Fed's Waller eyes rate cut before July - The Federal Reserve is poised to hold its benchmark interest rate steady later this month, but at least one central bank official believes it could get back to cutting rates again soon. With the Federal Reserve touting a slower pace of easing, markets are expecting a longer pause. But Gov. Christopher Waller said the next interest rate reduction could come as soon as March because of inflation data.
Fed may cut rates sooner and faster than expected if disinflation holds up, Waller says (Reuters) - Inflation is likely to continue to ease and possibly allow the U.S. central bank to cut interest rates sooner and faster than expected, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on Thursday in comments that pushed against recent market moves that anticipate a shallower Fed rate path. Inflation "is getting close to what our 2% inflation target would be," Waller said on CNBC, citing estimates indicating that one key measure of underlying inflation, the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index excluding food and energy costs, has been close to the Fed's target for six of the past eight months. The next monthly PCE report will not be released until Jan. 31, two days after the end of the Fed's upcoming policy meeting, but analysts expect the monthly increase in core inflation may translate to an annual rate of less than 2%. "If we continue getting numbers like this, it is reasonable to think rate cuts could happen in the first half of the year ... I am optimistic that this disinflationary trend will continue and we will get back closer to 2% a little quicker than maybe others are thinking," Waller said, adding that as many as three or four quarter-percentage-point rate reductions could still be possible this year depending on how inflation behaves. "If inflation is down and the labor market stays solid, you could think about restarting rate cuts several months from now ... I don't think March could be completely ruled out," Waller said, referring to the Fed's March 18-19 policy meeting. "If we make a lot of progress, you could do more." Waller's somewhat dovish narrative, coming near the Fed's blackout period on public comments ahead of the Jan. 28-29 meeting, shifted market expectations about where the central bank stands at the start of the incoming Trump administration. The Fed is anticipated to hold its benchmark overnight rate steady in the 4.25%-4.50% range at its meeting later this month, but investors had expected the pause to last until perhaps June, with only a single rate cut this year. After Waller's remarks investors shifted toward a view of two rate cuts as more likely, with a good chance the first comes as early as May. Bond yields also fell. The Fed is trying to reconcile relatively strong economic data with the need for inflation to fall somewhat further.Some analysts have looked at things like strong retail sales and a relatively low unemployment rate to argue Fed policy is not restricting the economy as much as thought, with a new surge of inflation possible.But "you are not seeing a labor market that is starting to overheat or accelerate ... Things are still restrictive," Waller said.The Fed is also trying to assess how President-elect Donald Trump's policies may influence the performance of the economy in coming months. Trump will begin his second term in the White House on Monday.Waller anticipates any influence on prices from increased tariffs on imports, for example, would be fleeting."I don't think tariffs would have a significant impact or persistent effect on inflation," Waller said.
Fed pulls out of international climate policy group --The Federal Reserve has withdrawn from the international policy group behind its recent push into climate scenario testing. Citing concerns about going outside its statutory mandate, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors voted to leave the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System.
Fed's Beige Book: "Economic activity increased slightly to moderately" --- Fed's Beige Book: Economic activity increased slightly to moderately across the twelve Federal Reserve Districts in late November and December. Consumer spending moved up moderately, with most Districts reporting strong holiday sales that exceeded expectations. Vehicle sales grew modestly. Construction activity decreased overall, with several Districts indicating that high costs for materials and financing were weighing on growth. Manufacturing decreased slightly on net, and a number of Districts said manufacturers were stockpiling inventories in anticipation of higher tariffs. Residential real estate activity was unchanged on balance, as high mortgage rates continued to hold back demand. Commercial real estate sales edged up. The nonfinancial services sector grew slightly overall, with Districts highlighting growth in leisure and hospitality and transportation, notably air travel. Truck freight volumes, however, were down. Financial service providers reported modest growth in lending and little change in asset quality overall, though lenders and community organizations voiced concerns about delinquencies among small businesses and lower-income households. Nonprofit social service agencies faced high demand amidst uncertainty about future funding levels. Agricultural conditions remained weak overall, with generally lower farm incomes and weather-related struggles in some areas. The spread of avian flu reduced egg supplies and pushed up prices. Energy activity was mixed. More contacts were optimistic about the outlook for 2025 than were pessimistic about it, though contacts in several Districts expressed concerns that changes in immigration and tariff policy could negatively affect the economy. Employment ticked up on balance, with six Districts reporting a slight increase and six reporting no change. Contacts in several service industries, notably healthcare, continued to see job growth. Construction employment increased slightly, while manufacturing employment was flat. Contacts across multiple sectors noted difficulty finding skilled workers, and reports of layoffs remained rare. However, contacts in some Districts expressed greater uncertainty about their future staffing needs. Wage growth picked up to a moderate pace in most Districts, though there were some reports that wage pressures had eased. Prices increased modestly overall, with growth rates ranging from flat to moderate. Contacts in most Districts reported modest increases in selling prices, though there were instances of flat or decreasing prices as well, particularly in the retail and manufacturing sectors. Input costs also rose, with contacts highlighting higher insurance prices, particularly for health insurance. However, as with selling prices, there were several mentions of flat or lower input costs, particularly for fuel. Contacts expected prices to continue to rise in 2025, with some noting the potential for higher tariffs to contribute to price increases.
Donald Trump steamed at GOP lawmakers over debt limit quandary -- President-elect Trump wants congressional Republicans to figure out a way to avoid a default on the national debt after venting his frustration with the Senate GOP over its failure to raise the debt limit as part of a government funding package last month. Trump told Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) at a recent meeting that it’s now up to him to find a way around the debt limit impasse, according to a Republican source familiar with the conversation. “The debt limit came up. He’s very unhappy that that’s hanging out there, and he made it Thune’s problem. He said, ‘John, I don’t know how you’re going to solve this problem, but you’re going to figure out some way,’” a GOP senator who attended the meeting said. Republicans say Trump’s unhappy that Congress failed to raise the debt limit before he takes office Jan. 20 and wants congressional leaders to take care of the looming problem, largely washing his own hands of the matter — at least for now. “Yes, we have to figure out because we’re in the majority,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said of Congress’s inability to take care of the debt limit before Trump’s inauguration. “He’s not happy, I’m not happy, but that’s where we are,” Cornyn said. It’s becoming clear that a debt limit increase won’t be part of a budget reconciliation package being plotted out to move much of Trump’s legislative agenda. Trump wants that package to be moved in one bill that would include border and energy provisions and an extension of the 2017 tax cuts he signed into law. Including a debt hike in that bill would be tough, since conservatives say hiking the nation’s debt limit must be coupled with up to $2 trillion in spending cuts. Trump urged House Republicans last month to vote for a stopgap funding measure bundled with disaster relief and economic aid to farms that also included — at his insistence — a proposal to extend the debt limit past the 2026 midterm election. And he vented his fury when conservatives in both chambers — including Texas Rep. Chip Roy (R) and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R) — balked at voting for any debt limit legislation that did not include substantial spending cuts to offset the impact on the federal debt. “Chip Roy is just another ambitious guy, with no talent,” Trump fumed on Truth Social. “I hope some talented challengers are getting ready in the Great State of Texas to go after Chip in the Primary. He won’t have a chance!” Trump grumbled that “increasing the debt ceiling is not great” and that “we’d rather do it on Biden’s watch.” This now leaves Thune and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) in the tough position of having to figure out a way to raise the debt limit sometime later this year, when Republicans will be in control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. GOP senators say Thune and Johnson at this point have two viable options: They can either attempt to negotiate a debt limit increase with Democrats, which would likely entail agreeing to more spending, or they can simply bring a stand-alone debt limit increase to the floor, without concessions, and dare Democrats to vote against it.
Yellen: Debt limit will be hit day after Trump's inauguration --Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Friday the nation will hit its debt ceiling the day after President Trump is inaugurated and that the agency will begin “extraordinary measures” to stave off the threat of a national default. Yellen told congressional leadership in a letter that the Treasury Department will begin the measures Tuesday after a previous roughly 20-month suspension of the debt limit expired earlier this month. The Treasury Department can use the measures to allow the government to meet its obligations for a period of time once the debt ceiling deadline has been hit. It’s unclear when the use of the measures will be fruitless, though there had previously been speculation that lawmakers would have a matter of months to actually raise the debt ceiling. Yellen said she will be “unable to fully invest the portion of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF) not immediately required to pay beneficiaries.” She also said a “debt issuance suspension period” will begin on next Tuesday and last through March 14. “My predecessors have declared debt issuance suspension periods under similar circumstances,” she wrote. “With these determinations, the Treasury Department will suspend additional investments of amounts credited to, and redeem a portion of the investments held by, the CSRDF, as expressly authorized by law.” She said the investments in the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund will be made in the same manner as those for the CSRDF, but noted that both accounts will be “made whole once the debt limit is increased or suspended.” “Federal retirees and employees will be unaffected by these actions,” she added.
US Treasury to launch measures to avoid debt limit breach on Tuesday (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that the government will reach its statutory borrowing limit on Tuesday and begin employing "extraordinary measures" to keep from breaching the cap and risking a potential catastrophic default. Yellen, in a letter on Friday to congressional leaders just three days before the Biden administration turns over U.S. government control to President-elect Donald Trump and his team, said the Treasury would begin using extraordinary measures on Jan. 21. "The period of time that extraordinary measures may last is subject to considerable uncertainty, including the challenges of forecasting the payments and receipts of the U.S. Government months into the future," Yellen said in the letter. Yellen said the Treasury would suspend investments in two government employee benefit funds through March 14, to claw back borrowing capacity under the $36.1 trillion debt ceiling. As of Thursday, the Treasury reported borrowings of $36.08 trillion. The move will suspend new investments that are not immediately required to pay benefits from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund and the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund. Once the debt limit is increased or suspended, the funds are required to be made whole. Yellen said there was "considerable uncertainty" over how long the measures would last and urged Congress to raise or suspend the debt limit "to protect the full faith and credit of the United States." In late December, Yellen had said that the debt cap would likely be reached between Jan. 14 and 23 after Congress opted against including an extension or permanent revocation of the limit in a last-minute budget deal near the end of the year. Trump himself had urged lawmakers to extend or repeal the debt ceiling and later blasted an earlier failure to do so in 2023 as "one of the dumbest political decisions made in years." But many Republican lawmakers view the limit as an important leverage point in fiscal negotiations. The debt ceiling issue presents an early challenge to Yellen's expected successor, Trump Treasury pick Scott Bessent. The hedge fund manager told a U.S. Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday that the ceiling is a "nuanced convention" but if Trump wants to eliminate it, he would work with Congress and the White House to make that happen. The Treasury has a number of extraordinary balance sheet measures it can employ to avoid default, which budget analysts say could last several months, depending on the strength of tax revenues. Ultimately, failure to raise, suspend or eliminate the debt limit could prevent the Treasury from paying all of its obligations. A default on U.S. default would likely have severe economic consequences. A debt limit is a cap set by Congress on how much money the U.S. government can borrow. Because the government spends more money than it collects in tax revenue, lawmakers need to periodically tackle the issue - a politically difficult task, as many are reluctant to vote for more debt. The debt ceiling's history dates back to 1917, when Congress gave the Treasury more borrowing flexibility to finance America's entry into World War One but with certain limits. Lawmakers approved the first modern limit on aggregate debt in 1939 at $45 billion, and have approved 103 increases since as spending outran tax revenue. Publicly held debt was 98% of U.S. gross domestic product as of October, compared with 32% in October 2001.
Johnson ‘not wed’ to including debt ceiling in sprawling reconciliation bill -- Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Tuesday said he is “not wed” to including a debt limit increase in the reconciliation package full of President-elect Trump’s priorities, a sign that the top lawmaker may be considering stripping the thorny issue from the sprawling legislation.Johnson told reporters last week that it was his “intention” to deal with the debt limit in the reconciliation package, as that way Republicans could handle the matter without input from Democrats. The budget reconciliation process allows the majority party to skirt around opposition from those in the minority party.Asked on Tuesday by The Hill if it was still his intention to move the debt limit increase in the reconciliation package, Johnson said “that’s the current plan,” but he signaled a potential off-ramp. “We’re socializing that among members. I’m not really wed to that, it was the initial idea. So we’ll see, we’ll see how it develops,” Johnson said. Johnson’s apparent openness to removing the debt ceiling increase from the GOP priority measure comes as the borrowing limit emerges as one of the more contentious matters in the reconciliation package.A handful of Republicans in the House GOP conference have never voted for a debt limit increase, and in December, GOP lawmakers entered into an agreement to increase the borrowing limit by $1.5 trillion in exchange for $2.5 trillion in net cuts to spending, the latter of which is likely to be a difficult feat.Johnson on Tuesday said he is working to build consensus for those cuts.
Trump criticizes California's forest management amid fires -- President-elect Trump said Monday that California had the chance to “maintain their forests” amid the ongoing Los Angeles-area wildfires. “The problem is it’s so dry, it was always so dry there, and it’s just … it’s just a mess. They could’ve, you know, maintained their forests, and — as I said they have to do,” Trump said on Newsmax’s “Rob Schmitt Tonight.” Trump also said in his Newsmax interview that the Los Angeles area “is just desolate” due to the fires. “It literally looks like a bomb, a massive bomb was dropped on top of them. The only thing standing are a couple of chimneys. Most of the chimneys were wiped out too, by the way,” Trump said. Trump’s comments come as he has been recently criticizing California officials over their handling of the Los Angeles-area fires, most notably California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). “One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground,” Trump said on Truth Social last Wednesday. “It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!”The recent Los Angeles-area fires have devastated the region, destroying property en masse and leaving a death toll in the double digits in their wake.Various factors have contributed to the intensifying fires, including strong Santa Ana winds, a dry winter, low humidity and packed vegetation.Newsom raised concerns in an interview that aired Sunday about the chance of Trump withholding federal disaster aid to the Golden State during the deadly fires.“He’s done it in Utah. He’s done it in Michigan, did it in Puerto Rico. He did it to California back before I was even governor, in 2018, until he found out folks in Orange County voted for him and he decided to give them money,” Newsom said in the interview. In an emailed response to The Hill, posts on the social platform X from Newsom’s press office and his own account discussing water supplies, water availability and taking swings at Trump over recent comments about water usage were highlighted by the California governor’s office.
Tuberville says California doesn’t ‘deserve’ funding after wildfires unless it makes ‘some changes’ --Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said Monday that California doesn’t “deserve” funding after wildfires unless they “make some changes.”“If you go to California, you run into a lot of Republicans, a lot of good people, and I hate it for them, but they are just overwhelmed by, by these inner-city woke policies with the people that vote for them,” Tuberville said on Newsmax’s “The Chris Salcedo Show,” in a clip highlighted by Mediaite.“And it … you know, I don’t mind sending them some money. But unless they show that they’re [going to] change their ways and get back to building dams and storing water, doing the — the maintenance with the brush and the trees and everything that everybody else does in the country, and they refuse to do it, they don’t deserve anything, to be honest with you, unless they show us they’re [going to] make some changes,” he added.The recent Los Angeles-area fires have devastated the region, destroying property en masse and leaving a death toll in the double digits in their wake. On Sunday, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) predicted “that there will be strings attached to money that is ultimately approved” for Los Angeles-area fire aid.“Do you expect, though, that Congress and Republicans will still help these Americans in need, even if they don’t like their local politics in the party?” CBS News’s Margaret Brennan asked Barrasso on “Face the Nation.”“I expect that there will be strings attached to money that is ultimately approved, and it has to do with being ready the next time, because this was a gross failure this time,” the Wyoming Republican responded.California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) raised concerns in an interview that aired Sunday about the chance of President-elect Trump withholding federal disaster aid to the Golden State during the deadly fires.“He’s done it in Utah. He’s done it in Michigan, did it in Puerto Rico. He did it to California back before I was even governor, in 2018, until he found out folks in Orange County voted for him and he decided to give them money,” Newsom said in the interview.
Sen. Rounds: Tying debt limit to California aid ‘not meant as a penalty’ -- Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said on Monday that tying the debt limit to California aid for the recent deadly wildfires it has faced is “not meant as a penalty.” Earlier in a conversation with NewsNation’s Blake Burman on “The Hill,” Burman asked Rounds about the potential of fire aid being “tied to increasing the debt limit.”“I think it will have to be, because we simply can’t provide the assistance unless we have the ability to borrow the money to do so,” Rounds replied.Rounds later added that “the secretary of the Treasury has already advised us that we are using extraordinary means in order to pay our bills, until such time as we increase the debt limit again.”“It’s not meant as a penalty, or it’s not meant to slow down the delivery,” Rounds said, talking about the fire aid and debt limit connection. “It simply means that we’ll have to expedite the discussion about the debt ceiling.”The recent Los Angeles-area fires have devastated the region, destroying property en masse and leaving a death toll in the double digits in their wake.Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) floated on Monday, tying a debt limit increase to disaster aid for the state.“There’s some discussion about that, but we’ll see where it goes,” Johnson told reporters when asked about debt limit legislation being a ridealong to a potential disaster aid package. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) also on Monday said that California doesn’t “deserve” funding after wildfires unless they “make some changes.”“If you go to California, you run into a lot of Republicans, a lot of good people, and I hate it for them, but they are just overwhelmed by, by these inner-city woke policies with the people that vote for them,” Tuberville said on Newsmax’s “The Chris Salcedo Show,”“And it … you know, I don’t mind sending them some money. But unless they show that they’re [going to] change their ways and get back to building dams and storing water, doing the — the maintenance with the brush and the trees and everything that everybody else does in the country, and they refuse to do it, they don’t deserve anything, to be honest with you, unless they show us they’re [going to] make some changes,” he added.
Speaker Mike Johnson backs conditions on California wildfire aid -- Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is backing placing conditions on disaster assistance for California in the wake of the destructive wildfires blazing around the Los Angeles area, a position already drawing opposition from Democrats. In remarks to reporters at the Capitol on Monday, Johnson criticized California’s water resource and forest management, placing the blame at the hands of leaders on the state and local level. “I think we’ve got to have a serious conversation about that,” Johnson said when asked about conditions on the aid. “Obviously there has been water resource mismanagement, forest management mistakes, all sorts of problems. And it does come down to leadership, and it appears to us that state and local leaders were derelict in their duty in many respects. So that’s something that has to be factored in.” “I think there should probably be conditions on that aid. That’s my personal view, we’ll see what the consensus is,” he added. “I haven’t had a chance to socialize that with any of the members over the weekend because we’ve all been very busy, but it’ll be part of the discussion, for sure.” President-elect Trump and Republicans blamed California’s leaders for a lack of available water supplies last week, accusing Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) of blocking efforts to pump water from Northern California to the Los Angeles area. But experts maintain doing so would have been impractical. The Speaker also confirmed that conversations are underway about potentially pairing the California disaster aid with a debt limit increase, a prospect Republicans discussed with Trump during a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago estate over the weekend. “There’s some discussion about that, but we’ll see where it goes,” Johnson said when asked about combining the two priorities. Johnson did not say what kind of conditions he would like to be placed on the California disaster relief, but the idea is already sparking opposition among Democrats, with one warning that such a move could drive a Democratic majority to do the same in the future. “This is a Mistake,” Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) wrote on the social platform X. “If you start this, it will never end. When Dems retake the House, they will condition aid to Florida and Texas. Disaster Aid must stay non partisan. I would fight democrats should they try and do this. The Speaker can find many other ways to hold people accountable.” It remains unclear when Congress will begin the process of considering disaster aid since the fires in California are still ablaze, the price tag for such a package is unknown, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has said it has enough money at the moment to respond to various disasters, including the wildfires, in the near future. Congress approved more than $100 billion in emergency aid in December. The looming push, however, already appears to be taking a political turn, as officials snipe over what led to the raging wildfires. Trump, for example, has called on Newsom to resign, placing the blame of the wildfires on him. “One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground,” Trump wrote on Truth Social last week. “It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!”
Republicans threaten to withhold federal support to Californians devastated by still raging infernos --As climate change-powered fires continue to rage in and around the greater Los Angeles area, with at least 24 reported dead so far, leading congressional Republicans signaled their intent to condition federal aid to California due to alleged “mismanagement” by state and local officials. As he was walking through the Capitol in Washington on Monday, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was asked by CNN’s Manu Raju if he was “open” to providing federal aid to California “without any conditions.” Johnson replied that there needed to be a “serious conversation about that.”“Obviously there has been water resource mismanagement, forest management mistakes, all sorts of problems and it does come to leadership, and it appears to us that state and local leaders were derelict in their duty in many respects so that is something that has to be factored in.”Johnson continued, “I think there should be conditions on that aid. That’s my personal view, we’ll see what the consensus is,” adding, “It will be part of the discussion for sure.” Despite the ongoing danger and the high likelihood that the damage and death toll will continue to rise, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, a staunch ally of President-elect Donald Trump, similarly voiced his support for withholding federal support to devastated residents because voters in the state have elected Democrats.Asked by Newsmax’s Chris Salcedo, “Why should other states be bailing out California for choosing the wrong people to run their state?” Tuberville replied, “We shouldn’t be.”The former college football coach acknowledged that while there were “a lot of Republicans” in California, but “they are just overwhelmed by these inner city woke policies with the people that vote for them. And I don’t mind sending them some money, but unless they show they are going to change their ways and get back to building dams and storing water, doing the maintenance with the brush and the trees and everything everybody else does in the country and they refuse to do it.”Tuberville concluded, “They don’t deserve anything, to be honest with you, unless they show us they are going to make some changes.” Tuberville and Johnson’s threats to withhold federal aid echo previous threats levied by Trump against California Democrats, specifically Governor Gavin Newsom. While campaigning in California last September, Trump threatened not to give Newsom “money to put out all his fires,” if Newsom did not agree to divert more water towards agricultural interests. While the return of Trump and his cabinet of billionaires to the White House will mark a further erosion in federal funding efforts to combat wildfires and other climate-related catastrophes, under the Democrats, as well as Republicans, money to prevent wildfires has continued to be slashed. In a January 11 article on the lack of preparation for the Los Angeles fires, the Washington Post noted that the effort to clear vegetation and conduct controlled burns “is expensive and, at the federal level, is underfunded. In 2022, the Biden administration announced a plan to reduce the fire risk on 50 million acres of land, an effort it estimated would cost around $50 billion. But it was only partially funded, with $3 billion from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.” While there is “no money” to reduce wildfire risks, on Monday President Biden announced that the next two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers to be built at the cost of roughly $15 billion apiece, would be named for former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. As of this writing, over 12,300 structures, the majority of them family homes, have been destroyed in the fires. A recent analysis from Well Fargo Securities estimated that insured losses were at least $30 billion, with the vast majority of that, some 85 percent, estimated to be claims for home losses. Accuweather estimates that the total cost of the firestorm from damage and economic losses will top $150 billion, making it the most destructive in US history.Both the Palisades Fire, currently west of Santa Monica and Brentwood, and the Eaton Fire, north of Pasadena, have yet to be contained. The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) estimated that the Palisades Fire has burned nearly 24,000 acres and is only 14 percent contained, while the smaller Eaton Fire has burned over 14,000 acres and is 33 percent contained. The smallest major fire, the Hurst Fire, is currently 95 percent contained.Some 150,000 people are still under evacuation orders. Many are living with extended family members while others are in public shelters, unable to return home due either to the ongoing danger or the fact that there is nothing left to return to. The National Weather Service (NWS) Los Angeles office warned that the “extreme fire danger will continue through Wednesday.” The agency issued its highest level “Red Flag” warning between Tuesday 4:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Wednesday for parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties.The NWS warned that San Fernando, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and other residential areas northwest of Los Angeles could experience wind gusts between 45-75 miles (72-120 km) per hour between that time. NWS Los Angeles wrote, “Warnings are for the extreme of the extreme fire weather scenarios. In other words, this setup is about as bad as it gets. Stay aware of your surroundings. Be prepared to evacuate.”Over 14,000 firefighters, including contingents from Mexico, Canada and Ukraine, are currently battling the infernos. Of the 14,000 firefighters, roughly 1,000 are incarcerated inmates, who are paid as little as $5.80 a day plus $1 per hour when responding to fires.While many workers, middle class families and even some celebrities have seen their homes and properties go up in smoke in the last week, the wealthiest citizens of Los Angeles have used their fortunes to protect themselves and their assets. Speaking to the New York Times, billionaire former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso confirmed he had hired private firefighters to protect Palisades Village, a mall the developer owns. Caruso got his start in property development and speculation with the help of his father, Henry Caruso, a rental car magnate.“Our property is standing,” Caruso told the paper. “Everything around us is gone. It is like a war zone.” The Times observed that Caruso’s properties appeared “largely intact,” while on the other side of the street where houses once stood was now “ash and rubble.”A spokesperson for a private firefighting company told the Times a two-person crew with a small vehicle can cost “$3,000 a day,” while larger crews of up to 20 go for as much as “$10,000” a day. While private firefighters protected shopping malls, Stephanie, a resident of Altadena, told WSWS reporters in an interview this past weekend that many residents have “nothing left.” She recalled seeing the fire approaching from inside her apartment: “There was an elderly resident, people were evacuated, but I didn’t really hear anything concretely. One woman wanted to stay. All of a sudden the power went out ... then the internet went out. And so, we were left there sort of without services. The management of this building disappeared.”Stephanie said she was able to call the sheriff to assist her evacuate residents from the apartment building: “I took the elderly person down the stairwell, and we removed what belongings we could. We were like the last, almost residents it felt like of Altadena. We could see the flames encroaching and spreading very quickly, heading westward and south, ember by ember, through the trees.” “A lot of residents don’t know whether they want to rebuild,” she continued. “What’s left? There’s no infrastructure. ... The local supermarket, there’s only one bus line, everything, the businesses are gone.” She noted that at “my building, if you look out the window, you see nothing but bleak, harsh earth, like a moonscape and rubble of houses. And it is depressing. I don’t know, a lot of people may not want to rebuild.” As of this writing no official cause of the Eaton Fire has been provided. On Monday the Los Angeles Times and other outlets reported that four lawsuits had been filed Monday by homeowners in the Altadena area. Each of the lawsuits accuses utility company, Southern California Edison (SCE), of starting the fire by failing to de-energize its power lines over the Eaton Canyon. Ali Moghaddass, an attorney with Edelson PC, told the Times the utility companies “were on notice of the significant wind events that were coming in that week” and “chose not to use all the tools at their disposal.”
Ron Johnson joins GOP lawmakers calling for conditions on CA wildfire aid - Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) has joined some of his fellow GOP lawmakers in calling for conditions on California wildfire aid. NPR’s Steve Inskeep asked Johnson on Wednesday’s “Morning Edition” about if he believes “that it is Congress’s place to instruct” California “as to what to do on a state and local level, with, with — with forest management, with building codes, with whatever it might be.” “If they’re asking for American taxpayer dollars to fund their mismanagement, absolutely,” Johnson responded. The recent deadly wildfires in the Los Angeles area have devastated the region, destroying property on a large scale and resulting in numerous deaths.Johnson’s comments follow other GOP lawmakers’ comments about calling for conditions on California wildfire aid. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said to reporters Monday that he believes “there should probably be conditions on that aid.” “That’s my personal view, we’ll see what the consensus is,” he added. “I haven’t had a chance to socialize that with any of the members over the weekend because we’ve all been very busy, but it’ll be part of the discussion, for sure.” Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) predicted Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation” “that there will be strings attached to money that is ultimately approved” for Los Angeles-area fire aid. In his NPR appearance, Ron Johnson said he believes that “what has happened over the decades here, with federal disaster relief, is that more and more and more individuals, more and more states, are just relying on the federal government when something happens.” When reached for comment, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) directed The Hill to a Wednesday post on the social platform X from Newsom saying that “Conditioning aid is simply un-American.” The post also featured a clip of MSNBC’s Jen Psaki interviewing Newsom in which he says he is “meeting American citizens desperate, in need.” “And what they need is empathy, care, compassion, understanding,” he added.
Donald Trump floats adding Los Angeles aid to reconciliation bill --President-elect Trump floated the idea Thursday of including federal aid to Los Angeles in the wake of deadly fires as part of a massive reconciliation package, suggesting that doing so would win over some Democratic votes.Trump pitched the strategy during an interview on “The Dan Bongino Show.” Bongino, a long-time Trump ally, argued Republicans should use the momentum from the 2024 election to pass the president-elect’s agenda in one large reconciliation bill.The incoming president responded that passing one reconciliation bill or breaking his agenda into two bills would have the same end result. But, he suggested the push for one large bill has been “unfortunately helped” by the fires that have ravaged swaths of Los Angeles.“I’d like to see one bill. And because of Los Angeles, you’d think that’s a Democrat thing. They want that money going so fast. Because of Los Angeles, I think the concept of one, big, beautiful bill has been helped greatly,” Trump said, noting he knew of many people who lost homes in the fires.“If you add Los Angeles into it, then you can really do one, big, beautiful bill, because, frankly, they want that so badly,” he continued. “They want the money to go out there so badly. And I don’t think we should do a bill until Los Angeles is included. And when Los Angeles is included, we get everything we want.”Democrats are unlikely to get behind a sweeping bill to enact Trump’s agenda, and funding aid for Los Angeles has been a point of contention in recent days.Many Republicans are demanding conditions on any new emergency funding for Los Angeles, blaming Democratic leaders in California for exacerbating the crisis. Democrats are pushing back, accusing Republicans of exploiting the disaster to score political points and noting Congress typically passes disaster aid without conditions.Republicans have for weeks been debating whether to try to pass Trump’s agenda on border security, tax policy, and energy and manufacturing investments as part of one reconciliation bill, or break it into two pieces to try to bank an early win. The party controls both chambers of Congress but has a slim majority in the House. Passing legislation via the reconciliation process would require a simple majority in both chambers of Congress, meaning Republicans would not require any Democratic support, but everything included must affect spending or revenue levels.
Republicans may try budget math that doesn’t count Trump tax cuts - Republican plans to pass a massive new tax cut in the early days of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term are running into a major obstacle: the price tag.Extending Trump’s 2017 tax law would add $4.6 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office, lawmakers’ nonpartisan bookkeeper. But now some leading GOP tax writers are arguing that extending the law wouldn’t add to the nation’s $36.2 trillion debt at all.Their proposal, though arcane, is about more than accounting.In 2017, Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lowered rates for businesses and individuals in every income bracket, though benefits were concentrated among the highest earners. The business tax cuts are permanent already, but the individual cuts expire at the end of this year, meaning most Americans will face a major tax hike next year unless Congress passes new legislation. Trump also promised new policies on the campaign trail, including ending federal taxes on tips and overtime wages.Using a process called “budget reconciliation,” the GOP could dodge a Democratic filibuster in the Senate. But for that to work, Republicans — who will govern with slim margins in both chambers of Congress — must agree on how much they’re willing to add to the national debt.That makes the stakes quite high for the internal Republican dispute over how to price the tax cuts — which could determine how aggressive Trump and the GOP will be in pushing for new tax cuts and spending reductions.Already, some fiscal conservatives are voicing concerns about adding trillions more red ink to the nation’s books, and they want to use the tax bill to codify GOP campaign promises to slash government spending.The House is generally far more sensitive about budget matters than the Senate, and the GOP majority in the lower chamber is stocked with deficit watchdogs who have a reputation for sinking even Trump’s priorities if they’re too expensive. The Senate is eager to chalk up an early win for the incoming president, with less concern about the cost.“You do have to pass a [budget] resolution eventually. We kind of have to agree,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) said. “And I just hope, I said this to my leadership, we need to get moving on that. I don’t know how much value there is in an extended standoff between the House and the Senate.”Typically, lawmakers would look for spending cuts to offset the revenue lost by extending the cuts. House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) discussed a “menu” of fiscal policy choices at a GOP policy lunch last week. The options included steep cuts to food stamp programs, capping Medicare payments and reversing President Joe Biden’s climate investments, among other policies.“If we unleash this economy, through tax cuts, deregulation, smart energy policies and, at the same time, bend the curve on mandatory spending by trillions of dollars, that’s more than we’ve ever done to restore the fiscal health of this nation in the history of this nation,” Arrington said.But some of those changes would be politically explosive. So leading GOP tax writers are considering another strategy they hope will set the tax bill on a glide path.Because the tax cuts are already in place, some Republicans argue that a new bill to extend them would not incur additional costs to the U.S. Treasury. It’s analogous, they say, to renewing a Netflix subscription — the cost continues month after month, and many consumers would not consider the recurring payment a new expense.“It recognizes reality,” said Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the leading proponent of the approach, which is called a “current policy” baseline.The more conventional approach for 10-year budget estimates is to use a “current law” baseline. Under current law, federal revenue is expected to go way up next year when the tax cuts expire. So a bill to extend the tax cuts would rob the Treasury of that big burst of new revenue.
House Budget Republicans eye more than 200 spending cuts, tax changes for major bill - Republicans on the House Budget Committee are considering more than 200 potential budget cuts, tax breaks, tariffs and changes to programs like Medicare and Social Security in preparation for their wide-ranging reconciliation bill expected this year, according to a document shared with The Hill. The smorgasbord of policy options is broken down by committee, and proposals are assigned dollar amounts for how much they would reduce or add to the deficit through the 10-year budget window. The document includes estimates for President-elect Trump’s across-the-board tariffs, the individual tax breaks he proposed on the campaign trail, changes to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, changes to the corporate tax rate, and cuts to Democrats’ climate-focused Inflation Reduction Act. While many of the tax proposals relate to expirations in the 2017 Trump tax cuts, there’s no mention of the expiring marginal tax rates or standard deduction, suggesting the extensions may be under consideration separately. Making the 2017 tax cuts permanent, which would add $4.6 trillion to the deficit according to the Congressional Budget Office, is a top priority for Republicans. The Budget Committee document fixes Trump’s general tariff at 10 percent and projects $1.9 trillion in revenue from it over the next decade. Trump recently proposed creating an external revenue service to collect tariff revenues, as distinct from the internal revenue service (IRS). It also proposes codifying and increasing tariffs on China at a deficit reduction of $100 billion. The plan lays out multiple options on the SALT deduction cap, which is among the most controversial tax provisions within the Republican conference. The SALT deduction was capped in 2017 at $10,000, much to the aggravation of many blue-state Republicans, along with Democrats. SALT options include fixing the $10,000 cap in place, increasing it to $15,000, eliminating the income and sales tax portion of it, and eliminating the deduction altogether. If SALT is scrapped entirely, it would shrink the deficit by about $1 trillion. Total U.S. debt stock stands now at around $36 trillion, though about 20 percent of that is money the government effectively owes itself. The plan considers lowering the corporate tax rate to 20 percent at a cost of $73 billion and to 15 percent at a cost of $522 billion. It also proposes getting rid of IRS enforcement funding awarded by Democrats in 2022 at a cost of $46.6 billion. Tax cuts proposed by Trump while campaigning are given budgetary estimates, as well. Canceling taxes on tips would cost $106 billion, canceling overtime taxes would cost $750 billion, and creating an auto loan interest deduction would cost $61 billion. The plan also considers eliminating the inheritance tax and doing away with the Inflation Reduction Act’s alternative minimum tax for corporations. Accountants say they’re expecting quicker moves on tariffs from the incoming administration than they are on broader tax changes. “Although the expiration of the tax cuts was thought to dominate policy discussions in the first 100 days, we may see another levy tax take center stage: tariffs,” Rema Serafi, vice chair of tax at accounting firm KPMG, wrote in a commentary. The plan also considers a new border adjustment tax. The tax would bring in $1.2 trillion in revenue over the next 20 years.
Higher Education Reforms Could Finance Half a Trillion Dollars in a Reconciliation Bill — With the elections in November giving Republicans small majorities in the House and Senate, there is considerable attention on potential reconciliation bills with pros and cons relative to regular legislation for the new Republican majorities. On the bright side, reconciliation bills cannot be filibustered, which means that they only need 51 votes rather than the typical 60 votes in the Senate, meaning a bill could pass with just Republican support—Republicans have 53 seats in the Senate. The downside is that the bill can only cover fiscal matters like spending and taxes, which means other Republican priorities, such as reversing the woke takeover of higher education or accreditation reform, likely couldn’t be included. Reconciliation bills also cannot raise the deficit after 10 years, which is why the first Trump administration’s tax cuts expire in 2025. Finding revenue to extend those cuts is a priority for Republicans. As luck would have it, higher education provides many opportunities for Republicans looking for ways to pay for tax cuts or other spending in a reconciliation bill while simultaneously improving higher education by reducing inappropriate government interference and distortions. Indeed, higher education is a veritable gold mine of ideas that would be beneficial—regardless of their budgetary impact—while cutting spending or raising revenue. Implementing the ideas listed below would provide Congress with up to a half trillion dollars to spend on other priorities or tax cuts while also improving higher education.Don’t Let Cutting federal spending for higher education could save hundreds of billions of dollars. The main spending areas that would both benefit from reform and reduce federal spending are student loans and campus-based aid programs. The juiciest target for cuts are student loans. The government is currently projected to lose around $0.19 for every dollar it lends, so a natural choice would be to eliminate the government’s lending programs. As I document in a forthcoming Cato Institute report, this would save around $212 billion over the next ten years. And transitioning to a private lending marketplace would also help students and strengthen higher education by unleashing the power of market prices in higher education. But if scrapping all government lending is a bridge too far, there are a handful of beneficial changes that could still be included. Eliminating the “Subsidized” loan program and making all loans “Unsubsidized” going forward could reduce spending by about $14 billion over the next ten years. The terminology is a bit confusing here because while almost all government lending is heavily subsidized, there is a type of loan referred to as “Subsidized” which waives interest while students are enrolled—as opposed to “Unsubsidized” loans, which confusingly are still subsidized. This feature of “Subsidized” loans is quite expensive, and there is little reason to think it has any influence on student decisions. We ceased offering “Subsidized” loans to graduate students a few years ago, and hardly anyone even noticed. There is also no movement pushing for “Subsidized” loans to be reinstated for graduate students. And since all formerly “Subsidized” loans would now just be “Unsubsidized” loans, this change is immune from the criticism that it is taking away students’ ability to borrow.
Biden claims US ‘winning’ on world stage, dealing Trump ‘very strong hand’ -- President Biden on Monday argued he is leaving President-elect Trump in a strong position on the world stage, making the case for continuity in U.S. efforts to counter threats posed by China’s global ambitions and Russia’s aggression. In remarks at the State Department, Biden made the case for his foreign policy legacy, as Trump is already threatening allies and calling for America’s territorial expansion. “My administration is leaving the next administration with a very strong hand to play,” Biden said. “The United States is winning the worldwide competition compared to four years ago. America is stronger. Our alliances are stronger, our adversaries and competitors are weaker. We have not gone to war to make these things happen.” Foreign policy has been a major focus of Biden’s career in public service, as the longtime chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, eight years as vice president and four years as president. Biden came into office promising to revitalize America’s alliances, which suffered under Trump’s first term. And he rallied NATO allies and other democratic nations to help Ukraine resist Russia’s full-scale invasion almost three years ago. But as he leaves office, Ukraine is struggling to retake any momentum against Moscow’s invasion, and Gaza has been devastated by a war raging since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Trump contends neither war would have started under his watch. “The United States should take full advantage of our diplomatic and geopolitical opportunities we’ve created,” Biden said. “To keep bringing countries together to deal with challenges posed by China; to make sure [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s war ends in a just and lasting peace for Ukraine; to capitalize on a new moment, a more stable, integrated Middle East.” While Republicans have grown increasingly skeptical of support for Ukraine, Trump remains a wildcard on the issue, though his promises to end the war have raised fears he’ll push Ukraine into costly negotiations. Fractures between the U.S. and allies also emerged over Biden’s staunch support for Israel’s war on Hamas, centered on the catastrophic toll on Palestinians. Biden officials are sounding optimistic about pushing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas over the finish line in his final week in office. It would see Hamas release dozens of hostages still alive after more than a year of captivity, surge humanitarian support for Palestinians, and ostensibly open a pathway for a permanent end to the war and new governance of the Gaza Strip. “I have learned in many years of public service to never, never, never, ever give up,” Biden said, addressing the ceasefire talks. The Middle East is one area where there has been a surprising convergence between the Biden and Trump teams, with the president-elect demanding a hostage release before he enters office, which would also mark a landmark achievement for Biden. Biden argued that his administration has laid the foundation for protecting Ukraine’s sovereignty, rallying an international coalition to provide military, economic and political support for Kyiv. But international sanctions aimed at bankrupting Russia’s war machine have failed to deliver as intended, and Biden urged the incoming Trump team to stand with Kyiv. “There’s more to do. We can’t walk away,” he said. Among his most forceful remarks directed at the incoming Trump administration focused on keeping the research and development of artificial intelligence centered in the United States, and to take a leading role on the transition to clean energy, calling climate change the greatest existential threat to humanity. “We must not offshore artificial intelligence, as we once did with computer chips and other critical technologies,” said Biden.
Biden boasts that he increased American “military power” - In his final foreign policy speech as US president, Joe Biden summed up what he hoped to be the legacy of his administration. He boasted that he “increased America’s power in every dimension,” while “our adversaries and competitors are weaker.” Biden declared that his administration “significantly strengthened the defense industrial base, investing almost $1.3 trillion in procurement and research and development in real dollars.” He added, “It’s going to ensure that we’re fully equipped to fight and win wars.” If President John F. Kennedy is remembered for falsely promising “not merely peace for Americans, but peace for all men and women,” Biden can at least be given credit for openly stating that the central focus of his administration has been global domination. Biden’s remarks were framed within the doctrine of “great power competition” first articulated in the Trump administration’s 2018 national security strategy. The central focus of US military and economic policy is seeking to weaken and subjugate the targets of its aggression: Russia, China and Iran. Biden leaves office after having played the leading role in provoking, then preventing any diplomatic resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, and having funded, armed and enabled the Gaza genocide. In September, the Wall Street Journal estimated that as many as 1 million Ukrainians and Russians had been either killed or wounded in the Ukraine war. An entire generation of young people has been wiped out or maimed. Biden did not reference the death toll of the war but simply what he dubiously claimed it has achieved: that Russia is “weaker.” The implication is that these Russian and Ukrainian deaths are fully justified for facilitating Biden’s goal of “strengthening” the United States and NATO and “weakening” Russia. According to Biden, as a result of the war provoked and escalated by the US and other imperialist powers in Eastern Europe, “NATO is more capable than it’s ever been, and many more of our allies are paying their fair share.” He continued, “Before I took office, nine NATO allies were spending 2 percent of their GDP on defense. Now, 23 are spending 2 percent.” Biden boasted of his military policy in the Middle East, whose central pillar is the Gaza genocide. He did not mention the death toll in Gaza, which currently stands officially at 46,000, with the vast majority of the dead being women and children. Rather, he boasted that “Israel did plenty of damage to Iran and its proxies,” and that as far as the United States was concerned, “Our actions contributed significantly.” He declared: Now Iran’s air defenses are in shambles. The main proxy, Hezbollah, is badly wounded. … All told, Iran is weaker than it’s been in decades. And if you want more evidence, if it was seriously weak in Iran and Russia, just take a look at Syria. President Assad was both countries’ closest ally in the Middle East. Neither could keep him in power. He boasted of the trade war measures carried out under his administration, which were aimed at stifling China’s economic growth. He said: You all recall, and the experts believe we were predicting. It was inevitable that China’s economy would surpass ours. ... Now, according to the latest predictions, on China’s current course, they will never surpass us. While Biden is correct in opining on the foreign policy aims of his administration, his assessment wildly overstates the actual position of US imperialism. Ukraine’s military is on the brink of collapse amid mass desertions and growing popular opposition to the Zelensky government’s increasingly draconian recruitment policies. Biden’s wars not only fueled a $7 trillion increase in the national debt, they also stoked soaring inflation that immensely eroded the living standards of the American population. In boasting of the supposed achievements bought with the blood of the people of the Middle East and Eastern Europe, Biden repeated the central lie of his administration—that “we have not gone to war to make these things happen.” He is right only to the extent that these bloodbaths have been created without the death of significant numbers of American troops. The Biden administration vastly expanded military spending and flooded the war zones of Eastern Europe and the Middle East with weapons. Since September 2022, the US has provided Ukraine with $183 billion in weapons and arms, and since October 7, 2023, it has provided Israel with $17 billion. The use of the weapons provided to Israel and Ukraine has been closely overseen, monitored and directed by US forces in those regions. Hundreds of US combat troops are on the ground in Israel, while the Pentagon has admitted that active duty US forces are deployed in Ukraine to oversee the distribution of weapons. The Biden administration has, at the same time, vastly expanded the danger of nuclear war. In March 2024, a US intelligence assessment placed the likelihood that Russia would use nuclear weapons in Ukraine at 50-50. Yet the Biden administration continued to funnel weapons to Ukraine and allowed the use of NATO long-range weapons to strike deep inside Russia, setting a new precedent for nuclear brinksmanship that endangers all of humanity.
Biden calls on troops to ‘remember your oath’ in final remarks to military - President Biden on Thursday continued his farewell tour of Washington, D.C., with wide-ranging final remarks to U.S. service members, touting his defense record while praising the military and urging them to remember their oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution. “Our commitment to honor, to integrity, to unity, to protecting and defending not a person or a party or a place, but an idea,” Biden said. “That’s the idea that generations of service members have fought for, an idea you have sworn an oath to defend as a nation. We’ve never fully lived up to that idea, but we’ve never, ever, ever walked away from it. Our country is counting on you to ensure that that will always be true.” Biden — addressing a crowd of service members and officials including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Charles Q. Brown Jr., Vice President Harris and first lady Jill Biden — moments earlier had received a Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal. He then took to the podium to praise troops, sailors and airmen for representing “America’s character, honesty, integrity, [and] commitment.” He went on to highlight myriad actions during his time in the White House, including investing “record resources to fight the scourge of military suicide,” bringing veteran homelessness to new lows, changes in the military justice system — which he said has reduced the rates of sexual assault for the first time in nearly a decade — ending President-elect Trump’s enacted ban on transgender service members, creating more economic opportunities for military spouses, and expanding opportunities for women in combat roles. Biden devoted several minutes to his administration’s effort to enact the PACT Act, legislation that increases access to medical care for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits and substances. The issue is particularly close to his heart given his eldest son, Beau Biden, died in 2015 after being diagnosed with brain cancer believed to be a consequence of exposure to military burn pits while serving in Iraq. He also praised troops for their role in the ending of the Afghanistan War in August 2021 — a chaotic and deadly withdrawal that his adversaries have often attacked his handling of.
Democratic senator on Biden’s farewell plea: ‘Now he tells us’ -Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said statements in President Biden’s farewell speech came much too late in a Thursday statement, raising question with the commander in chief’s parting remarks. “Now he tells us. Biden speaks out against dark money, for climate action, and for SCOTUS term limits. I pressed four years for this speech,” Whitehouse posted on social platform X.“That was a great speech. Had that speech launched the reelection campaign, we’d have won. Had that speech launched his presidency, we’d have saved America. Now we fight on,” hewrote in a subsequent post. Whitehouse’s comments criticizing Biden emphasize party sentiments after Democrats not only lost the White House but also the majority in the Senate, delivering the GOP a trifecta. Some have criticized Biden for not suspending his presidential campaign early enough, which resulted in a stunted bid for the presidency by Vice President Harris. Throughout his time in office, Biden proposed a few of the ideas mentioned by Whitehouse, such as pushing for Supreme Court term limits, but never candidly revealed these desires in a compact speech, such as the one delivered Wednesday. The overarching theme of the outgoing president’s final address focused on the consolidation of power, warning of oligarchs as President-elect Trump enters the White House. “In a democracy, there’s another danger to the concentration of power and wealth. It erodes a sense of unity and common purpose. It causes distrust and division,” he stated. “Participating in our democracy becomes exhausting and even disillusioning, and people don’t feel like they have a fair shot.”
It's Not The Responsibility Of The Global South To Bring Down The Empire. It's Ours. Caitlin Johnstone -The past year has shown that a lot of anti-imperialists tend to exaggerate the strength of the US empire’s enemies. After October 7 many said the attack would unify the Axis of Resistance against Israel and the Zionist entity would fall in short order, but that unified confrontation never materialized because Iran wasn’t willing to take on an entire global empire backed only by a few small militant factions scattered around west Asia. Now Syria has been captured, Hezbollah is greatly weakened, Gaza is rubble, and the West Bank is primed for annexation.The fact of the matter is that the empire has been able to rule the world in the way that it has for a reason. It’s extremely powerful, and its ruthless methods of coercion, control and manipulation are very effective. I point this out not to demean the efforts of those who try to resist it, but to tell westerners that we can’t expect the resistance fighters of the global south to fight all our battles for us. There can be a temptation to sit back and cheerlead for this or that state or militant group and say they’re going to bring the empire to its knees, but really it isn’t their responsibility to end the western empire. It’s ours. Hamas, Hezbollah, Ansar Allah, and the various militias in the region are relatively small groups with relatively limited resources and capabilities. Iran, Russia and China have their own concerns and are primarily focused on surviving the empire’s aggressions with their own national sovereignty intact. It is very possible that the rise of China will end up dissolving the US empire’s stranglehold on our planet, but this could take a long time. Empires always fall, but there is no law inscribed upon the fabric of the universe which says the end of this particular empire must necessarily come soon. It could easily take a century or more if we don’t nuke ourselves in the meantime, and if the looming environmental disasters on the horizon don’t destroy human civilization first. This is not an expression of pessimism but a call to focus. It’s not fair for us to shirk off the responsibility of ending the western empire onto foreigners in struggling nations who all have a lot more problems than we do. It is fully within our capability to awaken a revolutionary zeitgeist within our society so that we can use the power of our vast numbers to take down this machine and create a better world. . We have a historically unprecedented ability to circulate ideas, information and footage. Media has never in history been this democratized. We are living in unprecedented times, which means unprecedented developments are possible. We vastly outnumber our rulers. They rule solely by our consent. The empire requires not only our docility and obedience but our labor and our continued purchasing behavior as well. If enough of us refuse to consent to giving them any of these things, we can force the end of our corrupt, murderous governments and systems, and replace them with something far healthier. Everything in our civilization is geared toward making us forget that we can do this at any time. Everything about our civilization is designed to eclipse the possibility of real revolution from our consciousness. Our politics. Our schooling. Our news media. Our entertainment. Our mainstream culture. It’s all designed to trick us into ignoring the colossal elephant in the room that we don’t actually need to put up with the way things are if we don’t want to. It is our responsibility to help our fellow westerners notice the elephant, using every means at our disposal. Help everyone around us see how fucked things are, how fucked over we’re all being by allowing things to continue in this way, and how we don’t need to allow it to. The empire of lies is built upon a closed set of eyelids. Once those eyes snap open, the whole thing comes tumbling down.
Journalist disrupts Blinken press conference: 'How does it feel for your legacy to be genocide?' -- Two journalists disrupted Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s last press briefing Thursday with criticism over his handling of the war in Gaza. “Your father-in-law was an Israel lobbyist. Your grandfather was an Israel lobbyist. Are you compromised by Israel? Why did you allow the Holocaust of our time to happen?” Max Blumenthal, editor of the blog Grayzone, asked Blinken. “How does it feel to have your legacy be genocide?” He questioned both Blinken and State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on the actions in the Middle East he said harmed “300 reporters” while he was being escorted out by staff. “Why did you keep the bombs flowing when we had a deal in May? We all knew we had a deal. Everyone in this room knows we had a deal, Tony, and you kept the bombs flowing,” Blumenthal said in his earlier statements during the press briefing, likely referring to the airstrike on a displacement camp in Rafah last year.The Israeli attack, which killed 25 and injured 200, used U.S. munitions, according to reports from CNN. However, he wasn’t the only journalist to share his disdain. Independent reporter Sam Husseini screamed out during the briefing to suggest Blinken be tried for his actions.“Criminal! You belong in The Hague,” Husseini said, seemingly referencing the city where the International Criminal Court is located.Both journalists were escorted out as Blinken stopped his opening comments to address protesters, asking them to “respect the process,” according to The Associated Press. President Biden announced a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas Wednesday, touting a hostage release and signaling an end to months of violence during his final time in office. However, many remain outraged over the deadly conflict that claimed the lives of 46,000 Palestinians and left others plagued by disease and starvation.South Africa and Ireland have labeled the mounting conditions as a genocidal effort carried out by Israeli leaders and have opened a case against the country in the International Criminal Court. Blinken said the U.S. has raised concerns with Israeli leaders but has “mostly done it privately, precisely because we didn’t want to feed into Hamas’s clearly held views that if that pressure was mounting, and if there was daylight, they could do nothing.”
None Of These War Criminals Will Face Justice While The US Empire Exists -Caitlin Johnstone -- Two journalists were ejected from a State Department press conference on Thursday for asking inconvenient questions about Gaza. One of them, Sam Husseini, was physically carried out by security while demanding to know why Secretary of State Antony Blinken is not in The Hague for his war crimes. The Grayzone’s Max Blumenthal was also made to leave while asking Blinken why he allowed hundreds of journalists to be murdered in Gaza, telling State Department spokesman Matt Miller that he “smirked through a genocide.” Husseini was then forcibly removed for asking questions about Gaza, and about Israel’s nuclear program and Hannibal directive. Blinken told Husseini to “respect the process,” to which Husseini replied, “Respect the process? Respect the process? While everybody from Amnesty International to the ICJ says Israel’s doing genocide and extermination, and you’re telling me to respect the process? Criminal! Why aren’t you in the Hague?”The western political-media class is expressing outrage over the incident, not because of journalists being manhandled for asking critical questions of their government, but because those journalists asked critical questions.The talking heads on CNN described the journalists interrogating government officials as “cringeworthy heckling by activists”, initially expressing bafflement at how those “activists” could have gotten into a press room intended for accredited journalists (both Blumenthal and Husseini are in fact members of the press who often attend State Department press briefings). Longtime State Department swamp monster Aaron David Miller tweeted of the exchange, “In 27 years at State, never seen a situation where a Secretary of State — a caring compassionate man — is heckled in his own building by a heckler yelling ‘Why aren’t you in The Hague.’ A new low in civility and discourse.” This is western liberalism in a nutshell. The problem isn’t the genocide, the problem is people being insufficiently polite about the genocide. Western officials feeling inconvenienced and insulted is a greater concern than children being shredded and burned by US military explosives. Husseini’s question is an interesting one. Why isn’t Blinken in The Hague? Why hasn't he faced justice for his facilitation of the starvation, sickness and daily massacres he’s been helping Israel inflict on civilians in Gaza for the last 15 months? And more importantly, why does it seem like a safe assumption that he never will? This is after all the “rules-based international order,” is it not? Surely when you’ve got mainstream human rights organizations asserting that genocidal atrocities are being committed with the facilitation of the government which purports to uphold that order, some legal repercussions should be seen as at least within the realm of possibility, should they not?And yet we all know this won’t be happening any time in the foreseeable future. We all know that as long as the US empire exists in the way that it exists, Tony Blinken and Matt Miller will enjoy prosperous free lives after their time with the Biden administration draws to a close.This is because “international law” only exists to the extent that it can be enforced. If a superpower doesn’t want its lackeys being carted off to war crimes tribunals in the Netherlands then they won’t be, because as things sit right now nobody’s going to war with the US empire to put Tony Blinken behind bars. Or George W Bush, Dick Cheney, Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, for that matter.As long as the US empire exists, none of these monsters will ever face justice for their actions. They will move on from their time in government to lucrative careers in think tanks or working as lobbyists until another Democratic administration calls for their services again — or, in Biden’s case, enjoy a comfortable retirement until a peaceful death surrounded by family members in the lap of luxury.Until the empire has been dismantled, the world will never know justice. These swamp creatures will be able to worm their way around back and forth through the revolving door between Washington’s official government and its unofficial government while murdering, displacing and tormenting as many innocents as they please, with total impunity. One way or another, the slaughter in Gaza will end at some point. And as long as the US-centralized power structure still dominates our world, there will be no meaningful consequences for this. It will be filed away in the history books, and the propagandists will pace us along into the next imperial horror show. There will be more Gazas in the future, perhaps overseen by different Tony Blinkens or perhaps by the same ones, and they will keep happening for as long as this murderous empire remains standing.This world can have justice when it finds a way to end the US empire. Until then the world will be ruled by tyrants who do exactly as they please, and anyone who questions them will be removed from the room by any force necessary.
Blinken Says Hamas Has Recruited as Many New Fighters as It Has Lost - On Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered a speech at the Atlantic Council where he said Hamas has likely recruited as many fighters as it has lost in Gaza.Before making the comments about Hamas, Blinken was disrupted by a protester who called him the “Secretary of Genocide” for his role in supporting and enabling Israel’s genocidal war.“You will forever be known as Bloody Blinken, Secretary of Genocide, you have the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent people on your hands,” the protester yelled.Blinken went on to criticize Israel’s strategy in Gaza despite backing it for nearly a year and a half. “We’ve long made the point to the Israeli government that Hamas cannot be defeated by a military campaign alone, that without a clear alternative, a post-conflict plan and a credible political horizon for the Palestinians, Hamas, or something just as abhorrent and dangerous, will grow back,” Blinken said. He noted that Israel was still facing resistance in northern Gaza. “That’s exactly what’s happened in northern Gaza since October 7. Each time Israel completes its military operations and pulls back Hamas, militants regroup and reemerge because there’s nothing else to fill the void,” he said.Blinken said the US assesses “that Hamas has recruited almost as many new militants as it has lost. That is a recipe for an enduring insurgency and perpetual war.”Back in November 2023, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, the highest ranking US military officer, warned that Israel’s killing of so many civilians would create more Hamas members. Despite Brown recognizing this reality, the US continued to provide huge amounts of military aid to Israel to support the slaughter.According to The Times of Israel, Israel assesses that it has killed 18,000 Hamas fighters, although Israeli media has revealed the IDF frequently kills unarmed civilians and counts them as “terrorists.”Blinken’s address at the Atlantic Council came amid reports that a hostage and ceasefire deal is close. Since May 2024, Hamas has said it was ready to accept a ceasefire deal proposed by President Biden, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly sabotaged negotiations, a fact widely acknowledged by Israeli officials. But Blinken is still pushing the narrative that the lack of a ceasefire was Hamas’s fault.
Finally Seeing Movement Toward A Gaza Ceasefire As Biden Moves Out Of The Way - Caitlin Johnstone - It looks like we’re closer to a Gaza ceasefire deal than ever before. There are still a lot of things that could go wrong at numerous steps along the way, but it’s something, which is more than we’ve seen for the last 15 months.As Antiwar’s Dave Decamp has noted, both AP and CBS News are reporting that Hamas and Israel have agreed “in principle” to the terms of a ceasefire, set to be rolled out in multiple tentative phases the details of which have yet to be fully nailed down. According to AP, the current deal would allow Israel the option of resuming its onslaught after a 42-day pause rather than moving on to the second phase of peace deals.So it’s very, very far from perfect. But it’s something.Though Biden and the Democrats are of course trying to take credit for these developments, according to Israeli media this sudden rush of movement after 15 months of stasis has been the result of pressures and negotiations from the incoming Trump administration.According to the Israeli outlet Haaretz, president-elect Trump’s middle east envoy Steven Witkoff called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Friday to tell him he was coming to Israel to discuss ceasefire negotiations. Netanyahu’s people tried to tell Witkoff that it was the middle of the Sabbath so any meeting would need to be postponed, but Witkoff replied that the Sabbath was of no interest to him and demanded the meeting anyway. Haaretz reports that Netanyahu’s aides were taken aback by the bluntness of Witkoff’s response. According to a report from the Israeli outlet YNet, Trump was able to persuade Netanyahu to agree to the deal by assuring him that he could back out of it at any time, along with pledging to remove sanctions on extremist Israeli settlers and the Israeli spyware firm Pegasus. So it’s not as though Trump has taken a strong position against Israel; he’s just doing a bit more than the Biden administration did. The deal that’s in the works is reportedly almost the same as the one Hamas agreed to all the way back in May of last year, which Netanyahu sabotaged with the complicity of the Biden regime. Biden could have ended this nightmare back in May, or indeed at any time since it began in October 2023. Ever since the genocide in Gaza began it’s been an open question whether the Biden administration’s facilitation of the slaughter has just been standard US empire depravity, or an evil that would only have occurred under Biden. The fact that we’re now closer to a ceasefire than ever before, reportedly due to pressures exerted by Trump, suggests that the latter could be the case. It suggests that these 15 months of human butchery could only have occurred under a dementia-addled lifelong Zionist surrounded by Zionist puppeteers. Trita Parsi wrote months ago that Biden’s completely unconditional facilitation of every Israeli demand is historically the exception rather than the norm under US presidencies. If Trump does in fact wind up presiding over a de-escalation in the genocidal atrocities in Gaza, this will have been officially confirmed. It will be a proven fact that a Biden presidency was the worst thing that could possibly have happened for the Palestinian people. That for 15 months a psychopathic apartheid state was essentially left unsupervised to do what it has always wanted to do to the Palestinians in ways it never could have under any other circumstances, resulting in unfathomable horrors we’ll still be learning details of for years to come. I am still not sold on the idea that Trump will bring even a relative amount of peace to Gaza. I will need to see this reflected by the facts on the ground throughout his term. But if those facts prove what it seems they might prove, it means that Biden was an even bigger monster than anyone realized, and that anyone who supported his election was indisputably wrong to do so.
Report: Trump's Envoy Pressured Netanyahu To Advance Gaza Ceasefire Deal - President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, leaned hard on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to get him to agree to compromises to advance a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, Israeli media reported on Monday. Witkoff, a real estate investor, flew to Israel from Qatar to meet with Netanyahu on Saturday. The pressure Witkoff put on Netanyahu is being credited for the progress in negotiations in recent days, and officials from all sides are now saying an agreement is close.According to Haaretz, Witkoff has “forced Israel to accept a plan that Netanyahu had repeatedly rejected over the past half year.” Netanyahu had been pushing for a deal that only involved a temporary ceasefire, but according to the reports, the new plan would involve a full Israeli withdrawal. However, on Sunday, another report from Haaretz said one of the main disputes in the negotiations was that Israel didn’t want to commit to ending its genocidal war for good, signaling Israel hasn’t agreed to everything.Reuters reported on Monday that mediators had given Israel and Hamas a final draft deal after a “breakthrough” in the talks and that officials would be discussing it on Tuesday.Throughout the genocidal war in Gaza, the Biden administration had refused to put any real pressure on Israel to agree to a deal, allowing Netanyahu to sabotage talks with Hamas. The US has significant leverage over Israel since it provides so much military aid, which Israel needs to sustain military operations.It’s unclear how Witkoff pressured Netanyahu or if he threatened to cut off military aid. It’s also still unclear if the pressure was enough to get Netanyahu actually to agree to a deal, which won’t be known until an agreement is signed.While Netanyahu is under a lot of domestic pressure to reach an agreement, some members of his coalition government are strongly against it, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.Pro-Netanyahu Israeli media pundits have been expressing anger at the pressure from the incoming Trump administration. Yinon Magal, an Israeli talk show host, referenced Trump’s recent threats to Hamas that there would be “hell to pay” if hostages weren’t released by the inauguration.“He talks about hell and, in the meantime, sends his envoy to sign a deal. It’s a deal whose impact will be very difficult. That’s the truth,” Magal said. Magal said the only hope was that Hamas would reject the deal. “A cabinet minister told me we need to pray again that God will harden Pharaoh’s heart,” he said.
