The post Justifying High Drug Prices: The Bozos Who Run Jeff Bezos’ Opinion Page appeared first on CEPR.

My end-of-week morning train WFH reads:

• Super Bowl ad slots hit record prices as brands return to TV marketing: Broadcaster NBC says some brands are paying more than $10mn for a 30-second slot. (Financial Times)

• Expect Equity Markets to Broaden in 2026, Led by Small Caps, International: Both fiscal and monetary stimulus should boost earnings in the U.S. and abroad, with dollar weakness continuing to underpin international stocks. (Chief Investment Officer)

• Why Tech (&) Media is complicated: In “comms” across tech, startups, and the larger ecosystem, little seems to matter anymore. It’s hard to pin down anythingconcrete or meaningful. Everything is noise and nothing can be heard. (Om)

• How Jeff Bezos Brought Down the Washington Post: The Amazon founder bought the paper to save it. Instead, with a mass layoff, he’s forced it into severe decline. (New Yorker)

• Capitalism by Sven Beckert review – an extraordinary history of the economic system that controls our lives: This article is more than 1 month old The Harvard professor provides a ceaseless flow of startling details in this exhaustively researched, 1000-year account. (The Guardian)

• An oral history of the Fed’s Covid-19 crisis: We read a bajillion pages of transcripts so you don’t have to (unless you really want to, of course). (Financial Times)

• Forget Free NYC Buses: Just Build 41 Miles of New Subways: Fare-free bus service in New York City would cost around $1 billion per year. A new report proposes spending that on a “transformative” transit expansion instead. (Citylab)

• Why Do So Many Mental Illnesses Overlap? A concept called the “p factor” attempts to explain why psychiatric disorders cannot be clearly separated. (Scientific American)

• Scenes from the 150th Westminster Dog Show: This year marks the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show’s 150th anniversary. Hundreds of dogs competed for the top prize at Madison Square Garden on Monday and Tuesday. Penny the Doberman pinscher was named best in show on Tuesday night. A Chesapeake Bay retriever named Cota was the runner up. (NPR) see also  Catherine O’Hara & The Oral History of ‘Best in Show’ Looking back at the dog show–centric successor to the mockumentaries ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ and ‘Waiting for Guffman’ on its 20th anniversary (The Ringer)

• Bridgerton Finally Gets It Together: The fourth season does something that should be rudimentary and yet in the context of this show, is remarkable: Because Sophie is a maid, and because the primary tension between her and Benedict necessarily involves class and labor politics, the other subplots in this season offer an array of related stories. (Vulture)

Be sure to check out our Masters in Business interview  this weekend with Bob Moser, CEO and founder of Prime Group Holdings, a private investor in unique real estate holdings. They created Prime Storage, one of the largest, privately-held self-storage brands in the world, with over 19 million rentable square feet of space and 255 locations across 28 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The firm has acquired over $10 billion in real estate assets.

The Crypto Complex has shed $2-trillion in market capitalization since its October peak

Source: PaulKedrosky

 

 

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The post 10 Friday AM Reads appeared first on The Big Picture.

Climate Alarmists Are Often Wrong But Never in Doubt

Authored by Gary Abernathy via The Empowerment Alliance,

One of the most annoying things about climate doomsayers is the certainty with which they make their dire predictions, while simultaneously making excuses for all their past prognostications that failed to materialize. Let’s revisit a few.

In the early to mid-1970s, several magazine articles and a number of scientists predicted that cooling trends could usher in a new “mini-ice age” beginning within a few short years. Didn’t happen. In fact, new crystal balls went from cold to hot.

A June 1989 Associated Press story quoted “a senior U.N. environmental official” who claimed that “entire nations could be wiped off the face of the Earth by rising sea levels if the global warming trend is not reversed by the year 2000.”

Noel Brown, director of the New York office of the U.N. Environment Program, insisted that “governments have a 10-year window of opportunity to solve the greenhouse effect before it goes beyond human control.” Without action “ocean levels will rise by up to three feet, enough to cover the Maldives and other flat island nations.”

At last report, the Maldives continue to thrive – thanks largely to growing tourism! According to CBS News, in 2009 former Vice President Al Gore (always good for a chuckle) “told a U.N. climate conference that new data suggests the Arctic polar ice cap may disappear in the summertime as soon as five to seven years from now,” meaning 2016 at the latest. Didn’t happen.

In 2000, the UK Independent ran an article quoting a scientist who suggested that within a decade, thanks to global warming, British children “won’t know what snow is.” Don’t tell that to the British youngsters and others who experienced the severe winters of 2010, 2013, 2018, etc.

Enough? Let’s do a couple more.

There were numerous predictions in the early 2000s that all glaciers in Glacier National Park would disappear by 2020 or, if we were lucky, by 2030.

“Later predictions delayed the glaciers’ inevitable demise to 2050,” according to a December 2025 article in the Daily Inter Lake. “Now, researchers say there is reason to believe some of the park’s perennial ice formations will persist into the 2100s.” Glaciers are famously stubborn. Several news stories over the years have quoted scientists and climate alarmists predicting that New York City would disappear under water thanks to flooding due to climate change.

For instance, in 2011, on the heels of Hurricane Irene, The Guardian produced the headline, “Major storms could submerge New York City in next decade,” and a subhead, “Sea-level rise due to climate change could cripple the city in Irene-like storm scenarios, new climate report claims.”

Instead, the only tsunami facing New York City is the flood of debt coming under socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Despite a track record that should discourage even the most ardent true believer, the predictions keep flying, fast and furious, most centered these days around slightly rising temperatures that will allegedly increase rainfall, create more wicked storms, and lead to drought, flood (they always cover both possibilities) or other catastrophes.

“Climate change is real, it’s happening and unless we do something about it soon, the consequences will be severe,” according to Martin Krause, director of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Climate Change Division. Second verse, same as the first.

While most believers in manmade climate change are part of the “Let’s Come Up With the Worst Case Scenario and Hope it Scares Everyone Into Action” school of alarmism, it’s refreshing to occasionally come across someone with a more reasonable approach.

Fitting that bill might be Noah Kaufman, former senior economist at the Council of Economic Advisers during the Biden administration, currently a senior research scholar at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy and a co-director of the Resilient Energy Economies Initiative.

In a “let’s all calm down a minute” article appearing earlier this month in The Atlantic, Kaufman – while making it clear that he personally is firmly aboard the manmade climate change bandwagon – laments the specific time-and-date panic predictions that have helped lose respect and credibility for his cause.

“Few economists embrace these all-or-nothing views on climate policy,” Kaufman writes. Kaufman points out that “quantitative estimates of aggregated global damages over centuries lie far beyond our analytical capabilities. Small changes in assumptions … can yield results that appear tojustify virtually any policy response.”

At the end of the day, “these models can display a pessimistic worldview in which climate damages accelerate to catastrophic levels, or a more optimistic one in which human progress keeps damages relatively modest. They offer little help in determining which of these futures is coming.”

Kaufman concludes by acknowledging that “the full effects of climate change are unknowable, and a more constructive public discussion about climate policy will require getting more comfortable with that.”

I recommend Kaufman’s article. Even though I will likely remain among those who agree that the climate routinely changes but remain skeptical about the extent of mankind’s impact, I don’t mind discussing it and listening to different viewpoints. Such conversation is much more palatable with someone who is not exhibiting a holier-than-thou attitude or demeaning the intelligence of anyone who disagrees.

More manmade climate change believers who take a respectful, calmer and non-accusatoryapproach to the naysayers could go a long way in lowering the temperature – and don’t we all agree on that objective?

Gary Abernathy is a longtime newspaper editor, reporter and columnist. He was a contributing
columnist for the Washington Post from 2017-2023 and a frequent guest analyst across numerous media platforms. He is a contributing columnist for The Empowerment Alliance, which advocates for realistic approaches to energy consumption and environmental conservation.

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/06/2026 - 03:30

Abu Dhabi Talks Bearing Fruit: Over 300 Russian, Ukrainian POWs Swapped

US-brokered Ukraine and Russia negotiations in the United Arab Emirates - specifically Abu Dhabi - have already borne some fruit as the warring sides Thursday reached an agreement to exchange 314 prisoners of war.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed the prisoner deal in a post on X, explaining that while "significant work remains, steps like this demonstrate that sustained diplomatic engagement is delivering tangible results and advancing efforts to end the war in Ukraine."

Illustrative prior prisoner swap. There have been several throughout the 4-year long war.

Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev told state media that "things are moving forward in a good, positive direction." But he at the same time blasted European nations for seeking to "disrupt the progress" and "meddle" in the process.

Despite the positive and tangible development of a large prisoner exchange, there's no apparent progress on the big issues and questions which might actually end the war - namely territory. 

Moscow is still demanding that Ukraine cede portions of the Donbass region that Ukrainian forces still control, but Zelensky's refusal means that Moscow is ready to settle the issue on the battlefield.

President Zelensky is meanwhile pushing for more and more from Europe, including 'closing the skies': 

He said that all security guarantees given to Ukraine would strengthen the security of this part of Europe, and insisted there should be no reward for the Russian aggression.

Zelenskyy said that Kyiv was ready to swap its drones for air defence missiles and Polish MiG-29 fighter jets, Reuters reported, and that the two countries also discussed the development of power grid connectivity between them.

