"The US Is Catching Up": Competition With China Over DR Congo Minerals Intensifies

After years of near-exclusive control over the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) rich mineral reserves, China now faces growing competition from the United States. Washington is moving aggressively to secure access to cobalt, copper, and lithium—vital for electric vehicles, green energy, and defense technologies, according to the South China Morning Post.

Last year, the US reportedly pressured Kinshasa to block a Chinese acquisition of Chemaf Resources. Now, a US consortium, including firms led by former military executives, has bid for Chemaf’s operations, including the major Mutoshi copper-cobalt project. Bill Gates- and Jeff Bezos-backed KoBold Metals has also signed a deal to explore the Manono lithium deposit, despite a legal dispute with Australia’s AVZ Minerals.

These moves follow a US-brokered “minerals-for-security” agreement between the DRC and Rwanda aimed at stabilizing eastern Congo. In return, American companies gain mineral access.

Joseph Cihunda, a law professor at the University of Kinshasa, said the Congolese government is trying to avoid becoming a battleground between global powers. “Even in Congolese public opinion, they do not want such a confrontation,” he noted. President Félix Tshisekedi recently met with Chinese officials to reassure them of continued cooperation.

“Minerals are abundant in the DR Congo and there is room for everyone, American, European and Chinese,” Cihunda added.

SCMP writes that China remains deeply embedded in the DRC mining sector. Its ambassador to Kinshasa, Zhao Bin, rejected claims Beijing had neglected Congo, saying: “We have neither treated the DR Congo as a bargaining chip nor imposed any discriminatory measures against it.” Zhao emphasized China’s “non-interference” policy and its practical support, from military aid to economic assistance.

Analysts say the US is now trying to catch up. Sun Yun of the Stimson Center said, “The US is catching up on its critical mineral vulnerability and it will have to vigorously push for more assets and security in its supply chain.”

Much of the competition centers on cobalt—of which the DRC supplies roughly 70% of the global total—as well as copper, lithium, and other key metals. Western companies ceded many assets to Chinese control in past years, including Freeport-McMoRan’s sale of Tenke Fungurume and Kisanfu to China Molybdenum in 2016 and 2020.

Chris Berry of House Mountain Partners said US policy on minerals has shifted from environmental goals to security priorities: “Rather than a focus on ESG or ‘green growth’ the focus is now on national defence and self-sufficiency in critical mineral access.” He expects US companies to be “much more aggressive in deal making” as they compete with China.

Tyler Durden Tue, 07/29/2025 - 18:50

Dear New Yorkers: Consider Moving To Dallas, TX

Authored by Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson via RealClearPolitics,

The rise of socialist New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has highlighted a fundamental truth that I learned as a former Democratic elected official: the Democratic Party never learns.

Sure, Democrats occasionally pay lip service to law and order and economic opportunity. But before I announced two years ago that I was officially renouncing my Democratic ties and becoming the only Republican mayor to lead a top 10 American city, I saw over and over again that when given the choice between effective, common-sense growth-focused governance or the fever dreams of radicals – high taxes, burdensome regulations, and hostility toward law enforcement – the Democratic Party will consistently run to the left and jump off the deep end.

In the end, Democrats are content to make cities unaffordable, unlivable, and untenable for businesses – driving out the very people who make cities vibrant. America’s cities deserve better leadership that is grounded in public safety, fiscal responsibility, and a respect for their taxpayers.

New York’s Democratic primary could have been about who represents these fundamental values, and about who could bring competence to city leadership. Instead, Mamdani’s nomination sends a clear message about where the modern Democratic Party intends to take our nation’s largest city. The entrepreneurial spirit, hardworking families, and vibrant communities that made New York great are now cast as the villains in a never-ending story of victimhood.

Just take a look at some of Mamdani’s radical comments and ridiculous policy proposals. Mamdani has publicly called on “defunding” and “dismantling” the police on numerous occasions. He wants to increase New York’s already high taxes to the point where it will drive more businesses and job creators out. He even wants to harken back to the days of the Soviet Union and establish government-owned grocery stores.