Trump Envoy Swayed Netanyahu More In One Meeting Than Biden Did All Year On Gaza Peace - Even Israeli media is very clearly attributing achievement of the Gaza ceasefire deal to President-elect Donald Trump and his team. President Biden too at one point in an afternoon press conference hailing the deal acknowledged that he spoke as 'one team' with Trump on the Gaza deal. According to The Times of Israel: A "tense" weekend meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and incoming Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff led to a breakthrough in the hostage negotiations, with the top aide to US President-elect Donald Trump doing more to sway the premier in a single sit-down than outgoing President Joe Biden did all year, two Arab officials told The Times of Israel on Tuesday. Witkoff has been in Doha for the past week to take part in the hostage negotiations, as mediators try to secure a deal before Trump’s January 20 inauguration. On Saturday, Witkoff flew to Israel for a meeting with Netanyahu at the premier’s Jerusalem office. During the meeting, Witkoff urged Netanyahu to accept key compromises necessary for an agreement, the two Arab officials on Monday told The Times of Israel on condition of anonymity. Neither Witkoff nor Netanyahu’s office responded to requests for comment. As expected, Biden disagrees with this assessment... Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to make a public statement. Interestingly, Trump was the first leader to hail the deal, attributing it largely to his election victory in November and anticipation of his entering the Oval Office next Monday (see below). But Biden chalked it up to his own diplomacy: "This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity," he said in the statement.The US president said Wednesday's agreement "not only of the extreme pressure that Hamas has been under and the changed regional equation after a ceasefire in Lebanon and weakening of Iran — but also of dogged and painstaking American diplomacy. He claimed, "My diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done." Many political analysts, including Glenn Greenwald, would beg to differ.
Joe Biden on Donald Trump getting credit for ceasefire deal: 'Is that a joke?' --President Biden brushed off a question about who would get the credit for the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal struck Wednesday.“Is that a joke?” Biden responded when asked by a reporter whether he or President-elect Trump would get credit for the deal, which could bring an end to the 15-month conflict in Gaza.Trump publicly celebrated the news of the deal before an official statement from the White House was released hours later. The president-elect also claimed the credit for himself, saying a deal would not have happened without his victory in November over Vice President Harris.. While announcing the deal with Harris by his side, Biden acknowledged it will be implemented after he leaves office and said his team has been working with Trump’s incoming team. Trump is set to be sworn in Monday. “I’d also note, this deal was developed and negotiated under my administration, but its terms will be implemented, for the most part, by the next administration. For these past few days, we’ve been speaking as one team,” the president said in remarks from the White House. He also highlighted that the deal is the same framework of a deal his administration helped negotiate in May, and that Israel was able to weaken Hamas with the help of aid from the U.S.
Arab Officials: Trump Envoy Did More To Pressure Israel in One Meeting Than Biden Did All Year - President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, did more to pressure Israel to agree to a hostage and ceasefire deal in one meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu than President Biden did in an entire year, two Arab officials have told The Times of Israel.Witkoff met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Saturday and got him to make concessions, which Israeli media said was the deciding factor that led to the ceasefire deal announced on Wednesday.It’s unclear how Witkoff got Netanyahu to agree to the deal, but the Biden administration refused to use any of its leverage over Israel to force a deal and continued providing huge amounts of military aid to support the genocidal slaughter in Gaza. Even though Witkoff played a crucial role in the deal, Biden took credit for the agreement. “My diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.In brief remarks at the White House, Biden credited his foreign policy team, who he referred to as “peacemakers” despite their role in backing the slaughter in Gaza. When asked by a reporter if he or Trump should get credit for the deal, Biden said, “Is that a joke?”Biden also credited his strong backing of Israel as a factor that led to the deal. But unconditional US support for Israel emboldened Netanyahu tosabotage previous negotiations and escalate elsewhere in the region.The ceasefire deal is based on an outline Biden proposed back in May 2024, which Hamas accepted months ago. The agreement involves three phases and does not commit Israel to a permanent ceasefire.
Netanyahu's Likud Party Says Ceasefire Deal Allows a 'Return to Fighting Under American Guarantee' - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party said in a statement on Thursday that the Gaza ceasefire deal will allow “Israel to return to fighting under American guarantee.”The statement was a response to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, leader of the Jewish Power party, who has threatened to quit the coalition government if the ceasefire deal is approved.The three-phase ceasefire deal does not commit Israel to a permanent truce, and the statement from Likud signals the US has assured Israel it could resume its genocidal war after the first phase, which involves a 42-day ceasefire and initial hostage exchange.According to Israeli sources speaking to Ynet, Netanyahu has reached an understanding with the incoming Trump administration that he could restart military operations if he deems Hamas is violating the deal.The Likud statement also signaled that Israel got some kind of guarantee about getting additional military aid from the US for agreeing to the ceasefire deal.The statement said the deal allows Israel to “receive the weapons and means of warfare it needs, maximize the number of live hostages released, maintain full control of the Philadelphi Corridor and the security buffer that surrounds the entire Gaza Strip, and achieve dramatic security achievements that will ensure Israel’s security for generations.”According to Israel Hayom, the US and Israel have reached an understanding that the deal includes “the unfreezing of previously delayed US military aid, with IDF and Defense Ministry officials now cleared to submit comprehensive rearmament requests for both immediate and long-term needs.”In response to the Likud statement, Ben Gvir’s Jewish Power said it still opposed the deal. “This deal is a violation of all of the prime minister’s public commitments to his partners and the Israeli public. It includes stopping the war, leaving the Philadelphia Corridor, abandoning the Netzarim Corridor, returning the terrorists to the northern Gaza Strip without inspection, and releasing hundreds of murderers with Jewish blood on their hands,” the party said. If the Jewish Power party quits the coalition, the Netanyahu government would still have 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, meaning it would still have a majority. But Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has also threatened that his Religious Zionism party could quit, which would bring the government under 60 seats, a scenario that could lead to elections, although the opposition has said it would bail Netanyahu out if he agrees to the ceasefire deal.
Israel massacres dozens in Gaza after Biden announces ceasefire -In a video statement Wednesday afternoon, US President Joe Biden announced that a ceasefire agreement had been reached between Hamas and Israel and would be implemented on Sunday. “A ceasefire and a hostage deal have been reached between Israel and Hamas,” Biden said. Biden claimed that the first phase of the agreement would include the “withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages held by Hamas.”Israel reacted to Biden’s announcement by continuing to massacre dozens of people in Gaza. More than 30 people were killed in bombings on refugee camps, residential neighborhoods and hospitals Wednesday following the announcement, on top of 50 that had been killed earlier in the day.The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said following Biden’s announcement, “An official statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be issued only after the completion of the final details of the agreement, which are being worked on at present.”It subsequently said in a statement, “The Israeli negotiations team in Doha reported to Netanyahu of a last-minute attempt by Hamas to withdraw from a clause in the agreement,” adding, “Netanyahu instructed the negotiations team to uphold the understandings that were agreed upon and to reject the last-minute blackmail attempts by Hamas.”Regardless of whether an agreement is finally reached and whether Israeli troops formally withdraw from Gaza, any “ceasefire” would continue the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and the brutal apartheid regime to which the Palestinians are subjected.Notably, the Israeli “ceasefire” with Lebanon worked out in November has been followed by almost daily bombardment of Lebanese territory by Israel, and there is every reason to believe this would be the case for Gaza as well. In fact, if the Israeli military pulls back from Gaza, it is because it will have achieved its aim of leveling the majority of buildings and massacring a significant portion of its population.
Israeli Strikes Kill at Least 87 Palestinians in Gaza Since Ceasefire Deal Announced - Israeli strikes on Gaza have been relentless since it was announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had reached a ceasefire deal, which is expected to take effect on Sunday.Al Jazeera reported that as of Thursday night in Gaza, at least 87 Palestinians had been killed since the ceasefire was announced, including 21 children and 25 women. At least 40 of the dead were killed since dawn on Thursday.Israeli attacks on Thursday included heavy bombing in northern Gaza. In Jabalia, at least 20 Palestinians were killed by Israeli strikes. Israeli strikes also pounded Gaza City, including an attack that hit a school-turned-shelter and killed at least two children.The Israeli military said that it bombed 50 targets across Gaza in 24 hours. The IDF claimed it hit “terror targets” but offered no evidence.Haaretz recently revealed that Israeli soldiers frequently kill unarmed civilians and count them as “terrorists” and also bomb buildings where there was previously a Hamas presence, even if there no longer is one.
Thoughts On The Ceasefire Deal -- Caitlin Johnstone - Israel and Hamas have reportedly agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal, which is scheduled to take effect January 19. The deal as written is apparently virtually identical to the one Hamas agreed to last May, which Netanyahu then sabotaged with the complicity of the Biden administration.As usual, Israel appears to be ramping up its aggressions to kill as many people as possible before the fighting comes to an end. These next few days will be an especially terrifying time to be living in Gaza.The Times of Israel reports that according to two unnamed Arab officials, the middle east envoy for the incoming Trump administration did more to sway Netanyahu in one day than the Biden administration did all year. The Trump camp’s pivotal role in securing the deal has been acknowledged by pretty much everyone at this point, including Biden’s State Department.So it looks like Trump winning ended up being the better result for the people of Gaza, as weird as that sounds. Not because he’s a fantastic peacemaker, but because he did something instead of doing nothing.Which would mean that everyone who said a Trump win will make things worse for Gaza was objectively wrong, and that Biden-Harris were undeniably the greater evil. Cool. Lesson learned.
Houthis Again Target US Carrier In Red Sea Just As Gaza Truce Deal Announced - Yemen's Houthis have once again announced that military forces have targeted American warships in the Red Sea. The Pentagon has not offered confirmation, however, and rarely admits to coming under such direct attacks.The Wednesday statement said missiles and drones were launched against the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier and other US warships patrolling the Red Sea. It's unknown whether direct hits resulted, or if all projectiles were intercepted."The missile force and the drone air force of the Yemeni Armed Forces … carried out a joint military operation targeting the American aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman and a number of its warships in the northern Red Sea with a number of winged missiles and drones, during their attempt to carry out operations to target Yemen," the statement reads."This targeting of the carrier is the sixth since its arrival in the Red Sea," it added. The Iran-backed group has clearly remained committed and defiant as it blocks Red Sea shipping, despite several rounds of US-UK-Israeli bombing campaigns.The timing of this attack is interesting given that widespread reports of Hamas and Israeli having achieved a peace deal have persisted over the last 12 hours. President Biden as well as Donald Trump are hailing the deal, which still has to be voted on by Israeli lawmakers, which is set for Thursday morning. The Houthis have consistently demanded that for it to halt its Red Sea attacks there must be full Israeli military withdrawal from the Strip. The Houthi statement said it remains "ready for any American or Israeli escalation and will continue to perform its duties towards the oppressed Palestinian people," and that "operations will not stop until the aggression stops and the siege on the Gaza Strip is lifted." If the promised hostage exchange happens by week's end, the Houthis might halt these attacks or at least dial them back. Recently several ballistic missiles have been launched on central Israel. If the Yemeni operations do persist, it could complicate or damage efforts to keep the peace in the Gaza Strip, as it's already sure to be an extremely delicate and fragile truce.
The political censorship of No Other Land in the US, the film exposing Israeli criminality and violence on the West Bank: “Americans have a responsibility - No Other Land, which exposes the systematic brutality and criminality of the Zionist regime in its persecutions of the Palestinian population in the occupied West Bank, has won award after award from film festivals and critics’ organizations all around the world. The documentary has won prizes at the following events: Berlin International Film Festival; Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival; Visions du Réel documentary festival (Nyon, Switzerland); Millennium Docs Against Gravity (originally Warsaw Doc Review), held in Poland; Vancouver International Film Festival; Busan (South Korea) International Film Festival; Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Australia); Montreal International Documentary Festival; Gotham Awards (New York City); New York Film Critics Circle; National Board of Review Awards (US); International Documentary Association Awards; European Film Awards; Boston Society of Film Critics; Los Angeles Film Critics Association; St. Louis Film Critics Association; Toronto Film Critics Association; Seattle Film Critics Society; Chicago Film Critics Association; National Society of Film Critics (US); Greater Western New York; and Cinema Eye Honors (New York City). This is in addition to numerous nominations, in Chicago, the UK, Washington D.C., San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, Florida and Austin (Texas). Have we made our point? No Other Land has been almost universally, globally acclaimed, including by American festivals and critics, yet it cannot find a distributor in the United States. There is no innocent explanation for this. This is an act of censorship, encouraged or directed from the highest levels of the government, and the political and media establishment as a whole. To speak the truth about oppression in the West Bank is impermissible because it unavoidably points to the wider issue of Zionist crimes and, above all, to the genocide in Gaza, a critical component of the Biden and incoming Trump administrations. The reorganization of the Middle East under the direct jackboot of imperialism is the goal, and nothing can be allowed to stand in the way. The lives of 50,000 or 100,000 Palestinians mean nothing to the architects of US policy. The working class everywhere needs to take a warning from that.
Turkey Confirms Key Gas Pipeline Was Attacked After Kremlin Accused United States -Moscow has this week made a big and provocative accusation, saying that the United States is seeking to sabotage the last pipeline transporting Russian gas exports into Europe, the TurkStream.Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged in a Tuesday press briefing that Washington is encouraging "terrorist" attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure. He specifically cited plans to target TurkStream, following a recent large-scale drone attack. "The US does not tolerate competition in any sphere, including energy. They are recklessly endorsing terrorist activities aimed at undermining the energy stability of the European Union," Lavrov said as quoted in Turkey's Anadolu news agency."They are encouraging their Ukrainian proxies to disable TurkStream following the sabotage of Nord Stream," he followed with.He described that Russia's anti-air defenses were able to down nine Ukrainian drones during the attack which targeted part of TurkStream's infrastructure.On Wednesday regional media quoted Turkey's top energy official as confirming there was an attempted attack out of Ukraine, but that gas is still flowing uninterrupted: Following an attempted attack on the TurkStream natural gas pipeline on Jan. 11, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, confirmed the attack took place but assured the public that the incident did not disrupt the gas flow.Responding to questions from journalists in the Turkish Parliament, Bayraktar stated: "There was no interruption in gas flow after the attack. The pipeline continues to deliver gas at the same capacity."Following Ukraine's refusal to renew a key transit contract with Moscow which expired by close of 2024, the TurkStream pipeline remains the only route carrying Russian gas into the European Union.Russia's RT news has summarized the geography and significance of TurkStream as follows:TurkStream is a critical energy corridor, transporting natural gas from Russia to Türkiye under the Black Sea. It also remains the sole route supplying Russian natural gas to southern and southeastern Europe after Ukraine refused to extend a gas transit agreement with Moscow this year.In 2024, gas shipments via the pipeline increased by 23%, reaching 16.7 billion cubic meters (bcm). The pipeline comprises two sections: one serving Türkiye’s domestic needs, while the other transits gas to Bulgaria through the Strandzha station. This Balkan route extends through Bulgaria and Serbia to Hungary, with connections facilitating the distribution of Russian gas to other EU states. With a total capacity of 31.5 bcm annually, TurkStream plays a vital role in regional energy security.As for Lavrov's initial accusation Tuesday, which Washington rejects, he also stated: "I have a firm belief that the US needs no competitor in any fields, starting with energy."
US ramps up Russia sanctions, targeting Moscow’s business partners -The Treasury Department announced Wednesday it is amping up its sanctions against companies and entities involved in Russia’s defense industry.Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the U.S. is targeting more than 150 individuals and entities supporting Russia’s military and defense, affirming the move will “further constrain Russia’s ability to wage war and thwart sanctions evasion.”Specifically, the department said it redesignated nearly 100 major entities across Russia’s financial, defense and energy sectors as well as placing sanctions on 15 new entities.The sanctions will impact a wide range of companies globally, but particularly in China, which the department says is “the largest supplier of dual use items and enabler of sanctions evasion in support of Russia’s war effort.”“We continue to bring available tools to bear on disrupting Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine, together with G7 and other likeminded partners,” Blinken said. “We stand in solidarity with Ukrainians in defending their homeland against Russia’s illegal war of choice.”Under the sanctions, any company or entity that does business with parts of Russia’s military-industrial complex will also be at risk of penalties, a Treasury Department senior official told The Associated Press.The new entities were labeled as participants in a sanctions evasion scheme established between Russia and China to avoid current sanctions.“Today’s actions frustrate the Kremlin’s ability to circumvent our sanctions and get access to the goods they need to build weapons for their war of choice in Ukraine,” Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in a press release. “Today’s expansion of mandatory secondary sanctions will reduce Russia’s access to revenue and goods.”The announcement is just one of the many moves the Biden administration has made in recent weeks before the president leaves the White House. It marks the latest decision in an effort to boost Ukraine and hinder Russia before President-elect Trump assumes office.Removing the sanctions would require congressional notification, which could make it difficult for the Trump administration to change sanctions without drawing public criticism, according to the AP.The Biden administration has announced numerous sanctions on various sectors of Russia’s economy, as well as on allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an attempt to cut off sources of funding for its war machine.
Mike Johnson’s Intelligence Committee shake-up fuels worries about panel under Trump - Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) decision to shake up leadership on the House Intelligence Committee sent shockwaves throughout the panel and beyond, fueling concerns on both sides of the aisle about the influence of the MAGA-right and how sensitive national security matters will be handled in the looming Trump era. Johnson declined to reappoint Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) — a defense hawk and more traditional national security-focused holdover from former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) time leading the House GOP — to the chairmanship of the high-profile committee. Instead, the Speaker opted to install Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), the most-senior GOP member of the panel who has been more skeptical of Ukraine aid, to the top job. The change, which Johnson solidified Thursday, is setting a Trumpier tone at the top of the plum committee. While Turner is an ardent supporter of Ukraine, Crawford voted against a multibillion-dollar aid package for Kyiv last year. Crawford, in a statement announcing his new chairmanship, raised concern that “abuse within our nation’s security apparatus has eroded trust in our institutions.” And while Turner voted to certify the 2020 election, Crawford objected to certifying electors from both Pennsylvania and Arizona. The unexpected nature of the roster shift is sparking questions among members of the panel about approach the committee will take moving forward — and targeting some ire at Johnson. “It kind of came out of nowhere. No good explanation,” Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) said of Turner’s removal. “Lot of experience and expertise gone with Mike Turner. Not obvious what Johnson has in mind for the future, so we all have questions and concerns.” “There’s been too much disruption on one of the most important committees in Congress,” Crenshaw said, adding, “It’s all happened under Johnson’s leadership.” Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), another member of the panel, pointed to President-elect Trump’s apparent influence on the decision. One GOP lawmaker told The Hill that “Mar-a-Lago vetoed Turner.” “It’s a disturbing trend of a kind of purge of anybody who isn’t a lackey for Donald Trump,” Castro said.
Zelensky says Ukraine has offered assistance on California wildfires -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that his country has offered assistance on the California wildfires.“Today, I instructed Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs and our diplomats to prepare for the possible participation of our rescuers in combating the wildfires in California,” Zelensky said in an address, according to an English transcript on his website.“The situation there is extremely challenging, and Ukrainians can help Americans protect lives,” he added.The recent Los Angeles-area wildfires have devastated the region, destroying property en masse and leaving 16 dead. The Palisades Fire was behind five of the deaths, and the Eaton Fire was behind the other 11, according to an update from the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.“This matter is being worked out, and through appropriate channels, we have offered our assistance to the American side. We already have 150 firefighters prepared,” Zelensky said of the potential help on the fires.Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell said in an interview Sunday that the Los Angeles area was “very prepared” for the recent wildfires it has faced, but that it was not ready for “100-mile-an-hour winds.”“I think that they were very prepared. This is something that they are very used to, they fight fires all the time,” Criswell told CBS News’s Margaret Brennan on “Face the Nation.”“But they have never seen 100-mile-an-hour winds that are fueling the fire, and those winds and that weather condition is what really impacts, you know, where this fire is gonna go, but more importantly, how they’re able to try to contain it in those first few hours and days,” she added.
Biden to lift Cuba terrorism designation, reversing Trump decision, in final week in office -- The Biden administration announced on Tuesday that it will remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) in exchange for the release of political prisoners jailed for protesting against the regime in July 2021.The Trump administration placed the SST designation on Cuba in the last week of the president-elect’s first term, and Biden officials said they are in contact with the Trump transition team over their action. “This issue is among the issues on which they’ve been in communication,” a senior administration official said in a call with reporters. The administration, required by law, is notifying Congress of the decision, allowing lawmakers to review it, although there’s little they can do to block the lifting of the designation. Cuban officials had fought tooth and nail for removal from the SST list throughout President Biden’s term, but had generally not received much buy-in from administration officials.On Tuesday, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement lauding the changes, but noting that the economic “blockade” of the island — referred to as an “embargo” stateside — “remains in force.”“Despite its limited scope, this is a decision that points to the right direction and is in line with the sustained and firm demand by the government and the people of Cuba, as well as the broad, emphatic and reiterated call by numerous governments, particularly those of Latin America and the Caribbean; Cubans residing abroad; political, religious and social organizations and numerous political figures of the United States and other countries. The government of Cuba expresses its gratitude to all of them for their contribution and sensitivity,” read the ministry’s statement.“This decision puts an end to specific coercive measures which, together with many others, seriously damage the Cuban economy and have a severe impact on the population. This is, and has been, an ever-present issue in all official exchanges between Cuba and the Government of the United States.”Officials briefing reporters on Tuesday said that the U.S. constantly reviews SST designations, and, in the case of Cuba, the administration does not have information supporting it being a state sponsor of terrorism.They added that the U.S. had received numerous diplomatic requests for the designation to be lifted. This includes from Colombia, a senior administration official said, where officials noted “positive role that Cuba has made in the Colombian peace talks.”“We believe these actions will be broadly well received in the region and beyond,” said a second administration official, adding other countries supporting the move include Brazil, Chile, Spain and Canada, as well as the European Union.
Biden Administration To Remove Cuba From 'State Sponsor of Terrorism' List - The Biden administration announced Tuesday that it will remove Cuba from the “state sponsor of terrorism” list, a move that will likely be reversed by the incoming Trump administration. According to US officials, the move is the result of a deal brokered by the Catholic Church that will see Cuba release political prisoners. Cuban President Miguel DÃaz-Canel announced Tuesday that Cuba will free 553 people and said that he informed Pope Francis. Removing Cuba from the list will ease sanctions slightly, though the country remains under a decades-old trade embargo. “This decision puts an end to specific coercive measures which, together with many others, seriously damage the Cuban economy and have a severe impact on the population,” the Cuban Foreign Ministry said in a statement.The only other countries listed by the US as state sponsors of terrorism are Iran, North Korea, and Syria. Cuba was first put on the list under the Reagan administration in 1982. The Obama administration removed Cuba in 2015 as part of its steps toward normalization with Havana but it was relisted in January 2021 by then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as one of the first Trump administration’s final foreign policy moves. Trump’s incoming secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), is staunchly opposed to lifting sanctions on Cuba. Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has previously introduced legislation that would prohibit the removal of Cuba from the state sponsor of terrorism list.
Cruz: Lifting Cuba terror sponsor designation ‘unacceptable’ -- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Tuesday heavily criticized President Biden’s decision to remove Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list. “Today’s decision is unacceptable on its merits,” Cruz said in a statement. “The terrorism advanced by the Cuban regime has not ceased. I will work with President Trump and my colleagues to immediately reverse and limit the damage from the decision.” Cuba was first added to the terroris list 1982 but removed by President Obama in 2015, signaling a more open relationship with the nation. The Trump administration placed Cuba back on the list for harboring foreign and national fugitives in 2020 before he exited the White House. The island has since been lobbying for a second removal with help from Mexico and Colombia’s leaders. Biden is granting their request in his final week of the presidency. “Obama-Biden officials are continuing their legacy of closing out administrations with rank appeasement of the Cuban regime. They push these policies both because they believe in them and to undermine the incoming Trump administration and Republican Congress,” Cruz said in a Tuesday statement. “These moves do incredible damage to American national security and send a message to our adversaries that they can rely on outgoing Democrat administrations – and wait out pressure from Republican administrations – to continue engaging in terrorism and other aggression against Americans.”
In run-up to Trump’s inauguration, US ruling circles discuss plans for Venezuela intervention - The inauguration of Nicolás Maduro for a third consecutive term as president of Venezuela on January 10 marked the failure of the outgoing Biden administration’s strategy to leverage the elections for regime change. Since 2022, Washington organized a series of backroom talks with the Maduro administration and the US-sponsored opposition, offering sanctions relief in exchange for presidential elections, which would then be used to delegitimize the Venezuelan government regardless of the result. As expected, both Maduro and the US-sponsored candidate Edmundo González Urrutia declared victory. But having vowed for weeks that he would be smuggled back into Venezuela from exile to stage a counter-inauguration on January 10, González decided not to risk it. He reportedly stayed in the Dominican Republic until Tuesday and now plans to visit the right-wing presidents of Guatemala and Costa Rica before attending Trump’s inauguration Monday. On January 9, the fascistic leader of González’s coalition, MarÃa Corina Machado, launched a last-ditch attempt to incite the Venezuelan military against Maduro or at least to provide a distraction from the opposition’s imminent debacle. After months hiding from an arrest warrant, Machado made a public appearance at an opposition protest in Caracas, which failed at mobilizing a significant crowd. Shortly after, her party Vente Venezuela claimed that government agents “violently intercepted” Machado after leaving the protest and detained her briefly. Following the same script, the corporate media, US politicians, including Trump, and humanitarian groups globally raised an outcry claiming that the opposition leader had been abducted. It was immediately apparent that her supporters and CIA handlers in Caracas had somehow failed to record any video or proof of the alleged encounter. Having failed at staging the provocation, Machado quickly recorded a video saying she was safe without providing a credible explanation of why she was released. Since January 8, Maduro carried out a series of measures to block any obstacles to his inauguration, including the first deployment nationally of the so-called Integral Defense Body (ODI), conformed by the military, police and paramilitary groups. This was preceded by the arrest of seven alleged “mercenaries,” including two citizens, three Ukrainians and two Colombians, which adds to 125 others arrested since November in connection with “terrorist” plans. Venezuela also closed its border with Colombia ahead of the inauguration. The US and a handful of other governments have recognized González as president-elect, claiming that the Unitary Platform has presented evidence of its victory. Most regional leaders have otherwise aligned themselves with the US regime-change drive. This includes the nominal allies of Caracas, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, Colombia's President Gustavo Petro and Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who refused to attend the inauguration to signal their rejection of the legitimacy of Maduro’s re-election. Chilean pseudo-leftist President Gabriel Boric has led the chorus denouncing Maduro as a “dictator.” While significant protests erupted nationwide against Maduro’s claims of victory in July, these were heavily composed of wealthier layers in Caracas and involved fascistic elements that carried out attacks against public infrastructure. These lasted only a few days after the vote and were easily repressed by the security forces, including through mass arrests. In response to its latest failure in Venezuela, the different factions of the US ruling class are approaching a consensus to employ further economic devastation and potentially military force to oust Maduro and secure control over the world’s largest oil reserves. The Biden administration responded to the inauguration by raising the bounty for the arrest of Maduro from $15 million to $25 million, as well as for other top officials, based on charges of “narco-terrorism” issued under Trump in 2020. The bounties, which are a clear incitement of violence against the Venezuelan leadership, were combined with new financial sanctions against eight Venezuelan officials. On Tuesday, in an opinion article titled “Depose Maduro,” New York Times columnist Bret Stephens argued for a “U.S. military intervention of the sort that in 1990 swiftly ended the regime of the Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega” claiming that “American troops withdrew swiftly, and Panama has been a democracy ever since.” He adds: “Every other option for political change has been attempted. How much more suffering are Venezuelans supposed to endure, and how much worse does this hemispheric crisis have to get before the nightmare finally ends?” Applauding Trump’s choice for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, a Senator who has argued in favor of a military invasion to oust Maduro, Stephens concludes, “Ending Maduro’s long reign of terror is a good way to start their administration—and send a signal to tyrants elsewhere that American patience with disorder and danger eventually runs out.” Formerly a Republican-aligned critic of Trump, Stephens was hired by the Times, which speaks unofficially for the Democratic Party, to promote the use of military violence to advance the interests of US imperialism. As noted previously by the WSWS, in 2016, Stephens called for bombing Syria like the Balkans to oust Bashar al-Assad. The rapid collapse of the Assad government last month, with the complicity of its Iranian and Russian allies, has now emboldened those seeking a similar course in Caracas, thousands of miles farther from its Russian and Iranian allies. However, the claim that US troops left Panama swiftly or even comparing this brutal aggression to an invasion of Venezuela can only be described as insanity. The 26,000 US troops that participated in the invasion of Panama outnumbered the Panamanian forces by five to one, but they still carpet bombed several neighborhoods killing thousands of civilians. The economic and human cost of an invasion of Venezuela would be incomparably higher as it has some150,000 active troops and a fully combat-capable Air Force with a variety of fighter jets—not to speak of more than 12 times the territory and 10 times the population of Panama in 1989. Despite its populist rhetoric, the Maduro administration represents the interests of a section of the national bourgeoisie dependent on global finance capital and is unable to make an appeal to workers in the United States or anywhere in Latin America. Its only response to US threats is a combination of nationalist bluster and appeals to win the favor of Trump and Wall Street, such as promising an endless and heavily policed source of cheap resources and labor, as well as cooperation on mass deportations. During his Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday, Rubio said that licenses exempting certain companies from the sanctions regime, allowing them to produce and sell Venezuelan oil, would be “re-explored.” Ending these licenses, particularly Chevron’s, would again deprive the government of the necessary foreign reserves for basic imports and services. Rubio continued: “Because in Venezuela you have the Russian presence, you have a very strong Iranian presence. The Iranians are in fact beginning to build drone factories, the manufacturer of Iranian drones in our own hemisphere, not to mention the long practice of the Venezuelan regime of providing illegitimate passports to operatives of Hezbollah in our own hemisphere.” The story about Iranian drone factories was also reproduced by Stephens in the Times, but neither cited its original source, and for good reason. It first appeared on January 10 in the far-right Argentine online publication Infobae, which consistently fails to meet basic journalistic standards. The report merely states that “It has been informed” and “As reported in detail to Infobae,” before making a series of claims about military and economic cooperation with Iran, including drone factories. By whom this publication was “informed” is anyone’s guess. The threat of a massively unpopular and devastating war in the Western Hemisphere cannot be minimized. Earlier during the hearing, Rubio summed up the mentality of the US ruling class when he said: “The postwar global order is not just obsolete; it is now a weapon being used against us.” Trump’s threats to secure control over Greenland, Canada, Mexico, the Panama Canal and Venezuela are all expressions of the turn by the entire ruling class toward the unrestrained use of military violence and brutality to reverse the decline of US global hegemony.
Ottawa responds to Trump’s threats by affirming fealty to Canada-US war alliance, preparing retaliatory tariffs Canada’s political leaders have responded to US President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to impose punishing across-the-board tariffs and use “economic force” to transform Canada into the US’s 51st state with doubled-down pledges of fealty to the Canada-US military-strategic partnership, trade war threats of their own, and bellicose nationalism. Workers must be warned: the nationalist flag-waving is to serve as the political-ideological spearhead of a dramatically intensified assault on the working class. This has been spelled out most clearly by Pierre Poilievre, the far-right leader of the official opposition Conservatives, who are poised to come to power in a federal election almost certain to be held this spring. Poilievre is casting himself in Trump-like terms as the foremost proponent of “Canada First.” Speaking at a press conference last Thursday, he promised a Poilievre Conservative government would implement “massive” tax cuts for big business and the rich, pour huge sums into rebuilding Canada’s “weakened” military, and slash all regulatory restraints on capital to boost profits, and carbon-gas producing energy and mineral production. Declared Poilievre, “The message that I have for the Americans, by the way, [is] the days of us just handing over our businesses and our jobs because of our economic vandalism by this big, fat, money-hungry government in Ottawa, are over. We’re going to have a fierce free-market economy that competes with every country on earth.” The prospect of Poilievre as prime minister is viewed favourably not just by Canadian big business, but also by much of the American ruling class. Even as Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and Trump confidant, was endorsing Poilievre last week, the New York Times published a glowing portrait of the man who emerged as Conservative leader following his forthright advocacy of the fascist-led “Freedom” Convoy. In early 2022, the Convoy menacingly occupied downtown Ottawa with the backing of Trump and much of the Canadian political and corporate establishment, as well as sections of the national-security apparatus. The Times’ profile said virtually nothing about this extra-parliamentary mobilization of far-right forces, merely referring to it as a protest by “truckers.” Poilievre, according to the Times, displayed then as he does now an “instinctive sense” of what ordinary people want. The governing Liberals, meanwhile, are rushing to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with an even more right-wing representative of Canada’s corporate elite. In the face of a Liberal parliamentary caucus revolt, Trudeau was forced to announce last week that he would step down as the head of government in March, once the Liberals have chosen a new leader. The frontrunners to replace him are Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney. Freeland was the government’s foremost anti-Russia war hawk till she precipitated the Liberal caucus revolt, by resigning as Finance Minister and accusing Trudeau of engaging in “political gimmicks” rather than slashing spending so as to brace Canadian capitalism for trade war. As head of the Bank of Canada and then the Bank of England, Carney presided over “easy money“ and massive bailouts for the financial elite and austerity for working people. Trump’s threats—first of a 25% tariff on all Canadian and Mexican imports from “Day One” of his second presidency, and then to annex Canada and invade Greenland and the Panama Canal—have staggered the Canadian ruling class. When Trudeau, in an act of cowardice and subservience, rushed to Trump’s estate at Mar-a-Lago to plead with the incoming president to back off from his tariff threat, there was strong ruling class support. But the mood has shifted dramatically, after Trump made clear that he would not be placated by Ottawa’s pledges to assist his anti-immigrant witch-hunt, repeatedly mocked Trudeau as a “governor,” and then forthrightly declared his ambition to annex Canada. In a comment published in the Globe and Mail Saturday, Jean Chrétien, Canada’s Liberal Prime Minister from 1993 to 2003, urged all political leaders to “start showing” the “same spine and toughness” that Canada had purportedly exhibited in the two imperialist world wars of the last century, and to combine pledges to Washington that “we are their best friends” with a readiness to “play offense.” “We also want to protect the Arctic,” wrote Chrétien, in a reference to Trump’s complaints that Ottawa is not bearing enough of the burden in the North American imperialist powers’ strategic conflict with Russia and China. “But the United States refuses to recognize the Northwest Passage, insisting that it is an international waterway, even though it flows through the Canadian Arctic as Canadian waters. We need the United States to recognize the Northwest Passage as being Canadian waters.” Chretien’s comment is part of an avalanche of commentary in the capitalist press that more must be done to assert Canadian “sovereignty,” above all by surging resources to the border and massively increasing military spending. This includes the demand that Canada immediately increase annual defence expenditure to 2 percent of GDP, which would require an almost C$20 billion spending hike, while moving quickly to eliminate the budget deficit—in other words, massive social spending cuts.
Canada responds to Trump's tariff talk with retaliatory threat -- Canada must send a “message” to President-elect Trump on tariffs, one of the country’s provincial leaders said Wednesday alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who described the threatened levies as unnecessary.The outgoing leader said Canada would “respond, purposefully, forcefully and resolutely” if the Trump administration implemented tariffs.“There’s no sugarcoating it,” Trudeau said alongside several provincial premiers. “The incoming administration’s proposed tariffs against Canada would harm Americans. It would put American jobs at risk. It would put our collective security at risk.“It would raise costs at a time when people simply need, simply deserve, a break,” he added. “And perhaps most crucially, they’re not necessary. Our trading relationship is the envy of the world, and the better path forward is to make it stronger.”Ontario Premier Doug Ford called for tough retaliation.“There’s never been a time that’s more important for Canadians to be united, to stand up and making sure that our voice is heard,” he said.“We have to send a message, when someone comes up and tries to destroy our economy, it’ll be devastating for Canadians,” he added.The president-elect has said he would enact 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, while adding an extra 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods.The aim of the tariffs, according to Trump, is to press the countries to increase their efforts on border security and combatting fentanyl exports to the U.S.“Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!” Trump said on Truth Social in November.Earlier this month, the president-elect suggested Canada merge with the U.S., saying on Truth Social that with the combination of the two countries, “there would no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them.”
In Panama, we’re a laughing stock because of Trump - “Our Country is a disaster, a laughing stock all over the World!” That’s what Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Jan. 2, after the deadly assaults in New Orleans and Las Vegas. Happy New Year, America — you’re a joke. Trump is right, but not for the reasons he imagines. When people around the world mock us, it’s not because of our “open borders” or “violent erosion of safety,” as Trump wrote. It’s because of Donald J. Trump. He is the joke. I just got back from Panama, where lots of people make fun of Donald Trump. He recently threatened to take back the Panama Canal, which he said was over-charging American ships. He also said it was ruled by China. Panamanians know better. There is no evidence — none — that Americans pay more than other users of the canal. And while a Hong Kong-based firm does administer ports on either side of the canal, no one believes that China controls it.. Whenever I mentioned Trump, people laughed. “He’s crazy,” one of my guides declared, twirling a finger around his ear in the universal symbol of mental instability. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” an Uber driver said, smiling broadly. But threats of U.S. force are no joke in Panama, where the history of American military intervention looms large. So while everyone I met thought Trump was a buffoon, they also took his warning seriously. When a clown raises his fist, you never know what to expect.
Trump's Greenland demands may impact Ozempic costs -- President-elect Trump’s threat to tariff Denmark if it resists his acquisition plans for the island territory of Greenland could disrupt one export that is wildly popular in America: Ozempic. Trump added Denmark to his growing list of tariff targets — including Canada, Mexico and China — as he has increasingly spoken of the U.S. taking Greenland off Denmark’s hands. Danish multinational pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk is the sole owner of semaglutide, the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy. A month’s supply of Ozempic is close to $1,000 without insurance, though manufacturer coupons and patient assistance programs are available. Novo Nordisk was estimated to be responsible for half of Denmark’s gross domestic product growth in 2024. According to census data available through November, pharmaceutical products accounted for roughly 30 percent of Danish imports coming in through U.S. ports in 2024. Polling from KFF last year found that 1 in 8 U.S. adults said they’ve tried a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic, including nearly half of those with diabetes and a quarter of people with heart disease. When reached for comment, a Novo Nordisk spokesperson would not address the tariff threat directly: “We will follow the situation closely; however, we will not comment on hypotheticals and speculations. The geopolitical landscape in today’s world is very dynamic, and we remain focused on our commitment to deliver lifesaving medicines to the patients we serve.” Medical supply chain experts have previously said Trump’s proposed tariffs would likely cause the price of imported drugs to go up. Still, there are several factors at play when it comes to semaglutide access in the face of the president-elect’s threats. ‘
Trump Says He Had ‘Very Good’ Phone Call With China's Xi - Incoming President Donald Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The call comes as tensions between Washington and Beijing have escalated since Trump was last in the White House.On Friday, Trump posted on his Truth Social account, “I just spoke to Chairman Xi Jinping of China. The call was a very good one for both China and the U.S.A. It is my expectation that we will solve many problems together, and starting immediately.” It continued, “We discussed balancing Trade, Fentanyl, TikTok, and many other subjects. President Xi and I will do everything possible to make the World more peaceful and safe!”According to the Chinese readout of the call, “Xi congratulated Trump on his reelection as President of the United States. President Xi noted that they both attach great importance to their interactions, and both hope for a good start of the China-US relationship during the new US presidency.” It added, “President Xi expressed his readiness to secure greater progress in China-U.S. relations from a new starting point.”During Trump’s first term in office, he was a vocal China-hawk. He increased sanctions and tariffs on Beijing, while working to arm and build alliances with other countries in the region eyeing future confrontations with China.Under President Joe Biden, the relationship between Washington and Beijing continued to deteriorate. Biden ramped up Trump’s economic war with Beijing and continued to push countries that surround China to join pacts in case a war breaks out with the Asian superpower.Further angering Beijing, Biden increased US military and diplomatic support for Taiwan. Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the breakaway Chinese territory. Additionally, Biden began providing Taipei with weapons paid for by US military assistance.
Border crossings in December trend low as Biden administration wraps up (AP) — U.S. officials on Tuesday announced the latest border data, and it suggests the Biden administration is poised to end its term without an expected bump in illegal border crossings. In December, Customs and Border Protection reported 47,300 illegal border crossings — a slight elevation from November, when it reported 46,612, approaching the lowest level since July 2020. The first two weeks of January also indicate activity has dropped, with about 45% fewer crossings than in December, according to senior CBP officials who spoke with reporters during a virtual press conference Tuesday. Border crossing activity peaked in South Texas, doubling from about 5,000 in November to slightly above 10,000 arrests in December across the Rio Grande Valley region, despite Republican-led efforts to heighten border security through Operation Lonestar. The number of border arrests in December exceeded the number of people processed for asylum at ports of entry through the CBP One app, which allows migrants to seek an appointment out of the daily 1,450 slots available at designated ports of entry. Nearly 936,500 people have used the CBP One app to schedule appointments since its introduction in January 2023. Although President-elect Donald J. Trump said in September that he planned to end CBP One appointments, a senior CBP official told reporters that they are still being scheduled.
Biden admin puts new restrictions on AI chip, technology exports - The Biden administration is further restricting the sale of advanced chips used to power and develop artificial intelligence (AI) amid growing concerns about the use of American-made AI by foreign adversaries. The AI “diffusion” rule announced Monday would place caps on chip sales to most countries around the world. Eighteen U.S. allies and partners would be exempt from the new restrictions. “This policy will help build a trusted technology ecosystem around the world and allow us to protect against the national security risks associated with AI, while ensuring controls do not stifle innovation or US technological leadership,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement. The new framework would require licenses for most chip sales, with varying allowances based on a country’s relationship with the U.S. Those that are not U.S. allies would be permitted to purchase up to 50,000 advanced graphics processing units (GPUs), although this number could be doubled through government-to-government arrangements. Individual entities would also be able to apply for a special status to purchase up to 320,000 advanced GPUs in order to facilitate the construction of data centers. Allied countries are exempt from the licensing requirements. These include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Smaller shipments of up to 1,700 advanced GPUs would also not require licenses and would not count toward country’s chip caps. The rule was immediately slammed by the semiconductor and chips industry. Nvidia, a top producer of advanced GPUs, called the framework “unprecedented and misguided” and warned it could “derail innovation and economic growth worldwide.” “By attempting to rig market outcomes and stifle competition — the lifeblood of innovation — the Biden Administration’s new rule threatens to squander America’s hard-won technological advantage,” Ned Finkle, Nvidia’s vice president of government affairs, said in a statement. The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) also said it was “deeply disappointed” the rule was unveiled just days before a change in administration and without much input from industry. “The new rule risks causing unintended and lasting damage to America’s economy and global competitiveness in semiconductors and AI by ceding strategic markets to our competitors,” SIA President and CEO John Neuffer said in a statement. “The stakes are high, and the timing is fraught.”
Outgoing Biden administration announces sweeping AI controls The outgoing Biden administration has announced a series of regulations aimed at trying to control the global development and use of advanced computer chips employed in the development of artificial intelligence. The new regulations, announced by the Commerce Department on Monday, are aimed at establishing a three-tier system for the export of AI-related chips. For the top tier, which comprises the G7 countries and a series of those deemed to be US allies, including Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan, no restrictions will be imposed. For the third tier, which comprises China, Iran, Russia and North Korea, there will be a total ban on exports. For the second tier, numbering around 120 countries, the US will set limits on how many AI-related chips they are able to receive through a licensing system. According to the Commerce Department statement, licence applications will be reviewed “under the presumption of approval” until the total number of chips exported or re-exported reaches a certain allocation. Once that happens, applications will be reviewed “under a policy of denial.” The new measures are specifically targeted at China, reflecting the overriding fear in US political and, above all, military and intelligence circles that its development of AI, regarded as the economic and technological wave of the future, will undermine US global hegemony and constitute an existential threat that must be countered at all costs. But they do not stop at China. As the Wall Street Journal noted, “a broad category of more than 120 other countries, including US allies in the Middle East and Asia, are set to face new hurdles in setting up huge AI computing facilities.” Without being directly named, China was at the forefront of official statements accompanying the new regulations. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said they would “allow us to protect against the national security risks associated with AI” and took into account the evolution of AI technology and “the capabilities of our adversaries.” One of the aims of the new measures is to close avenues by which China is able to bypass the already existing restrictions on its acquisition of chips by obtaining them from other countries. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the new regulations provided “greater clarity to our international partners and counter the serious circumvention and related national security risks posed by countries of concern and malicious actors who may seek to use the advanced technologies against us.” The new measures have brought a storm of opposition from high-tech AI companies on the grounds that, rather than constricting China’s development, they may even enhance it and will weaken the position of US companies in the global battle for markets.
Biden Issues Executive Order For Building AI Data Centers On Federal Land - President Joe Biden issued an executive order on Tuesday to accelerate the construction of large-scale data centers and clean power infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI) on federal sites. Biden, whose presidency will end when President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20, said the order will direct the Defense Department (DOD) and Energy Department (DOE) to lease federal sites to the private sector for building AI infrastructure. The agencies will select sites that are equipped with high-capacity transmission infrastructure and have minimal adverse effects on communities, the natural environment, and commercial resources.The outgoing president said he aims to speed up the construction of advanced AI infrastructure in the United States “in a way that enhances economic competitiveness, national security, AI safety, and clean energy.”“Cutting-edge AI will have profound implications for national security and enormous potential to improve Americans’ lives if harnessed responsibly, from helping cure disease to keeping communities safe by mitigating the effects of climate change,” Biden said in a statement. “However, we cannot take our lead for granted. We will not let America be out-built when it comes to the technology that will define the future, nor should we sacrifice critical environmental standards and our shared efforts to protect clean air and clean water.”The White House stated that federal agencies will review proposals from companies seeking to build and operate large-scale AI infrastructure before granting leases for the selected sites.The chosen developers will then be required to procure new clean energy generation resources that meet the electricity and capacity needs of their data centers, according to a White House fact sheet.The Interior Department will also help to identify lands under its management that can be used for building clean energy facilities to power data centers on DOE and DOD sites, while also accelerating the permitting processes for geothermal projects, which could support future AI operations, the White House said.“Agencies will prioritize and dedicate staff toward permitting this infrastructure in a timely manner, and DOD will immediately undertake environmental analyses that will improve the speed and accuracy of future site-specific reviews,” it stated.To prevent an increase in electricity bills for consumers, the White House stated that developers will bear the full cost of building, operating, and maintaining AI data centers and power facilities. They are also required to provide “prevailing wages” to workers. The order also requires developers to meet lab-security requirements and assess the national security implications of AI models developed on federal sites, including their safety risks and potential to advance national security objectives, the White House stated. The Biden administration said the construction of such data centers will help prevent “adversaries from accessing powerful systems to the detriment” of the U.S. military and national security and reduce America’s reliance on other countries for access to powerful AI tools. A senior administration official told reporters on Monday that Biden issued the order to expedite the rate at which America builds “the world’s largest, most powerful AI infrastructure” powered by clean energy. The order also seeks to preserve America’s leadership in AI and counter national security risks posed by adversaries. “So in the coming years, we’ll face extraordinary potential national security risks, including the possibility of strategic surprise if adversaries such as the PRC [People’s Republic of China] develop and acquire these more powerful AI systems before we do,” the official stated.
TikTok denies TikTok-Musk sale report, dismisses as 'pure fiction' - TikTok denied a report that Chinese officials are considering a sale of the company’s U.S. operations to tech billionaire and President-elect Trump ally Elon Musk ahead of a potential ban Sunday, calling the report “pure fiction.” “We can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction,” TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes said in a statement. The popular video-sharing platform is bracing for a new law, set to take effect Sunday, that requires its China-based parent company ByteDance to divest from the app or face a ban on U.S. app stores and networks. Ahead of Sunday’s deadline, Bloomberg reported the Chinese government is considering a scenario in which Musk’s social platform X would take control of TikTok’s U.S. operations and run the companies together. Musk, who has previously proclaimed himself a “free speech absolutist,” said in April he did not think the app should be banned, arguing it would be “contrary to freedom of speech and expression.” The tech mogul is also a close ally of Trump, who vowed to “save TikTok” during his campaign. After the Supreme Court took up TikTok’s challenge to the law last month, Trump filed a friend-of-the-court brief asking the justices to delay the law so he can negotiate a deal once in office. The president-elect argued that such a deal would obviate the need for the Supreme Court to weigh in on the First Amendment implications of the divest-or-ban law, which TikTok contends is unconstitutional. The justices, which heard oral arguments on Friday, seemed inclined to side with the Biden administration. The government has raised alarm about TikTok’s ties to China and the possibility the Chinese government can access U.S. user data or covertly manipulate the algorithm.
SCOTUS Rejects Challenge to Looming TikTok Ban - The Supreme Court of the United States ruled unanimously that banning TikTok does not violate the First Amendment. The popular app could face a ban in the US as early as Sunday. In his final days in office, President Joe Biden is working to prevent the ban from taking effect.On Friday, all nine SCOTUS justices agreed with the opinion, “We conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate the petitioners’ First Amendment rights.” The decision is a blow to TikTok that was arguing banning the platform was a violation of Freedom of Speech. Following the ruling, Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) explained that banning TikTok is censorship. “When tik-tok goes dark, please remember I voted against the so-called tik-tok ban because the legislation was overly broad and sets a dangerous precedent for censorship,” he posted on X. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) concurred, explaining, “Millions of Americans express themselves on TikTok on a daily basis, and it’s just wrong for the government to ban it.” 170 million Americans use TikTok.In March, Biden signed a bill that ordered TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to divest its shares from the company within six months or face an effective ban in the US. The deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok is Sunday. Most of the public debate over the bill surrounds the claims that Beijing could use the data it obtains from TikTok against the US. However, Congress only passed the bill after users shared overwhelming pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli content about Tel Aviv’s onslaught in Gaza. “People who historically hadn’t taken a position on TikTok became concerned with how Israel was portrayed in the videos and what they saw as an increase in antisemitic content posted to the app.” In the runup to the deadline, the Biden administration has been “exploring options” to not enforce the ban that comes into effect on the last full day of Biden’s Presidency. In response to the ruling White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden would leave the decision to President-elect Donald Trump. “President Biden’s position on TikTok has been clear for months, including since Congress sent a bill in overwhelming, bipartisan fashion to the president’s desk: TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law,” she said. “Given the sheer fact of timing, this Administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday.” Trump posted on Truth Social that he would address the issue in his first days back in the White House. “The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it. My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!” he wrote.
Biden won't enforce TikTok ban: Reports -- Reports allege that President Biden will not enforce the TikTok ban slated to take effect on Sunday, just one day before the presidential inauguration, according to multiple reports, including by the Associated Press.An administration official told the AP Biden will leave the decision to implement the ban or not to President-elect Trump.“Given the timing of when it goes into effect over a holiday weekend a day before inauguration, it will be up to the next administration to implement,” a White House official similarly toldPolitico.The White House did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.Democrats including former Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have urged the Chinese company owned by ByteDance to divest and sell the platform to an American owner.“It’s clear that more time is needed to find an American buyer and not disrupt the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans, of so many influencers who have built up a good network of followers,” Schumer said Thursday on the floor.Lawmakers near Silicon Valley have argued the ban is a violation of First Amendment rights in a debate questioning whether or not the app is a threat to national security. “Seventy-one percent of Americans want to protect data privacy. Only 31 percent want a ban on TikTok. Congress, A, doesn’t understand, in my view, all of the social media and how it’s working, and, B, is out of touch with what the American people want,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.)stated last year. “So, pass a law, one, to prevent these apps, whether it’s TikTok or Facebook or YouTube, for collecting data. That bill has been sitting in the House Commerce Committee for years, and it doesn’t move,” he emphasized. “Second, pass a law that if there’s evidence that the data goes to China, then Oracle and TikTok would be held liable, civilly or criminally.”
Biden finalizes major loan to EV-maker Rivian days before Trump’s inauguration --The Biden administration has finalized a massive loan to electric vehicle (EV) maker Rivian just days before President-elect Trump takes office. The $6.57 billion loan will finance an electric vehicle plant in Georgia where the company, which currently specializes in luxury vehicles, will make SUVs and crossover vehicles. The Energy Department, in a press release, described the vehicles as “mass market” rather than luxury.The loan’s closure comes as the Trump administration is expected to seek to rein in climate spending broadly. Trump ally Vivek Ramaswamy has also criticized this loan specifically, calling it “insane” on social platform X. “This smells more like a political shot across the bow at @elonmusk & @Tesla,” he wrote, referring to Elon Musk, who is slated to co-run a government efficiency commission with Ramaswamy.The Biden administration says the facility financed by the loan will provide 7,500 operations jobs through 2030 and build 400,000 vehicles each year.In addition, the administration closed a separate $1.66 billion loan to finance the construction of six facilities that will produce hydrogen energy. As of Thursday, the Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office had announced 26 tentative loan commitments worth a total of $60.58 billion that had not yet been closed, according to a spokesperson.
CEOs are bracing for Trump tariff disruption: Survey -- Business executives are increasingly planning to modify their supply chains, citing the risk of disruption and cost concerns ahead of wide-ranging tariffs expected from the incoming Trump administration. Seventy-one percent of U.S. CEOs are either planning to alter their supply chains in the next three to five years or are already in the process of doing so, up from 54 percent in 2024, according to a new survey from The Conference Board, a business think tank and trade group. Among European CEOs, 77 percent are planning to make adjustments to their supply chains, up from 61 percent last year. Many economists have been cautioning that President-elect Trump’s tariff proposals, which have included a 10 percent to 20 percent general tariff and a 100 percent tariff on Chinese imports in particular, could lead to a rise in prices, which were a top concern for voters in the 2024 election following the postpandemic inflation. For importers of many consumer goods who rely on a low-price, high-sales-volume business model, the effect of a wholesale tariff could have a sizable effect on overhead costs and be passed along to customers. “The whole point of a retailer like Temu is to sell a large volume at a low profit for each item. This means that they don’t have much room to lower the price, before it is not worth making the sale,” Dean Baker, senior economist with the Center for Economic Policy and Research, wrote in a Friday analysis. Trump has defended his tariff plans by arguing they will help to protect U.S. industries against international competition and bring outsourced jobs back to America, particularly in manufacturing. While promising to bring prices down on the campaign trail, Trump told Time magazine after winning the election that bringing prices down would be difficult. “It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up … very hard,” he said, referring to grocery prices. In fact, while wholesale prices fluctuate according to various component costs, retail prices that consumers pay almost never go down in aggregate. Imports have been surging at U.S. ports ahead of the expected Trump tariffs. The Port of Los Angeles received close to a million 20-foot containers in October, a jump of 25 percent on the year that port officials attributed in part to expected new tariffs. Volumes were up 16 percent in November. Following the huge commercial disruptions caused by the pandemic, the Biden administration and many U.S. companies talked often about the “friendshoring” and “nearshoring” of supply chains, diversifying them away from traditional East Asian production centers. While Chinese imports to the U.S. went down on the whole between 2017 and 2022, imports from other countries, also with cheaper labor costs, have increased. These countries may simply be pit stops in longer China-centric supply chains, economists have noted. “Despite reduced imports from China, indirect supply chains with China, especially through Vietnam and Mexico, are strengthening,” Stanford University researchers noted in a paper last year. Other concerns for CEOs, as polled by The Conference Board, include fears about a recession and a wider economic downturn, a lack of job force talent on artificial intelligence, U.S. public debt levels, and the dimensions of increased trade competition with China. Concerns about debt levels may be showing up in financial markets too, as bond yields have been increasing even as the Federal Reserve has been cutting interest rates, a divergence that some investors have described as highly unusual
House Report Finds Billions Wasted During Federal Telework Program As Unions 'Lock In' WFH - A report released by the House Oversight and Accountability Committee on Wednesday paints a damning picture of federal telework policies, accusing the Biden administration of prioritizing union demands over taxpayer interests and wasting billions of dollars on underutilized office space.The 30-page report, released ahead of a hearing led by Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY), slams the continuation of widespread work-from-home arrangements that surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings indicate that many federal employees remain remote or telework regularly, leaving federal office buildings largely empty.“The Biden-Harris administration has ceded too much authority to the federal union bosses, allowing their preference to work from home to take precedence over fulfilling agencies’ missions and serving the American people,” the report states.The committee’s analysis revealed that of the 2.28 million federal civilian employees, roughly 228,000 are never required to report to the office. The remaining 1.1 million employees eligible for telework spend an average of only three days per week in the office.According to the report, teleworking feds "must report to the office on occasion," whereas "remote employees never need to show up to work," Just the News reports.Federal agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the General Services Administration (GSA) have seen dramatic increases in remote work since 2019. According to the report:
- HHS’s remote workforce grew from 2% in 2019 to 29% in 2024.
- The GSA saw its remote workforce jump from 6% to 50%.
- The Department of Education went from 2% to 55%.
The report also highlights an alarming trend of unused office space. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study from July 2023 "found that 17 of the 24 federal agencies used on average an estimated 25 percent or less of the capacity of their headquarter buildings," with some agencies reporting occupancy rates as low as 9%. Despite this, the federal government spends approximately $7 billion annually to lease and maintain office spaces.
Patient groups call on Trump administration to let Medicare cover obesity drugs --A coalition of obesity-related patient advocacy groups is calling on the incoming Trump administration to finalize a proposal that would allow Medicare to cover obesity medications. Led by the Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN), more than 70 organizations said in a statement that addressing, treating and managing obesity is key to making America healthier. The groups pointed to a study that found if nothing is done, 213 million Americans will be overweight or obese by 2050. That would mean hundreds of millions of people facing health complications like diabetes, cancer, heart problems, breathing issues and mental health challenges. “The new administration must take action to address this crisis, by allowing Medicare and Medicaid to offer comprehensive obesity care for the millions of Americans who need these services and treatments,” the groups said. The Biden administration in November proposed allowing Medicare and Medicaid to cover obesity medications such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Zepbound from Eli Lilly. The drugs have been shown to have numerous health benefits, but Medicare is prohibited from covering “weight loss” drugs. To sidestep the restriction, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said obesity would be considered a chronic disease. But the rule can’t take effect unless the Trump administration wants to move forward with it. Two of President-elect Trump’s top health nominees have differing views on the benefits of the drugs. The policy would likely be politically popular but could cost the programs tens of billions of dollars. There’s bipartisan interest in Congress in letting Medicare cover anti-obesity medications, but the price tag has been the biggest obstacle. The price tag could also give pause to Trump officials who want to slash spending, though if the administration were to make the decision, it could take the pressure off lawmakers. “Medicare’s current categorization and restriction is outdated. It does not align with current medical evidence, standards of care or the understanding of the disease,” the groups said. “The proposed CMS rule would address an urgent health crisis and leading contributor to the ‘Unhealth’ of Americans.”
Biden administration to release nicotine reduction rule --The Biden administration is poised to try to lower the amount of nicotine in tobacco products, an eleventh-hour effort that’s been years in the making. The move would give the White House one last chance to try to regulate tobacco, as it previously punted on finalizing a long-standing pledge to ban menthol-flavored cigarettes. The rule has not been made public, so the specific language isn’t known, but it’s expected to require tobacco companies to slash the amount of nicotine in cigarettes and potentially other products to make them less addictive. It could be published as early as Monday by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), after it cleared regulatory review earlier this month.But that would only begin a bureaucratic journey that anti-tobacco advocates worry an incoming Trump administration may derail.Smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease, death and disability in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), killing more than 480,000 people each year. More than 16 million Americans are living with a smoking-related disease. Most adults who smoke cigarettes want to quit, and half report trying to quit in the past year, according to a CDC survey from September.Yet less than 1 in 10 adults who smoke cigarettes succeed in quitting, drawn back in because of highly addictive nicotine that changes people’s brain chemistry so they want to smoke more. “Lowering nicotine levels will help millions of people quit smoking and prevent countless others from becoming addicted, sparing families nationwide from the devastating consequences of tobacco-related illnesses and death,” Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, said in a statement to The Hill. Public health advocates said the policy has enormous potential if the Trump administration follows through. No limits currently exist, so setting any standard would be considered a major step forward. “If finalized, it would be such a game changer because that would mean kids who experiment with tobacco products, with smoking, are not signing themselves up for a lifetime addiction,” said Erika Sward, assistant vice president of national advocacy for the American Lung Association. The FDA has been talking about plans to lower nicotine levels since the first Trump administration in 2018. Under President Biden, the FDA in 2022 announced it was developing a proposed rule on the matter, set for release in May 2023. More than a year and a half later, the proposal is finally almost ready for publication.
LGBTQ, civil rights groups urge Congress to reject transgender athlete ban - More than 400 LGBTQ and civil rights groups on Monday urged lawmakers to reject legislation that would bar transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, claiming the measure, which the House is expected to consider this week, “would harm women and girls and undermine civil rights for all students.” The letter, led by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, an umbrella group of U.S. civil rights organizations, argues that preventing transgender and gender-nonconforming youths from participating in school sports nationwide will further isolate and stigmatize an already vulnerable population. “If schools mark some students effectively as outcasts, they foster an environment where no student is included and safe,” the letter states. Republicans last week reintroduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would amend Title IX — the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination at schools and education programs that receive government funding — to prohibit schools from allowing transgender female athletes to participate in athletic programs or activities “designated for women or girls.” It defines sex as “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) is the primary sponsor of the measure in the House, and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) is leading the measure’s introduction in the Senate. Both men sponsored identical bills in the last Congress, with mixed success. The House, which first passed Steube’s bill in 2023, is expected to consider the measure again on Tuesday. Passing the bill is one of House Republicans’ top priorities in the new Congress, according to a rules package adopted earlier this month. Last week, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) took the necessary procedural steps to place the measure on the Senate calendar, teeing up a vote in the coming weeks. The bill has the backing of 97 Republicans in the House and Senate, who argue such legislation is needed to maintain fairness in women’s sports and protect female athletes who are cisgender, or not transgender, from injury. Concerned Women for America, a conservative evangelical Christian organization, called on Congress to pass the bill in a blog post on Friday. The group, which sued the University of Pennsylvania in 2022 for allowing Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, to compete on the college’s women’s team, said policies inclusive of transgender student-athletes at public schools amount to “federally funded discrimination.” Monday’s letter, which includes signatures from the Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD and Advocates for Trans Equality, calls the measure’s supporters “wolves in sheep’s clothing” whose “agenda is not about the rights of women and girls.” “Although the authors of the legislation represent themselves as serving the interests of cisgender girls and women, this legislation does not address the longstanding barriers all girls and women have faced in their pursuit of athletics,” the letter states.“Instead of providing for equal facilities, equipment, and travel, or any other strategy that women athletes have been pushing for for decades, the bill cynically veils an attack on transgender people as a question of athletics policy.” The bill’s nebulous language and “intrusive focus on scrutiny of students’ bodies,” the letter argues, will effectively bar cisgender women and girls with intersex traits — natural variations in sex characteristics that differ from what is typically considered male or female — from competing in school sports and “invite scrutiny and harassment of any other student perceived by anyone as not conforming to sex stereotypes.”
