Individual Economists

'The View' Host Declares Violence Against ICE Agents Is Part Of A Justified "Reckoning"

Zero Hedge -

'The View' Host Declares Violence Against ICE Agents Is Part Of A Justified "Reckoning"

Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,

Sunny Hostin of ABC’s infernal women’s gossip show turned TDS rage-fest, ‘The View’ intimated Friday that it is excusable for deranged leftists to violently attack ICE agents. 

In another frothing rant, Hostin appeared to be proclaiming that because ICE agents are wearing masks during raids to arrest illegal aliens, it’s somehow justifiable to attack them.

“If you mask yourself because you don’t want to be seen, there will be a reckoning for some of the actions law enforcement have done,” Hostin declared.

Hold on, masks are bad again now?

It’s difficult to keep up with their deranged mindgarble.

As we highlighted yesterday, during a raid on a marijuana farm manned by illegal aliens, and illegal alien children (yes really) a ‘protester’ near Camarillo pulled a gun on ICE agents.

This came following an attempted ambush on ICE in Texas by leftist terrorists intending to murder the agents.

Anyway, back to Hostin…

Imagine the screech parade if federal agents start to take more direct action against terrorists and criminals threatening their lives.

*  *  *

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 Mon, 07/14/2025 - 07:20

"Don't Have To Worry": Nvidia CEO Says China's Army Won't Rely On U.S. AI Chips

Zero Hedge -

"Don't Have To Worry": Nvidia CEO Says China's Army Won't Rely On U.S. AI Chips

In an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang argued that, just as the internet was designed and built by American technology, so too should artificial intelligence be shaped by it globally. He emphasized the need to reopen markets where Nvidia's advanced chips are currently banned, such as China.

Zakaria asked Huang: "But what if, in doing that, you are also providing the Chinese military and Chinese intelligence with the capacity to supercharge, turbocharge their weapons with the very best American chips?" 

CNN's Fareed Zakaria speaks with Jensen Huang. Source: CNN

Huang replied, "We don't have to worry about that, because the Chinese military, no different than the US military, won't seek each other's technology out to build critical systems."

"It could be limited at any time; not to mention, there's plenty of computing capacity in China already," he said, adding, "They don't need Nvidia's chips, certainly, or American tech stacks in order to build their military." 

Huang's remarks follow years of bipartisan U.S. policy imposing trade restrictions on Nvidia's advanced AI chips to China. He argued that these export controls have been counterproductive, accelerating China's own AI chip ambitions. Huang contended that U.S. tech leadership means ensuring global AI systems are built on the American tech stack, rather than Chinese technology... 

"We want the American tech stack to be the global standard ... in order for us to do that, we have to be in search of all the AI developers in the world," Huang said, noting that about half of the world's AI developers are based in China. 

Huang's CNN interview comes just days after he met with President Trump at the White House late last week, and plans a scheduled trip to Beijing to meet with senior Chinese officials and attend the International Supply Chain Expo. 

Huang has been vocal in recent months about the combined impact of the Biden-Harris regime and the Trump-Vance administration's export restrictions on advanced AI chips to China. In May, he told investors, "The $50 billion China market is effectively closed to U.S. industry."

However, the Trump team cancelled a planned rule by former President Joe Biden called the "AI diffusion rule," promising fewer restrictions later this year on which countries could receive Nvidia's advanced AI chips.

"The world is right now hungry, anxious to engage AI," Huang previously said, adding, "Let us get the American AI out in front of everybody right now."

Last week, Nvidia became the first company to close a trading day with a market cap over $4 trillion... This was a symbolic milestone for capital markets and the current bull cycle.

Huang is walking a very fine line between Washington and Beijing as he seeks to preserve Nvidia's global market access. The real question is whether China hawks in the White House will ever allow Beijing unrestricted access to Nvidia's AI chips—something that seems increasingly unlikely.

Tyler Durden Mon, 07/14/2025 - 06:55

10 Monday AM Reads

The Big Picture -

My morning train WFH reads:

How to invest your enormous inheritance: What do you stand to inherit? It still feels like a question from a different age, despite its growing importance today. In 2025 people across the rich world will inherit some $6trn, or around 10% of GDP — a figure that has climbed sharply in recent decades. French bequests have doubled as a share of national output since the 1960s; those in Germany have tripled since the 1970s; Italian inheritances are now worth around 20% of GDP (The Economist via Elm)

Once-in-a-Generation Copper Trade Upends a $250 Billion Market: The Aug. 1 deadline for Trump’s 50% copper tariffs signals the endgame for the most profitable trade that industry veterans say they have ever seen. (Bloomberg) see also Copper Fever Is Here. What to Know: The commodity’s price is near a record high because of Trump’s trade war. It might be wise for investors to wait for a dip before easing in. (Barron’s) see also The US Has More Copper Than China But No Way to Refine All of It: The industry will need to overcome high energy and labor costs, environmental regulations and a glut of cheap Chinese competition to make US copper smelting great again. (Businessweek)

How a Reddit Rallying Cry Helped Amateur Traders Win in the Market: Individual investors were the ones who piled into stocks when they plunged in early April, while big Wall Street institutions missed out on the gains. (New York Times)

Eye on the Market Outlook 2025. With questions about deregulation, deportations, tariffs, tax cuts, cost cutting…what could possibly go wrong? Chairman of Market and Investment Strategy Michael Cembalest guides us through the 2025 investment landscape, from AI to the nuclear renaissance, to crypto and beyond—and shares his Top Ten list for the new year. (JPMorgan)

How Crypto Lobbying Won Over a President: The ‘Trump Pump’: The industry’s courtship of Donald J. Trump resulted in one of the great lobbying free-for-alls in recent Washington history. (New York Times)

Can Americans Just Stop Building New Highways? A new book argues that the expansion of the US roadway network has exacted social and environmental costs that far outweigh the benefits. (Bloomberg)

Trump’s Unsung Economic Booster: Deregulation: Nuclear power exemplifies how revamping dated and onerous rules could kick-start investment and innovation. (Wall Street Journal) but see Trump quietly claimed a power even King George wasn’t allowed to have: A truly scary new revelation about Trump’s effort to circumvent the TikTok ban. (Vox)

How the Binding of Two Brain Molecules Creates Memories That Last a Lifetime: An interaction between two proteins points to a molecular basis for memory. But how do memories last when the molecules that form them turn over within days, weeks, or months? (Wired)

Galloway: ICE Age: President Trump is no longer fighting inflation, China, or AI. Instead, he’s declared war on a manufactured threat: the “enemy within” — immigrants, journalists, and professors. Our biggest threat, apparently, isn’t Russian aggression or economic inequality; it’s your Uber driver or anthropology professor. This is not only cruel (and depraved) but stupid, as the chill being cast across the agriculture, services, and construction sectors will likely be more inflationary than the tariffs (more stupidity). Trump’s goal is to deport 4 million undocumented people over four years — that’s about 3% of the U.S. workforce; 10% to 15% in several sectors dependent on immigrant labor.(No Mercy / No Malice)

Meet the Robot Using AI to Ink Your Next Tattoo: The startup Blackdot has installed a first-of-its-kind tattoo device in New York City and Austin. But will the customers come? (Wall Street Journal)

The Biggest-Ever Digital Camera Is This Cosmologist’s Magnum Opus: Tony Tyson’s cameras revealed the universe’s dark contents. Now, with the Rubin Observatory’s 3.2-billion-pixel camera, he’s ready to study dark matter and dark energy in unprecedented detail. (Quanta)

Be sure to check out our Masters in Business next week with Richard Bernstein, founder of RBA. The firm focuses on Macro trends, and manages (or advises on) $15.7B AUM. Previously, he was Chief Investment Strategist at Merrill Lynch from 1988-2009. Bernstein was named to Institutional Investor’s “All-America Research Team” 18X, and inducted into the Institutional Investor “Hall of Fame.”


S&P500 gained 1,170% since March 2009 lows, despite 30 corrections >5%

Source: Peter Mallouk

 

Sign up for our reads-only mailing list here.

 

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

DoE Authorizes Exxon To Tap SPR To Avert Refinery Disruptions

Zero Hedge -

DoE Authorizes Exxon To Tap SPR To Avert Refinery Disruptions

As Trump officials signal plans to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)—drained under the Biden-Harris regime—a new report reveals that ExxonMobil has begun drawing from the SPR due to contaminated crude supplies from offshore rigs in the Gulf of America to avoid refinery outages.

