, Vitol’s chief executive officer said while there are some threats to supply, it’s generally adequate for the next couple of years. Meanwhile, Venezuela is boosting oil exports to China as the Trump administration deploys sanctions and secondary tariffs to squeeze the Latin American nation. WTI for May delivery fell 0.8% to settle at $69.36 a barrel in New York. Futures gained 1.6% for the week. Brent for May settlement dipped 0.5% to settle at $73.63 a barrel.

Oil slips on recession fears but posts 3rd weekly gain (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Friday on worries that U.S. tariff wars could spark a global recession, but gained for a third consecutive week after Washington ratcheted up pressure on OPEC members Venezuela and Iran. Brent crude futures fell 40 cents, or 0.5% to settle at $73.63 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures (WTI) fell 56 cents, or 0.8%, to close at $69.36 a barrel. U.S. President Donald Trump plans to announce reciprocal tariffs targeting a wide range of imports, effective on April 2. The trade war has investors worried about a potential recession, JPMorgan analysts told clients. "Concerns about a trade war, coupled with elevated U.S. policy uncertainty, are weighing heavily on sentiment," they said. Although recession risk was elevated, high-frequency oil demand indicators have held up relatively well for now, JPMorgan noted. Mid-week data from the Energy Information Administration showed U.S. crude inventories fell by 3.3 million barrels to 433.6 million barrels last week, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 956,000-barrel draw. On a weekly basis, Brent futures gained 1.9%, while WTI rose 1.6%. Since hitting multi-month lows in early March, Brent is up more than 7%, and WTI has rebounded over 6%. "The key theme this week was the Trump administration ratcheting up the pressure on the Maduro regime in Venezuela," Barclays analyst Amarpreet Singh said. Trump on Monday announced new 25% tariffs on potential buyers of Venezuelan crude, days after U.S. sanctions targeting China's imports from Iran. The measures could exacerbate an anticipated 200,000 barrel-per-day decline in Venezuelan crude oil output this year, Singh said. It has compounded uncertainty for buyers and saw trade of Venezuelan oil to top buyer China stall. Elsewhere, sources said India's Reliance Industries (RELI.NS), opens new tab, operator of the world's biggest refining complex, will halt Venezuelan oil imports. Oil markets are readjusting global supply expectations as a result of U.S. sanctions against Venezuela and Iran, with Trump having promised to drive the latter's oil exports to zero. The U.S. has issued four rounds of sanctions targeting Iran's oil sales since Trump's return to the White House. The second quarter should be tighter than originally thought, StoneX analyst Alex Hodes said. "If there are reductions in Venezuelan or Iranian crude oil barrels on the market this would certainly be a bullish development." The OPEC+ group is set to begin its program of monthly increases to oil production in April. The group, which comprises OPEC and allies led by Russia, will likely continue to raise oil output in May, Reuters reported on Monday.

Israel establishes government bureau to oversee Gaza ethnic cleansing, as death toll tops 50,000 -- Israel’s security cabinet has formally voted for the establishment of an office to oversee the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, Defense Minister Israel Katz reported on Sunday. The office will be the “Voluntary Emigration Bureau for Gaza residents interested in relocating to third countries,” Katz claimed. In reality, there is nothing “voluntary” about the program the Netanyahu government is implementing. The population of Gaza is to be forced out of their ancestral homeland through deliberate mass starvation and mass killings by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Katz said the office would enable passage of Gaza residents for their voluntary departure to third countries, including securing their movement, establishing movement routes, checking pedestrians at designated crossings in the Gaza Strip, as well as coordinating the provision of infrastructure that will enable passage by land, sea and air to the destination countries. Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump called for the displacement of the Palestinian people from Gaza and called for its annexation by the United States, saying, “The US will take over the Gaza Strip. ... We’ll own it.” Trump added the US will “level it out.” Katz reiterated the Israeli government’s support for Trump’s proposal, declaring, “We are working with all means to implement the US president’s vision.” The US-Israeli plan is a flagrant violation of the prohibition under the Fourth Geneva Convention of the forcible transfer of civilians during armed conflicts. The US and Israel are engaged in a campaign to pressure countries throughout the Middle East and Africa to accept the Palestinians once they are forcibly displaced from Gaza. At the Israeli security meeting that set up the new office, cabinet members said the US is still working to find countries to accept the displaced Palestinians..