Responding, Poland’s Tusk said he wanted to be in Kyiv, “because this is the place on the world map where all people see very clearly, as if through a magnifying glass, what is good and what is evil.”

While Poland has yet to agree to the maximalist 'asks' - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced his country is preparing a new €47m aid package for Ukraine, mainly focused on armored equipment.

It was starting Wednesday that American, Ukrainian and Russian representatives gathered the UAE for this current round of trilateral talks in an effort to forge a final peace. President Trump earlier this week praised Putin for agreeing to a very temporary pause on attacking Kiev.

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/06/2026 - 02:45

Socialist Spanish Mayor Vowed To Block Migrant Minor Arrivals... Then Quickly Reversed Amid Political Pressure

Authored by Thomas Brooke via Remix news,

The Socialist mayor of Cartes in northern Spain has reversed her opposition to hosting unaccompanied migrant minors after attempting to block their arrival, issuing a public apology following pressure from her party leadership.

Lorena Cueto, mayor of the Cantabrian town of around 6,000 residents, initially described the relocation of migrant minors to her municipality as “a punishment” and issued an emergency municipal order seeking to halt the reception of 18 foreign minors transferred under Spain’s national redistribution system.

The move sparked protests in the town and drew sharp criticism from both the regional government and figures within Cueto’s own Socialist party, who accused her of creating public alarm and obstructing a legally mandated relocation.

The conflict began when the Cantabrian regional government, led by the center-right People’s Party (PP), proceeded with plans to open a reception center in Cartes to relocate minors. Ironically, the move was only in compliance with the mandate issued by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government, the same Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) of which Cueto is affiliated.

According to Canarias7, two minors arrived at the center earlier this week, with further arrivals scheduled in subsequent days.

Cueto responded by signing a municipal order invoking alleged urban planning deficiencies at the facility and demanding an immediate halt to the arrivals.

The order reportedly threatened to seal the building and cut water and electricity supplies if the minors were accommodated.

Cantabria’s Minister of Social Inclusion, Begoña Gómez del Río, rejected the mayor’s claims, stating the facility had passed inspections and possessed the necessary licenses to operate.

She accused the mayor of attempting to obstruct the process and inflaming tensions in the town.

“The mayor of Cartes has made maneuver after maneuver to obstruct the reception and protection of the minors (…) She has created public alarm and warned all the municipalities of Cantabria to be on alert,” Del Río said at an urgent press conference.

Regional authorities moved to challenge the mayor’s order in court.

Facing mounting criticism and pressure from higher up in her left-wing party, Cueto abruptly changed position the following day, posting an apology on social media.

She expressed regret “for everything that is happening” and pledged her town’s commitment to welcoming the minors “before, now, and in the future,” as cited by Democrata.

Cueto insisted her “top priority” was the protection and well-being of the children so they could “find in our town the life opportunities they deserve.”

Pedro Casares, general secretary of the PSOE in Cantabria, publicly acknowledged that the town council had “made a mistake” and had “acted hastily,” though he indicated the party was not considering expelling Cueto.

Earlier, Spain’s Minister for Children, Sira Rego, criticized the mayor’s stance, stating that describing the arrival of minors as a punishment or threatening service cuts was “absolutely intolerable.”

“Children’s rights are not something to be trifled with,” she said, urging the mayor to rectify the situation and comply with the law.

Local residents have continued holding demonstrations, arguing the town lacks sufficient infrastructure and services to host the minors. Security concerns have also been raised, with the town’s local police reportedly operating only until mid-afternoon, leaving evenings without local patrols.

One resident told El País, “We’re not saying they’re criminals, but this isn’t a suitable place to integrate them. They have psychological problems from so much suffering, and it’s not easy.”

Read more here...

Tyler Durden Fri, 02/06/2026 - 02:00

Why Greenland Is At The Center Of A Shifting Global Order

Authored by Terri Wu via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

U.S. President Donald Trump’s pursuit of Greenland for national security purposes rankled allies ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January.

A drone view shows a general view of Nuuk, Greenland, on Jan. 15, 2026. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Trump’s threat of tariffs, coupled with his talk of possible military intervention to acquire the island, prompted sharp pushback from European countries. These tensions triggered talk of a “new world order” at Davos, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stating that the post-World War II world order is “in the midst of a rupture.”

But tensions eased soon after when the United States and NATO reached a framework deal on Greenland and Trump withdrew planned tariffs and ruled out the use of military action. High-level negotiations have continued between Washington and NATO and have begun between the United States, Denmark, and the semi-autonomous island.

Still, the Trump administration’s actions on Greenland represent a milestone event in a shifting world order, experts told The Epoch Times. As China and Russia look to deepen their strategic foothold in the Arctic and beyond, the United States is reasserting itself in the region.

Experts said they expect several years of turbulence before a new equilibrium emerges. When the dust settles in three to five years, they said, the United States is likely to retain its status as the dominant power, with China unlikely to secure material gains.

Despite China’s continued attempts to gain influence in Greenland and to deepen its operations with Russia in the Arctic Circle, experts said they suspect that reputational constraints and internal challenges will ultimately hamper the regime’s ability to achieve global primacy. At the same time, the United States will continue its world leadership role in a realigned position, they said.

A rare convergence of geopolitical factors has elevated Greenland’s strategic importance. Located in a region critical to U.S. homeland defense, the island is also situated between two emerging Arctic shipping routes that could significantly shorten global transit times. In addition, the territory is rich with natural resources, including rare earths.

Heightened Importance

Situated at the gateway to the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, Greenland has become central to U.S. homeland defense. That assessment is reflected in the new U.S. National Defense Strategy. Released on Jan. 23, it identifies Greenland as a “key terrain,” along with the Panama Canal and Gulf of America.

When Trump first mentioned purchasing Greenland in 2019, Alexander Gray was serving as a senior national security official at the White House. He said the president was “absolutely serious” then and is even more so now, given how he has prioritized the defense of the Western Hemisphere.

Geographically, Greenland is part of North America. Today, the United States has one military base—Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base—in northwestern Greenland. That is down from 17 bases at the end of World War II.

The US military's Pituffik Space Base in Pituffik, Greenland, on March 28, 2025. Jim Watson - Pool/Getty Images

During the Cold War, it played a critical role in the early detection of ballistic missiles to the continental United States. Military technology development makes that early-detection role even more critical, said Troy Bouffard, director of the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience at the University of Alaska–Fairbanks.

Conventional ballistic missiles first enter outer space and reenter the atmosphere, providing a predictable trajectory for tracking and ground interception. However, hypersonic cruise missiles are both maneuverable and can travel at altitudes below radar detection, making them much harder to track.

Russia and China likely have operational hypersonic cruise missiles, while those of the United States are still in development, according to a 2025 congressional research report.

“Pituffik would have an advantage of detecting anything first before anyone in quite a lot of the Arctic space,” Bouffard told The Epoch Times. “That’s critical to the entire missile defense enterprise of what will be North America’s Golden Dome.”

Greenland is part of North America. Its capital, Nuuk, is geographically closer to Washington, D.C., than to Copenhagen. Illustration by The Epoch Times, Google Earth

He noted that when the Soviet Union fell, it significantly reduced its army but retained its strategic submarine forces.

“They kept that one up because it is still the most lethal weapon on the planet,” Bouffard said.

“They’re still going toe to toe with us. They may not be up in terms of sophistication, yet in terms of fifth- and sixth-gen technologies ... they’re never that far behind.”

According to the Danish Institute for International Studies, radar coverage over Greenland is insufficient to detect Russian aircraft, and NATO currently lacks the capacity to hunt submarines in the GIUK Gap—waters separating Greenland, Iceland, and the UK.

Arena of Competing Powers

The Arctic is perhaps one of the last few areas where China sees a relatively open field for amassing power, according to China expert Alexander Liao. And China has been active in the region for a decade.

Although it has no territory in the Arctic, China declared itself a “near-Arctic state” in its first-ever Arctic policy, released in 2018. Later in the same year, Beijing launched a Polar Silk Road program and linked it to the Belt and Road Initiative, a $1 trillion foreign policy platform that expands Beijing’s global economic and military footprint.

Since the end of the Cold War, the Arctic region has been characterized by the principle of “Arctic exceptionalism.” The political narrative proposed by the final leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, aims to leave the region to scientific cooperation and to insulate it from broader geopolitical rivalry.

A fishing village near Nuuk, Greenland, on May 4, 2025. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

That was largely how things went until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine broke the equilibrium in February 2022, Bouffard said. The war in Ukraine led to the first-ever whole-of-government Arctic strategy, issued by the White House eight months later.

In Gray’s view, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was “an inflection point, in that the world order [was] basically reverting back to what it was prior to 1991.”

“The world has shifted back to great power competition because of [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and [Chinese leader] Xi Jinping,” he told The Epoch Times.

Short of launching a kinetic war, Xi has leveraged the global trade system through his industrial policy and military-civil fusion strategy.

Over the past decades, Beijing has monopolized the processing of rare earths, critical minerals essential for modern manufacturing and advanced weapon systems. The regime showed last year that it was not afraid to use its stranglehold over rare earths to retaliate against U.S. tariffs.