Bloomberg reports Exxon is borrowing up to 1 million barrels of crude from the SPR due to quality issues with Mars crude — a Gulf of America oil grade contaminated with high levels of zinc, which can damage refinery equipment. 

According to sources, Exxon has been forced to reduce production at its Baton Rouge refinery and attempt to resell Mars crude cargoes in the spot market.

Here's more from Bloomberg:

The quality issue has forced the refinery cuts at Exxon's facility in Baton Rouge, one of the people said. And the company is now trying to resell cargoes of Mars crude in the spot market, the people said.

The oil, which is typically used by Exxon's roughly 520,000 barrel-a-day Baton Rouge refinery, is for delivery this month at the St. James terminal, a major storage hub in the Pelican state, the people said.

On Friday, the Department of Energy (DoE) confirmed a SPR loan of up to 1 million barrels was made to Exxon due to its "logistical challenges impacting crude oil deliveries to the company's Baton Rouge refinery." 

DoE provided more details about the situation:

Under the exchange agreement, DOE will provide up to 1 million barrels of crude oil from the SPR. The exchange will support ExxonMobil's restoration of refinery operations that were reduced due to an offshore supply disruption. ExxonMobil will return the borrowed crude along with additional barrels of crude oil for the SPR at no cost to the taxpayer.

The Department remains in close coordination with industry partners to ensure stability in the fuel supply chain during the peak demand season. DOE continues to encourage refiners to prioritize efficient production and delivery of refined fuels, stands ready to support the nation's energy security through the responsible use of strategic resources, and will continue to deliver on President Trump's commitment to protect American energy security by refilling the SPR.

The DOE's SPR loan to Exxon is aimed at preventing outages at the Baton Rouge refinery, one of the largest in the U.S. and a key part of the nation's fuel infrastructure. Any throttling of supplies or even a shutdown would trigger immediate disruptions in gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel supply, with the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions hit hardest. 

Tyler Durden Mon, 07/14/2025 - 05:45

Dissonance In The Green Valhalla: German Workers Break The Climate Silence

Zero Hedge -

Dissonance In The Green Valhalla: German Workers Break The Climate Silence

Submitted by Thomas Kolbe

For the first time in years, a group of German industrial labor representatives has broken ranks. In an open letter to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, they fiercely criticize Berlin’s climate policy. Will their defiance ignite a firestorm—or vanish in the memory hole crafted by media gatekeepers?

I must admit: after years of bitter disappointment in the fight for rational energy discourse, I view initiatives like this with cautious pessimism. In Germany, climate policy has become the domain of a paternalistic triad—politics, media, and public compliance. The first casualty? Open debate. The air is thick with passive-aggressive apocalypse. Criticizing the Green Deal is a near-taboo. No historical precedent comes to mind where a nation, fully conscious, impales itself economically in slow motion.

Calm Before the Storm?

In the U.S., the climate machinery may be in retreat under Trump’s return. But in the EU, the climate cartel and its beneficiaries remain in full control - despite recession, deindustrialization, and public despair. Is this just the quiet before the reckoning?

Germany has paid the highest price in this climate crusade. Its forced transition to renewables, while banning nuclear energy, might still be hailed as “civilizational progress” in eco-parasitic enclaves like Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg or Cologne-Ehrenfeld. But out in the real world, where productive citizens, families, and businesses depend on affordable energy and mobility, the mood has soured. The party’s over. Pockets are empty. And the pressure’s building.

Now, at last, some are speaking up. A group of industrial works councils is calling on Chancellor Merz to halt the climate policy suicide run. Since COVID lockdowns, over 300,000 jobs in Germany’s industrial core have vanished. Energy-intensive production has become a fantasy—especially when competitors like the U.S. pay up to 75% less for electricity.

End of the Silence Cartel

The letter’s signatories include labor reps from LEAG, ArcelorMittal Eisenhüttenstadt, BASF Schwarzheide, the works council of Lausitz Energy, and the regional leadership of the IGBCE union. These are not outliers—they’re survivors of Germany’s failed “green transformation.”

ArcelorMittal recently scrapped its green steel plans—despite billions in offered subsidies. BASF is cutting 700 jobs in Ludwigshafen. The “green restructuring” of Germany’s economy now reads like an industrial obituary. Every day, another subsidized project collapses into the dustbin of central planning.

Their rebellion is the real headline: it takes courage to stand outside the climate orthodoxy and step into the light. Respect.

No More Consensus

These aren't populists or corporate shills. These are works councils, long considered integrated into Germany’s consensus-driven labor model. By issuing a public letter, they’re committing open defiance. They’re aiming straight at the Green Deal—the administrative metastasis that has paralyzed Europe’s economic lifeblood.

The tone is striking: they describe “the worst economic crisis since WWII.” Over 100,000 industrial jobs lost—just this year. In truth, the total job losses since 2020 are triple that, according to Ernst & Young.

They call the energy transition a “failed operation on an open heart.” After 35 years of subsidizing wind and solar, grid stability hasn’t improved—yet grid costs are in the hundreds of billions. The high energy prices aren’t just socially unjust; they’re an existential threat to prosperity and civil peace.

The councils are calling for an industrial electricity price of €0.05/kWh, and for industry to be freed from surcharges and levies.

Brussels’ Controlled Economy

In response, the EU Commission approved a controversial subsidy scheme in June: selected companies may receive up to 50% off wholesale power prices—but only for half their annual usage, and only if they invest in “green technologies.”

Once again, instead of market discipline or fair competition, Brussels fixes prices and distributes taxpayer money based on ideological compliance. They can’t—and won’t—let go of command-and-control economics.

A Healthy Immune Response

That these labor leaders speak plainly and dismantle the green agenda line by line is encouraging. A part of German society still has an immune system when its existence is at stake. They demand an end to national and EU-level climate overreach unless and until binding global commitments exist. They also demand fair trade protections and realistic technology policy—including hydrogen and carbon capture.

This is the key: on an integrated global market, unilateral sacrifices only lead to destruction. Germany’s leadership has knowingly ignored this truth for decades. The workers’ letter, while addressed to Berlin, clearly targets Brussels.

The EU’s plan was simple: force the world into its climate straitjacket to offset its strategic energy deficit. The EU imports 60% of its energy. That dependency makes Brussels vulnerable. And nothing frightens it more than negotiating with energy-exporting partners as equals.

Bottom-Up Rebellion

This protest has grassroots power—it comes from people living the reality of failed climate economics, not from think tanks or talking heads. It will initially circulate through unions and works councils, but the shared pain may soon create a common wave of resistance. Should this happen, the media-industrial complex will struggle to ignore, bury, or mock it—though they’ll try.

We may be witnessing a turning point—where internal pressure forces Brussels and the von der Leyen Commission to alter course.

That the challenge comes not from corporate lobbies, state-funded artists, or Green-aligned parties, but from the very workers being sacrificed, gives it a potency unseen in the climate debate.

If this letter reaches public consciousness—despite media blackout—then the winds sown by Brussels and the climate lobby may erupt into a storm even Europe’s green elites can’t contain.

Let’s stay optimistic.

* * * 

About the author: Thomas Kolbe is a graduate economist. For over 25 years, he has worked as a journalist and media producer for clients from various industries and business associations. As a publicist, he focuses on economic processes and observes geopolitical events from the perspective of the capital markets. His publications follow a philosophy that focuses on the individual and their right to self-determination.

Tyler Durden Mon, 07/14/2025 - 05:00

Dissonance In The Green Valhalla: German Workers Break The Climate Silence

Zero Hedge -

Dissonance In The Green Valhalla: German Workers Break The Climate Silence

Submitted by Thomas Kolbe

For the first time in years, a group of German industrial labor representatives has broken ranks. In an open letter to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, they fiercely criticize Berlin’s climate policy. Will their defiance ignite a firestorm—or vanish in the memory hole crafted by media gatekeepers?

I must admit: after years of bitter disappointment in the fight for rational energy discourse, I view initiatives like this with cautious pessimism. In Germany, climate policy has become the domain of a paternalistic triad—politics, media, and public compliance. The first casualty? Open debate. The air is thick with passive-aggressive apocalypse. Criticizing the Green Deal is a near-taboo. No historical precedent comes to mind where a nation, fully conscious, impales itself economically in slow motion.

Calm Before the Storm?