Israeli Attacks Kill 62 Palestinians in Gaza Over 24 Hours - Gaza’s Health Ministry said Tuesday that Israeli attacks killed at least 62 Palestinians and wounded 296 in the previous 24-hour period as Israeli strikes continue to pound targets across the Strip.The Health Ministry’s numbers account for dead and wounded Palestinians who arrived at hospitals and morgues. “There are still a number of victims under the rubble and on the streets, and ambulance and civil defense crews cannot reach them,” the ministry wrote on Telegram.Medical sources told Al Jazeera that at least 23 Palestinians, including seven children, were killed by Israeli attacks overnight Monday into Tuesday, which included strikes on displaced Palestinians sheltering in tents.The Health Ministry said that since Israel restarted its genocidal war on Gaza on March 18, at least 792 Palestinians have been killed, and 1,663 were injured. Save the Children said at least 270 Palestinian children had been killed by Israel over the past week.The Israeli military issued fresh evacuation orders for Palestinians in northern Gaza, threatening attacks on the northern cities of Jabalia, Beit Lahia, Beit Hanoun, and Shejaia in Gaza City. The IDF also ordered the displacement of Palestinians in areas of southern Gaza.Also on Tuesday, rare anti-Hamas protests were reported in northern Gaza. Videos on social media showed Palestinians marching and calling for an end to Israel’s genocidal war and chanting for Hamas to “get out.” Messages shared on social media also called for more protests to be held in different areas of Gaza on Wednesday.Gaza’s Health Ministry said in its update that its total recorded death toll since October 2023 has reached 50,144, and the number of wounded has risen to 113,704. Gaza’s Media Office has said that nearly 62,000 adults and children have been killed by Israeli violence since October 2023, a number that accounts for missing Palestinians. Other estimates that factor in indirect deaths put the death toll in the hundreds of thousands.

Co-director of award-winning No Other Land attacked by Israeli fascist settlers and military -According to multiple news reports, Hamdan Ballal, one of the four directors of No Other Land, the winner of the best documentary feature at the recent Academy Awards, was beaten by a mob of Israeli settlers on Monday and detained by the military. His whereabouts are unknown. Only three weeks ago, Ballal, along with fellow directors Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, was on the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to accept an Oscar. Now Zionist fascists and soldiers threaten his life.The Guardian published an extensive report on the vicious attack, based on the eyewitness accounts of five Jewish-American activists from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence.The activists asserted that Ballal was surrounded and attacked by a group of about 15 armed settlers in Susya in the Masafer Yatta area south of Hebron.Joseph, who asked not to use his full name for security reasons, said:They started throwing stones towards Palestinians and destroyed a water tank near Hamdan’s house. The witnesses said that a group of soldiers arrived at the scene alongside other settlers dressed in military uniform who chased Hamdan to his house and handed him over to the military. ‘‘The settlers destroyed his car with stones and slashed one of the tyres,’’ another witness, Raviv, told The Guardian. ‘‘All the windows and windshields were broken.’’

Gaza Health Ministry Releases Names of 15,613 Children Killed by Israel Since October 2023 - Gaza’s Health Ministry on Monday released the names of 15,613 children who have been killed by the US-backed Israeli assault on Gaza since October 2023.The children were included in a list of 50,021 Palestinians who have been killed by the IDF and have been fully identified. The first 27 pages of the list named infants killed by the Israeli military who didn’t reach their first birthday, accounting for 876 of the dead children.Children aged 6-12 were the most represented age group among children killed by Israel, accounting for 36.8%. Children aged 13-17 accounted for 31.2%, while ages 1-5 accounted for 26.3%, and infants made up 5.7% of the 15,613 slaughtered kids. The list only includes children who have been fully identified as of March 23 and doesn’t account for those missing under the rubble or children who have died due to indirect causes due to the Israeli siege.Gaza’s Media Office has said that nearly 62,000 adults and children have been killed by Israeli violence since October 2023, a number that accounts for missing Palestinians. Other estimates that factor in indirect deaths put the death toll in the hundreds of thousands. Hundreds of children have been killed since Israel restarted its massive bombing of Gaza last week. According to Haaretz, 200 children were killed in a single day, marking the single largest massacre of children in Israel’s history. When asked about the massive child casualties, the US has blamed Hamas and has expressed its full-throated endorsement of Israel’s actions. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters last week that the US would “stand with Israel in every circumstance.”