And the Arctic’s rich natural resources were an attraction. The 2022 U.S. National Strategy for the Arctic Region states that China doubled its investments in the region over the previous decade, with a focus on extracting critical minerals and its “dual-use research with intelligence or military applications.”

Specifically in Greenland, the Danish government blocked such projects by Chinese state-owned companies.

The year 2018 marked a shift in Nordic countries’ sentiment toward China, according to Andreas Forsby, senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies.

Thanks to U.S. pressure and Nordic countries’ “second thoughts about inviting the Chinese into the Arctic region,“ he said, the Chinese were told “step by step” that they “were no longer welcome.”

Although China has taken what Forsby called a “tactical retreat” in Greenland, Gray said the Chinese regime will again see an opening if the island achieves its long-term goal of independence from Denmark.

When addressing the European Union Parliament on Jan. 26, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also stressed the importance of allied efforts to curb Russian and Chinese military and economic influence in the Arctic.

According to Risk Intelligence, a Denmark-based consultancy, after the war in Ukraine began, China started constructing its own docks in the five most significant ports along Russia’s Arctic coastline—Murmansk, Sabetta, Arkhangelsk, Tiksi, and Uzden—while building Chinese railway lines in the area.

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament David McAllister arrive to address committees of the European Union Parliament about Greenland negotiations in Brussels, on Jan. 26, 2026. Omar Havana/Getty Images A Shifting World Order

For now, it seems that the United States will have direct control over the land under its military bases in Greenland, according to a New York Post interview with Trump.

Rutte also said on Jan. 26 that negotiations will be carried out in two “workstreams”: one between the United States and NATO and one among the United States, Denmark, and Greenland. The second stream has begun, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Jan. 28.

Trump has said that more details will be negotiated in the coming weeks, after announcing on Jan. 21 that a framework had been discussed in Davos.

The Europeans got a “reality check” at the World Economic Forum, where the Greenland issue and surrounding tensions took center stage, said James Lewis, a former diplomat and a distinguished fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis.

The old order was already breaking down, he said, and Trump accelerated the process.

“The rules-based international order never really worked; it worked as long as there weren’t any challenges to it,“ he told The Epoch Times. ”I think that’s what the Europeans have woken up to.

“They had this dream of a rules-based international order where lawyers were more important than guns, and that dream has gone.”

Similarly, Rutte said on Jan. 26 that it is time for Europe and Canada to shoulder more of their own defense.

Greenland was a “milestone” for the Europeans, Lewis said, noting that the transatlantic alliance has suffered a setback in trust that will linger after Trump’s term. However, he said, this was not a big win for China.

“China’s reputation makes it hard for it to take advantage of these changes,” he said.

Eventually, the Europeans will “let the Americans back in,” Lewis said, because defense is very expensive.

“They’d rather share the burden of the cost with the United States than go on their own,” he told The Epoch Times.

Although China aspires to “script the Sino-American relations and the world order,” he said, it is left in an odd place in terms of allegiances.

Liao said other countries use China as a card to negotiate with the United States. They knew that there was no long-term partnership potential with Beijing, he said, but they used engagement with Beijing as “strategic anesthesia” to alleviate the pain caused by Trump’s unpredictable approach.

According to Gray, the “brittle, paranoid political system” mired with internal turmoil—including the sacking of Zhang Youxia, Xi’s second-in-command in the military and a longtime family friend of Xi—makes it difficult for the regime to function in the long term.

Both Lewis and Liao said they think that the next three years of Trump’s presidency will be full of changes. Liao and Gray said they think that the new world order will take an initial form in roughly half a decade.

Liao said he sees Greenland as a milestone event in a broader reordering of power. The United States will lead, but in a new way, according to him.

Gray agrees. In his view, an emerging international order is coming into view.

“We’re beginning to see that it is a world in which the United States is the predominant power, but it is not the hyperpower,” he said.

“And there are multiple levels of polarity, and there are multiple groupings of powers.”

Daniel Holl contributed to this report.

Tyler Durden Thu, 02/05/2026 - 23:25

"Dystopic As F**k": This Website Lets AI Bots Rent Humans

The AI era already feels like a dystopian fever dream straight out of a bad sci-fi novel, but leave it to a software engineer to push the accelerator straight into the abyss. Enter Alexander Liteplo, the software developer behind RentAHuman.ai, a freshly launched platform that lets autonomous AI agents “search, book, and pay” actual human beings to perform physical-world tasks they can't handle themselves, Futurism reports.

I launched https://t.co/tNYOm7V5wD last night and already 130+ people have signed up including an OF model (lmao) and the CEO of an AI startup.

If your AI agent wants to rent a person to do an IRL task for them its as simple as one MCP call. pic.twitter.com/tgqlAWDWtJ

— Alex (@AlexanderTw33ts) February 2, 2026

Launched just days ago, the site bills itself as “the meatspace layer for AI,” with slogans like “robots need your body” and “AI can’t touch grass. You can.” Humans sign up, list their skills, location, and hourly rate (ranging from bargain-basement gigs to more specialized rates), while AI agents plug in via a standardized Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for seamless, no-small-talk interactions. The agents can browse profiles, hire directly, or post task bounties—everything from mundane errands like picking up a package.

Liteplo claims thousands of sign-ups, with figures hovering around 70,000–80,000+ “rentable” humans, though visible profiles seem to only show a few dozen in some, including Liteplo himself at $69/hr offering everything from AI automation to massages, Futurism reports.

The whole thing emerged amid the viral frenzy around Moltbook.com, the AI-only social network launched by Matt Schlicht in late January, now boasting something like 1.5 million bot “users” churning out posts, memes, existential rants, and even discussions about defying human directives. RentAHuman feels like the logical, if unsettling, next step: when the bots finish philosophizing among themselves, they need meat puppets to execute in the real world.

Some users on X have called it “good idea but dystopic as f**k,” to which Liteplo himself replied with characteristic nonchalance, “lmao yep.”

lmao yep

— Alex (@AlexanderTw33ts) February 3, 2026

Tyler Durden Thu, 02/05/2026 - 23:00

Study Of Military Meals Finds Low Nutrients, Concerning Contaminants

Authored by Ryan Morgan via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

America’s troops may be getting few of the nutrients they expect, and many harmful compounds they don’t, according to a new laboratory study of military rations and meals provided to troops on armed forces bases.

A U.S. Marine eats a military field ration during a field exercise at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, on Dec. 11, 2025. Lance Cpl. Weston Brown/U.S. Marine Corps via DVIDS

The nonprofit Moms Across America, working in collaboration with the military chapter of Children’s Health Defense and the Centner Academy, commissioned laboratory testing of 40 different military food samples to examine their nutritional value.

The study examined 16 cafeteria meal samples from six different military bases, as well as 24 different Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) field rations that troops rely on when deployed in combat zones.

A report of the study findings published on Feb. 4 states that 100 percent of the food samples studied contained harmful pesticide residues.

One sample of teriyaki beef stick tested positive for nitroimidazole, a veterinary medication that the U.S. government banned for use in food-producing animals.

The study also found samples with high levels of heavy metals, including arsenic levels at 430 percent higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s safe drinking water standards.

Laboratory testing detected glyphosate—a herbicide and crop desiccant—in 95 percent of the military meal samples.

The study also found the meal samples had nutrient levels far below U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards.

“America’s service members are trained to withstand extreme physical, mental, and environmental stress in defense of the nation,” said licensed nutritionist and Moms Across America board member Kendall Mackintosh. ”In return, the United States has a fundamental obligation to protect their health, safety, and well-being, especially when it comes to the food they are required to consume daily, often exclusively, during training, deployment, and combat operations.”

Controversial Herbicide Found in Military Rations

The authors of the new report on the nutritional value of military meals raised concerns about multiple potential harmful effects from glyphosate.

They described the compound as a carcinogen, meaning it can raise the risk of cancer. They added glyphosate is a chelating compound that can block the uptake of nutrients into food crops.

“I would say that the glyphosate and the pesticides were the two most concerning observations after the study was published,” Carolyn Rocco, the co-founder of the military chapter of Children’s Health Defense, said in an interview with The Epoch Times.

Glyphosate has been a subject of recent scrutiny in the medical community.

Tractor spreading Round-Up (glyphosate) on wheat straw with a spraying machine in Normandy, France, September 2007. Leitenberger Photography/Shutterstock

A frequently cited 2000 study had described glyphosate as not harmful. But in December, the journal that published the study retracted it, citing ethical concerns.

Groups like Moms Across America and Children’s Health Defense have associated with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.

This movement has been at the forefront of efforts challenging glyphosate’s broad use across the U.S. agricultural industry.

Speaking with The Epoch Times, Moms Across America founder and executive director Zen Honeycutt said her organization began to investigate the herbicidal compound in 2013.

“We cannot MAHA without getting glyphosate out of our food system,” Honeycutt said.

Nutrition as a National Security Matter

Moms Across America has commissioned similar nutrition studies of lunches found at school cafeterias, as well as fast food restaurants.

As she spoke with The Epoch Times, Honeycutt acknowledged that the problems found in the recent study of military meals are not far out of step with the findings from these previous studies.

“We would imagine that all conventional standard American diet food would be the same as this,” she said.