In the U.S., the climate machinery may be in retreat under Trump’s return. But in the EU, the climate cartel and its beneficiaries remain in full control - despite recession, deindustrialization, and public despair. Is this just the quiet before the reckoning?

Germany has paid the highest price in this climate crusade. Its forced transition to renewables, while banning nuclear energy, might still be hailed as “civilizational progress” in eco-parasitic enclaves like Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg or Cologne-Ehrenfeld. But out in the real world, where productive citizens, families, and businesses depend on affordable energy and mobility, the mood has soured. The party’s over. Pockets are empty. And the pressure’s building.

Now, at last, some are speaking up. A group of industrial works councils is calling on Chancellor Merz to halt the climate policy suicide run. Since COVID lockdowns, over 300,000 jobs in Germany’s industrial core have vanished. Energy-intensive production has become a fantasy—especially when competitors like the U.S. pay up to 75% less for electricity.

End of the Silence Cartel

The letter’s signatories include labor reps from LEAG, ArcelorMittal Eisenhüttenstadt, BASF Schwarzheide, the works council of Lausitz Energy, and the regional leadership of the IGBCE union. These are not outliers—they’re survivors of Germany’s failed “green transformation.”

ArcelorMittal recently scrapped its green steel plans—despite billions in offered subsidies. BASF is cutting 700 jobs in Ludwigshafen. The “green restructuring” of Germany’s economy now reads like an industrial obituary. Every day, another subsidized project collapses into the dustbin of central planning.

Their rebellion is the real headline: it takes courage to stand outside the climate orthodoxy and step into the light. Respect.

No More Consensus

These aren't populists or corporate shills. These are works councils, long considered integrated into Germany’s consensus-driven labor model. By issuing a public letter, they’re committing open defiance. They’re aiming straight at the Green Deal—the administrative metastasis that has paralyzed Europe’s economic lifeblood.

The tone is striking: they describe “the worst economic crisis since WWII.” Over 100,000 industrial jobs lost—just this year. In truth, the total job losses since 2020 are triple that, according to Ernst & Young.

They call the energy transition a “failed operation on an open heart.” After 35 years of subsidizing wind and solar, grid stability hasn’t improved—yet grid costs are in the hundreds of billions. The high energy prices aren’t just socially unjust; they’re an existential threat to prosperity and civil peace.

The councils are calling for an industrial electricity price of €0.05/kWh, and for industry to be freed from surcharges and levies.

Brussels’ Controlled Economy

In response, the EU Commission approved a controversial subsidy scheme in June: selected companies may receive up to 50% off wholesale power prices—but only for half their annual usage, and only if they invest in “green technologies.”

Once again, instead of market discipline or fair competition, Brussels fixes prices and distributes taxpayer money based on ideological compliance. They can’t—and won’t—let go of command-and-control economics.

A Healthy Immune Response

That these labor leaders speak plainly and dismantle the green agenda line by line is encouraging. A part of German society still has an immune system when its existence is at stake. They demand an end to national and EU-level climate overreach unless and until binding global commitments exist. They also demand fair trade protections and realistic technology policy—including hydrogen and carbon capture.

This is the key: on an integrated global market, unilateral sacrifices only lead to destruction. Germany’s leadership has knowingly ignored this truth for decades. The workers’ letter, while addressed to Berlin, clearly targets Brussels.

The EU’s plan was simple: force the world into its climate straitjacket to offset its strategic energy deficit. The EU imports 60% of its energy. That dependency makes Brussels vulnerable. And nothing frightens it more than negotiating with energy-exporting partners as equals.

Bottom-Up Rebellion

This protest has grassroots power—it comes from people living the reality of failed climate economics, not from think tanks or talking heads. It will initially circulate through unions and works councils, but the shared pain may soon create a common wave of resistance. Should this happen, the media-industrial complex will struggle to ignore, bury, or mock it—though they’ll try.

We may be witnessing a turning point—where internal pressure forces Brussels and the von der Leyen Commission to alter course.

That the challenge comes not from corporate lobbies, state-funded artists, or Green-aligned parties, but from the very workers being sacrificed, gives it a potency unseen in the climate debate.

If this letter reaches public consciousness—despite media blackout—then the winds sown by Brussels and the climate lobby may erupt into a storm even Europe’s green elites can’t contain.

Let’s stay optimistic.

* * * 

About the author: Thomas Kolbe is a graduate economist. For over 25 years, he has worked as a journalist and media producer for clients from various industries and business associations. As a publicist, he focuses on economic processes and observes geopolitical events from the perspective of the capital markets. His publications follow a philosophy that focuses on the individual and their right to self-determination.

Tyler Durden Mon, 07/14/2025 - 05:00

Rapper's Scheme To Create A Real Life Wakanda In Africa Ends In Failure

Zero Hedge -

Rapper's Scheme To Create A Real Life Wakanda In Africa Ends In Failure

There have been numerous 'back to Africa' movements over the years, usually promoted by leftist activists.  Often these movements are driven by fantasies within the black American community of exporting the best of US life, economy, technology and infrastructure into Africa and far away from the "oppression" of white people. 

Of course, it's white people that created the majority of the marvels that define western civilization; the rest of the world simply seeks to imitate this model, often with limited success. 

Back to Africa travelers most often come to this shocking realization after encountering a multitude of struggles when trying to assimilate into African societies.  The limitations and lack of easily available resourced in Africa are stark.  There is no monolithic culture with unified ideals in African nations, they are deeply tribal and view black Americans as distinctly separate and alien despite sharing similar skin color.

Instead of accepting this reality and moving on, activists have proposed new projects that seek to build a kind of isolated bubble of wealth within an African enclave - They are so desperate for Wakanda to be real that they are hoping to conjure it into being.

Rap artist Akon, real name Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam, launched such an endeavor seven years ago with the intent to "free black Americans" from the racism of the west and bring the Marvel movie Utopia to life. 

The $6 billion construction effort, called Akon City, was started with the support of the government of Senegal in 2018 and was also supposed to adopt a new cryptocurrency called "Akoin" (the imagination of modern artists is truly staggering).  Sitting on Senegal's Atlantic Coast, Akon's high-tech, eco-friendly city was supposed to run entirely on renewable energy.

Of course, rappers are known for their opportunism, not their grand vision or leadership.  Both Akon City and the Akoin project have met with failure, with Akon city being scrapped by Senegal and the cryptocurrency facing investment setbacks and accusations of mismanagement.

Akon and the Senegalese Coastal Development and Promotion Company (SAPCO) have reached an “amicable agreement” to end the venture, the general manager of SAPCO, Serigne Mamadou Mboup, told a Senegalese news agency.  According to a Bloomberg report, SAPCO terminated the Akon City project after Akon failed to comply with a final demand to begin construction.

The ultimatum, which was reportedly issued by SAPCO in 2024, came after a prolonged period of inactivity and project delays that had led to public criticism and doubts about its feasibility.  After five years of setbacks, the 800-hectare site in Mbodiène - about 100km (60 miles) south of the capital, Dakar - remains mostly empty. The only structure is an incomplete reception building. There are no roads, no housing, no power grid. 

"We were promised jobs and development," one local resident told the BBC. "Instead, nothing has changed."  

"The Akon City project no longer exists," Serigne Mamadou Mboup, the head of Senegal's tourism development body, Sapco, told the BBC.

The Wakanda delusion contains elements of communist futurism very similar to the sci-fi propaganda of the early Soviet Union.  Promise people a life of technological ease and the prestige of scientific superiority; appeal to their childlike wonder and they will embrace you with open arms.  The idea also caters to the race obsessions of leftists who are clamoring to prove that, sans white people, the world would be some kind of comic book paradise.    

The problem is that reality always sets a tangible foot down somewhere and ruins the dream.

There are vast swaths of the African continent that still don't have fresh running water, basic sanitation, medical care or electricity, and there's no white people around to blame.  Building a civilization is much harder than burning one to the ground.  It takes generations of trial and error, not to mention strong leadership and impressive ingenuity.  Basing the hopes of a new society on the impulses of a rapper with delusions of persecution should have been a red flag for everyone involved.     

Tyler Durden Mon, 07/14/2025 - 04:15

Rapper's Scheme To Create A Real Life Wakanda In Africa Ends In Failure

Zero Hedge -

Rapper's Scheme To Create A Real Life Wakanda In Africa Ends In Failure

There have been numerous 'back to Africa' movements over the years, usually promoted by leftist activists.  Often these movements are driven by fantasies within the black American community of exporting the best of US life, economy, technology and infrastructure into Africa and far away from the "oppression" of white people. 