House Republicans pass bill to ban transgender athletes from girls’ sports - House Republicans passed a bill Tuesday to bar transgender student-athletes from competing in girls’ sports, putting the contentious issue front and center following an election cycle that saw it become a frequent target of Republicans. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act would amend Title IX — the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination in schools and education programs that receive government funding — to prohibit schools from allowing transgender girls or women to participate in athletic programs or activities “designated for women or girls.” It defines sex as “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” The bill, which, if signed into law, would be the first stand-alone bill to restrict the rights of transgender Americans, passed in a 218-206 vote, with two Democrats joining all Republicans in support. Three Republicans and six Democrats did not vote, and one Democrat voted “present.”Texas Reps. Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar were the two lone Democratic “yes” votes.House Republicans brought the measure to the floor in the second full week of the 119th Congress, a sign that the conference sees the issue as a top priority over the next two years. Last week, GOP lawmakers cleared legislation addressing the border. Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), the bill’s sponsor, said the legislation is meant to preserve Title IX’s original intent of guaranteeing equal opportunities for men and women.“All throughout humanity, we have recognized as a species that there are women and there are men, as God created, who are obviously biologically different and, dare I say, scientifically different,” he said. The bill’s immediate future in the Senate is unclear. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) is leading the measure in the upper chamber, which is considering the Laken Riley Act this week and will be focused on President-elect Trump’s Cabinet nominations next week. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) took the necessary procedural steps last week to tee up a vote on the measure down the road. Democrats warned Tuesday that the bill could open the door to sexual abuse and invasive scrutiny of girls’ bodies. The Congressional Equality Caucus, a coalition of pro-LGBTQ House Democrats, dubbed it the “Child Predator Empowerment Act.” “This bill isn’t about protecting women. In fact, it could force any student to answer invasive personal questions about their bodies & face humiliating physical inspections to ‘prove’ that they’re a girl,” the group wrote in a post on the social platform X. The bill’s supporters said Tuesday that the measure would not permit genital or physical examinations, and a student’s birth certificate will decide whether they can participate in sports. Asked to clarify what enforcement of the bill will look like, Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) said the legislation “doesn’t deal with that.” Officials in at least two dozen states with similar restrictions on transgender athletes have grappled with how to enforce them. Florida school officials in 2023 weighed tracking students’ menstrual cycles, a proposal that was ultimately scrapped following widespread opposition. In 2022, the Utah High School Activities Association said it had investigated a high school athlete over her gender after a group of parents complained that the student, who is not transgender, might have violated a state law banning transgender athletes from women’s sports. “There is no enforcement mechanism in this bill,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said. “And when there is no enforcement mechanism, you open the door for every enforcement mechanism.” “We know there is only one logical conclusion to this,” said Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), one of 13 openly LGBTQ lawmakers. “This is interrogation of young girls about their bodies; this asking people to show them what’s underneath their underwear. That is what we’re talking about.” More than 400 LGBTQ and civil rights groups on Monday called on Congress to reject the bill, which they said would further isolate and discriminate against transgender youth.“If schools mark some students effectively as outcasts, they foster an environment where no student is included and safe,” the groups wrote. Transgender rights emerged as a key issue on the campaign trail and in the Capitol in recent weeks,. In November, Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) became the first openly transgender person elected to Congress. Shortly after her victory, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced a new policy barring trans women from using Capitol bathrooms that aligned with their gender identity, a move seen by many as a response to McBride’s election. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said an earlier resolution to bar transgender members and staff from women’s restrooms was “absolutely” motivated by McBride. McBride has said she will follow Johnson’s policy, even though she disagrees with it. “I’m not here to fight about bathrooms,” she said in a November statement that characterized the policy as an “effort to distract” her from addressing issues such as lowering costs for Americans.McBride did not participate in Tuesday’s debate over the transgender athlete bill.
Joe Biden announces student loan forgiveness for 150,000 borrowers - The Biden administration announced Monday it was forgiving student loans for more than 150,000 borrowers, bringing the total number of individuals impacted by debt relief in President Biden’s term to over 5 million. The 150,000 new borrowers are made up of 85,000 individuals who were defrauded by their schools, 61,000 people with permanent or total disabilities and 6,100 public service workers. “Thanks to our tireless and unapologetic efforts to work toward a system that is affordable and accountable to both students and taxpayers, today’s announcement includes additional relief for borrowers misled and cheated by their institutions, borrowers with disabilities, as well as additional loan forgiveness for public servants,” Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said. In total, the Biden administration has now spent $183.6 billion to forgive student loans. Officials with the Biden administration emphasized how helpful the forgiveness has been for everyday Americans ahead President-elect Trump’s inauguration — and the subsequent likely slowdown of federal efforts on student loans. “Identifying 5 million people for student loan forgiveness means the federal government is finally keeping its promises,” Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal said. “People who cannot afford their student loans because they are in public service, have disabilities, were cheated by their college, or who have completed decades of payments are now getting the relief they were promised. These permanent reforms will continue to more and more borrowers every year.” The record amount of student debt relief by any president was made possible due to a number of changes the administration made to the Borrower Defense program and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to make it easier for borrowers in these categories to receive forgiveness. Under PSLF, more than 1 million borrowers have received relief, compared to only 7,000 before the start of the Biden administration. Officials would not say if this was the last round of relief borrowers could expect before the president leaves office next week.
Biden finalizes last round of student debt forgiveness -The Biden administration announced Thursday its final round of student debt relief, topping off the most loan forgiveness ever given in a presidency. The Department of Education announced it was forgiving more than $600 million of student loans for 4,550 borrowers through the income-driven repayment plan and 4,100 borrowers through Borrower Defense. In total, the administration has given $188 billion of student debt relief to more than 5 million borrowers through 33 executive actions. “Four years ago, President Biden made a promise to fix a broken student loan system. We rolled up our sleeves and, together, we fixed existing programs that had failed to deliver the relief they promised, took bold action on behalf of borrowers who had been cheated by their institutions, and brought financial breathing room to hardworking Americans — including public servants and borrowers with disabilities. Thanks to our relentless, unapologetic efforts, millions of Americans are approved for student loan forgiveness,” Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said. “I’m incredibly proud of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic achievements in making the life-changing potential of higher education more affordable and accessible for more people,” he added. The administration touted 1.7 million borrowers received forgiveness under the Borrower Defense program, 1 million from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, almost 1.5 million from income-driven repayment and more than 600,000 for those with permanent or total disabilities. This action likely signals the last large amount of student debt relief borrowers will see for years as President-elect Trump, who takes office Monday, has signaled broad opposition to the loan forgiveness.
Biden commutes the sentences of nearly 2,500 non-violent drug offenders -- President Biden on Friday announced he would commute the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offenses as one of his last major moves just days before leaving office. Biden said the individuals receiving commutations are “serving disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice” in a Friday statement. “Today’s clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes,” Biden said. The move makes him the president who has issued more pardons and commutations than any other U.S. president, Biden said. The president noted that Congress in recent years has passed the Fair Sentencing Act in 2010, which ended the five-year mandatory minimum sentencing for possessing crack cocaine, and the First Step Act in 2018, which aimed to decrease the federal prison population. “As Congress recognized through the Fair Sentencing Act and the First Step Act, it is time that we equalize these sentencing disparities,” Biden said. “This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending far too much time behind bars.” He said he is proud of his record on clemency and will “continue to review additional commutations and pardons” before he leaves office on Monday. The president has been under pressure to pardon more people after he granted a pardon for his son Hunter Biden.Last month, Biden commuted the sentences of 37 people on federal death row, excluding only three federal death row inmates. The prisoners given commuted sentences saw their sentences classified from execution to life without the possibility of parole. Those commutations received a chorus of supporters, especially criminal justice groups that advocate against the death penalty and the Catholic Church, and critics, including Republican lawmakers. Biden in part made the move because he thinks a Trump administration would resume executions that were paused under his watch.
Trump on ‘fascinating’ Fetterman meeting: ‘He’s just a commonsense person’ --President-elect Trump called Democratic Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) “a commonsense person” after the two had a “fascinating” meeting at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.“He’s a commonsense person. He’s not liberal or conservative. He’s just a commonsense person, which is beautiful,” Trump said in an interview with the Washington Examiner.Fetterman was the first Senate Democrat to meet with Trump after the president-elect’s victory, while many Republican lawmakers have traveled to the Palm Beach resort to sit down with the incoming president.The president-elect told the news outlet he was positive about how the meeting went and praised Fetterman’s wife, Gisele.He also told the Examiner that U.S. Steel, Israel, the U.S.-Mexico border and acquiring Greenland were discussed in the meeting with the Pennsylvania senator.“It was a totally fascinating meeting. He’s a fascinating man, and his wife is lovely. They were both up, and I couldn’t be more impressed,” Trump said. Fetterman said last week that Trump invited him to meet and he accepted, arguing he’s “the Senator for all Pennsylvanians— not just Democrats in Pennsylvania.”Fetterman added that he will meet with and have a conversation with anyone.The Pennsylvania senator has also said he would be open to supporting some of Trump’s Cabinet picks, including Secretary of State nominee Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).Fetterman is a co-sponsor of the Laken Riley Act — an immigration bill aimed at curbing crime by migrants — which cleared its first hurdle toward passage in the Senate last week, when 33 Senate Democrats voted with Republicans in the 84-9 vote Thursday.
Dick Durbin will back Marco Rubio for Secretary of State - Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) on Monday announced that he will vote for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to become the next secretary of State, a sign that Rubio is on a path to be confirmed on President-elect Trump’s first day of office with overwhelming support. “I believe Senator Rubio has a thorough understanding of the United States’ role on an international scale, has served with honor on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and is a good choice to lead the State Department. I plan to vote yes on his nomination when it comes before the Senate,” Durbin said in a statement. Durbin noted that he and Rubio “share many similar views on foreign policy” and have “worked closely together” to advance human rights around the world, counter the threat posed by China and respond to the “sham election” in Venezuela. “We also jointly called for the release of Uyghur political prisoner Gulshan Abbas and accountability for the death of Cuban democracy activist Oswaldo Payá,” he said. Durbin said he reiterated to Rubio the need to support Ukraine and strengthen the NATO alliance, and he raised concerns about Russian aggression toward the Baltic states and other European countries. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), the top-ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, predicted that Rubio would likely get a strong bipartisan vote next week. And she said Rubio could come to the floor quickly, possibly even on Trump’s first day in office. “We’re done this before,” she said, noting that the Senate quickly confirmed then-Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) when former President Obama nominated her to serve as secretary of State. “There’s precedent to suggest we want to be cooperative,” she added. Asked if Rubio would get a lot of votes, she replied: “I would think.”
Paul Krugman warns Donald Trump's economic plan will 'brutally scam' voters -- Economist Paul Krugman argues that voters who cast ballots for President-elect Trump’s “terrible” economic agenda are going to get “brutally scammed.” Krugman joined The New Republic’s “The Daily Blast” podcast for an episode that aired Tuesday, where he discussed Trump’s major economic overhaul plans, including hiking up tariffs on international trading partners and cutting taxes for some Americans. “Trump has really radical policy ideas,” Krugman said. “I, obviously, think they’re terrible.” Krugman, a Nobel laureate and longtime New York Times columnist, argued the U.S. economy is doing well in its postpandemic recovery, even as Americans consistently indicated they didn’t think the same. He also argued people’s perceptions of the economy shift based on whether the president is a member of their preferred party. “We see this immediately switch in economic sentiment among Democrats and Republicans, where Republicans now say the economy is great, Democrats now say they’re worried about inflation and the impact that could result from Trump’s policies,” Krugman said. “We suddenly switched from a plurality of people saying they were worse off — which wasn’t true, but that’s what people felt — to a plurality saying that they’re better off, which I think is … Republicans saying, ‘Oh, now that Trump is president-elect everything is great,’” he added. Krugman said a lot of people who voted for Trump, and small-business owners specifically, are “going to get brutally scammed” by the proposed economic plan and the current outlook on the economy. “Small-business people are the people that he’s all through his life hired as contractors and then not paid, right?” he said. “Scamming people like that is what his whole life has been around.” Krugman also highlighted that Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy will “effectively redistribute income” away from middle-class voters. He also noted the president-elect’s massive deportation plan will hurt the economy in large ways.
Public health experts, scientists warn senators on confirming RFK Jr - A new coalition of more than 700 public health professionals, scientists and activists signed an open letter to oppose Senate confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, saying his “fringe” views and inexperience would put the country at serious risk from severe infectious diseases. The letter from the coalition called “Defend Public Health” said Kennedy’s “unfounded, fringe beliefs could significantly undermine public health practices across the country and around the world.” The signatories include faculty members from public health schools at prestigious universities like Harvard, Yale and Emory. The letter raised concerns about Kennedy’s lack of expertise in health care and his inexperience running a bureaucratic agency as sprawling as the Department of Health and Human Services. It also noted his long history of questioning vaccines. “It is unfathomable that President Trump … would now be nominating someone who is decidedly anti-vaccine and could, if confirmed, undermine not only the progress we’ve made in saving lives from COVID-19 but also from life-threatening infectious diseases including polio, tetanus, measles, mumps, seasonal flu and more,” the letter stated. Kennedy claims he is not anti-vaccine and is merely pushing for more transparency into their safety. This latest anti-Kennedy push comes on top of a separate letter last week from more than 15,000 doctors, organized by the Democratic-aligned Committee to Protect Health Care, urging senators not to confirm him. Kennedy has been on Capitol Hill in recent weeks holding meetings with dozens of senators who will consider his nomination. While there’s been no firm public opposition to Kennedy from Senate Republicans, he can afford to lose three votes if every Democrat opposes him. Unlike other Republicans, Senate Health Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) did not immediately endorse Kennedy after his meeting and gave only a tepid statement on social media. Cassidy briefly told reporters he and Kennedy spoke about “every permutation of vaccines” but declined to elaborate further after the nearly hourlong meeting.
Mike Pence-founded group urges senators to vote against Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. -- The conservative group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence is calling on senators to vote against confirming Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary because of his previous support for abortion. “Whatever the merits of RFK Jr’s Make America Healthy Again initiative—indeed, whatever other qualities a nominee might possess—an HHS Secretary must have a firm commitment to protect unborn children, or else bend under the pressure and pushback surrounding these daily, critical decisions,” Advancing American Freedom President Tim Chapman and Board Chairman Marc Short wrote in a letter to senators. “While RFK Jr. has made certain overtures to pro-life leaders that he would be mindful of their concerns at HHS, there is little reason for confidence at this time,” they wrote.This is the second formal attempt from Pence and his organization to derail Kennedy’s confirmation. Shortly after Trump announced Kennedy’s nomination, Pence in a statementurged senators to reject him because of his previous support for abortion. Kennedy, who initially launched his presidential campaign as a Democrat, endorsed a ban on abortion after the first trimester but then quickly backtracked. He also suggested he opposed banning abortion before fetal viability, generally around 24 weeks into a pregnancy. On his campaign website, Kennedy said he is “a firm supporter of the principles laid out 50 years ago in Roe v. Wade” and that “if the courts do not overturn Dobbs v. Jackson and restore abortion rights, he will support legislation to accomplish the same.” But his past statements don’t seem to worry GOP senators, most of whom have enthusiastically endorsed Kennedy after meeting with him. Kennedy has been trying to reassure Republicans by saying his personal views don’t matter, and he will implement all of the anti-abortion policies from the first Trump administration. President-elect Trump has repeatedly said abortion access should be determined by individual states and during the campaign tried to run as a moderate on the issue. But Pence, a staunch religious conservative, has become an occasional critic of his former boss on policy positions, especially abortion. Pence previously said Trump’s stance was a “slap in the face” to abortion opponents.
Pete Hegseth faces grilling from Democrats at confirmation hearing as GOP senators voice support - What to know about Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing;
- Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Defense Department, faced senators at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, where he fielded tough questions from Democrats over his views on women in the military and an allegation of sexual assault.
- Republican senators defended his nomination, arguing his status as an outsider and combat veteran make him well-suited to take the reins of the Pentagon and its workforce of 3 million people. The GOP majority in the Senate could vote to confirm Hegseth soon after Trump takes office next week.
- In 2017, a woman told police that Hegseth sexually assaulted her. Hegseth said the encounter was consensual and he was never charged. Under questioning Tuesday, Hegseth said that allegation was part of a "coordinated smear campaign" in the media to tank his nomination.
- Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, notedthat Hegseth was married at the time and had recently had a child with another woman: "You've admitted it was consensual, and you were still married, and you had just had a child by another woman. How do you explain your judgment?" Hegseth maintained that the encounter was "fully investigated" and he was "completely cleared."
- Other Democrats grilled Hegseth about his past comments that women should not serve in combat roles in the military. "You cannot denigrate women in general, and your statements do that," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said.
- Hegseth won over a key Republican, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, who on Tuesday night praised Hegseth and told NewsRadio 1040 WHO, "I will be supporting President Trump's pick for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth."
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, kicked off the meeting, taking a moment to recognize the victims of the fires in California, to thank the ranking Democrat on the committee, Sen. Jack Reed, and to introduce the new members of the committee who were sworn into the Senate this month. Wicker warned the crowd not to cheer or express approval for the nominee going forward, saying anyone who does so will be removed from the hearing room. Wicker touted Hegseth's qualifications in his opening remarks and the urgency of the moment on the world stage, while acknowledging the scrutiny that Trump's pick for defense secretary has faced. "If confirmed, Mr. Pete Hegseth would assume the role in a moment of consequence," Wicker said, saying the U.S. faces the "most dangerous" security environment since World War II. "America has entered a window of maximum danger," Wicker added, urging that the department needs "energetic" leadership.Wicker posed a question before the committee, saying senators should ask whether the Pentagon's civilian leadership has proven up to the challenge in the past. He said it has not, saying most of the department's signature programs run years behind schedule, along with other issues."Today's Department of Defense is no longer prepared for great power competition," Wicker said. "Admittedly, this nomination is unconventional. The nominee is unconventional," Wicker said, comparing Hegseth to the president-elect in his differences from the norm. "That may be what makes Mr. Hegseth an excellent choice." "In short, I'm confident that Mr. Hegseth, supported by a team of experienced top officials, will get the job done," Wicker continued.Wicker said senators should not underestimate the value of Hegseth's ability to communicate with the military members whom he served alongside, and hinted at the controversies surrounding Hegseth's nomination."Mr. Hegseth has admitted to falling short, as we all do from time to time," Wicker said, while noting that many of the accusations have come from anonymous sources. The chairman stressed that people who have served alongside Hegseth have testified about his character, reading a letter from one individual who touted Hegseth's leadership and combat experience. Sen. Jack Reed, the Democratic ranking member on the committee, in his opening statement listed why he believes Hegseth is not qualified for the role, citing the allegations of sexual assault and financial mismanagement that Hegseth has previously denied. "These are perilous times, and the position of secretary of defense demands a leader of unparalleled experience, wisdom and, above all else, character," Reed said. "Mr. Hegseth, I do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job."Reed said he has reviewed many of the allegations that have been publicly reported and finds them "highly alarming." He asked Hegseth to address the allegations truthfully throughout the hearing. The diversity of the military, Reed said, has made it the most lethal it has ever been. He criticized statements Hegseth has made in the past alleging that diversity has made the military weaker. Reed also expressed concern over Hegseth's leadership of veterans organizations, citing reporting that outlines "gross financial mismanagement," though he noted that the underlying information has not been made available to the committee. He said he appreciated his meeting last week but called it "unacceptable" that Hegseth didn't meet with other Democrats on the committee, "as has been our bipartisan tradition."He said the defense secretary is meant to remove partisan politics from the Pentagon but told Hegseth "you propose to inject it.""Unfortunately, you lack the character and composure and competence to hold the position of secretary of defense," Reed concluded. Reed noted that Hegseth's nomination will be the first he has opposed over many years on the Armed Services Committee, having voted to confirm the previous eight defense secretaries.
Hegseth confronts allegations of misconduct as senators grill Trump’s choice for Pentagon chief (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, vowed Tuesday to foster a “warrior culture” at the Pentagon and confronted allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking and questions about his derisive views of women in combat during a heated Senate confirmation hearing.Hegseth repeatedly deflected the various misconduct allegations and instead focused on his own military experience in the Army National Guard as senators determine whether the combat veteran and former TV news show host is fit to lead the U.S. military.“It’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm. A change agent,” Hegseth said in hisopening remarks.Asked directly about the sexual assault allegation, Hegseth dismissed it as a “smear campaign,” as he did in response to a rapid-fire series of questions about his personal behavior and complaints of drinking on the job. He has vowed not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon. But pressed about his marital infidelity, Hegseth acknowledged, “I am not a perfect person.”Senators spent hours probing the concerns surrounding Hegseth, with the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee acknowledging the “unconventional” choice. But Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., compared Hegseth to Trump himself, and said he will “bring energy and fresh ideas to shake up the bureaucracy.”The top Democrat, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, however, called the allegations “extremely alarming” and said flatly: “I do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job.” Hegseth, 44, comes from a new generation of veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and his military experience is widely viewed as an asset. But he also brings a jarring record of past actions and statements, including about women, minorities and “woke” generals.Hegseth also does not have the credentials typical of a defense secretary, raising questions about his ability to manage an organization with nearly 2.1 million service members, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of roughly $850 billion.The more than four-hour hearing launched a weeklong marathon as the Republican-led Senate is rushing to have some of Trump’s nominees ready to be confirmed as soon as Inauguration Day, Jan. 20. With a narrow GOP majority, almost all Republicans must support Trump’s pick if Democrats oppose.Hegseth faces perhaps the most difficult path to confirmation, but GOP allies are determined to turn him into a cause célèbre for Trump’s governing approach amid the nation’s culture wars. Outside groups, including those aligned with the Heritage Foundation, are running costly campaigns to prop up Hegseth’s bid.
Joni Ernst, previously seen as a roadblock to Pete Hegseth's nomination, says she'll back him to lead the Pentagon - Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, who had been seen as a key Republican skeptic of Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Defense Department, said she will support him after his performance at Tuesday's confirmation hearing.“Our next commander in chief selected Pete Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a United States Senator, I will support President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense," Ernst said in a statement. "As I serve on the Armed Services Committee, I will work with Pete to create the most lethal fighting force and hold him to his commitments of auditing the Pentagon, ensuring opportunity for women in combat while maintaining high standards, and selecting a senior official to address and prevent sexual assault in the ranks,” she added.Ernst had indicated her plans to support Hegseth's bid in an interview Tuesday on Simon Conway’s radio show."I figured you would ask this, so yes, I will be supporting President Trump’s pick for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth," Ernst told Conway.Ernst’s support is a huge boost to Hegseth’s odds, all but assuring his confirmation to lead the Pentagon barring twists in the Republican-led Senate.She telegraphed her intentions during her friendly questioning of Hegseth at Tuesday’s hearing, which she began by entering into the record a letter from a Hegseth supporter arguing for his nomination.As a sexual assault survivor and combat veteran who sounded initially skeptical of Hegseth, Ernst was seen as the linchpin of his path to confirmation. Hegseth has been accused of sexual assault — an allegation he denies — and previously said women shouldn’t serve in combatNBC News has reported that FBI’s background check on Hegseth didn’t include interviews with his ex-wives or a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017.Republicans control 53 seats in the Senate and need 50 votes to confirm Hegseth. That means at least four GOP senators must defect to sink him, even if all 47 Democrats vote against him.
AG nominee Pam Bondi won't say Donald Trump lost 2020 election -Attorney general nominee Pam Bondi dodged a question from Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Wednesday about whether President-elect Trump lost the 2020 election. Bondi echoed other Republicans in stating President Biden is now the president, but she would not say Trump lost, and she described the post-2020 transition as peaceful despite the events of Jan. 6, 2021. “President Biden is the president of the United States. He was duly sworn in, and he is the president of the United States. There was a peaceful transition of power. President Trump left office and was overwhelmingly elected in 2024,” Bondi said. She went on to float possible fraud in Pennsylvania, where she aided the Trump campaign in challenging the election. “What I can tell you is what I saw firsthand when I went to Pennsylvania as an advocate for the campaign. … I saw many things there. But do I accept the results? Of course, I do.” That response was unsatisfactory to Durbin. “I think that question deserved yes or no, and I think the length of your answer is an indication that you weren’t prepared to answer yes,” he responded. Bondi also fielded questions about Trump’s plans to pardon those convicted for the Jan. 6 riot, saying she would have to evaluate pardons on a case-by-case basis. “The pardons, of course, fall under the president, but if asked to look at those cases, I will look at each case and advise on a case-by-case basis, just as I did my entire career as a prosecutor,” she said. “Let me be very clear in speaking to you: I condemn any violence on a law enforcement officer in this country.” Bondi went on to defend Trump’s controversial pick to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, but said she would not have an “enemies list” at the DOJ. However, she still pointed to the prosecutions of Trump as weaponization of the Justice Department. Bondi denied that Patel has an enemies list. But Trump’s FBI pick wrote a book called “Government Gangsters” in which he included a list of those he called gangsters. He later said they must be held accountable.
NAACP report criticizes Pam Bondi's voting rights stance -Pam Bondi, President-elect Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ), has a history of “undermining” voting rights, according to a report opposing Bondi from the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund. The report highlights that Bondi’s work as Florida attorney general and as chair of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) make her “unfit” for the office of U.S. attorney general. “Ms. Bondi has a record of limiting voting rights, baselessly undermining faith in U.S. elections, and encouraging politically motivated prosecutions as an act of vengeance,” the report states. “By contrast, DOJ has historically played a vital role in protecting the right to vote, a function that has become even more important in a post-Shelby County v. Holder era in which there has been a widespread effort across the country, particularly in the South, to limit the voting rights of Black communities and other communities of color. DOJ has also been central to the federal government’s efforts to ensure free and fair elections and to the upholding the principle of equal justice under law.” The report details how, in her role as Florida attorney general, she served on the state clemency board, where she and other elected officials “used unfettered discretion to deny formerly incarcerated individuals the right to vote.” Then, the report added, Bondi drafted a new rule that required Floridians to wait a minimum of five years before they could request to have their rights restored. The report argues Black voting-age Floridians were disproportionately harmed by this, with 1 in 4 being disenfranchised. Bondi continued her attempts to undermine voting rights in her work with the AFPI, the report states. Following Trump’s 2020 presidential loss, Bondi backed claims that Trump won the election. She represented Julie Adams, a member of the Fulton County Board of Elections, and argued that Adams had the right to decertify the election based on the “mere suspicion of voter fraud.” Then, as chair of the AFPI’s Center for Litigation, the group filed a lawsuit challenging President Biden’s authority to protect ballot access for Black voters, voters of color and other eligible voters who received any language assistance needed to cast a ballot. “Ms. Bondi’s record of actively seeking to limit voting rights, coupled with her attempts to undermine the integrity of our elections by supporting President-Elect Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen, should raise grave concerns among Senators who will be tasked with considering her nomination,” the report states. The report goes on to dissect Bondi’s stance on diversity, equity and inclusion, an increasingly politicized topic that has legislators and companies alike trying to disband all programs promoting such policies. Bondi, the report said, has endorsed a “radical, so-called ‘colorblind’ view of the law,” pointing to AFPI applauding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to outlaw race conscious admission in schools “As Attorney General, Ms. Bondi would be positioned to impose her colorblind vision of the law by declining to defend federal programs that seek to remedy past and ongoing discrimination,” the report says. The report concludes by saying Bondi is “wholly unfit to lead the Justice Department and poses a threat to the independence and integrity of this critical agency.”
Chris Coons could be open to voting yes on Pam Bondi -- Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) signaled during an interview that he could be open to voting “yes” on Pam Bondi, President-elect Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ). Coons said during his Thursday appearance on CNN that the most important thing he was looking to hear from Bondi during the Wednesday Senate Judiciary Committee hearing is “whether or not she would be independent, whether or not she would protect the Department of Justice from direct interference by the White House or President-Elect Trump.” The Delaware Senator told CNN host Brianna Keilar that Bondi, an ex-Florida attorney general, failed to “answer that in the sort of clear, forceful and direct way that I expected.” Keilar then said that Bondi pledged to follow the policy of separation between the White House and the DOJ. She asked if Coons did or did not hear anything “specific” about the policy that “didn’t meet the senator’s requirement. Coons said he had to monitor the meeting alongside the hearing for Trump’s Secretary of State nominee, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), though he asked his counsel to provide him with a transcript of Bondi’s hearing to review in order to her a “fair shot,” adding that he backed some of Trump’s administration picks back in 2017. With Bondi, Coons said he was looking for a “clear” answer on if career DOJ officials brought “a criminal charge that’s well predicated, well-founded” and Trump’s White House told her not to support it, what would she do in that case. “Now, I want to go back and review the transcript,” Coons said Thursday on “CNN Newsroom.” “But I wasn’t satisfied. My recollection is of the answers I got at the time – and I want to make sure I’m being fair here – but she hedged and she hawed.” The Delaware senator, a President Biden ally, lauded Bondi for giving “clear and good” answers to two of his questions – if Trump can run for a third term and who will she serve if confirmed by the Senate – and added that he is “still considering and want to make sure that I review exactly what she said in that hearing.” “There are things that were positive about her record,” he said. “Working on criminal justice reform, working on combating the fentanyl and opioid epidemic, and working to combat human trafficking. So I do think this is a close call.”
Trump names pick for Air Force secretary -President-elect Trump on Thursday named Troy Meink, a top spy chief who has previously served as a missile engineer, as his pick for secretary of the Air Force. Trump said in a statement on Truth Social that Meink would work with his Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth “to ensure that our Nation’s Air Force is the most effective and deadly force in the World, as we secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Meink is the principal deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), an intelligence agency in charge of building and maintaining U.S. spy satellites. He has served in the position since 2020, when Trump was in his first term. Meink was first appointed in 2017 during Trump’s first term to director of geospatial intelligence systems acquisition at the NRO. Meink, from Lemmon, S.D., entered the Air Force in 1988 through the college program Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) before becoming a KC-135 tanker navigator and then a lead test engineer for ballistic missile tests at the Missile Defense Agency. Meink has also served in previous roles as undersecretary of the Air Force for space and the director, executive agent for space staff and assistant director of national intelligence for systems and resource analyses at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Key takeaways as Trump nominees face US Senate confirmation hearings --For a second day in a row, the United States Senate has weighed nominees for key positions in President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet, grilling candidates on their backgrounds and qualifications.Wednesday was a busy day for the Senate, as it held hearings for six Trump nominees, including heavy-hitters like Senator Marco Rubio — his pick to be secretary of state — and Pam Bondi, tapped for the attorney general’s seat.The hearings come as Republican leaders in Congress hope to give Trump a strong start to his second term, which begins on Monday.High-level cabinet positions need Senate approval, and Republicans hold 53 seats to the Democrats’ 45.Still, controversial nominees will need every vote possible to succeed in their appointment. Wednesday’s hearings, for instance, were preceded by fiery proceedings a day earlier, as senators pressed Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for secretary of defence, over allegations of excessive drinking and sexual assault.During his testimony, Rubio, a US senator from Florida, pledged to put US interests “before anything and everything else” if appointed as secretary of state.Rubio also flashed his stripes as a foreign policy hawk, denouncing China as the “biggest threat” the US faces in the 21st century.“If we don’t change course, we are going to live in the world where much of what matters to us on a daily basis — from our security to our health — will be dependent on whether the Chinese allow us to have it or not,” Rubio said. He added that China had “repressed and lied and cheated and hacked and stolen [its] way into global superpower status”.Wednesday’s remarks were consistent with Rubio’s track record of taking an adversarial approach to perceived US rivals.Still, he praised US alliances like NATO, offering a counterpoint to the more aggressive posture of Trump himself. “The NATO alliance is a very important alliance. I believe that,” he said.“Without the NATO alliance, there is no end to the Cold War. In fact, without the NATO alliance, it’s quite possible that much of what today we know as Europe would have fallen victim to aggression.” But he echoed Trump’s position that other NATO allies “need to contribute more to their own defence” and rely less on US support.In a separate hearing, John Ratcliffe, Trump’s pick to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), assured lawmakers that he would not persecute members of the intelligence community for insufficient loyalty to Trump.“We will produce insightful, objective, all-source analysis, never allowing political or personal biases to cloud our judgment or infect our products,” Ratcliffe said of his aims as CIA director.A former federal prosecutor, Ratcliffe previously served as the director of national intelligence (DNI) during Trump’s first term in office, from 2017 to 2021.Like Rubio, Ratcliffe is expected to sail through the confirmation process. But senators expressed concern that Trump’s picks in high-ranking law enforcement roles may seek to use their powers for political aims.Ratcliffe had previously pledged to “clean out corrupt actors for our national security and intelligence apparatus”.On Wednesday, he faced direct questioning about whether that process would weed out employees based on political preference.“Will you or any of your staff impose a political litmus test for CIA employees?” Senator Angus King asked.“No,” Ratcliffe answered. He insisted that removing personnel for their views was “something that I would never do”.Trump’s pick for attorney general is expected to be among the most contentious, given the president-elect’s long history of statements insisting that he will prosecute political rivals during his second term in office.That put Bondi under the microscope during her Senate hearing on Wednesday.She tried to assuage those concerns with some of her statements, insisting that “politics has to be taken out of this system”.“No one should be prosecuted for political purposes,” she added. As head of the Department of Justice, she would be the federal government’s top prosecutor.But when pressed about whether she would open investigations into specific figures like former Special CounselJack Smith, Bondi declined to provide clear-cut answers.“It would be irresponsible of me to make a commitment regarding anything,” she said when asked about Smith, who led two criminal indictments against Trump.Bondi has previously echoed Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen through massive fraud and voting irregularities.On Wednesday, she said she would evaluate potential pardons for people who took part in the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, on a “case-by-case basis”.In a relatively tame testimony, Sean Duffy, Trump’s choice to be secretary of transportation, said that he would look for a way to make electric vehicles (EVs) pay for road maintenance largely financed by gasoline taxes.He also asserted that Boeing, a top US plane manufacturer, needed “tough love” to meet adequate safety standards.“I think we have to make sure they are implementing their safety plan,” Duffy said, adding the aerospace company needed to “restore global confidence” in its brand.The comments come as Boeing has faced persistent scrutiny following midair safety mishaps in 2024, as well asfraud charges.“We have to push the [Federal Aviation Administration] to make sure they’re implementing their safety plan,” said Duffy, a former lobbyist, TV personality and member of the US House of Representatives.
Four Trump cabinet nominees face Senate confirmation hearings — Four of President-elect Trump's cabinet nomineeswill face Senate confirmation hearings Thursday, including Scott Bessent for Treasury Secretary, Doug Burgum for Interior Secretary, Lee Zeldin for EPA, and Scott Turner for HUD.The president-elect spent much of his campaign focusing on the economy, so Treasury nominee Scott Bessenthas a big task.When announcing his nomination, Trump labeled the South Carolina billionaire as one of the world's foremost economic strategists. Bessent reportedly plans to say that Trump has an opportunity to unleash "a new economic golden age."He will undoubtedly be asked about his stances on taxes, tariffs, and trade before the Senate Finance Committee.Before becoming a Trump donor and adviser, Bessent donated to various Democratic causes in the early 2000s.Doug Burgum, The former North Dakota governor and presidential candidate will be the chief steward of public lands.Trump also tapped Burgum to chair a newly formed National Energy Council.He's expected to play a big role in Trump's so-called "energy dominance" strategy by cutting through red tape and regulation in private energy sectors.Burgum, a businessman known for his CEO-like approach to leading, campaigned for the president on prioritizing energy, the economy, and national security. Senators will also question Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. In announcing his nomination, Trump underscored Zeldin's legal background.Zeldin has no apparent environmental experience but has been a staunch Trump supporter.As a candidate for New York governor and member of Congress, he opposed a fracking ban and supported returning control of waterways to local authorities.After his nomination, Zeldin said he wants to increase U.S. energy output and add jobs to the auto industry.Scott Turner is a veteran of the first Trump administration.He served as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.In that job, he helped identify poor communities that were eligible for tax breaks.The agency he'll lead, HUD, oversees public housing and related programs for more than four million people. Turner is also a pastor and played in the NFL for nine seasons.
Trump's outsider Cabinet picks are rapidly gaining support (AP) — One by one, all the president-elect’s men, and women, are falling into place in his Cabinet. While Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth’s nomination was teetering toward collapse just weeks ago, he now appears on track for confirmation after a fiery Senate hearing that focused on his drinking, views of women in combat and lack of high-profile management experience for the top U.S. military job. President-elect Donald Trump’s other nominees pushed Wednesday through a gauntlet of confirmation hearings with the help of allied Senate Republicans carrying them toward the finish line, despite Democratic objections. One of them, potential FBI director Kash Patel, popped into a private Senate GOP lunch Wednesday to say hello.“These nominees are bold choices,” said Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the GOP whip, in earlier remarks.He predicted the Senate will begin start voting on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, to confirm Trump’s picks.To be sure, Trump’s more controversial choices of Patel, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., have yet to come before senators for public questioning. Once they do, they face a long haul ahead in winning over skeptics from both sides of the political aisle, Republicans and Democrats alike.In a letter to Republican senators Wednesday, an organization headed by Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, said it was “deeply concerned” over Kennedy over his views on abortion, and urged senators to reject him for secretary of Health and Human Services.But Hegseth’s ability to mount a political comeback, take the fight to his critics and turn his nomination into a litmus test of Trump’s Make America Great Again movement stands as a powerful example of the incoming White House’s ability to get what it wants. The Trump team’s allies, including billionaire Elon Musk and others, amplified support for Hegseth, pushing him forward.“If anyone in the Senate GOP votes against confirming Pete Hegseth after his stellar performance today, there will be a primary challenge waiting for you,” wrote Trump ally Charlie Kirk on X. “You can take that to the bank.”The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to vote on Hegseth’s nomination on Monday, sending it to the full Senate for consideration, with confirmation possible later that week.With a nod of support from GOP Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor who initially had questions for Hegseth, the former Army National Guard veteran powered past his biggest potential roadblock. Ernst faced an onslaught of personal and political attacks as she wavered on supporting Hegseth, an early signal to others.Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said the criticism of Hegseth was not as powerful as the image of “a warrior with dust on his boots who’s actually done the things.”On Wednesday, a half dozen more Trump nominees appeared before Senate committees as his team floods the zone, enators dashing between hearing rooms to participate in as many sessions as possible.Pam Bondi, the nominee for Attorney General, was grilled by Democrats probing whether she believed Trump lost the 2020 election, she said Biden won, or would stand up to presidential pardons for those convicted of crimes in relation to Jan. 6, 2021.“You say the right things, that you’re going to be the ‘people’s lawyer,’” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.“But I believe being the ‘people’s lawyer’ means you have to be able to say no to the president of the United States,” he said. “You have to be able to say Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, you dodged that question... You have to be able to say Jan. 6 insurrectionists who committed violence shouldn’t be pardoned.”Bondi responded: “I don’t have to say anything. I will answer the questions to the best of my ability, and honestly.”Another Trump nominee, Russ Vought, a Project 2025 architect tapped to lead the White House Office of Management and Budget, was asked if he would commit to releasing congressional approved funding for Ukraine. He vowed to “always commit to upholding the law.”And California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla asked Trump’s Energy nominee Chris Wright if he still believes “wildfires are just hype,” in the aftermath of the devastating Southern California fires that have killed at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes.Wright said he stood by his past comments. He then said climate change is real before Padilla cut him off.
Scott Bessent sails through Treasury confirmation hearing -- Scott Bessent, founder and chief executive officer of Key Square Group and Donald Trump's pick to serve as Treasury Secretary, handled a policy-heavy confirmation hearing with poise, highlighting his preference for relaxed bank regulation, support of the 2017 Trump tax cuts and a hawkish approach to spending.
Sen. Ed Markey Bill to Deny Big Oil from Cabinet, but Not Big Green - Marcellus Drilling News -Yesterday, U.S. Senator Ed “Lackey” Markey (Dem from Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senator Jeff “Malarkey” Merkley (Dem from Ore.) reintroduced theBanning In Government Oil Industry Lobbyists (BIG OIL) from the Cabinet Act, which would prohibit the appointment of executive officers and lobbyists of fossil fuel entities or trade associations as the heads or political appointees of certain government departments that work on issues related to American energy policy for a 10-year period. Curiously, the bill does not include the same ban on radicalized leftists from Big Green in the 10-year ban. Can anyone say HYPOCRITES?
Musk may get office space in Eisenhower building: NYT -- Tech billionaire Elon Musk is expected to get an office space in the building adjacent to the White House, as he prepares to take the helm of President-elect Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), according to a New York Times report on Monday. The office space would be in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the Times reported, citing two people briefed on the plans. Musk, a close Trump ally, spent a considerable amount of influence and capital trying to get Trump elected in November. According to campaign filings, Musk spent at least $250 million throughout the campaign cycle. Shortly after the election, Trump tapped Musk, along with his former 2024 GOP primary rival, Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead DOGE, an advisory board focused on cutting government spending. It was not immediately clear whether Ramaswamy would also have space in the Eisenhower building, according to the Times. The Times reported that Musk has had discussions with transition officials about the level of access he will get to the White House once Trump returns to the Oval Office. The paper of record noted that those discussions were left unclear.
Jill Biden says Nancy Pelosi relationship on her mind after 2024 campaign - First lady Jill Biden said she has been thinking “a lot” about her decades-long relationship with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as she prepares to leave the White House. In a lengthy profile published Wednesday in The Washington Post, Jill Biden said she was “disappointed” with Pelosi’s role in pushing President Biden out of the presidential race. “It’s been on my mind a lot lately,” she added. “We were friends for 50 years. … It was disappointing.” In the wake of Biden’s disastrous debate against Trump in July, Pelosi appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and said, “It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run.” Coming just after Biden issued a statement insisting he’d remain the Democratic candidate, her remarks were widely interpreted as a signal he should consider stepping away. The Post reported Jill Biden talked to her close friend, Mary Doody, about the pressure the president was getting from Democrats at that moment. “It was awful. It was mean. It was disrespectful,” Doody told the Post. “She talked a lot about that. I know I’m biased, but Joe Biden did not deserve that.” Jill Biden, in the Post interview, also noted some recent memorable moments from the presidential transition. She recalled a brief interaction in December when she found herself seated next to President-elect Trump at the reopening of the Notre Dame in Paris. Trump, according to the first lady, told her, “I had a good meeting with your husband in the Oval Office.” “Yes,” Jill recalled responding to Trump at the time, “because you’re both talkers.” On why she spoke to Trump, who had been ridiculing her family for months, Jill Biden stressed the importance of respecting institutions. “Joe and I respect our institutions, our traditions,” she said, “and it’s very important to me that they continue.” “What would be the point of nastiness?” she added. Jill Biden told the Post she extended an invitation to incoming first lady Melania Trump for tea at the White House, which has been a tradition for first ladies during presidential transitions, but the incoming first lady declined. Biden said she instead sent Melania Trump a note congratulating her and offering to help in the transition back to the White House. Jill Biden said she didn’t hear back from the incoming first lady until the funeral for former President Carter, when Melania Trump thanked her.
Michelle Obama signals she’s done with Donald Trump - Michelle Obama is done with President-elect Trump, if her decision to skip next week’s inauguration means anything. The former first lady, who once called on Democrats to go high when Trump’s Republican Party goes low, will not be going to the Capitol to watch Trump take the presidential oath for a second time, leaving her husband, former President Obama, to go it alone. Longtime allies of the former first lady say she is sending a powerful statement by skipping the event. They say she wants nothing to do with a man undeserving of the presidency and is making no effort to hide her disdain for Trump. “She meant every word she said on the campaign trail with every fiber of her being,” one ally said. “And she’s no hypocrite.” By not attending the inauguration, Michelle Obama is “saving some credibility,” one longtime aide to her said. “She campaigned the hardest against him personally, of anyone,” the aide said. While she will be the only former first lady not in attendance at Trump’s inauguration, allies say that trend broke during the last inauguration, when Trump and former first lady Melania Trump did not attend President Biden’s ceremony. “And no one took issue with that,” a second ally said. “So why is this a big deal? The chain has already been broken.” A statement from the Obamas’ office would not say why the former first lady would not be attending the inauguration. It simply said the 44th president is “confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies,” while Michelle Obama “will not attend the upcoming inauguration.” The decision not to attend leaves her husband out to dry, or at least appears to after he was seen on camera laughing with Trump ahead of former President Carter’s funeral last week. Michelle Obama, who would have been seated next to Trump, also skipped that event because of an apparent “scheduling conflict.” Asked about the moment in a Fox News interview last week, Trump acknowledged it “did look very friendly. … I said, ‘Boy, they look like two people that like each other.’ And we probably do.” At the Democratic National Convention last summer, the former first lady was relentless in her criticism of Trump. “For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us,” she said. “See, his limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard-working, highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black.” On the campaign trail last year, Michelle Obama repeatedly slammed Trump’s character and blasted him for having “gross incompetence.” “In any other profession or arena, Trump’s critical track record and amoral character would be embarrassing, shameful and disqualifying,” she said.
Cannon denies last-minute Trump bid to block Smith’s Jan. 6 report - U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon denied an eleventh hour bid from President-elect Trump to block the release of the volume special counsel Jack Smith’s report dealing with election interference. The emergency petition to Cannon was filed just after 10 p.m., less than two hours before the Justice Department is set to release the Jan. 6 report. Cannon earlier Monday denied an effort by Trump to halt the release of the election interference volume, allowing the release of that portion of the report while continuing to keep the Mar-a-Lago documents report under wraps until further consideration of the matter at a Jan. 17 hearing. In the late-night filing, Trump’s attorneys asked Cannon to shift gears and extend her order baring the reports release until at least Friday. “President Trump respectfully submits that the Court can hear argument on his motion to intervene and his request to permanently enjoin issuance of the entire Final Report at the hearing on Friday, January 17, 2025,” Trump’s attorneys wrote. Cannon responded swiftly, declining to grant Trump’s request, greenlighting for a second time the Justice Department’s release of the Jan. 6 volume.
Smith defends Trump prosecution as final Jan. 6 report released to the public - Special counsel Jack Smith defended his investigations into President-elect Trump in a final report released publicly early Tuesday morning, saying his determinations were free from political interference and that, if permitted to proceed, his cases would have likely secured a conviction. Smith made the claims both in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and in the much awaited release of the election interference volume of his final report. In his letter to Garland, Smith broke his silence on over a year of attacks from Trump, who accused Smith of being at the helm of a politically motivated prosecution. “The ultimate decision to bring charges against Mr. Trump was mine. It is a decision I stand behind fully,” Smith wrote, adding that Garland nor anyone else at DOJ pushed him to prosecute Trump. “To all who know me well, the claim from Mr. Trump that my decisions as a prosecutor were influenced or directed by the Biden administration or other political actors is, in a word, laughable.” The release of the report comes after a swift court battle launched by Trump as he and his co-defendants in the Mar-a-Lago case sought to block both volumes of Smith’s report from being shared with the public. Ultimately, U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon cleared the way for the volume dealing with Jan. 6 to be published. The public release does not include a second volume Smith wrote concerning the prosecution of Trump for his handling of classified documents. Garland has indicated he does not plan to release that section, given that the case remains pending as to Trump’s former co-defendants. The report offers a first glimpse at Smith’s inner thoughts on how he approached the case, as he has previously spoken publicly about the case only when he was appointed special counsel and each time Trump was charged. Smith, who resigned on Friday, details his decision to ask the court to dismiss charges against Trump after he won re-election, writing that he believed he would have scored a conviction against the president-elect in the high stakes case. “Indeed, but for Mr. Trump’s election and imminent return to the Presidency, the Office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial,” Smith wrote.
Durbin requests preservation of Jack Smith's report on Trump - The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee is asking the Justice Department to retain all records relating to special counsel Jack Smith, including his final report which has been tied up in litigation. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said the panel may seek to secure a copy of the report even if it is not released ahead of President-elect Trump taking office. “The Committee recognizes the current injunction against the release of Special Counsel Smith’s report and related materials and reserves its right to request production of the report and relevant records at an appropriate future date,” he wrote in a letter signed by many other Democratic members of the panel. U.S. District Court Aileen Cannon on Monday cleared the way for the release of the volume of Smith’s report dealing with Trump’s efforts to block the transfer of power after losing the 2020 election. But she set additional hearings to determine whether to share the volume of the report dealing with the Mar-a-Lago documents probe with Judiciary leaders from both chambers. Attorney General Merrick Garland said he would not release the Mar-a-Lago volume publicly given the ongoing trial against Trump’s two co-defendants. It’s possible Trump’s co-defendants could appeal Cannon’s order to the Supreme Court. If the court wishes to review the case further, it could issue an administrative stay that would block its release as Trump’s inauguration swiftly approaches. Federal law requires much of the document preservation that lawmakers request. “We follow the law, including our legal obligations regarding the preservation of records, and we will continue to do so,” DOJ said in a statement. But Durbin relayed concerns about comments made by incoming Trump administration officials. “The President-elect’s intended nominee for Attorney General, Pam Bondi, has promised to weaponize the Department of Justice against those who were involved in these investigations, threatening: ‘When Republicans take back the White House… [t]he Department of Justice, the prosecutors will be prosecuted—the bad ones. The investigators will be investigated.’ In light of these threats, it is critical that the Department take immediate preservation steps related to these investigations and prosecutions,” Durbin wrote. Special counsel reports are typically transmitted to lawmakers once they are submitted to the attorney general, who can also choose whether to release them to the public. Garland has done so with every special counsel report produced under his tenure, but the Trump administration is expected to shelve the report.
Arizona AG seeks access to Trump's 2020 election case file - Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) has requested access to special counsel Jack Smith’s case file for his 2020 election subversion prosecution of President-elect Trump, citing her case against several of his allies.In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland made public Monday, Mayes indicated she previously requested access to Smith’s materials but was denied because the prosecution was ongoing. Now that the case has been dropped and the Justice Department is fighting to release Smith’s final report, Mayes renewed her request.“Today, my office has one of the only remaining cases that includes charges against national actors,” Mayes wrote. “I have held steadfast to prosecuting the grand jury’s indictment because those who tried to subvert democracy in 2020 must be held accountable.“Undoubtedly, disclosing Special Counsel’s file to my office will help ensure that those who should be held accountable are,” she added.Mark Meadows, Trump’s White House chief of staff, and longtime ally Rudy Giuliani are among the 16 total defendants with remaining charges in the Arizona election subversion case. Also charged are the Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring Trump the winner of Arizona’s 2020 presidential election. The case is set to go to trial in January 2026. Trump himself is not a defendant in the case but is described as “unindicted co-conspirator 1” in charging documents. The state’s statute of limitations on most felony offenses — seven years — means it’s possible the former president could face charges there in the final year of his term and leave office with few mechanisms to stop them.Mayes’s request comes as Garland is waging a legal battle to release the portion of Smith’s two-volume final report regarding the special counsel’s findings on Trump’s efforts to subvert the 2020 election results. Garland said he would withhold the classified documents report while two of Trump’s co-defendants still face charges. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon blocked the release of the entire report at the request of those defendants, valet Walt Nauta and property manager Carlos de Oliveira, but a federal appeals court rejected their bid. However, the appeals court did not address a three-day waiting period in Cannon’s ruling, which the defendants took to mean additional legal proceedings could be undertaken on the matter. Such a move likely would tie the matter up in court with little time to spare before Trump’s inauguration.Mayes noted in her letter that nothing in Cannon’s order prohibited disclosure of the underlying investigative file in the 2020 election case.“Moreover, [federal law] gives you the authority to disclose grand jury information for use in Arizona’s criminal case,” Mayes wrote. “At a minimum then, the Department of Justice can disclose its material in the Election Case, but as with your statement in recent pleadings, it is in the public interest to disclose Special Counsel’s report as well.”
Senate Democrats fume over Alito-Trump call -- Senate Democrats are furious that President-elect Trump has reached out to conservative Justice Samuel Alito amid a push by Trump for the high court to halt his criminal sentencing. Alito has repeatedly angered Democrats over reports that he took expensive trips hosted by wealthy donors and that his wife flew flags signaling her political rooting interests at two of their homes. Now, Democrats are warning Alito and other court conservatives not to interfere in Trump’s criminal sentencing.“I think Supreme Court justices have to take care to avoid impropriety and appearance of impropriety, and this sort of conversation at this moment and time appears to be improper,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.), the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Alito acknowledged speaking with Trump on Tuesday but said the two discussed a former clerk who is seeking a position in the new administration — not Trump’s emergency application to halt his criminal sentencing in New York on Friday. But Democrats say the conservative justice shouldn’t have spoken with the president-elect at all.“Alito should have used more caution and good judgment and avoided the conversation. Too many questions are raised,” Durbin said.“[Chief Justice] John Roberts should take heed that this is his court. His name is associated with it, and what they’re doing is fast and loose when it comes to ethics,” Durbin continued, pointing to a report the panel released in December — while Democrats still held the Senate majority — about trips taken by the late Justice Antonin Scalia during his tenure on the court.Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas have been at the forefront of a pressure campaign by Democrats in recent years amid a string of reports about lavish gifts and trips both have received throughout their tenures on the high court. ProPublica reported in 2023 that Alito did not disclose that a conservative billionaire who eventually had business before the court paid for a private jet flight on which Alito was a passenger. Alito argued that he was not under an obligation to disclose the trip. His political activities also came to the forefront after it emerged that his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, flew an upside-down American flag at their home in Alexandria, Va., in the days surrounding Jan. 6, 2021, and President Biden’s inauguration. All of this led to a push by Judiciary Democrats for the Senate to pass a code of ethics for justices. That effort was stonewalled at every turn by Republicans, who have defended Roberts’s handling of the situation. In response to reports of the trips, Roberts and the justices adopted a code of conduct in late 2023, which was meant to codify existing principles but was “not new,” according to the justices. Democrats, however, say that the code, which the justices must self-enforce, has little impact.Nevertheless, Justice Alito’s call with Trump has only heightened concerns ahead of the president-elect’s inauguration in less than two weeks. “It looks sketchy. They call it ex parte communication,” said Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Judiciary panel. “That’s the question — what did they talk about?” “Alito’s got a pretty aggressive track record of sketchy ethical behavior,” he continued. “He’s got the flag incident. It’s the separation of the judiciary from the executive. It’s the classic separation.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a frequent critic of Alito and other conservative justices, told reporters that Alito has “no shame” and likened Trump’s relationship to the court as one he’d have with an agency within the administration. “It’s perhaps unsurprising, but no less shocking,” he said. “Donald Trump treats this court with such disrespect. But it is more glaring and dramatic evidence about the need for a code of conduct that’s enforceable.” Alito told The New York Times that he accepted the call at the behest of William Levi, one of his former law clerks who is under consideration for a position in the administration. He added he was not aware Trump’s lawyers were filing an emergency application to delay sentencing for his New York hush money conviction.Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called Alito’s conversation with Trump about the ex-clerk while Trump is trying to get the Supreme Court to halt his criminal sentencing “highly inappropriate.” “Sam Alito knows that and obviously he doesn’t care. This is one more sign that at least some on the Supreme Court do not respect the traditional ethics that avoid the appearance of impropriety,” she said. “What Alito’s done is wrong.”
David Weiss condemns pardon, defends record in Hunter Biden prosecution report -Special Counsel David Weiss defended his handling of the Hunter Biden investigation in a final report capping his multi-year investigation into the president’s son. Weiss also pushed back against President Biden’s decision to pardon his son as he was facing both tax and gun charges in two different states. “I prosecuted the two cases against Mr. Biden because he broke the law. A unanimous jury-who found Mr. Biden guilty of gun charges-and Mr. Biden himself-who pleaded guilty to tax offenses-agreed. As I have done for twenty years, I applied the Principles of Federal Prosecution and determined that prosecution was warranted,” Weiss wrote at the top of the 280-page report. But he also swiftly criticized Biden’s handling of Hunter Biden’s November pardon, noting that the president had called the cases “selective,” “unfair,” infected by “raw politics” and a “miscarriage of justice.” “This statement is gratuitous and wrong,” Weiss wrote. “Other presidents have pardoned family members, but in doing so, none have taken the occasion as an opportunity to malign the public servants at the Department of Justice based solely on false accusations,” Weiss wrote. Weiss said he did not take into account anything other than the elements needed to secure a criminal conviction. “I also never considered whether my decisions would be viewed favorably or unfavorably by any politicians. And when politicians expressed opinions about my conduct, I ignored them because they were irrelevant. Simply put, my decisions were based on the facts and the law and nothing else,” he wrote. It’s an unusually sharp ending to a special counsel report, but one that comes in a year of several unprecedented prosecutions. Weiss began his probe into Hunter Biden not as a special counsel but as a U.S. Attorney for Delaware, elevated to the new role amid complaints from Republicans in Congress that he had slow-walked the investigation over political concerns and had been hindered in bringing more aggressive charges. Weiss was prepared to sign a plea deal with Hunter Biden on gun charges, but a judge rejected that proposal amid questions over the scope of the deal. The special counsel would later bring gun charges in Delaware related to Hunter Biden’s failure to acknowledge drug use when purchasing a weapon. It’s a rarely brought charge, but one that a jury nonetheless found convincing. Biden was convicted on all counts in September. Weiss also brought a series of charges in California related to Hunter Biden’s failure to pay taxes on $7 million in income over four years, dodging $1.4 million in taxes. It was a revealing indictment, one that did not shy away from discussing Hunter Biden’s payments to escorts, drugs and sports cars. “The evidence demonstrated that as Mr. Biden held high-paying positions earning him millions of dollars, he chose to keep funding his extravagant lifestyle instead of paying his taxes. He then chose to lie to his accountants in claiming false business deductions when, in fact, he knew they were personal expenses,” Weiss wrote.
Steve Bannon: Zuckerberg ‘can’t be trusted’ -- Steve Bannon, a former adviser to President-elect Trump, went after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a Monday episode of his “Bannon’s War Room” podcast. “Zuckerberg can’t be trusted, at all,” Bannon said on his show, in a clip highlighted by Mediaite. “He came in the Oval Office … when I was there. … I went absolutely bonkers, but he still got to the Oval Office.”“And later, he put up $450 million of his own money to steal the 2020 election,” Bannon added. “To steal the 2020 election. These guys are supplicants now, because President Trump is coming in with the American people [having] his back.”Bannon’s comments follow another swipe he took at Zuckerberg’s fellow tech mogul Elon Musk, who has been recently close with Trump himself. In a recent interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Bannon referred to Musk as “a truly evil guy, a very bad guy.”“I will have Elon Musk run out of here by Inauguration Day,” Bannon said. “He is a truly evil guy, a very bad guy. I made it my personal thing to take this guy down.”Last week, Meta announced a series of changes to its policies on content moderation that featured getting rid of its fact-checking program, in what Zuckerberg called an attempt to embrace free speech.“We’re going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies nd restoring free expression on our platforms,” Zuckerberg said in a video posted last week.The Meta CEO referenced the recent election as an important force behind his company’s decision and criticized “governments and legacy media” as driving the company to “censor more and more.”Zuckerberg also said on a recent episode of Joe Rogan’s podcast that Biden administration officials would “scream” and “curse” at his employees when they did not go along with the government’s takedown requests on pandemic-related content.On his show Monday, Bannon said the “only thing” Zuckerberg and corporations can be “counted on is to look after their own self-interest.”“That’s it,” he added. “Anything outside of that, you’re fooling yourself.”
Meta's fact-checking end raises concerns about disinformation -- The end of fact-checking at Meta is raising fresh concerns its platforms will become a hotbed of disinformation as the network hands over the policing of content to users. The move, coupled with the loosening of some hate speech rules, was slammed by some tech policy experts as a 180-degree shift for Meta that could undo nearly a decade of efforts to prevent disinformation from spreading on its platforms — Facebook, Instagram and Threads. While Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg framed the decision as a return to the company’s “roots” in an embrace of free speech, some observers worry today’s political and digital climate leaves too much room for false information to spread online. “You get rid of the fact-checkers and people that are sort of policing the content … that [could] be a turbo-charged engine for disinformation,” Ari Lightman, a digital media professor at Carnegie Mellon University, told The Hill. “Disinformation is very sensational in terms of its orientation. It’s designed to draw people in, it’s designed to be confrontational,” he said. The fact-checking program was created in 2016 amid mounting scrutiny after it was revealed Russia attempted to use Facebook to influence the U.S. election that year. In the years that followed, the platform repeatedly boosted the program, with more than 80 independent fact-checkers. The social media giant launched various other disinformation initiatives, ranging from the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to spot COVID-19 and vaccine disinformation to suspending the account of President-elect Trump for his remarks around the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. The fact-checkers, however, did not monitor or judge the speech of elected officials on its platforms. Now, Zuckerberg appears to be changing his tune on Trump, a longtime critic of social media companies for what he believes is censorship of his views. “Four years ago this week, Facebook banned Donald Trump for inciting a violent insurrection that resulted in the deaths of 5 people and disrupted our democracy,” Nicole Gill, the co-founder and executive director of tech advocacy group Accountable Tech said of the announcement last week. “Now, Zuckerberg is reopening the floodgates to the exact same surge of hate, disinformation, and conspiracy theories that caused January 6th — and that continue to spur real-world violence,” she added. The fact-checking system will be replaced by user-generated “community notes,” reminiscent of the feature used on Elon Musk’s X platform. Under this approach, Meta platforms will now rely on users to send in notes or corrections to posts that are potentially false, misleading or need more context. Joel Kaplan, Meta’s new global policy chief, said the community notes system “work[s] on X” and gives users the power to decide the context other users should be seeing. Musk, for his part, has faced criticism for X’s reliance on community notes. Some tech advocacy groups have accused the platform of becoming a hub for disinformation and bias toward certain views.
Amazon Is Censoring My Most Recent Magazine Issue --Caitlin Johnstone - Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix – Without explanation Amazon has blocked and unpublished my last issue of JOHNSTONE magazine which features my painting of Luigi Mangione on the cover. The link to order it is now dead. When I asked for an explanation or appeal they just sent a template response referring me back to their publishing rules.So that’s annoying. The pay-what-you-want ebook of the issue is still available for anyone who wants it. In her bid to secure her confirmation as Trump’s next Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard is now pledging to support Section 702 of the FISA Act. This notorious law allows for the warrantless surveillance of Americans, and in congress Gabbard had previously fought to repeal it. This is how the national security state works. You don’t change the machine, the machine changes you. Anyone who starts off opposing the imperial status quo of authoritarianism, warmongering and corruption either finds themselves excluded from the halls of power or adapts new positions in favor of the status quo.
Taibbi: Head Of Infamous "Information Disorder" Commission Promoted At NPR -- Amid a busy news day Monday, a familiar figure was named Chief Operating Officer of National Public Radio. Ryan Merkley, who directed the Aspen Institute’s Commission on Information Disorder and also appeared in the Twitter Files as Wikimedia’s liaison to “Industry Meetings” with federal law enforcement, was elevated to the job by NPR president/Titania McGrath clone Katherine Maher. “Throughout his career Ryan has demonstrated a commitment to the public trust, leading organizations that prioritize universal access to the common good,” Maher said. Maher, perhaps best-known for describing the First Amendment as the “number one challenge” that makes it “tricky” to remove content.Merkley’s name figured in several high-profile efforts to control “disinformation” through aggressive content moderation. In 2021, the Aspen Institute created a Commission on Information Disorder, whose big-name participants included Katie Couric, “Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex,” and DHS official Chris Krebs. Merkley was the Commission’s Director.The group’s never-published draft report, found in the Twitter Files and appended below, contained a series of hair-raising proposals, including:
- creation of content “holding areas,” into which “influencers with repeat bad behavior” would be placed for “manual moderation and scrutiny”;
- use of “demonetization” to “remove access to product features for violative behavior”;
- establishment of an organization dedicated to “misinformation countermeasures” to be funded “by general taxes, voluntary investment from tech companies, taxes on social media ads, the allocation of FTC fines, or other appropriate means.”