Should he be elected the next mayor, Mamdani would move New York toward failed socialist policies under which the government dictates outcomes rather than creating an environment that allows people and businesses to thrive. It’s a vision of a city government you would expect from undergraduate freshmen, not from supposedly serious adults. It’s insanity.

That’s why I recently invited New Yorkers who are concerned about this trajectory to consider Dallas. My invitation wasn’t a stunt. We’ve declared ourselves as America’s first “Sanctuary City from Socialism” for a reason, and we’re ready to welcome anyone who wants to be a part of it.

Since I’ve been in office, we’ve lowered property tax rates by record amounts and embraced a “Build Baby Build” approach when it comes to housing. We’re empowering the private sector by slashing regulations to meet the demand for housing, reducing the median time to issue a residential building permit from 68 days to just eight days.

We also prioritize public safety. We don’t demonize law enforcement. We fund them, we thank them, and we stand with them. As a result, Dallas has now experienced a remarkable four straight years of violent crime reduction.

We also understand that thriving businesses create jobs and generate tax revenue that allows us to invest in public safety, infrastructure, world-class parks, and essential services. In Dallas, we embrace innovation, entrepreneurship, and the free market as forces for good.

It’s no coincidence that Dallas has become the top destination for corporate headquarters relocations and is emerging as America’s new financial capital. We don’t just talk about opportunity, we build it. Whether it’s Goldman Sachs investing half a billion dollars for a landmark campus for 5,000 professionals or the Texas Stock Exchange getting ready to launch in 2026, Dallas is leading a new era of competition and innovation in American finance.

Business leaders across the country are watching, and they’re telling me the same thing: If New York chooses this unadulterated socialism, they’re ready to bring their jobs, their talent, and their investment to Dallas.

I get it: Leaving a place you love isn’t an easy decision. However, I also know that a city with leadership that refuses to embrace a focus on the basics – such as keeping people safe, keeping taxes reasonable, and keeping the government focused on results – makes it harder for families and companies to stay.

If you’re a New Yorker who feels like your city is slipping away from the values that once made it great, know that you’re not alone, and you have options – a concept you won’t find in your new government-owned grocery store.

Eric Johnson is the mayor of Dallas, Texas.

Tyler Durden Tue, 07/29/2025 - 18:25

Dear New Yorkers: Consider Moving To Dallas, TX

Authored by Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson via RealClearPolitics,

The rise of socialist New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has highlighted a fundamental truth that I learned as a former Democratic elected official: the Democratic Party never learns.

Sure, Democrats occasionally pay lip service to law and order and economic opportunity. But before I announced two years ago that I was officially renouncing my Democratic ties and becoming the only Republican mayor to lead a top 10 American city, I saw over and over again that when given the choice between effective, common-sense growth-focused governance or the fever dreams of radicals – high taxes, burdensome regulations, and hostility toward law enforcement – the Democratic Party will consistently run to the left and jump off the deep end.

In the end, Democrats are content to make cities unaffordable, unlivable, and untenable for businesses – driving out the very people who make cities vibrant. America’s cities deserve better leadership that is grounded in public safety, fiscal responsibility, and a respect for their taxpayers.

New York’s Democratic primary could have been about who represents these fundamental values, and about who could bring competence to city leadership. Instead, Mamdani’s nomination sends a clear message about where the modern Democratic Party intends to take our nation’s largest city. The entrepreneurial spirit, hardworking families, and vibrant communities that made New York great are now cast as the villains in a never-ending story of victimhood.

Just take a look at some of Mamdani’s radical comments and ridiculous policy proposals. Mamdani has publicly called on “defunding” and “dismantling” the police on numerous occasions. He wants to increase New York’s already high taxes to the point where it will drive more businesses and job creators out. He even wants to harken back to the days of the Soviet Union and establish government-owned grocery stores.

Should he be elected the next mayor, Mamdani would move New York toward failed socialist policies under which the government dictates outcomes rather than creating an environment that allows people and businesses to thrive. It’s a vision of a city government you would expect from undergraduate freshmen, not from supposedly serious adults. It’s insanity.