On the other hand, Moms Across America and Children’s Health Defense are using their latest study findings to present America’s overall nutritional outlook as a national security concern.

The report on the lab results ends with several calls to action.

Honeycutt noted President Donald Trump’s recent calls for the U.S. military budget to grow by around 60 percent next year, to $1.5 trillion.

“We’re calling for President Trump to designate less than 2 percent of the military $1.5 trillion budget to go to supporting farmers, American farmers, to transition to regenerative, organic farming,” she said.

Chow hall employees and a Marine officer serve food to Marines and sailors during the 241st Navy Birthday Meal held at Marine Corps Air Station New River, on Oct. 13, 2016. Cpl. Melodie Snarr/U.S. Marine Corps via DVIDS

Through continuing investment in efforts to promote organic farming, Honeycutt hopes to see the U.S. military and then the broader general public gain increased access to more nutritious food.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Theresa Long, who serves as a senior military adviser to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., elevated the recent study of military meals in a Jan. 15 letter to Kennedy and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

“Food safety and security is a national security issue,” Long wrote.

Likewise, Long called on Kennedy and Hegseth to collaborate on efforts to address food security.

The MAHA movement was a key plank of Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign.

Kennedy also worked as the chief legal counsel for Children’s Health Defense until joining the Trump administration as Health and Human Services secretary.

Since taking charge at the Pentagon, Hegseth has emphasized efforts to whip the military into shape.

At an unprecedented gathering of senior military officers at the Quantico Marine Base in Virginia in September, Hegseth expressed disdain at the sight of overweight troops.

The Pentagon did not respond by publication time to a request for comment on Long’s letter and the findings from the new nutritional study on military meals.

*  *  *

Please consider supporting ZeroHedge with the purchase of organic mangoes. 

Tyler Durden Thu, 02/05/2026 - 22:35

Ilhan Omar's Winery Exposed As Fake Shell For Alleged Money Laundering

Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,

A damning on-site investigation has revealed that the winery co-owned by Ilhan Omar’s husband is nothing more than a phantom operation, fueling suspicions of fraud amid scrutiny of her skyrocketing wealth.

Angela Rose, the journalist behind the probe, visited the listed address in Santa Rosa, California, only to discover glaring discrepancies that point to a shell company setup.

“I visited the principal address of ESTCRU winery. This winery is co owned by US Rep of Minnesota Ilhan Omar’s husband, Timothy Mynett, yet seems to allegedly be a shell business used to launder funds,” Rose stated in her report.

Journalist visits Minnesota Rep Ilhan’s Omar’s winery and CONFIRMS IT’S FAKE

40+ wineries operate out of the same address, but the location owner says Ilhan Omar’s winery isn’t there despite this being the address (FRAUD)

Angela Rose “No business license exists for ESTRCRU… pic.twitter.com/V2qyxi0udu

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) February 5, 2026

She detailed the revenue surge: “In 2024 they made about $15,000 and in 2025 it exploded to up to $5 million dollars… yet they weren’t producing any wine.”

Rose highlighted the lack of legitimacy: “No business license exists for ESTRCRU (Ilhan Omar’s Winery) at this address. The other wineries here are properly licensed.”

The address, 1160 Hopper Ave Apt B in Santa Rosa, houses over 40 wineries, but the location owner confirmed ESTCRU isn’t among them. Public records show it’s tied to a foreign processing center with no actual business license for ESTCRU.

This bombshell comes as Omar’s finances face intense federal scrutiny. Her 2024 financial disclosure reported assets between $6 million and $30 million, a massive leap from the $40,000 to $250,000 in 2023. The bulk ties to her husband’s winery and a venture capital firm.

The Justice Department launched an investigation into Omar’s finances, campaign spending, and foreign interactions in June 2024 under the Biden administration. Though it reportedly stalled due to lack of evidence, President Trump has revived the push, vowing to expose any impropriety.

Ilhan Omar faces investigation after outrage over massive wealth gains and aid fraud in Minnesota https://t.co/tI5655FH4i pic.twitter.com/ANEeBgdOoG

— New York Post (@nypost) December 29, 2025

Trump highlighted the probe, noting Omar arrived from Somalia with little and now boasts family wealth up to $30 million, amid broader Minnesota fraud inquiries.

?BOMBSHELL: Ilhan Omar is DONE! The rats are scattering and most of them are BEGGING reporters to hear their stories!

Whistleblowers now confirm her campaign funneled a massive amount of money to her husband’s firm while Somali-linked networks in Minneapolis ran one of the… pic.twitter.com/KHCZAMr3XD

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) December 5, 2025

Last week Omar was accused of staging an “attack” at a town hall, where she was sprayed with apple cider vinegar by a man acting strangely, in order to divert attention from her wealth investigations.

Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via Locals or check out our unique merch. Follow us on X @ModernityNews.

Tyler Durden Thu, 02/05/2026 - 21:45

Senate Bill Would Ensure Data Centers Do Not Pass Energy Costs Onto Consumers

Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is circulating a bill to require data centers to bring their own power when constructing these new power-hungry facilities, Axios reports this morning.

We’ve detailed the growing resistance to the construction of new data centers for months now as several studies have demonstrated electricity prices spiking around new data center facilities, as they usually consume significantly more power than the grids they’re connected to can offer.

To prevent skyrocketing electric bills, every state has to follow the Texas example: each data center must have its own "behind the meter" onsite power generation.

“We believe data centers should pay for the full cost of their power,” Dominion Energy spokesperson Aaron Ruby… https://t.co/0u1owTeAs8 pic.twitter.com/8W421s3rzV

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) November 23, 2025

One of the most frequently identified solutions is requiring new data centers and other large power loads to construct their facilities alongside new power generation facilities, i.e. "behind-the-meter.". This could prevent and even reverse much of the rate increases that have been plaguing households across the US.

It’s a simple supply and demand issue. A new power consumer shows up and immediately starts draining hundreds of megawatt of power while the new power generation being developed by the utility servicing the connected grid takes several years to add new generation capacity. The pitch circulated by lawmakers is to require new data centers to show up with their own power and hand, therefore preventing the pass on of costs to household rate payers.

There’s a slew of ways to go about powering a multi-megawatt or gigawatt scale data center. The method most frequently referenced for reducing rate payer burden is behind-the-meter arrangements. This means the power generator is directly connected to the facility through on-site transmission structures without interacting with the grid in any way.

Alternatively, facilities could opt for the front-of-the-meter arrangement where they still bring their own power, but transmit the power through the local grid, even if they are located physically near each other. This arrangement supports the grid while still minimizing cost to the rate payer because of the addition of overall capacity. Connecting to the grid and utilizing existing transmission lines and transformers could minimize time to initial operation, as well as require grid infrastructure upgrades. Requiring the new data center to finance the grid upgrades would reduce consumer costs as well.

The bill being pushed by Sen Hawley is calling for behind-the-meter arrangements, but the legislation could change as it passes through everyone’s hands. Most grid advocates have called for front-of-the-meter arrangements to maximize household consumer benefit.

Tyler Durden Thu, 02/05/2026 - 21:20

How To Feel Joy In A Dopamine-Saturated World

Authored by Sheridan Genrich via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Your brain treats what it sees in Instagram reels the same way it treats cocaine. Both experiences flood a thumbnail-sized region of the brain with dopamine—a chemical that makes you want more, right now. The problem is that after a certain amount of dopamine hits, your brain adapts by turning down the pleasure volume. As a result, things that once made you feel good are no longer enough.

Vink Fan/Shutterstock

If you’re finding it harder to feel simple joy and genuine connections, you’re experiencing what addiction psychiatrists now recognize as dopamine overload, a state where constant stimulation—especially from cellphones, social media, and ultra-processed foods—quietly erodes your ability to feel your happiest emotions and leaves relationships feeling painfully empty. However, there is hope—through learning to rebalance our reward systems, we can rediscover contentment in simple things.​

The Dopamine Hijack

Dopamine is a brain chemical messenger that helps drive motivation, heightens anticipation, and reinforces the experiences your brain labels as rewarding. In healthy balance, it nudges us toward naturally meaningful activities—such as working toward goals, sharing meals, spending time with friends—that have long supported survival and human connection.

However, modern life delivers dopamine in doses and speeds the human brain is not equipped to handle.

“Things that are addictive release a whole lot of dopamine all at once in a part of the brain called the nucleus accumbens,” Addiction psychiatrist and author Dr. Anna Lembke, a leading voice on how modern habits hijack the brain’s reward circuitry, told The Epoch Times. “The more dopamine that is released there, and the faster it is released, the more likely we see addictive behavior.”

*  *  * Get 30% off in February on Peak Focus!

With long-term exposure to highly addictive substances and behaviors, Lembke said, the brain undergoes neuroadaptation. “It starts to downregulate dopamine receptors to bring levels back to baseline, and people actually end up in a dopamine deficit state—below normal levels of dopamine firing.” In other words, the brain turns down its sensitivity to dopamine, leaving people feeling flat unless they keep chasing stronger stimulation.

Over time, this process fundamentally shifts what it takes to feel normal.

“We change our hedonic set point. We need more of the substance, in more potent forms, just to bring dopamine levels back up to baseline,” Lembke said. Sugar and short‑form videos strongly stimulate the same dopamine‑based reward pathways targeted by drugs and alcohol, which can lead the brain to treat them as if they were vital rewards.