The aim was to emphasize increased “accountability” for platforms that didn’t crack down on misinformation from “uninformed and disconnected centers of power.” It recommended use of public and private authority to correct current and historical misinformation, like “misrepresentation of Indigenous genocide” and “gender injustice of all kinds.” Its ideas were far-out enough that former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov resigned from the Commission, saying some of the recommendations recalled an approach that was “common practice in the USSR.” Kasparov’s resignation letter was addressed to Merkley:Merkley in the fall of 2020 was Chief of Staff at Wikimedia, under then-CEO Maher. It was Merkley’s name, not Maher’s, that appeared in Twitter Files emails about the setup of a regular “Industry Meeting” on election content that involved the FBI and DHS as well as Facebook, Google, Twitter, Microsoft, Wikimedia and other firms. Emails showed Merkley asking Twitter’s Yoel Roth for an FBI contact number, and volunteering for a Signal group for industry reps and feds. There are also exchanges showing Merkley in a group of industry reps who became signatories to a joint statement on misinformation. When Facebook was later investigated by Jim Jordan’s Weaponization of Government Committee, emails were produced showing Wikimedia was one of a handful of companies warned in advance by federal authorities about a “hack-and-leak” story due to come out that would “undermine the election conversation”[…] Digital censorship years ago expanded beyond removing content, as key actors saw opportunities to promote political objectives like correcting historical injustices or advancing diversity goals by expanding the definition of “misinformation.”NPR has long been an outlet in alignment with Aspen ideas, which became clear when former business editor Uri Berliner last April penned a whistleblowing essay in The Free Press. Beliner pointed among other things to NPR’s statement about the Hunter Biden laptop story: “We don’t want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories.” It may be that these moves become moot shortly, but they’re worth pointing out nonetheless. The Commission’s draft report can be found here.
OpenAI outlines proposals to bolster national security, drive economic growth --OpenAI laid out a series of new artificial intelligence (AI) policy proposals Monday, encouraging U.S. development of the emerging technology to stay ahead of China while minimizing its risks.“As AI becomes more advanced, we believe America needs to act now to maximize the technology’s possibilities while minimizing its harms,” Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s vice president of global affairs, wrote in the foreword of the company’s “Economic Blueprint,” released Monday.The 15-page blueprint comes as the 119th Congress gets underway, and President-elect Trump prepares to head back to office in nearly a week. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is one of several tech leaders who have expressed an openness to working with Trump and his administration, which includes an AI and crypto czar, on AI policy. Altman donated $1 million of his personal funds to Trump’s inaugural fund, stating last monththe president-elect will “lead out country into the age of AI.”OpenAI, the maker of the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, made clear Monday the U.S. must take advantage of global investments to prevent China from getting ahead in the AI development space.“Chips, data, energy and talent are the keys to winning on AI—and this is a race America can and must win.,” the company wrote. “There’s an estimated $175 billion sitting in global funds awaiting investment in AI projects, and if the US doesn’t attract those funds, they will flow to China-backed projects—strengthening the Chinese Communist Party’s global influence.”While OpenAI has pushed for U.S. development in the industry, some policymakers have expressed concerns over the risks of unregulated AI, including issues related to privacy, copyright, bias and more.The company on Monday said it wants to work with policymakers to guarantee “AI’s benefits are shared responsibly and equitably.”“We believe America needs to act now to maximize AI’s possibilities while minimizing its harms,” Lehane wrote in the foreword. “AI is too powerful a technology to be led and shaped by autocrats, but that is the growing risk we face, while the economic opportunity AI presents is too compelling to forfeit.” As part of the push, Altman will convene a gathering in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 30 to preview “the state of AI advancement and how it can drive economic growth,” OpenAI said. The event is part of the company’s larger launch of its “Innovating for America” initiative to engage with individual U.S. states.
Apple And Google Take Down Crypto Apps From Alleged $24 Billion Cyberscam Market Owner -- For the last few months, Apple and Google’s app stores hosted apps developed by Huione Group, a Cambodia-based company that was accused of running the biggest ever dark web market on Tuesday. According to crypto crime trackers Elliptic and Chainalysis, Huione Group is behind Huione Guarantee, a Telegram-based market for money laundering services and other tools aimed at supporting fraudsters. Elliptic said on Tuesday as much as $24 billion in sales had gone through the platform, making it “the largest illicit online marketplace to have ever operated.” It is larger than more infamous drug markets like Silk Road and Hydra; with $5 billion in sales, the latter is the second best-performing illegal bazaar, Elliptic wrote.Alongside the Guarantee marketplace, Huione Group is also running a number of other services, including a payment app, a crypto exchange and a mobile messaging service. It’s unclear whether any of them have been used to commit fraud. As noted byChainalysis, Huione Group has also offered numerous legitimate products, from insurance to luxury travel.“I think Google and Apple should consider whether Huione Group is an appropriate business to be distributing apps through their platforms,” Elliptic CEO Tom Robinson told Forbes.When reached for comment, Google removed all of the apps, as confirmed by a spokesperson on Tuesday. As of Wednesday, Apple had taken down the crypto exchange and declined to comment. The other Huione Group apps are still listed on the App Store as of publication.Neither Telegram nor Huione Group had responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.The Guarantee marketplace consists of a vast network of thousands of Telegram channels, each run by a different merchant, many pushing fraud-related products, according to Elliptic and Chainalysis. “Our researchers identified thousands of vendors on the platform, offering money laundering services, stolen personal data, technology and other items necessary to conduct online fraud on an industrial scale,” Elliptic wrote in its Tuesday report.Huione Guarantee acts as a kind of guarantor or escrow provider, taking a fee for each transaction. It claims to be neutral and has written in disclaimers on Chinese-language websites that it does not know what its users are selling.Per Elliptic’s research, users of Huione Guarantee offer a wide array of products to support fraud, in particular pig butchering, where victims are tricked into investing in a fake crypto platform that promises big returns but never pays out. It found one seller offering electrified shackles to be used on scam center workers, many of whom are trafficked into the country, according to previous reports.
Chicago’s crypto ATMs are magnets for drug-dealing and scams on older adults - Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago has become a hub for cryptocurrency ATMs used to launder drug proceeds and route money to sophisticated scam artists, according to experts and officials. Bitcoin, the most valuable and well-known crypto asset, got widespread attention more than a decade ago as a tool to buy drugs on so-called darknet websites like Silk Road, which was shut down when its owner was arrested by the FBI in 2013. And big issues with cryptocurrency-related crime remain. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration warns that in Chicago, “virtual currency continues to be a popular and growing method used to launder illicit proceeds derived from drug sales.” The loosely regulated machines — often at currency exchanges, convenience stores and gas stations — can be used to convert cash into crypto and vice versa. Transaction fees can be as high as 30%. Why are crypto ATMs attractive to criminals? Officials say drug dealers and traffickers use the machines to launder drug money. Vulnerable scam victims are also directed to use the ATMs to convert cash into crypto that’s then routed to fraudsters. In most cases, the money can’t be recovered. What are lawmakers doing about crypto ATMs? Legislation was introduced last year in the Illinois Senate to regulate crypto ATMs and cap usage fees, but the bills were never called for a vote. A state senator from Chicago says the issue may be addressed again after President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump has become a champion of cryptocurrencies and has promised to deregulate the industry. The DEA says in a recent report on narcotics trafficking trends that Chicago has 1,167 cryptocurrency ATMs that draw users from other states that don’t have as many of them. The machines, found at currency exchanges, convenience stores and gas stations, can convert cash into crypto and vice versa. In addition to drug-dealing, the ATMs are used for scams. Criminals from other countries direct victims to the ATMs to send money they believe is destined for a new love interest or a utility or bank they’re convinced they need to pay. Illinois legislators proposed a crackdown last year that would have forced operators to register such ATMs with the state and cap usage fees that are often exorbitant. The legislation died in the Senate without getting voted on. Now, President-elect Donald Trump is promising to deregulate cryptocurrency in a push to grow the volatile industry.
California Man Indicted In Cryptocurrency Trading Scam - Daniel Chartraw of South Lake Tahoe, California was recently indicted on wire fraud charges alleging that through his companies Crypto-Pal LLC and TDA Global he scammed investors who he lured by claiming to have developed a proprietary algorithm capable of generating exceptional returns on cryptocurrency investments. According to the indictment, Chartraw failed to invest the money, but instead used it to fund his personal lifestyle.Investment scams in general are a huge problem. According to the FTC in 2023 consumers lost $4.6 billion to investment scams and cryptocurrency investment scams accounted for $3.96 billion.Interest in cryptocurrencies as an investment has been aided by President Elect Trump’s championing of it and promising to make the United States the “crypto capital of the planet” as well as his appointments of cryptocurrency proponents to significant positions in his upcoming administration including Paul Atkins who Trump has nominated to become the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission.With cryptocurrencies reaching record highs, including Bitcoin reaching a price of $100,000 in early December, many people are attracted to cryptocurrencies as an investment even when they may not know much about cryptocurrencies. FOMO or fear of missing out is a motivating factor with some people investing before they take the opportunity to educate themselves to cryptocurrency investing in general and the particular cryptocurrency investment they are considering in particular. Cryptocurrency investments present the perfect storm for scammers by appearing to offer the opportunity to make a lot of money while being complicated and not closely regulated.In 2023 Michael Ackerman was convicted in federal court of operating a cryptocurrency scam in which he and two partners scammed investors out of 30 million dollars by falsely claiming that his cryptocurrency investment fund would produce monthly returns of more than 15%. Ackerman told his investor-victims that he had developed a unique algorithm that allowed him to invest and trade in cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and earn tremendous profits. In particular, Ackerman targeted physicians as investors/victims who were contacted by one of his partners who was a physician. The truth is that Ackerman never delivered on his claims, falsified records that he used to lure investors to make it appear that his fund was profitable when it was not, and stole much of the money invested to fund his own lavish lifestyle.
National banks must continue exercising caution with cryptocurrencies By Michael J. Hsu, Acting Comptroller of the Currency -The price of bitcoin has surged, the incoming administration and the crypto industry have embraced each other, and deregulation-oriented crypto supporters have been floated for top policymaking positions. It's no accident that national banks have, so far, been insulated from major crypto disasters. Congress and the incoming administration should take heed and avoid eliminating the guardrails that have kept banks safe.
FDIC's Gruenberg warns of risks associated with 'innovation' - Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chair Martin Gruenberg warned that deregulatory efforts in the past have often created the conditions for financial crises to emerge, and suggested that the similar deregulatory push by the incoming Trump administration could yield similar results. In what is likely his final speech before resigning as chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Martin Gruenberg warned that novel products and services heralded as "innovation" often lead to financial crises without appropriate attention to market and supervisory fundamentals.
OCC fines three former Wells Fargo executives a combined $18.5 million - The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Tuesday fined three former Wells Fargo executives for failing to report misconduct at the bank from 2013 to 2016, an outgrowth of charges filed by the agency in 2020. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued fines amounting to $18.5 million to three former Wells Fargo executives in response to unsafe sales practices from 2013 to 2016.
Morgan Stanley attracts assets even with AML scrutiny --Morgan Stanley is facing scrutiny about how thoroughly it vets prospective clients and their sources of wealth, but so far it's not impacting the investment bank's ability to attract and retain customers, executives said Thursday. The investment banking giant has been the subject of regulatory probes regarding the way it vets prospective clients. So far, that's not driving away potential clients, executives say.
Supreme Court to determine what constitutes 'truth' in banking -- The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Thompson v. United States, which could decide whether the federal government can prosecute "misleading" in addition to "false" statements to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
Two Bank Failures in 2024 - There were four bank failures in 2024. The median number of failures since the FDIC was established in 1933 was 7 - so 2 failures in 2024 was below the median. There were five bank failures in 2023, however 3 of the failures were larger banks: First Republic Bank, San Francisco, CA, Signature Bank, New York, NY, Silicon Valley Bank, Santa Clara, CA. The first graph shows the number of bank failures per year since the FDIC was founded in 1933.. Typically about 7 banks fail per year. Note: There were a large number of failures in the '80s and early '90s. Many of these failures were related to loose lending, especially for commercial real estate. Also, a large number of the failures in the '80s and '90s were in Texas with loose regulation. Even though there were more failures in the '80s and early '90s than during the financial crisis, the financial crisis was much worse (larger banks failed and were bailed out). The second graph includes pre-FDIC failures. In a typical year - before the Depression - 500 banks would fail and the depositors would lose a large portion of their savings. Then, during the Depression, thousands of banks failed. Note that the S&L crisis and recent financial crisis look small on this graph.
Pulaski Savings Bank fails, Millennium Bank assumes deposits -- Pulaski Savings Bank, a $49.5 million asset Chicago-based community bank, was shut down Friday by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The Chicago-based bank, which failed Friday in the first bank failure of 2025, caused a $28.5 million hit to the Deposit Insurance Fund. The FDIC was appointed receiver and Millennium Bank will assume all deposits.
Net Zero Asset Managers Group “in Tatters” After BlackRock Exit -- Marcellus Drilling News -- We can’t stop giggling. Last Friday, MDN brought you the news that the world’s largest investment firm, BlackRock, announced it had canceled its membership and participation in the Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) initiative (see World’s Largest Investment Firm, BlackRock, Dumps Net-Zero Club). NZAM is closely aligned with global efforts to address so-called climate change, including those supported by the United Nations. Now comes word less than a week later that NZAM has “suspended activities” and removed not only its mission statement but the entire list of firms that are members of the group. The organization is reported to be “in tatters.”
Supreme Court mulls future of the Corporate Transparency Act -The Supreme Court will likely decide the fate of a nationwide injunction against enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act — a law which in part requires businesses to disclose their beneficial owners — in the coming days after lower courts have reached divergent conclusions about its constitutionality.The Biden administration is asking the Supreme Court to overturn a lower court injunction against the Corporate Transparency Act, which requires businesses to disclose their beneficial owners. The outcome has significant implications for banks' AML compliance burdens.
Big Tech companies challenge CFPB's attempt to police them - Two trade groups that represent large tech companies, TechNet and NetChoice, have sued the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in the District of Columbia District Court, saying it doesn't have the right to oversee nonbank tech companies that offer financial services. The complaint accuses the agency of overstepping its authority and of failing to properly assess the impact of its rule. Organizations that represent Amazon, Apple, Meta, PayPal, OpenAI and many other large technology companies accuse the consumer watchdog, which has given itself authority over companies that facilitate at least 50 million consumer payment transactions per year, of regulatory overreach.
CFPB orders Equifax to pay $15 million for credit reporting errors -Credit bureau Equifax has agreed to pay a $15 million fine to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Friday to resolve allegations that it failed to conduct proper investigations of consumer disputes. Equifax agreed to resolve allegations that it failed to conduct proper investigations of consumer disputes, ignored evidence and allowed previously deleted inaccuracies to be reinstated on credit reports. The credit reporting bureau also shared inaccurate credit scores and data about consumers with lenders.
Honda Auto Finance fined $12.8 million for reporting errors --The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered American Honda Finance Corporation to pay $12.8 million for inaccurately reporting 300,000 borrowers as delinquent rather than having their payments paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CFPB said American Honda Finance Corp. inaccurately reported 300,000 borrowers as delinquent who had paused loan payments during the pandemic.
Big Tech companies challenge CFPB's attempt to police them - Two trade groups that represent large tech companies, TechNet and NetChoice, have sued the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in the District of Columbia District Court, saying it doesn't have the right to oversee nonbank tech companies that offer financial services. The complaint accuses the agency of overstepping its authority and of failing to properly assess the impact of its rule. Organizations that represent Amazon, Apple, Meta, PayPal, OpenAI and many other large technology companies accuse the consumer watchdog, which has given itself authority over companies that facilitate at least 50 million consumer payment transactions per year, of regulatory overreach.
Trump team eyes hiring freeze, regulatory rollbacks for CFPB -- With less than a week until President-elect Trump's inauguration, the Trump transition team is expected to oust Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra on Monday and quickly install an acting leader while it sorts out a permanent successor. The incoming Trump administration's 'agency review team' has landed and is expected to name an acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Republicans on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. or the Federal Trade Commission are among the most likely candidates.
CFPB withdraws NSF proposal and earned wage access opinion --The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has rescinded a pair of regulatory filings, including a proposed rule on nonsufficient funds fees and an advisory opinion on earned wage access products. The notices of rescission were published in the Federal Register this week. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rescinded a proposed rule on nonsufficient funds fees and a 2020 advisory opinion on earned wage access products.
Home Loan banks gain flexibility under FHFA liquidity rule -The Federal Housing Finance Agency finalized a new rule aimed at giving the Federal Home Loan banks more flexibility in how they manage liquidity in times of stress. The finalized rule adds flexibility to the capital rules applied to the Federal Home Loan banks to help them extend credit to their members.
Trump nominates Bill Pulte to head FHFA - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has a candidate in mind to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The nominee to lead Federal Housing Finance is head of Pulte Capital Partners, which invests in homebuilding related businesses.
MBA: Mortgage Applications Increased in Weekly Survey --From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Mortgage applications increased 33.3 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 10, 2025. Last week’s results included an adjustment for the New Year’s holiday.The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 33.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 52 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased 44 percent from the previous week and was 22 percent higher than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 27 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 48 percent compared with the previous week and was 2 percent lower than the same week one year ago.“Bond yields in the U.S. and abroad continued to move higher in response to concerns over a sticky inflation outlook and still too-high budget deficits, which pushed mortgage rates higher for the fifth consecutive week. The 30-year fixed rate is now at 7.09 percent – its highest level since May 2024,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist. “This time of the year is a particularly volatile time for application volumes, so it can be more helpful to focus on the level rather than the percent change. Purchase applications were 2 percent lower, and refinances were 22 percent higher compared to a year ago. Total applications were up by 33.3 percent, the highest level in a month, as both purchase and refinance applications saw large percentage increases over the week.” ...The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($766,550 or less) increased to 7.09 percent from 6.99 percent, with points decreasing to 0.65 from 0.68 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The effective rate increased from last week. The first graph shows the MBA mortgage purchase index. According to the MBA, purchase activity is down 2% year-over-year unadjusted. Purchase application activity is up about 29% from the lows in late October 2023 and is now 7% above the lowest levels during the housing bust. The second graph shows the refinance index since 1990.The refinance index is very low.
Housing Jan 13th Weekly Update: Inventory down 1.7% Week-over-week, Up 23.6% Year-over-year - Altos reports that active single-family inventory was down 1.7% week-over-week.Inventory will continue to decline seasonally and probably bottom in late January or February. The first graph shows the seasonal pattern for active single-family inventory since 2015.The red line is for 2024. The black line is for 2019. Inventory was up 23.6% compared to the same week in 2024 (last week it was up 27.3%), and down 23.3% compared to the same week in 2019 (last week it was down 22.2%). Back in June 2023, inventory was down almost 54% compared to 2019, so the gap to more normal inventory levels has closed significantly! This second inventory graph is courtesy of Altos Research. As of Jan 10th, inventory was at 624 thousand (7-day average), compared to 635 thousand the prior week. Mike Simonsen discusses this data regularly on Youtube.
Housing Starts Increased to 1.499 million Annual Rate in December -From the Census Bureau: Permits, Starts and Completions Privately-owned housing starts in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,499,000. This is 15.8 percent above the revised November estimate of 1,294,000, but is 4.4 percent below the December 2023 rate of 1,568,000. Single-family housing starts in December were at a rate of 1,050,000; this is 3.3 percent above the revised November figure of 1,016,000. The December rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 418,000. An estimated 1,364,100 housing units were started in 2024. This is 3.9 percent below the 2023 figure of 1,420,000. Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,483,000. This is 0.7 percent below the revised November rate of 1,493,000 and is 3.1 percent below the December 2023 rate of 1,530,000. Single-family authorizations in December were at a rate of 992,000; this is 1.6 percent above the revised November figure of 976,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 437,000 in December. An estimated 1,471,200 housing units were authorized by building permits in 2024. This is 2.6 percent below the 2023 figure of 1,511,100. The first graph shows single and multi-family housing starts since 2000. Multi-family starts (blue, 2+ units) increased month-over-month in December. Multi-family starts were down 8.4% year-over-year. Single-family starts (red) increased in December and were down 2.6% year-over-year. The second graph shows single and multi-family housing starts since 1968. This shows the huge collapse following the housing bubble, and then the eventual recovery - and the recent collapse and recovery in single-family starts. Total housing starts in December were above expectations and starts in October and November were revised up.
Housing Starts Increased to 1.499 million Annual Rate in December -Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Housing Starts Increased to 1.499 million Annual Rate in December A brief excerpt:Total housing starts in December were above expectations and starts in October and November were revised up. The third graph shows the month-to-month comparison for total starts between 2023 (blue) and 2024 (red). Total starts were down 4.4% in December compared to December 2023. The YoY decrease in December total starts was mostly due to a difficult comparison to starts in December 2023. Single family starts have been up year-over-year in 13 of the last 18 months, whereas multi-family has been up year-over-year in only 3 of last 19 months. For the year, total starts were down 2.6% compared to 2023. Single family starts were up 6.6% YoY in 2024, and multi-family were down 18.8% YoY.
NAHB: Builder Confidence "Edges Up" in January - The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported the housing market index (HMI) was at 47, up from 46 last month. Any number below 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as poor than good. From the NAHB: Builder Confidence Edges Up Even as Market Risk Concerns Rise Builder sentiment edged higher to begin the year on hopes for an improved economic growth and regulatory environment. At the same time, builders expressed concerns over how building material tariffs and costs and a larger government deficit would put upward pressure on inflation and mortgage rates. Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes was 47 in January, up one point from December, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. “Builders are facing continued challenges for housing demand in the near-term, with mortgage rates up from near 6.1% in late September to above 6.9% today,” . “Land is expensive and financing for private builders remains costly. However, there is hope that policymakers are taking the impact of regulatory hurdles seriously and will make improvements in 2025.” “NAHB is forecasting a slight gain for single-family housing starts in 2025, as the market faces offsetting upside and downside risks from an improving regulatory outlook and ongoing elevated interest rates,” s. “And while ongoing, but slower easing from the Federal Reserve should help financing for private builders currently squeezed out of some local markets, builders report cancellations are climbing as a direct result of mortgage rates rising back up near 7%.” The latest HMI survey also revealed that 30% of builders cut home prices in January. This share has been stable between 30% and 33% since last July. Meanwhile, the average price reduction was 5% in January, the same rate as in December. The use of sales incentives was 61% in January. This share has remained between 60% and 64% since last June. ... The HMI index gauging current sales conditions rose three points to 51 and the gauge charting traffic of prospective buyers posted a two-point gain to 33. The component measuring sales expectations in the next six months fell six points to 60 in part due to the elevated interest rate environment. While this serves as a cautionary note, the future sales component is still the highest of the three sub-indices and well above the breakeven level of 50. Looking at the three-month moving averages for regional HMI scores, the Northeast increased five points to 60, the Midwest moved one point higher to 47, the South posted a one-point gain to 46 and the West fell one point to 40.This graph shows the NAHB index since Jan 1985.This was above the consensus forecast.
Las Vegas November 2024: Visitor Traffic Up 0.6% YoY; Convention Traffic Down 8.4% - From the Las Vegas Visitor Authority: November 2024 Las Vegas Visitor Statistics Punctuated by the second annual F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix and the SEMA tradeshow, Las Vegas hosted more than 3.3M visitors in November, slightly up over last year (+0.6% YoY). With a net decrease in churn of mid‐size and smaller meetings vs. last year, convention attendance was 548k for the month, down ‐8.4% YoY. November saw higher Weekend occupancy vs. last year (89.1%, up 0.4 pts) but lower Midweek occupancy (76.9%, down ‐2.0 pts) as overall Hotel occupancy for the month reached 81.4%, down ‐0.5 pts. While down compared to the record‐shattering levels tied to last year's inaugural F1 race, monthly ADR this year saw the second highest on record for the month of November, reaching $199 (‐20.3% YoY) while RevPAR came in at approx. $162 (‐20.8% YoY). The first graph shows visitor traffic for 2019 (Black), 2020 (dark blue), 2021 (light blue), 2022 (light orange), 2023 (dark orange) and 2024 (red). Visitor traffic was up 0.6% compared to last November. Visitor traffic was down 3.2% compared to November 2019. Year-to-date visitor traffic is down 5.6% compared to 2019.The second graph shows convention traffic. Convention traffic was down 8.4% compared to November 2023, and down 9.1% compared to November 2019. Year-to-date convention traffic is down 9.2% compared to 2019.
Retail Sales Increased 0.4% in December -- On a monthly basis, retail sales increased 0.4% from November to December (seasonally adjusted), and sales were up 3.9 percent from December 2023.From the Census Bureau report: Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for December 2024, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $729.2 billion, an increase of 0.4 percent from the previous month, and up 3.9 percent from December 2023. ... The October 2024 to November 2024 percent change was revised from up 0.7 percent to up 0.8 percent.This graph shows retail sales since 1992. This is monthly retail sales and food service, seasonally adjusted (total and ex-gasoline). Retail sales ex-gasoline was up 0.4% in December.The second graph shows the year-over-year change in retail sales and food service (ex-gasoline) since 1993.Retail and Food service sales, ex-gasoline, increased by 4.1% on a YoY basis. The change in sales inDecember were slightly below expectations, however sales in October and November were revised up.
BLS: CPI Increased 0.4% in December; Core CPI increased 0.2% -- From the BLS: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in December, after rising 0.3 percent in November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.9 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for energy rose 2.6 percent in December, accounting for over forty percent of the monthly all items increase. The gasoline index increased 4.4 percent over the month. The index for food also increased in December, rising 0.3 percent as both the index for food at home and the index for food away from home increased 0.3 percent each. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in December, after increasing 0.3 percent in each of the previous 4 months. Indexes that increased in December include shelter, airline fares, used cars and trucks, new vehicles, motor vehicle insurance, and medical care. The indexes for personal care, communication, and alcoholic beverages were among the few major indexes that decreased over the month.The all items index rose 2.9 percent for the 12 months ending December, after rising 2.7 percent over the 12 months ending November. The all items less food and energy index rose 3.2 percent over the last 12 months. The energy index decreased 0.5 percent for the 12 months ending December. The food index increased 2.5 percent over the last year. The change in CPI was close to expectations. I'll post a graph later today after the Cleveland Fed releases the median and trimmed-mean CPI.
Cleveland Fed: Median CPI increased 0.3% and Trimmed-mean CPI increased 0.3% in November -- The Cleveland Fed released the median CPI and the trimmed-mean CPI.According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the median Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% in December. The 16% trimmed-mean Consumer Price Index increased 0.3%. "The median CPI and 16% trimmed-mean CPI are measures of core inflation calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland based on data released in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) monthly CPI report". This graph shows the year-over-year change for these four key measures of inflation. On a year-over-year basis, the median CPI rose 3.8% (down from 3.9% YoY in November), the trimmed-mean CPI rose 3.2% (down slightly from 3.2%), and the CPI less food and energy rose 3.2% (down from 3.3%). Core PCE is for November was up 2.8% YoY, up slightly from 2.8% in October.
YoY Measures of Inflation: Services, Goods and Shelter -- Here are a few measures of inflation: The first graph is the one Fed Chair Powell had mentioned when services less rent of shelter was up around 8% year-over-year. This declined, but is still elevated, and is now up 4.0% YoY.This graph shows the YoY price change for Services and Services less rent of shelter through December 2024. Services were up 4.4% YoY as of December 2024, down from 4.5% YoY in November. Services less rent of shelter was up 4.0% YoY in December, down from 4.1% YoY in November. The second graph shows that goods prices started to increase year-over-year (YoY) in 2020 and accelerated in 2021 due to both strong demand and supply chain disruptions. Durables were at -1.9% YoY as of December 2024, up from -2.0% YoY in November. Commodities less food and energy commodities were at -0.5% YoY in December, up from -0.7% YoY in November. Here is a graph of the year-over-year change in shelter from the CPI report (through December) and housing from the PCE report (through November)Shelter was up 4.6% year-over-year in December, down from 4.8% in November. Housing (PCE) was up 4.8% YoY in November, down from 5.0% in October. This is still catching up with private new lease data. Core CPI ex-shelter was up 2.1% YoY in December.
US inflation still slowing as producer prices rise below expectations in December (Reuters) - U.S. producer prices rose less than expected in December as higher costs for goods were partially offset by stable services prices, suggesting inflation remained on a downward trend after progress had stalled in recent months. The moderation in producer inflation reported by the Labor Department on Tuesday did not change the view that the Federal Reserve would not cut interest rates again before the second half of this year amid labor market resilience and the threat of potentially inflation-boosting tariffs on imported goods by President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration. "Better than expected is not necessarily what the Fed wants to see before easing monetary conditions into a fast-growing economy, with tariffs and tax cuts on the agenda of the incoming administration," The producer price index for final demand rose 0.2% last month after an unrevised 0.4% advance in November, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the PPI would climb 0.3%. In the 12 months through December, the PPI accelerated 3.3%, the most since February 2023, after increasing 3.0% in November. The surge in the year-on-year rate reflected lower prices last year, especially for energy products, that dropped out of the calculation. Inflation increased 3.3% in 2024 after rising 1.1% in 2023. The narrower measure of PPI, which strips out food, energy and trade, ticked up 0.1% for a second straight month. Core PPI increased 3.3% on a year-on-year basis after advancing 3.5% in November. Some economists cautioned against reading too much into the benign rise in the monthly PPI, arguing that producer prices tended to be softer in December. They did not expect the tame reading to extend to the consumer price data for December due to be released on Wednesday. A Reuters survey forecast consumer prices would rise 0.3%, matching November's gain. Lack of progress lowering inflation back to the U.S. central bank's 2% target, a resilient economy and uncertainty over the impact of the Trump administration's policies, including tax cuts and mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, prompted the Fed to project a shallower rate-cut path this year. The government last week reported a sharp rise in nonfarm payrolls in December and a decline in the unemployment rate, which led economists to expect that the U.S. central bank would keep rates unchanged through June. Bank of America Securities now believes the Fed's easing cycle is over. Goldman Sachs expects two rate cuts this year, in June and December, a number revised down from three. Wholesale goods prices increased 0.6% in December after shooting up 0.7% in the prior month. They were driven by a 3.5% jump in the prices of energy products, with gasoline rising 9.7%. Food prices, however, dipped 0.1% after accelerating 2.9% in November. Wholesale egg prices rose 0.5% after surging 55.6% in November amid an avian flu outbreak. Excluding the volatile food and energy components, goods prices were unchanged for the first time since March. That followed a 0.2% gain in the so-called core goods in November. Services prices were flat following a 0.3% increase in November. Transportation and warehousing services prices rose 2.2%, with the cost of airline fares soaring 7.2%. Portfolio management fees rebounded 0.2%, but the cost of hotels and motel rooms decreased 6.9% after declining 1.2% in November. Healthcare costs were mostly benign, with prices for physician care rising 0.2%. The cost of hospital inpatient care was unchanged while that of dental care edged up 0.1%. Portfolio management fees, healthcare, hotel and motel accommodation and airline fares are among the components that go into the calculation of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, excluding food and energy. Based on the PPI data, economists estimated the PCE price index, excluding food and energy, rose 0.2% in December. The so-called core PCE inflation nudged up 0.1% in November. In the 12 months through December, core inflation was forecast to advance 2.9% after rising 2.8% for two straight months. Those estimates could change after the release of the consumer price data. The core PCE inflation is one of the measures tracked by the Fed for monetary policy.
Industrial Production Increased 0.9% in December --Earlier from the Fed: Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization --Industrial Production (IP) increased 0.9 percent in December after moving up 0.2 percent in November. In December, gains in the output of aircraft and parts contributed 0.2 percentage point to total IP growth following the resolution of a work stoppage at a major aircraft manufacturer. Manufacturing output rose 0.6 percent after gaining 0.4 percent in November. The indexes for mining and utilities climbed 1.8 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively, in December. At 103.2 percent of its 2017 average, total IP in December was 0.5 percent above its year-earlier level. Capacity utilization stepped up to 77.6 percent, a rate that is 2.1 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2023) average. This graph shows Capacity Utilization. This series is up from the record low set in April 2020, and close to the level in February 2020 (pre-pandemic). Capacity utilization at 77.6% is 2.1% below the average from 1972 to 2023. This was above consensus expectations. The second graph shows industrial production since 1967. Industrial production increased to 103.2. This is above the pre-pandemic level. Industrial production was well above consensus expectations.
Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims Increase to 217,000 - The DOL reported: In the week ending January 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 217,000, an increase of 14,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 201,000 to 203,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,750, a decrease of 750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 213,000 to 213,500.The following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since 1971.The dashed line on the graph is the current 4-week average. The four-week average of weekly unemployment claims decreased to 213,000.The previous week was revised up.Weekly claims were close to the consensus forecast.
Trump Treasury secretary nominee won’t support raising minimum wage --Scott Bessent, President-elect Trump’s Treasury secretary nominee, said Thursday that he would not support raising the minimum wage. Bessent, if confirmed, would not have the authority to raise wages, which would require an act of Congress. But Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who introduced a bill in the 117th Congress to raise the minimum wage to $15, asked Bessent, a hedge fund manager, to work with him and other lawmakers who want to implement a “living wage.” “I believe that the minimum wage is more of a statewide and regional issue,” Bessent said during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee.“So you don’t think we should change the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour?” Sanders asked. “No, sir,” Bessent responded.The national minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 since 2009, although 30 states and dozens of cities, including the District of Columbia, have increased the effective minimum wage, according to the Economic Policy Institute.About 30 million Americans were paid less than $15 per hour in May 2022, just more than a quarter of the nation’s workforce, according to a recent report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Another 22.8 percent, or 33.8 million workers, made between $15 and $19.99 per hour. Trump said in a December interview with “Meet the Press” that he would “consider” raising the federal minimum wage, although he did not commit to a specific figure. He also warned that raising the minimum wage too much could hurt businesses.“The other thing that is very complicated about minimum wage is places are so different,” he said. “Mississippi and Alabama and great places are very different than New York or California in terms of the cost of living and other things.”
First congestion pricing scheme in the US begins in New York City - After months of delay and uncertainty, New York City began its controversial congestion pricing scheme this past Sunday. The regional transit agency, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), now collects tolls of $9 per passenger vehicle during daytime hours to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street, a ten-square-mile area encompassing the central business district, residences for over 600,000 people, and many of the city’s cultural attractions. Small trucks and buses entering the congestion zone will be charged $14.40, with the toll going up to $21.60 for large trucks and buses. Taxis will be charged 75 cents per trip and high-volume for-hire vehicles, from such app-based services as Uber and Lyft, will be hit with a $1.50 per trip toll. While road tolls are nothing new—and the New York City metropolitan area has an abundance of them—they are typically limited to bridges and tunnels or specific toll roads. New York City’s scheme is unique, at least in the United States, in that it covers an entire area and aims not to pay for roadway infrastructure but has broader goals, including reducing vehicle traffic and funding public transit. Internationally, a small number of cities have implemented congestion pricing, namely Singapore, London, Milan, and Stockholm. Congestion pricing has emerged as a major political issue in New York, with broad implications for transportation policy across the country and internationally. Fundamentally, it represents an attack on the working class by imposing a regressive tax that will have the biggest impact on drivers least able to afford it. The working class will be priced out of the same transportation options as wealthier residents or be forced to make big financial sacrifices elsewhere. However, the transportation crisis that congestion pricing purports to address is indisputable and already imposing huge costs on the working class. These costs are both direct and indirect, including from torturous and lengthy commutes, poor transit service, crumbling infrastructure and a host of other societal impacts on health, safety, the environment and quality of life that come with over-reliance on private vehicles for mobility. What all sides of the official political establishment have excluded is any talk of mobilizing the vast resources controlled by the corporate and financial oligarchy—to a significant degree physically located in New York’s congestion pricing zone itself—to pay for the pressing public transportation needs and other infrastructure necessary for a functioning and efficient transportation system. Instead, the official debate distills into which section of the working class should pay, and in what form.
FBI, DHS warn of possible copycat efforts following New Orleans attack -- Federal law enforcement is asking the public to remain vigilant as they warn of possible copycat attacks similar to those seen in New Orleans. In a joint statement from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, officials asked the public to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. “The FBI and DHS are concerned about possible copycat or retaliatory attacks due to the persistent appeal of vehicle ramming as a tactic for aspiring violent extremist attackers. Previous attackers inspired by foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) who have conducted vehicle attacks in the United States and abroad have used rented, stolen, and personally owned vehicles, which are easy to acquire,” they wrote. “Some have used additional weapons, such as firearms and knives, to attack individuals after the vehicle has stopped. Additionally, attackers may attempt to conceal and pre-position improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to supplement a vehicle attack.” The warning comes after Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove his car into pedestrians on Bourbon Street over the New Years holiday, killing 14 before he later died in a shootout with police. Jabbar has said he was inspired by ISIS to carry out the attack. In addition to renting a car, he was found to have other weapons and also had placed two bombs in the area that he could detonate remotely. Both agencies have previously warned of the risks posed by lone wolf actors radicalized by terror groups, including the difficulty of monitoring those who may wish to carry out deadly plots. “You’re talking about guys like this, who radicalize not in years but in weeks, and whose method of attack is still very deadly but fairly crude,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said during a Sunday night appearance on CBS’s “60 Minutes.” “And if you think about that old saying about connecting the dots, there are not a lot of dots out there to connect. And there’s very little time in which to connect them.”
Nebraska governor proposes social media restrictions for minors -Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) urged state lawmakers to support a new bill that would require parental consent for children looking to create social media accounts during a Monday news conference.“These bills will address the addictive nature of social media, prohibit the generation of [artificial intelligence] child pornography, restrict the use of phones and electronic devices in schools and require parental consent for minors to set up social media accounts,” Pillen said, referencing the proposed Parental Rights in Social Media Act.The legislation would require parental consent for minors under the age of 18 to open a social media account. It also addresses AI-generated and other child pornography created by minors by making such crime a Class III felony. Adults who violate the act will be guilty of a Class 1D felony. “Children today are more anxious, more depressed and inflicting self-harm and at the highest rates ever. Our kids are our most precious resource, and it’s time to take action to protect them in the social media world,” said state Sen. Tanya Storer, who plans to introduce the bill.“This legislation empowers parents to supervise their children on social media in a meaningful way.”The state’s attorney general also spoke out in support of the measure.“One of the top priorities for our office is protecting children. And right now, some of the biggest threats to children originate online, through cell phones, social media, and child sexual abuse material,” Attorney General Mike Hilgers said in a statement. “These bills are necessary to enhance current laws. I am proud to work with Governor Pillen and senators to enact laws that hold those perpetrating harm against our children accountable.”
LGBTQ, civil rights groups urge Congress to reject transgender athlete ban - More than 400 LGBTQ and civil rights groups on Monday urged lawmakers to reject legislation that would bar transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, claiming the measure, which the House is expected to consider this week, “would harm women and girls and undermine civil rights for all students.” The letter, led by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, an umbrella group of U.S. civil rights organizations, argues that preventing transgender and gender-nonconforming youths from participating in school sports nationwide will further isolate and stigmatize an already vulnerable population. “If schools mark some students effectively as outcasts, they foster an environment where no student is included and safe,” the letter states. Republicans last week reintroduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would amend Title IX — the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination at schools and education programs that receive government funding — to prohibit schools from allowing transgender female athletes to participate in athletic programs or activities “designated for women or girls.” It defines sex as “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) is the primary sponsor of the measure in the House, and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) is leading the measure’s introduction in the Senate. Both men sponsored identical bills in the last Congress, with mixed success. The House, which first passed Steube’s bill in 2023, is expected to consider the measure again on Tuesday. Passing the bill is one of House Republicans’ top priorities in the new Congress, according to a rules package adopted earlier this month. Last week, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) took the necessary procedural steps to place the measure on the Senate calendar, teeing up a vote in the coming weeks. The bill has the backing of 97 Republicans in the House and Senate, who argue such legislation is needed to maintain fairness in women’s sports and protect female athletes who are cisgender, or not transgender, from injury. Concerned Women for America, a conservative evangelical Christian organization, called on Congress to pass the bill in a blog post on Friday. The group, which sued the University of Pennsylvania in 2022 for allowing Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, to compete on the college’s women’s team, said policies inclusive of transgender student-athletes at public schools amount to “federally funded discrimination.” Monday’s letter, which includes signatures from the Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD and Advocates for Trans Equality, calls the measure’s supporters “wolves in sheep’s clothing” whose “agenda is not about the rights of women and girls.” “Although the authors of the legislation represent themselves as serving the interests of cisgender girls and women, this legislation does not address the longstanding barriers all girls and women have faced in their pursuit of athletics,” the letter states.“Instead of providing for equal facilities, equipment, and travel, or any other strategy that women athletes have been pushing for for decades, the bill cynically veils an attack on transgender people as a question of athletics policy.” The bill’s nebulous language and “intrusive focus on scrutiny of students’ bodies,” the letter argues, will effectively bar cisgender women and girls with intersex traits — natural variations in sex characteristics that differ from what is typically considered male or female — from competing in school sports and “invite scrutiny and harassment of any other student perceived by anyone as not conforming to sex stereotypes.”
House Republicans pass bill to ban transgender athletes from girls’ sports - House Republicans passed a bill Tuesday to bar transgender student-athletes from competing in girls’ sports, putting the contentious issue front and center following an election cycle that saw it become a frequent target of Republicans. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act would amend Title IX — the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination in schools and education programs that receive government funding — to prohibit schools from allowing transgender girls or women to participate in athletic programs or activities “designated for women or girls.” It defines sex as “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” The bill, which, if signed into law, would be the first stand-alone bill to restrict the rights of transgender Americans, passed in a 218-206 vote, with two Democrats joining all Republicans in support. Three Republicans and six Democrats did not vote, and one Democrat voted “present.”Texas Reps. Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar were the two lone Democratic “yes” votes.House Republicans brought the measure to the floor in the second full week of the 119th Congress, a sign that the conference sees the issue as a top priority over the next two years. Last week, GOP lawmakers cleared legislation addressing the border. Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), the bill’s sponsor, said the legislation is meant to preserve Title IX’s original intent of guaranteeing equal opportunities for men and women.“All throughout humanity, we have recognized as a species that there are women and there are men, as God created, who are obviously biologically different and, dare I say, scientifically different,” he said. The bill’s immediate future in the Senate is unclear. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) is leading the measure in the upper chamber, which is considering the Laken Riley Act this week and will be focused on President-elect Trump’s Cabinet nominations next week. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) took the necessary procedural steps last week to tee up a vote on the measure down the road. Democrats warned Tuesday that the bill could open the door to sexual abuse and invasive scrutiny of girls’ bodies. The Congressional Equality Caucus, a coalition of pro-LGBTQ House Democrats, dubbed it the “Child Predator Empowerment Act.” “This bill isn’t about protecting women. In fact, it could force any student to answer invasive personal questions about their bodies & face humiliating physical inspections to ‘prove’ that they’re a girl,” the group wrote in a post on the social platform X. The bill’s supporters said Tuesday that the measure would not permit genital or physical examinations, and a student’s birth certificate will decide whether they can participate in sports. Asked to clarify what enforcement of the bill will look like, Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) said the legislation “doesn’t deal with that.” Officials in at least two dozen states with similar restrictions on transgender athletes have grappled with how to enforce them. Florida school officials in 2023 weighed tracking students’ menstrual cycles, a proposal that was ultimately scrapped following widespread opposition. In 2022, the Utah High School Activities Association said it had investigated a high school athlete over her gender after a group of parents complained that the student, who is not transgender, might have violated a state law banning transgender athletes from women’s sports. “There is no enforcement mechanism in this bill,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said. “And when there is no enforcement mechanism, you open the door for every enforcement mechanism.” “We know there is only one logical conclusion to this,” said Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), one of 13 openly LGBTQ lawmakers. “This is interrogation of young girls about their bodies; this asking people to show them what’s underneath their underwear. That is what we’re talking about.” More than 400 LGBTQ and civil rights groups on Monday called on Congress to reject the bill, which they said would further isolate and discriminate against transgender youth.“If schools mark some students effectively as outcasts, they foster an environment where no student is included and safe,” the groups wrote. Transgender rights emerged as a key issue on the campaign trail and in the Capitol in recent weeks,. In November, Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) became the first openly transgender person elected to Congress. Shortly after her victory, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced a new policy barring trans women from using Capitol bathrooms that aligned with their gender identity, a move seen by many as a response to McBride’s election. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said an earlier resolution to bar transgender members and staff from women’s restrooms was “absolutely” motivated by McBride. McBride has said she will follow Johnson’s policy, even though she disagrees with it. “I’m not here to fight about bathrooms,” she said in a November statement that characterized the policy as an “effort to distract” her from addressing issues such as lowering costs for Americans.McBride did not participate in Tuesday’s debate over the transgender athlete bill.
Indigenous students struggle with funding in higher education, study shows - Indigenous students identified inadequate funding as a major barrier to completing post-secondary education according to a study published inAlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples.The study surveyed Indigenous university students at Algoma University. The students, who identified as either First Nations or Métis, reported that they required multiple sources of funding, including government student loans and personal savings, to afford their post-secondary education. About two-thirds (69%) of students received funding for their education from First Nations sources, including funding from federal programs for Indigenous students. "This research sheds light on helpful strategies to creatively support Indigenous students in post-secondary education," says first author, Dr. Rose E. Cameron, (Anishinaabekwe), an Associate Professor of Social Work at Algoma University. "It also provides new insight into how institutions can help minimize the barrier Indigenous students face."The survey asked Indigenous students how universities can better support them. Students suggested that social events for Indigenous students, on-campus childcare, and mentorship opportunities for Indigenous students would help to decrease isolation and cultivate a sense of belonging in campus.The research findings underscored how resources centers, cultural events and mentorship opportunities can boost the resilience of Indigenous students by helping them feel included, supported, and socially connected on campus."The Anishinaabe Academic Resource Center at Algoma University is a model for other institutions looking to support students with Indigenous ancestry," "It offers a host of culturally affirming events including Pow Wows, sharing circles, moccasin-making, visiting Elders and feasts."With more Indigenous students graduating from high school than ever before, it is important for programs to provide both cultural and financial support, say the researchers."Funding and supports for Indigenous students needs to keep pace with their increase in numbers, which unfortunately has not been the case," says Meghan Bird, a research assistant at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto.Nearly half (47%) of students in this study had children, with most students having 2-3 children in their care. In comparison, only 11% of non-Indigenous post-secondary students are parents.Nearly all the Indigenous parents in this survey were enrolled in university full-time. They reported that having children while in university can make finding housing, affording childcare, and balancing studies significantly more challenging."Most of the Indigenous students in our study faced significant financial difficulties, which can impact their ability to complete their studies," said Esme Fuller-Thomson, Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and Director of the Institute of Life Course and Aging at the University of Toronto.
Arkansas governor says professors should be fired if they are ‘indoctrinating’ students (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday said college professors should be fired if they are “indoctrinating” students, echoing rhetoric her former boss President-elect Donald Trump and other Republicans have leveled against institutions of higher education. Sanders, a Republican who served as press secretary for part of Trump’s first term, made the proposal as she delivered her state of the state address for this year’s legislative session. “Arkansas students go to our colleges and universities to be educated, not to be bombarded with anti-American, historically illiterate woke nonsense,” Sanders told members of the predominantly Republican House and Senate. “We will make it so that any professor, tenured or not, that wastes time indoctrinating our students instead of educating them can be terminated from their job.” It’s unclear how such a restriction would be enforced. Sanders’ office did not immediately give examples of the types of topics that would be barred under her proposal. Sanders made the vow as part of a plan to improve the state’s higher education system, including changes to its funding formula. Sanders’ proposal to fire professors over “indoctrination” drew criticism from civil liberties and faculty groups. Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors, called it a “grossly hypocritical false narrative.”“Sanders is doing a disservice to Arkansas students by suggesting she will deny due process for faculty with ideas she disagrees with,” Wolfson said. “Maligning a system that is an engine of innovation and bedrock of our democracy hurts Arkansas students.”Democratic Rep. Andrew Collins, the House minority leader, said he was worried the impact Sanders’ firing proposal would have on higher education.“I’m not sure how you avoid excessive politicization of higher education when you introduce this kind of content control,” Collins said. Sanders’ comments follow vows by Trump to go after “wokeness” and “leftist indoctrination” in education. He pledged to dismantle diversity programs that he says amount to discrimination and to impose fines on colleges “up to the entire amount of their endowment.”
Joe Biden announces student loan forgiveness for 150,000 borrowers - The Biden administration announced Monday it was forgiving student loans for more than 150,000 borrowers, bringing the total number of individuals impacted by debt relief in President Biden’s term to over 5 million. The 150,000 new borrowers are made up of 85,000 individuals who were defrauded by their schools, 61,000 people with permanent or total disabilities and 6,100 public service workers. “Thanks to our tireless and unapologetic efforts to work toward a system that is affordable and accountable to both students and taxpayers, today’s announcement includes additional relief for borrowers misled and cheated by their institutions, borrowers with disabilities, as well as additional loan forgiveness for public servants,” Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said. In total, the Biden administration has now spent $183.6 billion to forgive student loans. Officials with the Biden administration emphasized how helpful the forgiveness has been for everyday Americans ahead President-elect Trump’s inauguration — and the subsequent likely slowdown of federal efforts on student loans. “Identifying 5 million people for student loan forgiveness means the federal government is finally keeping its promises,” Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal said. “People who cannot afford their student loans because they are in public service, have disabilities, were cheated by their college, or who have completed decades of payments are now getting the relief they were promised. These permanent reforms will continue to more and more borrowers every year.” The record amount of student debt relief by any president was made possible due to a number of changes the administration made to the Borrower Defense program and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to make it easier for borrowers in these categories to receive forgiveness. Under PSLF, more than 1 million borrowers have received relief, compared to only 7,000 before the start of the Biden administration. Officials would not say if this was the last round of relief borrowers could expect before the president leaves office next week.
Biden finalizes last round of student debt forgiveness -The Biden administration announced Thursday its final round of student debt relief, topping off the most loan forgiveness ever given in a presidency. The Department of Education announced it was forgiving more than $600 million of student loans for 4,550 borrowers through the income-driven repayment plan and 4,100 borrowers through Borrower Defense. In total, the administration has given $188 billion of student debt relief to more than 5 million borrowers through 33 executive actions. “Four years ago, President Biden made a promise to fix a broken student loan system. We rolled up our sleeves and, together, we fixed existing programs that had failed to deliver the relief they promised, took bold action on behalf of borrowers who had been cheated by their institutions, and brought financial breathing room to hardworking Americans — including public servants and borrowers with disabilities. Thanks to our relentless, unapologetic efforts, millions of Americans are approved for student loan forgiveness,” Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said. “I’m incredibly proud of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic achievements in making the life-changing potential of higher education more affordable and accessible for more people,” he added. The administration touted 1.7 million borrowers received forgiveness under the Borrower Defense program, 1 million from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, almost 1.5 million from income-driven repayment and more than 600,000 for those with permanent or total disabilities. This action likely signals the last large amount of student debt relief borrowers will see for years as President-elect Trump, who takes office Monday, has signaled broad opposition to the loan forgiveness.
Texas age-verification law for porn sites scrutinized by Supreme Court -- The Supreme Court weighed whether an explosion in online pornography requires repudiating the court’s precedents concerning sexual content as the justices Wednesday heard arguments in a challenge to Texas’s age-verification law for porn websites. A majority of the justices suggested the concept of an age-verification requirement could survive First Amendment scrutiny even as the court seemed inclined to send the Texas law back to a lower panel to apply a higher standard of review. Several of the court’s conservatives asserted that the age verification may be states’ only real option to protect children from adult websites, because the content-filtering methods the court endorsed as an alternative two decades ago are no longer viable. “Kids can get online porn through gaming systems, tablets, phones, computers. Let me just say that content filtering for all those different devices, I can say from personal experience, is difficult to keep up with,” said Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who has seven children. “So I think that the explosion of addiction in new online porn has shown that content filtering isn’t working,” she continued. “It was very difficult for 15-year-olds, whatever, to get access to the type of thing that is available with a push of a button today. And the nature of the pornography, I think, has also changed in those 35 years,” Chief Justice John Roberts said. The law, passed by the Texas Legislature in June 2023, required sites that host adult content to verify that their users are over the age of 18. Nearly 20 other states have passed similar laws related to adult content, and age verification has become an increasingly popular option for states seeking to limit young children’s access to social media. The Texas law also requires sites to post a warning that pornography is “potentially biologically addictive, is proven to harm human brain development, desensitizes brain reward circuits, increases conditioned responses, and weakens brain function.” Free Speech Coalition, a trade association representing the adult entertainment industry, sued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) in August 2023. Backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the group has argued the law violates the First Amendment by creating barriers for adults to access websites that feature adult content. Paxton began enforcing the law last February, bringing lawsuits against major porn companies, including Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo, for failing to comply with the age verification requirement. As a result, Pornhub disabled service in the Lone Star state.
22,000 patients lose coverage at 2 Massachusetts hospitals - On January 1, 22,000 patients covered by Tufts Health Direct health insurance lost in-network coverage at UMASS Memorial Health and Boston Children’s Hospital in Massachusetts. Point32Health, which owns Tufts Health Direct insurance, and the hospital systems were unable to agree over reimbursement rates for care. This has resulted in a situation where patients must either switch doctors or find new health insurance to continue to meet their medical needs. Boston Children’s Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, has been recognized as one of the best pediatric hospitals in the world and is a leader in a wide range of specialties. The hospital serves over 650,000 patients a year, UMASS Memorial Health is a medical network in Central Massachusetts affiliated with UMASS Medical School that includes UMASS Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. UMASS Memorial Health serves over 2 million patients a year. Open enrollment on the Massachusetts Health Connector, the state healthcare insurance marketplace, began November 1, 2024, and lasts through January 23, 2024. It was required that plans be secured by December 23 to be in effect for January 1. This leaves many patients facing the immediate prospect of having to switch doctors if they haven’t already changed to a new insurance plan. Finding new doctors can be a difficult and protracted process. Boston.com reported last year, “Across the Commonwealth, patients are struggling to make timely appointments. In Boston, it takes 40 days on average to get a family medicine appointment, with some waits as long as 136 days,” The report said that there are more physicians leaving the field than entering. “In the next decade, the U.S. is expected to face a shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians. … Primary care (family medicine, general pediatrics, geriatric medicine) could be the hardest hit.” Tufts Health Direct is the most affordable health insurance on the Massachusetts Health Connector, making this transition even more difficult for patients. Tufts Health Direct plans are subsidized based on income and average around $478 a month for individuals, compared to $809 for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and $829 for UnitedHealthcare plans. Any Tufts Health Direct customer switching to a new health plan can therefore expect to pay thousands more dollars in premiums a year. The Boston Globe and other local news outlets have reported many cases of patients affected by the loss of coverage, including parents with chronically sick children who rely on specialized medical services, who have had to change insurance or look for new doctors, and low-income individuals who have had to move to more expensive plans. The Democratic Party administration of Governor Maura Healey has done nothing to stop Tufts Health Direct policyholders from losing their care, with Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh making the statement last year: “We urge the parties involved to come to an agreement that will avoid negative impacts on patients.” Walsh also remarked last year that “The market has spoken,” in regard to the closures of Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, which Healey’s administration did nothing to stop during last year’s Steward Health bankruptcy crisis. Responding to an Instagram post by the Globe on the loss of coverage, one commenter wrote: “@massgovernor What can you do to help fix this? It’s tragic that thousands of Massachusetts children are now ineligible for coverage at the best children’s hospital in the world, let alone in their own state. Massachusetts is already an extremely expensive place to live, and now some families (like mine) may have no choice but to pay out of pocket for the care at Children’s, all because of systemic failures that allow corporate greed to prevail.”
Researchers find Medicare Advantage beneficiaries do not receive more dental, vision or hearing care -- As the privatized form of Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans advertise dental, vision, and hearing benefits not covered by traditional Medicare, but a recent analysis found that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries do not typically receive more of these supplemental services than traditional Medicare beneficiaries. Additionally, out-of-pocket spending was similar for most supplemental services.The research led by a team from Mass General Brigham is published in JAMA Network Open."Medicare Advantage plans receive more money per beneficiary than traditional Medicare plans, but our findings add to the evidence that this increased cost is not justified," said first author Christopher L. Cai, MD, who conducted this work as a resident in the Department of Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital.For their study, Cai and his colleagues analyzed 2017–2021 data from two continuous surveys, the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. In total, the investigators assessed information on 76,557 Medicare beneficiaries.Only 54.2% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries were aware of having Medicare Advantagedental coverage while just 54.3% were aware of having vision coverage. Medicare Advantage enrollees were no more likely to receive eye examinations, hearing aids, or eyeglasses than traditional Medicare enrollees.
More Americans surviving cancer, but more younger Americans and women diagnosed: Research --The cancer mortality rate is continuing to decrease in America, but women — especially younger women — are seeing an uptick in diagnoses, according to data released by the American Cancer Society (ACS).The ACS report, published Thursday, includes statistics based on mortality data through 2022 and cancer incidence data through 2021, which are the most recent years with compiled data available to the public. After the smoking epidemic drove an increase in cancer deaths during the 20th century, the cancer mortality rate dropped by 34 percent in 2022 from its peak in 1991. The drop in the cancer mortality rate is driven largely by declines in the four most common cancers: lung, colorectal, breast and prostate, according to the research. The rate of cancer deaths dropped by 1.7 percent each year, from 2013 to 2022, the most recent year with available data. Cancer incidence also provides useful insight. Over the last few decades, cancer incidence has gone up gradually in women. From 1978 to 2021, cancer incidence in women overall rose by 23 percent — from 361.2 per 100,000 to 443.2 per 100,000. Men, meanwhile, saw a dramatic spike in the early 1990s in cancer incidence because of a surge in early detection of asymptomatic prostate cancer, and then saw a steep decline from 2007 to 2013, before largely leveling off through 2021. As a result, the gap between cancer incidence in men and women has continued to narrow in recent years — a trend driven most acutely by the rise in cases of young women. In 2021, cancer incidence in women under 50 was 82 percent higher than in their male counterparts, with 141.1 cases per 100,000 people for women and 77.4 cases per 100,000 people for men. That marked an increase from 2002, when cancer incidence in women under 50 years was 51 percent higher than their male counterparts. Middle-aged women, 50-64 years, also saw their relative cancer incidence increase compared to their male counterparts. By 2021, middle-aged women surpassed their male counterparts in cancer incidence rates, which were statistically equivalent, at 832.5 per 100,000 for women and 830.6 per 100,000 for men. In 2007, cancer incidence in middle-aged women was 21 percent lower than in their male counterparts.
Genetic mutation linked to higher SARS-CoV-2 risk - Researchers have identified a novel genetic risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection, providing new insights into the virus's ability to invade human cells. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that spreads COVID-19.The study, led by immunologist Declan McCole at the University of California, Riverside, shows that a loss-of-function variant in the phosphatase gene PTPN2, commonly associated with autoimmune diseases, can increase expression of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2, making cells more susceptible to viral invasion.The paper, titled "Tofacitinib Mitigates the Increased SARS-CoV-2 Infection Susceptibility Caused by an IBD Risk Variant in the PTPN2 Gene," is published in the journal Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology.A loss-of-function variant is a genetic modification that disrupts the normal function of a protein, inactivating or severely impairing it. ACE2, a protein on the surface of many cell types, acts as the receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and allows it to infect cells. "Our findings suggest that individuals with reduced PTPN2 activity may face a higher risk of infection due to the upregulation of ACE2, which serves as the entry point for SARS-CoV-2 into human cells," said McCole, a professor of biomedical sciences in the UCR School of Medicine."PTPN2, which is expressed in cells throughout the body, normally removes a phosphate from other proteins and enzymes, thus reducing their activity. It acts as a brake. If you have a loss of function in PTPN2, then the brake isn't working well, and you get more inflammatory signaling."The discovery offers a deeper understanding of how genetic factors influence susceptibility to COVID-19 and suggests potential therapeutic avenues for mitigating this risk. The study used human intestinal tissues, human cells, and mouse models.McCole explained that by pinpointing PTPN2 as a novel genetic factor, the research team uncovered a critical pathway that can influence how the body responds to SARS-CoV-2 infection."We show that a variant of this gene, which has long been linked to autoimmune disorders, can make certain cells more vulnerable to the virus," he said. "Our study also shows that this risk can be mitigated with Tofacitinib, a widely used JAK inhibitor, offering potential new treatment options for patients at higher genetic risk. Tofacitinib, approved to treatulcerative colitis, reversed the increased ACE2 expression on lung, intestinal, and immune cells, thus reducing susceptibility to viral invasion."Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are a class of drugs that are being widely used to treat chronic inflammatory diseases and immune-mediated diseases.
1 in 20 COVID survivors may have condition characterized by extreme fatigue --New results from the National Institutes of Health's Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER)-Adult Initiative suggest that 4.5% of COVID-19 survivors have myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), compared with less than 1% of their uninfected counterparts.ME/CFS, which can be triggered by viral and non-viral infection, causes severe fatigue for at least 6 months and may entail impaired memory, brain fog, dizziness, and muscle or joint pain. Physical or mental activity exacerbates symptoms, which aren't fully relieved by rest. Participants, who reported symptoms at 3-month study visits, were grouped as: (1) acute infected, enrolled within 30 days of infection or were infected after enrollment (4,515); (2) post-acute–infected, enrolled more than 30 days after infection (7,270); and (3) uninfected controls (1,439) from October 2021 to September 2024. The percentage of all participants who had ME/CFS post-infection was 4.5%, compared with 0.6% of controls. Post-exertional malaise was the most common symptom in both acute-infected (15.9%) and post-acute–infected participants (29.1%), followed by positional dizziness (14.4% and 25.0%, respectively). Acute-infected participants reported unrefreshing sleep (11.0%), "brain fog" (10.1%), and fatigue (9.3%) at similar rates, while post-acute–infected participants most often reported brain fog (23.7%), fatigue (20.7%), and unrefreshing sleep (19.8%). All ME/CFS symptoms were lower in controls than in infected participants. Most participants with post-COVID ME/CFS (88.7%) also had long COVID. Of infected participants, 39.8% had ME/CFS-like conditions, with at least one ME/CFS symptom, while 55.7% didn't report symptoms. Among uninfected participants, 16.1% had at least one ME/CFS symptom, and 83.3% had no symptoms. The incidence of ME/CFS in participants after COVID-19 infection was 2.66 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.63 to 2.70) per 100 person-years, compared with 0.93 (95% CI, 0.91 to 10.95) per 100 person-years in matched controls (attributable risk, 1.74 per 100 person-years; hazard ratio, 4.93). Relative to infected participants never meeting ME/CFS criteria, those with post-COVID ME/CFS were more likely to be White, women, 46 to 65 years old, and living in a rural area. They were less likely to have been vaccinated at enrollment and to have a college degree. Because only nine uninfected participants had ME/CFS, the sample size was too small to compare with the other uninfected groups.Participants with post-COVID ME/CFS were more likely to report chronic pain syndrome or fibromyalgia, neuromuscular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia or brain fog, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, dysautonomia or autonomic dysfunction, movement disorders, mental illness, and use of oxygen at home than their uninfected peers. "This research underscores the urgency for healthcare providers to recognize post-COVID-19 ME/CFS," lead author Suzanne Vernon, PhD, research director at the Bateman Horne Center, said in a University of Utah Health news release. "Early diagnosis and proper management can transform lives."