That’s why I recently invited New Yorkers who are concerned about this trajectory to consider Dallas. My invitation wasn’t a stunt. We’ve declared ourselves as America’s first “Sanctuary City from Socialism” for a reason, and we’re ready to welcome anyone who wants to be a part of it.

Since I’ve been in office, we’ve lowered property tax rates by record amounts and embraced a “Build Baby Build” approach when it comes to housing. We’re empowering the private sector by slashing regulations to meet the demand for housing, reducing the median time to issue a residential building permit from 68 days to just eight days.

We also prioritize public safety. We don’t demonize law enforcement. We fund them, we thank them, and we stand with them. As a result, Dallas has now experienced a remarkable four straight years of violent crime reduction.

We also understand that thriving businesses create jobs and generate tax revenue that allows us to invest in public safety, infrastructure, world-class parks, and essential services. In Dallas, we embrace innovation, entrepreneurship, and the free market as forces for good.

It’s no coincidence that Dallas has become the top destination for corporate headquarters relocations and is emerging as America’s new financial capital. We don’t just talk about opportunity, we build it. Whether it’s Goldman Sachs investing half a billion dollars for a landmark campus for 5,000 professionals or the Texas Stock Exchange getting ready to launch in 2026, Dallas is leading a new era of competition and innovation in American finance.

Business leaders across the country are watching, and they’re telling me the same thing: If New York chooses this unadulterated socialism, they’re ready to bring their jobs, their talent, and their investment to Dallas.

I get it: Leaving a place you love isn’t an easy decision. However, I also know that a city with leadership that refuses to embrace a focus on the basics – such as keeping people safe, keeping taxes reasonable, and keeping the government focused on results – makes it harder for families and companies to stay.

If you’re a New Yorker who feels like your city is slipping away from the values that once made it great, know that you’re not alone, and you have options – a concept you won’t find in your new government-owned grocery store.

Eric Johnson is the mayor of Dallas, Texas.

Tyler Durden Tue, 07/29/2025 - 18:25

Goldman Reaffirms "Cautious View" On Gov't IT & Services Coverage Amid Ongoing DOGE Cuts

Six months ago, Goldman Sachs analysts sounded the alarm with a "cautious view" on Government IT & Services, as Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) strike teams began slashing bloated federal contracts. Now, with billions of dollars in cancellations piling up, especially across consulting programs, those same analysts are continuing their bearish stance, warning that pain for government contractors is not over. 

A team of Goldman analyst led by Noah Poponak stated that the DOGE website now shows "41 new contract changes with $1.2bn in reported savings across our coverage," adding, "Of the 41 changes, 26 of them are from the Department of Defense (DoD), accounting for ~$1.1bn (90%) of the new reported savings." 

Those savings materialized between the June and July updates on DOGE's website. Savings include:

• CACI International: $700mn in savings were reported for the revised portion of a large Enterprise IT as a Service contract. The contract's FPDS page indicates there was $0 of action obligation remaining for the contract, but it is unclear if the remaining value was canceled or only a portion of a ceiling was changed, given this was a $5.7bn / 10 year program that started in 2022.

• Booz Allen Hamilton: 21 additional BAH contracts totaling $216mn in reported savings were logged over the last month

Across Goldman's Government IT & Services and Defense coverage, these are the latest DOGE impacts on a company-by-company basis:

DOGE impact so far on a federal agency basis:

Canceled Contracts (with a value greater than $0) by federal agency:

In early July, Poponak pointed out that DOGE's contract cancellations at DoD were beginning to ramp up.

Deep Staters On Edge As DOGE's DoD Strike Team Hits Pentagon With Sweeping Contract Cuts https://t.co/7u6nYbHyLQ

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) July 9, 2025

The good news for DOGE's mission is that some of its spending cuts are now being codified into law. However, both Trump and GOP lawmakers have been surprisingly slow to accelerate and sign off on these measures. While Trump did sign a rescissions bill last week targeting funding for USAID, NPR, and PBS, the pace must go into high gear. Without a more aggressive push to dismantle the bloated federal bureaucracy, it risks consuming this administration from within.