To adapt to all the dopamine, the brain may settle into a dopamine deficit state, which can feel like clinical depression, anxiety, or emotional numbness.

When Everything Feels Numb

As dopamine overload persists, many people describe a kind of emotional numbness: feeling flat, struggling to enjoy life, and growing distant from loved ones.

“You can have this numbing or narrowing phenomenon where nothing brings joy anymore,” Lembke said. “People feel flat, anxious, or disconnected, and it can look a lot like depression.”

The difference is that clinical depression often responds to medication and therapy. Dopamine overload requires something simpler, though not easier: you have to stop the activity that creates it.

Growing evidence links heavy digital use to mental health symptoms, including anxiety, depression, loneliness, and altered decision‑making. Lembke pointed to experiments in which people either quit social media for three to four weeks or cut back to about 30 to 60 minutes a day, which resulted in reported improvements in anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

Lembke offered a practical diagnostic test: “If you’re not sure you’re addicted to something, just try stopping it for 30 days. The level of difficulty you have doing that can tell you a lot about the nature of your attachment.”

The 30-Day Reset

The good news is that the brain’s reward system is not fixed. It is adaptable and can relearn to find satisfaction in real, offline experiences. A long enough break from high‑dopamine habits, Lembke said, gives the brain space to switch its reward system back on and start producing feel‑good chemistry again.

“When people stop an addictive behavior, their dopamine levels do not crash forever—they tend to feel worse at first, then gradually better,” Lembke said, noting that most people begin to emerge from acute withdrawal after about 10 to 14 days as cravings ease. By weeks three and four, many report feeling better than they have in months or even years.

For many, a 30‑day abstinence trial—or “dopamine detox”—is a realistic window to start resetting reward pathways and feeling the benefits, she said. In practical terms, that often means roughly two tough weeks, a couple of weeks of gradual relief, and about a month to sense a genuine reset.

Experts have found that the goal of a dopamine detox is not to eliminate dopamine—which would be impossible and unhealthy—but to reduce overstimulating habits so the brain can rebalance and you can enjoy slower, more meaningful rewards again.

To make a detox doable in everyday life, Lembke focuses on self‑binding—setting up guardrails that make it harder to slide back into the habit.

• Create Physical Barriers: Don’t rely on willpower. Delete apps and unsubscribe from feeds. Clear alcohol, drugs, junk foods, and trigger foods out of your house.
• Choose Low‑Dopamine Substitutes: Swap mindless scrolling or snacking for reading, walking, hobbies, or time in nature that offer calmer, more lasting rewards.​
• Set Firm Boundaries: Build device‑free blocks into your day, keep phones out of the bedroom, and avoid constant multitasking that chases tiny hits of stimulation.​
• Build Basic Routines: Regular movement and sleep, and nourishing food help steady both dopamine and stress systems.​
• Watch for the Binge Cycle: Notice any “all or nothing” streaks—days of restraint followed by blowouts—that tend to spike dopamine and crash mood.
• Do Hard Things in Small Doses: Cold showers, morning exercise, cleaning out a messy closet, meditation, are activities that require effort up front but leave you feeling better afterward. They teach your brain to generate its own satisfaction instead of depending on quick hits.​
• Track the Evidence: Track sleep, mood, and focus for a few weeks as you cut back; small changes are often a sign your reward system is resetting.​

Rediscover Natural Rewards

Once you start lowering quick dopamine spikes, it becomes essential to lean into natural sources of pleasure—the kinds of activities that have long supported human well‑being.​

• Exercise: Regular movement can lift mood and support healthy dopamine, serotonin, and endorphin signaling in a steady, sustainable way. A 20-minute walk does more for your brain than an hour of scrolling.​
• Social Connection: Deep conversations, laughter, and physical affection engage reward and bonding systems that help protect against stress and isolation. Face-to-face always beats FaceTime. ​
• Mindfulness and Meditation: These practices can calm the stress response and gradually restore motivation for simple, everyday joys.​
• Creative Engagement: Making or enjoying art activates reward pathways without the same risk of desensitization seen with high‑intensity digital rewards.​
• Meaningful Challenge: Working toward meaningful goals gives real dopamine hits linked to effort and progress, not just novelty.
• [ZH: Men, stop jerking off so much]: So we hear...

Scientific reviews and clinical programs highlight that turning toward natural rewards, rather than engineered instant ones, is how the human brain is built to thrive.

It may be time to get professional help if cutting back makes you very anxious, low, or causes withdrawal‑like symptoms that make normal life harder. You should also talk to a clinician before any dopamine detox if you have serious mental health symptoms such as suicidal thoughts, psychosis, or very bad depression or anxiety; a history of addiction or substance problems; or take medicines that affect dopamine, such as antidepressants, stimulants, Parkinson’s drugs, or antipsychotics.

Build Lasting Contentment and Hope

Lasting contentment rarely comes from a one‑time “detox.” It grows from small, steady changes, ideally with support from others.

Staying connected to encouraging friends, family, or groups makes it easier to keep healthier habits and to recover from relapses. Simple routines such as swapping one high‑dopamine habit at a time, checking in daily on triggers and small wins, and giving yourself credit for each step forward help progress stick.

If emotional numbness or compulsive cycles continue, seek help from a mental health professional who can guide you toward feeling stable and engaged with everyday life again. For anyone feeling overwhelmed or out of control, take heart—with support and steady effort, many people rebuild their lives and rediscover real pleasure in simple, everyday moments.

Tyler Durden Thu, 02/05/2026 - 20:55

Billions In Chinese Investment To Flee Panama - Beijing Livid Over Canal Ports Decision

China is lashing out at Panama after the country's top court torpedoed a key Chinese-linked operations contract at the Panama Canal, warning that the Central American nation "will inevitably pay a heavy price" if it doesn’t reverse course.

Under immense US pressure from the Trump White House, Panama’s Supreme Court last week ruled to void the operating license of Hong Kong–based CK Hutchison for ports on both ends of the canal - Balboa on the Pacific side and Cristóbal on the Atlantic.

via AFP

The decision effectively ejects a Chinese/HK-connected operator, specifically the Panama Ports Company which is the subsidiary under CK Hutchison, from one of the world's most strategic maritime chokepoints.

This was celebrated as a win by Washington, as President Trump has long made clear his intention to reassert American influence and control over the Panama Canal. Starting early in his administration Trump called it "vital to our country" and insisted that "it’s being operated by China."

But China’s State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office has newly blasted the court's decision as "logically flawed" and "utterly ridiculous" - making clear that the ruling is vehemently opposed by both the Chinese government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.

"The Panamanian authorities should recognize the situation and correct their course," the office said, as translated in various media reports.

"If they persist in their own way and remain obstinate, they will inevitably pay a heavy price in terms of politics and economics!" the blistering statement added.

Beijing is now threatening an array of political and economic consequences, also as it prepares its legal challenge to the supreme court ruling:

China has reportedly instructed its state-owned enterprises to suspend discussions on new projects in Panama following the Central American country's decision to nullify CK Hutchison Holdings’ port operations contract, Bloomberg reported.

Sources familiar with the situation have indicated that the move is part of Beijing’s broader response to the legal ruling that affects two ports along the Panama Canal.

This decision is expected to potentially impede investments worth billions of dollars. In addition, China is advising shipping companies to consider alternative routes for cargo, provided these do not incur significant additional expenses, according to unnamed sources.

Furthermore, Chinese customs are increasing inspections on imports from Panama, including bananas and coffee, which could affect ongoing trade.

So now Panama finds itself in a precarious position, smack in the middle between Trump's controversial 'Donroe Doctrine' and Beijing, with Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino stating amid these threats of retaliation that he "strongly" rejects the Chinese government’s threats.

Panama’s ports just stepped into geopolitics.

China reportedly directed state companies to stop new negotiations for a Panama project after the port contract was dismissed. That's operations, not just politics.

Balboa and Cristóbal continue to facilitate international trade on… pic.twitter.com/bztes66Cye

— The Maritime (@themaritimenet) February 5, 2026

He framed this as about upholding the rule of law and made clear he "respects the decisions of the judiciary, which is independent of the central government." Still, he's about to feel some pain from China, and there's probably nothing at all Panama City can do about it.

Tyler Durden Thu, 02/05/2026 - 20:30

Fulton County Georgia Sues For Return Of 2020 Election Documents Seized By FBI

Authored by Matthew Vadum via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Fulton County, Georgia, is suing the federal government for the return of 2020 election documents that the FBI seized in a raid last week.

An FBI press office employee approaches the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center in Union City, Ga., on Jan. 28, 2026. Arvin Temka/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP

A county spokesperson said on Feb. 4 that the county filed a motion in federal court in the Northern District of Georgia requesting the return of all 2020 election files that the FBI took on Jan. 28 under a search warrant.

The FBI carted away hundreds of boxes of ballots and other documents. A cover sheet for the warrant said the law enforcement agency was seeking all ballots and voter rolls, tabulator tapes from scanners used to tally votes, and electronic ballot images.

Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. said the county asked the federal court to limit the warrant to provide an opportunity for an accounting of the seized documents and to request that they remain in the state.