4 in 10 Minnesota COVID survivors report having at least 1 lingering symptom --Over 40% of Minnesota COVID-19 survivors interviewed reported having one or more symptoms lasting at least 3 months, many still had symptoms at 6 months or longer, 20% had a severe persistent symptom, and two-thirds said they had problems performing daily activities such as housework or going to work or school, according to a 2023 Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) phone survey."This suggests that an estimated 365,000 adults in Minnesota could have experienced symptoms of long COVID," MDH wrote.In total, 1,270 adults completed the interview. "Due to low participation and other survey limitations, this group may not represent all Minnesotans experiencing lasting symptoms after a COVID-19 infection," the authors cautioned. "Nonetheless, their input can help the public, health care providers, and public health professionals understand long COVID symptoms and how they can impact a person’s daily activities and health care experiences."The most commonly reported long-COVID symptoms were tiredness, fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, and cough. Other symptoms were muscle pain, sleep problems, headaches, joint pain, and loss of taste or smell. Adults who were vaccinated at the time of their first COVID-19 infection were less likely to report lingering symptoms than unvaccinated respondents. Similar to national study findings, participants who completed the primary COVID-19 vaccination series and at least one booster dose had a 30% lower risk of long-COVID symptoms than their unvaccinated peers. "Nearly half of those who experienced a long-lasting symptom said they had visited a health care provider about a new health issue after their COVID-19 infection, however, only 9% were told by their provider that they may have long COVID," the report said. MDH said it is conducting a statewide study with 12 healthcare systems that serve over 90% of the state's population to recognize and describe long-COVID with the aim of improving diagnosis and treatment, particularly among underserved patient groups.
Even kids with most severe MIS-C typically fully recover by 6 months, study reveals - A study yesterday in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that even the kids who get most sick from an uncommon but serious condition that affects multiple organ systems after COVID-19 infections recover fully by 6 months after infection.The retrospective cohort study followed outcomes seen among pediatric patients diagnosed as having multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19 infection, one of the most severe outcomes seen during the pandemic.A total of 1,204 participants treated from March 2020 to January 2022 at 32 North American pediatric hospitals, were followed up for 2 years.All participants met the 2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition of MIS-C. The condition was first seen in pediatric patients early in the pandemic, and resembles both toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease.Patients develop inflammation in organs and often have severe stomach pain, redness or swelling of the lips and tongue, and swelling of the hands or feet. MIS-C patients also are at risk for cardiovascular complications.The authors collected data on cardiac and noncardiac outcomes during hospitalization and at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 6 months after discharge.The average age of patients was 9.1 years, and 60.1% were boys. During initial hospitalization for MIS-C, 548 of 1,195 participants (45.9%) required vasoactive support, 17 of 1,195 (1.4%) required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and 3 (0.3%) died during hospitalization.Myocardial involvement occurred in 690 of 1,140 participants (60.5%), the authors said. Though the children were seriously ill, most recovered by 2 weeks post-hospitalization. A return to greater than 90% of pre–MIS-C health status (energy, sleep, appetite, cognition, and mood) was reported by 711 of 824 participants (86.3%) at 2 weeks, and increased to 548 of 576 (95.1%) at 6 months, the authors said.The most common symptom experienced at 2 weeks post-hospitalization was fatigue, seen in 15.9% of children. By 6 months, only 3.4% reported fatigue."Most patients were critically ill during the acute phase, but 6-month cardiovascular and overall health outcomes were excellent," the authors wrote. Among patients with available echocardiograms, 131 of 322 (42.3%) had left ventricular ejection fraction less than 55% during hospitalization; of those with follow-up, all but 1 normalized by 6 months.During initial hospitalization, 15 participants had coronary artery z scores of 2.5 or greater at any point; 1 participant had a large/giant aneurysm. Of the 13 participants with z scores of 2.5 or greater during hospitalization, 12 (92.3%) had normalized by 6 months.Overall, by 6 months after hospital discharge, 99% had normalization of left ventricular systolic function, and 92.3% had normalization of coronary artery dimensions. Over 95% of the total patient population reported being more than 90% back to baseline health status.
1 in 4 US healthcare workers report mental distress during COVID, survey suggests --Of more than 2,600 US healthcare workers who participated in a nationwide online panel survey from 2022 to 2023, 26% reported symptoms of mental illness, but only 20% said they sought treatment during the previous year, mainly because of difficulty getting time off of work and worries about confidentiality and cost.The findings, published yesterday in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, highlight the importance of reducing mental-illness stigma, addressing concerns about confidentiality and licensing, and improving supervisor training, say the University of Hawaii–led research team. From September 2022 to May 2023, the researchers surveyed 2,603 primary care physicians, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who had been in practice for at least 3 years about their mental illness symptoms, care-seeking, and barriers to seeking care. The team administered the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-2 depression scale, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition–indexed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Primary Care Screen, and one item each from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Health-Related Quality of Life-4 survey and the 2017 CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey."Health care workers experience substantial chronic stress, burnout, and mental distress, and the COVID-19 pandemic might have exacerbated these conditions," the study authors noted. Slightly less than half (45.4%) of participants said that they didn't need mental healthcare, and 20.3% sought care for their symptoms. One quarter (25.6%) of respondents reported mental distress severe enough to meet diagnostic criteria for mental disorders, 38% of whom said they sought care, with 20.1% indicating that they didn't need care. The proportion of providers reporting mental distress meeting diagnostic levels was higher among those who didn't seek care than it was among those who said they didn't need care in terms of depression (38.3% vs 18.8%), anxiety (39.1% vs 16.4%), posttraumatic stress (34.5% vs 22.2%), and mentally unwell days per month (37.9% vs 14.6%).The proportion of respondents reporting symptom severity indicating they met criteria for mental illness was similar for those who sought care and those who didn't. The proportion reporting diagnostic levels of mental distress was lower for those who preferred not to report seeking care than for those who said they didn't need it.Workers who said they didn't need care had practiced the longest, with a median of 13.0 years. Fewer men sought care (16.0%) than women (26.1%) or those identifying as other than men or women (18.8%). Primary care physicians, 68.7% of whom were men, had the lowest rate of care-seeking (16.4%). Nurse practitioners (33.9%; 81.7% women), physician assistants (27.9%; 68.5% women), and pediatricians (24.4%; 50.1% women) had the highest rate of care-seeking.
Report highlights how COVID hindered the fight against antimicrobial resistance -A new report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) suggests that a number of interrelated factors hampered the ability of US hospitals to control antimicrobial resistance (AMR) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Severely ill patients with an increased need for mechanical ventilation. Lengthy hospitals stays and increased caseloads. Fear of undertreatment and lack of clear and timely guidelines. An overburdened healthcare workforce that had to focus much of its energy on COVID patients. Limited supplies of personal protective equipment.According to the report from HHS's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), which involved a literature review, stakeholder meetings, and interviews with antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) physicians and pharmacists in 14 states, these are just a few of the reasons why the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in "large-scale disruption" of US efforts to combat AMR. The impact of the disruption included 15% increases in drug-resistant hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and AMR-related deaths in the first year of the pandemic compared with pre-pandemic levels. Ultimately, the factors described in the report are all connected to the crush of severely ill patients that descended on hospitals across the country when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020. According to the report, an estimated 3.6 million COVID-19–related hospitalizations occurred in the United States from May 2020 to April 2021, occupying up to 90% of all available inpatient beds in some hospitals. On average, COVID-19 patients were hospitalized for over 14 days, with many undergoing mechanical ventilation—two factors that increased their risk for HAIs. And in the early months of the pandemic, clinicians had few treatments available and were concerned about the potential for bacterial co-infections in their sicker patients. As a result, an estimated 80% of hospitalized US COVID-19 patients received antibiotics from March to October 2020, which likely contributed to rising AMR rates. Data reviewed for the report suggest that multidrug-resistant infections were five times more likely to occur in COVID wards than non-COVID wards."We didn't know what COVID meant or whether people had coinfections, so everyone got antibiotics and supportive care," one ASP physician said in an interview. "Fear drove us to give everything we could to try to save lives."The influx of patients eroded the emotional, mental, and physical health of healthcare workers, leading to staff shortages and burnout. Many healthcare professionals missed work because they contracted COVID, while others left the profession over the stress and demands of the pandemic. Exhausted healthcare workers had to focus on immediate patient care and their own needs, making it difficult to sustain the infection prevention and control (IPC) efforts and ASPs that can keep AMR in check."The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic put intense stress on infection preventionists, ASP staff, and other healthcare providers working to combat AMR," the report states.As the authors note, the pandemic's impact on IPC programs in US hospitals, and how that may have contributed to the rise in drug-resistant HAIs, has been well documented. A 2021 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cited the pandemic's strain on hospital staff as one of the reasons for significant increases in central line–associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and ventilator-associated events in 2020. "The year 2020 marked an unprecedented time for hospitals, many of which were faced with extraordinary circumstances of increased patient caseload, staffing challenges, and other operational changes that limited the implementation and effectiveness of standard infection prevention practices," the CDC wrote. Case reports on AMR-related hospital outbreaks during the pandemic have also cited lapses in IPC protocols. But the ASPE report suggests hospital ASPs were also heavily affected, with some severely scaled back and others stopped completely. "We had a 100% suspension of ASP activities," said another ASP physician interviewed for the report. "Everything switched to COVID."Even at hospitals at which ASPs had strong support and were maintained, physicians and pharmacists had less time for stewardship activities because of increase pandemic-related duties. In addition, ASP staff reported that resource limitations—including limited lab capacity and shortage of sample collection tools—and reliance on virtual communications platforms such as Zoom also thwarted ASP activities.
US respiratory disease markers remain high for flu, COVID, RSV –January 13 - Respiratory virus activity across the nation remains high, with COVID-19 levels rising across much of the country, flu indicators still elevated, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity very high in many regions, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its latest illness updates.For the most recent flu reporting week, some markers remained stable or decreased, which the CDC said could reflect changes in health-seeking behaviors over the holidays rather than that the seasonal peak has passed. Test positivity at clinical labs remained stable, while the percentage of outpatient clinic visits for flulike illness dropped from 6.8% to 6.1% compared to the previous week. Meanwhile, test positivity for COVID is stable but is on the rise for RSV. Forty-three states are reporting very high or high flu activity, and of respiratory samples that tested positive for flu at public health labs, nearly 98% were influenza A. Of subtyped samples, 55.5% were H3N2, and 44.5% were 2009 H1N1.Hospitalization rates are on an upward trend for all three viruses, with the highest levels for flu. COVID hospitalizations continue to rise from a low level.Six more pediatric flu deaths were reported to the CDC, raising the season’s total to 17. Four were due to influenza A (three H1N1 and one H3N2), and two were linked to influenza B. The CDC also reported the flu death of one more child from the 2023-2024 flu season, putting that total at 207.For COVID, the CDC’s latest wastewater tracking shows that levels are increasing in all regions, remaining the highest in the Midwest, followed by the Northeast and the South.Along with hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits for COVID are rising and are highest in seniors, with ED visits also elevated in young children, similar to the current pattern for RSV. Among other severity indicators, deaths from all three viruses are at 1.5% of overall deaths, with the level highest for COVID and an upward trend for flu over the past week. Deaths from COVID remain highest among seniors.
MAP: Emergency room visits for respiratory illnesses are soaring in these states -Nationally, emergency department visits from patients suffering from influenza or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are now “very high,” the CDC’s most top level, according to the most recent data. Flu, RSV and COVID-19 visits are all increasing as we near mid-January, however COVID visits are still at a low level. The states with the most ER visits for respiratory illnesses ranging from the common cold to COVID-19 are Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and New Hampshire, according to the CDC.The CDC calculates its activity levels (minimal, low, moderate, high, very high) with a baseline of the average illness activity level during times when COVID, flu and RSV visits were low. Pediatric hospitals have been busy since November with RSV, but “influenza has now joined the party,” said Dr. Jason Newland, an infectious diseases specialist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. “Now we’re really starting to roll,” he added. ”Our hospitals are busy.”Anyone who has battled a mystery respiratory illness may have wondered what exactly they have while recovering.For concerned parents, those symptoms can be especially troubling. “Every child runs a gauntlet of infections during the first five years of their life,” pediatric infectious disease specialist Frank Esper, MD explained in a news release. “Navigating childhood illnesses can be challenging for parents.” Unfortunately, when it comes to RSV, flu and COVID-19, they can arrive with many of the same symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, congestion and tiredness. To know for sure, healthcare professionals may use a diagnostic test, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. “Cough, runny nose and fever are common to all respiratory viruses,” says Dr. Esper. “When I see a child with these symptoms, I usually rely on a laboratory test to make an accurate diagnosis.” There are, however, some symptoms that are unique to influenza and RSV. With RSV, for instance, children can develop a wheeze that creates a a whistle or rattle sound during breathing. Extremely high fevers – 103 or 104 degrees Fahrenheit – are a distinctive sign of the flu, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
In light of avian flu, seasonal flu, CDC urges clinicians to speed influenza A subtyping --Due to ongoing sporadic H5N1 avian flu infections and brisk levels of seasonal flu activity, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today urged healthcare providers to subtype all influenza A specimens in hospitalized patients, especially those in the intensive care unit (ICU), as soon as possible. At a briefing today, federal health officials spelled out the rationale for speedier testing, addressed issues related to next week's shift from the Biden to the Trump presidential administration, and announced new steps to bolster infectious disease preparedness. The CDC detailed its new recommendations for clinicians today in a Health Alert Network (HAN) advisory. Nirav Shah, MD, JD, the CDC's principal deputy director, said at today's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) briefing—its sixteenth for H5N1—hospitals typically send patients' influenza A samples in batches for subtyping every few days, which he said could lead to delays in antiviral treatment. "Timeliness matters," he said, adding that quicker subtyping has the ability to improve public health investigations, contact tracing, infection control measures in the hospital, and public health response.Shah said the change doesn't reflect a growing level of concern or that the current surveillance system is inadequate. "This policy won't alter the volume, but will accelerate the train," he said. Influenza A subtyping remains fast-tracked for people who have had known exposure to avian flu virus, but the new policy change reflects the current epidemiology, including a few recent cases in people who had no known exposure to H5N1. The CDC said the risk of avian flu to the general public remains low, except for people who have exposure to sick animals or their byproducts. In its last pandemic threat assessment in August, it put said the risk at moderate. And yesterday the CDC spelled out the criteria it would use to upgrade the risk assessment. At today's briefing, Paul Friedrichs, deputy assistant to the president and director of the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response, said his team has met with president-elect Donald Trump's incoming team, passed along a pandemic playbook, and has offered to continue meeting to provide more information.Eric Deeble, DVM, acting senior adviser for the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) H5N1 response, said though agency political appointees may be changing, much of the work will remain in the hands of about 300 career staff who he said are tremendously knowledgeable and are the best in the world. In other developments, HHS today announced it will provide $211 million to the Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle (RRPV) Consortium to enhance mRNA platform capabilities so that the nation is better prepared to respond to emerging infectious diseases such as avian flu. The RRPV is designed to create flexible strategic partnerships between government and industry to support the research and development of vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics. The funding is from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of HHS. Dawn O'Connell, JD, assistant secretary for preparedness and response, said in the statement, "mRNA technology can be faster to develop and easier to update than other vaccines, making it a helpful tool to have against viruses that move fast and mutate quickly."The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today confirmed more outbreaks in poultryin five states, including on a large layer farm in Missouri's Newton County that has more than 1.5 million birds and more turkey farms in Ohio.Also, APHIS reported detections in backyard poultry in Connecticut and Idaho, as well as at two live-bird markets in Florida, one in Hillsborough County and the other in Orange County. Separately, the Michigan’s agriculture department reported the first detection in Wayne County, which involves a backyard flock.Regarding dairy cattle, APHIS reported 1 more detection, another in California, raising the national total to 928 and the state's total to 711. In another related development, Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo yesterday announced that tests have confirmed highly pathogenic avian flu in a Chilean flamingo and a harbor seal, which died from their infections last week. Officials said the source isn't certain, but is likely contact with infected waterfowl.
US flu activity still high, with 11 new deaths in kids -January 17 +Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its weekly FluView update, confirmed 11 new pediatric deaths for the week ending on January 11, lifting the total during the 2024-25 flu season to 27.Overall deaths are also increasing, with flu accounting for 1.5% of deaths in the second week of January. Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated across most of the country, with an 18.8% positivity rate, according to clinical lab data.Outpatient visits for flu are trending down, but the CDC said this is not likely an indication that the flu season has peaked."Although some indicators have decreased or remained stable this week compared to last, this could be due to changes in healthcare seeking behavior or reporting during the holidays rather than an indication that influenza activity has peaked," the CDC said. "The country is still experiencing elevated influenza activity, and that is expected to continue for several more weeks."The CDC estimates that there have been at least 12 million illnesses, 160,000 hospitalizations, and 6,600 deaths from flu so far this season.Influenza A H1N1 and H3N2 are still the dominant strains this season, representing 43.1% and 56.8% of typed samples, respectively, from public health laboratories last week.In updates on the common respiratory illnesses of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, flu, and COVID-19, the CDC said COVID-19 activity has increased in most areas of the country, while RSV activity has peaked in many regions.Overall respiratory viral illness activity is high in the United States, with emergency department (ED) visits for all three diseases increasing. ED visits for COVID-19 are still low, while flu and RSV are classified as high.Wastewater detections are high for COVID-19 and influenza, but now moderate for RSV. Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants shows XEC accounted for 43% of COVID-19 cases, with LP.8.1 accounting for 15%, and KP.3.1.1 accounting for 14%.Wastewater detections for COVID-19 viruses are highest in the upper Midwest, including Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri, and the Northeast, including Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire."COVID predictions for the next two weeks suggest that emergency department visits will remain at a lower level compared to prior winter seasons," the CDC said. "Influenza predictions suggest that emergency department visits will remain at a high to very high level for the next two weeks."
Cases of HMPV are trending up in the US, especially in these states, CDC data shows — Respiratory illnesses are spreading throughout the U.S., causing multiple states to see a spike in hospital visits. The latest data shows another virus, known as HMPV, has also been spiking in some parts of the country.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously confirmed it was monitoring a spike in cases of HMPV, or human metapneumovirus, in China’s northern provinces. The agency noted the cases of the virus, which is not new, were not a “cause for concern in the U.S.” and that rates of infection nationwide are at typical “pre-pandemic” levels.HMPV is considered relatively common, with most infected before age 5, according to Dr. Eileen Schneider, an epidemiologist with the CDC. It often circulates during flu season and causes symptoms similar to the common cold, including coughing, wheezing, congestion and shortness of breath. Data from the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) shows that among lab tests submitted for HMPV, more than 2% tested positive through the first week of January. That’s up slightly from the week prior (1.77%) and more than double the rate reported in early December (0.87%). One area of the U.S. is seeing an even higher positivity rate. Across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, more than 5.8% of tests submitted for HMPV tested positive through the first week of the year, data shows. That’s more than double the positivity rate across the next-highest region — Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Idaho — which sits at around 2.7%. Since fall, most parts of the country have seen HMPV testing positivity climb. The most recent data shows only one region — covering Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Rhode Island and Virginia — has reported a dip. The previous year’s data, stretching from early July 2023 through late June 2024 shows HMPV testing positivity was relatively low through the fall and early winter months before spiking between late March and early June. In the spring of 2024, more than 8% of HMPV tests were positive while in the spring of 2023, they peaked at nearly 11%. Compared to other viruses tracked by the CDC, testing for HMPV has remained relatively low. Testing for influenza, RSV and COVID has largely increased since November. HMPV is typically diagnosed based on symptoms, the Cleveland Clinic explains, and not testing, unless you have serious symptoms. There are no vaccines or treatment therapies for HMPV, which makes preventing the spread of HMPV especially important. Health experts recommend washing your hands often and avoiding contact with those who are infected with HMPV if possible.
Surge in flu and other viruses puts Britain’s National Health Service at breaking point -- Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) is experiencing one of its most severe winter crises. A so-called “quad-demic”—simultaneous surges in flu, COVID-19, norovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)—is exacerbating the strain on already overburdened healthcare services. Hospitals in England face enormous pressures managing an average of 5,408 new flu patients daily, including 256 in critical care, 3.5 times higher than the same period last year. The situation in just as acute in Scotland and Wales. The surge in flu and other illness brought on or exacerbated by the low temperatures means Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments are experiencing unmanageable patient volumes, with overcrowding and long wait times: in some cases of up to two days in emergency departments. A combination of overwhelming demand, insufficient available beds and critical staff shortages has forced almost 20 hospitals to declare a “critical incident”. These include three in Birmingham, the UK’s second largest city, two in Liverpool and three in the South West. The impact of such a declaration means that the hospital focuses resources to prioritize emergency care and critically ill patients. Elective care is delayed, with planned procedures, surgeries, or outpatient appointments being postponed, further extending already bulging waiting lists. In response to the shortage of beds, one hospital trust has even advertised for “corridor nurses,” to care for patients who face prolonged periods waiting in passages and walkways before they can be admitted to a suitable ward. The Times reported, “Across the country, doctors and nurses have reported NHS trusts installing power sockets and oxygen lines in corridor walls, in anticipation of large numbers of patients needing to be stacked there on trolleys while they wait for a bed.” Dr. Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, called the “degrading, dehumanising and dangerous” situation a “total acceptance of failure,” adding, “Let me be clear, it is not possible to provide truly safe patient care in environments such as corridors and cupboards.” The organisation’s vice president Ian Higginson commented that “Corridor nurses and care in corridors utterly normalised… Almost every hospital is treating patients in corridors and car parks.”
Study finds high pneumococcal carriage rate in healthcare workers -- A study of healthcare workers at a Connecticut hospital during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic found that more than one in five were positive for pneumococcal carriage, researchers reported yesterday in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.The study, conducted by researchers at Yale University, evaluated carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae in a convenience sample of medical staff at Yale New Haven Hospital who had enrolled from March 30 to June 11, 2020, in a study that was initially designed to actively monitor asymptomatic healthcare workers for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Using the stored, self-collected saliva samples from that study, the researchers extracted DNA and tested it for the presence of pneumococcal-specific genes piaB and lytA. Samples were considered positive when the piaB cycle threshold (Ct) value was less than 40.Of the 525 participants who enrolled in the study, samples from 392 participants (mean age, 38.7 years; 74% female; 73% white) were selected to test for pneumococcus. Overall, 138 (11%) of 1,241 samples from 86 (21%) of 392 individuals tested piaB-positive during the 4-month study period, with 28 (33%) of 86 colonized individuals positive at multiple time points. Positive individuals reflected the overall study population. Analysis of pneumococcal serotypes found colonized participants primarily carried serotypes 19F (25.6%) and 3 (12.8%), both of which are targeted by the PCV13 vaccine, which covers 13 pneumococcal strains.The study authors note that the 21% prevalence of pneumococcal carriage observed in the study was at a time when strict non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19 (such as masking) were in place and largely adhered to in healthcare settings, and global incidence of invasive pneumococcal diseases had declined. They suggest the rate could be higher post-pandemic, now that those mitigation measures are no longer in place and typical annual circulation of respiratory pathogens has returned."This study highlights that healthcare workers may act as unrecognized reservoirs of pneumococcus in the population," they concluded. "Despite longstanding pediatric immunization programs, vaccine-targeted serotypes continue to be prevalent among the adult population."
High prevalence of multidrug-resistant Salmonella, Shigella found in Ethiopian kids -An estimated 1 in 10 children in Ethiopia are infected with Salmonella or Shigella at any given time, most likely with a multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain, researchers reported last week in BMC Infectious Diseases. In a systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers at Ethiopia's Wollo University examined 21 studies conducted from 2010 to 2024 in different regions of Ethiopia to estimate the pooled prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella species in Ethiopian children. Salmonella and Shigella are major enteric pathogens that cause significant diarrheal mortality in children under 5. The studies involved 5,318 participants and 593 reported bacterial isolates, of which 309 were Salmonella and 284 were Shigella species. The overall pooled prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella was 10.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.96% to 12.45%), ranging from 3.8% to 17.4%, with a significant level of heterogeneity detected among studies. The overall pooled prevalence of MDR Salmonella and Shigella isolates was 81.03% (95% CI, 77.39% to 84.67%). The study authors say the emergence of MDR strains of Salmonella and Shigella represent a threat not only to the pediatric population in Ethiopia but also to hospital settings and the general population in the country."These results highlight the critical challenge posed by MDR strains of both pathogens, emphasizing the need for effective surveillance, more robust treatment strategies, and targeted public health interventions to combat the rising threat of antibiotic resistance in these common infectious agents," the study authors wrote.
Europe details mpox clade 1 cases; UK releases new contact-tracing guidance Yesterday, the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) published an overview of imported mpox clade 1 cases in the European region. This clade of the virus is currently causing a widespread outbreak centered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and is different from clade 2, the virus that caused a global outbreak of mpox among men who have sex with men (MSM).The ECDC said there have been 11 cases in Europe since August 2024, all mild, though clade 1 is considered more transmissible and virulent than clade 2. The first case in Europe was a single case reported in Sweden in August 2024. Germany has had seven cases (one in October, five in December 2024, and one this month), Belgium reported two cases in December 2024, and France reported a single case this month.Of note, some cases in German and Belgium reflect household transmission, with children in each country infected via a household contact who had traveled abroad and contracted the virus. Outside of Europe, both China and the United Kingdom have reported similar cases of household transmission.The ECDC said the overall risk to the population remains low.“Although significant uncertainties exist about the severity of mpox caused by MPXV clade I, most people experience mild to moderate symptoms, followed by a full recovery. It is important to note that close physical (skin-to-skin) contact or touching virus-contaminated materials is necessary to transmit MPX,” the ECDC said.In related news, the UK’s Health Security Agency (HSA) earlier this week released guidance on mpox clade 1 contact tracing.“As soon as a patient has been confirmed as a clade I mpox case, all those who have had contact with the patient during their infectious period… should be identified (in some high-risk cases, identifying contacts may have begun before confirmation),” the guidance reads.The HSA categorizes three contact levels: high (unprotected direct contact); medium (unprotected exposure to infectious materials); and low (protected physical or droplet exposure).
Study examines C diff recurrence, risk factors in cancer patients --An international study of cancer patients with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) found recurrence rates were significant and severe CDI episodes were common, but newer treatments were underused, researchers reported yesterday in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. The study of CDI cases reported at three Australian hospitals and one Spanish hospital from 2020 through 2022 focused on cancer patients because they are particularly vulnerable to CDI, owing to prolonged hospitalizations and exposure to antibiotics. In addition, while newer treatments such as fidaxomicin, bezlotoxumab, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) have shown promise for reducing CDI recurrence in clinical trials, and fidaxomicin is now recommended as a first-line treatment for CDI, cancer patients have been underrepresented in those studies.A total of 547 episodes of CDI among cancer patients were documented over the study period, primarily in patients with lymphoma (19.2%), acute myeloid leukemia (16.6%), and colorectal cancer (7.9%). Of these patients, 57.4% had been hospitalized before developing CDI, and 66.5% had received antibiotics within the preceding 30 days. Fifty percent of the episodes were classified as either severe or severely complicated. The most commonly prescribed CDI therapy was vancomycin (81.5%), followed by metronidazole (15%) and fidaxomicin (9.1%). The 90-day recurrence rate was 15.6% and overall 90-day mortality was 22.3%, but CDI-attributable mortality was 4.9%. Independent risk factors for CDI recurrence were female sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13 to 4.52), age >75 years (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.30 to 5.59), dialysis (OR, 5.15; 95% CI, 1.45 to 18.27), vomiting at presentation (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.55), colonic wall thickening in the CT abdomen (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.06 to 5.49), and vancomycin therapy (OR 4.60, 95% CI 1.34-15.84). The authors say they hope their findings encourage higher uptake of fidaxomicin, bezlotoxumab, and FMT in cancer patients with CDI."Although recurrence rates among these patients are significant, the use of fidaxomicin and other preventive measures was rare,"
USDA notes several food safety lapses tied to Boar's Head Listeria outbreak -- Today the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service published its investigation findings into the Boar's Head deli meat Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, noting multiple food safety lapses at a Boar's Head facility in Jarratt, Virginia. The outbreak occurred last summer and fall and sickened at least 61 people from 19 states. Sixty of the 61 patients were hospitalized, and 10 died. Liverwurst processed at the Jarratt plant was identified as the source of the outbreak. During initial investigations, whole-genome sequencing identified Listeria on both ready-to-eat (RTE) liverwurst and a pallet jack (equipment used to lift and move pallets) that traveled throughout the raw and RTE areas of the plant. All products produced at the plant from May 10, 2024, to July 29, 2024, were eventually recalled—in total more than 7 million pounds of RTE meat and poultry products—and the plant was closed indefinitely on September 13.Investigations into the plant operations showed several problems, including the presence of meat and fat residue from the previous day's production on equipment, multiple instances of condensation near meat products, and structural building problems, including cracks, holes and broken flooring, that could hold moisture and contribute to wet conditions.All of these lapses can contribute to the survival of Listeria. "Observations by VDACS (Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services] inspection personnel documented in noncompliance records (NR) demonstrated multiple instances of noncompliance with Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures and Sanitation Performance Standards," the report states. "While sanitary conditions were required to be restored for each documented noncompliance, repeated instances of insanitary conditions can present opportunities for growth or sustained presence of [Listeria monocytogenes]."
Four countries report new polio cases -Four countries reported new polio cases this week, with onsets in late 2024, according to the weekly update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). The GPEI also notes that Germany has recorded more environmental detections.In Pakistan, 2 new wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases bring the 2024 total to 68. The most recent cases were detected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces, with onsets of paralysis on November 25 and December 21, 2024, respectively.Chad, Ethiopia, and Nigeria all reported new cases of vaccine-derived polio. In Chad, 3 cases were reported this week from Ouaddai and Mayo-Kebbi Est, with onsets of paralysis in November. The total number of cases for 2024 is 29.In Ethiopia, 7 cases were reported, raising the country’s total to 27. And in Nigeria 1 case from Jigawa was recorded, bringing the 2024 total to 94. All vaccine-derived cases reported this week are caused by caused by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). In Germany, 11 environmental samples have tested positive for cVDPV2. The sections were made in November and December and come from Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Sachsen and Bayern.
Suspected Marburg virus outbreak reported in Tanzania - The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday announced a suspected Marburg virus outbreak affecting a part of Tanzania that has previously experienced an outbreak.The group said it received report on January 10 from reliable in-country sources of six suspected cases in Kagera region, five of them fatal. The patients had similar viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) symptoms, which included headache, high fever, muscle pain, diarrhea, and vomiting with blood.As of January 11, nine suspected cases were reported, eight of them fatal. The WHO said health workers are among the suspected cases, which it said underscores the high risk of healthcare-related transmission. VHF pathogens spread among humans through contact with infected body fluids.Kagera region is in the far northwestern part of the country on the border with Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. The WHO said the patients are from two neighboring districts, Biharamulo and Muleba.Samples from two patients have been collected and tested by Tanzania’s National Public Health Laboratory, and results are pending official confirmation. “Contacts, including healthcare workers, are reported to have been identified and under follow-up in both districts,” the WHO said in its statement.Currently, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for Marburg virus infection, though an investigational Marburg vaccine from the Sabin Vaccine Institute was deployed in Rwanda’s outbreak last year to protect health workers in conjunction with a clinical trial.In March 2023, Tanzania reported its first Marburg virus outbreak, which also occurred in Kagera region. The outbreak was declared over in June 2023, with nine infections reported, six of them fatal.The WHO said zoonotic reservoirs of the virus, such as fruit bats, remain in the area. In its risk assessment, the WHO said the threat to Tanzania is high, due to the high case-fatality rate, infections among health workers, and unknown source of the virus. It added that the risk to the region is also high due to Kagera’s transit hub location, which sees significant cross-border movement to the three neighboring countries, as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The WHO put the global risk at low and said though Kagera region isn’t close to Tanzania’s capital or major international airports, it does have an airport that connects to Dar es Salaam for flights outside Tanzania.
Kids exposed to Zika virus in utero can have development delays later in life—even without congenital Zika syndrome -- Two recent studies, including one published today in Pediatrics, show that exposure to the Zika virus (ZIKV) in utero can have affect children's development later in childhood, with today's study showing the finding holds true even when the children are born without signs of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). The study in Pediatrics is based on outcomes seen in Brazil among mother-infant pairs from 2018 to 2022. The children were assessed for early (congenital anomalies) and long-term adverse outcomes (neurodevelopmental delay), and the study included children with and without CZS, which is a group of birth defects associated with the disease.Researchers enrolled 148 mother-child pairs, including 79 Zika-exposed in pregnancy and 69 controls. Children were assessed at ages 2 through 5. Overall, 40 (27.4%) had at least one adverse outcome, including 30 of 77 (39.0%) in the exposed group and 10 of 69 (14.5%) in the control group."Children who were ZIKV exposed in utero had 2.7 times the risk of adverse outcomes compared with children who were not classified as having ZIKV exposure in utero," the authors wrote.Among the Zika-exposed children, 13 had congenital anomalies associated with CZS; notably, all had microcephaly, which means smaller-than-normal brains and heads. Three of the 13 also had hydrocephalus. The overall incidence of congenital anomalies in Zika-exposed children was 16.5 cases per 100 children. In children both with and without CZS in the exposed group, worse outcomes were seen if exposure occurred in the first trimester of pregnancy. "Children who were ZIKV exposed during the first trimester had 11.2 times the chance of adverse early outcomes compared with children who were exposed in third trimester," the authors said. "For long-term outcomes, children who were ZIKV exposed in the first trimester had 2.8 times the chance of having adverse late outcomes compared with children exposed in the third trimester."Exposed children without CZS were more likely to show cognitive delays, rather than gross or fine-motor delays.Though the study was conducted with participants who knew their Zika status in pregnancy through testing, the authors said their findings highlight an important feature of Zika virus infection: In adults, including pregnant women, many infections are asymptomatic."Clinical manifestations in children can surface later, potentially leading to numerous undetected cases," they wrote. "This underscores the complexities in identifying asymptomatic cases, which may result in underestimating the total number of cases."
Chinese researchers describe novel tickborne virus --Chinese scientists say they have identified a potentially novel tickborne virus among patients at a hospital in northeastern China.In a letter published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine, a team led by researchers with Mudanjiang Forestry Central Hospital and the State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity say the virus was identified through metatranscriptomic sequencing of serum samples obtained from 252 patients with fever and recent tick bites from May through July 2023. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the virus, named the Xue-Cheng virus (XCV), belonged to the orthonairovirus genus of the Nairoviridae family but shared less than 75.6% amino acid identity of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase protein with all known orthonairovirus members, indicating a new species. The detection of XCV antigen was confirmed on immunofluorescence assay.Real-time polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) testing of serum samples from 792 participants recruited from May through July of 2022 through 2024 identified 26 XCV-infected patients who were negative for other tickborne infections, with clinical manifestations ranging from nonspecific acute fever to severe disease resulting in hospital admission.The researchers subsequently detected XCV in 6% of Haemaphysalis concinna ticks and 3.2% ofHaemaphysalis japonica ticks in the region, and phylogenetic analysis revealed that four XCV genomes from ticks were clustered with human-derived genomes."These data suggest an emerging tickborne orthonairovirus species as a cause of febrile illness," the authors wrote.
China reports infections from H9N2, H10N3 avian flu --China has reported to more human infections involving H9N2 avian influenza, which involve children from two different provinces, Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said in its latest weekly avian influenza update.The patients include a 1-year-old girl from the city of Chongqing whose symptoms began on December 13, 2024, and an 8-year-old girl from Hubei province who got sick on November 27, 2024. The report did not say how the patients were exposed, but H9N2 infections are typically reported in people who have contact with poultry or poultry environments.H9N2 is known to circulate in poultry across parts of Asia, with sporadic infections reported in people. Infections are typically mild, with most infections reported children. The new cases raise the number of H9N2 infections in China for 2024 to 17.The CHP report also noted another H10N3 infection from the mainland. The patient is a 23-year-old woman from Guangxi province in southern China. Her symptoms began on December 12, 2024. The report didn’t note her exposure to the virus, or her current condition.The woman’s illness appears to mark China’s fourth H10N3 case over the past few years. All cases had severe infections.
San Francisco reports H5N1 avian flu in child --The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) on January 10 announced an H5N1 avian flu infection involving a child with fever and conjunctivitis whose exposure to the virus is still under investigation. In related developments, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today said highly pathogenic avian flu has been detected for the first time in the current outbreaks in Puerto Rico's poultry.In its statement, the SFDPH said the child wasn't hospitalized and has recovered. The child was initially tested for COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and flu. After testing positive for influenza A, follow-up testing revealed H5N1. So far, the investigation hasn't determined how the patient was exposed to the virus. Grant Colfax, MD, the SFDPH health director, said, "I am urging all San Franciscans to avoid direct contact with sick or dead birds, especially wild birds and poultry. Also, please avoid unpasteurized dairy products."Officials said the risk to the public remains low, with no sign of human-to-human transmission.If confirmed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the case would mark the country’s 67th case since the beginning of 2024. Also, the case would mark California's 38th case and its second related to an unknown exposure source, though the virus in the earlier infection was most closely linked to the genotype circulating in dairy cattle. California's first case from an undetermined source also involved a child.In animal health developments, APHIS said the outbreak in Puerto Rico involves a backyard flock. It added that the detection is the first in the US territory's domestic birds since the current clade began circulating in the country in early 2022. Along with the detection in Hawaiian poultry in December, the virus has now been detected in all 50 states and now in one US territory."APHIS is working closely with animal health officials in Puerto Rico on a joint incident response and will provide appropriate support as requested," the agency said.Elsewhere, APHIS confirmed more H5N1 detections in poultry flocks in six states on the US mainland, one of them involving a commercial turkey farm that has about 21,000 birds in Ohio's Darke County. The virus also struck a farm in Oregon's Union County.In four other states, the virus turned up in backyard flocks in South Dakota (Gregory County), Georgia (Clayton County), Idaho (Canyon County), and Texas (Brazoria and Burnet counties).Meanwhile, in the latest dairy herd outbreaks, APHIS confirmed 1 more detection, which involves another California facility, raising the national total to 925 and California's total to 708.
CDC tests confirm another H5N1 case from California --The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today confirmed another human H5N1 avian flu case in California, which likely reflects follow-up testing of a presumed positive involving a San Francisco child. The latest confirmation puts the national total since early 2024 to 67 cases, of which 38 are from California. San Francisco health officialsannounced the presumed-positive case, which involved a child with fever and conjunctivitis who was not hospitalized and has fully recovered, on January 10. Though most of California’s cases involve people with occupational exposure to sick dairy cows, the state has reported two illnesses in people with undetermined exposure sources, both of them children. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) also updated its H5N1 total to 38 today, which adds a second illness from an undetermined exposure source.In an updated risk assessment today, the CDC said the H5N1 risk to the general public remains low, but is higher in farm workers exposed to sick animals or their byproducts, backyard bird flock owners, animal care workers, and animal health and public health responders.The CDC also spelled out the factors that would cause it to raise its risk assessment, including more efficient virus transmission, increased disease severity, more widespread cases, and great impacts from genetic changes in the virus. In other developments, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed more H5N1 outbreaks in poultry from three states. They include a broiler farm in Maryland’s Caroline County that has nearly 229,000 birds and two commercial turkey farms in Ohio, one in Darke County and the other in Mercer County, that, taken together, have about 15,000 birds. APHIS also confirmed the virus in a backyard flock in Phillips County, Kansas.Also, APHIS confirmed 2 more H5N1 detections in dairy cattle, both in California, which pushes the national total to 927 and California’s total to 710.
Experiments in monkeys show limited illness when exposed to H5N1 avian flu by mouth, stomach -- A series of experiments in monkeys suggest that drinking raw milk contaminated with highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu is a risk for infection but may lead to less severe illness than respiratory tract exposure to the virus, researchers reported yesterday in Nature.The study by virologists with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases involved cynomolgus macaques who were exposed via three inoculation routes to the 2.3.4.4b clade of H5N1, the strain of the virus that's been circulating in US dairy cattle since last spring and has infected 40 dairy workers in four states, producing mostly mild illness. The route for cow-to-human transmission so far has been undetermined, and the researchers wanted to use the monkeys— a surrogate model for human infection—to investigate the pathogenesis of different routes of infection.Using a dose of the virus that's close to what's been found in raw milk samples, the researchers infected 18 macaques, exposing 6 to the virus intranasally to mimic an upper respiratory tract infection, 6 via the intratracheal route (windpipe) to mimic a lower respiratory tract infection, and 6 via the orogastric route (mouth and stomach) to mimic consumption. After 14 days, they found that lower respiratory tract exposure caused systemic infection with severe pneumonia and upper respiratory tract exposure resulted in mild-to-moderate pneumonia. The macaques exposed via the mouth or stomach, however, had limited infection but showed no signs of illness. All the monkeys showed evidence for oral and limited nasal shedding, but shedding was higher and prolonged in those inoculated in the nose and windpipe."Overall, our study shows that lower and upper respiratory tract infection can lead to systemic virus replication, virus shedding and pneumonia with varying degrees of disease outcome," the study authors wrote. "In contrast, orogastric exposure led to virus infection, reduced virus shedding and subclinical disease."
H5N1 confirmed in more cats as probe into raw pet food widens -- The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) yesterday reported three more H5 avian flu infections in pet cats after exposure to raw food or raw milk. In other avian flu developments, federal officials confirmed those and several more H5N1 detections in domestic cats from California and other states.With the latest cases noted in an alert to veterinarians yesterday, the LACDPH has now reported seven H5N1 infections in pet cats. Officials had earlier reported four other illnesses, including two that died after drinking recalled raw milk. They also said they were investigating other possible cases in cats that weren’t exposed to raw milk, with raw food as a potential culprit.Cats in one of the earlier-affected households had been exposed to two raw pet food diets, one of which was found to contain live, infectious H5N1 virus. The Monarch Raw Pet Food brand is sold at farmers' markets in California. Oregon health officials have also tied cat illnesses to a nationally marketed brand called Northwest Natural.The LACDPH said an indoor cat in another household became acutely ill—later confirmed with H5N1—after eating three different brands of commercially available raw pet food. An investigation is under way, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is testing samples from the raw pet food.The group also noted that five other cats from two different households have been confirmed with H5N1 after drinking recalled raw milk. All died from their infections.“There have been multiple H5 bird flu probable and suspected cases in cats that either consumed raw pet food or raw milk and became acutely ill, but not all cats were able to be tested,” the LACDPH said, adding that testing is still pending on several additional commercial raw food samples. Given scientific evidence of a connection between contaminated raw food products and severe or fatal H5 infections in cats, the LACDPH urged veterinarians to strongly advise pet owners not to feed pets raw pet foods, raw meat, raw poultry, or raw milk due to the risks associated with the virus.In another new development, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed 11 more H5N1 detections in domestic cats, five of them from Los Angeles County, two from California’s Santa Barbara County, and others from Colorado, Minnesota, and South Dakota.All were sampled in December 2024. In its update on H5N1 in mammals, APHIS also confirmed a detection in a mountain lion from Nebraska that was sampled in March 2024 and an ermine from Alaska sampled in November 2024.
Researchers explore microRNA's role in bird flu infection - Is there a connection between bird flu and microRNA, the tiny bits of RNA which have different tasks in regulating genes and producing the body's building blocks?"MicroRNA is quite stable, and interesting for us who research wildlife. It may tell us something about how animals react to various stress factors in the environment," said Veerle Jaspers, an NTNU professor who is head of a project that is examining this issue. Researchers have checked microRNA inblood samples from ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres) from Australia. Their work will appear in the Journal of Avian Biology.Ruddy turnstones fly over long distances, and probably play an important role in the spread of bird flu. This virus is widespread in wading birds and rarely causes disease, but can mutate into a highly pathogenic form that is a threat to bothwild birds and the poultry industry. So it is useful to know as much as possible about them.But to understand why this matters, it's important to know a little more about what microRNA is. In short, microRNAs help cells control the types and amounts of proteins they make. DNA is the large genetic material in our cells. DNA contains recipes that determine how we look and how our bodies function. Based on these recipes, the body produces various proteins that are the body's building blocks. The recipes from DNA are carried by messengers called messenger RNA or simply mRNA. We have known about these messengers since around 1960. What scientists didn't know about until around 1990 were microRNAs, which are even smaller, and they didn't realize that microRNAs were important until a decade later. MicroRNAs can attach to mRNA so that it doesn't send too many messages to cells to make proteins..You could say that microRNAs help the cell fine-tune protein production, making sure it doesn't make too much or the wrong kind at the wrong time.But back to the ruddy turnstone, the small bird that may play a big role in spreading bird flu. The researchers took blood samples from the birds that corresponded to about a tenth of a teaspoon from each. This was enough to yield a lot of information."We found 163 different forms of microRNA in the ruddy turnstones. Two of these are new and unique to birds," said Brand.The researchers checked which variants of microRNA they could find in both healthy birds and birds that were infected with a less pathogenic variant of bird flu called low pathogenic avian influenza."We did this to see if we could find out more about how the birds react to the infection," Brand said.They found something that could be useful: Different birds react differently to being infected with bird flu."We found differences in the amount of specific microRNAs in the infected birds. It seems to be related to both gender and age," Brand said.These findings could help develop a new tool for investigating how bird flu affects wild birds.
First CWD case in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, reported in buck -Wisconsin officials have announced the first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Manitowoc County, according to the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter.The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said the infected 1-year-old buck was harvested November 23 on private land less than 10 miles from borders with Calumet and Sheboygan counties in the far eastern part of the state.The new case has prompted a baiting and feeding ban in Manitowoc, which already had local baiting and feeding restrictions, and resets baiting and feeding dates for Calumet County. It won't affect the ban in CWD-positive Sheboygan County, which expires later. A fatal neurodegenerative disease, CWD is caused by infectious misfolded proteins called prions, which spread among cervids such as deer, elk, and moose. The disease isn't known to infect people, but some experts fear it could cause illness similar to another prion disease: bovine spongiform encephalopathy ("mad cow" disease). The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns against eating meat from infected animals.
CWD prions found in moose, deer, reindeer muscles in Norway, highlighting potential risk to people -- Researchers who late last week reported finding chronic wasting disease (CWD) prions in the muscles of infected moose, red deer, and reindeer in Norway say the discovery raises questions about the risk of human exposure through eating the meat of infected cervids (members of the deer family).CWD is a fatal neurodegenerative cervid disease caused by prions, infectious proteins that trigger abnormal folding in normal proteins, especially in the central nervous system (CNS). Infected animals shed CWD prions in body fluids, which can spread to other cervids through direct contact or the environment. The authors note that previous studies of cervids infected with North American CWD prion strains have detected prions in lymphoid tissues, peripheral nerves, muscles, blood, and excreta. But this was the first identification of European CWD prion strains in cervid muscle. The study was published in Emerging Infectious Diseases."The tissue distribution of PrPSc [CWD prions] in reindeer, with a CWD strain similar to cases found in North America, was therefore not surprising," the researchers wrote. "However, the findings of PrPSc in peripheral tissues in moose and red deer by PMCA [protein misfolding cyclic amplification] were less expected, especially in muscles, given the sporadic occurrence and lack of evidence, to date, for contagiousness of these new CWD strains."First identified in 1967 in Colorado, CWD has now been found in 35 US states, Canada, Finland, Norway, South Korea, and Sweden. CWD prion strains seen in reindeer and moose in Nordic countries differ substantially from those found in North American cervids and have been characterized as sporadic rather than contagious."CWD sporadically detected in moose and red deer in 3 Nordic countries demonstrated pathologic and strain characteristics different from CWD in reindeer, including an unexpected lack of prions outside the central nervous system as measured by standard diagnostic tests," the Norwegian Veterinary Institute–led research team wrote.Studies have shown two distinct patterns of prion progression in animals, the authors noted. The one observed with contagious CWD prion strains—North American CWD—involves the replication of prions in tissues from the lymphoreticular system (organs and tissues involved in immune responses) followed by spread to the peripheral nervous system and then the brain. With the other pattern, seen in less-contagious or noninfectious prion diseases such as atypical scrapie in sheep and goats, replication mainly takes place in the CNS."The presence of prions in peripheral tissues indicates that CWD may have a systemic nature in all Norwegian cervid species, challenging the view that prions are exclusively localized in the CNS in sporadic CWD of moose and red deer," the researchers concluded. "Our findings expand the notion of just how widely distributed prions can be in cervids affected with CWD and call into question the capability of emerging CWD strains in terms of infectivity to other species, including humans."
Mecosta becomes latest Michigan county to report CWD -- With the detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a deer, Mecosta County becomes the 14th Michigan county to report the fatal neurodegenerative illness, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR)reported yesterday. The buck was harvested in Millbrook Township in the west-central part of the state. Neighboring Montcalm County has reported 167 CWD cases. The DNR conducted intensive CWD surveillance in Mecosta County from 2017 to 2019, testing more than 5,600 deer but finding no positive cases. CWD, which affects cervids such as white-tailed deer, elk, and moose, is caused by infectious misfolded proteins called prions. After initial surveillance in areas near the first CWD detections in Michigan, the DNR began taking a rotational approach to testing in 2021. Each year, a group of counties is chosen, with the goal of testing deer in every county in the state.The expansion of CWD to Mecosta County is consistent with the slow spread we've seen throughout Michigan, especially since the CWD-positive animal was harvested near confirmed cases in adjacent Montcalm County. In 2021 and 2022, testing focused on the southwestern and southeastern Lower Peninsula. In 2023, the focus shifted to the northern Lower Peninsula, and in 2024, it moved to the northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula.Since CWD was first detected in Michigan wild deer in 2015, more than 109,000 deer have been tested. Since 2002, more than 143,000 wild deer have been tested through DNR surveillance, which identified 260 CWD-positive deer. More than 2,500 samples that hunters submitted to the Michigan State University laboratory since direct hunter submission began in 2020 have yielded another 47 cases, for 307 total CWD-positive deer.In addition to Mecosta and Montcalm, counties with confirmed cases are Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Midland, and Ogemaw.No CWD infections have been reported in people, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends against the consumption of infected animals.
Mule deer on Montana's Flathead Indian Reservation tests positive for CWD --A hunter-harvested mule deer in the Hog Heaven Management Zone of Montana's Flathead Indian Reservation was confirmed positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD) on January 6, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation and Conservation (DFWRC) announced yesterday.The reservation is located in the western part of the state on the Flathead River. "The CSKT Wildlife Program is implementing the initial response protocol from the Tribe’s CWD Surveillance and Management Plan," the CSKT news release said. The response will include the collection of samples from 150 mule deer harvested from Hog Heaven and Irvine herds to determine CWD prevalence. "It is extremely important for the health of our Tribal people and our big game herds that any deer, elk or moose harvested from this area is tested for Chronic Wasting Disease before consumption," CSKT said. "There currently no vaccine for CWD, and if it were to spread to humans it would likely be through consuming infected meat." CWD is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by infectious misfolded proteins called prions, which spread among cervids such as deer, elk, and moose and through environmental contamination. The disease isn't known to infect people, but experts fear it could cause illness similar to the prion disease bovine spongiform encephalopathy ("mad cow" disease). The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn against eating meat from infected animals.
Elk becomes first CWD-positive case of its species on a Wyoming feeding ground -- An elk found dead on the Scab Creek Feedground in Elk Hunt Area 98 in Wyoming at the end of December has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), the Wyoming Game and Fish Department reported yesterday.The hunt area, located in the Pinedale region in Sublette County, abuts three other CWD-positive elk areas: 28, 92, and 127. Sublette County is located in the west-central part of the state. This is the third reported CWD case in the hunt area and the first positive elk on a Wyoming feeding ground. "Scab Creek feedground will be included in the Department’s first Feedground Management Action Plan (FMAP) process this year," the DNR said in a news release. "This process will explore both long-term and short-term opportunities to reduce elk reliance and disease transmission risks on feedgrounds."CWD, a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by misfolded proteins called prions, can spread among cervids like deer, elk, and moose and through environmental contamination. The disease isn't known to infect people, but experts fear it could cross the species barrier. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautions against eating meat from an infected animal or handling the carcass without taking precautions.
Colorado's historic wolf reintroduction faces barrage of challenges a year after first paws hit the ground -Depending on who's talking, Colorado's wolves are an existential threat to ranching, an imperiled native species crucial to a healthy ecosystem, a ruthless predator that kills for sport or a beautiful species that enriches lives.Despite a full year passing since the first reintroduced canines put paws on the ground, tensions over the apex predator remain high.Over the last year, the voter-mandated reintroduction has faced a series of legal challenges, a petition from ranchers to pause the next releases, potential budget cuts, a claim for more than a half-million dollars in wolf-caused damages and, now, a proposed ballot measure to repeal the first statewide vote authorizing the program just over four years ago. "A little bit of this conflict is about the wolves themselves. But what I think people are really arguing about is more than that: who has power and who doesn't," said Matt Barnes, a rangeland scientist and former ranch manager who served on the stakeholder advisory group for the reintroduction."It's about what public land is for and how people think humans should relate to the rest of nature—and who gets to decide."The challenges facing the program have not stopped the expected arrival this week of more wolves, however. Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists on Sunday began trapping wolves in British Columbia, Canada, for transport to Colorado and release in Eagle, Garfield or Pitkin counties. Representatives from CPW have declined to confirm whether wolves from Canada had already been released, but they said they would provide more information once they finished the operation. Biologists expect to add up to 15 more wolves this month to the nine other wolves already roaming the state in the wild. Ahead of the new wolf releases, tension over the species boiled over in a seven-hour public hearing Wednesday, where CPW commissioners weighed whether to grant ranchers' request to delay them. Just minutes into the public comment period, the commission's chair was forced to briefly pause the proceedings to ask participants to lower the tone of their rhetoric and stop bashing opposing views."We cannot have a productive dialogue if we're just yelling at each other and accusing," commission Chairman Dallas May said.Throughout the hours of comment, some wolf advocates called livestock producers "privileged wolf haters" and accused ranchers of crying crocodile tears, fearmongering and trying to undermine democracy."There is a coordinated effort to undermine and sabotage wolf recovery in our state," wolf advocate Kelly Murphy said.Ranchers told commissioners that their livelihood, their way of life and their children's futures were at risk. They said they felt under attack."It's very difficult to hear folks accuse ranchers of being poachers and villains," said fifth-generation Grand County rancher Lee Bruchez, his voice cracking. "I appreciate the reminder, though, that there are many who are ignorant of the plight of those of us actually living with these wolves."Of the 10 wolves released into Colorado's central mountains a year ago, three are dead and one remains in captivity, along with four of her pups, after a series of livestock killings involving her pack. Nine known wolves remain wild: six adults from the 2023 releases, two wolves remaining from a pack that migrated south from Wyoming and a pup that was left behind when the rest of the depredating pack was removed from the wild.Two of the three dead wolves were shot. One survived its gunshot wound but the other—the father of the state's first pups born of reintroduced wolves—died from his injury.
Biden administration falls short on finalizing sage grouse protections - The Biden administration took steps Thursday to safeguard an iconic bird species of the Western United States — but did so in only two out of the 10 states where such protections were anticipa*ted.The Bureau of Land Management announced that it would sign records of decision to improve the conservation of greater sage-grouse on public lands in Colorado and Oregon.Although this decision could be critical for longevity of the sage-grouse in these two areas, a proposal released just two months ago had signaled that such protections would apply to 10 states — and could be issued before President-elect Trump takes office. The greater sage-grouse, which has long been suffering from population decline, is considered an indicator species: a species whose well-being indicates the vitality of others in the surrounding sagebrush ecosystem.Known for their unique spiked plumage and chunky, round bodies, the sage-grouse have fallen prey to the impacts of climate change, according to the bureau.The birds — which require up to 40 square miles of intact landscape to stay healthy — also inhabit the same areas that house a wealth of oil, gas and mineral resources.Whether the plans finalized Thursday will stay intact once Trump takes office is unknown, as he previously sought to revoke protections of the bird on 10 million acres of public lands.And while a federal judge ultimately overturned that decision, Trump has vowed to ramp up domestic fossil fuel production.The habitat conservation measures approved for Colorado and Oregon on Thursday will help support communities in the West and benefit more than 350 wildfire species, according to the bureau.
FDA bans use of Red No. 3 dye -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned a controversial red dye from food and ingested drugs that has been linked to cancer in animals. The FDA has decided to rescind its approval of FD&C Red No. 3 — also referred to simply as Red No. 3 — from food and drug supplies more than 30 years after the agency banned it from cosmetics.The agency’s decision comes less than a week before President-elect Trump is set to take office. He and his pick for secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., are expected to make good on promises to crack down on the use of artificial food dyes. Red No. 3 was approved for permanent use in food and ingested drugs roughly 50 years ago and has been used as an artificial food coloring to give products such as candy, cakes and frosting a bright cherry-red color.The FDA’s ban on the dye comes two years after advocates submitted a petition to the agency to have it removed from food products, arguing companies should instead use a natural color from food such as beets, red cabbage and black currants. Studies cited in the petition show that high dosages of the dye can cause cancer in male rats, but the FDA insists Red No. 3 does not cause cancer in humans. “Relevant exposure levels to FD&C Red No. 3 for humans are typically much lower than those that cause the effects shown in male rats,” the agency said in a statement. Some consumer advocacy groups and lawmakers who have tried to pressure the agency into rescinding its approval of the dye lauded the FDA’s decision Wednesday.“At long last, the FDA is ending the regulatory paradox of Red 3 being illegal for use in lipstick, but perfectly legal to feed to children in the form of candy,” said Peter G. Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, one of the organizations behind the 2022 petition to the FDA to end the dye’s use. “The primary purpose of food dyes is to make candy, drinks, and other processed foods more attractive,” he continued. “When the function is purely aesthetic, why accept any cancer risk?” The administration said it was removing the dye as a “matter of law” citing the Delaney Clause, a federal law that prohibits the addition of any chemical to food that has been shown to cause cancer in humans or animals.Food manufacturers that use Red No. 3 will have until Jan. 15, 2027, to reformulate their products, while drug manufacturers have until Jan. 18, 2028, according to a statement from the FDA
List: Which foods have Red Dye 3, banned by the FDA? – A colorful ingredient you may find in your pantry or medicine cabinet is now banned by the Food and Drug Administration.Erythrosine, which is more likely to show up as FD&C Red No. 3 or Red 3 on an ingredients label, is a color additive in food products, dietary supplements, and medicines like cough syrup. It gives those products a bright red color.The additive was shown to cause cancer in lab rats who were exposed to it at high levels. Even though studies have not shown the same effect in people exposed to Red 3, a statute known as the Delaney Clause requires the FDA to ban any additive found to cause cancer in people or rats.Now, food manufacturers have until January 2027 to remove Red 3 from their products. Medicine containing the additive will also need to be reformulated by January 2028.Some of the items known to contain Red 3 include:
- Maraschino cherries (some brands)
- Pez Candy (assorted fruit)
- Dubble Bubble Original Twist Bubble Gum
- Trolli Sour Crunchy Crawlers Candy
- Yoo-hoo Strawberry Flavored Drink
- Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake Bar, and other frozen desserts
- McCormick red food coloring (and other brands of food coloring)
- Some brands of cough syrup and cough drops
- Some brands of gummy vitamins
- Some snack cakes and frostings
This isn’t the first time Red 3 has been targeted by U.S. regulators. It was barred from use in cosmetics in 1990. Red 3 is also banned for food use in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, except in certain kinds of cherries. The dye will be banned in California starting in January 2027, and lawmakers in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Indiana have filed proposals to limit certain dyes, particularly from foods offered in public schools.
Yellow dye from the bloodred webcap fungus may be harmful to humans—red dye could be a safe alternative -- The safety of dyes obtained from the bloodred webcap fungus can vary, according to a new doctoral dissertation exploring their toxicity. Completed at the University of Eastern Finland, the study found that red dermorubin seemed safe in cellular studies, whereas yellow emodin caused mutations in a commonly used bacterial mutation test and oxidative stress in human cells. The bloodred webcap (Cortinarius sanguineus) is a traditional textile-dyeing mushroom that produces up to 15 different anthraquinone dyes. "Synthetic dyes that are currently used, as well as their production, are a major environmental pollutant. There is a need for sustainably produced, biodegradable dyes for textiles and packaging, and the bloodred webcap is a potential source for those," Doctoral Researcher Johanna Yli-Öyrä of the University of Eastern Finland notes. "However, natural origin is not a safety guarantee, and it is important to study the safety aspects of dyes obtained from the bloodred webcap before large-scale production and use."The dissertation explored the toxicity of the most common dyes obtained from the bloodred webcap—emodin, dermocybin and dermorubin—as well as a mixture extract of the mushroom. The study also analyzed the metabolism of the dyes, or how they are chemically transformed in the body, as sometimes the toxicity of a substance requires metabolic activation.It was found that emodin, the most commonly present dye in the bloodred webcap, causes mutations in a bacterial mutation test, and oxidative stress in human cells. It can also cause skin sensitization—in other words, allergies. Orange dermocybin caused some oxidative stress in human cells but other harmful effects were not detected."However, we found that dermocybin is metabolized into several products whose activity is not known. Dermocybin seems to be a good dye option, but further studies are needed to be sure," Yli-Öyrä says."Red dermorubin, on the other hand, seems to be a safe and good dye—it did not cause cellular toxicity, and it does not get chemically transformed in the body."According to Yli-Öyrä, it can also be deduced from the results that, in terms of safety assessment, anthraquinones cannot be handled as a single group."Even though their chemical structure is similar, their toxicity varies from compound to compound."
Study links air pollution exposure to type 2 diabetes susceptibility -- A study by researchers at Wayne State University links exposure to air pollution to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Their paper, published in the journal Diabetes, established a robust association between exposure to benzene, a prevalent airborne volatile organic compound, and insulin resistance in humans across all ages.Marianna Sadagurski, Ph.D., associate professor at Wayne State University's Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, was the lead author of the paper, "Microglia Mediate Metabolic Dysfunction From Common Air Pollutants Through NF-κB Signaling.""In our paper, we performed a meta-analysis where we collected data from different populations ranging from young adults to the elderly," said Sadagurski. "We saw a significant correlation between the presence of benzene metabolites in people's urine and increased index of insulin resistance."Sadagurski and her fellow researchers concluded that the microglial NF-κB pathway plays a critical role in chemical-induced metabolic disturbances, revealing a vital pathophysiological mechanism linking exposure to airborne toxicants and the onset of metabolic diseases."In this study, we exposed mice to benzene to see how it affects their blood glucose levels and energy expenditure," said Sadagurski. "Our research revealed that within seven days of exposure, they developed high blood glucose insulin levels."Following exposure in mice, disruptions in energy homeostasis, accompanied by modifications in the hypothalamic transcriptome and alterations in insulin and immune signaling, were observed exclusively in males, leading to a surge in blood glucose levels.The researchers noted that acute benzene exposure triggers hypothalamic insulin resistance and provokes an inflammatory shift associated with NF-κB pathway in the microglial transcriptome. Genetic ablation of this pathway in microglia, rescued metabolic phenotype in benzene-exposed mice.