Of course, it's white people that created the majority of the marvels that define western civilization; the rest of the world simply seeks to imitate this model, often with limited success. 

Back to Africa travelers most often come to this shocking realization after encountering a multitude of struggles when trying to assimilate into African societies.  The limitations and lack of easily available resourced in Africa are stark.  There is no monolithic culture with unified ideals in African nations, they are deeply tribal and view black Americans as distinctly separate and alien despite sharing similar skin color.

Instead of accepting this reality and moving on, activists have proposed new projects that seek to build a kind of isolated bubble of wealth within an African enclave - They are so desperate for Wakanda to be real that they are hoping to conjure it into being.

Rap artist Akon, real name Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam, launched such an endeavor seven years ago with the intent to "free black Americans" from the racism of the west and bring the Marvel movie Utopia to life. 

The $6 billion construction effort, called Akon City, was started with the support of the government of Senegal in 2018 and was also supposed to adopt a new cryptocurrency called "Akoin" (the imagination of modern artists is truly staggering).  Sitting on Senegal's Atlantic Coast, Akon's high-tech, eco-friendly city was supposed to run entirely on renewable energy.

Of course, rappers are known for their opportunism, not their grand vision or leadership.  Both Akon City and the Akoin project have met with failure, with Akon city being scrapped by Senegal and the cryptocurrency facing investment setbacks and accusations of mismanagement.

Akon and the Senegalese Coastal Development and Promotion Company (SAPCO) have reached an “amicable agreement” to end the venture, the general manager of SAPCO, Serigne Mamadou Mboup, told a Senegalese news agency.  According to a Bloomberg report, SAPCO terminated the Akon City project after Akon failed to comply with a final demand to begin construction.

The ultimatum, which was reportedly issued by SAPCO in 2024, came after a prolonged period of inactivity and project delays that had led to public criticism and doubts about its feasibility.  After five years of setbacks, the 800-hectare site in Mbodiène - about 100km (60 miles) south of the capital, Dakar - remains mostly empty. The only structure is an incomplete reception building. There are no roads, no housing, no power grid. 

"We were promised jobs and development," one local resident told the BBC. "Instead, nothing has changed."  

"The Akon City project no longer exists," Serigne Mamadou Mboup, the head of Senegal's tourism development body, Sapco, told the BBC.

The Wakanda delusion contains elements of communist futurism very similar to the sci-fi propaganda of the early Soviet Union.  Promise people a life of technological ease and the prestige of scientific superiority; appeal to their childlike wonder and they will embrace you with open arms.  The idea also caters to the race obsessions of leftists who are clamoring to prove that, sans white people, the world would be some kind of comic book paradise.    

The problem is that reality always sets a tangible foot down somewhere and ruins the dream.

There are vast swaths of the African continent that still don't have fresh running water, basic sanitation, medical care or electricity, and there's no white people around to blame.  Building a civilization is much harder than burning one to the ground.  It takes generations of trial and error, not to mention strong leadership and impressive ingenuity.  Basing the hopes of a new society on the impulses of a rapper with delusions of persecution should have been a red flag for everyone involved.     

Tyler Durden Mon, 07/14/2025 - 04:15

EU Won't Retaliate To Trump's 30% Tariff, Countermeasures On Hold Until August

Zero Hedge -

EU Won't Retaliate To Trump's 30% Tariff, Countermeasures On Hold Until August

Authored by Jacob Burg via The Epoch Times,

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on July 13 that the European Union will extend a suspension on its countermeasures to U.S. tariffs until next month while trade negotiations continue with the Trump administration.

On July 12, U.S. President Donald Trump said he will impose a 30 percent tariff on all imports from the EU absent a trade deal with his administration.

The tariffs would be separate from any sector-specific levies. He accused the EU of imposing various tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers on the United States and said he would increase the tariff level if Europe retaliates.

Trump had initially given U.S. trading partners until July 9 to negotiate trade deals with his administration or face the tariffs he announced in early April. Trump recently said he would begin sending letters to countries informing them of their tariff levels if they do not negotiate deals with his team.

He has sent letters to more than 20 U.S. trading partners, including Mexico, which received a letter on July 12 informing the nation that it would also have 30 percent tariffs imposed on its imports into the United States.

After Trump announced the EU’s new tariff level, von der Leyen said on July 12 that the EU, the United States’ largest trading partner, would take all necessary steps to safeguard its interests, including “the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required.”

German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche called for a “pragmatic outcome to the negotiations” between the EU and the United States.

EU ambassadors met on July 13, one day ahead of the trade ministers’ meeting in Brussels, to decide whether to retaliate against Trump’s new tariffs or extend a suspension on countermeasures that was set to expire on July 14.

The EU opted to take the second route.

While speaking with reporters, von der Leyen said the suspension would extend until early August while the EU continues to “prepare further countermeasures” so it is “fully prepared.”

When Trump delayed the imposition of his reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners until July 9, the EU also suspended an initial package of countermeasures to U.S. sectoral tariffs on steel and aluminum that would affect $24.6 billion in U.S. imports into Europe.

The EU was also preparing a second package of countermeasures since May that would target roughly $84.2 billion of U.S. goods, but the final list requires approval by all EU member states and has not yet been made public.

The bloc’s Anti-Coercion Instrument, which allows it to retaliate against nations outside of the EU that put economic pressure on member states to alter their policies, was not yet on the table, von der Leyen said.

“The [anti-coercion] instrument is created for extraordinary situations, we are not there yet,” she said.

Among the possible retaliatory steps the EU could take are restricting its market access to goods and services and other economic measures that include export controls, financial markets, and foreign direct investment.

On July 13, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said the EU must take action against the United States if trade negotiations fail.

“If a fair negotiated solution does not succeed, then we must take decisive countermeasures to protect jobs and companies in Europe,” Klingbeil, who is also vice chancellor in his nation’s ruling coalition, told German media. “Our hand remains outstretched, but we will not go along with everything.”

Because the United States is its largest export market, Germany could face significant challenges from higher U.S. tariffs, particularly as it exports automobiles, automobile components, machinery, and pharmaceuticals into the United States.

Tyler Durden Mon, 07/14/2025 - 03:30

EU Won't Retaliate To Trump's 30% Tariff, Countermeasures On Hold Until August

Zero Hedge -

EU Won't Retaliate To Trump's 30% Tariff, Countermeasures On Hold Until August

Authored by Jacob Burg via The Epoch Times,

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on July 13 that the European Union will extend a suspension on its countermeasures to U.S. tariffs until next month while trade negotiations continue with the Trump administration.

On July 12, U.S. President Donald Trump said he will impose a 30 percent tariff on all imports from the EU absent a trade deal with his administration.

The tariffs would be separate from any sector-specific levies. He accused the EU of imposing various tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers on the United States and said he would increase the tariff level if Europe retaliates.

Trump had initially given U.S. trading partners until July 9 to negotiate trade deals with his administration or face the tariffs he announced in early April. Trump recently said he would begin sending letters to countries informing them of their tariff levels if they do not negotiate deals with his team.

He has sent letters to more than 20 U.S. trading partners, including Mexico, which received a letter on July 12 informing the nation that it would also have 30 percent tariffs imposed on its imports into the United States.

After Trump announced the EU’s new tariff level, von der Leyen said on July 12 that the EU, the United States’ largest trading partner, would take all necessary steps to safeguard its interests, including “the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required.”

German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche called for a “pragmatic outcome to the negotiations” between the EU and the United States.

EU ambassadors met on July 13, one day ahead of the trade ministers’ meeting in Brussels, to decide whether to retaliate against Trump’s new tariffs or extend a suspension on countermeasures that was set to expire on July 14.

The EU opted to take the second route.

While speaking with reporters, von der Leyen said the suspension would extend until early August while the EU continues to “prepare further countermeasures” so it is “fully prepared.”

When Trump delayed the imposition of his reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners until July 9, the EU also suspended an initial package of countermeasures to U.S. sectoral tariffs on steel and aluminum that would affect $24.6 billion in U.S. imports into Europe.

The EU was also preparing a second package of countermeasures since May that would target roughly $84.2 billion of U.S. goods, but the final list requires approval by all EU member states and has not yet been made public.

The bloc’s Anti-Coercion Instrument, which allows it to retaliate against nations outside of the EU that put economic pressure on member states to alter their policies, was not yet on the table, von der Leyen said.