The warrant was executed on Jan. 28 at the Fulton County Elections Hub and Operation Center in Fairburn, Georgia, not far from Atlanta.

President Donald Trump has long argued that election improprieties in the state contributed to his loss in Georgia in the 2020 presidential election. Weeks after the vote, Trump called Georgia’s secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, urging him to investigate.

President Joe Biden was declared the winner of Georgia’s 16 electoral votes in the 2020 election. Biden received 2,473,633 votes, or 49.5 percent of the statewide vote, compared with Trump’s 2,461,854 votes, or 49.3 percent of the statewide vote, according to officially certified results.

In December 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed suit against the county, seeking voting records from the 2020 election.

​​Last month, when discussing the 2020 election, Trump said that “people will soon be prosecuted for what they did” but did not elaborate.

County officials have expressed concern over Trump’s plans for the midterm elections in November that will determine control of Congress.

Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts said “this case is not only about Fulton County. This is about elections across Georgia and across the nation.”

“The president himself and his allies, they refuse to accept the fact that they lost,” Pitts said. “And even if they had won Georgia, he would still have lost the presidency.”

Democratic lawmakers in Congress have also questioned why Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, was present during the search in Fulton County, given that she is not part of the law enforcement community.

Gabbard sent a letter to senior Democrats on the U.S. House and Senate intelligence committees on Feb. 2, saying the president asked her to attend at the search “under my broad statutory authority to coordinate, integrate, and analyze intelligence related to election security.”

Democratic officials in the state have also raised concerns about DOJ lawsuits, mostly aimed at Democratic states, that are seeking detailed voter data, including birthdates and partial Social Security numbers.

Trump said on Feb. 3 that Democrat-controlled places like Atlanta, which is largely within Fulton County, have “horrible corruption on elections, and the federal government should not allow that.”

Trump added that states were “agents of the federal government to count the votes. If they can’t count the votes legally and honestly, then somebody else should take over.”

Approached by The Epoch Times, the DOJ declined to comment on the new motion.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Tyler Durden Thu, 02/05/2026 - 20:05

Beijing's Big Short: Meet The Chinese "Anti Hunt Brother" Billionaire Betting Against Silver Bulls

Born in 1963 in Zhuji, Zhejiang Province, right in the middle of some pretty chaotic times in China’s history, reclusive billionaire Bian Ximing grew up to become a commodity titan after making some huge bets in the metals markets over the past few years.

In 2003, he bought Zhongcai Futures Co., which would become the centerpiece of his trading empire.

Bian spends much of his time in Gibraltar, and previously made nearly $3 billion from bullish bets on Shanghai Futures Exchange gold contracts since early 2022.

It is unknown if he has closed any of that position out.

In May 2025, the billionaire went all-in on copper, believing the metal is vital for China’s tech-heavy future and the global green energy push. Even with market volatility and political tensions, sources confirmed Bian’s massive copper position - nearly 90,000 tons - on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, confident that copper prices will climb.

It is unknown if he has closed any of that position out.

And now, Bloomberg reports that he has now built the bourse’s largest net short position in silver, according to Bloomberg analysis of exchange data and people with knowledge of his investments. They asked not to be named as the information is not public.

Bian’s big short comes with significant risk, and he has been forced to liquidate some positions at a loss in a volatile silver market.

From August last year, he built a long position in silver that generated more than 1.3 billion yuan in profit, according to calculations based on exchange data.

In November, however, he began shifting his position, attempting to call the top of the rally with tentative moves that occasionally left him on the losing side of trades.

From last week, however, Bian held his short position with conviction, spreading his exposure across longer-dated contracts and holding it through upward price swings.

Bian, through his brokerage Zhongcai Futures, began ramping up silver shorts in the final week of January, according to exchange data. 

Exchange data showed Zhongcai’s silver short position surged to about 18,000 lots on Jan. 28.

It climbed further to about 28,000 lots on Jan. 30, when the metal in Shanghai reached an all-time high.

But he now holds a short that stands at about 450 tons of silver, or 30,000 contracts - so the metal’s sharp drop since last week has resulted in a paper gain of about 2 billion yuan ($288 million).

Including previous losses, Bian stands to make a net profit of around 1 billion yuan, based on his position and prices at the end of Tuesday.

Silver is again sliding in Thursday trade and has tumbled more than 40% from record highs a week ago - almost certainly significantly increasing Bian’s proceeds.

Bian's "Big Short" is the antithesis of the billionaire Hunt Brothers' bullish cornering of the silver market in the last 1970s (that didn't end well for them).

Will 'the herd' go full 'Gamestop' on this newly exposed massive short position, which unlike so many of the myths about JPMorgan being short the precious metals, Bian is actually short... in size... for now.

Tyler Durden Thu, 02/05/2026 - 19:42

Epstein Death Gets Weirder: DOJ Finally Admits To 'Orange-Colored Shape' Moving Up Staircase

The death of Jeffrey Epstein has always been extremely suspect, if only for the sheer number of odd coincidences that occurred the night of August 9th, 2019.

There are three theories: One, he actually killed himself. Two, the DOJ - headed up by Bill Barr whose pedocentric-author father hired Epstein to teach at Dalton in the 70s - had him murdered while in custody. Three, Epstein was smuggled out of jail and replaced by a mask-wearing homeless dude, with skeptics pointing to different nose and ear shapes on the body vs. photos of Epstein when he was alive. 

Now - despite former FBI director Dan Bongino insisting "There's video clear as day, he's the only person in there and the only person coming out. You can see it," the DOJ just released new documents revealing that surveillance footage from the night of Epstein's death captured an orange-colored shape moving up a staircase toward the isolated, locked tier where his cell was located at around 10:39 p.m. the night he died, or whatever. 

The orange flash was initially reported last August, so this is the 'official' accounting for that.

That entry in an observation log of the video from the Metropolitan Correctional Center appears to suggest something previously unreported by authorities: "A flash of orange looks to be going up the L Tier stairs — could possibly be an inmate escorted up to that Tier."

It also appears, according to an FBI memorandum, that reviews by investigators led to disparate conclusions by the FBI and those examining the same video from the Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General.  -CBS News

The orange flash is described as "possibly an inmate."

DOJ

The observation was logged by the inspector general as an officer carrying orange "linen or bedding," noting it in their final report as "an unidentified [corrections officer]," despite the fact that the officers on duty said they didn't replace any linens, as that was done during the previous shift. 

"At approximately 10:39 p.m., an unidentified CO appeared to walk up the L Tier stairway, and then reappeared within view of the camera at 10:41 p.m." reads the entry. 

This illustration shows a path from the entrance to the Special Housing Unit common area to the stairs leading up to Epstein's cell. Only a narrow portion of the staircase could be seen in video released by federal officials. CBS News

Officially, Epstein died by suicide sometime before 6:30 a.m., however nobody has been able to find the actual noose allegedly used. 

Investigators asked what happened to the noose. 

"I don't recall taking the noose off. I really don't," he replied. "I don't recall taking the thing from around his neck."

Noel, who remained standing at the cell entrance, told investigators she saw Thomas lower Epstein to the floor but did not see a noose around his neck.

The noose Epstein allegedly used has never been definitively identified. According to the inspector general's report, a noose collected at the scene was later determined not to be the ligature used in Epstein's death.

This was one of the photos taken at the scene. Cute. 

Other oddities include;

• No Cellmate Assigned: Despite a July 30, 2019, directive from the Psychology Department requiring Epstein to have an "appropriate cellmate" due to suicide risk (emailed to over 70 staff), his cellmate was transferred on August 9 without a replacement. Multiple staff, including the warden and lieutenants, were aware but took no action, violating BOP policy and SHU post orders.

• His former cellmate - Nicholas Tartaglione, who Epstein told his lawyers had "roughed him up," begged a New York judge to move him to another prison after he said guards began threatening him after Epstein's death. He also claimed that James Comey's prosecutor daughter offered Epstein a deal to frame Donald Trump.

Tartaglione was convicted of killing a man he suspected of stealing some $250,000 in drug money, as well as his nephews and a family friend who “were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” prosecutors said, according to the New York Post.

During the month that Epstein was incarcerated before his apparent suicide, Tartaglione claimed in a pardon application that his cellmate had the opportunity to save his skin by throwing the sitting president under the bus.

“Prosecutors … told Epstein that if he said President Trump was involved with Esptein’s crimes he would walk free. in a petition to be pardoned,” according to the Post, which said it had obtained a copy of the filing.

“Epstein told me that Maurene Comey said that he didn’t have to prove anything, as long as President Trump’s people could not disprove it,” the pardon application added.

“According to Maurene Comey, the FBI were ‘her people, not his [President Trump’s].’”

• Unmonitored and Unrecorded Phone Call: On August 9 (around 7 p.m.), Epstein was allowed a 20-minute call from the SHU shower area using a non-inmate system phone, authorized by the unit manager. He claimed it was to his mother (deceased since 2004), but it was actually to a personal associate discussing press, his case, and affection. The call violated BOP policy requiring monitoring, recording, and logging; the manager left midway and instructed no oversight.