PFAS above limit in millions of Virginians' drinking water - Some 2.5 million Virginians have PFAS in their drinking water at higher levels than the legal limits recently put forth by the federal government. The numbers, which were self-reported to state regulators, identify public drinking utilities in Fairfax, Newport News, Norfolk, Roanoke and Charlottesville as exceeding the threshold. A full picture of PFAS contamination is not yet available because most water utilities haven’t reported any testing results to the state. That picture will become clearer in the coming years, as water utilities approach a federal deadline requiring they release test results. PFAS are a class of chemicals known for their unbreakable chemical bonds. Initially prized for their use in the chemical coating Teflon, PFAS are now widely viewed as toxic: exposure to PFAS has been linked with decreased fertility, developmental disabilities, and cancer. People are also reading… In 2023, three chemical companies — DuPont, Chemours and Corteva — agreed to pay a collective $1.2 billion to settle PFAS contamination claims made by water utilities that represented most Americans drinking water. The EPA set the first-ever drinking water standards to protect Americans from the chemicals in April 2024. In its announcement, the agency said the rules would “prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of PFAS-attributable illnesses.” At the moment, 274 Virginia water works have been tested from a total of over 2,800. Because testing is incomplete, it’s likely the total number of Virginians with PFAS in their water is an undercount.
Study links PFAS contamination of drinking water to a range of rare cancers -Communities exposed to drinking water contaminated with manufactured chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) experience up to a 33% higher incidence of certain cancers, according to new research from the Keck School of Medicine of USC.The study, published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, is the first to examine cancer and PFAS contamination of drinking water in the U.S.PFAS, which are used in consumer products such as furniture and food packaging, have been found in about 45% of drinking water supplies across the United States. Past research has linked the chemicals, which are slow to break down and accumulate in the body over time, to a range of health problems, including kidney, breast and testicular cancers.To paint a more comprehensive picture of PFAS and cancer risk, Keck School of Medicine researchers conducted an ecological study, which used large population-level datasets to identify patterns of exposure and associated risk.They found that between 2016 and 2021, counties across the U.S. with PFAS-contaminated drinking water had higher incidence of certain types of cancer, which differed by sex. Overall, PFAS in drinking water are estimated to contribute to more than 6,800 cancer cases each year, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)."These findings allow us to draw an initial conclusion about the link between certain rare cancers and PFAS," said Shiwen (Sherlock) Li, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine and first author of the study. "This suggests that it's worth researching each of these links in a more individualized and precise way."In addition to providing a roadmap for researchers, the findings underscore the importance of regulating PFAS. Starting in 2029, the EPA will police levels of six types of PFAS in drinking water, but stricter limits may ultimately be needed to protect public health, Li said.
Food from farms contaminated with ‘forever chemicals’ may pose human health risks: EPA - Food produced on farms whose land was contaminated with toxic “forever chemicals” may pose a risk to human health, according to a new draft report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The report from the EPA is focused on risks to those who live near impacted farms or who otherwise rely primarily on their products rather than for the general public. Nevertheless, the findings are an acknowledgment from the agency that these chemicals can pose a risk through food. In particular, the agency found potential risks from drinking milk and eating beef or eggs from contaminated farms.It also found possible risk from drinking water sourced from contaminated groundwater or eating fish from a lake affected by farm runoff. In particular, it found risks of cancer exceed acceptable levels. The report is also a potential step toward action from the government to address the problem — though it will be up to the incoming Trump administration whether to act. The last Trump administration expressed interest in addressing the issue of “forever chemicals” but critics say it slow-walked the process. More broadly, it took a relatively relaxed approach to chemical regulation, including by excluding some substances from safety reviews.“Forever chemicals” are the nickname of a class of chemicals that have been used over the years in a wide range of nonstick, waterproof and greaseproof products, ranging from pans to clothing to makeup to fast food containers. They have also been used by the military in firefighting foams. These substances, also known as PFAS, have been linked to a wide range of illnesses, including cancers, immune system and fertility issues and kidney, liver and thyroid problems. They are also persistent in the environment and build up over time instead of breaking down.Many American farms have become contaminated through the land application of PFAS-containing “sewage sludge” — a byproduct that comes from treating wastewater produced by households and businesses. This sludge has been applied to some farms as fertilizer — but in cases where it contained PFAS, it led to those chemicals being spread as well. The EPA’s draft assessment applied to just two types of PFAS, known as PFOA and PFOS. They are among the most widespread and well-studied of the thousands in the “forever chemical” family.The EPA’s report comes after farmers in Texas and Maine sued the agency to try to get it to regulate the chemicals. Environment and health advocates also noted that a significant amount of farmland may be contaminated. The Environmental Working Group released an estimate on Tuesday finding that as much as almost 70 million acres of farmlands may be affected. “A lot of people consume food that’s grown on our farms, and especially around rural communities,” Jared Hayes, senior policy analyst at the Environmental Working Group, told The Hill. He added that the report “highlights the fact that we need to do more studying on this, so that the general population food supply is well understood.”
Cost to clean up toxic PFAS pollution could top £1.6tn in UK and Europe --The cost of cleaning up toxic forever chemical pollution could reach more than £1.6tn across the UK and Europe over a 20-year period, an annual bill of £84bn, research has found. The number of British pollution hotspots is also on the rise. If emissions remain unrestricted and uncontrolled, the costs of cleanup will reach £9.9bn a year in the UK, according to the findings of a year-long investigation by the Forever Lobbying Project, a cross-border investigation involving 46 journalists and 18 experts across 16 countries. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” are a family of more than 10,000 human-made substances. Manufactured by a handful of companies, they are widely used in consumer products and industrial processes. They can be found in nonstick pans, pizza boxes, cosmetics, waterproof clothing, firefighting foam and pharmaceuticals, among other places. The properties that make them so useful – heatproof, greaseproof and waterproof – also have fateful downsides. Almost indestructible without human intervention and persistent in living organisms, PFAS have been linked to infertility, cancers, immune and hormone disruption, and other illnesses. PFAS are ubiquitous and have been detected in drinking water and surface waters across the UK, which makes the task of remediation huge and complex. Hotspots of contamination include landfills, airports, military sites, sewage outfalls, sewage sludge, manufacturers and industrial users of PFAS, and places where large amounts of firefighting foams have been used. The Drinking Water Inspectorate’s latest sampling found 278 examples where untreated drinking water exceeded maximum guidance levels, and a further 255,610 samples at levels where measures should be taken to reduce PFAS. Just to clean up existing legacy pollution in the UK, analysis has found it will cost an estimated £428m every year for the next 20 years, based on existing cost data. This would cover remediating contaminated soils, landfill leachate and to treat 5% of the drinking water in large water supply zones for just the two regulated PFAS compounds, PFOS and PFOA. These costs are conservative, as they only include decontamination costs, not socioeconomic costs or potential costs to the health system. It also assumes that PFAS emissions stop immediately.
Manatees congregate in warm waters near power plants as US winter storms graze Florida -A polar vortex that has hit much of the U.S. with ice and snow has dealt a glancing blow to Florida, dropping coastal temperatures and causing the Sunshine State's manatee population, still recovering from a mass starvation event several years ago, to seek warmer waters.Besides inland natural springs, a popular destination for the docile aquatic mammals is the warm-water outflows of about a dozen power plants around Florida. Manatees have been attracted to the warm-water discharges for decades, following a watery travel route that mother manatees have taught to manatee calves. Public viewing areas are located near power plants in Riviera Beach, Fort Myersand Apollo Beach.Dozens of the sea cows, which can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) long and 1,200 pounds (544 kilograms), have been congregating for the past week near Florida Power & Light Company's Riviera Beach plant, where the company opened the Manatee Lagoon attraction in 2016. The two-story, 16,000-square-foot complex is free and open to the public. They're hosting a family-friendlyManateeFest on Feb. 1.
Winter storm affecting nearly 80 million leads to multiple crashes and flight cancellations across the Southern U.S. – (3 videos) A major winter storm swept through the Southern United States from Thursday, January 9, 2025, to Saturday, January 11, bringing heavy snows of up to 28 cm (11 inches) to some regions, causing over 1 000 flight cancellations and multiple crashes across the South. The heaviest snow piled up from eastern Texas into western Tennessee, where over 15 cm (6 inches) accumulated in some areas by midday Friday. More than 1,200 flights were canceled into and out of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the nation’s busiest airport. The storm prompted winter weather alerts in nearly 20 states, affecting approximately 80 million people from Arkansas to Delaware and north into the Midwest and Great Lakes. Heavier snow fell to the north, including 8.9 cm (3.5 inches) in Oklahoma City, setting a new snowfall record for the date on Thursday, January 9. It was also the snowiest calendar day in the city since February 3, 2022, when 9.7 cm (3.8 inches) fell. Significant snow accumulations were reported across the affected regions, with isolated totals of 23 – 28 cm (9 – 11 inches) recorded in some areas. Knollwood, Texas, recorded 28 cm (11 inches) of snow between Friday and Saturday, January 9 – 10, while Muenster recorded 23 cm (9 inches) in the same period. In Dallas, 5.6 cm (2.2 inches) of snow accumulation was reported on Thursday, marking the highest snowfall in the city for any calendar day since February 14, 2021. The heaviest snow piled up from eastern Texas into western Tennessee, where over 15 cm (6 inches) accumulated by midday Friday in some parts. Little Rock, Arkansas, reported 18 cm (7 inches) of snow by Friday morning. The highest accumulation was 36.3 cm (14.3 inches) at Mena, located in west-central Arkansas. Over half the flights at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth International experienced delays or cancellations, with at least 330 flights in Charlotte canceled. Approximately 120 000 power outages were reported across the South, with nearly 100 000 occurring in Georgia alone. Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for Georgia, while states of emergency were also declared in Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
Polar vortex to bring life-threatening temperatures to US this weekend -- Temperatures are expected to plummet over the weekend, bringing life-threatening conditions to large stretches of the United States. The polar vortex will send temperatures below freezing for much of the country starting this weekend and stretching into next week, including for two major national events Monday: President-elect Trump’s inauguration and the college football national championship. The northern part of the country will experience the Arctic temperatures first, beginning Friday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. Very cold air from the Arctic Circle will come down over Canada and rush over the U.S. Friday night into Saturday morning. It will expand over much of the country and could be some of the longest-lasting Arctic air to hit the country in years, with temperatures that could feel like -40 degrees, CNN reported. Snow is expected to begin downwind of Lake Erie and stretch across western New York beginning Thursday. Moderate to heavy snow is expected for the central Appalachians and stretch into parts of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The NWS said the Central U.S. and the Rocky Mountains are expected to experience an “abrupt change to reality” by Friday, with cold fronts, frigid temperatures and brutally cold wind chills. Some snow showers may happen.
Freezing temperatures and heavy snow cause disruptions in southeastern Europe - Southeastern Europe is experiencing much lower than expected temperatures this week, bringing heavy snowfall and flooding risks. Freezing temperatures and heavy snow have caused disruptions in several parts of southeastern Europe, ranging from transport issues to schools being forced to shut. A storm system has brought strong winds, heavy rainfall, and snowfall in mountainous areas across parts of countries such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Slovenia. More than 70 schools were closed in Albania on Monday after access to several villages was blocked by severe weather. Authorities have been clearing snow from roads and restoring traffic in the Balkan nation's northern and southeastern parts. Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Italy have also issued alerts for heavy snow in recent days. In Bulgaria's Smolyan region, snow cover reached 40 centimetres on Monday. The heavy snowfall caused problems at the Predel Pass, where two trucks crashed and had to be removed with snow-clearing machinery. Despite the large amount of snow and severe traffic, there were no major traffic jams, according to local media reports. In North Macedonia, in the region of Prilep, the authorities put restrictions on cargo vehicles due to the snowfall. The local traffic authorities announced that the situation on the regional roads was complicated, but under control. "They have been working (the emergency crews) for 36 hours continuously since the snow started to fall," said Sasho Vasilevski, the manager of the country's public road management service. Municipalities located above 800 metres in the Italian region of Puglia have also experienced significant snowfall. The wave of cold air coming from northeastern Europe significantly worsened weather conditions in the province of Foggia, where snowfall was recorded in mountain locations such as Faeto and Monteleone. The cold temperatures also brought flood risks to lower altitude areas. On Tuesday, Sicily issued a yellow alert due to heavy thunderstorms affecting the entire island. France has also issued an orange flood warning for the north, and there are avalanche alerts across the western Alps. A colder-than-expected weather outlook is bringing freezing temperatures to the rest of the continent as well, and they are expected to last all week. In contrast, the Nordic region is milder than usual over the next 10 days. The average temperature in Helsinki will reach 3°C on Thursday, about 8°C above the norm. The European Environment Agency (EEA) warned in December that climate change was fuelling increasingly extreme weather on the continent, including severe cold spells.
Intense rains and floods claim 17 lives in Bolivia - Intense rains and floods affecting parts of Bolivia over the past couple of days have left at least 17 people dead and nearly 500 homes damaged or destroyed. Heavy rainfall, strong winds, and thunderstorms since January 6, 2025, have caused catastrophic flooding, overflowing rivers, landslides, and widespread damage across central and northern regions of the country. The affected areas include the departments of La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, and Oruro, with La Paz being the worst hit. Over 19 000 families have been impacted across 36 municipalities facing disruptions and displacements. The persistent rainfall has overwhelmed local infrastructure and triggered widespread destruction. The Bolivian Meteorology and Hydrology Service (SENAMHI) has warned of continued heavy rainfall on January 10 for the next 48 hours with localized areas likely to experience extremely intense downpours. Emergency services remain on high alert and are working to mitigate the crisis while assisting affected communities. Authorities have mobilized resources to provide aid to affected families and monitor high-risk areas for further hazards in La Paz. Heavy rains in La Paz on January 9 lasted over 9 hours and resulted in the overflow of rivers and the collapse of several structures. The Huaynajahuira River, flowing through the Achumani neighborhood, exceeded its canal’s capacity and caused flooding along Costanera Avenue. Juan Pablo Palma, the La Paz municipal secretary for Resilience and Vulnerability Management, noted that collapsed walls and railways were because of insufficient structural conditions. Emergency services responded to 20 cases which received over 40 flood-related calls and recorded 4 traffic accidents. Landslides were reported in Cochabamba’s Thacoloma, Alto Universitario, and Alto Cochabamba areas on January 8 and it affected over 540 families. Residents criticized the lack of attention from municipal authorities over the years.
Extreme rainfall leaves 10 dead in Ipatinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil - -- Extreme rainfall hit parts of Minas Gerais, Brazil late Saturday into Sunday, January 11 into 12, 2025, causing destructive landslides in which at least 10 people lost their lives. Extreme rain in the Vale do Aço region of Minas Gerais produced floods and landslides on January 12, with the worst affected the city of Ipatinga (population 227 000) where 9 fatalities were confirmed. According to the mayor’s office, the city received 80 mm (3.1 inches) within an hour on Saturday night (LT) and 204 mm (8 inches) by Sunday morning. At a press conference early Sunday evening (LT), the mayor detailed damage to the city and what happened to the victims, declaring a state of emergency. “We have houses collapsed, avenues blocked, and mud inundating several areas, leaving homes flooded,” the mayor said. “We are responding to the most urgent cases. If you have not been able to contact the Civil Defense, SAMU, or firefighters, please send us a message on social media.” Among the victims are five people from the same family and two children. Another landslide on the same hillside demolished an entire street and left homes and infrastructure in ruins. In the nearby town of Santana do ParaÃso, another body was discovered bringing the confirmed death toll to 10. Emergency responders are still working to locate missing persons and assist displaced families. In total, the city’s firefighters responded to 58 incidents related to heavy rain, with most for landslides and inspections in areas at risk of landslides. 460 people have been displaced and will be sent to the Ipatingão Stadium.
Cyclone Dikeledi makes landfall over Madagascar, Mayotte braces for another cyclone - Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi made landfall in Madagascar’s Antsiranana province on Saturday, January 11, 2024 bringing destructive winds of up to 155 km/h (96 mph), torrential rainfall, and dangerous sea conditions, with significant impacts expected to spread across the region in the coming days. Satellite image of Cyclone Dikeledi at landfall. The system is expected to move over the Mozambique Channel, where it will likely intensify. It is forecast to pass 100 km (62 miles) south of Mayotte as a tropical storm on Monday, January 13, before potentially reaching the intense tropical cyclone stage as it turns southeast next week. Significant weather impacts are anticipated in Mayotte on Sunday, with gusts reaching 110 km/h (68 mph), heavy rains likely to cause flash floods and landslides, and dangerous sea conditions posing a risk of marine submersion, particularly in the western lagoon. Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi made landfall between the towns of Antsiranana and Vohemar at around 16:30 UTC on Saturday, January 11, in Madagascar’s Antsiranana province. As of 18:00 UTC, the system was still passing over Madagascar Island, with a minimum central pressure of 990 hPa and estimated maximum winds (averaged over 10 minutes) of 110 km/h (68 mph) and gusts of up to 155 km/h (96 mph). The cyclone was moving WSW at 17 km/h and was located roughly 1 085 km (674 miles) from the coast of La Reunion and 460 km (286 miles) off the coast of Mayotte. The system will re-emerge over the Mozambique Channel, likely as a tropical storm, then shift towards the west-southwest, gradually intensifying in the hours following landfall. The system is expected to pass about 100 km (62 miles) south of Mayotte at the tropical storm stage before being reclassified as a tropical cyclone on Monday, January 13, during the day. Subsequently, it is forecast to continue intensifying, possibly reaching the intense tropical cyclone stage, turning towards the south and then the southeast at the beginning of next week. Madagascar’s Antsiranana province is currently experiencing intense conditions due to the system, with destructive winds continuing in the hours following landfall, heavy rain extending to the north of Toamasina province, and dangerous seas. Conditions are expected to gradually improve by late Saturday night into Sunday morning, January 12. Significant rain and wind deterioration is expected in Mayotte on Sunday, with very heavy rainfall that could generate flash floods, floods, and landslides anticipated throughout the day. Gusts of 80 – 90 km/h (50- 56 mph), and even locally higher gusts of 100 – 110 km/h (62 – 68 mph), are likely, particularly in the southern part of the island. A dangerous sea state, particularly in the western lagoon, could also accompany this deterioration with a risk of marine submersion. The cyclone comes shortly after Cyclone Chido ravaged the island of Mayotte in mid-December, claiming at least 39 lives and nearly destroying everything on the island. This makes Dikeledi the second cyclone of the season to affect the Mayotte islands.Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) rapidly brightens as it nears the Sun, enters LASCO C3 field of view - Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) is rapidly approaching the Sun, with its perihelion expected at 10:15 UTC on January 13, 2025, promising a dazzling spectacle as it brightens to a potential magnitude of -5, twice as bright as Venus. The comet entered the ESA/NASA LASCO C3 field of view early January 11. C/2024 G3 is a long-period, sungrazing comet discovered on April 5, 2024, by the ATLAS survey in Chile using a 0.5-meter reflector telescope. Initially, it was thought to be a new comet from the Oort cloud with minimal chances of surviving perihelion due to its weak absolute magnitude (H=9). However, refined orbital data revealed it is likely a dynamically old comet that has previously approached the Sun. As the comet nears the Sun, solar heating is expected to cause a significant increase in brightness. It is currently close to magnitude 0 and could brighten by another 100-fold over the weekend. If current trends continue, its magnitude may reach -5 (twice as bright as Venus) on January 13, when the comet passes just 0.09 AU from the Sun. It might even be visible in the daytime sky,” said Nick James of the British Astronomical Association. “However, the sun will be only 5 degrees away. Observing with the sun so nearby is dangerous and should only be attempted with great care.”
Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi hits Mozambique after leaving 3 dead in Madagascar - Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi brushed the coast of Mozambique on January 13, 2025, after leaving at least 3 people dead and hundreds of damaged and destroyed homes in Madagascar. Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi made landfall in northern Madagascar’s Antsiranana province at around 16:30 UTC on January 11, 2025, with winds of up to 155 km/h (96 mph). The latest reports mention 3 fatalities, 11 destroyed homes and 370 damaged, as well as 69 schools either damaged or destroyed. Over 5 210 people were affected. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) reports indicate the cyclone damaged critical infrastructure in addition to the fatalities and evacuations. Rainfall bands from the cyclone continue to affect the regions of Mahajanga and Toliara provinces causing localized flooding. After moving over northern Madagascar, Dikeledi passed SE of Mayote, still recovering from the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Chido — the most violent and destructive tropical cyclone to hit Mayotte in 90 years. Approximately 14 500 people evacuated to 79 emergency shelters across Mayotte as the storm’s effects intensified. Flights at Dzaoudzi–Pamandzi International Airport (DZA) were canceled on January 13 with gradual resumption planned for January 14 and full operations scheduled for January 15 as airlines address backlogs. Authorities delayed the reopening of schools in affected areas to at least January 20. Dikeledi then headed toward Mozambique where it brushed the coast near Nacala, Nampula Province on January 13 with winds up to 160 km/h (98 mph) before moving offshore. The cyclone caused severe disruptions with rainfall impacting Nampula and Zambezia provinces leading to flooding in several areas. The Mozambique National Institute of Meteorology (INAM) issued Red cyclone warnings, the highest level of alert, for Nampula Province and parts of Zambezia Province.
Impact Plastics sent fast food gift cards to grieving families while denying wrongdoing in the deaths of six employees during Hurricane Helene -“Sorry your loved one died, best we can do is a hot meal” was the holiday greeting Impact Plastics’ management chose to send last month to the families of the workers who perished in the catastrophic flooding at their plant during Hurricane Helene in September. Instead of accepting responsibility for their role in the tragedy, the Erwin, Tennessee, company sent $100 gift cards to the grieving families in December. This callous act is a stark illustration of the capitalist class’s utter disregard for the lives, and deaths, of the working class. The families of the deceased, along with surviving employees, received gift cards to McDonald’s, Walmart and Pal’s, another fast-food restaurant in the area. Guillermo Mendoza, whose mother Bertha Mendoza died in the flood, stated that it felt like the company was saying, “Your mom died. Go get a burger.” Robert Jarvis, a surviving employee, expressed shock and offense at receiving the gift cards, saying, “That is how they treated us and what they thought about us.” The tragedy at Impact Plastics unfolded on September 27, 2024, when Hurricane Helene caused devastating flooding that swept away six Impact Plastics workers. The victims, Rosa Maria Andrade Reynoso, Monica Hernandez, Bertha Mendoza, Johnny Peterson, Lidia Verdugo, and Sibrina Barnett, sought refuge on a semi-truck trailer after being trapped in the flooding parking lot of the Riverview Industrial Park. When the trailer was struck by floating debris, it overturned, tossing the workers into the raging flood waters of the Nolichucky River. The deaths at Impact Plastics were entirely preventable. In anticipation of the potential damage from Helene, Impact Plastics CFO Susan Chambers sent an email on September 25 telling managers and supervisors to turn off their computers when they left Friday “since power will be down over the weekend.” On the morning of September 27, the National Weather Service issued an urgent flash flood emergency text alert at 9:20 a.m., instructing people to move to higher ground immediately. Despite this alert, at 9:28 a.m. production controller Sarah Vance sent an email pushing a 10:30 a.m. meeting to 1 p.m., demonstrating that management intended to continue with business as usual. By 10:39 a.m., the power went out at Impact Plastics, and the parking lot was already underwater. It took supervisors 11 minutes to dismiss workers, but by that time it was too late to leave the industrial park, which had only one way in and out. In stark contrast, neighboring businesses in Riverview Industrial Park took heed of the flood warnings, closing down before the storm and advising workers to stay home.
One dead, 200 000 homes without power as severe thunderstorms with large hail hit New South Wales, Australia - The WatchersSevere thunderstorms with large hailstorms, approximately 4 cm (1.6 inches), wreaked havoc across parts of eastern Australia on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, leaving one person dead and causing outages for over 200 000 homes. Wind gusts exceeded 120 km/h (75 mph) in some areas with Williamtown, New South Wales (NSW) recording the highest wind speed. Sydney Airport temporarily grounded all flights and redirected incoming planes to alternative airports while returning departing flights to their gates. Ad ends in 14 A man in his 80s was killed in Cowra, NSW when a tree fell on his car amidst winds of 107 km/h (66 mph). The incident occurred around 15:50 LT (04:50 UTC) on Lachlan Valley Way and police are investigating. Four people sustained injuries in the Riverina region, NSW after high winds destroyed temporary shelters. Roofs were torn off in the Hawkesbury region and Aberdeen in the Hunter district while hailstones as large as 4 cm (1.6 inches) damaged property near Wellington. “Wednesday has the potential to be one of the most dangerous thunderstorm days we have seen so far this summer due to the ample instability and potential for supercells and a squall line. Damaging winds, large hail and heavy rain are all likely, with destructive winds and giant hail also a chance,” Ben Domensino of WeatherZone reported. Power outages affected more than 200 000 homes, mainly in NSW capital Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong, with lightning strikes responsible for approximately 90% of outages. Ausgrid reported 118 000 customers without power as of 21:00 LT (10:00 UTC) while Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy had tens of thousands of homes impacted across the Blue Mountains, Illawarra, and other regions. The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) responded to 1 240 incidents by 22:00 LT (11:00 UTC) including fallen trees, roof damage, and leaks. The Sydney metro region reported the highest number of calls at 414 followed by Wagga Wagga with 187 calls. “Due to heavy storm activity, there have been flight delays, cancellations and diversions. Passengers are encouraged to check with their airlines regarding the status of their flights,” a Sydney Airport spokesperson stated. In Wagga Wagga, multiple campers were injured when demountable huts flipped in strong winds at Bomen. Trees fell onto vehicles at Tarcutta and caused further damage. Heavy rainfall, hail, and destructive winds impacted districts such as the Hunter, Mid-North Coast, Illawarra, and Central Tablelands. Rainfall of 30 mm (1.18 inches) was recorded in half an hour in towns like Mandurama, Araluen, and Perisher Valley. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) warned of continued flash flooding risks in Sydney and surrounding areas into Thursday, January 16. Public transport faced severe disruptions as power outages halted light rail services between Town Hall and Circular Quay. Train services on the T9 line were suspended between Epping and Hornsby after a tree fell onto wiring in Normanhurst. Flooding at Town Hall Station in the CBD added to the chaos. An A-League women’s soccer match between Sydney FC and Canberra United was abandoned after being suspended mid-match because of dangerous conditions at Leichhardt Oval. Sydney FC was leading 2-0 at the time. Severe thunderstorm warnings remain in place for parts of NSW including the Mid North Coast, Snowy Mountains, and Northern Tablelands. Sheep graziers in the state’s south and the Australian Capital Territory were cautioned about cold temperatures, rain, and southwesterly winds posing risks to livestock. The BoM has forecast further storms with potential flash flooding and hailstones for Thursday, January 16, 2025. Sydney is expected to experience 8 mm (0.31 inches) of rainfall on Thursday, accompanied by winds reaching up to 40 km/h (25 mph) and temperatures ranging from 19 to 26 °C (66 to 79 °F). Wagga Wagga faces similar warnings with forecasts predicting rain and high winds. BoM - AU - Radar A radar map issued by the Bureau of Meteorology on January 15, 2025, shows the areas affected by severe thunderstorms across New South Wales and surrounding regions. Image credit: BoM On Tuesday, January 14, a supercell storm struck the Southern Downs in Queensland, particularly between Applethorpe and The Summit near Stanthorpe. Residents reported hailstones up to 10 cm (3.9 inches) in diameter, leading to property damage and hazardous conditions. Damaging winds reaching up to 98 km/h (60 mph) were reported in Winton, central western Queensland, resulting in fallen trees and power outages.
Almost 2 million lightning strikes recorded as storms batter eastern Australia –- The New South Wales State Emergency Services (NSW SES) has responded to more than 7,000 storm-related incidents across the state since Wednesday morning, as fierce storms battered large swathes of Australia’s east. Lightning over Sydney Harbour on January 15, 2025. [Photo: X/@JarvFromOz] Wild weather is expected to continue through the weekend, with ongoing thunderstorms on the east coast and a tropical cyclone developing just off the coast of Western Australia (WA), threatening gale force winds from Port Hedland to Exmouth in the state’s northwest. Meanwhile, large areas of Queensland and WA are experiencing a severe heatwave. With heavy rainfall expected for much of the NSW coast, numerous flood warnings have been issued. North of Newcastle, Ferndale Caravan Park residents were told to evacuate this morning due to the risk of flooding. Wednesday’s severe weather was the result of a cold front “that triggered a massive line of storms… At one stage we basically had a line of storms extending from almost the Queensland border down to Tasmania,” meteorologist Christie Johnson told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). That represents a staggering storm front spanning more than 1,500 kilometres. An 80-year-old man was killed on Wednesday when a tree fell on his car in Cowra, 240 kilometres (km) inland in Central West NSW. The same day, four people were injured in Wagga Wagga in southern NSW, when a demountable hut upturned in the strong winds. Weatherzone detected an incredible 1.819 million lightning strikes from Queensland to Tasmania in the 24 hours to 8 a.m. Thursday. Between midday and midnight on Wednesday, 73,700 strikes were detected within a 100 km radius of the Sydney CBD. Downed trees obstruct road and power lines in Sydney’s Northern Beaches on January 16, 2025. [Photo: NSW SES] Fallen trees and downed powerlines impacted electricity supply to around 200,000 homes in the Illawarra, Sydney and Hunter regions on Wednesday evening. While most connections have since been restored, further severe weather yesterday resulted in another 68,000 outages. As of this morning, around 28,000 homes are without power in Sydney and a further 15,000 in Newcastle and the Hunter. In Sydney, where social media showed astonishing footage of numerous and sustained lightning bolts across the city skyline, Crown Casino at Barangaroo was hit by lightning which punctured the roof, allowing heavy rain to enter the building. The wild weather ripped the roof off a house in Carlingford, in Sydney’s northwest, which then smashed into the house next door. Fourteen people in that suburb were forced to find temporary accommodation because their homes were damaged by the storm. Fires erupted in Mudgee, Central West NSW, when a house was hit by a power line and completely destroyed, and in Dubbo, where lightning struck a tree and ignited a leaking gas pipe. Wind gusts of over 100 km/h were recorded across the storm front, including at Sydney Airport, with the highest reaching 120 km/h in Williamtown, near Newcastle and Trangie, in the Central West. The storms dumped massive amounts of rain in some regions, with the highest fall recorded at Eurobadalla on the South Coast, 127 millimetres (mm) in 24 hours. The rain dumps have caused flash flooding and leaking roofs, putting more strain on underfunded emergency services. At lunchtime on Thursday, the NSW SES issued a warning to residents between Tweed Heads and Nimbin, in the state’s Northern Rivers region, to stay indoors, due to expected damaging winds and “large to giant” hailstones. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued flood warnings from Coffs Coast to Newcastle, an area spanning 400 km, warning school holiday campers not to camp next to rivers. Prior to the development of the cold front responsible for the storms, the BOM website was warning of a heatwave in NSW from January 13 to 16, but this was cancelled on January 15 due to the shift in weather patterns, indicating how quickly conditions changed. In November, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) issued a summary of Australia’s weather extremes titled “State of the Climate 2024: Australia is enduring harsher fire seasons, more ocean heatwaves and sea-level rise.” The report, which started by stating Australia was already 1.5 degrees hotter on land since 1910, said that Northern wet season rainfalls were 20 percent higher than 30 years ago. The report went on to say, “In southwestern Australia, rainfall in the cooler, growing-season months has declined 16 percent, and in the southeast by 9 percent in recent decades” adding that “more rain in these regions now falls in heavy, short-lived rainfall events.” In a grim conclusion, the CSIRO wrote that climate change impacts on Australia will lead to more frequent, more intense rainfall events, causing increased flooding combined with extreme heat events and longer droughts. These predictions can be replicated worldwide. Decades of underfunding mean that Australia’s emergency services are totally unprepared for the growing threat from “natural” disasters. The SES is staffed mainly by 10,000 volunteers, with just 500 full-time employees. Similar statistics are mirrored in Australia’s firefighting force. There are only 30,000 full-time firefighters in the world’s driest inhabited continent. By contrast, volunteer firefighters number up to 200,000. The Labor government, which represents the interests of finance capital, does not differ from any other capitalist government in its refusal to reduce emissions and its lack of preparedness for the increasing disasters climate change will inevitably bring. Since May 2022, the current Labor government has approved seven new coal mines and the expansion of three others, directly contradicting climate science which has established the burning of fossil fuels as one of the main drivers of climate change. Halting the mounting perils of climate change and extreme weather events is a task that can only be carried out by the international working class, through the overthrow of the capitalist system, the root cause of environmental destruction. What is required is a fight for the socialist transformation of society, under which the continuation of human civilisation is prioritised over the profit interests of the corporate and financial elite..
Wildfires in California claim 24 lives, destroy over 12 000 structures – (6 YouTube videos) - Two massive wildfires in Los Angeles County have scorched more than 14 973 ha (37 000 acres), leaving at least 24 people dead, destroying over 12 000 structures, and threatening tens of thousands more, as of late Sunday, January 12, 2025. The Palisades Fire has burned over 9 307 ha (23 000 acres) and is 11 % contained. It has claimed at least three lives with reports suggesting a higher toll, injured three civilians, destroyed over 5 000 structures, and is threatening more than 12 000 structures. Mandatory evacuation warnings have been issued for several areas along the Pacific Coast Highway, Encino Reservoir, the 405 Freeway, and Mandeville Canyon. Nearly 5 000 personnel have been deployed to combat the fire, utilizing 39 helicopters, 519 engines, 67 dozers, and 86 crews. The Eaton Fire has expanded to over 5 666 ha (14 000 acres), resulting in eight fatalities and injuries to five firefighters. Aerial image analysis suggests that the fire may have destroyed more than 7 000 structures. So far, officials have confirmed 1 211 destroyed structures and 166 damaged ones, with the blaze threatening 39 428 additional structures. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the higher elevations of the fire zones throughout the upcoming week due to gusty and dry northeast Santa Ana winds. At least 153 000 citizens were under evacuation orders overnight Saturday into Sunday.
Official death toll for Los Angeles fires climbs to 24, as rising winds threaten further devastation -- The official death toll for the fires currently scorching Los Angeles rose to 24 on Sunday evening, with at least another 12 missing. Officials continue to warn that the death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue teams continue to sift through burnt out homes and other buildings. The two largest fires, the Palisades Fire in the west and the Eaton Fire in the northeast, are each only 11 percent and 27 percent contained, respectively. Together, they have burned more than 38,000 acres (more than 59 square miles; 95 square km) and 12,000 homes and other buildings. The smaller Hurst Fire, northwest of downtown LA, has burned more than 799 acres (3.23 square km) and is 76 percent contained. The remnants of homes in Altadena. Moreover, the National Interagency Fire Center has predicted that the Santa Ana winds, which originate inland and blow through coastal Southern California, are slated to pick up Sunday night through Wednesday. Gusts up to 60 miles (96.5 km) per hour in a southwest direction are expected, threatening a significant expansion of the ongoing fires. “There will be the potential—especially late Monday night through Wednesday—for explosive fire growth as those winds pick back up,” said Ariel Cohen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, to the Los Angeles Times. “In the case of an evacuation order being issued, you have to follow that immediately. Seconds could save your life.” In addition to the deaths, the broader social toll continues to rise. An estimated 105,000 people remain under evacuation orders, while another 87,000 have been issued evacuation warnings. Throughout the fire, at least 500,000 have lost power as power lines are burned down or turned off to prevent sparks from causing further flames. At the peak of the outages, 172,000 residents in LA were without electricity. One of the lines of workers applying for the $250 gift cards being distributed by the Los Angeles Fire Department The official response for those displaced has been extremely limited. The Los Angeles Fire Department is issuing gift cards of only $250 to affected households, cards provided by the California Fire Foundation nonprofit. And the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has not increased its limit on the grants for those who have lost their homes, which is capped at $87,970. A typical 2,000 square foot house in Los Angeles costs upwards of $900,000 to build. In an appearance on “Face the Nation” on Sunday, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell attempted to justify the paltry amount provided to workers to rebuild their homes by stating that FEMA’s programs are only there to “help jump start the recovery process” and that insurance is the “number one resource that families have to help with their rebuilding process.” In reality, insurance is increasingly out of reach for working class families. A recent article in the Los Angeles Times noted that the annual cost for homeowners insurance from Farmers Insurance for those living in the Pacific Palisades, where thousands of homes have burned down, has skyrocketed from $4,500 to $18,000 in the past year. The article also reported that State Farm, California’s largest insurer, announced in March that it would not renew 30,000 home and condo policies when they expire, citing high wildfire risk. Other insurance companies, including Chubb, Allstate, Tokio Marine America Insurance Co. and Trans Pacific Insurance Co., have either stopped writing new policies or pulled out of the state entirely. Pacific Palisades residents went to the Westwood Recreation Center in West Los Angeles for temporary shelter (cots), food, clothing, etc. Kaiser Permanente set up a trailer to provide healthcare. Hundreds of people came donating supplies and services, including free manicures. Instead, workers are forced to sign up for the California FAIR Plan, which has seen a jump to 452,000 policies, rising from 203,000 four years ago. At the same time, the policies themselves provide fewer benefits when homes burn down. Tacitly acknowledging this state of affairs, Criswell in her interview callously stated that “families are going to have to find other means to be able to rebuild.” Moreover, in a Thursday afternoon press conference, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chairperson Kathryn Barger admitted that residents who had already applied for FEMA assistance had been getting denied for the grants. FEMA requires that households prove that any aid provided by federal grants is not duplicated by insurance, which can take months as insurers purposefully move slowly to avoid paying out as many claims as possible. Barger admitted, “The process itself is long.” Cold comfort for those who have lost everything in the blazes. Governor Gavin Newsom, for his part, continued to escalate the militarized response to the fires, on Sunday adding another 1,000 California National Guard to the state’s mobilization. The total personnel deployed has now reached about 2,500. In doing so, Newsom emphasized the “public safety” aspect of the deployments, continuing the focus of law enforcement officials on alleged “looters” and “arsonists” while largely blowing past the colossal social devastation caused by the fires. Newsom is also no doubt keen to avoid any discussion of his own responsibility in laying the groundwork for such a catastrophe. According to a report from Newsweek, Newsom’s latest budget covering the 2024-2025 fiscal year slashed $101 million from the state’s firefighting budget, including a $12 million “home hardening” program set up to develop new methods to protect homes against such fires. Millions more were slashed from efforts to prevent fires in the first place, including conservation efforts and wildfire fuel management and brush clearing.
LA fires: Red flag warnings put residents on alert : NPR Forecasters are warning of extreme fire danger across the Los Angeles area, where firefighters are still working to contain the multiple blazes that have engulfed Southern California for the past week.The National Weather Service expects winds to peak between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, with gusts of up to 50 to 70 mph in the mountains and 30 to 50 mph along the coasts and valleys. While generally weaker than last week's, this next batch of high winds could down trees, cut power, endanger drivers and — most alarmingly — fuel new and existing fires in the area. The NWS warns they could cause "explosive fire growth.""Stay aware of your surroundings. Be ready to evacuate. Avoid anything that can spark a fire," it says.There are five active fires as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Cal Fire: The Palisades and Eaton fires have burned a collective 37,830 acres since last Tuesday, and are 17% and 35% contained, respectively.Officials said Tuesday morning that over 7,000 structures were damaged or destroyed in the Eaton Fire, according to preliminary damage inspections that are still ongoing.The Hurst Fire, which also started last Tuesday, is at 97% containment after burning almost 800 acres. The Auto Fire has burned about 56 acres in nearby Ventura County since it broke out late Monday and is a quarter contained.A new fire developed Tuesday in Riverside: the Scout Fire, which had burned 2 acres as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Cal Fire."In the first 11 days of the year there have been more than 40,300 acres burned from 105 fires," Deputy State Fire Marshal Brice Bennett said over the weekend. "With an estimated 12,000 structures destroyed, this makes the Eaton and Palisades fire likely the second and fourth most destructive fires in California's history."As of Tuesday morning, approximately 88,000 residents were under evacuation orders, and another roughly 84,800 were under evacuation warnings, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a morning press briefing.He urged residents to prepare to evacuate if called to do so, saying many of the survivors rescued so far had waited "until the last minute" and ended up with "significant burns."
California fires: L.A. faces perilous fire weather, strengthening winds - Los Angeles Times -- Firefighters continued to battle multiple major wildfires. A “particularly dangerous situation” warning will once again be in effect for swaths of Los Angeles and Ventura counties starting at 3 a.m. Wednesday. The National Weather Service reserves the designation for signifying an extreme red flag warning, when especially hazardous fire weather conditions are expected.
- Palisades fire - Burned 23,713 acres and numerous homes, businesses and landmarks in Pacific Palisades and westward along Pacific Coast Highway, toward Malibu. As of Tuesday evening, the fire was 18% contained, up from 14% early Monday.Many parts of Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Calabasas, Brentwood and Encino are under evacuation orders or warnings. More than 12,000 structures remain threatened. Santa Monica has downgraded its mandatory evacuation orders to warnings. Officials estimate that more than 5,300 structures, including many homes, have been damaged or destroyed.
- Eaton fire - Burned 14,117 acres and many structures in Altadena and Pasadena. As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire was 35% contained, up from 33% early Monday. Officials say 7,000 structures have been damaged in the fire. Most of Altadena was under an evacuation order, as was unincorporated Kinneloa Mesa. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced Tuesday that areas south of Canyon Crest Road and west of Lincoln Avenue would be reopened to residents. In Pasadena, a mandatory evacuation order was in place some northern parts of the neighborhood of Hastings Ranch. In Sierra Madre, mandatory evacuations were in effect in some areas north of Grand View Avenue.
A week after flames leveled huge swaths of Pacific Palisades and Altadena, Southern California remained under a severe fire threat as residents struggled to comprehend the scale of the loss. An army of firefighters spent Tuesday putting out small fires before they got out of control, and continued building containment lines on the Palisades and Eaton fires in hope of preventing them from spreading. The firestorms are expected to be the most costly in U.S. history, consuming what officials estimate could be more than 12,000 structures, including many homes.“This is the most devastating natural disaster to hit the Los Angeles area,” said L.A. Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott. “I’ve worked here for 20 years and I’ve never seen nor imagined devastation to be this extensive.”As the Los Angeles Fire Department faced extraordinary warnings of life-threatening winds, top commanders decided not to assign for emergency deployment roughly 1,000 available firefighters and dozens of water-carrying engines in advance of the fire that destroyed much of the Pacific Palisades and continues to burn, interviews and internal LAFD records show.Fire officials chose not to order the firefighters to remain on duty for a second shift last Tuesday as the winds were building — which would have doubled the personnel on hand — and staffed just five of more than 40 engines that are available to aid in battling wildfires, according to the records obtained by The Times, as well as interviews with LAFD officials and former chiefs with knowledge of city operations. Late Monday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive orderthat aims to speed up the rebuilding of homes and businesses after wildfires tore through Pacific Palisades.Academics, builders, consultants and other analysts who reviewed the order at The Times’ request said Bass’ move was an essential beginning to what will be an inevitably complicated process.The Los Angeles City Council member representing the Westside, including much of the area decimated by the Palisades fire, called on the city’s water utility Tuesday to explain why firefighters ran out of water early in last week’s epic firefight and why a key reservoir was offline.Councilmember Traci Park proposed that the L.A. Department of Water and Power present “its root cause analysis of the water pressure challenges that resulted in lower water pressure and dry hydrants” in some areas of Pacific Palisades, as well as recommendations for addressing the issues. In the same motion, Park urged the council to ask the utility to explain why the Santa Ynez Reservoir in Pacific Palisades has been out of commission for months.As fire victims flood GoFundMe for help with rebuilding, the L.A. County government will create its own fund for residents who lost their livelihoods or whose homes or businesses were reduced to rubble by devastating wildfires.The county Board of Supervisors, which met Tuesday for the first time since fires decimated large swaths of the county, gave the chief executive office a week to sketch out the details. The fund will probably consist of private donations that could be used to cover a range of expenses, including moving costs and wage reimbursements.Amid the parade of surreal images from the last few days, few have been stranger than this one: a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center for L.A. fire victims inside the former Westside Pavilion.Alongside the escalators and signs for the now-defunct movie theater in the carcass of what was once L.A.’s premier shopping mall, dozens of government agencies have gathered to offer fire aid.The Los Angeles City Council adopted an array of measures Tuesday aimed at jump-starting recovery efforts for residents whose lives have been upended by devastating wildfires.In a rapid-fire series of votes, the council adopted measures to speed the arrival of federal emergency funds, assess the potential for post-fire mudslides and establish new safeguards against price gouging and evictions, particularly for pet owners and those who evacuated.
Republicans threaten to withhold federal support to Californians devastated by still raging infernos --As climate change-powered fires continue to rage in and around the greater Los Angeles area, with at least 24 reported dead so far, leading congressional Republicans signaled their intent to condition federal aid to California due to alleged “mismanagement” by state and local officials. As he was walking through the Capitol in Washington on Monday, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was asked by CNN’s Manu Raju if he was “open” to providing federal aid to California “without any conditions.” Johnson replied that there needed to be a “serious conversation about that.”“Obviously there has been water resource mismanagement, forest management mistakes, all sorts of problems and it does come to leadership, and it appears to us that state and local leaders were derelict in their duty in many respects so that is something that has to be factored in.”Johnson continued, “I think there should be conditions on that aid. That’s my personal view, we’ll see what the consensus is,” adding, “It will be part of the discussion for sure.” Despite the ongoing danger and the high likelihood that the damage and death toll will continue to rise, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, a staunch ally of President-elect Donald Trump, similarly voiced his support for withholding federal support to devastated residents because voters in the state have elected Democrats.Asked by Newsmax’s Chris Salcedo, “Why should other states be bailing out California for choosing the wrong people to run their state?” Tuberville replied, “We shouldn’t be.”The former college football coach acknowledged that while there were “a lot of Republicans” in California, but “they are just overwhelmed by these inner city woke policies with the people that vote for them. And I don’t mind sending them some money, but unless they show they are going to change their ways and get back to building dams and storing water, doing the maintenance with the brush and the trees and everything everybody else does in the country and they refuse to do it.”Tuberville concluded, “They don’t deserve anything, to be honest with you, unless they show us they are going to make some changes.” Tuberville and Johnson’s threats to withhold federal aid echo previous threats levied by Trump against California Democrats, specifically Governor Gavin Newsom. While campaigning in California last September, Trump threatened not to give Newsom “money to put out all his fires,” if Newsom did not agree to divert more water towards agricultural interests. While the return of Trump and his cabinet of billionaires to the White House will mark a further erosion in federal funding efforts to combat wildfires and other climate-related catastrophes, under the Democrats, as well as Republicans, money to prevent wildfires has continued to be slashed. In a January 11 article on the lack of preparation for the Los Angeles fires, the Washington Post noted that the effort to clear vegetation and conduct controlled burns “is expensive and, at the federal level, is underfunded. In 2022, the Biden administration announced a plan to reduce the fire risk on 50 million acres of land, an effort it estimated would cost around $50 billion. But it was only partially funded, with $3 billion from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.” While there is “no money” to reduce wildfire risks, on Monday President Biden announced that the next two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers to be built at the cost of roughly $15 billion apiece, would be named for former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. As of this writing, over 12,300 structures, the majority of them family homes, have been destroyed in the fires. A recent analysis from Well Fargo Securities estimated that insured losses were at least $30 billion, with the vast majority of that, some 85 percent, estimated to be claims for home losses. Accuweather estimates that the total cost of the firestorm from damage and economic losses will top $150 billion, making it the most destructive in US history.Both the Palisades Fire, currently west of Santa Monica and Brentwood, and the Eaton Fire, north of Pasadena, have yet to be contained. The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) estimated that the Palisades Fire has burned nearly 24,000 acres and is only 14 percent contained, while the smaller Eaton Fire has burned over 14,000 acres and is 33 percent contained. The smallest major fire, the Hurst Fire, is currently 95 percent contained.Some 150,000 people are still under evacuation orders. Many are living with extended family members while others are in public shelters, unable to return home due either to the ongoing danger or the fact that there is nothing left to return to. The National Weather Service (NWS) Los Angeles office warned that the “extreme fire danger will continue through Wednesday.” The agency issued its highest level “Red Flag” warning between Tuesday 4:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Wednesday for parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties.The NWS warned that San Fernando, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and other residential areas northwest of Los Angeles could experience wind gusts between 45-75 miles (72-120 km) per hour between that time. NWS Los Angeles wrote, “Warnings are for the extreme of the extreme fire weather scenarios. In other words, this setup is about as bad as it gets. Stay aware of your surroundings. Be prepared to evacuate.”Over 14,000 firefighters, including contingents from Mexico, Canada and Ukraine, are currently battling the infernos. Of the 14,000 firefighters, roughly 1,000 are incarcerated inmates, who are paid as little as $5.80 a day plus $1 per hour when responding to fires.While many workers, middle class families and even some celebrities have seen their homes and properties go up in smoke in the last week, the wealthiest citizens of Los Angeles have used their fortunes to protect themselves and their assets. Speaking to the New York Times, billionaire former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso confirmed he had hired private firefighters to protect Palisades Village, a mall the developer owns. Caruso got his start in property development and speculation with the help of his father, Henry Caruso, a rental car magnate.“Our property is standing,” Caruso told the paper. “Everything around us is gone. It is like a war zone.” The Times observed that Caruso’s properties appeared “largely intact,” while on the other side of the street where houses once stood was now “ash and rubble.”A spokesperson for a private firefighting company told the Times a two-person crew with a small vehicle can cost “$3,000 a day,” while larger crews of up to 20 go for as much as “$10,000” a day. While private firefighters protected shopping malls, Stephanie, a resident of Altadena, told WSWS reporters in an interview this past weekend that many residents have “nothing left.” She recalled seeing the fire approaching from inside her apartment: “There was an elderly resident, people were evacuated, but I didn’t really hear anything concretely. One woman wanted to stay. All of a sudden the power went out ... then the internet went out. And so, we were left there sort of without services. The management of this building disappeared.”Stephanie said she was able to call the sheriff to assist her evacuate residents from the apartment building: “I took the elderly person down the stairwell, and we removed what belongings we could. We were like the last, almost residents it felt like of Altadena. We could see the flames encroaching and spreading very quickly, heading westward and south, ember by ember, through the trees.” “A lot of residents don’t know whether they want to rebuild,” she continued. “What’s left? There’s no infrastructure. ... The local supermarket, there’s only one bus line, everything, the businesses are gone.” She noted that at “my building, if you look out the window, you see nothing but bleak, harsh earth, like a moonscape and rubble of houses. And it is depressing. I don’t know, a lot of people may not want to rebuild.” As of this writing no official cause of the Eaton Fire has been provided. On Monday the Los Angeles Times and other outlets reported that four lawsuits had been filed Monday by homeowners in the Altadena area. Each of the lawsuits accuses utility company, Southern California Edison (SCE), of starting the fire by failing to de-energize its power lines over the Eaton Canyon. Ali Moghaddass, an attorney with Edelson PC, told the Times the utility companies “were on notice of the significant wind events that were coming in that week” and “chose not to use all the tools at their disposal.”
Palisades home that survived fire destroyed by mudslide -- A hillside home overlooking the Pacific Ocean that survived the devastating Palisades Fire has split in half from what appears to be a mud and debris slide directly behind the property. It’s unclear exactly when the incident in the 17000 block of Castellammare Drive occurred, but the property is now one of 10,000 structures destroyed as a result of the costliest wildfire in the history of Los Angeles County. Aerial footage of the home captured by Sky5 clearly shows the home in two pieces, with one of the sections leaning heavily toward another nearby house with mud and debris everywhere. “This is not good,” Bryan Kirkwood, who was hired to provide security for the few homes that survived the firestorm, told KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo. Kirkwood gave KTLA a tour of the devastation and pointed out the home just above that burned to the ground, likely where the mudslide originated. “This is devastating. I didn’t realize it was this bad,” the private security guard said. “I didn’t see the news, got out here and looked and it didn’t hit me until now. Wow. This is a big deal.” After being forced to evacuate, many Pacific Palisades homeowners hired private security to protect what’s left of their homes and law enforcement has made dozens of arrests in the Palisades evacuation zones. “I’ve seen some people [out here],” Kirkwood, explained. “I had one guy come up the hill the other day. I said, ‘What are you doing here, who are you? You can’t be here. You’re not authorized to be here.’” Looters remain a concern for many people who lost their homes in the Eaton and Palisades fires, with some residents even defying evacuation orders and arming themselves to protect their homes. In a Wednesday press conference, newly elected L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman addressed the issue of looting and burglaries. “There are people out there who have decided that they are going to take advantage of this tragedy and that they’re going to exploit this crisis for their own personal benefit,” the DA said. “We have sent this warning, and I’ll say it again: The question is not if, but when you are arrested. You will then be prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law.”
LA Police Chief Says 3 Suspected Arsonists Arrested After Being Caught Amid Deadly Wildfires - Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Chief Jim McDonnell on Tuesday gave more details on the arrests of three arson suspects, in light of wildfires that have scorched thousands of acres in Los Angeles in recent days. “On Sunday night, our North Hollywood officers responded to a call of a possible arson suspect who was using a barbecue lighter to light fires. Officers arrived on the scene, and the suspect was arrested for an outstanding felony warrant for arson and booked into Van Nuys jail,” McDonnell told a news conference. A day later, police made two more “arrests related to the fires,” including an arrest on Van Nuys Boulevard after a suspected arsonist lit a fire in nearby brush, he added. That fire was extinguished by Los Angeles Fire Department officials, McDonnell said, adding that the individual was arrested on arson charges and is currently in jail. Also on Monday, officials responded to a radio call of a suspected arsonist on San Vicente Boulevard in the West Los Angeles area, he said. That person had set alight a nearby trash can, which was extinguished by fire officials, he added. “Citizens directed the officers to the suspect location, where he was then taken into custody without incident,“ the police chief said. ”Video from local businesses showed footage of the suspect starting fires in that area. He was booked into our jail for arson.” No details on the suspects’ names, countries of origin, or other details were provided. The three arson arrests, which took place outside the fire area, were in addition to 14 arrests by the LAPD in the Palisades Fire area, McDonnell said. Those arrests included curfew violations, impersonating a police officer and a firefighter, ammunition, burglary, and other offenses. Meanwhile, in sheriff-patrolled fire areas, there have been 39 arrests for looting, illegal operation of drones that could interfere with firefighting aircraft, curfew violations, and other alleged crimes, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
L.A. County Inferno Expected To Top $250 Billion In Losses -- A week after a devastating inferno leveled large swaths of Pacific Palisades and Altadena to ash, Los Angeles County remained under a severe fire threat on Wednesday morning. Residents have been left in a state of shock, expressing frustration over what many see as possible negligence by county and/or state officials to mitigate the spread of the fires. The fires have become the region's worst fire disaster in history, with new damage and economic loss estimates between $250 billion and $275 billion, according to AccuWeather. "These fast-moving, wind-driven infernos have created one of the costliest wildfire disasters in modern U.S. history," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said, adding, "Hurricane-force winds sent flames ripping through neighborhoods filled with multi-million-dollar homes. The devastation left behind is heartbreaking, and the economic toll is staggering."AccuWeather predicted economic damages between $250 billion and $275 billion had eclipsed inflation-adjusted damages of $200 billion from Hurricane Katrina, according to JPM analysts. "Nonetheless, we think the short-term effect on national GDP growth, employment, and inflation will be small, though this could change if the fires worsen substantially," the analysts said. At the end of last week, AccuWeather estimated total economic damages to be around $150 billion, while analysts from other desks expected insured losses north of $20 billion. The analysts noted, "That is a significant volume of insured losses, but it also suggests the majority of economic losses are uninsured." The concentration of wealth in Pacific Palisades is high. According to IRS data analyzed by JPM, the average home in the area is valued at $3.5 million, yet more than half of tax returns report an adjusted gross income under $200,000. In Altadena, where the average home value exceeds $1.2 million, over 80% of tax filings show incomes below $200,000, with more than 60% reporting less than $100,000."Construction costs will be lower than home values though: in 2019, Redfin estimated that land value was 60% of the price of a home in Los Angeles, the highest share among any major metro area," the analysts pointed out.
How California’s catastrophic wildfires are inflaming the state’s insurance crisis - The wildfires scorching Southern California are turning entire neighborhoods into ash, decimating expensive properties and exacerbating an insurance crisis that predates the infernal blazes. Costs are quickly mounting as the Los Angeles area’s disaster continues to unfold, with AccuWeather’s Global Weather Center now estimating total economic damages of between $250 billion and $275 billion. The insurance sector alone is expected to incur about $30 billion in damages, according to new data released by Wells Fargo Securities — costs that could in turn prompt further price hikes for California homeowners.“I think it’s safe to say, based on history, that when insurers get hit with the kind of claims that they are going to be processing here and paying on here, they will definitely seek to influence statewide rate increases,” Amy Bach, executive director of the consumer advocacy group United Policyholders, told The Hill.“There will be some impact on everybody,” Bach continued. “The worst of it will be in the areas that already have wildfire risk.”The Wells Fargo analysts described the $30 billion estimate as a “base case” scenario, noting that the damages could range between $20 billion and $40 billion. the analysts said that about 85 percent of that money would come from homeowner policies, while 13.5 percent would be linked to commercial properties and 1.5 percent to vehicles.“There’s never been losses as large as these losses in terms of the number of structures,” Bruce Babcock, a professor of public policy at the University of California, Riverside, told The Hill.Noting that damages from previous fires “pale in comparison to the losses,” he said that the current situation “can’t do anything but make the problem worse for California.”The Golden State has been plagued by the withdrawal of a number of insurers and climbing rates in recent years as the threat of wildfires — and the costly damages they can incur for underwriters — has mounted.California officials are attempting to mitigate the crisis with new requirements that insurers cover areas with high fire risk — and those caught in this month’s devastating blazes.A few days after the fires began, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara ordered a one-year moratorium on policy cancellations and nonrenewals in the impacted areas. The mandate prohibited companies from eliminating or refusing to renew policies for properties situated within or adjacent to the fire perimeters.Lara also on Monday issued an emergency declaration for Los Angeles and Ventura counties — requiring strict supervision of out-of-state adjusters that were helping cope with the large volume of insurance claims. All nonlicensed adjusters must be overseen by a California-qualified and trained adjuster, insurer or manager, per the declaration.“I am doing everything in my power to streamline the recovery process during this unprecedented time, so that residents can begin putting their lives back together in the wake of these devastating wildfires,” Lara said in a statement.Coincidentally, the blazes began about a week after the onset of new wildfire-related insurance regulations championed by Lara, who has sought to reverse the exodus of underwriters from the state.The regulations now require companies to insure properties in vulnerable areas at a rate equivalent to 85 percent of their California market share — increasing such coverage by 5 percent increments every two years, until they meet that threshold. In turn, the rules also allow firms to account for the costs of reinsurance — insurance for insurers — in their rate determinations.The commissioner’s office touted the regulations as both safeguarding consumer interests and building a more resilient market, noting that reinsurance has become an “imperative component of insurance companies operating in high-risk and distressed areas.”The rules serve as an update to Proposition 103, a 1988 ballot measure created “to protect consumers from arbitrary insurance rates and practices” and to encourage a competitive and fair marketplace. In issuing the new rule, Lara closed a loophole in the measure: the ability of insurers to request rate hikes without needing to cover all Californians.Also included in the new regulations is California’s first use of “catastrophe modeling,” localized risk simulations based on historical analyses and probabilistic calculations of future such events. Whether relying upon such models — which have long been used by other states — will end up lowering or raising consumer rates remains a point of contention among stakeholders.Overall, Bach said she sees the regulations as a reason why “insurers are not piling on and saying, ‘See, this is why we can’t do business here. We’re out.’” The changes, she added, may not “bode well for consumers in terms of affordability,” but they do “in terms of us continuing to have a market.”
As fires continue to burn, Los Angeles residents face toxic smoke, mudslides and astronomical housing costs - In a Thursday morning press conference, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced that two more people have died from the Eaton and Palisades fires. This brings the death toll to at least 27, with another 31 people officially missing. As of this writing, the larger Palisades Fire remains only 22 percent contained, while the Eaton Fire is at 55 percent. Santa Ana winds, which have fueled both fires, receded on Thursday providing firefighting crews, including helicopters, windows of opportunity to try and contain the infernos. However, Luna said it would be another week, if not longer, until the over 80,000 residents who are still displaced would be allowed to return. Even with the slight respite from the winds, millions of people are in danger from toxic chemicals and plastics that continue to burn throughout urban areas. Dr. Jeff Masters, a former hurricane scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), wrote in a recent article for Yale Climate Connections that the “eventual death toll from the disaster is likely to be far, far, higher, once the health effects from the toxic smoke from the fires are fully realized.” Masters cited several recent studies on wildfire smoke, including a 2024 study which found that smoke from the 2018 Paradise Fire may have killed as many as “12,000 Californians prematurely.” While burning trees release gases such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, modern homes and urban landscapes are filled with plastics, which burn faster and release more toxic chemicals. Speaking to the Atlantic, Cal Fire Battalion Chief David Acuña admitted “we can’t put firefighters in front of these houses” due to the toxic air released from the burning of petrochemicals inside. Acuna noted that while plastic is a useful material, “it will burn faster, and it will burn hotter.” In addition to still raging fires, toxic smoke, downed power lines and ruptured gas lines, residents whose homes may have been spared from the flames are now having to contend with potentially deadly mudslides and erosion, with steep hillsides now stripped of vegetation. At least one home in Pacific Palisades that was not burned is now unlivable after it was practically split in half once the ground underneath it gave way due to the shifting of soil between the fires and runoff. Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Director Mark Pestrella warned in a Thursday press conference that more homes could be at risk from mudslides if, and when, major rainfall occurs. He noted that debris from burned out houses and foliage could overwhelm the flood control system. He said that “in an event that we have major rain, we do expect that all areas will be impacted by debris flows that will be hazardous to human health.” The fires have destroyed thousands of homes, leaving tens of thousands of residents without permanent shelter. According to residential real estate brokerage firm Redfin, as of December 2024 the median home sale price in Los Angeles was over $905,000, with an average monthly mortgage payment of $5,970. Los Angeles, Redfin wrote, “has the least affordable for-sale housing market in the country.” As for renters, Redfin found that the median asking rental price for December 2024 was $2,780, over $1,000 more than the national median asking rent of $1,594. Before the fires, more than 95 percent of apartment units in the city were occupied. Since the fires, residents have reported that many landlords are seeking to take advantage of the recently homeless and displaced. A Google sheet created by Los Angeles resident Chelsea Kirk tabulates over 1,250 properties that have seen dramatic price increases since the fires started last Tuesday. Kirk told SFGate that she began the spreadsheet after she saw listings in her Echo Park neighborhood dramatically increase in price. While California has a law that bars price increases of 10 percent or more during a state of emergency, Kirk said she saw listings that had increased as much as “120 percent.”
Wildfires disproportionately impact Latino and other underserved L.A. communities, data shows -A new data brief from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute and the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge reveals that the Palisades, Hurst and Eaton wildfires have far-reaching effects. They extend beyond evacuation zones to disproportionately impact Latino and other underserved communities across Los Angeles County and neighboring communities.The brief reveals a stark truth about Latinos who work in outdoor occupations like construction, delivery, transportation and agriculture: 17% of residents in Latino neighborhoods are employed in these sectors compared to just 6% in white neighborhoods.Wildfire smoke puts these workers at risk of respiratory illness and income loss due to work disruptions. Many outdoor workers may also experience income disruptions as their places of employment are destroyed or closed, and air quality plummets across the county.Authored by Chhandara Pech, Dr. Silvia R. González and Albert Kochaphum, the brief underscores urgent disparities in health, economic vulnerability and preparedness, including:
- Health disparities: Latino neighborhoods experience nearly double the exposure to diesel and PM2.5 pollution compared to white neighborhoods, compounding the health risks of wildfire smoke. Asthma-related emergency room visits average 67 per 10,000 residents in Latino neighborhoods—over 2.5 times higher than in white neighborhoods (25 per 10,000).