Report: Netanyahu Demanded the IDF Bomb Homes Without Intelligence - Early in the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the head of the Israeli military to hit thousands of targets without intelligence, including homes. According to Nahum Barnea’s reporting inYnet, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi told Netanyahu during a meeting on October 9, 2023 that the IDF already was bombing 1,500 targets per day.Barnea’s sources explained that Netanyahu banged on the table and demanded, “Why not 5,000?” When the PM was told the IDF lacked the intelligence to conduct so many strikes, he replied, “I’m not interested in targets. Take down houses, bomb with everything you have.”Previously, 972 Magazine reported that the IDF had employed an AI program dubbed Lavender to mark Palestinians as members of Hamas. This program increased the number of targets the IDF would generate, with a source explaining that it treated the outputs of the AI machine “as if it were a human decision.”In total, 37,000 Palestinians were put on Lavender’s target list, with many of them killed in their homes, along with dozens of family members. Sources discussed with the outlet how they changed the inputs in Lavender so the AI would add additional names to the list.“One day, totally of my own accord, I added something like 1,200 new targets to the [tracking] system, because the number of attacks [we were conducting] decreased,” the source said. “That made sense to me. In retrospect, it seems like a serious decision I made. And such decisions were not made at high levels.”

Israel Established Office Dedicated To Removing Palestinians From Gaza -- The Israeli Security Cabinet created a new office within the Defense Ministry that will work to remove all Palestinians from Gaza. Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Tel Aviv is moving forward with President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza. The Times of Israel reports that the new office was established on Saturday night. A statement from Katz’s office said the body will work to encourage what it called the “voluntary departure” of Palestinians from Gaza, and that he would be appointing the head of the agency in the coming days.The office will work to “prepare for and enable safe and controlled passage of Gaza residents for their voluntary departure to third countries, including securing their movement,” the statement explained. “As well as coordinating the provision of infrastructure that will enable passage by land, sea and air to the destination countries.”It went on to argue that Tel Aviv’s cleansing of Gaza is in line with Trump’s vision. “We are working with all means to implement the US president’s vision, and we will allow any Gaza resident who wants to move to a third state to do so,” the statement added.Trump has said that he wants to “clean out” and “take over” Gaza in order to create the “Riviera of the Middle East.” The president explained that the proposal would call for the permanent removal and resettlement of the Palestinians.On Friday, Katz said that Israeli forces would begin annexing Gaza. “I have instructed the IDF to seize additional areas in Gaza, while evacuating the population, and to expand the security zones around Gaza for the protection of Israeli communities and IDF soldiers,” he announced. One of the issues Tel Aviv and Washington face in cleansing Palestinians from Gaza is finding countries to take in the refugees. Many states have refused to accept Palestinians, believing the move would help Israel to expel Palestinians from their homeland. In recent weeks, reports have surfaced that the US and Israel reached out to Somalia, Somaliland, Sudan, and Syria to take Gazans. The new Defense Ministry office came about through joint planning between Katz and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Smotrich recently explained that Israel could expel between 5,000 and 10,000 Palestinians from Gaza per day, and would be able to fully “cleanse” the Strip in a year. He believes his vision is in line with Trump’s. Israel broke a hostage and ceasefire deal brokered by Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, by cutting off all aid to Gaza at the beginning of March. Last week, Israel resumed large-scale bombing in the Strip, killing at least 500. Two hundred of the dead are children. However, the White House has endorsed the Israeli policy, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying on Thursday that Trump supports Israel’s renewed military operations. “The president made it very clear to Hamas that if they did not release all of the hostages there would be all hell to pay,” she said.

Israel prepares to fully occupy Gaza, displace entire population - The Israeli military is preparing to fully occupy the Gaza Strip, internally displace the remaining population and provide only the “minimum caloric amount necessary for survival,” according to three international publications. On Monday, both the US-based National Public Radio (NPR) and the UK’s Financial Times confirmed a report published Friday by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that Israel is “Preparing to Occupy Gaza, Reinstate Military Rule and Fully Control the Palestinian Population.” The publications report that Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) current offensive in Gaza, which began last Tuesday with the massacre of 400 people in a single day of airstrikes, is aimed at the full military occupation of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military has widened the areas it is occupying day by day, internally displacing an ever-larger section of the Palestinian population. Left unsaid in the reports on the renewed occupation is its connection to the plan, first laid out by US President Donald Trump in February and officially embraced by the Israeli government, to ethnically cleanse Gaza and annex its territory. On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reported that Israel’s security cabinet has formally voted for the establishment of an office to oversee the ethnic cleansing of Gaza. The office will be a “Voluntary Emigration Bureau for Gaza residents interested in relocating to third countries,” Katz claimed. While Israeli officials have claimed that the displacement of the Palestinians would be “voluntary,” the fact is that this massive relocation operation would require direct military coercion. As such, the plan for the complete military occupation of Gaza would be a basic prerequisite for putting the ethnic cleansing program into effect. Friday’s report in Haaretz alleged that “preparations are underway for a large-scale operation to occupy Gaza and restore full Israeli control.”