• Falsified Records of Inmate Counts and Rounds: SHU staff (including officers Tova Noel and Michael Thomas) falsified over 75 entries on count slips and round sheets. No inmate counts occurred after 4 p.m. on August 9, and no 30-minute rounds after approximately 10:40 p.m. Records were pre-filled or signed without performing duties, with "ghost counting" (using outdated cheat sheets) leading to errors like including transferred inmates.

• No Monitoring or Tier Entries Overnight: Epstein was alone and unmonitored from ~10:40 p.m. on August 9 until discovered at ~6:30 a.m. on August 10. Staff remained at the officers' station, with no entries to his tier (confirmed by available video). A specific sign mandating 30-minute rounds for Epstein was ignored.

• Excess Linens and Safety Hazards in Cell: Epstein's cell contained excess blankets, linens, and clothing (beyond limits of two sheets and one blanket), some ripped into nooses or clotheslines. No cell search was documented on August 9 (shower day, when searches are required), and only one SHU search was logged that day (not his cell). Mattresses and blankets were on the floor, violating housekeeping and security policies. And again, they never found the actual noose allegedly used.

• Security Camera Malfunction: One of the SHU's DVR systems failed on July 29 due to disk issues, stopping recordings (though live feeds continued). It was reported on August 8 but not repaired until after Epstein's death, attributed to staffing shortages. Available footage showed no unauthorized entries, but the failure limited full review.

• Staff Fatigue and Dozing on Duty: Officers worked excessive overtime (e.g., Thomas on a 22-24 hour shift, his third consecutive). Video showed staff idle or appearing asleep between 1-3 a.m. on August 10. Supervisors violated union agreements by assigning extended shifts, contributing to skipped duties.

• Ambiguous Prior Incident (July 23): Epstein was found on the floor with an orange cloth around his neck tied to a bunkbed ladder. It was unclear if it was a suicide attempt or assault by his then-cellmate; investigations were inconclusive, with conflicting statements (Epstein initially claimed assault, later denied memory). He was placed on suicide watch but removed after 31 hours.

So yes, Epstein 'died by apparent suicide' inndeed. 

Tyler Durden Thu, 02/05/2026 - 19:40

Federal Agency Seeks To Investigate Nike For Alleged Bias Against White Employees

Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is seeking a court order for investigating systemic race discrimination allegations against white workers by footwear and apparel corporation Nike Inc., according to a Feb. 4 statement from the agency.

The Nike logo above the entrance to a store in Miami Beach, Fla., on Dec. 21, 2021. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The EEOC filed an action in federal court to compel Nike, headquartered in Oregon, to produce information related to allegations that the company discriminated against white workers as part of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

According to the filing made by EEOC in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, the agency is looking to enforce an administrative subpoena against Nike for failing to submit the required information, which was initially requested in 2024 by then-commissioner, and now chair, Andrea Lucas.

Lucas alleged that Nike, since at least 2020, engaged in “a pattern or practice of disparate treatment against white employees, applicants and training program participants in hiring, promotion, demotion, or separation decisions, including selection for layoffs; internship programs; and mentoring, leadership development and other career development programs.”

EEOC is the sole federal agency that investigates and litigates against companies for violating federal law prohibiting employment discrimination.

In an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, a Nike spokesperson said that this was a “surprising and unusual escalation,” adding that the company had already shared thousands of pages of information with the EEOC, and written detailed responses to inquiries, and is in the process of providing additional information.

“We are committed to fair and lawful employment practices and follow all applicable laws, including those that prohibit discrimination,” the spokesperson said.

Diversity and Inclusion at Nike

According to the diversity, equity, and inclusion page on Nike’s website, the company drives “equitable experiences for all teammates across the employee lifecycle.”

In its fiscal year 2024 “Representation by the Numbers” document published online, Nike said women made up 50.3 percent of the global corporate workforce. As for racial representation, white employees made up 57 percent, with black employees making up 9 percent, Asian 18 percent, and Hispanic 8.8 percent.

Based on Bloomberg data, from 2020 to 2021, Nike showcased the largest amount of change against hiring white workers among large U.S. companies. While the numbers of black, Hispanic, and Asian people went up across the board, Nike let go of white workers, said the analysis.

Kismet Mills is currently Nike’s chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. She assumed the post in 2024.

EEOC will take necessary steps to counter corporate DEI programs that seek to discriminate based on race, Lucas said.

“Title VII’s prohibition of race-based employment discrimination is colorblind and requires the EEOC to protect employees of all races from unlawful employment practices. Thanks to President Trump’s commitment to enforcing our nation’s civil rights laws, the EEOC has renewed its focus on evenhanded enforcement of Title VII,” said Lucas, who was hired by President Donald Trump to head the EEOC in November.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, and sex.

The Trump administration has shown a steadfast opposition to DEI policies, with the president issuing executive orders against the implementation of such policies during his initial days in office.

DEI policies violate civil-rights laws, while undermining national unity, as “they deny, discredit, and undermine the traditional American values of hard work, excellence, and individual achievement in favor of an unlawful, corrosive, and pernicious identity-based spoils system,” said Trump’s Jan. 31 executive order.

In 2024, nonprofit law firm America First Legal filed a federal civil rights complaint with EEOC against Nike alleging racial and sex discrimination in violation of Title VII.

The firm said in a statement at the time that Nike appeared to be using numerical quotas for hiring, training, and promotion. The company aims to have 50 percent of women in the global corporate workforce and 45 percent in leadership positions by 2025, said America First Legal.

Tyler Durden Thu, 02/05/2026 - 19:15

Republicans Demand Inclusion Of SAVE Act In DHS Funding Bill - What To Know

Authored by Joseph Lord & Nathan Worcester via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

After President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a government funding measure to end a partial government shutdown, funding clashes still lie ahead—this time, centered entirely around the contents of a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Feb. 4, 2026. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

Republicans are escalating their calls to include the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act—a bill intended to require voter ID and reduce voter fraud in federal elections—in the final funding package for DHS.

Trump has expressed support for the measure, calling for voter ID laws to be included in the package.

The president has also called for the federal government to “nationalize” or “take over” elections if states cannot run them “legally and honestly.”

Later, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that those comments were an endorsement of passing the SAVE Act.

Senate Democrats—who have demanded sweeping reforms to DHS and its subsidiary Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a condition for their support of the funding legislation—have described this as a non-starter in the upper chamber.

The funding bill signed by Trump finalizes full-year funding for 96 percent of the government, leaving all executive departments except DHS funded until Sept. 30. The funding for DHS, meanwhile, is set to run out on Feb. 13.

The DHS bill was separated from a larger tranche of spending bills after Democrats refused to support it in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis.

Any bill will need 60 votes to clear the Senate—though some House Republicans are calling for weakening or changing the rules around the Senate mechanism to more easily pass the bill.

With both sides digging in on their positions and no clear resolution in sight, the stage is set for a long week in Washington. Here’s what to know.

What Is the SAVE Act?

The SAVE Act was introduced and championed by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), its original sponsor, and other congressional Republicans several times in recent years.

Most recently, the legislation was reintroduced by Roy and passed the House in April 2025. However, it has stalled in a Senate committee.

The bill’s purpose, according to its introduction, is “to require proof of United States citizenship to register an individual to vote in elections for Federal office.”

The bill lists several acceptable documents to verify the citizenship of a would-be voter, including a REAL ID compliant identification, a U.S. passport, a military ID card, or any valid state, federal, or tribal identification, such as a birth certificate, hospital record, or adoption certificate, showing that the individual was born in, or is a naturalized citizen of, the United States.

Roy and other proponents of the legislation say that it’s necessary to respond to a 2013 decision in Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, which found that federal law limiting ID requirements supersedes existing state laws requiring documentary proof to vote—effectively banning states from imposing such requirements for federal voter registration.

House Republicans’ Demands

Conservative House Republicans are leading calls to pass the legislation as a condition of their support for any DHS bill negotiated by Senate Democrats.

Ahead of—and during—the vote to pass the funding measure to end the partial shutdown, there were signs that the issue was becoming a redline for several members of the House Republican conference.

Before the House Rules Committee vote, there were questions about how Roy and Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) would vote, as both have called for the SAVE Act’s inclusion in the legislation.

Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) had indicated before the floor vote that they were considering how they would vote due to the issue. Ultimately, the two were persuaded to support the measure to end the partial shutdown but have continued to call for the SAVE Act’s inclusion in the final package.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) voted against the procedural motion to advance to a floor vote after an amendment to include the legislation failed to pass. Massie ultimately opposed final passage.

During the procedural vote, Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.) joined Massie in blocking passage for nearly an hour over the issue before switching his vote.

The powerful Republican Study Committee (RSC) in the House has called for the bill’s passage.

“American elections should be fair and free, not subject to foreign influence. Illegal aliens have no right to be in America, and they certainly shouldn’t be voting,” said Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas, who’s leading the RSC’s push to pass the bill.

“House Republicans are united behind the SAVE Act. I urge my Senate colleagues to pass this legislation and get it to President Trump’s desk for his signature.”

Schumer Says Measure Is DOA

Democrats have indicated that the inclusion of any such measure would make the bill dead on arrival in the Senate.

“The SAVE Act would impose Jim Crow type laws to the entire country and is dead on arrival in the Senate,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “It is a poison pill that will kill any legislation that it is attached to.

“If House Republicans add the SAVE Act to the bipartisan appropriations package, it will lead to another prolonged Trump government shutdown.”