- Lack of Preparedness: Latino households and small businesses often lack disaster plans or insurance coverage, leaving them financially unprepared. Nearly 30% of surveyed small businesses reported having no insurance for fire or natural disasters, limiting recovery options.
- Access to health care: With 14% of residents in Latino neighborhoods uninsured—compared to 3% in white neighborhoods—access to critical medical care during and after disasters remains a significant barrier.
"These findings show that wildfires exacerbate long-standing inequities, not just for Latinos, but for all underserved communities in Los Angeles County," said Pech, deputy director of the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge."We must take immediate action to address these disparities through equitable disaster response, preparedness and recovery efforts," said Silvia R. Gonzalez, research director at UCLA LPPI.The authors call for policy solutions such as expanding health care access, employer-mandated protections for outdoor workers and investment in culturally responsive emergency preparedness programs to safeguard vulnerable populations countywide.
Professors Say Trump's Policies Could Exacerbate Wildfires --Professors at Syracuse and Duke universities said this week that President-elect Donald Trump’s pro-fossil fuel policies could exacerbate the wildfires in California.“We well know Trump does not accept the science of climate change and the reality of climate change. He’s very dismissive of it,” Robert Wilson, an associate professor at Syracuse University’s Geography and the Environment Department, told Newsweek. “Certainly, I’ve seen no news account over the past week where he’s acknowledged that climate change has played a role in making the wildfires in California worse,” he said.Wilson called it “discouraging” that Trump is unlikely to “do much to address climate change” or “take the current and emerging threats of climate change, particularly with wildfire, seriously.”Another professor in Wilson’s department, Jacob Bendix, also criticized Trump’s policies, saying they would directly worsen the wildfire crisis. “The increased exploitation of fossil fuels that Donald Trump has promised would worsen our already severe wildfire problems. While there are numerous and varied contributing factors for large fires in the western United States and Canada all have one thing in common: dry hot conditions,” he said, according to Newsweek.“Fires require heat, and they require dry fuel. The higher temperatures are, and the less precipitation there is, the more readily wildfires are ignited and the faster they spread,” he said.Further, “using fossil fuels adds greenhouse gases to the atmosphere,” which results in “climate change,” “higher temperatures,” and “drought,” the professor said.Therefore, “there is pretty much a direct line from [Trump’s] policies for fossil fuel use to increased wildfire,” he said.A professor of environmental science at Duke University also said that Trump’s administration is “obviously…going to promote fossil fuels.” However, he is “probably going to take a broader view to energy policy,” Professor James Clark said. “I think that’s all unknown, but…anything that continues to increase greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere is going to continue to have a big impact on wildfires,” Clark said.
Nankai Trough megaquake probability raised to 80% after M6.8 Kyushu earthquake, Japan - Japan has increased the estimated probability of a magnitude 8 and 9 megaquake occurring in the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years to around 80% on January 16, 2025, after an M6.8 earthquake hit near the coast of Kyushu. The probability was previously estimated at 70 to 80%. Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion (HERP), a Japanese government earthquake research panel, has increased the estimated probability of a magnitude 8 and 9 megaquakes occurring in the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years to around 80% after an M6.8 earthquake hit near the coast of Kyushu on January 13. The adjustment was announced on January 16, following an annual recalculation of earthquake probabilities across Japan based on historical seismic activity. The probability was previously estimated at 70 to 80% and has been updated based on historical seismic activity trends. The Nankai Trough, an undersea trench extending approximately 800 km (500 miles) from Shizuoka Prefecture to the southern coast of Kyushu, is a major subduction zone where the Philippine Sea Plate collides with the Eurasian Plate. It has produced some of Japan’s most destructive earthquakes often triggering powerful tsunamis along the Pacific coastline. HERP recalculates earthquake probabilities based on the elapsed time since the last major event. The probability of a Nankai Trough megaquake was first introduced in 2013 at 60 to 70% and raised to 70% in 2014 and increased to 70 to 80% in 2018. The latest revision has now raised the probability to approximately 80%. Naoshi Hirata, Committee chairman and professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo, clarified that the revised probability was not influenced by an abnormal seismic activity but was part of the routine annual update. “This probability is a number indicating that it would be no surprise if an earthquake were to happen at any time,” Hirata stated.
Strong explosive eruption at Ibu volcano, Indonesia - A strong eruption at Ibu volcano produced lava fountains reaching hundreds of meters and ash plumes rising to 5.5 km (18 000 feet) a.s.l., on January 11, 2025, accompanied by volcanic lightning and active lava dome growth. The Aviation Color Code remains at Orange following an upgrade to Red on January 11 for a brief time. The explosive event on January 11 began with intense activity marked by towering lava fountains that created dome-shaped fire plumes and reached several hundred meters into the atmosphere. The eruption released dense ash clouds with columns rising to an altitude of approximately 5.5 km (18 000 feet). The ash emissions moved westward and spread over a large area. The eruption also generated volcanic lightning which is often referred to as “dirty thunderstorms,” caused by collisions of charged particles like ash and lava fragments. The ongoing activity at the volcano’s summit continues to extrude viscous magma and is contributing to the growth of a glowing lava dome. The process has resulted in the advancement of lava flows on the northern flank of the stratovolcano. The authorities have maintained the volcano’s Alert Level at 3 and advised residents to avoid the 4.5 km (2.8 miles) radius around the summit. Individuals in the northern zone are urged to stay at least 6 km (3.7 miles) away due to elevated risks. The Aviation Color Code was temporarily upgraded to Red following the eruption on January 11 and downgraded back to Orange by 12:57 UTC. Geographical and volcanic monitoring map of Southeast Asia Several eruptions occurred on January 12 as well, with ash clouds reaching 2 km (6 480 feet) at 22:16 UTC a.s.l. A similar event was recorded at 21:34 UTC but with the plume rising higher to 3.8 km (12 240 feet) a.s.l. or 2.5 km (8 000 feet) a.s.l. An earlier eruption at 18:05 UTC produced an ash cloud that ascended to 1.9 km (6 160 feet) a.s.l. or 600 m (1 920 feet) above the summit. In another instance, the ash plume was estimated at 4.3 km (13 840 feet) a.s.l., or 3 km (9 600 feet) above the summit at 16:46 UTC, with ash cloud drifting westward. Ibu Volcano has been erupting since 2008. Its activity involves frequent ash emissions, dome growth within its inner crater, and occasional lava flows.
Thousands flee as Indonesia raises Ibu volcano alert to highest level - The Watchers Increased volcanic activity at Indonesia’s Ibu volcano prompted authorities to raise the Alert Level to 4 on January 15, 2025, and issue evacuation orders for some 3 000 people living in 6 villages near the volcano. The Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG), Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, increased the Alert Level for Ibu volcano to IV (the highest) on January 15, following a series of eruptions with dense ash emissions up to 4 km (13 100 feet) above the summit and a 500 m (1 640 feet) long pyroclastic flow on January 15. By Thursday morning, January 16, 517 residents from the village nearest to the volcano had been evacuated, with the remaining residents scheduled to be relocated later in the afternoon. “The evacuation shelters have been prepared by the local administration, and today a full evacuation will be carried out for all residents in six villages,” said Irfan Idrus, a spokesman for the local disaster management agency. Idrus added that evacuations began on Wednesday at 18:00 LT (11:00 GMT) but were delayed due to administrative and logistical issues. In addition, rainfall affecting the area since Thursday morning has further hampered the process. Residents, visitors, and tourists are advised to avoid activities, climbing, or approaching Ibu within a 5 km (3.1 miles) radius and a 6 km (3.7 miles) sector extending from the crater opening in the northern part of the active crater. If ashfall occurs, individuals outdoors are advised to use masks for nose and mouth protection and wear eye protection, such as glasses. Residents beyond the 5 km radius and outside the 6 km sector are urged to remain vigilant and follow directives from the Regional Government. Communities near Mount Ibu should be aware of the potential for lava flows in rivers originating from the peak, particularly during heavy rainfall.
New earthquake swarm in Campi Flegrei, Italy - An earthquake swarm began in the Campi Flegrei area of southern Italy at 07:58 LT (06:58 UTC) on January 13, 2025. Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported the strongest event in the sequence having a magnitude of 1.2 ± 0.3 with a total of 95 localized earthquakes recorded so far. The depths of earthquakes ranged between 0.2 km (0.1 miles) and 3.1 km (1.9 miles). The main events included an earthquake at 12:31 UTC with a magnitude of 0.6 ± 0.3 recorded at a depth of 2.9 km (1.8 miles). Another event at 07:04 UTC had a magnitude of 0.4 ± 0.3 with a depth of 1.9 km (1.2 miles). At 07:03 UTC, an earthquake with a magnitude of 1.1 ± 0.3 occurred at a depth of 0.4 km (0.2 miles). The largest event was at 06:58 UTC with a magnitude of 1.2 ± 0.3 at a depth of 2.1 km (1.3 miles). The nearest seismic station was just 0.5 km (0.3 miles) from the epicenter. While such events are common in seismically active regions like Campi Flegrei, their shallow nature can lead to increased felt intensity, even at lower magnitudes. The Campanian volcanoes, Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei, and the island of Ischia, represent the most monitored and studied volcanic areas in the world because of the risk associated with a possible resumption of volcanic activity. The ongoing swarm adds to the long history of seismic activity in the Campi Flegrei which is a 13 km (8 miles) wide volcanic complex. It encompasses Naples and extends south into the Gulf of Pozzuoli. The region’s geology is marked by extensive ground deformation, fumarolic activity, and seismicity because of the underlying magmatic and hydrothermal systems.
Significant damage reported, two injured as intense seismo-volcanic crisis hits Main Ethiopian Rift - An intense seismo-volcanic crisis is still affecting Ethiopia’s southern Afar and northern Oromia regions near the Fentale and Dofan volcanoes in the Main Ethiopian Rift. As a result, at least 2 people have been injured and significant damage to homes and structures has been reported. The crisis started on December 22, 2024, with a series of moderate to strong earthquakes centered near Fentale and Dofan volcanoes. To January 13, 2025, the USGS has registered 124 earthquakes with magnitudes between 4.1 and 5.7. The most recent was M4.4 at 20:59 UTC on January 12. In addition to intense earthquakes, the region has witnessed large cracks in multiple districts including Haruka District’s Kelat Buri Kebele. The cracks have rendered an important water pump supplying agricultural fields inoperable. The ground in some areas has sunk into valleys and intensified fears among the local population. Expanding fissures in the ground have raised concerns about the Kesem/Sabure Dam which holds a substantial volume of water. Any structural failure could result in catastrophic flooding downstream and can endanger hundreds of thousands of lives while the dam is engineered to withstand earthquakes up to an M5.6. On January 3, a powerful vent opened at Dofan volcano, releasing a mix of gas, rocks, and mud. Videos captured at the site showed jets of steam escaping from a crack in the ground. It remains unclear whether this vent existed before or it formed recently. On January 13, UN OCHA reported at least 2 people have been injured by the seismic activity and more than 60 000 people evacuated the region — of an estimated 80 000 who are advised to relocate. The earthquake has caused damage to dozens of homes, health centers, schools, roads, and critical infrastructure. At least 16 schools have been severely damaged and 21 partially. Satellite image of Fentale and Dofen volcanoes, Ethiopia on December 28, 2024. The activity is believed to be linked to magma intrusion beneath the surface. Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) is a 1 000 km (620 miles) long tectonic zone, part of the East African Rift System (EARS), where the African Plate is splitting into two smaller plates. It is a geologically active region where the African Plate is gradually splitting into two smaller plates — the Nubian Plate to the west and the Somalian Plate to the east.
Lava surge at Erta Ale volcano reaches historic camp for first time in 20 years, Ethiopia - A surge of lava at Erta Ale volcano in Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression advanced to the camping huts on January 13, 2025, for the first time in 20 years. The effusive eruption remains at an elevated level. Satellite imagery detected a strong thermal anomaly on January 12, 2025, showing lava overflowing in a southeastern direction as vigorous spattering from a sizable hornito continued to eject molten clots that merged into lava flows. Reports from the ground indicate that the lava has recently reached the area of the historic camping huts not seen in the past 20 years. “Last night, Erta Ale’s lava flow reached unprecedented levels, filling the old caldera and extending to the old historic camping huts for the first time in 20 years,” local tour guide Negasi Teklay from Mek’ele reported on January 14. “This extraordinary event transformed the landscape. The volume of lava flowing was a sight to behold, marking a significant moment for visitors and locals alike. Witnessing such a dramatic filling of the caldera is a rare occurrence,” he said. Thermal data on December 28, 2024, showed a new lava flow moving about 180 m (590 feet) northwest, curving southwest, and extending over 230 m (755 feet) before stopping at the western summit wall. A small thermal anomaly was also visible in the northern pit summit. Most of the previous lava flows had cooled but two vents continued to emit thermal anomalies by December 23. On December 8 and 13, satellite images identified a small anomaly over a vent in the southern pit summit. A second smaller anomaly was detected 85 m (280 feet) northwest. Analysis indicated that lava from one vent flowed south-southwest for about 200 m (656 feet). Another flow from the northwest vent traveled around 100 m (328 feet) northwest before turning northeast for 300 m (984 feet) and then west-northwest for 230 m (755 feet), eventually stopping at the western summit wall.
Fourth eruptive episode at Kilauea volcano with lava fountains reaching 60 m (200 feet), Hawaii – (live webcam video) The eruption at Kilauea volcano’s summit resumed at 09:15 LT (19:15 UTC) on January 15, 2025, with lava flowing from the 2 north vents at Halema’uma’u summit. The eruption intensified by 19:50 UTC and by 19:55 UTC lava fountaining began with fountains reaching heights of 60 m (200 feet). Approximately 10% of the summit floor is now covered in fresh lava. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) confirmed that this marks the 4th episode of the summit eruption that started on December 23, 2024. The early phase of this episode progressed faster than previous ones with lower initial lava effusion rates compared to the second (3 to 4 hours) and third (2.5 days) episodes. No activity has been observed at the south vent. HVO volcanologists observed the eruption restarting with low-level spattering giving way to sustained fountaining. The latest observations indicate rapid development compared to previous eruptive phases. Tiltmeter readings at UÄ“kahuna indicate continued inflation beneath Halema’uma’u since 19:00 UTC on January 14, 2025, though signs suggest leveling off. Seismic tremor levels increased with the onset of fountaining but remained lower than those recorded during the first 2 episodes which saw fountains exceeding 80 m (250 feet). “If fountaining continues, it is possible that the fountain heights will increase as more gas-rich lava erupts. It is not possible to estimate how high the fountains may get or how long the fountaining will last, but prior episodes have produced fountains over 70 meters (200 feet) that last up to 24 hours,” HVO reported. Each episode of this eruption has varied in duration with previous fountaining events lasting between 14 hours and 8 days and separated by pauses ranging from less than 24 hours to 12 days. The current Alert Level remains at Watch and the Aviation Color Code is Orange, indicating ongoing volcanic activity with possible hazards to air travel. Intermittent incandescence and low-level lava spattering were observed at the southwest margin of Halema’uma’u between January 8 and January 14. On January 13, both north and south vents showed intermittent incandescence though spattering was not confirmed. The Aviation Color Code and Alert Level remained unchanged during this period. Spattering was more active at night before dawn on January 12 when bursts of lava reached 5 to 20 m (16 to 66 feet). Monitoring instruments recorded summit floor subsidence followed by magma refilling at intervals of 60 to 90 minutes. On January 11, minor spattering was reported at the north vent though it was not visible on webcams.
Small meteorite hits a car near Birmingham, UK - A meteorite measuring approximately 2 cm (0.8 inches) smashed the windscreen of a parked Toyota in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, approximately 35 km (22 miles) SE of Birmingham, on December 26, 2024. The rock exhibits a shiny, burned surface, and is magnetized, a known characteristic of meteorites. Ad ends in 1 The discovery was made the following morning by Paul Butler, who initially assumed the previous night’s loud noise — around 22:30 LT (21:30 UTC), was caused by nearby fireworks. “We found out it was about a billion-to-one chance of a meteorite hitting the car in our driveway, so we’ve started buying lottery tickets,” Paul said. Meteorites are fragments of asteroids or comets that survive their passage through the Earth’s atmosphere and impact the surface. The energy from a meteorite’s high-speed descent can cause damage while most are small and harmless as evidenced by this incident. The International Meteor Organization (IMO) currently has no fireball data for the time/date Paul reported. There is, however, an entry for a fireball at 18:36 UTC on December 26 with reports coming around Birmingham, making it a likely source of the meteorite. This event was captured on camera located in Llanyre:
Home security camera captures first-ever sound of meteorite impact, Canada - (video with sound) A meteorite impact was captured on a home security camera in Marshfield, Prince Edward Island, Canada, in July 2024, making it the first recorded instance in history where both the impact and its sound were documented. The meteorite crashed into the walkway just minutes after homeowner Joe Velaidum had stepped away. Scientists later confirmed the space rock’s origin and provided data on its composition and velocity. The object is estimated to have entered Earth’s atmosphere at approximately 60 000 km/h (37 280 mph) before slowing to terminal velocity. It likely traveled at least 200 km/h (124 mph) when it impacted the ground.
Impulsive M7.4 solar flare erupts from Region 3964 - An impulsive solar flare measuring M7.4 erupted from Active Region 3964 at 13:35 UTC on January 17, 2025. The event started at 13:24 and ended at 13:39 UTC. Solar activity increased again on January 17, with 5 M-class solar flares from 02:11 UTC to 13:35 UTC when the strongest in the series erupted — M7.4 from Active Region 3964. There were no radio signatures indicating that a coronal mass ejection (CME) was produced during this event. The region currently has a Beta magnetic configuration, meaning it is capable of generating further strong eruptions. However, as it continues to rotate toward the west limb, the likelihood of Earth-directed solar flares decreases with each passing day. Radio frequencies were forecast to be most degraded over South America, South Atlantic Ocean, and parts of Africa at the time of the flare.
Over 100 miners starved to death by the ANC in South Africa, hundreds still in danger Over 100 zama zama (“take a chance”) self-employed miners have been starved and dehydrated to death in a gold mine by the African National Congress (ANC) government of South Africa, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Three dozen bodies have already been brought to the surface since Friday and videos taken underground show many more yet to be retrieved. The hundreds of survivors still in the mine are in an appalling, sick and emaciated condition. One of the videos circulating online, released by the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) group, shows dozens of corpses wrapped in makeshift body bags and records a man saying, “This is hunger. People are dying because of hunger. Please help us. Bring us food or take us out.” A man in another video explains, “We’re starting to show you the bodies of those who died underground. And this is not all of them... Do you see how people are struggling? Please we need help.” This is the deliberate outcome of the ANC’s policy. In a statement released this week, the General Industries Workers of South Africa union commented alongside community groups: “What has transpired here has to be called what it is: this is a Stilfontein massacre.” The Ramaphosa government blockaded the mine—being worked without a permit by desperate unemployed South Africans and migrants from neighbouring countries—as part of its Operation Vala Umgodi (Plug the Hole), launched in 2023, involving 3,000 soldiers and police officers nationally. Supplies of food and water apparently started being intercepted as early as August last year. Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told reporters in November: “We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out. They will come out. We are not sending help to criminals. Criminals are not to be helped; criminals are to be persecuted.” The informal mine workers were trapped between the threats of arrest—with 1,000 seized already, according to the government—and starvation. In reality, many lacked even that choice. After police removed a winch and pulley system that was the main method used to enter a 2.5-kilometre-deep shaft, miners too weak to make a days’ long and treacherous journey to a different route out were effectively condemned to a torturous death in the dark.
New Jersey Republican says he is collaborating with Trump on new offshore wind ban executive order -- Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) said Tuesday he is collaborating with President-elect Trump on an executive order that would halt the construction of new wind turbines, a frequent Trump target, off the East Coast. In a statement, Van Drew said he has been “working closely” with Trump on the measure as well as longer-term plans for permanent restrictions on offshore wind projects. The New Jersey Republican projected the order would be finalized within months of Trump’s inauguration. “This executive order is just the beginning. We will fight tooth and nail to prevent this offshore wind catastrophe from wreaking havoc on the hardworking people who call our coastal towns home,” Van Drew said in a statement. Van Drew’s southern New Jersey district includes beach towns and summer colonies like Cape May, Atlantic City and Long Beach Island. In July, the Biden administration approved the first wind project off the Garden State, a 200-turbine project by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind that would be visible from Long Beach Island. The administration set a broader target of approving wind projects spanning both coasts. Trump has long been a booster of fossil fuels, which are the primary cause of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, and a detractor of renewable energy. He has expressed particular opposition toward wind energy, blasting it as inefficient and unsightly and blaming it for the deaths of birds and whales. Existing data suggests turbines kill a few hundred thousand birds annually, but the American Bird Conservancy estimates this is an undercount and the number could be over 1 million under modern turbine levels. However, house cats and buildings kill far more, according to MIT’s Climate Portal. Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there is “no significant evidence” linking turbines to increased whale deaths. In a wide-ranging press conference last week Trump suggested he planned to seek the end of new offshore wind energy in his second term, saying “we’re going to try and have a policy where no windmills are being built,” and suggested he would end it by executive order “on day one” during his 2024 campaign.
OPSB Denies Construction Project In Union County– The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) Wednesday approved Clear Mountain Energy Center, LLC’s proposal to construct a solar-powered generating facility in Clermont County. The OPSB denied Richwood Solar LLC’s proposal to construct a solar-powered generating facility in Union County.The OPSB denied the application of Richwood Solar to construct a 250 MW solar-powered electric generating facility in Leesburg, Claibourne, and Taylor townships in Union County. The OPSB found that, based on the consistent opposition to the project from each of the local government entities and their constituents who are impacted, the proposed project would fail to serve the “public interest, convenience, and necessity” as required under Ohio law. The OPSB noted that each of the local governments with physical contact to the project – Union County and Taylor, Leesburg, and Claiborne townships – acted to oppose its approval, and that the public comments and testimony received in the case reinforced the local government opposition. The project as proposed would have consisted of large arrays of solar panels and a 50 MW battery energy storage system occupying 1,217 acres within a 1,435-acre project area.The 100 megawatt (MW) Clear Mountain Energy Center will be constructed in Batavia, Jackson, and Williamsburg townships in Clermont County. The project will occupy 565 acres within a 1,226-acre project area and will consist of large arrays of solar panels ground-mounted on a tracking rack system and associated facilities, including a 52 MW battery energy storage system, access roads, electric collection lines, inverters and transformers, a collector substation, and a generation interconnect transmission line.In separate business, the OPSB denied the application for rehearing filed by Circleville Solar, LLC regarding its 70 MW Circleville Solar project in Pickaway County. The OPSB also authorized the Juliet Solar project to move the locations of the project collection substation, generation interconnection line, and the operation and maintenance building at its facility in Wood County.The Board approved modifications to AEP Ohio Transmission Company’s Vigo-Pine Ridge Switch 138 and Pine Ridge Switch-Heppner 138 kV electric transmission line projects in Jackson and Ross counties, Duke Energy Ohio’s Butler County Phase II Natural Gas Pipeline project, and Firelands Wind, LLC’s Emerson Creek Wind Farm project in Erie and Huron counties.
OPSB Denies Rehearing for Circleville Solar Project, Approves Modifications for Several Energy Projects – The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) has denied a rehearing request filed by Circleville Solar, LLC concerning its proposed 70 MW Circleville Solar project in Pickaway County. The decision came after the company sought to revisit an earlier ruling regarding the project’s approval.In other actions, the OPSB authorized modifications to the Juliet Solar project inWood County, permitting changes to the project’s collection substation, generation interconnection line, and operation and maintenance building locations.Additionally, the OPSB approved several other energy projects across Ohio, including:
- Modifications to AEP Ohio Transmission Company’s Vigo-Pine Ridge Switch 138 kV and Pine Ridge Switch-Heppner 138 kV electric transmission line projects in Jackson and Ross counties.
- The Butler County Phase II Natural Gas Pipeline project from Duke Energy Ohio.
- Firelands Wind, LLC’s Emerson Creek Wind Farm project, located in Erie andHuron counties.
For more details on these decisions, visit the OPSB website at www.OPSB.ohio.gov.
Biden finalizes major loan to EV-maker Rivian days before Trump’s inauguration --The Biden administration has finalized a massive loan to electric vehicle (EV) maker Rivian just days before President-elect Trump takes office. The $6.57 billion loan will finance an electric vehicle plant in Georgia where the company, which currently specializes in luxury vehicles, will make SUVs and crossover vehicles. The Energy Department, in a press release, described the vehicles as “mass market” rather than luxury.The loan’s closure comes as the Trump administration is expected to seek to rein in climate spending broadly. Trump ally Vivek Ramaswamy has also criticized this loan specifically, calling it “insane” on social platform X. “This smells more like a political shot across the bow at @elonmusk & @Tesla,” he wrote, referring to Elon Musk, who is slated to co-run a government efficiency commission with Ramaswamy.The Biden administration says the facility financed by the loan will provide 7,500 operations jobs through 2030 and build 400,000 vehicles each year.In addition, the administration closed a separate $1.66 billion loan to finance the construction of six facilities that will produce hydrogen energy. As of Thursday, the Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office had announced 26 tentative loan commitments worth a total of $60.58 billion that had not yet been closed, according to a spokesperson.
Watch: Amazon Uses Huge Diesel Generator To Charge Electric Delivery Van Fleet - Amazon closed out 2024 with more than 20,000 electric delivery vans manufactured by Rivian in its fleet nationwide. The e-commerce giant highlights on its website that the electric vans are part of its "urgent" climate change initiative to "remove carbon emissions from transportation systems." However, Amazon faces mounting criticism for gaslighting the public about its net zero goals and actual operational fleet practices. Take, for instance, Amazon's website. Within the Sustainability section, the company laid out its approach to fight so-called global warming: "To reach this target, we're also expanding the use of zero-emission transportation such as electric delivery vans, cargo e-bikes, and on-foot deliveries, and we engage in industry initiatives to remove carbon emissions from transportation systems like ocean shipping, aviation, and trucking. We're also using innovative construction techniques and building materials to make our fulfillment centers, data centers, offices, and physical retail locations more sustainable." Amazon's climate pledge on its website. While the company promotes its electric delivery vans as part of its effort to save the planet from a fiery demise—an end-of-world scenario Al Gore has inaccurately predicted for decades—it appears that, at least in one location, Amazon is reportedly relying on a massive diesel generator to charge a fleet of Rivian vans. On Tuesday, TikTok user drewgoo posted a video that shows "Diesel Generator powering electric Amazon trucks." "So I understand green energy, electric vehicles - Amazon is doing their part. Stay green. But doesn't it defeat the purpose when you have a diesel-powered generator electrifying all of the EVs? It makes no sense," the TikTok user said in the video. The video was also uploaded on X. Amazon electric vehicles seen charging in the snow. All these vehicles are being charged by a huge diesel generator. The generator is on, you can hear it running providing the power. “Doesn’t that defeat the purpose when you literally have a diesel powered generator electrifying… pic.twitter.com/wcyXuKnIzr Meanwhile, the Amazon founder (Jeff Bezos) is sailing around the world in a superyacht with massive diesel motors. He also flies in private jets that gobble up huge amounts of jet fuel. The climate emergency doesn't apply to the billionaire climate alarmists. Folks are starting to understand the climate grift, while governments ban gas stoves from ordinary folks.
USA Needs More Electricity to Win AI Race, Says Trump Energy Czar | Rigzone - The US risks forfeiting a global competition to dominate artificial intelligence if it doesn’t build more reliable, always-on electricity to supply the industry, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department warned Thursday. Doug Burgum, the former North Dakota governor who has also been tapped to help chart Trump’s energy policy, cast the issue as critical to America’s national security during a Senate confirmation hearing that offered a preview of the incoming administration’s planned embrace of fossil fuels. Where renewable power supplies are intermittent and “unreliable,” Burgum said, AI’s growing energy demands will require more of the so-called baseload electricity that can be generated around-the-clock by burning coal and natural gas. “Without baseload, we’re going to lose the AI arms race to China,” Burgum told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “AI is manufacturing intelligence, and if we don’t manufacture more intelligence than our adversaries, that affects every job, every company and every industry.” During a three-hour meeting marked by cordial exchanges — and none of the intense sparring that has dominated other confirmation hearings this week — Burgum sought to assure senators he would seek a “balanced approach” for oil drilling, conservation and even potentially housing on the federal land managed by the Interior Department. The agency’s sprawling portfolio spans a fifth of US land, and it is the lead regulator for oil, gas and wind power development in the nation’s coastal waters. Burgum also made clear that a top priority is addressing what he called a “significant imbalance” in the nation’s electricity mix, as developers look to connect a host of low- and zero-emission power projects to the grid. “If the sun’s not shining and the wind’s not blowing, and we don’t have baseload, then we’ve got brownouts and blackouts, we have higher electric prices for every American,” he said. US electricity demand is expected to surge to unprecedented levels in coming years, fed by AI, data centers and domestic manufacturing. While natural gas-fired plants are expected to supply the bulk of growth in the short term, power developers have been racing to deploy renewable projects. Renewable power developers say that by paring those projects with batteries, they can effectively transform them into baseload supply. Wind and solar power generated at the sites can be stored and made available even when the wind stops blowing or sun isn’t shining. Senator Angus King, an independent from Maine, successfully pressed Burgum to commit to an “all-of-the-above” approach. “I don’t want the word ‘baseload’ to be code for ‘no renewables,’” King told Burgum. “That’s not what you’re saying is it?” America needs “all forms of electricity, and we need more of it in the very near term,” Burgum said. “This isn’t about one versus the other,” he said, but rather how to increase the amount of electricity in the US and do it in a way that ensures “affordability and reliability.” If confirmed, Burgum would be a key figure in executing Trump’s plan to escalate domestic energy production, including by expanding drilling and mining opportunities on federal land. He also would be at the epicenter of fights over the future of US offshore wind development. Trump has been a relentless critic of the energy source, calling windmills “an economic and environmental disaster” and insisting he doesn’t want even one built during his administration. On Thursday, Democratic senators appealed to Burgum’s history in North Dakota — where wind power makes up a third of electricity generation — in encouraging him to persuade Trump of its merits. Burgum pledged to work with states in exploring ways public lands can be used to help address housing shortages. And he vowed careful consultation with state and local interests on some issues of land management, responding to Republicans who say local interests were disregarded in some national monument designations. Burgum also touted carbon capture technology he said offered the opportunity to produce clean electricity from coal — despite persistent industry complaints about the high costs of widely deploying it today. Electric utilities, cooperatives and some states have challenged Biden-era environmental mandates that effectively compel coal plants to adopt the technology or shut down.
Trump's Pick for Energy Secretary Vows to 'Unleash' USA Expansion - Donald Trump’s choice for Energy secretary said the US must remove bureaucratic barriers and “unleash” production of nuclear power as well as liquified natural gas, according to written testimony before his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday. “The security of our nation begins with energy,” Chris Wright said in remarks prepared for the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “Previous administrations have viewed energy as a liability instead of the immense national asset that it is.” Wright, the founder of Liberty Energy Inc., an oil and natural gas fracking services company, said his priorities would also include a focus on innovation and technology breakthroughs. Testifying on his 60th birthday, he said his first priority was to “unleash American energy at home and abroad to restore energy dominance,” a term that resonated throughout the first Trump administration. As Liberty’s chief executive officer, Wright has been an unapologetic advocate for his industry, proclaiming the moral virtues of fossil fuels and even drank fracking fluid to refute opponents who questioned its safety. The choice of Wright, who has no previous Washington experience, is indicative of the incoming president’s hard pivot toward fossil fuels after years of Biden administration policies that benefited renewable energy and sought to restrict global warming. He has assailed subsidies for wind and solar power and said fossil fuels were crucial for spreading prosperity and lifting people from poverty. He has called the threat posed by climate change exaggerated. “There is no climate crisis. And we are not in the midst of an energy transition either,” Wright said in a video posted on his LinkedIn page. “Life on earth is simply impossible without carbon dioxide — hence the term carbon pollution is outrageous.” While the Energy Department has little authority over oil and gas development, Wright, if confirmed, would oversee an organization with a vast, complex mission that includes helping to maintain the nation’s nuclear warheads, studying supercomputers and maintaining the country’s several-hundred-million-barrel stockpile of crude oil. Alluding to some of the department’s many responsibilities, Wright said “we must protect and accelerate the work of the department’s national laboratory network to secure America’s competitive edge and its security.” The secretary also plays a crucial role in approving projects to export LNG, something that was paused during the Biden administration. Wright would also almost certainly be instrumental in trying to fulfill Trump’s promises to help the coal industry, build more power plants, expand electrical grids and cut the overall price of energy by half. He will also serve on Trump’s newly created National Energy Council alongside North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Trump’s choice for Interior secretary.
U.S. Energy Dept. makes conditional loan commitments totaling $22.9B for 8 utilities -- The U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) on Jan. 16 conditionally committed to making loans to eight utilities that plan investments in projects to enhance transmission, clean generation, energy storage, grid modernization, and gas pipelines. The conditional loan commitments made through LPO’s Title 17 Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) program total $22.92 billion for these utilities, which serve more than 14.78 million customers across 12 states, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). The conditional loan guarantee for AEP Transmission Company, LLC (AEP) would help the transmission utility finance reconductoring or rebuilding of almost 5,000 miles of transmission lines in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. The transmission upgrades would increase overall transmission capacity by approximately 70 percent, provide cost savings to utility customers, and improve service reliability, DOE said.The conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $5.23 billion to Consumers Energy, a subsidiary of CMS Energy, would be for its CE Clean Energy Project, which consists of proposed investments through 2031 in solar generation, wind generation, battery storage, virtual power plant projects, and the replacement of legacy natural gas pipelines. If finalized, the loan guarantee will enable Consumers Energy to invest in reliability and energy security while lowering costs for customers, and help the utility meet its goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for the entire business by 2050, according to the DOE.There are two conditional commitments for loan guarantees to two utility subsidiaries of DTE Energy Co. — up to $1.64 billion to DTE Gas Co. and up to $7.17 billion to DTE Electric Co. If finalized, the guarantee to DTE Gas is expected to help accelerate the updating of natural gas main and service distribution lines and move metering infrastructure outdoors, while the guarantee to DTE Electric would help finance generation and battery storage in Michigan. Together, if finalized, the guarantees would support DTE Energy’s ongoing efforts to provide safe, affordable, and cleaner energy to millions of Michiganders. Another two conditional commitments for loan guarantees totaling over $3 billion are for Alliant Energy subsidiaries Interstate Power and Light (IPL) and Wisconsin Power and Light (WPL). If finalized, the guarantees would help finance the addition of roughly 2,000 megawatts (MW) of clean energy generation and storage in Iowa and Wisconsin within the next decade.LPO also made a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $716 million to Jersey Central Power & Light Company (JCP&L) to help fund the New Jersey Clean Energy Corridor, a project to upgrade and expand transmission infrastructure to accommodate planned generation in the state to meet growing electricity demand. The project comprises 40 miles of transmission and substation upgrades and expansions. If finalized, the project is expected to enable the addition of about 4,890 MW of clean power to the grid. The upgraded transmission infrastructure would enable nearly 20 million MWh of clean energy production annually — enough electricity to power approximately 1.6 million homes a year. Finally, a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $3.52 billion made to PacifiCorp, an electric utility serving six western states, would help finance its Project WIRE, which includes several transmission projects in various states, including Idaho, Oregon, and Utah to help meet expected demand growth. Project WIRE would include the construction of multiple greenfield transmission lines that will augment overall system capacity and reduce the curtailment of existing wind plants, DOE said. In total, Project WIRE is currently expected to create approximately 700 miles of new high-voltage transmission, which will increase transmission capacity by over 3,000 megavolt-amperes.
Gas, Coal Production in China at Record High Last Year -- China posted record production in 2024 for commodities including coal, gas and aluminum. Steel output dropped, although it held above 1 billion tons for a fifth consecutive year. The figures from the statistics bureau on Friday reflect the ongoing importance of energy security to the policy agenda, and China’s desire to cut its reliance on fossil fuel imports. But they also show how the old economy is being forced to shrink, as Beijing seeks to promote greener industries to replace property and state-led investment as the main engines of growth. For all of China’s massive buildout of renewable power, coal remains its mainstay fuel. Production in 2024 rose 1.3 percent to 4.76 billion tons, and another increase is likely this year. Cleaner-burning natural gas surged 6.2 percent to 246 billion cubic meters, while crude oil output rose 1.8 percent to 213 million tons, the second-highest total in history. Oil processing, however, is an industry in decline as the Chinese economy slows and gets greener, cutting demand for fuels like gasoline and diesel. Refiners saw output fall 1.6 percent to 708 million tons. Aluminum is one of the metals benefiting from green demand, with output rising 4.6 percent to 44 million tons. Growth is likely to ease this year as the government’s 45-million-ton annual capacity cap puts limits on smelters. The steel industry, however, can’t shake the impact of the yearslong crisis in Chinese real estate, historically its chief pillar of demand. Production fell 1.7 percent to just over 1 billion tons in 2024 and a further contraction is likely this year as consumption keeps falling.
Now they want 4360 acres of Egypt Valley Wildlife Area – tell them no! – Save Ohio Parks -- On January 2, fracking tanks on a well pad just five miles from Salt Fork State Park exploded. The local fire department closed area roads, and nearby residents were evacuated.Due to extreme heat from the explosion, officials chose to let the fire – fueled by 100 barrels of liquid gas condensate – burn itself out over 18 hours. No testing was done of the air emissions, nor of the ground or water nearby.This well pad explosion underscores just how dangerous fracking is to Ohio state parks and wildlife areas. Gulfport, the company that owns the well pad, had previously paid a$3.7 million settlement with the US EPA for pollution from 17 well pads in Ohio – including the one that blew up. It has a long track record of other accidents and incidents as well.Yet an unnamed oil and gas company now wants to frack 4360 acres of Egypt Valley Wildlife Area. Tell the commission: No more leasing of public land to oil and gas! At 18,000 acres, Egypt Valley is one of the largest wildlife areas in Ohio. It is comprised of two large pieces of land situated north and south of Piedmont Lake in Belmont County. This nomination makes up much of the northern half of Egypt Valley.Before the Ohio Department of Natural Resources acquired the land that became Egypt Valley in 1995, it had been subjected to decades of coal mining using some of the largest earth-moving equipment of the time. About 80% of the land was mined, and the scars are still visible today, as shown in the photo above.Now Egypt Valley is a destination for hunters, hikers, birdwatchers, fishers, and people who love the outdoors. Deer, turkey, waterfowl, squirrel, grouse, rabbit, and dove are common, and ponds and lakes are stocked with bass, catfish, and bluegills. River otters were reintroduced to this area in 1993 and now a thriving population can be found there. The last thing Egypt Valley Wildlife Area needs is fracking. Act now to tell the commission: No more leasing of public land to oil and gas, Please visit the Nomination Comment Form, choose Nomination #24-DNR-0011, and submit your comment.
27 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jan 6 – 12 | Marcellus Drilling News -- For the week of Jan 6 - 12, permits issued in the Marcellus/Utica to drill new shale wells remained healthy. There were 27 new permits issued last week, down three from 30 issued the week before. The Keystone State (PA) issued 13 new permits, with four going to Snyder Brothers in Armstrong County, four going to Coterra Energy in Susquehanna County (must be Coterra has restarted drilling), three for Infinity Natural Resources (INR) in Indiana County, and two for Range Resources in Washington County. ANTERO RESOURCES | ARMSTRONG COUNTY | ARSENAL RESOURCES | BELMONT COUNTY | COTERRA ENERGY (CABOT O&G) | ENCINO ENERGY | EOG RESOURCES | GUERNSEY COUNTY | GULFPORT ENERGY | HARRISON COUNTY | HARRISON COUNTY | INDIANA COUNTY | INR/INFINITY NATURAL RESOURCES |MARSHALL COUNTY | MONONGALIA COUNTY | NORTHEAST NATURAL ENERGY | RANGE RESOURCES CORP | RITCHIE COUNTY | SNYDER BROTHERS | SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY | SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY | WASHINGTON COUNTY
Builders, Utility Co. Sue Maryland re New Reg Blocking NatGas Use - Marcellus Drilling News -Maryland is a sad state. It's completely ruled by leftists who seek to impoverish its residents by forcing them to use expensive and unreliable renewable energy. There is actually some Marcellus/Utica shale under Maryland (in a couple of far-western counties), but the state outlawed shale fracking nearly 10 years ago when then-Gov. Larry Hogan (a RINO and Trump-hater) allowed a Maryland bill to become law that bans fracking in the state (see Maryland’s Pusillanimous Gov Allows Frack Moratorium to Become Law). The latest attack against fossil energy is a new state regulation that phases out gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters, and other appliances at big residential and commercial buildings to "fight climate change." Not so fast. Builders and one utility company have sued to block the new reg from taking effect.
Venture Global Targets $110B in Massive IPO -- Venture Global plans to make waves with its upcoming U.S. IPO, aiming for a valuation around $110 billion.The company is set to pitch its IPO to investors by Jan. 17, Reuters reported.The company disclosed the estimate through an amendment to its S-1 statement filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The company originally filed its intent to hold an IPO on Dec. 20,about a week after Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG plant started production. According to the S-1, Venture Global plans to offer 50 million shares and anticipates the IPO price will be between $40 and $46 a share, raising up to $2.3 billion on the upper end of the stock price. That would set the company’s value at about $110 billion.The offering could rival New York’s largest energy IPO on record. Conoco raised $4.4 billion in 1998, according to Reuters.Venture Global seeks to take advantage of a rapidly growing global demand for LNG. The U.S. leads the globe in LNG exports, and besides the two LNG export terminals already functioning along the Gulf Coast, the company has five projects that are either commissioning or in the planning stages. According to the company’s third-quarter earnings, Venture Global had $19.6 billion in proceeds for 2024.
Freeport, Sabine Pass LNG Maintenance Cut Into Record U.S. Feed Gas Demand --The ramp up of new LNG export projects on the Gulf Coast is pushing U.S. feed gas demand to new highs as winter supply balances tighten, but maintenance events have limited more upward climbs. Chart and map of Lower 48 LNG export facilities tracking daily natural gas feedstock flows to sites for market intelligence. LNG feed gas flows hit a record of 15.49 Bcf/d over the weekend, NGI data showed, surpassing the previous high point of 15.15 Bcf/d in December 2023. Plaquemines LNG in Louisiana recently started shipping commissioning cargoes, while an expansion project at the Corpus Christi export facility in Texas has started producing the super-chilled fuel. The U.S. Energy Information Administration on Monday forecast Lower 48 export capacity to reach an average of 15.4 Bcf/d by the end of this year, with a possible peak of 18.7 Bcf/d.
U.S. Natural Gas Prices Dip from 2-Year High on Higher Output, Lower Freeport LNG Flows (Reuters) — U.S. natural gas futures eased about 1% on Monday from a two-year high in the prior session on a reduction in the amount of gas curtailed by freezing pipes and lower flows to Freeport LNG's export plant in Texas. Prices declined despite forecasts for colder weather and more heating demand next week than previously expected. After soaring by about 10% to a two-year high earlier in the session, front-month gas futures for February delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 5.5 cents, or 1.4%, to settle at $3.934 per million British thermal units. On Friday, the contract closed at its highest price since Jan. 4, 2023. In the spot market, extreme cold blanketing parts of the country boosted next-day gas prices at the U.S. Henry Hub benchmark in Louisiana and the Eastern Gas South hub to their highest levels since January 2024. Analysts projected the next three storage reports for the weeks ending Jan. 10, 17 and 24 could each show utilities pulling more than 200 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas from inventories to meet soaring heating demand. Some analysts said withdrawals this month could top the current record high of 994 bcf set in January 2022, according to federal energy data. Those storage withdrawals could wipe out the current surplus of gas in storage, which stands near 7% over the five-year average, by the end of January. That would be the first time stockpiles would fall below the five-year average since January 2022. Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states slid to 103.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) so far in January, down from 104.2 Bcf/d in December. That compares with a record 104.5 Bcf/d in December 2023. Over the weekend, LSEG slashed estimated production curtailments due to freezing oil and gas wells and pipes so far this year to just 1.4 Bcf/d from Jan. 4-7 on Monday, down from a projected 5.9 Bcf/d from Dec. 31-Jan. 10 on Friday. The energy industry calls those curtailments freeze-offs. In past winters, freeze-offs cut gas output by around 16.5 Bcf/d from Jan. 8-16 in 2024, 19.4 Bcf/d from Dec. 21-24 in 2022, and 20.4 Bcf/d from Feb. 8-17 in 2021, according to LSEG data. Meteorologists projected weather in the Lower 48 states would remain mostly colder than normal through Jan. 28, with the coldest day still to come on Jan. 21. With colder weather coming, LSEG forecast average gas demand in the Lower 48, including exports, would rise from 144.4 Bcf/d this week to 149.2 Bcf/d next week. The forecast for this week was lower than LSEG's outlook on Friday, while its forecast for next week was higher. On a daily basis, LSEG said total gas use so far this winter peaked at 158.9 Bcf/d on Jan. 8 and would reach 165.1 Bcf/d on Jan. 21. That, however, would fall short of the daily record high of 168.4 Bcf/d on Jan. 16, 2024. The amount of gas flowing to the eight big U.S. LNG export plants rose to an average of 15.0 Bcf/d so far in January, up from 14.4 Bcf/d in December. That compares with a monthly record high of 14.7 Bcf/d in December 2023. On a daily basis, LNG feedgas was on track to slide from an all-time high of 15.5 Bcf/d on Jan. 11 to 14.4 Bcf/d on Monday due mostly to reduced flows to Freeport LNG's 2.1-Bcf/d plant in Texas. Separately, flows to Venture Global LNG's 2.6-Bcf/d Plaquemines export plant under construction in Louisiana were on track to rise to a record 1.0 Bcf/d on Sunday and Monday.
US natgas prices rise 3% to two-year high on frigid weather and record demand forecasts — U.S. natural gas futures climbed about 3% to a two-year high on Wednesday, on forecasts for more frigid weather over the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend than previously expected, which could freeze gas wells and pipes and boost the amount of gas used to heat homes and businesses to a record high. Front-month gas futures for February delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 11.5 cents, or 2.9%, to settle at $4.083 per million British thermal units, their highest close since Jan. 4, 2023. Analysts projected the next three storage reports for the weeks ending Jan. 10, Jan. 17 and Jan. 24 could each show utilities pulling more than 200 billion cubic feet of gas from inventories to meet soaring heating demand. Some analysts said withdrawals this month could top the current record high of 994 bcf set in January 2022, according to federal energy data. There is about 7% more gas in storage than usual for the time of year. But storage withdrawals this month could remove the surplus by the end of January, which would be the first time stockpiles fall below the five-year average since January 2022. Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states fell from 104.2 billion cubic feet per day in December to 103.2 billion so far in January due mostly to freezing oil and gas wells and pipes, known in the energy industry as freeze-offs. That compares with a monthly record of 104.5 bcfd in December 2023. While curtailments were small so far this month, analysts and traders noted freeze-offs could soar in coming days with the coldest weather still to come. Adding to total gas demand, the amount of gas flowing to the eight big U.S. LNG export plants has reached an average of 15.0 bcfd so far in January, up from 14.4 bcfd in December. That compares with a monthly record high of 14.7 bcfd in December 2023. On a daily basis, LNG feedgas was on track to reach 15.2 bcfd on Wednesday, up from 14.2 bcfd on Tuesday, with flows to Venture Global LNG's 2.6-bcfd Plaquemines export plant under construction in Louisiana set to hit a new record high of 1.2 bcfd on Wednesday. Flows to Freeport LNG's 2.1-bcfd export plant in Texas, meanwhile, were set to rise to 2.1 bcfd on Wednesday after slipping to an average of 1.5 bcfd over the last three days.
US natgas prices jump 4% to two-year high on forecasts for more cold, record demand — U.S. natural gas futures jumped about 4% to a two-year high on Thursday on colder weather forecasts for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend, which could cut output by freezing gas wells and pipes while demand for the fuel to heat homes and businesses rises to a record high. Front-month gas futures for February delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 17.5 cents, or 4.3%, to settle at $4.258 per million British thermal units, the highest close since Dec. 30, 2022. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said utilities pulled 258 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas out of storage during the week ended Jan. 10, in line with the 255-bcf withdrawal analysts forecast in a Reuters poll. The draw far exceeded the decrease of 150 bcf a year earlier and a five-year average draw of 128 bcf for this time of year. Analysts cited cold weather that fed heating demand. Analysts projected the next two storage reports for the weeks ending Jan. 17 and Jan. 24 would also show utilities pulling more than 200 bcf of gas from inventories to meet soaring heating demand. Some analysts said withdrawals this month could top the current record high of 994 bcf set in January 2022, according to federal energy data. There was currently about 3% more gas in storage than usual for the time of year. Storage withdrawals this month could remove that surplus by the end of January, which would be the first time stockpiles would fall below the five-year average since January 2022. In the spot market, extreme cold blanketing much of the country boosted next-day gas prices to a one-year high at the U.S. Henry Hub benchmark (NG-W-HH-SNL) in Louisiana. Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states fell from 104.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in December to 103.3 billion so far in January due mostly to freezing oil and gas wells and pipes, known as freeze-offs. That compares with a monthly record of 104.5 bcfd in December 2023. Meteorologists projected that weather in the Lower 48 states would remain mostly colder than normal through Jan. 25, with the coldest days expected around Jan. 20-21, before turning mostly near normal from Jan. 26-31. The weather on Jan. 20-21 at the end of the long holiday weekend was on track to be colder than the same period in 2024 when gas demand hit a daily record high and spot prices jumped to multi-year highs at several trading hubs across the country. Some weather forecasters projected that Jan. 20-21 could be the coldest days in a decade or more.
US natgas prices plunge 7% from 2-year high on milder late Jan weather forecasts — U.S. natural gas futures plunged about 7% on Friday from a two-year high in the prior session on forecasts for milder weather in late January and early February that should cut demand for gas for heating. This weekend, extreme cold weather over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend was on track to cut output by freezing gas wells and pipes and boost usage of the fuel to heat homes and businesses to record highs. Front-month gas futures for February delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 31.0 cents, or 7.3%, to settle at $3.948 per million British thermal units. On Thursday, the contract closed at its highest since Dec. 30, 2022. For the week, the front-month eased about 1% after soaring about 19% last week. After utilities pulled a massive 258 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas out of storage during the week ended Jan. 10, analysts projected energy firms would keep pulling over 200 bcf of gas during the weeks ending Jan. 17 and Jan. 24 to meet soaring heating demand. Some analysts said withdrawals this month could top the current record high of 994 bcf set in January 2022, according to federal energy data. There was currently about 3% more gas in storage than usual for the time of year. Storage withdrawals this month could erase that surplus by the end of January, which would be the first time stockpiles would fall below the five-year average since January 2022. Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states fell from 104.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in December to 103.4 bcfd so far in January due mostly to freezing oil and gas wells and pipes, known as freeze-offs. That compares with a monthly record of 104.5 bcfd in December 2023. While curtailments were small so far this month, analysts and traders warned that freeze-offs could soar in coming days, with the coldest weather still to come. Freeze-offs in past winters cut gas output by roughly 8.1 bcfd from Jan. 9-16 in 2024, 4.6 bcfd from Jan. 31-Feb. 1 in 2023, 15.8 bcfd from Dec. 20-24 in 2022, and 20.4 bcfd from Feb. 8-17 in 2021, according to LSEG data. Meteorologists projected that weather in the Lower 48 states would remain mostly colder than normal through Jan. 26, with the coldest days expected around Jan. 20-21, before turning mostly near normal from Jan. 27-Feb. 1. The weather on Jan. 20-21 at the end of the long holiday weekend was on track to be the coldest since last year's Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, when gas demand hit a daily record high and spot prices jumped to multi-year highs at several trading hubs across the country. Some forecasters projected that Jan. 20-21 could be even more frigid this year, possibly the coldest in a decade or more. With colder weather coming, LSEG forecast average gas demand in the Lower 48 states, including exports, would rise from 145.6 bcfd this week to 153.1 bcfd next week before dropping to 141.3 bcfd in two weeks as the weather turns mild. The forecast for next week was lower than LSEG's outlook on Thursday. On a daily basis, LSEG said total gas use so far this winter peaked at 158.9 bcfd on Jan. 8 and could reach 167.2 bcfd on Jan. 20 and 169.3 bcfd on Jan. 21. If correct, demand on Jan. 21 would top the current daily record high of 168.4 bcfd on Jan. 16, 2024. Adding to total gas demand, the amount of gas flowing to the eight big U.S. LNG export plants rose to an average of 15.1 bcfd so far in January from 14.4 bcfd in December. That compares with a monthly record high of 14.7 bcfd in December 2023. On Friday, LNG feedgas was on track to reach 15.8 bcfd, up from an all-time high of 15.6 bcfd on Thursday, with flows to Venture Global LNG's 2.6-bcfd Plaquemines export plant under construction in Louisiana set to hit a record of 1.2 bcfd.
Natural Gas Prices to Rise in 2025 on Way to $4 in 2026, With Lower Power Generation Share, EIA Says --Henry Hub natural gas spot prices should climb in 2025 with demand gains driven by U.S. LNG exports as domestic power consumption cedes ground to renewables and coal, according to updated federal forecasts. Graph denoting Natural Gas Intelligence’s (NGI) the historical Henry Hub bidweek natural gas price, forward curve, annual average and residential natural gas price, annual average and forecast price using data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Short-Term Energy Outlook. In the January Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) published Tuesday, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) upped its projected price for the benchmark spot price to $3.10/MMBtu for 2025 from a December estimate just short of $3.00. That would be up 41% from an all-time low average of $2.19 in 2024, EIA said. EIA also released its first price estimates for 2026, with Henry Hub projected to average $4.000 for the year. The agency also noted spot gas prices in December averaged $3.124, up from $2.201 in November.
U.S. Feed Gas Nears 16 Bcf/d as New Plants Continue Ramping Up — U.S. LNG feed gas deliveries continued to climb higher on Thursday, when flows were nominated at a record high of 15.96 Bcf, according to NGI data. Chart and map of Lower 48 LNG export facilities tracking daily natural gas feedstock flows to sites for market intelligence. The previous record came just days before when LNG export facilities nominated 15.49 Bcf/d of feed gas on Jan. 11, surpassing the previous high of 15.15 Bcf/d set in December 2023. Strong LNG demand and colder weather pushed Henry Hub futures prices above $4/MMBtu this week and NGI’s Spot Gas National Avg. above $5. Plaquemines LNG in Louisiana recently started shipping commissioning cargoes, while an expansion project at the Corpus Christi export facility in Texas has started producing the super-chilled fuel.
Burgum, Trump’s Energy Czar, Pledges to Remove Roadblocks for Natural Gas, Oil and Electricity Expansions - Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, tapped to head the U.S. Department of Interior in the Trump administration, led a charm offensive during a Senate hearing on Thursday, underscored by his belief that the nation’s public lands and waters can coexist with responsible energy resource development. In the confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Burgum said a top priority would be to “follow the law” in the Trump administration’s quest to achieve “energy dominance.” Burgum is set to lead not only the Interior Department, but the National Energy Council (NEC), one of the incoming administration’s new initiatives. As envisioned, NEC would have sweeping authority over federal energy agencies involved in permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation and transportation.
In Senate Hearing, Liberty Energy CEO Wright Touts Natural Gas Supply, Long-Term Demand - Liberty Energy Inc. CEO Chris Wright, President-elect Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), said if confirmed his top priorities would include breaking down government barriers that discourage new infrastructure and further expansion of fossil fuel production. During a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing Wednesday, Wright touted the United States’ deep well of natural gas reserves and its potential to ramp up exports of LNG as part of a broader effort to cement the country’s leading role in global energy. “Energy is the essential agent of change that enables everything that we do – everything. A low energy society is poor. A highly energized society can bring health, wealth and opportunity for all,” Wright told members of the committee.
Antis Block 15-Mile Pipe Causing Gas Moratorium in Myrtle Beach - - Marcellus Drilling News -Here’s a story that illustrates how the radicalized left continues to destroy jobs and the economy with its kneejerk reaction against *any* fossil fuel pipeline, no matter how large or small. Some five years ago, Dominion Energy announced the River Neck to Kingsburg project, a short 15 miles of 16” natural gas transmission main line that would run in an existing right-of-way with another pipeline along Old River Road near Pamplico in Florence County, SC. It was supposed to be built and flowing in 2022. Dominion still hasn’t built a square inch, thanks to the lawfare launched by the anti-fossil fuelers of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League. Read More
Judge Tosses NYC Lawsuit Against Big Oil re Climate Change -- Marcellus Drilling News -- A judge has dismissed New York City’s lawsuit seeking to hold Exxon Mobil, BP, and Shell liable for misleading the public about their products and claims that their commitment to renewable energy and fighting climate change are false. The case was so weak not even a Democrat judge appointed by Kathy Hochul could stomach it. In her ruling, Justice Anar Rathod Patel told the city it could not have it both ways. The city claimed its residents knew about mythical climate change and how it is caused by burning nasty fossil fuels. Yet the city’s lawsuit claims Big Oil has tricked people into using fossil energy with false and misleading advertising. Patel wrote, “The city cannot have it both ways.”
Colonial Pipeline shuts main gasoline artery after potential gasoline spill (Reuters) - Colonial Pipeline, the largest U.S. fuel pipeline operator, said on Tuesday that the main artery moving gasoline from the U.S. Gulf Coast to the East Coast has been shut since Monday night due to a potential spill in Paulding County, Georgia. Line 1 was temporarily shut as operator Colonial Pipeline responds to a potential gasoline release, a company spokesperson said. Crews were on scene in Paulding, Georgia, to coordinate response efforts, they added. Line 1 moves around 1.5 million barrels of gasoline each day from Houston, Texas, to storage tanks in Greensboro, North Carolina, from where it is distributed locally or pumped to other Northeastern markets all the way to the New York Harbor. It is one of two mainlines on the more than 5,500-mile Colonial pipeline system. U.S. gasoline traders widely cited expectations for Line 1 to restart later on Tuesday night, lowering the chances of a major disruption in fuel supplies. "The timeline sounds on par with a best case outcome," Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy said, adding that it suggests a minor leak and minimal environmental mitigation. Colonial Pipeline declined to provide a restart timeline. Gasoline futures rose 0.43 cents to settle at $2.1046 a gallon on Tuesday, bucking weakness in the broader oil complex. The U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Paulding County Sheriff's Office said there was no notification to 911 regarding a gasoline leak.
Colonial Pipeline expects main gasoline artery to restart on Friday (Reuters) - Colonial Pipeline has made progress in identifying the source of a leak on its main gasoline artery and estimates Line 1 will restart on Friday, earlier than previous expectations, the company said on Thursday. Line 1, one of two mainlines on the more than 5,500-mile (8,850-km) Colonial system, was shut on Monday night after Colonial received reports of a gasoline release in Paulding County, Georgia. The company earlier expected the line, which supplies about half of the U.S. East Coast's demand for motor fuel, would remain shut through Friday. "On-site work to identify the source of a release and begin repairs on our gasoline pipeline, Line 1, in Paulding County, Ga., have progressed," Colonial Pipeline said in a statement on Thursday. The line should restart on Friday if site conditions remain stable and repairs proceed as planned, the statement added, without providing a specific time. The restart is currently expected to be at 8 a.m. Central Time (1400 GMT), a person familiar with the matter said. A spokesperson for the company declined to answer questions about the cause and size of the leak. Line 1 delivers 1.5 million barrels of gasoline each day from Houston, Texas, to storage tanks in Greensboro, North Carolina, from where the motor fuel is distributed locally or shipped to other markets all the way up to the New York Harbor. It is almost always chock-full of gasoline, making it one of the most crucial parts of the domestic U.S. gasoline supply chain.
US drillers cut oil and gas rigs to lowest since Dec 2021, Baker Hughes says - (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for a second week in a row to the lowest since December 2021, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report on Friday. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by four to 580 in the week to Jan. 17. Baker Hughes said this week's decline puts the total rig count down 40 rigs, or 6% below this time last year. Baker Hughes said oil rigs fell by two to 478 this week, their lowest since November, while gas rigs also fell by two to 98, their lowest since September. In the Haynesville shale in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, drillers cut two rigs, bringing the total down to 29, the lowest since January 2017. In the Williston basin in Montana and North Dakota, drillers cut four rigs, bringing the total down to 33, the lowest since January 2024. And in Louisiana, drillers cut one rig, bringing the total down to 29, the lowest since August 2020. The oil and gas rig count declined by about 5% in 2024 and 20% in 2023 as lower U.S. oil and gas prices over the past couple of years prompted energy firms to focus more on paying down debt and boosting shareholder returns rather than raising output. Even though analysts forecast U.S. spot crude prices could decline for a third year in a row in 2025, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projected crude output would rise from a record 13.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2024 to around 13.6 million bpd in 2025. On the gas side, EIA projected a 43% increase in spot gas prices in 2025 would prompt producers to boost drilling activity this year after a 14% price drop in 2024 caused several energy firms to cut output for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic reduced demand for the fuel in 2020. EIA projected gas output would rise to 104.5 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2025, up from 103.1 bcfd in 2024 and a record 103.6 bcfd in 2023.
Enverus Releases List of 'Most Prolific' Public Oil, Gas Operators in USA -In a statement sent to Rigzone recently, Enverus announced that it has released a list of the 50 “most prolific … public oil and gas operators in the U.S. based on gross operated production last year”. According to the list, which was seen by Rigzone, in 1H24, ExxonMobil ranked first with 1.96 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, followed by Expand Energy, with 1.69 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, and Occidental Petroleum, with 1.22 million barrels of oil equivalent per day. EOG Resources was ranked fourth, with 1.18 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, and Devon Energy came in fifth, with 979,550 barrels of oil equivalent per day, the list showed. ExxonMobil’s production had an oil weighting of 53 percent and its active rig count came in at 19, according to Enverus’ list, which highlighted that the company ranked first in 2023. Expand Energy’s production had an oil weighting of one percent and its active rig count came in at 10, the list highlighted. The company is a new addition to the rankings, the list pointed out. In terms of oil weighted production, Occidental Petroleum came in at 58 percent, EOG Resources came in at 56 percent, and Devon Energy came in at 57 percent, the list revealed. In terms of active rig count, Occidental Petroleum had 27, EOG Resources had five, and Devon Energy had 26, the list showed. Occidental Petroleum ranked fifth in last year’s list, EOG Resources was third, and Devon Energy was ninth, Enverus’ list highlighted. Enverus’ list noted that companies were ranked by average gross operated production from onshore wells in the Lower 48 states. “Production and ranking for both 1H24 and 2023 include all gross operated production from assets and companies acquired up to and including 10/10/24 as accounted for in Enverus’ platform; as a result, all changes in rankings are based on organic production changes on the post-transacted assets,” the list stated. “Oil production includes condensate … Rig numbers are as of 10/10/24. Numbers are subject to change because of lags in reporting,” it added. In the statement sent to Rigzone, Enverus CEO Manuj Nikhanj said, “last year, the top 10 public operators represented 56 percent of production out of the top 50 on a barrel of oil equivalent per day basis”. “Due to mergers, we see that same figure jump to 62 percent of production in part due to Pioneer Natural Resources joining ExxonMobil, and Chesapeake and Southwestern rolling together into the newly formed Expand Energy,” Nikhanj added. “It’s clear that the Permian is still the king, and the most active region operated by the top 50 operators. Seven of the top 10 have the Permian as their most active region,” Nikhanj continued. “Volume-wise, the Permian also dominates the rankings – 81 percent of oil production and 40 percent of gas production from the top 50 names comes from this one basin,” Nikhanj continued. The Enverus CEO went on to note in the statement that “the top 50 names were running a total of 298 rigs at the time of list compilation, compared to 322 from the prior year at a similar point in time”. “Notwithstanding the pull back, the approximately 10 percent increase in rig efficiency over this period is driving production growth, even at lower activity levels,” Nikhanj added. Rigzone contacted ExxonMobil, Expand Energy, Occidental Petroleum, EOG Resources, and Devon Energy for comment on the Enverus list and statement. Occidental declined to comment. The other companies have not yet responded to Rigzone at the time of writing.