Tyler Durden Tue, 07/29/2025 - 18:00

Goldman Reaffirms "Cautious View" On Gov't IT & Services Coverage Amid Ongoing DOGE Cuts

Six months ago, Goldman Sachs analysts sounded the alarm with a "cautious view" on Government IT & Services, as Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) strike teams began slashing bloated federal contracts. Now, with billions of dollars in cancellations piling up, especially across consulting programs, those same analysts are continuing their bearish stance, warning that pain for government contractors is not over. 

A team of Goldman analyst led by Noah Poponak stated that the DOGE website now shows "41 new contract changes with $1.2bn in reported savings across our coverage," adding, "Of the 41 changes, 26 of them are from the Department of Defense (DoD), accounting for ~$1.1bn (90%) of the new reported savings." 

Those savings materialized between the June and July updates on DOGE's website. Savings include:

• CACI International: $700mn in savings were reported for the revised portion of a large Enterprise IT as a Service contract. The contract's FPDS page indicates there was $0 of action obligation remaining for the contract, but it is unclear if the remaining value was canceled or only a portion of a ceiling was changed, given this was a $5.7bn / 10 year program that started in 2022.

• Booz Allen Hamilton: 21 additional BAH contracts totaling $216mn in reported savings were logged over the last month

Across Goldman's Government IT & Services and Defense coverage, these are the latest DOGE impacts on a company-by-company basis:

DOGE impact so far on a federal agency basis:

Canceled Contracts (with a value greater than $0) by federal agency:

In early July, Poponak pointed out that DOGE's contract cancellations at DoD were beginning to ramp up.

Deep Staters On Edge As DOGE's DoD Strike Team Hits Pentagon With Sweeping Contract Cuts https://t.co/7u6nYbHyLQ

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) July 9, 2025

The good news for DOGE's mission is that some of its spending cuts are now being codified into law. However, both Trump and GOP lawmakers have been surprisingly slow to accelerate and sign off on these measures. While Trump did sign a rescissions bill last week targeting funding for USAID, NPR, and PBS, the pace must go into high gear. Without a more aggressive push to dismantle the bloated federal bureaucracy, it risks consuming this administration from within.

Tyler Durden Tue, 07/29/2025 - 18:00

The MAHA Priority Pursued By Lawmakers On Both Sides Of The Aisle

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

WASHINGTON—The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda has helped shape the second Trump administration, with early actions targeting mercury in vaccines, artificial food dyes, and ultra-processed foods.

The U.S. Capitol in Washington on July 14, 2025. Despite the Supreme Court’s 2002 ruling in favor of drug advertising, some lawmakers are seeking to ban the practice. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

That’s thanks in large part to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who dropped out of the presidential race in August 2024 and joined forces with then-presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump.

Kennedy stressed one notable MAHA agenda item just two days before Election Day.

On Nov. 3, 2024, he asked voters to support Trump “so we can ban pharmaceutical advertising"—such as the commercials for brand-name drugs that pepper many networks.

The United States consumes more prescription drugs than any country in the world and spends nearly twice as much for them as all other nations combined, according to a Rand report.

For now, independent and Democratic senators are leading the legislative charge to eliminate direct-to-consumer drug ads, including on social media, with House Democrats following with a parallel bill.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has voiced openness to his Senate colleagues’ proposal. The Missourian is also part of a bipartisan effort to get rid of tax deductions drug companies use for promotions.

Though some legislators are enthusiastic, past court decisions might throw up roadblocks—any sturdy leash on Big Pharma’s marketing could get tangled on the First Amendment.

MAHA Versus Commercial Speech

Critics of direct-to-consumer drug advertising, including Kennedy, have long pointed out that the practice is rare around the world. It is only allowed in the United States and New Zealand.

In May, the MAHA Commission released a report on childhood chronic disease that raised concerns about pharmaceutical ad campaigns aimed at everyday Americans. It suggested they encourage “a notable level of reliance on the industry by those that benefit financially.”