“The [anti-coercion] instrument is created for extraordinary situations, we are not there yet,” she said.

Among the possible retaliatory steps the EU could take are restricting its market access to goods and services and other economic measures that include export controls, financial markets, and foreign direct investment.

On July 13, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said the EU must take action against the United States if trade negotiations fail.

“If a fair negotiated solution does not succeed, then we must take decisive countermeasures to protect jobs and companies in Europe,” Klingbeil, who is also vice chancellor in his nation’s ruling coalition, told German media. “Our hand remains outstretched, but we will not go along with everything.”

Because the United States is its largest export market, Germany could face significant challenges from higher U.S. tariffs, particularly as it exports automobiles, automobile components, machinery, and pharmaceuticals into the United States.

Tyler Durden Mon, 07/14/2025 - 03:30

These Are The World's Biggest Tourism Economies

Zero Hedge -

These Are The World's Biggest Tourism Economies

Tourism is a major economic driver for many nations, powering jobs, infrastructure, and global connections.

This chart, via Visual Capitalist's Marcus Lu, highlights the top 10 countries by the size of their tourism economies, encompassing everything from hotel stays and flights, to attractions and services.

Data & Discussion

The data for this visualization comes from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). It shows the total economic contribution of each country’s tourism sector in 2024, measured in U.S. dollars.

America Leads the Pack

The United States has retained its title as the world’s most dominant tourism economy, generating $2.36 trillion of economic contribution in 2024.

The U.S. benefits from strong domestic travel, mature infrastructure, and iconic global destinations such as New York (the eighth most-visited city in the world), Las Vegas, and its vast national parks.

China’s Rapid Climb

China’s tourism sector contributed $1.3 trillion, underscoring its role as a major hub for both international and domestic travel.

While currently second, the WTTC projects China will take the top spot within the next decade. Rising middle-class income and a focus on tourism development continue to propel its growth.

This includes several policies, including easing visa restrictions and introducing new tax-refund shopping policies.

Europe’s Tourism Staples

Europe remains a major player, with Germany, the UKFranceItaly, and Spain all ranking in the top 10.

All of these countries benefit from rich cultural heritage, as well as strong rail and air links.

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Top Countries Sending Tourists to the U.S. on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Tyler Durden Mon, 07/14/2025 - 02:45

These Are The World's Biggest Tourism Economies

Zero Hedge -

These Are The World's Biggest Tourism Economies

Tourism is a major economic driver for many nations, powering jobs, infrastructure, and global connections.

This chart, via Visual Capitalist's Marcus Lu, highlights the top 10 countries by the size of their tourism economies, encompassing everything from hotel stays and flights, to attractions and services.

Data & Discussion

The data for this visualization comes from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). It shows the total economic contribution of each country’s tourism sector in 2024, measured in U.S. dollars.

America Leads the Pack

The United States has retained its title as the world’s most dominant tourism economy, generating $2.36 trillion of economic contribution in 2024.

The U.S. benefits from strong domestic travel, mature infrastructure, and iconic global destinations such as New York (the eighth most-visited city in the world), Las Vegas, and its vast national parks.

China’s Rapid Climb

China’s tourism sector contributed $1.3 trillion, underscoring its role as a major hub for both international and domestic travel.

While currently second, the WTTC projects China will take the top spot within the next decade. Rising middle-class income and a focus on tourism development continue to propel its growth.

This includes several policies, including easing visa restrictions and introducing new tax-refund shopping policies.

Europe’s Tourism Staples

Europe remains a major player, with Germany, the UKFranceItaly, and Spain all ranking in the top 10.

All of these countries benefit from rich cultural heritage, as well as strong rail and air links.

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Top Countries Sending Tourists to the U.S. on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

Tyler Durden Mon, 07/14/2025 - 02:45

Germany's $325 Billion Investment Blitz: Real Revival Or PR Smoke

Zero Hedge -

Germany's $325 Billion Investment Blitz: Real Revival Or PR Smoke

Submitted By Thomas Kolbe

Germany’s Handelsblatt reports a major new investment initiative launched by top domestic corporations. Under the label Made for Germany, the campaign is being hailed as a fresh economic start. But is this the dawn of a real revival — or just another well-choreographed PR show?

Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing a credibility crisis. His economic policies haven’t sparked much enthusiasm — quite the opposite. Broken campaign promises, such as walking back the planned electricity tax cut, dominate the headlines. What has materialized instead is a government plan to plunge Germany into hundreds of billions in new debt. So far, there’s little sign of sound economic policy or the long-promised “Aufbruch” — that much-needed new beginning.

A PR Lifeline for Merz?

Merz could use a favorable headline or two — and now it seems big business might hand him one. According to Handelsblatt, over 30 major German corporations are joining forces in a €300 billion investment campaign set to run through 2028. The project, dubbed Made for Germany, is reportedly led by giants like Siemens CEO Roland Busch, FGS Global CEO Alexander Geiser and Deutsche Bank head Christian Sewing.

Alexander Geiser, Christian Sewing and Roland Busch 

To kick off the initiative, Merz and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil are preparing an industry summit with the CEOs on July 21st in Berlin. Reuters reports that companies like RWE, Volkswagen, Rheinmetall, and SAP may also join the effort.

The announcement coincides with the government’s newly approved €46 billion corporate tax relief package, stretched over four years. While that’s barely a drop in the bucket, it serves as a symbolic gesture toward an overtaxed and overregulated business sector.

Germany’s Bleeding Edge

That Germany suffers from chronic underinvestment is beyond doubt. Since 2017, productivity has stagnated. This is especially troubling given that AI and robotics should be boosting output across the board. But instead of attracting capital, Germany is hemorrhaging it. More money is leaving than entering.

According to the Bundesbank, €60 billion in net direct investment flowed out of Germany in 2023 alone. And this isn’t speculative hedge fund capital — it’s real, long-term business investment, now being redirected to more promising locations.

In that context, it’s at least symbolically encouraging to see corporate flagships like Siemens or RWE reasserting commitment to their home market.

But Let’s Be Realistic

Still, not all is as it seems. As impressive as the headline figure may be, no one knows how much of that €300 billion was already planned before this rebranding exercise. Is this really a fresh initiative — or just a coordinated PR strategy between Germany’s boardrooms and the Merz administration?

Officials talk about “turning around the mood” in the country, as if all that’s needed is better storytelling. But the bad mood is real — and justified. Germany is now in its third year of recession. Hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs. Energy-intensive industries are being pushed out by radical climate policies under the Green Deal.

A genuine revival plan would address Germany’s actual pain points — starting with a climate policy that has spiraled out of control. Instead of driving a “green transformation,” it’s driving the country out of economic relevance.

No Free Lunch

The only way this corporate initiative would truly mark a turning point is if it involved new private capital — free of political conditions, subsidies, or backroom guarantees. But history tells another story. Germany’s green economy sector doesn’t function without massive state support. These projects don’t pay for themselves — the market simply doesn’t want what they’re selling.

The latest failure of “green steel” projects — such as the heavily subsidized initiative at ArcelorMittal — is just one example of how artificially engineered green industries crumble in real-world markets.

Until concrete investment details emerge, we have to treat Made for Germany as yet another PR game. This time, however, it’s corporate Germany that’s staging the show — possibly to boost its own sagging image abroad and to help Chancellor Merz avoid being labeled a “lame duck” just weeks into his term.

* * * 

About the author: Thomas Kolbe is a graduate economist. For over 25 years, he has worked as a journalist and media producer for clients from various industries and business associations. As a publicist, he focuses on economic processes and observes geopolitical events from the perspective of the capital markets. His publications follow a philosophy that focuses on the individual and their right to self-determination.

Tyler Durden Mon, 07/14/2025 - 02:00

Germany's $325 Billion Investment Blitz: Real Revival Or PR Smoke

Zero Hedge -

Germany's $325 Billion Investment Blitz: Real Revival Or PR Smoke

Submitted By Thomas Kolbe

Germany’s Handelsblatt reports a major new investment initiative launched by top domestic corporations. Under the label Made for Germany, the campaign is being hailed as a fresh economic start. But is this the dawn of a real revival — or just another well-choreographed PR show?

Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing a credibility crisis. His economic policies haven’t sparked much enthusiasm — quite the opposite. Broken campaign promises, such as walking back the planned electricity tax cut, dominate the headlines. What has materialized instead is a government plan to plunge Germany into hundreds of billions in new debt. So far, there’s little sign of sound economic policy or the long-promised “Aufbruch” — that much-needed new beginning.