Biden administration eyes more drilling restrictions in Alaska -The Biden administration is setting in motion actions that could prevent drilling in more “special areas” of Alaska’s north slope — if the incoming Trump administration does not shelve it. The Interior Department issued a memo Thursday proposing a new protected area and expansions of existing protected areas.The impacted areas would be expected to total more than 3 million additional protected acres within a 23-million-acre area known as the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.The new protected area would be called the Nuiqsut Subsistence Use Area. The Nuiqsut community is located near the controversial Willow oil project. Existing activity that’s part of that project is not expected to be impacted, but if the policies are left in place, they could impact efforts to further expand it.The move comes on top of prior decisions to block drilling on 13 million acres within the petroleum reserve and reverse a Trump-era decision to open up 80 percent of it for oil and gas production. Laura Daniel-Davis, the Interior Department acting deputy secretary, told reporters the move comes in response to “really consistent feedback that there are additional areas … that people believed merited protection within the reserve.”The move comes just days before President-elect Trump’s inauguration. He is expected to broadly pursue policies that open up more opportunities for oil and gas as part of a commitment to “drill baby drill.” This latest policy is among those his administration is likely to reverse.The reserve in Alaska’s north slope was set aside in 1923 by President Harding as an emergency supply of oil for the Navy. The area is also home to caribou herds, threatened and sensitive bird species, and other animals, including polar bears.
More U.S. LNG Lands in Europe as Cargoes Divert to Capture Stronger Prices - LNG cargoes in January have shifted from Asia to take advantage of higher prices in Europe, where winter weather and geopolitical tensions have created a robust arbitrage opportunity. Charts showing U.S. Gulf Coast LNG netback prices from Natural Gas Intelligence (NGI). Freezing temperatures this month, and the loss of Russian pipeline gas via Ukraine since Jan. 1 has boosted European demand for LNG. Kpler data show that 2.97 million tons (Mt) of the super-chilled fuel is on track to arrive on the continent for the full week ended Jan. 17. That would be above the four-week moving average of 2.41 Mt. European storage inventories are currently at 64% of capacity, well below the 79% recorded at this time last year when the weather was milder. January withdrawals have been 10.6% above levels the same time last year, according to Rystad Energy.
Mexico Imports of U.S. Natural Gas Jumping as New Leaders Chart Their Course --- North American natural gas prices continued to push higher this week as cold weather persisted and a voracious appetite for heating ate into supply. The New York Mercantile Exchange contract for February was up about 10 cents to around $4.200/MMBtu on Thursday afternoon. The worst of the cold is yet to come, forecasters have said. U.S. Lower 48 demand could soar in the next seven days to 131.1 Bcf/d versus 123.0 Bcf/d the previous week, according to Wood Mackenzie. U.S. production would be around 102.8 Bcf/d during the period, the firm said.
Mexican Developers Advancing Another LNG Project Aimed at European Market - Mexican firms Comercializadora Aqualita SA and Casarve Servicios SRL are designing a ready-to-build LNG project in the Mexican Gulf port of Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz. It joins a host of other LNG projects in Mexico that are seeking to get off the ground. The Coatzacoalcos II LNG terminal would target European as well as South American markets, according to Casarve director Santiago Arroyo, who spoke with NGI. It would be developed privately, without the assistance of Mexican state utility Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE).
Record Norwegian Natural Gas Output Cut Into Europe’s LNG Imports, U.S. Deliveries in 2024 -U.S. LNG export capacity is set to continue changing global gas market dynamics and impact prices, which could have big implications for Australia’s market, according to the Australian Competition an Consumer Commission (ACCC). Graph and three charts showing global LNG futures settles with historical market volatility. In the ACCC’s latest interim natural gas supply report, the country’s gas market watchdog noted the east coast is forecast to have sufficient supply to meet domestic demand through 2026. However, lack of investment in new production and gas infrastructure may require new sources, including LNG imports for the southern states. “Our current projections indicate the potential for structural gas shortfalls on the east coast from 2027 unless supply increases or demand decreases,” ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey said.
TurkStream Attack Pushes TTF Prices Higher – Europe was poised to continue pulling LNG cargoes away from Asia on Monday as prices again climbed higher amid renewed supply concerns and rising geopolitical tensions. (a chart showing NGI's estimated LNG feed gas volumes) The prompt Title Transfer Facility (TTF) contract gained 7% to finish at $14.44/MMBtu after posting its first weekly loss in a month last week. Russia said Monday it shot down nine Ukranian drones that attacked a compressor station on the TurkStream pipeline that moves Russian natural gas through Turkey to southern Europe. Ukraine targeted the infrastructure in Russia.
Germany working to secure drifting Russian oil tanker -- Germany is working to secure the Russian oil tanker Eventin, which was stranded after losing power on 10 January off the northern coast of the island of Rügen in the Baltic Sea. The tanker, carrying nearly 100,000 tons of oil, lost power while en route from Russia to Egypt, drifting dangerously close to the coast. Authorities, including three tugboats, tried towing the vessel to safer waters amid stormy conditions, with waves up to 2.5 meters and strong winds complicating the operation. As of the latest update, the tanker Eventin has been secured, with two tugboats holding it in position near Sassnitz. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized Russia’s use of aging tankers, part of a “shadow fleet” designed to bypass sanctions on Russian oil exports. She warned that these “dilapidated” vessels pose a threat to European security, highlighting the danger of environmental disasters and disruptions to tourism in the Baltic. While no oil leaks have been detected, the situation remains a significant risk to both the environment and regional security.
Japan Watching for Any Impact on LNG From New Russia Sanctions -- Tokyo will closely monitor the rollout of new US sanctions on Moscow for any impact on shipments of liquefied natural gas from Russia’s Far East, a key source of supply for Japan. A week ago, the Biden administration imposed aggressive penalties on Russian energy, including restrictions on vessels that export oil from the Sakhalin-2 project just north of Japan. If those curbs end up halting crude production from the site, the gas that’s pumped out at the same time may be at risk. Japan is a big LNG buyer and sourced about 8% of its imports from Sakhalin-2 last year, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. “We’ll discuss with the relevant stakeholders” to ensure Japan gets the gas it needs, Shinichi Sasayama, the president of major importer Tokyo Gas Co., said Thursday. “It might require more investigation to determine how much impact this will actually have. I wouldn’t say there is no impact whatsoever.” One of Sakhalin-2’s three production platforms, Lunskaya, pumps both natural gas and gas condensate, a light version of crude oil, and the two fuels are then separated onshore. If curbs on exporting the oil lead to a buildup of crude on site, that may eventually prompt a halt in output, affecting gas in the process. “If oil and condensate shipments really stopped, then at some point — when the storage facilities were full — gas production would also have to halt as it’s impossible to produce gas without producing condensate,” said Sergey Vakulenko, an oil industry veteran who spent part of his career at Sakhalin-2. The US sanctions do not extend to the actual oil and gas from the development, just to the tankers needed to export the crude. Oil shipments are unlikely to cease immediately since the restrictions allow for a wind-down period. Ultimately, Lunskaya’s continued operation will depend on Russia’s ability to find other vessels — possibly from its growing shadow fleet — to replace the sanctioned ships. Complicating any replacement is the fact that the three shuttle tankers used by Sakhalin-2 have specialized bow loading equipment that allows them to take cargoes from the terminal. Such apparatus is not standard on oil tankers. With daily gas production of a little over 50 million cubic meters, Lunskaya is the main source of supply to Sakhalin-2’s liquefaction plant. It also pumps 50,000 barrels of liquids a day, which equates to about two tanker-loads a month. The two other platforms produce oil and deliver their output separately. Mitsubishi Corp., a partner in the Sakhalin-2 project, said it’s aware of the new sanctions and is reviewing the details. The company, as well as other part-owner Mitsui & Co., referred all questions regarding output to Sakhalin Energy, the venture’s operator, which didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Australian Energy Watchdog Warns of Domestic Impacts from Growing U.S. LNG Supply - U.S. LNG export capacity is set to continue changing global gas market dynamics and impact prices, which could have big implications for Australia’s market, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Graph and three charts showing global LNG futures settles with historical market volatility. In the ACCC’s latest interim natural gas supply report, the country’s gas market watchdog noted the east coast is forecast to have sufficient supply to meet domestic demand through 2026. However, lack of investment in new production and gas infrastructure may require new sources, including LNG imports for the southern states. “Our current projections indicate the potential for structural gas shortfalls on the east coast from 2027 unless supply increases or demand decreases,” ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey said.
Russia Says It Damaged Facilities at Ukraine Gas Storage Site -- Russia claimed it damaged ground infrastructure of one of the largest natural gas storage sites in Ukraine’s Lviv region during a series of attacks on the country’s energy sector on Wednesday. The strike was a response to Ukraine’s use of US and British missiles on Russian territories, Russian Defense Ministry said in the statement in Telegram. Moscow also said it was retaliating for an earlier attack on a gas compressor station in the Krasnodar region, which is important for flows through the TurkStream conduit that is the last remaining pipeline for Russian supplies to Europe. Russia’s claim of damaging the gas storage’s ground facilities could not be independently verified. Attacks of energy infrastructure in both countries have intensified this week as Kyiv closed its pipeline network for Russian supplies to Europe starting from this year. The hits on Wednesday forced emergency power cuts across large swathes of Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirming that the energy sector, including gas infrastructure, was the main target of the strike. Lviv Governor Maksym Kozytskyi said that the Russians targeted two critical infrastructure facilities, including one in Stryi, that caused some damage. Ukraine had earlier this week carried out a massive attack on energy and military facilities across central Russia and the Volga region. Those raids targeted two chemical plants in the Tula said and Bryansk regions and hit an ammunition warehouse at the Engels airfield in the Saratov region, setting Rosneft PJSC’s Saratov oil refinery on fire, a Ukrainian official said.
Russia struggles to contain widespread Kerch Strait oil spill - India Today -An emergency task force arrived in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region on Sunday as an oil spill in the Kerch Strait from two storm-stricken tankers continues to spread a month after it was first detected, officials said. The task force, which includes Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov, was set up after Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called on authorities to ramp up the response to the spill, calling it “one of the most serious environmental challenges we have faced in recent years.” Kurenkov said that “the most difficult situation” had developed near the port of Taman in the Krasnodar region, where fuel oil continues to leak into the sea from the damaged part of the Volgoneft-239 tanker. Kurenkov was quoted as saying by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti that the remaining oil will be pumped out of the tanker’s stern. The Emergencies Ministry said Saturday that over 155,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil had been collected since oil spilled out of two tankers during a storm four weeks ago in the Kerch Strait, which separates the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula from the Krasnodar region. Russian-installed officials in Ukraine’s partially Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia region said Saturday that the mazut — a heavy, low-quality oil product — had reached the Berdyansk Spit, some 145 kilometers (90 miles) north of the Kerch Strait. It contaminated an area 14 1/2-kilometer (9-mile) long, Moscow-installed Gov. Yevgeny Balitsky wrote on Telegram. Russian-appointed officials in Moscow-occupied Crimea announced a regional emergency last weekend after oil was detected on the shores of Sevastopol, the peninsula’s largest city, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the Kerch Strait. In response to Putin’s call for action, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi accused Russia of “beginning to demonstrate its alleged ‘concern’ only after the scale of the disaster became too obvious to conceal its terrible consequences.” “Russia’s practice of first ignoring the problem, then admitting its inability to solve it, and ultimately leaving the entire Black Sea region alone with the consequences is yet another proof of its international irresponsibility,” Tykhyi said Friday. The Kerch Strait is an important global shipping route, providing passage from the inland Sea of Azov to the Black Sea. It has also been a key point of conflict between Russia and Ukraine after Moscow annexed the peninsula in 2014. In 2016, Ukraine took Moscow to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, where it accused Russia of trying to seize control of the area illegally. In 2021, Russia closed the strait for several months. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, described the oil spill last month as a “large-scale environmental disaster” and called for additional sanctions on Russian tankers.
Russia creates task force to tackle Kerch Strait oil spill - An emergency task force, including Russian Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov, was deployed to the southern Krasnodar region to address an ongoing oil spill in the Kerch Strait.The spill, caused by storm-damaged tankers over the weekend of December 14-15, 2024, has persisted for over a month and was labeled by President Vladimir Putin as “one of the most serious environmental challenges” in recent years. The Volgoneft-239 tanker, near the port of Taman, remains a critical concern, with fuel oil still leaking into the sea, CNN reports. Authorities plan to pump out the remaining oil to mitigate further damage.The spill has resulted in over 155,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil being collected, with the mazut, a heavy oil product, contaminating areas as far as the Berdyansk Spit and Sevastopol in Crimea.Local emergencies have been declared, and the spill’s reach underscores the environmental and geopolitical complexities of the Kerch Strait, a vital shipping route linking the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.Ukraine criticized Russia’s delayed response, accusing it of neglecting the disaster and jeopardizing the Black Sea region. Ukrainian officials have called for additional sanctions against Russian tankers, emphasizing the spill’s broader implications amid ongoing tensions in the region.
Oil Prices Surge to Four-Month High Amid Toughest US Sanctions on Russia --Crude oil prices soared to their highest levels in four months following the United States’ imposition of stringent sanctions targeting Russia’s oil sector. The sanctions, introduced by the Biden administration, aim to curtail Moscow’s ability to generate revenue from oil exports, escalating concerns over global oil supply. As of Monday, Brent crude was trading at $81.11 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stood at $78.08 per barrel, both posting gains of over 1% since markets opened. The U.S. Treasury’s latest measures include sanctions on key Russian oil companies Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz, along with restrictions on 183 tankers, many of which belong to the so-called “shadow fleet” used by Russia to bypass Western shipping and insurance services. RBC Capital Markets described the sanctions as a significant risk to global oil supply, adding uncertainty to the outlook for the first quarter of 2025. “The new Russian sanctions from the outgoing administration are a net addition to at-risk supply, adding more uncertainty,” the firm said in a note quoted by Reuters. China and India, the largest buyers of Russian crude since the Ukraine war began, are reportedly scrambling to mitigate the impact of these sanctions. Analysts warn that the move will push Asian buyers to seek alternatives in the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, likely driving up shipping costs and creating logistical hurdles. “Overall, the doubling of tankers sanctioned for moving Russian barrels could serve as a major logistical headwind to post-invasion crude flows,” analysts at RBC Capital Markets noted. The sanctions are expected to affect vessels carrying an estimated 1.5 million barrels of Russian crude daily. The latest measures are widely regarded as the toughest sanctions on Russian energy to date, targeting every stage of the production and distribution process. A U.S. official, speaking to Reuters, expressed confidence that the sanctions would significantly increase the cost and difficulty of circumventing restrictions. Oil markets have reacted sharply, with experts predicting further price increases as the sanctions disrupt global supply chains. Asian oil importers, in particular, are expected to bear the brunt of the higher costs as they shift reliance to other suppliers. With this decisive move, the Biden administration has underscored its commitment to tightening pressure on Russia, leaving energy markets to grapple with heightened volatility and uncertainty in the months ahead.
Crude Gains Momentum: Key Trends Behind Monday’s Market Surge -- The oil market on Monday continued to trend higher in follow through strength seen on Friday after the U.S. Treasury imposed wider sanctions on Russian oil producers as well as 183 vessels that have shipped Russian oil. The market was well supported on expectations that the sanctions on Russian oil will force buyers in China and India to seek other suppliers in the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, increasing prices and shipping costs. There were reports that at least 65 oil tankers have dropped anchor at multiple locations, including off the coasts of China and Russia following the announcement of the new sanctions. The crude market extended its gains throughout the session, rallying over 3.5% to a high of $79.27 in afternoon trading. The market later erased some of its sharp gains ahead of the close. The February WTI contract settled up $2.25 at $78.82, its highest settlement since August 12, 2024, and the March Brent contract settled up $1.25 at $81.01. The product markets ended the session higher, with the heating oil market settling up 3.16 cents at $2.5333 and the RB market settling up 2.54 cents at $2.1003. Ship tracking data showed that at least 65 oil tankers have dropped anchor at multiple locations including off the coasts of China and Russia since the U.S. announced a new sanctions package on Friday. Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that the latest round of U.S. sanctions on the Russian energy sector risked destabilizing global markets, and added that Russia would do everything possible to minimize their impact.Traders and analysts said Chinese and Indian refiners will source more oil from the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, increasing prices and freight costs, as new U.S. sanctions on Russian producers and ships cut supplies to Moscow’s top customers. Two Chinese trade sources said Russian oil exports will be hurt severely by the new sanctions, which will force Chinese independent refiners to cut refining output going forward. Kpler’s lead freight analyst Matt Wright said that among the newly sanctioned ships, 143 are oil tankers that handled more than 530 million barrels of Russian crude last year, about 42% of the country’s total seaborne crude exports.White House national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, said the Biden administration sees a possible Gaza agreement as soon as this week. Earlier, an official said mediators gave Israel and Hamas a final draft of a deal on Monday to end the war in Gaza, after a midnight “breakthrough” in talks attended by envoys of both U.S. President Joe Biden and President elect Donald Trump. Israel’s Kan radio, citing an Israeli official, reported that Israeli and Hamas delegations in Qatar had both received a draft and that the Israeli delegation had briefed Israel’s leaders. Officials on both sides, while stopping short of confirming that a final draft had been reached, described progress at the talks.IIR Energy reported that U.S. oil refiners are expected to shut in about 1.16 million bpd of capacity in the week ending January 17th, cutting available refining capacity by 620,000 bpd. Offline capacity is expected to increase to 1.49 million bpd in the week ending January 24th.
Oil futures settle at a 5-month high as U.S. tightens sanctions on Russian oil | U.S. and global benchmark crude-oil prices settled Monday at their highest since August, with investors assessing the potential hit to supply from a further tightening of U.S. sanctions on Russia's oil sector.
- -- West Texas Intermediate crude CL00 for February delivery rose $2.25, or 2.9%, to settle at $78.82 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The U.S. benchmark marked its highest front-month contract settlement since Aug. 12, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
- -- March Brent crude BRN00 BRNH25, the global benchmark, climbed $1.25, or 1.6%, at $81.01 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe, the highest since Aug. 26.
- -- February gasoline RBG25 tacked on 1.2% to $2.10 a gallon, while February heating oil HOG25 added 1.3% to $2.53 a gallon.
- -- Natural gas for February delivery NGG25 ended at $3.93 per million British thermal units, down 1.4%.
U.S. sanctions could disrupt Russian crude exports to key buyers China and India, Joseph Dahrieh, managing principal at Tickmill, said in market commentary. The sanctions aim to reduce Moscow's oil revenue and the reduction in Russian exports could push global crude prices higher, at least in the near term, as the market "adjusts to the loss of supply from one of the world's largest oil producers."The U.S. Department of Treasury announced sanctions Friday targeting two major Russian oil producers - Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas - as well as 183 oil-carrying vessels, Russia-based oilfield-service providers and Russian energy officials."The uncertainty over how impactful these sanctions will be is proving bullish for the oil market," Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING, said in a note, adding that around 700,000 barrels a day of crude supply were seen at risk."However, as we saw following the EU ban on Russian oil and products imports, Russia managed to redirect trade flows, which meant little impact on Russian export volumes," they wrote. "Potentially, Russia will once again be able to take action to minimize the impact of these latest sanctions."In a note dated Sunday, analysts at Goldman Sachs said Russia can discount its oil to incentivize continued shipping by a "dynamic shadow fleet and continued purchases by price-sensitive buyers."The incoming U.S. administration, meanwhile, will likely want to "avoid large and persistent drops in Russian volumes given its goal of lower U.S. energy prices and its commentary signaling a greater focus on reducing oil revenues from Iran than from Russia," the Goldman analysts said. Higher Russian refinery runs and higher refined products exports can also "help to ease constraints in crude-oil exports."Against that backdrop, Goldman Sachs left its base cases for Russian production and oil prices unchanged, with 2025 total liquids output expected to average 10.6 million barrels per day, and Brent oil prices are averaging $76 in 2025.
Oil prices remain near 4-month highs as Russia sanctions weighed -- OIL prices eased on Tuesday but remained near four-month highs as the impact of fresh U.S. sanctions on Russian oil remained the market's key focus. Brent futures slipped 28 cents, or 0.4%, to $80.73 a barrel by 0400 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 18 cents, or 0.2% to $78.64 a barrel. Prices jumped 2% on Monday after the U.S. Treasury Department on Friday imposed sanctions on Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas as well as 183 vessels that trade oil as part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of tankers. "Headlines surrounding Russia oil sanctions have been the dominant driver for oil prices over the past week, and combined with resilient U.S. economic data, the tighter supply-demand dynamics have been seeing some momentum," said IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong. "Prices are taking a slight breather today. With prices rising fast and furious by close to 10% since the start of the year, it does prompt some profit-taking as event risks around upcoming U.S. inflation data releases loom." The U.S. producer price index (PPI) will be released later in the day, with consumer price index (CPI) data on Wednesday. The stakes are high for Wednesday's figures, where any rise in core inflation greater than the forecast 0.2% would threaten to close the door on further Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year. Lower interest rates typically help in stimulating economic growth, which could prop up oil demand. "The recent rally to a three-month high does signal an improvement in sentiment, but while broad bearish pressures have eased for the time being, a stronger catalyst is still needed to fuel a sustained broader uptrend," IG's Yeap added. While analysts were still expecting a significant price impact on Russian oil supplies from the fresh sanctions, the actual physical impact could be less. "...These sanctions have the potential to take as much as 700k b/d of supply off the market, which would erase the surplus that we are expecting for this year. However, the actual reduction in flows will likely be less, as Russia and buyers find ways around these sanctions - clearly there will be more strain on non-sanctioned vessels within the shadow fleet," ING analysts said in a note. Meanwhile, demand uncertainty from major buyer China could blunt the impact of the tighter supply. China's crude oil imports fell in 2024 for the first time in two decades outside of the COVID-19 pandemic, official data showed on Monday. "New sanctions on Russian tankers are expected to impact crude supply to China and India, though key players in these countries are still assessing the legal situation and possible workarounds,"
Ceasefire News Cools Oil Rally - Oil slipped from a five-month high as Hamas and Israel tentatively agreed to a cease-fire, cooling a rally fueled by risks to Russian and Iranian supplies. West Texas Intermediate retreated 1.7% to settle at $77.50 a barrel after CBS reported Israel and Hamas agreed in principle to a draft deal for a cease-fire and hostage release. Such a deal would mark a potential end to a conflict that has buffeted global oil markets for more than 15 months. The relative strength index shows crude futures have been mostly overbought since the start of the year, a reading that signals prices are due for a pullback. Algorithmic-driven investors known as commodity trading advisers, or CTAs, are flashing signs of buying exhaustion, said Daniel Ghali, a commodity strategist at TD Securities. “Our simulations of future prices already suggest that in no scenario will CTAs add to their WTI crude length, suggesting a continued rise in supply risk premia associated with Biden’s farewell sanctions on Russia will now be needed to support prices further,” Ghali said. The US benchmark had climbed 6.6% over the previous two sessions, while oil shipping rates surged the most in months on Monday in response to the measures from Washington that target about 160 tankers involved in the Russian oil trade. While the full impact of the latest US sanctions package remains unclear, it may drive a rerouting of global flows as users across Asia, including refiners in India and China, are forced to reach far and wide for replacement barrels. Some early signs of disruption are already apparent. Among them, a senior Indian bureaucrat told reporters that sanctioned vessels won’t be allowed to discharge, although the country’s state-owned refiners expect Moscow to find workarounds. The potential for Russian oil to continue reaching its intended destinations is easing some concerns about supply disruptions, and “crude traders are pausing to evaluate the evolving information before deciding whether to chase the rally further,” said Rebecca Babin, senior energy trader at CIBC Private Wealth Group. Meanwhile, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith warned that Trump’s tariffs won’t have exemptions for oil after meeting the president-elect in Florida. More than half of US crude imports come from Canada, most of it from Alberta. WTI for February delivery fell 1.7% to settle at $77.50 a barrel in New York. Brent for March delivery slid 1.3% to settle at $79.92 a barrel.
USA EIA Reveals Latest WTI Oil Price Forecasts -- The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) revealed its latest West Texas Intermediate (WTI) spot price forecasts in its January short term energy outlook (STEO), which was released recently. In that STEO, the EIA projected that the WTI spot price will average $70.31 per barrel in 2025 and $62.46 per barrel in 2026. The EIA’s previous STEO, which was released in December, forecast that the 2025 WTI spot price would average $69.12 per barrel. That STEO did not include a WTI spot price forecast for 2026. A quarterly breakdown included in the latest STEO showed that the EIA expects the WTI spot price to come in at $72.34 per barrel in the first quarter of this year, $71 per barrel in the second quarter, $70 per barrel in the third quarter, $68 per barrel in the fourth quarter, $64.97 per barrel in the fifth quarter of 2026, $63.33 per barrel in the second quarter, $61.68 per barrel in the third quarter, and $60 per barrel in the fourth quarter of next year. The EIA’s December STEO projected that the WTI spot price would average $69.67 per barrel in the first quarter of 2025, $69.83 per barrel in the second quarter, $69.50 per barrel in the third quarter, and $67.50 per barrel in the fourth quarter. The EIA’s January STEO put the 2024 WTI spot price average at $76.60 per barrel. Its December STEO had it at $76.51 per barrel. A research note sent to Rigzone by the JPM Commodities Research team on Monday revealed that J.P. Morgan expects the WTI crude price to average $69 per barrel in 2025, and $57 per barrel in 2026. The company sees the WTI crude price coming in at $70 per barrel in the first quarter of this year, $73 per barrel in the second quarter, $69 per barrel in the third quarter, $65 per barrel in the fourth quarter, $60 per barrel in the first quarter of next year, $59 per barrel in the second quarter, $55 per barrel in the third quarter, and $53 per barrel in the fourth quarter of 2026, according to the research note. The research note put the 2024 WTI price average at $77 per barrel. A report sent to Rigzone by Standard Chartered Bank Commodities Research Head Paul Horsnell this week showed that Standard Chartered expects the NYMEX WTI Basis nearby future crude oil price to average $79 per barrel in the first quarter of 2025, $81 per barrel in the second quarter, $86 per barrel in the third quarter, $90 per barrel in the fourth quarter, $88 per barrel in the first quarter of 2026, and $90 per barrel in the second quarter. A BMI report sent to Rigzone by the Fitch Group last month showed that BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, projected that the WTI crude front month price would average $77 per barrel in 2024 and $73 per barrel in 2025. In an oil and gas report sent to Rigzone by the Macquarie team on Wednesday, Macquarie strategists noted that “both WTI and Brent speculative (MM + Other) net length grew over the past week”. “WTI net length increased by 37.9K while Brent rose by 22.3K. WTI spec net length gained as new long interest was over five greater than added shorts,” the strategists highlighted in that report. In a market analysis sent to Rigzone early Thursday, Antonio Di Giacomo, Senior Market Analyst at XS.com, highlighted that the price of WTI crude oil had “experienced a notable increase, surpassing $80 per barrel”.
Oil prices slip on US energy demand forecast (Reuters) - Oil prices slipped on Tuesday after a U.S. government agency forecast steady U.S. oil demand in 2025 while lifting its forecast for supply. Declines were limited by new U.S. sanctions on Russian oil exports to India and China. Brent futures fell $1.09, or 1.35%, to settle at $79.92 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude finished at $77.50 a barrel, down $1.32, or 1.67%. On Monday, prices jumped 2% after the U.S. Treasury Department on Friday imposed sanctions on Gazprom Neft (SIBN.MM), opens new tab and Surgutneftegas as well as 183 vessels that transport oil as part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet of tankers. On Tuesday, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said the country's oil demand would remain steady at 20.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2025 and 2026, with domestic oil output rising to 13.55 million bpd, an increase from the agency's previous forecast of 13.52 million bpd for this year. Phil Flynn, senior analyst with Price Futures Group, said markets were anticipating the EIA short-term energy outlook to see if a predicted gain in supply would be reversed. "They're waiting to see if the glut EIA predicted earlier is still in the forecast," While analysts were still expecting a significant price impact on Russian oil supplies from the fresh sanctions, their effect on the physical market could be less pronounced than what the affected volumes might suggest. ING analysts estimated the new sanctions had the potential to erase the entire 700,000-bpd surplus they had forecast for this year, but said the real impact could be lower. "The actual reduction in flows will likely be less, as Russia and buyers find ways around these sanctions," they said in a note. Uncertainty about demand from major buyer China could blunt the impact of the tighter supply. China's crude oil imports fell in 2024 for the first time in two decades outside of the COVID-19 pandemic, official data showed on Monday.
WTI Holds Gains As 'Tank Bottoms' Loom At Cushing Hub; Crude Stocks Drop For 8th Straight Week -Overnight weakness (Israel-Hamas peace deal headlines) was offset by a marginally softer-than-expected CPI print (dovish demand hopes) to send oil prices higher this morning (WTI at $79). Additionally, oil prices were supported by OPEC's forecast of another year of steady oil demand growth, driven by India and China, in its first detailed assessment of 2026.Overnight saw a mixed picture from API again with strong product builds while crude stocks decline... API
- Crude -2.6mm (-3.5mm exp)
- Cushing +600k
- Gasoline +5.4mm
- Distillates +4.9mm
DOE
- Crude -1.96mm (-3.5mm exp)
- Cushing +765k - biggest build since Oct
- Gasoline +5.85mm
- Distillates +3.08mm
Total crude stocks fell for the 8th straight week while Cushiung saw its biggest build since October. On the products side, we continue to see huge builds... Graphics Source: Bloomberg Despite the small build this week, stocks at the critical Cushing Hub are at their seasonal lowest since 2008 (and lowest absolute level since 2014). 'Tank Bottoms' are here...Quite a divergence between gasoline and crude stocks...US Crude production dipper once again but remains very close to record highs...WTI is holding up near $79 after the data... World oil consumption will increase by a “robust” 1.4 million barrels a day in 2026, equaling the pace expected for this year and surpassing the predicted growth in supplies, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said in a monthly report on Wednesday. In theory, that should allow Saudi Arabia and its OPEC+ partners to revive halted production, ultimately restoring roughly 2 million of barrels a day over the course of the next two years. However, the cartel’s bullish outlook is undermined both by signs of faltering economic growth in China and its failure to accurately predict demand last year.
Crude Oil Rebounds Strongly After Overnight Plunge, Supported by Inventory Draw and U.S. Sanctions Recap: The oil market on Wednesday posted an outside trading day as the market sold off in overnight trading before it retraced all of its losses and rallied sharply higher. The market was well supported by a large draw in U.S. crude oil stocks and the potential supply disruptions caused by U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia. The crude market breached its previous low and posted a low of $77.24 in overnight trading as the market awaited news of a possible Israeli-Hamas ceasefire deal and the release of the EIA’s weekly petroleum stocks report. However, the market bounced off its low and never looked back. The oil market breached its previous high after the EIA reported that crude oil stocks fell to the lowest level since 2022 as exports increased and imports fell. The market posted a high of $80.31 ahead of the close despite the announcement of a Gaza ceasefire deal. The February WTI contract settled up $2.54 at $80.04 and continued to trend higher in the post settlement period, posting a high of $80.77. The March Brent contract settled up $2.11 at $82.03. The product markets also rallied sharply higher, with the heating oil market settling up 8.82 cents at $2.6135 and the RB market settling up 5.43 cents at $2.1589. U.S. President Joe Biden announced that Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire and hostage deal that will end the fighting in Gaza and will be followed by a surge of humanitarian aid in Gaza. The deal outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase and includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian detainees held by Israel. Earlier, Hamas said its delegation handed mediators its approval for the ceasefire agreement and return of hostages. Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, said he was cutting a visit to Europe short and returning to Israel to take part in security cabinet and government votes on the deal, meaning the votes would likely be by or on Thursday. In its monthly report, the IEA said the latest round of U.S. sanctions against Russian oil announced last Friday could significantly disrupt the country’s oil supply chains. The IEA’s oil market outlook still suggests that the global market will be in surplus this year due to supply growth exceeding subdued expansion in demand. The IEA said that tighter sanctions, as well as a cold weather snap in the northern hemisphere, had propelled crude prices above $80/barrel in early January. However, the IEA said price gains could be tempered by strong non-OPEC+ supply growth, the OPEC+ coalition looking to unwind cuts, and the ability to draw on stocks quickly if needed. The IEA now expects global oil supply growth to reach 1.8 million bpd in 2025, with non-OPEC+ production accounting for the majority at 1.5 million bpd. That is faster than its forecast for oil demand growth this year of 1.05 million bpd, after a slight downward adjustment from 1.1 million bpd in the previous month’s report. OPEC forecast world oil demand in 2026 will increase at a similar rate to this year, while reducing its figure for 2024 for a sixth time, following economic weakness in China. The 2026 forecast is in line with its view oil use will increase for the next two decades, in contrast to the IEA that predicts it will peak this decade as the world shifts to cleaner energy. In its monthly report, OPEC said demand will increase by 1.43 million bpd in 2026, a similar rate to the growth of 1.45 million bpd expected this year. OPEC estimated this year’s demand growth at 1.5 million bpd, compared with 1.61 million bpd reported in last month’s report, amounting to a sixth consecutive cut in the 2024 forecast.
Oil rallies, settles at multi-month high on US crude draw, Russia sanctions | (Reuters) - Oil prices rose more than 2% on Wednesday, supported by a large draw in U.S. crude stockpiles and potential supply disruptions caused by new U.S. sanctions on Russia, while a Gaza ceasefire deal limited gains. Brent crude futures settled $2.11, or 2.64%, higher at $82.03 a barrel, the highest since August 2024. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) settled up $2.54, or 3.28%, at $80.04 a barrel, the highest since July. In post settlement trade, Brent rose to the highest since July and WTI gained more than $3 a barrel. U.S. crude oil inventories fell last week to their lowest since 2022, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported, as exports rose and imports fell. Gasoline and distillate inventories rose more than expected. "The crude oil draw was largely on import-export dynamics," . "The exports are hard to believe," he added, pointing to the fact that many were booked before the sanctions announcement. The latest round of U.S. sanctions on Russian oil could disrupt Russian oil supply and distribution significantly, the International Energy Agency said in its monthly oil market report. Jitters over sanctions seem to be supporting prices, said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. "Tankers carrying Russian crude seem to be struggling offloading their cargoes around the world, potentially driving some short-term tightness," he added. Limiting the gains, Israel and Hamas agreed to a deal to halt fighting in Gaza and exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, according to an official. Concerns over supply disruption eased with Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal reached. Investors remained focused on signs of a strengthening economy and oil demand. The dollar index slipped on Wednesday after U.S. data showed consumer prices rose slightly above expectations in December, heightening expectations for more interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. A weaker dollar (.DXY), opens new tab usually supports oil prices and lower interest rates can boost economic growth. Meanwhile, OPEC expects global oil demand to rise by 1.43 million barrels per day in 2026, maintaining a similar growth rate to 2025, the producer group said.
Oil prices slip lower; profit-taking after recent rally – Oil prices retreated Thursday, with traders taking profits after hitting multi-month peaks in the previous session, driven by a combination of softer U.S. inflation data, new sanctions on Russian oil, and significant drawdowns in U.S. crude inventories. At 08:20 ET (13:20 GMT), Brent Oil Futures were 0.5% lower at $81.62 a barrel, and Crude Oil WTI Futures expiring in March fell 0.5% to $78.34 a barrel. Oil prices rose more than 2% on Wednesday as a benign US inflation report brought back rate cut expectations into play. The prospect of lower interest rates typically supports economic growth, potentially boosting oil demand. US inflation data and its impact on oil prices U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) for December rose by 0.4%, largely in line with economists' expectations, while an underlying measure was slower than anticipated. The soft inflation data spurred a rally in oil prices, as it raised expectations of a less aggressive Federal Reserve stance, potentially weakening the US dollar and boosting demand for commodities like crude oil. The data alleviated some concerns about the Federal Reserve’s hawkish outlook, where it has projected just two rate cuts in 2025. When interest rates are lower, borrowing becomes cheaper, encouraging both businesses and consumers to spend more. This increased economic activity can drive higher demand for oil, as industries and transportation sectors require more energy. Additionally, lower rates often lead to a weaker U.S. dollar, which makes oil, priced in dollars, more affordable for foreign buyers. As a result, the combination of stronger demand and a weaker dollar typically leads to rising oil prices. The US Dollar Index fell 0.1% on Thursday, retreating further from its two-year peak. US sanctions on Russian oil could disrupt supply - IEA In a strategic move, the U.S. has imposed new sanctions targeting Russian oil exports. The International Energy Agency (IEA) noted that these sanctions could disrupt Russia's oil supply chains, potentially tightening the global oil market. The sanctions focus on entities responsible for over a third of Russian and Iranian crude exports in 2024, aiming to limit their ability to transport and sell oil. This development has raised concerns about potential supply shortages, contributing to the upward pressure on oil prices. "While it is too early to fully quantify the potential impact from these new measures, some operators have reportedly already started to pull back from Iranian and Russian oil," the Paris-based agency said. "The oil market continues to be focused on the uncertainty around Russian oil supply following the announcement of stricter US sanctions against the Russian energy sector," said analysts at ING, in a note. US crude inventories decline - EIA report Supporting the bullish sentiment, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a significant drawdown in crude oil inventories. This reduction indicates a tightening supply, further bolstering oil prices. Crude inventories fell by 2 million barrels in the week ending Jan. 10, compared with a forecast of 992,000-barrel draw. Gasoline and distillate inventories rose more than expected for the week.
Oil Falls After Gaza Ceasefire Deal Oil prices retreated in Thursday’s trading after Israel and Hamas reached a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal following 15 months of war. According rto Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, the agreement will come into effect on Sunday if approved by the Israeli cabinet. Brent crude for March delivery was down 0.80% to trade at $81.37 per barrel at 1:01 pm ET, while WTI crude pulled back 1.39% to change hands at $78.93.Maritime security officials now expect the Houthi militia to announce a halt in attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Since the beginning of the Middle East war, Houthi rebels in Yemen significantly stepped up attacks on commercial shipping vessels in-transit via the lower Red Sea in retaliation for Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, increasing the risk for ships passing through the Suez Canal. The Red Sea is one of the world’s most densely packed shipping channels and the most significant waterway connecting Europe to Asia and east Africa. About 12% of global trade, including 30% of global container traffic, passes through the Red Sea, meaning that delays there can potentially affect fuel prices as well as the availability of various commodities and electronics. Dozens of companies halted shipping in the Red Sea and at the Suez canal. Four of the world’s five largest container-shipping companies, namely Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA, CGM and MSC, also paused or suspended their services in the Red Sea, the route through which traffic from the Suez Canal must pass. The Suez Canal is one of the most important channels of the global oil trade. Northbound traffic worth ~3.9 million bpd is dominated by crude oil from Middle East producers to Europe and also middle distillates from India and the Middle East. Southbound traffic, estimated at 2.9 million bpd, comprises crude flows mainly from Russia to Asian customers, and also refined products naphtha and fuel oil. The United States, Qatar and Russia are the leading shippers of LNG via Suez.
Oil settles lower on expected halt to Houthi shipping attacks (Reuters) - Oil prices settled lower on Thursday with Yemen's Houthi militia expected to halt attacks on ships in the Red Sea, and investors weighing strong U.S. retail sales data. Brent crude futures settled down 74 cents, or 0.9%, at $81.29 per barrel, after rising 2.6% in the previous session to their highest price since July 26. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled down $1.36, or 1.7%, to $78.68 a barrel, after gaining 3.3% on Wednesday to their highest price since July 19. U.S. crude futures fell more than $2 at times during the session.Maritime security officials said they were expecting the Houthi militia to announce a halt in its attacks on ships in the Red Sea, after a ceasefire deal in the war in Gaza between Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas.The attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to make longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa for more than a year. "The Houthi development and the ceasefire in Gaza help the region stay calmer, taking some of the security premium out of oil prices," "It's all about oil flows," But investors remained cautious, as the leader of the Houthis said his group would monitor the implementation of the ceasefire deal, and continue its attacks on vessels or Israel if the deal is breached.The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip should start on Sunday as planned, despite the need for negotiators to tie up a "loose end," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. Earlier on Thursday, the U.S. Commerce Department reported U.S. retail sales increased in December as households bought more motor vehicles and a range of other goods, pointing to strong demand in the economy. U.S. crude futures extended losses after investors interpreted the data as bolstering the Federal Reserve's cautious approach to cutting interest rates this year. But prices regained some ground after Fed Governor Christopher Waller said inflation is likely to continue to ease and possibly allow the U.S. central bank to cut interest rates sooner and faster than expected. "Waller's comments really offset the economic data this morning, in terms of making it look like there is room for the Fed to cut," Lower interest rates can stimulate economic growth and increase oil demand. Investors also continued to weigh the Biden administration's latest round of sanctions targeting Russia's military industrial base and sanctions-evasion efforts, after earlier levying broader sanctions on Russian oil producers and tankers. Moscow's top customers are now scouring the globe for replacement barrels, while shipping rates also have surged. With U.S. President-elect Donald Trump being sworn in for his second term on Monday, "the market is approaching the 'wait-and-see' phase and awaits the reaction from the incoming U.S. administration on the issue" of sanctions, Pricier oil may lead to clashes between Trump and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, if the incoming U.S. president follows his previous playbook. During his first term, Trump demanded the producer group rein in prices whenever Brent climbed to around $80 a barrel.
Oil prices dip but post 4th straight weekly gain on US sanctions (Reuters) - Oil prices settled lower on Friday but notched their fourth straight weekly gain, as the latest U.S. sanctions on Russian energy trade added to worries about oil supply disruptions. Brent crude futures dipped 50 cents, or 0.6%, at $80.79 per barrel, but gained 1.3% this week. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures lost 80 cents, or 1%, at $77.88 a barrel, having climbed 1.7% for the week."Sanctions on Russia are causing tightness of supply in Europe, India and China," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with Price Futures Group.The Biden administration unveiled broader sanctions last week targeting Russian oil producers and tankers.Investors are also assessing the potential implications of President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House on Monday. Trump's pick for Treasury secretary said he was ready to impose tougher sanctions on Russian oil.Money managers raised their net long U.S. crude futures and options positions in the week up to Jan. 14, data from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed on Friday. Speculators raised combined futures and options positions in New York and London by 8,038 contracts to 215,193 over that period.However, weighing on oil prices were expectations of a halt in attacks by Yemen's Houthi militia on ships in the Red Sea following a Gaza ceasefire deal.The Houthis' attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing ships to make longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa for more than a year.The Israeli security cabinet approved the ceasefire deal on Friday, paving the way for the return of the first hostages from Gaza as early as Sunday. The accord was still conditional on approval by the full cabinet, which was meeting on Friday afternoon.Expectations for increased demand lent some support to the oil market earlier on Friday. Data this week showed inflation easing in the U.S., the world's biggest economy, bolstering expectations of interest-rate cuts.Traders are also assessing fresh data from China, the world's top oil importer. Its economy fulfilled the government's ambitions for 5% growth last year.However, China's oil refinery throughput in 2024 fell for the first time in more than two decades barring the pandemic year of 2022, government data showed on Friday, as plants tempered operations in response to stagnant fuel demand and depressed margins.Meanwhile, the U.S. oil rig count, an indicator of future output, fell by two to 478 this week, energy services firm Baker Hughes said. A blast of Arctic air is set to cover much of the United States with temperatures below freezing starting on Friday and into next week, and is set to drive up heating oil demand and likely impact some production operations.
Oil prices score a 4th straight weekly gain on supply fears -- Oil futures settled lower on Friday, but scored a fourth straight week of gains after wider sanctions against Russia's energy industry tightened supply.Uncertainty also remains over President-elect Donald Trump's moves on energy policy ahead of his Monday inauguration.
- -- West Texas Intermediate crude for February delivery fell 80 cents, or 1%, to settle at $77.88 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, for a 1.7% weekly gain. The more heavily traded March WTI contract CL00 CLH25 lost 46 cents, or 0.6%, at $77.39 a barrel.
- -- March Brent crude, the global benchmark, declined 50 cents, or 0.6%, to $80.79 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe, tallying a 1.3% weekly advance.
- -- February gasoline RBG25 shed 0.5% to $2.11 a gallon, up 1.8% for the week, while February heating oil HOG25 rose nearly 0.2% to $2.62 a gallon, settling up 4.8% for the week.
- -- Natural gas for February delivery NGG25 settled at $3.95 per million British thermal units, down 7.3% for the session to post a loss of 1% for the week. Prices had ended Wednesday at their highest in two years.
"As the Trump administration takes office next week, sanctions and trade barriers are likely to remain in focus,".A harsher stance on enforcement against Iranian crude exports could impact 1% to 2% of global supply, while the threat of import tariffs on Canadian crude imports could raise input costs for U.S. refiners, Fraser said. "Any statements on near-term action surrounding those topics could emerge as primary price drivers for crude in the weeks ahead," he wroteThe Biden administration last Friday imposed wider sanctions on Russia's energy industry, targeting additional producers and more than 180 vessels, as well as Russia-based oilfield-service providers and Russian energy officials. That fed an overall rally in oil prices, with the U.S. crude benchmark up 8.6% year to date."These sanctions are proving effective, with Russia's shadow fleet facing significant challenges in unloading cargo," Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, told MarketWatch.The moves caused buyers in India and China - the two largest destinations for Russian crude - to look for alternative suppliers, Barbara Lambrecht, commodity strategist at Commerzbank, said in a Friday note. The Biden administration also took tougher action aimed at Iran's shadow fleet, which the International Energy Agency has estimated could affect 500,000 barrels a day of crude supply.As a result, the key question for oil traders is what position Trump will take on Russia and Iran sanctions, Lambrecht said."If tougher action against Iran becomes likely, oil prices could jump further in the current tense situation. However, we assume that the future U.S. president will rather avoid the impending price surge and initially use the sanctions as a bargaining chip in possible negotiations with Russia," the analyst wrote.Innes said he's skeptical that Trump will be content with WTI prices lingering in the upper $70s as he takes office."His track record suggests he might pressure Saudi Arabia to increase oil output," said Innes. "Given that OPEC+ currently has a significant [production] cushion with 5.8 million barrels per day, or 5.3% of global production capacity held back, they could quickly mitigate the impact of sanctions."'This is not just another year in commodities - it's one poised on the knife edge of geopolitical influences and economic recalibrations.”. Still, Innes warned traders to "brace for a dynamic and potentially tumultuous year in crude-oil markets."Trump's "unpredictability could exacerbate price swings," he said. "This is not just another year in commodities - it's one poised on the knife edge of geopolitical influences and economic recalibrations."
Turkey Confirms Key Gas Pipeline Was Attacked After Kremlin Accused United States -Moscow has this week made a big and provocative accusation, saying that the United States is seeking to sabotage the last pipeline transporting Russian gas exports into Europe, the TurkStream.Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged in a Tuesday press briefing that Washington is encouraging "terrorist" attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure. He specifically cited plans to target TurkStream, following a recent large-scale drone attack. "The US does not tolerate competition in any sphere, including energy. They are recklessly endorsing terrorist activities aimed at undermining the energy stability of the European Union," Lavrov said as quoted in Turkey's Anadolu news agency."They are encouraging their Ukrainian proxies to disable TurkStream following the sabotage of Nord Stream," he followed with.He described that Russia's anti-air defenses were able to down nine Ukrainian drones during the attack which targeted part of TurkStream's infrastructure.On Wednesday regional media quoted Turkey's top energy official as confirming there was an attempted attack out of Ukraine, but that gas is still flowing uninterrupted: Following an attempted attack on the TurkStream natural gas pipeline on Jan. 11, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, confirmed the attack took place but assured the public that the incident did not disrupt the gas flow.Responding to questions from journalists in the Turkish Parliament, Bayraktar stated: "There was no interruption in gas flow after the attack. The pipeline continues to deliver gas at the same capacity."Following Ukraine's refusal to renew a key transit contract with Moscow which expired by close of 2024, the TurkStream pipeline remains the only route carrying Russian gas into the European Union.Russia's RT news has summarized the geography and significance of TurkStream as follows:TurkStream is a critical energy corridor, transporting natural gas from Russia to Türkiye under the Black Sea. It also remains the sole route supplying Russian natural gas to southern and southeastern Europe after Ukraine refused to extend a gas transit agreement with Moscow this year.In 2024, gas shipments via the pipeline increased by 23%, reaching 16.7 billion cubic meters (bcm). The pipeline comprises two sections: one serving Türkiye’s domestic needs, while the other transits gas to Bulgaria through the Strandzha station. This Balkan route extends through Bulgaria and Serbia to Hungary, with connections facilitating the distribution of Russian gas to other EU states. With a total capacity of 31.5 bcm annually, TurkStream plays a vital role in regional energy security.As for Lavrov's initial accusation Tuesday, which Washington rejects, he also stated: "I have a firm belief that the US needs no competitor in any fields, starting with energy."
The Middle East’s new ‘cold war’: the Gulf states vs. neo-Ottoman Turkey - The Middle East is undergoing a profound transformation as new rivalries reshape its geopolitical order. For decades, the defining conflict in the region was a “cold war” between Iran and the Gulf Arab states, led by Saudi Arabia. This struggle, steeped in sectarian and strategic divides, fueled proxy wars and power struggles across the region. Today, that longstanding rivalry is being eclipsed by a new competition. The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria and the rise of Turkey as a resurgent power have created a fresh dynamic — not just for regional dominance but also for leadership within the Sunni Muslim world. Iran, recognizing the growing challenge posed by Ankara’s neo-Ottoman ambitions, is recalibrating its strategy, seeking detente and even entente with the Gulf monarchies to resist Turkey’s expanding influence. These developments illustrate the timeless logic of balance-of-power politics as regional actors adapt to shifting strengths and threats. The fall of the Assad regime has shattered the Middle East status quo. Once a linchpin for Iranian power projection into the Levant and a key ally of Russia, Syria under Assad served as a critical buffer and as a conduit for Tehran’s influence. The regime’s collapse has left Syria fractured and destabilized, creating a vacuum that Turkey has eagerly moved to fill. Under President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan, Turkey has adopted an assertive foreign policy, leveraging military, economic and ideological tools to expand its regional presence. From incursions into northern Syria to deeper involvement in Libya, Somalia and Qatar, Turkey has sought to position itself as a dominant regional player. ErdoÄŸan’s neo-Ottoman rhetoric, invoking Turkey’s imperial past, resonates deeply with his domestic audience but alarms other powers in the region. Ankara’s rise is not just a matter of military or political influence; it has reshaped the competition for leadership within the Sunni Muslim world. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have long claimed this mantle, citing their stewardship of Islam’s holiest sites and immense financial resources. Turkey challenges this narrative by supporting political Islam and movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood, which the Gulf monarchies view as existential threats to their regimes. This ideological divide is deepening the geopolitical rift, as Gulf leaders see Turkey not merely as a rival but as a destabilizing force. The Gulf-versus-Turkey rivalry is already playing out across multiple arenas. In Libya, Turkey’s support for the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord clashes with the UAE’s and Egypt’s backing of Khalifa Haftar’s forces. In the Horn of Africa, Turkey’s growing presence in Somalia has raised alarms in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, which view the region as critical to their own security and influence. The 2017 Gulf blockade of Qatar, in which Turkey quickly intervened on Doha’s behalf, revealed the depth of mistrust between Ankara and the Gulf capitals. Economic competition is further intensifying the rivalry. Turkey aims to position itself as a global trade hub, leveraging its location as a bridge between Europe and Asia. The Gulf states, however, are investing heavily in infrastructure and alliances to counter Ankara’s ambitions. This is not just a contest for influence but a broader struggle over the direction of power and development in the region. Amid this shifting landscape, Iran is rethinking its approach. For decades, Tehran’s pursuit of regional hegemony put it in direct conflict with the Gulf monarchies, even prompting some Gulf Cooperation Council states to partner with Israel through the Abraham Accords. Now, Iran is redirecting its focus to counter Turkey’s rise.
Israel Continues Ceasefire Violations as New Lebanon PM Promises to Rebuild - With around 12 days remaining in the 60-day Israel ceasefire with Lebanon, Israel continues to commit multiple violations per day. A number of airstrikes are being conducted in southern and easternLebanon, along with a systematic destruction of civilian homes in villages near the Israeli border. Israel is supposed to entirely withdraw its military from Lebanese territory by the end of the ceasefire. The US special envoy has “guaranteed” that will happen, though there remain substantial questions about that, and the places Israel has left have been more or less destroyed during their occupation.Whether the pullout happens in the next couple of weeks or not, Lebanon will have it’s work cut out for it in trying to rebuild after the Israeli invasion. Their economy wasn’t in great shape in the first place, and Israel has destroyed much of the infrastructure across the south, as well causing massive damage elsewhere.PM-designate Nawaf Salam, who was only designated to try to form Lebanon’s next government the day before, is promising to see destroyed homes rebuilt and for Lebanon to start a “new phase of progress and opportunities.” Salam, whose nomination was supported by a considerable margin of MPs, promises reforms and says he will work for a “full Israeli withdrawal” from Lebanon. He says his intention is to extend stateauthority across all of Lebanon.But before he does anything, he’ll have to form a government. That means putting together a majority coalition in Lebanon’s parliament. Though enough MPs were comfortable with his nomination as a replacement for predecessor Najib Mikati, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be on board with joining a government.Selling enough groups on joining is no small task. Lebanon has 128 MPs, so Salam only needs 65 to form a government. But he has no party himself, and even the biggest blocs have fewer than 20 MPs, so he’ll need quite a few small blocs to cross that threshold. Signs are that Salam will be trying to form a government without any of the Shi’ite parties, meaning two of the three largest blocs, Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, are likely to be excluded. How he’ll offer enough cabinet positions to get enough tiny blocs and independents on board remains to be seen.
Israeli Strikes Kill 63 Palestinians in Gaza Amid Talk of Ceasefire Deal - Amid reports that a Gaza ceasefire deal is advancing, Israeli strikes continued to pound the Strip on Tuesday, killing at least 63 Palestinians since dawn, medical sources told Al Jazeera early Wednesday morning.Among the dead were two children killed by an Israeli attack while sheltering in a tent in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Sources told Al Jazeera that a total of 28 Palestinians were killed in central and southern Gaza.Israeli strikes also hit northern Gaza, killing several Palestinians in Gaza City, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA. An Israeli attack on a gathering of civilians in the al-Shati camp, west of Gaza City, killed at least two.On Tuesday night, an Israeli strike on a building sheltering displaced Palestinians in Deir el-Balah killed at least 13 Palestinians.Hani Mahmoud, an Al Jazeera reporter in central Gaza, said there was cautious optimism among Palestinians over the reports of a ceasefire deal being close. “Everybody’s anxious and waiting, but there are still people who keep saying that they have been let down so many times in the past,” he said.Gaza’s Health Ministry said in its daily update, which it releases about mid-day Gaza time, that Israeli strikes killed at least 61 Palestinians and wounded 281 over the past 24 hours, a total that includes casualties from Monday.The Health Ministry’s numbers only account for dead and wounded Palestinians brought to 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.
Report: Israel and Hamas Agree 'in Principle' to Ceasefire and Hostage Deal - CBS News reported Tuesday that both Israel and Hamas have agreed “in principle” to a draft hostage and ceasefire deal that could be finalized this week.The report, which cited US, Arab, and Israeli officials, said if the final details are worked out and the Israeli government approves it, the deal could be implemented as soon as this weekend, before the January 20 inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.The Associated Press had a similar report that said Hamas had accepted a draft deal and that details were still being finalized before Israeli approval. The deal is largely based on a proposal President Biden put forward in May 2024, which Hamas accepted months ago.According to Israeli media reports, pressure on Netanyahu from Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is the reason why there’s been progress in recent days.The deal involves three phases, but according to AP, it would not commit Israel to a permanent ceasefire or full withdrawal from Gaza.The AP report reads: “Details of the second phase still must be negotiated during the first. Those details remain difficult to resolve — and the deal does not include written guarantees that the ceasefire will continue until a deal is reached. That means Israel could resume its military campaign after the first phase ends.”According to media reports, the first phase involves a 42-day ceasefire, and during that time, Hamas would release 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, the elderly, and five female IDF soldiers. Some of the hostages released in the first phase may be dead, but Israeli officials said they believe most are still alive. In exchange, Israel is expected to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.During the first phase, Israeli troops will withdraw from population centers in Gaza, and Palestinians will be able to return to north Gaza, although there is nothing for them to return to since IDF has destroyed nearly every building in sight. Aid deliveries will also be surged, with 600 trucks per day expected to enter the Strip.The second phase of the deal would involve the release of all male Israeli hostages from Gaza and a full IDF withdrawal, with many details still needing to be worked out. The third phase would involve the exchange of bodies and the start of the reconstruction of Gaza.
Israeli Government Approves Hostage/Ceasefire Deal, To Take Effect Sunday - The Israeli Security Cabinet and the Prime Minister’s full cabinet voted in favor of a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated to his security council that he only intends to comply with the first phase of the three-stage agreement.The proposed hostage release agreement and ceasefire between Israel and Hamas cleared its final hurdles. The Israeli Security Cabinet approved the deal on Friday. Netanyahu’s full cabinet voted to approve the agreement early Saturday morning in Israel. Tel Aviv did not immediately issue a statement.Under the deal, fighting in Gaza will pause for six weeks, while Hamas releases over 30 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees. According to the agreement, Tel Aviv is also required to allow 600 humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza each day.During the first phase of the agreement, Tel Aviv and Hamas are expected to engage in talks to hammer out the details of the pact’s second and third phases. If carried out to completion, the deal would see an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the Strip’s reconstruction.However, Netanyahu is already indicating that he only intends to allow the first phase of the agreement to play out. According to Israel’s Channel 12, the Prime Minister said during the Security Cabinet meeting that Israel will likely resume fighting after the first phase.Netanyahu’s assurances that he would resume the onslaught in Gaza after six weeks was not enough to gain the support of several members of the Security Cabinet. A member of Netanyahu’s own Likud party, David Amsalem, joined far-right ministers from the Religious Zionism and the Otzma Yehudit parties in voting against the deal.There is some concern that Netanyahu’s insistence the deal will not make it to the second phase could lead to its collapse. “Under the current conditions, there won’t be a second stage to the deal,” a foreign mediator told parties in Israel according to Haaretz. “Hamas won’t willingly enter into an agreement that will lead to its destruction. Netanyahu’s tactics are wrong and won’t bring the last hostages home or end the war.”The most vocal opponent was National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. In a last-minute plea for his fellow ministers to reject the proposal, he said, “Everyone knows that these terrorists will try to harm again, try to kill again.” He continued in the video statement, “I call on my friends in the Likud and in Religious Zionism [parties], it is not yet too late, we still have the cabinet meeting, we can stop this deal, join me, we can stop it.”Mossad chief David Barnea came out strongly in favor of the deal. “We must pay this moral debt. This deal is ethically and morally the right thing to do. It is a humane deal. It includes mechanisms that will ensure our security,” he said. Netanyahu caused alarm on Thursday when he delayed the Israeli vote on the deal, claiming Hamas tried to make last-minute alterations. While the vote was delayed, the ceasefire is still expected to take effect on Sunday with a pause in fighting and the release of three Israeli captives by Hamas.
NATO chief: Ukraine not in strong position for peace talks with Russia -- NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Monday that Ukraine was not yet in a strong position to begin peace talks with Russia ahead of President-elect Trump taking office next week with a pledge to end the war. Rutte told the European Parliament’s foreign affairs and defense committees the hope was to ensure Ukraine has adequate security guarantees so that Russia could not attack again, but he expressed doubt that the current stage of the war afforded the opportunity for such a deal. “At this moment, clearly, Ukraine is not there,” he said. “Because they cannot, at this moment, negotiate from a position of strength. And we have to do more to make sure, by changing the trajectory of the conflict, that they can get to the position of strength.” Rutte said the peace talks also have to grapple with Ukraine’s future relationship with NATO. “But it’s too early now to exactly sketch out what that exactly will mean, also something we have to discuss with the incoming U.S. administration,” he said. “But let’s hope that we will get to that point as soon as possible.” Trump, who takes office Jan. 20, confirmed last week he is planning a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin said it was open to the possibility. Trump said during his campaign he would end the war quickly, but has more recently played down expectations. He has said in recent weeks Ukraine is “much more complicated” than the war in the Middle East and, during a press conference last week, said he hopes to solve it “long before six months” into his second term. The Biden administration has tried to increase Ukraine’s strength by surging weapons to the country and lifting late last year a policy preventing Kyiv from firing long-range missiles deep into Russian territory. Still, several billion dollars in approved security aid are being left over for the Trump administration to potentially use. Ukraine is struggling against a larger Russian army across the eastern front line, where Russia is pressing ahead, particularly in the Donetsk region. Ukraine is also losing territory in the Russian region of Kursk, a part of which Ukrainian troops occupied in August. Rutte, who has repeatedly warned that Ukraine must be in a strong position for any negotiations, said Monday the future of European security hinges on the war against Russia. “We all want this war to end,” he said, “but above all we want a peace to last. I don’t know how or when the war will end, but I do know peace will not last if Putin gets his way in Ukraine.”
Zelensky, Macron Discuss the Idea of French Troops Deploying to Ukraine - On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, and discussed the idea of a possible deployment of French troops to Ukraine as part of a potential future security guarantee.Zelensky said he and Macron discussed “achieving peace and developing effective security guarantees.”The Ukrainian president wrote on X: “As one such guarantee, we discussed the French initiative to deploy military contingents in Ukraine. We addressed practical steps for its implementation, potential expansion, and the involvement of other nations in this effort.”Russia would never agree to a NATO deployment in Ukraine as part of a potential future peace plan since one of its main demands for a deal is Ukrainian neutrality.The Wall Street Journal recently reported that President-elect Donald Trump had suggested European troops should be sent to Ukraine to monitor a future ceasefire. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has already rejected the idea, saying Moscow wasn’t “satisfied” with the proposal. Last year, Macron was calling for a NATO troops deployment to Ukraine to train Ukrainian soldiers and said at one point that he was “finalizing” a plan. But he appeared to back down after warnings from Russia that any French troops would be considered legitimate targets.
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