Israel’s Defence Minister vows to annex parts of Gaza as all-out aid blockade and military offensive continue - Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a statement Friday committing the Zionist regime to annex parts of Gaza if Hamas refuses to release the remaining hostages under its control. Israel continued its all-out onslaught on the enclave for a fifth straight day, with a brutal blockade on all aid launched at the beginning of March still in force. “The more Hamas persists in its refusal to release the hostages, the more territory it will lose, which will be annexed to Israel,” Katz declared. “If the hostages are not released, Israel will continue to take more and more territory in the Strip for permanent control.” Referring to US President Donald Trump’s plan to expel Gaza’s Palestinian population and turn the enclave into a “riviera of the Middle East,” Katz continued that Israel would intensify its military operations. Israel will deploy “all military and civilian pressure, including evacuation of the Gaza population south and implementing US President Trump’s voluntary migration plan for Gaza residents.” The description of Trump’s plan for Gaza as consisting of “voluntary migration” for the Palestinians stretches the term Orwellian to its limits. Since returning to the White House, the fascist-minded president has repeatedly made clear his support for ethnic cleansing and the elimination of the Palestinian population from the enclave. In late January, Trump urged Israel to “clean out” the Arab population from the Gaza Strip. At a joint appearance with Netanyahu at the White House February 4, Trump then openly embraced the expulsion of the Palestinians, declaring that Gaza “should not go through a process of rebuilding and occupation by the same people that…lived a miserable existence there.” Trump urged “other countries” to “build various domains that will ultimately be occupied by the 1.8 million Palestinians living in Gaza.” He concluded by suggesting that the US would annex Gaza. US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce was repeatedly asked Friday to comment on Katz’s threat to begin annexing Gaza, but refused to answer directly. Underlining the Trump administration’s approval for Katz’s proposal, Bruce responded by saying that the present situation has “one cause, Hamas.” After using a six-week ceasefire in Gaza to regroup and rearm, the far-right Israeli regime was emboldened by Trump’s outspoken support for forcibly removing the Palestinians to impose a full blockade on food and aid entering the enclave at the beginning of the month. Sam Rose, director of planning for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said in Geneva Friday, “This is the longest period since the start of conflict in October 2023 that no supplies whatsoever have entered Gaza. The progress we made as an aid system over the last six weeks of the ceasefire is being reversed.” The UN says it only has flour supplies in Gaza to last six days.

Israel 'On The Brink Of Civil War' As Judicial Overhaul Bill Progresses - Several ultra-controversial issues have come to a head in Israel this week, sparking more huge protests outside the country's Knesset and in various locations. Israel's Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz is warning alongside former Israeli army Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, and former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that Israel is on the brink of civil war. The mounting crisis was sparked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dismissing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. "It’s true that there are many security challenges from abroad, but Israel’s security is at risk because of the internal division," Gantz said at the start of the week.There are moves to also dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara by Netanyahu after a 'no confidence' vote by the cabinet. This has outraged opposition parties and much of the population.Alongside this, the deeply divisive judicial appointments bill will soon be voted on:National Unity chair Benny Gantz met earlier today with Justice Minister Yariv Levin in a last-ditch attempt to convince him to abandon a highly controversial piece of legislation that will greatly increase political control over the judicial appointments process.The meeting was held ahead of the final two readings in the Knesset plenum needed for the legislation’s passage.During the meeting, Gantz told Levin that he would be making a “mistake” by bringing the legislation for final votes, Channel 12 reports, while Ynet says he warned Levin that Israel is on “the brink of a civil war.” Gantz is pleading for Netanyahu to halt the legislation from progressing. "I’m appealing to you as someone who bears the responsibility of acting on behalf of all citizens of this country," he wrote to in a letter to the prime minister."Our society is wounded and bleeding, divided in a way we have not seen since October 6 [2023]," Gantz said. "Fifty-nine of our brothers and sisters are still captive in Gaza, and our soldiers, from all political factions, are fighting on multiple fronts."