A PR Lifeline for Merz?

Merz could use a favorable headline or two — and now it seems big business might hand him one. According to Handelsblatt, over 30 major German corporations are joining forces in a €300 billion investment campaign set to run through 2028. The project, dubbed Made for Germany, is reportedly led by giants like Siemens CEO Roland Busch, FGS Global CEO Alexander Geiser and Deutsche Bank head Christian Sewing.

Alexander Geiser, Christian Sewing and Roland Busch 

To kick off the initiative, Merz and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil are preparing an industry summit with the CEOs on July 21st in Berlin. Reuters reports that companies like RWE, Volkswagen, Rheinmetall, and SAP may also join the effort.

The announcement coincides with the government’s newly approved €46 billion corporate tax relief package, stretched over four years. While that’s barely a drop in the bucket, it serves as a symbolic gesture toward an overtaxed and overregulated business sector.

Germany’s Bleeding Edge

That Germany suffers from chronic underinvestment is beyond doubt. Since 2017, productivity has stagnated. This is especially troubling given that AI and robotics should be boosting output across the board. But instead of attracting capital, Germany is hemorrhaging it. More money is leaving than entering.

According to the Bundesbank, €60 billion in net direct investment flowed out of Germany in 2023 alone. And this isn’t speculative hedge fund capital — it’s real, long-term business investment, now being redirected to more promising locations.

In that context, it’s at least symbolically encouraging to see corporate flagships like Siemens or RWE reasserting commitment to their home market.

But Let’s Be Realistic

Still, not all is as it seems. As impressive as the headline figure may be, no one knows how much of that €300 billion was already planned before this rebranding exercise. Is this really a fresh initiative — or just a coordinated PR strategy between Germany’s boardrooms and the Merz administration?

Officials talk about “turning around the mood” in the country, as if all that’s needed is better storytelling. But the bad mood is real — and justified. Germany is now in its third year of recession. Hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs. Energy-intensive industries are being pushed out by radical climate policies under the Green Deal.

A genuine revival plan would address Germany’s actual pain points — starting with a climate policy that has spiraled out of control. Instead of driving a “green transformation,” it’s driving the country out of economic relevance.

No Free Lunch

The only way this corporate initiative would truly mark a turning point is if it involved new private capital — free of political conditions, subsidies, or backroom guarantees. But history tells another story. Germany’s green economy sector doesn’t function without massive state support. These projects don’t pay for themselves — the market simply doesn’t want what they’re selling.

The latest failure of “green steel” projects — such as the heavily subsidized initiative at ArcelorMittal — is just one example of how artificially engineered green industries crumble in real-world markets.

Until concrete investment details emerge, we have to treat Made for Germany as yet another PR game. This time, however, it’s corporate Germany that’s staging the show — possibly to boost its own sagging image abroad and to help Chancellor Merz avoid being labeled a “lame duck” just weeks into his term.

* * * 

About the author: Thomas Kolbe is a graduate economist. For over 25 years, he has worked as a journalist and media producer for clients from various industries and business associations. As a publicist, he focuses on economic processes and observes geopolitical events from the perspective of the capital markets. His publications follow a philosophy that focuses on the individual and their right to self-determination.

Tyler Durden Mon, 07/14/2025 - 02:00

Neo-Terminator

Zero Hedge -

Neo-Terminator

Authored by Todd Hayen via Off-Guardoan.org,

John was a shrew. He knew that ten years ago, when the Covid insanity started and everyone wanted him to get jabbed. But he just felt odd about it. It just didn’t seem right. So, he didn’t do it, and wow, did he get hell for that.

Everyone treated him so cruelly that he just couldn’t figure it out. It was about at that time he started doing some serious research. What started out as only an uncomfortable feeling about everyone scrambling to get some strange flu shot, began to pan out as a serious situation. More serious than he could imagine.

But John didn’t like being a victim, so he rolled with it.

He learned to keep his mouth shut when around the people who treated him cruelly. At first, he tried to inform them about what he had learned, but that caused these people to explode. So forget that. He didn’t have to change the world. So he stopped trying. He did worry about the people he loved who were jabbed, but they didn’t want to listen to him, and what is done is done—no point in shutting the barn door once the horse got away.

The years went by and John went about living his life. But things out there got worse. It wasn’t just Covid and the vaccine that were brought about by some weird incompetence or hysteria, it was deeper than that. John began to realize the problem came from an intentional effort to control the masses.

Covid and the vaccine were linked to authority gone mad—censoring of speech, the degradation of science and medicine, forcing people to wear masks, refusing medical treatment to the unvaxxed, bringing out digital IDs, restricting travel, the introduction of CBDCs, the list was endless.

Then he started to hear about intentional genocide—that all of this was a conscious effort to reduce the world population.

John wasn’t sure what to do about any of this. He knew from past experience that running around like Chicken Little, screaming “the sky is falling, the sky is falling!” was not only hopeless but probably wouldn’t end well for him (it didn’t for Chicken Little). He eventually found refuge and a sense of purpose, joining groups of people who saw things the same way he saw them.

This was not only comforting for him, but it also gave him an outlet to speak out and express his thoughts and viewpoints.

John had never been one to feel a need to speak out. As mentioned earlier, he backed off right away when the vaccines came out, when no one would listen to him. But he felt that things were really getting out of hand now, and although he never thought that speaking out would fix anything, he did believe a person had to stand up for what they believed.

John became rather well-known as a rebel and freedom fighter in his newfound circles of community. Although he never felt “normal” like he used to feel when the world was not as crazy, he at least felt like he was doing what he was meant to do.

Then it started to happen.

At first, it was very subtle, and John didn’t associate it with any sort of conscious wrongdoing.

The first thing he noticed that he thought was rather odd was that his email stopped working like it used to. Emails he sent out didn’t make it to their destination, he would be told by friends that they sent him stuff he never got. Of course, at first, he just figured there was some technical glitch.

Then it became so common he got worried that the glitch had turned into a major electronic snafu. He created new email addresses through other third-party sources, and that worked for a while, but then the same thing started to happen with the new email accounts.

Then there were the phone calls, many times when he would place a service call to larger concerns—government, phone services, internet services—he would get the run around, which almost always ended in an abrupt hang-up. This happened so often he couldn’t make heads or tails of it. He started asking friends, “Does this happen to you, too?” Most said no, but a few said they were noticing the same sort of things.

He really got worried when his bank accounts started to get gummed up. One day $1,000 disappeared from his checking account. When he inquired about it at the bank, they told him he must have transferred the money somewhere without being aware of it. So he had to go through the frustration of being blamed for something he definitely did not do. Finally, they figured it out (or so it seemed) and said the money was fraudulently removed. Yet they never identified a specific person who committed the fraud. John also noticed strange credit card charges. Most of those he could take care of, but his efforts to deal with it started to drive him crazy. He felt he was becoming increasingly paranoid. Finally, he realized he was being targeted, or at least thought he was. But that made him feel even crazier.

This all went on for quite a while. Eventually about ten years had gone by since the first mention of Covid, which started it all. Most of the weird stuff he encountered was in the form of minor annoyances. But the fact these strange things were occurring with more frequency started to cause John to lose sleep. He felt like a man being continuously bitten by fleas, eventually the constant biting would cause him to jump off a bridge or something. Or maybe he would just get used to it, and slip into a dull form of living where nothing mattered to him anymore, bite after bite after bite.

One day, he started thinking about AI and robots.

He thought it was interesting that everyone in his circles were talking about the takeover of AI and the fear of Terminator-style robot machines taking over the world. He wondered if maybe all of that was a distraction. If the agenda was going to take over humanity with robots, why would it create them to look like humans—with a head, arms, and legs? Even AI art and AI writing were obvious. These were human endeavours that computers were “taking over.” It was very clear it was happening; the enemy, if one thought of it as such, was clear and obvious.

But what about the application of AI in places that were not so obvious?

Essentially, everything and anything could be “run” by AI systems programmed to do all this work in a very specific way. What about phone answering systems, what about banking, what about even doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies?

Speaking of pharmacies and hospitals, this story has a sad ending. John, unfortunately, did not fare too well. In fact, he died. He didn’t jump off a bridge because of excessive flea bites, driving him to suicide. He actually died rather mysteriously. After getting a routine prescription filled at his local pharmacy, he became very ill and was rushed to the hospital. Through routine examination, he was put on an IV and put into the intensive care unit. After a few days, he expired. “Death by unexplained circumstances,” read his death certificate, along with a plethora of medical jargon explaining what organs mysteriously failed and why he eventually succumbed.