The report also highlighted medical publications that have linked those advertisements to the over-diagnosis of disease and the overuse of drugs, including by children.

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary holds up carrot juice, an alternative to synthetic food dyes, in Washington on April 22, 2025. Nathan Worcester/The Epoch Times

By 2023, Americans were consuming more than 210 billion daily doses of medication, data from analytics company IQVIA show.

Dr. Marty Makary, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said in April that “we don’t have any plans to ban direct-to-consumer advertising.”

“There are some things we can do to make sure that the information being presented is a complete picture,” he added.

Legal precedent could make it difficult to eliminate such advertisements. Corporations, including drug companies, have wide latitude for commercial speech in the United States.

In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled that a federal law restricting advertisements for certain drugs ran afoul of the First Amendment.

About a decade later, it struck down a Vermont law banning the sale of prescription drug users’ data for drug marketing, again on free speech grounds.

Sanders, King, Shaheen, and Hawley

Despite the Supreme Court’s record, some lawmakers want to bring the issue to a head.

In June, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Angus King (I-Maine), independents who caucus with the Democrats, unveiled the End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act.

The measure would alter the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to define all direct-to-consumer advertising as misbranding, thereby banning it.

“This bill is a great step to ensure that patients are getting the best information possible and from the right source: their providers and not biased advertisements,” King said in a statement on the bill.

The senators attracted five Democrats as cosponsors: Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

It is now in the Senate’s health committee, where Sanders is the ranking member. Sanders’ office did not respond to requests for comment by publication time.

On July 21, King told The Epoch Times he was unaware of any Republicans in the Senate who supported the proposal.

(Top Left) Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) listens to testimony on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 27, 2022. King and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act to classify all direct-to-consumer drug ads as misbranding, effectively banning them. (Top Right) Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 14, 2025. (Bottom Left) Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Miss.) speaks during a confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 13, 2025. (Bottom Right) Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 19, 2023. In May, Hawley and Shaheen introduced the No Handouts for Drug Advertisements Act. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times, Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

That same day, Hawley, a Republican who has carved out a reputation as an economic populist, said he was receptive to the bill.

“I haven’t read Bernie’s bill, but it sounds very complementary to me,” he told The Epoch Times.

He suggested that it paired well with one of his own bills, one that targets pharmaceutical ads in a way that Kennedy has also highlighted.

In May, Hawley and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced the No Handouts for Drug Advertisements Act.

Under current law, drug companies can claim tax deductions for ads for both compounded medications—drugs combined or otherwise customized to individual patients—and prescription drugs. Hawley and Shaheen’s proposal would make that impossible.

“HHS Secretary RFK Jr. has made it clear that he wants to ban prescription drug commercials, and I’m proud to introduce legislation to do just that,” Hawley said in a statement on the bill.

Like Sanders and King’s bill, it is awaiting action in a committee—in this case, the Committee on Finance.

Interest Grows in the House

Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), a medical doctor, introduced a House version of Hawley and Shaheen’s bill in April. It, too, was referred to that chamber’s finance committee.

Read the rest here...

Tyler Durden Tue, 07/29/2025 - 17:40

The MAHA Priority Pursued By Lawmakers On Both Sides Of The Aisle

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

WASHINGTON—The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda has helped shape the second Trump administration, with early actions targeting mercury in vaccines, artificial food dyes, and ultra-processed foods.

The U.S. Capitol in Washington on July 14, 2025. Despite the Supreme Court’s 2002 ruling in favor of drug advertising, some lawmakers are seeking to ban the practice. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

That’s thanks in large part to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who dropped out of the presidential race in August 2024 and joined forces with then-presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump.

Kennedy stressed one notable MAHA agenda item just two days before Election Day.

On Nov. 3, 2024, he asked voters to support Trump “so we can ban pharmaceutical advertising"—such as the commercials for brand-name drugs that pepper many networks.

The United States consumes more prescription drugs than any country in the world and spends nearly twice as much for them as all other nations combined, according to a Rand report.