Volkswagen plans for tanks instead of Tiguan SUVs - Last week, the parties in the Bundestag (parliament) agreed to the largest arms deal since the Nazi regime. With one trillion euros in play, the management boards of the crisis-ridden industrial conglomerates can smell new profits.This includes Volkswagen (VW). At its annual press conference on March 11, Europe’s largest carmaker reported a significant decline in profits for 2024. At the same time, CEO Oliver Blume announced changes for the coming year and confirmed press reports that “in view of the current world situation” plans are being discussed “to enter the arms business.”Germany’s largest arms company Rheinmetall has recently shown a keen interest in taking over and repurposing VW plants for the production of military vehicles and equipment. At the centre of this is the VW plant in Osnabrück, which Rheinmetall boss Armin Papperger has described as “very suitable” for conversion to military production.The plant, which has so far produced convertibles and small series, could potentially be converted to manufacture military vehicles such as armoured personnel carriers. Rheinmetall is apparently also interested in other VW sites, such as Dresden, according to Auto-Motor-Sport magazine. Recently, there have been increasing reports that various German industrial companies want to start producing military goods. These are both traditional companies and startups, especially so-called defence tech startups, which are sensing the billions in profits to be made from AI-controlled drones and mini-tanks. The IG Metall trade union is a driving force behind this. As early as February 2024, it concluded an armament pact with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the arms industry. A position paper entitled “Securing sovereignty and resilience”, which was jointly adopted by IG Metall, the SPD’s Economic Forum and the German Security and Defence Industry Association (BDSV), states:A comprehensive industrial policy concept for the defence industry does not yet exist. However, such a concept is indispensable to ensure the industry’s performance and to enable its possibilities for product development and product production of relevant defence systems in the dimensions of land, air and sea.

School during wartime: Learning about teachers' psychological stress in Ukraine -- Lessons in air-raid shelters and a sense of purpose from comforting others: LMU graduate Iryna Nadyukova investigated the psychological stress of teachers in Ukraine. Iryna Nadyukova actually had other plans for her master's thesis. She wanted to compare teacher-pupil interactions at German and Ukrainian schools. As recently as 23 February 2022, she sat down with Professor Anne Frenzel from the Munich Center of the Learning Sciences to discuss her research topic in the latter's office at LMU's Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences. But overnight everything changed. As Russian tanks rolled toward Kyiv, research was the last thing on her mind. Nadyukova was "very shocked," she recalls. In response, she organized an aid initiative in her faculty, ensuring that several fully loaded trucks reached Ukraine. She also volunteered to provide psychological support to refugees and helped Ukrainian children learn German in a project by the NGO "Lern-Fair." In August 2022, she decided to change the focus of her master's dissertation and address other, urgent questions: What was afflicting teachers in war-torn Ukraine? How much stress were they suffering? How did they help themselves? And: How could they be helped? Although her supervisor, Anna Frenzel, needed no convincing of the relevance of the topic, she doubted whether it would be possible to collect the necessary data. Didn't teachers in war zones have better things to do than answer the questions of researchers? As was soon demonstrated, however, the digital networks of Ukrainian teachers are strong. While German teachers tend to see themselves as solo operators, explains Frenzel, their colleagues in Ukraine band together in mutual exchange. For Nadyukova, it was not difficult to assemble a representative sample group of more than 700 teachers who were willing to answer a questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions.The results of the study, which has since been published in the journal Teaching and Teacher Education, leave no doubt that the teachers are experiencing much more stress during the war than they did, for example, during the pandemic—that other "terrible disruption," in Frenzel's words, which immediately preceded the invasion of Russian troops three years ago.During the pandemic, Ukrainian schools had already made the switch from in-person to online lessons. Classes were split. Some children scarcely saw the inside of their school anymore. Since 24 February 2022, this has not changed.If a school does not have an air-raid shelter, then lessons take place online. If there is not enough room for everyone in the shelter, classes are taught in the mornings and afternoons in separate groups. When a siren goes off, teachers and pupils dash to the air-raid shelter. Little teaching and learning generally takes place there—it is simply too full and too loud.But sometimes it is possible to continue lessons in the air-raid shelter, as one teacher related to Nadyukova—albeit with the utmost effort. "We could hear explosions outside. I told the children our soldiers were intercepting rockets, that everything was OK. Inside I was trembling, because I had no idea what was really going on out there."