Pharmaceutical dosing, manufacture, implementation to patients, as well as IV bags of saline (or whatever), drug administration in the hospital, life support, ventilators, etc., will eventually (if not already) be controlled by AI systems. As well as nearly everything else—banks, government access to social security, Medicare, car registration, gas stations (and of course electric cars), phones, ATMs, grocery store checkouts, digital ID stations, airports, etc. There will be nothing we can do that will not be monitored, and most importantly, controlled by AI systems. If you are a subversive (and the definition of that word will be all encompassing, and impossible to define), you will be at the mercy of your shackles and those people who put you in them.

Was John targeted by the agenda for elimination? If he was, the agenda did not send Arnold Schwarzenegger to take him out. They did it subtly at first, slowly driving him crazy with thousands of flea bites (possibly hoping he would sign up for some state assisted suicide). Then, when he was properly prepared, they took him out through the AI-controlled medical system. No human had to do a thing. No human even had to know what was happening, other than the puppet masters themselves, and we can’t even be sure they are human.

Is any of this true? No, not yet. Is it overly paranoid? Maybe.

John’s story takes place in the future, maybe the distant future. But those of us on the freedom-fighting front should never think it is possible to stay under the radar. We can get put on a list very easily. Maybe not a list for elimination, but possibly a list for annoyance.

Maybe I am being overly paranoid. With the advent of AI, I really don’t think we have to wait for humanoid robots ala Terminator to be developed and deployed, it will be a lot easier for them than that.

Todd’s new book The View of the Shrew is now available from Amazon and other online outlets.

Tyler Durden Sun, 07/13/2025 - 23:20

Neo-Terminator

Zero Hedge -

Neo-Terminator

Authored by Todd Hayen via Off-Guardoan.org,

John was a shrew. He knew that ten years ago, when the Covid insanity started and everyone wanted him to get jabbed. But he just felt odd about it. It just didn’t seem right. So, he didn’t do it, and wow, did he get hell for that.

Everyone treated him so cruelly that he just couldn’t figure it out. It was about at that time he started doing some serious research. What started out as only an uncomfortable feeling about everyone scrambling to get some strange flu shot, began to pan out as a serious situation. More serious than he could imagine.

But John didn’t like being a victim, so he rolled with it.

He learned to keep his mouth shut when around the people who treated him cruelly. At first, he tried to inform them about what he had learned, but that caused these people to explode. So forget that. He didn’t have to change the world. So he stopped trying. He did worry about the people he loved who were jabbed, but they didn’t want to listen to him, and what is done is done—no point in shutting the barn door once the horse got away.

The years went by and John went about living his life. But things out there got worse. It wasn’t just Covid and the vaccine that were brought about by some weird incompetence or hysteria, it was deeper than that. John began to realize the problem came from an intentional effort to control the masses.

Covid and the vaccine were linked to authority gone mad—censoring of speech, the degradation of science and medicine, forcing people to wear masks, refusing medical treatment to the unvaxxed, bringing out digital IDs, restricting travel, the introduction of CBDCs, the list was endless.

Then he started to hear about intentional genocide—that all of this was a conscious effort to reduce the world population.

John wasn’t sure what to do about any of this. He knew from past experience that running around like Chicken Little, screaming “the sky is falling, the sky is falling!” was not only hopeless but probably wouldn’t end well for him (it didn’t for Chicken Little). He eventually found refuge and a sense of purpose, joining groups of people who saw things the same way he saw them.

This was not only comforting for him, but it also gave him an outlet to speak out and express his thoughts and viewpoints.

John had never been one to feel a need to speak out. As mentioned earlier, he backed off right away when the vaccines came out, when no one would listen to him. But he felt that things were really getting out of hand now, and although he never thought that speaking out would fix anything, he did believe a person had to stand up for what they believed.

John became rather well-known as a rebel and freedom fighter in his newfound circles of community. Although he never felt “normal” like he used to feel when the world was not as crazy, he at least felt like he was doing what he was meant to do.

Then it started to happen.

At first, it was very subtle, and John didn’t associate it with any sort of conscious wrongdoing.

The first thing he noticed that he thought was rather odd was that his email stopped working like it used to. Emails he sent out didn’t make it to their destination, he would be told by friends that they sent him stuff he never got. Of course, at first, he just figured there was some technical glitch.

Then it became so common he got worried that the glitch had turned into a major electronic snafu. He created new email addresses through other third-party sources, and that worked for a while, but then the same thing started to happen with the new email accounts.

Then there were the phone calls, many times when he would place a service call to larger concerns—government, phone services, internet services—he would get the run around, which almost always ended in an abrupt hang-up. This happened so often he couldn’t make heads or tails of it. He started asking friends, “Does this happen to you, too?” Most said no, but a few said they were noticing the same sort of things.

He really got worried when his bank accounts started to get gummed up. One day $1,000 disappeared from his checking account. When he inquired about it at the bank, they told him he must have transferred the money somewhere without being aware of it. So he had to go through the frustration of being blamed for something he definitely did not do. Finally, they figured it out (or so it seemed) and said the money was fraudulently removed. Yet they never identified a specific person who committed the fraud. John also noticed strange credit card charges. Most of those he could take care of, but his efforts to deal with it started to drive him crazy. He felt he was becoming increasingly paranoid. Finally, he realized he was being targeted, or at least thought he was. But that made him feel even crazier.

This all went on for quite a while. Eventually about ten years had gone by since the first mention of Covid, which started it all. Most of the weird stuff he encountered was in the form of minor annoyances. But the fact these strange things were occurring with more frequency started to cause John to lose sleep. He felt like a man being continuously bitten by fleas, eventually the constant biting would cause him to jump off a bridge or something. Or maybe he would just get used to it, and slip into a dull form of living where nothing mattered to him anymore, bite after bite after bite.

One day, he started thinking about AI and robots.

He thought it was interesting that everyone in his circles were talking about the takeover of AI and the fear of Terminator-style robot machines taking over the world. He wondered if maybe all of that was a distraction. If the agenda was going to take over humanity with robots, why would it create them to look like humans—with a head, arms, and legs? Even AI art and AI writing were obvious. These were human endeavours that computers were “taking over.” It was very clear it was happening; the enemy, if one thought of it as such, was clear and obvious.

But what about the application of AI in places that were not so obvious?

Essentially, everything and anything could be “run” by AI systems programmed to do all this work in a very specific way. What about phone answering systems, what about banking, what about even doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies?

Speaking of pharmacies and hospitals, this story has a sad ending. John, unfortunately, did not fare too well. In fact, he died. He didn’t jump off a bridge because of excessive flea bites, driving him to suicide. He actually died rather mysteriously. After getting a routine prescription filled at his local pharmacy, he became very ill and was rushed to the hospital. Through routine examination, he was put on an IV and put into the intensive care unit. After a few days, he expired. “Death by unexplained circumstances,” read his death certificate, along with a plethora of medical jargon explaining what organs mysteriously failed and why he eventually succumbed.

Pharmaceutical dosing, manufacture, implementation to patients, as well as IV bags of saline (or whatever), drug administration in the hospital, life support, ventilators, etc., will eventually (if not already) be controlled by AI systems. As well as nearly everything else—banks, government access to social security, Medicare, car registration, gas stations (and of course electric cars), phones, ATMs, grocery store checkouts, digital ID stations, airports, etc. There will be nothing we can do that will not be monitored, and most importantly, controlled by AI systems. If you are a subversive (and the definition of that word will be all encompassing, and impossible to define), you will be at the mercy of your shackles and those people who put you in them.

Was John targeted by the agenda for elimination? If he was, the agenda did not send Arnold Schwarzenegger to take him out. They did it subtly at first, slowly driving him crazy with thousands of flea bites (possibly hoping he would sign up for some state assisted suicide). Then, when he was properly prepared, they took him out through the AI-controlled medical system. No human had to do a thing. No human even had to know what was happening, other than the puppet masters themselves, and we can’t even be sure they are human.

Is any of this true? No, not yet. Is it overly paranoid? Maybe.

John’s story takes place in the future, maybe the distant future. But those of us on the freedom-fighting front should never think it is possible to stay under the radar. We can get put on a list very easily. Maybe not a list for elimination, but possibly a list for annoyance.