For now, independent and Democratic senators are leading the legislative charge to eliminate direct-to-consumer drug ads, including on social media, with House Democrats following with a parallel bill.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has voiced openness to his Senate colleagues’ proposal. The Missourian is also part of a bipartisan effort to get rid of tax deductions drug companies use for promotions.

Though some legislators are enthusiastic, past court decisions might throw up roadblocks—any sturdy leash on Big Pharma’s marketing could get tangled on the First Amendment.

MAHA Versus Commercial Speech

Critics of direct-to-consumer drug advertising, including Kennedy, have long pointed out that the practice is rare around the world. It is only allowed in the United States and New Zealand.

In May, the MAHA Commission released a report on childhood chronic disease that raised concerns about pharmaceutical ad campaigns aimed at everyday Americans. It suggested they encourage “a notable level of reliance on the industry by those that benefit financially.”

The report also highlighted medical publications that have linked those advertisements to the over-diagnosis of disease and the overuse of drugs, including by children.

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary holds up carrot juice, an alternative to synthetic food dyes, in Washington on April 22, 2025. Nathan Worcester/The Epoch Times

By 2023, Americans were consuming more than 210 billion daily doses of medication, data from analytics company IQVIA show.

Dr. Marty Makary, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said in April that “we don’t have any plans to ban direct-to-consumer advertising.”

“There are some things we can do to make sure that the information being presented is a complete picture,” he added.

Legal precedent could make it difficult to eliminate such advertisements. Corporations, including drug companies, have wide latitude for commercial speech in the United States.

In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled that a federal law restricting advertisements for certain drugs ran afoul of the First Amendment.

About a decade later, it struck down a Vermont law banning the sale of prescription drug users’ data for drug marketing, again on free speech grounds.

Sanders, King, Shaheen, and Hawley

Despite the Supreme Court’s record, some lawmakers want to bring the issue to a head.

In June, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Angus King (I-Maine), independents who caucus with the Democrats, unveiled the End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act.

The measure would alter the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to define all direct-to-consumer advertising as misbranding, thereby banning it.

“This bill is a great step to ensure that patients are getting the best information possible and from the right source: their providers and not biased advertisements,” King said in a statement on the bill.

The senators attracted five Democrats as cosponsors: Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

It is now in the Senate’s health committee, where Sanders is the ranking member. Sanders’ office did not respond to requests for comment by publication time.

On July 21, King told The Epoch Times he was unaware of any Republicans in the Senate who supported the proposal.

(Top Left) Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) listens to testimony on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 27, 2022. King and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act to classify all direct-to-consumer drug ads as misbranding, effectively banning them. (Top Right) Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 14, 2025. (Bottom Left) Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Miss.) speaks during a confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 13, 2025. (Bottom Right) Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 19, 2023. In May, Hawley and Shaheen introduced the No Handouts for Drug Advertisements Act. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times, Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

That same day, Hawley, a Republican who has carved out a reputation as an economic populist, said he was receptive to the bill.

“I haven’t read Bernie’s bill, but it sounds very complementary to me,” he told The Epoch Times.

He suggested that it paired well with one of his own bills, one that targets pharmaceutical ads in a way that Kennedy has also highlighted.

In May, Hawley and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced the No Handouts for Drug Advertisements Act.

Under current law, drug companies can claim tax deductions for ads for both compounded medications—drugs combined or otherwise customized to individual patients—and prescription drugs. Hawley and Shaheen’s proposal would make that impossible.

“HHS Secretary RFK Jr. has made it clear that he wants to ban prescription drug commercials, and I’m proud to introduce legislation to do just that,” Hawley said in a statement on the bill.

Like Sanders and King’s bill, it is awaiting action in a committee—in this case, the Committee on Finance.

Interest Grows in the House

Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), a medical doctor, introduced a House version of Hawley and Shaheen’s bill in April. It, too, was referred to that chamber’s finance committee.

Read the rest here...

Tyler Durden Tue, 07/29/2025 - 17:40

Top Monk At Shaolin Temple Ousted After Sexual Misconduct, Financial Crime Scandal

China has appointed Shi Yinle, former abbot of White Horse Temple, as the new head of the Shaolin Temple—just two days after the monastery confirmed that longtime abbot Shi Yongxin was under investigation for alleged financial crimes and sexual misconduct, according to the South China Morning Post.