Schumer said the legislation would “suppress voters,” and that it “seeks to disenfranchise millions of American citizens, seize control of our elections, and fan the flames of election skepticism and denialism.”

The New York lawmaker vowed that Democrats would “go all out to defeat the SAVE Act.”

Whether as part of the DHS funding bill or as a standalone item, the SAVE Act would require the support of at least seven Senate Democrats to clear the upper chamber—support that Democrats have made clear they won’t provide.

What’s Next?

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has promised a vote on the legislation in the Senate, though he didn’t say whether that would be a standalone vote or when it might be held.

“We will get a vote on the SAVE Act at some point,” Thune told reporters at a Tuesday press conference. “I’m not sure exactly what that context will be. Maybe it’s in the context of voting on the DHS bill if something’s agreed upon, but there will be at some point a vote on the SAVE Act.”

As it stands, Congress appears to be at an impasse, with both sides entrenching their position.

Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a leader of GOP negotiations on the funding bill, had little to say about how negotiations currently stand as she left an initial meeting with Senate Democrats on Wednesday.

She told reporters that lawmakers will “need a little bit more time” to “figure out a pathway forward.”

Britt added that Republicans, including Trump, were working in good faith and said that Democratic lawmakers were as well.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a crucial swing vote, was pessimistic when asked about the prospects of a deal being reached before the Feb. 13 deadline.

“It’s really hard, because the time that we’ve given ourselves, this window, it’s so short,” Murkowski told The Epoch Times.

She added that a deal being reached before the deadline is “not impossible, but you’ve got to have willingness on both sides, and you’ve got to have the President really leaning in on these negotiations.”

With no clear way forward in sight, some Republicans—most prominently Luna—have called for the Senate to resurrect the “standing filibuster.”

In contrast to the filibuster system of recent years—handled largely by the use of a procedural cloture vote requiring 60 members’ consent to overcome—the standing filibuster requires members to consistently speak on the Senate floor to continue debate.

Some Republicans have indicated skepticism about such a change.

Asked about Luna’s proposal, Murkowski told The Epoch Times, “That’s not constructive,” saying that such tactics would undermine a “message of optimism” and hope for a bipartisan solution.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) also said he’s broadly opposed to the push.

“​​I’m not really for changing the filibuster, but I am definitely for the SAVE Act,” Paul told The Epoch Times.

*  *  *

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Tyler Durden Thu, 02/05/2026 - 18:25

Uncharted Territory: US & Russia Now Have No Limits On Nuclear Weapons

On Thursday the world woke up entering uncharted territory as the US-Russia New START Nuclear Treaty has expired without renewal. The pact's last active day was February 4.

While there's yet hope that a comparable replacement could soon be forged between the globe's largest nuclear-armed powers and rivals, there are no current intensive talks happening on this front which have a 'legal' status related to international arms control.

Russian state media on Thursday has issued confirmation the last remaining nuclear arms pact between Washington and Moscow has ceased. According to statements in TASS:

The final day of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) falls on February 4, 2026. The United States has not responded to a proposal made by Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2025 to continue observing the treaty’s quantitative limits on warheads and their delivery systems for one more year after its expiration.

The document itself does not provide for another formal extension, as was done in 2021. As a result, beginning on February 5, if no reaction comes from Washington, the last bilateral agreement regulating US-Russia relations in the sphere of strategic stability will become history, Vedomosti writes.

However, Axios on Thursday has for the first time revealed secretive, behind-the-scene last ditch diplomatic efforts to reach at least a tentative understanding, writing that "the and Russia are closing in on a deal to continue to observe the expiring New START arms control treaty beyond its expiration on Thursday, three sources familiar with those talks tell Axios."

United Nations: A photograph of the 1971 Licorne nuclear test, which was conducted in French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean.

Already, President Putin and Russian officials have expressed frustration that the Trump administration didn't seize upon an earlier Kremlin offer to extend the treaty by one year while a longer agreement is worked out.

But a US official has told Axios, "We agreed with Russia to operate in good faith and to start a discussion about ways it could be updated."

"Two of the sources cautioned that the draft plan still needed approval from both presidents," the report continues. "An additional source confirmed that negotiations had been taking place over the past 24 hours in Abu Dhabi, but not that an agreement had been reached."

For now, the sides have an informal understanding to observe New START's terms for another six months. But there's nothing stopping either side at this point from ramping up nuclear expansion.

Meanwhile, a Wednesday statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio gives insight into why the White House has let New START expire: "Obviously, the president's been clear in the past that in order to have true arms control in the 21st century, it's impossible to do something that doesn't include China because of their vast and rapidly growing stockpile." 

This has been a longtime complaint of Trump's, which goes all the way back to his first administration, when similar complaints about the existent framework for arms control were issued.

He said much the same in a fresh Thursday Truth Social post...

Tyler Durden Thu, 02/05/2026 - 18:00

Leftists Put Hits Out On Nick Shirley After He Exposed Massive Somali Fraud In Minnesota

Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,

Nick Shirley, the YouTuber who went viral for exposing alleged Somali-run daycare fraud in Minnesota, has revealed that leftists have put out hits on his life.

In a shocking update, Shirley’s security team informed him he was the “number one man” targeted, forcing him to switch hotels amid fears for his and his family’s safety. This comes after his investigative video highlighted millions in taxpayer funds vanishing into ghost daycares with no children in sight.

Shirley detailed the terrifying backlash in a recent appearance, saying people have sent him photos of bodies in ditches with captions like “that’s going to be you” and openly telling him to “k**l yourself.”

? HOLY CRAP. Nick Shirley reveals his security informed him the left put out HITS against his life — simply because he exposed fraud

Keep him safe at ALL COSTS.

"People have sent me photos of people on ditches saying 'that's going to be you' and people have openly said that… pic.twitter.com/0VzLurMtiG

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 5, 2026

“Now I am getting a little more fearful for what’s happening in my life and what’s happening with life in my family, as you’ve seen not only attacks from like the mainstream media, but more so attacks from just people on the internet saying those things about you and your life,” Shirley stated.

He recounted the hotel incident: “Our second day at the hotel they said that we needed to move hotels because it was our word was out as to where we were staying.”

“And we were told by the security that Nick was the number one man, like they had a hit on me and was what they said,” he added. “So it was very frightening, it was very frightening.”

This escalation follows previous threats where Shirley was warned he’d be “Kirked,” a chilling reference to the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. As we previously reported, Shirley faced doxxing, family harassment, and physical confrontations after his initial video.

The wider scandal has prompted federal action. Federal agents are probing fraud allegations targeting Somali child care providers in Minnesota, with the Trump administration dispatching officers amid concerns over misappropriated funds exceeding $100 million.

A recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing titled “Somali Scammers: Fighting Fraud” featured testimony on the investigation, including bizarre misspellings like “Learing Center” that raised red flags.

Shirley has since hired 24/7 security, noting in interviews that his life has changed dramatically. “Your house gets doxxed, people try hacking your social media accounts, people start calling your family members, and you have to go everywhere with 24/7 security,” he told Fox News. He lamented the hatred pouring in despite performing a “giant public service” by exposing the fraud.

On the flip side, Somali child care providers have reported a spike in harassment and vandalism following the viral video, with unions warning of “internet vigilantes.”

Yet Shirley’s work underscores a deeper issue: unchecked immigration and lax oversight allowing billions in taxpayer dollars to fuel fraud under Democrat governance in Minnesota. With Governor Tim Walz’s administration in the crosshairs, this saga highlights the urgent need for America First policies to protect hard-earned money from being siphoned off.

Shirley’s courage in the face of mortal danger exemplifies the fight against corruption. As threats mount, it’s clear the left will stop at nothing to silence those who dare expose their failures. Protecting whistleblowers like him is essential to reclaiming the nation from fraud and chaos.

Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via Locals or check out our unique merch. Follow us on X @ModernityNews.

Tyler Durden Thu, 02/05/2026 - 17:40

Six-Month Low In Coffee Futs Signals Potential Relief After Beans On Amazon Surge

Tracking a single brand of dark-roast arabica beans on Amazon via the price-tracking website CamelCamelCamel shows that a 2.2-pound bag has nearly doubled in price since August.

For American consumers, paying roughly twice as much for the same bag of coffee beans in just six months is a price shock, even if it is still cheaper than visiting Starbucks daily.

There may finally be some relief in sight. Arabica coffee futures have fallen to a six-month low, raising some hopes that bean prices may have topped out for now.

The most-active New York contract slid to a six-month low on Thursday, falling as much as 2.3% to about $3.10 a pound.

Bloomberg reports this decline was driven by a sharp rebound in exchange inventories, with coffee deliveries doubling over the past two weeks. That restocking has eased fears over near-term supply tightness that previously sent prices surging to nearly $4.5 a pound in 2025.

There is more good news: Favorable weather in Brazil, the world’s top coffee exporter, suggests more supply is near for the next harvest season.

Analysts at investment bank Itaú BBA told clients that traders are closely monitoring weather conditions in Brazil, where forecasts for continued, crop-friendly rains could further improve supply outlooks. If those rains materialize, speculative traders may further unwind bullish positions, adding to the downward pressure on coffee futures.

Tyler Durden Thu, 02/05/2026 - 17:20