Maybe I am being overly paranoid. With the advent of AI, I really don’t think we have to wait for humanoid robots ala Terminator to be developed and deployed, it will be a lot easier for them than that.

Todd’s new book The View of the Shrew is now available from Amazon and other online outlets.

Tyler Durden Sun, 07/13/2025 - 23:20

China And India Drive Global Demand For Air Conditioning

Zero Hedge -

China And India Drive Global Demand For Air Conditioning

Driven by population growth (and climate change apparently), global demand for air conditioning is set to explode in the coming decades

Statista's Katharina Buchholz reports that, according to the latest available estimates from the International Energy Agency, more than 2.4 billion air conditioners are in use worldwide this year.

This number is expected to increase to 5.6 billion by 2050, with two markets driving the majority of the world's demand: China and India.

 China and India Drive Global Demand for Air Conditioning | Statista

You will find more infographics at Statista

The number of air conditioners in service is also expected to increase eleven-fold in Indonesia and six-fold in Mexico between 2020 and 2050.

Yet, the number of units remains relatively small in those countries compared to those expected to be added in the two major Asian growth markets.

It is estimated that the world's air conditioners and fans together account for about 10 percent of global electricity consumption.

By contrast, electric vehicles will account for 13 percent of global growing electricity needs, while heating will account for seven percent.

 Air Conditioning Is a Critical Energy Issue | Statista

You will find more infographics at Statista

Unless air conditioning technology becomes significantly more efficient, the rising energy demand associated with cooling poses a huge environmental challenge before the middle of the century.

Tyler Durden Sun, 07/13/2025 - 22:45

China And India Drive Global Demand For Air Conditioning

Zero Hedge -

China And India Drive Global Demand For Air Conditioning

Driven by population growth (and climate change apparently), global demand for air conditioning is set to explode in the coming decades

Statista's Katharina Buchholz reports that, according to the latest available estimates from the International Energy Agency, more than 2.4 billion air conditioners are in use worldwide this year.

This number is expected to increase to 5.6 billion by 2050, with two markets driving the majority of the world's demand: China and India.

 China and India Drive Global Demand for Air Conditioning | Statista

You will find more infographics at Statista

The number of air conditioners in service is also expected to increase eleven-fold in Indonesia and six-fold in Mexico between 2020 and 2050.

Yet, the number of units remains relatively small in those countries compared to those expected to be added in the two major Asian growth markets.

It is estimated that the world's air conditioners and fans together account for about 10 percent of global electricity consumption.

By contrast, electric vehicles will account for 13 percent of global growing electricity needs, while heating will account for seven percent.

 Air Conditioning Is a Critical Energy Issue | Statista

You will find more infographics at Statista

Unless air conditioning technology becomes significantly more efficient, the rising energy demand associated with cooling poses a huge environmental challenge before the middle of the century.

Tyler Durden Sun, 07/13/2025 - 22:45

Peter Jackson Invests In Genetic Project To Bring Giant Bird Back From Extinction

Zero Hedge -

Peter Jackson Invests In Genetic Project To Bring Giant Bird Back From Extinction

The announcement in April that genetic company Colossal Biosciences has successfully created a litter of previously extinct "Dire Wolf" puppies using revolutionary genetic editing technology sent shockwaves through the media. 

Now the company is back in the spotlight with film director and investor Peter Jackson (Lord Of The Rings); this time promoting a new effort to bring back the Moa Bird, a truly giant 12 foot flightless bird that roamed the island of New Zealand until it was hunted to extinction by Maori settlers 600 years ago. 

Jackson says the project to de-extinct the moa is a dream more important than any work he has done in movies.  He has joined a number of international investors and celebrity investors including George R.R. Martin, Tom Brady, Tiger Woods, and Paris Hilton to make the next Colossal experiment possible.

The reintroduction of the moa would be a step above the return of the dire wolves - DNA testing shows that the much smaller South American tinamou bird is the moa's closest living relative, not a more obvious species like the kiwi or emu.  To go from a 17 inch tall tinamou to a 12 foot behemoth like the moa would be an impressive success.  

Geneticists are still quibbling to this day over the dire wolf project and whether or not the wolves represent true dire wolves or mere facsimiles.  Colossal is the first organization to use new CRISPR tech (short for “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats”) to edit DNA with precision and create a new animal from an existing genetic cousin (the grey wolf).  The method circumvents traditional cloning and it leaves scientists questioning how to categorize animals born through the process.  

Some critics question the ethics of reintroducing lost species.  However, there is also a large contingent of scientists and journalists within elitist circles that are clearly indignant over Colossal's "tech bro" background.  In other words, they doth protest too much and it may be because they don't think people outside of their academic clubs should be allowed to break new scientific ground. 

The animosity is similar to that shown by critics of Elon Musk's Space X (like leftist astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson).  Regardless of how one feels about Musk politically, it is a fact that he has advanced rocket technology far beyond anything NASA has done in decades and for less money.  Yet, traditional government funded scientific groups dismiss Space X's work as "negligible", revealing their ego and deep bias.

Is genetic editing a false form of de-extinction when compared to cloning?  Could cloning ever actually be used to successfully bring back extinct animals like the moa?  Only time will tell.  Professional egos need to removed from the room before any objective discussion on the issue can be had.

The fact of the matter is, genetic editing has captured the public imagination and it's at the forefront of bio-tech.  It's going to become a mainstay for generations to come.  Reintroducing recently extinct species is a less concerning matter compared to what the method could ultimately be used for.  Careful consideration is needed and ethical limitations required.  Completely new chimeras should be avoided and, of course, modifications to humans should remain prohibited.  

Tyler Durden Sun, 07/13/2025 - 21:35

Peter Jackson Invests In Genetic Project To Bring Giant Bird Back From Extinction

Zero Hedge -

Peter Jackson Invests In Genetic Project To Bring Giant Bird Back From Extinction

The announcement in April that genetic company Colossal Biosciences has successfully created a litter of previously extinct "Dire Wolf" puppies using revolutionary genetic editing technology sent shockwaves through the media. 

Now the company is back in the spotlight with film director and investor Peter Jackson (Lord Of The Rings); this time promoting a new effort to bring back the Moa Bird, a truly giant 12 foot flightless bird that roamed the island of New Zealand until it was hunted to extinction by Maori settlers 600 years ago. 

Jackson says the project to de-extinct the moa is a dream more important than any work he has done in movies.  He has joined a number of international investors and celebrity investors including George R.R. Martin, Tom Brady, Tiger Woods, and Paris Hilton to make the next Colossal experiment possible.

The reintroduction of the moa would be a step above the return of the dire wolves - DNA testing shows that the much smaller South American tinamou bird is the moa's closest living relative, not a more obvious species like the kiwi or emu.  To go from a 17 inch tall tinamou to a 12 foot behemoth like the moa would be an impressive success.  

Geneticists are still quibbling to this day over the dire wolf project and whether or not the wolves represent true dire wolves or mere facsimiles.  Colossal is the first organization to use new CRISPR tech (short for “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats”) to edit DNA with precision and create a new animal from an existing genetic cousin (the grey wolf).  The method circumvents traditional cloning and it leaves scientists questioning how to categorize animals born through the process.  

Some critics question the ethics of reintroducing lost species.  However, there is also a large contingent of scientists and journalists within elitist circles that are clearly indignant over Colossal's "tech bro" background.  In other words, they doth protest too much and it may be because they don't think people outside of their academic clubs should be allowed to break new scientific ground. 

The animosity is similar to that shown by critics of Elon Musk's Space X (like leftist astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson).  Regardless of how one feels about Musk politically, it is a fact that he has advanced rocket technology far beyond anything NASA has done in decades and for less money.  Yet, traditional government funded scientific groups dismiss Space X's work as "negligible", revealing their ego and deep bias.

Is genetic editing a false form of de-extinction when compared to cloning?  Could cloning ever actually be used to successfully bring back extinct animals like the moa?  Only time will tell.  Professional egos need to removed from the room before any objective discussion on the issue can be had.

The fact of the matter is, genetic editing has captured the public imagination and it's at the forefront of bio-tech.  It's going to become a mainstay for generations to come.  Reintroducing recently extinct species is a less concerning matter compared to what the method could ultimately be used for.  Careful consideration is needed and ethical limitations required.  Completely new chimeras should be avoided and, of course, modifications to humans should remain prohibited.  

Tyler Durden Sun, 07/13/2025 - 21:35

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