“In accordance with the regulations on the appointment of abbots of Chinese Buddhist Temples, after democratic evaluation and approval by the Shaolin Temple and following the relevant procedures, Venerable Yinle was invited to be the abbot of the Shaolin Temple,” the temple said Tuesday.

Shi Yongxin, who led Shaolin for over 25 years, has been stripped of his Buddhist credentials, and companies linked to him have been deregistered. The Buddhist Association of China condemned his actions as “severely damaging to the reputation of Buddhism and the image of monks” and confirmed that his ordination certificate was revoked.

Photo: SCMP

The Shaolin Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Henan and birthplace of Zen Buddhism and Shaolin kung fu, announced that Yongxin was accused of embezzling temple funds, misusing assets, and maintaining long-term improper relationships with multiple women, fathering children in violation of monastic vows.

The SCMP writes that on Tuesday, the abbot’s courtyard was sealed off for “cultural relic preservation,” and an inscription honoring Yongxin’s leadership was covered. Locals criticized the disgraced abbot as a “playboy monk” who “tarnished the image of Buddhism.”

Shi Yinle, born in Henan’s Tongbai county in 1966, was ordained at 16 and studied at the Chinese Buddhist Academy. After joining the Henan Provincial Buddhist Association, he began serving at White Horse Temple in 2003 and became abbot in 2005. He has traveled abroad to promote Buddhism and foster cultural exchanges, and he currently serves as a deputy to the 2023–28 National People’s Congress.

Despite the scandal, the Shaolin Temple remained crowded with tourists this week. A local taxi driver noted that while “being a monk is just a profession” and the temple is “at the very least, still a tourist attraction,” the investigation into Yongxin was “only natural” given long-standing rumors.

Tyler Durden Tue, 07/29/2025 - 17:20

Top Monk At Shaolin Temple Ousted After Sexual Misconduct, Financial Crime Scandal

China has appointed Shi Yinle, former abbot of White Horse Temple, as the new head of the Shaolin Temple—just two days after the monastery confirmed that longtime abbot Shi Yongxin was under investigation for alleged financial crimes and sexual misconduct, according to the South China Morning Post.

“In accordance with the regulations on the appointment of abbots of Chinese Buddhist Temples, after democratic evaluation and approval by the Shaolin Temple and following the relevant procedures, Venerable Yinle was invited to be the abbot of the Shaolin Temple,” the temple said Tuesday.

Shi Yongxin, who led Shaolin for over 25 years, has been stripped of his Buddhist credentials, and companies linked to him have been deregistered. The Buddhist Association of China condemned his actions as “severely damaging to the reputation of Buddhism and the image of monks” and confirmed that his ordination certificate was revoked.

Photo: SCMP

The Shaolin Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Henan and birthplace of Zen Buddhism and Shaolin kung fu, announced that Yongxin was accused of embezzling temple funds, misusing assets, and maintaining long-term improper relationships with multiple women, fathering children in violation of monastic vows.

The SCMP writes that on Tuesday, the abbot’s courtyard was sealed off for “cultural relic preservation,” and an inscription honoring Yongxin’s leadership was covered. Locals criticized the disgraced abbot as a “playboy monk” who “tarnished the image of Buddhism.”

Shi Yinle, born in Henan’s Tongbai county in 1966, was ordained at 16 and studied at the Chinese Buddhist Academy. After joining the Henan Provincial Buddhist Association, he began serving at White Horse Temple in 2003 and became abbot in 2005. He has traveled abroad to promote Buddhism and foster cultural exchanges, and he currently serves as a deputy to the 2023–28 National People’s Congress.

Despite the scandal, the Shaolin Temple remained crowded with tourists this week. A local taxi driver noted that while “being a monk is just a profession” and the temple is “at the very least, still a tourist attraction,” the investigation into Yongxin was “only natural” given long-standing rumors.

Tyler Durden Tue, 07/29/2025 - 17:20